Evolution of Life and Form: Four lectures delivered at the twenty-third anniversary meeting of the Theosophical Society at Adyar, Madras, 1898Besant, Annie
Religion
Evolution of Life and Form: Four lectures delivered at the twenty-third anniversary meeting of the Theosophical Society at Adyar, Madras, 1898
Besant, Annie
Evolution; Life -- Origin; Theosophy
We begin then the detailed evolution of form; it is like a great circle
traced downwards and upwards. There is a great difference between the
downward arc, the one-half of the circle, and the upward arc, the other
half of the circle. In the one case, coming downwards, Íshvara imparts
qualities and attributes; in the other half, going upwards, He builds
the qualities and attributes into vehicles. These are the two great
differences between the downward and upward arcs. In the downward,
matter takes up qualities; in the upward, matter is formed into
vehicles, or sheaths, or bodies, whatever may be the term we prefer. A
process of specialisation goes on, up to a certain point. After a time
the specialised materials are drawn together and combined into a
vehicle, an organised unity, serving as a tabernacle for the Self. First
comes differentiation, and the first step to that is to impart qualities
to matter. Let me remind you, as the subject is so difficult a one, what
is meant by tattvas, the fundamental forms of matter, and recall once
more that passage in the _Vishnu Purâna_ where their evolution is
described, and where it is stated that the tanmâtra of sound produces
A'kâsha; that is, a modification of the consciousness of Íshvara
produces the form of matter that we call the atom of A'kâsha; that atom
has a mere film of subtlest matter for its envelope, and the vibrating
life of Íshvara for the force within. Then we are told that A'kâsha
generates another tanmâtra which is touch, and that, enveloped,
permeated by A'kâsha, produces the film of denser matter which is called
Vâyu, the two tanmâtras and the A'kâsha being the generating force.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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