Theos-Talk Archives (August 2004 Message tt00073)

Aug 4 2004



Dear Philip:



BRIEF ANSWER



As I see it.



The Divine Self ( Monad - ATMA-BUDDHI- HIGHER MANAS) obeys all the LAWS of
NATURE. [Nature means the Universe, all that is cooperative and supports
LIFE everywhere.] 



This decision is self-made (free and voluntary) and thereby it limits its
activity to being a cooperative assistant to the UNIVERSE, viewed from the
point of view of the ATMA or UNIVERSAL SELF. This includes universal KARMA.
[We might call these motives: virtue, and compassion.]



It simultaneously rejects any aspect of thought or of emotion (Kama) that
might be selfish, isolating, and in any way would break any of the laws of
NATURE. [We might call these motives: evil or vice.]



It becomes the "Protector of all Beings." By this sole decision (free-will)
and by living a life of compassion, mercy, pity and assistance. In this
condition it becomes KARMA-LESS. 



Since it elects (free-will) to not break any of the laws of the Universe, it
becomes automatically an impersonal and sensitive "FORCE for GOOD." And that
is one that tends to adjust all evils. In this role it does not lose its
contact with humanity and individuals who merit its attention and response.
[The whole of the MAHATMA LETTERS is evidence of this attitude and also of
the wonderful, all-inclusive WISDOM, and dedication of Those who make
answer there.] 



It is evident that HPB was an Adept herself, and she made the effort
(free-will) to use and embody a very special kind of personality, one able
to act as a bridge between the moral plane of the Mahatmas and the plane of
practical ethics chosen by an average person of our Humanity. [see M L p.
263]



In this capacity we are to understand the Mahatmas [also called the Elder
Brothers, Adepts, Masters of Wisdom, Lha, Chohans, Rishis, etc.] in several
ways and places (the Masters) made it plain HPB was highly regarded, and
They said she was / is Their "colleague." [this can be deduced from what
they say concerning her in MAHATMA LETTERS].





SOME IMPORTANT POINTS to consider





She took on (for Them and humanity) several tasks :



1. To contact and inspire individuals to self-reform, and to set
themselves on the "Path" to achieve their own Adeptship, in this or future
lives. She always attracted and formed a select group, that individually
and voluntarily assisted and learned from her wherever she worked.



2. To establish the THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY as a general group of free
and inquiring students in search of ultimate TRUTHS. It has three objects [
see The KEY TO THEOSOPHY, p. 39]





1. The Immortality of the Spirit / Soul of Man and of all other
beings. [In other words, what is called by many "God" is universally ONE FOR
ALL, and, is innate to all beings, and in Mankind, because of the presence
of an independent and active mind, IT is cognizable. This establishes
"free-will" as an individual power or faculty of every "Mind-being." It also
hints at a "Moment of Choice," a kind of graduation time for the plurality
of mankind.] 



2, This makes reincarnation of the Spirit-Soul a necessity.



3. The chain of evolutionary effort embraces the Universe, but, for
us, as it is localized on our Earth; and more specifically, as copied from
the secret library of the ADEPTS: it is to be seen as the history of its
(Earth's) origin in the Cosmos, and of mankind as a group of "monads of
mind." [read carefully the stanzas of the "Book of Dzyan" S D, Vols. I
and II]



[This human Group (which includes us), is progressing towards their own
individual and self-chosen work (free-will) -- the Individualization of
their Lower Manas, and the final union (of the purified - of selfishness --
Lower Manas) with their own inner divine HIGHER MANAS. And in each of them,
if successful, their eventual full union with the MONAD which is their Inner
God.]



4. The seven-fold nature of Man and our Universe [S D I 157, II
596 ]



5. The immutable and totally inclusive, UNIVERSAL LAW OF KARMA-it is
a law that includes the least and also and equally, the greatest of things.




[This is one of the limits of "free-will." But as the universe is boundless,
we could say it is universal, and compassionate. It is established out of
regard for universal brotherhood. Nothing - thought, desire, act, escapes
its sensitivity and exact response.]



7. Consciousness or awareness is a universal phenomenon. It is to
be observed in the smallest individual of units as well as in the largest
aggregations of UNITS, such as a solar system, a galaxy, and certainly it is
the basis for the living and Whole Universe. [It is the "free will" of the
virtuous that serves as the 'cement' of the worlds.]



8. Increments of individual Intelligence mark the progressive stages
of any unit's (Monad) advance in the scheme of a harmonious, universal
evolution. "Harmony in diversity" is its hallmark. 



[Humanity has reached the stage in the development of Mind, whereby the
whole panorama of evolution and all the laws and forces in Nature may be
secured and used. It is the final development of the "Microcosm." -- "The
Universe made I." -- Man, because of the individualization of his mind
faculties, is considered to be a microcosm of the universal Macrocosm. This
establishes the potential of his "free-will."]



"It is the Spiritual evolution of the Inner, immortal man, that forms the
fundamental tenet in the Occult Sciences." S D I 634



6. To write and expose to the public some of the lore and wisdom of
the World we live in, and of its unity with the Universe. To this purpose
she wrote ISIS UNVEILED, the SECRET DOCTRINE and many articles and letters.



7. To assist certain special individuals who had attained some
degree of advance on the "Path," and especially, of certain personalities
known to us by their works and their writings like Sinnett, Judge, Olcott,
Subba Row, Damodar Mavalankar, Djual Khool, Bhawani Shankar, and others. To
some of these letters were sent by the Mahatmas. To all of us - we are
given Their teachings.

[see S D I 272-3]



8. The existence of successful Men was exposed. It is They who
assist all who strive to benefit mankind. 



[They form The Ancient Lodge of the MASTERS OF WISDOM. This "college" is to
some extent exposed as an actual benevolent fact. These "graduated Men"
form a "Guardian Wall" that protects humanity, and educates it with proofs
of its innate immortality, and its continuous progress as individuals
seeking for Perfection. ( see Voice, p. 74)]



9. The common element of free-will that is present at all levels of
individual evolution makes this scheme possible.



10. We may see free-will (within boundaries) active everywhere and in
all relationships that involve units. 



[For instance in physical nature, we can see this in operation at the
molecular level, where the many laws of mass action allow for individualism
as well as the community and generality of actions - see the laws of
chemistry and physics. In biology, it is seen as an individual intelligence
that leads to the formation of basic structures and organs, and in cells, to
find the place where they are most needed in any living body -- each living
body is found to be a harmony of diversity.] 



We may then say that free will is the essential nature of "Spirit," as
individuality. 



The limits of that "free-will" reside in the temporary and ever changing
"forms of matter." 



Man, using his mind powers can "see" this seeming paradox. 



The Adepts, as Graduated Men, using "free-will," select voluntarily and
without any coercion their future areas of work. Some are Nirmanakayas who
assist mankind invisibly.



"FREE-WILL can only exist in a man who has both mind and consciousness,
which act and make him perceive things both within and without himself."



"Consciousness is a condition of the monad as a result of embodiment in
matter and the dwelling in a physical form." WQJ Articles, Vol.
I, p. 29





I hope this might be of help,



Best wishes,









Dallas



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



-----Original Message-----
From: Philip 
Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 2:12 AM
To: study@blavatsky.net
Subject: [bn-study] Re: free will



Thank you for all the postings on "free will". For me this is an extremely
important issue whose understanding would affect my whole life (and probably
many of my future lives to come). It is part of my search for the purposes
of my life and my living. 

May I add two comments:

1. When we talk about free will, we imply an agent that by its manifestation
will produce an effect of some kind at some time in the future. This means
that we think of free will as a manifestation in time. Therefore, free will
is not relevant in a timeless dimension, which is essentially where the
Higher Self (Atman - Buddhi - Manas) operates, as per my understanding.

This can also be understood from a different viewpoint: If a manifestation
of the Higher Self contains in itself, its cause and its effect at the same
time then it must be of a different nature to the "free will" as we normally
understand. (The main difficulty is to me to understand and to describe,
through normal human logic, why such manifestations of Higher Selves are
possible.)

2. When an action or a manifestation of any kind is just spontaneous or
"natural", is it relevant to analyze whether there is free will or not in
that action? When a mother loves her child, do we say that she uses her free
will to express her love or would it be more correct to say that free will
is irrelevant in this case. That may be the way the Higher Self manifests.
>From our normal reasoning, It may only have one way to express Itself but to
It, it is the best way, in which there are no limitations and no constraints
of any kind, only complete freedom. 

Sometimes, the Lower Self may suffer horrible circumstances but such is the
way the Higher Self attempts to restore a disequilibrium or disharmony
created by a previous action of the Lower Self. It's not cruelty, nor
masochism, nor lack of free will from the Higher Self. It's just the way
Harmony is manifested in the Universe, Harmony in which the Higher Self is
part. 

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

DTB Is this not the karma of our own making in the past, returning to
us for re-adjustment?

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

So perhaps it is more appropriate to talk about free will in the Lower Self.


Regards

Philip 





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