Theos-Talk Archives (November 1999 Message tl00147)

Nov 13

Please see note inserted below as answers to your comments

Enjoyed your posts,

Dal

Dallas
dalval@nwc.net=A0

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-----Original Message-----
> From: Hazarapet@aol.com [mailto:Hazarapet@aol.com]
> Date: Saturday, November 13, 1999 8:09 AM
> Subject: More on Is reincarnation progress?

n a message dated 11/12/99 8:16:01 AM Central Standard Time,
dalval@nwc.net
writes:

> Taking reincarnation into account and the progressive learning
>  process implied in the cumulative experience of many births
>  directed at acquiring a wisdom

Again, to follow up on last post, how does this "progressive
learning process" arise?  Does it happen automatically?
Are many births automatically "directed at acquiring wisdom"?

DTB	As I understand from Theosophy ( see Mme. Blavatsky's THE KEY
TO THEOSOPHY  for instance) reincarnation affords every immortal
mind-soul the opportunity of experience.

Actually the evolutionary process starts with the "life-atom" or
the MONAD (which is said to be a fragment of (or Ray) of the
UNIVERSAL SPIRIT SELF and its  twin PRIMORDIAL and UNIVERSAL
MATTER, or SUBSTANCE).

This MONAD (compounded equally of SPIRIT/MATTER) is the immortal
INTELLIGENCE that always voyages forward through the many
reincarnation experiences when it reaches the "Human stage"  --
that is after a vast preliminary travel through the "lower
kingdoms" of Nature (elemental, nature-forces, mineral,
vegetable, animal).  When, finally, it (the MONAD) reaches the
Human kingdom, where the physical form is made of
substance/matter that is sufficiently sensitive -- so as to
receive the reflection of the MIND, and give it embodiment
(called in Theosophy "Kama-Manas" or, the Mind that is wrapped in
desire and feelings) -- the INDIVIDUAL MIND Is able to live and
act in and through the "Personalities" of its many physical
bodies (the reincarnation process).  Since these bodies "mask it"
they are called the "personalities."  (persona =3D mask)
----------------------

Or is it only for those souls that are so motivated to become
wise that reincarnation becomes a process of progressive
learning?  In Mahayana Buddhism, reincarnation becomes
a learning process only for those who have taken on the
commitments and vows of a Bodhisattva.  For everyone
else, it is an out of control process, driven by karma, that
resembles a plane spinning to earth in a crash.

DTB	Theosophy speaks of the embodied mind seeking to understand
itself, and seeking to find the reason for its own existence.  In
this the (as you say) automatic process of successive
reembodiments begins to achieve purpose as this inquiry forces it
to delve into the causes and the effects sequences of "Karma."
There is in all of us the "VOICE OF CONSCIENCE."  This factor
ought to be recognized as the "voice" or urge that comes from the
highest in us -- the ATMA (Spiritual "ray") This factor plus the
Superior mind (called in Theosophy Buddhi-Manas -- or the wise
mind) has actual access to the inner records of Karma pertaining
to the individual mind that is reincarnating.  The BUDDHI
(vehicle for Atma is "wise" because it serves as the recording
area of all experience for the immortal MONAD);  it takes action
to provide the embodied mind (Kama-Manas) with its noble
impulses, intuitions, altruistic sentiments, and a sense of
purpose, universalism and a motive for seeking the better way of
choosing to live -- in short, the virtues as practical
applications.

This would be considered as the beginning of the Bodhisattva path
[ Bodhi - wise;  sattva - purity ]
the actual state of being a BODHISATTVA would then be one in
which a human mind has raised itself to the level of a perfect
embodiment of wisdom.  for us this may seem to be an impossible
ideal.  yet, it does exist and is spoken of in the annals of
Buddhism, which, incidentally go much further back than the life
and teachings of Gautama Sakyamuni Buddha.

The "commitment and vow" is always interior and to ones' HIGHER
SELF -- the ATMA.  Then the struggles begin as the "Lower -Mind"
enwrapped in Kama (desire and passion) seeks to preserve its
status quo, and a great struggle (as illustrated in the life
stories of the Buddha Gautama tell) ensues and has to be
continued over several lives till success is reached and the
HUMAN MIND transforms itself into the DIVINE MIND.

This is how I understand Theosophy offers its doctrines on
reincarnation and the Path to Perfection.

Best wishes,

Dallas
----------------------

Grigor

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