CARDIFF THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IN WALES, UK:- Esoteric Glossary - Theosophical Society in Wales Headquarters,Theosophy House, 206 Newport Road, Cardiff, Wales, UK CF24-1DL

Esoteric Glossary

Abstract ideas Embodied thoughts of the divine mind, carrying the energy of their creator and consequently the cause of phenomenal effects in the three worlds.

Abstraction (right) A mental activity, an attitude of mind which affects primarily the entire life-attitude of the personality. It involves not only the detachment from long habit, but it involves also a complete readjustment of the entire threefold person to the world of souls.

Abstract mind The interpreting agent for the Monad, and the lowest aspect of the Triad; the pattern-building facility, or the mind that works with the blue prints upon which the forms are modeled; the intuition or pure reason.

Abstract thought A function of the Self expressing itself through the higher mental or causal body.

Active intelligence The energy which animates the form aspect and which creates forms in line with the subjective purposes of the presiding intelligence - God or man, human or divine, the third ray energy.

Adept A Master of Wisdom who, having traversed the path of evolutionand entered upon the final stage of this Path of Initiation, has taken five of the initiations and passed into the fifth or spiritual kingdom, from the fourth or human kingdom.

Agni Lord of Fire and one of the oldest and most revered gods in the Vedas. Symbol of the mental plane - the fires of mind or manas.

Agnichaitans The devas who construct and build in matter of the densest kind in connection with logoic manifestation. They function on the seventh subplane of the cosmic physical plane, and are the producers of the greatest concretion. In the planetary body of our planetary Logos, the agnichaitans are the builders of the earth, His densest form, and throughout the entire solar system they are the sumtotal of that activity and vibration which demonstrates what we call the "solid substance."

Agnishvattas The builders on the fifth or gaseous subplane of the cosmic physical and, from the human standpoint they are the builders of the body of consciousness per se. From the psychic standpoint of occult psychology, they have a close connection with the physical brain, the seat or empire of the Thinker.

Agnisuryans The builders on the sixth subplane of the cosmic physical plane, our systemic astral plane. They represent the sympathetic nervous system in the logoic physical body.

Air Air is the symbol of the higher life in which the Christ principle dominates, in which freedom is experienced and the soul comes to full expression.

Akasha (1) Sanskrit root "kas" - to radiate or shine. Higher correspondence of ether and relates to the substance which is Buddhi. (2) Vitalized matter, or substance animated by latent heat. The akasha is everywhere, in it we live and move and have our being.

Akashic Records Records of all karmic action "impressed" upon the ethers. Most psychics perceive the distorted reflections on the astral plane.

Alignment (Occultly) means that a lower state has been brought into contact with something still higher; correct, unimpeded relationship; the establishment of a direct channel, not only between the one source, the Monad, and its expression, the purified and controlled personality, but also between the seven centers in the human etheric vehicle.

Alta Major center The nerve center at the top of the spine where the cranium and the spine make approximate contact; the synthesis of that which might be called nervous energy. It is the physical correspondance to the antahkarana on higher levels.

Angel See "Deva".

Angel of the Presence The devic aspect of the "causal body" of a person. The Soul whose nature is love and light and inclusive understanding.

Antahkarana (also Antaskarana) Path or bridge between higher and lower mind, serving as a medium of communication between the two. Built through meditation/visualisation, service to humanity and study of occultism. Connects the threefold personality and the Spiritual Triad.The Antahkarana embodies the response of the consciousness within the form to the steadily expanding range of contacts within the environing whole. It is built by the aspirant themself in mental matter and is the first creation of the soul-infused personality acting as a unitary being.

Appearance Expresses that which we call matter, or form, or objective expression; it is that illusory tangible outer appearance which is animated by life. This is the third aspect, the Mother, oveshadowed and fertilized by the Holy Ghost, or Life, united with intelligent substance.

Archetype The original pattern or model; the prototype; "Archos" means first and "typos" means model; a perfect example; the blue print, the basic pattern, smelling is the faculty of keen perception that eventually brings a person back to the source from whence they came, the archetypal plane, the plane where their true home is to be found; forms originate upon the archetypal planes, through the agency of divine thought, and from thence (through directed streams of intelligent energy) acquire substance as they are reproduced upon each plane, until eventually (on the physical plane) the form stands revealed at its densest point of manifestation.

Ashram A centre to which the Master gathers aspirants and disciples for personal instruction and where nothing of the personality is allowed to enter. The state of consciousness of a spiritual group.

Ashrams of Loving Intent Ashrams closest to the aura or periphery of Shamballa.

Aspect Expression; that of which quality is an emanation.

Aspiration From the Latin "ad" - to and "spirare" - to breathe, to breathe towards. Aspiration must precede inspiration, a burning desire and a fiery determination.

Astral Emotion; sentient reactions.

Astral body The emotional or feeling body. Watery in nature and the seat of our desires. One of the most difficult bodies to control.

Astral plane Simply a name given to that sumtotal of sentient reactions, of feeling-responsiveness, and of emotional substance which humanity has created. The plane of the emotions, including the polar opposites such as hope and fear, sentimental love and hate, happiness and suffering. The plane of illusion.

Astrology Essentially the purest presentation of occult truth in the world at this time because it is the science which deals with those conditioning and governing energies and forces which play through and upon the whole field of space and all that is within that field.

Atlantis A continent now submerged in the Atlantic ocean, according to occult teaching and Plato. Home of the Atlantean or fourth rootrace.

Atma Universal spirit. The divine Monad. The seventh principle, so-called in the septenary constitution of man.

Atman Man's originating source; the essential immortal "spark" or divine essence.

Atom Part of the greater whole; a center of energy or electric forc; a living entity; a little vibrant world.

Aura A subtle or invisible essence or fluid which emanates from human and animal bodies and even things. It is psychic effluvium, partaking of both mind and body. It is electo-vital and electro-mental. Etheric, astral, mental bodies. The sumtotal of the attractive forces in the field of individual activity; the quality of a sphere of radiatory activity (see Magnetic Aura).

Avatar A special emissary of Light and Love that incarnates for the benefit of humanity, having technically no karmic obligation to incarnate. There are many types of avatars, from the earthly to the cosmic. One who has a peculiar capacity (besides a self-initiated task and a pre-ordained destiny) to transmit energy or divine power, and who is capable of reflecting some cosmic Principle or divine quality and energy which will produce the desired effect upon humanity, evoking reaction and producing needed stimulation.

Beauty Beauty is, after all, as much of divinity as can be expressed in any one form.

Being Awareness, self-consciousness and self-expression, and of this the head and brain are the exoteric symbols.

Black magic The use of power and the manipulation of matter for selfish ends. Materialistic focus of forces that negate the evolutionary urge. The moment that there is the least tendency on the part of a group, or of an individual in a group, to force an issue, to bring so much mental pressure to bear that an individual group is helpless under the impact of other minds, you have what is called black magic.

Bliss The nature of the spirit; the consummation of which the Monad bestows upon the initiate.

Bodhisattva Literally, "He whose consciousness has become intelligence or buddhi." Those who need but one more life to become perfect buddhas. Name of office Lord Maitreya, known in the west as the Christ. The World Teacher is the Master of Masters and teacher of angels and humanity.

Brahma The third aspect of the Hindu trinity - Siva (father/ray 1- will), Krishna (son/ray 2 - love) and Brahma (mother/ray 3 - intelligence)

Brain The brain is like the eye of the soul, looking out into the physical world, in the same sense the soul is the eye of the Monad, and in a curious and occult sense, the fourth kingdom in nature constitutes on our planet, the eye of the planetary Deity.

Brotherhood An expression of the relation which the planetary Logos (on the cosmic mental plane) bears to His personality as it expresses itself through the planet with all its forms of life, upon the cosmic physical plane. This relationship is focussed through Sanat Kumara Who is the individualised mind of that great Life, the relation between forms, the manifestation of the unity of Life.

Buddha One Who is "enlightened" and has attained the highest degree of knowledge possible for humanity in this solar system. Last Avatar of the age of Aries. Previous World Teacher who historically manifested through the Prince Gautama around 500 BC. The Embodiment of Wisdom, he currently acts as the "Divine Intermediary" between Shamballa and Hierarchy.

Buddhi (1) The Universal Soul or Mind; the spiritual soul (the sixth principle) and therefore the vehicle of Atma, the Spirit, which is the seventh principle, the unifying principle of groups. (2) Buddhi is the Buddhic Plane, the 4th plane of perception of pure intuition, reason or true Love, and the state that all humanity is evolving toward.

Buddhism A rational, deep and sphoisticated approach to human life which does not emphasize something eternal but rather emphasizes personal responsibility for inner development.

Causal body It isn't really a body, objectively or subjectively, but is the centre of Egoic or Soul consciousness, formed by the conjunction of buddhi and manas. It is relatively permanent throughout our long series of incarnations, but is destroyed after the 4th initiation is reached and we have achieved mastery over the three lower worlds. This body is, from the standpoint of the physical plane, no body, either subjective or objective: the centre of the egoic consciousness and is formed by the union of buddhi and manas, or Love and Mind; relatively permanent and lasts throughout the long cycle of incarnations, and is only dissipated after the fourth initiation, when the need for further rebirth on the part of a human being no longer exists.

Center and periphery The closer one gets to realization, the clearer becomes the concept that the point at that center and the periphery are one.

Center, head The dynamic Agent of the extra-planetary Purpose, the expression of the divine planetary Will as focussed in Shamballa. This is the energy of synthesis, the source of all planetary life; it connotes essential Being.

Center, heart The Agent of the Plan of evolution. This is the expression of divine Love or pure Reason, the Hierarchy. It is essentially the energy of Attraction, the kingdom of souls.

Center, throat The agent of all three Aspects in relation to the three subhuman kingdoms in nature, the expression also of the divine Intelligence, Humanity. This is the center of the active mind and makes humanity the macrocosm of the microcosm, the three subhuman kingdoms. Humanity is to these kingdoms what the Hierarchy is to the fourth kingdom in nature, the human kingdom.

Centers Whirlpools of force that swirl etheric, astral and mental matter into activity of some kind; force vertices in matter which demonstrate as activity; centers of existence.

Centers, three planetary A closer linking of the three divine centers (Shamballa, Hierarchy, Humanity) so that the flow of divine energy will be increasingly unimpeded, and Purpose, Plan and their precipitation upon the physical plane will be precipitated. These three centers are closely interrelated and must be thought of as expressions of divine livingness, as embodying three stages in the unfoldment of God's plan, and as constituting the tree magic centers - heart, head and throat - in the body of the One in Whom we live and move and have our being.

Chain Seven "chains" of evolution within a planetary "scheme". There are seven "globes" of evolution within a planetary chain.

Chakra Sanskrit - "wheel or disc". An energy centre within one of the subtle bodies, formed by the intersection of many "nadis" or strands of etheric substance, forming the seven main chakras of the human being and the 22 minor chakras. There are also 343 "points of light" which correspond to the acupuncture points. Chakras can be energy centres in the solar system or the cosmos, or a human being. (see Our Magnetic Chakra System.)

Chela A "disciple" or pupil of a spiritual teacher or Master.

Chohan Lord, Master, a Chief, an Adept. A 6th degree initiate, a "Master of the Wisdom". A custodian of one of the seven rays.

Christ The World Teacher of humanity and angels alike, head of the Spiritual Hierarchy. The Master of Masters. Embodier of the 2nd or Love aspect of Deity. Known as Maitreya in the East. Set to "reappear" to fulfill His mission started 2000 years ago.

Christ and Buddha Together, the two sons of God - the one in the east and the other in the west - present to humanity a complete and perfect representation of Deity.

Civilization The reflection in humanity of some particular cyclic influence, leading to an initiation; the reaction of humanity to the purpose of any particular world period; concerns the masses and the racial consciousness, while either culture concerns the individual and the unseen spiritual.

Chohan A Lord, Master, Chief, an Adept, an initiate Who has taken more inituations than the five major initiations which make the initiate a Master of the Wisdom.

Clairaudience Hearing on the astral plane. It means the ability to hear sounds of the astral plane. It is a faculty that demonstrates throughout the entire astral body, and a person hears all over their vehicle and not only through the specialized organs, the ears, the product of physical plane action and reaction. This would necessarily be so, owing to the fluidic nature of the astral body.

Color The form assumed by force of some kind when that force is moving at a certain measure and when its actions and movement is impeded or unimpeded by the material through which it plays; originally, "color" meant a "covering" (from the root "celare" - to cover or hide).

Co-measurement Understanding what is great and what is small; what is distant and what is near; what we can attain and what we would be fools to attempt. A true sense of proportion.

Compassion Love in action, fellowship in suffering; the right use of the pairs of opposites; an expression of the spiritual light in humanity; the Law of Compassion is the certainty of right relationship, of loving understanding, of actively expressed love.

Concrete Mind The form-building faculty; thoughts are things.

Conditioning (Occultly) concerns the response innate and inherent, of matter or substance to the pattern; conditioning provides the invluence and the conditions wherein the best in the race can flower forth to a state of perfection.

Conscience The exercise of the discriminative sense, developed as the mind assumes increasing control.

Consciousness Comes form the two Latin words "con" - with, and "scio" - to know; literally, "that with which we know," the reaction of active intelligence to the pattern.

Contact The recognition of an environment, an area of the hitherto unknown, of that which has somehow been evoked, of a something other which has made its presence felt.

Contemplation An activity of the soul, detached from the mind, which is held in a state of quiescence; the turning of the soul light upon that which is to be known or investigated; the lull between two activities.

Cosmic Intermediary A term given to the etheric body, which is part and parcel of the universal ether. It is throught the etheric body that all the energies flow, whether emanating from the soul, or from the sun, or from a planet. Along those living lines of firey essence pass all the contacts that do not emanate specifically from the tangible world.

Creativity Creativity is a consequence of a particular state of mind and a specific state of being; it signifies a point in evolution wherein the disciple is definitely radioactive. He can no more help creating in some form or another than he can help living.

Crisis Point of examination as to strength, purpose, purity, motive and the intent of the soul; such a point evokes confidence when surmounted, and produces greatly expanded vision; crises are points which foster compassion and understanding, points which release the light of wisdom within the field of knowledge and the world is thereby enriched.

Culture The approach of two ways - feeling and mind, sensitivity and thought; the attitudes which will enable the individual to live as an intelligent, subjective being in a tangible physical world (see Civilization).

Cycles The ebb and lfow in individual and group experience; the periods in a cycle that are of real significance are "the termini" and "those where overlapping and merging occurs." At the points of merging cross-currents occur creating chaotic conditions. At the middle part of a cycle the incoming vibration stabilizes, and calm and apparent equilibrium results (see Crises).

Death Death is an act of the intuition transmitted by the soul to the personality and then acted upon in conformity to the divine will by the individual wll' the will-to-harmonization; is undertaken at the direction of the Ego, no matter how unaware a human being may be of that direction; it is the call of the soul too strong to resist; a work or act of restitution; a process of at-one-ment (see Principle of Liberation)

Desire The force of the form nature; the reflection or distortion of love; attachment in some degree or another; a generic term covering the outgoing tendency of the spirit towards form life.

Detachment The freeing of the soul from the thralldom of the form life, and the subordination of the personality to the higher impulses.

Deva (Angel) An angel; a god; a celestila being, whether good, bad, or indifferent. Devas are divided into many groups and are called not only angels and arcangels, but lesser and greater builders; the builders of the system; Devas are on the evolutionary path, on the upward way,; the building devas are the Universal Mind. They not only embody the Divine Thought but are that through which it manifests, and its actuating activity. They are essentially motion. The lesser builders are more particularly the material form which is actuated, and in their cohorts are the substance of matter, considering substance as that which lies back of matter. In sanskrit, a resplendent deity. Responsible for building all forms, from nature to the solar system, which consciousness uses as a vehicle - from a flower, to a human being, to a planet.

Devachan A state of consciousness, reflecting, in the life of the personality, that higher state which we call nirvanic consciousness, and which is brought about by egoic action; consisting of mental matter, might be regarded as a centre, or heart of peace, within the periphery of the sphere of influence of the mental unit within the causal body.

Dharma That which one must fulfill as an incarnate Being. One's duty as an understanding of the Law. Divine law, ethical doctrine - justice, harmony, virtue.

Dhyani Buddhas The 5 Buddhas - Vairocana, Aksobhya, Ratnasambhava, Amitabha and Amoghasiddhi. Same as Kumaras. See "Kumara".

Disciple One who is pledged to serve humanity, who is beginnng to comprehend group work; who realizes the Life or force side of nature; who is transferring his consciousness out of the personal into the impersonal; who realizes his responsibility to all units who come under his influence and to the Whole. (see Reality)

Disciple (Function of) The function of a disciple is to focus a stream of energy of some special kind upon the physical plane where it can become an attractive center of force and draw to itself similar types of ideas and thought currents which are not strong enough to live by themselves or to make a sufficiently strong impact upon the human consciousness.

Disciples Initiated disciples have no interest in anything but the vision, the Plan and its direction and materializing on earth. Accepted disciples are learning this and in the meantime have to react to the vision in what might be called a second hand manner; they are occupied with the Plan and with the distribution of the forces which will materialize it. A disciple becomes an Accepted Disciple when he starts climbing towards the vision, towards the mountaintop; he can also register consciously what he has seen and then begin to do something towards materializing it. Newly accepted disciples (who are only learning to cooperate) are valuable as "agents for experiment." According to their reaction to the imparted truths and Plan, according to their ability to sense the need and to bring the need and the medium of release into relation and according to their capacity to work with the world disciples (who are definitely responsible to the master of the Ashram for some aspect of the Plan) will be the success of the effort in the outer world.

Discrimination The process of differentiating between the form and the Life, between the soul and the body, between the sumtotal of the lower manifestation (physical, astral and mental) and the real self, the cause of the lower manifestation; that faculty whereby the self recognizes its own essence in and under all forms; one of the highest faculties in man.

Dispassion The attainment of that state of consciousness where balance is seen, and neither pleasure or pain dominates.

Dual life A life of outer activity and of inner sensitivity.

Dweller on the Threshold The "shadow" or unredeemed aspect of the personality that is built up over lifetimes - it can assume the shape of a grotesque thoughtform; the sumtotal of forces of the lower nature as expressed in the personality prior to illumination, to inspiration and to initiation; all that the individual is, apart from the higher spiritual self. Humanity today is the Dweller while the Hierarchy of Souls is the Angel and behind the Angel stands the Presence of Divinity Itself, intuited by the Hierarchy and dimly sensed by humanity but providing in this manner the threefold synthesis which is divine manifestation in form. The Soul goes into battle with the Dweller at a critical stage of its evolution, and eventually emerges triumphant. This process may take several lives.

Ego The soul as an individualised unit of consciousness within the greater ocean of consciousness.

Egoic Groups The "causal" bodies of individual men and women, as they exist on the mental plane, as an expression of the Ego. They congregate in groups according to ray colouring.

Egoic Lotus The 3 tiers of petals (knowledge, love and sacrifice) that are opened over the immense period of time that is the Soul's journey. Eventually the three petals of the central bud (the jewel in the lotus) are opened when the individual achieves "Liberation".

Elementals The spirits of the elements of earth, water, fire and air. They are the lesser "devas" or "builders". They can inhabit the residual etheric/astral bodies of humans that are still breaking down after death, much like a hermit crab inhabits a shell.

Esoteric That which is hidden or veiled. It is subjective wisdom that can only be perceived with the developed subtle senses.

Energies Subjective energies are forces pouring from the soul (on soul levels) into the form nature upon its own level of awareness.

Energy A potency of life fluid circulating through the entire body of the Logos and vivifying even the tiniest atom in that whole. The Tibetan uses the word "energy" in reference to the spiritual expression, and the word "force" to indicated the uses which are made of spiritual energy. (see Forces)

Etheric body The subtle part of the physical body. The physical plane is divided into 7 subplanes (as are all planes). The lower 3 subplanes represent the physical body, and the higher 4 subplanes represent the etheric body.

Evocation A response to invocative appeal. (see Invocation)

Evolution - The unfolding of a continually increasing power to respond, the rpocess which unfolds the life within all units, the developing urge which eventually merges all units and all groups until you have the manifestatino of what can be called nature, or God, and which is the aggregate of all states of consciousness; ordered change and constant mutation, and ever-increasing power to respond to vibration, a steadily increasing sensitivity to light and illumination.

Fifth principle Mind - the intelligent thinking principle which differentiates the human kingdom from the animal kingdom.

Fire (by Friction) - Electricity animating the atoms of matter, or the substance of the solar system, resulting in the "spheroidal form of all manifestation. The innate heat of all spheres. Differentiation of all atoms one from another."

Fire (Electric) - Electricity demonstrating as vitality or the will-to-be of some Entity, and manifesting as "Abstract Being, Darkness and Unity."

Fire (Solar) - Electricity animating forms or congeries of atoms, and resulting in Coherent groups, the radiation from all groups, or the magnetic interaction of these groups, the synthesis of form; cosmic mental fire; the sumtotal of the sparks of mind, the fires of the mental bodies and the animating principle of the evolving units of the human race in the three worlds; solar fire is dual. It is the fire of matter or substance and the fire of mind blended. This makes man the six-pointed Star of Light, for each of these fires is triple.

Fohat Cosmic electricity. Primordial light. The universal propelling life force. Ceaseless destructive and constuctive power.

Forces Those energies which are limited and imprisoned within a form of any kind - a body, a plane, an organ, a centre; the energies are those streams of directed energy which make impact upon these imprisoned forces from within a greater or more inclusive form, from a subtler plane, thus making contact with a grosser vibratory force. An energy is subtler and more potent than the force upon which it makes impact or establlishes contact; the force is less potent but it is anchored. In these last two words you have the key to the problem of the relationship of energies. (see Energy)

Form - Electricity on the monadic plane demonstrates as the first manifestation of form, as that which causes forms to cohere. Matter (electrified "fire by friction") and the electric fire of spirit meet and blend, and form appears. Form is the result of the desire for existence, hence the dynamic fireof Will is transmuted into the burning fire of Desire.

Glamour Refers to the world of emotional being and of desire, in which all forms dwell; a distortion of the turth and a faulty reflection of reality; all the aspects of those deceptions, illusions, misunderstandings and misinterpretations which confront the aspirant at every step of their way until they achieve unity. The cause of glamour is primarily based upon the sense of duality. Illusion or maya, specifically on the astral plane. The former refer to the mental and physical planes respectively. Glamour is astral energy colouring mental energy so that it distorts reality.

Globe An evolution within a "chain" period : seven globes to a chain. Earth is currently in her fourth "globe" period.

Gnosis Knowledge of God. The Mysteries of Being. Wisdom. Sophia.

God Deity or originating cause. The sum-total of all the states of consciousness within the solar system; the Macrocosm; the Universal Mind; the Absolute; the Unknown; the expression of the One Life which animates every form on the outer subjective plane; the Life in which we "live and move and have our being"; a new definition of God was given us when the Buddha taught that God was Light and showed us that way of illumination, and when Christ revealed to us that God was Love through His life and service on earth. A new Approach is on the Way, bringing us the next needed truth. See "Logos".

Goodwill Humanity's first attempt to express the Love of God; an expression of the second Ray of Love-Wisdom; a principle which conceals and contains the hidden purpose of the Logos.

Group A living, functioning Entity having form, personality, soul and purpose in objective; the sum of the quality, consciousness and awareness of those unitary lives of which it is composed.

Gunas (3) The three divisions of matter: Tamas (inertia), rajas (activity) and Sattva (Harmony).

Guru Spiritual teacher. A Master in metaphysical and ethical doctrines.

Heart An aspect of pure reason; usually considered the organ of pure love but - from the angle of the esoteric sciences - love and reason are synonymous terms, found to be not only the engine which circulates the life fluids, but also the generator of a certain type of intelligent essence which is the positive factor in the life of the cell.

Hierarchy A place of fusion of all souls upon the higher levels of the mental plane; a meeting place of energies; a state of consciousness with the life aspect, Shamballa, at the center and the circle of humanity constituting the emanating factor, the radiatory influence or the aura, whereby the other kingdoms in nature are evoked into responsive activity. Group of spiritual beings on the inner planes of the solar system who are the intelligent forces of nature and who control the evolutionary processes. Divided into 12 Hierarchies. The Occult Hierarchy or Masters of Wisdom, disciples and initiates are a reflection.

Humanity That evolution through which the Son or Soul aspect is to express itself most perfectly in this cosmic incarnation; that human Centre whose eternal mission is to bring light to all created lives. In Humanity the pairs of opposites blend and the three fires meet. Humanity is the best expression of the manasic principle, and a sheath for the life of God, as well as the individualized consciousness of the Logos. Humanity is the Prodigal and a great experiment in time and space.

Identification Realisation, plus esoteric experience, plus again an absorption into the Whole, and for all of this we have no terminlogy.

Illumination The light of the intuition breaking trough the barriers that the rational faculty has erected; true illumination is related to the intellect and should be, in its purest aspect, divorced from feeling altogether; a condition of knowledge; a state wherein the mind is brought into relation with God, and the longer that condition can be held free from emotional reactions, the more direct will be the communication between the imparted truths. (see Light)

Incarnation The unification of the etheric double with the dense physical body; the taking of a dense physical body; a definitely determined period (from the angle of soul) wherein experiment, experience and expression are the keynotes. Each successive incarnation continues the experiment, deepens the experience and relates the expression more closely to the latent unfolding divinity.

Individualisation The coming together (out of the darkness of abstraction) of the two factors of Spirit and matter by means of a third factor, the intelligent will, purpose and action of an Entity. The unit passes out of the animal kingdom into the human at individualisation. The moment when "the spark of mind" was implanted in humanity, over 18 million years ago, through the stimulation of the "lords of flame," from the Venus "chain" of the Earth "scheme."

Initiate One who is essentially a blend of scientific and religious training; one who has been re-oriented to certain phases of divine existence which are not yet recognized by the average human being; one who, in his twofold nature (soul and personality), moves forward. No longer is his point of focus that of the personality. He has fused and blended two divine aspects in himself, and they now constitute one integrated unit.

Initiation A progressive sequence of directed energy impacts, characterized by points of tension and governed by the Law of Cause and Effect; a process of developing inclusiveness; a process of continuing integration into centers of force. Successive expansions of consciousness that mark vital stages of the soul's journey. When one is "initiated", one has already been self initiated, because "to initiate" means to start something that will eventually lead to the higher expansion of awareness. There are initiation ceremonies which "confer" initiation, and give the candidate an expanded experience that they will never forget, inspiring them onward in their evolution.

Each initiation (a) marks the passing of a pupil into a higher class, (b) marks the clear shining forth of the fire, (c) marks the transition from one point of polarization to another, (d) entails the realization of an increasing unity with all that lives, (e) entails the realization of the self with all selves.

Interlude A pause between two activities; a midway point; a pause for constructive thinking; an interim period; an inhalation and exhalation; between the breathing out and the breathing incomes a period of silence and the moment for effective work.

Intuition The apprehension by the mind of reality directly as it is, and not under the form of a perception or a conception, nor as an idea or object of reason - all of which by contrast are intellectual apprehension; pure reason or the faculty which enables the individual to enter into contact with the Universal Mind and grasp the plan synthetically, to seize upon divine Ideas or isolate some fundamental and pure truth; a blend of the two divine qualities of buddhi - manas, or intuitive spiritual understanding (involving interpenetration and identification) and the higher abstract mind, which is essentially the power to comprehend that which is not conceret or tangivle but which is, in reality, an innate recognition of the lower aspects of the divine Plan as it must affect life in the three worlds. "The synthetic understanding which is the perogative of the soul ...." That which is beyond feelings and thought - buddhic awareness.

Invocation The science of impression in activity and not simply in theory; a conscious focussed appeal. (see Evocation)

Jewel in the Lotus The "jewel in the lotus," to use the ancient oriental appellation, is the point of life by means of which the Monad anchors itself upon the physical plane, and is the life principle therefore of all the transient vehicles - developed, undeveloped or developing. This point of life contains within itself all possibilities, all potentialities, all experiences and all vibratory activities. It embodies the will-to-be, the quality of magnetic attraction (commonly called love), and the active intelligence which will bring the livingness and the love into full expression.

Kalachakra The Wheel of Time. Kalachakra tantra is the most esoteric Mahayana Buddhist teaching given by "Lords of Shamballa."

Kali Hindu goddess of life and death. Kali Yuga (age/cycle) is the present age of death and destruction - a period of 432,000 years.

Kama-manas Desire mind. The combination of astral and lower mental energy. Source of all our "glamours".

Karma The Law of Cause and Effect. Physical action. The Law of Retribution. Karma of merit/demerit. The whole universe is conditioned by this law. Moral effect of an act committed which gratifies personal desire.

Kumaras Hindu for "The mind-born Sons of Brahma". The highest seven self conscious beings in our planetary scheme. There are 3 "exoteric" and 3 "esoteric" and Sanat Kumara is the "One" in between who mirrors the unformed (arupa) realms into the formed (rupa) realms. These Kumaras originally came to Earth from the Venus "chain" of the Earth "scheme".

Kundalini The power of Life - one of the forces of nature (feminine) that lies coiled, serpent like at the base of the spine. It creates the foundation of matter, into which spirit incarnates. Awakens naturally through evolution, but can have very destructive effects if prematurely activated through wrong meditation or yogic practices.

Lemuria Continent which preceded Atlantis, the last remnants of which are Australia, Borneo, Madagascar and Easter Island. It was in this race/continent that the "spark of mind" was implanted in humanity.

Life - Existence manifesting in matter; Spirit, Energy, the Father, the First aspect of Divinity; the sustaining, originating Cause and Source of all Manifestation; loving synthesis in action.

Light - The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen; signifies two things: energy and its manifestation in form of some kind; Light and Substance are synonomous terms; the soul is light; Light is known by what it reveals. (see Illumination)

Logos "God" in a relative sense. There is a Planetary Logos and a Solar Logos. Logos = word: the creative word (mantram) brings all forms into manifestation, whether it is a solar system or a human being.

Lords of Flame One of the great Hierarchies of spiritual beings who guide the solar system. Closely related to the Kumaras.

Love An impersonal potency or energy, dependent for its effect upon the type of form which it contacts and upon which it makes an impact; not a sentiment or an emotion, nor is it desire or a selfish motive for right action in daily life; the wielding of the force which guides the worlds and which leads to integration, unity and inclusiveness, which impels Deity itself to action; an expression of soul contact.

Lotus Description of any energy centre, human or cosmic. The petals of a lotus represent different qualities, colours and stages of evolution. They may be folded and unawakened, or unfolded and awakened.

Macrocosm The greater body of manifestation in which we (the microcosm) live.

Mahachohan Lord of Civilisation. Head of the third great department of the Hierarchy. Embodiment of the 3rd ray or 3rd aspect of Deity - Active Intelligence, which gives birth to the 4 rays of attribute.

Mahamanvantara A great cycle of manifestation for a solar system. A "manvantara" is a lesser cycle within this greater cycle, but still of vast duration by human standards - 308,448,000 years.

Maitreya Buddha Forthcoming Buddha of Compassion. The Christ.

Manas The mind, the mental faculty, that which distinguishes the human from mere animal. The individualising principle; that which enables the individual to know that he or she exists, feels and knows. Divided into two parts - higher mind/lower mind.

Mandala A mystical diagram in which are drawn symbols representing aspects of Deity, and used to invoke that energy.

Mantrams A form of words or syllables rhythmically arranged, so that when sounded, certain vibrations are generated. "The word made flesh."

Manu The representative name of the great Being who is the Ruler or primal progenitor of the human race. "Manu" and "Manas" come from the sanskrit root "man" - "to think".

Manvantara Period of activity as opposed to a period of rest. Frequently used to express a period of planetary activity and its seven races.

Maya Illusion on the physical plane; that which the whole planet is enmeshed. The result of manifestation; an aspect of time; the world of physical forces in which we dwell; related to the form-building activity of the planetary Logos Himself. (see "Glamour")

Masonry Ancient esoteric tradition whereby an attempt is made to align with the forces of Deity, through ritual, allegory and symbol, and thereby anchor those forces upon the physical plane. The "Builders" of Masonry are an allegory for the building, by the soul, of the causal body. Some more modern orders admit women.

Master One who has taken the fifth Planetary initiation and the first Sirian or Cosmic initiation; a Master of the Wisdom is One Who has effected the transfer or polarisation from the three atoms of the personal life - as included in the causal body - into the three atoms of the Spiritual Triad. He is consciously spirit-intuition-abstract mind or Atma-Buddhi-manas, and this is not potentially but in full effective power, realized through experience; One Who knows the meaning of consciousness, Life and of Spirit (see Adept).

Mayavi Rupa Sanskrit "illusory form". Body of manifestation created by a Master through an act of will, for use in the three worlds.

Meditation The means by which the higher consciousness is contacted; the result of an inward-turning tendency, of the capacity to abstract the consciousness from form and substance and to center within itself; the mind's power to hold itself steady in the light; a technique of the mind which eventually produces correct, unimpeded relationship, another name for alignment; the establishment of a direct channel between one source, the Monad, and its expression. (see Alignment)

Microcosm The little universe, or a human manifesting through its body, the physical body.

Mind The mental faculty that attracts, repels, coordinates and produces cohesion. (see Manas)

Monad The immortal essence of ourselves which uses the soul to incarnate through, just as the soul incarnates through our personality. The One. The threefold spirit on its own plane. The unified triad of atma, buddhi and manas - Spiritual Will, intuition, and Higher Mind - or the immortal part of the unit which reincarnates in the lower kingdoms and gradually progresses through them to the final goal; dynamic will or purpose remaining unrevealed until after the third initiation; Life, the sustaining force; a Lord of persevering and ceaseless devotion to the pursuit of a seen and determined objective; Human Monads in their seven types are found on the plane of spirit as it is the plane of duality. The deva Monads are also found there.

Monadic consciousness The great universal Oneness: Life, the sustaining force - the unified triad of Spiritual Will, intuition, and Higher Mind. Monadic consciousness embodies divine life - purpose and intent, and uses the soul in order to demonstrate through that soul the inherent purpose of deity. Building of the bridge between lower and higher mind is the first step towards achieving monadic consciousness, and thus the first step towards the Way of the Higher Evolution.

Mother of the World Great "deva lord" who embodies the substance of all planes of perception. She is responsible for the Law of Karma working out through her many deva "agents".

Nadi A channel for the conveying of prana in the etheric vehicle.

New Group of World Servers On the physical plane, without any exoteric organization, ceremonials, or outer form, there is integrating - silently, steadily and powerfully - a group of men and women who will supersede eventually the previous hierarchical effort. They are of all races; they speak all languages; they embrace all religions, all sciences and all philosophies. Their characteristics are synthesis, inclusiveness, intellectuality and fine mental development. They own to no creed, save the creed of Brotherhood, based on the One Life.

Nirmanakayas The perfected beings who renounce nirvana (the highest state of spiritual bliss) and choose a life of self sacrifice, becoming members of that invisible host which ever protects humanity within karmic limits.

Nirvana The Way into new fields of spiritual experience and of divine development - incomprehensible as of yet, even to the initiate of the third degree; this Way is revealed only when the antahkarana is built and completed and the disciple becomes focussed in the Triad as consciously as he / she is now focussed in the threefold lower nature; the culmination of all knowledge and absolute wisdom.

Occultist The true occultist is a scientist and a devotee; where these two are not merged we have the mystic, as well as the individual in danger of black magic, being governed by the intellect and not by selflessness; the occultist is only the mystic functioning on a higher plane - that of the mind.

Path (The) The "linking light" or "bridging radiance" created between the higher and the lower; communion or interplay between the personality and the Soul, and later between the personality and Spirit; "Before the person can tread the path, they must become that path themself"; The antahkarana is the Path symbolically. This is one of the paradoxes of the esoteric science. Step by step and stage by stage, we construct that Path just as the spider spins its thread. It is that "way back" which we evolve out of ourselves; it is that Way which we also find and tread.

Permanent atom Small force centres on each of the planes which hold the memory of all incarnations, and which the reincarnating soul draws upon when building new bodies of manifestation.

Personality The sumtotal of the threefold lower self: physical, astral, mental: a blend of mental energy, of emotional energy and of vital force, and these three are masked, hidden or revealed (note this terminology) by an outer shell or form of dense physical matter. This outer crust is in itself a form of negative energy. The result of this union of three energies in an objective form is self-consciousness and their fusion produces that sense of individuality which justifies the use of the wword "I," and which relates all occurrences to a self; where this central conscious entity exists, utilising the mind, reacting sensuously through the emotional body, and energising the dense physical (via the vital body), then one has a personality; awareness of identity in relation to other identities - true of God or man; sense or identity persists only during the creative process; a state of awareness which has its conditioning factor in the mind stuff and this can be transcended when the mind stuff no longer controls.

Plan The expression of Purpose in time and space; all we really know is the fact of the Plan and that it is very good; that we are enfolded within it and subject to it; the objective of the Plan is to reproduce upon the plane of the earth the inner kingdom of the soul.

Plane (of Perception) A level of existence. There are seven planes of perception on this, the "cosmic physical" plane - physical, astral, mental, buddhic, atmic, monadic and Adi. These planes are subdivided into seven subplanes each, making 49 subplanes in all. An essential part of "septenaries" in occultism that can be applied, with the 7 rays, to broaden understanding.

Planetary Logos This term is generally applied to the seven highest spirits corresponding to the seven archangels of the Christian. They have all passed through the human stage and are now manifesting through a planet and its evolutions, in the same way that man manifests through his physical body. The highest planetary spirit working through any particular globe is, in reality, the personal God of the planet. The Being Who is the life of our planet; the One in Whom we live and move and have our being; the sumtotal of all organized life; the informing, ensouling life of this planet earth; the life which integrates the planet as a whole, and pours through all forms - great or small - which, in their aggregate, constitute the Planetary form; our planetary Logos has been given the name of the "experimenting divine physicist." A planetary logos is the informing entity of any planetary scheme, which is made up of many other globes and chains - the physical planet just being one expression of the great life incarnate in a scheme. The Kumara for our planet, Sanat Kumara, is simply the personality expression of this great being.

Prakriti That which caused the universe to manifest itself.

Prana The Life principle, the breath of life.

Pranayama The science of rhytmic breathing as applied in meditation.

Prayer The dim, faint and inadequate expression of the Science of Invocation and Evocation; affirmation of divinity in order to attain material well-being.

Precipitation An aggregation of energies arranged in a certain form, in order to express the idea of some creative Thinker, and qualified or characterised by the nature of his thought and held in that peculiar form as long as thought remains dynamic.

Principle The embodiment of some aspect of truth on which this system of ours is based; that which governs always the action of the ego on its own plane. The basic differentiations, essential qualities or types of energy upon which all things are built; they give the distinctive nature of all forms. Principles are eternal, personalities temporal. Principles are to be viewed in the light of eternity, personalities from the standpoint of time. The trouble is that, in many situations, two principles are involved, one of which is secondary. The difficulty lies in the fact that (both being principles) both are right. It is a rule for safe guidance always to remember that usually basic principles (for their wise comprehension and fruitful working out) call for play of intuition whilst secondary principles are more purely mental. The methods hence necessariy differ. While holding to the basic principles, the wisest methods are silence and a joyful confidence that the Law works.

Principle of Expansion That which brings about the development of consciousness so that the latent germ of sentiency or of sensitive response to environment may be fostered in the living unit.

Principle of Liberation Closely linked with that of the problem of limitation; death is governed by the Principle of Liberaton, and not by that of Limitation. Death is only recognised as a factor to be dealt with by self-conscious lives and is only misunderstood by human beings, who are the most glamoured and deluded of all incarnated lives. (See Death)

Principle of Limitation The outcome of the purposeful will and formulated desire of some thinking Being, and governs consequently the form-taking process of all incarnated lives; controls the scope of an incarnation, sets its measure and rhythm, determines the radius of its influence, and brings about that illusory appearance of reality which we call manifestation. (see Principle of Liberation)

Principle of Periodic Manifestation The Law of Cycles; a beneficent operation of the love-wisdom of innate divinity; produces that sequence of the states of consciousness which we term Time; produces in the world field of awareness a gradual and slow growth towards self-expression, self-appreciation, and self-realisation.

Purpose The motivating Life behind all that emanates from Shamballa; impulses all the activities of the Hierarchy; the task of the Hierarchy is to formulate the Plan for all forms of life in the three worlds and the four kingdoms in nature; the Purpose of God is that which implements the Plan; God reveals His purpose through the activity of the mind - which in turn impresses the brain, attuned to receptivity. Later again, the mind becomes responsive to an illumination, emanating from the Spirit aspect. Purpose is an energy, released within the confines of the Council Chamber (Shamballa) and there it takes shape. Behind it looms that which has brought it into being. (see Plan)

Purusha The spiritual self. The embodied self. The word literally means "The dweller in the city" - that is, in the body. It is derived from the Sanskrit "pura" which means city or body, and "usha" a derivative of the verb "vas," to dwell.

Quaternary The fourfold lower self, or man, in the three worlds. There are various divisions of this, but perhaps for our purpose the best is to enumerate the four as follows:

1.. Lower mind.

2.. Emotional or kamic body.

3.. Prana, or the Life Principle.

4.. The etheric body, or the highest division of the twofold physical body.

Raja Lord Angel who ensouls and is the controlling intelligence of a plane.

Raja yoga True system of developing psychic and spiritual powers and union with the soul. It involves the exercise, regulation and concentration of thought. It is the "kingly science" and supercedes hatha and bhakti yoga. (see also Yoga)

Ray One of the seven streams of force from cosmic sources that enter our solar system and condition all life within it, including all the kingdoms of nature on Earth. The planets in the solar system are really the "vehicles" that pass this energy on. Each individual has their own "ray make-up".

Reality That which lies not in the tangible but what is to us intangible, unseen and unheard. These three words indicate the goal and the problem of the disciple, plus the resultant effect of conscious, intelligent spiritual work motivated by love; the True and the Beautiful; the divine Purpose.

Reincarnation Doctrine of cyclic rebirth by the evolving consciousness through all types of environments in accordance with the Law of Karma. Reincarnation is implicit in the manifested universe and is a basic and fundamental theme underlying systemic pulsation.

Religion The invocative appeal of humanity which leads to the evocative response of the Spirit of God; the recognition by the part of its relationship to the Whole, plus a constantly groing demand for increased awareness of that relation; that which draws forth the recognition of the Whole that demand has been made. (see Evocation)

Resurrection To rise again; to return to an original state by rising. (see Soul)

Revelation The synthesis of the divine expressive purpose; related to the will-to-good which is, in its turn, a complete expression of the love nature of Deity.

Ring-pass-not The limit of the field of activity of the central life force; the periphery of the influence of the sun, both esoterically and exoterically understood; in the average human being, it is the spheroidal form of his mental body which extends considerably beyond the physical and enables him to function on the lower levels of the mental plane. Term is normally used when referring to the orb of energetic influence of an cosmic entity, like a Planetary or Solar Logos, but it can also be applied to other forms of life. The existence of a ring-pass-not is based on the Laws of Attraction and Cohesion that affect matter and energy of different degrees, including what we know as the "spiritual dimensions." These energies are gathered and held consciously (particularly by higher initiates and above) in a state of cohesion, or "point of tension," and they are used by these entities for purposes of creation, reception and projection. We can also say the ring-pass-not is the combination of the different energy sheaths that human or cosmic spirits gather around themselves. In relation to our Planet, and the Solar System, the ring-pass-not is the Cosmic Physical Plane.

Rishi The seven Rishis are the Regents of the seven stars comprising the Great Bear. It is the seven Rishis who mark the time and the duration of events in our septenary life cycle. The seven stars of the Great Bear correspond to the seven head centers of the One About Whom Naught May Be Said.

Root race One of the seven major races that evolve upon a planet during a "world period". Most Asian races belong to the 4th Atlantean rootrace, and most of the west are of the 5th or Aryan rootrace. There are 7 subraces to each rootrace, just as there are 7 subplanes to each plane.

Round A periodical life-wave that pours through a globe, chain and scheme.

Sacrifice Word comes from "Sacer" meaning "holy," and "facere" - "to make," therefore "to make holy"; complete conformity with the will of God because the spiritual will of the person and the divine will (as they recognize it in the Plan) is their own will; the urge to sacrifice is the major determining impulse which impelled the Soul of God Himself to enter into form life; sacrifice must not be regarded as "giving-up" but rather as a "taking-over," through identification; should signify a joyful process of making desire "holy"; the achievement of a state of bliss and of ecstasy because it is the realisation of another divine aspect; it has a mysterious relation to the Law of Karma.

Samadhi Complete detachment from the cells of the body and the emotions.

Sanat Kumara The coherent force within the planet earth, holding, through His radiatory influence, all forms and all substances in the planetary form so that they constitute one coherent, energised and functioning whole; He is to the Planetary Logos what the personality, plus soul, is to the disciple. The Lord of the World; the etheric-physical expression of our Planetary Logos who dwells on Shamballa. A great Being, who sacrificed Himself to become the personality vehicle for the ensouling deity of our planet 18.5 million years ago. The nearest aspect of God that we can know.

Sangha Community of monks. One of 3 precious jewels that must be held by one wishing to tread the path of Liberation.

Sanskrit Ancient language of India, in which the sacred texts are written.

Scheme The "system of worlds" that constitute the evolution of a Planetary Logos - e.g. Earth, Venus etc. This system includes chains, globes and rounds, or periodical life waves moving through it.

Senzar The secret language or "mystery speech" of initiated adepts all over the world. It is very ancient, and predates Sanskrit.

Septenary Consisting of, or relating to, the number seven; our solar system as well as the chakra system of humans and divine beings alike are septenary in constitution. Indeed all manifestation is of a septenary nature; the three major rays together with the four miinor rays form a septenary.

Service The utilisation of soul force for the good fo the group; the spontaneous effect of soul contact; a scientific mode of expressing love-wisdom under the influence of one or other of the seven rays, according to the soul ray of the serving disciple; an aspect of that divine energy which works always under the destroyer aspect, for it destroys the forms in order to release; a manifestation of the Principle of Liberation, and of this principle, death and service constitute two aspects; service saves, liberates and releases, on various levels, the imprisoned consciousness. The same statements can be made of death. But unless service can be rendered from an intuitive understanding of all the facts in the case, interpreted intelligently, and applied in a spirit of love upon the physical plane, it fails to fulfill its mission adequately; a soul instinct; may be effected upon the inner planes and on a large scale and yet there may be no evidence of this upon the physical plane, except in the beauty of a life lived. When the factor of spiritual illumination enters into that service, you have those transcendent Lights which have illumined the way of humanity and have acted like search-lights, thrown out into the great ocean of consciousness, revealing to man the Path he can and must go upon. (see Death and Principle of Liberation)

Service (Group) Group service is simply the life of example. The best exponent of the ageless Wisdom lives each day in the place where he is the life of the disciple; he does not live it in the place where he thinks he should be.

Shamballa Shamballa is simply a word conveying the idea of a vast focal point of energies which are assembled and brought together by the Planetary Logos in order to creat a manifestation adequate to His unfolding intention and planetary service. Shamballa is a state of consciousness or a phase of sensitive awareness wherein there is acute and dynamic response to divine purpose. This Center is created by the Ray of Will or Power; its major activity is bequeathing, distributing and circulating the basic principle of life itself to every form which is held within the planetary ring-pass-not of the planetary Life or Logos. From that Center, the will of God goes forth and the power of God becomes the messenger of His will. The basic quality of Shamballa is dynamic. Its mode of work is inspiration. it draws response but remains immovable itself. It works not with the Law of Attrraction, but by the Law of Synthesis, by a fiat of the Will, based on a clearly formulated purpose and program. Also, the City of the Gods,"Shangri-La," said to be situated in the Gobi desert, and where Sanat Kumara is "anchored" in etheric substance.

Siddhis Psychic powers developed through yogic practices. Many types.

Sirius Star from which this solar system emanated - important for Earth in this cycle.

Solar Logos The great entity incarnate as our solar system, the active, directing Intelligence Who is working with definite purpose through His Seven Centres. The planets in this Being's body represent its major "chakras."

Soul Neither spirit nor matter but the relation between them. It is the middle or love principle and that which reincarnates in different bodies - the Mediator or Middle Principle; that entity which is brought into being when the spirit aspect and the matter aspect are related to each other; neither spirit nor matter but the relation between them; the link between God and His form; another name for the Christ principle, whether in nature or in man; the form-building aspect; the force of evolution itself. In the world of phenomenal appearance, it is the creating agent, the major building factor, the constructor of forms. Essentially it is light, both literally from the vibratory angle, and philosophically from the angle of constituting the true medium of knowledge; light symbolically, for it is like the rays of the sun, which pour out into the darkness, through the medium of the brain, thus the way of the human being becomes increasingly illumined. Spirit and matter, when brought into a close rapport, necessarily exert an effect upon each other. Matter, so-called, is energized or "lifted up" in the occult sense of the term by its contact with spirit so-called. Spirit, in its turn, is enabled to enhance its vibration through the medium of experience in matter. The bringing together of these two divine aspects results in the emergence of a third, which we call the soul, and through the medium of the soul, spirit develops a sentiency and a conscious awareness and capacity to respond which remains its permanent possession when the divorce between the two comes around eventually and cyclically.

Spirit The One Life back of all forms; the central energy which is the cause of all manifestation; the word spirit is applied to that undefinable, elusive, essential impulse or Life which is the cause of all manifestation; the breath of Life; spirit is matter at its highest point of expression, and matter is spirit at its lowest; life and will.

Spirit of Peace A potent Entity and not an abstract concept, wielding forces hitherto unfamiliar to our planet; a Being of tremendous cosmic potency; in a mysterious sense, the Spirit of Equilibrium; He works with the Law of Action and Reaction.

Spiritual The world of light and beauty, of order and purpose; all manifestions of life are spiritual; the word relates to attitudes, to relationships, to the moving forward from one level of consciousness to the next; related to the power to see the vision; relates to the expansion of consciousness at whatever level; all activity which drives the human being forward towards some form of development - physical, emotional, intuitional, and so forth - is essentially spiritual in nature and is indicative of the livingness of the inner divine Entity.

Spiritual Triad The expression of the Monad in the formless worlds; the vehicle of the Monad.

Subjective Realm A field which is vitally more real than is the objective, once it is entered and known. It is a question of acceptance, first of all, of its existence, the development of a mechanism of contact, the cultivation of the ability to use this mechanism at will, and then inspired interpretation.

Substance The principle underlying dense matter.

Sutratma The "life" thread anchored in the heart - linking spirit, soul and body via the "permanent atoms".

Synthesis The method whereby comprehension is attained; the many becoming the One; an attribute of the divine will and the outstanding quality of Deity.

Tantra The union of male/female forces in the body that evokes the wisdom principle and hence highest spiritual awareness. Often distorted into lower sex yoga practices.

Triad Atma, buddhi, manas - expression of the Monad.

Transfiguration The stage upon the Path of Initiation wherein the third initiation is undergone, when the personality is irradiated by the full light of the soul and the three personality vehicles are completely transcended; these vehicles have become simply forms through which spiritual love may flow out into the world of men in the salvaging task of creation.

Transmutation Esoterically, the mode whereby force is changed into energy; the method whereby that which is lower is absorbed by the higher; the achieving of a correct sense of proportion in relation to any phase of life; the liberation of the essence in order that it may seek a new center; the passage across from one state of being to another through the agency of fire; an achievement and not a process.

Unity The conscious adaptation of the initiated disciple to the greater Whole, as his absorption into the group through his obedience to the laws of the soul, and as governing his attitude to that in which he lives and moves and has his being. Unity is achieved and is the reward of action and effort. Isolated unity describes the stage which the Master has reached. Isolated identity (with the soul) is that of the disciple up to and including the third initiation. Isolated individuality is that of the disciple.

Vedas Most sacred and ancient of Sanskrit works, written in hymn form.

Way of Higher Evolution This way is related to the spiritual condition and purpose of the Monad whose goal is ot expansion of consciousness, but of that which such expansions of consciousness will reveal - a very different matter and one which is as yet entirely meaningless to anyone who has not taken the third initiation; the Christ and His great Brothers, and all of even higher initiate-rank than They possess, have a definite goal, but it is one which will only define itself clearly in the third solar system, the system in which the Will of God is the dominant idea, as the Love of God conditions this system in which we now function; this is not consciousness or awareness; it is a stage of Being which is connected with the Law of Sacrifice - the law which governs those states of being which grow out of the establishment of right human relations. (see Sacrifice, Path)

Wesak A festival which occurs at the Taurus full moon every year, celebrating the birth of the Buddha, and where the Hierarchy gather to receive newly released forces to the planet. A time for Initiation.

Wheels This term indicates the great wheel of changing life in which the human entities have been called upon to work and which must never be abandoned, out of compassion for man and in obedience to the Law of Oneness which connects many.

Will Desire formulated so clearly and carried so powerfully to an intelligent climax that the mode of its materialisation is grasped with such accuracy and energised with such intent that the result is inescapable. Pure will is only possible to a coordinated thinker, to truly self-conscious entities; the basis of the One Life which synthesises all groups; the unity of love and intention; the energy of the soul expressing itself as direction, progress and conformity to the Plan; monadic essence qualified by "fixed determination" which is identified with the Will or Purpose of the planetary Logos; the highest divine aspect which the initiate finally manifests, prior to entering upon the Way of Higher Evolution; active intelligent purpose, lovingly applied. (see Way, Love, Purpose)

Will-Purpose The steely, brittle, determined, dynamic will of the devoted aspirant must change into the steadfast, calm purpose of the soul working through the disciple. The soul is fluid in adjustment but undeviating in aim; quality of the first Ray. (see Rays)

Will-to-Good The will-to-good is the basic quality of divine purpose involving planned activity and a definite goal to be achieved.

White magic Conscious cooperation with spiritual law and the deva forces to bring about manifested change, for the motive of service to humanity.

World Saviour Mankind itself is the world Saviour, of which all world Saviours have been but the symbol and guarantee.

World Teacher The World Teacher takes office cyclically. His cycles do not coincide with the Manu as the Manu holds office for the entire root race. The World Teacher gives out a keynote for the various religions and is the emanating source for periodical religious impulses. The duration of his cycles are not given out. The Buddha held office prior to the present World Teacher and upon his Illumination His place was taken by the Lord Maitreya whom the Occidentals call the Christ.

Yoga Sanskrit "unite". The science of union. Hatha (physical). Bhakti (devotional - astral). Karma (yoga of action). Raja ("kingly" - mental) Agni (fire - intuitive/buddhic)

Zodiac Astrology is based, curiously enough, upon illusion, for the zodiac is the imaginary path of the sun through the heavens, as it appears from the standpoint of our planet. The sun is not in any sign of the zodiac but only appears to be as it passes between our earth and the constellations at any particular time or season. Although largely an illusion, at the same time the constellations exist, and the streams of energy which pass and repass, intermingle and interlock throughout the body of space are by no means illusions but definitely express eternal relationships.

Cardiff Theosophical Society in Wales

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206 Newport Road, Cardiff, Wales, UK. CF24 -1DL

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