Now, what light does Theosophy throw on both these systems? Theosophy
enables every thinker to reconcile the partial statements which are
apparently so contradictory. Theosophy, with the Vedanta, proclaims the
universal Self. All that the Vedanta says of the universal Self and the
Self- limitation, Theosophy repeats. We call these Self-limited selves
Monads, and we say, as the Vedantin says, that these Monads reproduce
the nature of the universal Self whose portions they are. And hence you
find in them the three qualities which you find in the Supreme. They
are units, and these represent the Purushas of the Samkhya; but with a
very great difference, for they are not passive watchers, but active
agents in the drama of the universe, although, being above the fivefold
universe, they are as spectators who pull the strings of the players of
the stage. The Monad takes to himself from the universe of matter atoms
which show out the qualities corresponding to his three qualities, and
in these he thinks, and wills and acts. He takes to himself rhythmic
combinations, and shows his quality of cognition. He takes to himself
combinations that are mobile; through those he shows out his activity.
He takes the combinations that are inert, and shows out his quality of
bliss, as the will to be happy. Now notice the difference of phrase and
thought. In the Samkhya, Matter changed to reflect the Spirit; in fact,
the Spirit appropriates portions of Matter, and through those expresses
his own characteristics—an enormous difference. He creates an actor for
Self-expression, and this actor is the “spiritual man” of the
Theosophical teaching, the spiritual Triad, the Atma-buddhi-manas, to
whom we shall return in a moment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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