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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/12902-0.txt b/12902-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ec097bd --- /dev/null +++ b/12902-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4990 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12902 *** + +A TEXTBOOK OF THEOSOPHY + + + + + by + +C.W. LEADBEATER + + + + +1912 + + + + +CONTENTS + + +Chapter + I. What Theosophy Is + II. From the Absolute to Man + III. The Formation of a Solar System + IV. The Evolution of Life + V. The Constitution of Man + VI. After Death + VII. Reincarnation + VIII. The Purpose of Life + IX. The Planetary Chains + X. The Result of Theosophical Study + +Index + + + + +Chapter I + +WHAT THEOSOPHY IS + + +"There is a school of philosophy still in existence of which modern culture +has lost sight." In these words Mr. A.P. Sinnett began his book, _The +Occult World_, the first popular exposition of Theosophy, published thirty +years ago. [Namely in 1881.] During the years that have passed since then, +many thousands have learned wisdom in that school, yet to the majority its +teachings are still unknown, and they can give only the vaguest of replies +to the query, "What is Theosophy?" + +Two books already exist which answer that question: Mr. Sinnett's _Esoteric +Buddhism_ and Dr. Besant's _The Ancient Wisdom_. I have no thought of +entering into competition with those standard works; what I desire is to +present a statement, as clear and simple as I can make it, which may be +regarded as introductory to them. + +We often speak of Theosophy as not in itself a religion, but the truth +which lies behind all religions alike. That is so; yet, from another point +of view, we may surely say that it is at once a philosophy, a religion and +a science. It is a philosophy, because it puts plainly before us an +explanation of the scheme of evolution of both the souls and the bodies +contained in our solar system. It is a religion in so far as, having shown +us the course of ordinary evolution, it also puts before us and advises a +method of shortening that course, so that by conscious effort we may +progress more directly towards the goal. It is a science, because it treats +both these subjects as matters not of theological belief but of direct +knowledge obtainable by study and investigation. It asserts that man has no +need to trust to blind faith, because he has within him latent powers +which, when aroused, enable him to see and examine for himself, and it +proceeds to prove its case by showing how those powers may be awakened. It +is itself a result of the awakening of such powers by men, for the +teachings which it puts before us are founded upon direct observations made +in the past, and rendered possible only by such development. + +As a philosophy, it explains to us that the solar system is a +carefully-ordered mechanism, a manifestation of a magnificent life, of +which man is but a small part. Nevertheless, it takes up that small part +which immediately concerns us, and treats it exhaustively under three +heads--present, past and future. + +It deals with the present by describing what man really is, as seen by +means of developed faculties. It is customary to speak of man as having a +soul. Theosophy, as the result of direct investigation, reverses that +dictum, and states that man _is_ a soul, and _has_ a body--in fact several +bodies, which are his vehicles and instruments in various worlds. These +worlds are not separate in space; they are simultaneously present with us, +here and now, and can be examined; they are the divisions of the material +side of Nature--different degrees of density in the aggregation of matter, +as will presently be explained in detail. Man has an existence in several +of these, but is normally conscious only of the lowest, though sometimes in +dreams and trances he has glimpses of some of the others. What is called +death is the laying aside of the vehicle belonging to this lowest world, +but the soul or real man in a higher world is no more changed or affected +by this than the physical man is changed or affected when he removes his +overcoat. All this is a matter, not of speculation, but of observation and +experiment. + +Theosophy has much to tell us of the past history of man--of how in the +course of evolution he has come to be what he now is. This also is a matter +of observation, because of the fact that there exists an indelible record +of all that has taken place--a sort of memory of Nature--by examining which +the scenes of earlier evolution may be made to pass before the eyes of the +investigator as though they were happening at this moment. By thus studying +the past we learn that man is divine in origin and that he has a long +evolution behind him--a double evolution, that of the life or soul within, +and that of the outer form. We learn, too, that the life of man as a soul +is of, what to us seems, enormous length, and that what we have been in the +habit of calling his life is in reality only one day of his real existence. +He has already lived through many such days, and has many more of them yet +before him; and if we wish to understand the real life and its object, we +must consider it in relation not only to this one day of it, which begins +with birth and ends with death, but also to the days which have gone before +and those which are yet to come. + +Of those that are yet to come there is also much to be said, and on this +subject, too, a great deal of definite information is available. Such +information is obtainable, first, from men who have already passed much +further along the road of evolution than we, and have consequently direct +experience of it; and, secondly, from inferences drawn from the obvious +direction of the steps which we see to have been previously taken. The goal +of this particular cycle is in sight, though still far above us but it +would seem that, even when that has been attained, an infinity of progress +still lies before everyone who is willing to undertake it. + +One of the most striking advantages of Theosophy is that the light which it +brings to us at once solves many of our problems, clears away many +difficulties, accounts for the apparent injustices of life, and in all +directions brings order out of seeming chaos. Thus, while some of its +teaching is based upon the observation of forces whose direct working is +somewhat beyond the ken of the ordinary man of the world, if the latter +will accept it as a hypothesis he will very soon come to see that it must +be a correct one, because it, and it alone, furnishes a coherent and +reasonable explanation of the drama of life which is being played before +him. + +The existence of Perfected Men, and the possibility of coming into touch +with Them and being taught by Them, are prominent among the great new +truths which Theosophy brings to the western world. Another of them is the +stupendous fact that the world is not drifting blindly into anarchy, but +that its progress is under the control of a perfectly organized Hierarchy, +so that final failure even for the tiniest of its units is of all +impossibilities the most impossible. A glimpse of the working of that +Hierarchy inevitably engenders the desire to co-operate with it, to serve +under it, in however humble a capacity, and some time in the far-distant +future to be worthy to join the outer fringes of its ranks. + +This brings us to that aspect of Theosophy which we have called religious. +Those who come to know and to understand these things are dissatisfied with +the slow æons of evolution; they yearn to become more immediately useful, +and so they demand and obtain knowledge of the shorter but steeper Path. +There is no possibility of escaping the amount of work that has to be done. +It is like carrying a load up a mountain; whether one carries it straight +up a steep path or more gradually by a road of gentle slope, precisely the +same number of foot-pounds must be exerted. Therefore to do the same work +in a small fraction of the time means determined effort. It can be done, +however, for it has been done; and those who have done it agree that it far +more than repays the trouble. The limitations of the various vehicles are +thereby gradually transcended, and the liberated man becomes an intelligent +co-worker in the mighty plan for the evolution of all beings. + +In its capacity as a religion, too, Theosophy gives its followers a rule of +life, based not on alleged commands delivered at some remote period of the +past, but on plain common sense as indicated by observed facts. The +attitude of the student of Theosophy towards the rules which it prescribes +resembles rather that which we adopt to hygienic regulations than obedience +to religious commandments. We may say, if we wish, that this thing or that +is in accordance with the divine Will, for the divine Will is expressed in +what we know as the laws of Nature. Because that Will wisely ordereth all +things, to infringe its laws means to disturb the smooth working of the +scheme, to hold back for a moment that fragment or tiny part of evolution, +and consequently to bring discomfort upon ourselves and others. It is for +that reason that the wise man avoids infringing them--not to escape the +imaginary wrath of some offended deity. + +But if from a certain point of view we may think of Theosophy as a +religion, we must note two great points of difference between it and what +is ordinarily called religion in the West. First, it neither demands belief +from its followers, nor does it even speak of belief in the sense in which +that word is usually employed. The student of occult science either _knows_ +a thing or suspends his judgment about it; there is no place in his scheme +for blind faith. Naturally, beginners in the study cannot yet _know_ for +themselves, so they are asked to read the results of the various +observations and to deal with them as probable hypotheses--provisionally to +accept and act upon them, until such time as they can prove them for +themselves. + +Secondly, Theosophy never endeavours to convert any man from whatever +religion he already holds. On the contrary, it explains his religion to +him, and enables him to see in it deeper meanings than he has ever known +before. It teaches him to understand it and live it better than he did, and +in many cases it gives back to him, on a higher and more intelligent level, +the faith in it which he had previously all but lost. + +Theosophy has its aspects as a science also; it is in very truth a science +of life, a science of the soul. It applies to everything the scientific +method of oft-repeated, painstaking observation, and then tabulates the +results and makes deductions from them. In this way it has investigated the +various planes of Nature, the conditions of man's consciousness during life +and after what is commonly called death. It cannot be too often repeated +that its statements on all these matters are not vague guesses or tenets of +faith, but are based upon direct and oft-repeated _observation_ of what +happens. Its investigators have dealt also to a certain extent with +subjects more in the range of ordinary science, as may be seen by those who +read the book on _Occult Chemistry_. + +Thus we see that Theosophy combines within itself some of the +characteristics of philosophy, religion and science. What, it might be +asked, is its gospel for this weary world? What are the main points which +emerge from its investigations? What are the great facts which it has to +lay before humanity? + +They have been well summed up under three main heads. + +"There are three truths which are absolute, and which cannot be lost, but +yet may remain silent for lack of speech. + +"The soul of man is immortal and its future is the future of a thing whose +growth and splendour has no limit. + +"The principle which gives life dwells in us and without us, is undying and +eternally beneficent, is not heard or seen or smelt, but is perceived by +the man who desires perception. + +"Each man is his own absolute lawgiver, the dispenser of glory or gloom to +himself, the decreer of his life, his reward, his punishment. + +"These truths, which are as great as is life itself, are as simple as the +simplest mind of man." + +Put shortly, and in the language of the man of the street, this means that +God is good, that man is immortal, and that as we sow so we must reap. +There is a definite scheme of things; it is under intelligent direction and +works under immutable laws. Man has his place in this scheme and is living +under these laws. If he understands them and co-operates with them, he will +advance rapidly and will be happy; if he does not understand them--if, +wittingly or unwittingly, he breaks them, he will delay his progress and be +miserable. These are not theories, but proved facts. Let him who doubts +read on, and he will see. + + + + +Chapter II + +FROM THE ABSOLUTE TO MAN + + +Of the Absolute, the Infinite, the All-embracing, we can at our present +stage know nothing, except that It is; we can say nothing that is not a +limitation, and therefore inaccurate. + +In It are innumerable universes; in each universe countless solar systems. +Each solar system is the expression of a mighty Being, whom we call the +LOGOS, the Word of God, the Solar Deity. He is to it all that men mean by +God. He permeates it; there is nothing in it which is not He; it is the +manifestation of Him in such matter as we can see. Yet He exists above it +and outside it, living a stupendous life of His own among His Peers. As is +said in an Eastern Scripture: "Having permeated this whole universe with +one fragment of Myself I remain." + +Of that higher life of His we can know nothing. But of the fragment of His +life which energises His system we may know something in the lower levels +of its manifestation. We may not see Him, but we may see His power at work. +No one who is clairvoyant can be atheistic; the evidence is too tremendous. + +Out of Himself He has called this mighty system into being. We who are in +it are evolving fragments of His life, Sparks of His divine Fire; from Him +we all have come; into Him we shall all return. + +Many have asked why He has done this; why He has emanated from Himself all +this system; why He has sent us forth to face the storms of life. We cannot +know, nor is the question practical; suffice it that we are here, and we +must do our best. Yet many philosophers have speculated on this point and +many suggestions have been made. The most beautiful that I know is that of +a Gnostic philosopher: + +"God is Love, but Love itself cannot be perfect unless it has those upon +whom it can be lavished and by whom it can be returned. Therefore He put +forth of Himself into matter, and He limited His glory, in order that +through this natural and slow process of evolution we might come into +being; and we in turn according to His Will are to develop until we reach +even His own level, and then the very love of God itself will become more +perfect, because it will then be lavished on those, His own children, who +will fully understand and return it, and so His great scheme will be +realized and His Will, be done." + +At what stupendous elevation His consciousness abides we know not, nor can +we know its true nature as it shows itself there. But when He puts Himself +down into such conditions as are within our reach, His manifestation is +ever threefold, and so all religions have imaged Him as a Trinity. Three, +yet fundamentally One; Three Persons (for person means a mask) yet one God, +showing Himself in those Three Aspects. Three to us, looking at Them from +below, because Their functions are different; one to Him, because He knows +Them to be but facets of Himself. + +All Three of these Aspects are concerned in the evolution of the solar +system; all Three are also concerned in the evolution of man. This +evolution is His Will; the method of it is His plan. + +Next below this Solar Deity, yet also in some mysterious manner part of +Him, come His seven Ministers sometimes called the Planetary Spirits. Using +an analogy drawn from the physiology of our own body, Their relation to Him +is like that of the ganglia or the nerve centres to the brain. All +evolution which comes forth from Him comes through one or other of Them. + +Under Them in turn come vast hosts or orders of spiritual beings, whom we +call angels or devas. We do not yet know all the functions which they +fulfil in different parts of this wonderful scheme, but we find some of +them intimately connected with the building of the system and the unfolding +of life within it. + +Here in our world there is a great Official who represents the Solar Deity +and is in absolute control of all the evolution that takes place upon this +planet. We may image Him as the true KING of this world and under Him are +ministers in charge of different departments. One of these departments is +concerned with the evolution of the different races of humanity so that for +each great race there is a Head who founds it, differentiates it from all +others, and watches over its development. Another department is that of +religion and education, and it is from this that all the greatest teachers +of history have come--that all religions have been sent forth. The great +Official at the head of this department either comes Himself or sends one +of His pupils to found a new religion when He decides that one is needed. + +Therefore all religions, at the time of their first presentation to the +world, have contained a definite statement of the Truth, and in its +fundamentals this Truth has been always the same. The presentations of it +have varied because of differences in the races to whom it was offered. The +conditions of civilization and the degree of evolution obtained by various +races have made it desirable to present this one Truth in divers forms. But +the inner Truth is always the same, and the source from which it comes is +the same, even though the external phases may appear to be different and +even contradictory. It is foolish for men to wrangle over the question of +the superiority of one teacher or one form of teaching to another, for the +teacher is always one sent by the Great Brotherhood of Adepts, and in all +its important points, in its ethical and moral principles, the teaching has +always been the same. + +There is in the world a body or Truth which lies at the back of all these +religions, and represents the facts of nature as far as they are at present +known to man. In the outer world, because of their ignorance of this, +people are always disputing and arguing about whether there is a God; +whether man survives death; whether definite progress is possible for him, +and what is his relation to the universe. These questions are ever present +in the mind of man as soon as intelligence is awakened. They are not +unanswerable, as is frequently supposed; the answers to them are within the +reach of anyone who will make proper efforts to find them. The truth is +obtainable, and the conditions of its attainment are possible of +achievement by anyone who will make the effort. + +In the earlier stages of the development of humanity the great Officials of +the Hierarchy are provided from outside, from other and more highly evolved +parts of the system, but as soon as men can be trained to the necessary +level of power and wisdom these offices are held by them. In order to be +fit to hold such an office a man must raise himself to a very high level, +and must become what is called an Adept--a being of goodness, power and +wisdom so great that He towers above the rest of humanity, for He has +already attained the summit of ordinary human evolution; He has achieved +that which the plan of the Deity marked out for Him to achieve during this +age or dispensation. But His evolution later on continues beyond that +level--continues to divinity. + +A large number of men have attained the Adept level--men not of one nation, +but of all the leading nations of the world--rare souls who with +indomitable courage have stormed the fortresses of nature, and captured her +innermost secrets, and so have truly earned the right to be called Adepts. +Among Them there are many degrees and many lines of activity; but always +some of Them remain within touch of our earth as members of this Hierarchy +which has in charge the administration of the affairs of our world and of +the spiritual evolution of our humanity. + +This august body is often called the Great White Brotherhood, but its +members are not a community all living together. Each of Them, to a large +extent, draws Himself apart from the world, and They are in constant +communication with one another and with Their Head; but Their knowledge of +higher forces is so great that this is achieved without any necessity for +meeting in the physical world. In many cases They continue to live each in +His own country, and Their power remains unsuspected among those who live +near Them. Any man who will may attract Their attention, but he can do it +only by showing himself worthy of Their notice. None need fear that his +efforts will pass unnoticed; such oversight is impossible, for the man who +is devoting himself to service such as this, stands out from the rest of +humanity like a great flame in a dark night. A few of these great Adepts, +who are thus working for the good of the world, are willing to take as +apprentices those who have resolved to devote themselves utterly to the +service of mankind; such Adepts are called Masters. + +One of these apprentices was Helena Petrovna Blavatsky--a great soul who +was sent out to offer knowledge to the world. With Colonel Henry Steel +Olcott she founded The Theosophical Society for the spread of this +knowledge which she had to give. Among those who came into contact with her +in those early days was Mr. A.P. Sinnett, the editor of _The Pioneer_, and +his keen intellect at once grasped the magnitude and the importance of the +teaching which she put before him. Although Madame Blavatsky herself had +previously written _Isis Unveiled_, it had attracted but little attention, +and it was Mr. Sinnett who first made the teaching really available for +western readers in his two books, _The Occult World_ and _Esoteric +Buddhism_. + +It was through these works that I myself first came to know their author, +and afterwards Madame Blavatsky herself; from both of them I learned much. +When I asked Madame Blavatsky how one could learn still more, how one could +make definite progress along the Path which she pointed out to us, she told +me of the possibility that other students might be accepted as apprentices +by the great Masters, even as she herself had been accepted, and that the +only way to gain such acceptance was to show oneself worthy of it by +earnest and altruistic work. She told me that to reach that goal a man must +be absolutely one-pointed in his determination; that no one who tried to +serve both God and Mammon could ever hope to succeed. One of these Masters +Himself had said: "In order to succeed, a pupil must leave his own world +and come into ours." + +This means that he must cease to be one of the majority who live for wealth +and power, and must join the tiny minority who care nothing for such +things, but live only in order to devote themselves selflessly to the good +of the world. She warned us clearly that the way was difficult to tread, +that we should be misunderstood and reviled by those who still lived in the +world, and that we had nothing to look forward to but the hardest of hard +work; and though the result was sure, no one could foretell how long it +would take to arrive at it. Some of us accepted these conditions joyfully, +and we have never for a moment regretted the decision. + +After some years of work I had the privilege of coming into contact with +these great Masters of the Wisdom; from Them I learnt many things--among +others, how to verify for myself at first hand most of the teachings which +They had given. So that, in this matter, I write of what I know, and what I +have seen for myself. Certain points are mentioned in the teaching, for the +verification of which powers are required far beyond anything which I have +gained so far. Of them, I can say only that they are consistent with what I +do know, and in many cases are necessary as hypotheses to account for what +I have seen. They came to me, along with the rest of the Theosophical +system, upon the authority of these mighty Teachers. Since then I have +learnt to examine for myself by far the greater part of what I was told, +and I have found the information given to me to be correct in every +particular; therefore I am justified in assuming the probability that that +other part, which as yet I cannot verify, will also prove to be correct +when I arrive at its level. + +To attain the honour of being accepted as an apprentice of one of the +Masters of the Wisdom is the object set before himself by every earnest +Theosophical student. But it means a determined effort. There have always +been men who were willing to make the necessary effort, and therefore there +have always been men who knew. The knowledge is so transcendent that when a +man grasps it fully he becomes more than man and he passes beyond our ken. + +But there are stages in the acquirement of this knowledge, and we may learn +much if we will, from those who themselves are still in process of +learning; for all human beings stand on one or other of the rungs of the +ladder of evolution. The primitive stand at its foot; we who are civilized +beings have already climbed part of the way. But though we can look back +and see rungs of the ladder below us which we have already passed, we may +also look up and see many rungs above us to which we have not yet attained. +Just as men are standing even now on each of the rungs below us, so that we +can see the stages by which man has mounted, so also are there men standing +on each of the rungs above us, so that from studying them we may see how +man shall mount in the future. Precisely because we see men on every step +of this ladder, which leads up to a glory which as yet we have no words to +express, we know that the ascent to that glory is possible for us. Those +who stand high above us, so high that They seem to us as gods in Their +marvellous knowledge and power, tell us that They stood not long since +where we are standing now, and They indicate to us clearly the steps which +lie between, which we also must tread if we would be as They. + + + + +Chapter III + +THE FORMATION OF A SOLAR SYSTEM + + +The beginning of the universe (if ever it had a beginning) is beyond our +ken. At the earliest point of history that we can reach, the two great +opposites of spirit and matter, of life and form, are already in full +activity. We find that the ordinary conception of matter needs a revision, +for what are commonly called force and matter are in reality only two +varieties of Spirit at different stages in evolution and the real matter or +basis of everything lies in the background unperceived. A French scientist +has recently said: "There is no matter; there are nothing but holes in the +æther." This also agrees with the celebrated theory of Professor Osborne +Reynolds. Occult investigation shows this to be the correct view, and in +that way explains what Oriental sacred books mean when they say that matter +is an illusion. + +The ultimate root-matter as seen at our level is what scientists call the +æther of space. [This has been described in _Occult Chemistry_ under the +name of koilon.] To every physical sense the space occupied by it appears +empty, yet in reality this æther is far denser than anything of which we +can conceive. Its density is defined by Professor Reynolds as being ten +thousand times greater than that of water, and its mean pressure as seven +hundred and fifty thousand tons to the square inch. + +This substance is perceptible only to highly developed clairvoyant power. +We must assume a time (though we have no direct knowledge on this point) +when this substance filled all space. We must also suppose that some great +Being (not the Deity of a solar system, but some Being almost infinitely +higher than that) changed this condition of rest by pouring out His spirit +or force into a certain section of this matter, a section of the size of a +whole universe. This effect of the introduction of this force is as that of +the blowing of a mighty breath; it has formed within this æther an +incalculable number of tiny spherical bubbles, [The bubbles are spoken of +in _The Secret Doctrine_ as the holes which Fohat digs in space.] and these +bubbles are the ultimate atoms of which what we call matter is composed. +They are not the atoms of the chemist, nor even the ultimate atoms of the +physical world. They stand at a far higher level, and what are usually +called atoms are composed of vast aggregations of these bubbles, as will be +seen later. + +When the Solar Deity begins to make His system, He finds ready to His hand +this material--this infinite mass of tiny bubbles which can be built up +into various kinds of matter as we know it. He commences by defining the +limit of His field of activity, a vast sphere whose circumference is far +larger than the orbit of the outermost of His future planets. Within the +limit of that sphere He sets up a kind of gigantic vortex--a motion which +sweeps together all the bubbles into a vast central mass, the material of +the nebula that is to be. + +Into this vast revolving sphere He sends forth successive impulses of +force, gathering together the bubbles into ever more and more complex +aggregations, and producing in this way seven gigantic interpenetrating +worlds of matter of different degrees of density, all concentric and all +occupying the same space. + +Acting through His Third Aspect He sends forth into this stupendous sphere +the first of these impulses. It sets up all through the sphere a vast +number of tiny vortices, each of which draws into itself forty-nine +bubbles, and arranges them in a certain shape. These little groupings of +bubbles so formed are the atoms of the second of the interpenetrating +worlds. The whole number of the bubbles is not used in this way, sufficient +being left in the dissociated state to act as atoms for the first and +highest of these worlds. In due time comes the second impulse, which seizes +upon nearly all these forty-nine bubble-atoms (leaving only enough to +provide atoms for the second world), draws them back into itself and then, +throwing them out again, sets up among them vortices, each of which holds +within itself 2,401 bubbles (49^2). These form the atoms of the third +world. Again after a time comes a third impulse, which in the same way +seizes upon nearly all these 2,401 bubble-atoms, draws them back again into +their original form, and again throws them outward once more as the atoms +of the fourth world--each atom containing this time 49^{3} bubbles. This +process is repeated until the sixth of these successive impulses has built +the atom of the seventh or the lowest world--that atom containing 49^{6} of +the original bubbles. + +This atom of the seventh world is the ultimate atom of the physical +world--not any of the atoms of which chemists speak, but that ultimate out +of which all their atoms are made. We have at this stage arrived at that +condition of affairs in which the vast whirling sphere contains within +itself seven types of matter, all one in essence, because all built of the +same kind of bubbles, but differing in their degree of density. All these +types are freely intermingled, so that specimens of each type would be +found in a small portion of the sphere taken at random in any part of it, +with, however, a general tendency of the heavier atoms to gravitate more +and more towards the centre. + +The seventh impulse sent out from the Third Aspect of the Deity does not, +as before, draw back the physical atoms which were last made into the +original dissociated bubbles, but draws them together into certain +aggregations, thus making a number of different kinds of what may be called +proto-elements, and these again are joined together into the various forms +which are known to science as chemical elements. The making of these +extends over a long period of ages, and they are made in a certain definite +order by the interaction of several forces, as is correctly indicated in +Sir William Crookes's paper, _The Genesis of the Elements_. Indeed the +process of their making is not even now concluded; uranium is the latest +and heaviest element so far as we know, but others still more complicated +may perhaps be produced in the future. + +As ages rolled on the condensation increased, and presently the stage of a +vast glowing nebula was reached. As it cooled, still rapidly rotating, it +flattened into a huge disc and gradually broke up into rings surrounding a +central body--an arrangement not unlike that which Saturn exhibits at the +present day, though on a far larger scale. As the time drew near when the +planets would be required for the purposes of evolution, the Deity sets up +somewhere in the thickness of each ring a subsidiary vortex into which a +great deal of the matter of the ring was by degrees collected. The +collisions of the gathered fragments caused a revival of the heat, and the +resulting planet was for a long time a mass of glowing gas. Little by +little it cooled once more, until it became fit to be the theatre of life +such as ours. Thus were all the planets formed. + +Almost all the matter of those interpenetrating worlds was by this time +concentrated into the newly formed planets. Each of them was and is +composed of all those different kinds of matter. The earth upon which we +are now living is not merely a great ball of physical matter, built of the +atoms of that lowest world, but has also attached to it an abundant supply +of matter of the sixth, the fifth, the fourth and other worlds. It is well +known to all students of science that particles of matter never actually +touch one another, even in the hardest of substances. The spaces between +them are always far greater in proportion than their own size--enormously +greater. So there is ample room for all the other kinds of atoms of all +those other worlds, not only to lie between the atoms of the denser matter, +but to move quite freely among them and around them. Consequently, this +globe upon which we live is not one world, but seven interpenetrating +worlds, all occupying the same space, except that the finer types of matter +extend further from the centre than does the denser matter. + +We have given names to these interpenetrating worlds for convenience in +speaking of them. No name is needed for the first, as man is not yet in +direct connection with it; but when it is necessary to mention it, it may +be called the divine world. The second is described as the monadic, because +in it exist those Sparks of the divine Life which we call the human Monads; +but neither of these can be touched by the highest clairvoyant +investigations at present possible for us. The third sphere, whose atoms +contain 2,401 bubbles, is called the spiritual world, because in it +functions the highest Spirit in man as now constituted. The fourth is the +intuitional world, [Previously called in Theosophical literature the +buddhic plane.] because from it come the highest intuitions. The fifth is +the mental world, because from its matter is built the mind of man. The +sixth is called the emotional or astral world, because the emotions of man +cause undulations in its matter. (The name astral was given to it by +mediæval alchemists, because its matter is starry or shining as compared to +that of the denser world.) The seventh world, composed of the type of +matter which we see all around us, is called the physical. + +The matter of which all these interpenetrating worlds are built is +essentially the same matter, but differently arranged and of different +degrees of density. Therefore the rates at which these various types of +matter normally vibrate differ also. They may be considered as a vast gamut +of undulations consisting of many octaves. The physical matter uses a +certain number of the lowest of these octaves, the astral matter another +group of octaves just above that, the mental matter a still further group, +and so on. + +Not only has each of these worlds its own type of matter; it has also its +own set of aggregations of that matter--its own substances. In each world +we arrange these substances in seven classes according to the rate at which +their molecules vibrate. Usually, but not invariably, the slower +oscillation involves also a larger molecule--a molecule, that is, built up +by a special arrangement of the smaller molecules of the next higher +subdivision. The application of heat increases the size of the molecules +and also quickens and amplifies their undulation, so that they cover more +ground, and the object, as a whole expands, until the point is reached +where the aggregation of molecules breaks up, and the latter passes from +one condition to that next above it. In the matter of the physical world +the seven subdivisions are represented by seven degrees of density of +matter, to which, beginning from below upwards, we give the names solid, +liquid, gaseous, etheric, superetheric, subatomic and atomic. + +The atomic subdivision is one in which all forms are built by the +compression into certain shapes of the physical atoms, without any previous +collection of these atoms into blocks or molecules. Typifying the physical +ultimate atom for the moment by a brick, any form in the atomic subdivision +would be made by gathering together some of the bricks, and building them +into a certain shape. In order to make matter for the next lower +subdivision, a certain number of the bricks (atoms) would first be gathered +together and cemented into small blocks of say four bricks each, five +bricks each, six bricks or seven bricks; and then these blocks so made +would be used as building stones. For the next subdivision several of the +blocks of the second subdivision cemented together in certain shapes would +form building-stones, and so on to the lowest. + +To transfer any substance from the solid condition to the liquid (that is +to say, to melt it) is to increase the vibration of its compound molecules +until at last they are shaken apart into the simpler molecules of which +they were built. This process can in all cases be repeated again and again +until finally any and every physical substance can be reduced to the +ultimate atoms of the physical world. + +Each of these worlds has its inhabitants, whose senses are normally capable +of responding to the undulations of their own world only. A man living (as +we are all doing) in the physical world sees, hears, feels, by vibrations +connected with the physical matter around him. He is equally surrounded by +the astral and mental and other worlds which are interpenetrating his own +denser world, but of them he is normally unconscious, because his senses +cannot respond to the oscillations of their matter, just as our physical +eyes cannot see by the vibrations of ultra-violet light, although +scientific experiments show that they exist, and there are other +consciousnesses with differently-formed organs who _can_ see by them. A +being living in the astral world might be occupying the very same space as +a being living in the physical world, yet each would be entirely +unconscious of the other and would in no way impede the free movement of +the other. The same is true of all other worlds. We are at this moment +surrounded by these worlds of finer matter, as close to us as the world we +see, and their inhabitants are passing through us and about us, but we are +entirely unconscious of them. + +Since our evolution is centred at present upon this globe which we call the +earth, it is in connection with it only that we shall be speaking of these +higher worlds, so in future when I use the term "astral world" I shall mean +by it the astral part of our own globe only, and not (as heretofore) the +astral part of the whole solar system. This astral part of our own world is +also a globe, but of astral matter. It occupies the same place as the globe +which we see, but its matter (being so much lighter) extends out into space +on all sides of us further than does the atmosphere of the earth--a great +deal further. It stretches to a little less than the mean distance of the +moon, so that though the two physical globes, the earth and the moon, are +nearly 240,000 miles apart, the astral globes of these two bodies touch one +another when the moon is in perigee, but not when she is in apogee. I shall +apply the term "mental world" to the still larger globe of mental matter in +the midst of which our physical earth exists. When we come to the still +higher globes we have spheres large enough to touch the corresponding +spheres of other planets in the system, though their matter also is just as +much about us here on the surface of the solid earth as that of the others. +All these globes of finer matter are a part of us, and are all revolving +round the sun with their visible part. The student will do well to accustom +himself to think of our earth as the whole of this mass of interpenetrating +worlds--not only the comparatively small physical ball in the centre of it. + + + + +Chapter IV + +THE EVOLUTION OF LIFE + + +All the impulses of life which I have described as building the +interpenetrating worlds come forth from the Third Aspect of the Deity. +Hence in the Christian scheme that Aspect is called "the Giver of Life", +the Spirit who brooded over the face of the waters of space. In +Theosophical literature these impulses are usually taken as a whole, and +called the First Outpouring. + +When the worlds had been prepared to this extent, and most of the chemical +elements already existed, the Second Outpouring of life took place, and +this came from the Second Aspect of the Deity. It brought with it the power +of combination. In all the worlds it found existing what may be thought of +as elements corresponding to those worlds. It proceeded to combine those +elements into organisms which it then ensouled, and in this way it built up +the seven kingdoms of Nature. Theosophy recognizes seven kingdoms, because +it regards man as separate from the animal kingdom and it takes into +account several stages of evolution which are unseen by the physical eye, +and gives to them the mediæval name of "elemental kingdoms". + +The divine Life pours itself into matter from above, and its whole course +may be thought of in two stages--the gradual assumption of grosser and +grosser matter, and then the gradual casting off again of the vehicles +which have been assumed. The earliest level upon which its vehicles can be +scientifically observed is the mental--the fifth counting from the finer to +the grosser, the first on which there are separated globes. In practical +study it is found convenient to divide this mental world into two parts, +which we call the higher and the lower according to the degree of density +of their matter. The higher consists of the three finer subdivisions of +mental matter; the lower part of the other four. + +When the outpouring reaches the higher mental world it draws together the +ethereal elements there, combines them into what at that level correspond +to substances and of these substances builds forms which it inhabits. We +call this the first elemental kingdom. + +After a long period of evolution through different forms at that level, the +wave of life, which is all the time pressing steadily downwards, learns to +identify itself so fully with those forms that, instead of occupying them +and withdrawing from them periodically, it is able to hold them permanently +and make them part of itself, so that now from that level it can proceed to +the temporary occupation of forms at a still lower level. When it reaches +this stage we call it the second elemental kingdom, the ensouling life of +which resides upon the higher mental levels, while the vehicles through +which it manifests are on the lower. + +After another vast period of similar length, it is found that the downward +pressure has caused this process to repeat itself; once more the life has +identified itself with its forms, and has taken up its residence upon the +lower mental levels, so that it is capable of ensouling bodies in the +astral world. At this stage we call it the third elemental kingdom. + +We speak of all these forms as finer or grosser relatively to one another, +but all of them are almost infinitely finer than any with which we are +acquainted in the physical world. Each of these three is a kingdom of +Nature, as varied in the manifestations of its different forms of life as +is the animal or vegetable kingdom which we know. After a long period spent +in ensouling the forms of the third of these elemental kingdoms it +identifies itself with them in turn, and so is able to ensoul the etheric +part of the mineral kingdom, and becomes the life which vivifies that--for +there is a life in the mineral kingdom just as much as in the vegetable or +the animal, although it is in conditions where it cannot manifest so +freely. In the course of the mineral evolution the downward pressure causes +it to identify itself in the same way with the etheric matter of the +physical world, and from that to ensoul the denser matter of such minerals +as are perceptible to our senses. + +In the mineral kingdom we include not only what are usually called +minerals, but also liquids, gases and many etheric substances the existence +of which is unknown to western science. All the matter of which we know +anything is living matter, and the life which it contains is always +evolving. When it has reached the central point of the mineral stage the +downward pressure ceases, and is replaced by an upward tendency; the +outbreathing has ceased and the indrawing has begun. + +When mineral evolution is completed, the life has withdrawn itself again +into the astral world, but bearing with it all the results obtained through +its experiences in the physical. At this stage it ensouls vegetable forms, +and begins to show itself much more clearly as what we commonly call +life--plant-life of all kinds; and at a yet later stage of its development +it leaves the vegetable kingdom and ensouls the animal kingdom. The +attainment of this level is the sign that it has withdrawn itself still +further, and is now working from the lower mental world. In order to work +in physical matter from that mental world it must operate through the +intervening astral matter; and that astral matter is now no longer part of +the garment of the group-soul as a whole, but is the individual astral body +of the animal concerned, as will be later explained. + +In each of these kingdoms it not only passes a period of time which is to +our ideas almost incredibly long, but it also goes through a definite +course of evolution, beginning from the lower manifestations of that +kingdom and ending with the highest. In the vegetable kingdom, for example, +the life-force might commence its career by occupying grasses or mosses and +end it by ensouling magnificent forest trees. In the animal kingdom it +might commence with mosquitoes or with animalculæ, and might end with the +finest specimens of the mammalia. + +The whole process is one of steady evolution from lower forms to higher, +from the simpler to the more complex. But what is evolving is not primarily +the form, but the life within it. The forms also evolve and grow better as +time passes; but this is in order that they may be appropriate vehicles for +more and more advanced waves of life. When the life has reached the highest +level possible in the animal kingdom, it may then pass on into the human +kingdom, under conditions which will presently be explained. + +The outpouring leaves one kingdom and passes to another, so that if we had +to deal with only one wave of this outpouring we could have in existence +only one kingdom at a time. But the Deity sends out a constant succession +of these waves, so that at any given time we find a number of them +simultaneously in operation. We ourselves represent one such wave; but we +find evolving alongside us another wave which ensouls the animal kingdom--a +wave which came out from the Deity one stage later than we did. We find +also the vegetable kingdom, which represents a third wave, and the mineral +kingdom, which represents a fourth; and occultists know of the existence +all round us of three elemental kingdoms, which represent the fifth, sixth +and seventh waves. All these, however, are successive ripples of the same +great outpouring from the Second Aspect of the Deity. + +We have here, then, a scheme of evolution in which the divine Life involves +itself more and more deeply in matter, in order that through that matter it +may receive vibrations which could not otherwise affect it--impacts from +without, which by degrees arouse within it rates of undulation +corresponding to their own, so that it learns to respond to them. Later on +it learns of itself to generate these rates of undulation, and so becomes a +being possessed of spiritual powers. + +We may presume that when this outpouring of life originally came forth from +the Deity, at some level altogether beyond our power of cognition, it may +perhaps have been homogeneous; but when it first comes within practical +cognizance, when it is itself in the intuitional world, but is ensouling +bodies made of the matter of the higher mental world, it is already not one +huge world-soul but many souls. Let us suppose a homogeneous outpouring, +which may be considered as one vast soul, at one end of the scale; at the +other, when humanity is reached, we find that one vast soul broken up into +millions of the comparatively little souls of individual men. At any stage +between these two extremes we find an intermediate condition, the immense +world-soul already subdivided, but not to the utmost limit of possible +subdivision. + +Each man is a soul, but not each animal or each plant. Man, as a soul, can +manifest through only one body at a time in the physical world, whereas one +animal soul manifests simultaneously through a number of animal bodies, one +plant soul through a number of separate plants. A lion, for example, is not +a permanently separate entity in the same way as a man is. When the man +dies--that is, when he as a soul lays aside his physical body--he remains +himself exactly as he was before, an entity separate from all other +entities. When the lion dies, that which has been the separate soul of him +is poured back into the mass from which it came--a mass which is at the +same time providing the souls for many other lions. To such a mass we give +the name of "group-soul". + +To such a group-soul is attached a considerable number of lion bodies--let +us say a hundred. Each of those bodies while it lives has its hundredth +part of the group-soul attached to it, and for the time being this is +apparently quite separate, so that the lion is as much an individual during +his physical life as the man; but he is not a permanent individual. When he +dies the soul of him flows back into the group-soul to which it belongs, +and that identical lion-soul cannot be separated again from the group. + +A useful analogy may help comprehension. Imagine the group-soul to be +represented by the water in a bucket, and the hundred lion bodies by a +hundred tumblers. As each tumbler is dipped into the bucket it takes out +from it a tumblerful of water (the separate soul). That water for the time +being takes the shape of the vehicle which it fills, and is temporarily +separate from the water which remains in the bucket, and from the water in +the other tumblers. + +Now put into each of the hundred tumblers some kind of colouring matter or +some kind of flavouring. That will represent the qualities developed by its +experiences in the separate soul of the lion during its lifetime. Pour back +the water from the tumbler into the bucket; that represents the death of +the lion. The colouring matter or the flavouring will be distributed +through the whole of the water in the bucket, but will be a much fainter +colouring, a much less pronounced flavour when thus distributed than it was +when confined in one tumbler. The qualities developed by the experience of +one lion attached to that group-soul are therefore shared by the entire +group-soul, but in a much lower degree. + +We may take out another tumblerful of water from that bucket, but we can +never again get exactly the same tumblerful after it has once been mingled +with the rest. Every tumblerful taken from that bucket in the future will +contain some traces of the colouring or flavouring put into each tumbler +whose contents have been returned to the bucket. Just so the qualities +developed by the experience of a single lion will become the common +property of all lions who are in the future to be born from that +group-soul, though in a lesser degree than that in which they existed in +the individual lion who developed them. + +That is the explanation of inherited instincts; that is why the duckling +which has been hatched by a hen takes to the water instantly without +needing to be shown how to swim; why the chicken just out of its shell will +cower at the shadow of a hawk; why a bird which has been artificially +hatched, and has never seen a nest, nevertheless knows how to make one, and +makes it according to the traditions of its kind. + +Lower down in the scale of animal life enormous numbers of bodies are +attached to a single group-soul--countless millions, for example, in the +case of some of the smaller insects; but as we rise in the animal kingdom +the number of bodies attached to a single group-soul becomes smaller and +smaller, and therefore the differences between individuals become greater. + +Thus the group-souls gradually break up. Returning to the symbol of the +bucket, as tumbler after tumbler of water is withdrawn from it, tinted with +some sort of colouring matter and returned to it, the whole bucketful of +water gradually becomes richer in colour. Suppose that by imperceptible +degrees a kind of vertical film forms itself across the centre of the +bucket, and gradually solidifies itself into a division, so that we have +now a right half and a left half to the bucket, and each tumblerful of +water which is taken out is returned always to the same section from which +it came. + +Then presently a difference will be set up, and the liquid in one half of +the bucket will no longer be the same as that in the other. We have then +practically two buckets, and when this stage is reached in a group-soul it +splits into two, as a cell separates by fission. In this way, as the +experience grows ever richer, the group-souls grow smaller but more +numerous, until at the highest point we arrive at man with his single +individual soul, which no longer returns into a group, but remains always +separate. + +One of the life-waves is vivifying the whole of a kingdom; but not every +group-soul in that life-wave will pass through the whole of that kingdom +from the bottom to the top. If in the vegetable kingdom a certain +group-soul has ensouled forest trees, when it passes on into the animal +kingdom it will omit all the lower stages--that is, it will never inhabit +insects or reptiles, but will begin at once at the level of the lower +mammalia. The insects and reptiles will be vivified by group-souls which +have for some reason left the vegetable kingdom at a much lower level than +the forest tree. In the same way the group-soul which has reached the +highest levels of the animal kingdom will not individualize into primitive +savages, but into men of somewhat higher type, the primitive savages being +recruited from group-souls which have left the animal kingdom at a lower +level. + +Group-souls at any level or at all levels arrange themselves into seven +great types, according to the Minister of the Deity through whom their life +has poured forth. These types are clearly distinguishable in all the +kingdoms, and the successive forms taken by any one of them form a +connected series, so that animals, vegetables, minerals and the varieties +of the elemental creatures may all be arranged into seven great groups, and +the life coming along one of those lines will not diverge into any of the +others. + +No detailed list has yet been made of the animals, plants or minerals from +this point of view; but it is certain that the life which is found +ensouling a mineral of a particular type will never vivify a mineral of any +other type than its own, though within that type it may vary. When it +passes on to the vegetable and animal kingdoms it will inhabit vegetables +and animals of that type and of no other; and when it eventually reaches +humanity it will individualize into men of that type and of no other. + +The method of individualization is the raising of the soul of a particular +animal to a level so much higher than that attained by its group-soul that +it can no longer return to the latter. This cannot be done with _any_ +animal, but only with those whose brain is developed to a certain level, +and the method usually adopted to acquire such mental development is to +bring the animal into close contact with man. Individualization, therefore, +is possible only for domestic animals, and only for certain kinds even of +those. At the head of each of the seven types stands one kind of domestic +animal--the dog for one, the cat for another, the elephant for a third, the +monkey for a fourth, and so on. The wild animals can all be arranged on +seven lines leading up to the domestic animals; for example, the fox and +the wolf are obviously on the same line with the dog, while the lion, the +tiger and the leopard equally obviously lead up to the domestic cat; so +that the group-soul animating a hundred lions mentioned some time ago might +at a later stage of its evolution have divided into, let us say, five +group-souls each animating twenty cats. + +The life-wave spends a long period of time in each kingdom; we are now only +a little past the middle of such an æon, and consequently the conditions +are not favourable for the achievement of that individualization which +normally comes only at the end of a period. Rare instances of such +attainment may occasionally be observed on the part of some animal much in +advance of the average. Close association with man is necessary to produce +this result. The animal if kindly treated develops devoted affection for +his human friend, and also unfolds his intellectual powers in trying to +understand that friend and to anticipate his wishes. In addition to this, +the emotions and the thoughts of the man act constantly upon those of the +animal, and tend to raise him to a higher level both emotionally and +intellectually. Under favourable circumstances this development may proceed +so far as to raise the animal altogether out of touch with the group to +which he belongs, so that his fragment of a group-soul becomes capable of +responding to the outpouring which comes from the First Aspect of the +Deity. + +For this final outpouring is not like the others, a mighty outrush +affecting thousands or millions simultaneously; it comes to each one +individually as that one is ready to receive it. This outpouring has +already descended as far as the intuitional world; but it comes no farther +than that until this upward leap is made by the soul of the animal from +below; but when that happens this Third Outpouring leaps down to meet it, +and in the higher mental world is formed an ego, a permanent +individuality--permanent, that is, until, far later in his evolution, the +man transcends it and reaches back to the divine unity from which he came. +To make this ego, the fragment of the group-soul (which has hitherto played +the part always of ensouling force) becomes in its turn a vehicle, and is +itself ensouled by that divine Spark which has fallen into it from on high. +That Spark may be said to have been hovering in the monadic world over the +group-soul through the whole of its previous evolution, unable to effect a +junction with it until its corresponding fragment in the group-soul had +developed sufficiently to permit it. It is this breaking away from the rest +of the group-soul and developing a separate ego which marks the distinction +between the highest animal and the lowest man. + + + + +Chapter V + +THE CONSTITUTION OF MAN + + +Man is therefore in essence a Spark of the divine Fire, belonging to the +monadic world.[1] To that Spark, dwelling all the time in that world, we +give the name "Monad". For the purposes of human evolution the Monad +manifests itself in lower worlds. When it descends one stage and enters the +spiritual world, it shows itself there as the triple Spirit having itself +three aspects (just as in worlds infinitely higher the Deity has His three +Aspects). Of those three one remains always in that world, and we call that +the Spirit in man. The second aspect manifests itself in the intuitional +world, and we speak of it as the Intuition in man. The third shows itself +in the higher mental world, and we call it the Intelligence in man. These +three aspects taken together constitute the ego which ensouls the fragment +from the group-soul. Thus man as we know him, though in reality a Monad +residing in the monadic world, shows himself as an ego in the higher mental +world, manifesting these three aspects of himself (Spirit, Intuition and +Intelligence) through that vehicle of higher mental matter which we name +the causal body. + +Footnote 1: The President has now decided upon a set of names for the +planes, so for the future these will be used instead of those previously +employed. A table of them is given below for reference. + +NEW NAMES OLD NAMES +1. Divine World Âdi Plane +2. Monadic World Anupâdaka Plane +3. Spiritual World Âtmic or Nirvânic Plane +4. Intuitional World Buddhic Plane +5. Mental World Mental Plane +6. Emotional or Astral World Astral Plane +7. Physical World Physical Plane + +These will supersede the names given in Vol. II of _The Inner Life._ + +This ego is the man during the human stage of evolution; he is the nearest +correspondence, in fact, to the ordinary unscientific conception of the +soul. He lives unchanged (except for his growth) from the moment of +individualization until humanity is transcended and merged into divinity. +He is in no way affected by what we call birth and death; what we commonly +consider as his life is only a day in his life. The body which we can see, +the body which is born and dies, is a garment which he puts on for the +purposes of a certain part of his evolution. + +Nor is it the only body which he assumes. Before he, the ego in the higher +mental world, can take a vehicle belonging to the physical world, he must +make a connection with it through the lower mental and astral worlds. When +he wishes to descend he draws around himself a veil of the matter of the +lower mental world, which we call his mental body. This is the instrument +by means of which he thinks all his concrete thoughts--abstract thought +being a power of the ego himself in the higher mental world. + +Next he draws round himself a veil of astral matter, which we call his +astral body; and that is the instrument of his passions and emotions, and +also (in conjunction with the lower part of his mental body) the +instrument of all such thought as is tinged by selfishness and personal +feeling. Only after having assumed these intermediate vehicles can he come +into touch with a baby physical body, and be born into the world which we +know. He lives through what we call his life, gaining certain qualities as +the result of its experiences; and at its end, when the physical body is +worn out, he reverses the process of descent and lays aside one by one the +temporary vehicles which he has assumed. The first to go is the physical +body, and when that is dropped, his life is centred in the astral world and +he lives in his astral body. + +The length of his stay in that world depends upon the amount of passion and +emotion which he has developed within himself in his physical life. If +there is much of these, the astral body is strongly vitalized, and will +persist for a long time; if there is but little, the astral body has less +vitality, and he will soon be able to cast that vehicle aside in turn. When +that is done he finds himself living in his mental body. The strength of +that depends upon the nature of the thoughts to which he has habituated +himself, and usually his stay at this level is a long one. At last it comes +to an end, and he casts aside the mental body in turn, and is once more the +ego in his own world. + +Owing to lack of development, he is as yet but partially conscious in that +world; the vibrations of its matter are too rapid to make any impression +upon him, just as the ultra-violet rays are too rapid to make any +impression upon our eyes. After a rest there, he feels the desire to +descend to a level where the undulations are perceptible to him, in order +that he may feel himself to be fully alive; so he repeats the process of +descent into denser matter, and assumes once more a mental, an astral and a +physical body. As his previous bodies have all disintegrated, each in its +tarn, these new vehicles are entirely distinct from them, and thus it +happens that in his physical life he has no recollection whatever of other +similar lives which have preceded it. + +When functioning in this physical world he remembers by means of his mental +body; but since that is a new one, assumed only for this birth, it +naturally cannot contain the memory of previous births in which it had no +part. The man himself, the ego, does remember them all when in his own +world, and occasionally some partial recollection of them or influence from +them filters through into his lower vehicles. He does not usually, in his +physical life, remember the experiences of earlier lives, but he does +manifest in physical life the qualities which those experiences have +developed in him. Each man is therefore exactly what he has made himself +during those past lives; if he has in them developed good qualities in +himself, he possesses the good qualities now; if he neglected to train +himself, and consequently left himself weak and of evil disposition, he +finds himself precisely in that condition now. The qualities, good or evil, +with which he is born are those which he has made for himself. + +This development of the ego is the object of the whole process of +materialization; he assumes those veils of matter precisely because through +them he is able to receive vibrations to which he can respond, so that his +latent faculties may thereby be unfolded. Though man descends from on high +into these lower worlds, it is only through that descent that a full +cognizance of the higher worlds is developed in him. Full consciousness in +any given world involves the power to perceive and respond to all the +undulations of that world: therefore the ordinary man has not yet perfect +consciousness at any level--not even in this physical world which he thinks +he knows. It is possible for him to unfold his percipience in all these +worlds, and it is by means of such developed consciousness that we observe +all these facts which I am now describing. + +The causal body is the permanent vehicle of the ego in the higher mental +world. It consists of matter of the first, second and third subdivisions of +that world. In ordinary people it is not yet fully active, only that matter +which belongs to the third subdivision being vivified. As the ego unfolds +his latent possibilities through the long course of his evolution, the +higher matter is gradually brought into action, but it is only in the +perfected man whom we call the Adept that it is developed to its fullest +extent. Such matter can be discerned by clairvoyant sight, but only by a +seer who knows how to use the sight of the ego. + +It is difficult to describe a causal body fully, because the senses +belonging to its world are altogether different from and higher than ours +at this level. Such memory of the appearance of a causal body as it is +possible for a clairvoyant to bring into his physical brain represents it +as ovoid, and as surrounding the physical body of the man, extending to a +distance of about eighteen inches from the normal surface of that body. In +the case of primitive man it resembles a bubble, and gives the impression +of being empty. It is in reality filled with higher mental matter, but as +this is not yet brought into activity it remains colourless and +transparent. As advancement continues it is gradually stirred into +alertness by vibrations which reach it from the lower bodies. This comes +but slowly, because the activities of man in the earlier stages of his +evolution are not of a character to obtain expression in matter so fine as +that of the higher mental body; but when a man reaches the stage where he +is capable either of abstract thought or of unselfish emotion the matter of +the causal body is aroused into response. + +When these rates of undulation are awakened within him they show themselves +in his causal body as colours, so that instead of being a mere transparent +bubble it gradually becomes a sphere filled with matter of the most lovely +and delicate hues--an object beautiful beyond all conception. It is found +by experience that these colours are significant. The vibration which +denotes the power of unselfish affection shows itself as a pale +rose-colour; that which indicates high intellectual power is yellow; that +which expresses sympathy is green, while blue betokens devotional feeling, +and a luminous lilac-blue typifies the higher spirituality. The same scheme +of colour-significance applies to the bodies which are built of denser +matter, but as we approach the physical world the hues are in every case by +comparison grosser--not only less delicate but also less living. + +In the course of evolution in the lower worlds man often introduces into +his vehicles qualities which are undesirable and entirely inappropriate for +his life as an ego--such, for example, as pride, irritability, sensuality. +These, like the rest, are reducible to vibrations, but they are in all +cases vibrations of the lower subdivisions of their respective worlds, and +therefore they cannot reproduce themselves in the causal body, which is +built exclusively of the matter of the three higher subdivisions of its +world. For each section of the astral body acts strongly upon the +corresponding section of the mental body, but only upon the corresponding +section; it cannot influence any other part. So the causal body can be +affected only by the three higher portions of the astral body; and the +oscillations of those represent only good qualities. + +The practical effect of this is that the man can build into the ego (that +is, into his true self) nothing but good qualities; the evil qualities +which he develops are in their nature transitory and must be thrown aside +as he advances, because he has no longer within him matter which can +express them. The difference between the causal bodies of the savage and +the saint is that the first is empty and colourless, while the second is +full of brilliant, coruscating tints. As the man passes beyond even +saint-hood and becomes a great spiritual power, his causal body increases +in size, because it has so much more to express, and it also begins to pour +out from itself in all directions powerful rays of living light. In one who +has attained Adeptship this body is of enormous dimensions. + +The mental body is built of matter of the four lower subdivisions of the +mental world, and expresses the concrete thoughts of the man. Here also we +find the same colour-scheme as in the causal body. The hues are somewhat +less delicate, and we notice one or two additions. For example, a thought +of pride shows itself as orange, while irritability is manifested by a +brilliant scarlet. We may see here sometimes the bright brown of avarice, +the grey-brown of selfishness, and the grey-green of deceit. Here also we +perceive the possibility of a mixture of colours; the affection, the +intellect, the devotion may be tinged by selfishness, and in that case +their distinctive colours are mingled with the brown of selfishness, and so +we have an impure and muddy appearance. Although its particles are always +in intensely rapid motion among themselves, this body has at the same time +a kind of loose organization. + +The size and shape of the mental body are determined by those of the causal +vehicle. There are in it certain striations which divide it more or less +irregularly into segments, each of these corresponding to a certain +department of the physical brain, so that every type of thought should +function through its duly assigned portion. The mental body is as yet so +imperfectly developed in ordinary men that there are many in whom a great +number of special departments are not yet in activity, and any attempt at +thought belonging to those departments has to travel round through some +inappropriate channel which happens to be fully open. The result is that +thought on those subjects is for those people clumsy and uncomprehending. +This is why some people have a head for mathematics and others are unable +to add correctly--why some people instinctively understand, appreciate and +enjoy music, while others do not know one tune from another. + +All the matter of the mental body should be circulating freely, but +sometimes a man allows his thought upon a certain subject to set and +solidify, and then the circulation is impeded, and there is a congestion +which presently hardens into a kind of wart on the mental body. Such a wart +appears to us down here as a prejudice; and until it is absorbed and free +circulation restored, it is impossible for the man to think truly or to see +clearly with regard to that particular department of his mind, as the +congestion checks the free passage of undulations both outward and inward. + +When a man uses any part of his mental body it not only vibrates for the +time more rapidly, but it also temporarily swells out and increases in +size. If there is prolonged thought upon a subject this increase becomes +permanent, and it is thus open to any man to increase the size of his +mental body either along desirable or undesirable lines. + +Good thoughts produce vibrations of the finer matter of the body, which by +its specific gravity tends to float in the upper part of the ovoid; whereas +bad thoughts, such as selfishness and avarice, are always oscillations of +the grosser matter, which tends to gravitate towards the lower part of the +ovoid. Consequently the ordinary man, who yields himself not infrequently +to selfish thoughts of various kinds, usually expands the lower part of his +mental body, and presents roughly the appearance of an egg with its larger +end downwards. The man who has repressed those lower thoughts, and devoted +himself to higher ones, tends to expand the upper part of his mental body, +and therefore presents the appearance of an egg standing on its smaller +end. From a study of the colours and striations of a man's mental body the +clairvoyant can perceive his character and the progress he has made in his +present life. From similar features of the causal body he can see what +progress the ego has made since its original formation, when the man left +the animal kingdom. + +When a man thinks of any concrete object--a book, a house, a landscape--he +builds a tiny image of the object in the matter of his mental body. This +image floats in the upper part of that body, usually in front of the face +of the man and at about the level of the eyes. It remains there as long as +the man is contemplating the object, and usually for a little time +afterwards, the length of time depending upon the intensity and the +clearness of the thought. This form is quite objective, and can be seen by +another person, if that other has developed the sight of his own mental +body. If a man thinks of another, he creates a tiny portrait in just the +same way. If his thought is merely contemplative and involves no feeling +(such as affection or dislike) or desire (such as a wish to see the person) +the thought does not usually perceptibly affect the man of whom he thinks. + +If coupled with the thought of the person there is a feeling, as for +example of affection, another phenomenon occurs besides the forming of the +image. The thought of affection takes a definite form, which it builds out +of the matter of the thinker's mental body. Because of the emotion +involved, it draws round it also matter of his astral body, and thus we +have an astromental form which leaps out of the body in which it has been +generated, and moves through space towards the object of the feeling of +affection. If the thought is sufficiently strong, distance makes absolutely +no difference to it; but the thought of an ordinary person is usually weak +and diffused, and is therefore not effective outside a limited area. + +When this thought-form reaches its object it discharges itself into his +astral and mental bodies, communicating to them its own rate of vibration. +Putting this in another way, a thought of love sent from one person to +another involves the actual transference of a certain amount both of force +and of matter from the sender to the recipient, and its effect upon the +recipient is to arouse the feeling of affection in him, and slightly but +permanently to increase his power of loving. But such a thought also +strengthens the power of affection in the thinker, and therefore it does +good simultaneously to both. + +Every thought builds a form; if the thought be directed to another person +it travels to him; if it be distinctly selfish it remains in the immediate +neighbourhood of the thinker; if it belongs to neither of these categories +it floats for awhile in space and then slowly disintegrates. Every man +therefore is leaving behind him wherever he goes a trail of thought forms; +as we go along the street we are walking all the time amidst a sea of other +men's thoughts. If a man leaves his mind blank for a time, these residual +thoughts of others drift through it, making in most cases but little +impression upon him. Sometimes one arrives which attracts his attention, so +that his mind seizes upon it and makes it its own, strengthens it by the +addition of its force, and then casts it out again to affect somebody else. +A man therefore, is not responsible for a thought which floats into his +mind, because it may be not his, but someone else's; but he _is_ +responsible if he takes it up, dwells upon it and then sends it out +strengthened. + +Self-centred thought of any kind hangs about the thinker, and most men +surround their mental bodies with a shell of such thoughts. Such a shell +obscures the mental vision and facilitates the formation of prejudice. + +Each thought-form is a temporary entity. It resembles a charged battery, +awaiting an opportunity to discharge itself. Its tendency is always to +reproduce its own rate of vibration in the mental body upon which it +fastens itself, and so to arouse in it a like thought. If the person at +whom it is aimed happens to be busy or already engaged in some definite +train of thought, the particles of his mental body are already swinging at +a certain determinate rate, and cannot for the moment be affected from +without. In that case the thought-form bides its time, hanging about its +object until he is sufficiently at rest to permit its entrance; then it +discharges itself upon him, and in the act ceases to exist. + +The self-centred thought behaves in exactly the same way with regard to its +generator, and discharges itself upon him when opportunity offers. If it be +an evil thought, he generally regards it as the suggestion of a tempting +demon, whereas in truth he tempts himself. Usually each definite thought +creates a new thought-form; but if a thought-form of the same nature is +already hovering round the thinker, under certain circumstances a new +thought on the same subject, instead of creating a new form, coalesces with +and strengthens, the old one, so that by long brooding over the same +subject a man may sometimes create a thought-form of tremendous power. If +the thought be a wicked one, such a thought-form may become a veritable +evil influence, lasting perhaps for many years, and having for a time all +the appearance and powers of a real living entity. + +All these which have been described are the ordinary unpremeditated +thoughts of man. A man can make a thought-form intentionally, and aim it at +another with the object of helping him. This is one of the lines of +activity adopted by those who desire to serve humanity. A steady stream of +powerful thought directed intelligently upon another person may be of the +greatest assistance to him. A strong thought-form may be a real guardian +angel, and protect its object from impurity, from irritability or from +fear. + +An interesting branch of the subject is the study of the various shapes and +colours taken by thought-forms of different kinds. The colours indicate the +nature of the thought, and are in agreement with those which we have +already described as existing in the bodies. The shapes are of infinite +variety, but are often in some way typical of the kind of thought which +they express. + +Every thought of definite character, such as a thought of affection or +hatred, of devotion or suspicion, of anger or fear, of pride or jealousy, +not only creates a form but also radiates an undulation. The fact that, +each one of these thoughts is expressed by a certain colour indicates that +the thought expresses itself as an oscillation of the matter of a certain +part of the mental body. This rate of oscillation communicates itself to +the surrounding mental matter precisely in the same way as the vibration of +a bell communicates itself to the surrounding air. + +This radiation travels out in all directions, and whenever it impinges upon +another mental body in a passive or receptive condition it communicates to +it something of its own vibration. This does not convey a definite complete +idea, as does the thought-form, but it tends to produce a thought of the +same character as itself. For example, if the thought be devotional its +undulations will excite devotion, but the object of the worship may be +different in the case of each person upon whose mental body they impinge. +The thought-form, on the other hand, can reach only one person, but will +convey to that person (if receptive) not only a general devotional feeling, +but also a precise image of the Being for whom the adoration was originally +felt. + +Any person who habitually thinks pure, good and strong thoughts is +utilizing for that purpose the higher part of his mental body--a part which +is not used at all by the ordinary man, and is entirely undeveloped in him. +Such an one is therefore a power for good in the world, and is being of +great use to all those of his neighbours who are capable of any sort of +response. For the vibration which he sends out tends to arouse a new and +higher part of their mental bodies, and consequently to open before them +altogether new fields of thought. + +It may not be exactly the same thought as that sent out, but it is of the +same nature. The undulations generated by a man thinking of Theosophy do +not necessarily communicate Theosophical ideas to all those around him; but +they do awaken in them more liberal and higher thought than that to which +they have before been accustomed. On the other hand, the thought-forms +generated under such circumstances, though more limited in their action +than the radiation, are also more precise; they can affect only those who +are to some extent open to them, but to them they will convey definite +Theosophical ideas. + +The colours of the astral body bear the same meaning as those of the higher +vehicles, but are several octaves of colours below them, and much more +nearly approaching to such hues as we see in the physical world. It is the +vehicle of passion and emotion, and consequently it may exhibit additional +colours, expressing man's less desirable feelings, which cannot show +themselves at higher levels; for example, a lurid brownish-red indicates +the presence of sensuality, while black clouds show malice and hatred. A +curious livid grey betokens the presence of fear, and a much darker grey, +usually arranged in heavy rings around the ovoid, indicates a condition of +depression. Irritability is shown by the presence of a number of small +scarlet flecks in the astral body, each representing a small angry impulse. +Jealousy is shown by a peculiar brownish-green, generally studded with the +same scarlet flecks. The astral body is in size and shape like those just +described, and in the ordinary man its outline is usually clearly marked; +but in the case of primitive man it is often exceedingly irregular, and +resembles a rolling cloud composed of all the more unpleasant colours. + +When the astral body is comparatively quiet (it is never actually at rest) +the colours which are to be seen in it indicate those emotions to which the +man is most in the habit of yielding himself. When the man experiences a +rush of any particular feeling, the rate of vibration which expresses that +feeling dominates for a time the entire astral body. If, for example, it be +devotion, the whole of his astral body is flushed with, blue, and while the +emotion remains at its strongest the normal colours do little more than +modify the blue, or appear faintly through a veil of it; but presently the +vehemence of the sentiment dies away, and the normal colours re-assert +themselves. But because of that spasm of emotion the part of the astral +body which is normally blue has been increased in size. Thus a man who +frequently feels high devotion soon comes to have a large area of the blue +permanently existing in his astral body. + +When the rush of devotional _feeling_ comes over him, it is usually +accompanied by _thoughts_ of devotion. Although primarily formed in the +mental body, these draw round themselves a large amount of astral matter as +well, so that their action is in both worlds. In both worlds also is the +radiation which was previously described, so that the devotional man is a +centre of devotion, and will influence other people to share both his +thoughts and his feelings. The same is true in the case of affection, +anger, depression--and, indeed, of all other feelings. + +The flood of emotion does not itself greatly affect the mental body, +although for a time it may render it almost impossible for any activity +from that mental body to come through into the physical brain. That is not +because that body itself is affected, but because the astral body, which +acts as a bridge between it and the physical brain, is vibrating so +entirely at one rate as to be incapable of conveying any undulation which +is not in harmony with that. + +The permanent colours of the astral body react upon, the mental. They +produce in it their correspondences, several octaves higher, in the same +manner as a musical note produces overtones. The mental body in its turn +reacts upon the causal in the same way, and thus all the good qualities +expressed in the lower vehicles by degrees establish themselves permanently +in the ego. The evil qualities cannot do so, as the rates of vibrations +which express them are impossible for the higher mental matter of which the +causal body is constructed. + +So far, we have described vehicles which are the expression of the ego in +their respective worlds--vehicles, which he provides for himself; in the +physical world we come to a vehicle which is provided for him by Nature +under laws which will be later explained--which though also in some sense +an expression of him, is by no means a perfect manifestation. In ordinary +life we see only a small part of this physical body--only that which is +built of the solid and liquid subdivisions of physical matter. The body +contains matter of all the seven subdivisions, and all of them play their +part in its life and are of equal importance, to it. + +We usually speak of the invisible part of the physical body as the etheric +double; "double" because it exactly reproduces the size and shape of the +part of the body that we can see, and "etheric" because it is built--of +that finer kind of matter by the vibrations of which light is conveyed to +the retina of the eye. (This must not be confused with the true æther of +space--that of which matter is the negation.) This invisible part of the +physical body is of great importance to us, since it is the vehicle through +which flow the streams of vitality which keep the body alive, and without +it, as a bridge to convey undulations of thought and feeling from the +astral to the visible denser physical matter, the ego could make no use of +the cells of his brain. + +The life of a physical body is one of perpetual change and in order that it +shall live, it needs constantly to be supplied from three distinct sources. +It must have food for its digestion, air for its breathing, and vitality +for its absorption. This vitality is essentially a force, but when clothed +in matter it appears to us as a definite element, which exists in all the +worlds of which we have spoken. At the moment we are concerned with that +manifestation of it which we find in the highest subdivision of the +physical world. Just as the blood circulates through the veins, so does the +vitality circulate along the nerves; and precisely as any abnormality in +the flow of the blood at once affects the physical body, so does the +slightest irregularity in the absorption or flow of the vitality affect +this higher part of the physical body. + +Vitality is a force which comes originally from the sun. When an ultimate +physical atom is charged with it, it draws round itself six other atoms, +and makes itself into an etheric element. The original force of vitality is +then subdivided into seven, each of the atoms carrying a separate charge. +The element thus made is absorbed into the human body through the etheric +part of the spleen. It is there split up into its component parts, which at +once low to the various parts of the body assigned to them. The spleen is +one of the seven force centres in the etheric part of the physical body. In +each of our vehicles seven such centres should be in activity, and when +they are thus active they are visible to clairvoyant sight. They appear +usually as shallow vortices, for they are the points at which the force +from the higher bodies enters the lower. In the physical body these centres +are: (1) at the base of the spine, (2) at the solar plexus, (3) at the +spleen, (4) over the heart, (5) at the throat, (6) between the eyebrows, +and (7) at the top of the head. There are other dormant centres, but their +awakening is undesirable. + +The shape of all the higher bodies as seen by the clairvoyant is ovoid, but +the matter composing them is not equally distributed throughout the egg. In +the midst of this ovoid is the physical body. The physical body strongly +attracts astral matter, and in its turn the astral matter strongly attracts +mental matter. Therefore by far the greater part of the matter of the +astral body is gathered within the physical frame; and the same is true of +the mental vehicle. If we see the astral body of a man in its own world, +apart from the physical body we shall still perceive the astral matter +aggregated in exactly the shape of the physical, although, as the matter is +more fluidic in its nature, what we see is a body built of dense mist, in +the midst of an ovoid of much finer mist. The same is true for the mental +body. Therefore, if in the astral or the mental world we should meet an +acquaintance, we should recognise him by his appearance just as instantly +as in the physical world. + +This, then, is the true constitution of man. In the first place he is a +Monad, a Spark of the Divine. Of that Monad the ego is a partial +expression, formed in order that he may enter evolution, and may return to +the Monad with joy, bringing his sheaves with him in the shape of qualities +developed by garnered experience. The ego in his turn puts down part of +himself for the same purpose into lower worlds, and we call that part a +personality, because the Latin word _persona_ means a mask, and this +personality is the mask which the ego puts upon himself when he manifests +in worlds lower than his own. Just as the ego is a small part and an +imperfect expression of the Monad, so is the personality a small part and +an imperfect expression of the ego; so that what we usually think of as the +man is only in truth a fragment of a fragment. + +The personality wears three bodies or vehicles, the mental, the astral and +the physical. While the man is what we call alive and awake on the physical +earth he is limited by his physical body, for he uses the astral and mental +bodies only as bridges to connect himself with his lowest vehicle. One of +the limitations of the physical body is that it quickly becomes fatigued +and needs periodical rest. Each night the man leaves it to sleep, and +withdraws into his astral vehicle, which does not become fatigued, and +therefore needs no sleep. During this sleep of the physical body the man is +free to move about in the astral world; but the extent to which he does +this depends upon his development. The primitive savage usually does not +move more than a few miles away from his sleeping physical form--often not +as much as that; and he has only the vaguest consciousness. + +The educated man is generally able to travel in his astral vehicle wherever +he will, and has much more consciousness in the astral world, though he has +not often the faculty of bringing into his waking life any memory of what +he has seen and done while his physical body was asleep. Sometimes he does +remember some incident which he has seen, some experience which he has had, +and then he calls it a vivid dream. More often his recollections are +hopelessly entangled with vague memories of waking life, and with +impressions made from without upon the etheric part of his brain. Thus we +arrive at the confused and often absurd dreams of ordinary life. The +developed man becomes as fully conscious and active in the astral world as +in the physical, and brings through into the latter full remembrance of +what he has been doing in the former--that is, he has a continuous life +without any loss of consciousness throughout the whole twenty-four hours, +and thus throughout the whole of his physical life, and even through death +itself. + + + + +Chapter VI + +AFTER DEATH + + +Death is the laying aside of the physical body; but it makes no more +difference to the ego than does the laying aside of an overcoat to the +physical man. Having put off his physical body, the ego continues to live +in his astral body until the force has become exhausted which has been +generated by such emotions and passions as he has allowed himself to feel +during earth-life. When that has happened, the second death takes place; +the astral body also falls away from him, and he finds himself living in +the mental body and in the lower mental world. In that condition he remains +until the thought-forces generated during his physical and astral lives +have worn themselves out; then he drops the third vehicle in its turn and +remains once more an ego in his own world, inhabiting his causal body. + +There is, then, no such thing as death as it is ordinarily understood. +There is only a succession of stages in a continuous life--stages lived in +the three worlds one after another. The apportionment of time between these +three worlds varies much as man advances. The primitive man lives almost +exclusively in the physical world, spending only a few years in the astral +at the end of each of his physical lives. As he develops, the astral life +becomes longer, and as intellect: unfolds in him, and he becomes able to +think, he begins to spend a little time in the mental world as well. The +ordinary man of civilized races remains longer in the mental world than in +the physical and astral; indeed, the more a man evolves the longer becomes +his mental, life and the shorter his life in the astral world. + +The astral life is the result of all feelings which have in them the +element of self. If they have been directly selfish, they bring him into +conditions of great unpleasantness in the astral world; if, though tinged +with thoughts of self, they have been good and kindly, they bring him a +comparatively pleasant though still limited astral life. Such of his +thoughts and feelings as have been entirely unselfish produce their results +in his life in the mental world; therefore that life in the mental, world +cannot be other than blissful. The astral life, which the man has made for +himself either miserable or comparatively joyous, corresponds to what +Christians call purgatory; the lower mental life, which is always entirely +happy, is what is called heaven. + +Man makes for himself his own purgatory and heaven, and these are not +planes, but states of consciousness. Hell does not exist; it is only a +figment of the theological imagination; but a man who lives foolishly may +make for himself a very unpleasant and long enduring purgatory. Neither +purgatory nor heaven can ever be eternal, for a finite cause cannot produce +an infinite result. The variations in individual cases are so wide that to +give actual figures is somewhat misleading. If we take the average man of +what is called the lower middle class, the typical specimen of which would +be a small shopkeeper or shop-assistant, his average life in the astral +world would be perhaps about forty years, and the life in the mental world +about two hundred. The man of spirituality and culture, on the other hand, +may have perhaps twenty years of life in the astral world and a thousand in +the heaven life. One who is specially developed may reduce the astral life +to a few days or hours and spend fifteen hundred years in heaven. + +Not only does the length of these periods vary greatly, but the conditions +in both worlds also differ widely. The matter of which all these bodies are +built is not dead matter but living, and that fact has to be taken into +consideration. The physical body is built up of cells, each of which is a +tiny separate life animated by the Second Outpouring, which comes forth +from the Second Aspect of the Deity. These cells are of varying kinds and +fulfil various functions, and all these facts must be taken into account if +the man wishes to understand the work of his physical body and to live a +healthy life in it. + +The same thing applies to the astral and mental bodies. In the cell-life +which permeates them there is as yet nothing in the way of intelligence, +but there is a strong instinct always pressing in the direction of what is +for its development. The life animating the matter of which such bodies are +built is upon the outward arc of evolution, moving downwards or outwards +into matter, so that progress for it means to descend into denser forms of +matter, and to learn to express itself through them. Unfoldment for the man +is just the opposite of this; he has already sunk deeply into matter and is +now rising out of that towards his source. There is consequently a constant +conflict of interests between the man within and the life inhabiting the +matter of his vehicles, inasmuch as its tendency is downward, while his is +upward. + +The matter of the astral body (or rather the life animating its molecules) +desires for its evolution such undulations as it can get, of as many +different kinds as possible, and as coarse as possible. The next step in +its evolution will be to ensoul physical matter and become used to its +still slower oscillations; and as a step on the way to that, it desires the +grossest of the astral vibrations. It has not the intelligence definitely +to plan for these; but its instinct helps it to discover how most easily to +procure them. + +The molecules of the astral body are constantly changing, as are those of +the physical body, but nevertheless the life in the mass of those astral +molecules has a sense, though a very vague sense, of itself as a whole--as +a kind of temporary entity. It does not know that it is part of a man's +astral body; it is quite incapable of understanding what a man is; but it +realizes in a blind way that under its present conditions it receives many +more waves, and much stronger ones, than it would receive if floating at +large in the atmosphere. It would then only occasionally catch, as from a +distance, the radiation of man's passions and emotions; now it is in the +very heart of them, it can miss none, and it gets them at their strongest. +Therefore it feels itself in a good position, and it makes an effort to +retain that position. It finds itself in contact with something finer than +itself--the matter of the man's mental body; and it comes to feel that if +it can contrive to involve that finer something in its own undulations, +they will be greatly intensified and prolonged. + +Since astral matter is the vehicle of desire and mental matter is the +vehicle of thought, this instinct, when translated into our language, means +that if the astral body can induce us to think that _we_ want what _it_ +wants, it is much more likely to get it. Thus it exercises a slow steady +pressure upon the man--a kind of hunger on its side, but for him a +temptation to what is coarse and undesirable. If he be a passionate man +there is a gentle but ceaseless pressure in the direction of irritability; +if he be a sensual man, an equally steady pressure in the direction of +impurity. + +A man who does not understand this usually makes one of two mistakes with +regard to it: either he supposes it to be the prompting of his own nature, +and therefore regards that nature as inherently evil, or he thinks of the +pressure as coming from outside--as a temptation of an imaginary devil. The +truth lies between the two. The pressure is natural, not to the man but to +the vehicle which he is using; its desire is natural and right for it, but +harmful to the man, and therefore it is necessary that he should resist it. +If he does so resist, if he declines to yield himself to the feelings +suggested to him, the particles within him which need those vibrations +become apathetic for lack of nourishment, and eventually atrophy and fall +out from his astral body, and are replaced by other particles, whose +natural wave-rate is more nearly in accordance with that which the man +habitually permits within his astral body. + +This gives the reason for what are called promptings of the lower nature +during life. If the man yields himself to them, such promptings grow +stronger and stronger until at last he feels as though he could not resist +them, and identifies himself with them--which is exactly what this curious +half-life in the particles of the astral body wants him to do. + +At the death of the physical body this vague astral consciousness is +alarmed. It realizes that its existence as a separated mass is menaced, and +it takes instinctive steps to defend itself and to maintain its position as +long as possible. The matter of the astral body is far more fluidic than +that of the physical, and this consciousness seizes upon its particles and +disposes them so as to resist encroachment. It puts the grossest and +densest upon the outside as a kind of shell, and arranges the others in +concentric layers, so that the body as a whole may become as resistant to +friction as its constitution permits, and may therefore retain its shape as +long as possible. + +For the man this produces various unpleasant effects. The physiology of the +astral body is quite different from that of the physical; the latter +acquires its information from without by means of certain organs which are +specialized as the instruments of its senses, but the astral body has no +separated senses in our meaning of the word. That which for the astral body +corresponds to sight is the power of its molecules to respond to impacts +from without, which come to them by means of similar molecules. For +example, a man has within his astral body matter belonging to all the +subdivisions of the astral world, and it is because of that that he is +capable of "seeing" objects built of the matter of any of these +subdivisions. + +Supposing an astral object to be made of the matter of the second and third +subdivisions mixed, a man living in the astral world could perceive that +object only if on the surface of his astral body there were particles +belonging to the second and third subdivisions of that world which were +capable of receiving and recording the vibrations which that object set up. +A man who from the arrangement of his body by the vague consciousness of +which we have spoken, had on the outside of that vehicle only the denser +matter of the lowest subdivision, could no more be conscious of the object +which we have mentioned than we are ourselves conscious in the physical +body of the gases which move about us in the atmosphere or of objects built +exclusively of etheric matter. + +During physical life the matter of the man's astral body is in constant +motion, and its particles pass among one another much as do those of +boiling water. Consequently at any given moment it is practically certain +that particles of all varieties will be represented on the surface of his +astral body, and that therefore when he is using his astral body during +sleep he will be able to "see" by its means any astral object which +approaches him. + +After death, if he has allowed the rearrangement to be made (as from +ignorance, all ordinary persons do) his condition in this respect will be +different. Having on the surface of his astral body only the lowest and +grossest particles, he can receive impressions only from corresponding +particles outside; so that instead of seeing the whole of the astral world +about him, he will see only one-seventh of it, and that the densest and +most impure. The vibrations of this heavier matter are the expressions only +of objectionable feelings and emotions, and of the least refined class of +astral entities. Therefore it emerges that a man in this condition can see +only the undesirable inhabitants of the astral world, and can feel only its +most unpleasant and vulgar influences. + +He is surrounded by other men, whose astral bodies are probably of quite +ordinary character; but since he can see and feel only that which is lowest +and coarsest in them, they appear to him to be monsters of vice with no +redeeming features. Even his friends seem not at all what they used to be, +because he is now incapable of appreciating any of their better qualities. +Under these circumstances it is little wonder that he considers the astral +world a hell; yet the fault is in no way with the astral world, but with +himself--first, for allowing within himself so much of that cruder type of +matter, and, secondly, for letting that vague astral consciousness dominate +him and dispose it in that particular way. + +The man who has studied these matters declines absolutely to yield to the +pressure during life or to permit the rearrangement after death, and +consequently he retains his power of seeing the astral world as a whole, +and not merely the cruder and baser part of it. + +The astral world has many points in common with the physical; just like the +physical, it presents different appearances to different people, and even +to the same person at different periods of his career. It is the home of +emotions and of lower thoughts; and emotions are much stronger in that +world than in this. When a person is awake we cannot see that larger part +of his emotion at all; its strength goes in setting in motion the gross +physical matter of the brain. So if we see a man show affection here, what +we can see is not the whole of his affection, but only such part of it as +is left after all this other work has been done. Emotions therefore bulk +far more largely in the astral life than in the physical. They in no way +exclude higher thought if they are controlled, so in the astral world as in +the physical a man may devote himself to study and to helping his fellows, +or he may waste his time and drift about aimlessly. + +The astral world extends nearly to the mean distance of the orbit of the +moon; but though the whole of this realm is open to any of its inhabitants +who have not permitted the redistribution of their matter, the great +majority remain much nearer to the surface of the earth. The matter of the +different subdivisions of that world interpenetrates with perfect freedom, +but there is on the whole a general tendency for the denser matter to +settle towards the centre. The conditions are much like those which obtain +in a bucket of water which contains in suspension a number of kinds of +matter of different degrees of density. Since the water is kept in +perpetual motion, the different kinds of matter are diffused through it; +but in spite of that, the densest matter is found in greatest quantity +nearest to the bottom. So that though we must not at all think of the +various subdivisions of the astral world as lying above one another as do +the coats of an onion, it is nevertheless true that the average arrangement +of the matter of those subdivisions partakes somewhat of that general +character. + +Astral matter interpenetrates physical matter precisely as though it were +not there, but each subdivision of physical matter has a strong attraction +for astral matter of the corresponding subdivision. Hence it arises that +every physical body has its astral counterpart. If I have a glass of water +standing upon a table, the glass and the table, being of physical matter in +the solid state, are interpenetrated by astral matter of the lowest +subdivision. The water in the glass, being liquid, is interpenetrated by +what we may call astral liquid--that is, by astral matter of the sixth +subdivision; whereas the air surrounding both, being physical matter in the +gaseous condition, is entirely interpenetrated by astral gaseous +matter--that is, astral matter of the fifth subdivision. + +But just as air, water, glass and table are alike interpenetrated all the +time by the finer physical matter which we have called etheric, so are all +the astral counterparts interpenetrated by the finer astral matter of the +higher subdivisions which correspond to the etheric. But even the astral +solid is less dense than the finest of the physical ethers. + +The man who finds himself in the astral world after death, if he has not +submitted to the rearrangement of the matter of his body, will notice but +little difference from physical life. He can float about in any direction +at will, but in actual fact he usually stays in the neighbourhood to which +he is accustomed. He is still able to perceive his house, his room, his +furniture, his relations, his friends. The living, when ignorant of the +higher worlds, suppose themselves to have "lost" those who have laid aside +their physical bodies; but the dead are never for a moment under the +impression that they have lost the living. + +Functioning as they are in the astral body, the dead can no longer see the +physical bodies of those whom they have left behind; but they do see their +astral bodies, and as those are exactly the same in outline as the +physical, they are perfectly aware of the presence of their friends. They +see each one surrounded by a faint ovoid of luminous mist, and if they +happen to be observant, they may notice various other small changes in +their surroundings; but it is at least quite clear to them that they have +not gone away to some distant heaven or hell, but still remain in touch +with the world which they know, although they see it at a somewhat +different angle. + +The dead man has the astral body of his living friend obviously before him, +so he cannot think of him as lost; but while the friend is awake, the dead +man will not be able to make any impression upon him, for the consciousness +of the friend is then in the physical world, and his astral body is being +used only as a bridge. The dead man cannot therefore communicate with his +friend, nor can he read his friend's higher thoughts; but he will see by +the change in colour in the astral body any emotion which that friend may +feel, and with a little practice and observation he may easily learn to +read all those thoughts of his friend which have in them anything of self +or of desire. + +When the friend falls asleep the whole position is changed. He is then also +conscious in the astral world side by side with the dead man, and they can +communicate in every respect as freely as they could during physical life. +The emotions felt by the living react strongly upon the dead who love them. +If the former give way to grief, the latter cannot but suffer severely. + +The conditions of life after death are almost infinite in their variety, +but they can be calculated without difficulty by any one who will take the +trouble to understand the astral world and to consider the character of the +person concerned. That character is not in the slightest degree changed by +death; the man's thoughts, emotions and desires are exactly the same as +before. He is in every way the same man, minus his physical body; and his +happiness or misery depends upon the extent to which this loss of the +physical body affects him. + +If his longings have been such as need a physical body for their +gratification, he is likely to suffer considerably. Such a craving +manifests itself as a vibration in the astral body, and while we are still +in this world most of its strength is employed in setting in motion the +heavy physical particles. Desire is therefore a far greater force in the +astral life than in the physical, and if the man has not been in the habit +of controlling it, and if in this new life it cannot be satisfied, it may +cause him great and long-continued trouble. + +Take as an illustration the extreme case of a drunkard or a sensualist. +Here we have a lust which has been strong enough during physical life to +overpower reason, common sense and all the feelings of decency and of +family affection. After death the man finds himself in the astral world +feeling the appetite perhaps a hundred times more strongly, yet absolutely +unable to satisfy it because he has lost the physical body. Such a life is +a very real hell--the only hell there is; yet no one is punishing him; he +is reaping the perfectly natural result of his own action. Gradually as +time passes this force of desire wears out, but only at the cost of +terrible suffering for the man, because to him every day seems as a +thousand years. He has no measure of time such as we have in the physical +world. He can measure it only by his sensations. From a distortion of this +fact has come the blasphemous idea of eternal damnation. + +Many other cases less extreme than this will readily suggest themselves, in +which a hankering which cannot be fulfilled may prove itself a torture. A +more ordinary case is that of a man who has no particular vices, such as +drink or sensuality, but yet has been attached entirely to things of the +physical world, and has lived a life devoted to business or to aimless +social functions. For him the astral world is a place of weariness; the +only thing for which he craves are no longer possible for him, for in the +astral world there is no business to be done, and, though he may have as +much companionship as he wishes, society is now for him a very different +matter, because all the pretences upon which it is usually based in this +world are no longer possible. + +These cases, however, are only the few, and for most people the state after +death is much happier than life upon earth. The first feeling of which the +dead man is usually conscious is one of the most wonderful and delightful +freedom. He has absolutely nothing to worry about, and no duties rest upon +him, except those which he chooses to impose upon himself. For all but a +very small minority, physical life is spent in doing what the man would +much rather not do; but he has to do it in order to support himself or his +wife and family. In the astral world no support is necessary; food is no +longer needed, shelter is not required, since he is entirely unaffected by +heat or cold; and each man by the mere exercise of his thought clothes +himself as he wishes. For the first time since early childhood the man is +entirely free to spend the whole of his time in doing just exactly what he +likes. + +His capacity for every kind of enjoyment is greatly enhanced, if only that +enjoyment does not need a physical body for its expression. If he loves the +beauties of Nature, it is now within his power to travel with great +rapidity and without fatigue over the whole world, to contemplate all its +loveliest spots, and to explore its most secret recesses. If he delights in +art, all the world's masterpieces are at his disposal. If he loves music, +he can go where he will to hear it, and it will now mean much more to him +than it has ever meant before; for though he can no longer hear the +physical sounds, he can receive the whole effect of the music into himself +in far fuller measure than in this lower world. If he is a student of +science, he can not only visit the great scientific men of the world, and +catch from them such thoughts and ideas as may be within his comprehension, +but also he can undertake researches of his own into the science of this +higher world, seeing much more of what he is doing than has ever before +been possible to him. Best of all, he whose great delight in this world has +been to help his fellow men will still find ample scope for his +philanthropic efforts. + +Men are no longer hungry, cold, or suffering from disease in this astral +world; but there are vast numbers who, being ignorant, desire +knowledge--who, being still in the grip of desire for earthly things, need +the explanation which will turn their thought to higher levels--who have +entangled themselves in a web of their own imaginings, and can be set free +only by one who understands these new surroundings and can help them to +distinguish the facts of the world from their own ignorant +misrepresentation of them. All these can be helped by the man of +intelligence and of kindly heart. Many men arrive in the astral world in +utter ignorance of its conditions, not realizing at first that they are +dead, and when they do realize it fearing the fate that may be in store for +them, because of false and wicked theological teaching. All of these need +the cheer and comfort which can only be given to them by a man of common +sense who possesses some knowledge of the facts of Nature. + +There is thus no lack of the most profitable occupation for any man whose +interests during his physical life have been rational; nor is there any +lack of companionship. Men whose tastes and pursuits are similar drift +naturally together there just as they do here; and many realms of Nature, +which during our physical life are concealed by the dense veil of matter, +now lie open for the detailed study of those who care to examine them. + +To a large extent people make their own surroundings. We have already +referred to the seven subdivisions of this astral world. Numbering these +from the highest and least material downwards, we find that they fall +naturally into three classes--divisions one, two and three forming one such +class, and four, five and six another; while the seventh and lowest of all +stands alone. As I have said, although they all interpenetrate, their +substance has a general tendency to arrange itself according to its +specific gravity, so that most of the matter belonging to the higher +subdivisions is found at a greater elevation above the surface of the earth +than the bulk of the matter of the lower portions. + +Hence, although any person inhabiting the astral world can move into any +part of it, his natural tendency is to float at the level which corresponds +with the specific gravity of the heaviest matter in his astral body. The +man who has not permitted the rearrangement of the matter of his astral +body after death is entirely free of the whole astral world; but the +majority, who do permit it, are not equally free--not because there is +anything to prevent them from rising to the highest level or sinking to the +lowest, but because they are able to sense clearly only a certain part of +that world. + +I have described something of the fate of a man who is on the lowest level, +shut in by a strong shell of coarse matter. Because of the extreme +comparative density of that matter he is conscious of less outside of his +own subdivision than a man at any other level. The general specific gravity +of his own astral body tends to make him float below the surface of the +earth. The physical matter of the earth is absolutely non-existent to his +astral senses, and his natural attraction is to that least delicate form of +astral matter which is the counterpart of that solid earth. A man who has +confined himself to that lowest subdivision will therefore usually find +himself floating in darkness and cut off to a great extent from others of +the dead, whose lives have been such as to keep them on a higher level. + +Divisions four, five and six of the astral world (to which most people are +attracted) have for their background the astral counterpart of the physical +world in which we live, and all its familiar accessories. Life in the sixth +subdivision is simply like our ordinary life on this earth minus the +physical body and its necessities while as it ascends through the fifth and +fourth divisions it becomes less and less material and is more and more +withdrawn from our lower world and its interests. + +The first, second and third sections, though occupying the same space, yet +give the impression of being much further removed from the physical, and +correspondingly less material. Men who inhabit these levels lose sight of +the earth and its belongings; they are usually deeply self-absorbed, and to +a large extent create their own surroundings, though these are sufficiently +objective to be perceptible to other men of their level, and also to +clairvoyant vision. + +This region is the summerland of which we hear in spiritualistic +circles--the world in which, by the exercise of their thought, the dead +call into temporary existence their houses and schools and cities. These +surroundings, though fanciful from our point of view, are to the dead as +real as houses, temples or churches built of stone are to us, and many +people live very contentedly there for a number of years in the midst of +all these thought-creations. + +Some of the scenery thus produced is very beautiful; it includes lovely +lakes, magnificent mountains, pleasant flower gardens, decidedly superior +to anything in the physical world; though on the other hand it also +contains much which to the trained clairvoyant (who has learned to see +things as they are) appears ridiculous--as, for example, the endeavours of +the unlearned to make a thought-form of some of the curious symbolic +descriptions contained in their various scriptures. An ignorant peasant's +thought-image of a beast full of eyes within, or of a sea of glass mingled +with fire, is naturally often grotesque, although to its maker it is +perfectly satisfactory. This astral world is full of thought-created +figures and landscapes. Men of all religions image here their deities and +their respective conceptions of paradise, and enjoy themselves greatly +among these dream-forms until they pass into the mental world and come into +touch with something nearer to reality. + +Every one after death--any ordinary person, that is, in whose case the +rearrangement of the matter of the astral body has been made--has to pass +through all these subdivisions in turn. It does not follow that every one +is conscious in all of them. The ordinarily decent person has in his astral +body but little of the matter of its lowest portion--by no means enough to +construct a heavy shell. The redistribution puts on the outside of the body +its densest matter; in the ordinary man this is usually matter of the sixth +subdivision, mixed with a little of the seventh, and so he finds himself +viewing the counterpart of the physical world. + +The ego is steadily withdrawing into himself, and as he withdraws he leaves +behind him level after level of this astral matter. So the length of the +man's detention in any section of the astral world is precisely in +proportion to the amount of its matter which is found in his astral body, +and that in turn depends upon the life he has lived, the desires he has +indulged, and the class of matter which by so doing he has attracted +towards him and built into himself. Finding himself then in the sixth +section, still hovering about the places and persons with which he was most +closely connected while on earth, the average man, as time passes on, finds +the earthly surroundings gradually growing dimmer and becoming of less and +less importance to him, and he tends more and more to mould his entourage +into agreement with the more persistent of his thoughts. By the time that +he reaches the third level he finds that this characteristic has entirely +superseded the vision of the realities of the astral world. + +The second subdivision is a shade less material than the third, for if the +latter is the summerland of the spiritualists, the former is the material +heaven of the more ignorantly orthodox; while the first or highest level +appears to be the special home of those who during life have devoted +themselves to materialistic but intellectual pursuits, following them not +for the sake of benefiting their fellow men, but either from motives of +selfish ambition or simply for the sake of intellectual exercise. All these +people are perfectly happy. Later on they will reach a stage when they can +appreciate something much higher, and when that stage comes they will find +the higher ready for them. + +In this astral life people of the same nation and of the same interest tend +to keep together, precisely as they do here. The religious people, for +example, who imagine for themselves a material heaven, do not at all +interfere with men of other faiths whose ideas of celestial joy are +different. There is nothing to prevent a Christian from drifting into the +heaven of the Hindu or the Muhammadan, but he is little likely to do so, +because his interests and attractions are all in the heaven of his own +faith, along with friends who have shared that faith with him. This is by +no means the true heaven described by any of the religions, but only a +gross and material misrepresentation of it; the real thing will be found +when we come to consider the mental world. + +The dead man who has not permitted the rearrangement of the matter of his +astral body is free of the entire world, and can wander all over it at +will, seeing the whole of whatever he examines, instead of only a part of +it as the others do. He does not find it inconveniently crowded, for the +astral world is much larger than the surface of the physical earth, while +its population is somewhat smaller, because the average life of humanity in +the astral world is shorter than the average in the physical. + +Not only the dead, however, are the inhabitants of this astral world, but +always about one-third of the living as well, who have temporarily left +their physical bodies behind them in sleep. The astral world has also a +great number of non-human inhabitants, some of them far below the level of +man, and some considerably above him. The nature-spirits form an enormous +kingdom, some of whose members exist in the astral world, and make a large +part of its population. This vast kingdom exists in the physical world +also, for many of its orders wear etheric bodies and are only just beyond +the range of ordinary physical sight. Indeed, circumstances not +infrequently occur under which they can be seen, and in many lonely +mountain districts these appearances are traditional among the peasants, by +whom they are commonly spoken of as fairies, good people, pixies or +brownies. + +They are protean, but usually prefer to wear a miniature human form. Since +they are not yet individualized, they may be thought of almost as etheric +and astral animals; yet many of them are intellectually quite equal to +average humanity. They have their nations and types just as we have, and +they are often grouped into four great classes, and called the spirits of +earth, water, fire and air. Only the members of the last of these four +divisions normally confine their manifestation to the astral world, but +their numbers are so prodigious that they are everywhere present in it. + +Another great kingdom has its representatives here--the kingdom of the +angels (called in India the devas). This is a body of beings who stand far +higher in evolution than man, and only the lowest fringe of their hosts +touches the astral world--a fringe whose constituent members are perhaps at +about the level of development of what we should call a distinctly good +man. + +We are neither the only nor even the principal inhabitants of our solar +system; there are other lines of evolution running parallel with our own +which do not pass through humanity at all, though they must all pass +through a level corresponding to that of humanity. On one of these other +lines of evolution are the nature-spirits above described, and at a higher +level of that line comes this great kingdom of the angels. At our present +level of evolution they come into obvious contact with us only very rarely, +but as we develop we shall be likely to see more of them--especially as the +cyclic progress of the world is now bringing it more and more under the +influence of the Seventh Ray. This Seventh Ray has ceremonial for one of +its characteristics, and it is through ceremonial such as that of the +Church or of Freemasonry that we come most easily into touch with the +angelic kingdom. + +When all the man's lower emotions have worn themselves out--all emotions, I +mean, which have in them any thought of self--his life in the astral world +is over, and the ego passes on into the mental world. This is not in any +sense a movement in space; it is simply that the steady process of +withdrawal has now passed beyond even the finest kind of astral matter; so +that the man's consciousness is focussed in the mental world. His astral +body has not entirely disintegrated, though it is in process of doing so, +and he leaves behind him an astral corpse, just as at a previous stage of +the withdrawal he left behind him a physical corpse. There is a certain +difference between the two which should be noticed, because of the +consequences which ensue from it. + +When the man leaves his physical body his separation from it should be +complete, and generally is so; but this is not the case with the much finer +matter of the astral body. In the course of his physical life the ordinary +man usually entangles himself so much in astral matter (which, from another +point of view, means that he identifies himself so closely with his lower +desires) that the indrawing force of the ego cannot entirely separate him +from it again. Consequently, when he finally breaks away from the astral +body and transfers his activities to the mental, he loses a little of +himself he leaves some of himself behind imprisoned in the matter of the +astral body. + +This gives a certain remnant of vitality to the astral, corpse, so that it +still moves freely in the astral world, and may easily be mistaken by the +ignorant for the man himself--the more so as such fragmentary consciousness +as still remains to it is part of the man, and therefore it naturally +regards itself and speaks of itself as the man. It retains his memories, +but is only a partial and unsatisfactory representation of him. Sometimes +in spiritualistic séances one comes into contact with an entity of this +description, and wonders how it is that one's friend has deteriorated so +much since his death. To this fragmentary entity we give the name "shade". + +At a later stage even this fragment of consciousness dies out of the astral +body, but does not return to the ego to whom it originally belonged. Even +then the astral corpse still remains, but when it is quite without any +trace of its former life we call it a "shell". Of itself a shell cannot +communicate at a séance, or take any action of any sort; but such shells +are frequently seized upon by sportive nature-spirits and used as temporary +habitations. A shell so occupied _can_ communicate at a séance and +masquerade as its original owner, since some of his characteristics and +certain portions of his memory can be evoked by the nature-spirit from his +astral corpse. + +When a man falls asleep, he withdraws in his astral body, leaving the whole +of the physical vehicle behind him. When he dies, he draws out with him the +etheric part of the physical body, and consequently has usually at least a +moment of unconsciousness while he is freeing himself from it. The etheric +double is not a vehicle and cannot be used as such; so when the man is +surrounded by it, he is for the moment able to function neither in the +physical world nor the astral. Some men succeed in shaking themselves free +of this etheric envelope in a few moments; others rest within it for hours, +days or even weeks. + +Nor is it certain that, when the man is free from this, he will at once +become conscious of the astral world. For there is in him a good deal of +the lowest kind of astral matter, so that a shell of this may be made +around him. But he may be quite unable to use that matter. If he has lived +a reasonably decent life he is little in the habit of employing it or +responding to its vibrations, and he cannot instantly acquire this habit. +For that reason, he may remain unconscious until that matter gradually +wears away, and some matter which he _is_ in the habit of using comes on +the surface. Such an occlusion, however, is scarcely ever complete, for +even in the most carefully made shell some particles of the finer matter +occasionally find their way to the surface, and give him fleeting glimpses +of his surroundings. + +There are some men who cling so desperately to their physical vehicles that +they will not relax their hold upon the etheric double, but strive with all +their might to retain it. They may be successful in doing so for a +considerable time, but only at the cost of great discomfort to themselves. +They are shut out from both worlds, and find themselves surrounded by a +dense grey mist, through which they see very dimly the things of the +physical world, but with all the colour gone from them. It is a terrible +struggle for them to maintain their position in this miserable condition, +and yet they will not relax their hold upon the etheric double, feeling +that that is at least some sort of link with the only world that they know. +Thus they drift about in a condition of loneliness and misery until from +sheer fatigue their hold fails them, and they slip into the comparative +happiness of astral life. Sometimes in their desperation they grasp blindly +at other bodies, and try to enter into them, and occasionally they are +successful in such an attempt. They may seize upon a baby body, ousting the +feeble personality for whom it was intended, or sometimes they grasp even +the body of an animal. All this trouble arises entirely from ignorance, and +it can never happen to anyone who understands the laws of life and death. + +When the astral life is over, the man dies to that world in turn, and +awakens in the mental world. With him it is not at all what it is to the +trained clairvoyant, who ranges through it and lives amidst the +surroundings which he finds there, precisely as he would in the physical or +astral worlds. The ordinary man has all through his life been encompassing +himself with a mass of thought-forms. Some which are transitory, to which +he pays little attention, have fallen away from him long ago, but those +which represent the main interests of his life are always with him, and +grow ever stronger and stronger. If some of these have been selfish, their +force pours down into astral matter, and he has exhausted them during his +life in the astral world. But those which are entirely unselfish belong +purely to his mental body, and so when he finds himself in the mental world +it is through these special thoughts that he is able to appreciate it. + +His mental body is by no means fully developed; only those parts of it are +really in action to their fullest extent which he has used in this +altruistic manner. When he awakens again after the second death, his first +sense is one of indescribable bliss and vitality--a feeling of such utter +joy in living that he needs for the time nothing but just to live. Such +bliss is of the essence of life in all the higher worlds of the system. +Even astral life has possibilities of happiness far greater than anything +that we can know in the dense body; but the heaven-life in the mental world +is out of all proportion more blissful than the astral. In each higher +world the same experience is repeated. Merely to live in any one of them +seems the uttermost conceivable bliss; and yet, when the next one is +reached, it is seen that it far surpasses the last. + +Just as the bliss increases, so does the wisdom and the breadth of view. A +man fusses about in the physical world and thinks himself so busy and so +wise; but when he touches even the astral, he realizes at once that he has +been all the time only a caterpillar crawling about and seeing nothing but +his own leaf, whereas now he has spread his wings like the butterfly and +flown away into the sunshine of a wider world. Yet, impossible as it may +seem, the same experience is repeated when he passes into the mental world, +for this life is in turn so much fuller and wider and more intense than the +astral that once more no comparison is possible. And yet beyond all these +there is still another life, that of the intuitional world, unto which even +this is but as moonlight unto sunlight. + +The man's position in the mental world differs widely from that in the +astral. There he was using a body to which he was thoroughly accustomed, a +body which he had been in the habit of employing every night during sleep. +Here he finds himself living in a vehicle which he has never used before--a +vehicle furthermore which is very far from being fully developed--a vehicle +which shuts him out to a great extent from the world about him, instead of +enabling him to see it. The lower part of his nature burnt itself away +during his purgatorial life, and now there remain to him only his higher +and more refined thoughts, the noble and unselfish aspirations which he +poured out during earth-life. These cluster round him, and make a sort of +shell about him, through the medium of which he is able to respond to +certain types of vibrations in this refined matter. + +These thoughts which surround him are the powers by which he draws upon the +wealth of the heaven-world, and he finds it to be a storehouse of infinite +extent, upon which he is able to draw just according to the power of those +thoughts and aspirations; for in this world is existing the infinite +fullness of the Divine Mind, open in all its limitless affluence to every +soul, just in proportion as that soul has qualified itself to receive. A +man who has already completed his human evolution, who has fully realized +and unfolded the divinity whose germ is within him, finds the whole of this +glory within his reach; but since none of us has yet done that, since we +are only gradually rising towards that splendid consummation, it follows +that none of us as yet can grasp that entirety. + +But each draws from it and cognizes so much of it as he has by previous +effort prepared himself to take. Different individuals bring very different +capacities; they tell us in the East that each man brings his own cup, and +some of the cups are large and some are small, but small or large every cup +is filled to its utmost capacity; the sea of bliss holds far more than +enough for all. + +A man can look out upon all this glory and beauty only through the windows +which he himself has made. Every one of these thought-forms is such a +window, through which response may come to him from the forces without. If +during his earth-life he has chiefly regarded physical things, then he has +made for himself but few windows through which this higher glory can shine +in upon him. Yet every man who is above the lowest savage must have had +some touch of pure unselfish feeling, even if it were but once in all his +life, and that will be a window for him now. + +The ordinary man is not capable of any great activity in this mental world; +his condition is chiefly receptive, and his vision of anything outside his +own shell of thought is of the most limited character. He is surrounded by +living forces, mighty angelic inhabitants of this glorious world, and many +of their orders are very sensitive to certain aspirations of man and +readily respond to them. But a man can take advantage of these only in so +far as he has already prepared himself to profit by them, for his thoughts +and aspirations are only along certain lines, and he cannot suddenly form +new lines. There are many directions which the higher thought may +take--some of them personal and some impersonal. Among the latter are art, +music and philosophy; and a man whose interest lay along any one of these +lines finds both measureless enjoyment and unlimited instruction waiting +for him--that is, the amount of enjoyment and instruction is limited only +by his power of perception. + +We find a large number of people whose only higher thoughts are those +connected with affection and devotion. If a man loves another deeply or if +he feels strong devotion to a personal deity, he makes a strong mental +image of that friend or of the deity, and the object of his feeling is +often present in his mind. Inevitably he takes that mental image into the +heaven-world with him, because it is to that level of matter that it +naturally belongs. + +Take first the case of affection. The love which forms and retains such an +image is a very powerful force--a force which is strong enough to reach and +to act upon the ego of his friend in the higher part of the mental world. +It is that ego that is the real man whom he loves--not the physical body +which is so partial a representation of him. The ego of the friend, feeling +this vibration, at once and eagerly responds to it, and pours himself into +the thought-form, which has been made for him; so that the man's friend is +truly present with him more vividly than ever before. To this result it +makes no difference whatever whether the friend is what we call living or +dead; the appeal is made not to the fragment of the friend which is +sometimes imprisoned in a physical body, but to the man himself on his own +true level; and he always responds. A man who has a hundred friends can +simultaneously and fully respond to the affection of every one of them, for +no number of representations on a lower level can exhaust the infinity of +the ego. + +Thus every man in his heaven-life has around him all the friends for whose +company he wishes, and they are for him always at their best, because he +himself makes for them the thought-form through which they manifest to him. +In our limited physical world we are so accustomed to thinking of our +friend as only the limited manifestation which we know in the physical +world, that it is at first difficult for us to realize the grandeur of the +conception; when we can realize it, we shall see how much nearer we are in +truth to our friends in the heaven-life than we ever were on earth. The +same is true in the case of devotion. The man in the heaven-world is two +great stages nearer to the object of his devotion than he was during +physical life, and so his experiences are of a far more transcendent +character. + +In this mental world, as in the astral, there are seven subdivisions. The +first, second and third are the habitat of the ego in his causal body, so +the mental body contains matter of the remaining four only, and it is in +those sections that his heaven-life is passed. Man does not, however, pass +from one to the other of these, as is the case in the astral world, for +there is nothing in this life corresponding to the rearrangement. Rather is +the man drawn to the level which best corresponds to the degree of his +development, and on that level he spends the whole of his life in the +mental body. Each man makes his own conditions, so that the number of +varieties is infinite. + +Speaking broadly, we may say that the dominant characteristic observed in +the lowest portion is unselfish family affection. Unselfish it must be, or +it would find no place here; all selfish tinges, if there were any, worked +out their results in the astral world. The dominant characteristic of the +sixth level may be said to be anthropomorphical religious devotion; while +that of the fifth section is devotion expressing itself in active work of +some sort. All these--the fifth, sixth and seventh subdivisions--are +concerned with the working out of devotion to personalities (either to +one's family and friends or to a personal deity) rather than the wider +devotion to humanity for its own sake, which finds its expression in the +next section. The activities of this fourth stage are varied. They can best +be arranged in four main divisions: unselfish pursuit of spiritual +knowledge; high philosophy or scientific thought; literary or artistic +ability exercised for unselfish purposes; and service for the sake of +service. + +Even to this glorious heaven-life there comes an end, and then the mental +body in its turn drops away as the others have done, and the man's life in +his causal body begins. Here the man needs no windows, for this is his true +home and all his walls have fallen away. The majority of men have as yet +but very little consciousness at such a height as this; they rest dreamily +unobservant and scarcely awake, but such vision as they have is true, +however limited it may be by their lack of development. Still, every time +they return, these limitations will be smaller, and they themselves will be +greater; so that this truest life will be wider and fuller for them. + +As this improvement continues, this causal life grows, longer and longer, +assuming an ever larger proportion as compared to the existence at lower +levels. And as he grows, the man becomes capable not only of receiving but +also of giving. Then indeed is his triumph approaching, for he is learning +the lesson of the Christ, learning the crowning glory of sacrifice, the +supreme delight of pouring out all his life for the helping of his +fellow-men, the devotion of the self to the all, of celestial strength to +human service, of all those splendid heavenly forces to the aid of the +struggling sons of earth. That is part of the life that lies before us; +these are some of the steps which even we who are still so near the bottom +of the golden ladder may see rising above us, so that we may report them to +those who have not seen as yet, in order that they too may open their eyes +to the unimaginable splendour which surrounds them here and now in this +dull daily life. This is part of the gospel of Theosophy--the certainty of +this sublime future for all. It is certain because it is here already, +because to inherit it we have only to fit ourselves for it. + + + + +Chapter VII + +REINCARNATION + + +This life of the ego in his own world, which is so glorious and so fully +satisfying for the developed man, plays but a very small part in the life +of the ordinary person, for in his case the ego has not yet reached a +sufficient stage of development to be awake in his causal body. In +obedience to the law of Nature he has withdrawn into it, but in doing so he +has lost the sensation of vivid life, and his restless desire to feel this +once more pushes him in the direction of another descent into matter. + +This is the scheme of evolution appointed for man at the present +stage--that he shall develop by descending into grosser matter, and then +ascend to carry back into himself the result of the experiences so +obtained. His real life, therefore, covers millions of years, and what we +are in the habit of calling a life is only one day of this greater +existence. Indeed, it is in reality only a small part of one day; for a +life of seventy years in the physical world is often succeeded by a period +of twenty times that length spent in higher spheres. + +Every one of us has a long line of these physical lives behind him, and the +ordinary man has a fairly long line still in front of him. Each of such +lives is a day at school. The ego puts upon himself his garment of flesh +and goes forth into the school of the physical world to learn certain +lessons. He learns them, or does not learn them, or partially learns them, +as the case may be, during his schoolday of earth-life; then he lays aside +the vesture of the flesh and returns home to his own level for rest and +refreshment. In the morning of each new life he takes up again his lesson +at the point where he left it the night before. Some lessons he may be able +to learn in one day, while others may take him many days. + +If he is an apt pupil and learns quickly what is needed, if he obtains an +intelligent grasp of the rules of the school, and takes the trouble to +adapt his conduct to them, his school-life is comparatively short, and when +it is over he goes forth fully equipped into the real life of the higher +worlds for which all this is only a preparation. Other egos are duller boys +who do not learn so quickly; some of them do not understand the rules of +the school, and through that ignorance are constantly breaking them; others +are wayward, and even when they see the rules they cannot at once bring +themselves to act in harmony with them. All of these have a longer +school-life, and by their own actions they delay their entry upon the real +life of the higher worlds. + +For this is a school in which no pupil ever fails; every one must go on to +the end. He has no choice as to that; but the length of time which he will +take in qualifying himself for the higher examinations is left entirely to +his own discretion. The wise pupil, seeing that school-life is not a thing +in itself, but only a preparation for a more glorious and far wider life, +endeavours to comprehend as fully as possible the rules of his school, and +shapes his life in accordance with them as closely as he can, so that no +time may be lost in the learning of whatever lessons are necessary. He +co-operates intelligently with the Teachers, and sets himself to do the +maximum of work which is possible for him, in order that as soon as he can +he may come of age and enter into his kingdom as a glorified ego. + +Theosophy explains to us the laws under which this school-life must be +lived, and in that way gives a great advantage to its students. The first +great law is that of evolution. Every man has to become a perfect man, to +unfold to the fullest degree the divine possibilities which lie latent +within him, for that unfoldment is the object of the entire scheme so far +as he is concerned. This law of evolution steadily presses him onward to +higher and higher achievements. The wise man tries to anticipate its +demands--to run ahead of the necessary curriculum, for in that way he not +only avoids all collision with it, but he obtains the maximum of assistance +from its action. The man who lags behind in the race of life finds its +steady pressure constantly constraining him--a pressure which, if resisted, +rapidly becomes painful. Thus the laggard on the path of evolution has +always the sense of being hunted and driven by his fate, while the man who +intelligently co-operates is left perfectly free to choose the direction in +which he shall move, so long as it is onward and upward. + +The second great law under which this evolution is taking place is the law +of cause and effect. There can be no effect without its cause, and every +cause must produce its effect. They are in fact not two but one, for the +effect is really part of the cause, and he who sets one in motion sets the +other also. There is in Nature no such idea as that of reward or +punishment, but only of cause and effect. Anyone can see this in connection +with mechanics or chemistry; the clairvoyant sees it equally clearly with +regard to the problems of evolution. The same law obtains in the higher as +in the lower worlds; there, as here, the angle of reflection is always +equal to the angle of incidence. It is a law of mechanics that action and +reaction are equal and opposite. In the almost infinitely finer matter of +the higher worlds the reaction is by no means always instantaneous; it may +sometimes be spread over long periods of time, but it returns inevitably +and exactly. + +Just as certain in its working as the mechanical law in the physical world +is the higher law, according to which the man who sends out a good thought +or does a good action receives good in return, while the man who sends out +an evil thought or does an evil action, receives evil in return with equal +accuracy--once more, not in the least a reward or punishment administered +by some external will, but simply as the definite and mechanical result of +his own activity. Man has learnt to appreciate a mechanical result in the +physical world, because the reaction is usually almost immediate and can be +seen by him. He does not invariably understand the reaction in the higher +worlds because that takes a wider sweep, and often returns not in this +physical life, but in some future one. + +The action of this law affords the explanation of a number of the problems +of ordinary life. It accounts for the different destinies imposed upon +people, and also for the differences in the people themselves. If one man +is clever in a certain direction and another is stupid, it is because in a +previous life the clever man has devoted much effort to practise in that +particular direction, while the stupid man is trying it for the first time. +The genius and the precocious child are examples not of the favouritism of +some deity but of the result produced by previous lives of application. All +the varied circumstances which surrounded us are the result of our own +actions in the past, precisely as are the qualities of which we find +ourselves in possession. We are what we have made ourselves, and our +circumstances are such as we have deserved. + +There is, however, a certain adjustment or apportionment of these effects. +Though the law is a natural law and mechanical in its operation, there are +nevertheless certain great Angels who are concerned with its +administration. They cannot change by one feather-weight the amount of the +result which follows upon any given thought or act, but they can within +certain limits expedite or delay its action, and decide what form it shall +take. + +If this were not done there would be at least a possibility that in his +earlier stages the man might blunder so seriously that the results of his +blundering might be more than he could bear. The plan of the Deity is to +give man a limited amount of free-will; if he uses that small amount well, +he earns the right to a little more next time; if he uses it badly, +suffering comes upon him as the result of such evil use, and he finds +himself restrained by the result of his previous actions. As the man learns +how to use his free-will, more and more of it is entrusted to him, so that +he can acquire for himself practically unbounded freedom in the direction +of good, but his power to do wrong is strictly restricted. He can progress +as rapidly as he will, but he cannot wreck his life in his ignorance. In +the earlier stages of the savage life of primitive man it is natural that +there should be on the whole more of evil than of good, and if the entire +result of his actions came at once upon a man as yet so little developed, +it might well crush the newly evolved powers which are still so feeble. + +Besides this, the effects of his actions are varied in character. While +some of them produce immediate results, others need much more time for +their action, and so it comes to pass that as the man develops he has above +him a hovering cloud of undischarged results, some of them good, some of +them bad. Out of this mass (which we may regard for purposes of analogy +much as though it were a debt owing to the powers of Nature) a certain +amount falls due in each of his successive births; and that amount, so +assigned, may be thought of as the man's destiny for that particular life. + +All that it means is that a certain amount of joy and a certain amount of +suffering are due to him, and will unavoidably happen to him; how he will +meet this destiny and what use he will make of it, that is left entirely to +his own option. It is a certain amount of force which has to work itself +out. Nothing can prevent the action of that force, but its action may +always be modified by the application of a new force in another direction, +just as is the case in mechanics. The result of past evil is like any other +debt; it may be paid in one large cheque upon the bank of life--by some one +supreme catastrophe; or it may be paid in a number of smaller notes, in +minor troubles and worries; in some cases it may even be paid in the small +change of a great number of petty annoyances. But one thing is quite +certain--that, in some form or other, paid it will have to be. + +The conditions of our present life, then, are absolutely the result of our +own action in the past; and the other side of that statement is that our +actions in this life are building up conditions for the next one. A man who +finds himself limited either in powers or in outer circumstances may not +always be able to make himself or his conditions all that he would wish in +this life; but he can certainly secure for the next one whatever he +chooses. + +Man's every action ends not with himself, but invariably affects others +around him. In some cases this effect may be comparatively trivial, while +in others it may be of the most serious character. The trivial results, +whether good or bad, are simply small debits or credits in our account with +Nature; but the greater effects, whether good or bad, make a personal +account which is to be settled with the individual concerned. + +A man who gives a meal to a hungry beggar, or cheers him by a kindly word, +will receive the result of his good action as part of a kind of general +fund of Nature's benefits; but one who by some good action changes the +whole current of another man's life will assuredly have to meet that same +man again in a future life, in order that he who has been benefited may +have the opportunity of repaying the kindness that has been done to him. +One who causes annoyance to another will suffer proportionately for it +somewhere, somehow, in the future, though he may never meet again the man +whom he has troubled; but one who does serious harm to another, one who +wrecks his life or retards his evolution, must certainly meet his victim +again at some later point in the course of their lives, so that he may have +the opportunity, by kindly and self-sacrificing service, of +counterbalancing the wrong which he has done. In short, large debts must be +paid personally, but small ones go into the general fund. + +These then are the principal factors which determine the next birth of the +man. First acts the great law of evolution, and its tendency is to press +the man into that position in which he can most easily develop the +qualities which he most needs. For the purposes of the general scheme, +humanity is divided into great races, called root-races, which rule and +occupy the world successively. The great Aryan or Indo-Caucasian race, +which at the present moment includes the most advanced of Earth's +inhabitants, is one of these. That which came before it in the order of +evolution was the Mongolian race, usually called in Theosophical books +Atlantean because the continent from which it ruled the world lay where now +roll the waters of the Atlantic ocean. Before that came the Negroid race, +some of whose descendants still exist, though by this time much mingled +with offshoots of later races. From each of these great root-races there +are many offshoots which we call sub-races--such, for example, as the Roman +races or the Teutonic; and each of the sub-races in turn divides itself +into branch-races, such as the French and the Italians, the English and the +Germans. + +These arrangements are made in order that for each ego there may be a wide +choice of varying conditions and surroundings. Each race is especially +adapted to develop within its people one or other of the qualities which +are needed in the course of evolution. In every nation there exist an +almost infinite number of diverse conditions, riches and poverty, a wide +field of opportunities or a total lack of them, facilities for development +or conditions under which development is difficult or well-nigh impossible. +Amidst all these infinite possibilities the pressure of the law of +evolution tends to guide the man to precisely those which best suit his +needs at the stage at which he happens to be. + +But the action of this law is limited by that other law of which we spoke, +the law of cause and effect. The man's actions in the past may not have +been such as to deserve (if we may put it so) the best possible +opportunities; he may have set in motion in his past certain forces the +inevitable result of which will be to produce limitations; and these +limitations may operate to prevent his receiving that best possible of +opportunities, and so as the result of his own actions in the past he may +have to put up with the second best. So we may say that the action of the +law of evolution, which if left to itself would do the very best possible +for every man, is restrained by the man's own previous actions. + +An important feature in that limitation--one which may act most powerfully +for good or for evil--is the influence of the group of egos with which the +man has made definite links in the past--those with whom he has formed +strong ties of love or hate, of helping or of injury--those souls whom he +must meet again because of connections made with them in days of long ago. +His relation with them is a factor which must be taken into consideration +before it can be determined where and how he shall be reborn. + +The Will of the Deity is man's evolution. The effort of that nature which +is an expression of the Deity is to give the man whatever is most suitable +for that evolution; but this is conditioned by the man's deserts in the +past and by the links which he has already formed. It may be assumed that a +man descending into incarnation could learn the lessons necessary for that +life in any one of a hundred positions. From half of these or more than +half he may be debarred by the consequences of some of his many and varied +actions in the past. Among the few possibilities which remain open to him, +the choice of one possibility in particular may be determined by the +presence in that family or in that neighbourhood of other egos upon whom he +has a claim for services rendered, or to whom he in his turn owes a debt of +love. + + + + +Chapter VIII + +THE PURPOSE OF LIFE + + +To fulfil our duty in the divine scheme we must try to understand not only +that scheme as a whole, but the special part that man is intended to play +in it. The divine outbreathing reached its deepest immersion in matter in +the mineral kingdom, but it reaches its ultimate point of differentiation +not at the lowest level of materiality, but at the entrance into the human +kingdom on the upward arc of evolution. We have thus to realize three +stages in the course of this evolution. + +(a) The downward arc in which the tendency is towards differentiation and +also towards greater materiality. In this stage spirit is involving itself +in matter, in order that it may learn to receive impressions through it. + +(b) The earlier part of the upward arc, in which the tendency is still +towards greater differentiation, but at the same time towards +spiritualization and escape from materiality. In this stage the spirit is +learning to dominate matter and to see it as an expression of itself. + +(c) The later part of the upward arc, when differentiation has been finally +accomplished, and the tendency is towards unity as well as towards greater +spirituality. In this stage the spirit, having learnt perfectly how to +receive impression through matter and how to express itself through it, and +having awakened its dormant powers, learns to use these powers rightly in +the service of the Deity. + +The object of the whole previous evolution has been to produce the ego as a +manifestation of the Monad. Then the ego in its turn evolves by putting +itself down into a succession of personalities. Men who do not understand +this look upon the personality as the self, and consequently live for it +alone, and try to regulate their lives for what appears to be its temporary +advantage. The man who understands realizes that the only important thing +is the life of the ego, and that its progress is the object for which the +temporary personality must be used. Therefore when he has to decide between +two possible courses he thinks not, as the ordinary man might: "Which will +bring the greater pleasure and profit to me as a personality?" but "Which +will bring greater progress to me as an ego?" Experience soon teaches him +that nothing can ever be really good for him, or for anyone, which is not +good for all, and so presently he learns to forget himself altogether, and +to ask only what will be best for humanity as a whole. + +Clearly then at this stage of evolution whatever tends to unity, whatever +tends to spirituality, is in accord with the plan of the Deity for us, and +is therefore right for us, while whatever tends to separateness or to +materiality is equally certainly wrong for us. There are thoughts and +emotions which tend to unity, such as love, sympathy, reverence, +benevolence; there are others which tend to disunion, such as hatred, +jealousy, envy, pride, cruelty, fear. Obviously the former group are for us +the right, the latter group are for us the wrong. + +In all these thoughts and feelings which are clearly wrong, we recognize +one dominant note, the thought of self; while in all those which are +clearly right we recognize that the thought is turned toward others, and +that the personal self is forgotten. Wherefore we see that selfishness is +the one great wrong, and that perfect unselfishness is the crown of all +virtue. This gives us at once a rule of life. The man who wishes +intelligently to co-operate with the Divine Will must lay aside all thought +of the advantage or pleasure of the personal self, and must devote himself +exclusively to carrying out that Will by working for the welfare and +happiness of others. + +This is a high ideal, and difficult of attainment, because there lies +behind us such a long history of selfishness. Most of us are as yet far +from the purely altruistic attitude; how are we to go to work to attain it, +lacking as we do the necessary intensity in so many of the good qualities, +and possessing so many which are undesirable? + +Here comes into operation the great law of cause and effect to which I have +already referred. Just as we can confidently appeal to the laws of Nature +in the physical world, so may we also appeal to these laws of the higher +world. If we find evil qualities within us, they have grown up by slow +degrees through ignorance and through self-indulgence. Now that the +ignorance is dispelled by knowledge, now that in consequence we recognize +the quality as an evil, the method of getting rid of it lies obviously +before us. + +For each of these vices there is a contrary virtue; if we find one of them +rearing its head within us, let us immediately determine deliberately to +develop within ourselves the contrary virtue. If a man realizes that in the +past he has been selfish, that means that he has set up within himself the +habit of thinking of himself first and pleasing himself, of consulting his +own convenience or his pleasure without due thought of the effect upon +others; let him set to work purposefully to form the exactly opposite +habit, to make a practice before doing anything of thinking how it will +affect all those around him; let him set himself habitually to please +others, even though it be at the cost of trouble or privation for himself. +This also in time will become a habit, and by developing it he will have +killed out the other. + +If a man finds himself full of suspicion, ready always to assign evil +motives to the actions of those about him, let him set himself steadily to +cultivate trust in his fellows, to give them credit always for the highest +possible motives. It may be said that a man who does this will lay himself +open to be deceived, and that in many cases his confidence will be +misplaced. That is a small matter; it is far better for him that he should +sometimes be deceived as a result of his trust in his fellows than that he +should save himself from such deception by maintaining a constant attitude +of suspicion. Besides, confidence begets faithfulness. A man who is trusted +will generally prove himself worthy of the trust, whereas a man who is +suspected is likely presently to justify the suspicion. + +If a man finds in himself the tendency towards avarice, let him go out of +his way to be especially generous; if he finds himself irritable, let him +definitely train himself in calmness; if he finds himself devoured by +curiosity, let him deliberately refuse again and again to gratify that +curiosity; if he is liable to fits of depression, let him persistently +cultivate cheerfulness, even under the most adverse circumstances. + +In every case the existence of an evil quality in the personality means a +lack of the corresponding good quality in the ego. The shortest way to get +rid of that evil and to prevent its reappearance is to fill the gap in the +ego, and the good quality which is thus developed will show itself as an +integral part of the man's character through all his future lives. An ego +cannot be evil, but he can be imperfect. The qualities which he develops +cannot be other than good qualities, and when they are well defined they +show themselves in each of all his numerous personalities, and consequently +those personalities can never be guilty of the vices opposite to these +qualities; but where there is a gap in the ego, where there is a quality +undeveloped, there is nothing inherent in the personality to check the +growth of the opposite vice; and since others in the world about him +already possess that vice, and man is an imitative animal, it is quite +probable that it will speedily manifest itself in him. This vice, however, +belongs to the vehicles only and not to the man inside. In these vehicles +its repetition may set up a momentum which is hard to conquer; but if the +ego bestirs himself to create in himself the opposite virtue, the vice is +cut off at its root, and can no longer exist--neither in this life nor in +all the lives that are to come. + +A man who is trying to evolve these qualities in himself will find certain +obstacles in his way--obstacles which he must learn to surmount. One of +these is the critical spirit of the age--the disposition to find fault with +a thing, to belittle everything, to look for faults in everything and +everyone. The exact opposite of this is what is needed for progress. He who +wishes to move rapidly along the path of evolution must learn to see good +in everything--to see the latent Deity in everything and in everyone. Only +so can he help those other people--only so can he get the best out of those +other things. + +Another obstacle is the lack of perseverance. We tend in these days to be +impatient; if we try any plan we expect immediate results from it, and if +we do not get them, we give up that plan and try something else. That is +not the way to make progress in occultism. The effort which we are making +is to compress into one or two lives the evolution which would naturally +take perhaps a hundred lives. That is not the sort of undertaking in which +immediate results are to be expected. We attempt to uproot an evil habit, +and we find it hard work; why? Because we have indulged in that practice +for, perhaps, twenty thousand years; one cannot shake off the custom of +twenty thousand years in a day or two. We have allowed that habit to gain +an enormous momentum, and before we can set up a force in the opposite +direction we have to overcome that momentum. That cannot be done in a +moment, but it is absolutely certain that it _will_ be done eventually, if +we persevere, because the momentum, however strong it may be, is a finite +quantity, whereas the power that we can bring to bear against it is the +infinite power of the human will, which can make renewed efforts day after +day, year after year, even life after life if necessary. + +Another great difficulty in our way is the lack of clearness in our +thought. People in the West are little used to clear thought with regard to +religious matters. Everything is vague and nebulous. For occult development +vagueness and nebulosity will not do. Our conceptions must be clear-cut and +our thought-images definite. Other necessary characteristics are calmness +and cheerfulness; these are rare in modern life, but are absolute +essentials for the work which we are here undertaking. + +The process of building a character is as scientific as that of developing +one's muscles. Many a man, finding himself with certain muscles flabby and +powerless takes that as his natural condition, and regards their weakness +as a kind of destiny imposed upon him; but anyone who understands a little +of the human body is aware that by continued exercise those muscles can be +brought into a state of health and the whole body eventually put in order. +In exactly the same way, many a man finds himself possessed of a bad temper +or a tendency to avarice or suspicion or self-indulgence, and when in +consequence of any of these vices he commits some great mistake or does +some great harm he offers it as an excuse that he is a hasty-tempered man, +or that he possesses this or that quality by nature--implying that +therefore he cannot help it. + +In this case just as in the other the remedy is in his own hands. Regular +exercise of the right kind will develop a certain muscle, and regular +mental exercise of the right kind will develop a missing quality in a man's +character. The ordinary man does not realize that he can do this, and even +if he sees that he can do it, he does not see why he should, for it means +much effort and much self-repression. He knows of no adequate motive for +undertaking a task so laborious and painful. + +The motive is supplied by the knowledge of the truth. One who gains an +intelligent comprehension of the direction of evolution feels it not only +his interest but his privilege and his delight to co-operate with it. One +who wills the end wills also the means; in order to be able to do good work +for the world he must develop within himself the necessary strength and the +necessary qualities. Therefore he who wishes to reform the world must first +of all reform himself. He must learn to give up altogether the attitude of +insisting upon rights, and must devote himself utterly to the most earnest +performance of his duties. He must learn to regard every connection with +his fellow-man as an opportunity to help that fellow-man, or in some way to +do him good. + +One who studies these subjects intelligently cannot but realize the +tremendous power of thought, and the necessity for its efficient control. +All action springs from thought, for even when it is done (as we say) +without thought, it is the instinctive expression of the thoughts, desires +and feelings which the man has allowed to grow luxuriantly within himself +in earlier days. + +The wise man, therefore, will watch his thought with the greatest of care, +for in it he possesses a powerful instrument, for the right use of which he +is responsible. It is his duty to govern his thought, lest it should be +allowed to run riot and to do evil to himself, and to others; it is his +duty also to develop his thought-power, because by means of it a vast +amount of actual and active good can be done. Thus controlling his thought +and his action, thus eliminating from himself all evil and unfolding in +himself all good qualities, the man presently raises himself far above the +level of his fellows, and stands out conspicuously among them as one who is +working on the side of good as against evil, of evolution as against +stagnation. + +The Members of the great Hierarchy, in whose hands is the evolution of the +world, are watching always for such men in order that They may train them +to help in the great work. Such a man inevitably attracts Their attention, +and They begin to use him as an instrument in Their work. If he proves +himself a good and efficient instrument, presently They will offer him +definite training as an apprentice, that by helping Them in the +world-business which They have to do he may some day become even as They +are, and join the mighty Brotherhood to which They belong. + +But for an honour so great as this mere ordinary goodness will not suffice. +True, a man must be good first of all, or it would be hopeless to think of +using him, but in addition to being good he must be wise and strong. What +is needed is not merely a good man, but a great spiritual power. Not only +must the candidate have cast aside all ordinary weaknesses but he must have +acquired strong positive qualities before he can offer himself to Them with +any hope that he will be accepted. He must live no longer as a blundering +and selfish personality, but as an intelligent ego who comprehends the part +which he has to play in the great scheme of the universe. He must have +forgotten himself utterly; he must have resigned all thought of worldly +profit or pleasure or advancement; he must be willing to sacrifice +everything, and himself first of all, for the sake of the work that has to +be done. He may be _in_ the world, but he must not be _of_ the world. He +must be careless utterly of its opinion. For the sake of helping man he +must make himself something more than man. Radiant, rejoicing, strong, he +must live but for the sake of others and to be an expression of the love of +God in the world. A high ideal, yet not too high; possible, because there +are men who have achieved it. + +When a man has succeeded in unfolding his latent possibilities so far that +he attracts the attention of the Masters of the Wisdom, one of Them will +probably receive him as an apprentice upon probation. The period of +probation is usually seven years, but may be either shortened or lengthened +at the discretion of the Master. At the end of that time, if his work has +been satisfactory, he becomes what it commonly called the accepted pupil. +This brings him into close relations with his Master, so that the +vibrations of the latter constantly play upon him, and he gradually learns +to look at everything as the Master looks at it. After yet another +interval, if he proves himself entirely worthy, he may be drawn into a +still closer relationship, when he is called the son of the Master. + +These three stages mark his relationship to his own Master only, not to the +Brotherhood as a whole. The Brotherhood admits a man to its ranks only when +he has fitted himself to pass the first of the great Initiations. + +This entry into the Brotherhood of Those who rule the world may be thought +of as the third of the great critical points in man's evolution. The first +of these is when he becomes man--when he individualizes out of the animal +kingdom and obtains a causal body. The second is what is called by the +Christian "conversion", by the Hindu "the acquirement of discrimination", +and by the Buddhist "the opening of the doors of the mind". That is the +point at which he realizes the great facts of life, and turns away from the +pursuit of selfish ends in order to move intentionally along with the great +current of evolution in obedience to the divine Will. The third point is +the most important of all, for the Initiation which admits him to the ranks +of the Brotherhood also insures him against the possibility of failure to +fulfil the divine purpose in the time appointed for it. Hence those who +have reached this point are called in the Christian system the "elect", the +"saved" or the "safe", and in the Buddhist scheme "those who have entered +on the stream". For those who have reached this point have made themselves +absolutely certain of reaching a further point also--that of Adeptship, at +which they pass into a type of evolution which is definitely Superhuman. + +The man who has become an Adept has fulfilled the divine Will so far as +this chain of worlds is concerned. He has reached, even already at the +midmost point of the æon of evolution, the stage prescribed for man's +attainment at the end of it. Therefore he is at liberty to spend the +remainder of that time either in helping his fellow-men or in even more +splendid work in connection with other and higher evolutions. He who has +not yet been initiated is still in danger of being left behind by our +present wave of evolution, and dropping into the next one--the "æonian +condemnation" of which the Christ spoke, which has been mistranslated +"eternal damnation". It is from this fate of possible æonian failure--that +is, failure for this age, or dispensation, or life-wave--that the man who +attains Initiation is "safe". He has "entered upon the stream" which now +_must_ bear him on to Adeptship in this present age, though it is still +possible for him by his actions to hasten or delay his progress along the +Path which he is treading. + +That first Initiation corresponds to the matriculation which admits a man +to a University, and the attainment of Adeptship to the taking of a degree +at the end of a course. Continuing the simile, there are three intermediate +examinations, which are usually spoken of as the second, third, and fourth +Initiations, Adeptship being the fifth. A general idea of the line of this +higher evolution may be obtained by studying the list of what are called in +Buddhist books "the fetters" which must be cast off--the qualities of which +a man must rid himself as he treads this Path. These are: the delusion of +separateness; doubt or uncertainty; superstition; attachment to enjoyment; +the possibility of hatred; desire for life, either in this or the higher +worlds; pride; agitation or irritability; and ignorance. The man who +reaches the Adept level has exhausted all the possibilities of moral +development, and so the future evolution which still lies before him can +only mean still wider knowledge and still more wonderful spiritual powers. + + + + +Chapter IX + +THE PLANETARY CHAINS + + +The scheme of evolution of which our Earth forms a part is not the only one +in our solar system, for ten separate chains of globes exist in that system +which are all of them theatres of somewhat similar progress. Each of these +schemes of evolution is taking place upon a chain of globes, and in the +course of each scheme its chain of globes goes through seven incarnations. +The plan, alike of each scheme as a whole and of the successive incarnation +of its chain of globes, is to dip step by step more deeply into matter, and +then to rise step by step out of it again. + +Each chain consists of seven globes, and both globes and chains observe the +rule of descending into matter and then rising out of it again. In order to +make this comprehensible let us take as an example the chain to which our +Earth belongs. At the present time it is in its fourth or most material +incarnation, and therefore three of its globes belong to the physical +world, two to the astral world, and two to the lower part of the mental +world. The wave of divine Life passes in succession from globe to globe of +this chain, beginning with one of the highest, descending gradually to the +lowest and then climbing again to the same level as that at which it began. + +Let us for convenience of reference label the seven globes by the earlier +letters of the alphabet, and number the incarnations in order. Thus, as +this is the fourth incarnation of our chain, the first globe in this +incarnation will be 4A, the second 4B, the third 4C, the fourth (which is +our Earth) 4D, and so on. + +These globes are not all composed of physical matter. 4A contains no matter +lower than that of the mental world; it has its counterpart in all the +worlds higher than that, but nothing below it. 4B exists in the astral +world; but 4C is a physical globe, visible to our telescopes, and is in +fact the planet which we know as Mars. Globe 4D is our own Earth, on which +the life-wave of the chain is at present in action. Globe 4E is the planet +which we call Mercury--also in the physical world. Globe 4F is in the +astral world, corresponding on the ascending arc to globe 4B in the +descent; while globe 4G corresponds to globe 4A in having its lowest +manifestation in the lower part of the mental world. Thus it will be seen +that we have a scheme of globes starting in the lower mental world, +dipping through the astral into the physical and then rising into the lower +mental through the astral again. + +Just as the succession of the globes in a chain constitutes a descent into +matter and an ascent from it again, so do the successive incarnations of a +chain. We have described the condition of affairs in the fourth +incarnation; looking back at the third, we find that that commences not on +the lower level of the mental world but on the higher. Globes 3A and 3G, +then, are both of higher mental matter, while globes 3B and 3F are at the +lower mental level. Globes 3C and 3E belong to the astral world, and only +globe 3D is visible in the physical world. Although this third incarnation +of our chain is long past, the corpse of this physical globe 3D is still +visible to us in the shape of that dead planet the Moon, whence that third +incarnation is usually called the lunar chain. + +The fifth incarnation of our chain, which still lies very far in the +future, will correspond to the third. In that, globes 5A and 5G will be +built of higher mental matter, globes 5B and 5F of lower mental, globes 5C +and 5E of astral matter, and only globe 5D will be in the physical world. +This planet 5D is of course not yet in existence. + +The other incarnations of the chain follow the same general rule of +gradually decreasing materiality; 2A, 2G, 6A and 6G are all in the +intuitional world; 2B, 2F, 6B and 6F are all in the higher part of the +mental world; 2C, 2E, 6C and 6E are in the lower part of the mental world; +2D and 6D are in the astral world. In the same way 1A, 1G, 7A and 7G belong +to the spiritual world; 1B, IF, 7B and 7F are in the intuitional world; 1C, +1E, 7C and 7E are in the higher part of the mental world; 1D-and 7D are in +the lower part of the mental world. + +Thus it will be seen that not only does the life-wave in passing through +one chain of globes dip down into matter and rise out of it again, but the +chain itself in its successive incarnations does exactly the same thing. + +There are ten schemes of evolution at present existing in our solar system, +but only seven of them are at the stage where they have planets in the +physical world. These are: (1) that of an unrecognized planet Vulcan, very +near the sun, about which we have very little definite information. It was +seen by the astronomer Herschel, but is now said to have disappeared. We at +first understood that it was in its third incarnation; but it is now +regarded as possible that it has recently passed from its fifth to its +sixth chain, which would account for its alleged disappearance; (2) that of +Venus, which is in its fifth incarnation, and also therefore, has only one +visible globe; (3) that of the Earth, Mars and Mercury, which has three +visible planets because it is in its fourth incarnation; (4) that of +Jupiter, (5) that of Saturn, (6) that of Uranus, all in their third +incarnations; and (7) that of Neptune and the two unnamed planets beyond +its orbit, which is in its fourth incarnation, and therefore has three +physical planets as we have. + +In each incarnation of a chain (commonly called a chain-period) the wave of +divine Life moves seven times round the chain of seven planets, and each +such movement is spoken of as a round. The time that the life-wave stays +upon each planet is known as a world-period, and in the course of a +world-period there are seven great root-races. As has been previously +explained, these are subdivided into sub-races, and those again into +branch-races. For convenience of reference we may state this in tabular +form: + +7 Branch-Races make 1 Sub-Race +7 Sub-Races make 1 Root-Race +7 Root-Races make 1 World-Period +7 World-Periods make 1 Round +7 Rounds make 1 Chain-Period +7 Chain-Periods make 1 Scheme of Evolution +10 Schemes of Evolution make 1 Our Solar System + +It is clear that the fourth root-race of the fourth globe of the fourth +round of a fourth chain-period would be the central point of a whole scheme +of evolution, and we find ourselves at the present moment only a little +past that point. The Aryan race, to which we belong, is the fifth root-race +of the fourth globe, so that the actual middle point fell in the time of +the last great root-race, the Atlantean. Consequently the human race as a +whole is very little more than half-way through its evolution, and those +few souls who are already nearing Adeptship, which is the end and crown of +this evolution, are very far in advance of their fellows. + +How do they come to be so far in advance? Partly and in some cases because +they have worked harder, but usually because they are older egos--because +they were individualized out of the animal kingdom at an earlier date, and +so have had more time for the human part of their evolution. + +Any given wave of life sent forth from the Deity usually spends a +chain-period in each of the great kingdoms of Nature. That which in our +first chain was ensouling the first elemental kingdom must have ensouled +the second of those kingdoms in the second chain, in the third of them in +the Moon-chain, and is now in the mineral kingdom in the fourth chain. In +the future fifth chain it will ensoul the vegetable kingdom, in the sixth +the animal, and in the seventh it will attain humanity. + +From this it follows that we ourselves represented the mineral kingdom on +the first chain, the vegetable on the second, and the animal on the lunar +chain. There some of us attained our individualization, and so we were +enabled to enter this Earth-chain as men. Others who were a little more +backward did not succeed in attaining it, and so had to be born into this +chain as animals for a while before they could reach humanity. + +Not all of mankind, however, entered this chain together. When the lunar +chain came to its end the humanity upon it stood at various levels. Not +Adeptship, but what is now for us the fourth step on the Path, was the goal +appointed for that chain. Those who had attained it (commonly called in +Theosophical literature the Lords of the Moon) had, as is usual, seven +choices before them as to the way in which they would serve. Only one of +those choices brought them, or rather a few of them, over into this +Earth-chain to act as guides and teachers to the earlier races. A +considerable proportion--a vast proportion, indeed--of the Moon-men had not +attained that level, and consequently had to reappear in this Earth-chain +as humanity. Besides this, a great mass of the animal kingdom of the +Moon-chain was surging up to the level of the individualization, and some +of its members had already reached it, while many others had not. These +latter needed further animal incarnations upon the Earth-chain, and for the +moment may be put aside. + +There were many classes even among the humanity, and the manner in which +these distributed themselves over the Earth-chain needs some explanation. +It is the general rule that those who have attained the highest possible in +any chain on any globe, in any root-race, are not born into the beginning +of the next chain, globe or race, respectively. The earlier stages are +always for the backward entities, and only when they have already passed +through a good deal of evolution and are beginning to approach the level of +those others who had done better, do the latter descend into incarnation +and join them once more. That is to say, almost the earlier half of any +period of evolution, whether it be a race, a globe or a chain, seems to be +devoted to bringing the backward people up to nearly the level of those who +have got on better; then these latter also (who, in the meantime, have been +resting in great enjoyment in the mental world) descend into incarnation +along with the others, and they press on together until the end of the +period. + +Thus the first of the egos from the Moon who entered the Earth-chain were +by no means the most advanced. Indeed they may be described as the least +advanced of those who had succeeded in attaining humanity--the animal-men. +Coming as they did into a chain of new globes, freshly aggregated, they had +to establish the forms in all the different kingdoms of Nature. This needs +to be done at the beginning of the first round in a new chain, but never +after that; for though the life-wave is centred only upon one of the seven +globes of a chain at any given time, yet life has not entirely departed +from the other globes. At the present moment, for example, the life-wave of +our chain is centred on this Earth, but on the other two physical globes of +our chain, Mars and Mercury, life still exists. There is still a +population, human, animal and vegetable, and consequently when the +life-wave goes round again to either of those planets there will be no +necessity for the creation of new forms. The old types are already there, +and all that will happen will be a sudden marvellous fecundity, so that the +various kingdoms will quickly increase and multiply, and make a rapidly +increasing population instead of a stationary one. + +It was, then, the animal-men, the lowest class of human beings of the +Moon-chain, who established the forms in the first round of the +Earth-chain. Pressing closely after them were the highest of the lunar +animal kingdom, who were soon ready to occupy the forms which had just been +made. In the second journey round the seven globes of the Earth-chain, the +animal-men who had been the most backward of the lunar humanity were +leaders of this terrene humanity, the highest of the moon-animals making +its less developed grades. The same thing went on in the third round of the +Earth-chain, more and more of the lunar animals attaining individualization +and joining the human rank, until in the middle of that round on this very +globe D which we call the Earth, a higher class of human beings--the Second +Order of Moon-men--descended into incarnation and at once took the lead. + +When we come to the fourth, our present round, we find the First Order of +the Moon-men pouring in upon us--all the highest and the best of the lunar +humanity who had only just fallen short of success. Some of those who had +already, even on the Moon, entered upon the Path soon attained its end, +became Adepts and passed away from the Earth. Some few others who had not +been quite so far advanced have attained Adeptship only comparatively +recently--that is, within the last few thousand years, and these are the +Adepts of the present day. We, who find ourselves in the higher races of +humanity now, were several stages behind Them, but the opportunity lies +before us of following in Their steps if we will. + +The evolution of which we have been speaking is that of the Ego himself, of +what might be called the soul of man; but at the same time there has been +also an evolution to the body. The forms built in the first round were very +different from any of which we know anything now. Properly speaking, those +which were made on our physical earth can scarcely be called forms at all, +for they were constructed of etheric matter only, and resembled vague, +drifting and almost shapeless clouds. In the second round they were +definitely physical, but still shapeless and light enough to float about in +currents of wind. + +Only in the third round did they begin to bear any kind of resemblance to +man as we know him today. The very methods of reproduction of those +primitive forms differed from those of humanity today, and far more +resembled those which we now find only in very much lower types of life. +Man in those early days was androgynous, and a definite separation into +sexes took place only about the middle of the third round. From that time +onward until now the shape of man has been steadily evolving along +definitely human lines, becoming smaller and more compact than it was, +learning to stand upright instead of stooping and crawling, and generally +differentiating itself from the animal forms out of which it had been +evolved. + +One curious break in the regularity of this evolution deserves mention. On +this globe, in this fourth round, there was a departure from the +straightforward scheme of evolution. This being the middle globe of a +middle round, the midmost point of evolution upon it marked the last moment +at which it was possible for members of what had been the lunar animal +kingdom to attain individualization. Consequently a sort of strong effort +was made--a special scheme was arranged to give a final chance to as many +as possible. The conditions of the first and second rounds were specially +reproduced in place of the first and second races--conditions of which in +the earlier rounds these backward egos had not been able fully to take +advantage. Now, with the additional evolution, which they had undergone +during the third round, some of them were able to take such advantage, and +so they rushed in at the very last moment before the door was shut, and +became just human. Naturally they will not reach any high level of human +development, but at least when they try again in some future chain it will +be some advantage to them to have had even this slight experience of human +life. + +Our terrestrial evolution received a most valuable stimulus from the +assistance given to us by our sister globe, Venus. Venus is at present in +the fifth incarnation of its chain, and in the seventh round of that +incarnation, so that its inhabitants are a whole chain-period and a half in +front of us in evolution. Since, therefore, its people are so much more +developed than ours, it was thought desirable that certain Adepts from the +Venus evolution should be transferred to our Earth in order to assist in +the specially busy time just before the closing of the door, in the middle +of the fourth root-race. + +These august Beings have been called the Lords of the Flame and the +Children of the Fire-mist, and They have produced a wonderful effect upon +our evolution. The intellect of which we are so proud is almost entirely +due to Their presence, for in the natural course of events the next round, +the fifth, should be that of intellectual advancement, and in this our +present fourth round we should be devoting ourselves chiefly to the +cultivation of the emotions. We are therefore in reality a long way in +advance of the programme marked out for us; and such advance is entirely +due to the assistance given by these great Lords of the Flame. Most of Them +stayed with us only through that critical period of our history; a few +still remain to hold the highest offices of the Great White Brotherhood +until the time when men of our own evolution shall have risen to such a +height as to be capable of relieving their august Visitors. + +The evolution lying before us is both of the life and of the form; for in +future rounds, while the egos will be steadily growing in power, wisdom and +love, the physical forms also will be more beautiful and more perfect than +they have ever yet been. We have in this world at the present time men at +widely differing stages of evolution, and it is clear that there are vast +hosts of savages who are far behind the great civilized races of the +world--so far behind that it is quite impossible that they can overtake +them. Later on in the course of our evolution a point will be reached at +which it is no longer possible for those undeveloped souls to advance side +by side with the others, so that it will be necessary that a division +should be made. + +The proceeding is exactly analogous to the sorting out by a schoolmaster of +the boys in his class. During the school year he has to prepare his boys +for a certain examination, and by perhaps the middle of that school year he +knows quite well which of them will pass it. If he should have in his class +some who are hopelessly behind the rest, he might reasonably say to them +when the middle period was reached: + +"It is quite useless for you to continue with your fellows, for the more +difficult lessons which I shall now have to give will be entirely +unintelligible to you. It is impossible that you can learn enough in the +time to pass the examination, so that the effort would only be a useless +strain for you, and meantime you would be a hindrance to the rest of the +class. It is therefore far better for you to give up striving after the +impossible, and to take up again the work of the lower class which you did +not do perfectly, and then to offer yourselves for this examination along +with next year's class, for what is now impossible for you will then be +easy." + +This is in effect exactly what is said at a certain stage in our future +evolution, to the most backward egos. They drop out of this year's class +and come along with the next one. This is the "æonian condemnation" to +which reference was made a little while ago. It is computed that about +two-fifths of humanity will drop out of the class in this way, leaving the +remaining three-fifths to go on with far greater rapidity to the glorious +destinies which lie before them. + + + + +Chapter X + +THE RESULT OF THEOSOPHICAL STUDY + + +"Members of the Theosophical Society study these truths and Theosophists +endeavour to live them." What manner of man then is the true Theosophist in +consequence of his knowledge? What is the result in his daily life of all +this study? + +Finding that there is a Supreme Power who is directing the course of +evolution, and that He is all-wise and all-loving, the Theosophist sees +that everything which exists within this scheme must be intended to further +its progress. He realizes that the scripture which tells us that all things +are working together for good, is not indulging in a flight of poetic fancy +or voicing a pious hope, but stating a scientific fact. The final +attainment of unspeakable glory is an absolute certainty for every son of +man, whatever may be his present condition; but that is by no means all. +Here and at this present moment he is on his way towards the glory; and all +the circumstances surrounding him are intended to help and not to hinder +him, if only they are rightly understood. It is sadly true that in the +world there is much of evil and of sorrow and of suffering; yet from the +higher point of view the Theosophist sees that terrible though this be, it +is only temporary and superficial, and is all being utilized as a factor in +the progress. + +When in the days of his ignorance he looked at it from its own level it was +almost impossible to see this; while he looked from beneath at the under +side of life, with his eyes fixed all the time upon some apparent evil, he +could never gain a true grasp of its meaning. Now he raises himself above +it to the higher levels of thought and consciousness, and looks down upon +it with the eye of the spirit and understands it in its entirety, so he can +see that in very truth all is well--not that all will be well at some +remote period, but that even now at this moment, in the midst of incessant +striving and apparent evil, the mighty current of evolution is still +flowing, and so all is well because all is moving on in perfect order +towards the final goal. + +Raising his consciousness thus above the storm and stress of worldly life, +he recognizes what used to seem to be evil, and notes how it is apparently +pressing backwards against the great stream of progress; but he also sees +that the onward sweep of the divine law of evolution bears the same +relation to this superficial evil as does the tremendous torrent of Niagara +to the fleckings of foam upon its surface. So while he sympathizes deeply +with all who suffer, he yet realizes what will be the end of that +suffering, and so for him despair or hopelessness is impossible. He applies +this consideration to his own sorrows and troubles, as well as to those of +the world, and therefore one great result of his Theosophy is a perfect +serenity--even more than that, a perpetual cheerfulness and joy. + +For him there is an utter absence of worry, because in truth there is +nothing left to worry about, since he knows that all must be well. His +higher Science makes him a confirmed optimist, for it shows him that +whatever of evil there may be in any person or in any movement, it is of +necessity temporary, because it is opposed to the resistless stream of +evolution; whereas whatever is good in any person or in any movement must +necessarily be persistent and useful, because it has behind it the +omnipotence of that current, and therefore it must abide and it must +prevail. + +Yet it must not for a moment be supposed that because he is so fully +assured of the final triumph of good he remains careless or unmoved by the +evils which exist in the world around him. He knows that it is his duty to +combat these to the utmost of his power, because in doing this he is +working upon the side of the great evolutionary force, and is bringing +nearer the time of its ultimate victory. None will be more active than he +in labouring for the good, even though he is absolutely free from the +feeling of helplessness and hopelessness which so often oppresses those who +are striving to help their fellow-men. + +Another most valuable result of his Theosophical study is the absence of +fear. Many people are constantly anxious or worried about something or +other; they are fearing lest this or that should happen to them, lest this +or that combination may fail, and so all the while they are in a condition +of unrest; and most serious of all for many is the fear of death. For the +Theosophist the whole of this feeling is entirely swept away. He realizes +the great truth of reincarnation. He knows that he has often before laid +aside physical bodies, and so he sees that death is no more than +sleep--that just as sleep comes in between our days of work and gives us +rest and refreshment, so between these days of labour here on earth, which +we call lives, there comes a long night of astral and of heavenly life to +give us rest and refreshment and to help us on our way. + +To the Theosophist death is simply the laying aside for a time of this robe +of flesh. He knows that it is his duty to preserve the bodily vesture as +long as possible, and gain through it all the experience he can; but when +the time comes for him to lay it down he will do so thankfully, because he +knows that the next stage will be a much pleasanter one than this. Thus he +will have no fear of death, although he realizes that he must live his life +to the appointed end, because he is here for the purpose of progress, and +that progress is the one truly momentous matter. His whole conception of +life is different; the object is not to earn so much money, not to obtain +such and such a position; the one important thing is to carry out the +divine plan. He knows that for this he is here, and that everything else +must give way to it. + +Utterly free also is he from any religious fears or worries or troubles. +All such things are swept aside for him, because he sees clearly that +progress towards the highest is the divine Will for us, that we cannot +escape from that progress, and that whatever comes in our way and whatever +happens to us is meant to help us along that line; that we ourselves are +absolutely the only people who can delay our advance. No longer does he +trouble and fear about himself. He simply goes on and does the duty which +comes nearest in the best way that he can, confident that if he does this +all will be well for him without his perpetual worrying. He is satisfied +quietly to do his work and to try to help his fellows in the race, knowing +that the great divine Power behind will press him onward slowly and +steadily, and do for him all that can be done, so long as his face is set +steadfastly in the right direction, so long as he does all that he +reasonably can. + +Since he knows that we are all part of one great evolution and all +literally the children of one Father, he sees that the universal +brotherhood of humanity is no mere poetical conception, but a definite +fact; not a dream of something which is to be in the dim distance of +Utopia, but a condition existing here and now. The certainty of this +all-embracing fraternity gives him a wider outlook upon life and a broad +impersonal point of view from which to regard everything. He realizes that +the true interests of all are in fact identical, and that no man can ever +make real gain for himself at the cost of loss or suffering to some one +else. This is not to him an article of religious belief, but a scientific +fact proved to him by his study. He sees that since humanity is literally a +whole, nothing which injures one man can ever be really for the good of any +other, for the harm done influences not only the doer but also those who +are about him. + +He knows that the only true advantage for him is that benefit which he +shares with all. He sees that any advance which he is able to make in the +way of spiritual progress or development is something secured not for +himself alone but for others. If he gains knowledge or self-control, he +assuredly acquires much for himself, yet he takes nothing away from anyone +else, but on the contrary he helps and strengthens others. Cognizant as he +is of the absolute spiritual unity of humanity, he knows that, even in this +lower world, no true profit can be made by one man which is not made in the +name of and for the sake of humanity; that one man's progress must be a +lifting of the burden of all the others; that one man's advance in +spiritual things means a very slight yet not imperceptible advance to +humanity as a whole; that every one who bears suffering and sorrow nobly in +his struggle towards the light is lifting a little of the heavy load of the +sorrow and suffering of his brothers as well. + +Because he recognizes this brotherhood not merely as a hope cherished by +despairing men, but as a definite fact following in scientific series from +all other facts; because he sees this as an absolute certainty, his +attitude towards all those around him changes radically. It becomes a +posture ever of helpfulness, ever of the deepest sympathy, for he sees that +nothing which clashes with their higher interests can be the right thing +for him to do, or can be good for him in any way. + +It naturally follows that he becomes filled with the widest possible +tolerance and charity. He cannot but be always tolerant, because his +philosophy shows him that it matters little what a man believes, so long as +he is a good man and true. Charitable also he must be, because his wider +knowledge enables him to make allowances for many things which the ordinary +man does not understand. The standard of the Theosophist as to right and +wrong is always higher than that of the less instructed man, yet he is far +gentler than the latter in his feeling towards the sinner, because he +comprehends more of human nature. He realizes how the sin appeared to the +sinner at the moment of its commission, and so he makes more allowances +than is ever made by the man who is ignorant of all this. + +He goes further than tolerance, charity, sympathy; he feels positive love +towards mankind, and that leads him to adopt a position of watchful +helpfulness. He feels that every contact with others is for him an +opportunity, and the additional knowledge which his study has brought to +him enables him to give advice or help in almost any case which comes +before him. Not that he is perpetually thrusting his opinions upon other +people. On the contrary, he observes that to do this is one of the +commonest mistakes made by the uninstructed. He knows that argument is a +foolish waste of energy, and therefore he declines to argue. If anyone +desires from him explanation or advice he is more than willing to give it, +yet he has no sort of wish to convert anyone else to his own way of +thinking. + +In every relation of life this idea of helpfulness comes into play, not +only with regard to his fellowmen but also in connection with the vast +animal kingdom which surrounds him. Units of this kingdom are often brought +into close relation with man, and this is for him an opportunity of doing +something for them. The Theosophist recognizes that these are also his +brothers, even though they may be younger brothers, and that he owes a +fraternal duty to them also--so to act and so to think that his relation +with them shall be always for their good and never for their harm. + +Pre-eminently and above all, this Theosophy is to him a doctrine of common +sense. It puts before him, as far as he can at present know them, the facts +about God and man and the relations between them; then he proceeds to take +these facts into account and to act in relation to them with ordinary +reason and common sense. He regulates his life according to the laws of +evolution which it has taught him, and this gives him a totally different +standpoint, and a touchstone by which to try everything--his own thoughts +and feelings, and his own actions first of all, and then those things which +come before him in the world outside himself. + +Always he applies this criterion: Is the thing right or wrong, does it help +evolution or does it hinder it? If a thought or a feeling arises within +himself, he sees at once by this test whether it is one he ought to +encourage. If it be for the greatest good of the greatest number then all +is well; if it may hinder or cause harm to any being in its progress, then +it is evil and to be avoided. Exactly the same reason holds good if he is +called upon to decide with regard to anything outside himself. If from that +point of view a thing be a good thing, then he can conscientiously support +it; if not, then it is not for him. + +For him the question of personal interest does not come into the case at +all. He thinks simply of the good of evolution as a whole. This gives him a +definite foothold and the clear criterion, and removes from him altogether +the pain of indecision and hesitation. The Will of the Deity is man's +evolution; whatever therefore helps on that evolution must be good; +whatever stands in the way of it and delays it, that thing must be wrong, +even though it may have on its side all the weight of public opinion and +immemorial tradition. + +Knowing that the true man is the ego and not the body, he sees that it is +the life of the ego only which is really of moment, and that everything +connected with the body must unhesitatingly be subordinated to those higher +interests. He recognizes that this earth-life is given to him for the +purpose of progress, and that that progress is the one important thing. The +real purpose of his life is the unfoldment of his powers as an ego, the +development of his character. He knows that there must be evolvement not +only of the physical body but also of the mental nature, of the mind and of +the spiritual perceptions. He sees that nothing short of absolute +perfection is expected of him in connection with this development; that all +power with regard to it is in his own hands; that he has everlasting time +before him in which to attain this perfection, but that the sooner it is +gained the happier and more useful will he be. + +He recognizes his life as nothing but a day at school, and his physical +body as a temporary vesture assumed for the purpose of learning through it. +He knows at once that this purpose of learning lessons is the only one of +any real importance, and that the man who allows himself to be diverted +from that purpose by any consideration whatever is acting with +inconceivable stupidity. To him the life devoted exclusively to physical +objects, to the acquisition of wealth or fame, appears the merest +child's-play--a senseless sacrifice of all that is really worth having for +the sake of a few moments' gratification of the lower part of his nature. +He "sets his affection on things above and not on things of the earth", not +only because he sees this to be the right course of action, but because he +realizes so clearly the valuelessness of these things of earth. He always +tries to take the higher point of view, for he knows that the lower is +utterly unreliable--that the lower desires and feelings gather round him +like a dense fog, and make it impossible for him to see anything clearly +from that level. + +Whenever he finds a struggle going on within him he remembers that he +himself is the higher, and that this which is the lower is not the real +self, but merely an uncontrolled part of one of its vehicles. He knows that +though he may fall a thousand times on the way towards his goal, his reason +for trying to reach it remains just as strong after the thousandth fall as +it was in the beginning, so that it would not only be useless but unwise +and wrong to give way to despondency and hopelessness. + +He begins his journey upon the road of progress at once--not only because +he knows that it is far easier for him now than it will be if he leaves the +effort until later, but chiefly because if he makes the endeavour now and +succeeds in achieving some progress, if he rises thereby to some higher +level, he is in a position to hold out a helping hand to those who have not +yet reached even that step on the ladder which he has gained. In that way +he takes a part, however humble it may be, in the great divine work of +evolution. + +He knows that he has arrived at his present position only by a slow process +of growth, and so he does not expect instantaneous attainment of +perfection. He sees how inevitable is the great law of cause and effect, +and that when he once grasps the working of that law he can use it +intelligently in regard to mental and moral development, just as in the +physical world we can employ for our own assistance those laws of Nature +the action of which we have learnt to understand. + +Understanding what death is, he knows that there can be no need to fear it +or to mourn over it, whether it comes to himself or to those whom he loves. +It has come to them all often before, so there is nothing unfamiliar about +it. He sees death simply as a promotion from a life which is more than half +physical to one which is wholly superior, so for himself he unfeignedly +welcomes it; and even when it comes to those whom he loves, he recognizes +at once the advantage for them, even though he cannot but feel a pang of +regret that he should be temporarily separated from them so far as the +physical world is concerned. But he knows that the so-called dead are near +him still, and that he has only to cast off for a time his physical body in +sleep in order to stand side by side with them as before. + +He sees clearly that the world is one, and that the same divine laws rule +the whole of it, whether it be visible or invisible to physical sight. So +he has no feeling of nervousness or strangeness in passing from one part of +it to another, and no feeling of uncertainty as to what he will find on the +other side of the veil. He knows that in that higher life there opens +before him a splendid vista of opportunities both for acquiring fresh +knowledge and for doing useful work; that life away from this dense body +has a vividness and a brilliancy to which all earthly enjoyment is as +nothing; and so through his clear knowledge and calm confidence the power +of the endless life shines out upon all those round him. + +Doubt as to his future is for him impossible, for just as by looking back +on the savage he realizes that which he was in the past, so by looking to +the greatest and wisest of mankind he knows what he will be in the future. +He sees an unbroken chain of development, a ladder of perfection rising +steadily before him, yet with human beings upon every step of it, so that +he knows, that those steps are possible for him to climb. It is just +because of the unchangeableness of the great law of cause and effect that +he finds himself able to climb that ladder, because since the law works +always in the same way, he can depend upon it and he can use it, just as he +uses the laws of Nature in the physical worlds. His knowledge of this law +brings to him a sense of perspective and shows him that if something comes +to him, it comes because he has deserved it as a consequence of actions +which he has committed, of words which he has spoken, of thought to which +he has given harbour in previous days or in earlier lives. He comprehends +that all affliction is of the nature of the payment of a debt, and +therefore when he has to meet with the troubles of life he takes them and +uses them as a lesson, because he understands why they have come and is +glad of the opportunity which they give him to pay off something of his +obligation. + +Again, and in yet another way, does he take them as an opportunity, for he +sees that there is another side to them if he meets them in the right way. +He spends no time in bearing prospective burdens. When trouble comes to him +he does not aggravate it by foolish repining but sets himself to endure so +much of it as is inevitable, with patience and with fortitude. Not that he +submits himself to it as a fatalist might, for he takes adverse +circumstances as an incentive to such development as may enable him to +transcend them, and thus out of long-past evil he brings forth a seed of +future growth. For in the very act of paying the outstanding debt he +develops qualities of courage and resolution that will stand him in good +stead through all the ages that are to come. + +He is distinguishable from the rest of the world by his perennial +cheerfulness, his undaunted courage under difficulties, and his ready +sympathy and helpfulness; yet he is at the same time emphatically a man who +takes life seriously, who recognizes that there is much for everyone to do +in the world, and that there is no time to waste. He knows with utter +certainty that he not only makes his own destiny but also gravely affects +that of others around him, and thus he perceives how weighty a +responsibility attends the use of his power. + +He knows that thoughts are things and that it is easily possible to do +great harm or great good by their means. He knows that no man liveth to +himself, for his every thought acts upon others as well; that the +vibrations which he sends forth from his mind and from his mental nature +are reproducing themselves in the minds and the mental natures of other +men, so that he is a source either of mental health or of mental ill to all +with whom he comes in contact. + +This at once imposes upon him a far higher code of social ethics than that +which is known to the outer world, for he knows that he must control not +only his acts and his words, but also his thoughts, since they may produce +effects more serious and more far-reaching than their outward expression in +the physical world. He knows that even when a man is not in the least +thinking of others, he yet inevitably affects them for good or for evil. In +addition to this unconscious action of his thought upon others he also +employs it consciously for good. He sets currents in motion to carry mental +help and comfort to many a suffering friend, and in this way he finds a +whole new world of usefulness opening before him. + +He ranges himself ever on the side of the higher rather than the lower +thought, the nobler rather than the baser. He deliberately takes the +optimistic rather than the pessimistic view of everything, the helpful, +rather than the cynical, because he knows that to be fundamentally the true +view. By looking continually for the good in everything that he may +endeavour to strengthen it, by striving always to help and never to hinder, +he becomes ever of greater use to his fellow-men, and is thus in his small +way a co-worker with the splendid scheme of evolution. He forgets himself +utterly and lives but for the sake of others, realizing himself as a part +of that scheme; he also realizes the God within him, and learns to become +ever a truer expression of Him, and thus in fulfilling God's Will, he is +not only blessed himself, but becomes a blessing to all. + + + + +INDEX + +Adept, causal body of 45-8 + further evolution of 13 + is on summit of human evolution 13 + level of 13, 119-21 + work of 119-20 + +Adepts, as members of Hierarchy 13 + first of Earth 129 + from Venus 131-2 + Great Brotherhood of 12-4, 117-8, 132 + many degrees of 13 + men have become 13 + some are Masters 14 + some remain with mankind 22 + some take apprentices 100 + +Adeptship, older egos nearing 126 + +Æonian condemnation 119-20, 133 + +Æther, breath, blown into 19 + bubbles in 19-22, 23 + density of 19 + mean pressure of 19 + of space 18 + ultimate atoms formed in 19 + +Age or dispensation 13 + +Air, nature spirits of 84 + +_Ancient Wisdom, The_ 1 + +Androgynous man 130 + +Angels, approach men through ceremonial 85 + guardian 54 + hosts of 11 + Kingdom of 84 + of the law of cause and effect 100 + +Animals, additional evolution of 131 + are our younger brothers 141 + distinction between man and 40 + domestic 38 + heads of types of 38 + individualization of 38-40 + man's emotions act on 38 + man's thoughts act on 38 + Moon-, came to Earth chain 128 + Moon-, individualize 126, 131 + seven types of 37, 38 + souls of 33 + +Animal kingdom 31-2, 37, 141 + +Animal-men of Moon-chain 127-8 + +Apprentice upon probation 118 + +Apprentices, to Masters 14-7 + accepted 118 + men may become 18, 116-7 + qualifications necessary for 116-8 + three stages of 118 + +Aryan root-race 105, 125 + +Aspects, three, of the Logos 11 + three, of man 11, 41 + +Astral body, after death 68-71, 73-5, 81, 86 + cell-life of 65 + colours of 56-8 + disintegration of 86 + effect of thought on 51-2 + ego casts off 42, 63 + ego takes an 42, 61 + entity occupying 66-72 + is bridge to mental body 58 + man in his, during sleep 62, 71 + matter of, is in constant motion 70 + never fatigued 62 + no separate senses in 69-70 + of animal 32 + of group-soul 32 + permanent colours of 58 + reacts on causal body 47 + reacts on mental body 47 + shape of 56, 61 + shell around 68, 70, 78-80, 81 + simile of boiling water 69-70 + size of 56 + temptations caused by 66-8 + vibrations of 56-8, 65-7, 75-6 + +Astral corpse 86 + counterparts 72-3, 78-80 + entity 66-8 + shell 68, 78-81, 86-7 + shell, result of 70 + vitality of 86-7 + +Astral globe of Earth 26-7, 71-2 + globe of Moon 26-7 + globes of Earth-chain 122 + +Astral matter, arrangement of 71-3 + attracts mental matter 60 + physical body attracts 60 + vibrations of 24 + +Astral sight 68-9 + +Astral world, the appearance of 71, 78-83 + death in 89 + delights of 76-8 + descent of ego to 42-3 + extent of 26-7, 71 + inhabitants of 83 + the, is the home of emotions 71 + is the home of lower thoughts 71 + life period in, after death 43, 64-5, 81 + man in, during sleep 62, 70 + man's freedom in 73, 76 + matter, simile of onion 72 + nature spirits in 84 + no measurement of time in 75 + non-human inhabitants of 84 + of Moon 27 + scenery of 77, 81 + second outpouring enters 30 + second outpouring indrawn to 31 + sections of 78-83 + the sixth plane is named 23, 41 + the summerland of 80 + withdrawal of ego from 82 + +Astro-mental forms 51, 57 + +Atlantean root-race 105, 125 + +Atomic matter 25 + +Atoms charged with vitality of interpenetrating worlds 20-1 + physical ultimate 25 + ultimate 19-22 + +Attainment is certain for all 132 + +Besant, Dr. 1 + author of _The Ancient Wisdom_ 1 + +Birth of man, factors determining 104-5 + +Blavatsky, H.P. 14 + author of _Isis Unveiled_ 15 + was a founder of the T.S. 14 + was an apprentice to a Master 14 + +Bliss of the higher worlds 89-91 + +Books, oriental sacred 18 + +Brain, connection with astral body 59 + connection with ego 59 + connection with mental body 49 + etheric part of 62 + +Branch-races 104-5, 125 + +Bridges to ego 59, 61 + +Brotherhood, the Great, of Adepts 12-4, 116-9, 132 + entry into 119 + Great White, the 12 + Head of 12 + Lords of the Flame hold highest office in 132 + man may join in 116 + +Brotherhood of humanity, the universal 138-9 + +Bubbles in space 19-21 + aggregations of 19-22, 23-4 + form material of nebula 19 + +Casual body, the, abstract thoughts arouse 46 + appearance of 45-9 + bad qualities do not affect 47, 58 + colours in 46-8 + composition of 45 + is the vehicle of ego 42 + life in 95-6 + mental body reacts upon 58 + of Adept 45, 48 + of developed man 48 + of primitive man 46 + of saint 48 + of savage 48 + only good affects 47, 58 + permanent vehicle of ego 45 + unselfish emotions arouse 47 + +Cause and effect, law of 100-7 + adjustment of 101 + angels connected with 101 + cannot be modified 101 + exactness of 100-1 + explains problems of life 100-1 + +Cause and effect, is universal 100 + simile of debts and 102-7 + +Cell-life of astral body 65 + of mental body 65 + of physical body 65 + +Centres of force 60 + +Ceremonial, angels approach men through 85 + +Chain, a, consists of seven rounds 124 + life-wave of a 121, 123-5 + lunar, the 123, 126-7 + periods 125 + +Chains of globes 121 + descent of, into matter 121-4 + incarnation of 121-5 + +Character and simile of muscles 114 + how, is formed 111-5 + +Chemical elements 21, 28 + +Children of the Fire-mist 131 + (also see Lords of Flame) + +Christ, the, learning the lesson of 96 + spoke of the "æonian condemnation" 119, 133 + +Church, the angels approach men through 85 + +Clairvoyant sight 46 + character seen by 50 + force-centres seen by 60 + +Colours of astral body 56-8 + of causal body 46-8 + of mental body 48 + of thoughts 54 + +Consciousness, development of 45-6 + of developed man 62-3 + states of 64 + +Corpse, astral 86 + physical 86 + the Moon is a 123 + +Counterparts, astral 73-4 + of globes 122 + +Crookes, Sir William 22 + +Dead, the, can be helped 77-9 + can continue studies 77 + can help their fellowmen 77 + communicate with living 74 + cravings of the 75-7 + first feeling of 76 + friends of, in mental world 93-4 + have no measurement of time 75 + in astral world 73-89 + in mental world 89-95 + in the three sections of astral world 74-5, 78-83 + most of, are happy 76 + period in astral world, 64-5, 82 + period in mental world 64 + relation of, to Earth 73-4 + some seize other bodies 88 + thought-creations of 80 + what they see 73 + +Death, a second 63, 89 + artists after 77 + average men after 64-5 + character not changed by 74 + conditions of life after 74 + cultured men after 65 + etheric double at 87 + happiness after 74, 76 + in astral world 68, 89 + lovers of music after 77 + misery after 75 + philanthropists after 77 + primitive men after 63 + sensualists after 75-6 + spiritual men after 65 + students of science after 77 + what is 3, 63, 137, 144 + +Deity (see Solar Deity) + +Demons, tempting 53, 67 + +Departments of the world 11 + +Devas, hosts of 11 + (also see Angels) + +Discrimination 118 + +Divine Life 29 + ensouls matter 29-40 + responds to vibrations 33 + +Divine world, extent of 26-7 + first plane named 23, 41 + "Door, shutting the" 131 + +Dreams 62 + +Earth, Adepts from Venus come to 131 + astral globe of 26-7 + -chain 121 + first men of the 125-30 + nature spirits of the 85 + purpose of life on 142 + +Earth-chain, the 121 + animal-men build early + forms on 127-8 + explained 121-4 + incarnation of 122-5 + Moon-animals come to 128 + +Education, department of 11-2 + +Ego, the, assumes bodies 42, 61 + bridges of to physical body 58, 61 + connection of, with brain 59 + desire of, for vivid life 97 + drops lower bodies 43 + ensouls fragment of group-soul 42 + fills mental images of himself 93 + gains qualities 43 + habitat of 94 + is a part expression of Monad 61 + is the manifestation of the triple Spirit in man 42 + life of, in causal body 95-7 + life of, in lower bodies 63-4 + lives for millions of years 97 + loses part of his life sometimes 86 + object of descent of 45, 98 + only good affects 47-8, 58, 112 + origin of 39, 109 + passes to mental world 85 + remembers past lives 44 + sheaves of 61 + sight of 45 + the, simile of day at school and 98 + succession of personalities of 109 + withdraws from astral plane 82 + +Elemental kingdoms, the three 29-30 + seven types of each of 37 + +Elemental creatures 37 + +Elements, chemical 21, 28 + proto- 21 + +Emotions affect life after death 64, 67-8 + of the living react on the dead 74 + selfish and unselfish 110 + should be developed in + fourth round 131 + the home of the 71 + +Emotional world (see astral world) + +Entity, astral body 66-8 + +Etheric, bodies of early humanity 129 + bodies of nature spirits 84 + matter 25 + +Etheric double, the 59 + at death 87-8 + force-centres in 60 + is a bridge 59 + is not a vehicle 87-8 + some dead cling to 88 + vitality flows through 59 + +Evil, is transitory 48, 58, 135-6 + is utilized for progress 135 + man's powers of, are + restricted 102 + simile of Niagara Falls, and 135 + +Evolution, additional, for animals 131 + advanced state of 131 + animal 31-40 + break in regularity of 130 + central point of 125, 130 + early stages of, for backward entities 127 + examining scenes of early 3 + is the Will of the Deity 11, 142 + ladder of 17 + man restrains law of 105 + mineral 30-1 + object of human 99 + of human forms 129-30 + of life 28-40 + other schemes of 121, 123 + pressure of 99, 105 + resistless stream of 136 + scheme of, a 32, 122-5 + summit of human 13 + super-human 13, 119 + Theosophy explains laws of 99 + three stages of 108-9 + vegetable 30-1 + +Eye-brows, force-centre between 60 + +Failure is impossible 5 + +Fairies (see Nature-spirits) + +'Fetters' to be cast off 120 + +Fire-mist, Children of the 131 + +Fire, nature-spirits of 84 + Sparks of divine 10, 41, 61 + +Flame, Lords of the 131 + +Fohat 19 + +Forces, the higher, Adepts' knowledge of 14 + +Force-centres 60 + +Founder of each race 11 + +Founders of the Theosophical Society 14 + +Fragment of life of the Logos 9 + of group-soul 39, 42 + of the Monad 61 + +Freemasonry, angels approach men through 85 + +Free-will 99 + +Free-will, limitation of unbounded 102-3 + +_Genesis of Elements, The_ 22 + +Globe, astral, of Earth 27 + astral of, Moon 27 + mental 27 + +Globes, chains of 121 + seven, of Earth-chain 122-3 + 'God is Love' 10 + Word of 9 + (see also Solar Deity) + +Group of egos 106 + +Group-soul, fragment, from, is ensouled 39-42 + of domestic animals 38-40 + numbers of bodies attached to one 34-7 + Spark hovers over 40 + +Group-souls 36-9 + seven types of 37 + simile of bucket of water and 34-6 + +Guardian angel 54 + +Head, force-centre in 60 + of each race 11 + of human evolution 11 + of religion and education 11-2 + of the White Brotherhood 14 + +Heart, force-centre in 60 + +Heaven, is a state of consciousness 64 + simile of capacity of cups and 91-2 + varying capacities of men in 91-2 + +Hell, non-existence of 64, 71, 74, 75 + +Hierarchy, The 5 + controls the world 5, 13 + Head of 14 + man can join 13 + Members of, watch for helpers 116-7 + Human evolution, beginning of 32-8 + division of races of 104-5 + the central point in 118-9 + the half-way point of 125 + the summit of 13 + +Humanity, bodies of early 128-9 + early, was androgynous 130 + races of 11 + receives help from Venus 131 + service of, by thought 53-4 + spiritual unity of 139 + +Immortal, the soul of man 8 + +Incarnations of Earth-chain 122-5 + +Individuality, a permanent 39 + +Individualization, is the first critical point of man's life 118 + of animals 37-40 + of Moon-animals 126-7, 130-1 + +Indo-Caucasian root-race 105 + +Inhabitants of finer worlds 26 + +Initiations, the great 118, 119-20 + simile of university degrees 120 + +Instincts, of animals 35 + of cell-life 65 + +Intellect is a fifth round development 131 + +Intelligence in man 42 + +Intuition in man 23, 42 + +Intuitional world, the 23, 42 + extent of 27 + Monad manifests in 42 + second outpouring in 33 + third outpouring descends to 39-40 + +_Isis Unveiled_ 15 + +Jupiter, the planet 124 + +King of the World, The 11 + +Kingdom, animal 30-1, 37-9 + first elemental 29 + mineral 30-3, 40 + of angels 84-5 + of nature-spirits 84-5 + second elemental 30 + seven types of each 38 + third elemental 30 + vegetable 30-1, 38 + +Kingdoms of nature ensouled by life-waves 38, 126 + the elemental 29-30 + the seven, of nature 28, 38-9 + +Koilon 18 + +Ladder of evolution, the 17, 145 + golden 96 + rungs of 17 + +Law, the, of evolution 99, 104-5 + of cause and effect 100-7 + +Laws, the immutable 8 + +Liberated man 5-6 + +Life, cell- 65-6 + conditions of, after death 74 + divine 23, 29, 121 + man's continuous 63 + the purpose of 98-9, 108-20 + +Life-waves, the 28-40 + constant-successions of 32 + ensoul the kingdoms of nature 33, 37 + of chains 121-2, 123-5 + two stages of 29 + +Life-wave, the, now centred on Earth 128 + period of, in each kingdom 38-9 + +Logos, the (see Solar Deity) + +Lords of the Flame, assistance given by 132 + come to Earth 131 + some still remain on Earth 132 + of the Moon 126 + +'Love, God is' 10 + +Lunar-chain (see Moon-chain) + +Man, after death 63-96 + can kill out vices 110-5 + conflict of interest between, and his vehicles 66 + constitution of 41-62 + distinction between animals and 40 + during sleep 61-2, 70, 74 + early, was androgynous 130 + evolves through different races 104-5 + exists in other worlds 2-3, 42-3 + factors determining birth of 104-5 + free will of 99-100, 102 + has latent powers 2 + has many lives 2-4, 42 + has powers of evil restricted 102 + has several bodies 2-3, 42 + is always affecting others 138-9, 147 + is a Monad 42 + is a soul 2-3 + is a Spark of divine Fire 41 + is divine in origin 3 + is his own law-giver 8 + is immortal 8 + is influenced by his astral body-entity 68 + is not changed by death 74 + is separate from animal kingdom 28 + is the outcome of his past 44-5 + learns to use his powers in service 108-9 + liberated 5-6 + makes his own destiny 147 + may be apprenticed to a Master 14-5, 117 + past history of 2-3 + physical body of, is evolved from animal forms 130 + reaps result of his action 100-1 + represents mineral kingdom of first chain 126 + the Triple Spirit in 41 + the triumph of 96 + three aspects of 11, 41-2 + why, does not remember past lives 44 + (also see primitive man and savages) + +Mars, the planet 122, 124 + life exists on 128 + +Master, son of a 118 + the 13-7 + are Adepts Who take apprentices 14 + take apprentices 14-7, 117-8 + the great knowledge of 14 + "Their world" 15 + +Matter, all, is living 30, 65 + astral 15, 26, 31, 43, 51, 66-7 + atomic 25 + different densities of 20, 25 + etheric 25, 59 + formation of root- 18-9 + intermingling of 21 + mental 23, 27, 29, 33, 42 + molecules of 24-5 + power of attraction of 60 + root- 81 + +Matter, seven types of 21, 24 + starry 24 + sub-atomic 25 + sub-divisions of 24-5 + super-etheric 25 + the senses respond to vibrations in 26 + ultimate 18-21 + vibrations of 24-6, 33, 44-7 + whirling sphere of, a 19-21 + +Memory of nature 3 + of past lives 44 + +Men, backward, drop out 132-3 + bodies of first Earth-chain 129-30 + first, of Earth-chain 126-7 + Moon- 126-9 + +Mental, globe 26-7 + globes of Earth-chain 122 + images of friends 93-4 + shell 53, 91 + warts 49 + (also see mental world) + +Mental body, the, after death 90-1 + bridge from, to physical body 58 + cell-life of 65 + composition of 48 + connection of brain with 49 + description of 48-9, 60-1 + effect of prejudice upon 49 + effect of thoughts upon 48-51 + expresses concrete thoughts 48 + reacts on causal body 58 + shell 53, 91 + sight of 50-1 + striations in 49-50 + the astral body reacts upon 58 + the dead are unused to 90-1 + the ego casts aside his 43-4, 63 + the ego takes a 42-3 + the memory of 44-5 + thoughts shown as colours in 48-50 + vibrations of 50, 53-4 + warts on 49 + +Mental matter, globe of 26-7 + the causal body is built of 45 + the mind is built of 23 + vibrations of 24 + +Mental world, average life in, after death 64-5 + bliss of 90 + effect of higher thought in 92-3 + ego formed in higher 39 + extent of 27 + formation of 20-3 + friends of dead in 93-4 + higher 29-30, 33, 39-42 + levels of 94 + lower 29-30 + man in, after death 63-4, 89-95 + the fifth plane named 24-41 + the Monad manifests in higher 42 + the second outpouring descends to 29-30 + wealth of 91 + +Mercury, the planet 122, 124 + life exists on 128 + +Mind, the divine 91 + the, of man 23 + (also see mental body) + +Mineral, the kingdom 30-1, 37, 108, 126 + man represents, of first chain 126 + seven types of 37 + the first out-pouring ensouls 30 + +Ministers in charge of departments 11 + the seven, of Solar Deity 11 + +Monad, the, descent of 41 + +Monad, origin of 41, 61 + +Monads, the home of human, 23, 41 + +Monadic world, the, extent of 27 + man belongs to 41 + the second plane named 23, 41-2 + +Mongolian root-race 105 + +Moon, the, astral globe of 27, 71 + human goal on 126 + individualization on 125 + is a corpse 123 + Lords of the 126 + +Moon-animals 126-7 + individualize on Earth 128-9 + +Moon-chain, animal-men of 127-8 + human goal on 126 + men of 126 + men come to Earth-chain 126-9 + was the third incarnation of our chain 123 + +Moon-men 126-9 + distribution of, on Earth-chain 126-9 + first order of 129 + second order of 129 + some entered the Path 129 + +Motive, the, for self-effort 115 + +Nature, memory of 3 + planes of 7 + seven kingdoms of 28 + +Nature-spirits, are not individualized 84 + are sometimes seen by men 84 + four classes of 84 + many wear etheric bodies 84 + the kingdom of 84 + where they exist 83-4 + +Nebula, cooling of 22 + planets formed from 22 + rings of 22 + subsidiary vortices of 22 + vortex of 20 + +Negroid, the, race 105 + +Neptune, the planet 124 + +Nerves, vitality flows along 59 + +_Occult Chemistry_ 7 + +_Occult World, The_ 1, 15 + +Occultism, how to progress in 113-7 + +Official, pupils of great 11 + representing Solar Deity 11 + +Officials of the Hierarchy 13 + +Olcott, Colonel H.S. 14 + a founder of T.S. 14 + +Oriental sacred books 18 + +Origin, divine, of man 3, 10, 39-40 + +Outpouring, the first 20-8 + the second 28-39, 65 + the third 39-40 + +Path, the, conditions of 15 + fetters to be cast off on 119-20 + fourth step on 126 + Moon-men entered 129 + simile of mountain 5 + steeper 5, 119-20 + +Peers of Logos 9 + +Perfect men 5 + +Perseverance necessary for progress 113 + +Personality 61 + the purpose of the 109 + +Philosophy, Theosophy is a 1 + +Physical body, attracts astral matter 60 + cells of the 65-6 + during sleep man leaves his 62, 70 + early evolution of the 129-30 + ego, drops his 43, 63 + +Physical body, ego takes a 43, 61 + etheric part of 59-60 + future perfection of the 132 + of first round 129-30 + of man is evolved from animal forms 130 + requirements of the 59-60 + +Physical matter, subdivisions of 25 + vibrations of 24, 33 + +Physical world, the, descent of ego to 42-3 + formation of 21-3, 23-6 + second outpouring enters 30-1 + seven sub-divisions of 25 + +_Pioneer, The_, Mr. A.P. Sinnett, editor of 15 + +Planes of nature, the 7 + formation of 20-1 + investigation of 7 + naming of 41 + +Planets, formation of 22 + future 20 + life on other 128 + +Planetary chains 121-33 + +Planetary Spirits, the seven 11 + simile of ganglia and 11 + +Powers latent in man 2 + are for use in service 109 + observation of history by 3 + observation of other worlds by 2-3 + +Prejudices shown in mental body, 49 + +Primitive man, causal body of 46-8 + during sleep 62 + life of, after death 64 + result of action of 102 + types of 37 + +Principle, undying, in man 8 + +Probation, apprentice upon 118 + period of 118 + +Promptings of lower nature 66-8 + +Proto-elements 21 + +Pupils, accepted, of Master 118 + of Great Officials 11 + of Masters 14-7, 116-8 + (see also apprentices) + +Purgatory is a state of consciousness 64-5 + +Quotations from, a French Scientist 18 + a Gnostic Philosopher 10 + a Master 15 + an Eastern Scripture 9 + _The Occult World_ 1 + +Race, Founder of each 11 + Head of each 11 + of life 99 + +Races, branch- 105, 125 + man evolves through different 105 + object of 105 + of humanity 14 + root- 105, 125-6 + sub- 105, 125 + +Ray, the seventh 85 + +Record, indelible 3 + +Reincarnation 42-4, 97-107 + desire of ego for 97 + simile of days at school and 98-9 + Theosophy explains 99 + +Religion, Adepts, Teachers of 12 + department of 12 + Founders of new 11 + +Religions, have one source 12 + start with basic truths 12 + the sending forth of 11 + +Reproduction, early methods of 130 + +Reynolds, Prof. O. 18-9 + +Right and wrong, the test of 142 + +Roman races, the 105 + +Root-matter 18 + +Root-races 105, 125 + +Round, a 125 + first, differs from others 128 + +Rounds, conditions, of early reproduced in fourth round 130-1 + human forms on first three 128-30 + +Saturn, rings of, simile of 22 + +Savages, causal bodies of 46-7, 48-9 + during sleep 62 + types of 37 + +'Saved, The' 119 + +Scheme of evolution, a 32, 121-2 + central point of 125 + +School, of philosophy, there is a 1 + of life, none fail in the 98 + +Séances 87 + +_Secret Doctrine, The_ 19 + +Seers can use sight of the ego 46 + +Senses, the, of astral body 68-9 + respond to vibrations of matter 26 + +Service, man learns to use his powers in 109 + the joy of 96 + +Seven, 'bubbles' combine in powers of 20-1, 23 + choices of Lords of the Moon 127-8 + degrees of density of matter 24-5 + force-centres in man's bodies 60 + globes of a chain 121-2 + impulses of force 19-20 + incarnations of chains 121 + interpenetrating worlds 20, 22 + kingdoms of nature 28 + life-waves 33 + Ministers of Solar Deity 11 + Planetary Spirits 11 + sub-divisions of matter 24-5 + sub-divisions of vitality 60 + types of animals 37-9 + types of elemental creatures 37-8 + types of group-souls 37-8 + types of matter 21, 24 + types of men 43 + types of minerals 37 + types of vegetables 37 + +Sexes, separation of 130 + +Shade, the 86 + +Sheaves of the ego 61 + +Shell, of astral body 68, 78-80, 81, 86-7 + of thoughts 53, 91 + +Sight, astral 68-9 + clairvoyant 46 + mental 51 + of ego 46 + +Simile of, boiling water 69-70 + brick 25 + bucket of water 34-5 + charged battery 53 + cups of varying capacities 91-2 + days at school 97-8, 143 + dense fog 143 + developing muscles 114 + flame in a dark night 14 + ganglia 11 + matter diffused in water 72 + Niagara Falls 135 + onion 72 + overtones of musical notes 58 + path up mountain 5 + payment of a debt 102-4 + rungs of a ladder 17 + Saturn's rings 22 + shutting a door 131 + sorting out school-boys 132 + university degrees 120 + vibrations of a bell 55 + warts 49 + +Sinnett, Mr. A.P. 1, 15 + author of _The Occult World_ 1, 15 + author of _Esoteric Buddhism_ 1, 15 + editor of _The Pioneer_ 15 + +Sleep 61-2, 70, 87 + man during 61-2, 70 + the dead are met during 74 + +Solar Deity, the, a Being higher than 19 + builds His system 9-10, 19 + field of activity of 19 + first Aspect of 39 + fragment of Life of 9-10 + future planets of 19 + impulses of force of 20-1, 28 + is a Trinity 11 + Official representing 11 + Peers of 9 + Plan of 11, 13 + second Aspect of 28, 32, 65 + Self-limitation of 10 + seven Ministers of 11 + seven Planetary Spirits 11 + the King of the World represents 11 + third Aspect of 20-1, 28 + threefold manifestation of 10 + +Solar plexus, force-centre, the 60 + +Solar System, evolutionary table of 125 + formation of 18-27 + inhabitants of the 85 + Logos of a 9 + origin of 19 + ten chains of 121-3 + +Solar systems, countless 9 + +Son of Master 118 + +Soul, the group 33-9, 42 + man is a 2, 33 + of an animal 33-4 + of domestic animals 37-40 + of grasses 31 + of insects 37 + of lions 33-4 + of man 8, 33, 55 + of reptiles 42 + of trees 31 + plant- 33 + World- 33 + +Space, between atoms 23 + Fohat digs holes in 19 + the æther of 18-9 + worlds not separate in 2 + +Sparks, of divine Fire 39-40, 61 + of divine Life 23, 29 + +Spine, force-centre at base of 60 + +Spirit, and matter 18 + in man 23, 41 + the triple, in man 41-2 + +Spiritual world, the extent of 26-7 + is the name of third plane 23, 41 + Monads descend to 41 + +Spleen, the, vitality flows through 60 + +Stream, those who have entered the 119 + +Sub-atomic matter 25 + +Sub-races of humanity 105, 125 + +Summerland, the, of astral world 80 + +Sun, vitality comes from the 60 + +Super-etheric matter 25 + +Table of evolution of Solar System 125 + +Teachers, authority of 16 + of earlier races 126 + of religion 11-2 + +Tempting demons 53, 67 + +Test, the, of right and wrong 142 + +Teutonic sub-race 105 + +Theosophy, demands no belief 6 + explains reincarnation 99 + explains religions 7 + first popular exposition of 1 + is a philosophy 1 + is a religion 1, 5-7 + is a science 1, 7 + never converts 7 + solves problems of life 4 + statements of, based on observation 6 + tells of past history 3 + the gospel of 96 + the great facts of 8 + what, does for us 134-148 + +Theosophist, the, cheerfully faces trouble 146 + conception of life of 137 + does not try to convert 140 + has no fear of death 137 + knows the power of thought 147 + relation of, to animals 141 + sees purpose of life 142 + test of right and wrong of 141 + +Thought, abstract 46 + all actions spring from 116 + concrete 48, 50 + coupled with feeling 51 + -forces after death 63 + is a powerful instrument 116 + necessity for clear 114 + necessity for control of 116 + prolonged 50 + shell of 53 + +Thoughts, are things 147 + as a power for good 55 + build forms 52 + distance no hindrance to 52 + effect of, after death 63-4, 80 + humanity helped by 54-5 + meaning of colours of 46, 54-7 + meaning of shapes of 54 + on Theosophy 55-60 + others affected by 50-51 + self-centred 53-4 + selfish and unselfish 110 + transmission of 52 + +Thought-forms 50-4 + are temporary entities 53 + as guardian angels 54 + as tempting demons 53 + astro-mental 51, 57 + duration of 53-4 + effect on others of 51-2 + move through space 51 + +Thought images (see Thought-forms) + +Three, Aspects of the Logos 10-1 + aspects of man 41 + critical points in man's evolution 117-9 + elemental kingdoms 28-9 + great truths 8 + in One 10 + outpourings 28-39 + Persons 10 + stages of apprenticeship 118 + stages of evolution 108-9 + +Throat, the force-centre in 60 + +Time, no measure of, in astral world 75 + +Trinity of Solar Logos 10 + +Triple Spirit in man 41-2 + +Triumph, the, of man 96 + +Trust begets trust 111 + +Truth, one in diverse forms 12 + the, is obtainable 12 + +Truths, basic, of religions 12-3 + the three great 8 + +Types of, animals 37-8 + elemental creatures 37 + group-souls 37 + life 37 + matter 21 + men 37-9 + minerals 37 + reptiles 37 + vegetables 38 + +Ultimate atoms 19 + physical atoms 25 + root-matter 18 + +Ultra-violet light 26-44 + +Unity, the, of humanity 138-9 + what tends to 109 + +Universe, the, beginning of 18 + +Universes, innumerable 9 + +Universal brotherhood of humanity, the 138 + +Uranium 22 + +Uranus, the planet 124 + +Vegetable, the, kingdom 30-1, 37-8 + seven types of 37 + +Vehicles, man's conflict of interest with his 66-9 + +Venus, the planet 124 + Adepts from, come to Earth 131 + stage of evolution of 131 + +Vibrations, of astral body 56-7, 65-6, 75-6 + of mental body 44 + of thought-forms 53, 55 + +Vibrations, in matter 24, 33, 59 + causal body affected by 47-9 + ego responds to 45 + life learns to generate 33 + octaves of 24 + the senses respond to 25-6 + +Vices, belong to the vehicles 112 + how to kill out 110-5 + +Vitality, circulates along the nerves 59 + of astral corpse 86 + sub-division of 59-60 + what it is 59 + +Vortices, force-centres appear as 60 + in matter 20 + in nebular 19-22 + +Vulcan, the planet, was seen by Herschel 124 + +Warts on mental body 49 + +Water, nature-spirits of 84 + +Waves, life- (see life-waves) + +Wealth of the heaven world 91 + +Whirling sphere of matter 19-21 + vortex in 20 + +Will, the divine 6, 11 + evolution is 11, 120 + fulfilment of 118 + +Wisdom, Masters of the (see Masters) + +Word of God, the 9 + +World, departments of the 11 + King of this 11 + -period 124 + +Worlds, bliss of the higher 89-90 + inhabitants of finer 25-6 + man exists in several 2-3 + of different densities 3 + seven interpenetrating 20, 23-4 + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Textbook of Theosophy, by C.W. Leadbeater + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12902 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..178ada4 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #12902 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12902) diff --git a/old/12902-8.txt b/old/12902-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0d8dd30 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12902-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5378 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Textbook of Theosophy, by C.W. Leadbeater + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Textbook of Theosophy + +Author: C.W. Leadbeater + +Release Date: July 12, 2004 [EBook #12902] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A TEXTBOOK OF THEOSOPHY *** + + + + +Produced by Bob Jones, Frank van Drogen, Elaine Wilson and PG +Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +A TEXTBOOK OF THEOSOPHY + + + + + by + +C.W. LEADBEATER + + + + +1912 + + + + +CONTENTS + + +Chapter + I. What Theosophy Is + II. From the Absolute to Man + III. The Formation of a Solar System + IV. The Evolution of Life + V. The Constitution of Man + VI. After Death + VII. Reincarnation + VIII. The Purpose of Life + IX. The Planetary Chains + X. The Result of Theosophical Study + +Index + + + + +Chapter I + +WHAT THEOSOPHY IS + + +"There is a school of philosophy still in existence of which modern culture +has lost sight." In these words Mr. A.P. Sinnett began his book, _The +Occult World_, the first popular exposition of Theosophy, published thirty +years ago. [Namely in 1881.] During the years that have passed since then, +many thousands have learned wisdom in that school, yet to the majority its +teachings are still unknown, and they can give only the vaguest of replies +to the query, "What is Theosophy?" + +Two books already exist which answer that question: Mr. Sinnett's _Esoteric +Buddhism_ and Dr. Besant's _The Ancient Wisdom_. I have no thought of +entering into competition with those standard works; what I desire is to +present a statement, as clear and simple as I can make it, which may be +regarded as introductory to them. + +We often speak of Theosophy as not in itself a religion, but the truth +which lies behind all religions alike. That is so; yet, from another point +of view, we may surely say that it is at once a philosophy, a religion and +a science. It is a philosophy, because it puts plainly before us an +explanation of the scheme of evolution of both the souls and the bodies +contained in our solar system. It is a religion in so far as, having shown +us the course of ordinary evolution, it also puts before us and advises a +method of shortening that course, so that by conscious effort we may +progress more directly towards the goal. It is a science, because it treats +both these subjects as matters not of theological belief but of direct +knowledge obtainable by study and investigation. It asserts that man has no +need to trust to blind faith, because he has within him latent powers +which, when aroused, enable him to see and examine for himself, and it +proceeds to prove its case by showing how those powers may be awakened. It +is itself a result of the awakening of such powers by men, for the +teachings which it puts before us are founded upon direct observations made +in the past, and rendered possible only by such development. + +As a philosophy, it explains to us that the solar system is a +carefully-ordered mechanism, a manifestation of a magnificent life, of +which man is but a small part. Nevertheless, it takes up that small part +which immediately concerns us, and treats it exhaustively under three +heads--present, past and future. + +It deals with the present by describing what man really is, as seen by +means of developed faculties. It is customary to speak of man as having a +soul. Theosophy, as the result of direct investigation, reverses that +dictum, and states that man _is_ a soul, and _has_ a body--in fact several +bodies, which are his vehicles and instruments in various worlds. These +worlds are not separate in space; they are simultaneously present with us, +here and now, and can be examined; they are the divisions of the material +side of Nature--different degrees of density in the aggregation of matter, +as will presently be explained in detail. Man has an existence in several +of these, but is normally conscious only of the lowest, though sometimes in +dreams and trances he has glimpses of some of the others. What is called +death is the laying aside of the vehicle belonging to this lowest world, +but the soul or real man in a higher world is no more changed or affected +by this than the physical man is changed or affected when he removes his +overcoat. All this is a matter, not of speculation, but of observation and +experiment. + +Theosophy has much to tell us of the past history of man--of how in the +course of evolution he has come to be what he now is. This also is a matter +of observation, because of the fact that there exists an indelible record +of all that has taken place--a sort of memory of Nature--by examining which +the scenes of earlier evolution may be made to pass before the eyes of the +investigator as though they were happening at this moment. By thus studying +the past we learn that man is divine in origin and that he has a long +evolution behind him--a double evolution, that of the life or soul within, +and that of the outer form. We learn, too, that the life of man as a soul +is of, what to us seems, enormous length, and that what we have been in the +habit of calling his life is in reality only one day of his real existence. +He has already lived through many such days, and has many more of them yet +before him; and if we wish to understand the real life and its object, we +must consider it in relation not only to this one day of it, which begins +with birth and ends with death, but also to the days which have gone before +and those which are yet to come. + +Of those that are yet to come there is also much to be said, and on this +subject, too, a great deal of definite information is available. Such +information is obtainable, first, from men who have already passed much +further along the road of evolution than we, and have consequently direct +experience of it; and, secondly, from inferences drawn from the obvious +direction of the steps which we see to have been previously taken. The goal +of this particular cycle is in sight, though still far above us but it +would seem that, even when that has been attained, an infinity of progress +still lies before everyone who is willing to undertake it. + +One of the most striking advantages of Theosophy is that the light which it +brings to us at once solves many of our problems, clears away many +difficulties, accounts for the apparent injustices of life, and in all +directions brings order out of seeming chaos. Thus, while some of its +teaching is based upon the observation of forces whose direct working is +somewhat beyond the ken of the ordinary man of the world, if the latter +will accept it as a hypothesis he will very soon come to see that it must +be a correct one, because it, and it alone, furnishes a coherent and +reasonable explanation of the drama of life which is being played before +him. + +The existence of Perfected Men, and the possibility of coming into touch +with Them and being taught by Them, are prominent among the great new +truths which Theosophy brings to the western world. Another of them is the +stupendous fact that the world is not drifting blindly into anarchy, but +that its progress is under the control of a perfectly organized Hierarchy, +so that final failure even for the tiniest of its units is of all +impossibilities the most impossible. A glimpse of the working of that +Hierarchy inevitably engenders the desire to co-operate with it, to serve +under it, in however humble a capacity, and some time in the far-distant +future to be worthy to join the outer fringes of its ranks. + +This brings us to that aspect of Theosophy which we have called religious. +Those who come to know and to understand these things are dissatisfied with +the slow æons of evolution; they yearn to become more immediately useful, +and so they demand and obtain knowledge of the shorter but steeper Path. +There is no possibility of escaping the amount of work that has to be done. +It is like carrying a load up a mountain; whether one carries it straight +up a steep path or more gradually by a road of gentle slope, precisely the +same number of foot-pounds must be exerted. Therefore to do the same work +in a small fraction of the time means determined effort. It can be done, +however, for it has been done; and those who have done it agree that it far +more than repays the trouble. The limitations of the various vehicles are +thereby gradually transcended, and the liberated man becomes an intelligent +co-worker in the mighty plan for the evolution of all beings. + +In its capacity as a religion, too, Theosophy gives its followers a rule of +life, based not on alleged commands delivered at some remote period of the +past, but on plain common sense as indicated by observed facts. The +attitude of the student of Theosophy towards the rules which it prescribes +resembles rather that which we adopt to hygienic regulations than obedience +to religious commandments. We may say, if we wish, that this thing or that +is in accordance with the divine Will, for the divine Will is expressed in +what we know as the laws of Nature. Because that Will wisely ordereth all +things, to infringe its laws means to disturb the smooth working of the +scheme, to hold back for a moment that fragment or tiny part of evolution, +and consequently to bring discomfort upon ourselves and others. It is for +that reason that the wise man avoids infringing them--not to escape the +imaginary wrath of some offended deity. + +But if from a certain point of view we may think of Theosophy as a +religion, we must note two great points of difference between it and what +is ordinarily called religion in the West. First, it neither demands belief +from its followers, nor does it even speak of belief in the sense in which +that word is usually employed. The student of occult science either _knows_ +a thing or suspends his judgment about it; there is no place in his scheme +for blind faith. Naturally, beginners in the study cannot yet _know_ for +themselves, so they are asked to read the results of the various +observations and to deal with them as probable hypotheses--provisionally to +accept and act upon them, until such time as they can prove them for +themselves. + +Secondly, Theosophy never endeavours to convert any man from whatever +religion he already holds. On the contrary, it explains his religion to +him, and enables him to see in it deeper meanings than he has ever known +before. It teaches him to understand it and live it better than he did, and +in many cases it gives back to him, on a higher and more intelligent level, +the faith in it which he had previously all but lost. + +Theosophy has its aspects as a science also; it is in very truth a science +of life, a science of the soul. It applies to everything the scientific +method of oft-repeated, painstaking observation, and then tabulates the +results and makes deductions from them. In this way it has investigated the +various planes of Nature, the conditions of man's consciousness during life +and after what is commonly called death. It cannot be too often repeated +that its statements on all these matters are not vague guesses or tenets of +faith, but are based upon direct and oft-repeated _observation_ of what +happens. Its investigators have dealt also to a certain extent with +subjects more in the range of ordinary science, as may be seen by those who +read the book on _Occult Chemistry_. + +Thus we see that Theosophy combines within itself some of the +characteristics of philosophy, religion and science. What, it might be +asked, is its gospel for this weary world? What are the main points which +emerge from its investigations? What are the great facts which it has to +lay before humanity? + +They have been well summed up under three main heads. + +"There are three truths which are absolute, and which cannot be lost, but +yet may remain silent for lack of speech. + +"The soul of man is immortal and its future is the future of a thing whose +growth and splendour has no limit. + +"The principle which gives life dwells in us and without us, is undying and +eternally beneficent, is not heard or seen or smelt, but is perceived by +the man who desires perception. + +"Each man is his own absolute lawgiver, the dispenser of glory or gloom to +himself, the decreer of his life, his reward, his punishment. + +"These truths, which are as great as is life itself, are as simple as the +simplest mind of man." + +Put shortly, and in the language of the man of the street, this means that +God is good, that man is immortal, and that as we sow so we must reap. +There is a definite scheme of things; it is under intelligent direction and +works under immutable laws. Man has his place in this scheme and is living +under these laws. If he understands them and co-operates with them, he will +advance rapidly and will be happy; if he does not understand them--if, +wittingly or unwittingly, he breaks them, he will delay his progress and be +miserable. These are not theories, but proved facts. Let him who doubts +read on, and he will see. + + + + +Chapter II + +FROM THE ABSOLUTE TO MAN + + +Of the Absolute, the Infinite, the All-embracing, we can at our present +stage know nothing, except that It is; we can say nothing that is not a +limitation, and therefore inaccurate. + +In It are innumerable universes; in each universe countless solar systems. +Each solar system is the expression of a mighty Being, whom we call the +LOGOS, the Word of God, the Solar Deity. He is to it all that men mean by +God. He permeates it; there is nothing in it which is not He; it is the +manifestation of Him in such matter as we can see. Yet He exists above it +and outside it, living a stupendous life of His own among His Peers. As is +said in an Eastern Scripture: "Having permeated this whole universe with +one fragment of Myself I remain." + +Of that higher life of His we can know nothing. But of the fragment of His +life which energises His system we may know something in the lower levels +of its manifestation. We may not see Him, but we may see His power at work. +No one who is clairvoyant can be atheistic; the evidence is too tremendous. + +Out of Himself He has called this mighty system into being. We who are in +it are evolving fragments of His life, Sparks of His divine Fire; from Him +we all have come; into Him we shall all return. + +Many have asked why He has done this; why He has emanated from Himself all +this system; why He has sent us forth to face the storms of life. We cannot +know, nor is the question practical; suffice it that we are here, and we +must do our best. Yet many philosophers have speculated on this point and +many suggestions have been made. The most beautiful that I know is that of +a Gnostic philosopher: + +"God is Love, but Love itself cannot be perfect unless it has those upon +whom it can be lavished and by whom it can be returned. Therefore He put +forth of Himself into matter, and He limited His glory, in order that +through this natural and slow process of evolution we might come into +being; and we in turn according to His Will are to develop until we reach +even His own level, and then the very love of God itself will become more +perfect, because it will then be lavished on those, His own children, who +will fully understand and return it, and so His great scheme will be +realized and His Will, be done." + +At what stupendous elevation His consciousness abides we know not, nor can +we know its true nature as it shows itself there. But when He puts Himself +down into such conditions as are within our reach, His manifestation is +ever threefold, and so all religions have imaged Him as a Trinity. Three, +yet fundamentally One; Three Persons (for person means a mask) yet one God, +showing Himself in those Three Aspects. Three to us, looking at Them from +below, because Their functions are different; one to Him, because He knows +Them to be but facets of Himself. + +All Three of these Aspects are concerned in the evolution of the solar +system; all Three are also concerned in the evolution of man. This +evolution is His Will; the method of it is His plan. + +Next below this Solar Deity, yet also in some mysterious manner part of +Him, come His seven Ministers sometimes called the Planetary Spirits. Using +an analogy drawn from the physiology of our own body, Their relation to Him +is like that of the ganglia or the nerve centres to the brain. All +evolution which comes forth from Him comes through one or other of Them. + +Under Them in turn come vast hosts or orders of spiritual beings, whom we +call angels or devas. We do not yet know all the functions which they +fulfil in different parts of this wonderful scheme, but we find some of +them intimately connected with the building of the system and the unfolding +of life within it. + +Here in our world there is a great Official who represents the Solar Deity +and is in absolute control of all the evolution that takes place upon this +planet. We may image Him as the true KING of this world and under Him are +ministers in charge of different departments. One of these departments is +concerned with the evolution of the different races of humanity so that for +each great race there is a Head who founds it, differentiates it from all +others, and watches over its development. Another department is that of +religion and education, and it is from this that all the greatest teachers +of history have come--that all religions have been sent forth. The great +Official at the head of this department either comes Himself or sends one +of His pupils to found a new religion when He decides that one is needed. + +Therefore all religions, at the time of their first presentation to the +world, have contained a definite statement of the Truth, and in its +fundamentals this Truth has been always the same. The presentations of it +have varied because of differences in the races to whom it was offered. The +conditions of civilization and the degree of evolution obtained by various +races have made it desirable to present this one Truth in divers forms. But +the inner Truth is always the same, and the source from which it comes is +the same, even though the external phases may appear to be different and +even contradictory. It is foolish for men to wrangle over the question of +the superiority of one teacher or one form of teaching to another, for the +teacher is always one sent by the Great Brotherhood of Adepts, and in all +its important points, in its ethical and moral principles, the teaching has +always been the same. + +There is in the world a body or Truth which lies at the back of all these +religions, and represents the facts of nature as far as they are at present +known to man. In the outer world, because of their ignorance of this, +people are always disputing and arguing about whether there is a God; +whether man survives death; whether definite progress is possible for him, +and what is his relation to the universe. These questions are ever present +in the mind of man as soon as intelligence is awakened. They are not +unanswerable, as is frequently supposed; the answers to them are within the +reach of anyone who will make proper efforts to find them. The truth is +obtainable, and the conditions of its attainment are possible of +achievement by anyone who will make the effort. + +In the earlier stages of the development of humanity the great Officials of +the Hierarchy are provided from outside, from other and more highly evolved +parts of the system, but as soon as men can be trained to the necessary +level of power and wisdom these offices are held by them. In order to be +fit to hold such an office a man must raise himself to a very high level, +and must become what is called an Adept--a being of goodness, power and +wisdom so great that He towers above the rest of humanity, for He has +already attained the summit of ordinary human evolution; He has achieved +that which the plan of the Deity marked out for Him to achieve during this +age or dispensation. But His evolution later on continues beyond that +level--continues to divinity. + +A large number of men have attained the Adept level--men not of one nation, +but of all the leading nations of the world--rare souls who with +indomitable courage have stormed the fortresses of nature, and captured her +innermost secrets, and so have truly earned the right to be called Adepts. +Among Them there are many degrees and many lines of activity; but always +some of Them remain within touch of our earth as members of this Hierarchy +which has in charge the administration of the affairs of our world and of +the spiritual evolution of our humanity. + +This august body is often called the Great White Brotherhood, but its +members are not a community all living together. Each of Them, to a large +extent, draws Himself apart from the world, and They are in constant +communication with one another and with Their Head; but Their knowledge of +higher forces is so great that this is achieved without any necessity for +meeting in the physical world. In many cases They continue to live each in +His own country, and Their power remains unsuspected among those who live +near Them. Any man who will may attract Their attention, but he can do it +only by showing himself worthy of Their notice. None need fear that his +efforts will pass unnoticed; such oversight is impossible, for the man who +is devoting himself to service such as this, stands out from the rest of +humanity like a great flame in a dark night. A few of these great Adepts, +who are thus working for the good of the world, are willing to take as +apprentices those who have resolved to devote themselves utterly to the +service of mankind; such Adepts are called Masters. + +One of these apprentices was Helena Petrovna Blavatsky--a great soul who +was sent out to offer knowledge to the world. With Colonel Henry Steel +Olcott she founded The Theosophical Society for the spread of this +knowledge which she had to give. Among those who came into contact with her +in those early days was Mr. A.P. Sinnett, the editor of _The Pioneer_, and +his keen intellect at once grasped the magnitude and the importance of the +teaching which she put before him. Although Madame Blavatsky herself had +previously written _Isis Unveiled_, it had attracted but little attention, +and it was Mr. Sinnett who first made the teaching really available for +western readers in his two books, _The Occult World_ and _Esoteric +Buddhism_. + +It was through these works that I myself first came to know their author, +and afterwards Madame Blavatsky herself; from both of them I learned much. +When I asked Madame Blavatsky how one could learn still more, how one could +make definite progress along the Path which she pointed out to us, she told +me of the possibility that other students might be accepted as apprentices +by the great Masters, even as she herself had been accepted, and that the +only way to gain such acceptance was to show oneself worthy of it by +earnest and altruistic work. She told me that to reach that goal a man must +be absolutely one-pointed in his determination; that no one who tried to +serve both God and Mammon could ever hope to succeed. One of these Masters +Himself had said: "In order to succeed, a pupil must leave his own world +and come into ours." + +This means that he must cease to be one of the majority who live for wealth +and power, and must join the tiny minority who care nothing for such +things, but live only in order to devote themselves selflessly to the good +of the world. She warned us clearly that the way was difficult to tread, +that we should be misunderstood and reviled by those who still lived in the +world, and that we had nothing to look forward to but the hardest of hard +work; and though the result was sure, no one could foretell how long it +would take to arrive at it. Some of us accepted these conditions joyfully, +and we have never for a moment regretted the decision. + +After some years of work I had the privilege of coming into contact with +these great Masters of the Wisdom; from Them I learnt many things--among +others, how to verify for myself at first hand most of the teachings which +They had given. So that, in this matter, I write of what I know, and what I +have seen for myself. Certain points are mentioned in the teaching, for the +verification of which powers are required far beyond anything which I have +gained so far. Of them, I can say only that they are consistent with what I +do know, and in many cases are necessary as hypotheses to account for what +I have seen. They came to me, along with the rest of the Theosophical +system, upon the authority of these mighty Teachers. Since then I have +learnt to examine for myself by far the greater part of what I was told, +and I have found the information given to me to be correct in every +particular; therefore I am justified in assuming the probability that that +other part, which as yet I cannot verify, will also prove to be correct +when I arrive at its level. + +To attain the honour of being accepted as an apprentice of one of the +Masters of the Wisdom is the object set before himself by every earnest +Theosophical student. But it means a determined effort. There have always +been men who were willing to make the necessary effort, and therefore there +have always been men who knew. The knowledge is so transcendent that when a +man grasps it fully he becomes more than man and he passes beyond our ken. + +But there are stages in the acquirement of this knowledge, and we may learn +much if we will, from those who themselves are still in process of +learning; for all human beings stand on one or other of the rungs of the +ladder of evolution. The primitive stand at its foot; we who are civilized +beings have already climbed part of the way. But though we can look back +and see rungs of the ladder below us which we have already passed, we may +also look up and see many rungs above us to which we have not yet attained. +Just as men are standing even now on each of the rungs below us, so that we +can see the stages by which man has mounted, so also are there men standing +on each of the rungs above us, so that from studying them we may see how +man shall mount in the future. Precisely because we see men on every step +of this ladder, which leads up to a glory which as yet we have no words to +express, we know that the ascent to that glory is possible for us. Those +who stand high above us, so high that They seem to us as gods in Their +marvellous knowledge and power, tell us that They stood not long since +where we are standing now, and They indicate to us clearly the steps which +lie between, which we also must tread if we would be as They. + + + + +Chapter III + +THE FORMATION OF A SOLAR SYSTEM + + +The beginning of the universe (if ever it had a beginning) is beyond our +ken. At the earliest point of history that we can reach, the two great +opposites of spirit and matter, of life and form, are already in full +activity. We find that the ordinary conception of matter needs a revision, +for what are commonly called force and matter are in reality only two +varieties of Spirit at different stages in evolution and the real matter or +basis of everything lies in the background unperceived. A French scientist +has recently said: "There is no matter; there are nothing but holes in the +æther." This also agrees with the celebrated theory of Professor Osborne +Reynolds. Occult investigation shows this to be the correct view, and in +that way explains what Oriental sacred books mean when they say that matter +is an illusion. + +The ultimate root-matter as seen at our level is what scientists call the +æther of space. [This has been described in _Occult Chemistry_ under the +name of koilon.] To every physical sense the space occupied by it appears +empty, yet in reality this æther is far denser than anything of which we +can conceive. Its density is defined by Professor Reynolds as being ten +thousand times greater than that of water, and its mean pressure as seven +hundred and fifty thousand tons to the square inch. + +This substance is perceptible only to highly developed clairvoyant power. +We must assume a time (though we have no direct knowledge on this point) +when this substance filled all space. We must also suppose that some great +Being (not the Deity of a solar system, but some Being almost infinitely +higher than that) changed this condition of rest by pouring out His spirit +or force into a certain section of this matter, a section of the size of a +whole universe. This effect of the introduction of this force is as that of +the blowing of a mighty breath; it has formed within this æther an +incalculable number of tiny spherical bubbles, [The bubbles are spoken of +in _The Secret Doctrine_ as the holes which Fohat digs in space.] and these +bubbles are the ultimate atoms of which what we call matter is composed. +They are not the atoms of the chemist, nor even the ultimate atoms of the +physical world. They stand at a far higher level, and what are usually +called atoms are composed of vast aggregations of these bubbles, as will be +seen later. + +When the Solar Deity begins to make His system, He finds ready to His hand +this material--this infinite mass of tiny bubbles which can be built up +into various kinds of matter as we know it. He commences by defining the +limit of His field of activity, a vast sphere whose circumference is far +larger than the orbit of the outermost of His future planets. Within the +limit of that sphere He sets up a kind of gigantic vortex--a motion which +sweeps together all the bubbles into a vast central mass, the material of +the nebula that is to be. + +Into this vast revolving sphere He sends forth successive impulses of +force, gathering together the bubbles into ever more and more complex +aggregations, and producing in this way seven gigantic interpenetrating +worlds of matter of different degrees of density, all concentric and all +occupying the same space. + +Acting through His Third Aspect He sends forth into this stupendous sphere +the first of these impulses. It sets up all through the sphere a vast +number of tiny vortices, each of which draws into itself forty-nine +bubbles, and arranges them in a certain shape. These little groupings of +bubbles so formed are the atoms of the second of the interpenetrating +worlds. The whole number of the bubbles is not used in this way, sufficient +being left in the dissociated state to act as atoms for the first and +highest of these worlds. In due time comes the second impulse, which seizes +upon nearly all these forty-nine bubble-atoms (leaving only enough to +provide atoms for the second world), draws them back into itself and then, +throwing them out again, sets up among them vortices, each of which holds +within itself 2,401 bubbles (49^2). These form the atoms of the third +world. Again after a time comes a third impulse, which in the same way +seizes upon nearly all these 2,401 bubble-atoms, draws them back again into +their original form, and again throws them outward once more as the atoms +of the fourth world--each atom containing this time 49^{3} bubbles. This +process is repeated until the sixth of these successive impulses has built +the atom of the seventh or the lowest world--that atom containing 49^{6} of +the original bubbles. + +This atom of the seventh world is the ultimate atom of the physical +world--not any of the atoms of which chemists speak, but that ultimate out +of which all their atoms are made. We have at this stage arrived at that +condition of affairs in which the vast whirling sphere contains within +itself seven types of matter, all one in essence, because all built of the +same kind of bubbles, but differing in their degree of density. All these +types are freely intermingled, so that specimens of each type would be +found in a small portion of the sphere taken at random in any part of it, +with, however, a general tendency of the heavier atoms to gravitate more +and more towards the centre. + +The seventh impulse sent out from the Third Aspect of the Deity does not, +as before, draw back the physical atoms which were last made into the +original dissociated bubbles, but draws them together into certain +aggregations, thus making a number of different kinds of what may be called +proto-elements, and these again are joined together into the various forms +which are known to science as chemical elements. The making of these +extends over a long period of ages, and they are made in a certain definite +order by the interaction of several forces, as is correctly indicated in +Sir William Crookes's paper, _The Genesis of the Elements_. Indeed the +process of their making is not even now concluded; uranium is the latest +and heaviest element so far as we know, but others still more complicated +may perhaps be produced in the future. + +As ages rolled on the condensation increased, and presently the stage of a +vast glowing nebula was reached. As it cooled, still rapidly rotating, it +flattened into a huge disc and gradually broke up into rings surrounding a +central body--an arrangement not unlike that which Saturn exhibits at the +present day, though on a far larger scale. As the time drew near when the +planets would be required for the purposes of evolution, the Deity sets up +somewhere in the thickness of each ring a subsidiary vortex into which a +great deal of the matter of the ring was by degrees collected. The +collisions of the gathered fragments caused a revival of the heat, and the +resulting planet was for a long time a mass of glowing gas. Little by +little it cooled once more, until it became fit to be the theatre of life +such as ours. Thus were all the planets formed. + +Almost all the matter of those interpenetrating worlds was by this time +concentrated into the newly formed planets. Each of them was and is +composed of all those different kinds of matter. The earth upon which we +are now living is not merely a great ball of physical matter, built of the +atoms of that lowest world, but has also attached to it an abundant supply +of matter of the sixth, the fifth, the fourth and other worlds. It is well +known to all students of science that particles of matter never actually +touch one another, even in the hardest of substances. The spaces between +them are always far greater in proportion than their own size--enormously +greater. So there is ample room for all the other kinds of atoms of all +those other worlds, not only to lie between the atoms of the denser matter, +but to move quite freely among them and around them. Consequently, this +globe upon which we live is not one world, but seven interpenetrating +worlds, all occupying the same space, except that the finer types of matter +extend further from the centre than does the denser matter. + +We have given names to these interpenetrating worlds for convenience in +speaking of them. No name is needed for the first, as man is not yet in +direct connection with it; but when it is necessary to mention it, it may +be called the divine world. The second is described as the monadic, because +in it exist those Sparks of the divine Life which we call the human Monads; +but neither of these can be touched by the highest clairvoyant +investigations at present possible for us. The third sphere, whose atoms +contain 2,401 bubbles, is called the spiritual world, because in it +functions the highest Spirit in man as now constituted. The fourth is the +intuitional world, [Previously called in Theosophical literature the +buddhic plane.] because from it come the highest intuitions. The fifth is +the mental world, because from its matter is built the mind of man. The +sixth is called the emotional or astral world, because the emotions of man +cause undulations in its matter. (The name astral was given to it by +mediæval alchemists, because its matter is starry or shining as compared to +that of the denser world.) The seventh world, composed of the type of +matter which we see all around us, is called the physical. + +The matter of which all these interpenetrating worlds are built is +essentially the same matter, but differently arranged and of different +degrees of density. Therefore the rates at which these various types of +matter normally vibrate differ also. They may be considered as a vast gamut +of undulations consisting of many octaves. The physical matter uses a +certain number of the lowest of these octaves, the astral matter another +group of octaves just above that, the mental matter a still further group, +and so on. + +Not only has each of these worlds its own type of matter; it has also its +own set of aggregations of that matter--its own substances. In each world +we arrange these substances in seven classes according to the rate at which +their molecules vibrate. Usually, but not invariably, the slower +oscillation involves also a larger molecule--a molecule, that is, built up +by a special arrangement of the smaller molecules of the next higher +subdivision. The application of heat increases the size of the molecules +and also quickens and amplifies their undulation, so that they cover more +ground, and the object, as a whole expands, until the point is reached +where the aggregation of molecules breaks up, and the latter passes from +one condition to that next above it. In the matter of the physical world +the seven subdivisions are represented by seven degrees of density of +matter, to which, beginning from below upwards, we give the names solid, +liquid, gaseous, etheric, superetheric, subatomic and atomic. + +The atomic subdivision is one in which all forms are built by the +compression into certain shapes of the physical atoms, without any previous +collection of these atoms into blocks or molecules. Typifying the physical +ultimate atom for the moment by a brick, any form in the atomic subdivision +would be made by gathering together some of the bricks, and building them +into a certain shape. In order to make matter for the next lower +subdivision, a certain number of the bricks (atoms) would first be gathered +together and cemented into small blocks of say four bricks each, five +bricks each, six bricks or seven bricks; and then these blocks so made +would be used as building stones. For the next subdivision several of the +blocks of the second subdivision cemented together in certain shapes would +form building-stones, and so on to the lowest. + +To transfer any substance from the solid condition to the liquid (that is +to say, to melt it) is to increase the vibration of its compound molecules +until at last they are shaken apart into the simpler molecules of which +they were built. This process can in all cases be repeated again and again +until finally any and every physical substance can be reduced to the +ultimate atoms of the physical world. + +Each of these worlds has its inhabitants, whose senses are normally capable +of responding to the undulations of their own world only. A man living (as +we are all doing) in the physical world sees, hears, feels, by vibrations +connected with the physical matter around him. He is equally surrounded by +the astral and mental and other worlds which are interpenetrating his own +denser world, but of them he is normally unconscious, because his senses +cannot respond to the oscillations of their matter, just as our physical +eyes cannot see by the vibrations of ultra-violet light, although +scientific experiments show that they exist, and there are other +consciousnesses with differently-formed organs who _can_ see by them. A +being living in the astral world might be occupying the very same space as +a being living in the physical world, yet each would be entirely +unconscious of the other and would in no way impede the free movement of +the other. The same is true of all other worlds. We are at this moment +surrounded by these worlds of finer matter, as close to us as the world we +see, and their inhabitants are passing through us and about us, but we are +entirely unconscious of them. + +Since our evolution is centred at present upon this globe which we call the +earth, it is in connection with it only that we shall be speaking of these +higher worlds, so in future when I use the term "astral world" I shall mean +by it the astral part of our own globe only, and not (as heretofore) the +astral part of the whole solar system. This astral part of our own world is +also a globe, but of astral matter. It occupies the same place as the globe +which we see, but its matter (being so much lighter) extends out into space +on all sides of us further than does the atmosphere of the earth--a great +deal further. It stretches to a little less than the mean distance of the +moon, so that though the two physical globes, the earth and the moon, are +nearly 240,000 miles apart, the astral globes of these two bodies touch one +another when the moon is in perigee, but not when she is in apogee. I shall +apply the term "mental world" to the still larger globe of mental matter in +the midst of which our physical earth exists. When we come to the still +higher globes we have spheres large enough to touch the corresponding +spheres of other planets in the system, though their matter also is just as +much about us here on the surface of the solid earth as that of the others. +All these globes of finer matter are a part of us, and are all revolving +round the sun with their visible part. The student will do well to accustom +himself to think of our earth as the whole of this mass of interpenetrating +worlds--not only the comparatively small physical ball in the centre of it. + + + + +Chapter IV + +THE EVOLUTION OF LIFE + + +All the impulses of life which I have described as building the +interpenetrating worlds come forth from the Third Aspect of the Deity. +Hence in the Christian scheme that Aspect is called "the Giver of Life", +the Spirit who brooded over the face of the waters of space. In +Theosophical literature these impulses are usually taken as a whole, and +called the First Outpouring. + +When the worlds had been prepared to this extent, and most of the chemical +elements already existed, the Second Outpouring of life took place, and +this came from the Second Aspect of the Deity. It brought with it the power +of combination. In all the worlds it found existing what may be thought of +as elements corresponding to those worlds. It proceeded to combine those +elements into organisms which it then ensouled, and in this way it built up +the seven kingdoms of Nature. Theosophy recognizes seven kingdoms, because +it regards man as separate from the animal kingdom and it takes into +account several stages of evolution which are unseen by the physical eye, +and gives to them the mediæval name of "elemental kingdoms". + +The divine Life pours itself into matter from above, and its whole course +may be thought of in two stages--the gradual assumption of grosser and +grosser matter, and then the gradual casting off again of the vehicles +which have been assumed. The earliest level upon which its vehicles can be +scientifically observed is the mental--the fifth counting from the finer to +the grosser, the first on which there are separated globes. In practical +study it is found convenient to divide this mental world into two parts, +which we call the higher and the lower according to the degree of density +of their matter. The higher consists of the three finer subdivisions of +mental matter; the lower part of the other four. + +When the outpouring reaches the higher mental world it draws together the +ethereal elements there, combines them into what at that level correspond +to substances and of these substances builds forms which it inhabits. We +call this the first elemental kingdom. + +After a long period of evolution through different forms at that level, the +wave of life, which is all the time pressing steadily downwards, learns to +identify itself so fully with those forms that, instead of occupying them +and withdrawing from them periodically, it is able to hold them permanently +and make them part of itself, so that now from that level it can proceed to +the temporary occupation of forms at a still lower level. When it reaches +this stage we call it the second elemental kingdom, the ensouling life of +which resides upon the higher mental levels, while the vehicles through +which it manifests are on the lower. + +After another vast period of similar length, it is found that the downward +pressure has caused this process to repeat itself; once more the life has +identified itself with its forms, and has taken up its residence upon the +lower mental levels, so that it is capable of ensouling bodies in the +astral world. At this stage we call it the third elemental kingdom. + +We speak of all these forms as finer or grosser relatively to one another, +but all of them are almost infinitely finer than any with which we are +acquainted in the physical world. Each of these three is a kingdom of +Nature, as varied in the manifestations of its different forms of life as +is the animal or vegetable kingdom which we know. After a long period spent +in ensouling the forms of the third of these elemental kingdoms it +identifies itself with them in turn, and so is able to ensoul the etheric +part of the mineral kingdom, and becomes the life which vivifies that--for +there is a life in the mineral kingdom just as much as in the vegetable or +the animal, although it is in conditions where it cannot manifest so +freely. In the course of the mineral evolution the downward pressure causes +it to identify itself in the same way with the etheric matter of the +physical world, and from that to ensoul the denser matter of such minerals +as are perceptible to our senses. + +In the mineral kingdom we include not only what are usually called +minerals, but also liquids, gases and many etheric substances the existence +of which is unknown to western science. All the matter of which we know +anything is living matter, and the life which it contains is always +evolving. When it has reached the central point of the mineral stage the +downward pressure ceases, and is replaced by an upward tendency; the +outbreathing has ceased and the indrawing has begun. + +When mineral evolution is completed, the life has withdrawn itself again +into the astral world, but bearing with it all the results obtained through +its experiences in the physical. At this stage it ensouls vegetable forms, +and begins to show itself much more clearly as what we commonly call +life--plant-life of all kinds; and at a yet later stage of its development +it leaves the vegetable kingdom and ensouls the animal kingdom. The +attainment of this level is the sign that it has withdrawn itself still +further, and is now working from the lower mental world. In order to work +in physical matter from that mental world it must operate through the +intervening astral matter; and that astral matter is now no longer part of +the garment of the group-soul as a whole, but is the individual astral body +of the animal concerned, as will be later explained. + +In each of these kingdoms it not only passes a period of time which is to +our ideas almost incredibly long, but it also goes through a definite +course of evolution, beginning from the lower manifestations of that +kingdom and ending with the highest. In the vegetable kingdom, for example, +the life-force might commence its career by occupying grasses or mosses and +end it by ensouling magnificent forest trees. In the animal kingdom it +might commence with mosquitoes or with animalculæ, and might end with the +finest specimens of the mammalia. + +The whole process is one of steady evolution from lower forms to higher, +from the simpler to the more complex. But what is evolving is not primarily +the form, but the life within it. The forms also evolve and grow better as +time passes; but this is in order that they may be appropriate vehicles for +more and more advanced waves of life. When the life has reached the highest +level possible in the animal kingdom, it may then pass on into the human +kingdom, under conditions which will presently be explained. + +The outpouring leaves one kingdom and passes to another, so that if we had +to deal with only one wave of this outpouring we could have in existence +only one kingdom at a time. But the Deity sends out a constant succession +of these waves, so that at any given time we find a number of them +simultaneously in operation. We ourselves represent one such wave; but we +find evolving alongside us another wave which ensouls the animal kingdom--a +wave which came out from the Deity one stage later than we did. We find +also the vegetable kingdom, which represents a third wave, and the mineral +kingdom, which represents a fourth; and occultists know of the existence +all round us of three elemental kingdoms, which represent the fifth, sixth +and seventh waves. All these, however, are successive ripples of the same +great outpouring from the Second Aspect of the Deity. + +We have here, then, a scheme of evolution in which the divine Life involves +itself more and more deeply in matter, in order that through that matter it +may receive vibrations which could not otherwise affect it--impacts from +without, which by degrees arouse within it rates of undulation +corresponding to their own, so that it learns to respond to them. Later on +it learns of itself to generate these rates of undulation, and so becomes a +being possessed of spiritual powers. + +We may presume that when this outpouring of life originally came forth from +the Deity, at some level altogether beyond our power of cognition, it may +perhaps have been homogeneous; but when it first comes within practical +cognizance, when it is itself in the intuitional world, but is ensouling +bodies made of the matter of the higher mental world, it is already not one +huge world-soul but many souls. Let us suppose a homogeneous outpouring, +which may be considered as one vast soul, at one end of the scale; at the +other, when humanity is reached, we find that one vast soul broken up into +millions of the comparatively little souls of individual men. At any stage +between these two extremes we find an intermediate condition, the immense +world-soul already subdivided, but not to the utmost limit of possible +subdivision. + +Each man is a soul, but not each animal or each plant. Man, as a soul, can +manifest through only one body at a time in the physical world, whereas one +animal soul manifests simultaneously through a number of animal bodies, one +plant soul through a number of separate plants. A lion, for example, is not +a permanently separate entity in the same way as a man is. When the man +dies--that is, when he as a soul lays aside his physical body--he remains +himself exactly as he was before, an entity separate from all other +entities. When the lion dies, that which has been the separate soul of him +is poured back into the mass from which it came--a mass which is at the +same time providing the souls for many other lions. To such a mass we give +the name of "group-soul". + +To such a group-soul is attached a considerable number of lion bodies--let +us say a hundred. Each of those bodies while it lives has its hundredth +part of the group-soul attached to it, and for the time being this is +apparently quite separate, so that the lion is as much an individual during +his physical life as the man; but he is not a permanent individual. When he +dies the soul of him flows back into the group-soul to which it belongs, +and that identical lion-soul cannot be separated again from the group. + +A useful analogy may help comprehension. Imagine the group-soul to be +represented by the water in a bucket, and the hundred lion bodies by a +hundred tumblers. As each tumbler is dipped into the bucket it takes out +from it a tumblerful of water (the separate soul). That water for the time +being takes the shape of the vehicle which it fills, and is temporarily +separate from the water which remains in the bucket, and from the water in +the other tumblers. + +Now put into each of the hundred tumblers some kind of colouring matter or +some kind of flavouring. That will represent the qualities developed by its +experiences in the separate soul of the lion during its lifetime. Pour back +the water from the tumbler into the bucket; that represents the death of +the lion. The colouring matter or the flavouring will be distributed +through the whole of the water in the bucket, but will be a much fainter +colouring, a much less pronounced flavour when thus distributed than it was +when confined in one tumbler. The qualities developed by the experience of +one lion attached to that group-soul are therefore shared by the entire +group-soul, but in a much lower degree. + +We may take out another tumblerful of water from that bucket, but we can +never again get exactly the same tumblerful after it has once been mingled +with the rest. Every tumblerful taken from that bucket in the future will +contain some traces of the colouring or flavouring put into each tumbler +whose contents have been returned to the bucket. Just so the qualities +developed by the experience of a single lion will become the common +property of all lions who are in the future to be born from that +group-soul, though in a lesser degree than that in which they existed in +the individual lion who developed them. + +That is the explanation of inherited instincts; that is why the duckling +which has been hatched by a hen takes to the water instantly without +needing to be shown how to swim; why the chicken just out of its shell will +cower at the shadow of a hawk; why a bird which has been artificially +hatched, and has never seen a nest, nevertheless knows how to make one, and +makes it according to the traditions of its kind. + +Lower down in the scale of animal life enormous numbers of bodies are +attached to a single group-soul--countless millions, for example, in the +case of some of the smaller insects; but as we rise in the animal kingdom +the number of bodies attached to a single group-soul becomes smaller and +smaller, and therefore the differences between individuals become greater. + +Thus the group-souls gradually break up. Returning to the symbol of the +bucket, as tumbler after tumbler of water is withdrawn from it, tinted with +some sort of colouring matter and returned to it, the whole bucketful of +water gradually becomes richer in colour. Suppose that by imperceptible +degrees a kind of vertical film forms itself across the centre of the +bucket, and gradually solidifies itself into a division, so that we have +now a right half and a left half to the bucket, and each tumblerful of +water which is taken out is returned always to the same section from which +it came. + +Then presently a difference will be set up, and the liquid in one half of +the bucket will no longer be the same as that in the other. We have then +practically two buckets, and when this stage is reached in a group-soul it +splits into two, as a cell separates by fission. In this way, as the +experience grows ever richer, the group-souls grow smaller but more +numerous, until at the highest point we arrive at man with his single +individual soul, which no longer returns into a group, but remains always +separate. + +One of the life-waves is vivifying the whole of a kingdom; but not every +group-soul in that life-wave will pass through the whole of that kingdom +from the bottom to the top. If in the vegetable kingdom a certain +group-soul has ensouled forest trees, when it passes on into the animal +kingdom it will omit all the lower stages--that is, it will never inhabit +insects or reptiles, but will begin at once at the level of the lower +mammalia. The insects and reptiles will be vivified by group-souls which +have for some reason left the vegetable kingdom at a much lower level than +the forest tree. In the same way the group-soul which has reached the +highest levels of the animal kingdom will not individualize into primitive +savages, but into men of somewhat higher type, the primitive savages being +recruited from group-souls which have left the animal kingdom at a lower +level. + +Group-souls at any level or at all levels arrange themselves into seven +great types, according to the Minister of the Deity through whom their life +has poured forth. These types are clearly distinguishable in all the +kingdoms, and the successive forms taken by any one of them form a +connected series, so that animals, vegetables, minerals and the varieties +of the elemental creatures may all be arranged into seven great groups, and +the life coming along one of those lines will not diverge into any of the +others. + +No detailed list has yet been made of the animals, plants or minerals from +this point of view; but it is certain that the life which is found +ensouling a mineral of a particular type will never vivify a mineral of any +other type than its own, though within that type it may vary. When it +passes on to the vegetable and animal kingdoms it will inhabit vegetables +and animals of that type and of no other; and when it eventually reaches +humanity it will individualize into men of that type and of no other. + +The method of individualization is the raising of the soul of a particular +animal to a level so much higher than that attained by its group-soul that +it can no longer return to the latter. This cannot be done with _any_ +animal, but only with those whose brain is developed to a certain level, +and the method usually adopted to acquire such mental development is to +bring the animal into close contact with man. Individualization, therefore, +is possible only for domestic animals, and only for certain kinds even of +those. At the head of each of the seven types stands one kind of domestic +animal--the dog for one, the cat for another, the elephant for a third, the +monkey for a fourth, and so on. The wild animals can all be arranged on +seven lines leading up to the domestic animals; for example, the fox and +the wolf are obviously on the same line with the dog, while the lion, the +tiger and the leopard equally obviously lead up to the domestic cat; so +that the group-soul animating a hundred lions mentioned some time ago might +at a later stage of its evolution have divided into, let us say, five +group-souls each animating twenty cats. + +The life-wave spends a long period of time in each kingdom; we are now only +a little past the middle of such an æon, and consequently the conditions +are not favourable for the achievement of that individualization which +normally comes only at the end of a period. Rare instances of such +attainment may occasionally be observed on the part of some animal much in +advance of the average. Close association with man is necessary to produce +this result. The animal if kindly treated develops devoted affection for +his human friend, and also unfolds his intellectual powers in trying to +understand that friend and to anticipate his wishes. In addition to this, +the emotions and the thoughts of the man act constantly upon those of the +animal, and tend to raise him to a higher level both emotionally and +intellectually. Under favourable circumstances this development may proceed +so far as to raise the animal altogether out of touch with the group to +which he belongs, so that his fragment of a group-soul becomes capable of +responding to the outpouring which comes from the First Aspect of the +Deity. + +For this final outpouring is not like the others, a mighty outrush +affecting thousands or millions simultaneously; it comes to each one +individually as that one is ready to receive it. This outpouring has +already descended as far as the intuitional world; but it comes no farther +than that until this upward leap is made by the soul of the animal from +below; but when that happens this Third Outpouring leaps down to meet it, +and in the higher mental world is formed an ego, a permanent +individuality--permanent, that is, until, far later in his evolution, the +man transcends it and reaches back to the divine unity from which he came. +To make this ego, the fragment of the group-soul (which has hitherto played +the part always of ensouling force) becomes in its turn a vehicle, and is +itself ensouled by that divine Spark which has fallen into it from on high. +That Spark may be said to have been hovering in the monadic world over the +group-soul through the whole of its previous evolution, unable to effect a +junction with it until its corresponding fragment in the group-soul had +developed sufficiently to permit it. It is this breaking away from the rest +of the group-soul and developing a separate ego which marks the distinction +between the highest animal and the lowest man. + + + + +Chapter V + +THE CONSTITUTION OF MAN + + +Man is therefore in essence a Spark of the divine Fire, belonging to the +monadic world.[1] To that Spark, dwelling all the time in that world, we +give the name "Monad". For the purposes of human evolution the Monad +manifests itself in lower worlds. When it descends one stage and enters the +spiritual world, it shows itself there as the triple Spirit having itself +three aspects (just as in worlds infinitely higher the Deity has His three +Aspects). Of those three one remains always in that world, and we call that +the Spirit in man. The second aspect manifests itself in the intuitional +world, and we speak of it as the Intuition in man. The third shows itself +in the higher mental world, and we call it the Intelligence in man. These +three aspects taken together constitute the ego which ensouls the fragment +from the group-soul. Thus man as we know him, though in reality a Monad +residing in the monadic world, shows himself as an ego in the higher mental +world, manifesting these three aspects of himself (Spirit, Intuition and +Intelligence) through that vehicle of higher mental matter which we name +the causal body. + +Footnote 1: The President has now decided upon a set of names for the +planes, so for the future these will be used instead of those previously +employed. A table of them is given below for reference. + +NEW NAMES OLD NAMES +1. Divine World Âdi Plane +2. Monadic World Anupâdaka Plane +3. Spiritual World Âtmic or Nirvânic Plane +4. Intuitional World Buddhic Plane +5. Mental World Mental Plane +6. Emotional or Astral World Astral Plane +7. Physical World Physical Plane + +These will supersede the names given in Vol. II of _The Inner Life._ + +This ego is the man during the human stage of evolution; he is the nearest +correspondence, in fact, to the ordinary unscientific conception of the +soul. He lives unchanged (except for his growth) from the moment of +individualization until humanity is transcended and merged into divinity. +He is in no way affected by what we call birth and death; what we commonly +consider as his life is only a day in his life. The body which we can see, +the body which is born and dies, is a garment which he puts on for the +purposes of a certain part of his evolution. + +Nor is it the only body which he assumes. Before he, the ego in the higher +mental world, can take a vehicle belonging to the physical world, he must +make a connection with it through the lower mental and astral worlds. When +he wishes to descend he draws around himself a veil of the matter of the +lower mental world, which we call his mental body. This is the instrument +by means of which he thinks all his concrete thoughts--abstract thought +being a power of the ego himself in the higher mental world. + +Next he draws round himself a veil of astral matter, which we call his +astral body; and that is the instrument of his passions and emotions, and +also (in conjunction with the lower part of his mental body) the +instrument of all such thought as is tinged by selfishness and personal +feeling. Only after having assumed these intermediate vehicles can he come +into touch with a baby physical body, and be born into the world which we +know. He lives through what we call his life, gaining certain qualities as +the result of its experiences; and at its end, when the physical body is +worn out, he reverses the process of descent and lays aside one by one the +temporary vehicles which he has assumed. The first to go is the physical +body, and when that is dropped, his life is centred in the astral world and +he lives in his astral body. + +The length of his stay in that world depends upon the amount of passion and +emotion which he has developed within himself in his physical life. If +there is much of these, the astral body is strongly vitalized, and will +persist for a long time; if there is but little, the astral body has less +vitality, and he will soon be able to cast that vehicle aside in turn. When +that is done he finds himself living in his mental body. The strength of +that depends upon the nature of the thoughts to which he has habituated +himself, and usually his stay at this level is a long one. At last it comes +to an end, and he casts aside the mental body in turn, and is once more the +ego in his own world. + +Owing to lack of development, he is as yet but partially conscious in that +world; the vibrations of its matter are too rapid to make any impression +upon him, just as the ultra-violet rays are too rapid to make any +impression upon our eyes. After a rest there, he feels the desire to +descend to a level where the undulations are perceptible to him, in order +that he may feel himself to be fully alive; so he repeats the process of +descent into denser matter, and assumes once more a mental, an astral and a +physical body. As his previous bodies have all disintegrated, each in its +tarn, these new vehicles are entirely distinct from them, and thus it +happens that in his physical life he has no recollection whatever of other +similar lives which have preceded it. + +When functioning in this physical world he remembers by means of his mental +body; but since that is a new one, assumed only for this birth, it +naturally cannot contain the memory of previous births in which it had no +part. The man himself, the ego, does remember them all when in his own +world, and occasionally some partial recollection of them or influence from +them filters through into his lower vehicles. He does not usually, in his +physical life, remember the experiences of earlier lives, but he does +manifest in physical life the qualities which those experiences have +developed in him. Each man is therefore exactly what he has made himself +during those past lives; if he has in them developed good qualities in +himself, he possesses the good qualities now; if he neglected to train +himself, and consequently left himself weak and of evil disposition, he +finds himself precisely in that condition now. The qualities, good or evil, +with which he is born are those which he has made for himself. + +This development of the ego is the object of the whole process of +materialization; he assumes those veils of matter precisely because through +them he is able to receive vibrations to which he can respond, so that his +latent faculties may thereby be unfolded. Though man descends from on high +into these lower worlds, it is only through that descent that a full +cognizance of the higher worlds is developed in him. Full consciousness in +any given world involves the power to perceive and respond to all the +undulations of that world: therefore the ordinary man has not yet perfect +consciousness at any level--not even in this physical world which he thinks +he knows. It is possible for him to unfold his percipience in all these +worlds, and it is by means of such developed consciousness that we observe +all these facts which I am now describing. + +The causal body is the permanent vehicle of the ego in the higher mental +world. It consists of matter of the first, second and third subdivisions of +that world. In ordinary people it is not yet fully active, only that matter +which belongs to the third subdivision being vivified. As the ego unfolds +his latent possibilities through the long course of his evolution, the +higher matter is gradually brought into action, but it is only in the +perfected man whom we call the Adept that it is developed to its fullest +extent. Such matter can be discerned by clairvoyant sight, but only by a +seer who knows how to use the sight of the ego. + +It is difficult to describe a causal body fully, because the senses +belonging to its world are altogether different from and higher than ours +at this level. Such memory of the appearance of a causal body as it is +possible for a clairvoyant to bring into his physical brain represents it +as ovoid, and as surrounding the physical body of the man, extending to a +distance of about eighteen inches from the normal surface of that body. In +the case of primitive man it resembles a bubble, and gives the impression +of being empty. It is in reality filled with higher mental matter, but as +this is not yet brought into activity it remains colourless and +transparent. As advancement continues it is gradually stirred into +alertness by vibrations which reach it from the lower bodies. This comes +but slowly, because the activities of man in the earlier stages of his +evolution are not of a character to obtain expression in matter so fine as +that of the higher mental body; but when a man reaches the stage where he +is capable either of abstract thought or of unselfish emotion the matter of +the causal body is aroused into response. + +When these rates of undulation are awakened within him they show themselves +in his causal body as colours, so that instead of being a mere transparent +bubble it gradually becomes a sphere filled with matter of the most lovely +and delicate hues--an object beautiful beyond all conception. It is found +by experience that these colours are significant. The vibration which +denotes the power of unselfish affection shows itself as a pale +rose-colour; that which indicates high intellectual power is yellow; that +which expresses sympathy is green, while blue betokens devotional feeling, +and a luminous lilac-blue typifies the higher spirituality. The same scheme +of colour-significance applies to the bodies which are built of denser +matter, but as we approach the physical world the hues are in every case by +comparison grosser--not only less delicate but also less living. + +In the course of evolution in the lower worlds man often introduces into +his vehicles qualities which are undesirable and entirely inappropriate for +his life as an ego--such, for example, as pride, irritability, sensuality. +These, like the rest, are reducible to vibrations, but they are in all +cases vibrations of the lower subdivisions of their respective worlds, and +therefore they cannot reproduce themselves in the causal body, which is +built exclusively of the matter of the three higher subdivisions of its +world. For each section of the astral body acts strongly upon the +corresponding section of the mental body, but only upon the corresponding +section; it cannot influence any other part. So the causal body can be +affected only by the three higher portions of the astral body; and the +oscillations of those represent only good qualities. + +The practical effect of this is that the man can build into the ego (that +is, into his true self) nothing but good qualities; the evil qualities +which he develops are in their nature transitory and must be thrown aside +as he advances, because he has no longer within him matter which can +express them. The difference between the causal bodies of the savage and +the saint is that the first is empty and colourless, while the second is +full of brilliant, coruscating tints. As the man passes beyond even +saint-hood and becomes a great spiritual power, his causal body increases +in size, because it has so much more to express, and it also begins to pour +out from itself in all directions powerful rays of living light. In one who +has attained Adeptship this body is of enormous dimensions. + +The mental body is built of matter of the four lower subdivisions of the +mental world, and expresses the concrete thoughts of the man. Here also we +find the same colour-scheme as in the causal body. The hues are somewhat +less delicate, and we notice one or two additions. For example, a thought +of pride shows itself as orange, while irritability is manifested by a +brilliant scarlet. We may see here sometimes the bright brown of avarice, +the grey-brown of selfishness, and the grey-green of deceit. Here also we +perceive the possibility of a mixture of colours; the affection, the +intellect, the devotion may be tinged by selfishness, and in that case +their distinctive colours are mingled with the brown of selfishness, and so +we have an impure and muddy appearance. Although its particles are always +in intensely rapid motion among themselves, this body has at the same time +a kind of loose organization. + +The size and shape of the mental body are determined by those of the causal +vehicle. There are in it certain striations which divide it more or less +irregularly into segments, each of these corresponding to a certain +department of the physical brain, so that every type of thought should +function through its duly assigned portion. The mental body is as yet so +imperfectly developed in ordinary men that there are many in whom a great +number of special departments are not yet in activity, and any attempt at +thought belonging to those departments has to travel round through some +inappropriate channel which happens to be fully open. The result is that +thought on those subjects is for those people clumsy and uncomprehending. +This is why some people have a head for mathematics and others are unable +to add correctly--why some people instinctively understand, appreciate and +enjoy music, while others do not know one tune from another. + +All the matter of the mental body should be circulating freely, but +sometimes a man allows his thought upon a certain subject to set and +solidify, and then the circulation is impeded, and there is a congestion +which presently hardens into a kind of wart on the mental body. Such a wart +appears to us down here as a prejudice; and until it is absorbed and free +circulation restored, it is impossible for the man to think truly or to see +clearly with regard to that particular department of his mind, as the +congestion checks the free passage of undulations both outward and inward. + +When a man uses any part of his mental body it not only vibrates for the +time more rapidly, but it also temporarily swells out and increases in +size. If there is prolonged thought upon a subject this increase becomes +permanent, and it is thus open to any man to increase the size of his +mental body either along desirable or undesirable lines. + +Good thoughts produce vibrations of the finer matter of the body, which by +its specific gravity tends to float in the upper part of the ovoid; whereas +bad thoughts, such as selfishness and avarice, are always oscillations of +the grosser matter, which tends to gravitate towards the lower part of the +ovoid. Consequently the ordinary man, who yields himself not infrequently +to selfish thoughts of various kinds, usually expands the lower part of his +mental body, and presents roughly the appearance of an egg with its larger +end downwards. The man who has repressed those lower thoughts, and devoted +himself to higher ones, tends to expand the upper part of his mental body, +and therefore presents the appearance of an egg standing on its smaller +end. From a study of the colours and striations of a man's mental body the +clairvoyant can perceive his character and the progress he has made in his +present life. From similar features of the causal body he can see what +progress the ego has made since its original formation, when the man left +the animal kingdom. + +When a man thinks of any concrete object--a book, a house, a landscape--he +builds a tiny image of the object in the matter of his mental body. This +image floats in the upper part of that body, usually in front of the face +of the man and at about the level of the eyes. It remains there as long as +the man is contemplating the object, and usually for a little time +afterwards, the length of time depending upon the intensity and the +clearness of the thought. This form is quite objective, and can be seen by +another person, if that other has developed the sight of his own mental +body. If a man thinks of another, he creates a tiny portrait in just the +same way. If his thought is merely contemplative and involves no feeling +(such as affection or dislike) or desire (such as a wish to see the person) +the thought does not usually perceptibly affect the man of whom he thinks. + +If coupled with the thought of the person there is a feeling, as for +example of affection, another phenomenon occurs besides the forming of the +image. The thought of affection takes a definite form, which it builds out +of the matter of the thinker's mental body. Because of the emotion +involved, it draws round it also matter of his astral body, and thus we +have an astromental form which leaps out of the body in which it has been +generated, and moves through space towards the object of the feeling of +affection. If the thought is sufficiently strong, distance makes absolutely +no difference to it; but the thought of an ordinary person is usually weak +and diffused, and is therefore not effective outside a limited area. + +When this thought-form reaches its object it discharges itself into his +astral and mental bodies, communicating to them its own rate of vibration. +Putting this in another way, a thought of love sent from one person to +another involves the actual transference of a certain amount both of force +and of matter from the sender to the recipient, and its effect upon the +recipient is to arouse the feeling of affection in him, and slightly but +permanently to increase his power of loving. But such a thought also +strengthens the power of affection in the thinker, and therefore it does +good simultaneously to both. + +Every thought builds a form; if the thought be directed to another person +it travels to him; if it be distinctly selfish it remains in the immediate +neighbourhood of the thinker; if it belongs to neither of these categories +it floats for awhile in space and then slowly disintegrates. Every man +therefore is leaving behind him wherever he goes a trail of thought forms; +as we go along the street we are walking all the time amidst a sea of other +men's thoughts. If a man leaves his mind blank for a time, these residual +thoughts of others drift through it, making in most cases but little +impression upon him. Sometimes one arrives which attracts his attention, so +that his mind seizes upon it and makes it its own, strengthens it by the +addition of its force, and then casts it out again to affect somebody else. +A man therefore, is not responsible for a thought which floats into his +mind, because it may be not his, but someone else's; but he _is_ +responsible if he takes it up, dwells upon it and then sends it out +strengthened. + +Self-centred thought of any kind hangs about the thinker, and most men +surround their mental bodies with a shell of such thoughts. Such a shell +obscures the mental vision and facilitates the formation of prejudice. + +Each thought-form is a temporary entity. It resembles a charged battery, +awaiting an opportunity to discharge itself. Its tendency is always to +reproduce its own rate of vibration in the mental body upon which it +fastens itself, and so to arouse in it a like thought. If the person at +whom it is aimed happens to be busy or already engaged in some definite +train of thought, the particles of his mental body are already swinging at +a certain determinate rate, and cannot for the moment be affected from +without. In that case the thought-form bides its time, hanging about its +object until he is sufficiently at rest to permit its entrance; then it +discharges itself upon him, and in the act ceases to exist. + +The self-centred thought behaves in exactly the same way with regard to its +generator, and discharges itself upon him when opportunity offers. If it be +an evil thought, he generally regards it as the suggestion of a tempting +demon, whereas in truth he tempts himself. Usually each definite thought +creates a new thought-form; but if a thought-form of the same nature is +already hovering round the thinker, under certain circumstances a new +thought on the same subject, instead of creating a new form, coalesces with +and strengthens, the old one, so that by long brooding over the same +subject a man may sometimes create a thought-form of tremendous power. If +the thought be a wicked one, such a thought-form may become a veritable +evil influence, lasting perhaps for many years, and having for a time all +the appearance and powers of a real living entity. + +All these which have been described are the ordinary unpremeditated +thoughts of man. A man can make a thought-form intentionally, and aim it at +another with the object of helping him. This is one of the lines of +activity adopted by those who desire to serve humanity. A steady stream of +powerful thought directed intelligently upon another person may be of the +greatest assistance to him. A strong thought-form may be a real guardian +angel, and protect its object from impurity, from irritability or from +fear. + +An interesting branch of the subject is the study of the various shapes and +colours taken by thought-forms of different kinds. The colours indicate the +nature of the thought, and are in agreement with those which we have +already described as existing in the bodies. The shapes are of infinite +variety, but are often in some way typical of the kind of thought which +they express. + +Every thought of definite character, such as a thought of affection or +hatred, of devotion or suspicion, of anger or fear, of pride or jealousy, +not only creates a form but also radiates an undulation. The fact that, +each one of these thoughts is expressed by a certain colour indicates that +the thought expresses itself as an oscillation of the matter of a certain +part of the mental body. This rate of oscillation communicates itself to +the surrounding mental matter precisely in the same way as the vibration of +a bell communicates itself to the surrounding air. + +This radiation travels out in all directions, and whenever it impinges upon +another mental body in a passive or receptive condition it communicates to +it something of its own vibration. This does not convey a definite complete +idea, as does the thought-form, but it tends to produce a thought of the +same character as itself. For example, if the thought be devotional its +undulations will excite devotion, but the object of the worship may be +different in the case of each person upon whose mental body they impinge. +The thought-form, on the other hand, can reach only one person, but will +convey to that person (if receptive) not only a general devotional feeling, +but also a precise image of the Being for whom the adoration was originally +felt. + +Any person who habitually thinks pure, good and strong thoughts is +utilizing for that purpose the higher part of his mental body--a part which +is not used at all by the ordinary man, and is entirely undeveloped in him. +Such an one is therefore a power for good in the world, and is being of +great use to all those of his neighbours who are capable of any sort of +response. For the vibration which he sends out tends to arouse a new and +higher part of their mental bodies, and consequently to open before them +altogether new fields of thought. + +It may not be exactly the same thought as that sent out, but it is of the +same nature. The undulations generated by a man thinking of Theosophy do +not necessarily communicate Theosophical ideas to all those around him; but +they do awaken in them more liberal and higher thought than that to which +they have before been accustomed. On the other hand, the thought-forms +generated under such circumstances, though more limited in their action +than the radiation, are also more precise; they can affect only those who +are to some extent open to them, but to them they will convey definite +Theosophical ideas. + +The colours of the astral body bear the same meaning as those of the higher +vehicles, but are several octaves of colours below them, and much more +nearly approaching to such hues as we see in the physical world. It is the +vehicle of passion and emotion, and consequently it may exhibit additional +colours, expressing man's less desirable feelings, which cannot show +themselves at higher levels; for example, a lurid brownish-red indicates +the presence of sensuality, while black clouds show malice and hatred. A +curious livid grey betokens the presence of fear, and a much darker grey, +usually arranged in heavy rings around the ovoid, indicates a condition of +depression. Irritability is shown by the presence of a number of small +scarlet flecks in the astral body, each representing a small angry impulse. +Jealousy is shown by a peculiar brownish-green, generally studded with the +same scarlet flecks. The astral body is in size and shape like those just +described, and in the ordinary man its outline is usually clearly marked; +but in the case of primitive man it is often exceedingly irregular, and +resembles a rolling cloud composed of all the more unpleasant colours. + +When the astral body is comparatively quiet (it is never actually at rest) +the colours which are to be seen in it indicate those emotions to which the +man is most in the habit of yielding himself. When the man experiences a +rush of any particular feeling, the rate of vibration which expresses that +feeling dominates for a time the entire astral body. If, for example, it be +devotion, the whole of his astral body is flushed with, blue, and while the +emotion remains at its strongest the normal colours do little more than +modify the blue, or appear faintly through a veil of it; but presently the +vehemence of the sentiment dies away, and the normal colours re-assert +themselves. But because of that spasm of emotion the part of the astral +body which is normally blue has been increased in size. Thus a man who +frequently feels high devotion soon comes to have a large area of the blue +permanently existing in his astral body. + +When the rush of devotional _feeling_ comes over him, it is usually +accompanied by _thoughts_ of devotion. Although primarily formed in the +mental body, these draw round themselves a large amount of astral matter as +well, so that their action is in both worlds. In both worlds also is the +radiation which was previously described, so that the devotional man is a +centre of devotion, and will influence other people to share both his +thoughts and his feelings. The same is true in the case of affection, +anger, depression--and, indeed, of all other feelings. + +The flood of emotion does not itself greatly affect the mental body, +although for a time it may render it almost impossible for any activity +from that mental body to come through into the physical brain. That is not +because that body itself is affected, but because the astral body, which +acts as a bridge between it and the physical brain, is vibrating so +entirely at one rate as to be incapable of conveying any undulation which +is not in harmony with that. + +The permanent colours of the astral body react upon, the mental. They +produce in it their correspondences, several octaves higher, in the same +manner as a musical note produces overtones. The mental body in its turn +reacts upon the causal in the same way, and thus all the good qualities +expressed in the lower vehicles by degrees establish themselves permanently +in the ego. The evil qualities cannot do so, as the rates of vibrations +which express them are impossible for the higher mental matter of which the +causal body is constructed. + +So far, we have described vehicles which are the expression of the ego in +their respective worlds--vehicles, which he provides for himself; in the +physical world we come to a vehicle which is provided for him by Nature +under laws which will be later explained--which though also in some sense +an expression of him, is by no means a perfect manifestation. In ordinary +life we see only a small part of this physical body--only that which is +built of the solid and liquid subdivisions of physical matter. The body +contains matter of all the seven subdivisions, and all of them play their +part in its life and are of equal importance, to it. + +We usually speak of the invisible part of the physical body as the etheric +double; "double" because it exactly reproduces the size and shape of the +part of the body that we can see, and "etheric" because it is built--of +that finer kind of matter by the vibrations of which light is conveyed to +the retina of the eye. (This must not be confused with the true æther of +space--that of which matter is the negation.) This invisible part of the +physical body is of great importance to us, since it is the vehicle through +which flow the streams of vitality which keep the body alive, and without +it, as a bridge to convey undulations of thought and feeling from the +astral to the visible denser physical matter, the ego could make no use of +the cells of his brain. + +The life of a physical body is one of perpetual change and in order that it +shall live, it needs constantly to be supplied from three distinct sources. +It must have food for its digestion, air for its breathing, and vitality +for its absorption. This vitality is essentially a force, but when clothed +in matter it appears to us as a definite element, which exists in all the +worlds of which we have spoken. At the moment we are concerned with that +manifestation of it which we find in the highest subdivision of the +physical world. Just as the blood circulates through the veins, so does the +vitality circulate along the nerves; and precisely as any abnormality in +the flow of the blood at once affects the physical body, so does the +slightest irregularity in the absorption or flow of the vitality affect +this higher part of the physical body. + +Vitality is a force which comes originally from the sun. When an ultimate +physical atom is charged with it, it draws round itself six other atoms, +and makes itself into an etheric element. The original force of vitality is +then subdivided into seven, each of the atoms carrying a separate charge. +The element thus made is absorbed into the human body through the etheric +part of the spleen. It is there split up into its component parts, which at +once low to the various parts of the body assigned to them. The spleen is +one of the seven force centres in the etheric part of the physical body. In +each of our vehicles seven such centres should be in activity, and when +they are thus active they are visible to clairvoyant sight. They appear +usually as shallow vortices, for they are the points at which the force +from the higher bodies enters the lower. In the physical body these centres +are: (1) at the base of the spine, (2) at the solar plexus, (3) at the +spleen, (4) over the heart, (5) at the throat, (6) between the eyebrows, +and (7) at the top of the head. There are other dormant centres, but their +awakening is undesirable. + +The shape of all the higher bodies as seen by the clairvoyant is ovoid, but +the matter composing them is not equally distributed throughout the egg. In +the midst of this ovoid is the physical body. The physical body strongly +attracts astral matter, and in its turn the astral matter strongly attracts +mental matter. Therefore by far the greater part of the matter of the +astral body is gathered within the physical frame; and the same is true of +the mental vehicle. If we see the astral body of a man in its own world, +apart from the physical body we shall still perceive the astral matter +aggregated in exactly the shape of the physical, although, as the matter is +more fluidic in its nature, what we see is a body built of dense mist, in +the midst of an ovoid of much finer mist. The same is true for the mental +body. Therefore, if in the astral or the mental world we should meet an +acquaintance, we should recognise him by his appearance just as instantly +as in the physical world. + +This, then, is the true constitution of man. In the first place he is a +Monad, a Spark of the Divine. Of that Monad the ego is a partial +expression, formed in order that he may enter evolution, and may return to +the Monad with joy, bringing his sheaves with him in the shape of qualities +developed by garnered experience. The ego in his turn puts down part of +himself for the same purpose into lower worlds, and we call that part a +personality, because the Latin word _persona_ means a mask, and this +personality is the mask which the ego puts upon himself when he manifests +in worlds lower than his own. Just as the ego is a small part and an +imperfect expression of the Monad, so is the personality a small part and +an imperfect expression of the ego; so that what we usually think of as the +man is only in truth a fragment of a fragment. + +The personality wears three bodies or vehicles, the mental, the astral and +the physical. While the man is what we call alive and awake on the physical +earth he is limited by his physical body, for he uses the astral and mental +bodies only as bridges to connect himself with his lowest vehicle. One of +the limitations of the physical body is that it quickly becomes fatigued +and needs periodical rest. Each night the man leaves it to sleep, and +withdraws into his astral vehicle, which does not become fatigued, and +therefore needs no sleep. During this sleep of the physical body the man is +free to move about in the astral world; but the extent to which he does +this depends upon his development. The primitive savage usually does not +move more than a few miles away from his sleeping physical form--often not +as much as that; and he has only the vaguest consciousness. + +The educated man is generally able to travel in his astral vehicle wherever +he will, and has much more consciousness in the astral world, though he has +not often the faculty of bringing into his waking life any memory of what +he has seen and done while his physical body was asleep. Sometimes he does +remember some incident which he has seen, some experience which he has had, +and then he calls it a vivid dream. More often his recollections are +hopelessly entangled with vague memories of waking life, and with +impressions made from without upon the etheric part of his brain. Thus we +arrive at the confused and often absurd dreams of ordinary life. The +developed man becomes as fully conscious and active in the astral world as +in the physical, and brings through into the latter full remembrance of +what he has been doing in the former--that is, he has a continuous life +without any loss of consciousness throughout the whole twenty-four hours, +and thus throughout the whole of his physical life, and even through death +itself. + + + + +Chapter VI + +AFTER DEATH + + +Death is the laying aside of the physical body; but it makes no more +difference to the ego than does the laying aside of an overcoat to the +physical man. Having put off his physical body, the ego continues to live +in his astral body until the force has become exhausted which has been +generated by such emotions and passions as he has allowed himself to feel +during earth-life. When that has happened, the second death takes place; +the astral body also falls away from him, and he finds himself living in +the mental body and in the lower mental world. In that condition he remains +until the thought-forces generated during his physical and astral lives +have worn themselves out; then he drops the third vehicle in its turn and +remains once more an ego in his own world, inhabiting his causal body. + +There is, then, no such thing as death as it is ordinarily understood. +There is only a succession of stages in a continuous life--stages lived in +the three worlds one after another. The apportionment of time between these +three worlds varies much as man advances. The primitive man lives almost +exclusively in the physical world, spending only a few years in the astral +at the end of each of his physical lives. As he develops, the astral life +becomes longer, and as intellect: unfolds in him, and he becomes able to +think, he begins to spend a little time in the mental world as well. The +ordinary man of civilized races remains longer in the mental world than in +the physical and astral; indeed, the more a man evolves the longer becomes +his mental, life and the shorter his life in the astral world. + +The astral life is the result of all feelings which have in them the +element of self. If they have been directly selfish, they bring him into +conditions of great unpleasantness in the astral world; if, though tinged +with thoughts of self, they have been good and kindly, they bring him a +comparatively pleasant though still limited astral life. Such of his +thoughts and feelings as have been entirely unselfish produce their results +in his life in the mental world; therefore that life in the mental, world +cannot be other than blissful. The astral life, which the man has made for +himself either miserable or comparatively joyous, corresponds to what +Christians call purgatory; the lower mental life, which is always entirely +happy, is what is called heaven. + +Man makes for himself his own purgatory and heaven, and these are not +planes, but states of consciousness. Hell does not exist; it is only a +figment of the theological imagination; but a man who lives foolishly may +make for himself a very unpleasant and long enduring purgatory. Neither +purgatory nor heaven can ever be eternal, for a finite cause cannot produce +an infinite result. The variations in individual cases are so wide that to +give actual figures is somewhat misleading. If we take the average man of +what is called the lower middle class, the typical specimen of which would +be a small shopkeeper or shop-assistant, his average life in the astral +world would be perhaps about forty years, and the life in the mental world +about two hundred. The man of spirituality and culture, on the other hand, +may have perhaps twenty years of life in the astral world and a thousand in +the heaven life. One who is specially developed may reduce the astral life +to a few days or hours and spend fifteen hundred years in heaven. + +Not only does the length of these periods vary greatly, but the conditions +in both worlds also differ widely. The matter of which all these bodies are +built is not dead matter but living, and that fact has to be taken into +consideration. The physical body is built up of cells, each of which is a +tiny separate life animated by the Second Outpouring, which comes forth +from the Second Aspect of the Deity. These cells are of varying kinds and +fulfil various functions, and all these facts must be taken into account if +the man wishes to understand the work of his physical body and to live a +healthy life in it. + +The same thing applies to the astral and mental bodies. In the cell-life +which permeates them there is as yet nothing in the way of intelligence, +but there is a strong instinct always pressing in the direction of what is +for its development. The life animating the matter of which such bodies are +built is upon the outward arc of evolution, moving downwards or outwards +into matter, so that progress for it means to descend into denser forms of +matter, and to learn to express itself through them. Unfoldment for the man +is just the opposite of this; he has already sunk deeply into matter and is +now rising out of that towards his source. There is consequently a constant +conflict of interests between the man within and the life inhabiting the +matter of his vehicles, inasmuch as its tendency is downward, while his is +upward. + +The matter of the astral body (or rather the life animating its molecules) +desires for its evolution such undulations as it can get, of as many +different kinds as possible, and as coarse as possible. The next step in +its evolution will be to ensoul physical matter and become used to its +still slower oscillations; and as a step on the way to that, it desires the +grossest of the astral vibrations. It has not the intelligence definitely +to plan for these; but its instinct helps it to discover how most easily to +procure them. + +The molecules of the astral body are constantly changing, as are those of +the physical body, but nevertheless the life in the mass of those astral +molecules has a sense, though a very vague sense, of itself as a whole--as +a kind of temporary entity. It does not know that it is part of a man's +astral body; it is quite incapable of understanding what a man is; but it +realizes in a blind way that under its present conditions it receives many +more waves, and much stronger ones, than it would receive if floating at +large in the atmosphere. It would then only occasionally catch, as from a +distance, the radiation of man's passions and emotions; now it is in the +very heart of them, it can miss none, and it gets them at their strongest. +Therefore it feels itself in a good position, and it makes an effort to +retain that position. It finds itself in contact with something finer than +itself--the matter of the man's mental body; and it comes to feel that if +it can contrive to involve that finer something in its own undulations, +they will be greatly intensified and prolonged. + +Since astral matter is the vehicle of desire and mental matter is the +vehicle of thought, this instinct, when translated into our language, means +that if the astral body can induce us to think that _we_ want what _it_ +wants, it is much more likely to get it. Thus it exercises a slow steady +pressure upon the man--a kind of hunger on its side, but for him a +temptation to what is coarse and undesirable. If he be a passionate man +there is a gentle but ceaseless pressure in the direction of irritability; +if he be a sensual man, an equally steady pressure in the direction of +impurity. + +A man who does not understand this usually makes one of two mistakes with +regard to it: either he supposes it to be the prompting of his own nature, +and therefore regards that nature as inherently evil, or he thinks of the +pressure as coming from outside--as a temptation of an imaginary devil. The +truth lies between the two. The pressure is natural, not to the man but to +the vehicle which he is using; its desire is natural and right for it, but +harmful to the man, and therefore it is necessary that he should resist it. +If he does so resist, if he declines to yield himself to the feelings +suggested to him, the particles within him which need those vibrations +become apathetic for lack of nourishment, and eventually atrophy and fall +out from his astral body, and are replaced by other particles, whose +natural wave-rate is more nearly in accordance with that which the man +habitually permits within his astral body. + +This gives the reason for what are called promptings of the lower nature +during life. If the man yields himself to them, such promptings grow +stronger and stronger until at last he feels as though he could not resist +them, and identifies himself with them--which is exactly what this curious +half-life in the particles of the astral body wants him to do. + +At the death of the physical body this vague astral consciousness is +alarmed. It realizes that its existence as a separated mass is menaced, and +it takes instinctive steps to defend itself and to maintain its position as +long as possible. The matter of the astral body is far more fluidic than +that of the physical, and this consciousness seizes upon its particles and +disposes them so as to resist encroachment. It puts the grossest and +densest upon the outside as a kind of shell, and arranges the others in +concentric layers, so that the body as a whole may become as resistant to +friction as its constitution permits, and may therefore retain its shape as +long as possible. + +For the man this produces various unpleasant effects. The physiology of the +astral body is quite different from that of the physical; the latter +acquires its information from without by means of certain organs which are +specialized as the instruments of its senses, but the astral body has no +separated senses in our meaning of the word. That which for the astral body +corresponds to sight is the power of its molecules to respond to impacts +from without, which come to them by means of similar molecules. For +example, a man has within his astral body matter belonging to all the +subdivisions of the astral world, and it is because of that that he is +capable of "seeing" objects built of the matter of any of these +subdivisions. + +Supposing an astral object to be made of the matter of the second and third +subdivisions mixed, a man living in the astral world could perceive that +object only if on the surface of his astral body there were particles +belonging to the second and third subdivisions of that world which were +capable of receiving and recording the vibrations which that object set up. +A man who from the arrangement of his body by the vague consciousness of +which we have spoken, had on the outside of that vehicle only the denser +matter of the lowest subdivision, could no more be conscious of the object +which we have mentioned than we are ourselves conscious in the physical +body of the gases which move about us in the atmosphere or of objects built +exclusively of etheric matter. + +During physical life the matter of the man's astral body is in constant +motion, and its particles pass among one another much as do those of +boiling water. Consequently at any given moment it is practically certain +that particles of all varieties will be represented on the surface of his +astral body, and that therefore when he is using his astral body during +sleep he will be able to "see" by its means any astral object which +approaches him. + +After death, if he has allowed the rearrangement to be made (as from +ignorance, all ordinary persons do) his condition in this respect will be +different. Having on the surface of his astral body only the lowest and +grossest particles, he can receive impressions only from corresponding +particles outside; so that instead of seeing the whole of the astral world +about him, he will see only one-seventh of it, and that the densest and +most impure. The vibrations of this heavier matter are the expressions only +of objectionable feelings and emotions, and of the least refined class of +astral entities. Therefore it emerges that a man in this condition can see +only the undesirable inhabitants of the astral world, and can feel only its +most unpleasant and vulgar influences. + +He is surrounded by other men, whose astral bodies are probably of quite +ordinary character; but since he can see and feel only that which is lowest +and coarsest in them, they appear to him to be monsters of vice with no +redeeming features. Even his friends seem not at all what they used to be, +because he is now incapable of appreciating any of their better qualities. +Under these circumstances it is little wonder that he considers the astral +world a hell; yet the fault is in no way with the astral world, but with +himself--first, for allowing within himself so much of that cruder type of +matter, and, secondly, for letting that vague astral consciousness dominate +him and dispose it in that particular way. + +The man who has studied these matters declines absolutely to yield to the +pressure during life or to permit the rearrangement after death, and +consequently he retains his power of seeing the astral world as a whole, +and not merely the cruder and baser part of it. + +The astral world has many points in common with the physical; just like the +physical, it presents different appearances to different people, and even +to the same person at different periods of his career. It is the home of +emotions and of lower thoughts; and emotions are much stronger in that +world than in this. When a person is awake we cannot see that larger part +of his emotion at all; its strength goes in setting in motion the gross +physical matter of the brain. So if we see a man show affection here, what +we can see is not the whole of his affection, but only such part of it as +is left after all this other work has been done. Emotions therefore bulk +far more largely in the astral life than in the physical. They in no way +exclude higher thought if they are controlled, so in the astral world as in +the physical a man may devote himself to study and to helping his fellows, +or he may waste his time and drift about aimlessly. + +The astral world extends nearly to the mean distance of the orbit of the +moon; but though the whole of this realm is open to any of its inhabitants +who have not permitted the redistribution of their matter, the great +majority remain much nearer to the surface of the earth. The matter of the +different subdivisions of that world interpenetrates with perfect freedom, +but there is on the whole a general tendency for the denser matter to +settle towards the centre. The conditions are much like those which obtain +in a bucket of water which contains in suspension a number of kinds of +matter of different degrees of density. Since the water is kept in +perpetual motion, the different kinds of matter are diffused through it; +but in spite of that, the densest matter is found in greatest quantity +nearest to the bottom. So that though we must not at all think of the +various subdivisions of the astral world as lying above one another as do +the coats of an onion, it is nevertheless true that the average arrangement +of the matter of those subdivisions partakes somewhat of that general +character. + +Astral matter interpenetrates physical matter precisely as though it were +not there, but each subdivision of physical matter has a strong attraction +for astral matter of the corresponding subdivision. Hence it arises that +every physical body has its astral counterpart. If I have a glass of water +standing upon a table, the glass and the table, being of physical matter in +the solid state, are interpenetrated by astral matter of the lowest +subdivision. The water in the glass, being liquid, is interpenetrated by +what we may call astral liquid--that is, by astral matter of the sixth +subdivision; whereas the air surrounding both, being physical matter in the +gaseous condition, is entirely interpenetrated by astral gaseous +matter--that is, astral matter of the fifth subdivision. + +But just as air, water, glass and table are alike interpenetrated all the +time by the finer physical matter which we have called etheric, so are all +the astral counterparts interpenetrated by the finer astral matter of the +higher subdivisions which correspond to the etheric. But even the astral +solid is less dense than the finest of the physical ethers. + +The man who finds himself in the astral world after death, if he has not +submitted to the rearrangement of the matter of his body, will notice but +little difference from physical life. He can float about in any direction +at will, but in actual fact he usually stays in the neighbourhood to which +he is accustomed. He is still able to perceive his house, his room, his +furniture, his relations, his friends. The living, when ignorant of the +higher worlds, suppose themselves to have "lost" those who have laid aside +their physical bodies; but the dead are never for a moment under the +impression that they have lost the living. + +Functioning as they are in the astral body, the dead can no longer see the +physical bodies of those whom they have left behind; but they do see their +astral bodies, and as those are exactly the same in outline as the +physical, they are perfectly aware of the presence of their friends. They +see each one surrounded by a faint ovoid of luminous mist, and if they +happen to be observant, they may notice various other small changes in +their surroundings; but it is at least quite clear to them that they have +not gone away to some distant heaven or hell, but still remain in touch +with the world which they know, although they see it at a somewhat +different angle. + +The dead man has the astral body of his living friend obviously before him, +so he cannot think of him as lost; but while the friend is awake, the dead +man will not be able to make any impression upon him, for the consciousness +of the friend is then in the physical world, and his astral body is being +used only as a bridge. The dead man cannot therefore communicate with his +friend, nor can he read his friend's higher thoughts; but he will see by +the change in colour in the astral body any emotion which that friend may +feel, and with a little practice and observation he may easily learn to +read all those thoughts of his friend which have in them anything of self +or of desire. + +When the friend falls asleep the whole position is changed. He is then also +conscious in the astral world side by side with the dead man, and they can +communicate in every respect as freely as they could during physical life. +The emotions felt by the living react strongly upon the dead who love them. +If the former give way to grief, the latter cannot but suffer severely. + +The conditions of life after death are almost infinite in their variety, +but they can be calculated without difficulty by any one who will take the +trouble to understand the astral world and to consider the character of the +person concerned. That character is not in the slightest degree changed by +death; the man's thoughts, emotions and desires are exactly the same as +before. He is in every way the same man, minus his physical body; and his +happiness or misery depends upon the extent to which this loss of the +physical body affects him. + +If his longings have been such as need a physical body for their +gratification, he is likely to suffer considerably. Such a craving +manifests itself as a vibration in the astral body, and while we are still +in this world most of its strength is employed in setting in motion the +heavy physical particles. Desire is therefore a far greater force in the +astral life than in the physical, and if the man has not been in the habit +of controlling it, and if in this new life it cannot be satisfied, it may +cause him great and long-continued trouble. + +Take as an illustration the extreme case of a drunkard or a sensualist. +Here we have a lust which has been strong enough during physical life to +overpower reason, common sense and all the feelings of decency and of +family affection. After death the man finds himself in the astral world +feeling the appetite perhaps a hundred times more strongly, yet absolutely +unable to satisfy it because he has lost the physical body. Such a life is +a very real hell--the only hell there is; yet no one is punishing him; he +is reaping the perfectly natural result of his own action. Gradually as +time passes this force of desire wears out, but only at the cost of +terrible suffering for the man, because to him every day seems as a +thousand years. He has no measure of time such as we have in the physical +world. He can measure it only by his sensations. From a distortion of this +fact has come the blasphemous idea of eternal damnation. + +Many other cases less extreme than this will readily suggest themselves, in +which a hankering which cannot be fulfilled may prove itself a torture. A +more ordinary case is that of a man who has no particular vices, such as +drink or sensuality, but yet has been attached entirely to things of the +physical world, and has lived a life devoted to business or to aimless +social functions. For him the astral world is a place of weariness; the +only thing for which he craves are no longer possible for him, for in the +astral world there is no business to be done, and, though he may have as +much companionship as he wishes, society is now for him a very different +matter, because all the pretences upon which it is usually based in this +world are no longer possible. + +These cases, however, are only the few, and for most people the state after +death is much happier than life upon earth. The first feeling of which the +dead man is usually conscious is one of the most wonderful and delightful +freedom. He has absolutely nothing to worry about, and no duties rest upon +him, except those which he chooses to impose upon himself. For all but a +very small minority, physical life is spent in doing what the man would +much rather not do; but he has to do it in order to support himself or his +wife and family. In the astral world no support is necessary; food is no +longer needed, shelter is not required, since he is entirely unaffected by +heat or cold; and each man by the mere exercise of his thought clothes +himself as he wishes. For the first time since early childhood the man is +entirely free to spend the whole of his time in doing just exactly what he +likes. + +His capacity for every kind of enjoyment is greatly enhanced, if only that +enjoyment does not need a physical body for its expression. If he loves the +beauties of Nature, it is now within his power to travel with great +rapidity and without fatigue over the whole world, to contemplate all its +loveliest spots, and to explore its most secret recesses. If he delights in +art, all the world's masterpieces are at his disposal. If he loves music, +he can go where he will to hear it, and it will now mean much more to him +than it has ever meant before; for though he can no longer hear the +physical sounds, he can receive the whole effect of the music into himself +in far fuller measure than in this lower world. If he is a student of +science, he can not only visit the great scientific men of the world, and +catch from them such thoughts and ideas as may be within his comprehension, +but also he can undertake researches of his own into the science of this +higher world, seeing much more of what he is doing than has ever before +been possible to him. Best of all, he whose great delight in this world has +been to help his fellow men will still find ample scope for his +philanthropic efforts. + +Men are no longer hungry, cold, or suffering from disease in this astral +world; but there are vast numbers who, being ignorant, desire +knowledge--who, being still in the grip of desire for earthly things, need +the explanation which will turn their thought to higher levels--who have +entangled themselves in a web of their own imaginings, and can be set free +only by one who understands these new surroundings and can help them to +distinguish the facts of the world from their own ignorant +misrepresentation of them. All these can be helped by the man of +intelligence and of kindly heart. Many men arrive in the astral world in +utter ignorance of its conditions, not realizing at first that they are +dead, and when they do realize it fearing the fate that may be in store for +them, because of false and wicked theological teaching. All of these need +the cheer and comfort which can only be given to them by a man of common +sense who possesses some knowledge of the facts of Nature. + +There is thus no lack of the most profitable occupation for any man whose +interests during his physical life have been rational; nor is there any +lack of companionship. Men whose tastes and pursuits are similar drift +naturally together there just as they do here; and many realms of Nature, +which during our physical life are concealed by the dense veil of matter, +now lie open for the detailed study of those who care to examine them. + +To a large extent people make their own surroundings. We have already +referred to the seven subdivisions of this astral world. Numbering these +from the highest and least material downwards, we find that they fall +naturally into three classes--divisions one, two and three forming one such +class, and four, five and six another; while the seventh and lowest of all +stands alone. As I have said, although they all interpenetrate, their +substance has a general tendency to arrange itself according to its +specific gravity, so that most of the matter belonging to the higher +subdivisions is found at a greater elevation above the surface of the earth +than the bulk of the matter of the lower portions. + +Hence, although any person inhabiting the astral world can move into any +part of it, his natural tendency is to float at the level which corresponds +with the specific gravity of the heaviest matter in his astral body. The +man who has not permitted the rearrangement of the matter of his astral +body after death is entirely free of the whole astral world; but the +majority, who do permit it, are not equally free--not because there is +anything to prevent them from rising to the highest level or sinking to the +lowest, but because they are able to sense clearly only a certain part of +that world. + +I have described something of the fate of a man who is on the lowest level, +shut in by a strong shell of coarse matter. Because of the extreme +comparative density of that matter he is conscious of less outside of his +own subdivision than a man at any other level. The general specific gravity +of his own astral body tends to make him float below the surface of the +earth. The physical matter of the earth is absolutely non-existent to his +astral senses, and his natural attraction is to that least delicate form of +astral matter which is the counterpart of that solid earth. A man who has +confined himself to that lowest subdivision will therefore usually find +himself floating in darkness and cut off to a great extent from others of +the dead, whose lives have been such as to keep them on a higher level. + +Divisions four, five and six of the astral world (to which most people are +attracted) have for their background the astral counterpart of the physical +world in which we live, and all its familiar accessories. Life in the sixth +subdivision is simply like our ordinary life on this earth minus the +physical body and its necessities while as it ascends through the fifth and +fourth divisions it becomes less and less material and is more and more +withdrawn from our lower world and its interests. + +The first, second and third sections, though occupying the same space, yet +give the impression of being much further removed from the physical, and +correspondingly less material. Men who inhabit these levels lose sight of +the earth and its belongings; they are usually deeply self-absorbed, and to +a large extent create their own surroundings, though these are sufficiently +objective to be perceptible to other men of their level, and also to +clairvoyant vision. + +This region is the summerland of which we hear in spiritualistic +circles--the world in which, by the exercise of their thought, the dead +call into temporary existence their houses and schools and cities. These +surroundings, though fanciful from our point of view, are to the dead as +real as houses, temples or churches built of stone are to us, and many +people live very contentedly there for a number of years in the midst of +all these thought-creations. + +Some of the scenery thus produced is very beautiful; it includes lovely +lakes, magnificent mountains, pleasant flower gardens, decidedly superior +to anything in the physical world; though on the other hand it also +contains much which to the trained clairvoyant (who has learned to see +things as they are) appears ridiculous--as, for example, the endeavours of +the unlearned to make a thought-form of some of the curious symbolic +descriptions contained in their various scriptures. An ignorant peasant's +thought-image of a beast full of eyes within, or of a sea of glass mingled +with fire, is naturally often grotesque, although to its maker it is +perfectly satisfactory. This astral world is full of thought-created +figures and landscapes. Men of all religions image here their deities and +their respective conceptions of paradise, and enjoy themselves greatly +among these dream-forms until they pass into the mental world and come into +touch with something nearer to reality. + +Every one after death--any ordinary person, that is, in whose case the +rearrangement of the matter of the astral body has been made--has to pass +through all these subdivisions in turn. It does not follow that every one +is conscious in all of them. The ordinarily decent person has in his astral +body but little of the matter of its lowest portion--by no means enough to +construct a heavy shell. The redistribution puts on the outside of the body +its densest matter; in the ordinary man this is usually matter of the sixth +subdivision, mixed with a little of the seventh, and so he finds himself +viewing the counterpart of the physical world. + +The ego is steadily withdrawing into himself, and as he withdraws he leaves +behind him level after level of this astral matter. So the length of the +man's detention in any section of the astral world is precisely in +proportion to the amount of its matter which is found in his astral body, +and that in turn depends upon the life he has lived, the desires he has +indulged, and the class of matter which by so doing he has attracted +towards him and built into himself. Finding himself then in the sixth +section, still hovering about the places and persons with which he was most +closely connected while on earth, the average man, as time passes on, finds +the earthly surroundings gradually growing dimmer and becoming of less and +less importance to him, and he tends more and more to mould his entourage +into agreement with the more persistent of his thoughts. By the time that +he reaches the third level he finds that this characteristic has entirely +superseded the vision of the realities of the astral world. + +The second subdivision is a shade less material than the third, for if the +latter is the summerland of the spiritualists, the former is the material +heaven of the more ignorantly orthodox; while the first or highest level +appears to be the special home of those who during life have devoted +themselves to materialistic but intellectual pursuits, following them not +for the sake of benefiting their fellow men, but either from motives of +selfish ambition or simply for the sake of intellectual exercise. All these +people are perfectly happy. Later on they will reach a stage when they can +appreciate something much higher, and when that stage comes they will find +the higher ready for them. + +In this astral life people of the same nation and of the same interest tend +to keep together, precisely as they do here. The religious people, for +example, who imagine for themselves a material heaven, do not at all +interfere with men of other faiths whose ideas of celestial joy are +different. There is nothing to prevent a Christian from drifting into the +heaven of the Hindu or the Muhammadan, but he is little likely to do so, +because his interests and attractions are all in the heaven of his own +faith, along with friends who have shared that faith with him. This is by +no means the true heaven described by any of the religions, but only a +gross and material misrepresentation of it; the real thing will be found +when we come to consider the mental world. + +The dead man who has not permitted the rearrangement of the matter of his +astral body is free of the entire world, and can wander all over it at +will, seeing the whole of whatever he examines, instead of only a part of +it as the others do. He does not find it inconveniently crowded, for the +astral world is much larger than the surface of the physical earth, while +its population is somewhat smaller, because the average life of humanity in +the astral world is shorter than the average in the physical. + +Not only the dead, however, are the inhabitants of this astral world, but +always about one-third of the living as well, who have temporarily left +their physical bodies behind them in sleep. The astral world has also a +great number of non-human inhabitants, some of them far below the level of +man, and some considerably above him. The nature-spirits form an enormous +kingdom, some of whose members exist in the astral world, and make a large +part of its population. This vast kingdom exists in the physical world +also, for many of its orders wear etheric bodies and are only just beyond +the range of ordinary physical sight. Indeed, circumstances not +infrequently occur under which they can be seen, and in many lonely +mountain districts these appearances are traditional among the peasants, by +whom they are commonly spoken of as fairies, good people, pixies or +brownies. + +They are protean, but usually prefer to wear a miniature human form. Since +they are not yet individualized, they may be thought of almost as etheric +and astral animals; yet many of them are intellectually quite equal to +average humanity. They have their nations and types just as we have, and +they are often grouped into four great classes, and called the spirits of +earth, water, fire and air. Only the members of the last of these four +divisions normally confine their manifestation to the astral world, but +their numbers are so prodigious that they are everywhere present in it. + +Another great kingdom has its representatives here--the kingdom of the +angels (called in India the devas). This is a body of beings who stand far +higher in evolution than man, and only the lowest fringe of their hosts +touches the astral world--a fringe whose constituent members are perhaps at +about the level of development of what we should call a distinctly good +man. + +We are neither the only nor even the principal inhabitants of our solar +system; there are other lines of evolution running parallel with our own +which do not pass through humanity at all, though they must all pass +through a level corresponding to that of humanity. On one of these other +lines of evolution are the nature-spirits above described, and at a higher +level of that line comes this great kingdom of the angels. At our present +level of evolution they come into obvious contact with us only very rarely, +but as we develop we shall be likely to see more of them--especially as the +cyclic progress of the world is now bringing it more and more under the +influence of the Seventh Ray. This Seventh Ray has ceremonial for one of +its characteristics, and it is through ceremonial such as that of the +Church or of Freemasonry that we come most easily into touch with the +angelic kingdom. + +When all the man's lower emotions have worn themselves out--all emotions, I +mean, which have in them any thought of self--his life in the astral world +is over, and the ego passes on into the mental world. This is not in any +sense a movement in space; it is simply that the steady process of +withdrawal has now passed beyond even the finest kind of astral matter; so +that the man's consciousness is focussed in the mental world. His astral +body has not entirely disintegrated, though it is in process of doing so, +and he leaves behind him an astral corpse, just as at a previous stage of +the withdrawal he left behind him a physical corpse. There is a certain +difference between the two which should be noticed, because of the +consequences which ensue from it. + +When the man leaves his physical body his separation from it should be +complete, and generally is so; but this is not the case with the much finer +matter of the astral body. In the course of his physical life the ordinary +man usually entangles himself so much in astral matter (which, from another +point of view, means that he identifies himself so closely with his lower +desires) that the indrawing force of the ego cannot entirely separate him +from it again. Consequently, when he finally breaks away from the astral +body and transfers his activities to the mental, he loses a little of +himself he leaves some of himself behind imprisoned in the matter of the +astral body. + +This gives a certain remnant of vitality to the astral, corpse, so that it +still moves freely in the astral world, and may easily be mistaken by the +ignorant for the man himself--the more so as such fragmentary consciousness +as still remains to it is part of the man, and therefore it naturally +regards itself and speaks of itself as the man. It retains his memories, +but is only a partial and unsatisfactory representation of him. Sometimes +in spiritualistic séances one comes into contact with an entity of this +description, and wonders how it is that one's friend has deteriorated so +much since his death. To this fragmentary entity we give the name "shade". + +At a later stage even this fragment of consciousness dies out of the astral +body, but does not return to the ego to whom it originally belonged. Even +then the astral corpse still remains, but when it is quite without any +trace of its former life we call it a "shell". Of itself a shell cannot +communicate at a séance, or take any action of any sort; but such shells +are frequently seized upon by sportive nature-spirits and used as temporary +habitations. A shell so occupied _can_ communicate at a séance and +masquerade as its original owner, since some of his characteristics and +certain portions of his memory can be evoked by the nature-spirit from his +astral corpse. + +When a man falls asleep, he withdraws in his astral body, leaving the whole +of the physical vehicle behind him. When he dies, he draws out with him the +etheric part of the physical body, and consequently has usually at least a +moment of unconsciousness while he is freeing himself from it. The etheric +double is not a vehicle and cannot be used as such; so when the man is +surrounded by it, he is for the moment able to function neither in the +physical world nor the astral. Some men succeed in shaking themselves free +of this etheric envelope in a few moments; others rest within it for hours, +days or even weeks. + +Nor is it certain that, when the man is free from this, he will at once +become conscious of the astral world. For there is in him a good deal of +the lowest kind of astral matter, so that a shell of this may be made +around him. But he may be quite unable to use that matter. If he has lived +a reasonably decent life he is little in the habit of employing it or +responding to its vibrations, and he cannot instantly acquire this habit. +For that reason, he may remain unconscious until that matter gradually +wears away, and some matter which he _is_ in the habit of using comes on +the surface. Such an occlusion, however, is scarcely ever complete, for +even in the most carefully made shell some particles of the finer matter +occasionally find their way to the surface, and give him fleeting glimpses +of his surroundings. + +There are some men who cling so desperately to their physical vehicles that +they will not relax their hold upon the etheric double, but strive with all +their might to retain it. They may be successful in doing so for a +considerable time, but only at the cost of great discomfort to themselves. +They are shut out from both worlds, and find themselves surrounded by a +dense grey mist, through which they see very dimly the things of the +physical world, but with all the colour gone from them. It is a terrible +struggle for them to maintain their position in this miserable condition, +and yet they will not relax their hold upon the etheric double, feeling +that that is at least some sort of link with the only world that they know. +Thus they drift about in a condition of loneliness and misery until from +sheer fatigue their hold fails them, and they slip into the comparative +happiness of astral life. Sometimes in their desperation they grasp blindly +at other bodies, and try to enter into them, and occasionally they are +successful in such an attempt. They may seize upon a baby body, ousting the +feeble personality for whom it was intended, or sometimes they grasp even +the body of an animal. All this trouble arises entirely from ignorance, and +it can never happen to anyone who understands the laws of life and death. + +When the astral life is over, the man dies to that world in turn, and +awakens in the mental world. With him it is not at all what it is to the +trained clairvoyant, who ranges through it and lives amidst the +surroundings which he finds there, precisely as he would in the physical or +astral worlds. The ordinary man has all through his life been encompassing +himself with a mass of thought-forms. Some which are transitory, to which +he pays little attention, have fallen away from him long ago, but those +which represent the main interests of his life are always with him, and +grow ever stronger and stronger. If some of these have been selfish, their +force pours down into astral matter, and he has exhausted them during his +life in the astral world. But those which are entirely unselfish belong +purely to his mental body, and so when he finds himself in the mental world +it is through these special thoughts that he is able to appreciate it. + +His mental body is by no means fully developed; only those parts of it are +really in action to their fullest extent which he has used in this +altruistic manner. When he awakens again after the second death, his first +sense is one of indescribable bliss and vitality--a feeling of such utter +joy in living that he needs for the time nothing but just to live. Such +bliss is of the essence of life in all the higher worlds of the system. +Even astral life has possibilities of happiness far greater than anything +that we can know in the dense body; but the heaven-life in the mental world +is out of all proportion more blissful than the astral. In each higher +world the same experience is repeated. Merely to live in any one of them +seems the uttermost conceivable bliss; and yet, when the next one is +reached, it is seen that it far surpasses the last. + +Just as the bliss increases, so does the wisdom and the breadth of view. A +man fusses about in the physical world and thinks himself so busy and so +wise; but when he touches even the astral, he realizes at once that he has +been all the time only a caterpillar crawling about and seeing nothing but +his own leaf, whereas now he has spread his wings like the butterfly and +flown away into the sunshine of a wider world. Yet, impossible as it may +seem, the same experience is repeated when he passes into the mental world, +for this life is in turn so much fuller and wider and more intense than the +astral that once more no comparison is possible. And yet beyond all these +there is still another life, that of the intuitional world, unto which even +this is but as moonlight unto sunlight. + +The man's position in the mental world differs widely from that in the +astral. There he was using a body to which he was thoroughly accustomed, a +body which he had been in the habit of employing every night during sleep. +Here he finds himself living in a vehicle which he has never used before--a +vehicle furthermore which is very far from being fully developed--a vehicle +which shuts him out to a great extent from the world about him, instead of +enabling him to see it. The lower part of his nature burnt itself away +during his purgatorial life, and now there remain to him only his higher +and more refined thoughts, the noble and unselfish aspirations which he +poured out during earth-life. These cluster round him, and make a sort of +shell about him, through the medium of which he is able to respond to +certain types of vibrations in this refined matter. + +These thoughts which surround him are the powers by which he draws upon the +wealth of the heaven-world, and he finds it to be a storehouse of infinite +extent, upon which he is able to draw just according to the power of those +thoughts and aspirations; for in this world is existing the infinite +fullness of the Divine Mind, open in all its limitless affluence to every +soul, just in proportion as that soul has qualified itself to receive. A +man who has already completed his human evolution, who has fully realized +and unfolded the divinity whose germ is within him, finds the whole of this +glory within his reach; but since none of us has yet done that, since we +are only gradually rising towards that splendid consummation, it follows +that none of us as yet can grasp that entirety. + +But each draws from it and cognizes so much of it as he has by previous +effort prepared himself to take. Different individuals bring very different +capacities; they tell us in the East that each man brings his own cup, and +some of the cups are large and some are small, but small or large every cup +is filled to its utmost capacity; the sea of bliss holds far more than +enough for all. + +A man can look out upon all this glory and beauty only through the windows +which he himself has made. Every one of these thought-forms is such a +window, through which response may come to him from the forces without. If +during his earth-life he has chiefly regarded physical things, then he has +made for himself but few windows through which this higher glory can shine +in upon him. Yet every man who is above the lowest savage must have had +some touch of pure unselfish feeling, even if it were but once in all his +life, and that will be a window for him now. + +The ordinary man is not capable of any great activity in this mental world; +his condition is chiefly receptive, and his vision of anything outside his +own shell of thought is of the most limited character. He is surrounded by +living forces, mighty angelic inhabitants of this glorious world, and many +of their orders are very sensitive to certain aspirations of man and +readily respond to them. But a man can take advantage of these only in so +far as he has already prepared himself to profit by them, for his thoughts +and aspirations are only along certain lines, and he cannot suddenly form +new lines. There are many directions which the higher thought may +take--some of them personal and some impersonal. Among the latter are art, +music and philosophy; and a man whose interest lay along any one of these +lines finds both measureless enjoyment and unlimited instruction waiting +for him--that is, the amount of enjoyment and instruction is limited only +by his power of perception. + +We find a large number of people whose only higher thoughts are those +connected with affection and devotion. If a man loves another deeply or if +he feels strong devotion to a personal deity, he makes a strong mental +image of that friend or of the deity, and the object of his feeling is +often present in his mind. Inevitably he takes that mental image into the +heaven-world with him, because it is to that level of matter that it +naturally belongs. + +Take first the case of affection. The love which forms and retains such an +image is a very powerful force--a force which is strong enough to reach and +to act upon the ego of his friend in the higher part of the mental world. +It is that ego that is the real man whom he loves--not the physical body +which is so partial a representation of him. The ego of the friend, feeling +this vibration, at once and eagerly responds to it, and pours himself into +the thought-form, which has been made for him; so that the man's friend is +truly present with him more vividly than ever before. To this result it +makes no difference whatever whether the friend is what we call living or +dead; the appeal is made not to the fragment of the friend which is +sometimes imprisoned in a physical body, but to the man himself on his own +true level; and he always responds. A man who has a hundred friends can +simultaneously and fully respond to the affection of every one of them, for +no number of representations on a lower level can exhaust the infinity of +the ego. + +Thus every man in his heaven-life has around him all the friends for whose +company he wishes, and they are for him always at their best, because he +himself makes for them the thought-form through which they manifest to him. +In our limited physical world we are so accustomed to thinking of our +friend as only the limited manifestation which we know in the physical +world, that it is at first difficult for us to realize the grandeur of the +conception; when we can realize it, we shall see how much nearer we are in +truth to our friends in the heaven-life than we ever were on earth. The +same is true in the case of devotion. The man in the heaven-world is two +great stages nearer to the object of his devotion than he was during +physical life, and so his experiences are of a far more transcendent +character. + +In this mental world, as in the astral, there are seven subdivisions. The +first, second and third are the habitat of the ego in his causal body, so +the mental body contains matter of the remaining four only, and it is in +those sections that his heaven-life is passed. Man does not, however, pass +from one to the other of these, as is the case in the astral world, for +there is nothing in this life corresponding to the rearrangement. Rather is +the man drawn to the level which best corresponds to the degree of his +development, and on that level he spends the whole of his life in the +mental body. Each man makes his own conditions, so that the number of +varieties is infinite. + +Speaking broadly, we may say that the dominant characteristic observed in +the lowest portion is unselfish family affection. Unselfish it must be, or +it would find no place here; all selfish tinges, if there were any, worked +out their results in the astral world. The dominant characteristic of the +sixth level may be said to be anthropomorphical religious devotion; while +that of the fifth section is devotion expressing itself in active work of +some sort. All these--the fifth, sixth and seventh subdivisions--are +concerned with the working out of devotion to personalities (either to +one's family and friends or to a personal deity) rather than the wider +devotion to humanity for its own sake, which finds its expression in the +next section. The activities of this fourth stage are varied. They can best +be arranged in four main divisions: unselfish pursuit of spiritual +knowledge; high philosophy or scientific thought; literary or artistic +ability exercised for unselfish purposes; and service for the sake of +service. + +Even to this glorious heaven-life there comes an end, and then the mental +body in its turn drops away as the others have done, and the man's life in +his causal body begins. Here the man needs no windows, for this is his true +home and all his walls have fallen away. The majority of men have as yet +but very little consciousness at such a height as this; they rest dreamily +unobservant and scarcely awake, but such vision as they have is true, +however limited it may be by their lack of development. Still, every time +they return, these limitations will be smaller, and they themselves will be +greater; so that this truest life will be wider and fuller for them. + +As this improvement continues, this causal life grows, longer and longer, +assuming an ever larger proportion as compared to the existence at lower +levels. And as he grows, the man becomes capable not only of receiving but +also of giving. Then indeed is his triumph approaching, for he is learning +the lesson of the Christ, learning the crowning glory of sacrifice, the +supreme delight of pouring out all his life for the helping of his +fellow-men, the devotion of the self to the all, of celestial strength to +human service, of all those splendid heavenly forces to the aid of the +struggling sons of earth. That is part of the life that lies before us; +these are some of the steps which even we who are still so near the bottom +of the golden ladder may see rising above us, so that we may report them to +those who have not seen as yet, in order that they too may open their eyes +to the unimaginable splendour which surrounds them here and now in this +dull daily life. This is part of the gospel of Theosophy--the certainty of +this sublime future for all. It is certain because it is here already, +because to inherit it we have only to fit ourselves for it. + + + + +Chapter VII + +REINCARNATION + + +This life of the ego in his own world, which is so glorious and so fully +satisfying for the developed man, plays but a very small part in the life +of the ordinary person, for in his case the ego has not yet reached a +sufficient stage of development to be awake in his causal body. In +obedience to the law of Nature he has withdrawn into it, but in doing so he +has lost the sensation of vivid life, and his restless desire to feel this +once more pushes him in the direction of another descent into matter. + +This is the scheme of evolution appointed for man at the present +stage--that he shall develop by descending into grosser matter, and then +ascend to carry back into himself the result of the experiences so +obtained. His real life, therefore, covers millions of years, and what we +are in the habit of calling a life is only one day of this greater +existence. Indeed, it is in reality only a small part of one day; for a +life of seventy years in the physical world is often succeeded by a period +of twenty times that length spent in higher spheres. + +Every one of us has a long line of these physical lives behind him, and the +ordinary man has a fairly long line still in front of him. Each of such +lives is a day at school. The ego puts upon himself his garment of flesh +and goes forth into the school of the physical world to learn certain +lessons. He learns them, or does not learn them, or partially learns them, +as the case may be, during his schoolday of earth-life; then he lays aside +the vesture of the flesh and returns home to his own level for rest and +refreshment. In the morning of each new life he takes up again his lesson +at the point where he left it the night before. Some lessons he may be able +to learn in one day, while others may take him many days. + +If he is an apt pupil and learns quickly what is needed, if he obtains an +intelligent grasp of the rules of the school, and takes the trouble to +adapt his conduct to them, his school-life is comparatively short, and when +it is over he goes forth fully equipped into the real life of the higher +worlds for which all this is only a preparation. Other egos are duller boys +who do not learn so quickly; some of them do not understand the rules of +the school, and through that ignorance are constantly breaking them; others +are wayward, and even when they see the rules they cannot at once bring +themselves to act in harmony with them. All of these have a longer +school-life, and by their own actions they delay their entry upon the real +life of the higher worlds. + +For this is a school in which no pupil ever fails; every one must go on to +the end. He has no choice as to that; but the length of time which he will +take in qualifying himself for the higher examinations is left entirely to +his own discretion. The wise pupil, seeing that school-life is not a thing +in itself, but only a preparation for a more glorious and far wider life, +endeavours to comprehend as fully as possible the rules of his school, and +shapes his life in accordance with them as closely as he can, so that no +time may be lost in the learning of whatever lessons are necessary. He +co-operates intelligently with the Teachers, and sets himself to do the +maximum of work which is possible for him, in order that as soon as he can +he may come of age and enter into his kingdom as a glorified ego. + +Theosophy explains to us the laws under which this school-life must be +lived, and in that way gives a great advantage to its students. The first +great law is that of evolution. Every man has to become a perfect man, to +unfold to the fullest degree the divine possibilities which lie latent +within him, for that unfoldment is the object of the entire scheme so far +as he is concerned. This law of evolution steadily presses him onward to +higher and higher achievements. The wise man tries to anticipate its +demands--to run ahead of the necessary curriculum, for in that way he not +only avoids all collision with it, but he obtains the maximum of assistance +from its action. The man who lags behind in the race of life finds its +steady pressure constantly constraining him--a pressure which, if resisted, +rapidly becomes painful. Thus the laggard on the path of evolution has +always the sense of being hunted and driven by his fate, while the man who +intelligently co-operates is left perfectly free to choose the direction in +which he shall move, so long as it is onward and upward. + +The second great law under which this evolution is taking place is the law +of cause and effect. There can be no effect without its cause, and every +cause must produce its effect. They are in fact not two but one, for the +effect is really part of the cause, and he who sets one in motion sets the +other also. There is in Nature no such idea as that of reward or +punishment, but only of cause and effect. Anyone can see this in connection +with mechanics or chemistry; the clairvoyant sees it equally clearly with +regard to the problems of evolution. The same law obtains in the higher as +in the lower worlds; there, as here, the angle of reflection is always +equal to the angle of incidence. It is a law of mechanics that action and +reaction are equal and opposite. In the almost infinitely finer matter of +the higher worlds the reaction is by no means always instantaneous; it may +sometimes be spread over long periods of time, but it returns inevitably +and exactly. + +Just as certain in its working as the mechanical law in the physical world +is the higher law, according to which the man who sends out a good thought +or does a good action receives good in return, while the man who sends out +an evil thought or does an evil action, receives evil in return with equal +accuracy--once more, not in the least a reward or punishment administered +by some external will, but simply as the definite and mechanical result of +his own activity. Man has learnt to appreciate a mechanical result in the +physical world, because the reaction is usually almost immediate and can be +seen by him. He does not invariably understand the reaction in the higher +worlds because that takes a wider sweep, and often returns not in this +physical life, but in some future one. + +The action of this law affords the explanation of a number of the problems +of ordinary life. It accounts for the different destinies imposed upon +people, and also for the differences in the people themselves. If one man +is clever in a certain direction and another is stupid, it is because in a +previous life the clever man has devoted much effort to practise in that +particular direction, while the stupid man is trying it for the first time. +The genius and the precocious child are examples not of the favouritism of +some deity but of the result produced by previous lives of application. All +the varied circumstances which surrounded us are the result of our own +actions in the past, precisely as are the qualities of which we find +ourselves in possession. We are what we have made ourselves, and our +circumstances are such as we have deserved. + +There is, however, a certain adjustment or apportionment of these effects. +Though the law is a natural law and mechanical in its operation, there are +nevertheless certain great Angels who are concerned with its +administration. They cannot change by one feather-weight the amount of the +result which follows upon any given thought or act, but they can within +certain limits expedite or delay its action, and decide what form it shall +take. + +If this were not done there would be at least a possibility that in his +earlier stages the man might blunder so seriously that the results of his +blundering might be more than he could bear. The plan of the Deity is to +give man a limited amount of free-will; if he uses that small amount well, +he earns the right to a little more next time; if he uses it badly, +suffering comes upon him as the result of such evil use, and he finds +himself restrained by the result of his previous actions. As the man learns +how to use his free-will, more and more of it is entrusted to him, so that +he can acquire for himself practically unbounded freedom in the direction +of good, but his power to do wrong is strictly restricted. He can progress +as rapidly as he will, but he cannot wreck his life in his ignorance. In +the earlier stages of the savage life of primitive man it is natural that +there should be on the whole more of evil than of good, and if the entire +result of his actions came at once upon a man as yet so little developed, +it might well crush the newly evolved powers which are still so feeble. + +Besides this, the effects of his actions are varied in character. While +some of them produce immediate results, others need much more time for +their action, and so it comes to pass that as the man develops he has above +him a hovering cloud of undischarged results, some of them good, some of +them bad. Out of this mass (which we may regard for purposes of analogy +much as though it were a debt owing to the powers of Nature) a certain +amount falls due in each of his successive births; and that amount, so +assigned, may be thought of as the man's destiny for that particular life. + +All that it means is that a certain amount of joy and a certain amount of +suffering are due to him, and will unavoidably happen to him; how he will +meet this destiny and what use he will make of it, that is left entirely to +his own option. It is a certain amount of force which has to work itself +out. Nothing can prevent the action of that force, but its action may +always be modified by the application of a new force in another direction, +just as is the case in mechanics. The result of past evil is like any other +debt; it may be paid in one large cheque upon the bank of life--by some one +supreme catastrophe; or it may be paid in a number of smaller notes, in +minor troubles and worries; in some cases it may even be paid in the small +change of a great number of petty annoyances. But one thing is quite +certain--that, in some form or other, paid it will have to be. + +The conditions of our present life, then, are absolutely the result of our +own action in the past; and the other side of that statement is that our +actions in this life are building up conditions for the next one. A man who +finds himself limited either in powers or in outer circumstances may not +always be able to make himself or his conditions all that he would wish in +this life; but he can certainly secure for the next one whatever he +chooses. + +Man's every action ends not with himself, but invariably affects others +around him. In some cases this effect may be comparatively trivial, while +in others it may be of the most serious character. The trivial results, +whether good or bad, are simply small debits or credits in our account with +Nature; but the greater effects, whether good or bad, make a personal +account which is to be settled with the individual concerned. + +A man who gives a meal to a hungry beggar, or cheers him by a kindly word, +will receive the result of his good action as part of a kind of general +fund of Nature's benefits; but one who by some good action changes the +whole current of another man's life will assuredly have to meet that same +man again in a future life, in order that he who has been benefited may +have the opportunity of repaying the kindness that has been done to him. +One who causes annoyance to another will suffer proportionately for it +somewhere, somehow, in the future, though he may never meet again the man +whom he has troubled; but one who does serious harm to another, one who +wrecks his life or retards his evolution, must certainly meet his victim +again at some later point in the course of their lives, so that he may have +the opportunity, by kindly and self-sacrificing service, of +counterbalancing the wrong which he has done. In short, large debts must be +paid personally, but small ones go into the general fund. + +These then are the principal factors which determine the next birth of the +man. First acts the great law of evolution, and its tendency is to press +the man into that position in which he can most easily develop the +qualities which he most needs. For the purposes of the general scheme, +humanity is divided into great races, called root-races, which rule and +occupy the world successively. The great Aryan or Indo-Caucasian race, +which at the present moment includes the most advanced of Earth's +inhabitants, is one of these. That which came before it in the order of +evolution was the Mongolian race, usually called in Theosophical books +Atlantean because the continent from which it ruled the world lay where now +roll the waters of the Atlantic ocean. Before that came the Negroid race, +some of whose descendants still exist, though by this time much mingled +with offshoots of later races. From each of these great root-races there +are many offshoots which we call sub-races--such, for example, as the Roman +races or the Teutonic; and each of the sub-races in turn divides itself +into branch-races, such as the French and the Italians, the English and the +Germans. + +These arrangements are made in order that for each ego there may be a wide +choice of varying conditions and surroundings. Each race is especially +adapted to develop within its people one or other of the qualities which +are needed in the course of evolution. In every nation there exist an +almost infinite number of diverse conditions, riches and poverty, a wide +field of opportunities or a total lack of them, facilities for development +or conditions under which development is difficult or well-nigh impossible. +Amidst all these infinite possibilities the pressure of the law of +evolution tends to guide the man to precisely those which best suit his +needs at the stage at which he happens to be. + +But the action of this law is limited by that other law of which we spoke, +the law of cause and effect. The man's actions in the past may not have +been such as to deserve (if we may put it so) the best possible +opportunities; he may have set in motion in his past certain forces the +inevitable result of which will be to produce limitations; and these +limitations may operate to prevent his receiving that best possible of +opportunities, and so as the result of his own actions in the past he may +have to put up with the second best. So we may say that the action of the +law of evolution, which if left to itself would do the very best possible +for every man, is restrained by the man's own previous actions. + +An important feature in that limitation--one which may act most powerfully +for good or for evil--is the influence of the group of egos with which the +man has made definite links in the past--those with whom he has formed +strong ties of love or hate, of helping or of injury--those souls whom he +must meet again because of connections made with them in days of long ago. +His relation with them is a factor which must be taken into consideration +before it can be determined where and how he shall be reborn. + +The Will of the Deity is man's evolution. The effort of that nature which +is an expression of the Deity is to give the man whatever is most suitable +for that evolution; but this is conditioned by the man's deserts in the +past and by the links which he has already formed. It may be assumed that a +man descending into incarnation could learn the lessons necessary for that +life in any one of a hundred positions. From half of these or more than +half he may be debarred by the consequences of some of his many and varied +actions in the past. Among the few possibilities which remain open to him, +the choice of one possibility in particular may be determined by the +presence in that family or in that neighbourhood of other egos upon whom he +has a claim for services rendered, or to whom he in his turn owes a debt of +love. + + + + +Chapter VIII + +THE PURPOSE OF LIFE + + +To fulfil our duty in the divine scheme we must try to understand not only +that scheme as a whole, but the special part that man is intended to play +in it. The divine outbreathing reached its deepest immersion in matter in +the mineral kingdom, but it reaches its ultimate point of differentiation +not at the lowest level of materiality, but at the entrance into the human +kingdom on the upward arc of evolution. We have thus to realize three +stages in the course of this evolution. + +(a) The downward arc in which the tendency is towards differentiation and +also towards greater materiality. In this stage spirit is involving itself +in matter, in order that it may learn to receive impressions through it. + +(b) The earlier part of the upward arc, in which the tendency is still +towards greater differentiation, but at the same time towards +spiritualization and escape from materiality. In this stage the spirit is +learning to dominate matter and to see it as an expression of itself. + +(c) The later part of the upward arc, when differentiation has been finally +accomplished, and the tendency is towards unity as well as towards greater +spirituality. In this stage the spirit, having learnt perfectly how to +receive impression through matter and how to express itself through it, and +having awakened its dormant powers, learns to use these powers rightly in +the service of the Deity. + +The object of the whole previous evolution has been to produce the ego as a +manifestation of the Monad. Then the ego in its turn evolves by putting +itself down into a succession of personalities. Men who do not understand +this look upon the personality as the self, and consequently live for it +alone, and try to regulate their lives for what appears to be its temporary +advantage. The man who understands realizes that the only important thing +is the life of the ego, and that its progress is the object for which the +temporary personality must be used. Therefore when he has to decide between +two possible courses he thinks not, as the ordinary man might: "Which will +bring the greater pleasure and profit to me as a personality?" but "Which +will bring greater progress to me as an ego?" Experience soon teaches him +that nothing can ever be really good for him, or for anyone, which is not +good for all, and so presently he learns to forget himself altogether, and +to ask only what will be best for humanity as a whole. + +Clearly then at this stage of evolution whatever tends to unity, whatever +tends to spirituality, is in accord with the plan of the Deity for us, and +is therefore right for us, while whatever tends to separateness or to +materiality is equally certainly wrong for us. There are thoughts and +emotions which tend to unity, such as love, sympathy, reverence, +benevolence; there are others which tend to disunion, such as hatred, +jealousy, envy, pride, cruelty, fear. Obviously the former group are for us +the right, the latter group are for us the wrong. + +In all these thoughts and feelings which are clearly wrong, we recognize +one dominant note, the thought of self; while in all those which are +clearly right we recognize that the thought is turned toward others, and +that the personal self is forgotten. Wherefore we see that selfishness is +the one great wrong, and that perfect unselfishness is the crown of all +virtue. This gives us at once a rule of life. The man who wishes +intelligently to co-operate with the Divine Will must lay aside all thought +of the advantage or pleasure of the personal self, and must devote himself +exclusively to carrying out that Will by working for the welfare and +happiness of others. + +This is a high ideal, and difficult of attainment, because there lies +behind us such a long history of selfishness. Most of us are as yet far +from the purely altruistic attitude; how are we to go to work to attain it, +lacking as we do the necessary intensity in so many of the good qualities, +and possessing so many which are undesirable? + +Here comes into operation the great law of cause and effect to which I have +already referred. Just as we can confidently appeal to the laws of Nature +in the physical world, so may we also appeal to these laws of the higher +world. If we find evil qualities within us, they have grown up by slow +degrees through ignorance and through self-indulgence. Now that the +ignorance is dispelled by knowledge, now that in consequence we recognize +the quality as an evil, the method of getting rid of it lies obviously +before us. + +For each of these vices there is a contrary virtue; if we find one of them +rearing its head within us, let us immediately determine deliberately to +develop within ourselves the contrary virtue. If a man realizes that in the +past he has been selfish, that means that he has set up within himself the +habit of thinking of himself first and pleasing himself, of consulting his +own convenience or his pleasure without due thought of the effect upon +others; let him set to work purposefully to form the exactly opposite +habit, to make a practice before doing anything of thinking how it will +affect all those around him; let him set himself habitually to please +others, even though it be at the cost of trouble or privation for himself. +This also in time will become a habit, and by developing it he will have +killed out the other. + +If a man finds himself full of suspicion, ready always to assign evil +motives to the actions of those about him, let him set himself steadily to +cultivate trust in his fellows, to give them credit always for the highest +possible motives. It may be said that a man who does this will lay himself +open to be deceived, and that in many cases his confidence will be +misplaced. That is a small matter; it is far better for him that he should +sometimes be deceived as a result of his trust in his fellows than that he +should save himself from such deception by maintaining a constant attitude +of suspicion. Besides, confidence begets faithfulness. A man who is trusted +will generally prove himself worthy of the trust, whereas a man who is +suspected is likely presently to justify the suspicion. + +If a man finds in himself the tendency towards avarice, let him go out of +his way to be especially generous; if he finds himself irritable, let him +definitely train himself in calmness; if he finds himself devoured by +curiosity, let him deliberately refuse again and again to gratify that +curiosity; if he is liable to fits of depression, let him persistently +cultivate cheerfulness, even under the most adverse circumstances. + +In every case the existence of an evil quality in the personality means a +lack of the corresponding good quality in the ego. The shortest way to get +rid of that evil and to prevent its reappearance is to fill the gap in the +ego, and the good quality which is thus developed will show itself as an +integral part of the man's character through all his future lives. An ego +cannot be evil, but he can be imperfect. The qualities which he develops +cannot be other than good qualities, and when they are well defined they +show themselves in each of all his numerous personalities, and consequently +those personalities can never be guilty of the vices opposite to these +qualities; but where there is a gap in the ego, where there is a quality +undeveloped, there is nothing inherent in the personality to check the +growth of the opposite vice; and since others in the world about him +already possess that vice, and man is an imitative animal, it is quite +probable that it will speedily manifest itself in him. This vice, however, +belongs to the vehicles only and not to the man inside. In these vehicles +its repetition may set up a momentum which is hard to conquer; but if the +ego bestirs himself to create in himself the opposite virtue, the vice is +cut off at its root, and can no longer exist--neither in this life nor in +all the lives that are to come. + +A man who is trying to evolve these qualities in himself will find certain +obstacles in his way--obstacles which he must learn to surmount. One of +these is the critical spirit of the age--the disposition to find fault with +a thing, to belittle everything, to look for faults in everything and +everyone. The exact opposite of this is what is needed for progress. He who +wishes to move rapidly along the path of evolution must learn to see good +in everything--to see the latent Deity in everything and in everyone. Only +so can he help those other people--only so can he get the best out of those +other things. + +Another obstacle is the lack of perseverance. We tend in these days to be +impatient; if we try any plan we expect immediate results from it, and if +we do not get them, we give up that plan and try something else. That is +not the way to make progress in occultism. The effort which we are making +is to compress into one or two lives the evolution which would naturally +take perhaps a hundred lives. That is not the sort of undertaking in which +immediate results are to be expected. We attempt to uproot an evil habit, +and we find it hard work; why? Because we have indulged in that practice +for, perhaps, twenty thousand years; one cannot shake off the custom of +twenty thousand years in a day or two. We have allowed that habit to gain +an enormous momentum, and before we can set up a force in the opposite +direction we have to overcome that momentum. That cannot be done in a +moment, but it is absolutely certain that it _will_ be done eventually, if +we persevere, because the momentum, however strong it may be, is a finite +quantity, whereas the power that we can bring to bear against it is the +infinite power of the human will, which can make renewed efforts day after +day, year after year, even life after life if necessary. + +Another great difficulty in our way is the lack of clearness in our +thought. People in the West are little used to clear thought with regard to +religious matters. Everything is vague and nebulous. For occult development +vagueness and nebulosity will not do. Our conceptions must be clear-cut and +our thought-images definite. Other necessary characteristics are calmness +and cheerfulness; these are rare in modern life, but are absolute +essentials for the work which we are here undertaking. + +The process of building a character is as scientific as that of developing +one's muscles. Many a man, finding himself with certain muscles flabby and +powerless takes that as his natural condition, and regards their weakness +as a kind of destiny imposed upon him; but anyone who understands a little +of the human body is aware that by continued exercise those muscles can be +brought into a state of health and the whole body eventually put in order. +In exactly the same way, many a man finds himself possessed of a bad temper +or a tendency to avarice or suspicion or self-indulgence, and when in +consequence of any of these vices he commits some great mistake or does +some great harm he offers it as an excuse that he is a hasty-tempered man, +or that he possesses this or that quality by nature--implying that +therefore he cannot help it. + +In this case just as in the other the remedy is in his own hands. Regular +exercise of the right kind will develop a certain muscle, and regular +mental exercise of the right kind will develop a missing quality in a man's +character. The ordinary man does not realize that he can do this, and even +if he sees that he can do it, he does not see why he should, for it means +much effort and much self-repression. He knows of no adequate motive for +undertaking a task so laborious and painful. + +The motive is supplied by the knowledge of the truth. One who gains an +intelligent comprehension of the direction of evolution feels it not only +his interest but his privilege and his delight to co-operate with it. One +who wills the end wills also the means; in order to be able to do good work +for the world he must develop within himself the necessary strength and the +necessary qualities. Therefore he who wishes to reform the world must first +of all reform himself. He must learn to give up altogether the attitude of +insisting upon rights, and must devote himself utterly to the most earnest +performance of his duties. He must learn to regard every connection with +his fellow-man as an opportunity to help that fellow-man, or in some way to +do him good. + +One who studies these subjects intelligently cannot but realize the +tremendous power of thought, and the necessity for its efficient control. +All action springs from thought, for even when it is done (as we say) +without thought, it is the instinctive expression of the thoughts, desires +and feelings which the man has allowed to grow luxuriantly within himself +in earlier days. + +The wise man, therefore, will watch his thought with the greatest of care, +for in it he possesses a powerful instrument, for the right use of which he +is responsible. It is his duty to govern his thought, lest it should be +allowed to run riot and to do evil to himself, and to others; it is his +duty also to develop his thought-power, because by means of it a vast +amount of actual and active good can be done. Thus controlling his thought +and his action, thus eliminating from himself all evil and unfolding in +himself all good qualities, the man presently raises himself far above the +level of his fellows, and stands out conspicuously among them as one who is +working on the side of good as against evil, of evolution as against +stagnation. + +The Members of the great Hierarchy, in whose hands is the evolution of the +world, are watching always for such men in order that They may train them +to help in the great work. Such a man inevitably attracts Their attention, +and They begin to use him as an instrument in Their work. If he proves +himself a good and efficient instrument, presently They will offer him +definite training as an apprentice, that by helping Them in the +world-business which They have to do he may some day become even as They +are, and join the mighty Brotherhood to which They belong. + +But for an honour so great as this mere ordinary goodness will not suffice. +True, a man must be good first of all, or it would be hopeless to think of +using him, but in addition to being good he must be wise and strong. What +is needed is not merely a good man, but a great spiritual power. Not only +must the candidate have cast aside all ordinary weaknesses but he must have +acquired strong positive qualities before he can offer himself to Them with +any hope that he will be accepted. He must live no longer as a blundering +and selfish personality, but as an intelligent ego who comprehends the part +which he has to play in the great scheme of the universe. He must have +forgotten himself utterly; he must have resigned all thought of worldly +profit or pleasure or advancement; he must be willing to sacrifice +everything, and himself first of all, for the sake of the work that has to +be done. He may be _in_ the world, but he must not be _of_ the world. He +must be careless utterly of its opinion. For the sake of helping man he +must make himself something more than man. Radiant, rejoicing, strong, he +must live but for the sake of others and to be an expression of the love of +God in the world. A high ideal, yet not too high; possible, because there +are men who have achieved it. + +When a man has succeeded in unfolding his latent possibilities so far that +he attracts the attention of the Masters of the Wisdom, one of Them will +probably receive him as an apprentice upon probation. The period of +probation is usually seven years, but may be either shortened or lengthened +at the discretion of the Master. At the end of that time, if his work has +been satisfactory, he becomes what it commonly called the accepted pupil. +This brings him into close relations with his Master, so that the +vibrations of the latter constantly play upon him, and he gradually learns +to look at everything as the Master looks at it. After yet another +interval, if he proves himself entirely worthy, he may be drawn into a +still closer relationship, when he is called the son of the Master. + +These three stages mark his relationship to his own Master only, not to the +Brotherhood as a whole. The Brotherhood admits a man to its ranks only when +he has fitted himself to pass the first of the great Initiations. + +This entry into the Brotherhood of Those who rule the world may be thought +of as the third of the great critical points in man's evolution. The first +of these is when he becomes man--when he individualizes out of the animal +kingdom and obtains a causal body. The second is what is called by the +Christian "conversion", by the Hindu "the acquirement of discrimination", +and by the Buddhist "the opening of the doors of the mind". That is the +point at which he realizes the great facts of life, and turns away from the +pursuit of selfish ends in order to move intentionally along with the great +current of evolution in obedience to the divine Will. The third point is +the most important of all, for the Initiation which admits him to the ranks +of the Brotherhood also insures him against the possibility of failure to +fulfil the divine purpose in the time appointed for it. Hence those who +have reached this point are called in the Christian system the "elect", the +"saved" or the "safe", and in the Buddhist scheme "those who have entered +on the stream". For those who have reached this point have made themselves +absolutely certain of reaching a further point also--that of Adeptship, at +which they pass into a type of evolution which is definitely Superhuman. + +The man who has become an Adept has fulfilled the divine Will so far as +this chain of worlds is concerned. He has reached, even already at the +midmost point of the æon of evolution, the stage prescribed for man's +attainment at the end of it. Therefore he is at liberty to spend the +remainder of that time either in helping his fellow-men or in even more +splendid work in connection with other and higher evolutions. He who has +not yet been initiated is still in danger of being left behind by our +present wave of evolution, and dropping into the next one--the "æonian +condemnation" of which the Christ spoke, which has been mistranslated +"eternal damnation". It is from this fate of possible æonian failure--that +is, failure for this age, or dispensation, or life-wave--that the man who +attains Initiation is "safe". He has "entered upon the stream" which now +_must_ bear him on to Adeptship in this present age, though it is still +possible for him by his actions to hasten or delay his progress along the +Path which he is treading. + +That first Initiation corresponds to the matriculation which admits a man +to a University, and the attainment of Adeptship to the taking of a degree +at the end of a course. Continuing the simile, there are three intermediate +examinations, which are usually spoken of as the second, third, and fourth +Initiations, Adeptship being the fifth. A general idea of the line of this +higher evolution may be obtained by studying the list of what are called in +Buddhist books "the fetters" which must be cast off--the qualities of which +a man must rid himself as he treads this Path. These are: the delusion of +separateness; doubt or uncertainty; superstition; attachment to enjoyment; +the possibility of hatred; desire for life, either in this or the higher +worlds; pride; agitation or irritability; and ignorance. The man who +reaches the Adept level has exhausted all the possibilities of moral +development, and so the future evolution which still lies before him can +only mean still wider knowledge and still more wonderful spiritual powers. + + + + +Chapter IX + +THE PLANETARY CHAINS + + +The scheme of evolution of which our Earth forms a part is not the only one +in our solar system, for ten separate chains of globes exist in that system +which are all of them theatres of somewhat similar progress. Each of these +schemes of evolution is taking place upon a chain of globes, and in the +course of each scheme its chain of globes goes through seven incarnations. +The plan, alike of each scheme as a whole and of the successive incarnation +of its chain of globes, is to dip step by step more deeply into matter, and +then to rise step by step out of it again. + +Each chain consists of seven globes, and both globes and chains observe the +rule of descending into matter and then rising out of it again. In order to +make this comprehensible let us take as an example the chain to which our +Earth belongs. At the present time it is in its fourth or most material +incarnation, and therefore three of its globes belong to the physical +world, two to the astral world, and two to the lower part of the mental +world. The wave of divine Life passes in succession from globe to globe of +this chain, beginning with one of the highest, descending gradually to the +lowest and then climbing again to the same level as that at which it began. + +Let us for convenience of reference label the seven globes by the earlier +letters of the alphabet, and number the incarnations in order. Thus, as +this is the fourth incarnation of our chain, the first globe in this +incarnation will be 4A, the second 4B, the third 4C, the fourth (which is +our Earth) 4D, and so on. + +These globes are not all composed of physical matter. 4A contains no matter +lower than that of the mental world; it has its counterpart in all the +worlds higher than that, but nothing below it. 4B exists in the astral +world; but 4C is a physical globe, visible to our telescopes, and is in +fact the planet which we know as Mars. Globe 4D is our own Earth, on which +the life-wave of the chain is at present in action. Globe 4E is the planet +which we call Mercury--also in the physical world. Globe 4F is in the +astral world, corresponding on the ascending arc to globe 4B in the +descent; while globe 4G corresponds to globe 4A in having its lowest +manifestation in the lower part of the mental world. Thus it will be seen +that we have a scheme of globes starting in the lower mental world, +dipping through the astral into the physical and then rising into the lower +mental through the astral again. + +Just as the succession of the globes in a chain constitutes a descent into +matter and an ascent from it again, so do the successive incarnations of a +chain. We have described the condition of affairs in the fourth +incarnation; looking back at the third, we find that that commences not on +the lower level of the mental world but on the higher. Globes 3A and 3G, +then, are both of higher mental matter, while globes 3B and 3F are at the +lower mental level. Globes 3C and 3E belong to the astral world, and only +globe 3D is visible in the physical world. Although this third incarnation +of our chain is long past, the corpse of this physical globe 3D is still +visible to us in the shape of that dead planet the Moon, whence that third +incarnation is usually called the lunar chain. + +The fifth incarnation of our chain, which still lies very far in the +future, will correspond to the third. In that, globes 5A and 5G will be +built of higher mental matter, globes 5B and 5F of lower mental, globes 5C +and 5E of astral matter, and only globe 5D will be in the physical world. +This planet 5D is of course not yet in existence. + +The other incarnations of the chain follow the same general rule of +gradually decreasing materiality; 2A, 2G, 6A and 6G are all in the +intuitional world; 2B, 2F, 6B and 6F are all in the higher part of the +mental world; 2C, 2E, 6C and 6E are in the lower part of the mental world; +2D and 6D are in the astral world. In the same way 1A, 1G, 7A and 7G belong +to the spiritual world; 1B, IF, 7B and 7F are in the intuitional world; 1C, +1E, 7C and 7E are in the higher part of the mental world; 1D-and 7D are in +the lower part of the mental world. + +Thus it will be seen that not only does the life-wave in passing through +one chain of globes dip down into matter and rise out of it again, but the +chain itself in its successive incarnations does exactly the same thing. + +There are ten schemes of evolution at present existing in our solar system, +but only seven of them are at the stage where they have planets in the +physical world. These are: (1) that of an unrecognized planet Vulcan, very +near the sun, about which we have very little definite information. It was +seen by the astronomer Herschel, but is now said to have disappeared. We at +first understood that it was in its third incarnation; but it is now +regarded as possible that it has recently passed from its fifth to its +sixth chain, which would account for its alleged disappearance; (2) that of +Venus, which is in its fifth incarnation, and also therefore, has only one +visible globe; (3) that of the Earth, Mars and Mercury, which has three +visible planets because it is in its fourth incarnation; (4) that of +Jupiter, (5) that of Saturn, (6) that of Uranus, all in their third +incarnations; and (7) that of Neptune and the two unnamed planets beyond +its orbit, which is in its fourth incarnation, and therefore has three +physical planets as we have. + +In each incarnation of a chain (commonly called a chain-period) the wave of +divine Life moves seven times round the chain of seven planets, and each +such movement is spoken of as a round. The time that the life-wave stays +upon each planet is known as a world-period, and in the course of a +world-period there are seven great root-races. As has been previously +explained, these are subdivided into sub-races, and those again into +branch-races. For convenience of reference we may state this in tabular +form: + +7 Branch-Races make 1 Sub-Race +7 Sub-Races make 1 Root-Race +7 Root-Races make 1 World-Period +7 World-Periods make 1 Round +7 Rounds make 1 Chain-Period +7 Chain-Periods make 1 Scheme of Evolution +10 Schemes of Evolution make 1 Our Solar System + +It is clear that the fourth root-race of the fourth globe of the fourth +round of a fourth chain-period would be the central point of a whole scheme +of evolution, and we find ourselves at the present moment only a little +past that point. The Aryan race, to which we belong, is the fifth root-race +of the fourth globe, so that the actual middle point fell in the time of +the last great root-race, the Atlantean. Consequently the human race as a +whole is very little more than half-way through its evolution, and those +few souls who are already nearing Adeptship, which is the end and crown of +this evolution, are very far in advance of their fellows. + +How do they come to be so far in advance? Partly and in some cases because +they have worked harder, but usually because they are older egos--because +they were individualized out of the animal kingdom at an earlier date, and +so have had more time for the human part of their evolution. + +Any given wave of life sent forth from the Deity usually spends a +chain-period in each of the great kingdoms of Nature. That which in our +first chain was ensouling the first elemental kingdom must have ensouled +the second of those kingdoms in the second chain, in the third of them in +the Moon-chain, and is now in the mineral kingdom in the fourth chain. In +the future fifth chain it will ensoul the vegetable kingdom, in the sixth +the animal, and in the seventh it will attain humanity. + +From this it follows that we ourselves represented the mineral kingdom on +the first chain, the vegetable on the second, and the animal on the lunar +chain. There some of us attained our individualization, and so we were +enabled to enter this Earth-chain as men. Others who were a little more +backward did not succeed in attaining it, and so had to be born into this +chain as animals for a while before they could reach humanity. + +Not all of mankind, however, entered this chain together. When the lunar +chain came to its end the humanity upon it stood at various levels. Not +Adeptship, but what is now for us the fourth step on the Path, was the goal +appointed for that chain. Those who had attained it (commonly called in +Theosophical literature the Lords of the Moon) had, as is usual, seven +choices before them as to the way in which they would serve. Only one of +those choices brought them, or rather a few of them, over into this +Earth-chain to act as guides and teachers to the earlier races. A +considerable proportion--a vast proportion, indeed--of the Moon-men had not +attained that level, and consequently had to reappear in this Earth-chain +as humanity. Besides this, a great mass of the animal kingdom of the +Moon-chain was surging up to the level of the individualization, and some +of its members had already reached it, while many others had not. These +latter needed further animal incarnations upon the Earth-chain, and for the +moment may be put aside. + +There were many classes even among the humanity, and the manner in which +these distributed themselves over the Earth-chain needs some explanation. +It is the general rule that those who have attained the highest possible in +any chain on any globe, in any root-race, are not born into the beginning +of the next chain, globe or race, respectively. The earlier stages are +always for the backward entities, and only when they have already passed +through a good deal of evolution and are beginning to approach the level of +those others who had done better, do the latter descend into incarnation +and join them once more. That is to say, almost the earlier half of any +period of evolution, whether it be a race, a globe or a chain, seems to be +devoted to bringing the backward people up to nearly the level of those who +have got on better; then these latter also (who, in the meantime, have been +resting in great enjoyment in the mental world) descend into incarnation +along with the others, and they press on together until the end of the +period. + +Thus the first of the egos from the Moon who entered the Earth-chain were +by no means the most advanced. Indeed they may be described as the least +advanced of those who had succeeded in attaining humanity--the animal-men. +Coming as they did into a chain of new globes, freshly aggregated, they had +to establish the forms in all the different kingdoms of Nature. This needs +to be done at the beginning of the first round in a new chain, but never +after that; for though the life-wave is centred only upon one of the seven +globes of a chain at any given time, yet life has not entirely departed +from the other globes. At the present moment, for example, the life-wave of +our chain is centred on this Earth, but on the other two physical globes of +our chain, Mars and Mercury, life still exists. There is still a +population, human, animal and vegetable, and consequently when the +life-wave goes round again to either of those planets there will be no +necessity for the creation of new forms. The old types are already there, +and all that will happen will be a sudden marvellous fecundity, so that the +various kingdoms will quickly increase and multiply, and make a rapidly +increasing population instead of a stationary one. + +It was, then, the animal-men, the lowest class of human beings of the +Moon-chain, who established the forms in the first round of the +Earth-chain. Pressing closely after them were the highest of the lunar +animal kingdom, who were soon ready to occupy the forms which had just been +made. In the second journey round the seven globes of the Earth-chain, the +animal-men who had been the most backward of the lunar humanity were +leaders of this terrene humanity, the highest of the moon-animals making +its less developed grades. The same thing went on in the third round of the +Earth-chain, more and more of the lunar animals attaining individualization +and joining the human rank, until in the middle of that round on this very +globe D which we call the Earth, a higher class of human beings--the Second +Order of Moon-men--descended into incarnation and at once took the lead. + +When we come to the fourth, our present round, we find the First Order of +the Moon-men pouring in upon us--all the highest and the best of the lunar +humanity who had only just fallen short of success. Some of those who had +already, even on the Moon, entered upon the Path soon attained its end, +became Adepts and passed away from the Earth. Some few others who had not +been quite so far advanced have attained Adeptship only comparatively +recently--that is, within the last few thousand years, and these are the +Adepts of the present day. We, who find ourselves in the higher races of +humanity now, were several stages behind Them, but the opportunity lies +before us of following in Their steps if we will. + +The evolution of which we have been speaking is that of the Ego himself, of +what might be called the soul of man; but at the same time there has been +also an evolution to the body. The forms built in the first round were very +different from any of which we know anything now. Properly speaking, those +which were made on our physical earth can scarcely be called forms at all, +for they were constructed of etheric matter only, and resembled vague, +drifting and almost shapeless clouds. In the second round they were +definitely physical, but still shapeless and light enough to float about in +currents of wind. + +Only in the third round did they begin to bear any kind of resemblance to +man as we know him today. The very methods of reproduction of those +primitive forms differed from those of humanity today, and far more +resembled those which we now find only in very much lower types of life. +Man in those early days was androgynous, and a definite separation into +sexes took place only about the middle of the third round. From that time +onward until now the shape of man has been steadily evolving along +definitely human lines, becoming smaller and more compact than it was, +learning to stand upright instead of stooping and crawling, and generally +differentiating itself from the animal forms out of which it had been +evolved. + +One curious break in the regularity of this evolution deserves mention. On +this globe, in this fourth round, there was a departure from the +straightforward scheme of evolution. This being the middle globe of a +middle round, the midmost point of evolution upon it marked the last moment +at which it was possible for members of what had been the lunar animal +kingdom to attain individualization. Consequently a sort of strong effort +was made--a special scheme was arranged to give a final chance to as many +as possible. The conditions of the first and second rounds were specially +reproduced in place of the first and second races--conditions of which in +the earlier rounds these backward egos had not been able fully to take +advantage. Now, with the additional evolution, which they had undergone +during the third round, some of them were able to take such advantage, and +so they rushed in at the very last moment before the door was shut, and +became just human. Naturally they will not reach any high level of human +development, but at least when they try again in some future chain it will +be some advantage to them to have had even this slight experience of human +life. + +Our terrestrial evolution received a most valuable stimulus from the +assistance given to us by our sister globe, Venus. Venus is at present in +the fifth incarnation of its chain, and in the seventh round of that +incarnation, so that its inhabitants are a whole chain-period and a half in +front of us in evolution. Since, therefore, its people are so much more +developed than ours, it was thought desirable that certain Adepts from the +Venus evolution should be transferred to our Earth in order to assist in +the specially busy time just before the closing of the door, in the middle +of the fourth root-race. + +These august Beings have been called the Lords of the Flame and the +Children of the Fire-mist, and They have produced a wonderful effect upon +our evolution. The intellect of which we are so proud is almost entirely +due to Their presence, for in the natural course of events the next round, +the fifth, should be that of intellectual advancement, and in this our +present fourth round we should be devoting ourselves chiefly to the +cultivation of the emotions. We are therefore in reality a long way in +advance of the programme marked out for us; and such advance is entirely +due to the assistance given by these great Lords of the Flame. Most of Them +stayed with us only through that critical period of our history; a few +still remain to hold the highest offices of the Great White Brotherhood +until the time when men of our own evolution shall have risen to such a +height as to be capable of relieving their august Visitors. + +The evolution lying before us is both of the life and of the form; for in +future rounds, while the egos will be steadily growing in power, wisdom and +love, the physical forms also will be more beautiful and more perfect than +they have ever yet been. We have in this world at the present time men at +widely differing stages of evolution, and it is clear that there are vast +hosts of savages who are far behind the great civilized races of the +world--so far behind that it is quite impossible that they can overtake +them. Later on in the course of our evolution a point will be reached at +which it is no longer possible for those undeveloped souls to advance side +by side with the others, so that it will be necessary that a division +should be made. + +The proceeding is exactly analogous to the sorting out by a schoolmaster of +the boys in his class. During the school year he has to prepare his boys +for a certain examination, and by perhaps the middle of that school year he +knows quite well which of them will pass it. If he should have in his class +some who are hopelessly behind the rest, he might reasonably say to them +when the middle period was reached: + +"It is quite useless for you to continue with your fellows, for the more +difficult lessons which I shall now have to give will be entirely +unintelligible to you. It is impossible that you can learn enough in the +time to pass the examination, so that the effort would only be a useless +strain for you, and meantime you would be a hindrance to the rest of the +class. It is therefore far better for you to give up striving after the +impossible, and to take up again the work of the lower class which you did +not do perfectly, and then to offer yourselves for this examination along +with next year's class, for what is now impossible for you will then be +easy." + +This is in effect exactly what is said at a certain stage in our future +evolution, to the most backward egos. They drop out of this year's class +and come along with the next one. This is the "æonian condemnation" to +which reference was made a little while ago. It is computed that about +two-fifths of humanity will drop out of the class in this way, leaving the +remaining three-fifths to go on with far greater rapidity to the glorious +destinies which lie before them. + + + + +Chapter X + +THE RESULT OF THEOSOPHICAL STUDY + + +"Members of the Theosophical Society study these truths and Theosophists +endeavour to live them." What manner of man then is the true Theosophist in +consequence of his knowledge? What is the result in his daily life of all +this study? + +Finding that there is a Supreme Power who is directing the course of +evolution, and that He is all-wise and all-loving, the Theosophist sees +that everything which exists within this scheme must be intended to further +its progress. He realizes that the scripture which tells us that all things +are working together for good, is not indulging in a flight of poetic fancy +or voicing a pious hope, but stating a scientific fact. The final +attainment of unspeakable glory is an absolute certainty for every son of +man, whatever may be his present condition; but that is by no means all. +Here and at this present moment he is on his way towards the glory; and all +the circumstances surrounding him are intended to help and not to hinder +him, if only they are rightly understood. It is sadly true that in the +world there is much of evil and of sorrow and of suffering; yet from the +higher point of view the Theosophist sees that terrible though this be, it +is only temporary and superficial, and is all being utilized as a factor in +the progress. + +When in the days of his ignorance he looked at it from its own level it was +almost impossible to see this; while he looked from beneath at the under +side of life, with his eyes fixed all the time upon some apparent evil, he +could never gain a true grasp of its meaning. Now he raises himself above +it to the higher levels of thought and consciousness, and looks down upon +it with the eye of the spirit and understands it in its entirety, so he can +see that in very truth all is well--not that all will be well at some +remote period, but that even now at this moment, in the midst of incessant +striving and apparent evil, the mighty current of evolution is still +flowing, and so all is well because all is moving on in perfect order +towards the final goal. + +Raising his consciousness thus above the storm and stress of worldly life, +he recognizes what used to seem to be evil, and notes how it is apparently +pressing backwards against the great stream of progress; but he also sees +that the onward sweep of the divine law of evolution bears the same +relation to this superficial evil as does the tremendous torrent of Niagara +to the fleckings of foam upon its surface. So while he sympathizes deeply +with all who suffer, he yet realizes what will be the end of that +suffering, and so for him despair or hopelessness is impossible. He applies +this consideration to his own sorrows and troubles, as well as to those of +the world, and therefore one great result of his Theosophy is a perfect +serenity--even more than that, a perpetual cheerfulness and joy. + +For him there is an utter absence of worry, because in truth there is +nothing left to worry about, since he knows that all must be well. His +higher Science makes him a confirmed optimist, for it shows him that +whatever of evil there may be in any person or in any movement, it is of +necessity temporary, because it is opposed to the resistless stream of +evolution; whereas whatever is good in any person or in any movement must +necessarily be persistent and useful, because it has behind it the +omnipotence of that current, and therefore it must abide and it must +prevail. + +Yet it must not for a moment be supposed that because he is so fully +assured of the final triumph of good he remains careless or unmoved by the +evils which exist in the world around him. He knows that it is his duty to +combat these to the utmost of his power, because in doing this he is +working upon the side of the great evolutionary force, and is bringing +nearer the time of its ultimate victory. None will be more active than he +in labouring for the good, even though he is absolutely free from the +feeling of helplessness and hopelessness which so often oppresses those who +are striving to help their fellow-men. + +Another most valuable result of his Theosophical study is the absence of +fear. Many people are constantly anxious or worried about something or +other; they are fearing lest this or that should happen to them, lest this +or that combination may fail, and so all the while they are in a condition +of unrest; and most serious of all for many is the fear of death. For the +Theosophist the whole of this feeling is entirely swept away. He realizes +the great truth of reincarnation. He knows that he has often before laid +aside physical bodies, and so he sees that death is no more than +sleep--that just as sleep comes in between our days of work and gives us +rest and refreshment, so between these days of labour here on earth, which +we call lives, there comes a long night of astral and of heavenly life to +give us rest and refreshment and to help us on our way. + +To the Theosophist death is simply the laying aside for a time of this robe +of flesh. He knows that it is his duty to preserve the bodily vesture as +long as possible, and gain through it all the experience he can; but when +the time comes for him to lay it down he will do so thankfully, because he +knows that the next stage will be a much pleasanter one than this. Thus he +will have no fear of death, although he realizes that he must live his life +to the appointed end, because he is here for the purpose of progress, and +that progress is the one truly momentous matter. His whole conception of +life is different; the object is not to earn so much money, not to obtain +such and such a position; the one important thing is to carry out the +divine plan. He knows that for this he is here, and that everything else +must give way to it. + +Utterly free also is he from any religious fears or worries or troubles. +All such things are swept aside for him, because he sees clearly that +progress towards the highest is the divine Will for us, that we cannot +escape from that progress, and that whatever comes in our way and whatever +happens to us is meant to help us along that line; that we ourselves are +absolutely the only people who can delay our advance. No longer does he +trouble and fear about himself. He simply goes on and does the duty which +comes nearest in the best way that he can, confident that if he does this +all will be well for him without his perpetual worrying. He is satisfied +quietly to do his work and to try to help his fellows in the race, knowing +that the great divine Power behind will press him onward slowly and +steadily, and do for him all that can be done, so long as his face is set +steadfastly in the right direction, so long as he does all that he +reasonably can. + +Since he knows that we are all part of one great evolution and all +literally the children of one Father, he sees that the universal +brotherhood of humanity is no mere poetical conception, but a definite +fact; not a dream of something which is to be in the dim distance of +Utopia, but a condition existing here and now. The certainty of this +all-embracing fraternity gives him a wider outlook upon life and a broad +impersonal point of view from which to regard everything. He realizes that +the true interests of all are in fact identical, and that no man can ever +make real gain for himself at the cost of loss or suffering to some one +else. This is not to him an article of religious belief, but a scientific +fact proved to him by his study. He sees that since humanity is literally a +whole, nothing which injures one man can ever be really for the good of any +other, for the harm done influences not only the doer but also those who +are about him. + +He knows that the only true advantage for him is that benefit which he +shares with all. He sees that any advance which he is able to make in the +way of spiritual progress or development is something secured not for +himself alone but for others. If he gains knowledge or self-control, he +assuredly acquires much for himself, yet he takes nothing away from anyone +else, but on the contrary he helps and strengthens others. Cognizant as he +is of the absolute spiritual unity of humanity, he knows that, even in this +lower world, no true profit can be made by one man which is not made in the +name of and for the sake of humanity; that one man's progress must be a +lifting of the burden of all the others; that one man's advance in +spiritual things means a very slight yet not imperceptible advance to +humanity as a whole; that every one who bears suffering and sorrow nobly in +his struggle towards the light is lifting a little of the heavy load of the +sorrow and suffering of his brothers as well. + +Because he recognizes this brotherhood not merely as a hope cherished by +despairing men, but as a definite fact following in scientific series from +all other facts; because he sees this as an absolute certainty, his +attitude towards all those around him changes radically. It becomes a +posture ever of helpfulness, ever of the deepest sympathy, for he sees that +nothing which clashes with their higher interests can be the right thing +for him to do, or can be good for him in any way. + +It naturally follows that he becomes filled with the widest possible +tolerance and charity. He cannot but be always tolerant, because his +philosophy shows him that it matters little what a man believes, so long as +he is a good man and true. Charitable also he must be, because his wider +knowledge enables him to make allowances for many things which the ordinary +man does not understand. The standard of the Theosophist as to right and +wrong is always higher than that of the less instructed man, yet he is far +gentler than the latter in his feeling towards the sinner, because he +comprehends more of human nature. He realizes how the sin appeared to the +sinner at the moment of its commission, and so he makes more allowances +than is ever made by the man who is ignorant of all this. + +He goes further than tolerance, charity, sympathy; he feels positive love +towards mankind, and that leads him to adopt a position of watchful +helpfulness. He feels that every contact with others is for him an +opportunity, and the additional knowledge which his study has brought to +him enables him to give advice or help in almost any case which comes +before him. Not that he is perpetually thrusting his opinions upon other +people. On the contrary, he observes that to do this is one of the +commonest mistakes made by the uninstructed. He knows that argument is a +foolish waste of energy, and therefore he declines to argue. If anyone +desires from him explanation or advice he is more than willing to give it, +yet he has no sort of wish to convert anyone else to his own way of +thinking. + +In every relation of life this idea of helpfulness comes into play, not +only with regard to his fellowmen but also in connection with the vast +animal kingdom which surrounds him. Units of this kingdom are often brought +into close relation with man, and this is for him an opportunity of doing +something for them. The Theosophist recognizes that these are also his +brothers, even though they may be younger brothers, and that he owes a +fraternal duty to them also--so to act and so to think that his relation +with them shall be always for their good and never for their harm. + +Pre-eminently and above all, this Theosophy is to him a doctrine of common +sense. It puts before him, as far as he can at present know them, the facts +about God and man and the relations between them; then he proceeds to take +these facts into account and to act in relation to them with ordinary +reason and common sense. He regulates his life according to the laws of +evolution which it has taught him, and this gives him a totally different +standpoint, and a touchstone by which to try everything--his own thoughts +and feelings, and his own actions first of all, and then those things which +come before him in the world outside himself. + +Always he applies this criterion: Is the thing right or wrong, does it help +evolution or does it hinder it? If a thought or a feeling arises within +himself, he sees at once by this test whether it is one he ought to +encourage. If it be for the greatest good of the greatest number then all +is well; if it may hinder or cause harm to any being in its progress, then +it is evil and to be avoided. Exactly the same reason holds good if he is +called upon to decide with regard to anything outside himself. If from that +point of view a thing be a good thing, then he can conscientiously support +it; if not, then it is not for him. + +For him the question of personal interest does not come into the case at +all. He thinks simply of the good of evolution as a whole. This gives him a +definite foothold and the clear criterion, and removes from him altogether +the pain of indecision and hesitation. The Will of the Deity is man's +evolution; whatever therefore helps on that evolution must be good; +whatever stands in the way of it and delays it, that thing must be wrong, +even though it may have on its side all the weight of public opinion and +immemorial tradition. + +Knowing that the true man is the ego and not the body, he sees that it is +the life of the ego only which is really of moment, and that everything +connected with the body must unhesitatingly be subordinated to those higher +interests. He recognizes that this earth-life is given to him for the +purpose of progress, and that that progress is the one important thing. The +real purpose of his life is the unfoldment of his powers as an ego, the +development of his character. He knows that there must be evolvement not +only of the physical body but also of the mental nature, of the mind and of +the spiritual perceptions. He sees that nothing short of absolute +perfection is expected of him in connection with this development; that all +power with regard to it is in his own hands; that he has everlasting time +before him in which to attain this perfection, but that the sooner it is +gained the happier and more useful will he be. + +He recognizes his life as nothing but a day at school, and his physical +body as a temporary vesture assumed for the purpose of learning through it. +He knows at once that this purpose of learning lessons is the only one of +any real importance, and that the man who allows himself to be diverted +from that purpose by any consideration whatever is acting with +inconceivable stupidity. To him the life devoted exclusively to physical +objects, to the acquisition of wealth or fame, appears the merest +child's-play--a senseless sacrifice of all that is really worth having for +the sake of a few moments' gratification of the lower part of his nature. +He "sets his affection on things above and not on things of the earth", not +only because he sees this to be the right course of action, but because he +realizes so clearly the valuelessness of these things of earth. He always +tries to take the higher point of view, for he knows that the lower is +utterly unreliable--that the lower desires and feelings gather round him +like a dense fog, and make it impossible for him to see anything clearly +from that level. + +Whenever he finds a struggle going on within him he remembers that he +himself is the higher, and that this which is the lower is not the real +self, but merely an uncontrolled part of one of its vehicles. He knows that +though he may fall a thousand times on the way towards his goal, his reason +for trying to reach it remains just as strong after the thousandth fall as +it was in the beginning, so that it would not only be useless but unwise +and wrong to give way to despondency and hopelessness. + +He begins his journey upon the road of progress at once--not only because +he knows that it is far easier for him now than it will be if he leaves the +effort until later, but chiefly because if he makes the endeavour now and +succeeds in achieving some progress, if he rises thereby to some higher +level, he is in a position to hold out a helping hand to those who have not +yet reached even that step on the ladder which he has gained. In that way +he takes a part, however humble it may be, in the great divine work of +evolution. + +He knows that he has arrived at his present position only by a slow process +of growth, and so he does not expect instantaneous attainment of +perfection. He sees how inevitable is the great law of cause and effect, +and that when he once grasps the working of that law he can use it +intelligently in regard to mental and moral development, just as in the +physical world we can employ for our own assistance those laws of Nature +the action of which we have learnt to understand. + +Understanding what death is, he knows that there can be no need to fear it +or to mourn over it, whether it comes to himself or to those whom he loves. +It has come to them all often before, so there is nothing unfamiliar about +it. He sees death simply as a promotion from a life which is more than half +physical to one which is wholly superior, so for himself he unfeignedly +welcomes it; and even when it comes to those whom he loves, he recognizes +at once the advantage for them, even though he cannot but feel a pang of +regret that he should be temporarily separated from them so far as the +physical world is concerned. But he knows that the so-called dead are near +him still, and that he has only to cast off for a time his physical body in +sleep in order to stand side by side with them as before. + +He sees clearly that the world is one, and that the same divine laws rule +the whole of it, whether it be visible or invisible to physical sight. So +he has no feeling of nervousness or strangeness in passing from one part of +it to another, and no feeling of uncertainty as to what he will find on the +other side of the veil. He knows that in that higher life there opens +before him a splendid vista of opportunities both for acquiring fresh +knowledge and for doing useful work; that life away from this dense body +has a vividness and a brilliancy to which all earthly enjoyment is as +nothing; and so through his clear knowledge and calm confidence the power +of the endless life shines out upon all those round him. + +Doubt as to his future is for him impossible, for just as by looking back +on the savage he realizes that which he was in the past, so by looking to +the greatest and wisest of mankind he knows what he will be in the future. +He sees an unbroken chain of development, a ladder of perfection rising +steadily before him, yet with human beings upon every step of it, so that +he knows, that those steps are possible for him to climb. It is just +because of the unchangeableness of the great law of cause and effect that +he finds himself able to climb that ladder, because since the law works +always in the same way, he can depend upon it and he can use it, just as he +uses the laws of Nature in the physical worlds. His knowledge of this law +brings to him a sense of perspective and shows him that if something comes +to him, it comes because he has deserved it as a consequence of actions +which he has committed, of words which he has spoken, of thought to which +he has given harbour in previous days or in earlier lives. He comprehends +that all affliction is of the nature of the payment of a debt, and +therefore when he has to meet with the troubles of life he takes them and +uses them as a lesson, because he understands why they have come and is +glad of the opportunity which they give him to pay off something of his +obligation. + +Again, and in yet another way, does he take them as an opportunity, for he +sees that there is another side to them if he meets them in the right way. +He spends no time in bearing prospective burdens. When trouble comes to him +he does not aggravate it by foolish repining but sets himself to endure so +much of it as is inevitable, with patience and with fortitude. Not that he +submits himself to it as a fatalist might, for he takes adverse +circumstances as an incentive to such development as may enable him to +transcend them, and thus out of long-past evil he brings forth a seed of +future growth. For in the very act of paying the outstanding debt he +develops qualities of courage and resolution that will stand him in good +stead through all the ages that are to come. + +He is distinguishable from the rest of the world by his perennial +cheerfulness, his undaunted courage under difficulties, and his ready +sympathy and helpfulness; yet he is at the same time emphatically a man who +takes life seriously, who recognizes that there is much for everyone to do +in the world, and that there is no time to waste. He knows with utter +certainty that he not only makes his own destiny but also gravely affects +that of others around him, and thus he perceives how weighty a +responsibility attends the use of his power. + +He knows that thoughts are things and that it is easily possible to do +great harm or great good by their means. He knows that no man liveth to +himself, for his every thought acts upon others as well; that the +vibrations which he sends forth from his mind and from his mental nature +are reproducing themselves in the minds and the mental natures of other +men, so that he is a source either of mental health or of mental ill to all +with whom he comes in contact. + +This at once imposes upon him a far higher code of social ethics than that +which is known to the outer world, for he knows that he must control not +only his acts and his words, but also his thoughts, since they may produce +effects more serious and more far-reaching than their outward expression in +the physical world. He knows that even when a man is not in the least +thinking of others, he yet inevitably affects them for good or for evil. In +addition to this unconscious action of his thought upon others he also +employs it consciously for good. He sets currents in motion to carry mental +help and comfort to many a suffering friend, and in this way he finds a +whole new world of usefulness opening before him. + +He ranges himself ever on the side of the higher rather than the lower +thought, the nobler rather than the baser. He deliberately takes the +optimistic rather than the pessimistic view of everything, the helpful, +rather than the cynical, because he knows that to be fundamentally the true +view. By looking continually for the good in everything that he may +endeavour to strengthen it, by striving always to help and never to hinder, +he becomes ever of greater use to his fellow-men, and is thus in his small +way a co-worker with the splendid scheme of evolution. He forgets himself +utterly and lives but for the sake of others, realizing himself as a part +of that scheme; he also realizes the God within him, and learns to become +ever a truer expression of Him, and thus in fulfilling God's Will, he is +not only blessed himself, but becomes a blessing to all. + + + + +INDEX + +Adept, causal body of 45-8 + further evolution of 13 + is on summit of human evolution 13 + level of 13, 119-21 + work of 119-20 + +Adepts, as members of Hierarchy 13 + first of Earth 129 + from Venus 131-2 + Great Brotherhood of 12-4, 117-8, 132 + many degrees of 13 + men have become 13 + some are Masters 14 + some remain with mankind 22 + some take apprentices 100 + +Adeptship, older egos nearing 126 + +Æonian condemnation 119-20, 133 + +Æther, breath, blown into 19 + bubbles in 19-22, 23 + density of 19 + mean pressure of 19 + of space 18 + ultimate atoms formed in 19 + +Age or dispensation 13 + +Air, nature spirits of 84 + +_Ancient Wisdom, The_ 1 + +Androgynous man 130 + +Angels, approach men through ceremonial 85 + guardian 54 + hosts of 11 + Kingdom of 84 + of the law of cause and effect 100 + +Animals, additional evolution of 131 + are our younger brothers 141 + distinction between man and 40 + domestic 38 + heads of types of 38 + individualization of 38-40 + man's emotions act on 38 + man's thoughts act on 38 + Moon-, came to Earth chain 128 + Moon-, individualize 126, 131 + seven types of 37, 38 + souls of 33 + +Animal kingdom 31-2, 37, 141 + +Animal-men of Moon-chain 127-8 + +Apprentice upon probation 118 + +Apprentices, to Masters 14-7 + accepted 118 + men may become 18, 116-7 + qualifications necessary for 116-8 + three stages of 118 + +Aryan root-race 105, 125 + +Aspects, three, of the Logos 11 + three, of man 11, 41 + +Astral body, after death 68-71, 73-5, 81, 86 + cell-life of 65 + colours of 56-8 + disintegration of 86 + effect of thought on 51-2 + ego casts off 42, 63 + ego takes an 42, 61 + entity occupying 66-72 + is bridge to mental body 58 + man in his, during sleep 62, 71 + matter of, is in constant motion 70 + never fatigued 62 + no separate senses in 69-70 + of animal 32 + of group-soul 32 + permanent colours of 58 + reacts on causal body 47 + reacts on mental body 47 + shape of 56, 61 + shell around 68, 70, 78-80, 81 + simile of boiling water 69-70 + size of 56 + temptations caused by 66-8 + vibrations of 56-8, 65-7, 75-6 + +Astral corpse 86 + counterparts 72-3, 78-80 + entity 66-8 + shell 68, 78-81, 86-7 + shell, result of 70 + vitality of 86-7 + +Astral globe of Earth 26-7, 71-2 + globe of Moon 26-7 + globes of Earth-chain 122 + +Astral matter, arrangement of 71-3 + attracts mental matter 60 + physical body attracts 60 + vibrations of 24 + +Astral sight 68-9 + +Astral world, the appearance of 71, 78-83 + death in 89 + delights of 76-8 + descent of ego to 42-3 + extent of 26-7, 71 + inhabitants of 83 + the, is the home of emotions 71 + is the home of lower thoughts 71 + life period in, after death 43, 64-5, 81 + man in, during sleep 62, 70 + man's freedom in 73, 76 + matter, simile of onion 72 + nature spirits in 84 + no measurement of time in 75 + non-human inhabitants of 84 + of Moon 27 + scenery of 77, 81 + second outpouring enters 30 + second outpouring indrawn to 31 + sections of 78-83 + the sixth plane is named 23, 41 + the summerland of 80 + withdrawal of ego from 82 + +Astro-mental forms 51, 57 + +Atlantean root-race 105, 125 + +Atomic matter 25 + +Atoms charged with vitality of interpenetrating worlds 20-1 + physical ultimate 25 + ultimate 19-22 + +Attainment is certain for all 132 + +Besant, Dr. 1 + author of _The Ancient Wisdom_ 1 + +Birth of man, factors determining 104-5 + +Blavatsky, H.P. 14 + author of _Isis Unveiled_ 15 + was a founder of the T.S. 14 + was an apprentice to a Master 14 + +Bliss of the higher worlds 89-91 + +Books, oriental sacred 18 + +Brain, connection with astral body 59 + connection with ego 59 + connection with mental body 49 + etheric part of 62 + +Branch-races 104-5, 125 + +Bridges to ego 59, 61 + +Brotherhood, the Great, of Adepts 12-4, 116-9, 132 + entry into 119 + Great White, the 12 + Head of 12 + Lords of the Flame hold highest office in 132 + man may join in 116 + +Brotherhood of humanity, the universal 138-9 + +Bubbles in space 19-21 + aggregations of 19-22, 23-4 + form material of nebula 19 + +Casual body, the, abstract thoughts arouse 46 + appearance of 45-9 + bad qualities do not affect 47, 58 + colours in 46-8 + composition of 45 + is the vehicle of ego 42 + life in 95-6 + mental body reacts upon 58 + of Adept 45, 48 + of developed man 48 + of primitive man 46 + of saint 48 + of savage 48 + only good affects 47, 58 + permanent vehicle of ego 45 + unselfish emotions arouse 47 + +Cause and effect, law of 100-7 + adjustment of 101 + angels connected with 101 + cannot be modified 101 + exactness of 100-1 + explains problems of life 100-1 + +Cause and effect, is universal 100 + simile of debts and 102-7 + +Cell-life of astral body 65 + of mental body 65 + of physical body 65 + +Centres of force 60 + +Ceremonial, angels approach men through 85 + +Chain, a, consists of seven rounds 124 + life-wave of a 121, 123-5 + lunar, the 123, 126-7 + periods 125 + +Chains of globes 121 + descent of, into matter 121-4 + incarnation of 121-5 + +Character and simile of muscles 114 + how, is formed 111-5 + +Chemical elements 21, 28 + +Children of the Fire-mist 131 + (also see Lords of Flame) + +Christ, the, learning the lesson of 96 + spoke of the "æonian condemnation" 119, 133 + +Church, the angels approach men through 85 + +Clairvoyant sight 46 + character seen by 50 + force-centres seen by 60 + +Colours of astral body 56-8 + of causal body 46-8 + of mental body 48 + of thoughts 54 + +Consciousness, development of 45-6 + of developed man 62-3 + states of 64 + +Corpse, astral 86 + physical 86 + the Moon is a 123 + +Counterparts, astral 73-4 + of globes 122 + +Crookes, Sir William 22 + +Dead, the, can be helped 77-9 + can continue studies 77 + can help their fellowmen 77 + communicate with living 74 + cravings of the 75-7 + first feeling of 76 + friends of, in mental world 93-4 + have no measurement of time 75 + in astral world 73-89 + in mental world 89-95 + in the three sections of astral world 74-5, 78-83 + most of, are happy 76 + period in astral world, 64-5, 82 + period in mental world 64 + relation of, to Earth 73-4 + some seize other bodies 88 + thought-creations of 80 + what they see 73 + +Death, a second 63, 89 + artists after 77 + average men after 64-5 + character not changed by 74 + conditions of life after 74 + cultured men after 65 + etheric double at 87 + happiness after 74, 76 + in astral world 68, 89 + lovers of music after 77 + misery after 75 + philanthropists after 77 + primitive men after 63 + sensualists after 75-6 + spiritual men after 65 + students of science after 77 + what is 3, 63, 137, 144 + +Deity (see Solar Deity) + +Demons, tempting 53, 67 + +Departments of the world 11 + +Devas, hosts of 11 + (also see Angels) + +Discrimination 118 + +Divine Life 29 + ensouls matter 29-40 + responds to vibrations 33 + +Divine world, extent of 26-7 + first plane named 23, 41 + "Door, shutting the" 131 + +Dreams 62 + +Earth, Adepts from Venus come to 131 + astral globe of 26-7 + -chain 121 + first men of the 125-30 + nature spirits of the 85 + purpose of life on 142 + +Earth-chain, the 121 + animal-men build early + forms on 127-8 + explained 121-4 + incarnation of 122-5 + Moon-animals come to 128 + +Education, department of 11-2 + +Ego, the, assumes bodies 42, 61 + bridges of to physical body 58, 61 + connection of, with brain 59 + desire of, for vivid life 97 + drops lower bodies 43 + ensouls fragment of group-soul 42 + fills mental images of himself 93 + gains qualities 43 + habitat of 94 + is a part expression of Monad 61 + is the manifestation of the triple Spirit in man 42 + life of, in causal body 95-7 + life of, in lower bodies 63-4 + lives for millions of years 97 + loses part of his life sometimes 86 + object of descent of 45, 98 + only good affects 47-8, 58, 112 + origin of 39, 109 + passes to mental world 85 + remembers past lives 44 + sheaves of 61 + sight of 45 + the, simile of day at school and 98 + succession of personalities of 109 + withdraws from astral plane 82 + +Elemental kingdoms, the three 29-30 + seven types of each of 37 + +Elemental creatures 37 + +Elements, chemical 21, 28 + proto- 21 + +Emotions affect life after death 64, 67-8 + of the living react on the dead 74 + selfish and unselfish 110 + should be developed in + fourth round 131 + the home of the 71 + +Emotional world (see astral world) + +Entity, astral body 66-8 + +Etheric, bodies of early humanity 129 + bodies of nature spirits 84 + matter 25 + +Etheric double, the 59 + at death 87-8 + force-centres in 60 + is a bridge 59 + is not a vehicle 87-8 + some dead cling to 88 + vitality flows through 59 + +Evil, is transitory 48, 58, 135-6 + is utilized for progress 135 + man's powers of, are + restricted 102 + simile of Niagara Falls, and 135 + +Evolution, additional, for animals 131 + advanced state of 131 + animal 31-40 + break in regularity of 130 + central point of 125, 130 + early stages of, for backward entities 127 + examining scenes of early 3 + is the Will of the Deity 11, 142 + ladder of 17 + man restrains law of 105 + mineral 30-1 + object of human 99 + of human forms 129-30 + of life 28-40 + other schemes of 121, 123 + pressure of 99, 105 + resistless stream of 136 + scheme of, a 32, 122-5 + summit of human 13 + super-human 13, 119 + Theosophy explains laws of 99 + three stages of 108-9 + vegetable 30-1 + +Eye-brows, force-centre between 60 + +Failure is impossible 5 + +Fairies (see Nature-spirits) + +'Fetters' to be cast off 120 + +Fire-mist, Children of the 131 + +Fire, nature-spirits of 84 + Sparks of divine 10, 41, 61 + +Flame, Lords of the 131 + +Fohat 19 + +Forces, the higher, Adepts' knowledge of 14 + +Force-centres 60 + +Founder of each race 11 + +Founders of the Theosophical Society 14 + +Fragment of life of the Logos 9 + of group-soul 39, 42 + of the Monad 61 + +Freemasonry, angels approach men through 85 + +Free-will 99 + +Free-will, limitation of unbounded 102-3 + +_Genesis of Elements, The_ 22 + +Globe, astral, of Earth 27 + astral of, Moon 27 + mental 27 + +Globes, chains of 121 + seven, of Earth-chain 122-3 + 'God is Love' 10 + Word of 9 + (see also Solar Deity) + +Group of egos 106 + +Group-soul, fragment, from, is ensouled 39-42 + of domestic animals 38-40 + numbers of bodies attached to one 34-7 + Spark hovers over 40 + +Group-souls 36-9 + seven types of 37 + simile of bucket of water and 34-6 + +Guardian angel 54 + +Head, force-centre in 60 + of each race 11 + of human evolution 11 + of religion and education 11-2 + of the White Brotherhood 14 + +Heart, force-centre in 60 + +Heaven, is a state of consciousness 64 + simile of capacity of cups and 91-2 + varying capacities of men in 91-2 + +Hell, non-existence of 64, 71, 74, 75 + +Hierarchy, The 5 + controls the world 5, 13 + Head of 14 + man can join 13 + Members of, watch for helpers 116-7 + Human evolution, beginning of 32-8 + division of races of 104-5 + the central point in 118-9 + the half-way point of 125 + the summit of 13 + +Humanity, bodies of early 128-9 + early, was androgynous 130 + races of 11 + receives help from Venus 131 + service of, by thought 53-4 + spiritual unity of 139 + +Immortal, the soul of man 8 + +Incarnations of Earth-chain 122-5 + +Individuality, a permanent 39 + +Individualization, is the first critical point of man's life 118 + of animals 37-40 + of Moon-animals 126-7, 130-1 + +Indo-Caucasian root-race 105 + +Inhabitants of finer worlds 26 + +Initiations, the great 118, 119-20 + simile of university degrees 120 + +Instincts, of animals 35 + of cell-life 65 + +Intellect is a fifth round development 131 + +Intelligence in man 42 + +Intuition in man 23, 42 + +Intuitional world, the 23, 42 + extent of 27 + Monad manifests in 42 + second outpouring in 33 + third outpouring descends to 39-40 + +_Isis Unveiled_ 15 + +Jupiter, the planet 124 + +King of the World, The 11 + +Kingdom, animal 30-1, 37-9 + first elemental 29 + mineral 30-3, 40 + of angels 84-5 + of nature-spirits 84-5 + second elemental 30 + seven types of each 38 + third elemental 30 + vegetable 30-1, 38 + +Kingdoms of nature ensouled by life-waves 38, 126 + the elemental 29-30 + the seven, of nature 28, 38-9 + +Koilon 18 + +Ladder of evolution, the 17, 145 + golden 96 + rungs of 17 + +Law, the, of evolution 99, 104-5 + of cause and effect 100-7 + +Laws, the immutable 8 + +Liberated man 5-6 + +Life, cell- 65-6 + conditions of, after death 74 + divine 23, 29, 121 + man's continuous 63 + the purpose of 98-9, 108-20 + +Life-waves, the 28-40 + constant-successions of 32 + ensoul the kingdoms of nature 33, 37 + of chains 121-2, 123-5 + two stages of 29 + +Life-wave, the, now centred on Earth 128 + period of, in each kingdom 38-9 + +Logos, the (see Solar Deity) + +Lords of the Flame, assistance given by 132 + come to Earth 131 + some still remain on Earth 132 + of the Moon 126 + +'Love, God is' 10 + +Lunar-chain (see Moon-chain) + +Man, after death 63-96 + can kill out vices 110-5 + conflict of interest between, and his vehicles 66 + constitution of 41-62 + distinction between animals and 40 + during sleep 61-2, 70, 74 + early, was androgynous 130 + evolves through different races 104-5 + exists in other worlds 2-3, 42-3 + factors determining birth of 104-5 + free will of 99-100, 102 + has latent powers 2 + has many lives 2-4, 42 + has powers of evil restricted 102 + has several bodies 2-3, 42 + is always affecting others 138-9, 147 + is a Monad 42 + is a soul 2-3 + is a Spark of divine Fire 41 + is divine in origin 3 + is his own law-giver 8 + is immortal 8 + is influenced by his astral body-entity 68 + is not changed by death 74 + is separate from animal kingdom 28 + is the outcome of his past 44-5 + learns to use his powers in service 108-9 + liberated 5-6 + makes his own destiny 147 + may be apprenticed to a Master 14-5, 117 + past history of 2-3 + physical body of, is evolved from animal forms 130 + reaps result of his action 100-1 + represents mineral kingdom of first chain 126 + the Triple Spirit in 41 + the triumph of 96 + three aspects of 11, 41-2 + why, does not remember past lives 44 + (also see primitive man and savages) + +Mars, the planet 122, 124 + life exists on 128 + +Master, son of a 118 + the 13-7 + are Adepts Who take apprentices 14 + take apprentices 14-7, 117-8 + the great knowledge of 14 + "Their world" 15 + +Matter, all, is living 30, 65 + astral 15, 26, 31, 43, 51, 66-7 + atomic 25 + different densities of 20, 25 + etheric 25, 59 + formation of root- 18-9 + intermingling of 21 + mental 23, 27, 29, 33, 42 + molecules of 24-5 + power of attraction of 60 + root- 81 + +Matter, seven types of 21, 24 + starry 24 + sub-atomic 25 + sub-divisions of 24-5 + super-etheric 25 + the senses respond to vibrations in 26 + ultimate 18-21 + vibrations of 24-6, 33, 44-7 + whirling sphere of, a 19-21 + +Memory of nature 3 + of past lives 44 + +Men, backward, drop out 132-3 + bodies of first Earth-chain 129-30 + first, of Earth-chain 126-7 + Moon- 126-9 + +Mental, globe 26-7 + globes of Earth-chain 122 + images of friends 93-4 + shell 53, 91 + warts 49 + (also see mental world) + +Mental body, the, after death 90-1 + bridge from, to physical body 58 + cell-life of 65 + composition of 48 + connection of brain with 49 + description of 48-9, 60-1 + effect of prejudice upon 49 + effect of thoughts upon 48-51 + expresses concrete thoughts 48 + reacts on causal body 58 + shell 53, 91 + sight of 50-1 + striations in 49-50 + the astral body reacts upon 58 + the dead are unused to 90-1 + the ego casts aside his 43-4, 63 + the ego takes a 42-3 + the memory of 44-5 + thoughts shown as colours in 48-50 + vibrations of 50, 53-4 + warts on 49 + +Mental matter, globe of 26-7 + the causal body is built of 45 + the mind is built of 23 + vibrations of 24 + +Mental world, average life in, after death 64-5 + bliss of 90 + effect of higher thought in 92-3 + ego formed in higher 39 + extent of 27 + formation of 20-3 + friends of dead in 93-4 + higher 29-30, 33, 39-42 + levels of 94 + lower 29-30 + man in, after death 63-4, 89-95 + the fifth plane named 24-41 + the Monad manifests in higher 42 + the second outpouring descends to 29-30 + wealth of 91 + +Mercury, the planet 122, 124 + life exists on 128 + +Mind, the divine 91 + the, of man 23 + (also see mental body) + +Mineral, the kingdom 30-1, 37, 108, 126 + man represents, of first chain 126 + seven types of 37 + the first out-pouring ensouls 30 + +Ministers in charge of departments 11 + the seven, of Solar Deity 11 + +Monad, the, descent of 41 + +Monad, origin of 41, 61 + +Monads, the home of human, 23, 41 + +Monadic world, the, extent of 27 + man belongs to 41 + the second plane named 23, 41-2 + +Mongolian root-race 105 + +Moon, the, astral globe of 27, 71 + human goal on 126 + individualization on 125 + is a corpse 123 + Lords of the 126 + +Moon-animals 126-7 + individualize on Earth 128-9 + +Moon-chain, animal-men of 127-8 + human goal on 126 + men of 126 + men come to Earth-chain 126-9 + was the third incarnation of our chain 123 + +Moon-men 126-9 + distribution of, on Earth-chain 126-9 + first order of 129 + second order of 129 + some entered the Path 129 + +Motive, the, for self-effort 115 + +Nature, memory of 3 + planes of 7 + seven kingdoms of 28 + +Nature-spirits, are not individualized 84 + are sometimes seen by men 84 + four classes of 84 + many wear etheric bodies 84 + the kingdom of 84 + where they exist 83-4 + +Nebula, cooling of 22 + planets formed from 22 + rings of 22 + subsidiary vortices of 22 + vortex of 20 + +Negroid, the, race 105 + +Neptune, the planet 124 + +Nerves, vitality flows along 59 + +_Occult Chemistry_ 7 + +_Occult World, The_ 1, 15 + +Occultism, how to progress in 113-7 + +Official, pupils of great 11 + representing Solar Deity 11 + +Officials of the Hierarchy 13 + +Olcott, Colonel H.S. 14 + a founder of T.S. 14 + +Oriental sacred books 18 + +Origin, divine, of man 3, 10, 39-40 + +Outpouring, the first 20-8 + the second 28-39, 65 + the third 39-40 + +Path, the, conditions of 15 + fetters to be cast off on 119-20 + fourth step on 126 + Moon-men entered 129 + simile of mountain 5 + steeper 5, 119-20 + +Peers of Logos 9 + +Perfect men 5 + +Perseverance necessary for progress 113 + +Personality 61 + the purpose of the 109 + +Philosophy, Theosophy is a 1 + +Physical body, attracts astral matter 60 + cells of the 65-6 + during sleep man leaves his 62, 70 + early evolution of the 129-30 + ego, drops his 43, 63 + +Physical body, ego takes a 43, 61 + etheric part of 59-60 + future perfection of the 132 + of first round 129-30 + of man is evolved from animal forms 130 + requirements of the 59-60 + +Physical matter, subdivisions of 25 + vibrations of 24, 33 + +Physical world, the, descent of ego to 42-3 + formation of 21-3, 23-6 + second outpouring enters 30-1 + seven sub-divisions of 25 + +_Pioneer, The_, Mr. A.P. Sinnett, editor of 15 + +Planes of nature, the 7 + formation of 20-1 + investigation of 7 + naming of 41 + +Planets, formation of 22 + future 20 + life on other 128 + +Planetary chains 121-33 + +Planetary Spirits, the seven 11 + simile of ganglia and 11 + +Powers latent in man 2 + are for use in service 109 + observation of history by 3 + observation of other worlds by 2-3 + +Prejudices shown in mental body, 49 + +Primitive man, causal body of 46-8 + during sleep 62 + life of, after death 64 + result of action of 102 + types of 37 + +Principle, undying, in man 8 + +Probation, apprentice upon 118 + period of 118 + +Promptings of lower nature 66-8 + +Proto-elements 21 + +Pupils, accepted, of Master 118 + of Great Officials 11 + of Masters 14-7, 116-8 + (see also apprentices) + +Purgatory is a state of consciousness 64-5 + +Quotations from, a French Scientist 18 + a Gnostic Philosopher 10 + a Master 15 + an Eastern Scripture 9 + _The Occult World_ 1 + +Race, Founder of each 11 + Head of each 11 + of life 99 + +Races, branch- 105, 125 + man evolves through different 105 + object of 105 + of humanity 14 + root- 105, 125-6 + sub- 105, 125 + +Ray, the seventh 85 + +Record, indelible 3 + +Reincarnation 42-4, 97-107 + desire of ego for 97 + simile of days at school and 98-9 + Theosophy explains 99 + +Religion, Adepts, Teachers of 12 + department of 12 + Founders of new 11 + +Religions, have one source 12 + start with basic truths 12 + the sending forth of 11 + +Reproduction, early methods of 130 + +Reynolds, Prof. O. 18-9 + +Right and wrong, the test of 142 + +Roman races, the 105 + +Root-matter 18 + +Root-races 105, 125 + +Round, a 125 + first, differs from others 128 + +Rounds, conditions, of early reproduced in fourth round 130-1 + human forms on first three 128-30 + +Saturn, rings of, simile of 22 + +Savages, causal bodies of 46-7, 48-9 + during sleep 62 + types of 37 + +'Saved, The' 119 + +Scheme of evolution, a 32, 121-2 + central point of 125 + +School, of philosophy, there is a 1 + of life, none fail in the 98 + +Séances 87 + +_Secret Doctrine, The_ 19 + +Seers can use sight of the ego 46 + +Senses, the, of astral body 68-9 + respond to vibrations of matter 26 + +Service, man learns to use his powers in 109 + the joy of 96 + +Seven, 'bubbles' combine in powers of 20-1, 23 + choices of Lords of the Moon 127-8 + degrees of density of matter 24-5 + force-centres in man's bodies 60 + globes of a chain 121-2 + impulses of force 19-20 + incarnations of chains 121 + interpenetrating worlds 20, 22 + kingdoms of nature 28 + life-waves 33 + Ministers of Solar Deity 11 + Planetary Spirits 11 + sub-divisions of matter 24-5 + sub-divisions of vitality 60 + types of animals 37-9 + types of elemental creatures 37-8 + types of group-souls 37-8 + types of matter 21, 24 + types of men 43 + types of minerals 37 + types of vegetables 37 + +Sexes, separation of 130 + +Shade, the 86 + +Sheaves of the ego 61 + +Shell, of astral body 68, 78-80, 81, 86-7 + of thoughts 53, 91 + +Sight, astral 68-9 + clairvoyant 46 + mental 51 + of ego 46 + +Simile of, boiling water 69-70 + brick 25 + bucket of water 34-5 + charged battery 53 + cups of varying capacities 91-2 + days at school 97-8, 143 + dense fog 143 + developing muscles 114 + flame in a dark night 14 + ganglia 11 + matter diffused in water 72 + Niagara Falls 135 + onion 72 + overtones of musical notes 58 + path up mountain 5 + payment of a debt 102-4 + rungs of a ladder 17 + Saturn's rings 22 + shutting a door 131 + sorting out school-boys 132 + university degrees 120 + vibrations of a bell 55 + warts 49 + +Sinnett, Mr. A.P. 1, 15 + author of _The Occult World_ 1, 15 + author of _Esoteric Buddhism_ 1, 15 + editor of _The Pioneer_ 15 + +Sleep 61-2, 70, 87 + man during 61-2, 70 + the dead are met during 74 + +Solar Deity, the, a Being higher than 19 + builds His system 9-10, 19 + field of activity of 19 + first Aspect of 39 + fragment of Life of 9-10 + future planets of 19 + impulses of force of 20-1, 28 + is a Trinity 11 + Official representing 11 + Peers of 9 + Plan of 11, 13 + second Aspect of 28, 32, 65 + Self-limitation of 10 + seven Ministers of 11 + seven Planetary Spirits 11 + the King of the World represents 11 + third Aspect of 20-1, 28 + threefold manifestation of 10 + +Solar plexus, force-centre, the 60 + +Solar System, evolutionary table of 125 + formation of 18-27 + inhabitants of the 85 + Logos of a 9 + origin of 19 + ten chains of 121-3 + +Solar systems, countless 9 + +Son of Master 118 + +Soul, the group 33-9, 42 + man is a 2, 33 + of an animal 33-4 + of domestic animals 37-40 + of grasses 31 + of insects 37 + of lions 33-4 + of man 8, 33, 55 + of reptiles 42 + of trees 31 + plant- 33 + World- 33 + +Space, between atoms 23 + Fohat digs holes in 19 + the æther of 18-9 + worlds not separate in 2 + +Sparks, of divine Fire 39-40, 61 + of divine Life 23, 29 + +Spine, force-centre at base of 60 + +Spirit, and matter 18 + in man 23, 41 + the triple, in man 41-2 + +Spiritual world, the extent of 26-7 + is the name of third plane 23, 41 + Monads descend to 41 + +Spleen, the, vitality flows through 60 + +Stream, those who have entered the 119 + +Sub-atomic matter 25 + +Sub-races of humanity 105, 125 + +Summerland, the, of astral world 80 + +Sun, vitality comes from the 60 + +Super-etheric matter 25 + +Table of evolution of Solar System 125 + +Teachers, authority of 16 + of earlier races 126 + of religion 11-2 + +Tempting demons 53, 67 + +Test, the, of right and wrong 142 + +Teutonic sub-race 105 + +Theosophy, demands no belief 6 + explains reincarnation 99 + explains religions 7 + first popular exposition of 1 + is a philosophy 1 + is a religion 1, 5-7 + is a science 1, 7 + never converts 7 + solves problems of life 4 + statements of, based on observation 6 + tells of past history 3 + the gospel of 96 + the great facts of 8 + what, does for us 134-148 + +Theosophist, the, cheerfully faces trouble 146 + conception of life of 137 + does not try to convert 140 + has no fear of death 137 + knows the power of thought 147 + relation of, to animals 141 + sees purpose of life 142 + test of right and wrong of 141 + +Thought, abstract 46 + all actions spring from 116 + concrete 48, 50 + coupled with feeling 51 + -forces after death 63 + is a powerful instrument 116 + necessity for clear 114 + necessity for control of 116 + prolonged 50 + shell of 53 + +Thoughts, are things 147 + as a power for good 55 + build forms 52 + distance no hindrance to 52 + effect of, after death 63-4, 80 + humanity helped by 54-5 + meaning of colours of 46, 54-7 + meaning of shapes of 54 + on Theosophy 55-60 + others affected by 50-51 + self-centred 53-4 + selfish and unselfish 110 + transmission of 52 + +Thought-forms 50-4 + are temporary entities 53 + as guardian angels 54 + as tempting demons 53 + astro-mental 51, 57 + duration of 53-4 + effect on others of 51-2 + move through space 51 + +Thought images (see Thought-forms) + +Three, Aspects of the Logos 10-1 + aspects of man 41 + critical points in man's evolution 117-9 + elemental kingdoms 28-9 + great truths 8 + in One 10 + outpourings 28-39 + Persons 10 + stages of apprenticeship 118 + stages of evolution 108-9 + +Throat, the force-centre in 60 + +Time, no measure of, in astral world 75 + +Trinity of Solar Logos 10 + +Triple Spirit in man 41-2 + +Triumph, the, of man 96 + +Trust begets trust 111 + +Truth, one in diverse forms 12 + the, is obtainable 12 + +Truths, basic, of religions 12-3 + the three great 8 + +Types of, animals 37-8 + elemental creatures 37 + group-souls 37 + life 37 + matter 21 + men 37-9 + minerals 37 + reptiles 37 + vegetables 38 + +Ultimate atoms 19 + physical atoms 25 + root-matter 18 + +Ultra-violet light 26-44 + +Unity, the, of humanity 138-9 + what tends to 109 + +Universe, the, beginning of 18 + +Universes, innumerable 9 + +Universal brotherhood of humanity, the 138 + +Uranium 22 + +Uranus, the planet 124 + +Vegetable, the, kingdom 30-1, 37-8 + seven types of 37 + +Vehicles, man's conflict of interest with his 66-9 + +Venus, the planet 124 + Adepts from, come to Earth 131 + stage of evolution of 131 + +Vibrations, of astral body 56-7, 65-6, 75-6 + of mental body 44 + of thought-forms 53, 55 + +Vibrations, in matter 24, 33, 59 + causal body affected by 47-9 + ego responds to 45 + life learns to generate 33 + octaves of 24 + the senses respond to 25-6 + +Vices, belong to the vehicles 112 + how to kill out 110-5 + +Vitality, circulates along the nerves 59 + of astral corpse 86 + sub-division of 59-60 + what it is 59 + +Vortices, force-centres appear as 60 + in matter 20 + in nebular 19-22 + +Vulcan, the planet, was seen by Herschel 124 + +Warts on mental body 49 + +Water, nature-spirits of 84 + +Waves, life- (see life-waves) + +Wealth of the heaven world 91 + +Whirling sphere of matter 19-21 + vortex in 20 + +Will, the divine 6, 11 + evolution is 11, 120 + fulfilment of 118 + +Wisdom, Masters of the (see Masters) + +Word of God, the 9 + +World, departments of the 11 + King of this 11 + -period 124 + +Worlds, bliss of the higher 89-90 + inhabitants of finer 25-6 + man exists in several 2-3 + of different densities 3 + seven interpenetrating 20, 23-4 + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Textbook of Theosophy, by C.W. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/12902-8.zip b/old/12902-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ec95df7 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12902-8.zip diff --git a/old/12902.txt b/old/12902.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..95689e2 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12902.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5378 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Textbook of Theosophy, by C.W. Leadbeater + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Textbook of Theosophy + +Author: C.W. Leadbeater + +Release Date: July 12, 2004 [EBook #12902] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A TEXTBOOK OF THEOSOPHY *** + + + + +Produced by Bob Jones, Frank van Drogen, Elaine Wilson and PG +Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +A TEXTBOOK OF THEOSOPHY + + + + + by + +C.W. LEADBEATER + + + + +1912 + + + + +CONTENTS + + +Chapter + I. What Theosophy Is + II. From the Absolute to Man + III. The Formation of a Solar System + IV. The Evolution of Life + V. The Constitution of Man + VI. After Death + VII. Reincarnation + VIII. The Purpose of Life + IX. The Planetary Chains + X. The Result of Theosophical Study + +Index + + + + +Chapter I + +WHAT THEOSOPHY IS + + +"There is a school of philosophy still in existence of which modern culture +has lost sight." In these words Mr. A.P. Sinnett began his book, _The +Occult World_, the first popular exposition of Theosophy, published thirty +years ago. [Namely in 1881.] During the years that have passed since then, +many thousands have learned wisdom in that school, yet to the majority its +teachings are still unknown, and they can give only the vaguest of replies +to the query, "What is Theosophy?" + +Two books already exist which answer that question: Mr. Sinnett's _Esoteric +Buddhism_ and Dr. Besant's _The Ancient Wisdom_. I have no thought of +entering into competition with those standard works; what I desire is to +present a statement, as clear and simple as I can make it, which may be +regarded as introductory to them. + +We often speak of Theosophy as not in itself a religion, but the truth +which lies behind all religions alike. That is so; yet, from another point +of view, we may surely say that it is at once a philosophy, a religion and +a science. It is a philosophy, because it puts plainly before us an +explanation of the scheme of evolution of both the souls and the bodies +contained in our solar system. It is a religion in so far as, having shown +us the course of ordinary evolution, it also puts before us and advises a +method of shortening that course, so that by conscious effort we may +progress more directly towards the goal. It is a science, because it treats +both these subjects as matters not of theological belief but of direct +knowledge obtainable by study and investigation. It asserts that man has no +need to trust to blind faith, because he has within him latent powers +which, when aroused, enable him to see and examine for himself, and it +proceeds to prove its case by showing how those powers may be awakened. It +is itself a result of the awakening of such powers by men, for the +teachings which it puts before us are founded upon direct observations made +in the past, and rendered possible only by such development. + +As a philosophy, it explains to us that the solar system is a +carefully-ordered mechanism, a manifestation of a magnificent life, of +which man is but a small part. Nevertheless, it takes up that small part +which immediately concerns us, and treats it exhaustively under three +heads--present, past and future. + +It deals with the present by describing what man really is, as seen by +means of developed faculties. It is customary to speak of man as having a +soul. Theosophy, as the result of direct investigation, reverses that +dictum, and states that man _is_ a soul, and _has_ a body--in fact several +bodies, which are his vehicles and instruments in various worlds. These +worlds are not separate in space; they are simultaneously present with us, +here and now, and can be examined; they are the divisions of the material +side of Nature--different degrees of density in the aggregation of matter, +as will presently be explained in detail. Man has an existence in several +of these, but is normally conscious only of the lowest, though sometimes in +dreams and trances he has glimpses of some of the others. What is called +death is the laying aside of the vehicle belonging to this lowest world, +but the soul or real man in a higher world is no more changed or affected +by this than the physical man is changed or affected when he removes his +overcoat. All this is a matter, not of speculation, but of observation and +experiment. + +Theosophy has much to tell us of the past history of man--of how in the +course of evolution he has come to be what he now is. This also is a matter +of observation, because of the fact that there exists an indelible record +of all that has taken place--a sort of memory of Nature--by examining which +the scenes of earlier evolution may be made to pass before the eyes of the +investigator as though they were happening at this moment. By thus studying +the past we learn that man is divine in origin and that he has a long +evolution behind him--a double evolution, that of the life or soul within, +and that of the outer form. We learn, too, that the life of man as a soul +is of, what to us seems, enormous length, and that what we have been in the +habit of calling his life is in reality only one day of his real existence. +He has already lived through many such days, and has many more of them yet +before him; and if we wish to understand the real life and its object, we +must consider it in relation not only to this one day of it, which begins +with birth and ends with death, but also to the days which have gone before +and those which are yet to come. + +Of those that are yet to come there is also much to be said, and on this +subject, too, a great deal of definite information is available. Such +information is obtainable, first, from men who have already passed much +further along the road of evolution than we, and have consequently direct +experience of it; and, secondly, from inferences drawn from the obvious +direction of the steps which we see to have been previously taken. The goal +of this particular cycle is in sight, though still far above us but it +would seem that, even when that has been attained, an infinity of progress +still lies before everyone who is willing to undertake it. + +One of the most striking advantages of Theosophy is that the light which it +brings to us at once solves many of our problems, clears away many +difficulties, accounts for the apparent injustices of life, and in all +directions brings order out of seeming chaos. Thus, while some of its +teaching is based upon the observation of forces whose direct working is +somewhat beyond the ken of the ordinary man of the world, if the latter +will accept it as a hypothesis he will very soon come to see that it must +be a correct one, because it, and it alone, furnishes a coherent and +reasonable explanation of the drama of life which is being played before +him. + +The existence of Perfected Men, and the possibility of coming into touch +with Them and being taught by Them, are prominent among the great new +truths which Theosophy brings to the western world. Another of them is the +stupendous fact that the world is not drifting blindly into anarchy, but +that its progress is under the control of a perfectly organized Hierarchy, +so that final failure even for the tiniest of its units is of all +impossibilities the most impossible. A glimpse of the working of that +Hierarchy inevitably engenders the desire to co-operate with it, to serve +under it, in however humble a capacity, and some time in the far-distant +future to be worthy to join the outer fringes of its ranks. + +This brings us to that aspect of Theosophy which we have called religious. +Those who come to know and to understand these things are dissatisfied with +the slow aeons of evolution; they yearn to become more immediately useful, +and so they demand and obtain knowledge of the shorter but steeper Path. +There is no possibility of escaping the amount of work that has to be done. +It is like carrying a load up a mountain; whether one carries it straight +up a steep path or more gradually by a road of gentle slope, precisely the +same number of foot-pounds must be exerted. Therefore to do the same work +in a small fraction of the time means determined effort. It can be done, +however, for it has been done; and those who have done it agree that it far +more than repays the trouble. The limitations of the various vehicles are +thereby gradually transcended, and the liberated man becomes an intelligent +co-worker in the mighty plan for the evolution of all beings. + +In its capacity as a religion, too, Theosophy gives its followers a rule of +life, based not on alleged commands delivered at some remote period of the +past, but on plain common sense as indicated by observed facts. The +attitude of the student of Theosophy towards the rules which it prescribes +resembles rather that which we adopt to hygienic regulations than obedience +to religious commandments. We may say, if we wish, that this thing or that +is in accordance with the divine Will, for the divine Will is expressed in +what we know as the laws of Nature. Because that Will wisely ordereth all +things, to infringe its laws means to disturb the smooth working of the +scheme, to hold back for a moment that fragment or tiny part of evolution, +and consequently to bring discomfort upon ourselves and others. It is for +that reason that the wise man avoids infringing them--not to escape the +imaginary wrath of some offended deity. + +But if from a certain point of view we may think of Theosophy as a +religion, we must note two great points of difference between it and what +is ordinarily called religion in the West. First, it neither demands belief +from its followers, nor does it even speak of belief in the sense in which +that word is usually employed. The student of occult science either _knows_ +a thing or suspends his judgment about it; there is no place in his scheme +for blind faith. Naturally, beginners in the study cannot yet _know_ for +themselves, so they are asked to read the results of the various +observations and to deal with them as probable hypotheses--provisionally to +accept and act upon them, until such time as they can prove them for +themselves. + +Secondly, Theosophy never endeavours to convert any man from whatever +religion he already holds. On the contrary, it explains his religion to +him, and enables him to see in it deeper meanings than he has ever known +before. It teaches him to understand it and live it better than he did, and +in many cases it gives back to him, on a higher and more intelligent level, +the faith in it which he had previously all but lost. + +Theosophy has its aspects as a science also; it is in very truth a science +of life, a science of the soul. It applies to everything the scientific +method of oft-repeated, painstaking observation, and then tabulates the +results and makes deductions from them. In this way it has investigated the +various planes of Nature, the conditions of man's consciousness during life +and after what is commonly called death. It cannot be too often repeated +that its statements on all these matters are not vague guesses or tenets of +faith, but are based upon direct and oft-repeated _observation_ of what +happens. Its investigators have dealt also to a certain extent with +subjects more in the range of ordinary science, as may be seen by those who +read the book on _Occult Chemistry_. + +Thus we see that Theosophy combines within itself some of the +characteristics of philosophy, religion and science. What, it might be +asked, is its gospel for this weary world? What are the main points which +emerge from its investigations? What are the great facts which it has to +lay before humanity? + +They have been well summed up under three main heads. + +"There are three truths which are absolute, and which cannot be lost, but +yet may remain silent for lack of speech. + +"The soul of man is immortal and its future is the future of a thing whose +growth and splendour has no limit. + +"The principle which gives life dwells in us and without us, is undying and +eternally beneficent, is not heard or seen or smelt, but is perceived by +the man who desires perception. + +"Each man is his own absolute lawgiver, the dispenser of glory or gloom to +himself, the decreer of his life, his reward, his punishment. + +"These truths, which are as great as is life itself, are as simple as the +simplest mind of man." + +Put shortly, and in the language of the man of the street, this means that +God is good, that man is immortal, and that as we sow so we must reap. +There is a definite scheme of things; it is under intelligent direction and +works under immutable laws. Man has his place in this scheme and is living +under these laws. If he understands them and co-operates with them, he will +advance rapidly and will be happy; if he does not understand them--if, +wittingly or unwittingly, he breaks them, he will delay his progress and be +miserable. These are not theories, but proved facts. Let him who doubts +read on, and he will see. + + + + +Chapter II + +FROM THE ABSOLUTE TO MAN + + +Of the Absolute, the Infinite, the All-embracing, we can at our present +stage know nothing, except that It is; we can say nothing that is not a +limitation, and therefore inaccurate. + +In It are innumerable universes; in each universe countless solar systems. +Each solar system is the expression of a mighty Being, whom we call the +LOGOS, the Word of God, the Solar Deity. He is to it all that men mean by +God. He permeates it; there is nothing in it which is not He; it is the +manifestation of Him in such matter as we can see. Yet He exists above it +and outside it, living a stupendous life of His own among His Peers. As is +said in an Eastern Scripture: "Having permeated this whole universe with +one fragment of Myself I remain." + +Of that higher life of His we can know nothing. But of the fragment of His +life which energises His system we may know something in the lower levels +of its manifestation. We may not see Him, but we may see His power at work. +No one who is clairvoyant can be atheistic; the evidence is too tremendous. + +Out of Himself He has called this mighty system into being. We who are in +it are evolving fragments of His life, Sparks of His divine Fire; from Him +we all have come; into Him we shall all return. + +Many have asked why He has done this; why He has emanated from Himself all +this system; why He has sent us forth to face the storms of life. We cannot +know, nor is the question practical; suffice it that we are here, and we +must do our best. Yet many philosophers have speculated on this point and +many suggestions have been made. The most beautiful that I know is that of +a Gnostic philosopher: + +"God is Love, but Love itself cannot be perfect unless it has those upon +whom it can be lavished and by whom it can be returned. Therefore He put +forth of Himself into matter, and He limited His glory, in order that +through this natural and slow process of evolution we might come into +being; and we in turn according to His Will are to develop until we reach +even His own level, and then the very love of God itself will become more +perfect, because it will then be lavished on those, His own children, who +will fully understand and return it, and so His great scheme will be +realized and His Will, be done." + +At what stupendous elevation His consciousness abides we know not, nor can +we know its true nature as it shows itself there. But when He puts Himself +down into such conditions as are within our reach, His manifestation is +ever threefold, and so all religions have imaged Him as a Trinity. Three, +yet fundamentally One; Three Persons (for person means a mask) yet one God, +showing Himself in those Three Aspects. Three to us, looking at Them from +below, because Their functions are different; one to Him, because He knows +Them to be but facets of Himself. + +All Three of these Aspects are concerned in the evolution of the solar +system; all Three are also concerned in the evolution of man. This +evolution is His Will; the method of it is His plan. + +Next below this Solar Deity, yet also in some mysterious manner part of +Him, come His seven Ministers sometimes called the Planetary Spirits. Using +an analogy drawn from the physiology of our own body, Their relation to Him +is like that of the ganglia or the nerve centres to the brain. All +evolution which comes forth from Him comes through one or other of Them. + +Under Them in turn come vast hosts or orders of spiritual beings, whom we +call angels or devas. We do not yet know all the functions which they +fulfil in different parts of this wonderful scheme, but we find some of +them intimately connected with the building of the system and the unfolding +of life within it. + +Here in our world there is a great Official who represents the Solar Deity +and is in absolute control of all the evolution that takes place upon this +planet. We may image Him as the true KING of this world and under Him are +ministers in charge of different departments. One of these departments is +concerned with the evolution of the different races of humanity so that for +each great race there is a Head who founds it, differentiates it from all +others, and watches over its development. Another department is that of +religion and education, and it is from this that all the greatest teachers +of history have come--that all religions have been sent forth. The great +Official at the head of this department either comes Himself or sends one +of His pupils to found a new religion when He decides that one is needed. + +Therefore all religions, at the time of their first presentation to the +world, have contained a definite statement of the Truth, and in its +fundamentals this Truth has been always the same. The presentations of it +have varied because of differences in the races to whom it was offered. The +conditions of civilization and the degree of evolution obtained by various +races have made it desirable to present this one Truth in divers forms. But +the inner Truth is always the same, and the source from which it comes is +the same, even though the external phases may appear to be different and +even contradictory. It is foolish for men to wrangle over the question of +the superiority of one teacher or one form of teaching to another, for the +teacher is always one sent by the Great Brotherhood of Adepts, and in all +its important points, in its ethical and moral principles, the teaching has +always been the same. + +There is in the world a body or Truth which lies at the back of all these +religions, and represents the facts of nature as far as they are at present +known to man. In the outer world, because of their ignorance of this, +people are always disputing and arguing about whether there is a God; +whether man survives death; whether definite progress is possible for him, +and what is his relation to the universe. These questions are ever present +in the mind of man as soon as intelligence is awakened. They are not +unanswerable, as is frequently supposed; the answers to them are within the +reach of anyone who will make proper efforts to find them. The truth is +obtainable, and the conditions of its attainment are possible of +achievement by anyone who will make the effort. + +In the earlier stages of the development of humanity the great Officials of +the Hierarchy are provided from outside, from other and more highly evolved +parts of the system, but as soon as men can be trained to the necessary +level of power and wisdom these offices are held by them. In order to be +fit to hold such an office a man must raise himself to a very high level, +and must become what is called an Adept--a being of goodness, power and +wisdom so great that He towers above the rest of humanity, for He has +already attained the summit of ordinary human evolution; He has achieved +that which the plan of the Deity marked out for Him to achieve during this +age or dispensation. But His evolution later on continues beyond that +level--continues to divinity. + +A large number of men have attained the Adept level--men not of one nation, +but of all the leading nations of the world--rare souls who with +indomitable courage have stormed the fortresses of nature, and captured her +innermost secrets, and so have truly earned the right to be called Adepts. +Among Them there are many degrees and many lines of activity; but always +some of Them remain within touch of our earth as members of this Hierarchy +which has in charge the administration of the affairs of our world and of +the spiritual evolution of our humanity. + +This august body is often called the Great White Brotherhood, but its +members are not a community all living together. Each of Them, to a large +extent, draws Himself apart from the world, and They are in constant +communication with one another and with Their Head; but Their knowledge of +higher forces is so great that this is achieved without any necessity for +meeting in the physical world. In many cases They continue to live each in +His own country, and Their power remains unsuspected among those who live +near Them. Any man who will may attract Their attention, but he can do it +only by showing himself worthy of Their notice. None need fear that his +efforts will pass unnoticed; such oversight is impossible, for the man who +is devoting himself to service such as this, stands out from the rest of +humanity like a great flame in a dark night. A few of these great Adepts, +who are thus working for the good of the world, are willing to take as +apprentices those who have resolved to devote themselves utterly to the +service of mankind; such Adepts are called Masters. + +One of these apprentices was Helena Petrovna Blavatsky--a great soul who +was sent out to offer knowledge to the world. With Colonel Henry Steel +Olcott she founded The Theosophical Society for the spread of this +knowledge which she had to give. Among those who came into contact with her +in those early days was Mr. A.P. Sinnett, the editor of _The Pioneer_, and +his keen intellect at once grasped the magnitude and the importance of the +teaching which she put before him. Although Madame Blavatsky herself had +previously written _Isis Unveiled_, it had attracted but little attention, +and it was Mr. Sinnett who first made the teaching really available for +western readers in his two books, _The Occult World_ and _Esoteric +Buddhism_. + +It was through these works that I myself first came to know their author, +and afterwards Madame Blavatsky herself; from both of them I learned much. +When I asked Madame Blavatsky how one could learn still more, how one could +make definite progress along the Path which she pointed out to us, she told +me of the possibility that other students might be accepted as apprentices +by the great Masters, even as she herself had been accepted, and that the +only way to gain such acceptance was to show oneself worthy of it by +earnest and altruistic work. She told me that to reach that goal a man must +be absolutely one-pointed in his determination; that no one who tried to +serve both God and Mammon could ever hope to succeed. One of these Masters +Himself had said: "In order to succeed, a pupil must leave his own world +and come into ours." + +This means that he must cease to be one of the majority who live for wealth +and power, and must join the tiny minority who care nothing for such +things, but live only in order to devote themselves selflessly to the good +of the world. She warned us clearly that the way was difficult to tread, +that we should be misunderstood and reviled by those who still lived in the +world, and that we had nothing to look forward to but the hardest of hard +work; and though the result was sure, no one could foretell how long it +would take to arrive at it. Some of us accepted these conditions joyfully, +and we have never for a moment regretted the decision. + +After some years of work I had the privilege of coming into contact with +these great Masters of the Wisdom; from Them I learnt many things--among +others, how to verify for myself at first hand most of the teachings which +They had given. So that, in this matter, I write of what I know, and what I +have seen for myself. Certain points are mentioned in the teaching, for the +verification of which powers are required far beyond anything which I have +gained so far. Of them, I can say only that they are consistent with what I +do know, and in many cases are necessary as hypotheses to account for what +I have seen. They came to me, along with the rest of the Theosophical +system, upon the authority of these mighty Teachers. Since then I have +learnt to examine for myself by far the greater part of what I was told, +and I have found the information given to me to be correct in every +particular; therefore I am justified in assuming the probability that that +other part, which as yet I cannot verify, will also prove to be correct +when I arrive at its level. + +To attain the honour of being accepted as an apprentice of one of the +Masters of the Wisdom is the object set before himself by every earnest +Theosophical student. But it means a determined effort. There have always +been men who were willing to make the necessary effort, and therefore there +have always been men who knew. The knowledge is so transcendent that when a +man grasps it fully he becomes more than man and he passes beyond our ken. + +But there are stages in the acquirement of this knowledge, and we may learn +much if we will, from those who themselves are still in process of +learning; for all human beings stand on one or other of the rungs of the +ladder of evolution. The primitive stand at its foot; we who are civilized +beings have already climbed part of the way. But though we can look back +and see rungs of the ladder below us which we have already passed, we may +also look up and see many rungs above us to which we have not yet attained. +Just as men are standing even now on each of the rungs below us, so that we +can see the stages by which man has mounted, so also are there men standing +on each of the rungs above us, so that from studying them we may see how +man shall mount in the future. Precisely because we see men on every step +of this ladder, which leads up to a glory which as yet we have no words to +express, we know that the ascent to that glory is possible for us. Those +who stand high above us, so high that They seem to us as gods in Their +marvellous knowledge and power, tell us that They stood not long since +where we are standing now, and They indicate to us clearly the steps which +lie between, which we also must tread if we would be as They. + + + + +Chapter III + +THE FORMATION OF A SOLAR SYSTEM + + +The beginning of the universe (if ever it had a beginning) is beyond our +ken. At the earliest point of history that we can reach, the two great +opposites of spirit and matter, of life and form, are already in full +activity. We find that the ordinary conception of matter needs a revision, +for what are commonly called force and matter are in reality only two +varieties of Spirit at different stages in evolution and the real matter or +basis of everything lies in the background unperceived. A French scientist +has recently said: "There is no matter; there are nothing but holes in the +aether." This also agrees with the celebrated theory of Professor Osborne +Reynolds. Occult investigation shows this to be the correct view, and in +that way explains what Oriental sacred books mean when they say that matter +is an illusion. + +The ultimate root-matter as seen at our level is what scientists call the +aether of space. [This has been described in _Occult Chemistry_ under the +name of koilon.] To every physical sense the space occupied by it appears +empty, yet in reality this aether is far denser than anything of which we +can conceive. Its density is defined by Professor Reynolds as being ten +thousand times greater than that of water, and its mean pressure as seven +hundred and fifty thousand tons to the square inch. + +This substance is perceptible only to highly developed clairvoyant power. +We must assume a time (though we have no direct knowledge on this point) +when this substance filled all space. We must also suppose that some great +Being (not the Deity of a solar system, but some Being almost infinitely +higher than that) changed this condition of rest by pouring out His spirit +or force into a certain section of this matter, a section of the size of a +whole universe. This effect of the introduction of this force is as that of +the blowing of a mighty breath; it has formed within this aether an +incalculable number of tiny spherical bubbles, [The bubbles are spoken of +in _The Secret Doctrine_ as the holes which Fohat digs in space.] and these +bubbles are the ultimate atoms of which what we call matter is composed. +They are not the atoms of the chemist, nor even the ultimate atoms of the +physical world. They stand at a far higher level, and what are usually +called atoms are composed of vast aggregations of these bubbles, as will be +seen later. + +When the Solar Deity begins to make His system, He finds ready to His hand +this material--this infinite mass of tiny bubbles which can be built up +into various kinds of matter as we know it. He commences by defining the +limit of His field of activity, a vast sphere whose circumference is far +larger than the orbit of the outermost of His future planets. Within the +limit of that sphere He sets up a kind of gigantic vortex--a motion which +sweeps together all the bubbles into a vast central mass, the material of +the nebula that is to be. + +Into this vast revolving sphere He sends forth successive impulses of +force, gathering together the bubbles into ever more and more complex +aggregations, and producing in this way seven gigantic interpenetrating +worlds of matter of different degrees of density, all concentric and all +occupying the same space. + +Acting through His Third Aspect He sends forth into this stupendous sphere +the first of these impulses. It sets up all through the sphere a vast +number of tiny vortices, each of which draws into itself forty-nine +bubbles, and arranges them in a certain shape. These little groupings of +bubbles so formed are the atoms of the second of the interpenetrating +worlds. The whole number of the bubbles is not used in this way, sufficient +being left in the dissociated state to act as atoms for the first and +highest of these worlds. In due time comes the second impulse, which seizes +upon nearly all these forty-nine bubble-atoms (leaving only enough to +provide atoms for the second world), draws them back into itself and then, +throwing them out again, sets up among them vortices, each of which holds +within itself 2,401 bubbles (49^2). These form the atoms of the third +world. Again after a time comes a third impulse, which in the same way +seizes upon nearly all these 2,401 bubble-atoms, draws them back again into +their original form, and again throws them outward once more as the atoms +of the fourth world--each atom containing this time 49^{3} bubbles. This +process is repeated until the sixth of these successive impulses has built +the atom of the seventh or the lowest world--that atom containing 49^{6} of +the original bubbles. + +This atom of the seventh world is the ultimate atom of the physical +world--not any of the atoms of which chemists speak, but that ultimate out +of which all their atoms are made. We have at this stage arrived at that +condition of affairs in which the vast whirling sphere contains within +itself seven types of matter, all one in essence, because all built of the +same kind of bubbles, but differing in their degree of density. All these +types are freely intermingled, so that specimens of each type would be +found in a small portion of the sphere taken at random in any part of it, +with, however, a general tendency of the heavier atoms to gravitate more +and more towards the centre. + +The seventh impulse sent out from the Third Aspect of the Deity does not, +as before, draw back the physical atoms which were last made into the +original dissociated bubbles, but draws them together into certain +aggregations, thus making a number of different kinds of what may be called +proto-elements, and these again are joined together into the various forms +which are known to science as chemical elements. The making of these +extends over a long period of ages, and they are made in a certain definite +order by the interaction of several forces, as is correctly indicated in +Sir William Crookes's paper, _The Genesis of the Elements_. Indeed the +process of their making is not even now concluded; uranium is the latest +and heaviest element so far as we know, but others still more complicated +may perhaps be produced in the future. + +As ages rolled on the condensation increased, and presently the stage of a +vast glowing nebula was reached. As it cooled, still rapidly rotating, it +flattened into a huge disc and gradually broke up into rings surrounding a +central body--an arrangement not unlike that which Saturn exhibits at the +present day, though on a far larger scale. As the time drew near when the +planets would be required for the purposes of evolution, the Deity sets up +somewhere in the thickness of each ring a subsidiary vortex into which a +great deal of the matter of the ring was by degrees collected. The +collisions of the gathered fragments caused a revival of the heat, and the +resulting planet was for a long time a mass of glowing gas. Little by +little it cooled once more, until it became fit to be the theatre of life +such as ours. Thus were all the planets formed. + +Almost all the matter of those interpenetrating worlds was by this time +concentrated into the newly formed planets. Each of them was and is +composed of all those different kinds of matter. The earth upon which we +are now living is not merely a great ball of physical matter, built of the +atoms of that lowest world, but has also attached to it an abundant supply +of matter of the sixth, the fifth, the fourth and other worlds. It is well +known to all students of science that particles of matter never actually +touch one another, even in the hardest of substances. The spaces between +them are always far greater in proportion than their own size--enormously +greater. So there is ample room for all the other kinds of atoms of all +those other worlds, not only to lie between the atoms of the denser matter, +but to move quite freely among them and around them. Consequently, this +globe upon which we live is not one world, but seven interpenetrating +worlds, all occupying the same space, except that the finer types of matter +extend further from the centre than does the denser matter. + +We have given names to these interpenetrating worlds for convenience in +speaking of them. No name is needed for the first, as man is not yet in +direct connection with it; but when it is necessary to mention it, it may +be called the divine world. The second is described as the monadic, because +in it exist those Sparks of the divine Life which we call the human Monads; +but neither of these can be touched by the highest clairvoyant +investigations at present possible for us. The third sphere, whose atoms +contain 2,401 bubbles, is called the spiritual world, because in it +functions the highest Spirit in man as now constituted. The fourth is the +intuitional world, [Previously called in Theosophical literature the +buddhic plane.] because from it come the highest intuitions. The fifth is +the mental world, because from its matter is built the mind of man. The +sixth is called the emotional or astral world, because the emotions of man +cause undulations in its matter. (The name astral was given to it by +mediaeval alchemists, because its matter is starry or shining as compared to +that of the denser world.) The seventh world, composed of the type of +matter which we see all around us, is called the physical. + +The matter of which all these interpenetrating worlds are built is +essentially the same matter, but differently arranged and of different +degrees of density. Therefore the rates at which these various types of +matter normally vibrate differ also. They may be considered as a vast gamut +of undulations consisting of many octaves. The physical matter uses a +certain number of the lowest of these octaves, the astral matter another +group of octaves just above that, the mental matter a still further group, +and so on. + +Not only has each of these worlds its own type of matter; it has also its +own set of aggregations of that matter--its own substances. In each world +we arrange these substances in seven classes according to the rate at which +their molecules vibrate. Usually, but not invariably, the slower +oscillation involves also a larger molecule--a molecule, that is, built up +by a special arrangement of the smaller molecules of the next higher +subdivision. The application of heat increases the size of the molecules +and also quickens and amplifies their undulation, so that they cover more +ground, and the object, as a whole expands, until the point is reached +where the aggregation of molecules breaks up, and the latter passes from +one condition to that next above it. In the matter of the physical world +the seven subdivisions are represented by seven degrees of density of +matter, to which, beginning from below upwards, we give the names solid, +liquid, gaseous, etheric, superetheric, subatomic and atomic. + +The atomic subdivision is one in which all forms are built by the +compression into certain shapes of the physical atoms, without any previous +collection of these atoms into blocks or molecules. Typifying the physical +ultimate atom for the moment by a brick, any form in the atomic subdivision +would be made by gathering together some of the bricks, and building them +into a certain shape. In order to make matter for the next lower +subdivision, a certain number of the bricks (atoms) would first be gathered +together and cemented into small blocks of say four bricks each, five +bricks each, six bricks or seven bricks; and then these blocks so made +would be used as building stones. For the next subdivision several of the +blocks of the second subdivision cemented together in certain shapes would +form building-stones, and so on to the lowest. + +To transfer any substance from the solid condition to the liquid (that is +to say, to melt it) is to increase the vibration of its compound molecules +until at last they are shaken apart into the simpler molecules of which +they were built. This process can in all cases be repeated again and again +until finally any and every physical substance can be reduced to the +ultimate atoms of the physical world. + +Each of these worlds has its inhabitants, whose senses are normally capable +of responding to the undulations of their own world only. A man living (as +we are all doing) in the physical world sees, hears, feels, by vibrations +connected with the physical matter around him. He is equally surrounded by +the astral and mental and other worlds which are interpenetrating his own +denser world, but of them he is normally unconscious, because his senses +cannot respond to the oscillations of their matter, just as our physical +eyes cannot see by the vibrations of ultra-violet light, although +scientific experiments show that they exist, and there are other +consciousnesses with differently-formed organs who _can_ see by them. A +being living in the astral world might be occupying the very same space as +a being living in the physical world, yet each would be entirely +unconscious of the other and would in no way impede the free movement of +the other. The same is true of all other worlds. We are at this moment +surrounded by these worlds of finer matter, as close to us as the world we +see, and their inhabitants are passing through us and about us, but we are +entirely unconscious of them. + +Since our evolution is centred at present upon this globe which we call the +earth, it is in connection with it only that we shall be speaking of these +higher worlds, so in future when I use the term "astral world" I shall mean +by it the astral part of our own globe only, and not (as heretofore) the +astral part of the whole solar system. This astral part of our own world is +also a globe, but of astral matter. It occupies the same place as the globe +which we see, but its matter (being so much lighter) extends out into space +on all sides of us further than does the atmosphere of the earth--a great +deal further. It stretches to a little less than the mean distance of the +moon, so that though the two physical globes, the earth and the moon, are +nearly 240,000 miles apart, the astral globes of these two bodies touch one +another when the moon is in perigee, but not when she is in apogee. I shall +apply the term "mental world" to the still larger globe of mental matter in +the midst of which our physical earth exists. When we come to the still +higher globes we have spheres large enough to touch the corresponding +spheres of other planets in the system, though their matter also is just as +much about us here on the surface of the solid earth as that of the others. +All these globes of finer matter are a part of us, and are all revolving +round the sun with their visible part. The student will do well to accustom +himself to think of our earth as the whole of this mass of interpenetrating +worlds--not only the comparatively small physical ball in the centre of it. + + + + +Chapter IV + +THE EVOLUTION OF LIFE + + +All the impulses of life which I have described as building the +interpenetrating worlds come forth from the Third Aspect of the Deity. +Hence in the Christian scheme that Aspect is called "the Giver of Life", +the Spirit who brooded over the face of the waters of space. In +Theosophical literature these impulses are usually taken as a whole, and +called the First Outpouring. + +When the worlds had been prepared to this extent, and most of the chemical +elements already existed, the Second Outpouring of life took place, and +this came from the Second Aspect of the Deity. It brought with it the power +of combination. In all the worlds it found existing what may be thought of +as elements corresponding to those worlds. It proceeded to combine those +elements into organisms which it then ensouled, and in this way it built up +the seven kingdoms of Nature. Theosophy recognizes seven kingdoms, because +it regards man as separate from the animal kingdom and it takes into +account several stages of evolution which are unseen by the physical eye, +and gives to them the mediaeval name of "elemental kingdoms". + +The divine Life pours itself into matter from above, and its whole course +may be thought of in two stages--the gradual assumption of grosser and +grosser matter, and then the gradual casting off again of the vehicles +which have been assumed. The earliest level upon which its vehicles can be +scientifically observed is the mental--the fifth counting from the finer to +the grosser, the first on which there are separated globes. In practical +study it is found convenient to divide this mental world into two parts, +which we call the higher and the lower according to the degree of density +of their matter. The higher consists of the three finer subdivisions of +mental matter; the lower part of the other four. + +When the outpouring reaches the higher mental world it draws together the +ethereal elements there, combines them into what at that level correspond +to substances and of these substances builds forms which it inhabits. We +call this the first elemental kingdom. + +After a long period of evolution through different forms at that level, the +wave of life, which is all the time pressing steadily downwards, learns to +identify itself so fully with those forms that, instead of occupying them +and withdrawing from them periodically, it is able to hold them permanently +and make them part of itself, so that now from that level it can proceed to +the temporary occupation of forms at a still lower level. When it reaches +this stage we call it the second elemental kingdom, the ensouling life of +which resides upon the higher mental levels, while the vehicles through +which it manifests are on the lower. + +After another vast period of similar length, it is found that the downward +pressure has caused this process to repeat itself; once more the life has +identified itself with its forms, and has taken up its residence upon the +lower mental levels, so that it is capable of ensouling bodies in the +astral world. At this stage we call it the third elemental kingdom. + +We speak of all these forms as finer or grosser relatively to one another, +but all of them are almost infinitely finer than any with which we are +acquainted in the physical world. Each of these three is a kingdom of +Nature, as varied in the manifestations of its different forms of life as +is the animal or vegetable kingdom which we know. After a long period spent +in ensouling the forms of the third of these elemental kingdoms it +identifies itself with them in turn, and so is able to ensoul the etheric +part of the mineral kingdom, and becomes the life which vivifies that--for +there is a life in the mineral kingdom just as much as in the vegetable or +the animal, although it is in conditions where it cannot manifest so +freely. In the course of the mineral evolution the downward pressure causes +it to identify itself in the same way with the etheric matter of the +physical world, and from that to ensoul the denser matter of such minerals +as are perceptible to our senses. + +In the mineral kingdom we include not only what are usually called +minerals, but also liquids, gases and many etheric substances the existence +of which is unknown to western science. All the matter of which we know +anything is living matter, and the life which it contains is always +evolving. When it has reached the central point of the mineral stage the +downward pressure ceases, and is replaced by an upward tendency; the +outbreathing has ceased and the indrawing has begun. + +When mineral evolution is completed, the life has withdrawn itself again +into the astral world, but bearing with it all the results obtained through +its experiences in the physical. At this stage it ensouls vegetable forms, +and begins to show itself much more clearly as what we commonly call +life--plant-life of all kinds; and at a yet later stage of its development +it leaves the vegetable kingdom and ensouls the animal kingdom. The +attainment of this level is the sign that it has withdrawn itself still +further, and is now working from the lower mental world. In order to work +in physical matter from that mental world it must operate through the +intervening astral matter; and that astral matter is now no longer part of +the garment of the group-soul as a whole, but is the individual astral body +of the animal concerned, as will be later explained. + +In each of these kingdoms it not only passes a period of time which is to +our ideas almost incredibly long, but it also goes through a definite +course of evolution, beginning from the lower manifestations of that +kingdom and ending with the highest. In the vegetable kingdom, for example, +the life-force might commence its career by occupying grasses or mosses and +end it by ensouling magnificent forest trees. In the animal kingdom it +might commence with mosquitoes or with animalculae, and might end with the +finest specimens of the mammalia. + +The whole process is one of steady evolution from lower forms to higher, +from the simpler to the more complex. But what is evolving is not primarily +the form, but the life within it. The forms also evolve and grow better as +time passes; but this is in order that they may be appropriate vehicles for +more and more advanced waves of life. When the life has reached the highest +level possible in the animal kingdom, it may then pass on into the human +kingdom, under conditions which will presently be explained. + +The outpouring leaves one kingdom and passes to another, so that if we had +to deal with only one wave of this outpouring we could have in existence +only one kingdom at a time. But the Deity sends out a constant succession +of these waves, so that at any given time we find a number of them +simultaneously in operation. We ourselves represent one such wave; but we +find evolving alongside us another wave which ensouls the animal kingdom--a +wave which came out from the Deity one stage later than we did. We find +also the vegetable kingdom, which represents a third wave, and the mineral +kingdom, which represents a fourth; and occultists know of the existence +all round us of three elemental kingdoms, which represent the fifth, sixth +and seventh waves. All these, however, are successive ripples of the same +great outpouring from the Second Aspect of the Deity. + +We have here, then, a scheme of evolution in which the divine Life involves +itself more and more deeply in matter, in order that through that matter it +may receive vibrations which could not otherwise affect it--impacts from +without, which by degrees arouse within it rates of undulation +corresponding to their own, so that it learns to respond to them. Later on +it learns of itself to generate these rates of undulation, and so becomes a +being possessed of spiritual powers. + +We may presume that when this outpouring of life originally came forth from +the Deity, at some level altogether beyond our power of cognition, it may +perhaps have been homogeneous; but when it first comes within practical +cognizance, when it is itself in the intuitional world, but is ensouling +bodies made of the matter of the higher mental world, it is already not one +huge world-soul but many souls. Let us suppose a homogeneous outpouring, +which may be considered as one vast soul, at one end of the scale; at the +other, when humanity is reached, we find that one vast soul broken up into +millions of the comparatively little souls of individual men. At any stage +between these two extremes we find an intermediate condition, the immense +world-soul already subdivided, but not to the utmost limit of possible +subdivision. + +Each man is a soul, but not each animal or each plant. Man, as a soul, can +manifest through only one body at a time in the physical world, whereas one +animal soul manifests simultaneously through a number of animal bodies, one +plant soul through a number of separate plants. A lion, for example, is not +a permanently separate entity in the same way as a man is. When the man +dies--that is, when he as a soul lays aside his physical body--he remains +himself exactly as he was before, an entity separate from all other +entities. When the lion dies, that which has been the separate soul of him +is poured back into the mass from which it came--a mass which is at the +same time providing the souls for many other lions. To such a mass we give +the name of "group-soul". + +To such a group-soul is attached a considerable number of lion bodies--let +us say a hundred. Each of those bodies while it lives has its hundredth +part of the group-soul attached to it, and for the time being this is +apparently quite separate, so that the lion is as much an individual during +his physical life as the man; but he is not a permanent individual. When he +dies the soul of him flows back into the group-soul to which it belongs, +and that identical lion-soul cannot be separated again from the group. + +A useful analogy may help comprehension. Imagine the group-soul to be +represented by the water in a bucket, and the hundred lion bodies by a +hundred tumblers. As each tumbler is dipped into the bucket it takes out +from it a tumblerful of water (the separate soul). That water for the time +being takes the shape of the vehicle which it fills, and is temporarily +separate from the water which remains in the bucket, and from the water in +the other tumblers. + +Now put into each of the hundred tumblers some kind of colouring matter or +some kind of flavouring. That will represent the qualities developed by its +experiences in the separate soul of the lion during its lifetime. Pour back +the water from the tumbler into the bucket; that represents the death of +the lion. The colouring matter or the flavouring will be distributed +through the whole of the water in the bucket, but will be a much fainter +colouring, a much less pronounced flavour when thus distributed than it was +when confined in one tumbler. The qualities developed by the experience of +one lion attached to that group-soul are therefore shared by the entire +group-soul, but in a much lower degree. + +We may take out another tumblerful of water from that bucket, but we can +never again get exactly the same tumblerful after it has once been mingled +with the rest. Every tumblerful taken from that bucket in the future will +contain some traces of the colouring or flavouring put into each tumbler +whose contents have been returned to the bucket. Just so the qualities +developed by the experience of a single lion will become the common +property of all lions who are in the future to be born from that +group-soul, though in a lesser degree than that in which they existed in +the individual lion who developed them. + +That is the explanation of inherited instincts; that is why the duckling +which has been hatched by a hen takes to the water instantly without +needing to be shown how to swim; why the chicken just out of its shell will +cower at the shadow of a hawk; why a bird which has been artificially +hatched, and has never seen a nest, nevertheless knows how to make one, and +makes it according to the traditions of its kind. + +Lower down in the scale of animal life enormous numbers of bodies are +attached to a single group-soul--countless millions, for example, in the +case of some of the smaller insects; but as we rise in the animal kingdom +the number of bodies attached to a single group-soul becomes smaller and +smaller, and therefore the differences between individuals become greater. + +Thus the group-souls gradually break up. Returning to the symbol of the +bucket, as tumbler after tumbler of water is withdrawn from it, tinted with +some sort of colouring matter and returned to it, the whole bucketful of +water gradually becomes richer in colour. Suppose that by imperceptible +degrees a kind of vertical film forms itself across the centre of the +bucket, and gradually solidifies itself into a division, so that we have +now a right half and a left half to the bucket, and each tumblerful of +water which is taken out is returned always to the same section from which +it came. + +Then presently a difference will be set up, and the liquid in one half of +the bucket will no longer be the same as that in the other. We have then +practically two buckets, and when this stage is reached in a group-soul it +splits into two, as a cell separates by fission. In this way, as the +experience grows ever richer, the group-souls grow smaller but more +numerous, until at the highest point we arrive at man with his single +individual soul, which no longer returns into a group, but remains always +separate. + +One of the life-waves is vivifying the whole of a kingdom; but not every +group-soul in that life-wave will pass through the whole of that kingdom +from the bottom to the top. If in the vegetable kingdom a certain +group-soul has ensouled forest trees, when it passes on into the animal +kingdom it will omit all the lower stages--that is, it will never inhabit +insects or reptiles, but will begin at once at the level of the lower +mammalia. The insects and reptiles will be vivified by group-souls which +have for some reason left the vegetable kingdom at a much lower level than +the forest tree. In the same way the group-soul which has reached the +highest levels of the animal kingdom will not individualize into primitive +savages, but into men of somewhat higher type, the primitive savages being +recruited from group-souls which have left the animal kingdom at a lower +level. + +Group-souls at any level or at all levels arrange themselves into seven +great types, according to the Minister of the Deity through whom their life +has poured forth. These types are clearly distinguishable in all the +kingdoms, and the successive forms taken by any one of them form a +connected series, so that animals, vegetables, minerals and the varieties +of the elemental creatures may all be arranged into seven great groups, and +the life coming along one of those lines will not diverge into any of the +others. + +No detailed list has yet been made of the animals, plants or minerals from +this point of view; but it is certain that the life which is found +ensouling a mineral of a particular type will never vivify a mineral of any +other type than its own, though within that type it may vary. When it +passes on to the vegetable and animal kingdoms it will inhabit vegetables +and animals of that type and of no other; and when it eventually reaches +humanity it will individualize into men of that type and of no other. + +The method of individualization is the raising of the soul of a particular +animal to a level so much higher than that attained by its group-soul that +it can no longer return to the latter. This cannot be done with _any_ +animal, but only with those whose brain is developed to a certain level, +and the method usually adopted to acquire such mental development is to +bring the animal into close contact with man. Individualization, therefore, +is possible only for domestic animals, and only for certain kinds even of +those. At the head of each of the seven types stands one kind of domestic +animal--the dog for one, the cat for another, the elephant for a third, the +monkey for a fourth, and so on. The wild animals can all be arranged on +seven lines leading up to the domestic animals; for example, the fox and +the wolf are obviously on the same line with the dog, while the lion, the +tiger and the leopard equally obviously lead up to the domestic cat; so +that the group-soul animating a hundred lions mentioned some time ago might +at a later stage of its evolution have divided into, let us say, five +group-souls each animating twenty cats. + +The life-wave spends a long period of time in each kingdom; we are now only +a little past the middle of such an aeon, and consequently the conditions +are not favourable for the achievement of that individualization which +normally comes only at the end of a period. Rare instances of such +attainment may occasionally be observed on the part of some animal much in +advance of the average. Close association with man is necessary to produce +this result. The animal if kindly treated develops devoted affection for +his human friend, and also unfolds his intellectual powers in trying to +understand that friend and to anticipate his wishes. In addition to this, +the emotions and the thoughts of the man act constantly upon those of the +animal, and tend to raise him to a higher level both emotionally and +intellectually. Under favourable circumstances this development may proceed +so far as to raise the animal altogether out of touch with the group to +which he belongs, so that his fragment of a group-soul becomes capable of +responding to the outpouring which comes from the First Aspect of the +Deity. + +For this final outpouring is not like the others, a mighty outrush +affecting thousands or millions simultaneously; it comes to each one +individually as that one is ready to receive it. This outpouring has +already descended as far as the intuitional world; but it comes no farther +than that until this upward leap is made by the soul of the animal from +below; but when that happens this Third Outpouring leaps down to meet it, +and in the higher mental world is formed an ego, a permanent +individuality--permanent, that is, until, far later in his evolution, the +man transcends it and reaches back to the divine unity from which he came. +To make this ego, the fragment of the group-soul (which has hitherto played +the part always of ensouling force) becomes in its turn a vehicle, and is +itself ensouled by that divine Spark which has fallen into it from on high. +That Spark may be said to have been hovering in the monadic world over the +group-soul through the whole of its previous evolution, unable to effect a +junction with it until its corresponding fragment in the group-soul had +developed sufficiently to permit it. It is this breaking away from the rest +of the group-soul and developing a separate ego which marks the distinction +between the highest animal and the lowest man. + + + + +Chapter V + +THE CONSTITUTION OF MAN + + +Man is therefore in essence a Spark of the divine Fire, belonging to the +monadic world.[1] To that Spark, dwelling all the time in that world, we +give the name "Monad". For the purposes of human evolution the Monad +manifests itself in lower worlds. When it descends one stage and enters the +spiritual world, it shows itself there as the triple Spirit having itself +three aspects (just as in worlds infinitely higher the Deity has His three +Aspects). Of those three one remains always in that world, and we call that +the Spirit in man. The second aspect manifests itself in the intuitional +world, and we speak of it as the Intuition in man. The third shows itself +in the higher mental world, and we call it the Intelligence in man. These +three aspects taken together constitute the ego which ensouls the fragment +from the group-soul. Thus man as we know him, though in reality a Monad +residing in the monadic world, shows himself as an ego in the higher mental +world, manifesting these three aspects of himself (Spirit, Intuition and +Intelligence) through that vehicle of higher mental matter which we name +the causal body. + +Footnote 1: The President has now decided upon a set of names for the +planes, so for the future these will be used instead of those previously +employed. A table of them is given below for reference. + +NEW NAMES OLD NAMES +1. Divine World Adi Plane +2. Monadic World Anupadaka Plane +3. Spiritual World Atmic or Nirvanic Plane +4. Intuitional World Buddhic Plane +5. Mental World Mental Plane +6. Emotional or Astral World Astral Plane +7. Physical World Physical Plane + +These will supersede the names given in Vol. II of _The Inner Life._ + +This ego is the man during the human stage of evolution; he is the nearest +correspondence, in fact, to the ordinary unscientific conception of the +soul. He lives unchanged (except for his growth) from the moment of +individualization until humanity is transcended and merged into divinity. +He is in no way affected by what we call birth and death; what we commonly +consider as his life is only a day in his life. The body which we can see, +the body which is born and dies, is a garment which he puts on for the +purposes of a certain part of his evolution. + +Nor is it the only body which he assumes. Before he, the ego in the higher +mental world, can take a vehicle belonging to the physical world, he must +make a connection with it through the lower mental and astral worlds. When +he wishes to descend he draws around himself a veil of the matter of the +lower mental world, which we call his mental body. This is the instrument +by means of which he thinks all his concrete thoughts--abstract thought +being a power of the ego himself in the higher mental world. + +Next he draws round himself a veil of astral matter, which we call his +astral body; and that is the instrument of his passions and emotions, and +also (in conjunction with the lower part of his mental body) the +instrument of all such thought as is tinged by selfishness and personal +feeling. Only after having assumed these intermediate vehicles can he come +into touch with a baby physical body, and be born into the world which we +know. He lives through what we call his life, gaining certain qualities as +the result of its experiences; and at its end, when the physical body is +worn out, he reverses the process of descent and lays aside one by one the +temporary vehicles which he has assumed. The first to go is the physical +body, and when that is dropped, his life is centred in the astral world and +he lives in his astral body. + +The length of his stay in that world depends upon the amount of passion and +emotion which he has developed within himself in his physical life. If +there is much of these, the astral body is strongly vitalized, and will +persist for a long time; if there is but little, the astral body has less +vitality, and he will soon be able to cast that vehicle aside in turn. When +that is done he finds himself living in his mental body. The strength of +that depends upon the nature of the thoughts to which he has habituated +himself, and usually his stay at this level is a long one. At last it comes +to an end, and he casts aside the mental body in turn, and is once more the +ego in his own world. + +Owing to lack of development, he is as yet but partially conscious in that +world; the vibrations of its matter are too rapid to make any impression +upon him, just as the ultra-violet rays are too rapid to make any +impression upon our eyes. After a rest there, he feels the desire to +descend to a level where the undulations are perceptible to him, in order +that he may feel himself to be fully alive; so he repeats the process of +descent into denser matter, and assumes once more a mental, an astral and a +physical body. As his previous bodies have all disintegrated, each in its +tarn, these new vehicles are entirely distinct from them, and thus it +happens that in his physical life he has no recollection whatever of other +similar lives which have preceded it. + +When functioning in this physical world he remembers by means of his mental +body; but since that is a new one, assumed only for this birth, it +naturally cannot contain the memory of previous births in which it had no +part. The man himself, the ego, does remember them all when in his own +world, and occasionally some partial recollection of them or influence from +them filters through into his lower vehicles. He does not usually, in his +physical life, remember the experiences of earlier lives, but he does +manifest in physical life the qualities which those experiences have +developed in him. Each man is therefore exactly what he has made himself +during those past lives; if he has in them developed good qualities in +himself, he possesses the good qualities now; if he neglected to train +himself, and consequently left himself weak and of evil disposition, he +finds himself precisely in that condition now. The qualities, good or evil, +with which he is born are those which he has made for himself. + +This development of the ego is the object of the whole process of +materialization; he assumes those veils of matter precisely because through +them he is able to receive vibrations to which he can respond, so that his +latent faculties may thereby be unfolded. Though man descends from on high +into these lower worlds, it is only through that descent that a full +cognizance of the higher worlds is developed in him. Full consciousness in +any given world involves the power to perceive and respond to all the +undulations of that world: therefore the ordinary man has not yet perfect +consciousness at any level--not even in this physical world which he thinks +he knows. It is possible for him to unfold his percipience in all these +worlds, and it is by means of such developed consciousness that we observe +all these facts which I am now describing. + +The causal body is the permanent vehicle of the ego in the higher mental +world. It consists of matter of the first, second and third subdivisions of +that world. In ordinary people it is not yet fully active, only that matter +which belongs to the third subdivision being vivified. As the ego unfolds +his latent possibilities through the long course of his evolution, the +higher matter is gradually brought into action, but it is only in the +perfected man whom we call the Adept that it is developed to its fullest +extent. Such matter can be discerned by clairvoyant sight, but only by a +seer who knows how to use the sight of the ego. + +It is difficult to describe a causal body fully, because the senses +belonging to its world are altogether different from and higher than ours +at this level. Such memory of the appearance of a causal body as it is +possible for a clairvoyant to bring into his physical brain represents it +as ovoid, and as surrounding the physical body of the man, extending to a +distance of about eighteen inches from the normal surface of that body. In +the case of primitive man it resembles a bubble, and gives the impression +of being empty. It is in reality filled with higher mental matter, but as +this is not yet brought into activity it remains colourless and +transparent. As advancement continues it is gradually stirred into +alertness by vibrations which reach it from the lower bodies. This comes +but slowly, because the activities of man in the earlier stages of his +evolution are not of a character to obtain expression in matter so fine as +that of the higher mental body; but when a man reaches the stage where he +is capable either of abstract thought or of unselfish emotion the matter of +the causal body is aroused into response. + +When these rates of undulation are awakened within him they show themselves +in his causal body as colours, so that instead of being a mere transparent +bubble it gradually becomes a sphere filled with matter of the most lovely +and delicate hues--an object beautiful beyond all conception. It is found +by experience that these colours are significant. The vibration which +denotes the power of unselfish affection shows itself as a pale +rose-colour; that which indicates high intellectual power is yellow; that +which expresses sympathy is green, while blue betokens devotional feeling, +and a luminous lilac-blue typifies the higher spirituality. The same scheme +of colour-significance applies to the bodies which are built of denser +matter, but as we approach the physical world the hues are in every case by +comparison grosser--not only less delicate but also less living. + +In the course of evolution in the lower worlds man often introduces into +his vehicles qualities which are undesirable and entirely inappropriate for +his life as an ego--such, for example, as pride, irritability, sensuality. +These, like the rest, are reducible to vibrations, but they are in all +cases vibrations of the lower subdivisions of their respective worlds, and +therefore they cannot reproduce themselves in the causal body, which is +built exclusively of the matter of the three higher subdivisions of its +world. For each section of the astral body acts strongly upon the +corresponding section of the mental body, but only upon the corresponding +section; it cannot influence any other part. So the causal body can be +affected only by the three higher portions of the astral body; and the +oscillations of those represent only good qualities. + +The practical effect of this is that the man can build into the ego (that +is, into his true self) nothing but good qualities; the evil qualities +which he develops are in their nature transitory and must be thrown aside +as he advances, because he has no longer within him matter which can +express them. The difference between the causal bodies of the savage and +the saint is that the first is empty and colourless, while the second is +full of brilliant, coruscating tints. As the man passes beyond even +saint-hood and becomes a great spiritual power, his causal body increases +in size, because it has so much more to express, and it also begins to pour +out from itself in all directions powerful rays of living light. In one who +has attained Adeptship this body is of enormous dimensions. + +The mental body is built of matter of the four lower subdivisions of the +mental world, and expresses the concrete thoughts of the man. Here also we +find the same colour-scheme as in the causal body. The hues are somewhat +less delicate, and we notice one or two additions. For example, a thought +of pride shows itself as orange, while irritability is manifested by a +brilliant scarlet. We may see here sometimes the bright brown of avarice, +the grey-brown of selfishness, and the grey-green of deceit. Here also we +perceive the possibility of a mixture of colours; the affection, the +intellect, the devotion may be tinged by selfishness, and in that case +their distinctive colours are mingled with the brown of selfishness, and so +we have an impure and muddy appearance. Although its particles are always +in intensely rapid motion among themselves, this body has at the same time +a kind of loose organization. + +The size and shape of the mental body are determined by those of the causal +vehicle. There are in it certain striations which divide it more or less +irregularly into segments, each of these corresponding to a certain +department of the physical brain, so that every type of thought should +function through its duly assigned portion. The mental body is as yet so +imperfectly developed in ordinary men that there are many in whom a great +number of special departments are not yet in activity, and any attempt at +thought belonging to those departments has to travel round through some +inappropriate channel which happens to be fully open. The result is that +thought on those subjects is for those people clumsy and uncomprehending. +This is why some people have a head for mathematics and others are unable +to add correctly--why some people instinctively understand, appreciate and +enjoy music, while others do not know one tune from another. + +All the matter of the mental body should be circulating freely, but +sometimes a man allows his thought upon a certain subject to set and +solidify, and then the circulation is impeded, and there is a congestion +which presently hardens into a kind of wart on the mental body. Such a wart +appears to us down here as a prejudice; and until it is absorbed and free +circulation restored, it is impossible for the man to think truly or to see +clearly with regard to that particular department of his mind, as the +congestion checks the free passage of undulations both outward and inward. + +When a man uses any part of his mental body it not only vibrates for the +time more rapidly, but it also temporarily swells out and increases in +size. If there is prolonged thought upon a subject this increase becomes +permanent, and it is thus open to any man to increase the size of his +mental body either along desirable or undesirable lines. + +Good thoughts produce vibrations of the finer matter of the body, which by +its specific gravity tends to float in the upper part of the ovoid; whereas +bad thoughts, such as selfishness and avarice, are always oscillations of +the grosser matter, which tends to gravitate towards the lower part of the +ovoid. Consequently the ordinary man, who yields himself not infrequently +to selfish thoughts of various kinds, usually expands the lower part of his +mental body, and presents roughly the appearance of an egg with its larger +end downwards. The man who has repressed those lower thoughts, and devoted +himself to higher ones, tends to expand the upper part of his mental body, +and therefore presents the appearance of an egg standing on its smaller +end. From a study of the colours and striations of a man's mental body the +clairvoyant can perceive his character and the progress he has made in his +present life. From similar features of the causal body he can see what +progress the ego has made since its original formation, when the man left +the animal kingdom. + +When a man thinks of any concrete object--a book, a house, a landscape--he +builds a tiny image of the object in the matter of his mental body. This +image floats in the upper part of that body, usually in front of the face +of the man and at about the level of the eyes. It remains there as long as +the man is contemplating the object, and usually for a little time +afterwards, the length of time depending upon the intensity and the +clearness of the thought. This form is quite objective, and can be seen by +another person, if that other has developed the sight of his own mental +body. If a man thinks of another, he creates a tiny portrait in just the +same way. If his thought is merely contemplative and involves no feeling +(such as affection or dislike) or desire (such as a wish to see the person) +the thought does not usually perceptibly affect the man of whom he thinks. + +If coupled with the thought of the person there is a feeling, as for +example of affection, another phenomenon occurs besides the forming of the +image. The thought of affection takes a definite form, which it builds out +of the matter of the thinker's mental body. Because of the emotion +involved, it draws round it also matter of his astral body, and thus we +have an astromental form which leaps out of the body in which it has been +generated, and moves through space towards the object of the feeling of +affection. If the thought is sufficiently strong, distance makes absolutely +no difference to it; but the thought of an ordinary person is usually weak +and diffused, and is therefore not effective outside a limited area. + +When this thought-form reaches its object it discharges itself into his +astral and mental bodies, communicating to them its own rate of vibration. +Putting this in another way, a thought of love sent from one person to +another involves the actual transference of a certain amount both of force +and of matter from the sender to the recipient, and its effect upon the +recipient is to arouse the feeling of affection in him, and slightly but +permanently to increase his power of loving. But such a thought also +strengthens the power of affection in the thinker, and therefore it does +good simultaneously to both. + +Every thought builds a form; if the thought be directed to another person +it travels to him; if it be distinctly selfish it remains in the immediate +neighbourhood of the thinker; if it belongs to neither of these categories +it floats for awhile in space and then slowly disintegrates. Every man +therefore is leaving behind him wherever he goes a trail of thought forms; +as we go along the street we are walking all the time amidst a sea of other +men's thoughts. If a man leaves his mind blank for a time, these residual +thoughts of others drift through it, making in most cases but little +impression upon him. Sometimes one arrives which attracts his attention, so +that his mind seizes upon it and makes it its own, strengthens it by the +addition of its force, and then casts it out again to affect somebody else. +A man therefore, is not responsible for a thought which floats into his +mind, because it may be not his, but someone else's; but he _is_ +responsible if he takes it up, dwells upon it and then sends it out +strengthened. + +Self-centred thought of any kind hangs about the thinker, and most men +surround their mental bodies with a shell of such thoughts. Such a shell +obscures the mental vision and facilitates the formation of prejudice. + +Each thought-form is a temporary entity. It resembles a charged battery, +awaiting an opportunity to discharge itself. Its tendency is always to +reproduce its own rate of vibration in the mental body upon which it +fastens itself, and so to arouse in it a like thought. If the person at +whom it is aimed happens to be busy or already engaged in some definite +train of thought, the particles of his mental body are already swinging at +a certain determinate rate, and cannot for the moment be affected from +without. In that case the thought-form bides its time, hanging about its +object until he is sufficiently at rest to permit its entrance; then it +discharges itself upon him, and in the act ceases to exist. + +The self-centred thought behaves in exactly the same way with regard to its +generator, and discharges itself upon him when opportunity offers. If it be +an evil thought, he generally regards it as the suggestion of a tempting +demon, whereas in truth he tempts himself. Usually each definite thought +creates a new thought-form; but if a thought-form of the same nature is +already hovering round the thinker, under certain circumstances a new +thought on the same subject, instead of creating a new form, coalesces with +and strengthens, the old one, so that by long brooding over the same +subject a man may sometimes create a thought-form of tremendous power. If +the thought be a wicked one, such a thought-form may become a veritable +evil influence, lasting perhaps for many years, and having for a time all +the appearance and powers of a real living entity. + +All these which have been described are the ordinary unpremeditated +thoughts of man. A man can make a thought-form intentionally, and aim it at +another with the object of helping him. This is one of the lines of +activity adopted by those who desire to serve humanity. A steady stream of +powerful thought directed intelligently upon another person may be of the +greatest assistance to him. A strong thought-form may be a real guardian +angel, and protect its object from impurity, from irritability or from +fear. + +An interesting branch of the subject is the study of the various shapes and +colours taken by thought-forms of different kinds. The colours indicate the +nature of the thought, and are in agreement with those which we have +already described as existing in the bodies. The shapes are of infinite +variety, but are often in some way typical of the kind of thought which +they express. + +Every thought of definite character, such as a thought of affection or +hatred, of devotion or suspicion, of anger or fear, of pride or jealousy, +not only creates a form but also radiates an undulation. The fact that, +each one of these thoughts is expressed by a certain colour indicates that +the thought expresses itself as an oscillation of the matter of a certain +part of the mental body. This rate of oscillation communicates itself to +the surrounding mental matter precisely in the same way as the vibration of +a bell communicates itself to the surrounding air. + +This radiation travels out in all directions, and whenever it impinges upon +another mental body in a passive or receptive condition it communicates to +it something of its own vibration. This does not convey a definite complete +idea, as does the thought-form, but it tends to produce a thought of the +same character as itself. For example, if the thought be devotional its +undulations will excite devotion, but the object of the worship may be +different in the case of each person upon whose mental body they impinge. +The thought-form, on the other hand, can reach only one person, but will +convey to that person (if receptive) not only a general devotional feeling, +but also a precise image of the Being for whom the adoration was originally +felt. + +Any person who habitually thinks pure, good and strong thoughts is +utilizing for that purpose the higher part of his mental body--a part which +is not used at all by the ordinary man, and is entirely undeveloped in him. +Such an one is therefore a power for good in the world, and is being of +great use to all those of his neighbours who are capable of any sort of +response. For the vibration which he sends out tends to arouse a new and +higher part of their mental bodies, and consequently to open before them +altogether new fields of thought. + +It may not be exactly the same thought as that sent out, but it is of the +same nature. The undulations generated by a man thinking of Theosophy do +not necessarily communicate Theosophical ideas to all those around him; but +they do awaken in them more liberal and higher thought than that to which +they have before been accustomed. On the other hand, the thought-forms +generated under such circumstances, though more limited in their action +than the radiation, are also more precise; they can affect only those who +are to some extent open to them, but to them they will convey definite +Theosophical ideas. + +The colours of the astral body bear the same meaning as those of the higher +vehicles, but are several octaves of colours below them, and much more +nearly approaching to such hues as we see in the physical world. It is the +vehicle of passion and emotion, and consequently it may exhibit additional +colours, expressing man's less desirable feelings, which cannot show +themselves at higher levels; for example, a lurid brownish-red indicates +the presence of sensuality, while black clouds show malice and hatred. A +curious livid grey betokens the presence of fear, and a much darker grey, +usually arranged in heavy rings around the ovoid, indicates a condition of +depression. Irritability is shown by the presence of a number of small +scarlet flecks in the astral body, each representing a small angry impulse. +Jealousy is shown by a peculiar brownish-green, generally studded with the +same scarlet flecks. The astral body is in size and shape like those just +described, and in the ordinary man its outline is usually clearly marked; +but in the case of primitive man it is often exceedingly irregular, and +resembles a rolling cloud composed of all the more unpleasant colours. + +When the astral body is comparatively quiet (it is never actually at rest) +the colours which are to be seen in it indicate those emotions to which the +man is most in the habit of yielding himself. When the man experiences a +rush of any particular feeling, the rate of vibration which expresses that +feeling dominates for a time the entire astral body. If, for example, it be +devotion, the whole of his astral body is flushed with, blue, and while the +emotion remains at its strongest the normal colours do little more than +modify the blue, or appear faintly through a veil of it; but presently the +vehemence of the sentiment dies away, and the normal colours re-assert +themselves. But because of that spasm of emotion the part of the astral +body which is normally blue has been increased in size. Thus a man who +frequently feels high devotion soon comes to have a large area of the blue +permanently existing in his astral body. + +When the rush of devotional _feeling_ comes over him, it is usually +accompanied by _thoughts_ of devotion. Although primarily formed in the +mental body, these draw round themselves a large amount of astral matter as +well, so that their action is in both worlds. In both worlds also is the +radiation which was previously described, so that the devotional man is a +centre of devotion, and will influence other people to share both his +thoughts and his feelings. The same is true in the case of affection, +anger, depression--and, indeed, of all other feelings. + +The flood of emotion does not itself greatly affect the mental body, +although for a time it may render it almost impossible for any activity +from that mental body to come through into the physical brain. That is not +because that body itself is affected, but because the astral body, which +acts as a bridge between it and the physical brain, is vibrating so +entirely at one rate as to be incapable of conveying any undulation which +is not in harmony with that. + +The permanent colours of the astral body react upon, the mental. They +produce in it their correspondences, several octaves higher, in the same +manner as a musical note produces overtones. The mental body in its turn +reacts upon the causal in the same way, and thus all the good qualities +expressed in the lower vehicles by degrees establish themselves permanently +in the ego. The evil qualities cannot do so, as the rates of vibrations +which express them are impossible for the higher mental matter of which the +causal body is constructed. + +So far, we have described vehicles which are the expression of the ego in +their respective worlds--vehicles, which he provides for himself; in the +physical world we come to a vehicle which is provided for him by Nature +under laws which will be later explained--which though also in some sense +an expression of him, is by no means a perfect manifestation. In ordinary +life we see only a small part of this physical body--only that which is +built of the solid and liquid subdivisions of physical matter. The body +contains matter of all the seven subdivisions, and all of them play their +part in its life and are of equal importance, to it. + +We usually speak of the invisible part of the physical body as the etheric +double; "double" because it exactly reproduces the size and shape of the +part of the body that we can see, and "etheric" because it is built--of +that finer kind of matter by the vibrations of which light is conveyed to +the retina of the eye. (This must not be confused with the true aether of +space--that of which matter is the negation.) This invisible part of the +physical body is of great importance to us, since it is the vehicle through +which flow the streams of vitality which keep the body alive, and without +it, as a bridge to convey undulations of thought and feeling from the +astral to the visible denser physical matter, the ego could make no use of +the cells of his brain. + +The life of a physical body is one of perpetual change and in order that it +shall live, it needs constantly to be supplied from three distinct sources. +It must have food for its digestion, air for its breathing, and vitality +for its absorption. This vitality is essentially a force, but when clothed +in matter it appears to us as a definite element, which exists in all the +worlds of which we have spoken. At the moment we are concerned with that +manifestation of it which we find in the highest subdivision of the +physical world. Just as the blood circulates through the veins, so does the +vitality circulate along the nerves; and precisely as any abnormality in +the flow of the blood at once affects the physical body, so does the +slightest irregularity in the absorption or flow of the vitality affect +this higher part of the physical body. + +Vitality is a force which comes originally from the sun. When an ultimate +physical atom is charged with it, it draws round itself six other atoms, +and makes itself into an etheric element. The original force of vitality is +then subdivided into seven, each of the atoms carrying a separate charge. +The element thus made is absorbed into the human body through the etheric +part of the spleen. It is there split up into its component parts, which at +once low to the various parts of the body assigned to them. The spleen is +one of the seven force centres in the etheric part of the physical body. In +each of our vehicles seven such centres should be in activity, and when +they are thus active they are visible to clairvoyant sight. They appear +usually as shallow vortices, for they are the points at which the force +from the higher bodies enters the lower. In the physical body these centres +are: (1) at the base of the spine, (2) at the solar plexus, (3) at the +spleen, (4) over the heart, (5) at the throat, (6) between the eyebrows, +and (7) at the top of the head. There are other dormant centres, but their +awakening is undesirable. + +The shape of all the higher bodies as seen by the clairvoyant is ovoid, but +the matter composing them is not equally distributed throughout the egg. In +the midst of this ovoid is the physical body. The physical body strongly +attracts astral matter, and in its turn the astral matter strongly attracts +mental matter. Therefore by far the greater part of the matter of the +astral body is gathered within the physical frame; and the same is true of +the mental vehicle. If we see the astral body of a man in its own world, +apart from the physical body we shall still perceive the astral matter +aggregated in exactly the shape of the physical, although, as the matter is +more fluidic in its nature, what we see is a body built of dense mist, in +the midst of an ovoid of much finer mist. The same is true for the mental +body. Therefore, if in the astral or the mental world we should meet an +acquaintance, we should recognise him by his appearance just as instantly +as in the physical world. + +This, then, is the true constitution of man. In the first place he is a +Monad, a Spark of the Divine. Of that Monad the ego is a partial +expression, formed in order that he may enter evolution, and may return to +the Monad with joy, bringing his sheaves with him in the shape of qualities +developed by garnered experience. The ego in his turn puts down part of +himself for the same purpose into lower worlds, and we call that part a +personality, because the Latin word _persona_ means a mask, and this +personality is the mask which the ego puts upon himself when he manifests +in worlds lower than his own. Just as the ego is a small part and an +imperfect expression of the Monad, so is the personality a small part and +an imperfect expression of the ego; so that what we usually think of as the +man is only in truth a fragment of a fragment. + +The personality wears three bodies or vehicles, the mental, the astral and +the physical. While the man is what we call alive and awake on the physical +earth he is limited by his physical body, for he uses the astral and mental +bodies only as bridges to connect himself with his lowest vehicle. One of +the limitations of the physical body is that it quickly becomes fatigued +and needs periodical rest. Each night the man leaves it to sleep, and +withdraws into his astral vehicle, which does not become fatigued, and +therefore needs no sleep. During this sleep of the physical body the man is +free to move about in the astral world; but the extent to which he does +this depends upon his development. The primitive savage usually does not +move more than a few miles away from his sleeping physical form--often not +as much as that; and he has only the vaguest consciousness. + +The educated man is generally able to travel in his astral vehicle wherever +he will, and has much more consciousness in the astral world, though he has +not often the faculty of bringing into his waking life any memory of what +he has seen and done while his physical body was asleep. Sometimes he does +remember some incident which he has seen, some experience which he has had, +and then he calls it a vivid dream. More often his recollections are +hopelessly entangled with vague memories of waking life, and with +impressions made from without upon the etheric part of his brain. Thus we +arrive at the confused and often absurd dreams of ordinary life. The +developed man becomes as fully conscious and active in the astral world as +in the physical, and brings through into the latter full remembrance of +what he has been doing in the former--that is, he has a continuous life +without any loss of consciousness throughout the whole twenty-four hours, +and thus throughout the whole of his physical life, and even through death +itself. + + + + +Chapter VI + +AFTER DEATH + + +Death is the laying aside of the physical body; but it makes no more +difference to the ego than does the laying aside of an overcoat to the +physical man. Having put off his physical body, the ego continues to live +in his astral body until the force has become exhausted which has been +generated by such emotions and passions as he has allowed himself to feel +during earth-life. When that has happened, the second death takes place; +the astral body also falls away from him, and he finds himself living in +the mental body and in the lower mental world. In that condition he remains +until the thought-forces generated during his physical and astral lives +have worn themselves out; then he drops the third vehicle in its turn and +remains once more an ego in his own world, inhabiting his causal body. + +There is, then, no such thing as death as it is ordinarily understood. +There is only a succession of stages in a continuous life--stages lived in +the three worlds one after another. The apportionment of time between these +three worlds varies much as man advances. The primitive man lives almost +exclusively in the physical world, spending only a few years in the astral +at the end of each of his physical lives. As he develops, the astral life +becomes longer, and as intellect: unfolds in him, and he becomes able to +think, he begins to spend a little time in the mental world as well. The +ordinary man of civilized races remains longer in the mental world than in +the physical and astral; indeed, the more a man evolves the longer becomes +his mental, life and the shorter his life in the astral world. + +The astral life is the result of all feelings which have in them the +element of self. If they have been directly selfish, they bring him into +conditions of great unpleasantness in the astral world; if, though tinged +with thoughts of self, they have been good and kindly, they bring him a +comparatively pleasant though still limited astral life. Such of his +thoughts and feelings as have been entirely unselfish produce their results +in his life in the mental world; therefore that life in the mental, world +cannot be other than blissful. The astral life, which the man has made for +himself either miserable or comparatively joyous, corresponds to what +Christians call purgatory; the lower mental life, which is always entirely +happy, is what is called heaven. + +Man makes for himself his own purgatory and heaven, and these are not +planes, but states of consciousness. Hell does not exist; it is only a +figment of the theological imagination; but a man who lives foolishly may +make for himself a very unpleasant and long enduring purgatory. Neither +purgatory nor heaven can ever be eternal, for a finite cause cannot produce +an infinite result. The variations in individual cases are so wide that to +give actual figures is somewhat misleading. If we take the average man of +what is called the lower middle class, the typical specimen of which would +be a small shopkeeper or shop-assistant, his average life in the astral +world would be perhaps about forty years, and the life in the mental world +about two hundred. The man of spirituality and culture, on the other hand, +may have perhaps twenty years of life in the astral world and a thousand in +the heaven life. One who is specially developed may reduce the astral life +to a few days or hours and spend fifteen hundred years in heaven. + +Not only does the length of these periods vary greatly, but the conditions +in both worlds also differ widely. The matter of which all these bodies are +built is not dead matter but living, and that fact has to be taken into +consideration. The physical body is built up of cells, each of which is a +tiny separate life animated by the Second Outpouring, which comes forth +from the Second Aspect of the Deity. These cells are of varying kinds and +fulfil various functions, and all these facts must be taken into account if +the man wishes to understand the work of his physical body and to live a +healthy life in it. + +The same thing applies to the astral and mental bodies. In the cell-life +which permeates them there is as yet nothing in the way of intelligence, +but there is a strong instinct always pressing in the direction of what is +for its development. The life animating the matter of which such bodies are +built is upon the outward arc of evolution, moving downwards or outwards +into matter, so that progress for it means to descend into denser forms of +matter, and to learn to express itself through them. Unfoldment for the man +is just the opposite of this; he has already sunk deeply into matter and is +now rising out of that towards his source. There is consequently a constant +conflict of interests between the man within and the life inhabiting the +matter of his vehicles, inasmuch as its tendency is downward, while his is +upward. + +The matter of the astral body (or rather the life animating its molecules) +desires for its evolution such undulations as it can get, of as many +different kinds as possible, and as coarse as possible. The next step in +its evolution will be to ensoul physical matter and become used to its +still slower oscillations; and as a step on the way to that, it desires the +grossest of the astral vibrations. It has not the intelligence definitely +to plan for these; but its instinct helps it to discover how most easily to +procure them. + +The molecules of the astral body are constantly changing, as are those of +the physical body, but nevertheless the life in the mass of those astral +molecules has a sense, though a very vague sense, of itself as a whole--as +a kind of temporary entity. It does not know that it is part of a man's +astral body; it is quite incapable of understanding what a man is; but it +realizes in a blind way that under its present conditions it receives many +more waves, and much stronger ones, than it would receive if floating at +large in the atmosphere. It would then only occasionally catch, as from a +distance, the radiation of man's passions and emotions; now it is in the +very heart of them, it can miss none, and it gets them at their strongest. +Therefore it feels itself in a good position, and it makes an effort to +retain that position. It finds itself in contact with something finer than +itself--the matter of the man's mental body; and it comes to feel that if +it can contrive to involve that finer something in its own undulations, +they will be greatly intensified and prolonged. + +Since astral matter is the vehicle of desire and mental matter is the +vehicle of thought, this instinct, when translated into our language, means +that if the astral body can induce us to think that _we_ want what _it_ +wants, it is much more likely to get it. Thus it exercises a slow steady +pressure upon the man--a kind of hunger on its side, but for him a +temptation to what is coarse and undesirable. If he be a passionate man +there is a gentle but ceaseless pressure in the direction of irritability; +if he be a sensual man, an equally steady pressure in the direction of +impurity. + +A man who does not understand this usually makes one of two mistakes with +regard to it: either he supposes it to be the prompting of his own nature, +and therefore regards that nature as inherently evil, or he thinks of the +pressure as coming from outside--as a temptation of an imaginary devil. The +truth lies between the two. The pressure is natural, not to the man but to +the vehicle which he is using; its desire is natural and right for it, but +harmful to the man, and therefore it is necessary that he should resist it. +If he does so resist, if he declines to yield himself to the feelings +suggested to him, the particles within him which need those vibrations +become apathetic for lack of nourishment, and eventually atrophy and fall +out from his astral body, and are replaced by other particles, whose +natural wave-rate is more nearly in accordance with that which the man +habitually permits within his astral body. + +This gives the reason for what are called promptings of the lower nature +during life. If the man yields himself to them, such promptings grow +stronger and stronger until at last he feels as though he could not resist +them, and identifies himself with them--which is exactly what this curious +half-life in the particles of the astral body wants him to do. + +At the death of the physical body this vague astral consciousness is +alarmed. It realizes that its existence as a separated mass is menaced, and +it takes instinctive steps to defend itself and to maintain its position as +long as possible. The matter of the astral body is far more fluidic than +that of the physical, and this consciousness seizes upon its particles and +disposes them so as to resist encroachment. It puts the grossest and +densest upon the outside as a kind of shell, and arranges the others in +concentric layers, so that the body as a whole may become as resistant to +friction as its constitution permits, and may therefore retain its shape as +long as possible. + +For the man this produces various unpleasant effects. The physiology of the +astral body is quite different from that of the physical; the latter +acquires its information from without by means of certain organs which are +specialized as the instruments of its senses, but the astral body has no +separated senses in our meaning of the word. That which for the astral body +corresponds to sight is the power of its molecules to respond to impacts +from without, which come to them by means of similar molecules. For +example, a man has within his astral body matter belonging to all the +subdivisions of the astral world, and it is because of that that he is +capable of "seeing" objects built of the matter of any of these +subdivisions. + +Supposing an astral object to be made of the matter of the second and third +subdivisions mixed, a man living in the astral world could perceive that +object only if on the surface of his astral body there were particles +belonging to the second and third subdivisions of that world which were +capable of receiving and recording the vibrations which that object set up. +A man who from the arrangement of his body by the vague consciousness of +which we have spoken, had on the outside of that vehicle only the denser +matter of the lowest subdivision, could no more be conscious of the object +which we have mentioned than we are ourselves conscious in the physical +body of the gases which move about us in the atmosphere or of objects built +exclusively of etheric matter. + +During physical life the matter of the man's astral body is in constant +motion, and its particles pass among one another much as do those of +boiling water. Consequently at any given moment it is practically certain +that particles of all varieties will be represented on the surface of his +astral body, and that therefore when he is using his astral body during +sleep he will be able to "see" by its means any astral object which +approaches him. + +After death, if he has allowed the rearrangement to be made (as from +ignorance, all ordinary persons do) his condition in this respect will be +different. Having on the surface of his astral body only the lowest and +grossest particles, he can receive impressions only from corresponding +particles outside; so that instead of seeing the whole of the astral world +about him, he will see only one-seventh of it, and that the densest and +most impure. The vibrations of this heavier matter are the expressions only +of objectionable feelings and emotions, and of the least refined class of +astral entities. Therefore it emerges that a man in this condition can see +only the undesirable inhabitants of the astral world, and can feel only its +most unpleasant and vulgar influences. + +He is surrounded by other men, whose astral bodies are probably of quite +ordinary character; but since he can see and feel only that which is lowest +and coarsest in them, they appear to him to be monsters of vice with no +redeeming features. Even his friends seem not at all what they used to be, +because he is now incapable of appreciating any of their better qualities. +Under these circumstances it is little wonder that he considers the astral +world a hell; yet the fault is in no way with the astral world, but with +himself--first, for allowing within himself so much of that cruder type of +matter, and, secondly, for letting that vague astral consciousness dominate +him and dispose it in that particular way. + +The man who has studied these matters declines absolutely to yield to the +pressure during life or to permit the rearrangement after death, and +consequently he retains his power of seeing the astral world as a whole, +and not merely the cruder and baser part of it. + +The astral world has many points in common with the physical; just like the +physical, it presents different appearances to different people, and even +to the same person at different periods of his career. It is the home of +emotions and of lower thoughts; and emotions are much stronger in that +world than in this. When a person is awake we cannot see that larger part +of his emotion at all; its strength goes in setting in motion the gross +physical matter of the brain. So if we see a man show affection here, what +we can see is not the whole of his affection, but only such part of it as +is left after all this other work has been done. Emotions therefore bulk +far more largely in the astral life than in the physical. They in no way +exclude higher thought if they are controlled, so in the astral world as in +the physical a man may devote himself to study and to helping his fellows, +or he may waste his time and drift about aimlessly. + +The astral world extends nearly to the mean distance of the orbit of the +moon; but though the whole of this realm is open to any of its inhabitants +who have not permitted the redistribution of their matter, the great +majority remain much nearer to the surface of the earth. The matter of the +different subdivisions of that world interpenetrates with perfect freedom, +but there is on the whole a general tendency for the denser matter to +settle towards the centre. The conditions are much like those which obtain +in a bucket of water which contains in suspension a number of kinds of +matter of different degrees of density. Since the water is kept in +perpetual motion, the different kinds of matter are diffused through it; +but in spite of that, the densest matter is found in greatest quantity +nearest to the bottom. So that though we must not at all think of the +various subdivisions of the astral world as lying above one another as do +the coats of an onion, it is nevertheless true that the average arrangement +of the matter of those subdivisions partakes somewhat of that general +character. + +Astral matter interpenetrates physical matter precisely as though it were +not there, but each subdivision of physical matter has a strong attraction +for astral matter of the corresponding subdivision. Hence it arises that +every physical body has its astral counterpart. If I have a glass of water +standing upon a table, the glass and the table, being of physical matter in +the solid state, are interpenetrated by astral matter of the lowest +subdivision. The water in the glass, being liquid, is interpenetrated by +what we may call astral liquid--that is, by astral matter of the sixth +subdivision; whereas the air surrounding both, being physical matter in the +gaseous condition, is entirely interpenetrated by astral gaseous +matter--that is, astral matter of the fifth subdivision. + +But just as air, water, glass and table are alike interpenetrated all the +time by the finer physical matter which we have called etheric, so are all +the astral counterparts interpenetrated by the finer astral matter of the +higher subdivisions which correspond to the etheric. But even the astral +solid is less dense than the finest of the physical ethers. + +The man who finds himself in the astral world after death, if he has not +submitted to the rearrangement of the matter of his body, will notice but +little difference from physical life. He can float about in any direction +at will, but in actual fact he usually stays in the neighbourhood to which +he is accustomed. He is still able to perceive his house, his room, his +furniture, his relations, his friends. The living, when ignorant of the +higher worlds, suppose themselves to have "lost" those who have laid aside +their physical bodies; but the dead are never for a moment under the +impression that they have lost the living. + +Functioning as they are in the astral body, the dead can no longer see the +physical bodies of those whom they have left behind; but they do see their +astral bodies, and as those are exactly the same in outline as the +physical, they are perfectly aware of the presence of their friends. They +see each one surrounded by a faint ovoid of luminous mist, and if they +happen to be observant, they may notice various other small changes in +their surroundings; but it is at least quite clear to them that they have +not gone away to some distant heaven or hell, but still remain in touch +with the world which they know, although they see it at a somewhat +different angle. + +The dead man has the astral body of his living friend obviously before him, +so he cannot think of him as lost; but while the friend is awake, the dead +man will not be able to make any impression upon him, for the consciousness +of the friend is then in the physical world, and his astral body is being +used only as a bridge. The dead man cannot therefore communicate with his +friend, nor can he read his friend's higher thoughts; but he will see by +the change in colour in the astral body any emotion which that friend may +feel, and with a little practice and observation he may easily learn to +read all those thoughts of his friend which have in them anything of self +or of desire. + +When the friend falls asleep the whole position is changed. He is then also +conscious in the astral world side by side with the dead man, and they can +communicate in every respect as freely as they could during physical life. +The emotions felt by the living react strongly upon the dead who love them. +If the former give way to grief, the latter cannot but suffer severely. + +The conditions of life after death are almost infinite in their variety, +but they can be calculated without difficulty by any one who will take the +trouble to understand the astral world and to consider the character of the +person concerned. That character is not in the slightest degree changed by +death; the man's thoughts, emotions and desires are exactly the same as +before. He is in every way the same man, minus his physical body; and his +happiness or misery depends upon the extent to which this loss of the +physical body affects him. + +If his longings have been such as need a physical body for their +gratification, he is likely to suffer considerably. Such a craving +manifests itself as a vibration in the astral body, and while we are still +in this world most of its strength is employed in setting in motion the +heavy physical particles. Desire is therefore a far greater force in the +astral life than in the physical, and if the man has not been in the habit +of controlling it, and if in this new life it cannot be satisfied, it may +cause him great and long-continued trouble. + +Take as an illustration the extreme case of a drunkard or a sensualist. +Here we have a lust which has been strong enough during physical life to +overpower reason, common sense and all the feelings of decency and of +family affection. After death the man finds himself in the astral world +feeling the appetite perhaps a hundred times more strongly, yet absolutely +unable to satisfy it because he has lost the physical body. Such a life is +a very real hell--the only hell there is; yet no one is punishing him; he +is reaping the perfectly natural result of his own action. Gradually as +time passes this force of desire wears out, but only at the cost of +terrible suffering for the man, because to him every day seems as a +thousand years. He has no measure of time such as we have in the physical +world. He can measure it only by his sensations. From a distortion of this +fact has come the blasphemous idea of eternal damnation. + +Many other cases less extreme than this will readily suggest themselves, in +which a hankering which cannot be fulfilled may prove itself a torture. A +more ordinary case is that of a man who has no particular vices, such as +drink or sensuality, but yet has been attached entirely to things of the +physical world, and has lived a life devoted to business or to aimless +social functions. For him the astral world is a place of weariness; the +only thing for which he craves are no longer possible for him, for in the +astral world there is no business to be done, and, though he may have as +much companionship as he wishes, society is now for him a very different +matter, because all the pretences upon which it is usually based in this +world are no longer possible. + +These cases, however, are only the few, and for most people the state after +death is much happier than life upon earth. The first feeling of which the +dead man is usually conscious is one of the most wonderful and delightful +freedom. He has absolutely nothing to worry about, and no duties rest upon +him, except those which he chooses to impose upon himself. For all but a +very small minority, physical life is spent in doing what the man would +much rather not do; but he has to do it in order to support himself or his +wife and family. In the astral world no support is necessary; food is no +longer needed, shelter is not required, since he is entirely unaffected by +heat or cold; and each man by the mere exercise of his thought clothes +himself as he wishes. For the first time since early childhood the man is +entirely free to spend the whole of his time in doing just exactly what he +likes. + +His capacity for every kind of enjoyment is greatly enhanced, if only that +enjoyment does not need a physical body for its expression. If he loves the +beauties of Nature, it is now within his power to travel with great +rapidity and without fatigue over the whole world, to contemplate all its +loveliest spots, and to explore its most secret recesses. If he delights in +art, all the world's masterpieces are at his disposal. If he loves music, +he can go where he will to hear it, and it will now mean much more to him +than it has ever meant before; for though he can no longer hear the +physical sounds, he can receive the whole effect of the music into himself +in far fuller measure than in this lower world. If he is a student of +science, he can not only visit the great scientific men of the world, and +catch from them such thoughts and ideas as may be within his comprehension, +but also he can undertake researches of his own into the science of this +higher world, seeing much more of what he is doing than has ever before +been possible to him. Best of all, he whose great delight in this world has +been to help his fellow men will still find ample scope for his +philanthropic efforts. + +Men are no longer hungry, cold, or suffering from disease in this astral +world; but there are vast numbers who, being ignorant, desire +knowledge--who, being still in the grip of desire for earthly things, need +the explanation which will turn their thought to higher levels--who have +entangled themselves in a web of their own imaginings, and can be set free +only by one who understands these new surroundings and can help them to +distinguish the facts of the world from their own ignorant +misrepresentation of them. All these can be helped by the man of +intelligence and of kindly heart. Many men arrive in the astral world in +utter ignorance of its conditions, not realizing at first that they are +dead, and when they do realize it fearing the fate that may be in store for +them, because of false and wicked theological teaching. All of these need +the cheer and comfort which can only be given to them by a man of common +sense who possesses some knowledge of the facts of Nature. + +There is thus no lack of the most profitable occupation for any man whose +interests during his physical life have been rational; nor is there any +lack of companionship. Men whose tastes and pursuits are similar drift +naturally together there just as they do here; and many realms of Nature, +which during our physical life are concealed by the dense veil of matter, +now lie open for the detailed study of those who care to examine them. + +To a large extent people make their own surroundings. We have already +referred to the seven subdivisions of this astral world. Numbering these +from the highest and least material downwards, we find that they fall +naturally into three classes--divisions one, two and three forming one such +class, and four, five and six another; while the seventh and lowest of all +stands alone. As I have said, although they all interpenetrate, their +substance has a general tendency to arrange itself according to its +specific gravity, so that most of the matter belonging to the higher +subdivisions is found at a greater elevation above the surface of the earth +than the bulk of the matter of the lower portions. + +Hence, although any person inhabiting the astral world can move into any +part of it, his natural tendency is to float at the level which corresponds +with the specific gravity of the heaviest matter in his astral body. The +man who has not permitted the rearrangement of the matter of his astral +body after death is entirely free of the whole astral world; but the +majority, who do permit it, are not equally free--not because there is +anything to prevent them from rising to the highest level or sinking to the +lowest, but because they are able to sense clearly only a certain part of +that world. + +I have described something of the fate of a man who is on the lowest level, +shut in by a strong shell of coarse matter. Because of the extreme +comparative density of that matter he is conscious of less outside of his +own subdivision than a man at any other level. The general specific gravity +of his own astral body tends to make him float below the surface of the +earth. The physical matter of the earth is absolutely non-existent to his +astral senses, and his natural attraction is to that least delicate form of +astral matter which is the counterpart of that solid earth. A man who has +confined himself to that lowest subdivision will therefore usually find +himself floating in darkness and cut off to a great extent from others of +the dead, whose lives have been such as to keep them on a higher level. + +Divisions four, five and six of the astral world (to which most people are +attracted) have for their background the astral counterpart of the physical +world in which we live, and all its familiar accessories. Life in the sixth +subdivision is simply like our ordinary life on this earth minus the +physical body and its necessities while as it ascends through the fifth and +fourth divisions it becomes less and less material and is more and more +withdrawn from our lower world and its interests. + +The first, second and third sections, though occupying the same space, yet +give the impression of being much further removed from the physical, and +correspondingly less material. Men who inhabit these levels lose sight of +the earth and its belongings; they are usually deeply self-absorbed, and to +a large extent create their own surroundings, though these are sufficiently +objective to be perceptible to other men of their level, and also to +clairvoyant vision. + +This region is the summerland of which we hear in spiritualistic +circles--the world in which, by the exercise of their thought, the dead +call into temporary existence their houses and schools and cities. These +surroundings, though fanciful from our point of view, are to the dead as +real as houses, temples or churches built of stone are to us, and many +people live very contentedly there for a number of years in the midst of +all these thought-creations. + +Some of the scenery thus produced is very beautiful; it includes lovely +lakes, magnificent mountains, pleasant flower gardens, decidedly superior +to anything in the physical world; though on the other hand it also +contains much which to the trained clairvoyant (who has learned to see +things as they are) appears ridiculous--as, for example, the endeavours of +the unlearned to make a thought-form of some of the curious symbolic +descriptions contained in their various scriptures. An ignorant peasant's +thought-image of a beast full of eyes within, or of a sea of glass mingled +with fire, is naturally often grotesque, although to its maker it is +perfectly satisfactory. This astral world is full of thought-created +figures and landscapes. Men of all religions image here their deities and +their respective conceptions of paradise, and enjoy themselves greatly +among these dream-forms until they pass into the mental world and come into +touch with something nearer to reality. + +Every one after death--any ordinary person, that is, in whose case the +rearrangement of the matter of the astral body has been made--has to pass +through all these subdivisions in turn. It does not follow that every one +is conscious in all of them. The ordinarily decent person has in his astral +body but little of the matter of its lowest portion--by no means enough to +construct a heavy shell. The redistribution puts on the outside of the body +its densest matter; in the ordinary man this is usually matter of the sixth +subdivision, mixed with a little of the seventh, and so he finds himself +viewing the counterpart of the physical world. + +The ego is steadily withdrawing into himself, and as he withdraws he leaves +behind him level after level of this astral matter. So the length of the +man's detention in any section of the astral world is precisely in +proportion to the amount of its matter which is found in his astral body, +and that in turn depends upon the life he has lived, the desires he has +indulged, and the class of matter which by so doing he has attracted +towards him and built into himself. Finding himself then in the sixth +section, still hovering about the places and persons with which he was most +closely connected while on earth, the average man, as time passes on, finds +the earthly surroundings gradually growing dimmer and becoming of less and +less importance to him, and he tends more and more to mould his entourage +into agreement with the more persistent of his thoughts. By the time that +he reaches the third level he finds that this characteristic has entirely +superseded the vision of the realities of the astral world. + +The second subdivision is a shade less material than the third, for if the +latter is the summerland of the spiritualists, the former is the material +heaven of the more ignorantly orthodox; while the first or highest level +appears to be the special home of those who during life have devoted +themselves to materialistic but intellectual pursuits, following them not +for the sake of benefiting their fellow men, but either from motives of +selfish ambition or simply for the sake of intellectual exercise. All these +people are perfectly happy. Later on they will reach a stage when they can +appreciate something much higher, and when that stage comes they will find +the higher ready for them. + +In this astral life people of the same nation and of the same interest tend +to keep together, precisely as they do here. The religious people, for +example, who imagine for themselves a material heaven, do not at all +interfere with men of other faiths whose ideas of celestial joy are +different. There is nothing to prevent a Christian from drifting into the +heaven of the Hindu or the Muhammadan, but he is little likely to do so, +because his interests and attractions are all in the heaven of his own +faith, along with friends who have shared that faith with him. This is by +no means the true heaven described by any of the religions, but only a +gross and material misrepresentation of it; the real thing will be found +when we come to consider the mental world. + +The dead man who has not permitted the rearrangement of the matter of his +astral body is free of the entire world, and can wander all over it at +will, seeing the whole of whatever he examines, instead of only a part of +it as the others do. He does not find it inconveniently crowded, for the +astral world is much larger than the surface of the physical earth, while +its population is somewhat smaller, because the average life of humanity in +the astral world is shorter than the average in the physical. + +Not only the dead, however, are the inhabitants of this astral world, but +always about one-third of the living as well, who have temporarily left +their physical bodies behind them in sleep. The astral world has also a +great number of non-human inhabitants, some of them far below the level of +man, and some considerably above him. The nature-spirits form an enormous +kingdom, some of whose members exist in the astral world, and make a large +part of its population. This vast kingdom exists in the physical world +also, for many of its orders wear etheric bodies and are only just beyond +the range of ordinary physical sight. Indeed, circumstances not +infrequently occur under which they can be seen, and in many lonely +mountain districts these appearances are traditional among the peasants, by +whom they are commonly spoken of as fairies, good people, pixies or +brownies. + +They are protean, but usually prefer to wear a miniature human form. Since +they are not yet individualized, they may be thought of almost as etheric +and astral animals; yet many of them are intellectually quite equal to +average humanity. They have their nations and types just as we have, and +they are often grouped into four great classes, and called the spirits of +earth, water, fire and air. Only the members of the last of these four +divisions normally confine their manifestation to the astral world, but +their numbers are so prodigious that they are everywhere present in it. + +Another great kingdom has its representatives here--the kingdom of the +angels (called in India the devas). This is a body of beings who stand far +higher in evolution than man, and only the lowest fringe of their hosts +touches the astral world--a fringe whose constituent members are perhaps at +about the level of development of what we should call a distinctly good +man. + +We are neither the only nor even the principal inhabitants of our solar +system; there are other lines of evolution running parallel with our own +which do not pass through humanity at all, though they must all pass +through a level corresponding to that of humanity. On one of these other +lines of evolution are the nature-spirits above described, and at a higher +level of that line comes this great kingdom of the angels. At our present +level of evolution they come into obvious contact with us only very rarely, +but as we develop we shall be likely to see more of them--especially as the +cyclic progress of the world is now bringing it more and more under the +influence of the Seventh Ray. This Seventh Ray has ceremonial for one of +its characteristics, and it is through ceremonial such as that of the +Church or of Freemasonry that we come most easily into touch with the +angelic kingdom. + +When all the man's lower emotions have worn themselves out--all emotions, I +mean, which have in them any thought of self--his life in the astral world +is over, and the ego passes on into the mental world. This is not in any +sense a movement in space; it is simply that the steady process of +withdrawal has now passed beyond even the finest kind of astral matter; so +that the man's consciousness is focussed in the mental world. His astral +body has not entirely disintegrated, though it is in process of doing so, +and he leaves behind him an astral corpse, just as at a previous stage of +the withdrawal he left behind him a physical corpse. There is a certain +difference between the two which should be noticed, because of the +consequences which ensue from it. + +When the man leaves his physical body his separation from it should be +complete, and generally is so; but this is not the case with the much finer +matter of the astral body. In the course of his physical life the ordinary +man usually entangles himself so much in astral matter (which, from another +point of view, means that he identifies himself so closely with his lower +desires) that the indrawing force of the ego cannot entirely separate him +from it again. Consequently, when he finally breaks away from the astral +body and transfers his activities to the mental, he loses a little of +himself he leaves some of himself behind imprisoned in the matter of the +astral body. + +This gives a certain remnant of vitality to the astral, corpse, so that it +still moves freely in the astral world, and may easily be mistaken by the +ignorant for the man himself--the more so as such fragmentary consciousness +as still remains to it is part of the man, and therefore it naturally +regards itself and speaks of itself as the man. It retains his memories, +but is only a partial and unsatisfactory representation of him. Sometimes +in spiritualistic seances one comes into contact with an entity of this +description, and wonders how it is that one's friend has deteriorated so +much since his death. To this fragmentary entity we give the name "shade". + +At a later stage even this fragment of consciousness dies out of the astral +body, but does not return to the ego to whom it originally belonged. Even +then the astral corpse still remains, but when it is quite without any +trace of its former life we call it a "shell". Of itself a shell cannot +communicate at a seance, or take any action of any sort; but such shells +are frequently seized upon by sportive nature-spirits and used as temporary +habitations. A shell so occupied _can_ communicate at a seance and +masquerade as its original owner, since some of his characteristics and +certain portions of his memory can be evoked by the nature-spirit from his +astral corpse. + +When a man falls asleep, he withdraws in his astral body, leaving the whole +of the physical vehicle behind him. When he dies, he draws out with him the +etheric part of the physical body, and consequently has usually at least a +moment of unconsciousness while he is freeing himself from it. The etheric +double is not a vehicle and cannot be used as such; so when the man is +surrounded by it, he is for the moment able to function neither in the +physical world nor the astral. Some men succeed in shaking themselves free +of this etheric envelope in a few moments; others rest within it for hours, +days or even weeks. + +Nor is it certain that, when the man is free from this, he will at once +become conscious of the astral world. For there is in him a good deal of +the lowest kind of astral matter, so that a shell of this may be made +around him. But he may be quite unable to use that matter. If he has lived +a reasonably decent life he is little in the habit of employing it or +responding to its vibrations, and he cannot instantly acquire this habit. +For that reason, he may remain unconscious until that matter gradually +wears away, and some matter which he _is_ in the habit of using comes on +the surface. Such an occlusion, however, is scarcely ever complete, for +even in the most carefully made shell some particles of the finer matter +occasionally find their way to the surface, and give him fleeting glimpses +of his surroundings. + +There are some men who cling so desperately to their physical vehicles that +they will not relax their hold upon the etheric double, but strive with all +their might to retain it. They may be successful in doing so for a +considerable time, but only at the cost of great discomfort to themselves. +They are shut out from both worlds, and find themselves surrounded by a +dense grey mist, through which they see very dimly the things of the +physical world, but with all the colour gone from them. It is a terrible +struggle for them to maintain their position in this miserable condition, +and yet they will not relax their hold upon the etheric double, feeling +that that is at least some sort of link with the only world that they know. +Thus they drift about in a condition of loneliness and misery until from +sheer fatigue their hold fails them, and they slip into the comparative +happiness of astral life. Sometimes in their desperation they grasp blindly +at other bodies, and try to enter into them, and occasionally they are +successful in such an attempt. They may seize upon a baby body, ousting the +feeble personality for whom it was intended, or sometimes they grasp even +the body of an animal. All this trouble arises entirely from ignorance, and +it can never happen to anyone who understands the laws of life and death. + +When the astral life is over, the man dies to that world in turn, and +awakens in the mental world. With him it is not at all what it is to the +trained clairvoyant, who ranges through it and lives amidst the +surroundings which he finds there, precisely as he would in the physical or +astral worlds. The ordinary man has all through his life been encompassing +himself with a mass of thought-forms. Some which are transitory, to which +he pays little attention, have fallen away from him long ago, but those +which represent the main interests of his life are always with him, and +grow ever stronger and stronger. If some of these have been selfish, their +force pours down into astral matter, and he has exhausted them during his +life in the astral world. But those which are entirely unselfish belong +purely to his mental body, and so when he finds himself in the mental world +it is through these special thoughts that he is able to appreciate it. + +His mental body is by no means fully developed; only those parts of it are +really in action to their fullest extent which he has used in this +altruistic manner. When he awakens again after the second death, his first +sense is one of indescribable bliss and vitality--a feeling of such utter +joy in living that he needs for the time nothing but just to live. Such +bliss is of the essence of life in all the higher worlds of the system. +Even astral life has possibilities of happiness far greater than anything +that we can know in the dense body; but the heaven-life in the mental world +is out of all proportion more blissful than the astral. In each higher +world the same experience is repeated. Merely to live in any one of them +seems the uttermost conceivable bliss; and yet, when the next one is +reached, it is seen that it far surpasses the last. + +Just as the bliss increases, so does the wisdom and the breadth of view. A +man fusses about in the physical world and thinks himself so busy and so +wise; but when he touches even the astral, he realizes at once that he has +been all the time only a caterpillar crawling about and seeing nothing but +his own leaf, whereas now he has spread his wings like the butterfly and +flown away into the sunshine of a wider world. Yet, impossible as it may +seem, the same experience is repeated when he passes into the mental world, +for this life is in turn so much fuller and wider and more intense than the +astral that once more no comparison is possible. And yet beyond all these +there is still another life, that of the intuitional world, unto which even +this is but as moonlight unto sunlight. + +The man's position in the mental world differs widely from that in the +astral. There he was using a body to which he was thoroughly accustomed, a +body which he had been in the habit of employing every night during sleep. +Here he finds himself living in a vehicle which he has never used before--a +vehicle furthermore which is very far from being fully developed--a vehicle +which shuts him out to a great extent from the world about him, instead of +enabling him to see it. The lower part of his nature burnt itself away +during his purgatorial life, and now there remain to him only his higher +and more refined thoughts, the noble and unselfish aspirations which he +poured out during earth-life. These cluster round him, and make a sort of +shell about him, through the medium of which he is able to respond to +certain types of vibrations in this refined matter. + +These thoughts which surround him are the powers by which he draws upon the +wealth of the heaven-world, and he finds it to be a storehouse of infinite +extent, upon which he is able to draw just according to the power of those +thoughts and aspirations; for in this world is existing the infinite +fullness of the Divine Mind, open in all its limitless affluence to every +soul, just in proportion as that soul has qualified itself to receive. A +man who has already completed his human evolution, who has fully realized +and unfolded the divinity whose germ is within him, finds the whole of this +glory within his reach; but since none of us has yet done that, since we +are only gradually rising towards that splendid consummation, it follows +that none of us as yet can grasp that entirety. + +But each draws from it and cognizes so much of it as he has by previous +effort prepared himself to take. Different individuals bring very different +capacities; they tell us in the East that each man brings his own cup, and +some of the cups are large and some are small, but small or large every cup +is filled to its utmost capacity; the sea of bliss holds far more than +enough for all. + +A man can look out upon all this glory and beauty only through the windows +which he himself has made. Every one of these thought-forms is such a +window, through which response may come to him from the forces without. If +during his earth-life he has chiefly regarded physical things, then he has +made for himself but few windows through which this higher glory can shine +in upon him. Yet every man who is above the lowest savage must have had +some touch of pure unselfish feeling, even if it were but once in all his +life, and that will be a window for him now. + +The ordinary man is not capable of any great activity in this mental world; +his condition is chiefly receptive, and his vision of anything outside his +own shell of thought is of the most limited character. He is surrounded by +living forces, mighty angelic inhabitants of this glorious world, and many +of their orders are very sensitive to certain aspirations of man and +readily respond to them. But a man can take advantage of these only in so +far as he has already prepared himself to profit by them, for his thoughts +and aspirations are only along certain lines, and he cannot suddenly form +new lines. There are many directions which the higher thought may +take--some of them personal and some impersonal. Among the latter are art, +music and philosophy; and a man whose interest lay along any one of these +lines finds both measureless enjoyment and unlimited instruction waiting +for him--that is, the amount of enjoyment and instruction is limited only +by his power of perception. + +We find a large number of people whose only higher thoughts are those +connected with affection and devotion. If a man loves another deeply or if +he feels strong devotion to a personal deity, he makes a strong mental +image of that friend or of the deity, and the object of his feeling is +often present in his mind. Inevitably he takes that mental image into the +heaven-world with him, because it is to that level of matter that it +naturally belongs. + +Take first the case of affection. The love which forms and retains such an +image is a very powerful force--a force which is strong enough to reach and +to act upon the ego of his friend in the higher part of the mental world. +It is that ego that is the real man whom he loves--not the physical body +which is so partial a representation of him. The ego of the friend, feeling +this vibration, at once and eagerly responds to it, and pours himself into +the thought-form, which has been made for him; so that the man's friend is +truly present with him more vividly than ever before. To this result it +makes no difference whatever whether the friend is what we call living or +dead; the appeal is made not to the fragment of the friend which is +sometimes imprisoned in a physical body, but to the man himself on his own +true level; and he always responds. A man who has a hundred friends can +simultaneously and fully respond to the affection of every one of them, for +no number of representations on a lower level can exhaust the infinity of +the ego. + +Thus every man in his heaven-life has around him all the friends for whose +company he wishes, and they are for him always at their best, because he +himself makes for them the thought-form through which they manifest to him. +In our limited physical world we are so accustomed to thinking of our +friend as only the limited manifestation which we know in the physical +world, that it is at first difficult for us to realize the grandeur of the +conception; when we can realize it, we shall see how much nearer we are in +truth to our friends in the heaven-life than we ever were on earth. The +same is true in the case of devotion. The man in the heaven-world is two +great stages nearer to the object of his devotion than he was during +physical life, and so his experiences are of a far more transcendent +character. + +In this mental world, as in the astral, there are seven subdivisions. The +first, second and third are the habitat of the ego in his causal body, so +the mental body contains matter of the remaining four only, and it is in +those sections that his heaven-life is passed. Man does not, however, pass +from one to the other of these, as is the case in the astral world, for +there is nothing in this life corresponding to the rearrangement. Rather is +the man drawn to the level which best corresponds to the degree of his +development, and on that level he spends the whole of his life in the +mental body. Each man makes his own conditions, so that the number of +varieties is infinite. + +Speaking broadly, we may say that the dominant characteristic observed in +the lowest portion is unselfish family affection. Unselfish it must be, or +it would find no place here; all selfish tinges, if there were any, worked +out their results in the astral world. The dominant characteristic of the +sixth level may be said to be anthropomorphical religious devotion; while +that of the fifth section is devotion expressing itself in active work of +some sort. All these--the fifth, sixth and seventh subdivisions--are +concerned with the working out of devotion to personalities (either to +one's family and friends or to a personal deity) rather than the wider +devotion to humanity for its own sake, which finds its expression in the +next section. The activities of this fourth stage are varied. They can best +be arranged in four main divisions: unselfish pursuit of spiritual +knowledge; high philosophy or scientific thought; literary or artistic +ability exercised for unselfish purposes; and service for the sake of +service. + +Even to this glorious heaven-life there comes an end, and then the mental +body in its turn drops away as the others have done, and the man's life in +his causal body begins. Here the man needs no windows, for this is his true +home and all his walls have fallen away. The majority of men have as yet +but very little consciousness at such a height as this; they rest dreamily +unobservant and scarcely awake, but such vision as they have is true, +however limited it may be by their lack of development. Still, every time +they return, these limitations will be smaller, and they themselves will be +greater; so that this truest life will be wider and fuller for them. + +As this improvement continues, this causal life grows, longer and longer, +assuming an ever larger proportion as compared to the existence at lower +levels. And as he grows, the man becomes capable not only of receiving but +also of giving. Then indeed is his triumph approaching, for he is learning +the lesson of the Christ, learning the crowning glory of sacrifice, the +supreme delight of pouring out all his life for the helping of his +fellow-men, the devotion of the self to the all, of celestial strength to +human service, of all those splendid heavenly forces to the aid of the +struggling sons of earth. That is part of the life that lies before us; +these are some of the steps which even we who are still so near the bottom +of the golden ladder may see rising above us, so that we may report them to +those who have not seen as yet, in order that they too may open their eyes +to the unimaginable splendour which surrounds them here and now in this +dull daily life. This is part of the gospel of Theosophy--the certainty of +this sublime future for all. It is certain because it is here already, +because to inherit it we have only to fit ourselves for it. + + + + +Chapter VII + +REINCARNATION + + +This life of the ego in his own world, which is so glorious and so fully +satisfying for the developed man, plays but a very small part in the life +of the ordinary person, for in his case the ego has not yet reached a +sufficient stage of development to be awake in his causal body. In +obedience to the law of Nature he has withdrawn into it, but in doing so he +has lost the sensation of vivid life, and his restless desire to feel this +once more pushes him in the direction of another descent into matter. + +This is the scheme of evolution appointed for man at the present +stage--that he shall develop by descending into grosser matter, and then +ascend to carry back into himself the result of the experiences so +obtained. His real life, therefore, covers millions of years, and what we +are in the habit of calling a life is only one day of this greater +existence. Indeed, it is in reality only a small part of one day; for a +life of seventy years in the physical world is often succeeded by a period +of twenty times that length spent in higher spheres. + +Every one of us has a long line of these physical lives behind him, and the +ordinary man has a fairly long line still in front of him. Each of such +lives is a day at school. The ego puts upon himself his garment of flesh +and goes forth into the school of the physical world to learn certain +lessons. He learns them, or does not learn them, or partially learns them, +as the case may be, during his schoolday of earth-life; then he lays aside +the vesture of the flesh and returns home to his own level for rest and +refreshment. In the morning of each new life he takes up again his lesson +at the point where he left it the night before. Some lessons he may be able +to learn in one day, while others may take him many days. + +If he is an apt pupil and learns quickly what is needed, if he obtains an +intelligent grasp of the rules of the school, and takes the trouble to +adapt his conduct to them, his school-life is comparatively short, and when +it is over he goes forth fully equipped into the real life of the higher +worlds for which all this is only a preparation. Other egos are duller boys +who do not learn so quickly; some of them do not understand the rules of +the school, and through that ignorance are constantly breaking them; others +are wayward, and even when they see the rules they cannot at once bring +themselves to act in harmony with them. All of these have a longer +school-life, and by their own actions they delay their entry upon the real +life of the higher worlds. + +For this is a school in which no pupil ever fails; every one must go on to +the end. He has no choice as to that; but the length of time which he will +take in qualifying himself for the higher examinations is left entirely to +his own discretion. The wise pupil, seeing that school-life is not a thing +in itself, but only a preparation for a more glorious and far wider life, +endeavours to comprehend as fully as possible the rules of his school, and +shapes his life in accordance with them as closely as he can, so that no +time may be lost in the learning of whatever lessons are necessary. He +co-operates intelligently with the Teachers, and sets himself to do the +maximum of work which is possible for him, in order that as soon as he can +he may come of age and enter into his kingdom as a glorified ego. + +Theosophy explains to us the laws under which this school-life must be +lived, and in that way gives a great advantage to its students. The first +great law is that of evolution. Every man has to become a perfect man, to +unfold to the fullest degree the divine possibilities which lie latent +within him, for that unfoldment is the object of the entire scheme so far +as he is concerned. This law of evolution steadily presses him onward to +higher and higher achievements. The wise man tries to anticipate its +demands--to run ahead of the necessary curriculum, for in that way he not +only avoids all collision with it, but he obtains the maximum of assistance +from its action. The man who lags behind in the race of life finds its +steady pressure constantly constraining him--a pressure which, if resisted, +rapidly becomes painful. Thus the laggard on the path of evolution has +always the sense of being hunted and driven by his fate, while the man who +intelligently co-operates is left perfectly free to choose the direction in +which he shall move, so long as it is onward and upward. + +The second great law under which this evolution is taking place is the law +of cause and effect. There can be no effect without its cause, and every +cause must produce its effect. They are in fact not two but one, for the +effect is really part of the cause, and he who sets one in motion sets the +other also. There is in Nature no such idea as that of reward or +punishment, but only of cause and effect. Anyone can see this in connection +with mechanics or chemistry; the clairvoyant sees it equally clearly with +regard to the problems of evolution. The same law obtains in the higher as +in the lower worlds; there, as here, the angle of reflection is always +equal to the angle of incidence. It is a law of mechanics that action and +reaction are equal and opposite. In the almost infinitely finer matter of +the higher worlds the reaction is by no means always instantaneous; it may +sometimes be spread over long periods of time, but it returns inevitably +and exactly. + +Just as certain in its working as the mechanical law in the physical world +is the higher law, according to which the man who sends out a good thought +or does a good action receives good in return, while the man who sends out +an evil thought or does an evil action, receives evil in return with equal +accuracy--once more, not in the least a reward or punishment administered +by some external will, but simply as the definite and mechanical result of +his own activity. Man has learnt to appreciate a mechanical result in the +physical world, because the reaction is usually almost immediate and can be +seen by him. He does not invariably understand the reaction in the higher +worlds because that takes a wider sweep, and often returns not in this +physical life, but in some future one. + +The action of this law affords the explanation of a number of the problems +of ordinary life. It accounts for the different destinies imposed upon +people, and also for the differences in the people themselves. If one man +is clever in a certain direction and another is stupid, it is because in a +previous life the clever man has devoted much effort to practise in that +particular direction, while the stupid man is trying it for the first time. +The genius and the precocious child are examples not of the favouritism of +some deity but of the result produced by previous lives of application. All +the varied circumstances which surrounded us are the result of our own +actions in the past, precisely as are the qualities of which we find +ourselves in possession. We are what we have made ourselves, and our +circumstances are such as we have deserved. + +There is, however, a certain adjustment or apportionment of these effects. +Though the law is a natural law and mechanical in its operation, there are +nevertheless certain great Angels who are concerned with its +administration. They cannot change by one feather-weight the amount of the +result which follows upon any given thought or act, but they can within +certain limits expedite or delay its action, and decide what form it shall +take. + +If this were not done there would be at least a possibility that in his +earlier stages the man might blunder so seriously that the results of his +blundering might be more than he could bear. The plan of the Deity is to +give man a limited amount of free-will; if he uses that small amount well, +he earns the right to a little more next time; if he uses it badly, +suffering comes upon him as the result of such evil use, and he finds +himself restrained by the result of his previous actions. As the man learns +how to use his free-will, more and more of it is entrusted to him, so that +he can acquire for himself practically unbounded freedom in the direction +of good, but his power to do wrong is strictly restricted. He can progress +as rapidly as he will, but he cannot wreck his life in his ignorance. In +the earlier stages of the savage life of primitive man it is natural that +there should be on the whole more of evil than of good, and if the entire +result of his actions came at once upon a man as yet so little developed, +it might well crush the newly evolved powers which are still so feeble. + +Besides this, the effects of his actions are varied in character. While +some of them produce immediate results, others need much more time for +their action, and so it comes to pass that as the man develops he has above +him a hovering cloud of undischarged results, some of them good, some of +them bad. Out of this mass (which we may regard for purposes of analogy +much as though it were a debt owing to the powers of Nature) a certain +amount falls due in each of his successive births; and that amount, so +assigned, may be thought of as the man's destiny for that particular life. + +All that it means is that a certain amount of joy and a certain amount of +suffering are due to him, and will unavoidably happen to him; how he will +meet this destiny and what use he will make of it, that is left entirely to +his own option. It is a certain amount of force which has to work itself +out. Nothing can prevent the action of that force, but its action may +always be modified by the application of a new force in another direction, +just as is the case in mechanics. The result of past evil is like any other +debt; it may be paid in one large cheque upon the bank of life--by some one +supreme catastrophe; or it may be paid in a number of smaller notes, in +minor troubles and worries; in some cases it may even be paid in the small +change of a great number of petty annoyances. But one thing is quite +certain--that, in some form or other, paid it will have to be. + +The conditions of our present life, then, are absolutely the result of our +own action in the past; and the other side of that statement is that our +actions in this life are building up conditions for the next one. A man who +finds himself limited either in powers or in outer circumstances may not +always be able to make himself or his conditions all that he would wish in +this life; but he can certainly secure for the next one whatever he +chooses. + +Man's every action ends not with himself, but invariably affects others +around him. In some cases this effect may be comparatively trivial, while +in others it may be of the most serious character. The trivial results, +whether good or bad, are simply small debits or credits in our account with +Nature; but the greater effects, whether good or bad, make a personal +account which is to be settled with the individual concerned. + +A man who gives a meal to a hungry beggar, or cheers him by a kindly word, +will receive the result of his good action as part of a kind of general +fund of Nature's benefits; but one who by some good action changes the +whole current of another man's life will assuredly have to meet that same +man again in a future life, in order that he who has been benefited may +have the opportunity of repaying the kindness that has been done to him. +One who causes annoyance to another will suffer proportionately for it +somewhere, somehow, in the future, though he may never meet again the man +whom he has troubled; but one who does serious harm to another, one who +wrecks his life or retards his evolution, must certainly meet his victim +again at some later point in the course of their lives, so that he may have +the opportunity, by kindly and self-sacrificing service, of +counterbalancing the wrong which he has done. In short, large debts must be +paid personally, but small ones go into the general fund. + +These then are the principal factors which determine the next birth of the +man. First acts the great law of evolution, and its tendency is to press +the man into that position in which he can most easily develop the +qualities which he most needs. For the purposes of the general scheme, +humanity is divided into great races, called root-races, which rule and +occupy the world successively. The great Aryan or Indo-Caucasian race, +which at the present moment includes the most advanced of Earth's +inhabitants, is one of these. That which came before it in the order of +evolution was the Mongolian race, usually called in Theosophical books +Atlantean because the continent from which it ruled the world lay where now +roll the waters of the Atlantic ocean. Before that came the Negroid race, +some of whose descendants still exist, though by this time much mingled +with offshoots of later races. From each of these great root-races there +are many offshoots which we call sub-races--such, for example, as the Roman +races or the Teutonic; and each of the sub-races in turn divides itself +into branch-races, such as the French and the Italians, the English and the +Germans. + +These arrangements are made in order that for each ego there may be a wide +choice of varying conditions and surroundings. Each race is especially +adapted to develop within its people one or other of the qualities which +are needed in the course of evolution. In every nation there exist an +almost infinite number of diverse conditions, riches and poverty, a wide +field of opportunities or a total lack of them, facilities for development +or conditions under which development is difficult or well-nigh impossible. +Amidst all these infinite possibilities the pressure of the law of +evolution tends to guide the man to precisely those which best suit his +needs at the stage at which he happens to be. + +But the action of this law is limited by that other law of which we spoke, +the law of cause and effect. The man's actions in the past may not have +been such as to deserve (if we may put it so) the best possible +opportunities; he may have set in motion in his past certain forces the +inevitable result of which will be to produce limitations; and these +limitations may operate to prevent his receiving that best possible of +opportunities, and so as the result of his own actions in the past he may +have to put up with the second best. So we may say that the action of the +law of evolution, which if left to itself would do the very best possible +for every man, is restrained by the man's own previous actions. + +An important feature in that limitation--one which may act most powerfully +for good or for evil--is the influence of the group of egos with which the +man has made definite links in the past--those with whom he has formed +strong ties of love or hate, of helping or of injury--those souls whom he +must meet again because of connections made with them in days of long ago. +His relation with them is a factor which must be taken into consideration +before it can be determined where and how he shall be reborn. + +The Will of the Deity is man's evolution. The effort of that nature which +is an expression of the Deity is to give the man whatever is most suitable +for that evolution; but this is conditioned by the man's deserts in the +past and by the links which he has already formed. It may be assumed that a +man descending into incarnation could learn the lessons necessary for that +life in any one of a hundred positions. From half of these or more than +half he may be debarred by the consequences of some of his many and varied +actions in the past. Among the few possibilities which remain open to him, +the choice of one possibility in particular may be determined by the +presence in that family or in that neighbourhood of other egos upon whom he +has a claim for services rendered, or to whom he in his turn owes a debt of +love. + + + + +Chapter VIII + +THE PURPOSE OF LIFE + + +To fulfil our duty in the divine scheme we must try to understand not only +that scheme as a whole, but the special part that man is intended to play +in it. The divine outbreathing reached its deepest immersion in matter in +the mineral kingdom, but it reaches its ultimate point of differentiation +not at the lowest level of materiality, but at the entrance into the human +kingdom on the upward arc of evolution. We have thus to realize three +stages in the course of this evolution. + +(a) The downward arc in which the tendency is towards differentiation and +also towards greater materiality. In this stage spirit is involving itself +in matter, in order that it may learn to receive impressions through it. + +(b) The earlier part of the upward arc, in which the tendency is still +towards greater differentiation, but at the same time towards +spiritualization and escape from materiality. In this stage the spirit is +learning to dominate matter and to see it as an expression of itself. + +(c) The later part of the upward arc, when differentiation has been finally +accomplished, and the tendency is towards unity as well as towards greater +spirituality. In this stage the spirit, having learnt perfectly how to +receive impression through matter and how to express itself through it, and +having awakened its dormant powers, learns to use these powers rightly in +the service of the Deity. + +The object of the whole previous evolution has been to produce the ego as a +manifestation of the Monad. Then the ego in its turn evolves by putting +itself down into a succession of personalities. Men who do not understand +this look upon the personality as the self, and consequently live for it +alone, and try to regulate their lives for what appears to be its temporary +advantage. The man who understands realizes that the only important thing +is the life of the ego, and that its progress is the object for which the +temporary personality must be used. Therefore when he has to decide between +two possible courses he thinks not, as the ordinary man might: "Which will +bring the greater pleasure and profit to me as a personality?" but "Which +will bring greater progress to me as an ego?" Experience soon teaches him +that nothing can ever be really good for him, or for anyone, which is not +good for all, and so presently he learns to forget himself altogether, and +to ask only what will be best for humanity as a whole. + +Clearly then at this stage of evolution whatever tends to unity, whatever +tends to spirituality, is in accord with the plan of the Deity for us, and +is therefore right for us, while whatever tends to separateness or to +materiality is equally certainly wrong for us. There are thoughts and +emotions which tend to unity, such as love, sympathy, reverence, +benevolence; there are others which tend to disunion, such as hatred, +jealousy, envy, pride, cruelty, fear. Obviously the former group are for us +the right, the latter group are for us the wrong. + +In all these thoughts and feelings which are clearly wrong, we recognize +one dominant note, the thought of self; while in all those which are +clearly right we recognize that the thought is turned toward others, and +that the personal self is forgotten. Wherefore we see that selfishness is +the one great wrong, and that perfect unselfishness is the crown of all +virtue. This gives us at once a rule of life. The man who wishes +intelligently to co-operate with the Divine Will must lay aside all thought +of the advantage or pleasure of the personal self, and must devote himself +exclusively to carrying out that Will by working for the welfare and +happiness of others. + +This is a high ideal, and difficult of attainment, because there lies +behind us such a long history of selfishness. Most of us are as yet far +from the purely altruistic attitude; how are we to go to work to attain it, +lacking as we do the necessary intensity in so many of the good qualities, +and possessing so many which are undesirable? + +Here comes into operation the great law of cause and effect to which I have +already referred. Just as we can confidently appeal to the laws of Nature +in the physical world, so may we also appeal to these laws of the higher +world. If we find evil qualities within us, they have grown up by slow +degrees through ignorance and through self-indulgence. Now that the +ignorance is dispelled by knowledge, now that in consequence we recognize +the quality as an evil, the method of getting rid of it lies obviously +before us. + +For each of these vices there is a contrary virtue; if we find one of them +rearing its head within us, let us immediately determine deliberately to +develop within ourselves the contrary virtue. If a man realizes that in the +past he has been selfish, that means that he has set up within himself the +habit of thinking of himself first and pleasing himself, of consulting his +own convenience or his pleasure without due thought of the effect upon +others; let him set to work purposefully to form the exactly opposite +habit, to make a practice before doing anything of thinking how it will +affect all those around him; let him set himself habitually to please +others, even though it be at the cost of trouble or privation for himself. +This also in time will become a habit, and by developing it he will have +killed out the other. + +If a man finds himself full of suspicion, ready always to assign evil +motives to the actions of those about him, let him set himself steadily to +cultivate trust in his fellows, to give them credit always for the highest +possible motives. It may be said that a man who does this will lay himself +open to be deceived, and that in many cases his confidence will be +misplaced. That is a small matter; it is far better for him that he should +sometimes be deceived as a result of his trust in his fellows than that he +should save himself from such deception by maintaining a constant attitude +of suspicion. Besides, confidence begets faithfulness. A man who is trusted +will generally prove himself worthy of the trust, whereas a man who is +suspected is likely presently to justify the suspicion. + +If a man finds in himself the tendency towards avarice, let him go out of +his way to be especially generous; if he finds himself irritable, let him +definitely train himself in calmness; if he finds himself devoured by +curiosity, let him deliberately refuse again and again to gratify that +curiosity; if he is liable to fits of depression, let him persistently +cultivate cheerfulness, even under the most adverse circumstances. + +In every case the existence of an evil quality in the personality means a +lack of the corresponding good quality in the ego. The shortest way to get +rid of that evil and to prevent its reappearance is to fill the gap in the +ego, and the good quality which is thus developed will show itself as an +integral part of the man's character through all his future lives. An ego +cannot be evil, but he can be imperfect. The qualities which he develops +cannot be other than good qualities, and when they are well defined they +show themselves in each of all his numerous personalities, and consequently +those personalities can never be guilty of the vices opposite to these +qualities; but where there is a gap in the ego, where there is a quality +undeveloped, there is nothing inherent in the personality to check the +growth of the opposite vice; and since others in the world about him +already possess that vice, and man is an imitative animal, it is quite +probable that it will speedily manifest itself in him. This vice, however, +belongs to the vehicles only and not to the man inside. In these vehicles +its repetition may set up a momentum which is hard to conquer; but if the +ego bestirs himself to create in himself the opposite virtue, the vice is +cut off at its root, and can no longer exist--neither in this life nor in +all the lives that are to come. + +A man who is trying to evolve these qualities in himself will find certain +obstacles in his way--obstacles which he must learn to surmount. One of +these is the critical spirit of the age--the disposition to find fault with +a thing, to belittle everything, to look for faults in everything and +everyone. The exact opposite of this is what is needed for progress. He who +wishes to move rapidly along the path of evolution must learn to see good +in everything--to see the latent Deity in everything and in everyone. Only +so can he help those other people--only so can he get the best out of those +other things. + +Another obstacle is the lack of perseverance. We tend in these days to be +impatient; if we try any plan we expect immediate results from it, and if +we do not get them, we give up that plan and try something else. That is +not the way to make progress in occultism. The effort which we are making +is to compress into one or two lives the evolution which would naturally +take perhaps a hundred lives. That is not the sort of undertaking in which +immediate results are to be expected. We attempt to uproot an evil habit, +and we find it hard work; why? Because we have indulged in that practice +for, perhaps, twenty thousand years; one cannot shake off the custom of +twenty thousand years in a day or two. We have allowed that habit to gain +an enormous momentum, and before we can set up a force in the opposite +direction we have to overcome that momentum. That cannot be done in a +moment, but it is absolutely certain that it _will_ be done eventually, if +we persevere, because the momentum, however strong it may be, is a finite +quantity, whereas the power that we can bring to bear against it is the +infinite power of the human will, which can make renewed efforts day after +day, year after year, even life after life if necessary. + +Another great difficulty in our way is the lack of clearness in our +thought. People in the West are little used to clear thought with regard to +religious matters. Everything is vague and nebulous. For occult development +vagueness and nebulosity will not do. Our conceptions must be clear-cut and +our thought-images definite. Other necessary characteristics are calmness +and cheerfulness; these are rare in modern life, but are absolute +essentials for the work which we are here undertaking. + +The process of building a character is as scientific as that of developing +one's muscles. Many a man, finding himself with certain muscles flabby and +powerless takes that as his natural condition, and regards their weakness +as a kind of destiny imposed upon him; but anyone who understands a little +of the human body is aware that by continued exercise those muscles can be +brought into a state of health and the whole body eventually put in order. +In exactly the same way, many a man finds himself possessed of a bad temper +or a tendency to avarice or suspicion or self-indulgence, and when in +consequence of any of these vices he commits some great mistake or does +some great harm he offers it as an excuse that he is a hasty-tempered man, +or that he possesses this or that quality by nature--implying that +therefore he cannot help it. + +In this case just as in the other the remedy is in his own hands. Regular +exercise of the right kind will develop a certain muscle, and regular +mental exercise of the right kind will develop a missing quality in a man's +character. The ordinary man does not realize that he can do this, and even +if he sees that he can do it, he does not see why he should, for it means +much effort and much self-repression. He knows of no adequate motive for +undertaking a task so laborious and painful. + +The motive is supplied by the knowledge of the truth. One who gains an +intelligent comprehension of the direction of evolution feels it not only +his interest but his privilege and his delight to co-operate with it. One +who wills the end wills also the means; in order to be able to do good work +for the world he must develop within himself the necessary strength and the +necessary qualities. Therefore he who wishes to reform the world must first +of all reform himself. He must learn to give up altogether the attitude of +insisting upon rights, and must devote himself utterly to the most earnest +performance of his duties. He must learn to regard every connection with +his fellow-man as an opportunity to help that fellow-man, or in some way to +do him good. + +One who studies these subjects intelligently cannot but realize the +tremendous power of thought, and the necessity for its efficient control. +All action springs from thought, for even when it is done (as we say) +without thought, it is the instinctive expression of the thoughts, desires +and feelings which the man has allowed to grow luxuriantly within himself +in earlier days. + +The wise man, therefore, will watch his thought with the greatest of care, +for in it he possesses a powerful instrument, for the right use of which he +is responsible. It is his duty to govern his thought, lest it should be +allowed to run riot and to do evil to himself, and to others; it is his +duty also to develop his thought-power, because by means of it a vast +amount of actual and active good can be done. Thus controlling his thought +and his action, thus eliminating from himself all evil and unfolding in +himself all good qualities, the man presently raises himself far above the +level of his fellows, and stands out conspicuously among them as one who is +working on the side of good as against evil, of evolution as against +stagnation. + +The Members of the great Hierarchy, in whose hands is the evolution of the +world, are watching always for such men in order that They may train them +to help in the great work. Such a man inevitably attracts Their attention, +and They begin to use him as an instrument in Their work. If he proves +himself a good and efficient instrument, presently They will offer him +definite training as an apprentice, that by helping Them in the +world-business which They have to do he may some day become even as They +are, and join the mighty Brotherhood to which They belong. + +But for an honour so great as this mere ordinary goodness will not suffice. +True, a man must be good first of all, or it would be hopeless to think of +using him, but in addition to being good he must be wise and strong. What +is needed is not merely a good man, but a great spiritual power. Not only +must the candidate have cast aside all ordinary weaknesses but he must have +acquired strong positive qualities before he can offer himself to Them with +any hope that he will be accepted. He must live no longer as a blundering +and selfish personality, but as an intelligent ego who comprehends the part +which he has to play in the great scheme of the universe. He must have +forgotten himself utterly; he must have resigned all thought of worldly +profit or pleasure or advancement; he must be willing to sacrifice +everything, and himself first of all, for the sake of the work that has to +be done. He may be _in_ the world, but he must not be _of_ the world. He +must be careless utterly of its opinion. For the sake of helping man he +must make himself something more than man. Radiant, rejoicing, strong, he +must live but for the sake of others and to be an expression of the love of +God in the world. A high ideal, yet not too high; possible, because there +are men who have achieved it. + +When a man has succeeded in unfolding his latent possibilities so far that +he attracts the attention of the Masters of the Wisdom, one of Them will +probably receive him as an apprentice upon probation. The period of +probation is usually seven years, but may be either shortened or lengthened +at the discretion of the Master. At the end of that time, if his work has +been satisfactory, he becomes what it commonly called the accepted pupil. +This brings him into close relations with his Master, so that the +vibrations of the latter constantly play upon him, and he gradually learns +to look at everything as the Master looks at it. After yet another +interval, if he proves himself entirely worthy, he may be drawn into a +still closer relationship, when he is called the son of the Master. + +These three stages mark his relationship to his own Master only, not to the +Brotherhood as a whole. The Brotherhood admits a man to its ranks only when +he has fitted himself to pass the first of the great Initiations. + +This entry into the Brotherhood of Those who rule the world may be thought +of as the third of the great critical points in man's evolution. The first +of these is when he becomes man--when he individualizes out of the animal +kingdom and obtains a causal body. The second is what is called by the +Christian "conversion", by the Hindu "the acquirement of discrimination", +and by the Buddhist "the opening of the doors of the mind". That is the +point at which he realizes the great facts of life, and turns away from the +pursuit of selfish ends in order to move intentionally along with the great +current of evolution in obedience to the divine Will. The third point is +the most important of all, for the Initiation which admits him to the ranks +of the Brotherhood also insures him against the possibility of failure to +fulfil the divine purpose in the time appointed for it. Hence those who +have reached this point are called in the Christian system the "elect", the +"saved" or the "safe", and in the Buddhist scheme "those who have entered +on the stream". For those who have reached this point have made themselves +absolutely certain of reaching a further point also--that of Adeptship, at +which they pass into a type of evolution which is definitely Superhuman. + +The man who has become an Adept has fulfilled the divine Will so far as +this chain of worlds is concerned. He has reached, even already at the +midmost point of the aeon of evolution, the stage prescribed for man's +attainment at the end of it. Therefore he is at liberty to spend the +remainder of that time either in helping his fellow-men or in even more +splendid work in connection with other and higher evolutions. He who has +not yet been initiated is still in danger of being left behind by our +present wave of evolution, and dropping into the next one--the "aeonian +condemnation" of which the Christ spoke, which has been mistranslated +"eternal damnation". It is from this fate of possible aeonian failure--that +is, failure for this age, or dispensation, or life-wave--that the man who +attains Initiation is "safe". He has "entered upon the stream" which now +_must_ bear him on to Adeptship in this present age, though it is still +possible for him by his actions to hasten or delay his progress along the +Path which he is treading. + +That first Initiation corresponds to the matriculation which admits a man +to a University, and the attainment of Adeptship to the taking of a degree +at the end of a course. Continuing the simile, there are three intermediate +examinations, which are usually spoken of as the second, third, and fourth +Initiations, Adeptship being the fifth. A general idea of the line of this +higher evolution may be obtained by studying the list of what are called in +Buddhist books "the fetters" which must be cast off--the qualities of which +a man must rid himself as he treads this Path. These are: the delusion of +separateness; doubt or uncertainty; superstition; attachment to enjoyment; +the possibility of hatred; desire for life, either in this or the higher +worlds; pride; agitation or irritability; and ignorance. The man who +reaches the Adept level has exhausted all the possibilities of moral +development, and so the future evolution which still lies before him can +only mean still wider knowledge and still more wonderful spiritual powers. + + + + +Chapter IX + +THE PLANETARY CHAINS + + +The scheme of evolution of which our Earth forms a part is not the only one +in our solar system, for ten separate chains of globes exist in that system +which are all of them theatres of somewhat similar progress. Each of these +schemes of evolution is taking place upon a chain of globes, and in the +course of each scheme its chain of globes goes through seven incarnations. +The plan, alike of each scheme as a whole and of the successive incarnation +of its chain of globes, is to dip step by step more deeply into matter, and +then to rise step by step out of it again. + +Each chain consists of seven globes, and both globes and chains observe the +rule of descending into matter and then rising out of it again. In order to +make this comprehensible let us take as an example the chain to which our +Earth belongs. At the present time it is in its fourth or most material +incarnation, and therefore three of its globes belong to the physical +world, two to the astral world, and two to the lower part of the mental +world. The wave of divine Life passes in succession from globe to globe of +this chain, beginning with one of the highest, descending gradually to the +lowest and then climbing again to the same level as that at which it began. + +Let us for convenience of reference label the seven globes by the earlier +letters of the alphabet, and number the incarnations in order. Thus, as +this is the fourth incarnation of our chain, the first globe in this +incarnation will be 4A, the second 4B, the third 4C, the fourth (which is +our Earth) 4D, and so on. + +These globes are not all composed of physical matter. 4A contains no matter +lower than that of the mental world; it has its counterpart in all the +worlds higher than that, but nothing below it. 4B exists in the astral +world; but 4C is a physical globe, visible to our telescopes, and is in +fact the planet which we know as Mars. Globe 4D is our own Earth, on which +the life-wave of the chain is at present in action. Globe 4E is the planet +which we call Mercury--also in the physical world. Globe 4F is in the +astral world, corresponding on the ascending arc to globe 4B in the +descent; while globe 4G corresponds to globe 4A in having its lowest +manifestation in the lower part of the mental world. Thus it will be seen +that we have a scheme of globes starting in the lower mental world, +dipping through the astral into the physical and then rising into the lower +mental through the astral again. + +Just as the succession of the globes in a chain constitutes a descent into +matter and an ascent from it again, so do the successive incarnations of a +chain. We have described the condition of affairs in the fourth +incarnation; looking back at the third, we find that that commences not on +the lower level of the mental world but on the higher. Globes 3A and 3G, +then, are both of higher mental matter, while globes 3B and 3F are at the +lower mental level. Globes 3C and 3E belong to the astral world, and only +globe 3D is visible in the physical world. Although this third incarnation +of our chain is long past, the corpse of this physical globe 3D is still +visible to us in the shape of that dead planet the Moon, whence that third +incarnation is usually called the lunar chain. + +The fifth incarnation of our chain, which still lies very far in the +future, will correspond to the third. In that, globes 5A and 5G will be +built of higher mental matter, globes 5B and 5F of lower mental, globes 5C +and 5E of astral matter, and only globe 5D will be in the physical world. +This planet 5D is of course not yet in existence. + +The other incarnations of the chain follow the same general rule of +gradually decreasing materiality; 2A, 2G, 6A and 6G are all in the +intuitional world; 2B, 2F, 6B and 6F are all in the higher part of the +mental world; 2C, 2E, 6C and 6E are in the lower part of the mental world; +2D and 6D are in the astral world. In the same way 1A, 1G, 7A and 7G belong +to the spiritual world; 1B, IF, 7B and 7F are in the intuitional world; 1C, +1E, 7C and 7E are in the higher part of the mental world; 1D-and 7D are in +the lower part of the mental world. + +Thus it will be seen that not only does the life-wave in passing through +one chain of globes dip down into matter and rise out of it again, but the +chain itself in its successive incarnations does exactly the same thing. + +There are ten schemes of evolution at present existing in our solar system, +but only seven of them are at the stage where they have planets in the +physical world. These are: (1) that of an unrecognized planet Vulcan, very +near the sun, about which we have very little definite information. It was +seen by the astronomer Herschel, but is now said to have disappeared. We at +first understood that it was in its third incarnation; but it is now +regarded as possible that it has recently passed from its fifth to its +sixth chain, which would account for its alleged disappearance; (2) that of +Venus, which is in its fifth incarnation, and also therefore, has only one +visible globe; (3) that of the Earth, Mars and Mercury, which has three +visible planets because it is in its fourth incarnation; (4) that of +Jupiter, (5) that of Saturn, (6) that of Uranus, all in their third +incarnations; and (7) that of Neptune and the two unnamed planets beyond +its orbit, which is in its fourth incarnation, and therefore has three +physical planets as we have. + +In each incarnation of a chain (commonly called a chain-period) the wave of +divine Life moves seven times round the chain of seven planets, and each +such movement is spoken of as a round. The time that the life-wave stays +upon each planet is known as a world-period, and in the course of a +world-period there are seven great root-races. As has been previously +explained, these are subdivided into sub-races, and those again into +branch-races. For convenience of reference we may state this in tabular +form: + +7 Branch-Races make 1 Sub-Race +7 Sub-Races make 1 Root-Race +7 Root-Races make 1 World-Period +7 World-Periods make 1 Round +7 Rounds make 1 Chain-Period +7 Chain-Periods make 1 Scheme of Evolution +10 Schemes of Evolution make 1 Our Solar System + +It is clear that the fourth root-race of the fourth globe of the fourth +round of a fourth chain-period would be the central point of a whole scheme +of evolution, and we find ourselves at the present moment only a little +past that point. The Aryan race, to which we belong, is the fifth root-race +of the fourth globe, so that the actual middle point fell in the time of +the last great root-race, the Atlantean. Consequently the human race as a +whole is very little more than half-way through its evolution, and those +few souls who are already nearing Adeptship, which is the end and crown of +this evolution, are very far in advance of their fellows. + +How do they come to be so far in advance? Partly and in some cases because +they have worked harder, but usually because they are older egos--because +they were individualized out of the animal kingdom at an earlier date, and +so have had more time for the human part of their evolution. + +Any given wave of life sent forth from the Deity usually spends a +chain-period in each of the great kingdoms of Nature. That which in our +first chain was ensouling the first elemental kingdom must have ensouled +the second of those kingdoms in the second chain, in the third of them in +the Moon-chain, and is now in the mineral kingdom in the fourth chain. In +the future fifth chain it will ensoul the vegetable kingdom, in the sixth +the animal, and in the seventh it will attain humanity. + +From this it follows that we ourselves represented the mineral kingdom on +the first chain, the vegetable on the second, and the animal on the lunar +chain. There some of us attained our individualization, and so we were +enabled to enter this Earth-chain as men. Others who were a little more +backward did not succeed in attaining it, and so had to be born into this +chain as animals for a while before they could reach humanity. + +Not all of mankind, however, entered this chain together. When the lunar +chain came to its end the humanity upon it stood at various levels. Not +Adeptship, but what is now for us the fourth step on the Path, was the goal +appointed for that chain. Those who had attained it (commonly called in +Theosophical literature the Lords of the Moon) had, as is usual, seven +choices before them as to the way in which they would serve. Only one of +those choices brought them, or rather a few of them, over into this +Earth-chain to act as guides and teachers to the earlier races. A +considerable proportion--a vast proportion, indeed--of the Moon-men had not +attained that level, and consequently had to reappear in this Earth-chain +as humanity. Besides this, a great mass of the animal kingdom of the +Moon-chain was surging up to the level of the individualization, and some +of its members had already reached it, while many others had not. These +latter needed further animal incarnations upon the Earth-chain, and for the +moment may be put aside. + +There were many classes even among the humanity, and the manner in which +these distributed themselves over the Earth-chain needs some explanation. +It is the general rule that those who have attained the highest possible in +any chain on any globe, in any root-race, are not born into the beginning +of the next chain, globe or race, respectively. The earlier stages are +always for the backward entities, and only when they have already passed +through a good deal of evolution and are beginning to approach the level of +those others who had done better, do the latter descend into incarnation +and join them once more. That is to say, almost the earlier half of any +period of evolution, whether it be a race, a globe or a chain, seems to be +devoted to bringing the backward people up to nearly the level of those who +have got on better; then these latter also (who, in the meantime, have been +resting in great enjoyment in the mental world) descend into incarnation +along with the others, and they press on together until the end of the +period. + +Thus the first of the egos from the Moon who entered the Earth-chain were +by no means the most advanced. Indeed they may be described as the least +advanced of those who had succeeded in attaining humanity--the animal-men. +Coming as they did into a chain of new globes, freshly aggregated, they had +to establish the forms in all the different kingdoms of Nature. This needs +to be done at the beginning of the first round in a new chain, but never +after that; for though the life-wave is centred only upon one of the seven +globes of a chain at any given time, yet life has not entirely departed +from the other globes. At the present moment, for example, the life-wave of +our chain is centred on this Earth, but on the other two physical globes of +our chain, Mars and Mercury, life still exists. There is still a +population, human, animal and vegetable, and consequently when the +life-wave goes round again to either of those planets there will be no +necessity for the creation of new forms. The old types are already there, +and all that will happen will be a sudden marvellous fecundity, so that the +various kingdoms will quickly increase and multiply, and make a rapidly +increasing population instead of a stationary one. + +It was, then, the animal-men, the lowest class of human beings of the +Moon-chain, who established the forms in the first round of the +Earth-chain. Pressing closely after them were the highest of the lunar +animal kingdom, who were soon ready to occupy the forms which had just been +made. In the second journey round the seven globes of the Earth-chain, the +animal-men who had been the most backward of the lunar humanity were +leaders of this terrene humanity, the highest of the moon-animals making +its less developed grades. The same thing went on in the third round of the +Earth-chain, more and more of the lunar animals attaining individualization +and joining the human rank, until in the middle of that round on this very +globe D which we call the Earth, a higher class of human beings--the Second +Order of Moon-men--descended into incarnation and at once took the lead. + +When we come to the fourth, our present round, we find the First Order of +the Moon-men pouring in upon us--all the highest and the best of the lunar +humanity who had only just fallen short of success. Some of those who had +already, even on the Moon, entered upon the Path soon attained its end, +became Adepts and passed away from the Earth. Some few others who had not +been quite so far advanced have attained Adeptship only comparatively +recently--that is, within the last few thousand years, and these are the +Adepts of the present day. We, who find ourselves in the higher races of +humanity now, were several stages behind Them, but the opportunity lies +before us of following in Their steps if we will. + +The evolution of which we have been speaking is that of the Ego himself, of +what might be called the soul of man; but at the same time there has been +also an evolution to the body. The forms built in the first round were very +different from any of which we know anything now. Properly speaking, those +which were made on our physical earth can scarcely be called forms at all, +for they were constructed of etheric matter only, and resembled vague, +drifting and almost shapeless clouds. In the second round they were +definitely physical, but still shapeless and light enough to float about in +currents of wind. + +Only in the third round did they begin to bear any kind of resemblance to +man as we know him today. The very methods of reproduction of those +primitive forms differed from those of humanity today, and far more +resembled those which we now find only in very much lower types of life. +Man in those early days was androgynous, and a definite separation into +sexes took place only about the middle of the third round. From that time +onward until now the shape of man has been steadily evolving along +definitely human lines, becoming smaller and more compact than it was, +learning to stand upright instead of stooping and crawling, and generally +differentiating itself from the animal forms out of which it had been +evolved. + +One curious break in the regularity of this evolution deserves mention. On +this globe, in this fourth round, there was a departure from the +straightforward scheme of evolution. This being the middle globe of a +middle round, the midmost point of evolution upon it marked the last moment +at which it was possible for members of what had been the lunar animal +kingdom to attain individualization. Consequently a sort of strong effort +was made--a special scheme was arranged to give a final chance to as many +as possible. The conditions of the first and second rounds were specially +reproduced in place of the first and second races--conditions of which in +the earlier rounds these backward egos had not been able fully to take +advantage. Now, with the additional evolution, which they had undergone +during the third round, some of them were able to take such advantage, and +so they rushed in at the very last moment before the door was shut, and +became just human. Naturally they will not reach any high level of human +development, but at least when they try again in some future chain it will +be some advantage to them to have had even this slight experience of human +life. + +Our terrestrial evolution received a most valuable stimulus from the +assistance given to us by our sister globe, Venus. Venus is at present in +the fifth incarnation of its chain, and in the seventh round of that +incarnation, so that its inhabitants are a whole chain-period and a half in +front of us in evolution. Since, therefore, its people are so much more +developed than ours, it was thought desirable that certain Adepts from the +Venus evolution should be transferred to our Earth in order to assist in +the specially busy time just before the closing of the door, in the middle +of the fourth root-race. + +These august Beings have been called the Lords of the Flame and the +Children of the Fire-mist, and They have produced a wonderful effect upon +our evolution. The intellect of which we are so proud is almost entirely +due to Their presence, for in the natural course of events the next round, +the fifth, should be that of intellectual advancement, and in this our +present fourth round we should be devoting ourselves chiefly to the +cultivation of the emotions. We are therefore in reality a long way in +advance of the programme marked out for us; and such advance is entirely +due to the assistance given by these great Lords of the Flame. Most of Them +stayed with us only through that critical period of our history; a few +still remain to hold the highest offices of the Great White Brotherhood +until the time when men of our own evolution shall have risen to such a +height as to be capable of relieving their august Visitors. + +The evolution lying before us is both of the life and of the form; for in +future rounds, while the egos will be steadily growing in power, wisdom and +love, the physical forms also will be more beautiful and more perfect than +they have ever yet been. We have in this world at the present time men at +widely differing stages of evolution, and it is clear that there are vast +hosts of savages who are far behind the great civilized races of the +world--so far behind that it is quite impossible that they can overtake +them. Later on in the course of our evolution a point will be reached at +which it is no longer possible for those undeveloped souls to advance side +by side with the others, so that it will be necessary that a division +should be made. + +The proceeding is exactly analogous to the sorting out by a schoolmaster of +the boys in his class. During the school year he has to prepare his boys +for a certain examination, and by perhaps the middle of that school year he +knows quite well which of them will pass it. If he should have in his class +some who are hopelessly behind the rest, he might reasonably say to them +when the middle period was reached: + +"It is quite useless for you to continue with your fellows, for the more +difficult lessons which I shall now have to give will be entirely +unintelligible to you. It is impossible that you can learn enough in the +time to pass the examination, so that the effort would only be a useless +strain for you, and meantime you would be a hindrance to the rest of the +class. It is therefore far better for you to give up striving after the +impossible, and to take up again the work of the lower class which you did +not do perfectly, and then to offer yourselves for this examination along +with next year's class, for what is now impossible for you will then be +easy." + +This is in effect exactly what is said at a certain stage in our future +evolution, to the most backward egos. They drop out of this year's class +and come along with the next one. This is the "aeonian condemnation" to +which reference was made a little while ago. It is computed that about +two-fifths of humanity will drop out of the class in this way, leaving the +remaining three-fifths to go on with far greater rapidity to the glorious +destinies which lie before them. + + + + +Chapter X + +THE RESULT OF THEOSOPHICAL STUDY + + +"Members of the Theosophical Society study these truths and Theosophists +endeavour to live them." What manner of man then is the true Theosophist in +consequence of his knowledge? What is the result in his daily life of all +this study? + +Finding that there is a Supreme Power who is directing the course of +evolution, and that He is all-wise and all-loving, the Theosophist sees +that everything which exists within this scheme must be intended to further +its progress. He realizes that the scripture which tells us that all things +are working together for good, is not indulging in a flight of poetic fancy +or voicing a pious hope, but stating a scientific fact. The final +attainment of unspeakable glory is an absolute certainty for every son of +man, whatever may be his present condition; but that is by no means all. +Here and at this present moment he is on his way towards the glory; and all +the circumstances surrounding him are intended to help and not to hinder +him, if only they are rightly understood. It is sadly true that in the +world there is much of evil and of sorrow and of suffering; yet from the +higher point of view the Theosophist sees that terrible though this be, it +is only temporary and superficial, and is all being utilized as a factor in +the progress. + +When in the days of his ignorance he looked at it from its own level it was +almost impossible to see this; while he looked from beneath at the under +side of life, with his eyes fixed all the time upon some apparent evil, he +could never gain a true grasp of its meaning. Now he raises himself above +it to the higher levels of thought and consciousness, and looks down upon +it with the eye of the spirit and understands it in its entirety, so he can +see that in very truth all is well--not that all will be well at some +remote period, but that even now at this moment, in the midst of incessant +striving and apparent evil, the mighty current of evolution is still +flowing, and so all is well because all is moving on in perfect order +towards the final goal. + +Raising his consciousness thus above the storm and stress of worldly life, +he recognizes what used to seem to be evil, and notes how it is apparently +pressing backwards against the great stream of progress; but he also sees +that the onward sweep of the divine law of evolution bears the same +relation to this superficial evil as does the tremendous torrent of Niagara +to the fleckings of foam upon its surface. So while he sympathizes deeply +with all who suffer, he yet realizes what will be the end of that +suffering, and so for him despair or hopelessness is impossible. He applies +this consideration to his own sorrows and troubles, as well as to those of +the world, and therefore one great result of his Theosophy is a perfect +serenity--even more than that, a perpetual cheerfulness and joy. + +For him there is an utter absence of worry, because in truth there is +nothing left to worry about, since he knows that all must be well. His +higher Science makes him a confirmed optimist, for it shows him that +whatever of evil there may be in any person or in any movement, it is of +necessity temporary, because it is opposed to the resistless stream of +evolution; whereas whatever is good in any person or in any movement must +necessarily be persistent and useful, because it has behind it the +omnipotence of that current, and therefore it must abide and it must +prevail. + +Yet it must not for a moment be supposed that because he is so fully +assured of the final triumph of good he remains careless or unmoved by the +evils which exist in the world around him. He knows that it is his duty to +combat these to the utmost of his power, because in doing this he is +working upon the side of the great evolutionary force, and is bringing +nearer the time of its ultimate victory. None will be more active than he +in labouring for the good, even though he is absolutely free from the +feeling of helplessness and hopelessness which so often oppresses those who +are striving to help their fellow-men. + +Another most valuable result of his Theosophical study is the absence of +fear. Many people are constantly anxious or worried about something or +other; they are fearing lest this or that should happen to them, lest this +or that combination may fail, and so all the while they are in a condition +of unrest; and most serious of all for many is the fear of death. For the +Theosophist the whole of this feeling is entirely swept away. He realizes +the great truth of reincarnation. He knows that he has often before laid +aside physical bodies, and so he sees that death is no more than +sleep--that just as sleep comes in between our days of work and gives us +rest and refreshment, so between these days of labour here on earth, which +we call lives, there comes a long night of astral and of heavenly life to +give us rest and refreshment and to help us on our way. + +To the Theosophist death is simply the laying aside for a time of this robe +of flesh. He knows that it is his duty to preserve the bodily vesture as +long as possible, and gain through it all the experience he can; but when +the time comes for him to lay it down he will do so thankfully, because he +knows that the next stage will be a much pleasanter one than this. Thus he +will have no fear of death, although he realizes that he must live his life +to the appointed end, because he is here for the purpose of progress, and +that progress is the one truly momentous matter. His whole conception of +life is different; the object is not to earn so much money, not to obtain +such and such a position; the one important thing is to carry out the +divine plan. He knows that for this he is here, and that everything else +must give way to it. + +Utterly free also is he from any religious fears or worries or troubles. +All such things are swept aside for him, because he sees clearly that +progress towards the highest is the divine Will for us, that we cannot +escape from that progress, and that whatever comes in our way and whatever +happens to us is meant to help us along that line; that we ourselves are +absolutely the only people who can delay our advance. No longer does he +trouble and fear about himself. He simply goes on and does the duty which +comes nearest in the best way that he can, confident that if he does this +all will be well for him without his perpetual worrying. He is satisfied +quietly to do his work and to try to help his fellows in the race, knowing +that the great divine Power behind will press him onward slowly and +steadily, and do for him all that can be done, so long as his face is set +steadfastly in the right direction, so long as he does all that he +reasonably can. + +Since he knows that we are all part of one great evolution and all +literally the children of one Father, he sees that the universal +brotherhood of humanity is no mere poetical conception, but a definite +fact; not a dream of something which is to be in the dim distance of +Utopia, but a condition existing here and now. The certainty of this +all-embracing fraternity gives him a wider outlook upon life and a broad +impersonal point of view from which to regard everything. He realizes that +the true interests of all are in fact identical, and that no man can ever +make real gain for himself at the cost of loss or suffering to some one +else. This is not to him an article of religious belief, but a scientific +fact proved to him by his study. He sees that since humanity is literally a +whole, nothing which injures one man can ever be really for the good of any +other, for the harm done influences not only the doer but also those who +are about him. + +He knows that the only true advantage for him is that benefit which he +shares with all. He sees that any advance which he is able to make in the +way of spiritual progress or development is something secured not for +himself alone but for others. If he gains knowledge or self-control, he +assuredly acquires much for himself, yet he takes nothing away from anyone +else, but on the contrary he helps and strengthens others. Cognizant as he +is of the absolute spiritual unity of humanity, he knows that, even in this +lower world, no true profit can be made by one man which is not made in the +name of and for the sake of humanity; that one man's progress must be a +lifting of the burden of all the others; that one man's advance in +spiritual things means a very slight yet not imperceptible advance to +humanity as a whole; that every one who bears suffering and sorrow nobly in +his struggle towards the light is lifting a little of the heavy load of the +sorrow and suffering of his brothers as well. + +Because he recognizes this brotherhood not merely as a hope cherished by +despairing men, but as a definite fact following in scientific series from +all other facts; because he sees this as an absolute certainty, his +attitude towards all those around him changes radically. It becomes a +posture ever of helpfulness, ever of the deepest sympathy, for he sees that +nothing which clashes with their higher interests can be the right thing +for him to do, or can be good for him in any way. + +It naturally follows that he becomes filled with the widest possible +tolerance and charity. He cannot but be always tolerant, because his +philosophy shows him that it matters little what a man believes, so long as +he is a good man and true. Charitable also he must be, because his wider +knowledge enables him to make allowances for many things which the ordinary +man does not understand. The standard of the Theosophist as to right and +wrong is always higher than that of the less instructed man, yet he is far +gentler than the latter in his feeling towards the sinner, because he +comprehends more of human nature. He realizes how the sin appeared to the +sinner at the moment of its commission, and so he makes more allowances +than is ever made by the man who is ignorant of all this. + +He goes further than tolerance, charity, sympathy; he feels positive love +towards mankind, and that leads him to adopt a position of watchful +helpfulness. He feels that every contact with others is for him an +opportunity, and the additional knowledge which his study has brought to +him enables him to give advice or help in almost any case which comes +before him. Not that he is perpetually thrusting his opinions upon other +people. On the contrary, he observes that to do this is one of the +commonest mistakes made by the uninstructed. He knows that argument is a +foolish waste of energy, and therefore he declines to argue. If anyone +desires from him explanation or advice he is more than willing to give it, +yet he has no sort of wish to convert anyone else to his own way of +thinking. + +In every relation of life this idea of helpfulness comes into play, not +only with regard to his fellowmen but also in connection with the vast +animal kingdom which surrounds him. Units of this kingdom are often brought +into close relation with man, and this is for him an opportunity of doing +something for them. The Theosophist recognizes that these are also his +brothers, even though they may be younger brothers, and that he owes a +fraternal duty to them also--so to act and so to think that his relation +with them shall be always for their good and never for their harm. + +Pre-eminently and above all, this Theosophy is to him a doctrine of common +sense. It puts before him, as far as he can at present know them, the facts +about God and man and the relations between them; then he proceeds to take +these facts into account and to act in relation to them with ordinary +reason and common sense. He regulates his life according to the laws of +evolution which it has taught him, and this gives him a totally different +standpoint, and a touchstone by which to try everything--his own thoughts +and feelings, and his own actions first of all, and then those things which +come before him in the world outside himself. + +Always he applies this criterion: Is the thing right or wrong, does it help +evolution or does it hinder it? If a thought or a feeling arises within +himself, he sees at once by this test whether it is one he ought to +encourage. If it be for the greatest good of the greatest number then all +is well; if it may hinder or cause harm to any being in its progress, then +it is evil and to be avoided. Exactly the same reason holds good if he is +called upon to decide with regard to anything outside himself. If from that +point of view a thing be a good thing, then he can conscientiously support +it; if not, then it is not for him. + +For him the question of personal interest does not come into the case at +all. He thinks simply of the good of evolution as a whole. This gives him a +definite foothold and the clear criterion, and removes from him altogether +the pain of indecision and hesitation. The Will of the Deity is man's +evolution; whatever therefore helps on that evolution must be good; +whatever stands in the way of it and delays it, that thing must be wrong, +even though it may have on its side all the weight of public opinion and +immemorial tradition. + +Knowing that the true man is the ego and not the body, he sees that it is +the life of the ego only which is really of moment, and that everything +connected with the body must unhesitatingly be subordinated to those higher +interests. He recognizes that this earth-life is given to him for the +purpose of progress, and that that progress is the one important thing. The +real purpose of his life is the unfoldment of his powers as an ego, the +development of his character. He knows that there must be evolvement not +only of the physical body but also of the mental nature, of the mind and of +the spiritual perceptions. He sees that nothing short of absolute +perfection is expected of him in connection with this development; that all +power with regard to it is in his own hands; that he has everlasting time +before him in which to attain this perfection, but that the sooner it is +gained the happier and more useful will he be. + +He recognizes his life as nothing but a day at school, and his physical +body as a temporary vesture assumed for the purpose of learning through it. +He knows at once that this purpose of learning lessons is the only one of +any real importance, and that the man who allows himself to be diverted +from that purpose by any consideration whatever is acting with +inconceivable stupidity. To him the life devoted exclusively to physical +objects, to the acquisition of wealth or fame, appears the merest +child's-play--a senseless sacrifice of all that is really worth having for +the sake of a few moments' gratification of the lower part of his nature. +He "sets his affection on things above and not on things of the earth", not +only because he sees this to be the right course of action, but because he +realizes so clearly the valuelessness of these things of earth. He always +tries to take the higher point of view, for he knows that the lower is +utterly unreliable--that the lower desires and feelings gather round him +like a dense fog, and make it impossible for him to see anything clearly +from that level. + +Whenever he finds a struggle going on within him he remembers that he +himself is the higher, and that this which is the lower is not the real +self, but merely an uncontrolled part of one of its vehicles. He knows that +though he may fall a thousand times on the way towards his goal, his reason +for trying to reach it remains just as strong after the thousandth fall as +it was in the beginning, so that it would not only be useless but unwise +and wrong to give way to despondency and hopelessness. + +He begins his journey upon the road of progress at once--not only because +he knows that it is far easier for him now than it will be if he leaves the +effort until later, but chiefly because if he makes the endeavour now and +succeeds in achieving some progress, if he rises thereby to some higher +level, he is in a position to hold out a helping hand to those who have not +yet reached even that step on the ladder which he has gained. In that way +he takes a part, however humble it may be, in the great divine work of +evolution. + +He knows that he has arrived at his present position only by a slow process +of growth, and so he does not expect instantaneous attainment of +perfection. He sees how inevitable is the great law of cause and effect, +and that when he once grasps the working of that law he can use it +intelligently in regard to mental and moral development, just as in the +physical world we can employ for our own assistance those laws of Nature +the action of which we have learnt to understand. + +Understanding what death is, he knows that there can be no need to fear it +or to mourn over it, whether it comes to himself or to those whom he loves. +It has come to them all often before, so there is nothing unfamiliar about +it. He sees death simply as a promotion from a life which is more than half +physical to one which is wholly superior, so for himself he unfeignedly +welcomes it; and even when it comes to those whom he loves, he recognizes +at once the advantage for them, even though he cannot but feel a pang of +regret that he should be temporarily separated from them so far as the +physical world is concerned. But he knows that the so-called dead are near +him still, and that he has only to cast off for a time his physical body in +sleep in order to stand side by side with them as before. + +He sees clearly that the world is one, and that the same divine laws rule +the whole of it, whether it be visible or invisible to physical sight. So +he has no feeling of nervousness or strangeness in passing from one part of +it to another, and no feeling of uncertainty as to what he will find on the +other side of the veil. He knows that in that higher life there opens +before him a splendid vista of opportunities both for acquiring fresh +knowledge and for doing useful work; that life away from this dense body +has a vividness and a brilliancy to which all earthly enjoyment is as +nothing; and so through his clear knowledge and calm confidence the power +of the endless life shines out upon all those round him. + +Doubt as to his future is for him impossible, for just as by looking back +on the savage he realizes that which he was in the past, so by looking to +the greatest and wisest of mankind he knows what he will be in the future. +He sees an unbroken chain of development, a ladder of perfection rising +steadily before him, yet with human beings upon every step of it, so that +he knows, that those steps are possible for him to climb. It is just +because of the unchangeableness of the great law of cause and effect that +he finds himself able to climb that ladder, because since the law works +always in the same way, he can depend upon it and he can use it, just as he +uses the laws of Nature in the physical worlds. His knowledge of this law +brings to him a sense of perspective and shows him that if something comes +to him, it comes because he has deserved it as a consequence of actions +which he has committed, of words which he has spoken, of thought to which +he has given harbour in previous days or in earlier lives. He comprehends +that all affliction is of the nature of the payment of a debt, and +therefore when he has to meet with the troubles of life he takes them and +uses them as a lesson, because he understands why they have come and is +glad of the opportunity which they give him to pay off something of his +obligation. + +Again, and in yet another way, does he take them as an opportunity, for he +sees that there is another side to them if he meets them in the right way. +He spends no time in bearing prospective burdens. When trouble comes to him +he does not aggravate it by foolish repining but sets himself to endure so +much of it as is inevitable, with patience and with fortitude. Not that he +submits himself to it as a fatalist might, for he takes adverse +circumstances as an incentive to such development as may enable him to +transcend them, and thus out of long-past evil he brings forth a seed of +future growth. For in the very act of paying the outstanding debt he +develops qualities of courage and resolution that will stand him in good +stead through all the ages that are to come. + +He is distinguishable from the rest of the world by his perennial +cheerfulness, his undaunted courage under difficulties, and his ready +sympathy and helpfulness; yet he is at the same time emphatically a man who +takes life seriously, who recognizes that there is much for everyone to do +in the world, and that there is no time to waste. He knows with utter +certainty that he not only makes his own destiny but also gravely affects +that of others around him, and thus he perceives how weighty a +responsibility attends the use of his power. + +He knows that thoughts are things and that it is easily possible to do +great harm or great good by their means. He knows that no man liveth to +himself, for his every thought acts upon others as well; that the +vibrations which he sends forth from his mind and from his mental nature +are reproducing themselves in the minds and the mental natures of other +men, so that he is a source either of mental health or of mental ill to all +with whom he comes in contact. + +This at once imposes upon him a far higher code of social ethics than that +which is known to the outer world, for he knows that he must control not +only his acts and his words, but also his thoughts, since they may produce +effects more serious and more far-reaching than their outward expression in +the physical world. He knows that even when a man is not in the least +thinking of others, he yet inevitably affects them for good or for evil. In +addition to this unconscious action of his thought upon others he also +employs it consciously for good. He sets currents in motion to carry mental +help and comfort to many a suffering friend, and in this way he finds a +whole new world of usefulness opening before him. + +He ranges himself ever on the side of the higher rather than the lower +thought, the nobler rather than the baser. He deliberately takes the +optimistic rather than the pessimistic view of everything, the helpful, +rather than the cynical, because he knows that to be fundamentally the true +view. By looking continually for the good in everything that he may +endeavour to strengthen it, by striving always to help and never to hinder, +he becomes ever of greater use to his fellow-men, and is thus in his small +way a co-worker with the splendid scheme of evolution. He forgets himself +utterly and lives but for the sake of others, realizing himself as a part +of that scheme; he also realizes the God within him, and learns to become +ever a truer expression of Him, and thus in fulfilling God's Will, he is +not only blessed himself, but becomes a blessing to all. + + + + +INDEX + +Adept, causal body of 45-8 + further evolution of 13 + is on summit of human evolution 13 + level of 13, 119-21 + work of 119-20 + +Adepts, as members of Hierarchy 13 + first of Earth 129 + from Venus 131-2 + Great Brotherhood of 12-4, 117-8, 132 + many degrees of 13 + men have become 13 + some are Masters 14 + some remain with mankind 22 + some take apprentices 100 + +Adeptship, older egos nearing 126 + +AEonian condemnation 119-20, 133 + +AEther, breath, blown into 19 + bubbles in 19-22, 23 + density of 19 + mean pressure of 19 + of space 18 + ultimate atoms formed in 19 + +Age or dispensation 13 + +Air, nature spirits of 84 + +_Ancient Wisdom, The_ 1 + +Androgynous man 130 + +Angels, approach men through ceremonial 85 + guardian 54 + hosts of 11 + Kingdom of 84 + of the law of cause and effect 100 + +Animals, additional evolution of 131 + are our younger brothers 141 + distinction between man and 40 + domestic 38 + heads of types of 38 + individualization of 38-40 + man's emotions act on 38 + man's thoughts act on 38 + Moon-, came to Earth chain 128 + Moon-, individualize 126, 131 + seven types of 37, 38 + souls of 33 + +Animal kingdom 31-2, 37, 141 + +Animal-men of Moon-chain 127-8 + +Apprentice upon probation 118 + +Apprentices, to Masters 14-7 + accepted 118 + men may become 18, 116-7 + qualifications necessary for 116-8 + three stages of 118 + +Aryan root-race 105, 125 + +Aspects, three, of the Logos 11 + three, of man 11, 41 + +Astral body, after death 68-71, 73-5, 81, 86 + cell-life of 65 + colours of 56-8 + disintegration of 86 + effect of thought on 51-2 + ego casts off 42, 63 + ego takes an 42, 61 + entity occupying 66-72 + is bridge to mental body 58 + man in his, during sleep 62, 71 + matter of, is in constant motion 70 + never fatigued 62 + no separate senses in 69-70 + of animal 32 + of group-soul 32 + permanent colours of 58 + reacts on causal body 47 + reacts on mental body 47 + shape of 56, 61 + shell around 68, 70, 78-80, 81 + simile of boiling water 69-70 + size of 56 + temptations caused by 66-8 + vibrations of 56-8, 65-7, 75-6 + +Astral corpse 86 + counterparts 72-3, 78-80 + entity 66-8 + shell 68, 78-81, 86-7 + shell, result of 70 + vitality of 86-7 + +Astral globe of Earth 26-7, 71-2 + globe of Moon 26-7 + globes of Earth-chain 122 + +Astral matter, arrangement of 71-3 + attracts mental matter 60 + physical body attracts 60 + vibrations of 24 + +Astral sight 68-9 + +Astral world, the appearance of 71, 78-83 + death in 89 + delights of 76-8 + descent of ego to 42-3 + extent of 26-7, 71 + inhabitants of 83 + the, is the home of emotions 71 + is the home of lower thoughts 71 + life period in, after death 43, 64-5, 81 + man in, during sleep 62, 70 + man's freedom in 73, 76 + matter, simile of onion 72 + nature spirits in 84 + no measurement of time in 75 + non-human inhabitants of 84 + of Moon 27 + scenery of 77, 81 + second outpouring enters 30 + second outpouring indrawn to 31 + sections of 78-83 + the sixth plane is named 23, 41 + the summerland of 80 + withdrawal of ego from 82 + +Astro-mental forms 51, 57 + +Atlantean root-race 105, 125 + +Atomic matter 25 + +Atoms charged with vitality of interpenetrating worlds 20-1 + physical ultimate 25 + ultimate 19-22 + +Attainment is certain for all 132 + +Besant, Dr. 1 + author of _The Ancient Wisdom_ 1 + +Birth of man, factors determining 104-5 + +Blavatsky, H.P. 14 + author of _Isis Unveiled_ 15 + was a founder of the T.S. 14 + was an apprentice to a Master 14 + +Bliss of the higher worlds 89-91 + +Books, oriental sacred 18 + +Brain, connection with astral body 59 + connection with ego 59 + connection with mental body 49 + etheric part of 62 + +Branch-races 104-5, 125 + +Bridges to ego 59, 61 + +Brotherhood, the Great, of Adepts 12-4, 116-9, 132 + entry into 119 + Great White, the 12 + Head of 12 + Lords of the Flame hold highest office in 132 + man may join in 116 + +Brotherhood of humanity, the universal 138-9 + +Bubbles in space 19-21 + aggregations of 19-22, 23-4 + form material of nebula 19 + +Casual body, the, abstract thoughts arouse 46 + appearance of 45-9 + bad qualities do not affect 47, 58 + colours in 46-8 + composition of 45 + is the vehicle of ego 42 + life in 95-6 + mental body reacts upon 58 + of Adept 45, 48 + of developed man 48 + of primitive man 46 + of saint 48 + of savage 48 + only good affects 47, 58 + permanent vehicle of ego 45 + unselfish emotions arouse 47 + +Cause and effect, law of 100-7 + adjustment of 101 + angels connected with 101 + cannot be modified 101 + exactness of 100-1 + explains problems of life 100-1 + +Cause and effect, is universal 100 + simile of debts and 102-7 + +Cell-life of astral body 65 + of mental body 65 + of physical body 65 + +Centres of force 60 + +Ceremonial, angels approach men through 85 + +Chain, a, consists of seven rounds 124 + life-wave of a 121, 123-5 + lunar, the 123, 126-7 + periods 125 + +Chains of globes 121 + descent of, into matter 121-4 + incarnation of 121-5 + +Character and simile of muscles 114 + how, is formed 111-5 + +Chemical elements 21, 28 + +Children of the Fire-mist 131 + (also see Lords of Flame) + +Christ, the, learning the lesson of 96 + spoke of the "aeonian condemnation" 119, 133 + +Church, the angels approach men through 85 + +Clairvoyant sight 46 + character seen by 50 + force-centres seen by 60 + +Colours of astral body 56-8 + of causal body 46-8 + of mental body 48 + of thoughts 54 + +Consciousness, development of 45-6 + of developed man 62-3 + states of 64 + +Corpse, astral 86 + physical 86 + the Moon is a 123 + +Counterparts, astral 73-4 + of globes 122 + +Crookes, Sir William 22 + +Dead, the, can be helped 77-9 + can continue studies 77 + can help their fellowmen 77 + communicate with living 74 + cravings of the 75-7 + first feeling of 76 + friends of, in mental world 93-4 + have no measurement of time 75 + in astral world 73-89 + in mental world 89-95 + in the three sections of astral world 74-5, 78-83 + most of, are happy 76 + period in astral world, 64-5, 82 + period in mental world 64 + relation of, to Earth 73-4 + some seize other bodies 88 + thought-creations of 80 + what they see 73 + +Death, a second 63, 89 + artists after 77 + average men after 64-5 + character not changed by 74 + conditions of life after 74 + cultured men after 65 + etheric double at 87 + happiness after 74, 76 + in astral world 68, 89 + lovers of music after 77 + misery after 75 + philanthropists after 77 + primitive men after 63 + sensualists after 75-6 + spiritual men after 65 + students of science after 77 + what is 3, 63, 137, 144 + +Deity (see Solar Deity) + +Demons, tempting 53, 67 + +Departments of the world 11 + +Devas, hosts of 11 + (also see Angels) + +Discrimination 118 + +Divine Life 29 + ensouls matter 29-40 + responds to vibrations 33 + +Divine world, extent of 26-7 + first plane named 23, 41 + "Door, shutting the" 131 + +Dreams 62 + +Earth, Adepts from Venus come to 131 + astral globe of 26-7 + -chain 121 + first men of the 125-30 + nature spirits of the 85 + purpose of life on 142 + +Earth-chain, the 121 + animal-men build early + forms on 127-8 + explained 121-4 + incarnation of 122-5 + Moon-animals come to 128 + +Education, department of 11-2 + +Ego, the, assumes bodies 42, 61 + bridges of to physical body 58, 61 + connection of, with brain 59 + desire of, for vivid life 97 + drops lower bodies 43 + ensouls fragment of group-soul 42 + fills mental images of himself 93 + gains qualities 43 + habitat of 94 + is a part expression of Monad 61 + is the manifestation of the triple Spirit in man 42 + life of, in causal body 95-7 + life of, in lower bodies 63-4 + lives for millions of years 97 + loses part of his life sometimes 86 + object of descent of 45, 98 + only good affects 47-8, 58, 112 + origin of 39, 109 + passes to mental world 85 + remembers past lives 44 + sheaves of 61 + sight of 45 + the, simile of day at school and 98 + succession of personalities of 109 + withdraws from astral plane 82 + +Elemental kingdoms, the three 29-30 + seven types of each of 37 + +Elemental creatures 37 + +Elements, chemical 21, 28 + proto- 21 + +Emotions affect life after death 64, 67-8 + of the living react on the dead 74 + selfish and unselfish 110 + should be developed in + fourth round 131 + the home of the 71 + +Emotional world (see astral world) + +Entity, astral body 66-8 + +Etheric, bodies of early humanity 129 + bodies of nature spirits 84 + matter 25 + +Etheric double, the 59 + at death 87-8 + force-centres in 60 + is a bridge 59 + is not a vehicle 87-8 + some dead cling to 88 + vitality flows through 59 + +Evil, is transitory 48, 58, 135-6 + is utilized for progress 135 + man's powers of, are + restricted 102 + simile of Niagara Falls, and 135 + +Evolution, additional, for animals 131 + advanced state of 131 + animal 31-40 + break in regularity of 130 + central point of 125, 130 + early stages of, for backward entities 127 + examining scenes of early 3 + is the Will of the Deity 11, 142 + ladder of 17 + man restrains law of 105 + mineral 30-1 + object of human 99 + of human forms 129-30 + of life 28-40 + other schemes of 121, 123 + pressure of 99, 105 + resistless stream of 136 + scheme of, a 32, 122-5 + summit of human 13 + super-human 13, 119 + Theosophy explains laws of 99 + three stages of 108-9 + vegetable 30-1 + +Eye-brows, force-centre between 60 + +Failure is impossible 5 + +Fairies (see Nature-spirits) + +'Fetters' to be cast off 120 + +Fire-mist, Children of the 131 + +Fire, nature-spirits of 84 + Sparks of divine 10, 41, 61 + +Flame, Lords of the 131 + +Fohat 19 + +Forces, the higher, Adepts' knowledge of 14 + +Force-centres 60 + +Founder of each race 11 + +Founders of the Theosophical Society 14 + +Fragment of life of the Logos 9 + of group-soul 39, 42 + of the Monad 61 + +Freemasonry, angels approach men through 85 + +Free-will 99 + +Free-will, limitation of unbounded 102-3 + +_Genesis of Elements, The_ 22 + +Globe, astral, of Earth 27 + astral of, Moon 27 + mental 27 + +Globes, chains of 121 + seven, of Earth-chain 122-3 + 'God is Love' 10 + Word of 9 + (see also Solar Deity) + +Group of egos 106 + +Group-soul, fragment, from, is ensouled 39-42 + of domestic animals 38-40 + numbers of bodies attached to one 34-7 + Spark hovers over 40 + +Group-souls 36-9 + seven types of 37 + simile of bucket of water and 34-6 + +Guardian angel 54 + +Head, force-centre in 60 + of each race 11 + of human evolution 11 + of religion and education 11-2 + of the White Brotherhood 14 + +Heart, force-centre in 60 + +Heaven, is a state of consciousness 64 + simile of capacity of cups and 91-2 + varying capacities of men in 91-2 + +Hell, non-existence of 64, 71, 74, 75 + +Hierarchy, The 5 + controls the world 5, 13 + Head of 14 + man can join 13 + Members of, watch for helpers 116-7 + Human evolution, beginning of 32-8 + division of races of 104-5 + the central point in 118-9 + the half-way point of 125 + the summit of 13 + +Humanity, bodies of early 128-9 + early, was androgynous 130 + races of 11 + receives help from Venus 131 + service of, by thought 53-4 + spiritual unity of 139 + +Immortal, the soul of man 8 + +Incarnations of Earth-chain 122-5 + +Individuality, a permanent 39 + +Individualization, is the first critical point of man's life 118 + of animals 37-40 + of Moon-animals 126-7, 130-1 + +Indo-Caucasian root-race 105 + +Inhabitants of finer worlds 26 + +Initiations, the great 118, 119-20 + simile of university degrees 120 + +Instincts, of animals 35 + of cell-life 65 + +Intellect is a fifth round development 131 + +Intelligence in man 42 + +Intuition in man 23, 42 + +Intuitional world, the 23, 42 + extent of 27 + Monad manifests in 42 + second outpouring in 33 + third outpouring descends to 39-40 + +_Isis Unveiled_ 15 + +Jupiter, the planet 124 + +King of the World, The 11 + +Kingdom, animal 30-1, 37-9 + first elemental 29 + mineral 30-3, 40 + of angels 84-5 + of nature-spirits 84-5 + second elemental 30 + seven types of each 38 + third elemental 30 + vegetable 30-1, 38 + +Kingdoms of nature ensouled by life-waves 38, 126 + the elemental 29-30 + the seven, of nature 28, 38-9 + +Koilon 18 + +Ladder of evolution, the 17, 145 + golden 96 + rungs of 17 + +Law, the, of evolution 99, 104-5 + of cause and effect 100-7 + +Laws, the immutable 8 + +Liberated man 5-6 + +Life, cell- 65-6 + conditions of, after death 74 + divine 23, 29, 121 + man's continuous 63 + the purpose of 98-9, 108-20 + +Life-waves, the 28-40 + constant-successions of 32 + ensoul the kingdoms of nature 33, 37 + of chains 121-2, 123-5 + two stages of 29 + +Life-wave, the, now centred on Earth 128 + period of, in each kingdom 38-9 + +Logos, the (see Solar Deity) + +Lords of the Flame, assistance given by 132 + come to Earth 131 + some still remain on Earth 132 + of the Moon 126 + +'Love, God is' 10 + +Lunar-chain (see Moon-chain) + +Man, after death 63-96 + can kill out vices 110-5 + conflict of interest between, and his vehicles 66 + constitution of 41-62 + distinction between animals and 40 + during sleep 61-2, 70, 74 + early, was androgynous 130 + evolves through different races 104-5 + exists in other worlds 2-3, 42-3 + factors determining birth of 104-5 + free will of 99-100, 102 + has latent powers 2 + has many lives 2-4, 42 + has powers of evil restricted 102 + has several bodies 2-3, 42 + is always affecting others 138-9, 147 + is a Monad 42 + is a soul 2-3 + is a Spark of divine Fire 41 + is divine in origin 3 + is his own law-giver 8 + is immortal 8 + is influenced by his astral body-entity 68 + is not changed by death 74 + is separate from animal kingdom 28 + is the outcome of his past 44-5 + learns to use his powers in service 108-9 + liberated 5-6 + makes his own destiny 147 + may be apprenticed to a Master 14-5, 117 + past history of 2-3 + physical body of, is evolved from animal forms 130 + reaps result of his action 100-1 + represents mineral kingdom of first chain 126 + the Triple Spirit in 41 + the triumph of 96 + three aspects of 11, 41-2 + why, does not remember past lives 44 + (also see primitive man and savages) + +Mars, the planet 122, 124 + life exists on 128 + +Master, son of a 118 + the 13-7 + are Adepts Who take apprentices 14 + take apprentices 14-7, 117-8 + the great knowledge of 14 + "Their world" 15 + +Matter, all, is living 30, 65 + astral 15, 26, 31, 43, 51, 66-7 + atomic 25 + different densities of 20, 25 + etheric 25, 59 + formation of root- 18-9 + intermingling of 21 + mental 23, 27, 29, 33, 42 + molecules of 24-5 + power of attraction of 60 + root- 81 + +Matter, seven types of 21, 24 + starry 24 + sub-atomic 25 + sub-divisions of 24-5 + super-etheric 25 + the senses respond to vibrations in 26 + ultimate 18-21 + vibrations of 24-6, 33, 44-7 + whirling sphere of, a 19-21 + +Memory of nature 3 + of past lives 44 + +Men, backward, drop out 132-3 + bodies of first Earth-chain 129-30 + first, of Earth-chain 126-7 + Moon- 126-9 + +Mental, globe 26-7 + globes of Earth-chain 122 + images of friends 93-4 + shell 53, 91 + warts 49 + (also see mental world) + +Mental body, the, after death 90-1 + bridge from, to physical body 58 + cell-life of 65 + composition of 48 + connection of brain with 49 + description of 48-9, 60-1 + effect of prejudice upon 49 + effect of thoughts upon 48-51 + expresses concrete thoughts 48 + reacts on causal body 58 + shell 53, 91 + sight of 50-1 + striations in 49-50 + the astral body reacts upon 58 + the dead are unused to 90-1 + the ego casts aside his 43-4, 63 + the ego takes a 42-3 + the memory of 44-5 + thoughts shown as colours in 48-50 + vibrations of 50, 53-4 + warts on 49 + +Mental matter, globe of 26-7 + the causal body is built of 45 + the mind is built of 23 + vibrations of 24 + +Mental world, average life in, after death 64-5 + bliss of 90 + effect of higher thought in 92-3 + ego formed in higher 39 + extent of 27 + formation of 20-3 + friends of dead in 93-4 + higher 29-30, 33, 39-42 + levels of 94 + lower 29-30 + man in, after death 63-4, 89-95 + the fifth plane named 24-41 + the Monad manifests in higher 42 + the second outpouring descends to 29-30 + wealth of 91 + +Mercury, the planet 122, 124 + life exists on 128 + +Mind, the divine 91 + the, of man 23 + (also see mental body) + +Mineral, the kingdom 30-1, 37, 108, 126 + man represents, of first chain 126 + seven types of 37 + the first out-pouring ensouls 30 + +Ministers in charge of departments 11 + the seven, of Solar Deity 11 + +Monad, the, descent of 41 + +Monad, origin of 41, 61 + +Monads, the home of human, 23, 41 + +Monadic world, the, extent of 27 + man belongs to 41 + the second plane named 23, 41-2 + +Mongolian root-race 105 + +Moon, the, astral globe of 27, 71 + human goal on 126 + individualization on 125 + is a corpse 123 + Lords of the 126 + +Moon-animals 126-7 + individualize on Earth 128-9 + +Moon-chain, animal-men of 127-8 + human goal on 126 + men of 126 + men come to Earth-chain 126-9 + was the third incarnation of our chain 123 + +Moon-men 126-9 + distribution of, on Earth-chain 126-9 + first order of 129 + second order of 129 + some entered the Path 129 + +Motive, the, for self-effort 115 + +Nature, memory of 3 + planes of 7 + seven kingdoms of 28 + +Nature-spirits, are not individualized 84 + are sometimes seen by men 84 + four classes of 84 + many wear etheric bodies 84 + the kingdom of 84 + where they exist 83-4 + +Nebula, cooling of 22 + planets formed from 22 + rings of 22 + subsidiary vortices of 22 + vortex of 20 + +Negroid, the, race 105 + +Neptune, the planet 124 + +Nerves, vitality flows along 59 + +_Occult Chemistry_ 7 + +_Occult World, The_ 1, 15 + +Occultism, how to progress in 113-7 + +Official, pupils of great 11 + representing Solar Deity 11 + +Officials of the Hierarchy 13 + +Olcott, Colonel H.S. 14 + a founder of T.S. 14 + +Oriental sacred books 18 + +Origin, divine, of man 3, 10, 39-40 + +Outpouring, the first 20-8 + the second 28-39, 65 + the third 39-40 + +Path, the, conditions of 15 + fetters to be cast off on 119-20 + fourth step on 126 + Moon-men entered 129 + simile of mountain 5 + steeper 5, 119-20 + +Peers of Logos 9 + +Perfect men 5 + +Perseverance necessary for progress 113 + +Personality 61 + the purpose of the 109 + +Philosophy, Theosophy is a 1 + +Physical body, attracts astral matter 60 + cells of the 65-6 + during sleep man leaves his 62, 70 + early evolution of the 129-30 + ego, drops his 43, 63 + +Physical body, ego takes a 43, 61 + etheric part of 59-60 + future perfection of the 132 + of first round 129-30 + of man is evolved from animal forms 130 + requirements of the 59-60 + +Physical matter, subdivisions of 25 + vibrations of 24, 33 + +Physical world, the, descent of ego to 42-3 + formation of 21-3, 23-6 + second outpouring enters 30-1 + seven sub-divisions of 25 + +_Pioneer, The_, Mr. A.P. Sinnett, editor of 15 + +Planes of nature, the 7 + formation of 20-1 + investigation of 7 + naming of 41 + +Planets, formation of 22 + future 20 + life on other 128 + +Planetary chains 121-33 + +Planetary Spirits, the seven 11 + simile of ganglia and 11 + +Powers latent in man 2 + are for use in service 109 + observation of history by 3 + observation of other worlds by 2-3 + +Prejudices shown in mental body, 49 + +Primitive man, causal body of 46-8 + during sleep 62 + life of, after death 64 + result of action of 102 + types of 37 + +Principle, undying, in man 8 + +Probation, apprentice upon 118 + period of 118 + +Promptings of lower nature 66-8 + +Proto-elements 21 + +Pupils, accepted, of Master 118 + of Great Officials 11 + of Masters 14-7, 116-8 + (see also apprentices) + +Purgatory is a state of consciousness 64-5 + +Quotations from, a French Scientist 18 + a Gnostic Philosopher 10 + a Master 15 + an Eastern Scripture 9 + _The Occult World_ 1 + +Race, Founder of each 11 + Head of each 11 + of life 99 + +Races, branch- 105, 125 + man evolves through different 105 + object of 105 + of humanity 14 + root- 105, 125-6 + sub- 105, 125 + +Ray, the seventh 85 + +Record, indelible 3 + +Reincarnation 42-4, 97-107 + desire of ego for 97 + simile of days at school and 98-9 + Theosophy explains 99 + +Religion, Adepts, Teachers of 12 + department of 12 + Founders of new 11 + +Religions, have one source 12 + start with basic truths 12 + the sending forth of 11 + +Reproduction, early methods of 130 + +Reynolds, Prof. O. 18-9 + +Right and wrong, the test of 142 + +Roman races, the 105 + +Root-matter 18 + +Root-races 105, 125 + +Round, a 125 + first, differs from others 128 + +Rounds, conditions, of early reproduced in fourth round 130-1 + human forms on first three 128-30 + +Saturn, rings of, simile of 22 + +Savages, causal bodies of 46-7, 48-9 + during sleep 62 + types of 37 + +'Saved, The' 119 + +Scheme of evolution, a 32, 121-2 + central point of 125 + +School, of philosophy, there is a 1 + of life, none fail in the 98 + +Seances 87 + +_Secret Doctrine, The_ 19 + +Seers can use sight of the ego 46 + +Senses, the, of astral body 68-9 + respond to vibrations of matter 26 + +Service, man learns to use his powers in 109 + the joy of 96 + +Seven, 'bubbles' combine in powers of 20-1, 23 + choices of Lords of the Moon 127-8 + degrees of density of matter 24-5 + force-centres in man's bodies 60 + globes of a chain 121-2 + impulses of force 19-20 + incarnations of chains 121 + interpenetrating worlds 20, 22 + kingdoms of nature 28 + life-waves 33 + Ministers of Solar Deity 11 + Planetary Spirits 11 + sub-divisions of matter 24-5 + sub-divisions of vitality 60 + types of animals 37-9 + types of elemental creatures 37-8 + types of group-souls 37-8 + types of matter 21, 24 + types of men 43 + types of minerals 37 + types of vegetables 37 + +Sexes, separation of 130 + +Shade, the 86 + +Sheaves of the ego 61 + +Shell, of astral body 68, 78-80, 81, 86-7 + of thoughts 53, 91 + +Sight, astral 68-9 + clairvoyant 46 + mental 51 + of ego 46 + +Simile of, boiling water 69-70 + brick 25 + bucket of water 34-5 + charged battery 53 + cups of varying capacities 91-2 + days at school 97-8, 143 + dense fog 143 + developing muscles 114 + flame in a dark night 14 + ganglia 11 + matter diffused in water 72 + Niagara Falls 135 + onion 72 + overtones of musical notes 58 + path up mountain 5 + payment of a debt 102-4 + rungs of a ladder 17 + Saturn's rings 22 + shutting a door 131 + sorting out school-boys 132 + university degrees 120 + vibrations of a bell 55 + warts 49 + +Sinnett, Mr. A.P. 1, 15 + author of _The Occult World_ 1, 15 + author of _Esoteric Buddhism_ 1, 15 + editor of _The Pioneer_ 15 + +Sleep 61-2, 70, 87 + man during 61-2, 70 + the dead are met during 74 + +Solar Deity, the, a Being higher than 19 + builds His system 9-10, 19 + field of activity of 19 + first Aspect of 39 + fragment of Life of 9-10 + future planets of 19 + impulses of force of 20-1, 28 + is a Trinity 11 + Official representing 11 + Peers of 9 + Plan of 11, 13 + second Aspect of 28, 32, 65 + Self-limitation of 10 + seven Ministers of 11 + seven Planetary Spirits 11 + the King of the World represents 11 + third Aspect of 20-1, 28 + threefold manifestation of 10 + +Solar plexus, force-centre, the 60 + +Solar System, evolutionary table of 125 + formation of 18-27 + inhabitants of the 85 + Logos of a 9 + origin of 19 + ten chains of 121-3 + +Solar systems, countless 9 + +Son of Master 118 + +Soul, the group 33-9, 42 + man is a 2, 33 + of an animal 33-4 + of domestic animals 37-40 + of grasses 31 + of insects 37 + of lions 33-4 + of man 8, 33, 55 + of reptiles 42 + of trees 31 + plant- 33 + World- 33 + +Space, between atoms 23 + Fohat digs holes in 19 + the aether of 18-9 + worlds not separate in 2 + +Sparks, of divine Fire 39-40, 61 + of divine Life 23, 29 + +Spine, force-centre at base of 60 + +Spirit, and matter 18 + in man 23, 41 + the triple, in man 41-2 + +Spiritual world, the extent of 26-7 + is the name of third plane 23, 41 + Monads descend to 41 + +Spleen, the, vitality flows through 60 + +Stream, those who have entered the 119 + +Sub-atomic matter 25 + +Sub-races of humanity 105, 125 + +Summerland, the, of astral world 80 + +Sun, vitality comes from the 60 + +Super-etheric matter 25 + +Table of evolution of Solar System 125 + +Teachers, authority of 16 + of earlier races 126 + of religion 11-2 + +Tempting demons 53, 67 + +Test, the, of right and wrong 142 + +Teutonic sub-race 105 + +Theosophy, demands no belief 6 + explains reincarnation 99 + explains religions 7 + first popular exposition of 1 + is a philosophy 1 + is a religion 1, 5-7 + is a science 1, 7 + never converts 7 + solves problems of life 4 + statements of, based on observation 6 + tells of past history 3 + the gospel of 96 + the great facts of 8 + what, does for us 134-148 + +Theosophist, the, cheerfully faces trouble 146 + conception of life of 137 + does not try to convert 140 + has no fear of death 137 + knows the power of thought 147 + relation of, to animals 141 + sees purpose of life 142 + test of right and wrong of 141 + +Thought, abstract 46 + all actions spring from 116 + concrete 48, 50 + coupled with feeling 51 + -forces after death 63 + is a powerful instrument 116 + necessity for clear 114 + necessity for control of 116 + prolonged 50 + shell of 53 + +Thoughts, are things 147 + as a power for good 55 + build forms 52 + distance no hindrance to 52 + effect of, after death 63-4, 80 + humanity helped by 54-5 + meaning of colours of 46, 54-7 + meaning of shapes of 54 + on Theosophy 55-60 + others affected by 50-51 + self-centred 53-4 + selfish and unselfish 110 + transmission of 52 + +Thought-forms 50-4 + are temporary entities 53 + as guardian angels 54 + as tempting demons 53 + astro-mental 51, 57 + duration of 53-4 + effect on others of 51-2 + move through space 51 + +Thought images (see Thought-forms) + +Three, Aspects of the Logos 10-1 + aspects of man 41 + critical points in man's evolution 117-9 + elemental kingdoms 28-9 + great truths 8 + in One 10 + outpourings 28-39 + Persons 10 + stages of apprenticeship 118 + stages of evolution 108-9 + +Throat, the force-centre in 60 + +Time, no measure of, in astral world 75 + +Trinity of Solar Logos 10 + +Triple Spirit in man 41-2 + +Triumph, the, of man 96 + +Trust begets trust 111 + +Truth, one in diverse forms 12 + the, is obtainable 12 + +Truths, basic, of religions 12-3 + the three great 8 + +Types of, animals 37-8 + elemental creatures 37 + group-souls 37 + life 37 + matter 21 + men 37-9 + minerals 37 + reptiles 37 + vegetables 38 + +Ultimate atoms 19 + physical atoms 25 + root-matter 18 + +Ultra-violet light 26-44 + +Unity, the, of humanity 138-9 + what tends to 109 + +Universe, the, beginning of 18 + +Universes, innumerable 9 + +Universal brotherhood of humanity, the 138 + +Uranium 22 + +Uranus, the planet 124 + +Vegetable, the, kingdom 30-1, 37-8 + seven types of 37 + +Vehicles, man's conflict of interest with his 66-9 + +Venus, the planet 124 + Adepts from, come to Earth 131 + stage of evolution of 131 + +Vibrations, of astral body 56-7, 65-6, 75-6 + of mental body 44 + of thought-forms 53, 55 + +Vibrations, in matter 24, 33, 59 + causal body affected by 47-9 + ego responds to 45 + life learns to generate 33 + octaves of 24 + the senses respond to 25-6 + +Vices, belong to the vehicles 112 + how to kill out 110-5 + +Vitality, circulates along the nerves 59 + of astral corpse 86 + sub-division of 59-60 + what it is 59 + +Vortices, force-centres appear as 60 + in matter 20 + in nebular 19-22 + +Vulcan, the planet, was seen by Herschel 124 + +Warts on mental body 49 + +Water, nature-spirits of 84 + +Waves, life- (see life-waves) + +Wealth of the heaven world 91 + +Whirling sphere of matter 19-21 + vortex in 20 + +Will, the divine 6, 11 + evolution is 11, 120 + fulfilment of 118 + +Wisdom, Masters of the (see Masters) + +Word of God, the 9 + +World, departments of the 11 + King of this 11 + -period 124 + +Worlds, bliss of the higher 89-90 + inhabitants of finer 25-6 + man exists in several 2-3 + of different densities 3 + seven interpenetrating 20, 23-4 + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Textbook of Theosophy, by C.W. 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