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

Question: But if physical hearing were stopped and a person perceived sounds clairvoyantly, could that sensation be translated into clairaudience the ability to hear sounds beyond the normal range as well?

Answer: One sense must certainly merge into the other at some point. Similarly, sound can be translated into taste. There are sounds that taste extremely acidic to some sensitive people, while others produce a sweet taste. In fact, the entire scale of senses is capable of these correlations.

Question: Then there must be a similar extension for the sense of smell?

Answer: Naturally, as has been shown before. Once we admit correlation, the senses are interchangeable. Moreover, they can all be considerably intensified or modified. You will now understand the references in the Vedas and Upanishads ancient sacred Hindu texts where sounds are said to be perceived visually.

Question: There was a curious story in the latest issue of Harper's Magazine about a tribe on a South Sea island who have essentially lost the art and habit of speaking. Yet, they seemed to understand one another and could clearly see what each other was thinking.

Answer: Such a "Palace of Truth" would hardly suit modern society. However, it was by exactly such means that the early races are said to have communicated. Thought took an objective form before speech developed into a distinct spoken language. If this is true, then there must have been a period in the evolution of the human race when all of humanity was composed of sensitive individuals and clairvoyants.

IV.

STANZA I (continued).

Question: Regarding verse (6), which mentions the "Seven Lords," since the terms can be confusing, what is the distinction between Dhyan-Chohans, Planetary Spirits, Builders, and Dhyani-Buddhas?

Answer: It would take an additional two volumes of The Secret Doctrine to explain all the Hierarchies; therefore, much of the information regarding them has been omitted from the Verses and Commentaries. However, I can attempt a short definition. "Dhyan-Chohan" is a general term for all Devas shining ones or celestial beings. A "Planetary Spirit" is a Ruler of a planet, a kind of finite or personal god. However, there is a significant difference between the Rulers of the "Sacred Planets" and the Rulers of a small "chain" of worlds like our own. It is no valid objection to say that Earth has six invisible companions and four different planes, just like every other planet, for the difference between them is vital in many respects. Regardless of what one might say, our Earth was never numbered among the seven sacred planets of the ancients. In popular, outer astrology, the Earth stood as a substitute for a secret planet now lost to astronomy, though well known to initiated specialists. Neither the Sun nor the Moon was included in that number, though they are accepted by modern astrology today; the Sun is a central star, and the Moon is a dead planet.

Question: Were none of the six globes of the "terrene" earthly chain numbered among the sacred planets?

Answer: None. The sacred planets were all planets on our physical plane, and some of them were discovered later.

Question: Can you tell us anything about the planets for which the Sun and the Moon were substitutes?