| 3. The Spirillae and the Egoic Ray We will
take up now the subject of the spirillae within the permanent atom, and see in what manner
they are affected by the egoic ray, remembering always that we are considering them as:
First. The interior economy of the life germ on the three planes which concern
man in the three worlds; second, as the seventh principle in each of the three sheaths;
and third, as the positive nucleus of force which holds together the matter of the three
sheaths.
Let us therefore study two things:
- The composition of the permanent atom.
- The difference between the mental unit and the astral and physical permanent atoms.
To do this with clarity, and so bring some kind of definite concept into being from the
dark regions of abstraction, let us tabulate:
a. The Composition of the Permanent Atom
The permanent atom of the astral and physical planes is a sphere of physical or astral
substance, composed of atomic matter, and characterized by the following qualities:
- Responsiveness. This is its inherent power to respond to the vibration of some
one of the Heavenly Men, as it is transmitted via the deva, or Brahma aspect, of His
threefold nature. The permanent atom finds its place within the sphere of influence of one
or other of the great devas who are the Raja-Lords of a plane.
Form Building Power. These devas sound forth two syllables of the threefold
microcosmic word and are each (on their own plane) the coherent agency which gathers [516]
substance into form, and attracts matter for purposes of objectivity. The astral sound
produces the microcosmic 'Son of Necessity,' and when it reverberates on the physical plane
produces physical incarnation, and the sudden appearance on etheric levels of the seven
centers. The building of the dense physical is the result of consequent automatic action
in deva essence, for it must ever be borne in mind that man is essentially (as regards the
physical plane) an etheric being, and his dense physical body is esoterically regarded as
'below the threshold' and is not considered a principle.
Relative
Permanency. In the seventh principle of all manifesting entities is stored up and
developed capacity, acquired ability, and the atomic memory, or in other words the heredity
of the Thinker, viewing him from the physical standpoint or from the emotional. There
is no permanence whatever in the sheaths; they are built into temporary forms, and
dissolved when the Thinker has exhausted their possibilities, but the seventh principle of
each sheath gathers to itself the achieved qualities and stores them up - under the Law of
Karma - to work out again and to demonstrate as the plane impulse at each fresh
cycle of manifestation. This permanency is itself likewise only a relative one, and as the
inner fire within the atom burns more brightly, as the external fires of the ego or solar
fire beat upon it with ever increasing intensity, the atom in due time is consumed, and
the inner blaze becomes so great that it destroys its encompassing wall.
Heat.
Herein lies the distinction between the permanent atoms on all planes, and the atomic
matter of which they form a part. It is not easy to make this distinction clear, nor is it
desirable at this time; the true facts of the case are one of the guarded secrets of
initiation, but the distinction between the permanent atom, and atomic matter, may be
somewhat comprehended if we state: [517]
- The
permanent atom is one that has been appropriated by one of the lives that form the centers
in the body of a solar Lord, whilst atomic matter per se goes to the formation
of other parts of His great body of light.
- A permanent
atom is one which has come under the attractive power of the second aspect, whilst atomic
matter itself is vitalized by the life of the third aspect.
- A permanent
atom follows the line of the least resistance of force, and is passing out of the control
of the Deva Lord and coming under the control of positive life. This concerns the
evolution of consciousness in substance.
- A permanent
atom comes under the direct control of the lower of the three groups of Lipika Lords, and
is the agency through which They work in the imposition of karma upon the particular
entity who may be utilizing it. They work directly with the permanent atoms of men, and
produce results through the agency of form until they have exhausted the vibratory
capacity of any particular atom; when this is the case the atom passes into the stage of
obscuration, as does the seventh principle of any sheath. It comes under the influence of
the first aspect, manifesting as the Destroyer.
Remember
that in these affirmations we are concerning ourselves with the microcosm, and with the
permanent atoms which are related to him; as regards the solar Logos manifesting in the
system, we are concerned with but one permanent atom, and this is His physical permanent
atom. It is thus true that within the permanent physical atom of the solar Logos lies hid
the ability to respond consciously to the vibration of all the planes, lies hid the secret
of the karmic purpose of His incarnation, [518] and lies concealed the mystery of His
functional activity; but we cannot penetrate the secret as yet of His three lower
permanent atoms as they function as a unity within His causal vehicle. Until we can do
this it is useless for us to conjecture as to His fundamental Being.
The
difference between them: The mental unit is in a unique and peculiar position as
regards man, the Thinker in the causal body. This point will be discussed shortly, suffice
it to say here that its mystery lies hid in the nature of the Heavenly Men Themselves. The
following correspondence holds the key to this mystery, but it can only be indicated,
leaving it to the student to work out the truth for himself. On the three planes of logoic
manifestation - the highest three - we have the three aspects manifesting; on the buddhic
plane, the fourth cosmic ether, we have the logoic etheric centers demonstrating, or those
force vortices which animate the three lower planes of the dense physical manifestation.
In connection with the Heavenly Men we have a secondary manifestation, and on the buddhic
plane we have Their third aspect found, leaving for Their paramount manifestation of
force, the cosmic gaseous plane, or the manasic plane; They are essentially the divine
Thinkers, the Manasaputras. In connection, therefore, with the Microcosm, viewing him as
part of a center in the body of a Heavenly Man, we have a lesser descent within the
gaseous or fire manifestation of a solar Lord. This concerns the three higher subplanes of
what might be considered as the manifestation of Man's three higher aspects in mental
matter, whilst on the fourth subplane we have the mental centers of man within the
periphery of his mental body, of which the mental unit is the unifying factor. This is -
as has been earlier said - a deep mystery, and one that can be no further amplified.
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