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

...state that has no relation to any state of consciousness we can conceive. Consciousness implies both something to be conscious of and someone to be conscious of it. However, on the highest plane, neither of these exists. Thus, the Spiritual Beings original: "Ah-hi" are described as "non-existent" because they have not yet manifested.

Q. The commentary states that "it is by the Cosmic Intellect original: "Mahat" that the Spiritual Beings original: "Ah-hi" become conscious of themselves as 'I am I'." Does this mean they are not conscious before this occurs?

A. They are not conscious in the way we understand the word. They possess "absolute" consciousness, which, from our limited perspective, appears to be non-consciousness. The Cosmic Intellect original: "Mahat" is the first differentiation or "emanation" from the Absolute. It is through this principle that the sense of individuality, or "I-ness," begins to emerge.

Q. Then the Spiritual Beings original: "Ah-hi" are not truly individuals?

A. Not until they are reflected in the Cosmic Intellect original: "Mahat". Consider the sun as an analogy: the sun is a single entity, yet it can be reflected in a thousand different pools of water. Each reflection appears to be a separate, "individual" sun, even though they all originate from the same source. The Spiritual Beings original: "Ah-hi" are like the rays of that sun; they only achieve individuality when they strike the "water" of the Cosmic Intellect original: "Mahat".

Q. What is the relationship between the Cosmic Intellect original: "Mahat" and the Universal Mind?

A. They are one and the same. Mahat is the Sanskrit term for "The Great" or the Universal Mind. It serves as the source for every individual mind original: "Manas" throughout the universe.

Q. Does the human mind original: "Manas" exist after death?

A. The essence of the mind remains, but the lower mind—the part that is concerned with the physical body and its worldly desires—perishes. Only that which is of the same nature as the Spiritual Soul original: "Buddhi" can endure.