Thursday 18 November 2021

Secret Doctrine I study notes, Stanzas of Dzyan, Third Stanza 1/3

Stanza III describes the Re-awakening of the Universe to life after Pralaya. It depicts the emergence of the “Monads” from their state of absorption within the one; the earliest and highest stage in the formation of “Worlds,” the term Monad being one which may apply equally to the vastest Solar System or the tiniest atom. (SD1, 21)

3.1. The last vibration of the seventh eternity (7th noumenal phase of infinite Time) of the solar pralaya thrills through infinitude. The Universal Matrix develops from limitless subjectivity to limitless objectivity, from an ideal prototype.

3.2. The vibration sweeps along, touching with its swift wing simultaneously the whole universe, and abstract matter in the eternal matrix: primordial matter with the latent Spirit in it.

3.3. The Eternal Matrix radiates light, and the light of Divine Intelligence drops one solitary ray into Primordial matter, chaos. The ray shoots through the eternal power of becoming and causes it to drop into the the non-eternal periodical abstract matter, which condenses into the primordial form of everything manifested.

3.4. The triple logos transforms into the sacred quaternary. The World Egg becomes seven inside, seven outside. The World Egg (Radiant Essence, which has the three aspects of the Avasthas) differentiates and spreads the world-stuff (primordial matter in its first form) throughout the depths of space.

3.5. Unconditioned Reality remains, the Omnipresent Spiritual Ray remains, the first differentiation of cosmic matter remains, and still the septenary root from which all proceeds is one.

3.6. Unconditioned Reality was in every particle of the eternal Universe and the Universe was radiant cosmic matter, which was the essence of abstract Fire, Heat, and Motion. Pralaya was no more. It disappeared in its own essence, the body of the divine Ray and Chaos.

1. The last vibration of the seventh eternity thrills through infinitude (a). The mother swells, expanding from within without like the bud of the lotus (b).

Seventh Eternity: The seemingly paradoxical use of the sentence “Seventh Eternity,” thus dividing the indivisible, is sanctified in esoteric philosophy. The latter divides boundless duration into unconditionally eternal and universal Time and a conditioned one (Khandakala). One is the abstraction or noumenon of infinite time (Kala); the other its phenomenon appearing periodically, as the effect of Mahat (the Universal Intelligence limited by Manvantaric duration)… Therefore, the “last vibration of the Seventh Eternity” was “fore-ordained” — by no God in particular, but occurred in virtue of the eternal and changeless Law which causes the great periods of Activity and Rest, called so graphically, and at the same time so poetically, the “Days and Nights of Brahma.” (SD1, 62)

Seven Eternities:  aeons or periods, Manvantara, and extending throughout a Maha-Kalpa or the “Great Age” — 100 years of Brahma — making a total of 311,040,000,000,000 of years  sd35. …made to apply both to the Maha-Kalpa or “the (great) Age of Brahma,” as well as to the Solar pralaya and subsequent resurrection of our Planetary System on a higher plane. (SD1, 53)

Mother: The expansion “from within without” of the Mother, called elsewhere the “Waters of Space,” “Universal Matrix,” etc., … (SD1, 62)

Expanding from within without: does not allude to an expansion from a small centre or focus, but, without reference to size or limitation or area, means the development of limitless subjectivity into as limitless objectivity… does not allude to an expansion from a small centre or focus, but, without reference to size or limitation or area, means the development of limitless subjectivity into as limitless objectivity. “The ever (to us) invisible and immaterial Substance present in eternity, threw its periodical shadow from its own plane into the lap of Maya.” It implies that this expansion, not being an increase in size — for infinite extension admits of no enlargement — was a change of condition. (SD1, 62)

Bud of a lotus: It “expanded like the bud of the Lotus”; for the Lotus plant exists not only as a miniature embryo in its seed (a physical characteristic), but its prototype is present in an ideal form in the Astral Light from “Dawn” to “Night” during the Manvantaric period, like everything else, as a matter of fact, in this objective Universe; from man down to mite, from giant trees down to the tiniest blades of grass. (SD1, 62-63)

The last vibration of the seventh eternity (7th noumenal phase of infinite Time) of the solar pralaya thrills through infinitude. The Universal Matrix develops from limitless subjectivity to limitless objectivity from an ideal prototype.

2. The vibration sweeps along, touching with its swift wing (simultaneously) the whole universe, and the germ that dwelleth in darkness: the darkness that breathes (moves) over the slumbering waters of life (a).

Germ: the point in the Mundane Egg, represented by matter in its abstract sense. (SD1, 57) The Pythagorean Monad is also said to dwell in solitude and darkness like the “germ.” (SD1, 63)

Darkness: Darkness, then, is the eternal matrix in which the sources of light appear and disappear. “Darkness is Father-Mother: light their son,” says an old Eastern proverb. (SD1, 40-41)

The “breath” of Darkness moving over “the slumbering Waters of life”: primordial matter with the latent Spirit in it… recalls the first chapter of Genesis. Its original is the Brahminical Narayana (the mover on the Waters), who is the personification of the eternal Breath of the unconscious All (or Parabrahm) of the Eastern Occultists. The Waters of Life, or Chaos — the female principle in symbolism — are the vacuum (to our mental sight) in which lie the latent Spirit and Matter. (SD1, 63)

The vibration sweeps along, touching with its swift wing simultaneously the whole universe, and abstract matter in the eternal matrix: primordial matter with the latent Spirit in it.

3. “Darkness” radiates light, and light drops one solitary ray into the waters, into the mother deep. The ray shoots through the virgin-egg; the ray causes the eternal egg to thrill, and drop the non-eternal (periodical) germ, which condenses into the world egg (a).

The solitary ray dropping into the mother deep: Divine Thought or Intelligence, impregnating chaos. This, however, occurs on the plane of metaphysical abstraction, or rather the plane whereon that which we call a metaphysical abstraction is a reality. (SD1, 64)

The Virgin-egg : Eternal Egg, abstract Egg-ness, or the power of becoming developed through fecundation, is eternal and for ever the same. (SD1, 64)

The non-eternal periodical germ: just as the fecundation of an egg takes place before it is dropped; so the non-eternal periodical germ which becomes later in symbolism the mundane egg, contains in itself, when it emerges from the said symbol, “the promise and potency” of all the Universe. (SD1, 64)

World Egg: Mundane Egg, … it suggests the idea of infinity as an endless circle. It brings before the mind’s eye the picture of Kosmos emerging from and in boundless space, a Universe as shoreless in magnitude if not as endless in its objective manifestation. The simile of an egg also expresses the fact taught in Occultism that the primordial form of everything manifested, from atom to globe, from man to angel, is spheroidal, the sphere having been with all nations the emblem of eternity and infinity — a serpent swallowing its tail…. The mystery of apparent self-generation and evolution through its own creative power repeating in miniature the process of Cosmic evolution in the egg, both being due to heat and moisture under the efflux of the unseen creative spirit, justified fully the selection of this graphic symbol. The “Virgin Egg” is the microcosmic symbol of the macrocosmic prototype — the “Virgin Mother” — Chaos or the Primeval Deep…. The Golden Egg was surrounded by seven natural elements (ether, fire, air, water), “four ready, three secret.” It may be found stated in Vishnu Purana, where elements are translated “Envelopes” and a secret one is added: “Aham-kara” (see Wilson’s Vishnu Purana, Book I., p. 40). (SD1, 65)

The male Creator (under whatever name) springs forth from the Virgin female, the immaculate root fructified by the Ray. Who, if versed in astronomy and natural sciences, can fail to see its suggestiveness? Cosmos as receptive Nature is an Egg fructified — yet left immaculate; once regarded as boundless, it could have no other representation than a spheroid. (SD1, 65)

The Eternal Matrix radiates light, and the light of Divine Intelligence drops one solitary ray into Primordial matter,chaos. The ray shoots through the eternal power of becoming and causes it to drop into the the non-eternal periodical abstract matter, which condenses into the primordial form of everything manifested.

4. (Then) the three (triangle) fall into the four (quaternary). The radiant essence becomes seven inside, seven outside (a). The luminous egg (Hiranyagarbha), which in itself is three (the triple hypostases of Brahma, or Vishnu, the three “Avasthas”), curdles and spreads in milk-white curds throughout the depths of mother, the root that grows in the ocean of life (b).

Radiant Essence: World Egg, Luminous Egg, Hiranyagargha.

Curds: the first differentiation, and probably refer also to that cosmic matter which is supposed to be the origin of the “Milky Way” — the matter we know. This “matter,” which, according to the revelation received from the primeval Dhyani-Buddhas, is, during the periodical sleep of the Universe, of the ultimate tenuity conceivable to the eye of the perfect Bodhisatva — this matter, radical and cool, becomes, at the first reawakening of cosmic motion, scattered through Space; appearing, when seen from the Earth, in clusters and lumps, like curds in thin milk. These are the seeds of the future worlds, the “Star-stuff.” (SD1, 68-69)

Root: as already explained, pure knowledge (Sattva),* eternal (Nitya) unconditioned reality or sat (Satya), whether we call it Parabrahmam or Mulaprakriti, for these are the two aspects of the one. (SD1, 68-69) … Whatever meaning various schools may give the term, Sattva is the name given among Occult students of the Aryasanga School to the dual Monad or Atma-buddhi, and Atma-buddhi on this plane corresponds to Parabrahm and Mulaprakriti on the higher plane. (SD1, 69)

“The radiant essence curdled and spread throughout the depths” of Space. From an astronomical point of view this is easy of explanation: it is the “milky way,” the world-stuff, or primordial matter in its first form. (SD1 67)

This “churning” relates to a period before the earth’s formation, and is in direct connection with that other universal legend, the various and contradictory versions of which culminated in the Christian dogma of the “War in Heaven,” and the fall of the Angels. (SD1, 68)

The triple logos transforms into the sacred quaternary. The World Egg becomes seven subjectively, seven objectively. The World Egg (Radiant Essence, which has the three aspects of the Avasthas) differentiates and spreads the world-stuff (primordial matter in its first form) throughout the depths of space.

5. The root remains, the light remains, the curds remain, and still Oeaohoo (a) is one (b).

Light: the same Omnipresent Spiritual Ray, which has entered and now fecundated the Divine Egg, and calls cosmic matter to begin its long series of differentiations. (SD1, 68)

Oeaohoo: “Father-Mother of the Gods” in the Commentaries, or the six in one, or the septenary root from which all proceeds…. In one sense, Oeaohoo is the “Rootless Root of All”; hence, one with Parabrahmam; in another sense it is a name for the manifested one life, the Eternal living Unity. (SD1, 68)

This refers to the Non-Separateness of all that lives and has its being, whether in active or passive state. (SD1, 68)

Unconditioned Reality remains, the Omnipresent  Spiritual Ray remains, the first differentiation of cosmic matter remains, and still the septenary root from which all proceeds is one.

6. The root of life was in every drop of the ocean of immortality (Amrita)* and the ocean was radiant light, which was fire and heat and motion. Darkness vanished and was no more.† It disappeared in its own essence, the body of fire and water, of father and mother (a).*

† See Commentary No. 1 to this Stanza. * See “Kwan-Shai-Yin.” The real name from the text cannot be given.

Ocean: The celestial Ocean, the AEther . . . . is the Breath of the Father, the life-giving principle, the Mother, the Holy Spirit, . . . . for these are not separated, and their union is life.” (SD1, 75)

Fire, Heat, Motion: not the fire, heat, and motion of physical science, but the underlying abstractions, the noumena, or the soul, of the essence of these material manifestations — (SD1, 69)

Darkness: The essence of darkness being absolute light, Darkness is taken as the appropriate allegorical representation of the condition of the Universe during Pralaya, or the term of absolute rest, or non-being, as it appears to our finite minds. … According to the tenets of Eastern Occultism, Darkness is the one true actuality, the basis and the root of light, without which the latter could never manifest itself, nor even exist. Light is matter, and Darkness pure Spirit. Darkness, in its radical, metaphysical basis, is subjective and absolute light; while the latter in all its seeming effulgence and glory, is merely a mass of shadows, as it can never be eternal, and is simply an illusion, or Maya. (SD1, 70)

Fire / Father: may be taken here to mean the divine Ray (SD1, 70)

Water/ Mother: may be taken here to mean Chaos. (SD1, 70)

The solitary ray dropping into the mother deep: Divine Thought or Intelligence, impregnating chaos. This, however, occurs on the plane of metaphysical abstraction, or rather the plane whereon that which we call a metaphysical abstraction is a reality. (SD1, 64)

Waters of Life, or Chaos — the female principle in symbolism — are the vacuum (to our mental sight) in which lie the latent Spirit and Matter. (SD1, 63)

Unconditioned Reality was in every particle of the eternal Universe and the Universe was radiant cosmic matter, which was the essence of abstract Fire, Heat, and Motion. Pralaya was no more. It disappeared in its own essence, the body of the divine  Ray and Chaos.

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