Theos-Talk Archives (June 2005 Message tt00539)

RELIGIOUS CYCLES





The cyclic emergence of religions, like a spiral





June 25 2005



Dear Friends:







May I offer: Some thoughts on The Spiral of Religious Emergence







It appears to be correct idea to say that the emergence of one religion out
of another is a cyclic spiral. There is always similarity and not identity.



Consider that there is always at the base of each religion a philosophy of
life. This philosophy, if true, is not going to vary in its essentials.
Consequently, what we witness in the past are the spirals in time of a great
set of universally diffused IDEAS and their philosophy -- that always
resurfaces and also may seem to be "new" in "its" time. Whereas it is quite
old.



If we wish to identify some of them we could say: 



1. There is a great and unknown but immutable and permanent source of all.




2. Since we all share in that single origin we are all BROTHERS. Not only
among humans, but also with everything else in Nature. All are sharers in
the universal divinity. Law, impersonal and universal harmonizes all.



3. Nature and God are names given to the actuality of our lives and
thoughts in the present. 



4. A great law of universal fairness, harmony, balance and justice works at
the same rate and pace for everyone, and for all living things. Nature is
infinitely sensitive, and supports and protects all. 



5. Every being is an immortal at its core, which is "spark" or a "ray" of
SPIRIT / MATTER. From the "atom" to the Galaxy, we are all united.
Universal ATMAN is the immortal and deathless nature and source of the
individual ATMA in each of us. 



6. In mankind we see the emanation of the power of the Mind. it is
conjoined to the faculty of instinct, of feeling, of desire and need. But
the mind having a direct connection with the ONE SOURCE, is able to
distinguish between the essential and fair, and the non-essential and
selfish. It is the power of discrimination - or wisdom: BUDDHI.



7. This makes for the difference between "Good, and Evil." Good is to
cooperate with Nature (God's) Laws. Evil is to distort or pervert them.
Nature in her great sensitivity takes note of our motive -- a combination of
our thoughts and feelings. This brings to us Karma. Karma is the response
from Nature to assist us, always. If we have chosen well or wrongly, it
presents us eventually with the result of our choices. It is always fair,
just and therefore merciful to all. It assists us to redress our wrong
choices, and to benefit from the good that we do. 



8. The whole of Nature is found to be progressive. Wisdom of the Mind is
the result of a closer study of our own faculties and of the great Laws
that are already active in Nature. Science, for instance, is the intent and
careful study of Nature's workings in all departments of nature. Nature HAS
ALREADY INSTALLED EVERYTHING IN PLACE FOR OUR PROGRESS. We share this
marvelous advantage with every other being in the World and the Universe. 



9. The final result of Evolution is to become a WISE HUMAN BEING. We have
always had them among us, when we think of the Christs, the Buddhas, The
Rishis, the Prophets, and the Sages of all countries and all times. They
form a great brotherhood. They are the Great Servants of Mankind. They
seek to get us to study our own selves, how we think, how we feel, how best
to act. They always say that we have to push ourselves forward to ever
learn more from the "Book of Life" that is open before us. We are in our
real, core selves, the "Eternal Pilgrims."



The great Souls, the Mahatmas, Buddhas, Prophets, Christs, Rishis, etc.
whose record of acting in a superior manner and whose words resound as
"truth", can be seen to form one great body of WISE MEN. They do not die,
as Intelligences, but always act from time to time as the teachers of men.
They are a great brotherhood. [ S D I 619; II 275fn, 281-2,

[ see ISIS UNVEILED, Vol. 2, pp. 98 - 103 ]



It takes some time for a religion to grow up around a philosophical reform,
and thus, coating it with the "Letter of the Law," it ends in stifling and
choking it. Forcing one aspect of the "Truth" on others, whether it be
words or observances (rites), is useless. Each one has to have the freedom
to make decisions and choose those criteria for action on their own. No one
can learn for another. Each has to do the learning and the progressing
themselves.



People have to realize that the TRUTH is inside themselves -- it is in all
our many hearts. So we have to express it by thinking and acting as though
we were brothers to everything else. If we set up a barrier of differences,
we will lose the fine edge of sensitivity that perceives in another's
religion or philosophy the same basic truths we were taught in ours. They
are not, as basis mutually exclusive, but reach out at that time and place
to embrace the rest and their earlier sources. 



That is one thing to consider.



Another is the cycle of reincarnation. Mme. Blavatsky in the KEY TO
THEOSOPHY says that this runs between 10 and 15 centuries on the average. 



Similar kinds of civilizations return, similar knowledge, architecture,
skills, values, and also the lack of these. This is due to the return of
certain average kind of Egos (minds or souls ). The Soul-mind is an
"Immortal Pilgrim." It uses body after body, and one might say that each
incarnation is like a new day in "schools." The SCHOOL OF LIFE, which for
us is the series of our incarnations on our Earth.



We do not remember our lives as the last person we were. We do return with
the increment in facility in thinking, sensitivity, the desire to learn, to
improve, and such important qualities as honesty, trustworthiness,
diligence, attention, concentration, will, etc. And since our Karma
operates in all ways, our deficits and disabilities that remain unconquered
and undisciplined return with us also. Each life with the new material form
that we assemble out of the old "skandhas" (or "life-atoms") that we used we
renew the struggle towards becoming a more perfect human being.



Thus everything in theosophical philosophy is viewed as alive, constantly
learning, ceaselessly reincarnating under the great law of Karma that ever
urges every being to evolve into their more perfect stages of knowledge and
wisdom. It states that this is a moral, or ethical universe and the
practice of benevolence, compassion and brotherhood enables us to comply
with this situation. 



We always have opportunities to assist and help our fellow man and woman.
If we neglect those, we are the ones who delay our own advance. If we harm
anyone, for whatever reason, we ask the great and impartial law of Karma to
take note; and, in its always educative mode, it gives us a situation later
on, in which we are the recipients of the force of our motive in action.
This can happen immediately, or after some days, weeks, or years -- perhaps
even in a future life-time. All our Karma is always mixed in with that of
others, so we have the karma of a family, a race, a religion, or a Nation.
Nothing escapes the scope of Karmic action. This is because everything is
alive and emanates at its source from the same "god-head" [ the ONE, UNKNOWN
SPIRITUAL SOURCE" ] that we all do.



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





Subject: Evolution -- Theosophical View "Rounds, Globes, Races." 

Preparing to acquire WISDOM.



THEOSOPHY on EVOLUTION


[Based on notes and studies to be found in the writings of 

H. P. Blavatsky and Wm,. Q, Judge, ]


THEOSOPHY: WHAT IS IT ?

Theosophy is a modern presentation of the history of discovery
done by Wise Sages and devoted Men, assisted by their pupils.

The range of study covers a period that starts before the present
program of evolution of our Earth. These records are not only
preserved in the Libraries maintained by this "College of the
Sages," but partial records and fragments of philosophies,
scientific observations, religious theogonies, rites and
literature are to found scattered all over the world, and
including that of scholars.

Madame Blavatsky in her works has attempted to draw those
significant facts together, so that modern scholars might check
and verify them. [ Books: ISIS UNVEILED, THE SECRET DOCTRINE,
THE VOICE OF THE SILENCE, THE KEY TO THEOSOPHY, and numerous
articles and letters. -- available through BLAVATSKY.NET
"on-line."]


THEOSOPHY IS NOT A CREED OR A SET OF THEORIES
-- A REPORT
ON OBSERVATION

Theosophy has been named: "The Wisdom-Religion." It is not a
sect, nor is it an attempt to build one. It offers a theory of
nature and of life which is not speculatively laid down and then
proved by adjusting facts or conclusions to fit it; but is an
explanation of existence, cosmic and individual, derived from
knowledge reached by those who have acquired the power to see
behind the curtain that hides the operations of Nature from the
average mind.


A COLLEGE OF WISE MEN -- THE LODGE OF ADEPTS

Such Wise Beings have been called Sages, (in the highest sense),
Mahatmas, Masters of Wisdom and Adepts. In ancient times they
were known as Prophets, Teachers of Mankind, Reformers of
degraded Religions, and, the most ancient of mankind's teachers:
the Rishis (Sage Teachers) and Maharishis- or, Great Rishis.

The process of evolution up to reunion with the Divine is, and
includes successive elevation from rank to rank of power and
usefulness. The most exalted beings still in the flesh are Sages,
Rishis, Brothers, Masters. Their great function being the
preservation at all times, and when cyclic laws permit, the
extension of spiritual knowledge and influence. When union with
the Divine is effected, all the events and experiences of each
incarnation are known.

The whole of mankind and, in fact, the whole of Nature is engaged
at one degree, or another in this vast program of
self-improvement. Theosophy is a study of ourselves, and of our
powers. It includes our progress up to date, and opens to our
view the potentials of our future.


EVOLUTION IS A COMPLETE SYSTEM

It is held that Evolution forms a complete system of development.
It concerns Intelligence (which is universal) and Consciousness
(which is personal) to every "life-unit" (these are held to be
eternal, and in their variety and reality, they entirely fill all
SPACE). The study of evolution commences from the beginning of
the Universe when all these intelligences come back into
individual consciousness and resume their program of individual
development from the point when the earlier Evolutionary Program
(called a Manvantara) came to an end.


EARLY UNIVERSES and SLEEP
BETWEEN PERIODS OF MANIFESTATION

The intervening time was spent like sleep, and the dreams during
that period, served each entity in the review of the progress it
had made. Theosophy holds that every manifestation is a re-birth
in toto of that which went to sleep at a much earlier stage.
Thus the phenomenon of Life passes through cyclic phases (of an
enormous time period amounting to many trillions of our solar
years). This is analogous to reincarnation and to our daily
sleep and waking cycle.

The so-called BIG BANG is merely the emerging simultaneously on
the plane of manifestation of the entire Universe and all its
creatures as they all awake at that instant of beginning.
Nothing is "created out of NO-THING, by some monstrous Being.
The Universe is to be viewed as an entity (in some ancient
theogonies it has been likened to a Universal Man ( like Adam
Kadmon).

>From the atom to the UNIVERSE it is held that there a continuous
and traceable line and a cyclic system of experience between the
two poles of Life: SPIRIT (or Perfection) and MATTER (or form).
For purposes of convenience, this Life-unit (to us, "sub-atomic")
is called a Monad. It is said by the Sage Patanjali of old:
"For the sake of the soul alone, the Universe exists... The Soul
is the Perceiver; is assuredly vision itself pure and simple;
unmodified and looks directly upon ideas." [ Patanjali Yoga
Sutras, p. 26 ]



TEACHERS and PUPILS in EVOLUTION -- THE SAGES

Clearly, it will appear that there must be various grades among
the students (and the Teachers) of this Wisdom-Religion. Those
belonging to lower degrees are able to give out only as much of
the knowledge as their grade reached. For further information,
they depend on students who are higher yet. It is these higher
students for whom the claim is made that their knowledge is not
inference, but it concerns realities (of history and of operative
Laws in Nature, which can be verified by any who acquire the
necessary qualifications.) [ see SECRET DOCTRINE, Vol. I, pp.
272-3 ]


ACQUIRING WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE

The power to see and absolutely know such laws is surrounded by
natural and inherent regulations which must be complied with as
precedent conditions. It is, therefore, not possible to respond
to the demand for an immediate statement of this entirety of this
Wisdom, insomuch as one could not comprehend it until those
conditions of prior study, testing and self-discipline are
fulfilled.

As this knowledge deals with laws and states of matter, and of
consciousness, so far undreamed of by the "practical" Western
world. For this reason, it can only be grasped, piece by piece,
as the student pushes forward his study, which in some cases will
require the demolition of his preconceived notions, due either to
inadequate or to erroneous theories.


OBSTACLES FACING US IN LEARNING

It is claimed by these higher students that, in the Occident
especially, a false method of reasoning has for many centuries
prevailed, resulting in a universal habit of mind which causes
men to look upon many effects as causes, and to regard that which
is real as the unreal, putting meanwhile the unreal in the place
of the real. As a minor example, the phenomena of precognition,
thought transference, and clairvoyance have, until lately, been
looked on with suspicion by Western science, yet there have
always been numerous persons who know for themselves, by
incontrovertible, and introspective evidence, the truth of these
phenomena, and, in some instances, understand their cause, laws
and rationale.


THE CAUSAL WORLD is INVISIBLE but TOTIPOTENT

Within the surface world of phenomena that we deal with every
day, there is a causal world dependent on electro-magnetic
impulses, fields, structures and the powerful impact of the
passional and desire nature of mankind. Additionally to this,
there lies a superior plane, which one might name the Plane of
Mentality, of Intellect, of Reason, of memory, and finally of the
Mind engaged in active and creative Thinking, of the creation of
future plans and programs.


FUNDAMENTAL IDEAS IN THEOSOPHY

The following are some of the fundamental propositions of
Theosophy: [ S.D. I pp. 14 -20 ]

The Spirit in man is the only real and permanent part of his
being; the rest of his nature being variously compounded. And
since decay is incident to all composite things, everything in
man but his Spirit is impermanent. The Universe is said to be
the reflection to our sight of the UNIVERSAL SPIRIT. In effect
it pervades all Space and our "spirit" may be likened to a "ray"
of the universal Spirit.

The universe being one thing and not diverse, and everything
within it being connected with the whole and with every other
thing therein, of which upon the upper plane (below referred to )
there is a perfect knowledge, no act or thought occurs without
each portion of the great whole perceiving and noting it. Hence
all are inseparably bound together by the bond of an unbreakable
and un-dissolving Brotherhood.

This WHOLE is what is denominated "Deity" by Western
Philosophers, (and "Para-Brahm" by the Hindu Vedantins). It may
be called the Unmanifested, containing within itself the potency
of every form of manifestation, together with the laws governing
those manifestations. This first fundamental proposition of
Theosophy postulates that the universe is not an aggregation of
diverse unities but that it is One Whole. It is a cosmos of
diversity, harmonized by one Law: the attainment of PERFECT
KNOWLEDGE by all its component entities, by means of individual
chosen self-effort, directed by the free-will of each.

It is taught that there is no creation of worlds in the
theological sense; but that their appearance is due strictly to
evolution. When the time comes for the Unmanifested to come forth
again as an objective Universe, which it does periodically, it
emanates a Power or "The First Cause"-so called because it itself
is the Rootless Root of that Cause, and called in the East the
"Causeless Cause."

Every Life-Unit forms a part of this program; and the great
sensitivity of the Universe (NATURE) is such, that every one
returns to life and experience in a situation or position
comparable to that from which it last went to "sleep the Sleep of
Pralaya." Nothing is left out, destroyed, erased or abandoned.
There is no "refuse heap" where nature disposes of the unshapely,
disorganized, recalcitrant, lazy, or unwieldy life-units, but
endlessly and mercifully each is nurtured and given endless
opportunities to learn, improve and eventually return (if it
will) to the One vast Community of Life and living that we call
the Universe. These Laws are said to pertain to all Universes
and to the utmost confines of our visible UNIVERSAL SPHERE.
Recent exploration with the Hubble telescope reveals we seem to
dwell in an enormous SUN -- as everywhere Suns pave every portion
of the sphere we can view.


CAUSELESS CAUSE and the FIRST CAUSE

The first Cause we may call Deity, or Brahma, or Ormazd, or
Osiris, or by any name we please. The projection into time and
manifested Space, of the awakening influence (or so-called
"breath of Brahma") causes all the worlds and the beings upon
them to gradually re-appear. They remain in manifestation just as
long as that influence continues to proceed forth in evolution.


PRALAYA the SLEEP OF THE UNIVERSE

After long aeons the outbreathing, evolutionary influence
slackens, and the universe begins to go into obscuration, or the
"sleep" of Pralaya, until, the "breath" being fully indrawn, no
objects remain, because nothing is but Brahm. Care must be taken
by the student to make a distinction between Brahm (the
impersonal Parabrahm) and Brahma the manifested Logos --which
stands for the prototype of all manifestation and every being in
it. A discussion of the means used is also treated of by
Theosophy and this will be found detailed in THE SECRET DOCTRINE.



MANVANTARA the TIME for PROGRESS

This breathing-forth is known as a Manvantara, or the
Manifestation of the world between two Manus ( from Manu "man,"
and Antara "between" ) and the completion of the inbreathing
brings with it Pralaya, or destruction. It is from these factual
and repetitive truths, that the erroneous theological doctrines
of "creation" and the "last judgment" have sprung. Such
Manvantaras and Pralayas have eternally occurred, and will
continue to take place periodically and forever. Man the Thinker
is the Eternal Pilgrim, and this vast study, (almost stunning in
terms of time and complexity); this living many lives and through
universe after Universe in a complete experiencing and learning
process, is designed by Nature's Laws to give each one the
opportunity of knowing their own constitution, capacities and
perfections. No one is left out or "eternally damned." Each has
a right to determine their own rate and "Path" of progress. Each
has free-will as a Thinker and with that can determine by choice
their progress.


SPIRIT-MATTER -- the MONAD

For the purpose of a Manvantara two so-called eternal principles
are postulated, that is, Purusha and Prakriti (or SPIRIT and
MATTER). This is because both are ever present and conjoined in
each manifestation. Those terms are used here because no
equivalent for them exists in English. Purusha is called
"spirit," and Prakriti "matter," but this Purusha is not the
unmanifested, nor is Prakriti matter as known to science. The
ancient Sages, Teachers of humanity in its infancy, the declare
that there is a higher spirit still, called Purushottama. The
reason for this is that at the night of Brahma, or the so-called
indrawing of his breath, both Purusha and Prakriti are absorbed
in the Unmanifested; a conception which is the same as the idea
underlying the Biblical expression "remaining in the bosom of the
Father." These remain "awake" and are referred to as "the opened
eye of the Dangma (wise)" [S.D., Vol. I, p. 27 ]


UNIVERSAL EVOLUTION

This brings us to the doctrine of Universal Evolution as
expounded by the Sages of the Wisdom-Religion. The Spirit, or
Purusha, they say, proceeds from Brahma through the various forms
of matter evolved at the same time. The "beginning" is to be
seen as recorded, starting in the world of the Spiritual from the
highest, and in the Material world from the lowest form. The
lowest form is one unknown as yet to modern science. Thus,
therefore, the mineral, vegetable and animal forms each imprison
a spark of the Divine, a portion of the indivisible Purusha.
S.D. I pp. 14-20 ]

Metaphorically, it is said that there is inherent in each Monad
(life-atom) a fundamental desire to learn and to progress. These
sparks struggle to "return to the Father," or in other words, to
secure Self-Consciousness, and at last come into the highest
form, on Earth, that of MAN, where alone self-consciousness is
possible to them.


CYCLES and TIME PERIODS in Manifestation

The period, calculated in human time, during which this evolution
goes on embraces millions of ages. [ S.D. II pp. 68-70



SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS the Goal of Evolution

Each spark of divinity has, therefore, millions of ages in which
to accomplish its mission-that of obtaining complete
SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS while in the form of man. But by this is not
meant that the mere act of coming into human form of itself
confers self-consciousness upon this divine spark.

That great work may be accomplished during the Manvantara in
which a Divine spark reaches the human form, or it may not; all
depends upon the individual's own will and efforts. Each
particular spirit thus goes through the Manvantara, or enters
into manifestation for its own enrichment and for that of the
Whole.


ADEPT, MAHATMAS are HIGHER DEGREES
of MAN'S POSSIBLE ACHIEVEMENTS


Mahatmas and Rishis (Great Souls) are thus gradually evolved
during a Manvantara, and become, after its expiration, planetary
spirits, who guide the evolutions of other future planets. The
planetary spirits of our globe are those who in previous
Manvantaras-or days of Brahma- made the efforts, and became in
the course of that long period Mahatmas.

Each Manvantara is for the same end and purpose, so that the
Mahatmas who have now attained those heights, or those who may
become such in the succeeding years of the present Manvantara,
will probably be the Planetary Spirits (that assist Nature in
guiding a reawakening to all the entities which will find
themselves awakening in the "new Universe" consisting of the same
old "materials."


SLEEP AND REINCARNATION as ANALOGIES

The process is analogous to reincarnation and to our daily
awakening, when we resume control of our bodies after sleep.) of
the next Manvantara for this or other planets. This system is
thus seen to be based upon the continued and Eternal Identity of
Spiritual Being, and, under the name of "Universal Brotherhood,"
constitutes idea of the Theosophical Movement, whose object is
the practical and active realization of that Brotherhood among
humans.


SPIRIT or PURUSHA -- Its functions.

The Sages say that this Purusha (spirit) is the basis of all
manifested objects. Without it nothing could exist or cohere. It
interpenetrates everything everywhere. It is the reality of
which, or upon which, those things called real by us are mere
images.

As Purusha reaches to and embraces all beings, they are all
connected together; and in or on the plane where that Purusha is,
there is a perfect consciousness of every act, thought, object,
and circumstance, whether supposed to occur there, or on this
plane, or any other. For below the spirit and above the intellect
is a plane of consciousness in which experiences are noted,
commonly called man's "spiritual nature;" this is
frequently said to be as susceptible of culture as his body or
his intellect.

This upper plane [ known as AKASA ] is the real register of all
sensations and experiences, although there are other registering
planes. It is sometimes called the "subconscious mind."
Theosophy, however, holds that it is a misuse of terms to say
that the spiritual nature can be cultivated.


PREPARATION FOR SPIRITUAL LEARNING

The real object to be kept in view is to so open up or make
porous the Lower Nature that the spiritual nature may shine
through it and become the guide and ruler.

It is only "cultivated" in the sense of having a vehicle prepared
for its use, into which it may descend. In other words, it is
held that the real man, who is the HIGHER SELF-being the spark of
the Divine before alluded to-overshadows the visible being, which
has the possibility of becoming united to that spark.

Thus it is said that the higher Spirit is not in the man, but
above him. It is always peaceful, unconcerned, blissful, and full
of absolute knowledge. It continually partakes of the Divine
state, being continually that state itself, "conjoined with the
Gods, it feeds upon Ambrosia." The object of the student is to
let the light of that spirit shine through the lower coverings.

This "spiritual culture" is only attainable as the grosser
interests, passions, and demands of the flesh are subordinated to
the interests, aspirations and needs of the higher nature; and
this is a matter of both system and established law.

This spirit can only become the ruler when the firm intellectual
acknowledgment or admission is first made that IT alone is. And,
as stated above, it being not only the person concerned but also
the whole, all selfishness must be eliminated from the lower
nature before its divine state can be reached.


SELFISHNESS STOPS PROGRESS

So long as the smallest personal or selfish desire- even for
spiritual attainment for our own sake- remains, so long is the
desired end put off. Hence the above term "demands of the flesh"
really covers also demands that are not of the flesh, and its
proper rendering would be "desires of the personal nature,
including those of the individual soul. "


SPIRITUAL TRAINING of the PERSONALITY

When systematically trained in accordance with the aforesaid
system and law, men attain to clear insight into the immaterial,
spiritual world, and their interior faculties apprehend truth as
immediately and readily as physical faculties grasp the things of
sense, or mental faculties those of reason. Or, in the words used
by some of them, "They are able to look directly upon ideas;" and
hence their testimony to such truth is as trustworthy as is that
of scientists or philosophers to truth in their respective
fields.

In the course of this spiritual training such men acquire
perception of, and control over, various forces in Nature unknown
to other men, and thus are able to perform works usually called
"miraculous," though really but the result of larger knowledge of
natural law. What these powers are may be found in Patanjali's
"YOGA SUTRAS of Philosophy."

Their testimony as to super-sensuous truth, verified by their
possession of such powers, challenges candid examination from
every religious mind.


Culled from the writings of H. P, Blavatsky and Wm. Q, Judge. ]



Best wishes, 

DTB









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