Key Concepts Study Group

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]

I’ve been enjoying reading the Secret Doctrine Dialogues recently, and can’t help but share a couple more quotes that made me chuckle and wonder what kind of quips or chastisations HPB would hurl upon us during this discussion. 😉

On the Hindu systems (I’ve underlined one sentence which I think is particularly relevant to us here):

Mme.…

[Read more]

I’ve been enjoying reading the Secret Doctrine Dialogues recently, and can’t help but share a couple more quotes that made me chuckle and wonder what kind of quips or chastisations HPB would hurl upon us during this discussion. 😉

On the Hindu systems (I’ve underlined one sentence which I think is particularly relevant to us here):

Mme.…

[Read more]

Thanks Peter. I really appreciate your contributions here. You say:

“That said, do we need to keep in mind that ‘the rootless root’ is still some kind of root, and ‘the causeless cause’ is still some kind of causation?”

From my perspective, these and other terms or phrases we use for “The Absolute” are essentially but symbols or figurat…[Read more]

Thanks Peter, love the quote from CW 3, 267.
To your last ref. on aim and purpose we may well add what HPB already mentioned in Isis, II:143

“Thus, whether we say that Kabalism and Gnosticism proceeded from Masdeanism or Zoroastrianism, it is all the same, unless we meant the exoteric worship — which we do not. Likewise, and in this sense, we m…[Read more]

“Whatever conclusion can be derived from anything HPB (and Judge as well) has written down, most of the answers end up requiring new questions again.”

Those are wise words, Pierre, and I’ve often found your contributions to the study have raised good new questions for me to reflect upon.

With regards the Second Object, I don’t think it require…[Read more]

Slow on the uptake as well here.

“’To promote the study’ and ’to vindicate the importance’ are quite definite and powerful phrases urging action. I find it hard to believe the Founders would suggest either of these if such study only led students down an exoteric dead end path.”

Yes I agree Peter, on the other hand HPB is also quick enough,…[Read more]

Hi Jon,

Just some thoughts on those helpful passages you’ve shared.

It must be right to use the term ‘beyond’ in a general sense in relation to the Absolute as (to us) it transcends all realms of manifestation and relativity. That said, do we need to keep in mind that ‘the rootless root’ is still some kind of root, and ‘the causeless cause…[Read more]

Hi Pierre,

I’m rather slow at responding at the moment – my apologies. When I said that it’s problematic to treat the term Parabrahm as meaning ‘beyond Brahman’ as a way of showing that Brahma is the First Logos, I meant that it is ‘problematic’ from the point of view of our theosophical texts. I’ve already provided a number of passages from…[Read more]