An Esoteric View on the Relation between
consciousness and Brain Function
Geoffrey Farthing T.D.,C.Eng.,M.I.E.E.
CONTENTS
Basic Theory of Esoteric Science
Evidence
Discussion and Conclusion
Appendices
1. INTRODUCTION
... we cannot define consciousness unless we postulate a Subject
H.P. Blavatsky in THE SECRET DOCTRINE
The electro—chemical activities of the cerebro-neural system and the fact that they are intimately associated with consciousness are well known. The nature of consciousness itself is, however, a matter of continual speculation. Esoteric Science provides a hypothesis which explains this mystery.
Some of the basic postulates of Esoteric Science are relevant to the way that consciousness arises out of brain function. Esoteric Science is not limited to the physical objective plane cognizable by our five senses. It asserts that there are 'inner' planes of existence constituting a nonphysical hinterland to the physical one and with respect to which they are subjective. It is an axiom of Esoteric Science that all natural phenomena proceed from the subjective 'within' to the objective 'without'. This process is analogous to any human activity which will affect the environment: e.g. mental planning first and then effective action. In this sense the inner worlds are causative and the outer world is one of effects.
2. BASIC THEORY OF ESOTERIC SCIENCE
Esoteric Science is knowledge of the structure and processes of Cosmos, the knowable universe. This is regarded as a composite living whole, however untenable this idea may immediately appear.
The knowledge, because of its enormity in range and depth, including as it does all the 'subjective' inner realms of being, can only be possessed by those whose cognitive faculties have been suitably developed.
What literature on the subject that there is available to us, and this treats of only a small part of the whole picture, indicates that the knowledge has existed from time immemorial and that there have been 'generations of seers' to whom it was known. As a doctrine or teaching, therefore, it is not one according to anyone; it is universal and totally non—sectarian.
2.1 The Seven Planes of Cosmos
There are six inner subjective planes and one outer objective one. Each plane comprises seven sub-planes, the characteristics of each of which corresponds in its nature to those of the main planes. The infinite richness of manifest Nature in all departments reflects the fact not only that there are sub—planes to each main plane but that each sub—plane itself has seven sub-sub-planes and so on. This heptamerous structure of Cosmos provides the whole gamut of possible experience or the field of Universal Consciousness. Each plane and sub-plane has many correspondences, and constitutes a characteristic level or mode of consciousness (see App.l for more basic data.>
2.2 The Astral Light
Esoteric Science, as indicated, deriving from ancient traditional knowledge, postulates seven planes of being and seven corresponding principles in man. Six of these planes are said to be non—physical, each being a differentiation of one primaeval root Substance Principle (Akasha). The lowest of these corresponds to the 'stuff' of our physical plane of existence and man's physical body. The next lowest which corresponds to a non—physical inner body of man (see 2.3), his second principle, the 'astral', is the astral plane as such, which, as everything else, has a 'life' component, it is energetic or dynamic. Its functions correspond exactly to the astral body of man but certain of its aspects when considered separately are referred to collectively as the Astral Light. In both cosmic and human terms this can be regarded as a bridge or interconnection between the higher subjective planes and the physical. It is in this respect that it is important to our study of consciousness. The Astral Light is also important as it is in it that both Nature's and man's memory are stored indelibly and virtually for ever.
2.3 The Sevenfold Nature of Man
Man's constitution reflects that of Cosmos in every particular. The seven main planes constitute a whole series of primary characteristics in-built, actually or potentially, into every manifest thing, regardless of the level (plane) on which it has its being. These planes with their seven subplanes etc. constitute the whole scale of possible being. The esoteric teaching says that they constitute a series of vibrationary scales. The higher the rate of vibration the nearer the source. The lowest rates of vibration are at the physical plane in the mineral kingdom. The possibility of resonance between planes therefore becomes feasible.
In terms of man's constitution these planes correspond to 1) his physical body, 2) a non—material form (astral) body, 3) a life principle, 4) a state of being corresponding to his emotional or passional nature wherein desire arises, 5) a mental principle, the lower four sub—principles of which comprising what is regarded as the man's 'personal' or lower mind, and the upper three his 'impersonal' or higher mind, 6) a vehicle in which spirit, which would otherwise be abstract, can express itself, 7) the highest of the principles, that of pure Spirit. All these have their sevenfold sub—principles (App.lll).
All the cosmic planes and their sub—planes comprise in themselves an almost numberless series of characteristics and qualities which manitest eventually at the physical level in sounds, colours, shapes, characteristic qualities and in temperaments and faculties. The total spectrum represents the almost infinite field of potential experience at all levels of being, available to anyone with the necessary corresponding faculties developed and operating. In the limit this is the end of a development stage for any particular species such as mankind. It is the process of evolution taken to its ultimate end of perfection for its stage - ultimately up to the highest level. Esoteric Science postulates levels of development above the human into superhuman states but at non—physical levels.
The human principles are derived from the corresponding sub-principles of the main cosmic planes (App.lll). It also shows that the emotional and mental human principles taken as examples have their seven sub-principles. This subdivision into sub—principles is important when considering the varieties of experience to which consciousness can respond.
Esoteric Science postulates that, whereas certain brain cells are developed for memory recall, memory itself is not stored in them but in the Astral Light, to special areas of which the cells have access through their astral sub—principles (see above).
2.4 The Auric Envelope
The Auric Envelope demarks at all levels any entity from any other. It persists as a 'spiritual' individuality throughout man's (as an individuality, not personality) whole long evolutionary journey from start to finish. It associates itself periodically with a succession of 'forms' one at a time at the various levels, at the physical, constituting the 'person' for the time being, each person having in addition to the physical six 'inner' principles (App.l1l). The forms are temporary but each during its 'life' gains experience of which the 'spiritual' essence is assimilated at the death of the form into the persisting auric individuality which thereby develops. The difference between animal and human consciousness is noteworthy. The animal is conscious of its environment and anything of interest to it in it, man however, as well as enjoying this consciousness of an objective worldoutside himself, can also be aware of himself in it and his subjective reactions to it. In this he is said to be 'self'—conscious.
Esoteric Science postulates, as mentioned above, that every living entity is demarked from the general pool of life, i.e. other living things, by an envelope which consists of a sheath of very subtle substance. This sheath and its ever—developing contents constitute the 'character' essence of that entity throughout its vast evolutionary journey, through all the kingdoms of Nature. In the case of man it is that by which he can be identified from the very start of his evolutionary journey as a human being. This Auric Envelope or Egg contains not only the developed seed of all his principles, both subjective and objective, but modifications resulting from his life experiences which in turn affect the development of each principle. These thereby become a resultant record of all that has significantly happened to the entity throughout its existence.
2.5 The Unity of all existence
A major postulate of Esotericism is that the universe is a unity, and that in a very special sense. It is not a collection of numberless parts. Each part is said not only to reflect the whole, either actually as in a hologram, or potentially according to its place in the scheme of things, but to be it. This idea constitutes, possibly, an unacceptable paradox but it becomes tenable when the idea of the dimensionlessness of 'inner' space can be seen. Any unit of life, any entity, is itself in its total constitution — inner and outer - the whole, whether it be on the physical plane of existence or any of the subjective ones.
Because consciousness is universal and primal there is no entity without its degree or kind of sentience or consciousness, according to its development and the plane of its being. By the principle of aggregation (see above) of consciousness there are said to be BEINGS of a very high order and degree of development, far transcending that of the human stage. These great BEINGS are said to be the "framers, shapers and ultimately the creators of all the manifested Universe". Creators here does not mean from nothing but those who bring forth again. They represent the highest orders of consciousness so far achieved.
As the universe is a unity there is only One Source for every aspect of its being, whether this be regarded as substantial or energetic. These two poles of being reflect into a Matter—spirit dichotomy but by reason of cosmic unity these two are aspects only of the Same Thing. This is a postulated eternal 'Something' which underlies all existence in the form of the manifested universe.
From this Substance aspect derive all matter and form at any level; from the energetic aspect come all the known forms of energy. This single source energy is regarded as 'electric' operating in different aspects throughout the whole scale of being. It manifests at the physical level not only as the electricity we know but all the forms of radiation, light and heat. It is regarded as 'material', and it too ultimately has its correlation with consciousness. In this sense then consciousness has an energetic/matter aspect, matter and energy combining to form the very simple and the increasingly complex vehicles cf consciousness as evoiution proceeds.
An aspect of this energy also correlates to chemical processes such as those found during cell activity. Life, according to Esoteric Science, is active as conscious lives on all the seven levels of being and on their corresponding sub—levels, each with a corresponding mode cf action and consciousness.
The Hermetic Axiom, the Hologram Effect
In Esotericism the law of analogy applies: "As it is above so it is below, as is the inner, so is the outer, as is the great so is the small, etc.". One significance of this law is that the immensely complex inner and outer nature of man is analogous to that of the total universal Being. This is true not only of man but of every other living entity. Everything reflects the whole, potentially or actually.
How far any of the constituent aspects or principles, subjective or objective, of any entity's being are developed depends upon its place on the evolutionary ladder and its individual development at that point.
The Process of Ever—becoming'
Another esoteric axiom is that life is 'ever—becoming'. This is a comprehensive statement which includes the totality of all the lives involved in the cosmic 'process'. Their level of 'becoming' depends upon the degree of development of the form or vehicle that for the time being they are occupying or operating through. Every living entity is both such a vehicle and a 'life', i.e. there is life as dynamism or energy expressing itself through a suitably developed vehicle. Suitably developed means being able properly to fulfil its characteristic function in its place in the natural scheme of things. This process of evolution or ever-becoming is virtually the grand process of Universal Being throughout its whole term, or life.
Ever-becoming is the development of the increasing complexity of vehicles of consciousness. This applies in the case of the human being: cells comprise his body or brain, their collective life, that of their aggregation, being that of the composite organ, and even the body as a whole. It must be borne in mind that the 'lives', with their dynamism and form aspects, constitute the inner as well as the objective planes of being. The cosmic process is immensely complicated. Any organism from the simplest to the most complex not only has a 'form' aspect but an inner energetic aspect, and that to all its principles and sub-principles. Moreover they are all composed of 'lives', each fulfilling its characteristic role. Every thing has its degree of sentience or consciousness within this process of ever-becoming. Also in time it is ever—expanding. How this expansion of consciousness is achieved is dealt with later.
The Process of Aggregation
The process of the aggregation of lives provides a vehicle for unit consciousness, just as every living thing, like a brain cell, has Its higher or inner principles, so every living 'thing' or life comprising any of the inner planes or levels of being is constituted, in its turn, on a sevenfold basis. To fulfil its role at its particular level, for example the 'lives' of the 4th plane will generate and react to 'emotional' stimuli. A man's emotional vehicle of consciousness will be composed of such lives.
Esoteric Science postulates that the whole universal or cosmic process is an expression of life — the One Life — and is the aggregate of the activities of virtually an infinite number of individual lives (distinct entities) comprising it. According to Esoteric Science there is no such thing as dead matter. It also says as a corollary that every thing has a consciousness of its own kind and degree. In the 'lives', of which the kingdoms of Nature are constituted, the consciousness increases or expands as the forms or vehicles of the lives become more complex in their passage from the mineral to the vegetable, to the animal and ultimately to the human kingdoms.
In a sense these kingdoms of Nature are analogous to the levels of being in the subjective realms; These levels of being also consist of 'lives'. The nature or characteristics of these lives in the aggregate constitute the nature and characteristics cf the various subjective planes.
Man can thus be regarded as an aggregate of many lives, units of consciousness, i.e. all the atoms comprising his body at the physical level, and all the energy arising from the interactions cf his biochemical processes and associated electricity. In Esotericisrn the aggregate of these lives is known as the physical Elemental, a quasi— intelligent entity heir to a vast amount of experience at physical level and in numberless bodies during the course of its evolutionary journeys. In the human being this is the intelligence of the body itself which, without impinging on the consciousness of the man, controls all bodily functions.
It follows from the concept of the seven planes and seven principles that there are 'atoms' cf life, elemental 'lives' comprising similar quasi—intelligent elemental units of consciousness on each plane. This is the aggregate of the consciousnesses of all the lives comprising the inner or subjective bodies of entities, whatever their stage of development.
In addition to these aggregates at physical and lower inner levels there is in human beings an aggregate of the consciousness of some specialized, more or less developed, brain cells capable of operating at the three highest levels. The physical aggregate is the 'intelligence' of the physical body in all its parts, its health coordinator, etc.
The activities of the lower inner levels comprise those of emotion and normal mind, ordinary thought processes. the physical sentience, and the psychic (emotional and mental) elements constitute the subjective responses etc. (experience) of the personal man. The aggregate of this activity/experience is that with which the man in the ordinary way, identifies. It constitutes his 'Personality'.
The aggregate consciousness deriving from the three upper levels (principles) of the specialized brain cells, however, constitute - when developed and active - the unit consciousness of the man, at the highest level. It is in the higher mental (so-called) level of these that arises man's sense of unconditioned identity, of 'I AM'. This is known as his persisting 'Individuality' (his 'Ego' with a capital E), as opposed to his personal conditioned temporary identity of 'I am so-and-so', i.e. a name, a profession, or even a condition, viz happy, ill, well, etc. This tatter is the 'ego' of the psychologist.
From these two levels, i.e. the 'Individual' and the 'Personal', man is potentially possessed of two levels of consciousness. This is reflexive such that at either level consciousness (as subject) can be sensible of its higher or lower aspect (as object), e.g. one can experience an awareness of one's own immediate (instantaneous) pattern of thoughts, as in meditation, without being identified with them, as when one says "I think".
Space — Two kinds
In Esotericism 'Space' is regarded as being of two kinds: 1) Physical objective, 3-dimensional, the "room" occupied by things. & 2) Subjective, non-physical, non-dimensional, the empty 'field' of consciousness (App.ll). This kind of space is easily exemplified by imagining in one's mental 'space' an orange, then trying to measure its size in relation to any objective scale. In any case where is it?
3. EVIDENCE
The teachings ci Esoteric Science are derived from knowledge acquired by past civilizations and hence frequently are termed the Ancient Wisdom. It is said that this knowledge was passed verbally from generation to generation for centuries even millennia before writing was developed e.g. in the first cuneiform scripts used by people, it is said, with highly developed spiritual faculties. With the advent cf 'mind' these faculties became dimmed but will return in time.
3.1 Near Death Experiences
A study of several cases of N.D.E. has shown that in every case where information was acquired by the seemingly unconscious subject about events which occurred while his or her body was in a deep coma, the most plausible explanation was that the subject could hear and/or see while out of the body. For example, cases are known of the recognition of, and the ability afterwards to describe, a nurse's face who was present only during the period of coma, unconsciousness, when the patient's eyes were shut. An obvious explanation would be that the patient's consciousness was somehow transferred from the physical body to a point outside it. The ordinary physical body as such was not organized to act during coma as a vehicle for human consciousness. In this instance consciousness must have been located in an appropriate non—physical vehicle 'outside' the physical one; such a non-physical form or entity is postulated and described by Esoteric Science and is referred to as the astral body on the astral plane of reality, i.e. the one next 'above' the physical.
3.2 Regression
Regression is used here in the sense that consciousness can be regressed, by suggestion or hypnotism, back in time so that the subject becomes aware of him— or herself in situations in past times and is able to describe events which in many cases on investigation have proved to accord with what actually did happen.
For example, historical information obtained during regression has been meticulously checked by researchers. There have been many cases where information could not have been acquired beforehand from books or conversation with others because it was totally lost, e.g. the existence of a crypt in a church in York which had been covered up and forgotten for several centuries until found by workmen after it has been mentioned by a subject under regression. The most obvious explanation is that the mind has access during regression to the non-physical memory in the Astral Light.
3.3 Simultaneous discovery of new knowledge
Scientific research workers have noted how often disputes have arisen between workers in the same field of research in different parts of the world regarding who was first with some new insight or discovery. These disputes are too numerous to be attributable to pure chance as the probability of simultaneity is so low. Consequently new discoveries are rushed into print sometimes before full verification is completed. There have been notable cases of severe embarrassment when final verification was not forthcoming. The most obvious explanation is that one scientist's thoughts have entered the non-physical mental space and another scientist on the same "wavelength" has been able to tune in and pick up the same thoughts, which to him are apparently original to himself.
3.4 Psychometry
Psychometry is when an inanimate object like a piece of jewellery can provide information about past events where it was present. This is analogous to the information stored by magnetism on a magnetic tape in a recorder. It suggests that physical matter has associated subtle properties not yet identified by modern science which enables it to record events. The explanation given by Esoteric Science is that these subtle properties arise from the existence of a persisting non—physical 'astral' counterpart to the physical item even down to the physical atomic level. Every particle of every thing has such a memory inherent in itself but again associated with the Astral Light.
4. DISCUSSION
The nature of consciousness as it arises in the physical brain is the subject of much scientific speculation. However, Esoteric Science provides an explanation for the phenomenon of consciousness whereby subjectivity arises, and to which all objectivity (experience) is referred. Esoteric Science also explains the phenomenon of consciousness apart from the physical brain by way of the concept of a non-physical (astral) counterpart of it which can act as a vehicle of consciousness. It follows from this that consciousness can only persist at either the physical or astral level as long as the astral counterpart of the brain persists. If, as is said, it disintegrates when the physical brain disintegrates during decay or incineration after death, then that particular individual unit of consciousness also ceases to exist at those levels. At death, for example, the subject becomes unconscious. When certain post-mortem processes are complete consciousness does return but at a higher level, to the degree that a vehicle there has been developed, i.e. at a plane higher than the astral. Individual consciousness then persists after the disintegration of the physical and astral vehicles but its content is said to be purely subjective, the effects only of the causative experience during life. The characteristics of personality i.e. those related to the person when living, are retained in the Auric Envelope, whence they are incorporated into the next immediate or successive reincarnations. The evidence from regression seems to suggest that some degree of awareness of previous lives does persist and under suitable conditions can be recalled.
The astral body has a physiology similar to the physical, with counterpart organs of which one is the brain. All the cells of this counter—part 'body' and its 'brain' are, so to speak, operating at a frequency one octave above the physical one. As said above, the astral brain is itself a vehicle of consciousness operating at astral level. Similarly at the other levels, i.e. emotional, mental and spiritual, there are corresponding vehicles of 'consciousness' responsive to, or capable of generating, stimuli, each on its corresponding level.
The 'bridge' between the lower four principles and the three higher ones could be considered as a sort of vibratory resonance when the vehicles at the relevant mind levels have been developed and attuned. It is not until this bridge has been created that 'personal' consciousness can rise to the higher 'spiritual' levels, i.e. those of the more developed or mature (spiritual) man.
The ability of consciousness to function independently of the physical brain on the 'inner' planes is the explanation of such phenomena as the experiences described by N.D.E. subjects. The subprinciples of the human brain cells can be developed to resonate with the 'astral' sub—levels of physical consciousness and even more significantly with their counterpart cells in the astral brain. When this occurs a person becomes clairvoyant or clairaudient or both. A man, because of his seven aspects, corresponding to the cosmic planes, can develop his vehicles of consciousness and can move up the planes into the higher reaches of being (across the bridge) and operate on them consciously and with effect. This can be done even when his physical brain is dormant, a state which he can induce at will when he has learnt the necessary procedures and developed the powers.
We are defining consciousness as the ability to be aware. Consciousness is a function of the capacity, responsiveness or degree of development of the vehicles at any level which give it expression. It is very dim at mineral level; it opens up as its vehicles on their evolutionary journey pass up through the vegetable, animal and human kingdoms. An analysis of consciousness gives three aspects: 1) basic awareness, with a value varying from virtually zero in the least sentient forms, to unity when fully developed and alert; 2) the content, of which at any time it can be aware; 3) the level or mode (e.g. psychic or mental) of awareness, which corresponds to the operative principles in man's being, i.e. physical, emotional, mental, etc., themselves corresponding to the planes of Nature which constitute levels of being or consciousness. The awareness aspect relates in man to his consciousness of identity, 'I', which persists unchanged throughout his life, from day to day, year to year. This consciousness of 'Self' is said to be his Individuality.
These three factors, awareness, content and mode level, are basic to all experience. Consciousness registers impressions objective, sensible and the inner, subjective impressions depend upon the level, i.e. the mode of operation, e.g. sense impression, thought process and emotional feeling of the perceptive faculty involved, together with its degree of 'alertness' at any time, and the object or event being observed. Taken together the content and the content level constitute a realm or 'field' of consciousness. This realm composed of content and level varies in extent and depth according to the response mechanism acting as a vehicle for consciousness. In the human being this mechanism is the brain, with its specialized cells to which not only physical sense impressions are conveyed but also all subjective stimuli. The ability of the appropriate brain cells to respond depends on not only their physical development but the development cf their inner faculties (principles or sub—principles). As we have said, each living thing has its seven principles (one at physical level and six subjective ones) and each principle, in fact every thing in Nature, has a consciousness of its own depending on its nature and its state development cn each the levels of being.
Just as matter and energy can be aggregated into more complex forms, so also can such forms become vehicles for an aggregated consciousness of the constituent parts. For example, any complex entity composed of lives will have a unit consciousness consisting of the aggregate of the consciousness all its component lives which will have a consciousness appropriate to their level of being. There are two aggregate consciousnesses, one which operates on the level of development of its component lives, e.g. at physical or non—physical level, or at higher levels depending on the development cf the constituent lives. A second 'unit' consciousness is that of the Individual and this is that of the aggregate of the specialized brain cells at physical level and/or also that of the non—physical corresponding specialized 'cells' operative at higher levels, e.g. astral etc.
In Occultism, or Esotericism, there is a postulated universal law with a number of aspects; primarily, however, it is a law of cause and effect. Every thing and event is as it is as a result of a preceding cause, state and action. Other aspects of this law include that of balancing, maintaining equilibrium, and another of alternation, of cycles. All natural processes obey this law of alternation. It underlies all the rhythms of Nature from the very large exemplified in the seasons the year to the smaller or shorter in duration such as tides,to the smaller still, like in—breathing and out—breathing and heart beats. Alternation includes the vibratory nature cf natural energies and rays such as light.
The total life process a human being (Individuality) consisting of many lives (Personalities) is of great duration (many millennia) according to this law but it has a beginning and an end. it begins in virtual unconsciousness as far as the individual is concerned and reaches a full flowering of consciousness (self—consciousness) at the end of the evolutionary process.
It is this development on the sevenfold scale which provides a framework for the whole of the individual's evolutionary journey as a human being, as a great cycle, composed of innumerable smaller cycles. One of the smaller cycles is that of life and death, the coming into physical being and the exit therefrom at the death of the physical body. Another example is that of sleeping and waking: these cycles are accompanied by an alternation in the degree of consciousness according to the cyclic alertness of the individual. Esotericism, however, postulates that the total process of life (as a universal dynamism) is continuous even through periods of dormancy.
The Auric Envelope and its constituent principles are related to the cosmic principles at the universal level which also shows that there is a direct correspondence between the human and cosmic principles (App.IV). There is even the concept of a Cosmic Auric Envelope.
The spiritual development of a person involves the process of the quickening and development of the higher inner principles of the individual brain cells. Their development depends on use and, at a certain stage in a man's life journey, his acquaintance with, and use of, meditational techniques which assist in this process.
An important factor in this process of development of consciousness at the higher spiritual levels of being is that, between the normal processes of thinking and experiencing at personal level and those at the higher impersonal levels, there is a division. This can be regarded as a membrane which is obstructive to interaction between the consciousness as a bridge (referred to earlier). As a membrane, however, it is permeable, as a bridge it has to be developed. This development involves aspiration, i.e. the will of the individual, to achieve it, and secondly inspiration from the right sources. Right sources can be literature of the right spiritual content, or from within as an intermittent then eventually continuous subjective experience of higher (spiritual) levels of consciousness.
The point of mentioning this spiritual development in this consideration of consciousness is that the unit of consciousness of a being is said to reflect that of Universal Being. The more it does so the more a man's consciousness is said to expand. That means to say that the man can function at the highest levels and his perceptive faculties then respond to stimuli at those levels. This is the experience of the mystic whose consciousness has merged with that of the One. The experience is that of the unity of all life.
5.0 CONCLUSION
Esoteric Science provides a series cf postulates which explain the relationship between the physical plane of existence where matter and energy interact and the higher planes where existence is defined in terms of energy and ethereal, subtle, tenuous,non-physical substance and subjective experience.
The aggregation of lives into more complex forms provides vehicles for aggregated consciousnesses.
The correspondences between the planes and principles of man provides the possibility that consciousness can transfer from a physical vehicle to a non—physical vehicle such as that on the astral plane.
The concept of the Auric Envelope gives a mechanism for the transfer of consciousness and characteristics of the individuality from earth life to earth life and beyond to higher states of existence on subtler planes.
APPENDIX I - MORE BASIC DATA
1. Esoteric Science postulates as a persisting background to all manifest existence an ABSOLUTE PRINCIPLE; Boundless, Eternal and unchanging. As Absolute it is regarded as unknowable, without attributes, beyond the reach of thought. To some it is known as the Unmanifest ONE.
2. The Manifest ONE in contrast periodically enters a cycle of activity of enormous duration, alternating with a cycle of inactivity, the 'Days' and 'Nights' of Brahma in Eastern scriptural terms.
3. The One manifests in multiplicity and diversity, as multitudes of 'lives', living things of all sizes, forms and characteristics, from sub-atomic particles to solar systems.
4. The living things comprise seven great Hierarchies of Beings, on seven levels of 'Existence' from the highest most ethereal spiritual condition (to us purely subjective) through various intermediate grades down to the physical (objective to us). At each level or grade every 'life' or being has its own characteristic 'consciousness' with its distinct 'field' and content.
5. Except for pure abstractions such as unmanifest 'aspects' of the ONE, nothing exists, i.e. has any real being above the highest spiritual level, nor, from a purely physical plane point of view, below the concrete material world of our physical senses.
NOTE. Notwithstanding this scale of 'being', Esoteric Science does postulate a pre—physical material realm with its constituent 'beings' in three evolutionary stages. The significance of this realm only marginally touches on the subject of this paper, consciousness; the existence and function of these 'beings' are necessary, however, in the explanation of natural phenomena, particularly psychic ones.
6. Each hierarchical plane has not only its characteristic consciousness (i.e. of the entities comprising it or those responsive to it by resonance) but represents by correspondence a series of characteristic guaiities, viz. a scale of vibratory rates (frequencies), a predominant note (sound at subjective level), a predominant colour, a predominant physical, psychic and mental disposition (in some systems allied to planetary influence, etc. etc.).
7. Each plane comprises seven sub-planes where each sub-plane reflects the dominant characteristics of each corresponding main plane.
By the admixture, in varying proportions, of the main and sub-plane characteristics, a virtual infinity of characteristic, e.g. colour, is achievable. An infinite number of 'shades' is achievable by 'harmonic' reflections into sub—sub-planes and so on. Each shade will also manifest in various intensities.
8. The enormous variety envisaged in S7 reflects into a similar variety of possible experience, i.e. that of which a 'subject' can be aware at the various levels of consciousness. This 'spectrum' includes the full variety of subjective experience, e.g. the emotional in all its variety and intensity.
9. The characteristics of each plane, sub—plane, etc. are reflected, actually or potentially, in principles and sub—principles that constitute every human being. The degree of reflection depends upon the degree of development — by evolution or individual effort - of each of the principles or sub—principles concerned. This development determines the degree of response to or awareness of any of these varieties of experience available to the subject.
10. The degree of consciousness available to the subject on any level is dependent upon the degree of development of the vehicle of consciousnessm. This depends upon the degree of development not only of the physical vehicle, the brain, but of the 'inner' principles of its composite specialist cells, i.e. their aggregate 'functionality' at the various levels.
11. In this paper a clear distinction is made between the knower, the unit of consciousness, and what is known, i.e. any experience of which the knower is or can be aware. The deep metaphysical question as to the ultimate identity of the knower and the known is not regarded as a matter for this paper.
APPENDIX II - SUPPLEMENTARY CONSIDERATIONS
1. Consciousness is a concomitant to life. It is that by which we know we are alive. If we are not consciou,s life has no meaning.
2. Consciousness underlies all awareness. Awareness implies an object, i.e. that of which we are or can be aware.
3. Attention is the deliberate focussing of awareness onto a particular object or into an area of observation.
4. Experience is the remembered impressions, objective or subjective, of any happening or thing of which we have been aware.
5. Primal to all experience or memory is consciousness, both to the original registration of impressions or their recall.
6. In simple mathematical terms, C=f (D, A), where C is Consciousness, D is Development of the vehicle of Consciousness, A is the degree of Alertness of the vehicle at any time (sleeping, waking, drugged, etc.). The development of the vehicle is, as said, that of the cells of the brain specialized to 'create' the unit of consciousness. The degree of awareness can be compared to the amount of light passing through a camera lens, viz. very dim at high f numbers to a maximum at f=1, when the vehicle would be fully developed for its stage and fully aware.
7. The Unit of Consciousness - the subject "I" — is the aggregate of the consciousnesses of the individual specialized cells, each with its dormant or active 'inner', non-physical principles. The non-physical realms are the astral, the emotional, the mental and the spiritual levels.
8. The ability of the subject "I" to operate consciously at non—physical levels is a)dependent on the necessary 'physical' cell development and b) on the development of the individual's inner development, i.e. that of the individual's non-physical vehicles of consciousness (principles) at the non—physical levels.
9. These vehicles or principles are tabulated in Appendix III. They are named and described according to ancient classical Eastern usage. They correspond to the 'Cosmic' planes as shown.
10. Experience (as object to consciousness) is a function of 1) A, Awareness, degree of, at any time, 2) F, 'Field' the sphere or level at which consciousness is operating, and 3) K, the content of the 'Field' within reach of consciousness.
Experience, E = ∫ (A, F, K)
11. Experience is the content of memory. Memory is stored at astral (not physical) level but its recall depends upon the development of the astral principle of the brain's specialized brain cells, which are attuned to the particular area of the Astral Light (2nd plane ci Cosr-cs, corresponding to the 2nd principle of man).
APPENDIX III - CONSCIOUSNESS - DIAGRAM
| NO. | COSMIC PLANES Common Names |
--- HUMAN PRINCIPLES --- | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SANSKRIT NAME | ENGLISH NAME | DESCRIPTION | ||
| 7 | AKASHA Spirit-Substance |
ATMA | SPIRIT | Ultimate Dynamism Life or Spirit (Astract) Seat of Consciousness |
| 6 | ALAYA Universal Soul |
BUDDHI | VEHICLE OF SPIRIT | Plus Spirit = Life Effective. The Monad. Inherent in everything. Prime Duality. |
| 5 | MAHAT Universal Mind |
HIGHER =====MANAS===== LOWER |
HIGHER MIND | Orientates towards (7) and (6) Astract though, Intuition, Unity. |
| LOWER MIND | Orientates towards (1) and (4) Personal Mind, Ordinary Thoughts. |
|||
| 4 | KAMA Universal Energy |
KAMA | DESIRE Passion |
Driving Energy. Will at lower octave. The Motivator. Has higher and lower octaves. |
| 3 | Formative Principle Within-Without |
LINGA SARIRA |
ASTRAL BODY |
Non-physical material form body (Morphic). Collector and reservoir of Life Force (Prana), vital body. |
| 2 | LIFE FORCE in Everything |
PRANA | LIFE FORCE | Vitality, without which the body is dead. |
| 1 | PRAKRITI Densest Substance |
STHULA SARIRA | PHYSICAL BODY | Means of perception and action at physical level. Vehicle for expression of all human faculties. |
APPENDIX IV - SPECIMEN STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS ON THE PLANES
OBJECTIVE PRAKRITIC CONSCIOUSNESS
Sensuous objective consciousness includes all that pertains to the five physical senses in man, and rules in animals, birds, fishes and some insects. Here are the "Lives'; their consciousness is in Atma-Buddhi, these are entirely without Manas.
Note: Prakriti, in some systems, is the lowest cosmic plane corresponding to the physical body of man.
ASTRAL CONSCIOUSNESS
That of some plants (e.g., sensitive), of ants, spiders, and some nightflies (Indian), but not of bees.
The vertebrate animals in general are without this consciousness, but the placental Mammals have all the potentialities of human consciousness, though at present, of course, dormant.
Idiots are on this plane. The common expression "he has lost his mind" is an Occult truth. For when through fright or other cause the lower mind becomes paralyzed, then the consciousness is on the Astral Plane. The study of lunacy will throw much light on these points. This may be called the "nerve pl ane" . It is cognized by our "nervous centres" of which Physiology knows nothing, e.g. , the clairvoyant reading with the eyes bandaged, reading with the tips of the fingers, the pit of the stomach, etc. This sense is greatly developed in the deaf and dumb.
KAMA-PRANIC CONSCIOUSNESS
The general life—consciousness which belongs to all the objective world, even to the stones; for if stones were not living they could not decay, emit a spark, etc. Affinity between chemical elements is a manifestation ci the Kamic consciousness.
KAMA-MASANIC CONSCIOUSNESS
The instinctual consciousness cf animals and idiots in its lowest degrees, the planes of sensation: in these are rationalized, e.g., a dog shut in a room has the instinct to get out, but cannot because its instinct is not sufficiently rationalized to take the necessary means; whereas a man at once takes in the situation and extricates himself. The highest degree of this Kama—Manasic consciousness is the psychic. Thus there are seven degrees from the instinctual animal to the rationalized instinctual and psychic.
MANASIC CONSCIOUSNESS
From this plane Manas stretches upwards to Mahat.
BUDDHIC CONSCIOUSNESS
The plane of Buddhi and the Auric Envelope. From here it goes to the Father in heaven, Atma, and reflects all that is in the Auric Envelope. Five and six therefore cover the planes from the psychic to the divine.
........
DIVISIONS OF THE ASTRAL PLANE
AND EXAMPLES OF MODES OF CONSCIOUSNESS ON THEM
The three lower Prakritic are related to the three lower of
the Astral Plane immediately succeeding.
(Note: Prakriti is the lowest plane corresponding to the objective realm. It is also a state and the lowest of all other planes of which the Astral is the 2nd, next lowest to the objective physical.)
| 7 - | Astral Atmic |
| 6 - | Astral Buddhi |
| 5 - | Astral Manas |
| 4 - | Astral Kama—Manas |
| 3 - | Astral Psychic, or Pranic |
| 2 - | Astral Astral |
| 1 - | Astral Objective |
With regard to the first division of the second plane (astral), H.P.B. reminded her pupils that all seen on it must be reversed in translating it, e.g., with numbers which appeared backwards. The Astral Objective corresponds in everything to the Terrestrial Objective.
The second division corresponds to the second of the lower plane, but the objects are of extrene tenuity, an astralized Astral. This is the limit of the ordinary medium, beyond which they cannot go. A non-mediumistic person to reach it must be asleep or in a trance, or under the influence ci laughing—gas; or in ordinary delirium people pass on to this plane.
Astral Pranic Consciousness
The third, the Pranic, is of an intensely vivid nature. Extreme delirium carries the patient to this plane. In delirium tremens the sufferer passes to this and to the one above it. Lunatics are often conscious on this plane, where they see terrible visions. It runs into the —
Astral Manasic Consciousness
Fourth division, the worst of the astral planes, Kamic and terrible. Hence come the images that tempt; images of drunkards in Kama Loka impelling others to drink; images of all vices inoculating men with the desire to commit crimes. The weak imitate these images in a kind of monkeyish fashion, so falling beneath their influence. This is also the cause of epidemic of vices, and cycles of disaster, of accidents of all kinds coming in groups. Extreme delirium tremens is on this plane.
Manasic Consciousness
The fifth division is that of premonitions in dreams, of reflections from the lower mentality, glimpses into the past and future, the plane of things mental and not spiritual. The mesmerized clairvoyant can reach this plane, and even, if good, may go higher.
Buddhic Consciousness
The sixth is the plane from which come all beautiful inspirations of art, poetry, and music; high types of dreams, flashes of genius. Here we have glimpses of past incarnations, without being able to locate or analyze them.
Atmic Consciousness
We are on the seventh plane at the moment of death or in exceptional visions. The drowning man is here when he remembers his past life. The nenory events of this plane must be centred in the heart, "the seat of Buddha". There it vill remain, but ingressions this plane are not made on the physical brain." [The Secret Doctrine, Vol III p553]
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G.A. FARTHING
1997
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