Theos-Talk Archives (April 2004 Message tt00211)

March 7th 2004

Dear Friend:

This short article will explain the reason I mentioned 6 "aspects" and 1
central PRINCIPLE.

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THE SEVENFOLD DIVISION

WHY NOT CHANGE THE DESIGNATION?

MR. Sinnett's book Esoteric Buddhism has done a great deal towards
bringing before the West the Eastern philosophy regarding man and his
constitution, but it has also served to perpetuate the use of a word
that is misleading and incorrect. 

In that work on p. 61 he states, "Seven distinct principles are
recognized by Esoteric Science as entering into the constitution of
man," and then gives his scheme of division thus, The body, Vitality,
Astral Body, Animal Soul, Human Soul, Spiritual Soul, and seventh,
Spirit or Atma. 

Now if Spirit be, as the whole philosophy declares, in all and through
all, it is erroneous to call it one of the series. This very early led
to the accusation that we believed in seven distinct spirits in man. It
always leads to misconception, and directly tends to preventing our
understanding fully that the Atma includes, and is the substratum of,
all the others. 

In India it caused a protracted and, at times, heated discussion between
the adherents of the rigid seven-fold classification of Esoteric
Buddhism and several learned and unlearned Hindus who supported a
four-fold or five-fold division. [S D I 157-8] 

During that debate the chief Hindu controverter [ Mr. Subba Row], while
holding to a different system, admitted the existence of "a real
esoteric seven-fold classification," which of course cannot be given to
the public. Mr. Sinnett also evidently made a mistake when he said that
the first mentioned division is the esoteric one.

Now it would seem that many of these misconceptions and differences
could be prevented if a word were adopted and invariably used that would
clearly express the idea intended to be conveyed. As the prime
declaration of theosophy is that all these so-called bodies and
appearances are for the purpose of enabling the ONE--the Atma--to fully
comprehend nature and "bring about the aim of the soul," why not
denominate all that it uses for that purpose as vehicles? 

This name is strictly in accord with all parts of the philosophy. It is
in effect the same as Upadhi, or basis, foundation, carrier. By its use
we make no error when we say that theosophy declares there is Atma,
which works with and through six vehicles. Strictly, the body is a
vehicle for the astral body, it for the next, and so on up to Atma,
which is therefore seen to be all and in all, as is clearly declared in
Bhagavad-Gita.

This change, or to some other than "principles," should be adopted by
all theosophists, for every day there is more inquiry by new minds, and
theosophists themselves, indeed, need to use their words with care when
dealing with such subjects. 

Or if greater clearness is desired, let us say that there is one
principle which acts through six vehicles. The scheme will then stand
thus:

Atma (spirit), one principle, indivisible

Its vehicles are:

Buddhi..................................................................
...........	Spiritual Soul

Manas...................................................................
..........	Human Soul
Kama
Rupa....................................................................
.	Animal Soul
Linga
Sharira.................................................................
Astral Body
Prana or
Jiva.................................................................
Vitality

Rupa....................................................................
............	The Body

Names have power, and if we go on talking of 7 principles when in truth
there is but one, we are continually clouding our conception of
theosophic truth.

EUSEBIO URBAN

Path, April, 1890

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Best washes,

Dallas

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-----Original Message-----
From: chris
Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2004 2:08 AM
To: 
Subject: Re: Multiperpectivalists Unite!

-Hi Dallas,

In your vision and the offer you brought over The Mysterious "Moment of
Choice at mid-round"

The 7 truths maybe I miss something but I read there 6 in
total and why from 1-3 and 8 - 10 ?


CUT