Re: Love/emotion
Mar 25, 2005 05:54 AM
by W.Dallas TenBroeck
Mar 25 2005
Re: Love / emotion
Dear E. and Friends:
Could this be considered from the view-point offered in the literature of
THEOSOPHY ?
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LOVE, EROS, COOPERATION, COMPASSION, MERCY
==============================================
KAMADEVA and the MONAD
Is Man a miniature of the universe? As above, so below.
Why do ancient teachings on “creation,” or rather the reincarnation of the
Universe, feature the “sundering of the ONE.”
If this is true, then consider that thereafter LIFE, MOTION, ENERGY,
PURPOSE, and THE POWER OF INDEPENDENT SELF-CHOICE, being universally
diffused (no limits) the ‘PLENUM” was filled with the returning to lifeof
the armies (hosts ?) of immortal MONADS, each under KARMA-UNIVERSAL, and
each resuming its position and work from the place and area where the
stasis and rest of an earlier Pralaya had overcome it.
"Kamadeva" (to me) signifies an emblem that illustrates HARMONY and
COOPERATION, hence compassion and care for one’s brother MONADS, wherever
they may be and in whatever avenue of serve they (and we) may be.
It is to be understood that KARMA causes the reincarnation of universes, it
is an indissoluble aspect of the ABSOLUTE..
What we think of as SPIRIT and MATTER are aspects of Karma and since they
neutralize each other they may be considered “married” or eternally united.
(Not sexually, but electro-magnetically -- if that may be used as an
illustration).
[Alchemically we are asked the meaning of "the union of the “Red Virgin” and
the “Philosopher’s Stone.” -- If one can accept the idea that the “Red
Virgin” symbolizes KAMA, (or selfish desire being in fact the densest
“MATTER”) and the “PHILOSOPHER’S STONE” (that dissolves any and all
“containers” is a symbol for the ONE SPIRIT which is universal).
This leads ones' thought to the concept of
(1) the (our) MONAD, and many -- (whether) universal as an infinitude of
infinitesimal living vibrant points of intelligent life (string theory?)
-- or
(2) Personal: are the limits of personalized and selfish “desire” are to be
continually contrasted with the universality and impersonality of the ONE
SPIRIT (a “ray” of which is said to inhere in each human). For the purpose
of understanding ourselves as intelligent and free MONADS in evolution, we
use the words “Matter” and ”Spirit” – and those need further definition.
One of these will be found in S D II 167 (on the 2 EGOS in Man – I have
many references on this in the SECRET DOCTRINE, available if asked for …)
One of the strange things in considering the evolution of Humanity is the
fact that apparently some of the early successes among the "Divine" MONADS
(Kumaras ?) who first delayed, but later agreed to “create,” actually took
up residence (as a kind of overseeing but non-meddling TUTOR in each human
lower Mind that was approaching individualization and the trials and tasks
relative to such a condition (ours at present). [see TRANSACTIONS, p. 62 to
67]
KAMADEVA [GOD OF LOVE / COMPASSION ]
KAMADEVA (Sk.). In the popular notions the god of love, a Visva-deva, in the
Hindu Pantheon. As the Eros of Hesiod, degraded into Cupid by exoteric law,
and still more degraded by a later popular sense attributed to the term, so
is Kama a most mysterious and metaphysical subject.
The earlier Vedic description of Kama alone gives the key-note to what he
emblematizes. Kama is the first conscious, all embracing desire for
universal good, love, and for all that lives and feels, needs help and
kindness, the first feeling of infinite tender compassion and mercy that
arose in the consciousness of the creative ONE Force, as soon as it came
into life and being as a ray from the ABSOLUTE. Says the Rig Veda,
“Desire first arose in IT, which was the primal germ of mind, and which
Sages, searching with their intellect, have discovered in their heart to be
the bond which connects Entity with non-Entity”, or Manas with pure
Atma-Buddhi.” THEOSOPHICAL GLOSSARY 170-1
(DTB see S D I 44-6, 570; II 65, 79, 176, 578-9, J.
Letters: 60; G N p. 227; Glos 121, 217) Remarkable -- and needs careful
analyzing with relation to our inner Higher Self.)
[DTB This is to be thought over metaphysically and universally and then
we can see if it is a part of our own septenary constitution (meditation?).]
There is no idea of sexual love in the conception. Kama is pre-eminently the
divine desire of creating happiness and love; and it is only ages later, as
mankind began to materialize by anthropomorphization its grandest ideals
into cut and dried dogmas, that Kama became the power that gratifies desire
on the animal plane.
This is shown by what every Veda and some Brahmanas say.
In the Atharva Veda, Kama is represented as the Supreme Deity and Creator.
In the Taitarîya Brahmana, he is the child of Dharma, the god of Law and
Justice, of Sraddha and faith.
In another account he springs from the heart of Brahmâ.
Others show him born from water, i.e., from primordial chaos, or the “Deep”.
Hence one of his many names, Irâ-ja, “the water-born”; and Aja, “unborn” ;
and Atmabhu or “Self-existent”.
Because of the sign of Makara (Capricornus) on his banner, he is also called
“ Makara Ketu”.
The allegory about Siva, the “Great Yogin”, reducing Kama to ashes by the
fire from his central (or third) Eye, for inspiring the Mahadeva with
thoughts of his wife, while he was at his devotions—is very suggestive, as
it is said that he thereby reduced Kama to his primeval spiritual form.
(Glos 170-1)
EYES (divine). The “eyes” the Lord Buddha developed in him at the twentieth
hour of his vigil when sitting under the BO-tree, when he was attaining
Buddhaship. They are the eyes of the glorified Spirit, to which matter is no
longer a physical impediment, and which have the power of seeing all things
within the space of the limitless Universe. 0n the following morning of that
night, at the close of the third watch, the “ Merciful One” attained the
Supreme Knowledge.” -- T. Glos 117
DIVINE WILL BECOMES EROS.
“Water is the symbol of the female element everywhere; mater, from which the
letter M, is derived pictorially from [[diagram]] a water hieroglyph. It is
the universal matrix or the "Great Deep."
Venus, the great Mother-Virgin, issues forth from the Sea-wave, and Cupid or
Eros is her son. But Venus is the later mythological variant of Gaia (or
Gaea), the Earth, which, in its higher aspect is Nature (Prakriti), and
metaphysically Aditi, and even Mulaprakriti, the root of Prakriti or its
noumenon.
Hence Cupid or LOVE in his primitive sense IS EROS, the Divine Will, or
Desire of manifesting itself through visible creation. Thence Fohat, the
prototype of Eros, becomes on Earth the great power "Life-electricity," or
the Spirit of "Life-giving." S D II, p. 65
“THE EVOLUTION OF THE PRINCIPLES of Thought) REFLECTS ITSELF IN CHHAYALOKA
(the shadowy world of primal form, or the intellectual) THE FIRST GARMENT OF
(the) ANUPADAKA (c).
(a) This tracing of "Spiral lines" refers to the evolution of man's as well
as Nature's principles; an evolution which takes place gradually (as will be
seen in Book II., on "The origin of the Human Races"), as does everything
else in nature. The Sixth principle in Man (BUDDHI, the Divine Soul) though
a mere breath, in our conceptions, is still something material when compared
with divine "Spirit" (Atma) of which it is the carrier or vehicle.
Fohat, in his capacity of DIVINE LOVE (Eros), the electric Power of affinity
and sympathy, is shown allegorically as trying to bring the pure Spirit, the
Ray inseparable from the ONE absolute, into union with the Soul, the two
constituting in Man the MONAD, and in Nature the first link between the ever
unconditioned and the manifested. "The first is now the second" (world) --
of the Lipikas -- has reference to the same.” S D I, p. 119
“Number 5 was composed of a binary and a ternary, which binary threw
everything in the perfect form into disorder and confusion. The perfect man,
they said, was a quaternary and a ternary, or four material and three
immaterial elements; which three spirits or elements we likewise find in 5,
when it represents the microcosm. The latter is a compound of a binary
directly relating to gross matter, and of three Spirits:
"Since 5 is the ingenious union of two Greek accents placed over vowels
which have or have not to be aspirated. The first sign is called 'Strong
Spirit' or superior Spirit, the spirit of God aspired (spiritus) and
breathed by man. The second sign the lower, is the SPIRIT OF LOVE,
representing the secondary Spirit; the third embraces the whole man. It is
the universal Quintessence, the vital fluid or Life." (Ragon.) “ S D
II p. 576
“EROS: LOVE, desire. The Greek philosophers said there are two gods of that
name: a terrestrial Eros, who is the god of sexual attraction and the life
energy, and a celestial Eros, who is the god of divine love, which brings
the universe into being.” S D II p. 576
EROS (Gk)
desire to manifest II 65, 176, 234
Fohat & I 109, 119; II 65
later sexual Cupid I 109; II 176, 234
third person in Greek Trinity I 109
Eros-Phanes (Orphic), evolves fr divine egg I 365, 461
“Venus Aphrodite is the personified Sea, and the mother of the god of LOVE,
the generator of all the gods as much as the Christian Virgin Mary is Mare
(the sea), the mother of the Western God of LOVE, Mercy and Charity. If the
student of Esoteric philosophy thinks deeply over the subject he is sure to
find out all the suggestiveness of the term Ambhamsi, in its manifold
relations to the Virgin in Heaven, to the Celestial Virgin of the
Alchemists, and even to the "Waters of Grace" of the modern Baptist.”
S D 1, p. 458fn
“EROS, not the later god of material, physiological LOVE, but to the DIVINE
DESIRE IN THE GODS, as well as in all nature, to create and give life to
Beings. This, the Rays of the one "dark," because invisible and
incomprehensible, FLAME could achieve only by themselves descending into
matter” S D 2, P. 234
“Tradition shows the celestial Yogis offering themselves as voluntary
victims in order to redeem Humanity -- created god-like and perfect at first
-- and to endow him with human affections and aspirations. To do this they
had to give up their natural status and, descending on our globe, take up
their abode on it for the whole cycle of the Mahayuga, thus exchanging their
impersonal individualities for individual personalities -- the bliss of
sidereal existence for the curse of terrestrial life.
This voluntary sacrifice of the Fiery Angels, whose nature was Knowledge and
LOVE, was construed by the exoteric theologies into a statement that shows
"the rebel angels hurled down from heaven into the darkness of Hell" -- our
Earth. Hindu philosophy hints at the truth by teaching that the Asuras
hurled down by Siva, are only in an intermediate state in which they prepare
for higher degrees of purification and redemption from their wretched
condition; but Christian theology, claiming to be based on the rock of
divine love, charity, and justice of him it appeals to as its Saviour -- has
invented, to enforce that claim paradoxically, the dreary dogma of hell,
that Archimedean lever of Roman Catholic philosophy.” S D II p. 246
“FOHAT, being one of the most, if not the most important character in
esoteric Cosmogony, should be minutely described.
As in the oldest Grecian Cosmogony, differing widely from the later
mythology, Eros is the third person in the primeval trinity: Chaos, Gća,
Eros: answering to the Kabalistic En-Soph (for Chaos is SPACE, “void”)the
Boundless ALL, Shekinah and the Ancient of Days, or the Holy Ghost; so Fohat
is one thing in the yet unmanifested Universe and another in the phenomenal
and Cosmic World. In the latter, he is that Occult, electric, vital power,
which, under the Will of the Creative Logos, unites and brings together all
forms, giving them the first impulse which becomes in time law. But in the
unmanifested Universe, Fohat is no more this, than Eros is the later
brilliant winged Cupid, or LOVE. Fohat has naught to do with Kosmos yet,
since Kosmos is not born, and the gods still sleep in the bosom of
“Father-Mother.” He is an abstract philosophical idea. He produces nothing
yet by himself; he is simply that potential creative power in virtue of
whose action the NOUMENON of all future phenomena divides, so to speak, but
to reunite in a mystic supersensuous act, and emit the creative ray. When
the “Divine Son” breaks forth, then Fohat becomes the propelling force,the
active Power which causes the ONE to become Two and THREE—on the Cosmic
plane of manifestation. The triple One differentiates into the many, and
then Fohat is transformed into that force which brings together the
elemental atoms and makes them aggregate and combine.” S D I, 109
“M," is derived pictorially from “WW”, a water hieroglyph.
It is the universal matrix or the “Great Deep.” Venus, the great
Mother-Virgin, issues forth from the Sea-wave, and Cupid or Eros is her son.
But Venus is the later mythological variant of Gaia (or Gća), the Earth,
which, in its higher aspect is Nature (Prakriti), and metaphysically Aditi,
and even Mulaprakriti, the root of Prakriti or its noumenon.” THEOSOPHICAL
GLOSSARY p.
“Hence Cupid or Love in his primitive sense is Eros, the Divine Will, or
Desire of manifesting itself through visible creation. Thence Fohat, the
prototype of Eros, becomes on Earth the great power “Life-electricity,”or
the Spirit of “Life-giving.” Let us remember the Greek Theogony and enter
into the spirit of its philosophy. We are taught by the Greeks (See “Iliad”
IV., 201, 246) that all things, gods included, owe their being to the Ocean
and his wife Tethys, the latter being Gća, the Earth or Nature. But who is
Ocean? Ocean is the immeasurable SPACE (Spirit in Chaos), which is the
Deity (see Book I.); and Tethys is not the Earth, but primordial matter in
the process of formation. In our case it is no longer Aditi-Gća who begets
Ouranos or Varuna, the chief Aditya among the seven planetary gods, but
Prakriti, materialised and localised.”
SECRET DOCTRINE II, 65
“Will is septenary in its degrees of manifestation. Emanating from the one,
eternal, abstract and purely quiescent Will (Âtmâ in Layam), it becomes
Buddhi in its Alaya state, descends lower as Mahat (Manas), and runs down
the ladder of degrees until the divine Eros becomes, in its lower, animal
manifestation, erotic desire. Will as an eternal principle is neither spirit
nor substance but everlasting ideation” T. Glossary, p. 370
Even the Glossary entry on Eros is not wholly negative ---especially in its
esoteric aspect:
“EROS (Gr.). Hesiod makes of the god Eros the third personage of the
Hellenic primordial Trinity composed of Ouranos, Gća and Eros. It is the
personified procreative Force in nature in its abstract sense, the propeller
to “creation” and procreation. Exoterically, mythology makes of Eros the god
of lustful, animal desire, whence the term erotic; esoterically, it is
different. (See “Kâma”.)”
THEOSOPHICAL GLOSSARY p. 115
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I think we can find some guidance in the Buddha's DHAMMAPADA:
"In this world never is enmity appeased by hatred; hatred is ever appeased
by Love. This is the LAW ETERNAL." [Dhammapada, Verse 5, p. 2 ] [Bodhi
Dharma or Sanatana Dharma, Theosophy is the "eternal religion of
righteousness."]
"He who forsakes lust, hatred and folly, is possessed of true knowledge and
a serene mind, craves nought of this world nor of any other, applies to
himself the teachings of the Sacred texts he recites (in memory when
needed), even though a few in number--such a one shares in the blessings of
the Good Life." [Dhammapada, Verse 20, p 5]
"Vigilance is the path to Life Eternal. Thoughtlessness is the path to
death. The reflecting vigilant die not. The heedless are already dead."
[Dhammapada, Verse 21, p 6]
"Lusts are never satisfied, not even by a shower of gold. He who knows that
enjoyment of passion is short-lived and also is the womb of pain, is a wise
man."
Dhammapada (Footfalls of the Law) Verse 196, p 44 ]
"Cling to the pleasant, not to the unpleasant...for loss of a loved object
is painful. No fetters exist for him who neither lies nor dislikes.... There
is no grief for him who is free attachment ... from affection ... from
indulgence... from desire .... from craving... Whence then, can there come
fear?" [Dhammapada (Footfalls of the
Law) Verses 210-216, pp. 50-1 ]
Then we have as a summation -- as ideal, see these ideas from The VOICE OF
THE SILENCE
These words are spoken by the WISE to the candidate approaching the final
Initiation -- when all seems so far successful:
"Shall he not use the gifts which it confers for his own rest and bliss, his
well-earn'd weal and glory-he, the subduer of the great Delusion?
Nay, O thou candidate for Nature's hidden lore! If one would follow in the
steps of holy Tathagata, those gifts and powers are not for Self.
Would'st thou thus dam the waters born on Sumeru? Shalt thou divert the
stream for thine own sake, or send it back to its prime source along the
crests of cycles?
If thou would'st have that stream of hard-earn'd knowledge, of Wisdom
heaven-born, remain sweet running waters, thou should'st not leave it to
become a stagnant pond.
Know, if of Amitabha, the "Boundless Age," thou would'st become co-worker,
then must thou shed the light acquired, like to the Bodhisattvas twain, (2)
upon the span of all three worlds.
=============== Footnotes =================
(2) In the Northern Buddhist symbology, Amitabha or "Boundless Space"
(Parabrahm) is said to have in his paradise two Bodhisattvas-Kwan-shi-yin
and Tashishi-who ever radiate light over the three worlds where they lived,
including our own (vide footnote No. 3, below), in order to help with this
light (of knowledge) in the instruction of Yogis, who will, in their turn,
save men. Their exalted position in Amitabha's realm is due to deeds of
mercy performed by the two, as such Yogis, when on earth, says the allegory.
(3) These three worlds are the three planes of being, the terrestrial,
astral and the spiritual.
-----------------------------------
Know that the stream of superhuman knowledge and the Deva-Wisdom thou hast
won, must, from thyself, the channel of Alaya, be poured forth into another
bed.
Know, O Narjol, thou of the Secret Path, its pure fresh waters must be used
to sweeter make the Ocean's bitter waves-that mighty sea of sorrow formed of
the tears of men.
Alas! when once thou hast become like the fix'd star in highest heaven, that
bright celestial orb must shine from out the spatial depths for all-save for
itself; give light to all, but take from none.
Alas! when once thou hast become like the pure snow in mountain vales, cold
and unfeeling to the touch, warm and protective to the seed that sleepeth
deep beneath its bosom-'tis now that snow which must receive the biting
frost, the northern blasts, thus shielding from their sharp and cruel tooth
the earth that holds the promised harvest, the harvest that will feed the
hungry.
Self-doomed to live through future Kalpas, unthanked and unperceived by man;
wedged as a stone with countless other stones which form the "Guardian
Wall", (2) such is thy future if the seventh gate thou passest. Built by the
hands of many Masters of Compassion, raised by their tortures, by their
blood cemented, it shields mankind, since man is man, protecting it from
further and far greater misery and sorrow.
Withal man sees it not, will not perceive it, nor will he heed the word of
Wisdom . . . for he knows it not.
But thou hast heard it, thou knowest all, O thou of eager guileless Soul. .
. . and thou must choose. Then hearken yet again.
On Sowan's Path, O Srotapatti, (3) thou art secure. Aye, on that Marga,
(4) where nought but
================= Footnotes ==================
(2) The "Guardian Wall" or the "Wall of Protection." It is taught that the
accumulated efforts of long generations of Yogis, Saints and Adepts,
especially of the Nirmanakayas-have created, so to say, a wall of protection
around mankind, which wall shields mankind invisibly from still worse evils.
-----------------------------------------
darkness meets the weary pilgrim, where torn by thorns the hands drip blood,
the feet are cut by sharp unyielding flints, and Mara wields his strongest
arms-there lies a great reward immediately beyond.
Calm and unmoved the Pilgrim glideth up the stream that to Nirvana leads. He
knoweth that the more his feet will bleed, the whiter will himself be
washed. He knoweth well that after seven short and fleeting births Nirvana
will be his . . .
Such is the Dhyana Path, the haven of the Yogi, the blessed goal that
Srotapattis crave.
Not so when he hath crossed and won the Aryahata Path. . . . . . . .
There Klesha is destroyed for ever, Tanha's roots torn out. But stay,
Disciple . . . Yet, one word. Canst thou destroy divine COMPASSION?
Compassion is no attribute. It is the LAW of LAWS-eternal Harmony, Alaya's
SELF; a shoreless universal essence, the light of everlasting Right, and
fitness of all things, the law of love eternal.
The more thou dost become at one with it, thy being melted in its BEING, the
more thy Soul unites with that which IS, the more thou wilt become
COMPASSION ABSOLUTE.
Such is the Arya Path, Path of the Buddhas of perfection."
The VOICE OF THE SILENCE, Pp. 72 -75
------------------------------------------------------
Best wishes,
Dallas
=====================
-----Original Message-----
From: Etzion
Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2005 9:04 PM
To:
Subject: Re: Love/emotion
Divine Love is a gift from God to man. When you experience it, you know what
it is, but there are no words to express it. But all these words below, if
put to practice, might evoke, in due course, the attention of the Divine
Beloved, the Treasurer of the Divine Gift, and it is for Him to decide to
whom and when to grant. Etzion
CUT
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