Theos-Talk Archives (March 2005 Message tt00129)

Mar 7, 2005



Dear Rudy:



It is an excellent review Estela.



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Rudy:



How are things going up there?



How is the study class and Gail? 



No news from you for a while.



Thanks for posting this, it is valuable. 





Best to you and Gene as always,



Dal & Val

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-----Original Message-----
From: Rodolfo Don 
Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2005 7:51 AM
To: 
Subject: Re: bn-study digest: A Recap of Basic Theosophical Principles




On Sunday, March 6, 2005, 



BN-STUDY Digest for Saturday, March 05, 2005.

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Subject: A Recap of Basic Theosophical Principles
From: Estela Carson <estela3@blavatsky.net>
Date: Sat, 05 Mar 2005 13:06:56 -0500
X-Message-Number: 2

Hello Folks,

I have set below some of the highlights of the teachings that we covered in
the past few months, and which are taken from "Deity Cosmos and Man" by
Geoffrey Farthing. For Newcomers, there is an underlying study course on
this list. We are reading the book mentioned above as an introduction to
Theosophy. Geoffrey Farthing, who recently passed away at the young age of
90+ was a dedicated student of HP Blavatsky, and only referenced her works 
in his books. He was the founder of The Blavatsky Trust Foundation in UK,
General Secretary of The Theosophical Society in England (1969-1972) and
served a term as member of the Society's General Council at Adyar, India,
and was a member of the Executive Committee of the European Federation. 





I have always found his books to be very helpful in outlining the basic
premises of Theosophy and explaining what HPB meant in her very long, and
winding sentences. I am sure many of you have gotten as lost as I while
perusing HPB's prose. Farthing's books are good guide maps, and for that
reason we have nearly all of them on offer at seekerbooks.com. I especially
recommend 



DEITY COSMOS AND MAN AND EXPLORING THE GREAT BEYOND.

Now, having said that there is an underlying study course, does not mean
that we are limited to discussing only that, as always questions, 
observations, and other topics are welcomed on this list at any time. 
Please feel free to ask a question. We all on this list participate in 
finding the answers.

________




TAT TWAM ASI (That Thou Art)

The unity of all things, This is the one central theme throughout the 
philosophy of Theosophy, that we arise from that unknowable one source, and
that we reside within the folds of that unknowable source. That all that we
see, hear, feel, in sort all of our reality arises from that unknowable
source, along with realms that are beyond this reality, of which poets,
seers and sages speak about. ALL is that ONE.




___





The Days and Nights of Brahma

There is no creation only spirals in this ONE. "The universe and all that is
in it are subject to a timeless process described as 'Days and Nights,'
alternating periods of activity and rest." There was no creation from
nothing because all was there, in ideation before manifestation. It is a
series of manifestations spiraling upward toward more perfection.



-----------------------------------


Thank you Estela for keep bringing back basic theosophical teachings based
on Farthing's "Deity, Cosmos and Man." 



Chapter IV shows how Nature is hierarchical throughout the Cosmos. As soon
as the Cosmos differentiates it becomes hierarchical, and man being a
reflection of the Cosmos is a hierarchy. In the third paragraph of the IV
chapter Geoffrey writes:

"The human body presents a miniature model of the hierarchical structure of
the cosmos. The chemical atoms and molecules that constitute the material of
cells are living structures; a high degree of organization is present in the
living cells, which contribute to the formation of tissues, bones, and
organs--the next hierarchical level--until we come to the functioning whole,
the body itself. Each unit--from the chemical atom, the cell, the organ, to
the body--has its individual consciousness, while at the same time
functioning within the consciousness of a larger unit within the
hierarchical structure. Each unit is in communication with the rest of the
system of which it is a part, transmitting and receiving messages in a
manner which, in our own human activities, we would describe as intelligent.

"The physical body, however, is only one aspect of the sevenfold man, whose
inner aspects repeat the hierarchical pattern which, as described earlier,
reflects the structure of the Cosmos. Each plane of the sevenfold universe
is peopled by lives, as varied in the degree of consciousness they display
and in the functions they fulfil in the cosmic scheme as are the hierarchies
of lesser lives in the body of man. (The whole Kosmos is guided, controlled,
and animated by almost endless series of Hierarchies of sentient Beings,
each having a mission to perform...They vary infinitely in their respective
degrees of consciousness and intelligence..."

Secret Doctrine, I, 274)"

Rodolfo Don

____

NUMBER 7 IN ALL THINGS

All of manifestation holds to a seven-fold nature. As above so below holds
true for all. "The universe is the macrocosm, the great ordered whole, and
man is its miniature reflection, the microcosm."
_________

HIERARCHIES OF BEINGS

Esoteric Science supports universal tradition in affirming that the
different planes of Nature are peopled by hierarchies of beings, each with
characteristic properties and modes of functioning.

_________

ELEMENTS AND ELEMENTALS

These are examples of the hierarchical structure of the Cosmos. The 
Elements, in Esoteric Science, are seven in number, the four familiar ones
of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, to which it adds a semi-material Ether that
is still invisible to us, and two others which are "as yet absolutely beyond
the range of human perception." [16] Yet all of these, it must always be
remembered, are aspects of the One Universal Element, the source of all
objective existence.

_______

THERE IS ORDER, THERE IS PURPOSE, 

there is law in a seemingly random, chaotic universe. 


The Law is in itself Wisdom, Intelligence, and Power; it is the Wisdom that
"REACHETH FROM ONE END [of the Universe] TO ANOTHER MIGHTILY; and sweetly
doth she order all things". [18] operating through the Hierarchies of beings
by which the Cosmos is made and maintained as one harmonious whole.
_______

SCIENTISTS CALL IT "M" FIELD, do we call it AKASHA?

It has been stated (in paragraph 4 above), that there is no such thing as
empty space in the universe. Esoteric Science teaches that the entire cosmos
is pervaded by Akasha, primordial substance, or rather the noumenon - the
non-sensuous reality - beyond substance. In the Theosophical Glossary,
Akasha (from a Sanskrit word meaning 'brilliant" or "luminous") is described
as "the subtle, supersensuous spiritual essence which pervades all space."
This primordial substance differentiates into all the forms of matter, those
of the invisible as of the visible regions of the universe. 


Hence the definition of Akasha as "the Universal Soul" ...from which all
that exists is born by separation or differentiation. It is the cause of
existence; it fills all the infinite Space."

________

THE GLOBAL NETWORK

The lowest region of Akasha, immediately above the gross physical plane, is
termed the Astral Light. It is "the invisible region that surrounds our
globe" and everything in it, and corresponds to the subtle vehicle or
"double" in man, the Linga-sharira. In it is impressed indelibly everything
that takes place in the physical, psychical, and mental realms. It is thus
the storehouse of memory, both in the cosmos and in mankind.

(I would like to add here, that there is much confusion to what exactly is
the astral light. Many psychics erroneously conclude that information from
this region is good, and so in their ignorance do much harm. This global
linga-sharira holds ALL the thoughts of mankind, the good, the bad, the
silly and the erroneous. It takes trained minds (meaning years of guided
training by masters) to decipher what is stored there, and sadly people who
claim to all of a sudden be able to channel have not the proper training.)

________

THE INNER MAN through the cycles of rebirths

The spiritual essence in man, a persistent entity, attaches itself 
periodically to a succession of personalities which it projects into the 
objective world. In so doing, it obeys the universal cyclic law that 
operates throughout Nature. The temporary personality comprises a complex
mortal non-physical component, the psyche or soul, housed in a body of
flesh.

_____


Well, that is as far as we have gotten. For those who have recently joined
us, please feel free to ask for any elaboration on any of the points above
outlined.

Keep well,

Estela Carson



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