The Secret Doctrine, Vol. 1 of 4: The Synthesis of Science, Religion, and PhilosophyBlavatsky, H. P. (Helena Petrovna)
Religion
The Secret Doctrine, Vol. 1 of 4: The Synthesis of Science, Religion, and Philosophy
Blavatsky, H. P. (Helena Petrovna)
Theosophy
The expanding and contracting of the “Web” _i.e._, the world‐stuff, or
atoms—express here the pulsatory movement; for it is the regular
contraction and expansion of the infinite and shoreless Ocean, of that
which we may call the noumenon of Matter, emanated by Svabhâvat, which
causes the universal vibration of atoms. But it is also suggestive of
something else. It shows that the ancients were acquainted with that which
is now the puzzle of many Scientists and especially of Astronomers—the
cause of the first ignition of matter, or world‐stuff, the paradox of the
heat produced by refrigerative contraction, and other such cosmic
riddles—for it points unmistakably to a knowledge by the ancients of such
phenomena. “_There is heat internal and heat external in every atom_,” say
the MSS. Commentaries, to which the writer has had access, “_the Breath of
the Father [Spirit], and the Breath [or Heat] of the Mother [Matter]_”;
and they give explanations which show that the modern theory of the
extinction of the solar fires, by loss of heat through radiation, is
erroneous. The assumption is false even on the Scientists’ own admission.
For, as Professor Newcomb(141) points out, “by losing heat a gaseous body
contracts, and the heat generated by the contraction exceeds that which it
had to lose in order to produce the contraction.” This paradox, that a
body gets hotter, as the shrinking produced by its getting colder is
greater, has led to long disputes. The surplus of heat, it is argued, is
lost by radiation, and to assume that the temperature is not lowered _pari
passu_ with a decrease of volume under a constant pressure, is to set at
naught the law of Charles. Contraction develops heat, it is true; but
contraction (from cooling) is incapable of developing the whole amount of
heat at any time existing in the mass, or even of maintaining a body at a
constant temperature, etc. Professor Winchell tries to reconcile the
paradox—only a seeming one in fact, as J. Homer Lane(142) proved—by
suggesting “something besides heat.” “May it not be,” he asks, “simply a
repulsion among the molecules, which varies according to some law of the
distance”?(143) But even this will be found irreconcilable, unless this
“something besides heat” is ticketed “Causeless Heat,” the “Breath of
Fire,” the all‐creative Force _plus_ Absolute Intelligence, which Physical
Science is not likely to accept.
However it may be, the reading of this Stanza, notwithstanding its archaic
phraseology, shows it to be more scientific than even Modern Science.
12. THEN SVABHÂVAT SENDS FOHAT TO HARDEN THE ATOMS. EACH(144) IS A PART OF
THE WEB.(145) REFLECTING THE “SELF‐EXISTENT LORD,”(146) LIKE A MIRROR,
EACH BECOMES IN TURN A WORLD.(147)
Fohat hardens the Atoms; _i.e._, by infusing energy into them, he scatters
the “Atoms,” or Primordial Matter. “_He scatters himself while scattering
Matter into Atoms_.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account