Theos-Talk Archives (August 2006 Message tt00436)

8/15/2006 6:59 AM

		Re:  Difference between humans and animals?


Dear Friends and "Scribe:":

We are asked to study the "original teachings" of THEOSOPHY on the "Brain."
And not another's opinions, which may NOT entirely encourage you to your own
independent thought.  
Further, how do those 'opinions' agree with that which THEOSOPHY  teaches?
As a preliminary we have to be sure we know what THEOSOPHY teaches as facts:
[see S D  I  157-8;  II 596, study KEY TO THEOSOPHY (HPB) and OCEAN OF
THEOSOPHY.  ]

As a student, THEOSOPHY teaches one ought to be continually asked to verify
by independent research and thought and statement made. Make no snap or
hurried judgments, and accept no "authority that might keep one ignorant of
the underlying sources and logic that gives cause and reason for any
statement or inquiry.  And ought not to accept or seek for an incomplete
solution to the problem. There are no "quick fixes."  True THEOSOPHY has
only one answer for every specific query or tenet..

I would say: Your "trust and faith" have to be built on your own study and
understanding - thus our personal Kama-Manas is self-transformed into our
"BUDDHI-MANAS or Higher Manas.  Uncertainty thus becomes the WISDOM of a
knowledge confirmed universally and impersonally, and is purified of any
"personal" element.

I believe we are asked to remember that THEOSOPHY is a record of very
ancient research 
[S D  I  272-3]. And all statements it makes have to dovetail with all
others logically. They cannot remain as enigmas or doctrines to be adopted
without further deep examination.

The reason we live many lives is that the whole of Evolution is more that
one life,  but involves, as a learning process, many lives under he laws of
Karma and Reincarnation.  We are always given the option of selecting the
rate of our learning, and developing the care and persistence with which we
do that.  

It is given as "a granted," that our desire (Kamic) nature may protest these
fresh restrictions and seek to restore a care-free (apparently) -- to it, a
pleasant state of irresponsible bliss ! --  but that is NOT the Universe's
or Nature's "Way," or the Path to true Initiation along the commonly
travelled pilgrimage called by some:  to  Supreme Perfection.  

In this Kama-Manas (Lower Manas) is found to be transforming itself by its
own efforts into BUDDHI-MANAS, (or the WISE, INDIVIDUAL HIGHER MIND.  

Wisdom is not owned by any one persona or any one group.  It cannot be
bought, nor can it be enforced. For those who desire to discover for
themselves the MIDDLE PATH that leads to ultimate TRUTH -- it has been
suggested we study the VOICE OF THE SILENCE (HPB), then,  PATANJALI'S YOGA
SUTRAS (one of the most valuable and complete studies of psychology), and,
the BHAGAVAD GITA  (Krishna) .  These three small books are most profound
and useful and, I would say: they have to be frequently reviewed. 

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

1

Example:

What forms the "frontal brain lobes?"  Name those "lobes" for accuracy.

Is not the astral brain made up of electro-magnetic forces the source of the
physical as also of the entire physical body and all that relates to it?

Is not the same astral brain constituted of "life atoms" (or MONADS) which
cluster around my individuality and have through that attraction become "my"
responsibility morally at the moment of any choice ?  Those are colored and
become "skandhas."   They are memory records, imperishably inscribed and are
the carriers of our "good and bad Karma." 

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

2	You ask:

"And, if it's true that animals have A GROUP SOUL and when they die 
they morph back into that group soul? (Just sounds kind of sad, 
that's all.)"

I have not found HPB or Masters writing about a "group soul."  Or have they?
What does that mean?  A "tendency ?" Or a level of general intelligence and
consciousness ? 

Or is a phrase intended to distinguish the lack of Individual
Self-Consciousness from the stage or plane of  pure, irresponsible Kamic
intelligence (as found in the animals), vis-a-vis the Manasic stage of
development signalized in humankind by the "Lighting up of Manas" 
[ S D  I  75-8, 203, 233, 234 fn, 247, 609;  S D II  254-5, 69, 92, 150,
189, 660, 272;   
HPB Articles II 140 -- ELEMENTALS, ]

It is said: "Once a Man, always a Man."  There is no return to an oblivion
of the responsibilities of the Manasic (mind) stage of educative progress.
We are now in a stage that will lead us to study ever  more carefully the
impact (moral and ethical) of  our choices - and all choices have some
degree of attention from a living, active mind. 

We are reminded of the statement to be found in S D  II 167 :

"We now come to an important point with regard to the double evolution of
the human race. , or the spiritual Dhyanis, had become "intellectual"
through their contact with matter, because they had already reached, during
previous cycles of incarnation, that degree of intellect which enabled them
to become independent and self-conscious entities, on this plane of matter.
They were reborn only by reason of Karmic effects. 

They entered those who were "ready," and became the Arhats, or sages,
alluded to above. This needs explanation. 

It does not mean that Monads entered forms in which other Monads already
were. They were "Essences," "Intelligences," and conscious spirits; entities
seeking to become still more conscious by uniting with more developed
matter. Their essence was too pure to be distinct from the universal
essence; but their "Egos," or Manas (since they are called Manasaputra, born
of "Mahat," or Brahma) had to pass through earthly human experiences to
become all-wise, and be able to start on the returning ascending cycle. 

The Monads are not discrete principles, limited or conditioned, but rays
from that one universal absolute Principle. The entrance into a dark room
through the same aperture of one ray of sunlight following another will not
constitute two rays, but one ray intensified. It is not in the course of
natural law that man should become a perfect septenary being, before the
seventh race in the seventh Round. Yet he has all these principles latent in
him from his birth. Nor is it part of the evolutionary law that the Fifth
principle (Manas), should receive its complete development before the Fifth
Round. 

All such prematurely developed intellects (on the spiritual plane) in our
Race are abnormal; they are those whom we call the "Fifth-Rounders." Even in
the coming seventh Race, at the close of this Fourth Round, while our four
lower principles will be fully developed, that of Manas will be only
proportionately so. This limitation, however, refers solely to the spiritual
development. The intellectual, on the physical plane, was reached during the
Fourth Root-Race. Thus, those who were "half ready," who received "but a
spark," constitute the average humanity which has to acquire its
intellectuality during the present Manvantaric evolution, after which they
will be ready in the next for the full reception of the "Sons of Wisdom." 
	S D  II  167-8

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

I  hope this may be of help,

DTB

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

-----Original Message-----
From: 
On Behalf Of 	scribe_rs
Sent: Monday, August 14, 2006 2:09 PM

Subject: Difference between humans and animals?

Hello, friends,

On another forum I got involved in the old "Darwinism vs. 
Creationism" debate by simply saying that I thought ID ("intelligent 
design") should be looked at seriously and scientifically because I 
thought it made sense, that everywhere there's design and order, 
etc. I didn't want to go into it deeper but of course I was attacked 
viciously by the Darwinist / 'Science' acolytes and it became a Big 
Deal, you know how that goes.

I won't go into the usual litany they threw at me but I do want to 
share with you one point that was brought up that stuck in my mind 
and ask if anybody here can throw some more light on it.

The other side said that the only difference between animal and man 
is man's large frontal lobe.

Now my studies are predominately through the spiritual aspects and 
I'm not used to looking at the physical evolutionary side. I went to 
my library of HPB, Besant and Purucker for references to "brain" and 
came away with the impression that that statement might be pretty 
close, or at least as far as any physical difference is concerned, 
between man and animal. 

Also, in that investigation, I was reminded that animals have a 
group soul whereas man has an individual soul.

I'm asking if you know of more physical differences between animal 
and man besides the enlarged frontal lobe? (They were very adamant 
about that; apparently that is what is being taught in science class 
nowadays.)

And, if it's true that animals have a group soul and when they die 
they morph back into that group soul? (Just sounds kind of sad, 
that's all.)

thanks,
		scribe
.