In contemplation, the inner eye is fixed upon the object of
contemplation, and this produces (unconsciously in most cases) a steady stream
of energy which is focussed upon the objective, producing vitalisation and
activity. It is the basis of the
"work of transmutation," for instance, when the human substance is
transmuted into solar substance. The Ego
contemplates his lunar bodies, and gradually the work is accomplished. When his reflection, man, has reached a point
in evolution where he can meditate and contemplate, the work is more rapidly
accelerated, and transmutation proceeds with rapidity, particularly on the
physical plane. In the work of
thought-form building, the man, in contemplation, pursues the work of
energising and vitalising. It might here
be said that the eye is the great directing agency. When the third eye is used, which is the case
in contemplation, it is the synthesiser and director of triple energy; hence
the powerful work performed by those in whom it is functioning. The third eye only begins to function when
the third circle of egoic petals is beginning slowly to unfold.
If students will study the effect of the human eye on the physical
plane, and then extend the concept to the work of the interior Thinker, as he
utilises the third eye, they will get an interesting light upon the subject of
thought control. The old Commentary
says:
"When the eye is blind, the forms created revolve in circles and
fulfill not the law. When the eye is
open, force streams forth, direction is assured, fulfillment is certain, and
the plans proceed under law; the eye which is blue in color, and the eye which
sees not red, when open, produce that which is intended with great
facility."
The final rule is contained in the words:
[Page 1008]
RULE VI. The devas of the lower
four feel the force when the eye opens; they are driven forth and lose their
master.
The egoic energy, transmitted via the physical brain, is directed now to
the work of sending forth the form, so that it may clothe itself in astral
matter. The eye of the Thinker opens,
and repulsing vitality streams forth.
More need not be said here, for until the eye is functioning, it is not
possible for men to comprehend the nature of the energy which they will then
wield or direct.
b. Five Rules for the Astral Plane.
Before we take up the consideration of the second set of "Rules for
Magic," I would like to make a few remarks anent the "eye of the
Magician," to which reference has been earlier made. One of the fundamental rules back of all
magical processes is that no man is a magician or worker in white magic until
the third eye is opened, or in process of opening, for it is by means of that
eye that the thought form is energised, directed and controlled and the lesser
builders or forces are swept into any particular line of activity. Among the coming discoveries, and among the
next revelations of materialistic science will be one which will concern itself
with the force-directing faculty of the human eye, alone or collectively, and
this will indicate one of the first stages towards the rediscovery of the third
eye, or the "Eye of Shiva."
Shiva is, as we know, one of the names for the first great logoic
aspect, and under that name is hidden much of esoteric moment. Shiva stands for:
a. The Will aspect,
b. The Spirit aspect,
c. The Father in Heaven,
d. The directing purpose,
e. Conscious energy,
f. Dynamic intent,
[Page 1009]
and in the consideration of these phrases the innate faculties of the
third eye will become apparent.
The "Eye of Shiva" in the human being has its position, as is
already known, in the centre of the forehead between the two physical eyes.3
It is not to be confounded with the pineal gland, which is distinctly a
physical centre or gland. The third eye
exists in etheric matter, and is an etheric centre of force, being made of the
substance of the ethers, whereas the pineal gland is formed of matter of the
three lower subplanes of the physical plane.
The latter, nevertheless, has to be functioning more or less before the
"Eye of Shiva" becomes in any degree active, and it is this fact that
has led writers of occult books in the past purposely to confound the two, in
order to protect the knowledge.
The third eye is formed through the activity of three factors:
First, through the direct impulse of the Ego on its own plane. During the greater part of evolution the Ego
makes its contact with its reflection, physical plane man, through the centre
at the top of the head. When man is more
highly evolved, and is nearing or treading the Path, the indwelling Self takes
a more complete grasp of its lower vehicle, and descends to a point in the head
or brain which is found approximately in the centre of the forehead. This is its lowest contact. It is interesting here to note the
correspondence with the evolution of the senses. The three major senses and the three first to
demonstrate in order are, hearing, touch, sight. For the greater part of evolution, hearing is
the guiding impulse of human life through egoic contact with the top of the
head. Later, when the Ego descends a
little lower, the etheric centre which is active in connection with the
pituitary body, is added, and man becomes responsive [Page
1010] to subtler and higher vibrations; the occult correspondence to the
physical sense of touch awakens.
Finally, the third eye opens and the pineal gland simultaneously begins
to function. At first, the sight is dim,
and the gland is only partially responsive to vibration, but gradually the eye
opens fully, the gland is fully active, and we have the "fully
awakened" man. When this is the
case, the alta major centre vibrates and then the three physical head centres
are functioning.
Second, through the co-ordinated activity of the major head centre, the
many petalled lotus above the top of the head.
This centre directly affects the pineal gland, and the interplay of
force behind the two (the correspondence, on a tiny scale, of the pairs of
opposites, spirit and matter), produces the great organ of consciousness, the
"Eye of Shiva." It is the
instrument of wisdom, and in these three centres of energy we have the
correspondence of the three aspects within the head of man.
1. Major head centre...Will Aspect....Spirit...Father in Heaven
2. Pineal gland Love-Wisdom
aspect...Consciousness...Son
3. Third eye. Activity
aspect Matter...Mother
The third eye is the director of energy or force, and thus an instrument
of the will or Spirit; it is responsive only to that will as controlled by the
Son-aspect, the revealer of the love-wisdom nature of gods and man, and it is
therefore the sign of the white magician.
Third, the reflex action of the pineal gland itself.
As these three types of energy, or the vibration of these three centres,
begin to contact each other, a definite interplay is set up. This triple interplay forms in time a vortex
or centre of force, which finds its place in the centre of the forehead, and
takes eventually the semblance of an eye looking out between the other two. [Page 1011] It is the eye of the inner vision, and he
who has opened it can direct and control the energy of matter, see all things
in the Eternal Now, and therefore be in touch with causes more than with
effects, read the akashic records, and see clairvoyantly. Therefore, its possessor can control the
builders of low degree.
The "Eye of Shiva," when perfected, is blue in colour, and as
our solar Logos is the "Blue Logos" so do His children occultly
resemble Him; but this colour must be interpreted esoterically. It must be remembered also that prior to the
final two Initiations (the sixth and seventh), the eye of the white magician,
when developed, will be coloured according to the man's ray—again esoterically
understood. More anent this question of
colour may not be communicated.
According to the colour, so will be the type of energy manipulated, but
here it must be borne in mind that all magicians work with three types of
energy:
a. That which is the same as their own Ray,
b. That which is complementary to their own type of force,
c. Their polar opposite,
and they work, therefore, either along the line of least resistance, or
through attraction, and repulsion.
It is through the medium of this "all-seeing eye" that the
Adept can at any moment put Himself in touch with His disciples anywhere; that
He can communicate with His compeers on the planet, on the polar opposite of
our planet, and on the third planet which, with ours, forms a triangle; that He
can, through the energy directed from it, control and direct the builders, and
hold any thought form He may have created within His sphere of influence, and
upon its intended path of service; and that through his eye by means of
directed energy currents He can help and stimulate His disciples or groups of
men in any place at any time.
[Page 1012]
The pineal gland is subject to two lines of stimulation: First, that which emanates from the Ego
itself via the etheric force centres.
This downflow of egoic energy (the result of the awakening of the
centres through meditation and spirituality of life), impinges upon the gland
and in the course of years gradually increases its secretion, enlarges its
form, and starts it into a new cycle of activity.
The second line of stimulation affecting the pineal gland is that which is the consequence of the discipline of the physical body, and its subjugation to the laws of spiritual unfoldment. As the disciple lives a regulated life, avoids meat, nicotine and alcohol, and practises continence, the pineal gland becomes no longer atrophied, but resumes its earlier activity.
More cannot here be given but enough has been indicated to give the
student food for thought.
In meditation, by the sounding of the word, the student awakens response in the major head centre, causes reciprocal vibration between it and the physical head centre, and gradually co-ordinates the forces in the head. Through the practice of the power of visualisation, the third eye is developed. The forms visualised, and the ideas and abstractions which are, in the process, mentally clothed and vehicled, are pictured a few inches from the third eye. It is the knowledge of this which causes the Eastern yogi to speak of "concentration upon the tip of the nose." Behind this misleading phrase a great truth is veiled.
In proceeding with the "Rules for Magic," we will take up those concerned with the second set, which deal with the form-building impulses, and those attractive tendencies which are the basis of physical plane manifestation. We have considered certain rules which deal with the work of the solar Angel, who (in all true magical work of any kind), is the active agent. We have [Page 1013] considered the rules whereby He constructs a thought form upon the mental plane, or that germ body which will (through accretion and vibratory sound), take to itself other forms.
Before the final liberation but after the major part of the purificatory
and aligning processes are complete, the vehicles of the initiate present a
wonderful appearance, due to the streams of energy from the egoic body which [Page 1122] can reach him. The egoic lotus is unfolded, and the central
"fire" displayed. Each petal
and each circle of petals is pulsating with life and colour, and is in active
movement, revolving with great rapidity and with the stream of living energy
circulating in every part of the lotus.
The three permanent atoms glow and blaze and form, through their rapid
revolution and interplay, what appears to be a blazing point of fire, so that
it has been called at times "the reflection of the Jewel in the Mother's
forehead." The eighteen centres on
the three planes (four on the mental and seven on each of the two lower planes)
are radiant wheels of fire, each group distinguished by a specific colour, and
revolving with such rapidity that the eye can scarce follow them. The bodies are formed of the highest grades
of substance, each individual atom, therefore, being capable of intensified
vibration, and glowing with the light of its own central fire. The etheric body especially is to be noticed
as it is a transmitter at this stage of the purest type of prana, and deserves
the name sometimes given to it of "the body of the Sun." It is the envelope which holds the fires of
the microcosmic system; in it are centred not only the pranic fires, but those
seven centres which are the transmitters of all the higher energies from the
Ego, and from the two higher material bodies.
All is centralised, and the etheric vehicle waits for use on the
physical plane in co-operation with the dense medium until the man can succeed
in linking the consciousness of the two aspects of the dense body so that the
continuity is preserved. This work
accomplished, the three centres which are of a strictly physical nature—the
pineal gland, the pituitary body and the spleen-themselves become luminous and
radiant, and all the fires of the body are so stimulated that the atoms which
form the physical sheath appear to radiate.
This is the occult truth behind the belief that every messenger from the
Lodge and every Saviour [Page 1123] of man is
naturally a healer. The forces which
flow through a man whose atoms, centres, sheaths, and causal body form a
coherent unit in full and radiant activity are of such strength and purity as
to have a definite effect upon the nature of those they contact. They heal, stimulate and increase the
vibration of their fellow men.
All this must be somewhat realised and visioned before a man on the physical plane will be willing to undergo the purifying discipline, and tread the Path whereby he finds his centre and works from that standpoint of power. He has to align these various factors, or energy centres, and thus bring on to the physical plane power to be used in the healing of the nations. When the glory of a man's inner God is seen, when his radiance shines forth then will it be said of him as of those who have preceded him along the Path: "Then shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings."19
There are, in connection with human evolution, certain factors which produce definite and important results, when connected with each other through linking streams of energy and therefore consciously functioning. These factors might be considered as follows, dividing them into two groups, each of them emphasising the duality of the microcosmic manifestation:
Group I.
1. The Knowledge Petals.
2. The knowledge petal in each of the two inner circles.
3. The centres on the mental plane.
4. The throat centre in etheric matter.
5. The alta major centre.
6. The physical brain.
Group II.
1. The Love Petals.
2. The love petal in each circle.
[Page 1124]
3. The centres on the astral plane.
4. The heart centre in etheric matter.
5. The pituitary body.
6. The sympathetic nervous system.
These various alignments (when functioning with due adjustment) result in the transmission of energy in the first case from the manasic permanent atom, and in the second case from the buddhic permanent atom. It will be apparent, therefore, how important it is that the student duly considers the process of bringing about a uniform alignment, and a conscious appreciation of the vibratory processes of these two groups. As he brings this adjustment about, the effect upon the physical plane will be the manifestation of the powers of the Soul, and of the healing capacity; the man will become a focal point for egoic energy and a server of his race. The black magician brings about similar results by means of the first group, only with the exception that he cannot align the knowledge petals in the two inner groups, as the love-wisdom aspect is atrophied in his case. He does, however, bring through the energy of the manasic permanent atom, for the force of Mahat (of which Manas is an expression) is closely connected with what is erroneously called "evil." Mahat and cosmic Evil have a close connection.
The great Existences Who are the principle of Mahat in its cosmic sense are connected with the lesser existences who express systemic evil. They are the sum total of the separative instrument, and where separation in any form exists, there is to be found ignorance, and therefore evil. Separation negates comprehension, or knowledge of that which is to be found outside the separated consciousness, for separative knowledge entails identification with that which is expressing itself through the medium of a form. Therefore, the Brothers of the Shadow can, and do, reach high levels along one aspect of consciousness, and touch certain specific heights of [Page 1125] spiritual evil, going a great way along the line of Mahat, or knowledge, the principle of Universal Mind. They can reach, in their later stages, expansions of consciousness and of power that will take them far beyond the confines of our solar system, and give them attributes and capacities which prove a menace to the unfolding of the second Aspect.
The first group of alignments, when not balanced by the second group, is the line of the black magician; it will lead him eventually out of the stream of fivefold energy we call manasic on to the cosmic path of fohatic energy, the strictly mahatic. When on that Path two directions are possible to him; one will keep him in touch with the natural substance aspect concerned with the cosmic incarnations of our solar Logos; the other will sweep him on to that centre in the universe which is the emanating source of the mahatic principle; it is the focal point where is generated that type of energy which makes possible the dense physical manifestation of Gods and men.
In making this statement, it is necessary to bear in mind that the dense physical sheath is never considered a principle. It is ever deemed occultly evil. The matter might be more simply expressed by stating that the black adept is frankly concerned with what is termed "the residue of that which earlier was." He responds to the vibration of the solar system of an earlier greater cycle in which the knowledge, or the manasic principle, was the goal of achievement. He does not respond to the impulse of this solar system, but this lack of response is hid in the karma of the earlier manifestation. As we know, the Sons of Mind or the incarnating jivas are the returning nirvanis of a previous logoic incarnation. They have achieved mind, and need love. Some few, through a mysterious cycle of events inexplainable to man in this solar system, repudiated opportunity and linked themselves with that great deva existence which is the impulse [Page 1126] of the dense physical, and they cannot loose themselves. Their destination, as well as his, is hidden in the plans of the ONE ABOUT WHOM NAUGHT MAY BE SAID, and in this solar system there is no hope for them. Fortunately, they are little likely to make themselves known to average man; it is the Adepts of the Good Law Who meet them the most often.
The subject is most intricate, but some light may come, if we remember that manas on the mental plane is found in two expressions:—the mental unit on the form levels and the manasic permanent atom on the formless planes. These two types of manas may be regarded as embodying the qualities of the two kinds, white and black. The mental unit or the mind aspect of a man, for instance, is after all but the sixth sense, and has to be transcended by the higher mind and the intuition. The black brother carries the evolution of the senses on to a stage inconceivable to man now and this sixth mahatic sense is of vaster extent and service to them than it ever is to the white Adept. Therefore, it will be apparent that for a long cycle of time, the black magician can persist and develop his powers because one-third of the force of the egoic lotus is his and he knows well how to utilise it to the best advantage. He builds also an antaskarana, but of quality and objective different to that of the student of the white magic. It is called "the path of manasic evil," and bridges a gap between the mental unit of the magician concerned, and certain correspondences on mental levels in the vehicles of the devas of that plane. Through this medium, and through identification with the devas, he can escape from the three worlds to spheres of evil incomprehensible to us. The point to be remembered here is that the black magician remains ever a prisoner; he cannot escape from substance and from form.
There is no need to enlarge further on this subject. I would like to enumerate the lines of alignment of the [Page 1127] third group which eventually transcends the other two, and effects the final illumination and liberation of the man.
Group III.
1. The Sacrifice Petals.
2. The sacrifice petals in the two outer groups.
3. The three major centres in each of the three planes of the three
worlds, producing thus absorption of the lower four centres on each plane.
4. The head centre, or the thousand-petalled lotus.
5. The pineal gland, producing the vivification and irradiation of the
entire lower nature.
These three groups of forces in man, when synthesised, produce eventually that perfect co-ordination and adaptation to all conditions, forms and circumstances which eventuate in the escape of the liberated vital spark. This is technically accomplished when the "bud" opens, and it becomes possible for the Hierophant at initiation to liberate the energy of the Monad, and to direct that energy (through the agency of the Rod) so that eventually it circulates free and untrammelled through every part of the lower threefold manifestation. As it circulates, it destroys by burning, for it arouses the kundalini aspect perfectly by the time the fifth Initiation is taken. The destroyer aspect becomes dominated, and the form is "burnt upon the altar."
These ideas can also be studied in their larger aspect; a clue to the mystery of cosmic evil may be found in the difference existing between the sacred and non-sacred planets, and in the purpose and place, hitherto unrecognised, of the lives of the informing existences of the many planets and planetoids in the solar system. Some are purely mahatic or of the third Aspect, dominated by the devas. Others (of which the sacred planets are examples) are controlled by the second Aspect, and that second aspect will work through unconquerably into manifestation. [Page 1128] A few, like our Earth planet, are battlegrounds, and the two Aspects are in collision, with the indication of the eventual triumph of the "white" magic.
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