Theos-Talk Archives (August 2002 Message tt00262)

Aug 28 2002

Dear Friend:

Re; Monads

See at bottom for specific answers. What follows is a preamble.



Are you using The SECRET DOCTRINE INDEX ? It is available
through http://www.blavatsky.net where you can read or down-load
it. A most valuable tool in assembling information so as to
build your understanding.


Briefly:

Whatever name you ascribe to a human unit of consciousness,
(whether it be "self" or something else) then the one I find that
Theosophy has used, MONAD defines the difference between:

1. the Personal Self ( Desire-Mind or Kama-Manas ),
and

2. the Impersonal Wise SELF ( Higher-Mind-- or Buddhi
Manas ).

It is also clear (to me) that these two aspects of the Mind are
the tools of a higher awareness (the MONAD -- which is
imperishable) and, which is superior to them both. The use of
the word SELF might be replaced by "mind," "awareness,"
"consciousness," "memory," etc... all functions reposing on a
unitary and an immortal, un-dying, being, and always in the
company of other similar units -- those are also imperishable
monads but are inexperienced and as such they offer themselves as
“vehicles” (forms) for the more advanced. Monads to live and work
in. The whole purpose of evolution is the development of the
Monad into a universally aware and universally conscious
SPIRIT-SOUL.

If one says a thing does not exist, then why is it at all
mentioned?

How can the "non-existent" speak or formulate a concept of either
itself or the "existent ?" And if there is a "Being," then what
qualities and capacities may be ascribed to it ? Further, if you
and or I am a "being" -- and I am pretty sure that I exist, then
where does a Buddha come from ? What is the difference between
myself and a Buddha? (I know there are many labels and manes
given and also there are many description of qualities associated
with those Names, but how are the distinctions created? What do
they exist for? Or, is this "maya" the universal illusion merely
a "Lela" a dance which some super
being, say "Siva" (for the Hindus), or Mahasur (for the
Tantrikas), creates for its personal pleasure to watch the futile
struggle of countless mortals?

Let us say that "Maya" or "illusion" is a fact. Then by contrast
there has to be something that is not ILLUSION. Or else the
distinction is unclear. Let us say that there is ONE
CONSCIOUSNESS. It is modified by the filters we call pain and
joy.

Let me go a bit further -- please consider the following:

1.

I believe that the concept that Theosophy offers of the MONAD
(the basic "building-block" of all. Nature) is significant.
Synonyms : "little lives," "Skandhas," "life-atoms," etc...
these seem to give
one or more applications of their qualities under various
aspects. their existence is unquestioned.

2.

In The SECRET DOCTRINE H P B speaks of the Monads emerging from
the "MONADIC ESSENCE." [S D I 174-6, 178-9, 619-20, 632-3 ]

SPEAKING OF THE "HUMAN monads" she states that there will be no
further inflow into the human race until the next Manvantara (I
187). What she seems to mean is that the inflow of "human Monads"
is stopped until the next great manvantara offers a proper
opportunity for those to become "thinkers."

All Monads are NON-self-conscious until they enter the human
stage and serve as points of aggregation for the formation of
"Ahankara" or "I-ness." This "I-ness" is constantly varying in
terms of perception
and action, yet it retains as an entity (as a "force field of
intelligence" its PERMANENT INDIVIDUALITY). It is this which
REINCARNATES. It is the cause of the human body, from
embryological substance to the man who eventually dis of old age.

In S D I 174-5 fn she defines the Monad as something that is
not affected by evolutionary changes around it. Yet it acts as a
focus or point of concentration for the evolutionary efforts in
individualized
consciousness. There she states that the aggregates that form
such aspiring entities have to "cling to the Monad."

This requires serious consideration.

The Monad is apparently a SPIRITUAL IDEAL, which extends for our
consideration as in a mirror, a certain IDEAL as reality, as
something that is already achieved. The MONAD is in effect the
HIGHER SELF on every human (ATMA + BUDDHI) Buddhi is included,
since without its presence ATMA is totally incomprehensible.

And from that elevated position, it extends support to the
evolution of the intermediate faculty of intelligence which spans
a wide panorama from instinct to intuition.

As I understand it, this "faculty of intelligence which is human,
is an intermediate state or condition of the MIND (MANAS). For
us NOW. it is apparently the LOWER MANAS that, because of its
aspirations, works through the antaskarana thread (between Higher
and Lower Manas) to touch HIGHER MANAS, and draw down a fraction
of THAT for present illumination.

Thinking, etc...(as defined in PATANJALI) are a part of it, and
are characteristic of the stage we are in, namely, personal human
MIND development. [Note: this cannot avoid being selfish. Yet
we sense
impersonality and universality all around us -- we might call
this a kind of "spiritual intuition." The application in
metaphysics of universality is the real testing point for all of
us -- to see if we can make the transit from our present
limitations (mostly material concepts -- which are "material"
because we do not yet probe them for their CAUSES) into the realm
of metaphysical realities, and there, there are no analytical
dimensions of time or space.

And, as a further concept, it permits us (as Lower-Mind) to
aspire to our own SPIRITUAL MIND or (BUDDHI-MANAS). [In the
ideal concept of MONAD one catches a glimpse of PERFECTION.]
Buddhi is that radiant MATTER which alone can act as a vehicle
for PURE UNIVERSAL SPIRIT. It
is also a shield to lower aspects of matter (aggregates -- not
the Monads themselves) which otherwise would be consumed in the
"fire" of the Spiritual Radiance. ( see Judge "Commentary on the
GAYATRI " --
Judge Articles, Vol. I p. 583...)

I think one may right in identifying it with FATHER-MOTHER, but
one cannot divide this, as it is universal, and not divisible
except as a mental tool for our low understanding to reach up and
begin to
apprehend the IDEAL.

To my understanding the "elemental" is an entity of force,
surrounded by a certain substance which is not physical in the
way we view things. I would say that the Monad is of course
involved with the elemental kingdom, since the ocean of Monads is
universal. But no much is said of this as it might open the door
to manipulation and abuse by unprincipled individuals. The whole
key, as I understand it, is for our progress to become totally
harmless to all beings,

But we cannot materialize this concept beyond saying that in an
ocean there are vast currents and eddies, and thermo-clines,
etc... The elementals are like the "causes" for those various
specialized motions
of the vast physical ocean.

Or to use another illustration, the air (gasses in admixture)
moves as wind, breeze, gusts, tempests, hurricanes, typhoons ...
and even the most destructive blasts of explosives are achieved
by us in using the
expansive force of gasses that are concentrated and then super
heated. The elementals act as causes for these and all this lies
under the rule of Karma.

We, humans, because we are ignorant of these "causes, meddle with
Nature's forces and with the various minerals plants and animals
as though we had the right to destroy. When we have learned to
CREATE,
then we will be trusted with wisdom and the power to investigate
harmlessly. We will also have learned humility, silence and
secrecy. The occult science is not for advertising and certainly
not for display in front of our "modern science."

It is the force, the power behind the phenomenon of expansion and
contraction that relate to the elementals -- and behind those,
are the Monads, eternal, serene, unaffected. Only the
illuminated mind of the Sage can perceive these fine distinctions
and relations, and we can find these expressed in various ways in
The SECRET DOCTRINE -- but we have to search for them. The S D
acts as kind of window, or door into the realm of causes that
underlie all physical effects. Our modern education and the
freedom that Science exercises to analyse and to destroy is a
kind of necrosis -- it kills, and destroys -- it does not know
how to give life or to cooperate with Nature.

Look at Science: It investigates that which WISE NATURE has
already established. Nature already contains and IS EVERYTHING.
The motive of Science is to discover powers and qualities which
will enable special selfish interests to commercialize and
enslave, by one method or another, those who deal with the
products so produced. Another foe to true progress is a false
PRIDE. "Look at what I have discovered!" And from that it leads
to AUTHORITY, and the imperative "to preserve one's position at
all costs, even if it is a false position."

They (these living, acting causes) are not to be identified and
analyzed as a scientist does, destructively. Only the living,
probing, cooperative mind of the Adept who does not destroy but
becomes "one with" the object researched, (as a servant or
friend), can secure a view of the living action of Karma, and the
dynamism of universal LIFE, as it runs (as particular examples)
in and through every entity, and there alone are to be perceived
the links that join every aspect of nature to every other.

It so very important to realize that we DO NOT deal with MATTER
itself. We deal only with the phenomena of matter. We deal,
when we think of "MATTER" (to use an illustration) with the
whirling fan blades of a fan in motion. We do not deal with any
individual blade nor with the fan.

3.

The "ex-lunar Monad" a term used in the S D is that aggregate of
consciousness we call our Personality, and this, of necessity,
includes the lower aspect of Manas (Kama-Manas).

The "Lighting up of Manas" is done every day and commonly, as we
bring up children in our homes. Their "Manas" is new for the
present life-time, and is receiving a "light" as we deal with
them and as they
bring their own tendencies over from past lives -- as to whether
they are vibrantly interested in LEARNING or the reverse. So it
was with us in the early races when the Great adepts acted as
Teachers (S D I 272-3).

Science has by destructive analysis deduced the presence of
minute but powerful forces in hat they conceive to be the
physical atom. Those are NOT physical particles at all, but only
FORCES -- "fields" if you please. They do not know what CAUSES
them, nor do they understand the nature or the relationship of
multiple forces to each-other -- or to the rest of Nature. Again
it is materializing. It is also placing
that which is alive and dynamic into a "dead" a "static
position." Nothing creative can be derived from that.

Once we deal with CAUSES the materialism of this age erodes.
There are no physically devised tools able to identify causes.
Only the illumined human mind can do this, philosophically,
logically, and
later by actual participation with living entities and
situations. Where do we secure illumination?

What qualities do we have to prepare to be able do that ? This
is where Theosophy with its broad purview covering the effort of
lives assists. If we are not IMMORTALS, then what use is all
this knowledge? If we are not gong to use it as a service to
others, then what good is it for us to posses it ? These are
great moral questions which present day Scientist does not
examine. Yet there are Scientists and philosophers who do. Can
we make ourselves a part of that body? Can we assist in exposing
the cooperative nature of the Universe ?

I have enjoyed speaking with you in this way, lets do more of it.

Best wishes

as always,

Dallas


-----Original Message-----
From: G R [Sent: Sunday, August 25, 2002 2:14 AM
To:
Subject: I am that I am

Dallas,

Lately I've been reviewing The Secret Doctrine's material
concerning "MONADS".Part of my understanding about Monads is that
they can each retain their individual identity once they have
become One with the All.Is that,in your view,the correct
understanding?


DTB CORRECT. Once obtained they never lose it.


Also do you think "The ALL" in it's most evolved state has any
"SELF AWARNESS"or does it take both materiality and Spirituality
to create self awareness?


DTB THE ABSOLUTE has no qualities that we can ascribe to
it. IT IS. It is the eternal spiritual (or rather
meta-spiritual) “background” to all whether manifested or non-
manifested.


Whats your thoughts on the biblical statement"I am that I am".
Greg

DTB I AM THAT I AM is a Hindu statement. It antedates the
Bible. It means I AM AN IMPERISHABLE SPIRIT. It signifies I AM
ONE WITH THE ABSOLUTE ALL.

It means there is NO PERSONAL GOD. The whole universe is the
manifested DEITY and is imperishable.


Dallas




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