Theos-Talk Archives (October 2002 Message tt00040)

Oct 6 2002

Dear Gopi:

Re: Karma and our Evolution

You offer some interesting comments and questions. Let me try to
offer that which I have learned from Theosophy as offered by H P
B on behalf of the Mahatmas. One will find the details
faithfully and more extensively given in the KEY TO THEOSOPHY
(HPB) . (Available through http://www.blavatsky.net ).


KARMA IS UNIVERSALLY OPERATIVE.

All beings of any degree, from the highest to the lowest are
subject to Karma. It is the general and universal law of Life
and this radiates from the ABSOLUTE (Parabrahmam).

Sthithi and parasthithi as you describe them might be compared to
the equivalent Theosophical terms

Sthithi -- a plane to which many intelligences relate, or on
which they have common experience.

Parasthithi -- Atma-Buddhi-Manas (the Immortal MONAD) is by
definition eternal and divine. It serves, because it is divine,
as a point of stable observation in all planes and situations.
In it are recorded every detail of every life lived, including
feelings, thoughts and actions. Nothing is omitted. Karma
relates to this record.


THE DIVINE HIGHER SELF

This Divine Self exists to help all the Monads of lesser
experience associated or attracted to it, to attain eventually
its own level of perfection. The final product of existence is
not the isolation of units but their amalgamation into a highly
Conscious and Intelligent cooperative. Hence “brotherhood” is
the practice of Theosophy, providing no exceptions are ever made
in this.


MASTERS WORK AND HUMANITY’S POTENTIAL

The Masters have said that they consider themselves the “servants
of humanity” and of the Universe. The whole of the 1st Volume of
The SECRET DOCTRINE is devoted to showing how these great beings,
regardless of designation, assist at the formation of the
universe and its many worlds. Everything is inevitably placed
under Karma. They are toiling even today at this gigantic task,
and hope that we will grasp the magnitude as well as the
magnificence of opportunity we have placed before our mind’s eye.
The THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT is a pivotal part of this work.


HIGHER AND LOWER SELF IN MAN

In Theosophy, as I understand it, the Ego is seen to be dual,
because the immortal Divine SELF (as Buddhi-Manas) can only
emanate (so to say) a “shadow” (Chhaya) of itself on to the
plane of matter where evolution and experience (including Karma
of course) are in operation. By this process It, (the Divine)
creates (so to say) a periodical “Lower Self” (or, the Lower
Manas, also called Kama-Manas). There is a constant link (called
the Sutratma -- thread soul) between Higher and Lower Manas. The
“Lower Manas” is the highest principle of the “personality (mask)
of this incarnation alone.


LOWER MANS IN MAN

In us, here and now, the Lower Manas (only the “shadow” of the
divine consciousness) operates. It too is dual as it has one
side (the lower) embroiled in desires and passions (Kama), and
the other side, allied through the Sutratma with the divine Self.
Because of this, it is noble, altruistic, impersonal, impartial
and is always ready to help others. This connection enables us
to KNOW without doubt the best way to choose and to abide by
Universal law.

It is the Lower Manas that makes interpretations. These
interpretations are either true (impartial, and universal) or,
they are based on Kama -- passions desires and personal opinions.
These last are in constant flux and change -- hence the
uncertainty.

SKANDHAS AND KARMA

The Skandhas are viewed in Theosophy (SECRET DOCTRINE) as
Immortal Monads of lesser experience than the Immortal Human
Monad. They aggregate around the Human Monad by nature of
affinity and also karma. The Human Monad i a graduate from the
masse of Monads of lesser experience. It has worked hard to
arrive at the human stage. A far greater task now confronts it:
It has to acquire immortality.

When we (as embodied Kama-Manas - the “brain-mind) choose we do
either “good” or “bad.” The difference between the two is:
Obedience to universal divine law, or disobedience and the
breaking of the divine law. The divine law is VIRTUE and TRUTH,
which all know in their “hearts,” but often fail to apply in
daily life.

The Monads of lesser experience are immediately impressed with
the moral quality of our choices -- virtuous or vicious -- they
thus become the “vehicles” of our Karma. We cannot escape them.
and when the time comes for us to use them again, we find that
they have been either improved or made into distorted
caricatures -- and since they serve us as our “tools” for living
in, and on,. this plane, they will return to us the exact nature
of the way in which they were originally used by us.

As I see it, the whole purpose of earth-life and of incarnation
is to ensure innumerable opportunities to the human Monad (as
Lower Manas) to purify itself, and become completely impersonal
and moral. This is to be done by becoming tolerant and
developing the capacity to serve whenever possible, all its many
BROTHERS (the Monads of lesser experience) and the other human
monads who are progressing along with it. The alternative, is
the kind of chaotic and pointless life that most humans live
today, uncertain, ignorant of their divine heritage, they are
largely insensitive of any real purpose or goal in life beyond
pleasure and the avoidance of pain. Yet, within, is the urge to
assist and to be charitable, but the reasons for these virtues
are rarely researched and made plain.

No doubt this brings on many more questions, and it will be good
to consider them together.

Best wishes,

Dallas

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


-----Original Message-----
From: Gopi Chari
Sent: Thursday, October 03, 2002 7:47 PM
To: Re KARMA and Man’s living
Subject: Re: Where are they now? Time will tell -- or not?


I would like to discuss this in some detail.
Firstly let me introduce two words in Sanskrit; Sthithi (state of
things) and PariSthithi (situation). The second word is
interesting because Pari also refers to circle (HPB's circle with
the individual as the center).When individual with his ego (not
Ego) views the 'status', he makes it his 'situation' and is all
in a turmoil. No situation arises without the ego interpreting
the state of things.

Secondly we should discuss what illusion is. One person's
illusion is other person's fact. When we say Karma is only
illusion, we must make sure that we don't take it lightly. The
Physical, Astral and Mental bodies are real and exist. Even the
causal body exists and we can actually feel them and know them at
various times. Without starting to look into these four bodies,
talking about Karma becomes an abstract concept, not a reality.
Once we see a little bit of these bodies we can see that mind
goes all the way to the causal body and that is where the
Skandhas take you from life to the next life. These Skandhas
(sort of reaction bank) turn out to be one's Svabhava (one's
nature). This entire process is Karma which is the cycle of -
"experience - interpretation - action based on interpretation -
look at the results with anxiety - build up Skandhas and more
information to the interpretation - next experience " cycle. From
the point of the real Self, the self and this entire cycle is
illusion. Before we say some one is merely in illusion we must
remember that we should not throw rocks while we are in a glass
house or as the Great one said - don't try to take speck out of
your neighbor's eye -----

So, observation is to watch the process as a spectator. Is it
possible? K says 'yes'. My recommendation is 'Please try'. Once
the observation ability becomes mature it is possible perhaps to
see the Observer. In this Karma becomes the lower level cycle and
becomes interesting to watch and not become part of it.

This in no way discredits Karmic Cycle. It only says that all
human beings and particularly those that have arrived at
Theosophy and HPB can know the Truths. K merely brings them to
light.

The biggest problem with K is that even though he wrote grand
book called 'At the Feet of the Master' he put doubt in the minds
of his followers about Masters. That is misinformation! Secondly,
he was talking about the highest esoteric work to the students
with very little background and thus misled a whole generation.
He is the greatest master, however he did a very poor job. That
is the irony of K! Masters have to work twice as hard to repair
the damage he has done.

I am not qualified to know if Masters are Karmic beings or not.
What all I know is that Masters are beings without body, but can
appear in shapes for us to recognize and they have huge agenda
for the betterment of human race (evolution to the higher level)
and allot work for us if we are willing devotees to them.

Gopi




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]