Theos-Talk Archives (April 2005 Message tt00257)

Apl 8 2005

This might be of interest, also consult SECRET DOCTRINE, Vol. I where Mr.
Sinnett's views were corrected.(pp. 162-8)

	
MARS AND MERCURY

In the June PATH there was printed a review of a pamphlet issued by the
London Lodge T. S., and this magazine may perhaps be construed as committed
to an approval of everything contained in the pamphlet, although the private
initials of the reviewer were annexed to the remarks. 

The pamphlet referred to brings up an old dispute which we had thought was
settled by what is found in The Secret Doctrine, Vol. 1, running from page
162 to 168. 

"Gratification of curiosity is the end of knowledge for some men," wrote
H.P.B.'s teacher, and this curiosity led to a question being put some years
ago to the Adepts, who furnished the main body of Esoteric Buddhism and all
the important matter in The Secret Doctrine, in respect to other visible
globes. 

The author of Esoteric Buddhism then construed the reply to mean that Mars
and Mercury are two of the seven planets of the earth-chain of globes. 

H.P.B., the only person in actual and constant communication with the
Masters, corrected the mistake made by Mr. Sinnett in the pages of The
Secret Doctrine to which I have referred, saying on page 164: 

"But neither Mars nor Mercury belongs to our chain; they are, along with the
other planets, septenary Units in the great host of 'chains' of our system,
and all are as visible as their upper globes are invisible." 

Her correction of the misconception was made upon the written authority of
the same Masters who sent through her the letters on which Esoteric Buddhism
was written.

On the ground of authority in respect to this question, about which none of
the Theosophical writers have any information independent of what the
Masters have written, we must conclude that the statement in The Secret
Doctrine is final. If no other point were involved, there would be no
necessity for going further with the matter, but as the consistency of the
entire philosophy is involved, it is necessary to advert again to this
subject. 

The two Masters who had to do with Esoteric Buddhism and The Secret Doctrine
have distinctly said:--

1	first, that none of the other globes of the earth-chain are visible
from its surface; 

2	second, that various planets are visible in the sky to us because
they are in their turn fourth-plane planets, representing to our sight their
own septenary chains;

3	third, that the six companion globes of the earth are united with
it in one mass, but differ from it as to class of substance; 

4	fourth, that Mr. Sinnett misunderstood them when he thought they
meant to say that Mars and Mercury were two of the six fellow globes of the
earth-and this correction they make most positively in The Secret Doctrine; 

5	lastly, they have said that the entire philosophy is one of
correspondences, and must be so viewed in every part. We do not understand
that Mr. Sinnett has said that H.P.B. was not reporting the Masters when she
wrote the above in The Secret Doctrine, or that the Masters have denied that
they hold the above views.

If we admit that Mars and Mercury are two visible planets of the seven-fold
chain belonging to the earth, then the consistency of the philosophy is
destroyed, for as it is with planets, so it is with man. Every planet,
considered for the moment as an individual, is to be analysed in the same
way as a single human being, subject to the same laws in the same way. 

Hence, if two of the principles of the earth are visible, that is, Mars and
Mercury, then why is it that two of man's seven principles are not visible,
in addition to his body? In his seven-fold constitution his body represents
the earth in her septenary chain, but he cannot see objectively any other of
his principles. 

The philosophy must be consistent throughout. If it is inconsistent at one
point it fails at every other. The same Masters who have communicated
through H.P.B. with Mr. Sinnett for the purpose of having Esoteric Buddhism
written, have over and over again positively stated that the law of
correspondence rules throughout in this philosophy.

The earth is a fourth-plane planet. The beings upon it are now in the fourth
stage, and for that reason cannot see objectively any planet that is not on
the same plane of development, and every planet which they see is for that
reason a fourth-plane planet. If this be correct, then Mars and Mercury must
be fourth-plane planets, and hence not in the earth's chain of globes.

If we assume with the writer of the pamphlet referred to that Mars and
Mercury are two out of the whole seven of which the earth is a third, then
the question arises, To what principle do these two planets correspond?, for
they must correspond to either prana, kama, astral body, Manas, Buddhi, or
Atman. 

Any attempt at an answer to this question will show the confusion in the
assumption; for it is admitted that Mars is in obscuration, and the natural
question then would be, Which of the earth's principles is correspondingly
in "obscuration'? 

In attempting to answer this from the assumption started with, we have the
statement that Mars is the planet we have last been in, hence it must
represent a disused faculty or principle, and not one which we are about to
develop. 

As Manas is the next principle to be fully developed, it would follow that
Mars does not represent it, and hence the whole matter falls into confusion,
because the first four principles have been already developed and are not in
disuse. Following this on the false assumption, then Mars would represent an
eighth principle.

MARS

Mars is in a state of obscuration at the present time, as stated by the
Masters and H.P.B. This is because, in that chain of development, the Egos
have finished their fourth round, or because the fourth round has not yet
commenced, except in respect to the planet itself as a place of habitation,
the Egos having passed on to the next globe of that chain, quite as
invisible from the surface of Mars as our next globe in order is invisible
from our surface. 

MERCURY

The same may be said for Mercury, except in respect to obscuration, since
the information vouchsafed about it declares that it is beginning to get out
of the obscuration caused by the absence of Egos.

A reference to the pages of The Secret Doctrine referred to above will be
found helpful on this point. It is also stated on page 163 of that book,
Vol. 1, on the authority of the Masters, that "No companion planets from A
to Z, that is, no upper globes of any chain in the Solar System, can be
seen." 

I may say that the relation borne by Mars and Mercury to the earth will not
be spoken of or explained by the Masters. 

Furthermore, one of the Masters wrote to the author of Esoteric Buddhism in
respect to this matter, stating, "You are putting me questions pertaining to
the highest initiation. I can give you only a general view, but I dare not,
nor will I enter upon details."

It is not necessary for us to know the relation between Mars, Mercury, and
the Earth, especially, nor to know whether Mars and Mercury are in any
particular state; all that is necessary is to know, do they or not belong to
our chain? And that they do not has been distinctly stated, both from the
position of authority and upon the ground of consistent philosophy. 

Upon authority, because in no other way can we solve this riddle; upon
philosophy, to show the reasonableness of the authoritative statement. All
such difficulties can be solved by remembering and working upon the law
that, as it is in respect to man and his principles or vehicles, so it is in
respect to any planet whatever.

WILLIAM Q. JUDGE
PATH, July, 1893
 
========================================

Actually several articles and letters on this were exchanged, but this seems
to wrap up the discussion. Mr. Sinnett was, apparently, never convinced he
erred in his interpretation of that which the Masters offered as information
in the MAHATMA LETTERS .   

I hope this offers some help,


Dallas
 

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

-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel H. Caldwell 
Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2005 7:34 PM
To: 
Subject: Anand, do you actually believe what C.W. Leadbeater said about life
on Mars?



C.W. Leadbeater wrote the following about the
information he gave on Mars and its
inhabitants:

"The information which I have given . . . is based
upon observation and inquiry during various visits
to the planet; yet nearly all of it might be found
in the works of various writers within the last
thirty or forty years, and in all such cases it
has been impressed by someone from Mars, although
the very fact of such impression was (at least
in some cases) quite unknown to the physical writer."

For more of Leadbeater's description, see:

"C.W. Leadbeater & H.P. Blavatsky about
Life on Mars and Other Planets"
http://blavatskyarchives.com/leadbeatermars.htm

Anand, do you actually believe what C.W. Leadbeater said about life 
on Mars?

Daniel
Blavatsky Study Center
http://blavatskyarchives.org