Key Concepts Study Group

Causative Nature of Cycles
The doctrine of cycles is one of the most important in the entire cosmic range of the esoteric philosophy, because repetitive or rhythmic action is fundamental in nature. As a matter of fact, every being and thing that exists is an expression of rhythmic pulsation: we are not only the children of cycles greater than…[Read more]

When we talk about civilizations being built on the wreckage of previous civilizations are we really just noticing the natural evolution of cycles? Perhaps old forms must come to pass to make room for new ones.

When we talk about cycles within cycles are we referring to the engines that drive the larger cycle? Might it be compared to a lot of small choices that lead to a big choice?

That is a really interesting comment. Can you explain further why or how karma might slow or increase the pace of a cycle?

The Evolution of Humanity and Its Civilizations
The story of mankind cannot be understood without considering the birth of the planet of which we are all inseparable parts. If our universe is a living being, and our sun and earth also, we are then children of the living cosmos. This implies that there are intelligences above man, and beings below…[Read more]

Karma is essentially the law of Cycles. It is the relationship between cause and effect which is the core idea behind a cycle. A cycle involves the movement from the unmanifest to the manifest and its return. This is the grand cycle upon which all other cycles are built. Every action begins with a thought, per se, and produces effects, which…[Read more]

The Doctrine of Cycles
The doctrine of Cycles is emphasized in Theosophy, as it is so many-sided and so far-reaching in its application to all phases of life and to all conditions of matter. A cycle means a ring or “turning.” It is not a closed ring; rather, it is a continuous rounding course, advancing on a rising level. Cycles may be likened to…[Read more]

Cycles From Mr. Judge’s Ocean of Theosophy

In advancing these few observations upon the doctrine of cycles, no claim to an exhaustive study of the matter is made. This paper is merely by way of suggestion.

The subject was brought before my mind by our discussion some evenings ago, when the question of the descent upon earth, or ascent from it,…[Read more]

That’s indeed a good question Grace, and Barbara’s comment is certainly applicable. Essentially there is no difference between karma and cycles (just like spirit and matter are essentially one). So we could say that karma corresponds to spirit, as cycles (the manifestations of karma) correspond to matter. Cycles ARE karma in operation, or the…[Read more]

The Theory of Cycles
It is now some time since this theory, which was first propounded in the oldest religion of the world, Vedaism, then taught by various Greek philosophers, and afterwards defended by the Theosophists of the Middle Ages, but which came to be flatly denied by the wise men of the West, like everything else, in this world of…[Read more]

“What is the relationship between the idea of cycles and Karma?”

This is a very deep question. I think we can only speculate. My speculate thought is that the cycles continue but karma may slow it down or speed it up.

What is the relationship between the idea of cycles and Karma?

The following passage from HPB might supplement the above post (#6932) on the four types of causes and repeats what is found in various places in Vedanta. Keep in mind that the term ‘Rootless Root’ refers to Parabrahm:

‘Let us put aside such human conceptions as a personal God, and hold to the purely divine, to that which underlies all and…[Read more]

From the Three Fundamentals of the Secret Doctrine:

(b.) The Eternity of the Universe in toto as a boundless plane; periodically “the playground of numberless Universes incessantly manifesting and disappearing,” called “the manifesting stars,” and the “sparks of Eternity.” “The Eternity of the Pilgrim”† is like a wink of the Eye of Self-Existence…[Read more]

Here are some quotes on the theme of Parabrahm, Cause(s), the Great Breath, Ideation & so on. I hope members find them useful to reflect upon. I do.

The Secret Doctrine establishes three fundamental propositions [the first being]:
(a) An Omnipresent, Eternal, Boundless, and Immutable Principle on which all speculation is impossible . . .…[Read more]

I say in the above previous post: ‘Looking at that third quote above, we might conceive of ‘the unconscious purposiveness of Parabrahm’ as the Law of Karma..’ Just to clarify: I wasn’t suggesting that the quote itself was talking about the Law of Karma, I only meant to say we might conceive of ‘the unconscious purposiveness of Parabrahm’…[Read more]

For those who may not be familiar with this idea; causes can be understood in different ways. For example, Aristotle discusses four types of cause: the material, the formal, the efficient and the final. Aristotle saw these four causes as answering the basic questions as to why something is the way that it is. This lead some philosophers to refer…[Read more]

Jon, you say: “My perspective is: the “rootless root” is not a root of any kind, but is a symbol for an infinitude of roots; the causeless cause it not a cause of any kind, but is a symbol for an infinitude of causes.”

I’m not sure this view does anything to resolve the metaphysical problem of the origin of causes and/or roots? How and from…[Read more]

I can sort-of see your line of thinking, Jon. Interesting thoughts.

For myself I am simply aiming to stay with the terminology and language that HPB is using. This message is going to be a bit repetitive in places, but I can’t think of a clearer way to clarify what I’ve said. My weakness, so my apologies. The following terms are some of the d…[Read more]

Divine Wisdom, Theosophy, we are told, teaches a principle of unity in all life. This is a central principle within the system. It seems to me that you cannot uphold this idea of radical unity without the building block concept of the Absolute. The constant and recurring tendency to divide one thing from another, to create separations is…[Read more]