I would like to clarify a portion of the S.D. It seems true, that HPB did not mention a lot on the future rounds, however I stuck on a passage from page 258 of Vol. I.

" As already indicated, a partial familiarity with the characteristic of matter - permeability - which should be developed concurrently with the sixth sense, may be expected to develop at the proper period in this Round. But with the next element added to our resources in the next Round, permeability will become so manifest a characteristic of matter, that the densest forms of this will seem to man's perceptions as obstructive to him as a thick fog, and no more."

Would it be correct to say that this fifth element exists now, but is not readily perceptible? I am thinking that the Mahatmas work on a mental plane, and is this related to the fifth element? And also, as HPB says that permeability will become more manifest, how is it that she continues that matter will be less obstructive?

Jim B.

Jim,

I do not think permeability is an element, but it is a characteristic of elements that already exist.

"Matter has extension, colour, motion (molecular motion), taste, and smell, corresponding to the existing senses of man, and by the time that it fully develops the next characteristic -- let us call it for the moment PERMEABILITY -- this will correspond to the next sense of man -- let us call it "NORMAL CLAIRVOYANCE;" thus, when some bold thinkers have been thirsting for a fourth dimension to explain the passage of matter through matter, and the production of knots upon an endless cord, what they were really in want of, was a sixth characteristic of matter." (SD vol 1 p 251)

A new element will not appear. Rather, existing elements will take on this new characteristic. This will apparantly happen simultaneously with human developing "normal clairvoyance." The two events seem to be extremely connected.

You asked,

"...matter will be less obstructive?"

--> Apparently yes. This refers to a characteristic we know nothing about. Unfortunately, we may have to wait for that characteristic to appear before we can understand it. I suppose it is like a psychic's ability to pierce through any physical matter while doing a psychic reading, but this is just my guess.

"...HPB did not mention a lot on the future rounds...."

--> She had to aggressively limit the number of topics she wrote on. It has been said that, if she had written on everything she had access to, her books would have filled untold numbers of libraries. She was practically dead before she even started writing The Secret Doctrine. The fact that she was able to complete the SD is amazing. We have to be grateful for what little she gave us.

Nick, thanks for the response. Just to let you know, I did not mean she has not given us enough to work with. When I mentioned that she did not reveal much about future rounds, I meant that she had reasons. I do believe that these topics were not for us now, under the directions of the Masters. I believe I read that somewhere, but may be mistaken.

I do read, "The untranslatable terms alone, incomprehensible unless explained in their meanings, are left, but all such terms are rendered in their Sanskrit form. Needless to remind the reader that these are, in almost every case, the late developments of the later language, and pertain to the Fifth Root-Race." Vol I pg.23

I am still interested in Akasa, however it may be that when the next round occurs, we may have a new language that will be able to explain it. Or, it may be that we will have the "higher senses, the growth and development of which Akasa subserves ..."

Jim B.

Jim,

Yes, some things were left out for lack of space, and other things were left out because they were not allowed to be given. We need to be sensitive to the difference between the two.

Regarding Akasha, I think it is different than the issue of the future appearance of the aspect of physical nature called permeability. Is that how you see it? I see permeability as an aspect of Akasha. I think Akasha has been around a long time, while permeability is something that has yet to appear in this Round.

The difference between the words Akasha and Akasa needs to be explained. In Sanskrit, a dot is placed above an S to change its pronunciation to SH. We do not have such a dot in English, and the dot is usually left out when writing the word in English. In English, akaŝa is pronounced akasha. (The word ŝloka is also pronounced shloka.)

Akasha (Akasa, Akâsa, Akaŝa) is a word from the Vedas (Divine Plan, p 144 note) meaning “shining substance.”

“Now the root of [Akasha] is KASH, which means ‘to shine.’ It is literally ‘the shining substance,’ and we are told that esoterically it signifies the primordial light, which manifests through divine Ideation.” (Joy Mills, The Living Web of Meaning)

Akasha is a primordial substance.

“Akâsa [is] The subtle, supersensuous spiritual essence which pervades all space; the primordial substance erroneously identified with Ether.” (Theosophical Glossary, p. 13)

However, Akasha is described as radiating from Mulaprakriti

“…Akasa, the radiation of Mulaprakriti….” (SD vol 1 p 10)

“Mulaprakriti … is the source from which Akasa radiates....” (SD vol 1 p 35)

Akasha is also called undifferentiated consciousness, which comes from Mulaprakriti.

“The Akasa is the eternal divine consciousness which cannot differentiate….” (Transactions, vol 2 p 11)

Akasha is described as being Space.

“Akâsa … is, in fact, the Universal Space in which lies inherent the eternal Ideation of the Universe....” (Theosophical Glossary, p. 13)

“Akasa ... corresponds exactly to time, space, Isvara, (‘The Lord,’ but rather creative potency and soul — anima mundi).” (SD vol 1 p 296 footnote)

Akasha is also described as occupying all of Space.

[Akasha is] “The subtle, supersensuous spiritual essence which pervades all space….” (Theosophical Glossary, p. 13)

“…there is no such thing as empty space in the universe. Esoteric Science teaches that the entire cosmos is pervaded by Akasha….” (Basic Ideas of Theosophy)

---

Astral Light is the seventh and lowest principle of Akasha.

“…the seven principles of Akasha….” (Theosophy, May 1963 pp 185-189)

“… Akasa … has several degrees … in fact, ‘seven fields.’ “(Transactions, vol 2 p 11)

“The lowest region of Akasha, immediately above the gross physical plane, is termed the Astral Light.” (Basic Ideas of Theosophy)



Blavatsky, H.P, Secret Doctrine Commentary: Transactions of the Blavatsky Lodge
http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/sdcommnt/sdc-hp.htm

Blavatsky, H.P, Theosophical Glossary
http://www.phx-ult-lodge.org/Aglossary.htm

Barborka, Geoffrey, The Divine Plan
http://www.questbooks.net/title.cfm?bookid=70

Farthing, Geoffrey A., Basic Ideas of Theosophy
http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/2scope.htm

Mills, Joy, The Living Web of Meaning
http://www.theos-world.com/archives/show.p...%201999%20Issue

Theosophy, May 1963 pp 185-189
http://www.blavatsky.net/magazine/theosoph...ineThought.html

Nick, thanks for the effort you put into your post. I am going to study it and the links. In fact, these will further my study of The Fundamental Principles. As Robert Bowen wrote, "The first thing to do, even if it takes years, is to get a grasp of The Three Fundamental Principles." I believe I am getting a handle on them, and know that further study of them is imperative. I see Akasha as part of them. The idea of permeability, and HPB's use of the word, will also be part of my study.

Jim B.

Jim,

When you refer to the Three Principles, are you referring to the Three Fundamental Propositions? (The phraseology on this point in Theosophy is sometimes confusing.)

Forgive me, ;) , You are sharp. The Three Propositions.
BTW, I wonder if permeability is related to concreteness, which is another term HBP uses.

Jim B.

Jim,

Regarding the concreteness and (future) permeability of matter, I really do not know, and I have never seen it come up in the literature.

The way I see it, physical matter is not truely concrete, and one day every last physical atom in the universe will disappear. Physical atoms exist only due to cooperation between Mulaprakriti and Fohat. If that cooperation were to disappear for only a moment, I believe the entire physical universe would instantly disappear. (This is exactly what I think will happen at the end of our universal Manvatara.)

Here is another idea. When we travel astrally (and I believe we do so every night while we are asleep) physical atoms are completely non-concrete to us at that time.

I believe what confuses me, is that our state now,( 4th round, 4th globe, 5th root race) is when we hit bottom in matter. It seems that the concreteness would be dissipating, and not have more permeability. However, it may be that HPB is saying that when the next element (which already exists) is added, matter will seem less obstructive, and not as concrete, even though it is. It is something to ponder.

Jim B.

In my pondering, I am getting some hints. Theosophy makes you think and I don't know if the comments below help explain this passage, although they seem to be of a help to me.

These are from G.d.P.'s, 'Dialogues', Vol. 1:

" Now here in this instance (4 th Globe, now J.B.)), it is my considered view, grossness and density may be used as synonyms and equivalents. It so happens that the meanings here conjoin to signify the same thing. When you use the word material or materiality in the strictly occult sense, this condition or phase will not be reached until the 7th Round, which nevertheless will be far more ethereal than gross." pg.29

Then he later begins to speak of the Sun.

" Consider the sun: I will utter a strange paradox. It is incomparably grosser than our earth is> Yet is is the dwelling of a god. It must have this grossness to rule its kingdom which contains planes of beings and spheres incomparably grosser than our earth." pg.33

"As the planets considered as individuals grow older, they approach the sun. Coincidental their prakritis evolve more strongly, partly to protect them against the sun which otherwise would simply annihilate them, and partly because such is evolution's course. Both comprise a way of procedure. Thus Venus is grosser and more prakritic and more material in the proper sense than is the earth, Mercury than is Venus. Yet Mercury, corresponding to our principles, is Buddhi. Venus is Higher Manas. Our earth is Kama-Maras. Mars is Kara, strange paradox, following of course this instance in line of the human principles." pg.34

Then he adds,

"I will add one more thought, Companions, and I ask you to try to understand this. I do not think I have ever spoken as plainly as this before, because I have felt that I would be wrongly understood, and I am carrying load enough as it is without having the karman of misleading my brothers. The sun we are protected against. There is an old hindu saying, never understood in the West, and yet full of occult wisdom, that the gods live on men." pg.53

He goes on to speak of how the sun would annihilate this planet, "but we are protected by our own earth's auric egg."

So, now I am left to ponder the matter.

Jim B.