KARMA

ANNIE BESANT
‘

Lon d on

Th eosoph i ca l Pu b l i shi n g Soci ety

7 , D u k e Stre e t, A d e l ph i , W . C .

BE N A R E S : T HE O SO PHI C AL P U B LISHI NG SO CIET'

M AD RAS : l e Theosophist O FFIC E, AD ' AR

P R I CE ONE SHIL L IN G .
 PR EFA CE .

Few words a re n eeded i n sen di n

g thi s l i ttle book ou t

i n to the world .
f f
It i s the f M a n u a ls
ou r th o a seri es o

desig n ed to m eet the pu bli c dem a n d for a si mp le exposi

ti on of Theosop hi ca l tea chi ng s Som e ha ve comp la i n ed .

tha t ou r l i tera tu re i s a t on ce too a bstru se, too techn i ca l ,

and too ex en si ve
p f or the or di n a ry rea der , a n d i t is ou r

hope tha t the presen t se7 i es m ay su cceed in su pplyi ng

wha t i s a very rea l wa n t . Theosop hy i s n ot on l
y f or the
lea r n ed ; i t i sfor a ll . P erhaps a mong those who i n these
l i ttle booles ca tch thei r first g l i mpse of i ts tea chi ng s ther e ,

m ay be a few who wi l l b e led by them to pen etra te m or e

deep ly i n to i ts p hi losophy, i ts sci en ce a n d i ts r el i
g i o n ,

fa ci ng i ts a bstru ser problem s wi th the stu den t s z ea l '

and

phyte s a rdou r But these m a n u a ls

'
the n eo . a re n ot

wri tten for the eag er stu den t whom ,

no i n i ti a l dif
fi cu l ti es

ca n da u n t they a re wri tten for the b u sy men a nd

wom en o f the work -

a -
day world, a n d seek to m a ke p la i n
som e o f the g rea t tr u ths tha t r en der l ife ea si er to bea r
.

a nd dea th ea si er to f
a ce . Wri tten by ser va n ts f
o the
M a sters who a re the E lder B rothersofou r ra ce, they ca n

ha ve n o other obj ect tha n to ser ve ou r f el low -

m en .
 KARMA .

E very thoug ht of m a n pon bei ng

u evol ved pa sses i n to
the i n n er wor ld, a nd b ecom es a n by a ssoci a
a cti ve en ti t
y
ti ng i tself, coa lesci ng we m i ght ter m i t, wi th a n elem en ta l
— th a t i s to say, wi th on e of the sem i i n tel l i gen t for ces of
-

the ki ng doms It su rv i ves a s a n a cti ve —

i n tell i gen ce a
—
.

f the m i n d s beg etti n g f long er shor ter

'
crea tu re o or a or

peri od p roporti on a te wi th the orig i n a l i n ten si ty of the

cereb r a l a cti on whi ch g en era ted i t . Thu s, a g ood thoug ht
i s perpetu a ted a s a n a cti ve, b en eyi cen t power,
‘
an evi l on e

as a m a leficen t dem on . A nd so ma n i s con ti n u a l ly

peop li ng hi s cu rren t i n spa ce wi th a wor ld of hi s own ,

crowded wi th the o f f
sp r i ng f
o h i sfa n ci es desi res i mp u lses , ,

a n d pa ssi on s a cu rren t whi ch re a cts upon a ny sen si ti ve

-

or n ervou s org a n i sa ti on whi ch com es in con ta ct wi th i t, i n

p ropor ti on to i ts dyn a m i c i n ten si ty . The B u ddhi st ca lls

i t hi s Sha n dha the Hi n du g i ves i t the na me of

K a rm a . The A dep t evolves these shapes con sci ou sly

other m en throw them of

The Occult World pp, . 89 9 0

. . F ou rth E di tion .
 6

No m o re gr a phic picture of the

ess e n ti a l na ture
o f K a r m a ha s e v e r b e e n give n th a n i n these w o rds ,

t a k en fr o m o n e o f the e arly l e tt e rs o f M a ster K H . .

If thes e are cle arl y u n derst o o d with all the ir i m p li

,

c a ti o n s the p erpl e xiti e s which surr o u n d the su bj e ct

,

will for the m o st p art dis appe ar a n d the m ai n pr i n ,

c i pl e u n d erlyi n g k ar m ic a cti o n will b e gr a sp e d .

Th e y will th ere fo re b e t a ke n a s i n dic ati n g the b est

li n e o f study an d we sh a ll b egi n by c o n sideri n g the
,

cr e a tive po we rs o f m a n All we n e e d a s pr efa ce is

.

a cl ea r c o n c e pti o n o f the i n v a ri a b ilit y o f la w an d ,

o f the gre a t pl a n e s 1 n N a tur e .

T HE I N V AR IAB IL IT ' OF L AW .

Th at we liv e i n a re a l m o f law th a t we are sur ,

r o u n ded by l aws th a t we c a n n o t br ea k this is a ,

truis m ' et wh e n the fa ct is r ec o g n i se d i n a r e al

.

a n d vit a l w ay a n d wh e n it is s ee n to be a f
, a ct i n the

m e n t a l a n d m o r a l w o rld a s m uch a s i n the ph y sic a l .

,

a c e rt a i n s e n s e o f h e lpl e ss n e ss is a pt to o v e rp o wer

u s a s th o ugh we f
, e lt o urs e lves i n the grip o f s o m e

m ight y P o w er th at s e iz i n g u s whirls us away

, , ,

whith er it will T he v er y r e vers e o f this is i n r e a lity

.

the c a s e fo r the m ight y P o we r wh e n it is u n d e r

, ,

st o o d will o b edi e n tly c arry us whith er we will ; all

,

fo rc e s i n N a tur e c a n be us e d l n pr o p o rti o n a s they

ar e u n d erst o o d N a t ure 1 5 c o n quered by o bedi e n ce
—a n d her r esistl e ss e n ergies are a t o ur biddi n g as
s o o n as we b y k n o wledge wo rk with the m a n d n o t
, ,
 7

a ga i n st the m We c a n ch o ose o u t o f her b ou n dl e s s

.

st o r e s the forc e s th a t serve o u r purpo se i n m o m e n

tu m i n directi o n a n d so o n a n d their v er y i n v ar i a
, , ,

b ility bec o m es the gu ar a n t e e o f o ur success .

O n the i n v ari a bilit y o f law dep e n d the security o f

sci e n tific experi m e n t a n d all power o f pl a n n i n g a
,

r e sult a n d o f pr e dicti n g the future O n this the .

che m ist rests sur e th a t N a ture will ever r e spo n d in

,

the s a m e wa y if he b e precise i n putti n g his ques

,

tio n s . A v ari a tio n i n his r e sults is t a k e n by hi m a s

i m pl yi n g a ch an ge i n his procedure n o t a ch a n ge i n ,

N a tur e An d so with all hu m a n a cti o n ; the m o re

.

it is b a s e d o n k n o wl e dg e the m o re secure is it i n its

,

fo rec a sti n g s for a ll, a ccid e n t is the r e sult o f

ig n o r a n ce a n d 1 5 du e to the wo r k i n g o f l aws wh o se
,

prese n ce wa s u n k n o wn or o verl o o ked In the m e n ta l .

a n d m o r a l w o rlds a s m uch a s i n the ph y sic a l r e sults

, ,

ca n b e f o res ee n pl a n n e d fo r c alcul a t e d o n
,
N a ture
, .

n ev er betr a y s us ; we ar e b e tr a y e d by o u r o w n bli n d

ne ss . In a ll w o rlds i n cr ea s i n g k n o wl e dge m e a n s
i n cre a si n g p6wer a n d o m n i sci e n c e a n d o m n ip o t e n ce
,

ar e o n e .

Th a t sh o uld b e as i n vari a ble i n the m e n t al

law
a n d m o r a l wo rlds a s i n the ph y sic a l is to be e xpected ,

si n ce the u n iverse is the e m a n a ti o n o f the O NE a n d ,

wh a t we c a ll L aw is b ut the expr e ssi o n o fthe Divi n e

N ature As there is o n e Li fe e m an ati n g a ll so
.
,

there 18 o n e L aw sust a i n i n g all ; the wo rlds rest on

this rock o f the Divi n e N a ture a s o n a s e cure i m ,

mut a b le fou n d a ti o n .
 8

T HE PL AN E S OF N AT U RE .

To s tud th e wor k i n gs o f K arm a on t h e lin e

suggested b t h e M a ster we must gai n a cle ar co n
,

c epti o n o f t e t h ree lower pl a n es or regio n s o f the, ,

u niverse , an d o f the Pri n ciples * rel ated to t h em .

Th e n ames given to t h e m i n dic ate t h e st a te o f the

con sciousness wor k i n g o n t h em In this a di agr a m .

m ay h el p us sh owi n g t h e pl a n es wit h t h e Pri n ciples

,

r el a ted to t h em a n d the ve h icles i n w h ich a c o n

,

scious entity m ayvisit t h e m In pra ctical O ccultism

.

the st u den t le ar ns to visit t h ese pl a nes a n d by hi s ,

o wn i n vestig a tions to tr a n s f o rm t h eory i n to k n ow

ledge Th e lowest vehicle the Gross Body serve s

.
, ,

the co n sciousness fo r its w o r k o n t h e physic a l pl a n e ,

a n d in t h is t h e co n sci o us n ess is limited wit h i n the

c ap a cities o f t h e br a i n Th e term Subtle Body

.

covers a v ar iety ofa str al bodies respectively suit a ble to

,

the v arying conditio n s o ft he ver com plic a ted region

i ndica te d by t h e n am e psychic pla ne
O n the dev a .

c ha n i c pl a ne t h ere are two well defin ed levels the Fo rm

-
,

Level a n d t h e For m less Level on the lower co n sci o us ,

n e ss u se s a n artifici a l b o dy t h e M ayavi R fip a b u t
, ,

t h e term Mind Body seem s suit a ble as i n dic ati n g

t h at t h e m atter o f which it is co m posed belo n gs to
t h e pl a ne o f M a n a s O n t h e for m less l evel the
.

C aus a l Body must be used O f t h e Buddhic pl a n e

.

it is n eedless to Spe a k .

See for these M

, , AN U AL 1 .
 AT M A .

Bu ddhi

Ma n a s

K am a -
M a ma s

KAm a

L i n g Sha ri ra
a-
'

Sthfila -Shari ra
‘

N ow the m atter o n these pl a n es is n o t the s am e ,

a n d spe a k ing gener all y the m atter o f e a ch pl a n e i s

,
 IO

d e n ser th a n th a t o fthe o n e a b o ve it This is a cco rd

.

i n g to the a n a l o gy o f N a ture , fo r evolutio n i n its

d o w n wa rd c o urse is fr o m r a r e to d e n se fr o m su btle ,

to gr o ss . Furth er , v a st hi er archi e s o fb ei n gs i n h ab it
t h e s e pl a n es , r a n gi n g fr o m the l o ft y I n tellig e n ces o f
t he spiritu a l r e gi o n to the l o we st su b c o n sci o us -

El e m e n t a ls o f the ph y sic a l wo rld O n ev er y pl a n e

.

Spirit a n d M a tt er are c o nj o i n e d i n e very p article

e v ery p articl e h avi n g M a tt er a s its b o dy Spirit a s its
—
,

l i fe a n d all i n depe n de n t a gg r e ga ti o n s o f p articl e s ,

a ll sep ar at e d f o r m s o f e v er y ki n d o f e ver y t y pe are

, ,

e n s o ul e d by thes e livi n g b ei n gs , v aryi n g i n their

g r a de a cc o rdi n g to the gr a d e o f the f o r m N o fo rm .

exists which is n o t th u s e n so ul e d b ut the i n fo r m i n g

,

e n tity m ay b e the l o fti e st I n t e l lig e n c e the l o we st

(

E le m e n t al o r a n y o f the c o u n tl e ss h o sts th a t r a n ge
,

b e twe e n . T he e n titi e s with which we sh a ll pr e se n tly

b e c o n c er n ed are chiefly th o se o f the ps y chic pl a n e ,

fo r th e s e give to m a n his b o dy o f desire (Ka m a R up a )

—his b o dy o f s en s ati on a s it is o fte n c all e d—are
,

i n deed b uilt i n t o its a str a l m atrix a n d vivify his

a str a l se n ses . Th ey are to u se the t e ch n ic a l n am e
, ,

the Fo r m El e m e n t a ls (Rup a D ev atas) o f the a n i m al

w o rld a n d a re the age n ts o f the ch a n ges which
,

tr a n s m ut e vibr a ti o n s i n t o se n s a ti o n s .

The m o st s ali e n t ch ar a ct e ristic o f the ka m i o

El e m e n t a ls is se n s ati o n the p o wer o f n o t o n ly
,

a n sw e ri n g to vibr a tio n s b ut o f f e e li n g th e m a n d the

psychic pl a n e is cr o wd e d with these e n titi e s o fv ary ,

i n g d e gr e es o f co n scious n ess who receive i m p a cts o f

,
 II

ev e ry ki n d a n d co m bi n e the m i n t o se n s a tio n s An y .

bei n g who p o ssesses th e n a b o dy i n t o which these

, ,

Ele m e n t a ls are built is c ap a bl e o f fee li n g a n d m a n

, ,

fe e ls thr o ugh such a b o dy . A m a n is n o t c o n sci o us

i n the p a rticles o f his b o dy or eve n i n its cells th ey
h ave a c o n sci o us n ess o f th e ir o wn a n d by this c arry
,

o n the v ari o us pr o c e ss e s o f his veget a tive li f e ; but

the m a n wh o se b o d y they fo r m d o e s n o t sh ar e their
c o n scious n e ss d o e s n o t c o n sci o usl y help or hi n der
,

th e m a s th e y s e l e ct a ssi m il a te s e cr e te build up a n d
, , , ,

c o uld n o t a t a n y m o m e n t so put his c o n sc i o us n e ss

i n to r appo rt with the c o n scious n e ss o f a cell in his
he a rt as to say e x a ctly wh a t it wa s d o i n g H is co n .

sc i o u sn e ss fu n cti o n s n o r m a lly o n the psychic pl a n e

a n d ev e n i n the high er ps y chic r e gi o n s wh e r e m i n d ,

is w o rki n g it is m i n d i n t er m i n gled with Kam a pure

, ,

m i n d n o t fu n cti o n i n g o n this a str a l pl a n e .

T he a str a l pl a n e is thr o n g e d with El e m e n t a ls

si m il a r to th o se which e n t er i n t o the desir e b o dy o f -

m a n a n d which a ls o fo r m the si m pl er desir e b o dy o f

,
-

the l o w e r a n i m a l . B y this d e p a rt m e n t o f his n a tur e

m an c o m e s i n t o i m m e di a t e rel ati o n s with th e s e
El e m e n t a ls a n d by th e m he fo r m s li n ks with a ll the
,

o bj e ct s a r o u n d hi m th a t are e ither a ttr a ctive or

r epulsiv e to hi m B y his will by his e m o ti o n s by
.
, ,

h i s d e sir e s he i n flu e n c e s these c o u n tl e ss b e i n gs
, ,

w hich s e n sitiv e ly r e sp o n d to a ll the thrill s o f fe eli n g

th a t he se n d s o u t i n ev er y directi o n His o wn d e sir e
.

b o dy a cts as the a pp ar a tus a n d j ust a s it c o m bi n es

,

t he vibr a tio n s th a t c o m e fr o m with o ut i n to feeli n gs ,

 12

so does it dissoci ate the feelings th at arise withi n

i n to vibr ations .

T HE GEN E RAT IO N OF TH O UGH T- FO RM S

.

We are now in a positio n to more cle arly u n der

st a n d the M aster s words The m ind worki n g i n its
'
.
,

o wn region in the su btle m atter o f the higher

,

psychic pl ane ge n er a tes im ages thought fo r m s

, ,
- .

I m a gi nation has ver y a ccur a tely been c alled the

creative facult y o f the mi n d an d it is so i n a m or e ,

liter a l se n se th a n m a n y m ay suppose who use the

phr a se Th is im a ge m a ki n g c ap a cit y is the ch ar a c
.
-

teri sti c power o f the m i n d a n d a word is o n l y a ,

clu m sy attempt to parti a lly represent a m e n t al ”

picture An ide a a m e n t a l i m age is a complic at ed

.
, ,

thi n g a n d n eeds perh a ps a whole se n tenc e to de s

,

cr ib e it a ccur a tely so a s al ie n t i n cide n t i n it is seiz e d

, ,

a n d the word na mi n
g this i n cident imper f ect ly re pre
”
se n ts the whole ; we say tri a n g le an d the wor d '
,

c alls up in the hearer s m i n d a pict ure which wo ul d

'

n eed a lo n g descripti o n if f ully co n veyed i n words ;

we do our b est thi n ki n g i n s ym b ols a n d t h e n l a b ori ,

o u sly a n d i m per f ectl y su m m arise our sym b o ls i n t o

words I n regio n s where m i n d spe a ks to m i n d ther e
.

is per fe ct expressio n far b eyo n d anythi n g words m ay

,

co n vey ; even in th o ught tr a n sference o f a li m ited -

ki n d it is not words th a t are sent but ide as A , .

spe aker puts into words su ch part of his m e n t al

‘

p ictures a s he c a n a n d these words

, c a ll up i n the
 IS

h e ar e r s m i n d pictures correspo n di n g to those i n the

'

m i n d o f the spe a ker ; the m i n d de a ls with the pictures ,

the i m ages , n o t with the wo rds , a n d h al f the c o n tro
v e rsi e s a n d m isu n d erst a n di n gs th at aris e co m e a b o ut
‘

bec a use pe o pl e att a ch differe n t i m ages to the s am e

w ords , or u se differ e n t wo rds to represe n t the s a m e
i m age s .

A th o ught -for m , the n , is a m e n t a l i m age , cre a ted

or m ould e d — b y the m i n d out o fthe su b tle m a tter
O f the higher psychic pl a n e , i n which , a s a b o ve s a id ,
it wo rks . This for m , co m pos e d o f the r apidly
vibra ti n g a t o m s O fthe m att er O f th a t regi o n , s e ts up
vi br ati o n s all ar o u n d it ; these vi br a ti o n s will give
r ise to s e n s a ti o n s O f sou n d a n d c o l o ur i n a n y e n tities

a d a pted to tr a n sl a te th e
— m thus , a n d as the th o ught
for m p a sses o utwar d o r si n ks d o wn w ard , whichev e r
expressi o n m ay b e pre ferred to express the tr a n si
ti o n — i n t o the de n ser m att er O f the l o wer psychic
r egi o n s thes e v i br ati o n s thrill o u t a s a si n gi n g
,

c o lour i n ev ery dir e cti o n a n d c all to the th o ught

,

for m whe n ce they pr o c e ed the El e m e n t a ls b e l o n gi n g

to th a t colour .

All Ele m e n t a ls like a ll thi n gs els e i n the u n iverse

, ,

bel o n g to o n e o r o ther o f the seve n pri m a r y R a y s ,

the seve n pri m e v a l So n s o f Light The whit e light

.

br ea ks forth fro m the Third LO G O S the m a n i fe st e d

,

Divi n e Mi n d i n the seve n R ay s the Seve n Spiri ts

, ,

th a t are b e fo r e the Thr o n e a n d e a ch o fthese R a ys

,

has its seve n su b r ays a n d so o n wards i n s e qu e n ti a l

-
,

su b divisi o n s .H e n ce a m id the e n dless differe n ti a

,
 I4

ti o n s th at m ake up a u n iverse there are Ele m e nt a l s

,

b el o ngi n g to the v ari o us subdivisio n s a n d th ey ar e ,

c o m m u n ic ated with i n a c o lour l a n gu a ge gr o u n ded

-
,

o n the c o l o ur to which th e y bel o n g This is why .

the re a l k n owledge o f sou n ds a n d col o urs a n d n u m

—
b ers n u m b er u n d erlyi n g b o th sou n d a n d c o l o ur
ha s eve r b ee n so c a refully gu a rd e d fo r the will sp ea k s,

to the Ele m e n t a ls by th e se a n d k n o wl e dge give s

,

p o wer to c o n trol .

M a ster K H spe a k s very pl a i n ly o n this c o lour

. .

l a n gu a g e ; He s ay s ;
How could you m a ke yourself understood comm and i n ,

act those sem i i n telli en t Forces whose mea n s o com

f ,
-
g f,

m uni ca ti ng wi th us are n ot thr oug h sp oken words, but

thr oug h sou nds a nd colours, i n correla ti ons between the
vi br a ti ons o
f the tw o P F or sou n d, li ht a n d colour ar e
g
the m a i n factors i n form i ng those g ra des of i n tellig ences,
these bei ng s of whose very exi stence you ha ve n o concep
ti on , n or a re you a llowed to beli eve i n them — A thei sts
an d C hri sti a ns, M a teri a li sts a n d Sp i r i tua li sts, a ll bri n
g
i ng forwa rd thei r resp ecti ve arg u m en ts ag ai nst such a
—
beli ef Sci en ce objecti ng str ong er tha n ei ther of these to
such a deg ra di n up ersti ti on
*
g s .

Stud e n ts o f the pa st m ay re m e m b er O b scure a llu

sio n s n o w a n d ag ai n m a de to a l a n gu a ge o f c o l o urs ;
they m ay r e c all the fa ct th at i n a n ci e n t Egyp t
s acr e d m a n uscripts were writt e n in c o l o urs , a n d
th at m ist a k e s m a de i n the co pyi n g wer e pu n ish e d
Occul t World , p . 1 00 .
wi th de a th But I m ust n o t ru n d o w n this fa sci n a
.

ti n g b y way We are o n ly co n cer n e d with the fa ct

-
.

th at Ele m e n t als are a ddressed by colours a n d th at ,

colour words are a s i n telligi b le to the m a s sp o k e n

words are to m e n .

T he hue O f the si n gi n c o l o ur d e pe n ds o n the

g
-

n a tur e o f the m o tive i n sp i r i n g the g e n er a tor o f the

th o ught for m If the m o tive b e pure l o vi n g b e n e
.
, ,

he e n t i n its ch ar a ct e r the c o lour produced wil l

,

su m m o n to the th o ught f o r m a n El e m e n t a l w hic h

-
,

w ill t a ke o n the ch ar a ct e ristics i m pressed o n the

fo r m by the m otive a n d a ct a lo n g the li n e thus
,

tr aced ; this Ele m e n t a l e n ters i n to the thought

for m pl ay i n g to it the p a rt O f a S o ul a n d thus a n
, ,

i n depe n d e n t e n tity is m a d e i n the a str a l wo rld a n ,

e n tity o f a b e n e fice n t ch ar a ct er If the m o tive o n .

,

the o th er h a n d b e i m pur e reve n ge ful m ale fic e n t i n

, , ,

its ch ar a cter the c o l o ur pr o duc e d will su m m o n to

,

the th o ught for m a n Ele m e n t a l which will e qu al ly

-

t ake o n the ch ar a cteristics i m pressed o n the fo r m

b y the m o tive a n d a ct a l o n g the li n e thus tr a ced ,

i n this c a se a ls o the El e m e n t a l e n t ers i n to the

thought fo r m pl ayi n g to it the p art O f a S o ul a n d
, ,

thus m a ki n g a n i n d e p e n d e n t e n tit y i n the a str a l

wo rld a n e n tit y O f a m alefic e n t ch ar a cter
,
For .

e xa m ple a n a n gry th o ught will c a use a fl a sh O f red

, ,

the thought fo r m vi br ati n g so as to pr o duce red ;

-

th at fl a sh o fred is a su m m o n s to the Ele m e n t a ls a n d

they swe ep i n the dir e cti o n o f the su m m o n e r a n d o n e ,

O f the m e n ters i n to the thought f or m which gives it -

,
 1 6

an i n d e pe n de n t a ctivity o f a destructive di si nteg ,

r a ti n g t y pe M e n are c o n ti n u a ll y t a lki n g i n thi s

.

c o lour l a n gu a ge quit e u n c o n sciously a n d thus c a ll

-
,

i n g r o u n d the m th e se sw ar m s O f El e m e n t a ls who ,

t a ke up th e ir ab o des i n the vari o us th o ught

fo r m s pr o vided ; thus it is th a t a m a n p e o pl e s hi s
c urren t i n s p a ce wi th a wor ld of hi s own crowded wi th ,

the of fsp ri ng fo h i s fa n ci es desi res i,mp u lses a n

, d p assi on s .

An g e ls a n d d e m o n s O f o u r o w n cr e ati n g thr o n g
r o u n d us o n ever y side m a kers o f wea l a n d woe to
—
,

o thers bri n gers o fwe a l a n d wo e to ourselv e s

, verily ,

a k a rm l c h o st .

C l a irv o y a n ts ca n see fl a sh e s o f col o ur c o n st an tly ,

c h a n gi n g i n the a ur a th at surr o u n ds every p e rso n

,

e a c h th o ught e a ch fe eli n g thus tr a n sl a ti n g its e lf i n

, ,

t he a str a l w o rld visi b l e to the a str a l sight

, P ers o n s .

s o m e wh at m o re d e veloped th a n the ordi n ar y cl a ir

v o ya n t ca n a ls o see the th o ught fo r m s a n d ca n see -
,

t he e ffects pr o duced by the fl a shes o f col o ur a m o n g

the h o rdes O f El e m e n t a ls .

AC T IV IT ' OF T H O UGH T FO RM S
-
.

T he li fe
peri o d O f these e n s o uled thought fo r m s
- -

d epe n ds first o n th e ir i n iti a l i n te n sit y o n the e n ergy ,

b e st o w ed up o n th e m by their hu m a n pr o ge n itor ;
a n d s e c o n dl y o n the n utri m e n t supplied to the m
af t er their ge n e ra ti o n by the repetiti o n o f the
,

t h o ught e ither by hi m or by o thers Their li fe m ay .

b e c o n ti n u a lly re i n fo rced by this rep e titi o n an d a

.
-
,
 1 8

consciously selective a ction Of the will Let us .

further suppose th a t the m i n d comes to dis approve

this h a b it o ft h ought a n d finds it a cl o g o n its pro
,

gress ; origin ally due to the spo n t a n eo u s a ctio n o f

the m i n d a nd facilit a ti n g t h e outpo uri n g O f m e n t al
,

en ergy by providi n g for it a re a dy m a de ch a n n el

-
,

it has n o w become a li m it a tion : but if it is to

be gotte n rid o f it c a n only be by the renewed
,

spo n t an e o us actio n o f the mi n d directed to the

,

exh a ustio n a n d fi n a l destructio n o f this livi n g fetter .

H ere we h ave a little ide al kar m ic cy cle r apidly ru n ,

thr o ugh ; the free m i n d m a kes a h a b it a n d is t h e n

,

obliged to wor k withi n th a t li m it ati o n ; b ut it ret ai n s

its fre e d o m withi n the li m it ation a n d c an work
ro m withi n till it we ars it o u t O f course
ag a i n st it f .
,

we n e ver fin d ourselv e s i n iti ally free fo r we come ,

i n to the wo rld encu m bered with these fetters o f our

o wn p a st m a k ing ; but the process as regards each
—
separ a te fetter ru n s the a b ove rou n d the m i n d forges
it wears it a n d while we ari n g it ca n file it through
, , .

T h o ught forms m ay a lso be directed by their pro

-

genitor towards p articul ar perso n s who m ay be ,

h elped or i nj ured by th e m accordi n g to the n ature

,

o f the ens o uling Ele m e n t al ; it is n o m ere poetic

fa n cy th a t good wishes pr ayers a n d l o vi n g thoughts
, ,

are o f val ue to t h ose to wh o m they a re se n t ; they

for m a protective h ost e n circli n g the b eloved an d ,

ward Offm a n y a n evil i n flue n ce a n d d an ger .

No t o n ly does a m an ge n er ate a n d s e n d fort h h is

o wn thought f or m s but he also serves as a m ag n et
-
,
 I9

to dr aw towards hi m self
the thought fo r m s O f -

others fro m the a str a l pl a n e ar o u n d him o f the ,

cl a sses to wh ic h h is o wn e n s o uled th o ught for m s -

b el o n g
. He m ay thus a ttr a ct to hi m s e l f large
r e i n force m e n ts o f e n ergy fro m outsid e a n d it lie s ,

withi n hi m s e lf whether th e se forc e s th at he dr aws

i n t o his o wn bei n g fr o m the e xter n a l world sh a ll be
o f a g o o d o r o f a n evil ki n d If a m a n s thoughts
'
.

are pur e a n d n o b l e he will attr a ct a rou n d hi m hosts

,

o fb e n e fic e n t e n tities a n d m ay s o m e ti m e s w o n der
,

whe n ce c o m es to hi m the power fo r a chi e ve m e n t

— —
th at se e m s a n d truly see m s to b e so m uch b eyo n d
his o w n Si m il arly a m a n o f foul a n d b a s e thoughts
.

a ttr a cts to hi m s e l f hosts o f m a le fice n t e n titi e s an d ,

by this a dded e n ergy fo r evil c o m m its cri m es th a t

a st o n ish him i n the r e tr o sp e ct S o m e d evil m ust
.

”
h ave te m pted m e he will cry ; a n d truly thes e
,

de m o n i a c fo rce s ca ll e d to hi m by his o wn evil a d d

, ,

stre n gth to it fr o m with o ut The Ele m e n t a ls e n soul

.

i n g th o ught for m s wh ether th e se b e go o d o r b a d li n k

-
, ,

th e m selve s to the El e m e n t a ls i n the m a n s desir e '

b o dy a n d to th o se e n s o uli n g his o wn thought fo r m s -

,

a n d thus w o rk i n hi m th o ugh co m i n g f
, r o m without .

But fo r this th ey m ust fin d e n titi e s o fth e ir o wn ki n d

with which to li n k the m selves e ls e ca n they e xercis e,

n o p o we r . An d further Ele m e n t a ls i n a n o pp o sit e

,

ki n d o fthought for m will rep e l the m a n d the go od

-
,

m a n will drive b a ck by his v er y at m o sph e re his a ur a , ,

a ll th a t is f o ul a n d cruel It surr o u n ds him as a

.

pr o tective wall a n d k eeps evil away fro m hi m .

 29

There is anot h er for m O f element al a ctivity th at ,

brings about widespre a d results and c a n n ot th er e fore

,

be excluded from this preli m inary survey O fthe fo rce s

t h at go to m ak e up K ar m a Li k e t h ose j ust de alt
.

wit h t h is is included i n the st ateme n t th a t these

,

t h ough t forms pe o ple the current whi ch re acts up on

- -

a ny sensi ti ve or n er vous or
ga n i sa ti on w hi ch com es i n
con tact wi th i t, i n p rop orti on to i ts dyna mi c i ntensi t y .

T O so m e e xtent it m ust a ffect a lmost every o n e , tho u gh

t h e m ore sensitive the org a n is ation t h e gre ater the
effect Element als h ave a te n de n cy to b e attra cted to
—
.

w ards oth ers O fa si m il ar ki n d a ggregati n g together

i n cl a sses , bei n g , i n a se n se , greg arious o n t h eir o wn
a ccount —a n d w h e n a m a n s e nds out a thought -f r
o m

it n o t only k eeps up a m ag n etic li n k wit h hi m , b u t

is dr awn tow rds ot h er th ugh t forms o f a si m il ar
a o -

type , a n d t h ese co n gregating together o n t h e a str al

l n e form a goo d or evil f o rce , a s t h e c a se m a b e
p a y ,

e m bodied in a ki n d o f coll e ctive e n tity T o t h e se

.

a gg reg ations o f si il r hough t forms are due the

m a t -

c h ar acteristics , Ofte n stro n gly m ar k ed , o f fa m il y ,

loc al an d n atio n a l opi ni o n they form a k i n d o fa str al

a tmosp he re th r o u gh whic h everythi n g is see n , a n d
which colours t h at to which t h e gaz e is directed , a n d
- h
th ey re act on t e desire b o dies O f t h e perso n s in
-

cluded in t h e gr o up c o n cerned , setti n g up i n them

respon sive vibr atio n s Such fa m ily , loc a l or n ati o n a l
.

k armic surrou n di n gs l arge ly modi fy t h e i n dividu al s '

a ctivity , a n d limit to a very gre a t exte n t his power O f

e xpressi n g the c a p a cities he m ay p ossess . Sup pose

 21

an ide a should be presen ted to him h e ca n o n ly see ,

it through this at m osphere th at s urrounds him wh ich ,

must colour it and m ay seriously distort H ere .

,

t h e n are kar mic limit atio n s o f a far reachi n g ki n d

,
-
,

th at will n eed further co n sider a tion .

The i n flue n ce O f t h es e co n gregated Ele m e ntals i s

not c o n fi n e d to t h at which they exercise over m e n
t h rough their desire bodies - Whe n t h is collective
.

entity as I h ave c all ed it is m a de up o f t h oug ht

, ,

for m s o fa destructive type the Ele m e n t als e n souli n g

,

t h ese act a s a disruptive e n ergy a n d t h ey Ofte n work

much h a voc o n the ph y sic a l pla ne A vortex O f .
_

disinteg ra ti n g energies they ar e the fruit ful sources

,
”
Of a ccid e n ts O f n atur a l co n vulsions O f stor m s
'
.
, ,

cycl o n es hurrica nes e arthqu a k es floods

, ,
T hese ,
.

k ar m ic resul ts will also n eed some further co n

sider ati o n .

T HE M AKING OF KARM A IN P RINC IPL E .

H avi n g th us re a lised the rel ation betwee n m an

and the element al k ingdo m a n d t h e mouldi n g
—
,

energies o f the mi n d verily cre ative energies in ,

t h at they c all i n to bei n g these livi n g forms th a t h ave

—
bee n descri bed we are i n a position to at le a st
‘

rti lly underst nd somethi g f t h e ge er ati o n a n d

p a a a n o n

wor ki n g out o f Kar m a duri n g a si n gle life period -

.

”
A li fe period -
I say r a ther th a n a life bec a use
, ,
'
,

a li fe m ea ns too little if it b e used in the ordi n

sens e o f a si n gle i n c arn atio n a n d it m e an s t
,
 22 .

if it be us e d for the wh o le li fe m a de up o f m a n y ,

st ages i n the phy sic a l bo dy a n d o f m a n y st a ges

,

with o ut it B y li fe peri o d I m e a n a little cycl e o f

.
-

hu m a n exist e n ce with its phy sic a l a str a l a n d

, ,

d ev acha n i c exp e rie n ces i n cludi n g its return to the

—
,

thresh o ld o f the phy sica l the fo ur disti n ct st a ges

thr o ugh which the Soul p a ss e s i n o rder to co m pl e te
,

its cycl e These st a ges are retrodde n o ver a n d o ver

.

a g a i n duri n g the j o ur n ey o f t h e Eter n a l Pilgri m

through o ur pr e se n t hu m a n it y a n d h o we ver m uc h
,

the experie n ces i n e a ch such p eriod m ay v a r y b o t h ,

a s to qu a n tit y a n d qu a lit y the peri o d will i n clude

,

these four st ages fo r the a ver a ge hu m a n b ei n g a n d ,

n o n e o thers .

It is i m p o rt a n t to re a lise th a t the reside n ce o utside

the physic a l b o dy is far m o re prol o n g e d th a n the
r e sid e n ce i n it ; a n d the wo r ki n gs o f k ar m ic law
will b e but p o orl y u n d e rst o o d u n l e ss the a ctivity
O f the Sou l i n the n o n physic a l co n diti o n b e
-

studi e d L et us r e ca ll the words O f a M a ster poi n t

.
,

i n g o u t th a t the li fe o u t o f the b o dy is the re a l

o ne .

The Veddn ti ns, a ckn owledg i ng two ki nds of consci ous

exi sten ce, the terr estri a l a n d the s p i ri tua l, p oi n t on ly to
the la tter as a n u ndou bted a ctu a li ty A s to the terr estri a l
.

life, owi ng to i ts cha ng ea bi li ty and shortness, i t i s n othi ng

bu t a n i llusi on of ou r senses . Ou r lif e i n the s pi ri tu a l
sp heres must be thou ht a n a ctu a li t y, b e a u i t i th
g c se s e re

tha t li ves our en dless, never -cha ng i ng , i mm orta l I , the

Sd tr dtmd, T hi s i s why we ca ll the p osthu mous
 23

life the on ly rea li ty

, and the terrestri a l one, i ncludi ng the
p ersona li ty i tself only i mag i nary' ,
'

Duri n g e arth life the activity o f t h e Soul is m ost

-
,

dir e ctly m a n i fested in t h e cre ation o f the thought

for m s alr e a dy described B u t i n order to foll o w o u t
.

with a n y approa c h to ex a ctitude t h e wor ki n gs o f

K ar m a we must n o w a n a lyse further the ter m
,
”
t h o ught form a nd add some consider atio n s n eces
-
,

s ar ily o m itted i n the ge n er al c o nceptio n first pre

se n ted . T he Soul wo rki n g a s m i n d cre a tes a
, ,

Me n t a l I m age the pri m ary thoug h t

,
le t
us ta ke the term M ent a l I m a ge to me an exclusiv e ly
t h is i m m edi ate cre atio n o fthe m i n d a n d h ence fo rth ,

restrict t h is ter m to this i n iti a l st age o f wh at is

ge n er a lly an d bro adly sp o ke n O f a s a thought fo r m -
.

This M ent al I m age re m a i n s att a ched to its cre at o r ,

par t o f the co n te n t O f his co n sciousness : it is a

livi n g vi br a ti n g form O f su btl e m a tter the Word
, ,

thoug ht b ut n o t yet sp oken c o n ceived but n o t y et ,

m a de flesh Let t h e r e a de r co n centr ate his m i n d

.

fo r a few m o m ents o n this Me n t al I m age a n d ,

O bt a i n a distinct n otion O f it isol ated fro m all else , ,

a p art f ro m all the results it is goi n g to produce o n

other pl a n e s th an its o wn It forms as j ust s a id .
, ,

p art o f t h e content o f the co n scious n ess o f its

cre a tor part Of his i n a lie n ab le property ; it c a n n o t
,

be sep ar ated from h im he c arries it wit h hi m duri n g

L ucifer . O ctob er, 1 892 . art . L ife an d D eath .

f A nte , p . I 2 et seq .
 24

h is eart h ly li fe c arries it with him t h rough the gate

,

way O f de at h c arries it wit h him in t h e regio n s

,

beyo n d de at h ; a n d if duri n g h is upward tr avelling

,

through those regio n s h e hi m selfpa sses i n to ai r too

,

r arefied for it to e n dure he le aves behi n d the

,

d e n ser m atter built i n to it c arryi n g o n the m e n t a l

,

m a trix the esse n ti a l for m ; on h is retur n to t h e

,

grosser region the m a tt er o f th at pl an e is a ga i n

b uilt i n to the m e n t a l m atri x a nd the appropri at e
,

de n ser form is reproduced This Me n ta l I m age

.

m ay re m a in sleepi n g a s it were fo r lo n g periods

, , ,

but it m ay be re a wa ke n ed a n d rev ivified ; every

-

—
fresh i m pulse from its crea tor fro m its progen y ,

( de a lt with below ) fro m e n tit i es O f t h e s a m e type

—
,

as its proge n y i n cre a ses its li fe e n erg y a n d -

,

m o difies its form .

It evolves as we sh all see accordi n g to defi n ite

, ,

l aws a n d the aggr egatio n o f these Me n t a l I m age s

,

m a k e s the c h ar a cter ; the outer mirrors the i n n er ,

a n d a s cells a ggreg a te i n to the tissues o f the body

a n d a re O f te n m uch m odified in t h e process so do ,

these M e n t al I m ages a ggregate into the ch ar a c

teri sti c s o f the m i n d a n d O ften u n dergo m uch
,

m odific atio n . T h e study O f t h e wor k ing out of

K ar m a will t h row m uch ligh t o n t h ese ch a n ges .

M a n y m ateri als m ay e n ter i n to t h e m aking o f these

e n t a l I mages by the creative powers O f t h e S o ul ;
it m ay be stimul ated i n t o a ctivity by Desire (K am a) ,

and m a s h pe the I m ge cc o rdin to the pro m pt

y a a a
g
i n gs o f p assion or o f a ppetite i t m ay be Sel f
 26

h i own Th e vi b r tio n s o f the Me n t a l I m a ge se t

of s . a

up si m ilar vibr ati o n s i n the d e n s er a str a l m atter ,

a n d th e s e c a use the seco n d ary thought f or m , wh a t I -

h
have c a ll e d t e Astro m e n t a l I m a g e ; the M e n t al
-

I m age itself re m a i n s , a s ha s b ee n a lr e a dy s a id , i n
t he c o n sci o us n e ss O f its cre a t o r , b ut its vibr a tio n s
p a ssi n g outside th at co n sci o us n ess repr o duce its
fo r m in the d e n ser m a tter o f the lower a str a l pl a ne .

T his is the for m th a t affo rds the c a si n g fo r a p o rtio n

o f ele m e n t al e n e rgy sp e ci alisi n g it f
, o r the ti m e th at

the for m persists si n ce the m a n a sic e l e m e n t i n the

,

for m gives a t o uch O f i n dividu a lit y to th a t which

e n s o uls it 'Ho w m arvell o us a n d ho w illu m i n ati n g
.

are the c o rresp o n de n ces i n N a ture 1] This is the

a cti ve en ti t sp ke f i the M ster s descriptio '

y o , n o n a n ,

a n d it is this A stro m e n t a l I m a ge th a t r a n ges o ver

-

t he a str a l pl a n e keepi n g up with its proge n it o r

, the
m a gn etic tie spoke n o f r e a cti n g o n its p ar e n t the
,
-
,

Me n t a l I m a ge an d a cti n g als o o n o thers T he li fe

, .

:p eriod O f a n Astr o m e n t a l I m a ge m ay b e l o n g o r
-

sh o rt a ccordi n g to circumst a n ces a n d its perishi n g

, ,

:do e s n o t affect the persist a n ce O f its p are n t ; a n y

fr e sh i m pulse giv e n to the l atter will c a use it to
g e n er a te a fresh its a str a l c o u n t e rp art a s e a ch repeti ,

tion o fa wo rd pr o duces a n ew fo r m
. .

The vi br ati o n s o f the Me n t al I m a ge do n o t o n l y

p a ss dow n wards to the l o wer a str a l pl an e but they ,

Ante. p . I 3 , a n d see al so di ag ra m , p .
g .
 27

*
p ass upwards also i n to t h e spiritu al pl an e above it .

An d as t h e vibr a tio n s c a use a denser for m o n the

lower pl a ne so do t h ey ge n er a te a far subtler for m
—dare I c all it for m it is n o form to us—o n the
,

h igh er i n t h e Ak as h a t h e world stuff em a n ated

, ,

fro m the L O G O S Itsel f T he Akash a is t h e store .

h ouse O f a ll for m s the tre a sure house wh erei n to a re

—
,

poured fr om t h e i n fi n ite we alth o f t h e U n iver sal

—
Mi n d t h e ric h stores o f all the Ide a s t h at ar e to be
b o died fort h i n a give n Kosm os ; therei n to a ls o
—
en ter the vibr a tio n s from t h e Kosm os fro m all the
t h oughts O f all I n telligences fro m all t h e desires O f ,

al l k a m ic e n tities fro m a ll the a ctions perform ed o n

,

e very l a n e by a ll f or ms All these m ak e their

p .

r espect i ve i m pressio n s t h e to us form less but to

, ,

lofty spiritu al I n tellige n ces t h e for m ed i m ages o f all

—
,

h a ppe n i n gs a n d these Akashi c I m ages as we will

—
,

n f
he ce orth c ll the m a b ide fo r ever m ore a n d are
a ,

the true K a r m ic Records the B oo k o f the L ipika 1 , ,

'

t h at m ay be re ad by an y wh o possess the ope n ed

eye o f D an gm a , It is t h e reflectio n o f t he se
.

Akashi c I m ages t h at m ay be throw n upo n t h e scree n

o f a str a l m a tter by t h e a ctio n o f the tr a i n ed a tte n
—
ti o n a s a picture m ay be t hrown o n a scree n fro m
a slide i n a m agic l a ntern — so t h a t a scene f
- rom t h e

T he se words downwards and u pwa

rds are v ery mi slead i n g
the plane s O fcourse i n ter en e trate p e ac h othe r .

1 Secret D octri ne, i

'
. I 57-I 59

1 Ibid .
, Stan za i . Of the B ook f ryan .
oB and see p .
77
.
 28

p ast m ay be reproduced l n all its livi n g re al ity cor ,

rect i n every det ail o f its far Off h appe n i n g for In

the Akashic Records it exists impri nted t h ere once
,

fo r all a n d a fleeti n g livi n g picture o f a n y pa ge o f

,

these Records ca n be m a de at plea sure dr am atised ,

o n the a str a l pl a ne a n d lived i n

, by t h e tra i n ed
Seer If this i m perfect description be foll o wed b y
.

the r ea der he will be a b le to form fo r hi m sel f so m e

,

fa i n t ide a o f K arm a i n its a spect as C a use In t h e .

Ak ash a will be pictured the Me n t al I m age created

by a Sou l insepar a ble fro m it ; t h e n the Astro
,

m ent a l I m a ge produced by it the a ctive e n souled

,

creature r a n gi n g the a str al pl a ne a n d produci n g

,

i n n u m er ab le effects all a ccur ately pictured i n con

,

n ecti o n with it a n d there f o re tr a ce a ble to it an d

—
, , ,

through it to its pare n t e a ch suc h threa d spu n as

,

it were out O fits own su b st ance by the Astro m e n t a l

—
I ma ge a s a spider spi n s its web b ei n g recogn is abl e
,

by its o w n sh a de o fcolour ; a n d h owever m a n y suc h

thre ads m ay be wove n i n to an effect e a c h thre ad is ,

disti n guish a ble a n d is tr a ceable to its origi n al fort h

giver the Soul th at ge n erated t h e Me n t a l I m age
, .

T hus fo r our clu m sy eart h bou n d i n telligences in

, ,

m iser a bl i n a dequ ate l a n gu age we m ay figure forth

y ,

th e way i n which i n dividu a l responsibility l s seen at

a gl a n ce by t h e gre a t Lords o f K ar m a t h e a dm i n is ,

trato rs o f k armic L a w ; t h e full respo n sibility o f

the Soul for the Me n t al I m age it cre ates a n d the ,

p arti al respo n sibility fo r i ts far re achi n g effects

-
,

gre ater or less as e a ch effect has o ther k ar m ic

 29

t hre a ds e n teri n g i n to its ca us atio n T hus a lso m ay

.

w e u n derst a n d why m otive pl ays a p ar t so pre do m i

n a te i n the worki n g o u t o f K ar m a a n d why a ct i ons
,

a re so rel a tively subordi n a te i n their ge n er ative

e n e rgy why K ar m a works out o n e ac h pl a n e
a cc o rdi ng to its co n stitue n ts a n d yet li n ks the
,

l es t gether b y the c o n ti n uity o f its t h re a d

p a n o .

Whe n the illu m i n ati n g co n cepts O f t h e Wisdo m

R eligio n shed their flood O f ligh t over the w o rld ,

d ispersi n g its o b scurity a n d reve a li n g t h e a b solute

ustice which i s w o rki n g u n der all the a pp a re n t i n
j
c o n gruities i n equ alities a n d accide n ts O f li fe is it
, ,

a n y wo n der th a t our h e arts should go o u t i n gr a titude

—
u n spe a k a ble to the Grea t O n es blessed be T hey '
w ho h o ld up the T orch O f T ruth in t h e m urky d ark
n ess a n d f
,
ree us fro m the te n sio n th a t was stra i n i n g
us to bre aki n g p o i n t t h e helpless a go n y O fwit n essi n g
,

wro n gs th a t s e e m ed irre m edi a ble the hopeless n ess o f

,

ustice the d e sp a ir o f Love

J ,

' b o u n d 1 the So u l o f T hi ng s i s swe et,

e a re n o t
T he H e art o f B ei ng i s c e le sti a l rest ;
Stro n g e r tha n w o e i s wi ll : tha t whi ch wa s G o o d
—
D o th p ass to B e tte r B e st .

Suc h i s the L a w whi ch m o v e s to ri ghte o u sn e ss,

W hi ch n o n e a t la st ca n turn a si d e o r stay ;
T he he a rt o f i t i s L o v e , the e n d O f i t
Is Pe a ce a n d C o n su m m ati o n swe e t O b ey '
.
 3 0

We m ay perh aps ga i n in clearness if we t a b ulate

the threefold results O f the a ctivit y O f the S o ul th at
to the m a ki n g up o f K ar m a a s C a use reg arded i n
g o ,

pri n ciple r a ther th an in det a il T hus we h ave during .

a li fe period
-

P la ne . M a ter i a l . R esu lt .

Sp i ri tu al Akash a Akfishi c Im a g e s
fo rmi n g K armi c
Re co r d .

Me nta l Im a g es,
re m a i n i n g in
HIg he r Astral
Ma n
'
cre ate s o n cr eato r s co n
sc i o u sn e ss.
Psychi c
Astro m en tal
Im ag e s, a cti v e
L o we r Astra l
e n titi e s o n p sy
chi c p l a n e .

T he results O f these will be tende n cies c ap acities , ,

a ctivities o pportu n ities enviro n m e n t etc

, , chiefly i n , .
,

future li fe peri o ds wo r k ed o u t in a ccorda nce wit h

-
,

defi n ite l aws .

T HE M AKING OF K ARMA IN D E T AIL .

T he S o ul in Men the Ego the M a ker O f K ar m a

, , ,

m ust be rec o g n ised by the stude n t a s a growi n g

e n tity a livi n g individu al who increa ses In wisd o m
, ,

a n d in m e n t a l st a ture a s he tre a ds the p a th O f his

a oni a n evolution ; a n d t h e f undam e n t al ide n tity o f

 3 1

th e H igh er a n d Lower M a n a s m ust be co n st a n tl y

kept in m i n d For c o nven ie n ce s a ke we disti n guish
.

betwee n t h e m but the differe n ce is a differe n ce o f

,

fu n ctio n i n g a ctivity a n d n o t o f n ature ; the H igher

M a n a s is M a n a s wor k i n g o n the spiritu al pl a n e i n ,

possessio n o f its full conscious n ess o f its own pa st ;

the Lower M a n a s is M a n a s wo rki n g on the psyc h ic
or astr a l pl a n e veiled i n a str a l m atter v ehicled i n
, ,

Ka m a a n d with all its a ctivities i n term i n gled with

,

a n d c o loured by the desire n a ture ; it is to a gre a t

-

exte n t bli n ded by the astr al m a tter t h at veils it a n d ,

is in possessi o n o n ly o fa portio n O ft h e tot al m an a sic

—
co n scious n ess this portio n co n sisti n g for t h e va st
—
,

m aj orit y O f a limited selectio n from the m ore

striki n g e xperie n c e s O f t h e o n e i n c ar n atio n the n i n
progress Fo r the pr actic al purp o ses O f li fe as se e n
.

by m ost pe o ple the Lower Ma n a s is t h e I a n d i s

,
”
,

wh a t we term the Pers o n al E g o ; the voice O f c o n

-

scie n ce va guely an d co n fusedly regarded as super

,

n atur al as the voice o f G o d is for them the o n ly

, ,

m a ni fest a tio n o f the Higher M a n as on the psychic

pl an e a n d t h ey quite rightl y rega rd it a s a utho rita
,

tive h o wever m ist a k en t h ey m ay be as to its n a tur e

, .

But t h e stude n t m ust re a lise th a t the Lower M a n a s

is o n e with the High er a s the ray is o n e with its
,

su n ; the Sun M a n a s s h i n es ever in t h e h e ave n o f

-

the spiritu a l pl an e the R ay M a n a s pe n etr a tes the

,
' -

psychic pl a n e ; but ift h ey be regarded a s two other ,

wise t h a n fo r co n ve n ie n ce i n disti n gu is h i n g their

fu n ctio n i n g hopeless co n fusio n will arise
, .
 3 2

The Ego the n is a gr o wi n g e n tit y a n i n cre a si ng

,

q u a n tit
. y T h e ray se n t d o w n is like a h a n d plu n ged

i n to w ater to seiz e so m e Obj ect a n d the n withdr aw n ,

h oldi n g the obj ect in its gr a sp T he i n cre a se i n the

.

E g o depe n ds o n the v a lue o ft h e O bj ects ga thered by

i ts outstretched h a n d a n d the i m port a n ce O f a ll its
,

w ork whe n the ray is withdr awn l s limited a n d c o n

d itio n e d by the experie n ces g a thered while th a t ray
ha s b ee n fu n ctio n i n g o n the psychic pl a n e It 1 5 a s .

t h ough a l a b ourer we n t ou t i n to a field toili n g in ,

r ai n a n d i n su n s h i n e i n cold a n d i n h e at r etur n i n g
, ,

h o m e a t n ight ; b ut the l a b ourer 1 8 a lso the propri e t o r ,

a n d all the results O f h is l a bour fill his o w n gr a n aries

a n d e n rich his o w n store E a ch Perso n a l Ego is the

.
-

i m m edi a tel y effective p art o f the co nti n ui n g or

In dividu a l Ego represe n ti n g it i n the lower w o rld
-
, ,

a n d n ecess a ril y m ore o r less developed a ccordi n g to

t he st a ge a t which the E g o a s a tot a lit y or a n

,

I n dividu a l ha s arrived If this be cle arl y u n derstood

, .

t he s e n se o f i nj ustice to the Perso n a l Ego i n its su c

-

c essio n to its k a r m ic i n herit a n ce — of te n felt a s a

d if ficulty by t h e you n g stude n t o f Theosophy will —
d is a ppe ar ; fo r it will be re a lised th a t the Ego th at
m a kes the K ar m a re a ps the K ar m a t h e l a b ourer th at
,

sowed the seed g a thers i n the h a rvest though the ,

c lothes i n w h ich he wo rked as sower m ay h a ve wor n

o u t duri n g the i n terv a l betwee n the so wi n g a n d the

re a pi n g ; the Ego s a str al gar m e n ts h ave a lso falle n
'

t o pieces betwee n seed ti m e a n d h a rvest a n d h e re aps

-
,

i n a n ew suit o f clothes ; but it is he who sowed

'
 34

Of t h ese Ment a l I m a ges a n d t h ey vary in ch ar a cter

,

a s well a s i n stre n gth a n d de fin ite n e ss So m e are .

o f spiritu a l a spir a tio n s lo n gi n gs to b e O f service

, ,

gropi n gs after k n owledge vows o f sel fdedic atio n to

,
-

the Higher Li fe ; s o m e are purely intellectu al cle ar ,

gem s o f th o ught recept a cles o f the results o f deep

,

study ; so m e are e m otio n a l a n d p a ssio n al brea thi n g ,

l o ve c o m p a ssi o n te n der n ess devo tion a n ger am bi

, , , , ,

ti o n pride greed ; so m e are fro m bodily appetites

, , ,

sti m ul ated by u n curb e d desire a n d represe n t thoughts ,

o f glutto n y dru n ke n n ess se n su a lit y E a ch S o ul

, , .

has its o wn co n scious n ess crowded with these ,

Me n t a l I m a ges the outc o m e O f its m e n t a l li fe ; n o t

,

o n e th o ught however fleeti n g b ut is t h ere repre

, ,

se n ted ; the AstrO m e n t a l I m ages m ay in m a n y

-

c a ses lo n g h ave perished m ay h ave ha d stre n gth ,

e n ough to e n dure but fo r a few hours but t h e Me n t a l ,

I m a ges rem ai n am o n g the possessio n s o f the Soul ,

n o t o n e is l a cki n g All these Me n t al I m a ges the

.

Soul carries away wit h it wh e n it pa sses through ,

dea th i n t o the a str a l world .

T he Kam a Loka or Pl a ce o f Desire is divided

, ,

i n to m an y str a t a a s it were a n d the Soul j ust after ,

de a t h is e n cu m bered with its c o m plete body O f desire ,

or Kam a R fipa a n d all the Me n t al I m a ges for m ed

,

by Ka m a M a n a s th a t are O f a gross a n d a n i m a l
-

n ature are power ful o n the l o west levels o f this

a str a l world A p o orly developed Soul will dwell
.

o n t h ese I m ages a n d a c t the m o ut t h us prep ari n g ,

itsel f to repeat t h em aga i n ph y sic ally i n its n ext li fe ;

 35

a m an wh o ha s dwelt o n se n su al t h ough ts a n d m a de
suc h Me n t a l I m a ges will not o n ly b e dr a wn to e ar th
sce n es co n n ected with se n su a l gra tificati o n s b ut will ,

co n st an tly b e repe ati n g the m a s a ctions i n h is m i n d ,

a n d so setti n g up i n h is n ature stro n ger a n d stro n ger

i m pulses t o wards the future c o m m issio n O f si m il ar

Offe n ces SO with other Me n t al I m a ges for m ed
.

fro m m a teri als supplied by t h e desire n ature t h a t -

,

belo n g to other levels i n Kam a Lok a As the Soul .

r ises f ro m the lower levels to the higher the Me n ta l ,

I m a ges b uilt fr o m the m ateri als O f the lower levels

lose these ele m e n ts t h us bec o m i n g l a te n t i n co n
,

sci o u sn e ss or wh a t H
, P B l avatsky used to c a ll
. .

priva tio n s o f m atter c ap a b le O f ex i sti n g but o ut

,

O f m ateri a l m a n i fest atio n The kam a r upi e vesture

.
-

i s purified O f its grosser ele m e nts a s t h e Lower Ego

i s dr aw n upwar ds or i n wards towards t h e dev a
, ,
”
ch a n i e regi o n ea ch c a st o ff s h ell disi n tegr ati n g
,

i n due course u n til t h e l a st is doffed a n d the ray is

,

c o m pletely wit h dra wn free fro m all a str al e n ca se

,

me n t O n the retur n o f t h e Ego towar ds eart h li fe

.
-
,

t h ese l ate n t i m ages will b e thrown outwar ds a n d

will a ttr act to the m selves t h e a ppropri a te kam ic
m a teri als wh ic h m a ke t h e m c a p able O f m a n i fest a
,

tion o n t h e a str al pl a n e a n d t h ey will beco m e t h e

,

a ppetites p a ssions a n d lower e m otion s o f h is desire

,

b o dy for h is n ew i n car n atio n .

We m ay re m ar k i n pa ssi n g t h at so m e o f t h e
M e n t al I m ages e n cir cli n g the n ewly arrived Soul are
the source o f m uc h trou b le duri n g t h e e arlier st a ges
 6

Of t h e p ost mor tem li fe superstitious beliefs pres e n ting

-

the m selves a s M e n t al I m a ge s torture the Soul with

pictures O f h orrors th at h ave n o pl a ce in its real
surrou n di n gs All the M e n t al I m ages for m ed fr o m
the pa ssi o n s a n d appetites are su bj ected to the pro
c e ss a bo ve descri bed to b e re m a n i fested by the E go
,

o n its retur n to e a rth li f e a n d a s the writer o f the

-
,

A stra l Plane s ay s
T he L IPIK A the g re a t K a rm i c d ei ti e s O f the K o sm o s wei g h
, ,

the d ee d s O f e a ch p erso n a li ty whe n the fi n a l se p a ra ti o n o fi ts

p ri n ci ples ta kes pla ce i n KAm a L o ka a n d gi e a s i t were the ,
v

m o u ld o f the L i n ga Sh ari ra e xactly su i ta b le to i ts K arm a fo r

the m a n b i rth q L
'
s n e xt

Freed for the ti m e from these l o wer ele m e n ts the ,

S o ul p a ss e s o n i n t o Dev a ch a n wh ere it sp en ds a ,

ti m e propo rtio n at e to the we a lth or p o verty o f its

M e n t al I m age s pure e n ough to b e c arried i n t o th at
regi o n Here it fi n ds a ga i n every o n e O f its l o ftier
.

effo rts h o wev er brief it m ay h a ve b ee n h o wever

, ,

fl e eti n g a n d h ere it works upo n the m b uildi n g o ut

, ,

o f these m a teri a ls p o wers f o r its co m i n g lives .

T he dev a cha n ic li fe is o n e o f a ssi m ila ti o n ; the

experie n c e s c o ll e ct e d o n e arth h av e to b e work e d i n t o
the texture O f the S o ul a n d it is by th e se th a t the ,

E g o grows ; its devel o p m e n t depe n ds o n the n u m ber

a n d v a riet y O f the Me n t al I m a ges it ha s f o r m ed

duri n g its e arth li fe a n d tr a n s m utes i n to their appro

-
,

See The Astral Plane, C . W . L e adb e ate r ,

pp . 2 4 , 2 5.

1 Ibi d .
, p . 61 .
 37

p ri a te and per m a n e n t types G a t h eri n g to

m ore .

gether all t h e M e n t a l I m ages o f a speci al cl a ss it ,

extr a cts fro m them their esse n ce : by m edita ti o n it

cre ates a m e n t a l orga n a n d pours i n to it a s faculty
,

the es se n ce it ha s extr a cted For insta n ce : a m an .

ha s for m e d m a n y Me n t a l I m a ges out o f aspir a tio n s

for k n owledge a n d efforts to u n derst a n d subtle a n d
l ofty re a so n i n gs ; he c a sts O ff h is body h is m e n t a l ,

powers bei n g o f o n ly aver a ge ki n d i n h is Deva ch a n

h e works o n all t h ese Me n t a l I m a ges a n d evolve s ,

t h e m i n to c a p acity so t h a t h is So u l retur n s to eart h

,

wit h a h igh er m e n t a l a pparatus t h a n it before

possessed wit h m uc h i n cre a sed i n tellectu al powers
, ,

a ble to a c h ieve t a sks f o r w h ic h be fore it wa s utterly

i n a dequ a te . T his is the tr a n sfor m atio n o f t h e
Me n t a l I m ages b y wh ich a s Me n t a l I m ages t h ey
,

ce a se to exi st if m l ater lives t h e S o ul would seek

to see a ga i n these a s they were it m ust se ek t h e m ,

i n t h e K arm ic Rec o rds where t h ey re m a i n fo r ever

,

as Akashi c I m a ges B y this tr a n s for m a tio n t h ey

.

cea se to be Me n t al I m a ges cre a ted a n d worked o n

by t h e S o ul a nd b e co m e powers o f t h e Soul part o f
, ,

its very n a ture If the n a m a n desires to possess

high er m e n t a l fa culties t h a n he a t prese n t e nj oys he ,

c a n e n sure t h eir develop m e n t by deliber a tely willi n g

to acquire the m persiste n tly ke e pi n g t h eir a cquire
,

me n t i n V iew for desire a n d a spiratio n i n o n e li fe

,

beco m e fac ulty 1 n a n ot h er a n d the will to per for m

,

beco m es t h e ca pa city to achieve B u t it m ust b e .

rem e m b ered t h a t t h e f a culty t h us builded is strictly

 3 8

li m ited by t h e m a teri a ls supplied to t h e architect ;

ther e is n o cre atio n out O f n o thi n g a n d if t h e Sou l
,

o n e arth f a il to exercise its powers by sowi n g the

seed o f a spir a ti o n a n d desire t h e Soul i n Dev a ch a n

,

will h ave b ut sc a n t y h arvest .

M e n t a l I m ages wh ich h ave be e n co n sta n tly t e

p ea te,
d b ut are n o t o f the a spiri n g c h a r a cter O f the ,

lo n gi n g to a chieve m ore th an the feeble powers o f the

S o ul perm it b eco m e te n de n ci e s O ftho u g ht gro o v esi nto
, ,

which m e n t al e n ergy ru n s e a sily a n d re a dil y He n ce .

the i m port a nce o f n o t letti n g the m i n d dri ft a i m l e ssly

am o ng i n sign ifica n t O bj ects idly cre a ti n g trivi al
,

Me n t a l I m a ges a n d letti n g the m dwell i n the m i n d

, .

T h e se will persist a n d for m ch a n n els fo r future out

pouri n gs O fm e n t a l fo rce which will thus be led to
,

me a nder about on lo w lev e ls ru n n i n g i n to the

,

a ccust o m ed grooves a s the p a ths O fle a s t r e sist a n ce

, .

The will or desire to per for m a c ert a i n acti o n such ,

will o r desire h aving b ee n frustr ated n o t by w a n t o f ,

a bilit y but by w a n t O f o pportu n it y o r b y circu m ,

st a n ces fo r b iddi n g ac co m pli shm e n t will ca use M e n tal

,

—
I m a ges which if the actio n be O f a h igh a n d pur e
n a ture — will b e a ct e d out i n thought o n the deva
cha n ic pl a n e a n d will be precipit a ted a s a cti o n s o n
,

retur n i n g to e arth Ifthe Me n t a l I m age wa s for m ed

.

out O f desire to d o b en efic e n t a cti o n s it would give ,

rise to the m e n t a l per for m a n ce O f these a cti o n s i n

Dev a ch a n ; a n d t h is per form a n ce t h e reflectio n o f
,

the I m age itself would le a ve it in t h e E g o a s a n

,

inte n sified Me n t al I m age O f a n a ctio n which woul d ,

 39

be thrown out o n to the phy3 1c al pl a n e as a ph ysic al

a c t the m o m e n t the t o uch o f f
, avour a b le opportu n ity

precipit at e d this cry st a llis a ti o n o f the th o ught i n to

the a ct . The phy sica l act is i n evit a ble whe n the
Me n t al I m a ge has bee n re a lised a s a cti o n o n the
de v ac ha n i c pl a n e This s a m e law a pplies to Me n t a l
.

I m a ges fo r m ed out O f ba ser desir e s though t h es e ,

n ever p a ss i n t o Dev a ch a n b ut ar e subj ected to the

,

pr o cess b efo re described to be re for m e d o n the w ay

,
-

b a ck to e arth . Repe at e d covetous desires for ,

i n st a n ce o u t O f which Me n t a l I m a ges are for m e d

, ,

will cr yst a llise out as a cts o fthe ft wh e n circu m st a n ces

,

are pr o piti o us . The c a us a tive K ar m a is c o m pl ete ,

a n d the ph y sic a l a c t has b eco m e its i n evit a ble ef

fe ct ,

whe n it ha s re ached the st age at which a n other

repetiti o n O f the M e n t al I m a ge m e a n s its p a ssi n g
i n to a cti o n It m ust n o t b e fo rg o tte n th at repetiti o n
.

o f a n a ct te n ds to m a ke the ac t a ut o m atic a n d this ,

law wo rks o n pl a n es other th a n the phy sic a l i fthe n

an a ctio n be c o n st a n tly repe at e d o n the psychic
pl a n e it will b ec o m e a ut o m atic a n d whe n O pportu n ity
,

Offers will a ut o m atic ally b e i m it ated O n the phy sica l .

H ow O fte n it is s a id aft e r a cri m e It wa s don e

,
”
before I thought or, If I ha d th o ught fo r a
m o m e n t I would n ever h a ve do n e it T he spe a ker
.

is quite right i n his ple a th at he was n o t t h e n m oved

by a deli b er a t e thought out ide a a n d h e is n atur a lly
-
,

ig n or a n t a s to precedi n g thoughts the tr a i n O f c a us e s

,

th at le d up to the i n evit a ble result Thus a s atur ated

.

solutio n will solidi fy i f but o n e m ore cryst al be

 4 0

dropped i n to it ; at t h e m ere co n t a ct th e whole ,

p a sses i n t o the s o lid st ate Whe n the a ggrega ti o n o f

.

M e n t al I m age s has re a ch ed s atur a tion p o i n t the ,

a dditi o n O f b ut o n e m o re s o lidifies the m i n t o a n ac t .

T he a ct a ga i n is i n evit a ble for the freedo m O fchoic e

, , ,

ha s bee n exh a usted i n ch o o si n g over a n d o ver a ga i n

to m a ke the Me n t a l I m age a n d the physic a l is
,

c o n str a i n ed to Obey the m en t a l i m pulsio n T he .

d e sire to do i n o n e li fe re acts a s c o m pulsi o n to do in

a n other a n d it see m s a s though the desire work e d
,

as a de m a n d upo n N a ture to which s h e resp o n ds by

,
*
af fo rdi n g the Opportu n it y to per for m .

The Me n t a l I m a ge s stor e d up by t h e mem ory as

the experie n c e s thr o ugh which the Soul has p a ssed
duri n g its ea rth li fe the e x a ct r e cord O f the a ctio n
-
,

up o n it o f the ext er n a l world m ust a ls o be worked

,

o n by the Soul .By study O f th e s e by m e dit atio n ,

up o n the m the S o ul le ar n s to see th e ir i n ter rel a tio n s

,
-
,

th e ir v alue a s tr a n sl a ti o n s to it o f the wor k i n gs o f

the U n iv ers a l M i n d i n m a n i fested N a tur e ; i n a
s e n t e n ce it extr a cts fr o m th em by p a tien t th o ught
,

u po n th em a ll the l e sso n s th ey h av e to t e a ch .

Le sso n s O f pl e a sure a n d p ai n O f ple a sure breedi n g

,

pa i n a n d pa i n bre e di n g ple a sure t ea chi n g the pres

,

e n ce O f i n vi o l a ble l aws to whic h it m ust le ar n to

co n for m itself Lesso n s o f success a n d fa ilur e o f
.
,

a chieve m e n t a n d dis a pp o i n t m e n t of fe a rs provi n g

,

grou n dless O f hopes fa ili n g r e a lis atio n o f stren gt h

, ,

See the la ter sec ti on o n the worki ng o u t O fK arm a .

 4 2

r ecog n is e the bro ad outli n es O f right a n d wr o n g '

,

i e o f h ar m o n y with the Divi n e N ature a n d O f

. .
,

discord a n d o n th e se m ai n questio n s O f ethics a

,

wide a n d lo n g e xp erie n ce e n a bles the Soul to s pe a k

cle arly a n d defi n itel y B u t o n m a n y higher a n d
.

su btler qu e stio n s b elo n gi n g to the prese n t st a ge o f

,

evolutio n a n d n o t to the st ages th at lie behi n d us ,

exp erie n ce is still so r e stricted a n d i n su fficie n t th at

it ha s n o t yet b ee n wo rked up i nto C o nscie n ce a n d ,

the S o ul m ay err i n its d e cis i o n howe ver well ,

i n t e n ti o n ed its effo rt to see cle arly an d to act rightl y .

Here its wi ll to obey sets it i n li n e with the Divi n e

N ature o n the higher pl a n e s a n d its fa ilure to see
,

how to O b ey o n the lower pl a n e will b e re m e died fo r

the future by the p a i n it feels as it blu n d ers u p
a g a i n st the L aw : the su f fe ri n g will te a ch it wh at
b efore it k n ew n o t a n d its s o rrowful experie n ces wil l
,

b e worked i n to C o n scie n ce to preserv e it fr o m si m il ar

,

p a i n i n the futur e to give it the jo y O f full e r k n o w

,

ledge O f G o d i n N ature O f sel f co n sci o us a cc o rd wit h

,
-

the L aw o f Li fe O f sel f c o n scious co Oper atio n i n the

,
- -

work o fev o lutio n .

Thus far we see as defi n ite pri n ciples o f k a r m i c

L a w wo rki n g with Me n t al I m age s as C a uses th a t :
, ,

Aspir ati o n s a n d Desires become C ap a citi e s .

R e pe ated Th o ughts Te n de n cies .

Wills to per for m Acti on s .

Experie n ces Wisd o m .

P a i n ful Experie n ces C o n scie n ce .

K ar m ic L aw wo r k i n g with AstrO m e n t al I m age s -

 43

see m s better co n sidered u n der t h e h e a d Of the

worki n g o ut o f K ar m a to which we will n o w tur n
, .

T HE W O RKING O UT OF K ARM A .

Whe n t h e Soul ha s lived o u t its d ev a cha n ic li fe ,

a n d ha s a ssi m il a ted a ll th a t it c a n o f the m ateri a l

gath er ed duri n g its l a st period o n earth it begi n s to ,

be dr a w n a ga i n towards e arth by t h e li n ks o f Desire

th a t b i n d it to m ateri al existe n ce The l a st st age o f
.

its li fe peri o d n o w lies be fore it the st a ge duri n g

-
,

w hic h it t e clothes itsel

- f fo r a n ot h er experie n c e o f
e a rthly li fe the st age t h a t is closed by the G atewa y
,

O f B irth .

The Soul steps over the threshold O f Dev a ch a n

i n to wh at ha s b ee n c a lled the pla n e O f R e i n c ar n a -

tio n bri n gi n g with it t h e results s m all or g re at o f

, , ,

its d ev a cha n i c work If it b e but a yo u n g S o ul it

.
,

will h ave ga i n ed but little ; progr ess in the e arly

st a ges o f S o ul Evoluti o n is slow to a n exte n t sc arcely
-

re alised by m ost stude n ts a n d duri n g the b a byhood

,

o f the S o ul li f e day succeeds li fe da y i n we ar yi n g

- -
'

successio n e a ch e art h li f
, e sowi n g but little seed ea ch
-
,

Dev a ch a n r ipe n i n g but little fruit As fa cultie s .

d evelop g r o wth quicke n s a t a n ever i n cre a si n g r ate

,
-
,

a n d t h e Soul th a t e n ters Deva ch an wit h a l arge

store O f m a t eri a l co m e s o u t O f it with a l arge i n cre a s e

o ff a culty worked o u t u n der the ge n er al l a ws be f

,
or e
st a ted . It issues fr o m Devach a n clot h e d o n ly i n ,
 44

t h at body O f t h e S o ul t h a t e n dures a n d gr ows

t h r o ugh o ut the M a n v a n t a r a surrou n ded b y the a ur a
,

th at belo n gs to it a s a n i n dividu al m or e o r les s ,

gl o rious ma n y hued lu m i n ous defi n ite an d exte n

,
-
, , ,

sive a cc o rdi n g to the st age O f e volutio n rea c h ed by

,

the S o ul It has bee n wr o ught i n the h e ave n ly fire

.
,

a n d co m es f orth a s Ki n g
Pa ssi n g o n to the a str a l pl a n e o n its e art h ward
j o ur n ey i t clothes itsel f a n ew i n a B o dy o f Desire
, ,

t he first result O fthe worki n gs o u t o f its p a st K a r m a .

The Men t a l I m ages for m ed duri n g the p a st from

m ateri al s supplied by the desir e n a ture th at ha d -
,

b ec o m e l at e n t i n c o n scious n e ss o r wh at H P ,
. .

B l ava tsk y used to c a ll priv atio n s o f m atter c a p a

‘ '
,
”
b le o f existi n g b ut o u t o f m ateri al m a n i fest ati o n
, ,

are n o w t h r o wn outw ards b y the S o ul a n d i m m e ,

d i ate ly attr a ct to the m selv e s fro m the m atter O f the

a str a l pl a n e the k a m i c ele m e n ts c o n ge n i a l to their

n a tures a n d
,
beco m e the a ppetites p a ssio n s a n d
'
, ,

l o wer e m o ti o n s O f his 'the Ego s ] desir e bo dy for '

-

h is new W h e n this wo rk is ae com

p l i she d— a work s
'

o m eti m e s v e r y brie f s o m eti m e s

—
,

o n e th at c a uses lo n g del a y the E g o st a n ds i n the

kar m ic vesture h e ha s prep ared fo r hi m sel f r e a dy to ,
”
be cl o thed upo n to receive fr o m the h a n ds o f
'
,

t h e age n ts O fthe Gre at Lords O f K ar m a the eth e ric

A mysti c n a me fu ll O f m ean i ng to the stu de n t who

, , u n derstan ds
t he par tplaye d b y So m a i n so m e an cien t m ysteri es .

f A nte , p .
35 .
 45

d ou ble built for h im a ccordi n g to

'
t h e elem ents he
ha s hi m sel f provided , a fter which sh all be s h ape d
h is ph y sic a l b ody t h e h ouse wh ich h e must inh a bi t
,

duri n g his co m ing physic al li fe Th e i n dividu a l an d .

t h e perso n a l Ego are thus i m m e di ately self built a s -

—
.
,

it were wh at he thought o n th at h e ha s beco m e ,

h is qu al ities h is n atur a l gi fts al l these appert a i n

,
'
,

to him as the direct results o f his thi n kings ; the Ma n

is i n ver y truth sel fcre a ted respo n sible i n the fulles t
-
, ,

se n s e o fthe word fo r all th a t he is

, .

B u t t h is m a n is to h a ve a physic a l a n d etheri c
bo dy t h a t will l argely co n diti o n the e xe rcise O f his
fa culties ; h e is to live i n s o m e enviro n m e n t a n d ,

a ccordi n g to this will b e his o utward circu m st a n c e s ;

he is to tre a d a p ath m arked out by t h e ca uses he

ha s set go i n g other th a n t h o se whic h a ppe ar a s
,

effects i n his faculties ; he ha s to m eet eve n ts j oyful

a n d sorr o w f ul res u lti n g fr o m the fo rces he ha s ge n e
,

r a ted So m et h ing m ore th a n his i n dividu al a n d

.

pers o n a l n a ture see m s h er e to b e n eeded ; ho w is

t h e field to be provided fo r its e n ergies ' How are
t h e co n ditio n ing i n strume n ts a n d t h e t e a cti n g cir -

c u m sta n c e s to be f ou n d a n d a d apted '

We a ppro ac h a region wher e of little m ay be fitly
s a id i n th at it is the regio n O f m igh ty Spiritu a l
,

I n t e llige n c e s Whose n ature is far beyo n d the sco pe

O f o ur very limited f aculties Wh o se existe n ce m ay
,

i n deed b e k n o wn an d wh o se w o rki n gs m ay be tr aced ,

Hi therto c al led the L i nga Shari ra , a na me that has gi v en ri se

to m uch co nfu si o n .
 4 6

b ut towa rds Wh o m we st a n d m uch i n the p o siti o n

o ccupied by o n e O f the le a st i n tellige n t l o wer a n i m a ls

t o w ards o urselves i n th at it m ay k n ow th at we exist

,

but ca n h ave n o co n cepti o n o f the scope a n d work

ings o f o u r c o n scious n ess Th es e Gre a t O n e s are .

spo ke n o f as the L ipi ka a n d the Fo ur M a haraj ahs .

Ho w littl e we c a n k n ow O f the Lipika m ay be seen

fro m the fo ll o wi n g
T he L i p i ka a d e scri p ti o n o f who m 1 s gi e n i n C o mm en tary
, v

6 o f Sta n z a IV a r e the Sp i ri ts o f the U n i erse

. v . l

;
O

'T h e y] b e l o n g to th e m o s t O cc u l t p o r ti o n O f c o sm o g e
n e si s
w hi ch c a n n o t b e gi e n h e re v —
W he ther th e Ad e p ts e v e n the
h i g hest—kn o w thi s a n g e li c o rd e r i n the c o m p le ten e ss o f i ts
.

tri p l e d e gr ee s o r o n ly the l o we r o n e c o nn ecte d wi th th e

,

r e c o rd s ofwo rl d , i s so m ethi n g whi c h th e wri te r i s

o ur

p p
u n re a re d to sa y, a n d she wo u l d ra the r i n cli n e to the la tte r
su pp
o si ti o n O f i ts hi g he st g ra d e o n e thi n g o nly 1 s ta u g ht,
—
.

t he L i pi ka a r e co nn e cte d wi th arm a b e i n g i ts di re ct K
R eco rd ers .

They are the Seco n d Seven a n d They keep the ,

Astr a l Re cords filled with th e Aka shic I m ages b e fo re

,

spo ke n o ff They are co n n ected

.

With the d esti n y o f e v ery man , an d the b i rth o f e v e ry

c h i ld .
I
They give the m o uld O fthe Li n g a S h arir a filwhich ,

will s erve as t h e t ype O f the ph y sic a l b o dy suited fo r

the expressi o n o f the m e n t a l a n d pa ssi o n a l fa culti es
e volved b y the Ego th a t is to dwell therei n an d ,

Secret D octri ne, i .

, I 53

1 Secret D octri ne i , .
, 1 31 .
 47

They give it to T h e Four —to t h e M a h araj a h s ,

Wh o
Are th e p rotecto rs o f m a n ki n d a n d al so the a gen ts o f K arm a
E a rth fi
'
<
on

O f t h ese H P Bl a v a tsky wr ites furt h er ,

. . quoti n g
the Fi ft h St a nz a O f the B ook ofD zyan
Fo u r Wi n ge d W h eels at fo r the
e a ch co rn e r

Fo u r H oly O n e s a n d T he i r Arm i es (H o sts) T he se a re the .

j
Fo u r Ma h ara a hs, o r G reat i n g s o f the D hyan C h o h a n s, K
th e D e v a s, W ho re si d e o v e r e a c h o f th e fo u r ca r d i n al o i n ts
p p
T h e se B
e i n g s are al so co n n e cte d wi th a r m a a s th e K
H
latte n eed s p hysi cal a n d m ate ri al a g ents to c a rry o u t i ts
d e cre e s f
.

—
Receivi n g t h e m ould o n ce t h e priv a ti o n m ore
O f m a tter — fro m the L ipik a t h e M a haraj ahs ch o o se ,

fo r the c o m positi o n O ft h e e theric double the ele m e n ts

su ited to t h e qu a lities th a t are to be express e d throug h

i t a n d t h is etheric dou ble thus b eco m es a fitti n g

,

k a rm ic i n stru m e n t fo r the E g o givi n g it a lik e t h e ,

b a sis for expressio n o f t h e fa culties it ha s evolv e d ,

a n d the li m it a ti o n s i m p o sed u po n it by its o w n p a st

fa ilures a n d w a sted o pport u n ities This m ould is .

g uided by the M a haraj a hs to t h e cou n try t h e r a ce , ,

the fa m ily the soci a l surrou n di n gs whic h af

,
fo rd the ,

m ost suit a b le field fo r the worki n g o u t O f t h e K ar m a

a llotted to t h e p a rticul ar li f e sp an in questio n t h at -
,

w h ic h t h e Hi n du c a lls t h e Prara b dha o r begi n n i n g , ,

K a r m a ; i e th at which is to be worked o u t i n the

. .
,

o pe n i n g li fe period In n o o n e li fe ca n the acc u m u

-
.

Secret D octri ne, i ., 1 5 1 .

f Secret D octri ne i , .
, 1 4 7.
 4 8

l ated K arm a O f the p a s t b e work ed o u o one —

t n
i n stru m e n t could b e fo r m ed no surrou n di n gs co ul d
,

b e fo u n d suit a b le fo r the e xpressio n o f all the slowly

,

evo lve d fa culti e s O f the E g o nor affo rdi n g all the

,

circu m st an ces n ecessar y for r e a pi ng all the h arve sts

s o wn i n the p a st fo r disch argi n g all the O b liga ti o n s
,

co n tr a cted t o wards o ther Ego s wit h wh o m the

i n c ar n ati n g Soul ha s co m e i nt o co n t a ct i n the c o urs e
O f its lo n g ev o luti o n . SO m uch the n o f the t o t al
K ar m a as ca n be a rr a n ged fo r i n o n e li fe peri o d ha s -

a suit a b le eth e ric d o uble provid e d f o r it the m o uld o f

,

t h at do u bl e b ei n g guided to a suit a bl e fi eld It i s .

pl a ced where the E g o m ay co m e i n t o rel a ti o n s wit h

so m e O f such Ego s wit h wh o m it ha s b e e n rel ate d
,

in its p a st a s a r e prese n t i n o r are c o m i n g i n t o

, , ,

i n c ar n ati o n duri n g its o wn li fe p eri o d A cou n tr y i s

-
.

ch o se n where the religious p o litic a l a n d s o ci al co n

,

d iti o n s c a n b e fou n d which are suit a b le to s o m e O f

its Ca p a cities a n d affo rd the fi e ld for the o ccurre n c e
,

O f so m e o f the ef fects it has ge n er a ted A race is

—
.

selected su bj e ct O f c o urse to the wider l aws a ffe ct

i n g i n c a r n a ti o n i n r a ces i n to which we c a n n ot h ere
—
,

e n ter O fwhich the ch ar a cteristics rese m b l e so m e o f

the fa culties which a re rip e fo r exercise o fwhich the ,

t ype b efits the i n c o m i n g Soul A fam ily is fou n d i n

.

which ph ysic a l h ere dit y ha s ev o lve d the ki n d o f

ph y sic a l m ateri a ls which b uilt i n to the etheric double
, ,

will a d apt th e m s e lves to its co n stituti o n ; a fa m ily O f

whic h the ge n er al o r speci al physic al orga n is ati o n
will afford pl ay to the m e nt al a n d p a ssio n al n a ture s
 0

Of t h e evolvi n g Soul fo r a s it a dva n ces a n d begin s

to see on h igh e r pl a n e s a n d to tr a n s m it its k n ow
ledge to the wa ki n g co n scious n ess we le ar n with
,

ever g r o wi n g cert ai n ty a n d there fo re with ever

i n cre a s i n g j o y th a t the G o od L a w is worki n g with
,

u n devi ati n g a ccur a cy th at its Age n ts apply it every

,

wh er e with u n erri n g i n sight with u n fa ili n g stre n gth

, ,

a n d th a t a ll i s t h e re f o re very well wi h the w o rld

t
a n d with its struggli n g Souls Thr o u gh the d ark
.

”
n e ss ri n gs o u t the cr y , All is well , fro m the
wa tch m e n S o uls who c arry the l a m p O f Divi n e
,

Wisd o m thr o ugh t h e m urky way s O fo u r hu m a n city .

S o m e O f the pri n ciples o f the w o rki n g o u t o f the

L a w we ca n see a n d a k n owledge O f these will help
,

u s i n the tr a ci n g o u t o f c a uses the u n derst a n di n g o f

,

ef fe cts
.

We h ave a lre a dy see n th at Thoug hts bui ld C haracter ;

let us n ext rea lise th at A cti ons m a ke E nvi ronment .

H ere we h av e to do with a ge n er al pri n ciple O f

far re a chi n g effect a n d it will b e well to w o rk it o u t
-
,

a little i n t o det a il .B y his a cti o n s m a n affe cts his

neigh bo urs o n the p hy sic al pl a n e ; he sprea ds h a ppi
ness ar o u n d hi m or he c a uses distress 1 n creasi n g
, ,

o r di m i n ishi n g the su m O f h u m a n wel f a re .This

i n cre a se o r di m i n uti o n O f h appi n ess m ay b e due to
—
very di ffere n t m o tives go o d b a d o r m ixed
, A
.

m a n m a y d o a n a ct t h at gives wide spr e a d e nj oy

m e n t fr o m sheer b e n evole n ce fr o m a lo n gi n g to
,

g i ve h a ppi n ess to his f ellow cre a tures l e t us sa y

th at fr o m suc h a m o tive he prese n ts a p ark to a
 5 1

t own , fo r t h e free use O f its i n h a b it a nts ; a n other

m ay do a si m il ar a ct fro m m ere oste n t atio n fro m ,

d esire to attr a ct a tte n ti o n fr o m t h o se who c a n

b est o w soci al h o n o urs (sa y he m igh t give it a s
,

p urch a se m -o n e y fo r a title ) ; a third m a

y give a

p a rk fr o m m ixed m o tives p a rtly

, u n selfish p
, a rtly
se lfish . T h e m o tives will s ever ally affect these three
m e n s ch ar a cters i n their future i n c ar n ati o n s for
'
,

i m pr o veme n t fo r degr a d a ti o n fo r sm all results

, , .

B ut t h e effect O f the a ctio n i n c a usi n g h a ppi n ess to

l arge nu m b ers o f pe o ple do e s n o t depe n d o n the
m otive O f the giver ; the pe o ple e nj o y the p ar k
e qu a ll y n o m atter wh a t m a h a ve pro m pted its gi f t
, y ,

a n d this e nj o y m e n t due to the a ctio n O f the giver

, ,

e st a blis h es f o r hi m a k armic cl a i m o n N a ture a ,

d ebt d u e to hi m th a t will b e scrupul o usly p aid . He

w ill receive a phy sic a ll y c o m fo rt a ble o r luxuri o us
e n viro n m e n t a s he ha s giv e n wide spre a d physic a l
,
-

e nj o y m e n t a n d his s a crific e o f physic a l we a lth will

,

b ri n g hi m his due rew ard the k a r m ic fruit O f h is

,

a ctio n . This is his ri g ht ; b ut t h e use h e m a kes O f

h i s p o siti o n the h a ppi n ess he derives fro m his
,

w e al th a n d his surrou n di n gs will depe n d c h i e fly o n

,

hi s ch ar a cter a n d her e a ga i n the j ust rew ard

,

a ccrues to h im ea ch seed b e ari n g its a ppropri a te

,

h arvest .

Servic e re n dered to the full m ea sure O f o p po rtu

n it i n o n e li fe will pr o duce a s e ffect e n l a rged
y , ,

O pp o rtu n ities o f service i n a n ot h er t h us o n e who

i n a very li m ited spher e helped e a c h who c a m e i n
 52

the way would i n a future life be born into a p o sitio n

,

where openings fo r gi vi n g effective h elp were m a ny

and f ar re a ching
- .

Aga in wa sted o pportu n ities re appe ar tr a n s m ute d

,
-

a s li m it atio n s O f the i n stru m e n t a n d as mis f o rtu n e s

,

i n the e n vironment Fo r i n st a nce t h e br a i n o f t h e

.
,

eth eric double will b e b uilt defe ctively t h us bri n gi n g ,

a b o ut a de f ective phy sica l br a in ; t h e E g o will pl an ,

but will fin d itsel f l a cki n g in e x ecutive a bility or ,

will gra sp a n ide a b ut b e u n a ble to i m press it dis

,

ti n ctly o n t h e br a i n T h e wa sted opportu n iti e s are

.

tr a n s fo rmed i n to frustr a ted longings i n to desire s ,

whic h fail to fin d expre ssio n into ye ar ni n gs to help ,

bl o cked by th e a b se n ce O f power to re n der it ,

whether fro m defective c ap a city or from l a ck O f

occ asion .

This s a m e pri n ciple is O ften at wor k in the cutti ng

a way f ro m tender c are O f so m e well loved child or -

id o lised youth If a n E g o tre ats un k i n dly o r n eg

.

lects o n e to wh o m he owes affection a te dut y a n d

protection or service o f an y ki n d h e will but to o
, ,

likely aga in find hi m sel f b orn in close rel ati o n shi p

with the neglected o n e an d per h a ps ten d erly at ,

ta c hed to h im onl y fo r e a rly de a th to s n a tch him

,

a w ay f ro m t h e e n circli n g ar m s ; t h e des pised poor

rel a tion m ay re appe ar a s the much h o n o u red h e ir
- -
,

t h e o n ly so n an d wh e n the p arents fin d t h eir house

,

le ft unto t h e m desolate they m arvel at t h e u n equ al

,
'

ways O f Provide n ce th at deprive t h e m O ft h eir o n ly

o ne, on whom all their hopes h ave bee n set a n d ,
 53

l e ave u n touc h ed t h e m a n y childre n o ftheir neigh bour .

' et are t h e ways O f K arm a equ a l , t h ough p a st fin d

i n g out s a ve fo r t h ose whose e y es h ave been ope n ed .

C o n ge n it a l de fects result fr o m a defective et h eric

d ouble , a n d are li fe -lo n g pe n a lties fo r serious re b el
l i o ns a ga i n st law, or fo r i nj uries i n flicted u po n ot h ers .

All such a rise fro m the wor k i n g O f t h e Lords o f

K ar m a , a n d a re t h e ph ysic a l m a n i fest ation O f the
d efor m ities n ecessit a ted b y the errors o f t h e E g o , by
h i s excess e s a n d defects , i n the m ould o f the etheric
d ouble m a de by The m . SO a ga in fro m T h eir j ust
a d m i n istr a tio n o f the L aw co m e t h e i n wrought ten

d en ey to reproduce a fa m il y dise a se , t h e suit a b le

c o n fig u r a tion O ft h e etheric double , a n d the directio n

O fit to a f am il i w h ich give n dise a se is heredi

y n a

t ar y , a n d w h ic h af fords the '

co nti n uous pla s m
s uit a b le to the developme n t o fthe a ppropri ate ger m s
—
.

The developme n t o f artistic fa culties to t a ke

a n other type o f qu a lities—will be a n swered by t h e

L ords O f K a rm a by t h e provisio n o fa mould for the

et h eric d o uble after which a delicate n ervous syste m
c a n b e physic ally built , a n d o f te n by the guidi n g o f
i t to a fa m ily in whose m e m b ers t h e speci al faculty
d eve loped by the E g o has fo u n d expressi o n , so m e
t i m es fo r m a ny gener a ti o n s . Fo r the e xpressi o n o f
s uch a fa culty as th a t O f m usic , fo r i n st a n c e , a
p ec u li a r physic a l body is n eed e d , a delic a cy o f
p hysic a l e a r a n d O f ph y sic a l t o uc h , a n d to such
d elic a cy a n a ppropri ate ph y sic a l heredity would b e
m ost co n ducive .
 54

Th e re n deri n g o f service to m a n collectively as ,

.

by so m e n o ble b oo k o r speech the sprea di n g o f ele

,

v ati n g ide a s b y pe n or to n gue is a g a i n a Cl a i m upo n

,

t h e L aw scrupulousl y disc h arged by its m ighty

,

Age n ts . Such help give n co m es back a s h elp b e

stowed o n the g iver as m e n t al an d spiritu a l a ssis
,

t an ce wh ich is his by right .

We t h u s m ay gr a sp the bro a d pri n cipl e s O fk ar m i c

worki n g the respective p arts pl aye d by the Lo rds
,

o f K a r m a a n d b y the Ego itsel f i n t h e desti n y o f

the i n dividu a l The E g o suppli e s a ll the m ateri al s
.
,

but the m ateri a ls are us e d by the Lords o r by the

Ego resp e ctivel y a cc o rdi n g to their n ature : the
l atter bu ilds up t h e ch ar a cter gr a du ally evolve s
,

its e l f t h e fo r m er build the m ould th at li m its choose ,

the e n viro n m e n t a n d ge n er ally a d a pt a n d a dj ust

, ,

i n o rd e r th a t the G o od L aw m ay fin d its u n erri ng

expressi o n despite t h e cl a shi n g wills O f m e n .

FAC ING KARM IC R E SU L T S .

S o m e ti m es people feel o n first r e co gn isi n g the

,
'

exist e n ce O f K ar m a th at if all be the worki n g o u t

,

o f L aw th e y are but helpl e ss sl aves O f Destiny E re .

co n sid eri n g how the L a w m ay be utilised fo r the

co n trol O f Desti n y let us st u dy fo r a few m o m e n t s
,

a t y pic a l c a se a n d see ho w N ecessity a n d Freewil l

—to use the a ccepted ter m s —are b o t h at wo rk a nd
,

at work i n h a r m o n y .

A m a n co m es i n to the world wi t h cert a i n i n b or n

 55

m e n t a l fa culties , let u s say O f a n aver a ge t yp e wit h ,

a p a ssi o n a l n ature th a t sh o ws defi n it e ch a r a cteristics ,

so m e go o d s o m e b a d ; with a n etheric dou ble a n d

,

ph ysica l body fa irly well for m ed a n d h e alth y b ut O f

-
,

n o speci a lly spl e n did Ch ar acter Th e se a re h is

.

li m it a ti o n s cle arly m ark e d out fo r hi m a n d he fi n ds

, ,

hi m se lfwhe n he re a ches m a n hood with this m e n t a l ,

”
p a ssi o n a l a str al ph y sic a l st o ck i n h a n d a nd he
, ,
- -
,

ha s to d o the b e st he c a n with it There are m a n y

.

m e n t al h e ights th at he is defi n itel y u n a bl e to cli m b ,

m e n t a l c o n cepti o n s which his powers d o n o t per m it

hi m to gr a sp ; th e r e ar e te m pt a ti o n s to which his
p a ssi o n al n ature yields th o ugh he strive s a g a i n st
,

th e m ; there are triu m p hs O f ph y sic a l str e n gth a n d

skill th at he c a n n ot a chieve i n fa ct he fi n ds th at he,

c a n n o m o r e thi n k a s a g e n ius thi n ks th a n he c a n b e

b e a utiful a s a n Apo llo He is withi n a lim iti n g ri n g

.

a n d c a n n ot p a ss o u t o fit l o n g as he m a y f
,
o r liberty .

M o re o ver he c a n n o t a void tr o u bl e s o f m a n y ki n ds ;
,

they strik e hi m a n d he c a n o n ly bea r h is p a i n ; h e

,

c a n n o t esc ape fr o m it No w th e se thi n gs are SO

. .

The m a n is li m ited by his p a st thoughts by his ,

wa sted o pp o rtu n ities by his m ist a k e n ch o ices by

, ,

his fo o lish yieldi n gs ; he is b ou n d by his fo rg o tt e n

desires e n ch a i n ed by his errors o f a n e arlier day
,
.

An d ye t he is n o t b o u n d the Re a l M a n , H e who .

m a de the p a st th a t i m pris o n s h is prese n t c a n w o rk

withi n the priso n h o use a n d cre a te a future o f li b ert y .

Nay let him kn ow th a t he hi m sel f is free a n d the

, ,

fetters will cru m ble awa y fro m his li m b s a n d a ccord ,

 56

ing to the m e asure O f h is kn owledge will b e the

illusori n ess O f his bo n ds B u t for the ordi n ary m a n
.

to wh o m the k n owledge will co m e as a spark n o t a s ,

a flam e , the first step towa rds freed o m will b e to

a ccept his li m it atio n s a s sel f m a de a n d proceed to -

e n l a rge the m Tru e he c a n n o t thi n k as a ge n ius

.
,

thi n ks j ust yet b ut he c a n thi n k to the very best O f

,

h is a bility an d b y a n d by he will b ec o m e a ge n ius

,
-

he ca n m a k e p o wer fo r the future a n d he will True ,

.
,

h e c a n n o t get rid O fhis p a ssio n a l fo lli e s m a m o m e n t ,

but he c a n fight a g a i n st the m a n d whe n h e ha s ,

failed he ca n fight o n cert a i n th a t pr e se n tly he will

,

co n quer True he has a str a l an d phy sic a l we a k n ess e s

.
,

an d ugli n esses but a s his th o ughts gr o w stro n and

,
g
p ure a n d b e a uti ful an d his wo rk b e n efic e n t he i s e n
, ,

suri n g fo r hi m s e lfm o re perfe ct fo r m s l n d ay s to c o m e .

He i s a lwa y s hi m sel f the free Soul i n the m idst O f

, ,

his pris o n h o use a n d he ca n hew d o w n the walls he

-
,

hi m sel f b uild e d He ha s n o gao ler s av e hi m s e l f;

.

he ca n will his freedo m a n d i n willi n g it he will ,

a c h ieve.

A tr o ubl e m e ets him ; he is b e re a ve d o f a fri e n d ,

he c o m m its a s eri o us fa ult B e it so ; he si n n ed a s

.

thi n k er i n the p a st he suffers a s a ct o r i n the pr e se n t

, .

But his fri e n d is n o t l o st he will hold him fa st by

love a n d in the future he will fin d hi m a g a i n m e a n
while there are o thers r o u n d him to who m he c a n
giv e the s ervices he wo uld h ave sh o wer e d o n his b e
l o ved a n d he will n o t a gai n n eglect the duties th at
,

ar e his a n d so so w seed f or si m il ar l o ss i n f uture

 58

we a k n e sses supplying deficie n cies re m ovi n g excres

, ,

Ce n ces K n owi n g th at he beco m es th at o n whic h

.

he m e dit a tes he d e liber ately a n d r e gul arly m edit ate s

,

o n a n oble ideal fo r he u n derst a n ds wh y the

,

gr e at C hristi a n I n iti ate P a ul b a de his disciple s

thi n k on the thi n gs th at are true ho n est , ,

j ust pure l o vely a n d o f good report

, , , D a ily .

he will m edit a te o n his ide a l ; d a ily he wil l

strive to live it a n d he will do this persiste n tly a n d
”
c a l m ly with o ut h aste without rest for he k n o w s
,
'
, ,

th at he is buildi n g o n a sur e fo u n d atio n o n the r o c k ,

O f the Eter n a l L aw He a ppe al s to the L a w ; he

.

t akes re fuge i n the L aw ; fo r such a m an fa ilur e

exists n o t ; there is n o power i n h e ave n or i n e ar t h
th a t c a n b ar his way Duri n g e arth life he ga th er s
.
-

his experie n ces utilisi n g all th at co m es i n his way ;

,

duri n g Dev ach a n he a ssi m il a tes the m a n d pl an s o u t

his future buildi n gs .

H erein lies the v a lue O f a tru e the o ry o f li fe eve n ,

whil e the theory rests o n the testi m o n y o f others a n d'

n o t on i n dividu a l k nowledge Whe n a m a n accept s
.

a n d p a rti a ll y u n derst a n ds the w o rki n g o f K ar m a he ,

c a n a t O n ce begin this buildi n g o f ch ar a ct e r s e tti n g ,

e a ch st o n e with deliber ate ca re knowi n g th at he is ,

buildi n g fo r Et er n ity Ther e is n o l o n ger h a sty

.

ru n n i n g up an d pulli n g dow n wo rki n g o n o n e pl an ,

t o d ay o n a n other to m o rrow o n n o n e at all the

,
-
,

day a fter but there is a dr afti n g o f a well thought

O u t sche m e o f ch ar a cter a s it were a n d the n the
, ,

buildi n g a ccordi n g to the sche m e for the Sou l ,

.
 59

beco m es a n architect as well a s a builder an d waste s ,

.

n o m ore ti m e i n a bortiv e b e gi n ni n gs He n c e the

.

spe e d with which the l a t er st a ges o f evolutio n ar e

a cc o m plished , the striki n g a l m ost
, i n credibl e
a dv an ces m a d e b y the str o n g Soul i n its m a n hood
, . ,

M O U L D ING KARM A .

T HE m a n who has set hi m s el f d e li be r a tely to build

the future will r e a lis e , a s his k n o wledge i n cre a ses ,
th a t he c an do m ore th a n m o uld his o wn ch ar acter ,
thus m a ki n g his future desti n y . He b e gi n s tO '

u n derst a n d th a t he is at the ce n tr e O f thi n gs i n a

very re al se n s e , a livi n g , a ctive , self det er m i n i n g
-

B ei n g , a n d th at he c a n act upo n circu m st a n ces a s

well a s upo n hi m se l f H e ha s lo n g bee n a ccusto m
.

i n g hi m self to fo ll o w the gre a t ethic a l l aws , l a i d

down fo r the guida n ce O f hu m a n ity by the Divi n e
Te a chers Who h a ve be e n b o r n fr o m ag e to ag e , a n d
he n ow gr a sps the fa ct th at these l a ws are b a sed o n
fu n da m e n t a l pri n ciples i n N a ture , a n d th at m o r a lity
is scie n ce a ppli e d to c o n duct H e s ee s th a t i n his
.

d a ily li fe he ca n n e utr a lis e the ill results th a t wo ul d

follow from so m e ill deed , b y bri n gi n g to be ar up o n
the s a m e po i n t a c o rrespo n di ng fo rc e fo r go o d A .

m a n se n ds a ga inst hi m a n evil th o ught ; he m igh t

m e e t it wit h a n o th e r O f its o wn ki n d , a n d the n the
two th o ught fo r m s , ru n n i n g together like two drops
- .

O f w a ter , would be rei n f o rced , stre n gthe n ed , e a ch b

y
e ach ; but this o n e ag a i n st wh o m t h e evil though t
i s fl y i n g is a k n ower o f K ar m a , a n d he m eets the
 60

m a lig n a nt form wit h the force o f comp a ssio n a n d

sh a tters it ; the broke n form ca n n o lo n ger be
e n souled wit h ele m e n t a l li fe ; t h e li fe melts b a ck to
i ts o wn t h e form disi n tegr ates ; its power fo r evil is
,

thus destroyed by co m pa ssio n an d h a tr e d ce a ses

,
”
by love . Delusive for m s o ffa lsehood go fo rth i n to
the a str al wo rld ; the m a n O f k n o wl e dge s e n ds
a g a i n st them f orms o f truth purity bre a ks up fo u l
n ess a n d Ch ar ity selfish greed . As k n o wledge i n
c re a ses this a ctio n bec o m es direct a n d purposive
, ,

the thought is a i m ed with definite i n te n t wi n ged ,

w ith pote n t will T hus evil K arm a is checked in

i ts very inceptio n a n d n a ught is le ft to m a ke a
,

K a rmic tie betwee n the o n e who shot a sh aft o f

i nj ury a n d the o n e who b ur n ed it up by p ard o n .

T he Divi n e Te achers who spa k e as m e n h avi n g

a uth o rity on the dut y o f o vercoming evil with g o o d ,

b a sed Their prec e pts o n Their k n o wledge o f the

law Their followers who o b e y without fu lly seei n g
,

the scientific fo und a ti o n o f the precept lesse n the

,

he a vy K a rma th at would b e ge n er a ted if they

a n swered h ate with h ate . B ut men O f k n o wl e dge
d eliber ately destr o y the evil forms u n derst a n di n g
,

the fa cts o n which the te a chi n g o f the M a sters ha s

e ver b een b a sed a n d sterilisi n g the seed o f evil the y
, ,

pr e ve n t a future h arvest O f p a in .

At a st age which is co m p a r a tively a dv a n ced i n

c o m p ariso n with th a t o f the slowl y dri f ti n g a ver a ge
,

hu m a n ity a m a n wi ll n o t o n ly build his o w n

,

c h ar a cter a n d work w ith deliber a te int e n t o n the

 6I

th o u ght for m s th at c o m e i n his way but he will

-
,

b e gi n to see the p a st an d thus m o re accur at e ly to

gu a ge the prese n t tr aci n g K ar m ic c a uses o nward s
,

to their e f fe cts. He bec o m es a ble to m odify the

future by c o n sciously setti n g forces to work desig n ed ,

to i n t e r a ct with others a lre a dy i n m o ti o n Know .

ledge e n ables hi m to utilise law with the s a m e cer

t a i n ty with which scie n tists utilise it in every d e part
m e n t o f N at u r e .

L e t us p a us e fo r a m o m e n t to c o n sider the l aws

O f m o ti o n . A b o d y ha s be e n se t i n m o ti o n a n d is ,

m o vi n g al o n g a d e fi n ite li n e : if a n o th e r fo rc e b e
br o ught to b e ar upo n it di fferi n g i n directi o n fr o m
,

the o n e th at g av e it its initi al i m pulse the b o dy will

—
,

m o ve al o n g a n o th er li n e a li n e c o m p o u n ded O f the
two i m pulses ; n o e n er gy will be l o st but p art O f ,

the force which g a ve the i n iti a l i m pulse will b e us e d

up i n p arti ally cou n ter a cti n g the n ew a n d the r e sul
,

t an t dir e cti o n a l o n g which the b o dy will m o ve will

b e th at n either o f the first fo rce n o r O f the sec o n d ,

b u t o f the i n t erpl ay o f the two A ph y sicist c a n

.

c a lcul a te ex a ctly at wh a t an gle he m u st strike a

m o vi n g body i n order to c a us e it to m o ve i n a
desired directi o n a n d a ltho u gh the b o dy itsel f m ay
,

be beyo n d his i m m e di ate re a ch he c a n se n d aft er it

,

a f o rc e o f c a lcul a t e d v e l o cit y to strik e it a t a d e fi n ite

a n gl e
,
thus d eflecti n g it fro m its pr evi o us co urse ,

a n d i m pelli n g it a l o n g a n ew li n e .In this th e re is

n o v i Ola ti o n o f la w n o i n ter f
,
.
ere n ce with law : o n ly
the utilis atio n o f law by kn owledge the be n di n g o f ,
 62

na fo rces to a cco m plish t h e purp o se O f the

tur a l
h u m a n will Ifwe a ppl y this pri n ciple to the m ould
—
.

i n g o f K arm a , we sh a ll re adily see a p art from the

—
fa ct th at law is invi o l a ble th at there is no i n terfer
”
e n ce with K arm a , whe n we modi fy its action by
k n o wledge We are usi n g K armic force to affe ct
.

K a r m ic results , a n d o n ce m ore we co n quer N ature by

ob e die n ce .

Let us now supp o se th at the adv an ced stude n t ,

gl a n ci n g backwards over t h e pa st sees li n es o f

,

pa st K ar m a convergi n g to a po i n t o f a cti o n o f
an u n desir able k i n d ; he can i n tr o duce a new
force a m o n g these c o n verging e n ergies a n d so ,

m o di fy the eve n t which must be the result a nt o f

,

a ll the f
' o rces concer n e d i n its ge n er ati o n a n d ripe n

i ng Fo r suc h acti o n he requires k n o wl e dge not

.
,

o n ly the p o wer to see the p a st a nd to tr a ce the li n es

which c o n n ect it with the prese n t but a ls o to calcu
,

l ate exa ctly the i n flue n ce th at the force he i n tro

duces will e xercise as m o di fyi n g the result a nt a n d ,

further the e f fects th a t will flow fr o m this result a n t

co n sidered a s c ause In this way he m ay lessen or
.

destr o the results o f evil wrought by hi m sel f i n the

p a st by t h e good fo rces he pours fo r th into his
,

K ar m ic stre a m ; he c a n n ot u n do the pa st he c a n n o t
,

d estr o y it but SO far a s its effects are still i n t h e

,

future he c a n m odi fy the m o r reverse them by t h e ,

n ew f orces he brings to be ar as c a uses t a k i n g part

i n their pr o ductio n In a ll this h e is m erely utilisi n g
.

t he law a n d h e wor k s with the cert a i n ty O f the

,
 63

s cie n tist who b a l a n ces o n e force aga i n st a n other

,

a nd ,
u n a b le to de stroy a u n it o f e n ergy ca n yet ,

m a ke a b o dy m ove as he will b y a c alcul ati o n o f

a n gles a n d o f m o m e n ts .Si m il arly K ar m a m ay be
a cceler at e d or del ayed a n d thus a g a i n will u n dergo
,

m odific ati o n b y the a ctio n O f the surr o u n di n gs a m id

w hich it is wo rked out .

Let us put the s a m e thi n g ag ai n a little di ffere n tly ,

fo r the c o n c e pti o n is a n i m po rt a n t a n d a fruit ful o n e .

A s k n o wledge gr o ws it b e c o m es e a sier a n d e a si e r to
,

t rid o f the K ar m a o f the p a st I n a s m uch a s

g e .

c a uses which are w o rki n g out to their a cco m plish

m e n t a ll c o m e withi n the sight O f the S o u l which is

,

a ppro a chi n g its liber a tio n a s it lo o ks b ack o ver p a s t

,

lives a s it gl a n ces dow n the vist a o f c e n turi e s a l o n g

,

which it ha s bee n sl o wly Cli m b i n g it is able to se e ,

ther e the way i n which its b o n ds we re m ad e the ,

c a uses which it se t i n m o ti o n ; it is a b le to se e ho w

m a n y o f those c a uses h a ve worked the m s e lv e s o u t

a n d ar e exh a usted ho w m a n y O f th o s e c a uses ar e
,

still wo rki n g th e m selves o u t It is a ble n o t o n ly to

.

loo k ba ckwa rds b ut a ls o to l o o k forwards a n d see

the effe cts these c a uses will pr o duce so th at gl a n e ,

i n g i n fr o n t the effects th a t will be pr o duc e d a re

,

see n a n d gl an ci n g behi n d the c a u ses th at will bri n g

, ,

a b out these e f fe cts are a ls o visi b le There is n o .

d if fi cult y i n the suppo siti o n th a t j ust a s yo u fin d i n

o rdi n ar y physic a l n ature th at k n owl e dge O f cert a i n
,

l aws e n a b les us to predict a result a n d to se e the ,

l aw th a t bri n gs th at result a bo ut so we c a n tr a n s fer

,
 64

this ide a o n to a higher pl a n e a nd can i m agi n e a

, .

co n dition o f the develop e d so ul i n which it is a bl e

,

to see the K ar m ic c a uses th at it has set g o i n g

b ehi n d it a n d als o the K a r m ic effects t h rough which
,

it ha s to work i n the future .

With such a k n o wl e dge O f c auses an d a visi o n O f ,

their worki n g out it is p o ssible to i n tr o duce fr e sh

,

c a uses to n eutr a lise th e se effects a n d by utilisi n g ,

the law a n d by rely i n g a b s o lutely o n its u n ch a n gi n g

,

a n d u n v a ryi n g Ch ar a cter a n d by a c a re f
, ul c a lcul a
ti o n O f the forces set goi n g to m a k e the effects i n
,

the future thos e whic h we desire Th a t is a m e r e .

m a tter O f c a lcul ati o n

. Suppose vibr ati o n s o f h a tre d
h ave bee n set go i n g i n the p a st we can d eli b er at e ly
,

set to wor k to que n ch these vibr atio n s a n d to pre ,

ve n t their worki n g o u t i n to t h e prese n t a n d future ,

by setti n g up a ga i n st th e m vibr atio n s o f l o ve J ust .

i n the s a m e way as we c a n t ak e a wa ve o f s o u n d ,

a n d then a seco n d w a v e a n d setti n g the tw o g o i n

, g
o n e slightly af ter the o ther so th a t the vi br a tio n s o f
,

the de n ser p ar t o f the o n e s h all corresp o n d to the

r arer part o f th e ot h er a n d t h us o ut o f s o u n ds we
,

c a n m ak e sile n ce b i n terference so i n the higher

regions it is po ssib laby love a n d h a t e vi br ati o n s
,

used by k n owledge a n d c o n trolled by will to bri ng ,

K armic c auses to a n e n di n g a n d so to rea ch e qu ili

b ri u m whic h is a n oth er word for liber ati o n
, Th a t .

k n o wledge is b eyo n d the re a c h o f the e n o r m o u s

m aj orit y Wh a t the m aj o rity can do is this i f they
.
,

ch o ose to utilise the Scie n ce o fthe Soul They m a y .

 66

i s wro u gh t o u t o f o ur
virtues h o lds as fir m ly a n d as
Cl o sely a s th at fo rged fro m o u r vices H ow the n .

sh al l the we a vi n g O f the C h a in be put a n e n d to ,

si n ce m a n m ust think a n d f eel a s lo n g a s he lives ,

and thoughts a nd feeli n gs are ever ge n erati n g

K ar m a ' The a n swer to t h is is the grea t lesso n o f
the B hag a vad Gi td the less o n t a ught to the warrior
,

pri n ce N either to her m it n o r to student wa s th at

.

lesso n give n but to the war rior strivi n g for v ic

,

tory the pri n ce i m m ersed in the duties o f his

,

st ate .

N ot i n a ctio n but i n desire n o t in a ctio n but in

,

a tt a ch m e n t to its f ruit lies the b i n di n g force O f

,

a cti o n A n a ctio n is per fo r m ed with desire to e nj oy

.

i ts fruit a course is a dopted with desire to O b t a i n

,

its results ; the S o ul i s expect an t a n d N ature m ust

reply to it it ha s de m a n ded an d N ature m ust a ward
, .

T O ever y c a u se is b o u n d its effect to ev ery a ctio n ,

i ts fruit a n d desire is the cord th a t li n k s the m

,

to gether the thre a d th at ru n s b etwee n

, If thi s .

c o uld b e b urned up the co n n exio n would c e a se a n d ,

whe n a ll t h e bo n ds O f the he ar t are br o ke n the Soul

is free K ar m a c an the n n o lo n ger hold it K ar m a
.

c a n the n n o l o n ge r bi n d it the wheel o f c a use a n d

e ffect m ay co n ti n ue to t ur n but the Soul ha s beco m e
,

the Li b er ated Li fe .

W i tho ut a ttachm ent e o n sta n tly p erfo rm a cti o n whi ch i s

,

d uty fo r p erfo rm i n g a cti o n wi tho ut a tta chm en t m an eri ly

, , ,
v

re ache th the Sup r e m

B hagavad Gi td . ii i . 29 .
 57

TO perfor m t h is K arm a a o f ac tio n

a- ' og —' og
a s it is c a lled m an m ust perfor m every a ctio n
,

m erely a s dut y doi n g all i n h armo n y wit h the La w

,
.

S eeki n g to co n fo rm to t h e L aw on a ny pl a n e O f
b eing o n wh ich he 1 3 busied he a i m s at b ecomi n g a ,

force wor k ing wit h t h e Di vi n e Will for evolutio n ,

a n d y ields a per f ect Obedie n ce in every ph ase o f h is

a ctivit y Thus all hi s actions p artak e o f t h e n a ture
.

o f s a crifice a n d are O f
, fered fo r t h e tu rn i n o f t h e
W h eel o f t h e L aw n ot for a ny fruit th at t ey m ay
,

b ri n g ; the a ctio n is per for m e d a s duty the frui t is ,

j oy full y give n fo r the h elpi n g o f m e n ; he h as no

c o n cer n wit h it it b elo n gs to the L aw a n d to the
, ,

L aw he le aves it fo r distributio n .

An d so we re a d
W ho se wo rks are all free fro m the m o uldi n g o fde sire who se ,

a cti o n s a re b u rn e d u p b y the fire O fwi sd o m , he i s c a lle d a

S a g e b y th e sp i ri tua lly wi se .

H a vi n g a b a n d o ne d all attachm en t to the fruit O f a cti o n ,

a l wa ys co n te n t, see ki n g re fug e In n o n e , al th o u h do i n g a c ti o n s
g
h e 1 3 n o t d o i n g a nyth i n g .

Free fro m d e si re , hi s tho ugh ts co n trolle d b y the SE L F ,

h a vi n g a b a n d o n e d a l l a tta chm e n t, p erfo rmi ng a cti o n b y th e
b o d y a lo n e , he do th n o t c o m m i t si n .

C on te nt w i th wha tso ev e r he re c e i v e th , free fr o m the a i rs

O f o p p o si te s, wi tho u t e n v y, b a la n ce d i n succe ss an d f a i ure ,
t ho ugh h e ha th a c te d he 1 3 n o t b o u n d ;
Fo r wi th a tta chm en t d e a d , harm o n i o u s, hi s tho ughts
e sta b li sh e d i n wi sd o m , hi s wo rks sa cri fi ces, a ll hi s a cti o n
m elts a way .

Ibid .
, i v . I 9-z3 .
 68

Body a n d m i n d work o u t t h eir full activities ; wit h

the b o d y a ll bodily a ctio n is per for m ed wit h the ,

m i n d a ll m e n t a l ; b ut the S E L F re m a i n s sere n e ,

u n troubled le n di n g no t o f its etern a l esse n ce to

,

forge the ch ai n s O f ti m e Right a ctio n is n ever

.

n eglected but is f
, a ith fully per for m ed to the li m it O f
t h e a v a il a ble po wers re n u n ci ation O f att a ch m e n t to
,

t h e fruit n o t i m plyi n g a n y sl o t h or c areless n ess i n

a cti n g

As the i g n o ra nt act fro m a tta chm e n t to a cti o n 0 B h ar ata , ,

so sho u ld the wi se a ct wi th o ut a ttach m en t, de si ri n g the m a i n
te n a n ce o f m a n ki n d.

L et n o wi se ma n un se ttle the m i n d o f i g n ora n t p eo le p

a tta che d to acti o n ; b ut a cti n g i n h a rm o n y (wi th Me) l e t h i m
re n de r a ll a cti o n a ttra c ti v e
‘
.

Th e m an who re aches this st ate O f in actio n in '

”
a ctio n , ha s le arned the secret o f t h e ce a si n g o f
K ar m a ; he destroys by k n owledge the a ctio n he
ha s ge n er a ted i n the p a st he b urns up t h e a ctio n o f
,

the prese n t by dev o tio n T he n it is t h at he a tt ai n s

.

”
t h e st a te spo k e n o f by J o h n the Divi n e in the
'

Revel atio n i n whic h the m a n goet h n o more out O f

,

the T e m ple For the Soul goes out O f the T e m pl e

.

m a n y a n d m a n y a ti m e i n to the pl a i n s O f li fe b u t ,

the ti m e arrives wh e n he beco m es a pill ar a pill ar ,

i n the T e m ple o f m y G o d ; th at T emple is the

u n iver se O f li b er a ted S ouls a n d o n ly t h ose who are
,

bou n d to not h i n g for the m selves c a n be bou n d to

everyo n e in t h e n am e O fthe O n e Li fe .

Ibid .
, iii . 2 5, 2 6.
 T he se bond s o f des ire the n o f per so n al desire
, ,

n ay O f i n dividu a l desire m ust be broke n

, We ca n .

see h ow the bre a ki n g will begi n a n d h ere c o m es in

a mist a k e w h ich m a n y yo u n g stude n ts ar e a pt to f all

i n to a m ist a ke so n a tur al a n d e a sy th at it is co n
,

sta n tly occurring . We do n ot bre a k the bond s o f

t he h e art by tryi n g to kill t h e he art We do n o t .

b rea k the b o n ds o f desire by trying to tur n ourselves

i nto st o ne s o r piece s o f m et al u n a ble to fe el The .

'
d isciple b eco m es m o re se n sitive a n d n o t less so a s
, ,

h e ne ars his li b er a tio n he b e co m es m o re te n der a n d

,

n o t mo re h a rd ; f o r the per f ect disciple who is as

'

t he M a ster is the o n e who a n swers to every thrill

i n t h e outside universe who is touched by a n d
,

r espo n ds to ever y thi n g who f

, eels a n d an swers to
e verythi n g who j ust b ec a use he desires nothi n g f
, or

h i m self is a ble to give everythi n g to all Such a .

o n e c a nn ot be held by K ar m a he f , orges n o bo n ds to
b i n d the Soul . A s the disciple beco m es m ore a n d
m o re a C h a n n el o f Divi n e Li fe to the wo rld he ,

a sk s nothi n g s a ve to be a ch a n n el with wider a n d ,

w ider bed alo n g whic h the gre a t Li fe m ay flow ; his

.

o nly wish is th a t he m ay beco m e a l a rger vessel ,

w ith less O fObst a cl e i n h i m sel fto hi n der the outwa rd

ouri n g o f the Li f e w o rki n g for n o thi n g s a ve to be
p
o f service th a t is the li f
, e o f discipleshi p i n which ,

t he b o n ds th a t bi n d ar e br o ke n .

B u t there is o n e b o n d th a t bre a ks n o t ever t h e ,

b ond o f th at re a l unity which is n o b ond fo r it ca n ,

n o t be disti n guis h ed a s sep ar a te t h at w h ic h unite s

,
 70

the O n e to t h e All the disciple to the M a st er the

, ,

M a ster to H is disciple the Divi n e Li fe which dr a ws

u s ever o n w ard s a n d upw ar ds but bi n ds us n o t to
,

the wh eel o fbirth a n d death We are dr aw n b a ck to

—
.

e arth first by desire fo r wh at we e nj o y there t h e n ,

by higher a n d higher desires which still h ave e art h

—
fo r their regio n o f fu lfilm e n t fo r Spiritu a l k n ow
ledge spiritu a l growth spiritu a l devotion Wh at
, , .

i s it whe n all i s acc o m plished th a t still bi n ds the

, ,

M a sters to the world o f men ' No t a n ythi n g th at

the wo rld can offer The m There i s n o k n owledge
.

on e ar th T hey h a ve n o t ; t h ere is no power o n e art h

th at T hey wield n o t there is n o furt h er experi enc e
th at m ight e n ric h Th eir lives ; there is n o thi n g t h at
t h e world ca n give Th e m th a t c an dra w Th e m b ack
to birth An d yet They co m e b ec ause a Divi n e
.
,

c o m pulsio n th at i s fr o m within a n d n o t fro m with

—
out se n ds Th e m to the e art h wh ich otherw ise
—
They m igh t le ave fo r ever to hel p Their brethre n ,

to l a bour ce n tury a fter centur y m ille n n iu m a fter

,

m ille n n iu m for t h e j oy a n d service th a t m a ke The ir

,

love a n d pe a ce i n effable wit h n othi n g th at the eart h

,

c an give T h e m s ave the j oy O f seei n g other Soul s

,

growi n g i n to Their li k e n ess b egi n n i n g to sh are wit h

,

t h e m the c o nscious li fe o f God .

C O L L E C T IV E K ARM A .

The gat h eri n g together o f Soul s i n to grou ps,

for m i n g fa m il i es ca ste s n ation s r aces i n trodu ce s a
, , , , .
n ew element o f per ple xity i n to Ka r m ic results an d ,

it is here t h a t r o o m is fou n d fo r wh at are c alled

a ccide n ts ,
a s w e ll a s fo r t h e a dj ust m e n t s co n tin u

a lly b e i n g m ade b y the Lord s o f K ar m a . It a ppears

th a t while n othi n g ca n be fall a m a n th a t is no t in
his K ar m a as a n individu al a dv a n t a ge m ay b e
,
.

t a ke n o f say a n atio n al or a seis m ic c at a strophe to

, ,

e n a ble hi m to work O ff a piece o f b ad K a r m a which

would n o t n o r m a lly h ave falle n i n to the li fe sp an -

t h rough which he is pa ssi n g it appe ars I can o n ly —

spe a k here o n specul a tively n o t h a vi n g de fi n it e
—
,

k n o wledge o n this poi n t as tho u gh sudden dea th

co uld n o t strike O ff a m a n s b ody unless he o we d
'

such a de ath to t h e L aw n o m a tter i n to wh a t wh ir l

'

O f c a t a str o phic dis a ster he m a be hurled he w o ul d

y
be wh at is c alled m ir aculously preserved a m id the
de at h a n d rui n th at swept away his n eighb o u rs an d ,

e m erge u n h ar m ed fr o m te m pest or fiery o ut bre a k .

B u t i f h e o wed a li fe a n d were dr aw n by his n a tion al

,

or f a m ily K ar m a withi n the a re a o fs u ch a disturb a n ce ,

the n although suc h s udde n de ath ha d not b ee n

,

wo ve n i n to his Li n ga Sh ari r a for th a t spe ci al li fe n o ,

a ctive i n ter f er e n ce m ight be m a de fo r his preserva

ti o n ; spe ci al c are w o uld b e t a ke n O f him a ft erwards
t ha t he m ight n o t Su ffer u n du ly from hi s sudd en
s n atchi n g o u t O f e arth li fe but he would be all owe d
-
,

to p ay his debt o n t h e a risi n g O f such a n oppo rtu n ity ,

brought withi n his re a ch by the wider swe e p O f the

L aw b the collective K ar m a th at involves him
Si m i la
.
,

rly be n efit s m ay accrue to hi m by thi s

,
 2

i ndir ect ction of the L aw a s wh en h e belongs to a

a , .

n atio n th at is enj oying the fruit of so m e good n ation al

K ar m a a n d h e m ay th us receive so m e debt owed to
hi m by N ature t h e p ayme n t O fwh ich would n o t h av e
,

fa llen wit h i n h is present lo t had o n ly his individu al

K ar m a b e e n concer n ed .

A m a n s birt h in a p articul ar n atio n is i n fl uence d

'

by cert a i n ge n er al pri n ciples Of evoluti o n a s well as

b his i m medi ate Ch ar acteristics The Soul in i ts
sw develo pmen t ha s n o t o nly to pass t hrough the
.

seve n Root R a ces o f a glo b e (I de a l wi th t h e norm al

evoluti o n o f h um a nity) b ut a lso thr o ugh t h e sub
,

races . T h is necessity i m po ses cert a i n c o n ditions to ,

wh ic h the i n dividu a l K ar m a must a d a pt itsel f a n d a ,

n ati o n b el o n gi n g to the sub r a ce t hrough wh ic h the

-

Soul has to pa ss will Offer t h e are a withi n w h ic h the

more speci a l conditio n s n eeded must b e found .

W h ere lo n g series o fi n car n atio n s h ave bee n followed

i t has b ee n found th a t s o m e individu a ls progress
fr om su b r a ce to su b r a ce very regu l arly w h ere a s
- -
,

oth ers are m ore err atic t a ki n g repe ated i n c arn a tio n s
,

p er h a p s i n o n e sub r a ce
- Wit.h i n the li m its O f t h e

su b r a ce
- the individu a l C h a r a cteristics o f t h e m a n
,

will dr a w hi m tow ards o n e n atio n or a n o t h er a n d ,

we m ay n o tice d o m i n a n t n atio n a l C h ar a cteristics t e

e m ergi n g o n t h e st a ge o f h istory en bloc after t h e
n or m a l i n terv a l o ffi f
tee n hu n dred years ; thus crowd s
o f R o m a n s reinc ar n a te a s E n glis h m en t h e e n ter
,

prisi n g col o nisi n g c o n quering im peri a l i n sti n ct s

, , ,

a ppe a ri n g a s n atio n a l a t tribute s A m a n in wh o m

.
 74

Th e wo rking o ut in det a il o f collective K arm a;

would c arry us far b eyo n d the li m its O f such an
ele m e n t a ry wo rk a s t h e prese n t an d far b eyo n d the
k n o wledge O f the writer ; o n ly these fr a gm e n t ary
hi n ts c a n at prese n t b e offered to the stude n t Fo r .
.

precise u n derst a n di n g a l o n g study O f i n dividu a l c a se s

,

would b e n e cess a ry tra ced t hr o ugh m a n y th o us a n ds

,

O fy e a rs Spe cula tion o n these m atters is idle ; it i s

.

pati e n t O b serv ati o n th a t is n e eded .

There is h o wever o n e other a spe ct o f collective

, ,

K ar m a o n which some wo rd m ay fitly b e s a id the

rel ati o n b etwee n me n s thoughts a n d d e e ds a n d the
'

a s pects O f e xter n a l n a ture O n this O b scure subj ect

.

M m e B l av atsky has t h e fo llowi n g :

.

Fo llo wi ng Pl a to Ari sto tl e

, p lai n ed that the
ex term
xi
‘

(n oc c a:

e le m e n ts a s u n d e rsto o d o n ly a s m e a n i n g the i n c o rp o r e al
' ] w
p p
ri n c i le s p f
la ce d at e ach o f the o u r g re a t di v i si o n s o f o u r
p
c o sm i c a l wo rl d , to su erv i se the m T hu s, n o m o re th a n
.

C h ri sti an s do Pa g a ns ad ore a n d worship the Ele me n ts an d the

(i m a g i n a ry) c ar di n a l p
o i n ts, b u t th e G o d s t h a t re s e pc ti v e ly
r u l e o v er the m . Fo r the C h urch , th ere a r e two ki n d s of
Si d ereal B e i n g s, An ge l s a n d D e v i ls Fo r the
. Kab a li st a n d
C
O cc ulti st the re i s o n e l a ss, a n d n e i the r O cculti st n o r a b a li stK
m a ke s a n y di fferen ce b etwee n the Re cto rs O f L i ght a n d
”
the Rec to res T e n e b ra r u m , o r C o sm o c rato re s, who m the
R o m a n C hu r ch i m a gi n es a n d di sc o v ers i n th e Re cto rs o f
”
L i g ht, a s so o n a s a n y o n e o f the m i s c a ll e d b y a n o ther n a m e
th a n the o n e she a ddr e sse s hi m b y It i s n o t the Re cto r , o r
.

j
Ma h ara ah , who p u n i she s or rewa rd s, wi th o r wi tho u t G o d s '

pe rm issi o n o r orde r, b ut m a n him se l —his d ee ds, or arm a ,

f K
a ttra cti n g i n d i v i d u al ly a n d c o ll e cti v ely (a s i n the ca se of
who le n ati o n s so m e ti me s) e v e ry ki nd o f e v il a n d c ala mi ty .

W e ro duce Causes, a nd the se awake n the corre s on di n g

p p
 75

i n th e Si dere al Wo rld , whi ch are m a gn e ti c ally a n d

p o wers
— —
i rr e si sti b ly a ttra cted to a n d r ea ct u p o n tho se who p ro d u ce
such ca u se s ; whe th e r su c h p e r so n s a re p ra c ti c a lly th e e v i l
d o ers, o r si mp ly '
thi n kers who b ro o d m i schi e f Fo r
.

th o u g ht i s m a tter , we a re tau g ht b y M od ern Sci e n c e ; a n d

e v e ry p arti cle o f the e xi stin g m atter m u st b e a re gi ste r o f

all th a t h a s h a p p e n e d , as Me ssrs J e v o n s a n d B a b b a g e i n
”
.

th ei r Pr i nciples of Sci ence te ll the p ro fan e Mo dern Sci e n ce i s

. .

e ve ry d a y dra wn m ore i n to the m a elstro m O f O c culti sm

un c o n sc i o u sly, n o do ub t sti ll v e ry se n si b ly .

”
T h o ug ht i s m a tte r n o t o f c o ur se , h o we v e r , i n th e se n se
o f th e G e r m a n M ateri a li st M o le sc h o tt, wh o a ssure s u s tha t
th o u g ht i s the m o v e m e n t o f m a tter —
a state m e n t o f a l m o st
'

un p aral lele d a b su rdi ty .Men ta l sta te s a n d b o d i ly state s are

u tterly c o n tra ste d a s su ch .Bu t tha t d o es n o t a f fe ct the
p o sitio n that ev e ry tho u ght, in a ddi tio n to i ts p hysi cal
a c co m p a n i m e n t (b ra i n -ch a n g e ) , e xhi b i ts a n O b j e cti v e —
th o u g h
to u s sup e rse n su o u sly O b j e c ti v e — a sp e ct o n th e a stral p l a n e
‘
.

It see m s th a t when m e n ge n er a t e a l a rge n u m ber

o f m a lig n a n t Tho u ght f or m s o fa destructive Ch ar a c
-

ter a n d whe n these co n gregate i n huge m a sses o n

,

the Astr a l Pl a n e th e ir e n ergy m ay be and is preci

, , ,

i t t d n the ph y sic a l pl a n e stirri n g up w a rs

p a e o , ,

revolutio n s a n d so Ci al distur b a n ces a n d uph e a v a l s

,
.

O f every ki n d f a lli n g a s c o llective K ar m a o n th e i r

,

proge n itors a n d effecti n g widespre a d rui n Thu s .

then c o llectively also Ma n is the ma ster o f h is des

tiny a n d h is world is m o ulded by his cre ativ e
,

a cti o n .

Epidemics O f cri m e a n d dise ase cycles o f a cci ,

d ents h ave a si m il ar e x pla n a ti o n

,
Th o ugh t Fo rm s.
-

‘
The Secret D octri ne, i . 1 48 , I 4 9 .
 76

o f a n ger aid in the perpetr ation o f a murder ; t h es e

E leme n t a ls are n o urished by t h e crime , a n d the
r esults o f the cri m e — t h e h a tred a n d the reve n geful
t h o ughts o ft hose who l o ved t h e victi m , the fierc e
r e se n t m e n t o f the cri m i n a l , his b a fli e d f ury whe n
v iole n tly se n t o ut o f the wo rld — still furt h er rei n fo rce
t heir host with m a n y m a lig n a n t for m s ; these a ga i n
fro m the a str a l pl a n e impel an evil m a n to fr e sh
c rime , a n d a g a i n the circle o f n ew impulses i s
t r o dde n , a n d we h ave a n epide m ic o f vi o le n t deed s .

D ise a ses spre a d , a n d the thoughts o f fe ar which

follow their progress act directly a s stre n gthe n ers o f
t he power o f the dise a se ; m a g n etic disturb a n ce s
a r e se t up a n d pr o p a g a ted , a n d t e -a c t o n the m a g

n etic spheres o f pe o ple withi n the a f fe cted are a . In

e very directi o n , i n e n dless f a shi o n s , do m e n s evil
'

t h o ughts pl a y h a voc , a s he who sh o uld h ave bee n a

d ivi n e c o -builder i n the U n iverse uses h is cre a tive
p ower to destr o y .

C O N C L U SIO N .

Suc h is a n outli n e o fthe gre a t L aw o f K arm a a n d

o f its wo rki n gs by a k n o wledge o fw hich a m a n m ay
,

a cceler a te his ev o lutio n b y the utilis a ti o n o fwhich a

,

m a n m ay free hi m sel f fr o m b o n d a ge a n d beco m e l o n g

,

e re his r a c e ha s tr o dd e n its c o u rse o n e o fthe H elpers

,

a n d S avi o urs o f the W o rld . A deep a n d ste a d y c o n

v i c ti o n o f the truth o fthis L a w gives to li f e an im
m o v a b le sere n ity a n d a per fect fe arless n ess n o thing
c a n touch us th at we h a ve n o t wrought n othing c a n ,
 77

i nj ure u s t h a t we h ave n o t merited An d a s every

.

thi n g th a t we h ave sown m u st ripen i n to h arvest in

due se a so n a n d must be rea ped it is idle to la m e nt
, ,

ove r the re aping wh en it is pa i n ful ; it m ay a s well

be done now as at a ny future ti m e si n ce it c a n not
,

b e ev a ded a n d o nce d o n e it c a nnot retur n to

, , ,

trouble u s a ga i n P a i n fu l K ar m a m ay there
.

fo re well be fa ced wit h a j o yful he art a s a thi n g to

,
.

be gl a dly wo rked through a n d d o n e with ; it is

better to h ave it b ehi n d us th an b e fore u s an d every ,

debt p aid le aves us wit h less to pay Would th at .

the world k n ew a n d could feel t h e stre n gth th a t

co m es fro m t h is resti n g o n the L aw U n fo rtun ately
.

to m ost in the Wester n wo rld it is a m ere chi m ae ra ,

a n d eve n a m o n g Theos o phists belie f i n K ar m a i s

m ore a n i n tellectu a l a sse n t th a n a living a n d fruit ful
co n viction i n the light o f wh ic h the li fe is lived .

T he stre n gth o f a b elie f s ays Pro fess o r B a i n i s

'

, ,

mea sured by its i n flue n ce o n c o n duct a n d belief i n

,

K ar m a ought to m a ke the li fe pure str o n g sere n e

, ,

a n d gl a d . O nly our o wn dee ds can hi n der us ; o n ly

o ur o wn will c a n f etter u s O nce let m e n recognise
.

this truth a n d the hour o f their liber atio n has

,

str u ck N a ture c a n not e n sl ave the Soul th a t by

.

Wisdo m has ga i n ed Power a n d uses both in

, .

Lov e.
 T HE T HE O SO PHIC A L SO C IE T ' .

T HE T heo so phi ca l So ci ety i s a n i ntern ati o n al b o d y whi ch

w a s fo u nd e d at Ne w ' o rk, o n the 1 7th o f N o v e m b e r , 1 8 75 .

I ts o b j e cts a re

F IRST —
T f o orm
the nu cleus of a uni versal brotherhood of huma ni ty
wi thou t di sti ncti on ofrace. creed , sex. caste or colour
C N —
.

SE O D . To promote the study ofA rya n a nd other E astern li tera tures.

relig i ons, phi losophi es a nd sciences, a nd demonstra te the i mportance of that
s tudy
R —
.

T HI D . To i nvestig ate nnexplai ned la ws of nature a nd the psychi c

po wers latent i n man .

O fthe se thre e o b ects the j fi

r st i s the o n ly o n e whi ch i s

b i n d i n g o n all m e m b e rs, the two o the rs b e i n g m e an t to su b

s e rv e th e fi
rst T h e c arryi n g o u t o fthe seco n d , re ve a li n g the
.

E a st to the W e st, te n d s to b re a k d o wn th e b a rr i ers o f ra c e

a n d cre e d , a n d the re i s n o se rv i c e th e E ast ca n d o to th e
We st co m p ar a b le to the u n v e ilin g o f he r hidde n tre a su re s o f
p
s i ri tu a l kn o wle d g e j
T he thi rd o b e ct also te n d s to b ro the r
.

ho o d , i a tha t i t le a d s m a n to u ndersta n d hi m se lf a n d hi s
e n v i ro n m e n t, a n d fi
n ally d e m o n stra te s to h i m the u n derlyi n g
p
s i r itu a l u n i ty o f a ll b e i n g s B ut b o th the se o b e cts re u ire
. j q
p p
fo r the i r p ro se cuti o n s e ci a l ca a ci ti e s a n d sp e ci a l O pp o r
tun iti e s ; the y a re n o t, the re fo re , b i n di n g o n m e m b e rs, b ut
a re v o l un ta ri ly ta ke n u p b y th o se wh o a re attra c te d b y th e m
an d wh o are a b l e to u rsu e the m Sti ll , a . p
erso n e n ti re ly
i n di ffe re n t to th e m , i h e b e li e v e s i n h u m a n b ro the rho o d a n d
i s wi lli n g to wo rk fo r i t, ha s fu ll we lco m e an d stan d i n g i n the
p
T heo so hi ca l So ci ety .
 79

T he m e mb e rs o f the So ci ety a re co n n e cted b y an e thi c a l

:r a ther tha n b y an i n te llectua l b o n d , a n d the ir u n i ty r e sts o n
‘

a su b li m e i d e a l , n o t o n a fo rm u la ted creed T he Soci ety ha s

.

n o do g m a s, i n si sts o n n o b e li e fs, e n d o rse s n o chur ch , su pp o rts

n o p a rty, ta kes n o si des i n th e en dless qu a rre ls th a t re n d
so c i e ty, a n d e m b i tte r n a ti o n a l , so c i a l an d p e rso n a l li fe
. It
s ee ks to dra w n o m a n a wa y fr o m hi s o wn re li gi o n , b u t ra the r
i m p e l s hi m to se e k i n the d e p ths o f hi so wn r eli g i o n fo r the
sp i ri tual n o u ri shm e n t he n e e d s
. T he Arya n te a chi n g s m en
.

ti o n e d in i ts se co n d o b j e ct i t p re se n ts a s su b j ects fo r stu dy,

n o t a s d o g m a s to b e b li n d ly ac ce p te d T hat e a ch sho uld
.

sh o w to the re li gi o n o f o th er s the r esp ect th a t h e cla i m s fo r

h i s o wn , i s un d erstoo d a s a n ho n o u ra b le o b li g a ti o n i n the
So c i ety, a n d p e rfe ct m utu a l co ur te sy o n these m a tters i s
e xp e cte d fr o m m e m b e rs Mo re a n d m o re thi s l ea d s to
.

c o -o p e ra ti o n i n the se arch f o r tr uth , to so fte n i n g o f pr ej ud i ce s,

t o li b e ral i z i n g o f m in d s, a n d to the g ro wth o f a g ra ci o u s
fri e n dli n ess a n d wi lli n g n e ss to l e a rn T hus the So c i ety i s a
.

w a ll o f p ro te cti o n a g a i n st the twi n -fo e s o f ma n , su p er sti ti o n

a n d m a te ri a li sm , a n d sho u l d sp re a d whe re v e r i t g o es a g en tle
.a n d re fi n i n g i n fl ue n ce o f p e a c e a n d g o o d wi ll , fo rmi n g o n e o f
t he fo rc e s tha t m a ke fo r g o o d a m i d th e co n fli cts o f m o d e rn
c i vi li z a ti o n.

ME M BE R S HIP .

Me m b ershi p i n the So ci etym a y b e o b ta i ne d ei ther b y b ein g

e l e cted b y a B ra n c hb y b e i n g a d m i tte d b y th e G e n eral
, or
Se cr e ta ry, i n th e c a se o f tho se who wi sh to b e u n a tta che d .

An d the fact o fsuc h e le cti o n o n the o n e h a n d or o fa d m i ssi o n

o n th e o th er co n sti tu tes the p e r so n a m e m b e r o f th e T heo
so p hi ca l So ci e ty A ll appli ca ti ons for mem bership must be ma de
.

o n the pr i nted for m suppli ed f

- or the pu rpose by the Genera l Secreta ry
o r the Secreta ry of a B r a n ch .

A co p y o fthe Ru le s o f th e So ci ety a n d o f the E uro p e an

—
S ecti o n gi v i n g p arti c ulars a s to the form ati o n o f B ra n ches,
 8O

e tc .
- wi ll b e forwarde d on a ppli cati o n to the G e n eral Se c
r e ta ry.

FEE S AN D D UE S .

All a ppli cati o n s fo r m e mb ershi p m u st b e a cc o mp a ni e d b y

(a ) a n e n tran c e E fe e
n g l i s h (o r t e e q
o ffiv e shi lli n g s,
h u i v a l e n t),
a n d (b ) the cu rre n t a n n u al su b sc ri p ti o n , whi ch f o r E n gli sh
re a d i n g m e mb e rs i s fiv e shilli ng s (o r the e q ui v al e n t) , a nd fo r
a ll o th e r m e m b e rs (o r the e q ui v a l e n t ) .

Fe es a n d d u e s ma y b e re mitted i n spe ci a l ca se s .

All c he que s, p o sta l o rders, e tc , to b e ma de p ayab le to th e .

G e n eral Se cretary, G R S M e a d . . . .

G E NE RA L O FF IC E S AN D O FF IC E R S .

Presi d en t, C o l H S O lco tt, Adya r , Ma d ra s, Indi a ; V i c e

. . .

Presid en t, A P Sin n ett, 2 7, L ei n ste r G ard e n s, L o n d o n , W

—
. . .

E U R O PE AN SE c r o G e neral Se c reta ry, G R S Me a d ,. . . . .

B A (Ca n ta b) , 1 9 , Ave n u e Ro a d , L o n d o n , N W
—
. . . .

A M E R I A N SE T IO N C C
G e n e ra l Se c retary, Alexa n der Fuller
.

to n , 4 2 , Irvi n g Pla ce , Ne w ' o rk , U S A . . .

D
IN IA N SE C r ro N - G e n era l Secre ta ry,
'
.e rtra m e i g htle y, B K
M A (Cantab ) , T heo so phi ca l So ci e ty, e n a re s, In di a
. . B .

AU ST RAL AsrAN SE cr ro N -G e n eral Se cretary, J C Staples, . . .

M t S t S d N w S th W l A t l i
—
4 2 , a rg are re e t, y n e y, e o u a es, u s r a a .

SC A ND xNA v rA N SE cr o G en era l Se c reta ry, D r G u sta f . .

' a n de r , Medi c o -M e ka n i ska In sti tute t, J a ktv arfsg a ta n , 4 ,

Sto c kho lm Swe d e n . .

O FF IC E R S or E U R O PEA N SE C T IO N

—
.

G E NE RA L SE C RETA R' G R S Mead , B A b )

—
. . . . . .
(C a n ta .

T RE A S U RE R H0n O S F C u fie
'

—
. . . . . .

C W L e a db e ater
,

A S S ISTA NT -SE C RETA R' . . . .

 82

In the Ou ter Cour t . An n i e B e sa n t

L ig ht on the Pa th . M C . .

T he L ig ht of A si a . Si r E d wi n Arn o ld

Pa mphlets .

H . P B . In M emory of Helen Petrovna B la va tsky, by

.

some of her pupi ls .

T heosophy and i ts E vi dences Ann i e e sa n t . B

Why I beca me a Theosophi st An n i e e sa n t . B
In D efence of T heosophy An ni e e san t . B
T he Sphi nx of T heosophy An n i e esa n t . B
T he M ea ni ng a nd Use of Pa i n An n i e e sa n t . B
D evoti on a nd i ts Pla ce i n the Spi ri tu a l L ife An ni e .

B
e sa n t

Veg etar i a n i sm i n the L ig ht of T eosophy An n i e e sa n t h . B

T heosophy i n ' uesti ons a nd A nswers An ni e esa n t . B
T heosophy a nd Chr isti a ni ty An n i e e sa n t . B
T heosophy a nd i ts T ea chi ng s Ann i e e sa nt . B
T he M asters a s Fa cts and Idea ls An n i e esa n t . B
T he Place of Pea ce An n i e e san t
. B
A n In trodu cti on to Theosophy An ni e e san t . B
A R oug h Ou tli ne of T heosophy An ni e B e sa n t .

T heosophy and Occu lti sm G R S Mea d . . . .

' og a The Sci ence of the Soul G R S Me a d . . . .

Theosophy a nd R elig i on G R S Me a d . Fo r distri

. . . .

b u ti o n as 6d pe r 1 00
. . .

Short G lossa ry of Theosophi ca l Terms An n i e e sa n t . B

a n d H er b e rt u rro w s B o o 0 1

Stu i
d es i n th e S ecret D octr i ne C o o p e r - a kle y a n d
. I . O
A M G l a ss
. . o 4
T he T heosophi st . E d ite d b y C o lo n el H . S O lcott, P T S
. . . .

£ 1 p e r ann um , p o st fr ee .

L u cifer , m o n th ly, fo un de d b y H P . . B la v a tsk

y, and e di te d
B
b y An n i e e sa nt a n d G R S Me a d . . .
p e r an n u m , p o st
fre e .
 3

Mercury, e di te d b y J T . . W alters , Pa lace H otel , San Fran

ci sco , C al, . U SA. d o ll
. ar p
. e r a n n
o neu m .

A ll the a bove ca n b e ob ta i ned a t the Ofii ces of the T heosophi ca l

Pu b li shi ng Society, 7, D uke Street, A delphi , W C , where a lso fu ll . .

cata log u es of b ooks ca n b e ob ta i ned .

T HE RE F E REN C E L IB RA R' .

T here i s a Re fere n ce L ib ra ry at H e a d q u arters, o p e n to

M e m b e rs o f the So ci ety o n ly, co n tai n i n g the m aj o rity o fwor ks
o f re fe ren ce fo u n d In T h eo so p hi c al li tera tu re T he L i b rary .

i s o p en fr o m 2 to 1 0 p m . .

T HE L E ND ING L IB R A R' .

T here Is a L e nd i n g L i b rary at H e a d qu arte rs, o p e n to the

'

pu b li c T he sub scrip ti o n i s 1 0s fo r 1 2 m on ths, os for 6

. . .

m o n ths, an d 1 s M fo r 1 m o nth
. Po sta ge to b e p ai d b y the
. .

sub scri b e r .

T ho se d e si ri n g fu rth er i n fo rm a ti o n can o b tai n i t b y a pply

i n g i n p erso n o r i n wr i ti n g to th e G e n eral Secre ta ry o f th e
E u ro p e a n Se c tio n o r to a n y o f the O ffic e rs o f the v ari ou s
L o dg e s i n the U nited K i n gd o m a n d E u ro p e .

G R S ME A D , . . .

Gen Sec E u ropea n Secti on

'

. . .

79, A venue R oad , Reg en t s Pa rk, L ondon ,

'
N
. W .

A ll or ders
f p or b eri odi ca ls a nd
ooks sh ou ld b e a ddressed to the
Ma nag er , Theosophi ca l Pu b li shi ng Soci ety, 7, D uke Street, A d elphi ,
L ondon , W C , a nd NO T to the Genera l Secreta ry
. . .
 LO N D ON :
R N TE D
P I B' T HE WO M E N S PRIN TIN G SOCIE T'
'

, T
L IM I E D ,

66 , W HIT CO M B ST RE E T w c, . .