Transactions of the Blavatsky Lodge of the Theosophical Society. Discussions on the stanzas of the first volume of The secret doctrine

...far he extends his worship, it is simply impossible for him to worship each one individually. In his ignorance, if he chooses any one in particular, he may by no means select the most perfect. Therefore, he would do much better to remember that every person has a god within—a direct ray from the Absolute, the celestial ray from the One. He has his "god" within himself, not outside of himself.

Question: Is there any name that can be applied to the planetary Hierarchy or spirit which watches over the entire evolution of our own globe, such as Brahma, for instance?

Answer: None, except the generic name, since it is a septenary a group of seven and a Hierarchy—unless, indeed, we call it "the Spirit of the Earth," as some Kabbalists do.

Question: It is very difficult to remember all these infinite Hierarchies of gods.

Answer: It is no more difficult than for a chemist to remember the endless symbols of chemistry, if he is a specialist. In India alone, however, there are over 300 million gods and goddesses. The Manus and Rishis are also planetary gods, for they are said to have appeared at the beginning of the human races to watch over their evolution, and to have incarnated and descended to earth subsequently in order to teach mankind. Then there are the Sapta Rishis, the "Seven Rishis," said publicly original: "exoterically" to reside in the constellation of the Great Bear. These are also planetary gods.

Question: Are they higher than Brahma?

Answer: It depends on which aspect of Brahma one views. In esoteric philosophy, he is the synthesis of the seven logoi the creative words or reasons. In public original: "exoteric" theology, he is an aspect of Vishnu according to the Vaishnavas; for others, he is something else. For example, in the Trimurti the Hindu Trinity, he is the chief creator, whereas Vishnu is the Preserver and Siva is the Destroyer. In the Kabbalah, he is certainly Adam Kadmon—the "male-female" man of the first chapter of Genesis. For the Manus proceed from Brahma just as the Sephiroth proceed from Adam Kadmon, and they are also seven and ten, as circumstances require.

But we may just as well pass on to another Verse original: "Sloka" of the Stanzas you want explained.

Verse (9).—BUT WHERE WAS THE DANGMA WHEN THE ALAYA OF THE UNIVERSE (Soul as the basis of all, the Soul of the World original: "Anima Mundi") WAS IN PARAMARTHA (Absolute Being and Consciousness, which are Absolute Non-Being and Unconsciousness) AND THE GREAT WHEEL WAS ANUPADAKA?

Question: Does "Alaya" mean that which is never manifested and dissolved, and is it derived from "a," the negative particle, and "laya"?

Answer: If it is so etymologically—and I am certainly not prepared to answer you one way or the other—it would mean the reverse, since laya itself is that which is not manifested; therefore, it would signify that which is not unmanifested, if anything. Whatever the linguistic analysis original: "etymological vivisection" of the word might be, it is simply the "Soul of the World" original: "Anima Mundi". This is shown by the very wording of the Verse, which speaks of Alaya being in Paramartha—that is, in Absolute Non-Being and Unconsciousness, which is at the same time absolute perfection or Absoluteness itself. This word, however, is the bone of contention between the Yogacharya and the Madhyamika schools of Northern Buddhism. The academic logic original: "scholasticism" of the latter makes Paramartha (Truth original: "Satya") something dependent on, and therefore relative to, other things, thereby undermining the whole metaphysical philosophy of the word "Absoluteness." The other school very rightly denies this interpretation.

Question: Does not the Esoteric Philosophy teach the same doctrines as the Yogacharya School?

Answer: Not quite. But let us go on.

STANZA II.

Verse (1). . . . . WHERE WERE THE BUILDERS, THE LUMINOUS SONS OF MANVANTARIC DAWN? . . . . IN THE UNKNOWN DARKNESS, IN THEIR AH-HI (Hierarchical, Dhyani-Buddhic) PARANISHPANNA, THE PRODUCERS OF FORM (rupa) FROM NO-FORM (arupa), THE ROOT OF THE WORLD—THE DEVAMATRI AND SVABHAVAT, RESTED IN THE BLISS OF NON-BEING.

Question: Are the "luminous sons of manvantaric dawn" perfected human spirits of the last Manvantara great cycle of manifestation, or are they on their way to humanity in this or a subsequent Manvantara?

Answer: In this case, which concerns a Great Cycle of Manifestation original: "Maha-manvantara" after a Great Dissolution original: "Maha-pralaya", they are the latter. They are the primordial seven rays from which all the other luminous and non-luminous lives will emanate in their turn, whether they are Archangels, Devils, humans, or apes. Some have been human already, and some will only now become human beings. It is only after the differentiation of the seven rays and after the seven forces of nature have taken...