Theos-Talk Archives (June 1996 Message tl00325)

Martin:
>According to GdP there's also a school of 'swabhavika's' in Buddhism,
>only, they have a too materialized version of swabhava.
>I see no problem with the teaching on swabhava. It is, however, not very
>clearly exposed by GdP. I think it has relations with the concept of skandha's,
>a clearly Buddhistic concept.
>
>What do you think?

	Swabhava is itself a material concept, and it would be
difficult to have a "too materialized version" of it.  The way I see
it, swabhava is an important principle along the Arc of Descent,
but is an interferring obstacle along the Arc of Ascent.  I can
only wonder why G de P didn't think of that, except that he uses
it to reinforce his idea about gaining self-consciousness
at the end of this manvantara.  While it is true that we gain
self-consciousness, its also true that this is the resultant of
every manvantara, and that the whole "divine breath" is a
circle, not a spiral.
	Swabhava guides the skandhas.  It gives them a
sense of direction, so that our skandhas gradually shape
us (i.e., our lower selves)  into self-consciousness.  The
problem with self-consciousness is that it separates us
from everyone and everything else.  The original dualistic
split between subject and object, or Self and Not-Self, is
the impetus that started our manvantara in the first place.
So, I see self-consciousness as the hallmark of the
first 3 1/2 Rounds.  Self-consciousness is the pivotal
point at the lowest end of the manvantaric spectrum of
consciousness.  The second half of a manvantara is
involved with re-uniting Self and Not-Self again.
	This exact sequence of events is also seen
in miniature during our lifetime.  We are born in a neonatal
condition of samadhi, with no concept of Self or Not-Self.
Then a sense of self develops, followed by definition,
which results in a separate personality.  Then we tread
the spiritual Path, at the end of which, Self is once again
united with Not-Self, and we once again enter samadhi.
As an Adept, we become as a little child, as Jesus puts it,
and thus the circle is completed.

	Jerry S.
	Member, TI