Theos-Talk Archives (January 2005 Message tt00006)

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "W.Dallas TenBroeck" 
<dalval14@e...> wrote:
> Dec 31 2004
>  
>  
>  
>             WHERE THE RISHIS WERE
>  
>  
>                         TheRishis were the sacred Bards, the 
Saints, the
> great Adepts
>                         Known to the Hindus, who gave great 
spiritual
> impulses in the
>                         Past and are said to sometimes 
reincarnate, and who
> at one time
>                         lived on the earth among men.
>  
>  
> "The world is made of seas and islands.  For continents are only 
great lands
> water-encircled.  Men must ever live upon sea or land, then, 
unless they
> abide in air, and if  they live in the air, they are not men as we 
know
> them."
>  
> Thus I thought as the great ship steamed slowly into the port of a 
small
> island, and before the anchor fell the whole scene seemed to 
change and the
> dazzling light of the past blotted out the dark pictures of modern
> civilization.  Instead of an English ship I was standing on an 
ancient
> vehicle propelled by force unknown today, until the loud noises of
> disembarkation roused me once again.
>  
> But landed now, I was standing on the hill overlooking the town 
and bay. 
> The strange light and the curious vehicle again obtained mastery 
over sense
> and eye, while the whole majesty of forgotten years rolled in from 
the
> Ocean.  Vainly did modern education struggle and soar:  I let the 
curtain
> drop upon the miserable present….
>  
>  
>  
> Now softly sings the water as it rolls against the shore, with the 
sun but
> one hour old shining upon its surface.  But, far off, what is that 
spot
> coming nearer from the West, followed by another and another until 
over the
> horizon rise hundreds, and now some are so near that they are 
plainly seen? 
> The same strange vehicles as that I saw at first.  Like birds they 
fly
> through the air.  They come slowly now, and some have been brought 
still on
> the land.  They light on the earth with a softness that seems 
nearly human,
> with a skill that is marvelous, without any shock or rebound.  
>  
> From them alight men of noble mien who address me as friends, and 
one more
> noble than the others seems to say, "Wouldst thou know of all 
this?  Then
> come," as he turns again to his vehicle that stands there like a 
bird in
> wait to be off.
>  
> "Yes, I will go;" and I felt that the past and the present were 
but one, and
> knew what I should see, yet could not remember it but with a 
vagueness that
> blotted out all the details.
>  
> We entered the swift intelligently-moving vehicle, and then it 
rose up on
> the air's wide-spreading arms and flew again fast to the West, 
where the
> water was still softly singing to the beams of the sun.  The 
horizon slowly
> rose and the Island behind us was hidden by the sea from our 
sight.  And
> still as onward we flew to the Occident, many more birds made by 
manlike
> that we were in flew by us as if in haste for the soft-singing 
waters
> lapping the shore of that peak of the sea mountain we had left in 
the
> Orient.  Flying  too high at first we heard no sound from the sea, 
but soon
> a damp vapor that blew in my face from the salt deep showed that 
we were
> descending, and then spoke my friend.
>  
> "Look below and around and before you!"
>  
>  
> Down there were the roar and rush of mad billows that reached 
toward the
> sky, vast hollows that sucked in a world.  Black clouds shut out 
the great
> sun, and I saw that the crust of the earth was drawn in to her own
> subterranean depths.  Turning now to the master, I saw that he 
heard my
> unuttered question.  He said,
>  
> "A cycle has ended.  The great bars that kept back the sea have 
been broken
> down by their weight.  From these we have come and are coming."
>  
> Then faster sailed our bird, and I saw that a great Island was 
perishing. 
> What was left of the shore still crumbled, still entered the mouth 
of the
> sea.  And there were cars of the air just the same as that I was 
in, only
> dark and unshining, vainly trying to rise with their captains;  
rising
> slowly, then falling, and then swallowed up. 
>  
> But here we have rushed further in where the water has not 
overflowed, and
> now we see that few are the bright cars of air that are waiting 
about while
> their captains are entering and spoiling the mighty cars of the 
men whose
> clothing is red and whose bodies, so huge and amazing, are 
sleeping as if
> from the fumes of a drug.
>  
> As these great red men are slumbering, the light-stepping captains 
with
> sun-colored cloaks are finishing the work of destruction.  And 
now, swiftly
> though we came, the waters have rushed on behind us, the salt 
breath of the
> all-devouring deep sweeps over us.  The sun-colored captains enter 
their
> light air-cars and rise with a sweep that soon leaves the 
sleepers, now
> waking, behind them.  The huge red-coated giants hear the roar of 
the waters
> and feel the cold waves roll about them.  They enter their cars, 
but only to
> find all their efforts are wasted.  Soon the crumbling earth no 
longer
> supports them, and all by an inrushing wave are engulfed, drawn 
into the
> mouth of the sea, and the treacherous ocean with roars as of 
pleasure in
> conquest has claimed the last race of that Island.
>  
> But one has escaped of all the red giants, and slowly but surely 
his car
> sailed up, up, as if to elude the sun-colored men who were 
spoilers.
>  
> Then, loud, clear, and thrilling swelled out a note of marvelous 
power from
> my captain, and back came a hundred of those brilliant fast cars 
that were
> speeding off eastward.  Now they pursue the heavy, vast, slow-
moving car of
> the giant, surround it, and seem to avoid its attacks.  Then again 
swells
> that note from my master as our car hung still on its wings. It 
was a
> signal, obeyed in an instant.
>  
> One brilliant, small sharp-pointed car is directed full at the red 
giant's
> vehicle.  Propelled by a force that exceeds the swift bullet, it 
pierces the
> other, itself, too, is broken and falls on the waves with its 
victim. 
> Trembling I gazed down below, but my captain said kindly,
>  
> "He is safe, for he entered another bright car at the signal.  All 
those
> red-coated men are now gone, and that last was the worse and the 
greatest."
>  
> Back eastward once more through the salt spray and the mist until 
soon the
> bright light shone again and the Island rose over the sea with the
> soft-singing water murmuring back to the sun.  We alighted, and 
then, as I
> turned, the whole fleet of swift sailing cars disappeared, and out 
in the
> sky flashed a bright streak of sun-colored light that formed into 
letters
> which read:
>  
> "This is where the Rishis were before the chalk cliffs of Albion 
rose out of
> the wave.  They were but are not."
>  
> And loud, clear and thrilling rose that note I had heard in the 
car of swift
> pinions.  It thrilled me with sadness, for past was the glory and 
naught for
> the future was left but a destiny.
>  
> Bryan Kinnavan (Wm. Q. Judge)
> THE PATH,  January 1891.
>  
> -----------------------------------------------
>  
> THEOSOPHY teaches:
> 
>  
> 998,100 B C Atlantean continent began sinking 
> [SD II 10, 141, 144, ISIS I 557, 593]. 
>  
> 9,664 BC	The last Island related to Atlantis, ["Posedonis"] 
is said
> to have sunk 
> [ML 155,    SD II 5, 8, 406, 444fn,    ISIS I
> 589-94].
> 
> 1,628 c	Thera (Santorini) Volcano Erupts (Tree Ring Dating)
> [ L A Times, Aug 29 1996 ]
> [ End of Minoan Civilization, and 
tidal
> waves
> overwhelm coasts of Eastern Mediterranean.]
>  
> ==========================================
> 
> The vast tsunami in the Indian Ocean that has just been 
experienced, [Dec.
> 26 2004] seems to relate in some particulars of geological 
catastrophe to
> the story above. The suffering of individuals is of course 
enormous and
> deserves all our efforts to help and succor.
> 
> ===========================================
> 
>  
> It should be noted that the records of the SECRET DOCTRINE are not 
limited
> by (or to) the present geographical outlines of the configuration 
of our
> present continents.  
>  
> It may be noted that the present "plate-tectonics" hypothesis is 
not
> endorsed by the S D.  This plausible hypothesis has recently 
engaged the
> attention of geologists and geographers.  It advances  the concept 
that our
> present known continental patterns are fixed to their "plates." 
These in
> turn "float" and gradually move on a softer subterranean core of a 
more
> fluidic mass of hot rock; and the result is that they have 
participated
> (without altering shape) over millions of years in "continental 
drift."  
> But, this is not a theory that is confirmed by the esoteric 
history of our
> Earth, as given in the SECRET DOCTRINE.
>  
> In tracing the past history and movements of the RACES, the land 
masses
> follow the order of evolution of the RACES from 1st to the 5th.  
The book
> The SECRET DOCTRINE, does not take into account the location and 
fate of
> many islands and peninsulas since the face of the Earth has 
changed many
> times, and the Poles have been inverted several times [SD II 350 
353 360 368
> 432-3 785-6 436].
>  
> The last serious geographical and geological change occurred 
around 12,000 
> BC [SD II 8-9] and was followed by the submergence of Posedonis 
(9,566 BC). 
> Change in the elevation of the continents and islands is not 
always violent
> states the S D [SD II 787fn].
>  
>  
> ===============================================================
>  
>  
>             ATLANTIS, LEMURIA, GIANTS, ETC….
>  
>  
> PART  1  --
>  
>   
> ATLANTIS,   LEMURIA,   GIANTS,   
> 
> 
> [Part II contains Geological chronology,   
> Theosophical Chronology, etc. ]
> 
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
---------
> ----------------
>  
> PART  1  =
>  
>  
> Mme. Blavatsky in the SECRET DOCTRINE,  Vol. I pp. 153 - 205 
outlines
> the early ROUNDS whereby the circling and evolving hosts of Mankind
> pass through the experiences of many degrees of matter until they
> reach in the middle, the 4th Round, the most gross.  If one refers 
to
> the diagram on p. 200  (SD I) it will be seen that this is the 
balance
> point were the "matter" being evolved is at its densest.
>  
> We as a host of "Human" Monads have just past this mid-point.  At 
the
> Mid point which occurred about 18,618,886 tears ago (SD I 150fn) 
the
> significant event called the LIGHTING UP OF MANAS (mind) 
occurred.  In
> the 2nd volume of the SD, HPB reviews all these in far greater 
detail.
>  
>  
>             OUR POSITION NOW
>  
> Our Round is the 4th Round and our Globe is the 4th ("D").  On 
Globe D
> so far 4 "Races" have been evolved.  The 3rd was named "Lemurian, "
> the 4th, "Atlantean," and the 5th (ours) is named "Aryan" (noble).
> The LIGHTING UP OF MANAS occurred during the mid-point of the 3rd
> Root-race (Lemurian) [SD II 154-5, 167, 79]
>  
>  
>             ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS AND RACES
>  
> Questions concerning the past of Mankind and the old races that had
> been given names such as Atlanteans, Lemurians, etc.  relate to 
time
> periods, and the nature of geological time  measuring, also, the
> chronology of the SECRET DOCTRINE was asked about.
>  
> In considering the past and the attempts to measure and evaluate 
such
> misty legends as appear to envelop Lemuria and Atlantis -- those
> periods when we used Lemurian and Atlantean bodies -- for Occultism
> holds that all of us -- we -- as immortal EGOS, were the same
> EGO-Minds that were then evolving in those periods and used those
> bodies.  What does Volume. II of the SECRET DOCTRINE, when compared
> with modern Geological periods offer us
>  
> It is largely
>  
> 1.  the establishing of the facts that Esoteric and Oriental
> Literature and philosophy have recorded in regard to the
> evolution of our Earth.  This covers each of the first 3 ROUNDS
> (3 times around the 7 GLOBES) and, specifically, it deals with
> the history of evolution in this, the 4th ROUND.
>  
> In this 4th ROUND it deals with the most recent time period named
> by HPB in the SD the 4th GLOBE [see Diagram SD I 200].  One must
> remember that these (ROUNDS, GLOBES, RACES, SUB-RACES) are
> measures of time.
>  
> Another fact that esotericism speaks of is that there have been
> great changes in material (PHYSICAL), psychological (MIND,
> FEELINGS, EMOTIONS) and spiritual (MONADIC) development.  
>  
> These are traced by occultism and a summary is offered to us, 
together with
> explanations in Vol. 2 of the S D.  We can, by reading what is 
offered
> there, learn in greater detail about our own past history.  About 
that which
> occurred during those vast periods when we incarnated again and 
again in
> that "past."
>  
> In S D  I,  p. 181,  HPB gives facts about the three lines of 
Evolution. 
> She describes them and names them:
>  
> 1.  Spiritual (or MONADIC).
> 2.  Intellectual (or Manasic), and
> 3.  Physical. (or material, physical bodily forms).
>  
> It will be found that the 2nd Vol. of the S D focuses in still 
greater
> detail on the 4 RACES that have preceded ours in this Round. It 
provides
> information concerning our evolution there and upon the 
development of mind,
> psyche and Soul.  
>  
> The physical side of evolution and its remains as fossils and 
monuments –
> contrasting with the Scientific views of geology and archaeology 
are also
> discussed as of the time when HPB wrote which was over 120 years 
ago.
> 
> 
> REINCARNATION OF THE IMMORTAL MONAD
>  
> It is very important to realize ( and carry this in mind during the
> following consideration) that the Reincarnating EGO (Atma-Buddhi-
Manas) of
> each human being is an IMMORTAL
> (as a MONAD).
>  
> It (WE) have been named the ETERNAL PILGRIMS.  
>  
> It [the Monad] moves from body to body, as the eras and races pass 
in time,
> and all the development of faculties are embodied in the character 
and the
> talents of each of us.  In all cases there is an increment, and an 
improving
> of our range of experience. 
>  
> We can trace a continual widening of our comprehension of the 
Universe, and
> an intuitional inquiry into the causes of both our diversity and 
coupled
> with that the paradox of, our close unity.  
>  
> Ultimately, we find that the UNITY of ALL dawns on us as a 
potential and
> then as an actuality.  It is a most wonderful prospect and gives 
to each of
> us a sense of purpose, of
> dignity, and of an importance, which, once grasped cannot be 
relinquished. 
> We find that the brotherhood of the immortal Monads is the basis 
for all
> relationships -- there is a commonality, a sharing, of spirit, 
mind and
> matter, even though we may try to guard that which we think is 
solely "our
> own."
>  
> Therefore, we, who now use 5th RACE, "Aryan Race" bodies, were the 
same EGOS
> that used the old "Atlantean" bodies (through each of its 7-fold 
Races),
> and, the still older "Lemurian" bodies (and their 7-fold RACE
> developments).   
>  
> When we speak of those old RACES we are speaking of ourselves when 
we lived
> in them and used them.  We are trying to look into our own past 
history. 
> When we visit Cyclopean monuments, we are revisiting buildings in 
which we
> may have had a hand in their original construction or subsequent 
renovation
> and restoration down the eras of time.
>  
> Our present human bodies--that we are using today--each has in its 
past as
> heredity, one or a mixture of the Sub-Races of the 5th RACE.  It, 
the 5th
> Race, named "Aryan" (or Noble), is said to be about 1,050,000 
years old [ SD
> II 141, 144-5, 395].  The Aryan race arose among the later sub-
races of the
> Atlanteans, and gradually separated from that older root stock.  
There are
> still human groups and tribes whose heredity can be traced to the
> Atlanteans; and even to the last sub-races of the Lemuro-
Atlanteans.  It
> takes vast ages for all the traits and characteristics of a great 
Race to
> die out completely.  All this complexity is explained in detail in 
SD Vol.
> II.
>  
> The 3rd Race (Round 4 - ours) was named Lemurian.
> 
> The 4th Race (Round 4 - ours) was named Atlantean.
> 
> 
>  
> LEMURIA
> 
> 
> LEMURIA, as a continent, is said to have begun slipping below the
> ocean 4,242,352 years back (as of 1888)  [ SD I 439fn].
> 
> 
> ATLANTIS
>  
> 998,100 years ago the Atlantean continent began sinking [SD II
> 10, 141, 144, ISIS I 557, 593]  
> 
> The last Island related to Atlantis, ["Posedonis"] is said to have 
sunk
> 9,664  BC  [ML 155,  SD II 5, 8, 406, 444fn, ISIS I 589-94].
>  
> In the SD we can find that a special date is drawn attention to 
(SD I 150
> Fn).  It is over 18 million years ago, when the Mind of humanity 
is said to
> have been "lighted up."  [ see SD II 167, 254-5, 70-80,  SD I 
150fn. ].
>  
> Since the description of the facts found narrated in ancient
> oriental literature and the secret books of the Occult
> Fraternity, runs in many ways contrary to the hypothesis and
> theories of our modern Archaeology, one finds that much of the
> 2nd Volume of the SD is a great polemic, and many arguments are
> advanced in contrasting and opposing views:  the theories of
> Archaeology and the FACTS of Occult Science and History.
> 
> 
> ARCHAEOLOGY, GEOLOGY, PALEONTOLOGY
>  
> Our Sciences of Archaeology, Geology, Paleontology, etc...
> are hardly 250 years old.  Looking at physical evidence only,
> theories were devised (based on that material evidence alone) to
> account for the evolution of living beings on Earth.  There was,
> and is, an on-going conflict between "evolutionists" and
> "creationists."
>  
> Geology provides details concerning the effect of climate on
> minerals, plants and the fossils of animals and humans, and
> archaeology employs these as clues to the timing of evolutionary
> events.  It is all based on physical evidence.  The evolution of
> consciousness, mind, intelligence, instinct and intuition are
> invisible, hence the Scientific speculations based on solely the
> physical evidence of change cannot possibly give an accurate view
> of their separate evolution.
> 
> 
> ASTRAL CONCRETIZATIONS
>  
> When we look at the evidence of geological change, the S D states
> that in some cases we may also be looking at the concretized
> remains and evidence of evolutionary change in the ASTRAL
> periods. Thus some fossils and strata reflect traces of those
> ancient  Astral conditions and its changes during those past eras
> in terms of our present highly condensed material -- which now
> clothes the original Astral forms.  [One might consider (using
> an analogy) that the space between the Atomic nuclei and their
> peripheral electrons was even wider in those early days than they
> are to day, thus making the appearance of "matter" far more
> tenuous--"misty" to us as a perspective.  As matter "condensed"
> so did the Astral fossils and strata.]
>  
> The great difference between Occult and material Science in this,
> it lies in a grasp of the nature of the early periods of Astral
> development and its changes prior to our present material
> physical condition.  The early Rounds of our Earth (One, Two,
> Three to the middle of the 4th ROUND) are evolutionary
> periods involving only the Astral material and its progress.
>  
> Minerals, plants animals and mankind were all astral in form, and
> just as "solid" to each other then, in those periods, as we are
> today solid to one another in this present condensed "matter"
> that we use all the time.  Physical Matter, such as we now are
> familiar with, and live in, became gradually more concretely
> manifest and visible in the 4th GLOBE of this, our  ROUND (which
> is the 4th in the World series of Rounds).  The 4th GLOBE, of
> this 4th ROUND, being the densest -- which is where we are, as
> "forms," now.).
>  
> In this our 4th GLOBE, the 7 RACES which form it, also, the
> sub-divisions of time, recapitulate the entire process of
> development (as the fetus does in the womb) of the 3 earlier
> ROUNDS.
>  
> RACES One, Two and Three (Lemurian) up to the middle of the 3rd
> were largely Astral forms -- of Astral matter, and these have
> gradually consolidated as the material conditions changed and
> densified around them. [ SD I 142, ]
>  
> The Astral form is electro-magnetic in character and for each
> individual intelligence (be this mineral, plant, animal or human)
> there is a specific and individual "force-field" to which
> cooperative materials are attracted.  These assist in making a
> coherent bodily form.  The "materials" are also Monads.
>  
> Thus, the Astral is held in esotericism to always precede the 
physical.
>  
> If one considers what Science teaches us today about the
> constitution of the atom, we can see that if we analyze our
> physical body to its ultimate nature we are left with
> "force-fields" that are "atomic" in nature and quality.  But that
> Power which draws specific atoms to form molecules, cells, and
> physical structures into a living body, is yet to be located, and
> subject to analysis.  Yet, it exists since we are here, using our
> bodies and very conscious in them of both feelings and thoughts.
>  
> At our present evolutionary stage, the astral form/entity is
> entirely interior to the physical.  It forms the mold or
> framework on which the physical molecules, cells, and other
> physical structures form a coherent cooperative, in which an
> Intelligence (called the Human Personality) can reside.  It is
> far more resistant to change than physical matter and serves as
> the continuing basis for our appearance, from childhood to old
> age.
> 
> 
> BRAIN
>  
> There is an astral BRAIN  which is the true center of
> Intelligence, and where memory is recorded.  The physical Brain
> changes and alters from second to second, (as does the living
> matter of the whole body) and so, the Brain, is constantly
> renewed as it deteriorates and that which needs removal is
> replaced.  It is the physical tool of the Astral, the True Brain.
> 
> 
> MIND
>  
> In Man's form, a MIND (in addition to the feeling, sensitive
> Personality) also resides [SD II 167, 79-80, 254-5].  Man's form
> has associated with it, all the impulse of a well-developed
> instinctual and desire nature.  The Mind in man is of the
> Spiritual essence that inheres in Him; it is THIS (the MONAD --
> the HIGHER SELF) that broods over each of our personalities as we
> live our daily life.  We can thus see that no matter how many
> fossils are discovered, the astral, the mental and the spiritual
> heredity and evolution cannot be deduced from them.
>  
> Because of this HPB, had to draw comparisons with the facts known
> to Occultism and those tentative theories and hypotheses that
> were being advanced by archaeology, and the scientific theories
> on evolution and heredity that were current in her day -- and
> which, as is usually the case, became accepted as "true" and as a
> "basis" on which to further pursue study and deposit fresh and
> additional facts as they were unearthed.  [One ought to become
> familiar with the 3 books written by Michael Cremo and Richard
> Thompson regarding FORBIDDEN ARCHAEOLOGY -- which 
> uncover some of the data that archaeology has been concealed – 
> if it did not fit those theories. This has retarded real progress.]
>  
> Since HPB's time, there have been some changes brought on by
> fresh discoveries and technical improvements, in the views and
> dating of modern Science, but the basic distinction between the
> physical and the astral, the physical and the intellectual, and
> the physical and the Spiritual consciousness has never yet been
> derived from fossils.  Nor have their evolution been traced
> except hypothetically.
>  
> The general theories current when the S D was written over 120 
years ago,
> are still in place, but thanks to dating techniques the antiquity 
of early
> times and geological ages have been extended and broadened.  In 
the 2nd part
> of this essay we offer some data (in terms of times) for 
comparison on this.
>  
>  
>             GRADUALISM
>  
> During HPB's time another theory (besides Lyell's 'Gradualism') 
concerning
> evolution was also under consideration in France, based on the 
observations
> and hypothesis of the eminent scientist Georges Cuvier (1769-1832).
>  
>  
>             CATASTROPHISM IN EARLIER ERAS
>  
> Cuvier as a Zoologist and Chancellor of the University of Paris 
developed
> from his observations of fossils found in old geological strata 
the concept
> of "Catastrophism."  Great global cataclysms were seen to 
substantially
> alter the progress of evolution from time to time. A perspective 
is needed
> to view these.
>  
> Geologists have revealed many great catastrophic changes that have 
left
> their mark  on global geology.  For example:  (These catastrophic 
time-frame
> estimates are made by modern Geology.)
>  
> Early CAMBRIAN Age (estimated at 570 million years ago). 
Unicellular forms
> seem suddenly to give way to multicellular ones showing mineralized
> skeletons  -- trilobites, etc... The cause for this change is not 
known.
>  
> End of the ORDOVICIAN Period (estimated at 425 million years ago). 
The cause
> of a vast mass extinction that occurred then is yet to be 
determined.  This
> was apparently accompanied by a long ice age.
>  
> Close of the DEVONIAN Age (estimated at 365 million years ago). 
Another mass
> extinction of species occurred -- cause yet to be determined.
>  
> The PALEOZOIC Era closed (estimated at 225 million years ago). A 
most
> violent mass extinction (including the ancient trilobites) 
occurred leaving
> only about 5% of all species alive.   It is theorized that the
> supercontinent "Pangea" -- "mother" of the present continents was 
then in
> place.  Water levels diminished, and sea levels lowered 
dramatically 
> Massive volcanic action seems to have taken place following that.
>  
> TRIASSIC Period ended  (estimated at 190 million years ago). 
Another mass
> extinction of living species was observed. This may have been 
triggered it
> has been theorized, by the impact of  large meteorite or a small 
comet in
> the area of Quebec's Lake Manicougan (60 mile wide crater).  The 
subsequent
> ice age caused a massive die-off of living forms.  It is theorized 
that the
> hypothetical link (Cotylosaurus) between the dinosaurs and the 
mammals and
> reptiles was destroyed at that time.
>  
> 65 million years ago another comet/meteorite was also estimated to 
have
> collided with the Earth and the resulting devastation caused the 
death of
> most of the Earth's species.  This included the remaining  
dinosaurs and
> reptiles.  A world wide layer of Iridium between 2 layers of 
limestone may
> have been deposited, as Iridium, rare on Earth, is largely present 
in
> meteorites [1980, Alvarez].  Mammals survived and a new 
distribution of
> fauna bloomed after this.
>  
> 35 million years ago saw possibly two impacts (one under the 
Chesapeake Bay,
> and another in Siberia) -- that triggered the death of most of the 
animal
> species of the Earth, as a great ice age ensued.  .
>  
> This catalog causes one to observe that long periods of relative 
stability
> can be traced by geologists to be interrupted by violent events: 
floods or
> volcanism.  These upheavals alter the course of Life as a whole.
>  
> Archaeologists and Geologists wonder if a new era and change in 
quality of
> life is marked by the rapid development of new species.  For 
example it is
> noticed that fossils indicate a rapid rise in the mammalian 
population of
> the Earth following the general demise of the dinosaurs some 65 
million
> years ago. Later still, human fossils begin to be found in strata 
that seems
> to be around 4 million years old.
>  
> In HPB's time a very grudging 40 to 100,000 years was allowed for 
the
> emergence of the human skeletal frame, presumably from that of the 
apes,
> which so closely resembled them.
>  
> But the S D teaches that the Apes are the descendents of man and 
not its
> predecessors or progenitors.  [ see SD, Vol. I 186, 190-1;  II 
87fn, 189,
> 193, 678, 689 ]
>  
> 
> MAN IS PRIMITIVE -- APE-FORMS ARE SPECIALIZED DESCENDENTS
> 
> Scientists of HPB's time like Mr. De Quatrefages and others, 
challenged this
> "descent from the Apes theory" because anatomically man's skeleton 
can be
> shown to precede that of the Apes. [ S D   II  87fn, 287, 315fn, 
665fn,
> 666-8, 677-8, 680-5]
>  
> To explain this:  Man's skeletal form is far more primitive, and 
the
> skeletons of the Apes show specializations that could only be 
derived by
> environmental requirements placed on them.  Whereas the human 
skeleton can
> be shown to remain unchanged in structure no matter how old the 
strata may
> be from which his fossils may be found.  The antiquity of the 
strata shows
> no variation in man's skeleton.  Further the special 
characteristics of
> various human skeletal features can be found today among us.  We 
are also
> aware that today with our current highly technological 
civilization, there
> are savage tribes and races that still co-exist with us in
> South America, Australia, Africa, Polynesia, (not to mention the
> "inner-city" jungles that we have created in our large cities).
> 
> 
> BRAIN SIZE
>  
> An additional factor is the size of the brain.  It has to be noted 
that
> Man's cranial capacity, the average -- including those we 
term 'savages' --
> is 100 cubic inches or more.  This is about 3 times as large as 
the brain
> volume of the largest Ape, the Gorilla, which measures on the 
average, 31
> cubic inches or less. [SD II 193fn, 661, 676, 682].
>  
> Giant human skeletons are mentioned in SD II 9 151 194-5 278-9 
293fn
> 330 337 347-8 409 SD II 752-6 774-5  Mahatma Letters, bottom of p. 
2]
>  
> [ Close of Part 1 of this study and report.]
> 
>  
> Part II TO FOLLOW
> 
>  
>  Best wishes,
>  
> Dallas

Hi Dallas,

This is interesting in light of the wave of Christmas that struck 
Indonesia not only because Atlantis is invoked, much of the history 
of this world is tied intimately to that life as little as others 
are aware of it matters not. Also, even if HPB does not mention it 
the great Tsumani of 1883 struck just 5 years before the publication 
of the SD but also while she was working on it as an indication of 
the great energy she/he released in writing and being a part of 
human progress. 

The SD was a blow to materialism and this last wave of 2004 makes 
1883 look like a picnic--we can only watch for an even greater blow 
to current materialism in the next 10 years.

Netemara
>