Theos-Talk Archives (April 2006 Message tt00063)

	[see end  on  PSYCHIC INFLUENCES TO “LOWER” MONADS]

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					  SUMMARY

			TRANSMIGRATION OF THE LIFE ATOMS
								HPB Art II
254
					H. P. Blavatsky

[In an article titled "Hierosophy and Theosophy" which appeared in the
Theosophist for July, 1883, William Oxley, F.T.S., referred briefly to the
mummification practiced by the ancient Egyptians in order to support his
speculation about "atoms" and "souls." 
To this passage H.P.B. appended a critical footnote. Then, in the succeeding
August issue, a correspondent, "N.D.K.," asked some questions about
statements made by H.P.B. in this footnote. 

Here we print the July footnote, followed by a summary of N.D.K.'s
questions, and then the article of the above title, which gave H.P.B.'s
replies.--Editors.] 

MR. Oxley will permit us to correct him. 

He looks at the objective terrestrial and empty shell--the "mummy," and
forgets that there may be hidden under the crude allegory a great scientific
and occult truth. We are taught that for 3,000 years at least the "mummy"
notwithstanding all the chemical preparations goes on throwing off to the
last invisible atoms, which from the hour of death re-entering the various
vortices of being, go indeed "through every variety of organized life
forms."

 But it is not the soul, [Manas] the 5th, least of all the 6th, [Buddhi]
principle, but the life atoms of the jiva the 2nd principle [PRANA / JIVA –
later, the 3rd principle. 

At the end of the 3,000 years, sometimes more, and sometimes less, after
endless transmigrations all these atoms are once more drawn together, and
are made to form the new outer clothing or the body of the same monad (the
real soul) which had already been clothed with two or three thousands of
years before. 

Even in the worst case that of the annihilation of the conscious personal
principle, the monad or individual soul is ever the same as are also the
atoms of the lower principles which regenerated and renewed in this ever
flowing river of being are magnetically drawn together owing to their
affinity, and are once more re-incarnated together. 

Such was the true occult theory of the Egyptians. 

[In his letter to the Editor, N.D.K. remarks that H.P.B.'s footnote
constitutes "a new installment of occult teaching" suggesting a basis of
truth in the doctrine of transmigration. 

"What then," he asks, "is meant by the life atoms, and their going through
endless transmigrations?" Also, do "both the invisible atoms of the Jiva
after going through various life-atoms return again to re-form the physical
body, and the Jiva of the entity that has reached the end of its Devachanic
state and is ready to be re-incarnated again?" 

Further, 

"does the term 'lower principles' include the 'Kama rupa' also, or only the
lower triad of body, Jiva [Life], and Linga sarira [Astral Body]?" 

Finally, "do the atoms of the 4th principle (Kama rupa) and lower portion of
the 5th, [Manas] which cannot be assimilated by the 6th [Buddhi]   . . .
also re-form--after going through various transmigrations, to constitute
over again the 4th [Kama] and lower 5th [Kama-Manas]  of the next
incarnation?''] 

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

We would, to begin with, draw our correspondent's attention to the closing
sentence of the foot-note under his review. "Such was the true occult theory
of the Egyptians"--the word "true" being used there in the sense of its
being the doctrine they really believed in, as distinct from both the tenets
fathered upon them by some Orientalists and quoted by Mr. Oxley, and that
which the modern occultists may be now teaching. 

It does not stand to reason that, outside those occult truths that were
known to, and revealed by the great Hierophants during the final initiation,
we should accept all that either the Egyptians or any other people may have
regarded as true. 

The Priests of Isis were the only true initiates, and their occult teachings
were still more veiled than those of the Chaldeans. 

There was the true doctrine of the Hierophants of the inner Temple; then the
half-veiled Hieratic tenets of the Priest of the outer Temple; and finally,
the vulgar popular religion of the great body of the ignorant who were
allowed to reverence animals as divine. As shown correctly by Sir Gardner
Wilkinson, the initiated priests taught that--"dissolution is only the cause
of reproduction . . . nothing perishes which has once existed, but things
which appear to be destroyed only change their natures and pass into another
form." In the present case, however, the Egyptian doctrine of atoms
coincides with our own occult teachings. 

The just criticism of our observing brother, who takes naturally enough the
sentence  --"The life-atoms of the Jiva" in its literal sense, reminds us at
the same time, more than ever, of that most important fact that one can
never take too much care to express clearly new ideas while writing on
metaphysical subjects. 

In penning the words under review, no thought was given in fact, that the
idea was "a new installment," and, therefore, its incompleteness gave rise
to a fresh misunderstanding. 
Without any doubt Jiva or Prana is quite distinct from the atoms it
animates. The latter [atoms] belong to the lowest or grossest state of
matter -- the objectively conditioned; the former--to its highest state:
that state which the uninitiated, ignorant of its nature, would call the
"objectively finite," but which, to avoid any future misunderstanding, we
may, perhaps, be permitted to call the Subjectively Eternal, though at the
same time, and in one sense the subsistent existence -- however paradoxical
and unscientific the term may appear.

1 	LIFE, the occultist says, IS THE ETERNAL UNCREATED ENERGY, AND IT
ALONE REPRESENTS IN THE INFINITE UNIVERSE, THAT WHICH THE PHYSICISTS HAVE
AGREED TO NAME THE PRINCIPLE? OR THE LAW OF CONTINUITY, THOUGH THEY APPLY IT
ONLY TO THE ENDLESS DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONDITIONED. 

But since modern science admits through her most learned professors that
"energy has as much claim to be regarded as an objective reality as matter
itself," 2 and that life, according to the occult doctrine, -- is the one
energy acting Proteus-like under the most varied forms, the occultists have
a certain right to use such a phraseology. Life is ever present in the atom
or matter, whether organic or inorganic, conditioned or unconditioned--a
difference that the occultists do not accept. Their doctrine is that life is
as much present in the inorganic as in the organic matter: when life-energy
is active in the atom, that atom is organic; when dormant or latent, then
the atom is inorganic. Therefore, the expression "life-atom" though apt in
one sense to mislead the reader, is not incorrect after all, since
OCCULTISTS DO NOT RECOGNISE THAT ANYTHING IN NATURE CAN BE INORGANIC AND
KNOW OF NO "DEAD ATOMS," whatever meaning science may give to the adjective.


The alleged law of Biogenesis is the result of the ignorance of the man of
science of occult physics. It is accepted because the man of science was
hitherto unable to find the necessary means to awaken into activity dormant
life in what he terms an inorganic atom: hence the fallacy that a living
thing can only be produced from a living thing, as though there ever was
such a thing as dead matter in Nature! At this rate, and to be consistent, a
mule ought to be also classed with inorganic matter, since it is unable to
reproduce itself, and generate life.
 
We lay so much stress upon the above to answer at once any future objection
to the idea that a mummy several thousand years old, can be throwing off
atoms. Nevertheless the sentence may perhaps have been more clearly
expressed by saying instead of the "life-atoms of Jiva," the atoms "animated
by dormant Jiva or life energy." Again, the sentence quoted by our
correspondent from Fragment No. 1,* though quite correct on the whole, might
be more fully, if not more clearly, expressed. 

THE "JIVA," OR LIFE PRINCIPLE WHICH ANIMATES MAN, BEAST, PLANT OR EVEN A
MINERAL, CERTAINLY IS "A FORM OF FORCE, INDESTRUCTIBLE," SINCE THIS FORCE IS
THE ONE LIFE, OR ANIMA MUNDI, THE UNIVERSAL LIVING SOUL, AND THAT THE
VARIOUS MODES IN WHICH THE VARIOUS OBJECTIVE THINGS APPEAR TO US IN NATURE
IN THEIR ATOMIC AGGREGATIONS, SUCH AS MINERALS, PLANTS, ANIMALS, ETC., ARE
ALL THE DIFFERENT FORMS OR STATES IN WHICH THIS FORCE MANIFESTS ITSELF. 

Were it to become, we will not say absent, for this is impossible, since it
is omnipresent, but for one single instant inactive, say in a stone, the
particles of the latter would lose instantly their cohesive property and
disintegrate as suddenly--though the force would still remain in each of its
particles, but in a dormant state. Thus the continuation of the sentence
which states that, when this indestructible force is "disconnected with one
set of atoms, it becomes attracted immediately by others" does not imply
that it abandons entirely the first set, but only that it transfers its vis
viva or living power, the energy of motion, to another set. But because it
manifests itself in the next set as what is called Kinetic energy, 

IT DOES NOT FOLLOW THAT THE FIRST SET IS DEPRIVED OF IT ALTOGETHER; FOR IT
IS STILL IN IT, AS POTENTIAL ENERGY, OR LIFE LATENT. 3 THIS IS A CARDINAL
AND BASIC TRUTH OF OCCULTISM, ON THE PERFECT KNOWLEDGE OF WHICH DEPENDS THE
PRODUCTION OF EVERY PHENOMENON. 

Unless we admit this point, we should have to give up all the other truths
of occultism. Thus what is "meant by the life-atom going through endless
transmigration" is simply this: we regard and call in our occult phraseology
those atoms that are moved by Kinetic energy as "life-atoms," while those
that are for the time being passive, containing but invisible potential
energy, we call "sleeping atoms," regarding at the same time those two forms
of energy as produced by the one and same force, or life. We have to beg our
readers' indulgence: we are neither a man of science, nor an English
scholar. 

Forced by circumstances to give out the little we know, we do the best we
can and explain matters to the best of our ability. Ignorant of Newton's
laws, we claim to know something only of the Occult Laws of motion. [see
also S D   I  623 ]


And now to the Hindu doctrine of Metempsychosis. 


		PSYCHIC INFLUENCES TO “LOWER” MONADS

It has a basis of truth; and, in fact, it is an axiomatic truth--but only in
reference to human atoms and emanations, and that not only after a man's
death, but during the whole period of his life. The esoteric meaning of the
Laws of Manu (Sec. XII, 3, and XII, 54 and 55), of the verses that state
that 

"every act, either mental, verbal or corporeal, bears good or evil fruit
(Karma), the various transmigrations of men (not souls) through the highest,
middle, and lowest stages, are produced by his actions"; 

and again that 

"A BRAHMAN-KILLER enters the body of a dog, bear, ass, camel, goat, sheep,
bird, etc.," bears no reference to the human Ego, but only to the atoms of
his body, of his lower triad, and his fluidic emanations. 

It is all very well for the Brahmins to distort in their own interest, the
real meaning contained in these laws, but the words as quoted never meant
what they were made to yield from the above verses later on. The Brahmins
applied them selfishly to themselves, whereas by "BRAHMAN," MAN'S SEVENTH
PRINCIPLE, HIS IMMORTAL MONAD AND THE ESSENCE OF THE PERSONAL EGO WERE
ALLEGORICALLY MEANT. HE WHO KILLS OR EXTINGUISHES IN HIMSELF THE LIGHT OF
PARABRAHM, I.E., SEVERS HIS PERSONAL EGO FROM THE ATMAN AND THUS KILLS THE
FUTURE DEVACHANEE, BECOMES A "BRAHMAN-KILLER."  [ see B. BHAGAVAD GITA ]

Instead of facilitating, through a virtuous life and spiritual aspirations
the mutual union of the Buddhi and the Manas, HE CONDEMNS BY HIS OWN EVIL
ACTS EVERY ATOM OF HIS LOWER PRINCIPLES TO BECOME ATTRACTED AND DRAWN, IN
VIRTUE OF THE MAGNETIC AFFINITY THUS CREATED BY HIS PASSIONS, INTO THE
FORMING BODIES OF LOWER ANIMALS OR BRUTES. This is the real meaning of the
doctrine of Metempsychosis. 

It is not that such amalgamation of human particles with animal or even
vegetable atoms can carry in it any idea of personal punishment per se, for
of course it does not. But it is a cause created, the effects of which may
manifest themselves throughout the next rebirths--unless the personality is
annihilated. Otherwise, from cause to effect, every effect becoming in its
turn a cause, they will run along the cycle of rebirths, the once-given
impulse expending itself only at the threshold of Pralaya. But of this anon.


Notwithstanding their esoteric meaning, even the words of the grandest and
noblest of all the adepts, Gautama Buddha, are misunderstood, distorted and
ridiculed in the same way. 

			"BROOM" -  life-atoms

The Hina-yana, the lowest form of transmigration of the Buddhist, is as
little comprehended as the Maha-yana, its highest form, and, because Sakya
Muni is shown to have once remarked to his Bhikkus, while pointing out to
them a broom, that "it had formerly been a novice who neglected to sweep
out" the Council room, hence was reborn as a broom (!), therefore, the
wisest of all of the world's sages stands accused of idiotic superstition.
Why not try and find out, before accusing, the true meaning of the
figurative statement? Why should we scoff before we understand? 

Is or is not that which is called magnetic effluvia a something, a stuff, or
substance, invisible, and imponderable though it be? If the learned authors
of "The Unseen Universe" object to light, heat and electricity being
regarded merely as imponderables, and show that each of these phenomena has
as much claim to be recognized as an objective reality as matter itself--our
right to regard the mesmeric or magnetic fluid which emanates from man to
man or even from man to what is termed an inanimate object, is far greater.
It is not enough to say that this fluid is a species of molecular energy
like heat, for instance, for it is vastly more. 


				HEAT

Heat is produced whenever visible energy is transformed into molecular
energy, we are told, and it may be thrown out by any material composed of
sleeping atoms or inorganic matter as it is called: whereas the magnetic
fluid projected by a living human body is life itself. 

"Indeed it is life-atoms" that a man in a blind passion throws off,
unconsciously, and though he does it quite as effectively as a mesmeriser
who transfers them from himself to any object consciously and under the
guidance of his will. Let any man give way to any intense feeling, such as
anger, grief, etc., under or near a tree, or in direct contact with a stone;
and many thousands of years after that any tolerable Psychometer will see
the man and sense his feelings, from one single fragment of that tree or
stone that he had touched. 

Hold any object in your hand, and it will become impregnated with your life
atoms, indrawn and outdrawn, changed and transferred in us at every instant
of our lives. Animal heat is but so many life atoms in molecular motion. It
requires no adept knowledge, but simply the natural gift of a good
clairvoyant subject to see them passing to and fro, from man to objects and
vice versa like a bluish lambent flame. 

Why then should not a broom, made of a shrub, which grew most likely in the
vicinity of the building where the lazy novice lived, a shrub, perhaps,
repeatedly touched by him while in a state of anger, provoked by his
laziness and distaste to his duty,--why should not a quantity of his life
atoms have passed into the materials of the future besom and therein have
been recognised by Buddha, owing to his superhuman (not supernatural)
powers? 

The processes of nature are acts of incessant borrowing and giving back. The
materialistic sceptic, however, will not take anything in any, save in a
literal, dead-letter sense. We would invite those Christian Orientalists who
chuckle at this record of Buddha's teachings to compare it with a certain
passage in the Gospels--a teaching of Christ. To his disciples' query "who
did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"--the answer they
received was--"neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the
works of God should be made manifest in him." (John ix. 2-3.) 

Now Gautama's statement has a scientific and philosophic meaning for every
occultist at least, if it lacks a clear meaning for the profane; while the
answer put (probably centuries later 4) into the mouth of the founder of
Christianity by his over-zealous and ignorant biographers has not even that
esoteric meaning, which so many of the sayings of Jesus are pregnant with.
This alleged teaching is an uncalled-for and blasphemous insult to their own
God, implying, as it clearly does, that for the pleasure of manifesting his
power, the Deity had foredoomed an innocent man to the torture of a
life-long blindness. As well accuse Christ of being the author of the 39
Articles! 

To conclude our too long answer, the "lower principles" mentioned in the
foot-note are--the 1st, 2nd and 3rd. [Physical, Astral Bodies & Prana]

They cannot include the Kamarupa, for this "rupa" belongs to the middle,
[4th] not the lower principles. 

And, to our correspondent's further query, "do the atoms of these (the 4th
and the 5th) [Kama & Manas] also re-form after going through various
transmigrations to constitute over again the 4th and the lower 5th of the
next incarnation"--we answer--"they do." 
The reason why we have tried to explain the doctrine of the "life atoms" at
such length, is precisely in connection with this last question, and with
the object of throwing out one more valuable hint. We do not feel at liberty
at present, however, to give any further details. 


	--  HPB  THEOSOPHIST, July, August, 1883 
	TRANSMIGRATION OF THE LIFE ATOMS		HPB Art II 254



1 Though there is a distinct term for it in the language of the adepts, how
can one translate it into a European language? What name can be given to
that which is objective yet immaterial in its finite manifestations,
subjective yet substantive (though not in our sense of substance) in its
eternal existence? Haring explained it the best we can, we leave the task of
finding a more appropriate term for it to our learned English occultists.
--Ed.
 
2 Unseen Universe.

* From "Fragments of Occult Truth--I" (Theosophist III, 18; see THEOSOPHY
2:100). The full sentence reads: "The Vital principle (or Jiv-atma), a form
of force, indestructible, and when disconnected with one set of atoms,
becoming attracted immediately by others."

3 We fell constrained to make use of terms that have become technical in
modern science--though they do not always fully express the idea to be
conveyed--for want of better words. It is useless to hope that the occult
doctrine may be ever thoroughly understood--even the few tenets that can be
safely given to the world at large--unless a glossary of such words is
edited; and, what is of a still more primary importance--until the full and
correct meaning of the terms therein taught is thoroughly mastered.--Ed. 

4 And probably by, or under, the inspiration of Irenæus--since the sentence
is found in the 4th Gospel, that of John, that did not exist yet at the time
of his quarrels with the Gnostics.-Ed.