Light
Sep 09, 2003 05:20 PM
by W. Dallas TenBroeck
RE: LIGHT
Dear Friends:
Perhaps the best suggestion, if one desires to understand the use of the
word and idea of LIGHT in THEOSOPHY-- even if it takes time -- is for
students to go to the INDEXES. SECRET DOCTRINE and ISIS UNVEILED,
MAHATMA LETTERS and look up the references for themselves under
LIGHT,
FIRE,
FLAME,
DARKNESS,
RAYS,
ASTRAL LIGHT,
AKASA,
LIFE,
KARMA,
MONADS,
ENLIGHTENMENT, SPIRITUAL WISDOM,
DHYANIS, BUDDHAS, PITRIS, MAHATMAS, ARHATS, ADEPTS ...
SUDDHA SATTVA [Glos p. 311]
DAIVIPRAKRITI,
Some musings:
Can we not consider LIGHT as a symbol that indicates on this plane of
matter, the ability to survey a field (ideal, practical, limited to some
pre-determined area, etc...) of knowledge, wisdom, law, history -- or
any subject on which there is a record (physical, astral, akasic, etc.)?
It is a symbol for the Divine Spirit [S D II 113, 87]
Light and Darkness are contrasts. They exist only in the condition
provided by a differentiated world or universe. Both are therefore to
be considered transitory and mayavic. [Trans. p. 356, 42] They are
however brought into existence by the "CAUSELESS CAUSE." UNIVERSAL
IMMUTABLE KARMA -- the LAW OF CYCLES in its entirety..
Does not LIGHT usually symbolize (in general) the activity of
intelligent evolution, and in particular, it directs attention to
SPIRIT, to ATMA, -- recognizable by their attributes of wisdom and
purity of motive? All objects that we (the Perceiver) can see, are said
to be "seen" by a "reflected light." [Transactions, 114] Thus, it is
Light that is the first agent, it acts to set into motion and controls
all in Nature. [Trans. p. 115] But, LIGHT itself is never to be seen.
The ancient Hindu Gayatri hymn says: "Unveil, O Thou who givest
sustenance to the Universe, from whom all proceed, to whom all must
return, that face of the True Sun now hidden by a vase of golden light,
that we may see the truth and do our whole duty on our journey to thy
sacred seat." [A COMMENTARY ON THE GAYATRI - Judge, PATH, Jan. 1893;
WQJ Articles, Vol. I, p. 583]
The LIGHT OF THE LOGOS [ S D I 137, 602; II 233, 400fn, Transactions,
p. 41] is spoken of as symbolic of the primordial first moments of
differentiation -- as the eternal UNIVERSE returns once more to LIFE.
This return does not start at a single focus or center, but is
simultaneous over the entire plane of manifestation -- as though a Light
had been turned on in a dark room.
Light is infinite, continuous. With the right instrumentation we are
enabled to "see" the most distant "suns" and "universes." [ 50 +
billion light years ? This is an incomprehensible distance to most of
us. One of the implications is, that we actually live in a Universal SUN
-- and are never "away" or "apart" from that one RADIANCE -- the LIFE
SOURCE of ALL.] It is when vibrations, powers, motion, light (?) reach
our solar area and our earth that we can cause those forces to recombine
or differentiate, using electronic amplification, or more prosaically,
prisms and lenses. This implies that in our region of space we need a
translation of some of those universal stimuli. We need to apply
analogy and correspondence to secure information that will relate to our
limitations of experience here.
"Fiat Lux!" Let light shine out. [S D II 36-42, 239.] Fire is called
the first manifest material [S D I 250, 259] It is said to preside
over time [S D I 86]. It is aether in its purest form [ S D I 87,
469; II 216] It is "pure Akasa" [ S D I 252] Also, it is defined
as being living and magnetic [S D I 338, II 311fn]
Fohat [divine intelligent electricity, the progeny of Fire [S D I 16,
81-2, 110-11, 119, 136-7, 139, 493, ] is said to be the "light" of all
three Logoi [Trans. P. 38] Light is the "first flutter in
undifferentiated matter." It heralds the return of activity and the
rebirth under KARMA of the Universe that has been in repose. [Trans. p.
42] We may call that primordial LIGHT: "The first progeny of Darkness."
[Trans. p. 115, 216]
The SECRET DOCTRINE uses as an illustration a sea of fire, as being the
primordial contrast to the "darkness" of Maha-Pralaya -- the great
interval of rest and assimilation (corresponding to Devachan, or
Nirvana) between evolutionary living for all beings, considered on a
universal, a Kosmic scale.
"Beings" (whether atoms, men-minds, worlds, or universes) are of
necessity limited (in time, space, life, and progress) and hence, may be
said to be "mayavic" as to form (the "forms" are in constant change held
within definite boundaries). Yet, for there to be such an "illusion"
surrounding the actual "Being," there has to be a permanency. For the
moment, may we place this as an existence in the "spiritual Principles?"
-- say, the ATMA-BUDDHI-MANASIC Monad -- which as a unit, is eternal on
its plane.
Add to these two contrasts [matter and spirit], is the necessary
"bridge" of inter-relationship which may be called "mind," intelligence
or consciousness. In this study on Light, this would be an intelligent
electro-magnetic medium -- a field of force -- (akasa, aether ?)
through which all vibrations, including light, are transmitted between a
sender and a recipient, however distant [S D II 98]
I would say, that by analogy this corresponds to the nature of the
Universal Mind - Mahat -- the connecting link between Spirit and Matter.
And this includes all levels of individualized intelligence [S D II
79-80, 117, 228-232, 243, 246, 488-9, ] from primitive man to the WISE
BUDDHAS and DHYANIS.. Hence we find that LIGHT is used as a symbol of
"omniscience." [M L 425; S D I 277, 330, 572]. And that includes the
faculty of reading the akasic records at will, as needed. This faculty
then, gives the operator the power to determine any Karmic event
destined for the future.
The presence of Light implies:
1. a viewer,
2. a source for "light," and
3. a record, or a field of vision of some kind.
Light (vibration) is used to interpret, if not attune our limited
physical sense perceptions to an area of broader or deeper record, to
translate from one such area to another, and to make fresh records of
events as they occur.
The faculty and law of analogy and correspondence is invoked. "As
above, so below!" -- Hermes. [S D I 66, 173, 173, 177, 200, 604,
606; II 268]
The absence of light indicates (to me) non-manifest potential. Darkness
is absolute LIGHT -- the Universe in pralaya. [S D I 41, 69-70] The
ABSOLUTE jumps to mind as such. The 3 kinds of light are to be found
described [S D II 57-8]
>From the ONE LIGHT are derived the 7 Rays -- distinct colors that
symbolize the "principles" into which Universe and Man are divided in
manifestation. [S D II 596, 593, I 81-2, 200, 508-9, 520-1, 570-574]
A few articles have been written on this subject:
THE NATURE OF LIGHT THEOSOPHY Mag., Vol. 38, p. 398.
THE LIGHT OF EVERLASTING - ditto - 42 310
Light and fire in all (F. Adler) - ditto -
42 420
THE LIGHT AND THE SHADOW - ditto - 22 114
THE "LIGHTING UP OF MANAS" - ditto - 23 254
SPIRITUAL LIGHT AND PHYSICAL DARKNESS 11 5
>From THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT Mag., Bombay
THE LIGHT AND DARK SIDE OF NATURE 12 56
WHAT IS LIGHT? T M 22 144
Best wishes,
Dallas
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