About occultists

[taijasi]

Thomas started a thread which inspired me to seize the moment. I found a passage the other day which characterizes succinctly the occult path and describes the modern aspirant to the esoteric way ... as contrasted with the discipleship of an era gone by.

The passage is in A Treatise on White Magic, from Rule 10, pg.374:

The various energies which play upon the human being and produce his unfoldment constitute his field of experience. Those two words—unfoldment and experience—should ever be linked, for each produces the other. As one is subjected to experience in the form world, a paralleling unfoldment of consciousness is carried forward. As that unfoldment produces constant changes in realisation and a consequent constant reorientation to a new state of awareness, it necessarily leads to new experience—experience of fresh phenomena, of new states of being, and of dimensional conditions hitherto unknown. Hence the frequent reaction of the disciple to the fact that for him, as yet, there is no point of peace. Peace was the objective of the Atlantean aspirant. Realisation is that of the Aryan disciple. He can never be static; he can never rest; he is constantly adjusting himself to new conditions; constantly learning to function therein, and then subsequently finding them pass away to give place, in their turn, to new. This goes on until the consciousness is stabilised in the Self, in the One. Then the initiate knows himself to be the onlooking Unity watching the phenomenal phantasmagoria of life in form.
​

This passage struck home so clearly, so well and so immediately ... that I realized it sums up the entire gestalt which I have felt inform my inner world for many years now ~ and as far as I know, many lifetimes. It is a gradual, very deliberate and painstaking Journey, if at times and in ways undeniably overwhelming also a Blissful one - well worth the reward if this were its motivation in its own right [the Bhatki, the true Epicurean or the admirer of Beauty - as poets, Romanticists or literary masters who've proven the unbounded Imagination to us, over and over again].

But there is something more, I think some men [or perhaps even most of us?] realize. And that is what the occultist is interested in. He is either interested in it A) for *personal curiosity* and little more, although side effects can come via fame, fortune & glory [mileage may vary] ... or B) he may recognize at once the vast [then he will understand limitless] Potential of every single atom of creation [and if he knows, or understands by recognition and Realization that every atom is composed of smaller Units, then he will also know that every atom also Serves as such a UNIT within a Greater ATOM ... hence the INdivisible UNITIES which both form and Contain our Cosmos: and all lesser subSets]. But he will himself decide whether he wishes to travel as a solitary or en masse, in the Formation which is both an Army and a Graceful Dove ... an Eagle and at the same, PURE __.

So, an occultist experiments, he practices science, yet he stands in utter admiration and AWE, pure WONDER [which is the religionist's `fear'] at the World, the Cosmos, the Universe [system within System] which he beholds. He might be lost in the Beauty of the Supernal and the sublime were it not for an Intellect that keenly recognizes, knows firsthand how PURPOSEFUL and Orderly, Rhythmic and Perfectly-expressed is this amazing Cosmos which surrounds, contains and permeates us.

The occultist knows something, in his way [whichever this may be] of the phrase expressed by Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, The Song of the LORD:

"Having pervaded the whole Universe with a fragment of Myself, I Remain."
​

Krishna, the Christ, the Soul and 2nd Aspect is telling us that in no way does the Sun shine less brightly for its Illumination of the man standing in the street, or the woman sitting in the park, or the child playing in the garden or the creatures running [in light or dark] through the hills, and woods, and waters. Even where there is an underworld, there are Greater and lesser Lights. Orpheus, the Lyricist, Christ ever showing the Eternal Drama, leads us onward. And the symbolism, for the esotericist, ties him - via the Soul - straight to the Monad, the `Son of the Father' in one sense, yet also shows how even physically, actively speaking, he is a participant in the Greatest Mystery he has ever imagined: Eternal Life. This is especially clear for the hylozoist, whatever his persuasion.

For the Occultist, it is not REST which he is seeking. It is something else. And he cannot, will not rest until this something is attained, perhaps for ALL, and it is for this that he struggles, Serving as best he is able, at times Sacrificing ALL [the Hero, the Arhat Ideal]. His symbol will at some times be the Pheonix, other times the Horse or the Centaur [Saggitarius], sometimes Man himself [for until a High Initiation he ultimately remains The THINKER] ... other times the Lamb or the Dove.

 

[Etu Malku]

This is Theosophy's understanding of Occultism?
Andrew, are you a Theosophist?

 

[Lunitik]

For me, occultism is a something egoistic, you are desiring power. Studying occult arts is rather silly, it is simply your will that affects reality, that's basically it. Why will you want to impose your will on existence though? You are affirming your 'I', trying to prove its validity in the most ludicrous way possible. It is certainly true that all seekers as they go higher will attain certain powers, but they are something entrusted to you. If you rush these powers, you will not respect them, if they are your goal you will likely abuse them. The mystic will actually avoid using these powers, and see they are a call to further silence the mind less he accidentally use them, they are not something to be played with at all.

Then, it is not surprising that Theosophists are interested in the occult, since they say the highest is still an ego, indeed that God himself is ego. Certainly the masters are highly evolved spiritually, and yet Theosophy itself says that the higher beings are not going to interfere as much as the masters did, and I tell you even those higher beings are not the highest. Ultimately, all will have to drop the ego, only then are they truly merged with the whole - otherwise they are still subject to birth and death. These masters must surely see the futility of their insistence in focusing on this world, and yet they continue, they refuse to move higher because they still cling to material despite not being material in any scientific definition of the word.

 

[Etu Malku]

Ego is good, an unbalanced ego (id/superego) is not good. The Ego is our essence, our Higher Self, our Ka, it is quite necessary not to absolve it into anything, or to surrender it to anything or anyone.

Occult is simply "hidden knowledge" and Occultism is the search for this hidden knowledge. In some ways we are all Occultists.

Those of us on the LHP find projecting our Will into the Universe in order to create change (the definition of Magick) to be essential to the LHP practice and goals.

What is truly "silly" is someone pretending they have the answers to it all.

 

[Lunitik]

Ego is good, an unbalanced ego (id/superego) is not good. The Ego is our essence, our Higher Self, our Ka, it is quite necessary not to absolve it into anything, or to surrender it to anything or anyone.

Occult is simply "hidden knowledge" and Occultism is the search for this hidden knowledge. In some ways we are all Occultists.

Those of us on the LHP find projecting our Will into the Universe in order to create change (the definition of Magick) to be essential to the LHP practice and goals.

What is truly "silly" is someone pretending they have the answers to it all.

The problem is that your current ego is false, the "I" wishes to prove itself valid against the whole. It is an impossible battle for the "I" is a mere drop, yet it tries to fight the entire ocean. This is my definition of ego: the identification with the body and mind, to events in this life, and to conceptions and perceptions garnered during this life. This is all utterly false, it is our delusion in life.

The ego is not our higher self at all, the higher self is what others call God, it is the experience of unity, of being the whole, the highest state possible in human consciousness - the inner light is realized. Yet, in this state, the body is simply not there. People have been in this state for weeks or far longer and recalled just a few seconds of it. They find themselves in the same place they were when the experience began, they have apparently not moved at all. Mind clearly hasn't been there because nothing is recalled, body hasn't gotten food because you haven't moved. How then can you say the ego is the higher self? It is utterly unrelated to the true self as I define it.

Knowledge is the whole problem many fall into, they believe that becoming proficient in a given topic means they understand it, but really they have simply memorized and cast their own understanding on it. Their understanding is false because they do not really know what the person has intended, it is like if I were to describe my computer room, do you think your picture of it based on my description would match the actual room? It would not, yet my description would be accurate. To understand rightly, you have to yourself encounter what is being discussed, it has to be your own experience, but then what is the purpose in discussing at all?

Knowledge feeds the ego precisely because it comes to believe it knows, it can benefit the person in material matters, but in the spiritual it is going to harm the seeker. The very study of such matters permits the mind to avoid, it can say "well I know this, ok" but the point is not to know, it is to experience. Never be satisfied with thinking a thing is true, if it is merely a thinking it is almost certainly false.

 

[Lunitik]

All the religions talk about transcendence.

Ego moves in two directions: humility or arrogance.

Transcending this duality, you simply no longer have an ego, you have no more persona, you are a unique flowering, a true individual, undivided. Ego is an outward show, it is a consolation in the mind, justifying that you are. Do not be confused, mind is still something peripheral, it is watched by the true center, that is why you can be conscious of your thoughts - who is conscious of them?

You have to come to a state where you are utterly pure, clean of all notions and perceptions, all ideas and all opposites must be dropped. Your notions of I and thou must be dropped as well, nothing should remain. Then and only then you are absorbed by truth, now life is true, you were simply believing you were alive but you weren't, you were just in the middle, barely surviving. You become comforted because science says "survival of the fittest", this becomes the goal: just remain alive no matter what. Now man dreams of immortality in one form or another, it is absurd because what he truly is has never been born, can never die... he is divine, yet he clings to animal existence - it is strange indeed. Yet to encounter this, what you think you are will experience something like death, if you avoid death now you have to justify why - this is most of Western psychology, utterly concentrated on the animal. Mind is cunning, it can justify, because it is mind that dies in this, what you truly are remains.

 

[Lunitik]

I do not claim to have the answers, I simply present the way to drop the questions.

 

[Etu Malku]

The ego is not our higher self at all, the higher self is what others call God,

Rather the Ego is the Self, not the Higher Self (was in a rush typing).

According to Jung the ego is very important in the individuation (which is also very important to a Luciferian) process. The ego is only a danger when it imagines itself to be all that the person is.

Our unconscious elements have no relationship to the ego, the unconscious mind manifests itself in a conscious, reflective ego in order to complete and know itself as a "Self". The ego is necessary for this to take place.

The ego is not the whole personality but must be completed by the more comprehensive self, the center of the personality is largely unconscious. In a psychologically healthy person, the ego takes a secondary position to the unconscious self.

 

[Lunitik]

The id is nothing more than instinct, ego is your identifications, so if you identify with your instincts then it can be part of your ego. Intuition is often listed as an occult power, this is in a way a higher form of instinct - it is instinct of the heart. Yet, you can also become identified with 'clairvoyance' if you have not dropped the ego - now the ego has real power, this is dangerous. Due to ego being your identification with the bodymind, you will use such powers to benefit yourself. Ego will be empowered because you will be able to manipulate peoples easily, what of other occult powers? Most faiths are founded by men who have displayed their occult powers in public, it is naught but showing off!

Instead, to drop these identifications, when the thought "I am horny" arises, for instance, simply instead say "horniness is happening now". Automatically there is a disassociation. The horniness is a phenomenon now like any other, it happens within but it does not differ greatly. Now, within the backdrop of "horniness is happening", you can inquire for whom this is arising for, who is watching it? You will say "I am watching it", but who is this "I" in reality? Inquire again, who has declared this "I"? Eventually you come to a point where this awareness turns on itself, now you know your true self, call it Lucifer, call it the Higher Self, call it God. Whatsoever you call it is irrelevant, it will happen if you can follow through with this.

 

[Lunitik]

Rather the Ego is the Self, not the Higher Self (was in a rush typing)

The Self is what remains when ego is dropped.

That which can be taken from us was never ours, so what is the problem in losing the ego? If it can be stolen it is not intrinsic. Can the Self be taken away? No, Self is what remains when everything that can be dropped is dropped, it is the eternal, the alpha and omega. You must trust though, because you will have to lose everything you hold dear to reach to truth, it is a difficult thing. Then, nothing in life worthwhile comes easy, and this is the ultimate.

This is why I say it will look like death in a way, you simply cease to be as you are now, but you discover who you really were all along. It is up to you whether that is worthwhile or not, but that is the culmination of all faith. The miracle is that you realize you lost nothing, you gained the whole existence and what you held dear was simply a minute part.

 

[taijasi]

Lunitik, you may benefit from taking a look at H.P. Blavatsky's commentary on Occultism vs. the Occult Arts [a brief exercpt may be of assistance - see at bottom]. You have apparently recognized that there is such a thing as the latter, and this is the selfish or lefthand path. Not all occultists tread this path, and I know of no true Theosophist - or even any who calls herself such - who boldly or knowingly does so.

Investigate further, please, rather than standing outside, tossing little pebbles against the glass. If you press your nose to it - since it seems you have an innate mistrust and fear of what is going on within [for which I can only apologize, regardless as to where you got your misinformation] - I think you will see, there is nothing going on inside that smacks of little ego, or innately resonates with the lefthand path and occult arts.

I should have been more concise in my OP. I started the thread to be about occultists, not Theosophists, and the kind of people we're talking about are definitely on the path that leads to the Higher Way. There is no room for ego along that Path. You should know, if you have studied these things.

I do not claim to be a Theosophist, only a past member of the Thesophical Society in America. I do not claim to represent Theosophists, but where I see them unjustly attacked, as some around here are wont to do, I will gladly step forward to defend them. The Mahatmas who stood behind HPB and Olcott, supporting Annie Besant and even the World Teacher project [as some call the overshadowings of Krishnamurti] ... were not egomaniacs, or anything along those lines, and I dare say they wouldn't have made the effort to contact Sinnett and Hume way back in HPB's day if they did not have utmost confidence in the eventual outcome that would result. Unfortunately, the Masters KH, Morya and DK made tremendous sacrifices and as of yet there has only been so much harvest, one might say, from the original expenditure. Master KH even became quite ill precisely because of his contact with people whose ego has not yet been checked and put in abeyance.

Lunitik, it is one thing to recognize the IDEAL and to aspire toward reaching it. I applaud you for that. Please try a bit harder, however, to recognize that you are not sitting on an island. You are not the epitome of what we are all trying to master and attain. Your ego shows through as clearly to me as your opinions and attitudes toward Theosophists, and I don't have any issues whatsoever pointing out that you are in error when you point your finger and project. Try getting to know some Theosophists, or - if you are bothered by what you have already experienced - try Rosicrucians, Freemasons [especially Co-Masons, as these have allowed women for over a century], Christian esotericists, or any number of the other paths that some of the folks at Interfaith.org follow, many of which are more along the occult lines than the mystic. I have tried to show that mysticism is the natural precursor, and necessary preparatory stage to treading the occult way [lest, as has been pointed out, the ego begins to grow unchecked, leading to certain disaster].

Some of us are well aware of the issues being discussed in the last few exchanges ... but I would like to refocus by mentioned a carving that Carl Jung had above his home in Zurich, also the same engraving upon his tombstone:

Vocatus atque NON vocatus, Deus aderit.
​

What does it mean? If you haven't seen the plaque for sale in magazines, here is the translation:

Bidden or UNbidden, God is present
​

This is what the occulst affirms, and she does so - not from Faith, not from optimism alone, but from EXPERIENCE. Yes, the little ego is necessary for that, especially in the beginning, because the DISCIPLE is the one learning to experience the Soul awareness within the brain, mind and outer form [the threefold personality] ... and to RAISE her awareness to the higher Mental, then Buddhic planes - eventually experiencing Samadhi - thus knowing from direct experience [`Straight Knowledge,' the Master M. calls it] the Unity and the Ideals which she affirms.

The follower of the occult Way [Maggo] PRACTICES what she preaches, and this means that - while she cannot deny the presence and influence of an ego, or lesser self, she seeks to achieve in her outer life what John the Forerunner recognized and emphasized when he called his disciples' attention to the future Christ, saying, "I must decrease and HE must increase." This is a summation, in seven words, of the entire OCCULT Path, the relationship, as it gradually shifts from the domination of the personality, at the outset, to the final control and subjugation of the ego to the Soul, the Higher Self, in the end.

That marks the ENTRANCE to the Higher Way, Seven (or more) paths opening before the Initiate of the 6th Degree ... and we can only Hope that the Decision of this Higher Initiate has been - from the earliest - to abnegate, choosing Service over self-interest and Unity over separateness. Beyond the 3rd Initiation, but also before - and NOW, each day, each breath, each action and each word - we are choosing whether we tread the lefthand path of isolated ego, or the NOBLE [Middle] Way.

Namaskar


From Occultism vs. the Occult Arts:

"There are four (out of the many others) names of the various kinds of Esoteric Knowledge or Sciences given, even in the exoteric Puranas. There is (1) Yajna-Vidya,* knowledge of the occult powers awakened in Nature by the performance of certain religious ceremonies and rites. (2) Mahavidya, the "great knowledge," the magic of the Kabalists and the Tantrika worship, often Sorcery of the worst description. (3) Guhya-Vidya, knowledge of the mystic powers residing in Sound (Ether), hence in the Mantras (chanted prayers or incantations) and depending on the rhythm and melody used; in other words, a magical performance based on Knowledge of the forces of Nature and their correlation; and (4) ATMA-VIDYA, a term which is translated simply "Knowledge of the Soul," true Wisdom by the Orientalists, but which means far more.

This last is the only kind of Occultism that any theosophist who admires "Light on the Path," and who would be wise and unselfish, ought to strive after."
​

 

[Lunitik]

So it seems occultism is simply a mind orientation, while mysticism is a heart orientation. Certainly, for me, Blavatsky and her fellow Theosophists have been collecting too much, they have made something quite simple look very complicated.

The wise makes the difficult look easy.
The fool makes the easy look hard.

While I appreciate that Theosophists do not wish to discount any group, I feel like I am reading a research paper, not something with the intrinsic beauty of the sages. I have been trying to read many Theosophist papers, but the whole concept of Masters of the Wisdom just adds a pile of nonsense on top of what is already a complicated frame. I do not see how this benefits us at all, although I grant that many of the papers are purely divine - even in such cases, it remains something quite dry.

I also find the antagonistic nature of many papers strange for someone apparently trying to teach the Truth. She has a huge problem with many Scientific schools of thought, she favors philosophers over scientists in every case. Both have merely attempted to extrapolate information with the mind, what is the difference? Then, she will not have realized the difference herself because she still has not overcome it - I was reading that later in her life one of the Masters hinted to the state of Blavatsky, that she seemed outlandish and perhaps a little insane. This is quite likely when she actually became enlightened, but otherwise I see her understanding as very dualistic despite proclaiming oneness to be a truth.

 

[Lunitik]

You are not the epitome of what we are all trying to master and attain.

This is the result of the mind-based pursuit. You believe you can accomplish anything, you think that you as you are can be the master of anything. You have to be the master of this "you", but how to do it? You must transcend this notion that you are the mind. You must simply be open, allow, but you are trying to rape God, do you not understand it is a violent statement? You are trying to force existence to reveal its secrets to you, that is the nature of this trying...

Then, it is perfectly good for a time, eventually you will realize that this is utterly futile, and then you can cease the search. Then all happens of its own accord, when you give up utterly, when you let go of the entire ordeal, when you are no more desiring anything... only then God comes.

Do not allow mind to trick you though, you cannot desire to stop desires to test this statement, this realization that it is futile has to come naturally else it is not going to affect anything. You have to see it is pointless on your own, only then. It is for this reason I say the most disgusting statement is "remain faithful until death, and you will receive life", you will try to remain strong or simply never pursue the inner currents because it will all happen later. Yet, still, our paths are already decided, we only need walk them.

 

[taijasi]

So it seems occultism is simply a mind orientation, while mysticism is a heart orientation. Certainly, for me, Blavatsky and her fellow Theosophists have been collecting too much, they have made something quite simple look very complicated.

HPB spent time with the wisest sages of the ages. I challenge YOU to do the same, train with them, LIVE with them and both study & meditate in Their Presence. I think you will find, if you investigate further, that HPB was actually one of the Noblest SOULS, with surely one of the largest HEARTs, this planet has ever known. You can especially appreciate her contribution if you know something of the incarnations which preceded hers as H.P. Blavatsky, and the lifetime which followed.

The HEART must be opened before treading the Occult Way. Perhaps you resonate very strongly with the Mystic Path for a reason. There is nothing wrong with this. Approaching something that is not correct for you - beyond the intellectual investigation - might not profit you at all, in this lifetime. I don't think this is the path for you. If it is too dry, then it may be you do not realize how much occurs in the subtle worlds. Many occultists devote a great deal of their time, energy and other resources to MEDITATION, this being the occult correlation [though no substitute] to Prayer, Devotion and Contemplation. Their greatest Realization of the Path Ideal ... is through Selfless Service, and I wish to emphasize: This takes MANY forms. Please consider - there are probably some you have not even suspected, let alone approached or tried to practice. I can certainly say the same!

I also find the antagonistic nature of many papers strange for someone apparently trying to teach the Truth. She has a huge problem with many Scientific schools of thought, she favors philosophers over scientists in every case. Both have merely attempted to extrapolate information with the mind, what is the difference? Then, she will not have realized the difference herself because she still has not overcome it - I was reading that later in her life one of the Masters hinted to the state of Blavatsky, that she seemed outlandish and perhaps a little insane. This is quite likely when she actually became enlightened, but otherwise I see her understanding as very dualistic despite proclaiming oneness to be a truth.

HPB wrote at a time when Darwin's Evolution was a relatively recent contribution to the scientific field of thought. She had as much opposition from hardcore, materialistic science as she did from the narrowness of theology and dogmatic assertions on the part of Christianity in particular. The constant attack which the Noblest exponents of Truth have suffered can be observed in the case of nearly every such example you might name. HPB may seem antagonistic, yet often she writes in the DEFENSE of the Atma-Vidya, and while she does not decry the Mystic way - or even exoteric religions INSOFAR as they go - she does attempt to demonstrate why these but correlate with the SHELL, the garment of the true MAN, the esoteric Pilgrim, self-exiled from the Father's House.

Her goal? To help show the Way back to this House ... yet without sugar-coating, without distorting the Truth, and without handing the Aspirant crutch after crutch - while never actually helping him to SUPPORT himself on the upward Ascent.

Please do not fault the Old Lady if she demonstrates the same imperfections that we all can claim; she never suggested that she was perfect, or anything close, and she often spoke of *several more lifetimes* as necessary before she was at all near the level of attainment of the Great Ones. Those who cannot see, feel, sense, witness and thus KNOW the authorship of HPB's works to bear the signs, the PROOF, of the Great Ones ... and Their Wisdom ... should perhaps leave these studies aside for another time. Do not antagonize YOURSELF.

With all due respect, you clearly do not understand HPB, her Mission, the Masters or her [or Their] WORK. It is best to leave this topic to those who do find Inspiration, value, and a strong, Courageous example in the contributions and Sacrifices of HPB and her fellow Theosophists - of every day, but especially, in this Light of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.

I know dozens, probably HUNDREDS of occultists, when all is said and done, although I suspect that number is much larger when out of the body. Not ONE of these people is antagonistic by choice, as of a rule, or because s/he deeply, truly WANTS to be. Perhaps HPB can be faulted for being less than a perfect Messenger. And so could Mohammad, Abdul Baha or Baha'u'llah, Jesus of Nazareth and even the Buddha Himself.

Lunitik, I am trying to be polite, but I find you a bit haughty. YOU seem to be the one to me who is quite learned, very versed, familiar with quite a number of teachings. I want to see that distilled. I want to see that on the level of BUDDHI, or ATMA. Show ME that what you are here for, or living AT ALL for, is MORE than just a bit of roundabout discussion of these kinds of things. Start a thread, if you like, expounding what YOU believe is the spiritual ideal. But on this thread (or perhaps any) ... if you can't share something positive, maybe there's really nothing worth sharing - at all? Hmmmmm

And Krisnamurti, by the way, whose strong influence shows as readily and abundantly through your philosophy and POV as anything or anyone, is a great Teacher, yes ... but many of us do not subscribe to his pathless approach to Wisdom. You will find the time - as I thought I saw you state elsewhere - when the Guru is absolutely necessary. When you come to this stage, you will eventually realize ... Krishnaji was not, is not, CANNOT be - the Absolute Authority. That, I would hope, should be obvious.

YOU are not that authority, for that is your EGO talking. And no one outside of yourself is that authority, for NO MASTER can tell you, let alone make you follow, the Path that is YOURS. Let's not confuse this with the mistaken notion that anything goes, or that Truth is [no more than] *what we make it*. When the proper foundations are lacking, it's no wonder we become confused, pointing fingers, casting stones - yet deviating farther & farther from our own WAY with each word we type.

I think your observation that the HEART is the Way of the Mystic ... is what we should focus on, if we wish to make contrasts with the Occult Way, even though it is clear that one must precede the other, as well as continue alongside it from that point onward [the Occultist never ceases to be a Mystic]. At any rate, thanks for the comments!

 

[seattlegal]

Citta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Pali-English Dictionary suggests citta is heart / mind, and emphasizing it is more the emotive side of mind as opposed to manas as the intellect or mind-sense in the sense of what grasps mental objects (dhammas ). Citta is the object of meditation in the third part of Satipatthana, also called four foundation of mindfulness.
"Citta" primarily represents one's mindset, or state of mind.[3][4] Citta is the term used in to refer to the quality of mental processes as a whole.[5] Citta is neither an entity nor a process; this likely accounts for its not being classified as a skandha, nor mentioned in the paticcasamuppada formula.[6]
​

 

[Lunitik]

Those areas which are of truth within Theosophy are said very mater of factly, then they go back into the multitude of the outer world once more. In every direction, the universe meets in you, this meeting is the explosion of enlightenment. Enlightenment means to encounter a state of oneness, how will you manage it within the multitude? It is not to deny the many, it is to transcend it. There is this Universe, but it is itself part of a larger system in a greater existence, it will go infinitely outwards in this manner, yet the mind decides there is a beginning out of ease. Within you, there are circulatory systems for breath and blood. Within each, there are atoms which again are circular motions, within this again quarks and it can go infinitely in this direction as well, always cyclical - the wheel of life and death.

How to step out of this wheel? You must transcend the opposites, you must come to a point where you simply are not, nothing is arising and you are expecting nothing at all. You are utterly innocent and pure again, as Jesus said: you must be as these Children before you can enter the Kingdom of God. It is absolute, you simply let go. What remains? When there is absolutely nothing, what remains? Someone is aware there is nothing, what is the nature of this knower? Love opens the heart chakra, realizing it is all there is. We remain at the center of feelings though...

Next is the throat center, this one is not at all pleasant but again there is the explosion of a chakra opening. Now energy wishes to go higher still, now your third eye tingles almost constantly, all your energy becomes centered here, pushing on your forehead almost painfully. Again an explosion, now you can sense people around you, there feelings and mind states, intuition is annoyingly hyper. Now meditation goes to the crown chakra gradually, building up gradually until another explosion. Now knowledge is revealed to you, you needn't study. Inquiry takes a strange dimension, answers arise instead of questions, it simply flows, but it never comes in terms of different people - it is the past, the past has evaporated, just a video tape you access on your brain/biological hard drive. You are utterly in the now, always, always there is a light glimmering in your vision, a contentment, happiness. Each opening is a bigger explosion, but now must bring the energy down consciously to function.

This is why I say knowledge needn't be studied, because it comes of its own accord by simply building your energy. You cannot borrow this knowledge, you will simply not understand until you are sufficiently conscious, sufficiently expanded. You can say it is ego, but it is not, truth flows howsoever it might, freedom for all life is the goal. Whatsoever creates a restriction, whatsoever burdens the individual must be avoided because he ego will attach to it. I speak with authority, but it is not arrogance, it is simply not humility. To understand this you must understand the very key of all religiousness - that of oneness. Whatsoever duality you encounter, you must transcend, do not pick one side over the other ever - they are conceptions, and utterly false. Now a new response-ability has arisen, you do not need the law, you simply share that divinity which is flowing from you, open to the moment.

You say I seem knowledgeable about many traditions, it is not so at all, and I knew even less before I started to look for an effective way to express what I had been given. I simply contemplated the Middle Way and lost myself, went deeper into it and learned how it happened. Whosoever expresses that how I have become interested in simply to learn how to express - I only remain on this earth to assist others, what else to do?

 

[Lunitik]

Citta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Pali-English Dictionary suggests citta is heart / mind, and emphasizing it is more the emotive side of mind as opposed to manas as the intellect or mind-sense in the sense of what grasps mental objects (dhammas ). Citta is the object of meditation in the third part of Satipatthana, also called four foundation of mindfulness.
"Citta" primarily represents one's mindset, or state of mind.[3][4] Citta is the term used in to refer to the quality of mental processes as a whole.[5] Citta is neither an entity nor a process; this likely accounts for its not being classified as a skandha, nor mentioned in the paticcasamuppada formula.[6]
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The Heart Sutta states that no-dhamma must also be realized, based on this definition of dhamma - which I do not agree with, but I will use it - it means also that mind must be realized as illusory. It says it in far gentler words anyway, in that it says to quiet the mind, which eventually causes the minds death. Without clinging to it, without giving it attention, it simply ceases to be. It is experienced as a type of death, you will be extremely fearful because what you think you is certainly dying. Only then do you lose all illusions, because where else can illusion arise? It is mind all along which veils truth, automatically, ego is dropped and the divine occupies that space... this is bliss, this is melting in utter love, what to say to give it justice? You can only laugh, you can only be thankful for what has been shown to you... you have found your center, the witness.

 

[taijasi]

Citta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Pali-English Dictionary suggests citta is heart / mind, and emphasizing it is more the emotive side of mind as opposed to manas as the intellect or mind-sense in the sense of what grasps mental objects (dhammas ). Citta is the object of meditation in the third part of Satipatthana, also called four foundation of mindfulness.

"Citta" primarily represents one's mindset, or state of mind.[3][4] Citta is the term used in to refer to the quality of mental processes as a whole.[5] Citta is neither an entity nor a process; this likely accounts for its not being classified as a skandha, nor mentioned in the paticcasamuppada formula.[6]
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Thank you, Seattlegal.

Chitta can also be translated as mindstuff, but it should be pointed out that for esotericsts it is considered the innate substance or MATTER, the stuff of the mental [manasic] plane as a whole. It is like physical matter and astral matter, except that while the former is characterized by motion and composes the `extensible world' [the res extensa of Descartes] ... and while the astral is self-luminous [hence the term `astral'], being the `stuff' which composes our - and anyone's - emotions ... the mental world is the Res cogitans of Descartes, and its *inherent* quality is the Principle we call Mind [Manas, individually, Ma'at or Mahat in the Macrocosm].

This makes the entire mental world the clothing of the Planetary Entity, although the latter - the Logos - does not express itself in the lower mental world (or astral or physical) at all. The Higher Manas is the lowest extension or expression of the Soul, the Manasaputra, or `Son of Mind.' The latter are also termed Agnishvatta [Agni + Isvara ... Lord of Fire], especially when considering the relationship of the Soul, whose spiritual attainments belong to past cycles, to the human personality.

The personality in many esoteric teachings is viewed as threefold, or even fourfold. It is, in short, the shadow self or the shadow [of Jungian psychology] ... also the `body' of Pauline Christianity, and the Dweller on the Threshold known in occult teachings. It is composed of the lower mental body [lower manas with its mental vehicle, subject to destruction & reformation with each new birth], plus the astral body and the etheric double & aura. These are expressed through the dense physical body of solid, liquid & gaseous matter, yet the dense body is not a spiritual Principle in occult teachings [as are the other aspects of the Personality].

The Soul proper is the Spiritual Triad of Atma, Buddhi and Higher Manas, whilte it is itself [when focused w/in the Causal or Higher Mental, formless/arupa body] the threefold vehicle of the Spiritual Monad ... quite different in Theosophical teachings from the monads of Liebniz, though not altogether so. The Monad, to me, is the Eternal Pilgrim. It is not separate from the Father, but rather only distinct - in ways that are beyond me. Christ, however, when He referred to Our Father in Heaven, seems to have meant the MONAD. If we wish to extend His invitation to the Logos [Planetary or Solar], we must also adjust our frame of reference, relative to the lower planes or those upon which the Soul finds its native Consciousness.

The Soul is Consciousness Itself in the esoteric teachings. It is the Christ Child, the PRINICPLE of Love and Light [Buddhi-Taijasi] in the embryonic sense, waiting for the fulfilment that comes through the growth to Perfection within and toward the end of the Human Sojourn. This is Beautifully summed up in one short Biblical passage of the New Testament:

"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ ..." ~ Ephesians 4:13
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I quote the next three passages for context, and to prove a point:

"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." ~Ibid, 14-16
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Key words here: ALL come in the UNITY ... to a PERFECT man ... the fulness of Christ ... EVERY joint supplieth [accordingly] ~ increasing the body, edification in LOVE ...

So, there is Bodhichitta, and while this may refer to a transformed or Enlightened Manas - relatively speaking - it is something that would not be possible were it not for Bodhi ... or Buddhi, when regarded as a spiritual Principle [and Budh+ha, when we speak of the enlightened manushi, or his Solar/Cosmic correlations and parent Monad]. The state of higher Manas, illumined by the Triad Itself is called Manas-Taijasi ... similar to Buddhi-Taijasi, when the influence is also present Buddhically.

Yes, there is plenty of intellectualization for some of, when discussing such things ... and in my case this is abundantly clear. The mistake is to assume that such people, myself or others, do not necessarily have any kind of Buddhic awareness, or that we haven't had, and hence that all we know is our book-learning, and perhaps a friendly `Aha' moment or two ... from the few times we have managed to still our mind well enough to properly meditate.

Such hasty assumptions are what I am hoping to avoid. And I hope that - once a person realizes how much time, how much training - was invested on the part of the many, many occultists who have made contributions in the past couple of centuries, THEN he or she may begin to sense what we ourselves are called to. We are called to no less, but it is up to *each* of US when we will choose to respond .. or find ourselves strong enough, resolved enough and rightly prepared to do so.

In Part I of Light on the Path, given by the Master Hilarion - yet earlier still by the Venetian Chohan, dating back to Atlantean times - the very first words we read, even before the first stanza, run thus:

THESE rules are written for all disciples: Attend you to them.

Before the eyes can see, they must be incapable of tears. Before the ear can hear, it must have lost its sensitiveness. Before the voice can speak in the presence of the Masters it must have lost the power to wound. Before the soul can stand in the presence of the Masters its feet must be washed in the blood of the heart.
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I'm not sure I see any wiggle room here, nor any lack of clarity. I do not see two ways to interpret the instruction, nor do I feel any desire to quibble with this Teaching.

But I do feel the inclination to quote from The Diamond Light, the Newsletter of the Aquarian Age Community [No.3, 2011]. I quote extensively, as this adds further light to the topic ... but anyone interested can read the entire article at the above link:

In his Oration on the Dignity of Man that is yet studied in the philosophy departments of well-respected universities today, one of the best known Renaissance philosophers, Giovanni Pico della Mirandola provides the following description of these two distinct aspects of the human being—in the form of a message which Mr. Mirandola imagined God might deliver to each one of us:

“We have made you a creature neither of heaven nor of earth, neither mortal nor immortal, in order that you may, as the free and proud shaper of your own being, fashion yourself in the form you may prefer. It will be in your power to descend to the lower, brutish forms of life; you will be able, through your own decision, to rise again to the superior orders whose life is divine."

In the Ageless Wisdom, presented by the Tibetan Master, Djwhal Khul, in the books of Alice A. Bailey, the shadow is more profoundly and comprehensively conceptualized as the Dweller on the Threshold and defined essentially as the personality—that integrated unity composed of physical forces, vital energy, astral/emotional forces and mental energies, constituting the sum total of the lower nature; it is the potency of the threefold material form, nurtured and developed throughout the eons, over many life times—prior to its conscious cooperation and dedication to the life of the Soul.

Whereas the Dweller indicates the past with its limitations and evil habits; the Angel indicates the future possibility, the next step towards liberation, as it throws light upon the immediate stage of the Path of Light which will eventually lead the individual, and ultimately, humanity, from darkness to light, from the unreal to the real and from death to immortality. The Dweller thus summarizes the accumulated limitations and the sum total of the selfish habits and desires which are characteristic of the material nature.

Just as darkness is not recognized except in contrast to light, so the Dweller is not fully cognized until it becomes aware of its divine counterpart—the Angel of the Presence, the Soul whose nature is love, light and inclusive understanding. It is on the mental plane that the “threshold of divinity” is finally discovered and it is upon the mental plane that these two are eventually brought face to face. Herein the conflict begins and the heroic battle is waged:

“Only when man is an integrated personality does the problem of the Dweller truly arise, and only when the mind is alert and the intelligence organised (as is becoming the case today on a fairly large scale) is it possible for man to sense—intelligently and not just mystically—the Angel and so intuit the PRESENCE. Only then does the entire question of hindrances which the Dweller embodies, and the limitations which it provides to spiritual contact and realisation assume potent proportions. Only then can … steps [be] taken to induce right action." [Glamour: A World Problem, A.A.Bailey, p.152]
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[taijasi]

The Heart Sutta states that no-dhamma must also be realized, based on this definition of dhamma - which I do not agree with, but I will use it - it means also that mind must be realized as illusory. It says it in far gentler words anyway, in that it says to quiet the mind, which eventually causes the minds death. Without clinging to it, without giving it attention, it simply ceases to be. It is experienced as a type of death, you will be extremely fearful because what you think you is certainly dying. Only then do you lose all illusions, because where else can illusion arise? It is mind all along which veils truth, automatically, ego is dropped and the divine occupies that space... this is bliss, this is melting in utter love, what to say to give it justice? You can only laugh, you can only be thankful for what has been shown to you... you have found your center, the witness.

It is the Long Dark Night of the Soul, of St. John of the Cross ... and it is certainly the greatest struggle you will ever experience - at least while within, wrestling with (and of course, against) the pull of form upon the spiritual Soul [Buddhi, using manas as its vehicle & expression, itself the vehicle of Atma].

Thus, I must respectfully disagree.

There is a thread Thomas has started on the Mystic Path ... that thread being the inspiration for this one. I don't mind contrasts. I just want to focus on the occult path here. Thanks.

Oh! Another great spot for discussing the little self, or ego, would be the Buddhist forums. There is probably more depth, and a more experienced take on that subject [in particular] ... than I could ever render here - or in one lifetime. This is, after all, a critical subject - but only one small [sic!] consideration - in the Mysteries.

addendum: Lunitik, your post on the chakras is right-on. This is one of the subjects which the occultist must become familiar with, for he shall study it again and again, on many levels. He shall never cease to recognize deeper, more profound applications of the more elementary understandings which he first formulates ... on this idea that there are definite centers of focused Consciousness, or energy, or active, Intelligent expression - within all worlds, from physical, astral and mental, to the worlds where Unity and Oneness prevail, as well as Transcendent ... where he can only dream of something Infinite, Eternal yet *demonstrative* of the most sublime experiences which he has yet had on ANY plane - because ultimately, responsible for, or sub-standing, them all.

 

[taijasi]

I would share another excerpt, marked mentally by me for inclusion in some kind of post here just yesterday. This is from a book I received two days ago in the mail, authored by Geoffrey Hodson, a Theosophist and extremely gifted clairvoyant occultist, regarded by some as the 20th Century Messenger for modern Theosophy ... in the same or a similar sense as was HPB during the 19th Century.

Mr. Hodson writes:

"The Chohan and Maha-Chohan [6th & 7th Degree Initiates, respectively] ... have broken through other imprisonments into freedoms extending beyond the planet and, in the lattter case, the Solar System. The Buddha of the Eighth Initiation is free beyond the Solar System but not within the Cosmos as a whole. At the Ninth Initiation, matter, as a limiting or enclosing element of existence, loses its power over consciousness elevated through Atma into Anupadaka, with Adi within range by means of yoga. Thereat and thereafter the film of the Maha-Tattva alone limits the range of consciousness.

The imprisoning walls, beginning with the densest, may be enumerated as follows:

1. A physical body with head-glands and atoms as gateways.
2. The astro-mental body with chakras as gateways.
3. The Causal body itself with its attributes of "I-ness" [ahamkara] imparted to the lower three vehicles and with the interior Triple Self within as gateways.
4. The planet and its planes with the Lords thereof as gateways.
5. The Solar System with the Lord of the Sun and the Regents of the planets and the interplanetary Officials as gateways.
6. The Sirian Cosmos with Logos, Lords of the Constellations, and intermediate Officials as gateways.
7. Extra-Sirian Groupings with Their corresponding Logoi and Archangels as gateways.
8. Finally, the supracosmic Maha-Tattva, the first formed film of differentiated substance enclosing all creation and with Adi-Buddha as gateway leading into the unknowable Absolute, the apparently impossible "Dark Light" and "Silent Sound."

ZEN, which word comes to us from Dzyan [pronounced JOHN, which is again, the true origin for this Name] ... aims toward the very final of these imaginable gateways ... as Adi-Buddha within esoteric Buddhism [or Budhism] refers not to any kind of manushi [human Buddha] but to something Celestial - and altogether beyond the experience of anyone in our Solar System. All that is Zen may be understood as originating via these gateways, crystalizing or percolating through them, manifesting finally outwardly as the modern `phenomenon' ... but certainly, just as much as any other path, a much-modified, cultivated form of the Ageless Wisdom.

At any rate, I wanted to share what Mr. Hodson had to say on the subject of chakras, having thumbed through the book [The Yogic Ascent to Spiritual Heights] and noticing this section. I would like very much to add another couple of paragraphs, which follow the above quotation. It's only useful if there is a need, as it is further discussion of this subject of gateways ... focusing on the Causal body [the vehicle of Higher Mind, also the upadhi of the Soul] and upon what it is that we can do to attain Consciousness of, and firmly anchored within this `Vesture of Light.'