Theos-Talk Archives (February 2004 Message tt00022)

I wish the mind would slay the real and get it over with, as long as 
it can be done legally, that is. The real is horribly boring. Get 
rid of it.

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "arielaretziel" 
<arielaretziel@y...> wrote:
> -
> Agreed. It's a matter of nomenclature. In terms of what is 
functional in 
> meditation and experimentation, it is best to consider Manas as a 
plane that 
> permeats everything including the Kama Rupa rather than a midway 
point. It 
> is an instrument that picks up higher frequencies. It makes 
certain things 
> conscious that is unconscious in the animal. Therefore we are more 
> conscious of the Kama Rupa and the thought forms emmanating from 
there. 
> 
> This manner and definition of Manas is more in line with 
Hermeticism which 
> states that ALL is Mind. Also this is in line with Vedic 
definitions as clearly 
> stated in the Aithraya Brahmana, a work I highly recommend reading. 
It leads 
> to less confusion when one is involved in practical work since one 
will find 
> thought forms coming from all kinds of sources and not all will be 
from the 
> Buddhi. 
> 
> So meditate and decide for yourself which works best. There is also 
Manas in 
> our muscle tissue, every tension being a thought form. This is why 
massage 
> relaxes the mind. 
> 
> So if Kama rupa is the thought producer, does it make it Manas? 
What of the 
> other thought producers? An animal does not have Manas and yet he 
> produces Thought Forms. He is simply unaware of them. Are we 
trying to 
> reach a state where we are unaware of our Kama rupa? This is why it 
helps to 
> think of Manas as the instrument, not the producer. 
> 
> Be aware also that Lower Manas is a blind for another secret 
principle. 
> 
> The universe is made up of Seven Principles. Manas is our means to 
> overcome our Kamas because we are aware of them, become conscious 
of 
> elementals and elementaries, forces and energy in the universe, 
a "light" that 
> has made us Man. Our Manas has picked up patterns that we have 
made into 
> letters and words, concepts and equations. We did not produce 
general 
> relativity, we discovered it. We did not thought produce the round 
earth, we 
> discovered it, but we did thought produce the flat earth.
> 
> All I can say is just try it and decide for yourself if results 
come. It appears to 
> me to have made a dramatic difference. Of couse another person may 
work 
> best believing in a Lower Manas. It's all just mere nomenclature, 
but what a 
> difference it can make. 
> 
> Looking forward to hearing from you, and by the way, a new edition 
of 
> Transactions is due to be out some time in the future. The original 
MSS has 
> recently been discovered and turns out to be very different from 
the version 
> that is published. I'll keep you updated as I find out more.
> 
> A^A^
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Dallas TenBroeck" 
<dalval14@e...> 
> wrote:
> > Feb 2 2004
> > 
> > Dear Ariel:
> > 
> > The thought producer is Manas - mind. As I understand it is mid-
way
> > between Kama (desires and passions) and "Buddhi" or Wisdom, and 
pure
> > knowledge. 
> > 
> > The "Real We" ( Buddhi-Manas) supervises and directs all 
thoughts -- o,
> > if an when Kama overcomes its benign influence (brotherhood based 
on
> > compassion and equity for all) then the intense selfishness of 
Kama
> > allows atrocities to occur.
> > 
> > No doubt the "Real Individual" inside suffers agonies from such
> > mal-applications. 
> > 
> > Have you had a look at TRANSACTIONS -- the section on DREAMS -- 
there
> > HPB gives us a view of the relation of the EGO (ATMA- Buddhi-
Manas) to
> > the lower mind (Kama-Manas). I found that valuable to remember.
> > 
> > Our inner psychology is very interesting. THEOSOPHY gives us a 
key to
> > self-knowledge, self-reform and self-improvement. -- at least I 
think I
> > have profited from it.
> > 
> > Best wishes,
> > 
> > Dallas
> > 
> > -----------------------------
> > 
> > Have a look at this conversation with HPB
> > 
> > 
> > MENTAL DISCIPLINE
> > 
> > 
> > STUDENT. - Is there not some attitude of mind which one should in 
truth
> > assume in order to understand the occult in Nature?
> > 
> > SAGE. - Such attitude of mind must be attained as will enable one 
to
> > look into the realities of things. The mind must escape from the 
mere
> > formalities and conventions of life, even though outwardly one 
seems to
> > obey all of them, and should be firmly established on the truth 
that Man
> > is a copy of the Universe and has in himself a portion of the 
Supreme
> > Being. To the extent this is realized will be the clearness of
> > perception of truth. A realization of this leads inevitably to the
> > conclusion that all other men and beings are united with us, and 
this
> > removes the egotism which is the result of the notion of 
separateness.
> > When the truth of Unity is understood, then distinctions due to
> > comparisons made like the Pharisee's, that one is better than his
> > neighbor, disappear from the mind, leaving it more pure and free 
to act.
> > 
> > 
> > Student. - What would you point out as a principal foe to the 
mind's
> > grasping of truth?
> > 
> > Sage. - The principal foe of a secondary nature is what was once 
called
> > phantasy; that is, the reappearance of thoughts and images due to
> > recollection or memory. Memory is an important power, but mind in 
itself
> > is not memory. Mind is restless and wandering in its nature, and 
must be
> > controlled. Its wandering disposition is necessary or stagnation 
would
> > result. But it can be controlled and fixed upon an object or 
idea. Now
> > as we are constantly looking at and hearing of new things, the 
natural
> > restlessness of the mind becomes prominent when we set about 
pinning it
> > down. Then memory of many objects, things, subjects, duties, 
persons,
> > circumstances, and affairs brings up before it the various 
pictures and
> > thoughts belonging to them. After these the mind at once tries to 
go,
> > and we find ourselves wandering from the point. It must hence 
follow
> > that the storing of a multiplicity of useless and surely-recurring
> > thoughts is an obstacle to the acquirement of truth. And this 
obstacle
> > is the very one peculiar to our present style of life.
> > 
> > 
> > Student. - Can you mention some of the relations in which the sun 
stands
> > to us and nature in respect to Occultism?
> > 
> > Sage. - It has many such, and all important. But I would draw your
> > attention first to the greater and more comprehensive. The sun is 
the
> > center of our solar system. The life-energies of that system come 
to it
> > through the sun, which is a focus or reflector for the spot in 
space
> > where the real center is. And not only comes mere life through 
that
> > focus, but also much more that is spiritual in its essence. The 
sun
> > should therefore not only be looked at with the eye but thought 
of by
> > the mind. It represents to the world what the Higher Self is to 
the man.
> > It is the soul-center of the world with its six companions, as the
> > Higher Self is the center for the six principles of man. So it 
supplies
> > to those six principles of the man many spiritual essences and 
powers.
> > He should for that reason think of it and not confine himself to 
gazing
> > at it. So far as it acts materially in light, heat, and gravity, 
it will
> > go on of itself, but man as a free agent must think upon it in 
order to
> > gain what benefit can come only from his voluntary action in 
thought.
> > 
> > 
> > Student. - Will you refer to some minor one?
> > 
> > Sage. - Well, we sit in the sun for heat and possible chemical 
effects.
> > But if at the same time that we do this we also think on it as 
the sun
> > in the sky and of its possible essential nature, we thereby draw 
from it
> > some of its energy not otherwise touched. This can also be done 
on a
> > dark day when clouds obscure the sky, and some of the benefit 
thus be
> > obtained. Natural mystics, learned and ignorant, have discovered 
this
> > for themselves here and there, and have often adopted the 
practice. But
> > it depends, as you see, upon the mind.
> > 
> > 
> > Student. - Does the mind actually do anything when it takes up a 
thought
> > and seeks for more light?
> > 
> > Sage. - It actually does. A thread, or a finger, or a long darting
> > current flies out from the brain to seek for knowledge. It goes 
in all
> > directions and touches all other minds it can reach so as to 
receive the
> > information if possible. This is telepathically, so to say,
> > accomplished. There are no patents on true knowledge of 
philosophy nor
> > copyrights in that realm. 
> > 
> > Personal rights of personal life are fully respected, save by 
potential
> > black magicians who would take anyone's property. But general 
truth
> > belongs to all, and when the unseen messenger from one mind 
arrives and
> > touches the real mind of another, that other gives up to it what 
it may
> > have of truth about general subjects. So the mind's finger or 
wire flies
> > until it gets the thought or seed-thought from the other and 
makes it
> > its own. But our modern competitive system and selfish desire for 
gain
> > and fame is constantly building a wall around people's minds to
> > everyone's detriment.
> > 
> > 
> > Student. - Do you mean that the action you describe is natural, 
usual,
> > and universal, or only done by those who know how and are 
conscious of
> > it?
> > 
> > Sage. - It is universal and whether the person is aware or not of 
what
> > is going on. Very few are able to perceive it in themselves, but 
that
> > makes no difference. It is done always. When you sit down to 
earnestly
> > think on a philosophical or ethical matter, for instance, your 
mind
> > flies off, touching other minds, and from them you get varieties 
of
> > thought. If you are not well-balanced and psychically purified, 
you will
> > often get thoughts that are not correct. Such is your Karma and 
the
> > Karma of the race. 
> > 
> > But if you are sincere and try to base yourself on right 
philosophy,
> > your mind will naturally reject wrong notions. You can see in 
this how
> > it is that systems of thought are made and kept going, even though
> > foolish, incorrect, or pernicious.
> > 
> > 
> > Student. - What mental attitude and aspiration are the best 
safeguards
> > in this, as likely to aid the mind in these searches to reject 
error and
> > not let it fly into the brain?
> > 
> > Sage. - Unselfishness, Altruism in theory and practice, desire to 
do the
> > will of the Higher Self which is the "Father in Heaven," devotion 
to the
> > human race. Subsidiary to these are discipline, correct thinking, 
and
> > good education.
> > 
> > 
> > Student. - Is the uneducated man, then, in a worse condition?
> > 
> > Sage. - Not necessarily so. The very learned are so immersed in 
one
> > system that they reject nearly all thoughts not in accord with
> > preconceived notions. The sincere ignorant one is often able to 
get the
> > truth but not able to express it. The ignorant masses generally 
hold in
> > their minds the general truths of Nature, but are limited as to
> > expression. And most of the best discoveries of scientific men 
have been
> > obtained in this sub-conscious telepathic mode. Indeed, they often
> > arrive in the learned brain from some obscure and so-called 
ignorant
> > person, and then the scientific discoverer makes himself famous 
because
> > of his power of expression and means for giving it out.
> > 
> > 
> > Student. - Does this bear at all upon the work of the Adepts of 
all good
> > Lodges?
> > 
> > Sage. - It does. They have all the truths that could be desired, 
but at
> > the same time are able to guard them from the seeking minds of 
those who
> > are not yet ready to use them properly. But they often find the 
hour
> > ripe and a scientific man ready, and then touch his cogitating 
mind with
> > a picture of what he seeks. He then has a "flash" of thought in 
the line
> > of his deliberations, as many of them have admitted. He gives it 
out to
> > the world, becomes famous, and the world wiser. This is 
constantly done
> > by the Adepts, but now and then they give out larger expositions 
of
> > Nature's truths, as in the case of H.P.B. This is not at first 
generally
> > accepted, as personal gain and fame are not advanced by any 
admission of
> > benefit from the writings of another, but as it is done with a 
purpose,
> > for the use of a succeeding century, it will do its work at the 
proper
> > time.
> > 
> > 
> > Student. - How about the Adepts knowing what is going on in the 
world of
> > thought, in the West, for instance?
> > 
> > Sage. - They have only to voluntarily and consciously connect 
their
> > minds with those of the dominant thinkers of the day to at once 
discover
> > what has been or is being worked out in thought and to review it 
all.
> > This they constantly do, and as constantly incite to further
> > elaborations or changes by throwing out the suggestion in the 
mental
> > plane so that seeking and receptive minds may use it.
> > 
> > WQJ -- PATH, December, 1894
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: arielaretziel [mailto:arielaretziel@y...] 
> > Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2004 11:56 AM
> > To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: Theos-World Re: "The Mind is the great slayer of the 
Real"
> > 
> > 
> > Thanx for the article, Dallas. This is one of those articles that 
should
> > be read 
> > and re-read by all serious students on this subject. I find that 
much
> > confusion 
> > arises from demonizing thought forms without any differentiation 
to
> > thought 
> > forms that are picked up from the Kama Rupa and thought forms 
picked up 
> > elsewhere. So one thinks all thought forms are bad. 
> > 
> > From experience, I find everything is thought at a higher 
frquency.
> > Lower 
> > frequencies move slower, hence physical reality seems more solid 
as it
> > is 
> > changing at a slower rate. This is simply because there is more
> > inertia.
> > 
> > Another confusion is that all thought forms are projected from 
the Kama
> > Rupa, 
> > which is false. In most of us, perhaps this is true, but only to a
> > certain extant. 
> > We have various levels of control over this facility. But some 
people
> > learn to 
> > control and be aware of their projections by recieving higher 
frequency 
> > influences. This probably would not make much sense until one
> > experiences 
> > it. The easiset method is to be aware of how you use your 
environment in
> > a 
> > symbolic way, learning how physical objects are just vehicles for 
inner 
> > workings. 
> > 
> > So I hope people read this article by Wadia, as it is very good. 
Thanks
> > again.
> > 
> > Ariel
> > 
> > 
> > --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Dallas TenBroeck" 
<dalval14@e...> 
> > wrote:
> > > Sunday, February 01, 2004
> > > 
> > > "The Mind is the great slayer of the Real"
> > > 
> > > Dear Friends:
> > > 
> > > To me this appears to indicate that the VOICE OF THE SILENCE is 
an
> > > important study in the probations of chelaship -- on the Path of
> > > Occultism.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > In recent days some discussion concerning this topic arose and 
various
> > > opinions were offered. Here is one that seem very useful to 
us to
> > > consider: --
> > > 
> > > 
> > > "THE MIND IS THE GREAT SLAYER OF THE REAL"
> > > 
> > > 
> > > The asceticism which The Voice of the Silence advocates is that 
of the
> > > thinking principle - the withdrawal of the mind from its present
> > > position in which it is a slave. 
> > > 
> > > The mind is a victim of internal images composed of elemental-
lives
> > > which form the desire-principle, and these awaken the senses to
> > activity
> > > and make them the feeders of that principle. Man's objective 
world is
> > > but a reflection - a shadowy emanation - of this subjective 
plane of
> > > desire-images. 
> > > 
> > > In the waking state of consciousness man does not live in the 
world of
> > > the mind but in that of the senses ensouled by desires within 
which
> > the
> > > mind is captive. Man's so-called reasoning is not a pure 
activity
> > > engendered by the mind but is premised on sense- impressions 
which are
> > > permeated by desires. 
> > > 
> > > Even men of Science in using their minds proceed from sense-
data to
> > > deductions, and, though in most of them personal desires in 
connection
> > > with the objects of observation are in abeyance, they yet 
suffer from
> > > their dependence on desire-shot senses. The eyes of a drunken 
man see
> > > things askew: the mind of one who in drawing his conclusions 
depends
> > on
> > > the senses fraught with the desire-principle also sees askew. 
> > > 
> > > Sense-data to be true and sense-observations to be accurate 
must be
> > > devoid of the forces of the desire-principle. When Esoteric 
Philosophy
> > > calls the world of objects illusory it means that it is so not 
in the
> > > sense that the objects do not exist but in the sense that our
> > valuation
> > > of them is false. The objective world may well be compared to a 
great
> > > bazaar in which desire-enslaved minds, not knowing the true 
prices of
> > > things, are taken in, have to bargain, to haggle and to wrangle 
for
> > > things needed and have to be tempted to want and to acquire 
other
> > > things. The mind thus exploited in the bazaar of the objective 
world
> > > gains experience and learns to evaluate each object at its 
proper
> > worth,
> > > and then - and not before then - man begins to live in that 
world. 
> > > 
> > > Our difficulty, then, as will be readily seen, does not inhere 
in the
> > > objects but in our ignorance of the true values of those 
objects, due
> > to
> > > our desires in which the mind is imprisoned. Desires by 
themselves,
> > > unaided by the power of thought, would be innocuous; energized 
by it
> > > they make man the worst of the animal kingdom. 
> > > 
> > > Therefore our textbook [the "Voice"] calls this mind the Slayer 
of the
> > > Real and at the very outset gives the injunction to the 
Disciple to
> > slay
> > > the Slayer. It also states the method - "become indifferent to 
objects
> > > of perception." This mind, captivated by desire, which courses 
in the
> > > nervous system of the body, is called the chief of the senses, 
and it
> > is
> > > this mind-sense which makes man different from the animal - 
capable of
> > > becoming superior to it as also of developing into the most 
cunning
> > and
> > > the most carnal of beasts. 
> > > 
> > > [7] Having become indifferent to objects of perception, the 
pupil must
> > > seek out the Rajah of the senses, the Thought- Producer, he who 
awakes
> > > illusion. The Mind is the great Slayer of the Real. Let the 
Disciple
> > > slay the Slayer. 
> > > Voice, pp. 1-2 ULT; 1 TUP
> > > 
> > > It is the activity of this mind in the objective world which 
has first
> > > to be handled by the aspirant-chela. Unless we see that these 
objects
> > > become channels, offer food to internal images and help to 
satisfy our
> > > cravings we shall not be able to evaluate them correctly. We 
value an
> > > object in terms of the satisfaction or the delight which it 
gives to
> > our
> > > desire-fraught senses. This is the cause of illusion which is
> > ignorance
> > > - not total absence of knowledge but the false evaluation of 
objects,
> > > mistaking lust for love. 
> > > 
> > > If thou would'st cross the first Hall safely, let not thy mind
> > > mistake the fires of lust that burn therein for the sunlight of 
life.
> > > [pp. 7; 6] 
> > > 
> > > The Thought-Producer" makes love out of lust and when this is 
seen in
> > > actual life-experience a real step forward is taken by the
> > practitioner.
> > > When this is seen the weakness of the world of objects compared 
to the
> > > strength of the world of images is recognized. It is this 
seeing, when
> > > not understood, which tempts the aspirant to run away from the 
world
> > to
> > > the jungle. 
> > > 
> > > When a seeker after the Light within sees the activity of the 
outer
> > > world of objects he naturally attempts to close the windows 
through
> > > which the objects attack him. In that retreat, psychological or
> > > physical, a short respite from that attack is all that he 
obtains.
> > Very
> > > soon he locates the root of his trouble: the attraction or the
> > aversion
> > > which the objects exert over him are not in the external 
objects but
> > in
> > > the internal images - memory pictures of the past, not only of 
this
> > life
> > > but also of previous incarnations. 
> > > 
> > > Withhold thy mind from all external objects, all external
> > > sights. Withhold internal images, lest on thy Soul-light a dark 
shadow
> > > they should cast. 
> > > [pp. 20; 19] 
> > > 
> > > This is the formidable work compared to which retreating from 
the
> > > objects of the senses is easy. If in the first exercise the 
chela
> > learns
> > > the illusory nature of the objective world, now he encounters 
the
> > > delusive nature of his own subjective world. Looking for the God
> > within
> > > he comes upon the devil; seeking soul- light, he finds 
darkness - so
> > > thick that he does not realize that it is a shadow. "O dark, 
dark,
> > dark,
> > > amid the blaze of noon." [Milton, Samson Agonistes line 80] It 
is in
> > > that dark that we meet our fancy-created idols, our thought-
created
> > > images, our desire-created phantoms. 
> > > 
> > > But that darkness has the peculiar power of deluding our
> > consciousness.
> > > Very soon the sphere of darkness looks to us the region of 
pearly
> > light
> > > - of soothing, restful, twilight sleep. The Maya of the 
objective
> > world
> > > is but an effect caused by the Moha-delusion of this sphere of
> > > self-created subjectivity, lighted up by human passions. 
> > > 
> > > This is the world of Probationary Learning, which the Chela has 
to
> > > abandon, [8] and he cannot do so till he understands it. The 
first
> > real
> > > pitched battle of the greatest of all wars is in this region, 
called
> > the
> > > Astral Light. When the Power of his Vow, made in the objective 
world,
> > > stirs in him, the fighter in the Astral Light feels that he is 
in a
> > > place where he ought not to be; that he must not listen to the 
sounds
> > of
> > > these images, but to the word of the Soul within. 
> > > 
> > > Theoretically every student knows that Lower Manas is different 
from
> > > Higher Manas, that Kama-Manas is demoniac and Buddhi-Manas 
divine. 
> > But
> > > the truth has to be experienced and we know the nature of the 
Soul's
> > > mind when we overthrow some of the enemy troops, i.e., when we 
destroy
> > > some of our thought-created images. 
> > > 
> > > The great temptation for the Probationary Chela issues forth 
from the
> > > enhanced sense-delight when the plasticity of astral light is 
handled
> > > and absorbed; it is like the exhilarated state of the person 
who has
> > > just taken strong drink. Often, instead of fighting right away 
the
> > > already created images, he falls prey to the temptation of 
creating
> > new
> > > ones. In the objective world we have to control the wandering 
mind,
> > but
> > > here we have to fight the creative mind. Thus come a period of 
intense
> > > fight, and victory ensues when the soldier-soul has grasped this
> > truth: 
> > > 
> > > Ere thy Soul's mind can understand, the bud of personality 
must
> > > be crushed out; the worm of sense destroyed past resurrection. 
[pp.
> > 13;
> > > 12] 
> > > 
> > > The grasping of this truth means that the Probationer has seen 
that he
> > > is other than the Personality, that the worm which early and 
late
> > feeds
> > > upon the senses, once crushed, would lead to the death of the
> > separative
> > > and ever-separating self which makes the Personality the supreme
> > enemy.
> > > The glimpse of the Soul which uncovers the inimical nature of 
the
> > > Personality makes the fighting Probationer take refuge in that 
Inner
> > > Soul. And this implies some knowledge of the nature and the 
powers of
> > > that Soul. 
> > > 
> > > Silence thy thoughts and fix thy whole attention on thy 
Master,
> > > whom yet thou dost not see, but whom thou feelest. [pp. 17; 16] 
> > > 
> > > Thyself and mind, like twins upon a line, the star which is 
thy
> > > goal burns overhead. [pp. 21; 19] 
> > > 
> > > THE MASTER IS THE HIGHER SELF, "the equivalent of 
Avalokitesvara, 
> and
> > > the same as Adi-Budha ... Christos with the ancient Gnostics." 
[3fn.;
> > > 73-4 note 4] 
> > > 
> > > Unless this Master is felt as a Presence in Hall the second, 
that of
> > > Probationary Learning, entrance into the third, the Hall of 
Wisdom,
> > > remains closed. It is through the mind of the Soul that we 
touch the
> > > radiance of the God within, and it is through contact with the 
great
> > > Gurus that we touch the radiance of the God within Nature - 
Compassion
> > > Absolute. 
> > > 
> > > When the mind-activity is silenced, the soul, aided by the 
Light of
> > the
> > > Spirit, perceives itself as distinct and separate from the 
mind. Freed
> > > from Kama, it sees the possibility, nay, the certainty of a 
perfect
> > > unison with its Star - its Father in Heaven. In the translucent 
lake
> > of
> > > the pure mind the star in high heaven reflects itself, and even 
that
> > > reflected [9] influence stirs the mind to behold the glory that 
is -
> > the
> > > greater glory to be. It is not sufficient to silence the 
thoughts; it
> > is
> > > necessary to perceive the Star of Hope - the PARENT STAR, THE
> > > DHYANI-BUDDHIC SOURCE OF OUR EXISTENCE. 
> > > 
> > > The obliterating of the internal images is the same as crushing 
the
> > > craving for sensuous existence. The process demands that we 
centre our
> > > attention on the inner Light. But turning away from internal 
images is
> > > not to be accompanied by turning away from the objective world. 
To be
> > in
> > > the midst of objects but not to be their slave makes the fight 
a long
> > > one; for, in the long past we have created a whole army of 
personal
> > > thought-images; by our moods we have given birth to a brood of 
vices;
> > by
> > > our mental indulgence we have committed many sins. One by one 
we 
> have 
> > to
> > > slay them. 
> > > 
> > > Woe, then, to thee, Disciple, if there is one single vice thou
> > > has not left behind ... . Woe unto him who dares pollute one 
rung with
> > > miry feet ... .His sins will raise their voices like as the 
jackal's
> > > laugh and sob after the sun goes down; his thoughts become an 
army,
> > and
> > > bear him off a captive slave. 
> > > [Voice, pp. 16-17; 15-16] 
> > > 
> > > This does not mean that the Probationer is expected to be 
flawless ere
> > > he starts, but he has to learn and attain purity ere he passes 
through
> > > the Golden Gate into the Hall of Wisdom, and has won the right 
to
> > abide
> > > therein permanently. 
> > > 
> > > As a Probationer he has his day when he basks in the radiance 
of the
> > > Spiritual Sun, and then his night - the dark night of the Soul, 
during
> > > which his mind-sins laugh the jackal's laugh which is the cry of
> > agony,
> > > terrifying to him, tempting him to his fall, nay, to his very 
doom.
> > The
> > > jackals move in packs and therefore are able to hunt down sheep 
and
> > even
> > > antelopes. When unable to obtain living prey they feed on 
carrion, and
> > > cunningly they follow cheetahs and even lions in order to 
finish the
> > > carcass after the latter have eaten their fill. 
> > > 
> > > The comparison of our lower thoughts to jackals is most apt, 
for they
> > > attack in packs our high thoughts and our noble aspirations, 
and when
> > > they cannot prey upon these living images they sniff out 
slumbering
> > and
> > > dying ones and gorge on the latter - a phenomenon which is 
related to
> > > precipitation of Karma and the like. Also, like the jackal, our 
lower
> > > thought-images have an offensive odour, for they, too, like the
> > jackal,
> > > secrete foulness from the base of their tails.
> > > 
> > > Now, we are told how we should deal with these our past 
creations: 
> > > 
> > > One single thought about the past that thou hast left behind
> > > will drag thee down and thou wilt have to start the climb anew. 
Kill
> > in
> > > thyself all memory of past experiences. Look not behind or thou 
art
> > > lost. [pp. 18; 16-17] 
> > > 
> > > If we do not choke off the memory of the past, if we dwell in 
it, we
> > > re-live the past subjectively and rejuvenate the thought- 
images. But
> > > now we have increased our power of thought and so those images 
> express
> > > themselves more strongly. All students of Theosophy know that a 
[10]
> > > storehouse of past Karma exists, but all do not know that in the
> > > subjective realm ghosts and elementaries of dead objective 
actions
> > often
> > > work havoc. 
> > > 
> > > The last quotation of the first Fragment of our textbook that we
> > should
> > > consider is this: 
> > > 
> > > Before the path is entered, thou must destroy thy lunar body,
> > > cleanse thy mind-body, and make clean thy heart. [pp. 12; 11] 
> > > 
> > > In a footnote H.P.B. explains that the astral form produced by 
Kama
> > has
> > > to be destroyed. The Kama-rupa, ordinarily, is formed after the 
death
> > of
> > > the body and ere the Ego goes into Devachan, freeing itself 
from that
> > > form. 
> > > 
> > > But in the life of the Probationer, as he enters the kingdom of 
the
> > > quickened, leaving behind that of the dead, there is the Kama-
rupa
> > > phenomenon related to that of the Dweller on the Threshold. 
> > > 
> > > The quickened soul becomes consciously alive when, by chasing 
away 
> > from
> > > the field of the mind all Kama-fed thought-images, he begins to 
live
> > by
> > > the power of the clean heart, i.e., by the influence of Buddhi. 
For
> > this
> > > dual process - dispersing the Kama-rupa and awakening Buddhi so 
that
> > it
> > > can ensoul Manas, the objective world proves of great benefit. 
> > > 
> > > The objective world of actions is not only valuable for 
enabling us to
> > > compare, to contrast and discriminatively to learn to 
concentrate, but
> > > it also proves a most helpful sphere when the strife of the 
subjective
> > > kind is on, of which mention is made above. 
> > > 
> > > The way the Probationer has to learn to make use of the 
objective
> > world
> > > is through the right performance of duty. Duty is the axis 
round which
> > > his objective world rotates: mistakes made about Duty, neglect 
of or
> > > dilatoriness in that which should be done, undertaking that 
which is
> > not
> > > our business, etc., all become sins of omission and of 
commission. 
> > > 
> > > If a Probationer is rightly busy with real duty he finds no 
time for
> > > "mischief" - unconsciously done. Furthermore when attacks come 
from
> > the
> > > subjective side of his lower nature, a wise engagement of the 
senses
> > and
> > > the brain in objective functioning weakens the attack. 
> > > 
> > > Occultism advocates that we do not strengthen the enemy by 
brooding
> > > about him, nor by directly fighting him. Take no particular 
notice of
> > > the enemy, but keep the consciousness busy with protective and
> > > profitable mental and physical work. 
> > > 
> > > No Probationer can meditate and study hours on end and 
therefore calls
> > > of mundane duty like the earning of livelihood, etc., are highly
> > > beneficial and very necessary. Not the invention of special 
work but
> > the
> > > doing of what there is to do expands the field of duty till 
humanity
> > > becomes our family and the world our country. Duty is the 
Divinity
> > that
> > > shapes our objective world to perfection: Duty is the God of the
> > > objective world - that is the Truth: 
> > > 
> > > OM TAT SAT. 
> > > 
> > > [ by B. P. Wadia]
> > > =========================================
> > > 
> > > Best wishes 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Dallas
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
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