Q. Do the principles exist independent of each other? A. Each principle is derived from and exists within the One Supreme Principle; as the lowest principle is so derived, and depends upon the chain of principles above it and from which it was directly derived; the principles are interdependent. For instance, we may take the body as the lowest principle; there are bodies on earth all the time as long as humanity lasts, but our present bodies had their beginnings and will have their dissipation. The reason why we have the present body is because we occupied bodies before, having established the "principle" of sentient bodily existence. When we leave the body, it returns to the elements from which it was drawn, but the "principle" of bodily expression remains in us and will be expressed in another body at some future time. The principles remain, although the operation of those principles and the tendency to do so is periodical. Q. What is a principle? A. A principle is a basis for thought and action in connection with a specific plane of substance. To be conscious on any plane. of being, implies that one is acting in, and with, that principle in himself which corresponds to that particular plane of being. Q. Why is Prana, the Life principle in the body, called transitory? It would seem as though Life must always be. A. The Sanscrit term for the One Life which permeates and sustains all the principles is Jiva. Prana is that aspect of the One Life which sustains and permeates the physical body. When that aspect is withdrawn, the body disintegrates. That aspect being withdrawn from the body is used in the remaining principles or those which the late bodily occupant is conscious in and upon. THE THREE WORLDS* Katha Upanishad, ii. 1, 6. He who knows the first-born of Radiance, born of old of the waters, standing hid in secret, who looked forth through creatures : this is that. And the great mother full of divinity, who comes forth through life, standing hid in secret, who was born through creatures: this is that. The fire hidden in the firesticks-like a germ well concealed by the mother-that fire is day by day to be praised, by men who wake, with the oblations: this is that. Whence the sun rises, and whither he goes to setting; that all the bright ones rest in, nor does any go beyond it: this is that. *Reprinted from the "Oriental Department" papers, March-April, 1896. T AROUND THE TABLE HE usual summer peregrination of our Family did not come off this year. As Mother remarked, "There is really too much to do I wouldn't feel right to run away from it;" and this was in fact the concensus of Family opinion-concretely expressed by the busiest summer we have known in years. There have been some notable "week-ends", however, when the mountain camp was opened on a Friday, perhaps, and closed again in time for Mentor to be rushed to town by automobile and train in order to look after the Theosophical Meeting on Sunday night. Quammy, our "Visiting Adept," has been a feature of some of these well-earned "week-ends". Summer weather has no effect, one way or the other, on our genial old friend. And what an addition to a camping party Quammy always is the very life of it, no less! Fancy stout and rubicund old Quammy swathed in one of the giggling Anna's aprons, broiling trout as he alone can broil them at our rustic fire-place! Quammy cooks; Quammy draws water; he sweeps, he fashions rustic seats, he hangs hammocks so the sunshine never strikes hot on your face. And in the evening Quammy sings, and sings wonderfully, to the strains of a sweettoned and much battered guitar. That he is the same old credulous Quammy-always "believing and believing", as Student put it one day-has been brought most amusingly to our attention more than once this summer. The "occult" has no small place in his attentions and he proposes to surmount it if the process costs him all he has. Doctor declares that Quammy rhymes with Swami, and proves it by the fact that our friend has found, and lost after some experience, several darkskinned persons of Eastern extraction who needed what Quammy could supply. But Quammy always turns up serene and still searching no matter how grossly he has been swindled-he is made that way. He has found time this summer, in spite of his Liberty Loan and Red Cross activities, to buy and read the latest “occult” books, ' consult and "test" several mediums-meeting the incidental expenses without a quiver. He has attended seances, conventions where "communication was established with the astral bodies of the heroes of Pershing's forces who have died in France", practised psychology, gotten some "absent treatments" for a severe case of oak poisoning, which Doctor finally alleviated, purchased a sword for ceremonial magic experimentation-and broken it clearing brush one day up at the Camp-as well as a "magic mirror" and a "gazing crystal". In fact Quammy has had a lively and expensive summer, alternately enlivening and distressing his friends, as well as adding to their comfort and pleasure. Without Quammy some of our camp-fire talks could never have taken the turn they did. For in stance: "Oh, I see now why all you Theosophists come to California", Quammy remarked one evening as he was reading in the early twilight a newspaper he had brought up from town the evening before. "New race forming, and getting ready for the Manuwhy have you never said anything about this, Mentor-never knew you to be so secretive before?" Mentor for once looked puzzled. got hold of now, Quammy?" he asked. paper, glanced over to Doctor with a began to chuckle. "What on earth have you Spinster, who had read the significant smile; the latter "Interview with a 'prominent Theosophist' in the Evening Herald, Mentor. Big head-lines, very important article-Hollywood, 'the cradle' of the new sub-race-here, you read it yourself," he continued, handing the newspaper over. Mentor took it, adjusted his position to the fading light, and this is what he read: CLAIM L. A. TO CRADLE SUPER RACE TO FACE NEXT FLOOD BOTTOM OF PACIFIC TO RISE AND FORM NEW CONTINENT, SAY THEOSOPHISTS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO BE PRESERVED HOLLYWOOD CULT AWAIT COMING OF MANU TO LEAD THEM TO CHOSEN COLONY California, the only part of this continent to be preserved, will not be submerged when the Pacific ocean rolls over America, inundating it and leaving the present ocean bottom as a new continent for a new race. Californians today, Californians of super spiritual, mental and physical development, are even now being colonized to produce a new race. Within the next 800 years the Manu, or great leader, will be incarnated to lead the chosen souls into a colony that, for years shall concentrate on the propagation of the new people. These are the latest developments in the theory of Theosophists that within the next 1000 years the American continent will be submerged and the floor of the Pacific ocean, now being transformed, they say, will become the home for the sixth root race. "SUB RACE HERE"-It has already been announced by the Theosophists that the sixth sub race of the sixth root race is being born and that California, and particularly Hollywood, the home of Krotona, Theosophic institute, is the cradle for this sub race. But now it develops that Lower California is to be the home of the sixth root race, and that the colonization is beginning now. Also that when the present continent sinks under the waters of the Pacific, never to rise again, California and a narrow strip of land along the coast will be preserved and amalgamated to the new continent. "COLONIZING NOW" The colonization work is at present only beginning, and. it is said, is under direction of two master men now in India, and known as Master M and Master K-H. The Manu who will later assume charge is now But, pending his incarnation, the super-souls of California MAY START SOON-It is anticipated by some Theusophists that the Lower California colony may be begun at any time in an official way. It is highly probable, Mr. Snyder declares, that some Theosophist of sufficient means, may present some vast tract of land there to the leaders of the cult for the purpose of concentrating the work of preparing and building the new race. (L. A. Herald, June 25, 1918.) "Now we know why we came to California, Mother", chuckled Doctor, in the pause that followed Mentor's reading. Quammy took the bait as eagerly as a hungry trout strikes a fly. "Well, I suppose you didn't want to give out the truth; you know you've always said it was Mother's illness that brought you here, and her good health that kept you. I must follow this up right away", he added eagerly. "It's complete, isn't it, Mentor?" queried Spinster, with a laugh, waving her hand at the paper which Mentor had quietly laid down. "Yes, that is the word for it, my Dear", was the answer, "as complete a perversion and gross a materialization of theosophical teachings as it has been my misfortune to see in some time." "Why, Mentor", expostulated Quammy, "you don't mean to say that! Doesn't Theosophy teach that a new race is forming and a new Teacher coming? I know I have read that in some theosophical book somewhere." "Theosophy teaches a number of things, Quammy", answered Mentor sadly. "And theosophical students with an itch for publicity and a great deal of theosophical misinformation turn and twist those teachings until the world is bewildered as to what Theosophy really does teach; and sensible people conclude with some reason that 'theosophists' are rather irresponsible folks." "Why is it that the Teacher, or Saviour, is always coming, Mentor", asked Doctor-and then reminiscently, "I remember, when I was a boy, of some neighbors of ours going up to the roofs of their houses to greet the coming Lord: but they came down again", he added with a chuckle, "and some of them caught the most terrible colds." Mentor laughed. "I suspect it is just that purblind human desire for a change, for new things. People can't seem to give undivided attention to the present and its duties; and that is what is the matter with some of us. Some theosophical' students waste. any amount of energy on the subject of a 'coming Christ—not in the least realizing that the Teacher has come and gone, stated definitely when the next Teacher would come; and that the real work of present-day students is to spread the teaching-not to speculate about what will be-distorting meanwhile what the Teacher actually left." "But about this article," demanded Quammy vigorously. "What is wrong with it?" "Practically everything in it is incorrect, on the basis of H. P. Blavatsky's teaching, isn't it, Mentor?" asked Doctor. "Well, let us see", was the answer. Mentor led the way into the Cabin where a reading light was available, and the Family went in after him, soon finding comfortable resting-places, Doctor stretching his tall frame out on one of Mother's skillfully woven "rag" floor rugs. "The first statement", began Mentor, "is to the effect that California will not be submerged when the Pacific Ocean submerges America: Theosophy makes no such definite statement. The next statement, to the effect that Californians of 'super spiritual, mental and physical development' are being colonized to produce a new race, is unsupported by any evidence. People of such development would know too much to be caught in by the sort of delusion this article implies. "The next statement affirms that 'the Manu' will be incarnated within the next 800 years. Theosophically speaking, this is nonsense. In fact the very phrase, the Manu', as here employed, implies a misunderstanding and gross materialization of Theosophical teaching-for Manu is a humanity, rather than a being." Mentor went to the book-shelf and got down the little volume, “Transactions of the London Lodge." "Here is what H. P. B. says", he continued: Q. What is the real meaning of Manvantara or rather Manu-antara? A. It means really "Between two Manus," of which there are fourteen in every "Day of Brahmâ," such a "Day" consisting of 1,000 aggregates of four ages or 1,000 "Great Ages," Mahayugas. When the word "Manu" is analysed it is found that Orientalists state that it is from the root "Man" to think, hence the thinking man. But, esoterically every Manu, as an anthropomorphized patron of his special cycle, or Round, is but the personified idea of the "Thought Divine" (like the Hermetic Pymander). Each of the Manus, therefore, is the special god, the creator and fashioner of all that appears during his own respective cycle of being or Man vantara. Q. Is Manu a unity also of human consciousness personified, or is it the individualization of the Thought Divine for manvantaric purposes? A. Of both, since "human consciousness" is but a Ray of the Divine. Our Manas, or Ego, proceeds from, and is |
