Sacred Texts Study Group

(7) When he has ceased to hear the many, he may discern the ONE — the inner sound which kills the outer.
”It (the mind) becoming insensible to the external impressions, becomes one with the sound as milk with water and then becomes rapidly absorbed in Chidakasa (the Akasa where Chit prevails).” (Nadabindu Upanishad, 39)

The movement from multi…[Read more]

(6) For: —
When to himself his form appears unreal, as do on waking all the forms he sees in dreams;

Even after Atma-Jnana (knowledge of Atman or Self) has awakened (in one), Prarabdha does not leave (him); but he does not feel Prarabdha after the dawning of Tattva-Jnana (knowledge of Tattva or truth) because the body and other things are Asat (…[Read more]

I’d say both. Summarizing the text so far: ‘Disciples can pacify their mind by concentrating on their inner sound.’ I think a good meditation practice should have both stabilizing and analytical meditation (samatha / vipassana). Concentrating on the sound for stabilizing and contemplating on the meaning for analytical.

”It (the mind) becoming…[Read more]

Is it the sound which “slays” or subdues the mind, or it an altruistic motive focused upon hearing (see ladder of the mystic sounds, p. 11 VOS) the true nature of the sound in combination with a calm, one-pointed concentration upon the meaning of the sound (its cosmic or universal significance, its meaning for all of humanity, for example) which…[Read more]

There is nothing here that has not been said before, nor do I have any skill in composition. Due to the insufficiency of my abilities I do not think that this commentary is conducive to the benefit of others and I have composed this solely to season my own mind. Owing to this, the power of my faith increases to cultivate virtue. Moreover, if…[Read more]

thanks Mod, that was a little experimental warmup run – I’d like to try to continue all the way through the whole text – I just need to catch up a bit on some basic texts and I should be a little more fluid in a week or two…

Before the Soul can comprehend and may remember, she must unto the Silent Speaker be united, just as the form to which the clay is modeled, is first united with the potter’s mind.

For then the soul will hear, and will remember.

And then to the inner ear will speak—

And say:—

If thy Soul smiles while bathing in the Sunlight of thy Life; if th…[Read more]

Perfect, thank you

3 -Having become indifferent to objects of perception, the pupil must seek out the rājā of the senses, the Thought-Producer, he who awakes illusion.

There is a term in Plotinus that reminds me of the term ‘rājā’ (king) of the senses’: ‘’Sense Perception is our messenger, but the mind is our king’’(Plotinus V.3.3,45).

Related to the Subba Row list – from another article useful for the study of the VotS:
“There are four (out of the many other) names of the various kinds of Esoteric Knowledge or Sciences given, even in the esoteric Purânas. There is
(1) Yajna-Vidya,1 knowledge of the occult powers awakened in Nature by the performance of certain religious ce…[Read more]

2-He who would hear the voice of Nâda (2), “the Soundless Sound,” and comprehend it, he has to learn the nature of Dhâranâ (3).

(2). The “Soundless Voice,” or the “Voice of the Silence.” Literally perhaps this would read “Voice in the Spiritual Sound,” as Nâda is the equivalent word in Sanskrit, for the Sen-sar term.
(3). Dhâranâ, is the inten…[Read more]

The quote from the first footnote is from the Baghavata Purana (11,15). The translation seems taken from a text that originally appeared as a series of three articles beginning with the very first issue of the Theosophist (October 1879), entitled Yoga-Vidya and was later reprinted in the first two Theosophical editions of Patajanli, The Yoga…[Read more]

My pleasure Peter, and thanks for responding to the trumpet call. Quite an esoteric text, and since this first part is probably the most esoteric/tantric of the three, I think it can be useful for many aspects of the this section. For a basic comparison from the Hindu esoteric works, I guess one could refer to the six Shaktis in the Shaiva…[Read more]

Hi Mark, Thanks. And we could also add to your helpful list the following six primary powers (saktis) that HPB refers to in the Secret Doctrine when quoting from Subba Row’s article ‘The Twelve Signs of the Zodiac.’:

…there are six primary forces in Nature (synthesized by the Seventh) . . . These Sakti stand as follows :—

(1.) Parasakti…[Read more]

From the Voice of the Silence Glossary:
the Siddhis can refer to the six Abhijnā according to the following classical list:
1) iddhi (comprising all kinds of marvelous powers, but being characteristic of a lower type of magic);
2) “divine hearing” (= “deva-hearing”), clairaudience, hearing human and divine voices from a distance (and understa…[Read more]

Here’s the text of the first footnote:
(1). The Pali word Iddhi, is the synonym of the Sanskrit Siddhis, or psychic faculties, the abnormal powers in man. There are two kinds of Siddhis. One group which embraces the lower, coarse, psychic and mental energies; the other is one which exacts the highest training of Spiritual powers. Says Krishna in…[Read more]

When waxing stronger, thy Soul glides forth from her secure retreat; and breaking loose from the protecting shrine, extends her silver thread and rushes onward; when beholding her image on the waves of Space she whispers, “This is I,”—declare, O Disciple, that thy Soul is caught in the webs of delusion.7

This Earth, Disciple, is the Hall of Sorro…[Read more]

And say:—

If thy Soul smiles while bathing in the Sunlight of thy Life; if thy soul sings within her chrysalis of flesh and matter; if thy soul weeps inside her castle of illusion; if thy soul struggles to break the silver thread that binds her to the MASTER;4 know, O Disciple, thy Soul is of the earth.

When to the World’s turmoil thy bud…[Read more]

FRAGMENT I.
———

These instructions are for those ignorant of the dangers of the lower IDDHI.1

————————

He who would hear the voice of Nāda,2 “the Soundless Sound,” and comprehend it, he has to learn the nature of Dhāraṇā.3

Having become indifferent to objects of perception, the pupil must seek out the rājā of

2 THE VOICE OF THE SILENCE
t…[Read more]