Theos-Talk Archives (March 2004 Message tt00656)

In a message dated 03/26/04 8:24:57 AM, prmoliveira@yahoo.com writes:

>One of the puzzles in theosophical history and
>literature is that HPB's Teachers, the Mahatmas,
>declared themselves to be Buddhists, as in this
>well-known passage from the Mahatma Letters:
>
>"Therefore, we deny God both as philosophers and as
>Buddhists." (ML 88, chronological)
>
>And yet, the system they taught, sometimes called
>"Aryan-Arhat Esoteric Doctrine", includes as one of
>its pivotal points Atma, or the seventh principle, the
>One Self, as well as Soul.
>
>Apparently, there are no known school in Buddhism that
>accepts Atma as a fundamental reality. The denial of
>Atma is one of the cardinal principles in Buddhist
>philosophy. Two well-known scholars explain why:
>
>"Buddhism stands unique in the history of human
>thought in denying the existence of such a Soul , Self
>or Atman. According to the teaching of the Buddha, 
>the idea of self is an imaginary, false belief which
>has no corresponding reality." (Walpola Rahula, "What
>the Buddha Taught")
>
>"Sakkayaditthi (Substance-view) is avidya (ignorance)
>par excellence, and from it proceed all passions.
>Denial of Satkaya (atman or Substance) is the very
>pivot of the Buddhist metaphysics and doctrine of
>salvation." (T.R.V. Murti, "The Central Philosophy of
>Buddhism - A Study of the Madhyamika System") 
>
>Can someone explain which Buddhism the Mahatmas
>subscribed to?

Without relying on the definitions of exoteric Buddhism by its so called, 
"well known scholars" -- I would assume the Mahatmas subscribe to the right one. 
Esoteric Buddhism, that is... The pure occultism of Sakyamuni Buddha -- which 
is a scientific philosophy (or theosophy) that most exoteric Buddhists do not 
entirely understand... And, consequently, have reinterpreted improperly in 
their outer schools. I'll try to describe the differences as I see it, below, 
in as simple language as possible. 

This pure theosophical or esoteric Buddhism, considers "self" (individualized 
consciousness or awareness) as being entirely separate from both "conditioned 
substance" (or phenomenal matter) and "Atma" (its essential root or primal 
substance). 

Buddha said that the "self" we, out of our ignorance, think of as our 
personal individuality, is an illusion -- simply because it is identified with the 
manifest outer field of spirit (Atma) containing the inner fields of Buddhi (its 
vehicle) down to the physical body... All 7 principles of which are 
phenomenal substance and, therefore, Maya... Since they are continually changing both 
form and substance, and, therefore, have no permanent existence. Obviously, 
that illusory "self" has no permanent existence either. Apparently, the root of 
those phenomenal substances is what the esoteric Buddhist sees as Mahatma or 
Supreme spirit (still more etherealized "substance" on the cosmic plane). 

But Atma, as manifest individualized spirit is not the lower (false) self nor 
the higher (true) "Self" -- that is, in itself, "pure consciousness" which we 
experience as subjective awareness. That "self consciousness" is an inherent 
function of the "absolute space" itself -- which is the only reality, and 
supersedes both Mahatma and Atma (and all the lower principles attached to it). 

We might imagine this "center of self consciousness" as the unconditioned 
absolute zero-laya point (or void) that is the rootless root of the monad. And 
comprehend that it is entirely separate from the field of Atma (and all its 
coadunate inner "fields of consciousness") that originates from and surrounds it. 
Thus, when enlightenment is achieved and we become one with that laya point, 
our monad is absorbed in it, and we become "isolated" -- as Patanjali points 
out. Yet our individuality or awareness of self still remains as its inherent 
nature... Like each drop (or molecule) in the ocean retains its singular 
identity. Otherwise, how could we experience Samadhi, Nirvana or even Devachan? 

Therefore -- since this zero-laya point of absolute space is always 
everywhere throughout all manifest space, and cannot be reduced any further -- the 
"self consciousness" (pure awareness) that is its fundamental property (along with 
will) is eternal, while our individual, presumed separate lower self is not. 
That is how, so I have heard, Esoteric Buddhism, and the Mahatmas who 
subscribe to it, see it. This Buddhism is not Hinayana, Mahayana, or Vajrayana -- 
but is the esoteric root of them all. 

I hope this answers the question.

Leon