Theos-Talk Archives (August 2002 Message tt00167)

Peter,
You mentioned the Sutratman. Hadn't really brought that in to my 
overall understanding.Very intriguing and very good "food" for thought. 
Excellent commentary, in my opinion, and theosophically engaging.
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Hi David,

This isn't an elucidation, but just some thoughts. Is it possible that if
we consider the Monad as a point then when it is extended we might say that
the point becomes a line. The line always implies a polarity, a
two-foldness of either end or direction. Thus the one, or the point,
becomes the two. But, of course, it does not stop there, for wherever there
is a 'two fold ness' there is the relationship between them that it brought
into being, therefore the 'three' is always implied in the 'two'.

Sometimes the 'three' is referred to as the transcendent function in that it
is always more (at least potentially) than the two together. In the same
way that the child is more than the some of the parents, the new life
exceeding the old. Perhaps this is hinted at in the mystic and mythic tales
wherein it is the 'son' which is the saviour and redeemer, not the parent or
parents whose power is often limited. This redemption does not happen
without some form of transformation on the part of the 'three', as found in
all the death/rebirth myths and tales. Through the efforts of the 'three'
(the child of the two) a fourth state is achieved which has to do with both
the point (the 'one') and ground of Being (the zero) in which the point has
its life. We might say this could be symbolised by the 10, the one and the
ground of being. As many know, the mathematical expression of 1+2+3+4=10
has many a deep significance from an occult point of view, ie when we
reflect upon what the numbers symbolise. From a Qabalistic point of view we
see in this expression the four worlds and the ten sephira of the Tree.

So, the point becomes a line which becomes a triangle and then a square.
The latter either being of the earth earthy or the sacred square. For the
three (when used to refer to the triple Monad of Atma-Budhi-Manas) has first
to fall into the four (being the four lower principles of the personality)
in other words to come into incarnation. Is this another way of saying the
Monad extends itself into duality?

After the death of the 'normal' human being the spiritual essence of the
'personality that was' is withdrawn into the higher triad (ie into Devachan)
making what might be called a 'sacred four', albeit unconsciously and
automatically done. For the Adept, the fourth of Turiya state, is brought
about through the conscious withdrawal of the spiritualised aspect of the
personal consciousness into the higher triad. The Adept need not wait till
physical death but consciously, through meditation, carries out this process
while in possession of all seven principles in incarnation.

Another way of seeing the 3 becoming the 4, where the 4 is the summation and
transformation of the 3 is perhaps referred to by one of the Masters in The
Mahatma Letters to A.P.Sinnett. I am not sure of which letter it is in, nor
the exact quote, but I believe he writes something along the lines that..
'the task of the Adept is to blend the 4th, 5th and 7th principles into the
6th(buddhi)'.


Perhaps another question might be, what does it really mean for the Monad to
extend itself? Is the line a 'ray'? Or perhaps it is an undulation? Or
both. One is reminded of various lines from the Secret Doctrine and the Key
to Theosophy which express the sentiments of, 'the egg drops one solitary
ray', 'the spark hangs from the thread', 'the Monad is undulation in space',
'the sutratman is the one thread (line, extension?) on which all the
personalities of our many incarnations hang like beads'. Perhaps certain
aspects of meditation have to do with 'withdrawal' rather than 'extension'.
The phrase, 'one pointed' when applied to the process of attention in
meditation seems a rather apt pun as well as a literal process.


Anyway, just some thoughts.

...Peter