Theos-Talk Archives (September 2002 Message tt00074)

Miscellaneous Quotations from H.P.Blavatsky



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Astrology and Astronomy -- HPB


"This crude notion, not philosophically understood, leads to
two unscientific fallacies. On the one hand it gives rise
to a belief in the doctrine of fatality, which says that man
has no free-will inasmuch as every thing is predetermined,
and in the other it leads one to suppose that the laws of
Nature are not immutable, since certain propitiatory rites
may change the ordinary course of events. These two extreme
views induce the "rationalist" to reject "Astrology" as a
remnant of the uncivilized condition of our ancestors, since
as a matter-of-fact student he refuses to recognize the
importance of the saying, "Real philosophy seeks rather to
solve than to deny." It is an axiom of the philosophic
student that truth generally lies between the extremes...

Although a study of this science may enable one to determine
what the course of events will be, it cannot necessarily be
inferred therefrom that the planets exercise any influence
over that course. The clock indicates, it does not
influence, the time. And a distant traveler has often to
put right his clock so that it may indicate correctly the
time of the place he visits. Thus, though the planets may
have no hand in changing the destiny of the man, still their
position may indicate what that destiny is likely to be.

This hypothesis leads us to the question, "What is destiny?"
As understood by the Occultist, it is merely the chain of
causation producing its correspondential series of effects.

One who has followed the teachings of Occultism...concerning
Devachan and future rebirths, knows that every individual is
his own creator and his own father, i.e., our future
personality will be the result of our present mode of
living.

In the same manner our present birth, with all its
conditions, is the tree grown out of the germ sown in our
past incarnations. Our physical and spiritual conditions
are the effects of our actions produced on those two planes
in previous existences.

Now it is a well-known principle of Occultism that the one
life which pervades all connects all the bodies in space.
All heavenly bodies have thus mutual relation, which is
blended with man's existence, since he is but a microcosm in
the macrocosm. Every thought, as much as action, is dynamic
and is impressed in the imperishable Book of Nature--the
Akasa, the objective aspect of the unmanifested life. All
our thoughts and actions thus produce the vibrations in
space, which mould our future career. And astrology is a
science which, having determined the nature of the laws that
govern these vibrations, is able to state precisely a
particular or a series of results, the causes of which have
already been produced by the individual in his previous
life.

Since the present incarnation is the child of the previous
one, and since there is but that one life which holds
together all the planets of the Solar system, the position
of those planets at the time of the birth of an
individual--which event is the aggregate result of the
causes already produced--gives to the true Astrologer the
data upon which to base his predictions. It should be well
remembered at the same time that just as the "astronomer who
catalogues the stars cannot add one atom to the universe,"
so also can no astrologer, no more than the planet,
influence the human destiny.

The ancient Rishis...had by observation, experiment and deep
occult knowledge, taken account of all conceivable
combinations of various causes and determined with
mathematical precision almost to infinitesimal point their
effects. But yet, since the cosmos is infinite, no finite
being can ever take cognizance of all the possibilities of
Nature; at any rate they cannot be committed to writing,
since as Isis Unveiled says:--"to express divine ideas,
divine language is necessary."



Recognizing the truth of this most important but
unfortunately often neglected axiom, they laid down as the
first condition of success in astrology a pure life,
physically, morally and spiritually. This was intended to
develop the psychic capacities of the astrologer who could
thus see in the Akasa the combinations, not alluded to in
the written works, and predict their results...In short
Astrology is a mathematical science which teaches us what
particular causes will produce what particular combinations,
and thus, understood in its real significance, gives us the
means of obtaining the knowledge how to guide our future
births.


True, such astrologers there are but few...We must not at
the same time loose sight of the fact that although there
are numberless combinations which might have been determined
by the psychic vision of the astrologer, there are yet a
very large number of them which have been determined and put
u=on record by the ancient sages."
Theosophist, Vol. 5, p. 213-4 [CWB 6-p.227]





"We hold that the science of Astrology only determines the
nature of effects, by a knowledge of the law of magnetic
affinities and attractions of the Planetary bodies, but that
it is the Karma of the individual himself, which places him
in that particular magnetic relation."
Theosophist, Vol. 6, p. 106 [CWB 6-p.327]





"The star under which a human Entity is born, says the
Occult teaching, will remain for ever its star, throughout
the whole cycle of its incarnations in one Manvantara. But
this is not his astrological star. The latter is concerned
and connected with the personality, the former with the
Individuality. The "Angel" of that Star, or the
Dhyani-Buddha will be either the guiding or simply the
presiding "Angel," so to say, in every new rebirth of the
monad, which is part of its own essence. though his vehicle,
man, may remain for ever ignorant of this fact. The adepts
have each their Dhyani-Buddha, their elder "twin Soul," and
they know it, calling it "Father-Soul," and "Father-Fire."
... The Logos, or both the unmanifested and the manifested
WORD, is called by the Hindus, Iswara...the highest
consciousness in nature.. There are seven chief groups of
such Dhyan Chohans, which groups will be found and
recognized in every religion, for they are the primeval
Seven Rays. Humanity...is divided into seven distinct
groups and their sub-divisions, mental, spiritual, and
physical * [ Fn.:-- Hence the 7 chief planets, the spheres
of the indwelling 7 spirits, under each of which is born one
of the human groups which is guided and influenced thereby.
There are only 7 planets (specially connected with earth),
and 12 houses, but the possible combinations of their
aspects are countless. ... as infinite as the spiritual,
psychic, mental, and physical capacities in the numberless
varieties of the genus homo, each of which...is born under
on of the 7 planets and one of the said countless planetary
combinations."
[ See Theosophist for August l886] S. D. I p.
572-3

---------------------------


"...the evolution of Spirit into matter could never have
been achieved; nor would it have received its first
impulse, had not the bright Spirits sacrificed their own
respective super-ethereal essences to animate the man of
clay, by endowing each of his inner principles with a
portion, or rather a reflection of that essence." SD
II 273 [additional references: SD I 210, II 79-80, 281]


"Esoteric philosophy...teaches that one third of the
Dhyanis--i.e., the 3 classes of the Arupa Pitris [formless],
endowed with intelligence, "which is a formless breath,
composed of intellectual not elementary substances"...--was
simply doomed by the law of Karma and evolution to be reborn
(or incarnated) on Earth. Some of these were Nirmanakayas
from other Manvantaras. Hence we see them, in all the
Puranas, reappearing on this globe, in the third Manvantara,
as Kings, Rishis and heroes (read Third Root Race). This
tenet, being too philosophical and metaphysical to be
grasped by the multitudes, was...disfigured by the
priesthood for the purpose of preserving a hold over them
through superstitious fear." SD II 93-4

---------------------------------


Higher Self -- HPB


HPB Review of A.P.Sinnett's novel: "United,"

"For who of us knows, or has any means of knowing Self,
while he lives in the lethal atmosphere of whether Society
or Proletariat ? Who, taught from babyhood that he is born
in sin, helpless as a reed, whose only support is the
"Lord"--can think of testing his own powers--when even their
presence in him is a thought that never could enter his
mind? Between the eternal struggle for more gold, more
honours, more power in the higher classes, and the "struggle
for existence," for bread and life, in the lower ones, there
is no time or room for the manifestation of the "inner man"
in us. Thus, from birth to death that Ego slumbers,
paralyzed by the external man, and asserts itself only
occasionally in dreams, in causal visions, and strange
"coincidences"--unbidden and unheeded. The Psychic or
Higher Self as it is called in United, has to be first of
all ridden of the soporific influence of Personal Self,
before it can proclaim obviously its existence and actual
presence in man. But once this condition is fulfilled, then
truly "he who reigns within himself and rules passions,
desires, and fears, is more than a king"--as Milton says:
for he is an adept already; the shell alone between the
inner man and the world of objective as subjective
manifestation, is to be overcome; and when it offers no
more resistance than a merely passive one then the higher
self is as free as on the day on which that shell will be
left behind him for ever. But there are rare individuals
who seem born with capacity for certain mysterious objects
of karma, and whose inner selves are so strong as to
actually reduce to nought the resistance of their personal
or provisional bodies."
Theosophist 8-pp. 514-520 [CWB 7-pp. 308-9]

------------------------------------------

We reply: "The true Self is per se, impersonal; the
personal or brain-consciousness being but an illusory
reflection in incarnated existence." Western Psychology
errs in regarding this personal ego as the only factor to be
considered in its researches. The argument, therefore, as
to the inconceivability of the Subject perceiving
itself--which, if we limit subject to Mind (Manas) is
absolutely valid--collapses the moment we assert with Kant
and his modern exponents, the existence of a Higher Self or
"Transcendental subject."


For, in the act of self-analysis, the Mind becomes in its
turn an object to the spiritual consciousness. It is the
overshadowing of the Mind by Buddhi which results in the
ultimate realization of existence--i.e. self-consciousness
in its purest form. But it must at the same time be borne
in mind that the full realization of the spiritual Self is
impossible for an incarnated 4th Rounder [the average man of
today].


The Spiritual ego reflects no varying states of
consciousness; is independent of all sensation
(experience); it does not think--it knows, by an intuitive
process only faintly conceivable by the average man. "The
subject that perceives" Mind, as an attribute of itself, is
this Transcendental or spiritual Ego (Buddhi). He who would
know more, let him study Vedanta and Patanjali's Yoga
Philosophy--esoterically. Let him understand the real
meaning of these sentences: "The knower of self passes
beyond sorrow" (Chandogya Upanishad, VII, i, 3); and again
"he who knows the Supreme Brahman, becomes Brahman" (Mundaka
Upanishad, III, ii, 9)."

Theosophist Vol 18, pp. 9-12 Oct 1896 [ CWB 8-p.
93]
Posthumous Article of HPB written 1887 (?)


--------------------------




Occultism -- HPB


"Occultism is not magic, though magic is one of its tools.

Occultism is not the acquirement of powers, whether psychic
or intellectual, though, both are its servants. Neither is
occultism the pursuit of happiness, as men understand the
word; for the first step is sacrifice, the second, renuncia
tion.

Life is built up by the sacrifice of the individual to the
whole. Each cell in the living body must sacrifice itself
to the perfection of the whole; when it is otherwise
disease and death enforce the lesson.

Occultism is the science of life, the art of living.
Lucif 1, p. 7; CWB 8-14




"The process and growth of the Adepts is the secret of
Occultism. Were adeptship easy of attainment many would
achieve it, but it is the hardest task in nature, and
volumes would be required to give even an outline of the
philosophy of this development." [ See Practical Occultism
by HPB ] HPB - Lucifer 2-155-60; CWB 9-165.




==================================




Perfection -- HPB



"Ordinarily, a man is said to reach Nirvana when he evolutes
into a Dhyan Chohan. The condition of a Dhyan Chohan is
attained in the ordinary course of Nature, after the
completion of the 7th round in the present planetary chain.
After becoming a Dhyan Chohan, a man does not, according to
the Law of nature, incarnate in any of the other planetary
chains of this Solar system. The whole Solar system is his
home.

He continues to discharge his duties in the Government of
this Solar system until the time of Solar Pralaya, when his
monad, after a period of rest, will have to overshadow in
another Solar system a particular human being during his
successive incarnations, and attach itself to his higher
principles when he becomes a Dhyan Chohan in his turn.

There is progressive spiritual development in the
innumerable solar systems of the infinite cosmos. Until the
time of Cosmic Pralaya, the Monad will continue to act in
the manner above indicated, and it is only during the
inconceivable period of cosmic sleep which follows the
present period of activity, that the highest condition of
Nirvana is realized...our Mahatmas have not yet affirmed
that there are exactly 7 planetary chains in this Solar
system."
(Theosophist, Vol. 5, p. 246, July 1884)

Immortality Transcending Pralaya


"I maintain as an occultist, on the authority of the Secret
Doctrine, that though merged entirely into Parabrahm, man's
spirit while not individual per se, yet preserves its
distinct individuality in Paranirvana owing to the
accumulation in it of the aggregates, or skandhas that have
survived after each death, from the highest faculties of the
Manas.

The most spiritual--i.e., the highest and divinest
aspirations of every personality follow Buddhi and the
Seventh Principle into Devachan (Swarga) after the death of
each personality along the line of rebirths, and become part
and parcel of the Monad. The personality fades out,
disappearing before the occurrence of the evolution of the
new personality (rebirth) out of Devachan: but the
individuality or the spirit-soul...is preserved to the end
of the great cycle (Maya-Manwantara) when each Ego enters
Paranirvana, or is merged in Parabrahm. To our talpatic, or
mole-like, comprehension the human spirit is then lost in
the One Spirit, as the drop of water thrown into the sea can
no longer be traced out and recovered.

But de facto it is not so in the world of immaterial
thoughts. This latter stands in relation to the human
dynamic thought, as, say, the visual power through the
strongest conceivable microscope would to the sight of a
half-blind man: and yet this is a most insufficient
simile--the difference is "inexpressible in terms of
foot-pounds."

That such Parabrahmic and Paranirvanic "spirits," or units
have and must preserve their divine (not human)
individualities, is shown in the fact that, however long the
"night of Brahma" or even the Universal Pralaya (not the
local Pralaya affecting some one group of worlds) yet, when
it ends, the same individual Divine Monad resumes its
majestic path of evolution though on a higher, hundredfold
perfected and more pure chain of earths than before and
brings with it all the essence of compound spiritualities
from its previous countless rebirths."
(Theosophist, January 1886) --HPB Articles, II, p.
265)



"The closer the approach to one's prototype "in Heaven," the
better for the mortal whose personality was chosen by his
own personal deity (the 7th principle), as its terrestrial
abode. For, with every effort of will toward purification
and unity with that "Self-god," one of the lower rays breaks
and the spiritual entity of man is drawn higher and ever
higher to the ray that supersedes the first, until from ray
to ray, the inner man is drawn into the one and highest beam
of the Parent-SUN."
(The Secret Doctrine, I, p. 638-9 )



"The human Ego is neither Atman nor Buddhi, but the higher
Manas: the intellectual fruition and the efflorescence of
the intellectual self-conscious Egotism--in the higher
spiritual sense. The ancient works refer to it as Karana
Sarira on the plane of the Sutratma, which is the golden
thread on which, like beads, the various personalities of
this higher Ego are strung. If the reader were told, as in
the semi-esoteric allegories, that these Beings were
returning Nirvanees, from preceding Maha-Manvantaras--ages
of incalculable duration which have rolled away in the
Eternity...he would hardly understand the text correctly..."
SD II 79-80


---------------------------------


Molecules - a Postulate


"No one knows to this hour the ultimate structure or essence
of matter. Hitherto, Science has never yet succeeded in
decomposing a single one of the many simple bodies,
miscalled "elementary substances." So far do our
materialists stray, nolens volens, into metaphysics, that
they are not even sure if molecules are realities, or a
simple fancy based on false perceptions !
"There may be no such things as molecules...writes Prof.
J.P. Cooke, in his New Chemistry,"...the new chemistry
assumes as its fundamental postulate that the magnitudes we
call molecules are realities; but this is only a
postulate." Can any critic assume, after this, "too much of
a negation?"
--HPB Note Lucifer 2-71; CWB 9-87



"How...does Medicine, or any other Science, fully know that
matter performs unaided by "Spiritual" agency, all material
operations ? All they know is, that they are ignorant even
of the reality of their molecules, let alone invisible
primordial matter. And it is just with regard to the
natural functions of the grey matter in the brain, and the
action of the mind or consciousness, that Tyndall has
declared that were we even enabled to see and feel the very
molecules of the brain, still the chasm between the two
classes of phenomena would be "intellectually
impassable."...


Descartes showed some consistency...while putting forth his
hypothesis about the pineal gland. He would not talk upon a
subject and predicate of an organ that which it is not when
currently ignorant of what it may be...Nowadays, the Science
of Physiology knows no more than Descartes did of the pineal
gland, and the spleen, and a few more mysterious organs in
the human body. Yet, even in their great ignorance they
will deny point-blank any spiritual agency there, where they
are unable to perceive and follow even the material
operations. Vanity and Conceit are thy names..."
-- HPB Foot-notes Lucif 2-71; CWB 9- 88.


---------------------------------


Life - Jiva - Prana


"Esoteric science, holding that nothing in nature is
inorganic but that every atom is a "life," does not agree
with "Modern Science" as to the meaning attached to
"spontaneous Generation."
-- HPB Footnote, Lucifer 2-37-42


"...Occultism does not teach that the Life-Principle--which
is per se immutable, eternal and indestructible as the one
causeless cause, for it is That in one of its aspects--can
ever differentiate individually...It is only each
body--whether man, beast, plant, insect, bird, or
mineral--which, in assimilating more or less of the life
principle, differentiates in its own special atoms, and
adapts to this or another combination of particles, which
combination determines the differentiation.

The monad partaking of the universal aspect of the
Parabrahmic nature, unites with its monas on the plane of
differentiation to constitute an individual. This
individual, being in its essence inseparable from Parabrahm,
also partakes of the Life-Principle in its Parabbrahmic
Universal Aspect.

Therefore, at the death of a man or an animal, the
manifestation of life or the evidences of Kinetic energy are
only withdrawn to one of those subjective planes of
existence which are not ordinarily objective to us. The
amount of Kinetic energy to be expended during life by one
particular set of physiological cells is allotted by
Karma--another aspect of the Universal
Principle--consequently when this is expended on the
conscious activity of man or animal is no longer manifested
on the plane of those cells, and the chemical forces which
they represent are disengaged and left free to act in the
physical plane of their manifestation.

Jiva--in its universal aspect--has, like Prakriti, its seven
forms, or what we have agreed to call "principles." Its
action begins on the plane of the Universal Mind (Mahat) and
ends in the grossest of the Tanmatric five planes--the last
one, which is ours. Thus though we may, repeating after
Sankhya philosophy, speak of the seven prakritis (or
"productive productions") or after the phraseology of the
Occultists of the seven jivas--yet, both Prakriti and Jiva
are indivisible abstractions, to be divided only out of
condescension for the weakness of our human intellect.
Therefore, also, whether we divide it into four, five or
seven principles matters in reality very little.
-- HPB Footnotes, Lucifer 2-37-42; HPB Art. II 260
[see TRANSMIGRATION OF THE LIFE ATOMS H.P.Blavatsky Art.
II- 249
THE LIFE PRINCIPLE H.P.Blavatsky Art. II 257



"Modern Science, tracing all vital phenomena to the
molecular forces of the original protoplasm, disbelieves in
a Vital Principle, and in its materialistic negations
laughs, of course, at the idea. Ancient Science, or
Occultism, disregarding the laugh of ignorance, asserts it
as a fact. The One Life--is deity itself, immutable,
omnipresent, eternal. It is "subtle supersensuous matter"
on this lower plane of ours...whether we trace it to the
"sun-force"--a theory of B. W. Richardson F.R.S.--or call it
this, that or the other...he speaks of the life-principle as
of "a form of matter" (!!) "...a veritable material agent,
refined...actual and substantial: an agent having quality
of weight and of volume; an agent susceptible of chemical
combination, and thereby of change of physical state and
condition; an agent passive in its action, moved
always...by influences apart from itself, obeying other
influences; an agent possessing no initiative power, no
vis, or energia naturae, but still playing a most important,
if not a primary part in the production of the phenomena
resulting from the action of the energia upon visible
matter." [Theory of a Nervous Ether, p. 363] As one sees,
the Doctor plays at blind man's buff with occultism and
describes admirably the passive "life-elementals" used, say,
by great sorcerers to animate their homunculi...one of the
countless aspects of our "subtle
supersensuous-matter-life-principle."
Foot-Note by HPB - Lucif 2-37-42; CWB 9-78-9


"...the Hindu philosophers are right...we have real need of
the divisions of everything--Prakriti, Jiva, etc.--into
principles to enable us to explain the action of Jiva on our
low planes without degrading it. Thence, while the Vedantin
philosopher might be content with four principles in his
universal Kosmogony, we occultists need at least seven to
enable ourselves to understand the difference of the Protean
nature of the life-principle once it acts on the five lower
spheres or planes...the third view--that of the occult
doctrines [is that]...which looks upon the distinction
between organic and inorganic matter as fallacious and
non-existent in nature. For, it says that matter in all its
phases being merely a vehicle for the manifestation through
it of Life--the Parabrahmic Breath--in its physically
pantheistic aspect (as Dr. Richardson would say, we suppose)
it is a super-sensuous state of matter, itself the vehicle
of the One Life, the unconscious purposiveness of
Parabrahm."
Foot-Note by HPB - Lucif 2-37-42; CWB 9-79-80.


"A human being can "live" quite separated from his Spiritual
Soul--the 7th and 6th principles of the One Life or
"Atma-Buddhi;" but no being--whether human or animal--can
live separated from its physical Soul, Nephesh or the Breath
of Life (in Genesis). These "seven souls" or lives (that
which we call Principles) are admirably described in the
Egyptian Ritual and the oldest papyri."
Foot-Note by HPB - Lucif 2-37-42; CWB 9-80.



The Absolute -- HPB


"...can the Absolute have any relation to the finite?
Reason and metaphysical philosophy answer alike--No. The
"Self-existent" can only be the Absolute, and esoteric
philosophy calls it therefore the "Causeless Cause," the
Absolute Root of all, with no attributes, properties or
conditions. It is the one universal Law of which immortal
man is a part, and which, therefore, he senses under the
only possible aspects--those of absolute immutability
transformed into absolute activity--on this plane of
illusion--or eternal ceaseless motion, the ever Becoming.
Spirit, Matter, Motion, are the three attributes on this our
plane. In that of self-existence the three are one and
indivisible. Hence we say that Spirit, Matter, and Motion
are eternal, because one, under three aspects."

[Absolute truth is self-evident] "Self-evident" truth may
be considered absolute in relation to this Earth--only
casually. It is still relative, not absolute with regard to
its Universal Absoluteness."
- HPB Lucifer 2, p. 80-1; CWB 9-98




The Spiritual Monad -- HPB


"The "Spiritual Monad" is eternal because uncreate, but its
"Individual persistence"--in human form and bodies on this
terrestrial chain or during the life-cycle, lasts only "one
manvantara."

This does not prevent the same Spiritual Monad starting at
the end of Mahapralaya (the Grand Age of Rest) into another
higher and more perfect "life-cycle" with the fruits of
accumulated experiences of all the personalities the
"individual" Ego (manas) had informed.

[ See also:

"Ordinarily, a man is said to reach Nirvana when he evolutes
into a Dhyan Chohan. The condition of a Dhyan Chohan is
attained in the ordinary course of Nature, after the
completion of the 7th round in the present planetary chain.
After becoming a Dhyan Chohan, a man does not, according to
the Law of nature, incarnate in any of the other planetary
chains of this Solar system. The whole Solar system is his
home.

He continues to discharge his duties in the Government of
this Solar system until the time of Solar Pralaya, when his
monad, after a period of rest, will have to overshadow in
another Solar system a particular human being during his
successive incarnations, and attach itself to his higher
principles when he becomes a Dhyan Chohan in his turn.

There is progressive spiritual development in the
innumerable solar systems of the infinite cosmos. Until the
time of Cosmic Pralaya, the Monad will continue to act in
the manner above indicated, and it is only during the
inconceivable period of cosmic sleep which follows the
present period of activity, that the highest condition of
Nirvana is realized...our Mahatmas have not yet affirmed
that there are exactly 7 planetary chains in this Solar
system."
Theosophist, Vol. 5, p. 246, July 1884


"I maintain as an occultist, on the authority of the Secret
Doctrine, that though merged entirely into Parabrahm, man's
spirit while not individual per se, yet preserves its
distinct individuality in Paranirvana owing to the
accumulation in it of the aggregates, or skandhas that have
survived after each death, from the highest faculties of the
Manas.

The most spiritual--i.e., the highest and divinest
aspirations of every personality follow Buddhi and the
Seventh Principle into Devachan (Swarga) after the death of
each personality along the line of rebirths, and become part
and parcel of the Monad. The personality fades out,
disappearing before the occurrence of the evolution of the
new personality (rebirth) out of Devachan: but the
individuality or the spirit-soul...is preserved to the end
of the great cycle (Maya-Manwantara) when each Ego enters
Paranirvana, or is merged in Parabrahm. To our talpatic, or
mole-like, comprehension the human spirit is then lost in
the One Spirit, as the drop of water thrown into the sea can
no longer be traced out and recovered.

But de facto it is not so in the world of immaterial
thoughts. This latter stands in relation to the human
dynamic thought, as, say, the visual power through the
strongest conceivable microscope would to the sight of a
half-blind man: and yet this is a most insufficient
simile--the difference is "inexpressible in terms of
foot-pounds."

That such Parabrahmic and Paranirvanic "spirits," or units
have and must preserve their divine (not human)
individualities, is shown in the fact that, however long the
"night of Brahma" or even the Universal Pralaya (not the
local Pralaya affecting some one group of worlds) yet, when
it ends, the same individual Divine Monad resumes its
majestic path of evolution though on a higher, hundredfold
perfected and more pure chain of earths than before and
brings with it all the essence of compound spiritualities
from its previous countless rebirths."
(Theosophist, January 1886) -- HPB Articles, II, p. 265)



Astral Light -- HPB


"According to Occult teaching the Astral light is not the
"thought substance" of the Universe, but the recorder of
every thought; the universal mirror which reflects every
event and thought as every being and thing, animate or
inanimate. We call it the great Sea of Illusion, Maya."
Lucifer 5, p. 351


Brotherhood -- HPB


"...one eternal Truth, and one infinite changeless Spirit of
Love, Truth and Wisdom in the Universe, as one Light for
all, in which we live and move and have our Being...

We are all Brothers. Let us then love, help, and mutually
defend each other against any Spirit of untruth or
deception, "without distinction of race, creed or colour."
Fragment of MSS - HPB's CWB 13-269


Knowledge Comes in Visions -- HPB

Methods of Occult Teaching


"Knowledge comes in visions, first in dreams and then in
pictures presented to the inner eye during mediation. Thus
have I been taught the whole system of evolution, the laws
of being and all else that I know--the mysteries of life and
death, the workings of karma. Not a word was spoken to me
of all this in the ordinary way, except, perhaps, by way of
confirmation of what was thus given me--nothing taught me in
writing.

And knowledge so obtained is so clear, so convincing, so
indelible in the impression it makes upon the mind, that all
other sources of information, all other methods of teaching
with which we are familiar dwindle into insignificance in
comparison with this. One of the reasons why I hesitate to
answer offhand some questions put to me is the difficulty of
expressing in sufficiently accurate language things given to
me in pictures, and comprehended by me by the pure Reason,
as Kant would call it.

Theirs is a synthetic method of teachings: the most general
outlines are given first, then an insight into the method of
working, next the broad principles and notions are brought
into view, and lastly begins the revelation of the minuter
points."
MSS of HPB CWB 13-285


There is a Road Steep and Thorny...

There is a road steep and thorny,
Beset with perils of every kind,
But yet a road,
And it leads to the very heart of the Universe.

I can tell you how to find those
Who will show you the secret gateway
That opens inward only,
And closes fast behind the neophyte for evermore.


There is no danger that dauntless courage
cannot conquer;
There is no trial that spotless purity cannot
pass through;
There is no difficulty
That strong intellect cannot surmount.


For those who win onwards
There is reward past all telling--
The power to bless and save humanity;
For those who fail, there are other lives in which
success may come.

[ Attributed to HPB Lucifer 9-p. 4 ]




Consciousness and Self-Consciousness

"Occultism teaches that simultaneously our consciousness
could receive no less than seven distinct impressions, and
even pass them into memory. This can be proved by striking
at the same time seven keys of the scale of an
instrument--say a piano. The 7 sounds will reach the
consciousness simultaneously; though the untrained
consciousness may not be capable of registering them the
first second, their prolonged vibrations will strike the ear
in 7 distinct sound one higher than the other in its pitch.
All depends on training and attention. Thus the
transference of a sensation from any organ to consciousness
is almost instantaneous if your attention is fixed upon it;
but if any noise distracts your attention it will take a
number of seconds before it reaches the consciousness. The
Occultist should train himself to receive and transmit along
the line of the seven scales of his consciousness every
impression or impressions simultaneously. He who reduces
the intervals of physical time the most, has made the most
progress.


The names and order of the 7 scales are:

1. Sense-perception;
2. Self-perception (or apperception)
3. Psychic perception--which carries it
to
4. Visual perception.


There are the four lower scales and belong to the
psycho-physical man. Then come :

5. Manasic discernments;
6. Will perception, and
7. Spiritual conscious apperception.


The special organ of consciousness is of course the brain,
and is located in the aura of the pineal gland in the living
man. During the process of mind or thought manifesting to
consciousness, constant vibrations of light take place. If
one could see clairvoyantly in the brain of a living man one
could almost count (see with the eye) the seven shades of
the successive scales of light, from the dullest to the
brightest.


What consciousness is can never be defined psychologically.
We can analyze and classify its work and effects--we cannot
define it, unless we postulate an Ego distinct from the
body. The septenary scale of states of consciousness is
reflected in the heart, or rather its aura which vibrates
and illumines the seven brains of the heart as it does the
seven divisions or rays around the pineal gland.


The consciousness shows to us the difference between the
nature and essence of, say, astral body and Ego. One
molecular, invisible unless condensed, the other
atomic-spiritual. (See example of smoker--ten cigarettes
the smoke of each retaining its affinity.)

[ see "Psychic and Noetic Action" HPB Art II 7 ]