Theos-Talk Archives (August 2006 Message tt00416)

8/14/2006 6:03 AM

 

Dear Friends:

 

We are asked:

 

 

Aug 14 2006

 

Friends:

 

 The important fact underlying the “skandhas” is that they represent Monads
impressed with the motivational and causal aspect of everyone of our
desires, thoughts and deeds resulting from those.  Deeds are on the physical
plane,  

 

Desires are on the “psychic” plane and involve the Manas -- the thought
maker -- (thus creating – by our will -- Lower Manas or Kama-Manas).  These
“creations” color or attach themselves to the Monads of lesser experience
that we have unconsciously attracted to surround us.  [To them, We are the
agents responsible for their position, sensitivity and condition.  They
receive and react to our Karma (and theirs).  

 

The “I” is the responsible creator.  

 

If our psychic creations are disharmonious [ to Universal Harmony and moral
Symphony ] and their main characteristic is selfishness, our environment
becomes afflicted by them (and our ‘view’ looking through and using them
becomes blurred --  until such time as the enormous Karmic force of the
entire Universe causes us to realize the enormous harm we have done. 

 

This ever active steady “Force of the Universe” pressing all beings, and
Monads onward towards their individual Perfection”  (or Spiritual
Enlightenment, and Initiation) acts as an educator  -- in doing so, it
provides us with living circumstances in our lives which are the exact
result / effect of our ‘creations.’  What we might like to call a “preview
page” turns by necessity into the active pressures of ‘personal’ existence
and reality.  

 

This is what we call “good” or “bad” Karma. Their intent is to make us ask
“Why me?”  “How did I merit such a situation ?”  “Is there something wrong
with my way of looking at things?  Is ‘selfishness’ superior to
unselfishness, benevolence, charity and BROTHERHOOD ?

 

Meditation which is an isolated survey of all the factors of our life and
living will bring this 

 (eventually) clearly to our understanding.  We are the ones who decided for
ourselves the 

 motives we used and can choose to use now.

 

 

That is what THEOSOPHY has taught me and is offered as such.

 

 

Best wishes, 

Dallas

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

 

-----Original Message-----
From: zakk 
Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2006 8:41 PM



                        Subject: Re:      Skandhas

 

Z :         It does not utilize skandhas.
Skandhas are non-existent in the state of knowing. The
interpretive mind utilizes skandhas. They are in associative 
states of existence. 

 

J:          Zakk, according to Tibetan Buddhism, the skandhas 
are with us on the six lower planes, coming from 
paramatman on the first plane. On the higher planes, 
the skandhas are purified, and are the five Dhayani Buddhas. 
On the higher planes, the elements are also purified and 
are the feminine consorts of those Dhyani Buddhas and are 
depicted in sexual union with them to show their essential oneness.

 

 

 

Theosophical Glossary, pp. 301-2 :

 

“SKANDHA or SKHANDA (Sk.). Lit., “bundles”, or groups of attributes; 
everything finite, inapplicable to the eternal and the absolute. 
There are five-- esoterically, seven-- attributes in every human living
being,
which are known as the Pancha Skandhas. These are (1) form, rupa; 
(2) perception, Vidana; (3) consciousness, Sanjna; (4) action, Samskara; 
(5) knowledge, Vidyana. These unite at the birth of man and constitute his 
personality. After the maturity of these Skandhas, they begin to separate 
and weaken, and this is followed by Jaramarana, or decrepitude and death.

 

 The skandhas referred to are exoteric in nature and are descriptive 
of the lower four planes' existence.  Knowledge (5), for example, is not
knowing and is not descriptive of the upper three planes.  As skandhas
are representative of attributes, only four skandhas are personally 
viewed as exoteric and of the lower four planes, though a fifth may be 
applied if referencing the human being. The exact meaning and usage 
of the term skandhas is considered as confounded over time and not 
expressed as clearly as when it was originally initiated.  It is a reason 
that it is not personally preferred to speak in terms of skandhas and is 
usually avoided when possible or not discussed in any depth  .
             

Aug 14 2006

 

Friends:

 

 

 

Dallas

 

-----Original Message-----
From: zakk 
Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2006 8:41 PM
To: 
Subject: Re:      Skandhas

Z :        It does not utilize skandhas.
Skandhas are non-existent in the state of knowing. The
interpretive mind utilizes skandhas. They are in associative 
states of existence. 

 

J:          Zakk, according to Tibetan Buddhism, the skandhas 
are with us on the six lower planes, coming from 
paramatman on the first plane. On the higher planes, 
the skandhas are purified, and are the five Dhayani Buddhas. 
On the higher planes, the elements are also purified and 
are the feminine consorts of those Dhyani Buddhas and are 
depicted in sexual union with them to show their essential oneness.>

 

  

SKANDHA or SKHANDA (Sk.). Lit., “bundles”, or groups of attributes; 
everything finite, inapplicable to the eternal and the absolute.


There are five-- esoterically, seven-- attributes in every human living
being,
which are known as the Pancha Skandhas. 

 

These are 

 

(1) form, rűpa; 
(2) perception, vidâna; 

(3) consciousness, sanjnâ; 

(4) action, sanskâra; 
(5) knowledge, vidyâna. 

 

These unite at the birth of man and constitute his 
personality. After the maturity of these Skandhas, they begin to separate 
and weaken, and this is followed by jarâmarana, or decrepitude and death.

 

 The skandhas referred to are exoteric in nature and are descriptive 
of the lower four planes' existence.  Knowledge (5), for example, is not
knowing and is not descriptive of the upper three planes.  

 

As skandhas are representative of attributes, only four skandhas are 

personally viewed as exoteric and of the lower four planes, though a fifth 

may be applied if referencing the human being. [Kama-Manas ?] The 

exact meaning and usage of the term skandhas is considered as 

confounded over time and not expressed as clearly as when it was 

originally initiated.  

 

It is a reason that it is not personally preferred to speak in terms of
skandhas 

and is usually avoided when possible or not discussed in any depth.
            T GLOSSARY, pp. 301-2

 

RESULTS OF MEDITATION

 

 

Progress ... "All our progress is in the inner nature, and not in the
physical where lives the brain...as the great Adepts live in the plane of
our inner nature, it must follow that They might be actively helping every
one of us...the greatest help will [come] from concentration upon the Higher
Self (Atman) and aspiration towards the Higher Self.  Also, if you will take
some subject or sentence from the Bhagavad Gita and concentrate your mind
upon that and meditate upon it, you will find much good result from it, and
there is no danger in such concentration." [ WQJ also indicated here the
danger of Hatha Yoga practices.] 

            WQJ Letters, p. 115

 

 

"Perfection...of body, or superhuman powers, are produced by birth, or by
powerful herbs, or by incantations, penances, or mediations. [...the sole
cause of permanent perfection is medita­tion performed in incarnations prior
to that is which the perfec­tion appears...as meditation reaches within, it
affects each incarnation...]" Patanjali, p. 62

 

 

"We must discover what actions ought to be performed by us and do them for
that reason, and not because of some result we expect to follow...By
pursuing this practice true meditation is begun and will soon become
permanent.  For, one who watches his thoughts and acts so as to perform
those that ought to be done, will acquire a concentration in time which will
increase the power of real meditation.  It is not meditation to stare at a
spot on the wall for a fixed period, or to remain for another space of time
in a perfectly vacuous mental state which soon runs into sleep.  All those
things are merely forms which in the end will do no lasting good.  But many
students have run after these follies, ignoring the true way.  The truth is,
that the right method is not easy;  it requires thought and mental effort,
with persistency and faith...all [will] depend on self-mastery."   Gita
Notes  128-9

 

 

"All true impressions come from within--from the highest Principle in us,
Atma, or the Divinity which is one and the same in all.  If there is nothing
in the brain but impressions from the lower principles of our being, nothing
to connect the Thinker with higher planes, he can but waver between these
lower states.  If thought is to rise further, it must me thought without a
brain.  Nature works by orderly processes to which we give the name of law.
In the individual it is called the Will.  By an act of the will all ordinary
mental processes may be stopped;  then the habitual center of mental action
may be transcended and the ascent to the next plane made, without losing the
power to perceive on this.  In all such attempts we must keep the
Fundamentals in view--in mind.  The Spirit in man, the Perceiver, is
"untouched by troubles, works, fruits of works, or desires."  It seems to me
that the clearest comprehension, if not under­standing, of all this comes
from dwelling on the idea of the Perceiver as looking into one or another of
his "sheaths" and finding there the record of the actions in any or all of
them.  

 

Everything depends on what one has in mind--his fundamental conceptions of
Deity, Nature, and Man, when considering or at­tempting to practice
"concentration."  The general idea on this as on other subjects and objects
is purely personal.  There is no self-examination of motives, no altruism,
no effort to carry out in daily life the assumed object of fitting one's
self to be the better able to help and teach others, no observation of the
evil effects of rushing in for "psychic development."  H.P.B. says, "One has
to have an unshakable faith in the Deity within, an unlimited belief in his
own power to learn;  otherwise he is bound to fall into delusion and
irresponsible mediumship."  Here is the signpost of warning against all
attempts to develop psy­chically before one has learned to master and guide
the lower, personal self...Dwelling on the Fundamentals and the endeavor to
help others is the true concentration.  Mr. Judge wrote:  "Thus the Will is
freed from the domination of desire and at last subdues the mind itself."
Friendly Philosopher, p.  400-1

 

 

"...a surer sense of truth than any manner of reasoning.  This is the action
of Buddhi--direct cognition--the goal to which all right philosophy and life
leads.  In our sincere efforts we at times may have flashes from that seat
of consciousness.  The great result is to have the continuous co-operation
of Manas and Buddhi--higher mind and spiritual knowledge;  to work as the
god-man, perfect in all his parts, instead of the present sectional
operation which obtains...The Doctrine of the Eye is that of the brain
consciousness, composed largely of external impressions.  The Doctrine of
the Heart is the spiritual consciousness of the Ego--not perceived by the
brain consciousness until right thought, and right action which sooner or
later follows it, attune certain centers in the brain in accord with
spiritual vibration...You have much of the intellectual side;  there should
be as much of the devotional;  for what is desirable is the awakening of the
spiritual consciousness, the intuition--Buddhi-- and this cannot be done
unless the thoughts are turned that way with power and purpose.  

 

You may, if you will, set apart a certain half-hour, just before retiring
and after arising--as soon as possible after--and before eating.
Concentrate the mind upon the Masters as ideals and facts--living, active,
beneficent Beings, working in and on the plane of causes.  Meditate upon
this exclusively, and try to reach up to Them in thought.  If you find the
mind has strayed, bring it back again to the subject of meditation.  The
mind will stray more or less, at first, and perhaps for a long time to come,
but do not be discouraged at the apparent results if unsat­isfactory to your
mind.  The real results may not at once be apparent, but the work is not
lost...

 

Never mind the past, for you are at the entrance of a new world to you as
persons...Do not try to open conscious communica­tion with beings on other
planes.  It is not the time and danger lies that way, because the power of
creating one's own images, and because of the power and disposition of the
dark forces to simulate beings of Light, and render futile your efforts to
reach the goal.  When the materials are ready the Architect will ap­pear,
but seek him not;  seek only to be ready.  Do the best you can from day to
day, fearing nothing, doubting nothing, putting your whole trust in the
Great Law, and all will be well.  With the right attitude knowledge will
come."         R C -- F P 13-4

 

 

 

                        THE "HEART DOCTRINE"

 

 

"The Doctrine of the Heart is the spiritual consciousness of the Ego--not
perceived by the brain consciousness until right thought, and right
action...attune certain centers in the brain in accord with the spiritual
vibration...read the Voice of the Silence...what is desirable is the
awakening of the spiritual consciousness, the intuition – Buddhi -- and this
cannot be done unless the thoughts are turned that way with power and
purpose...”        

            R. C. - Friendly Philosopher, pp 13-14

 

 

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