A Fourfold Comparison of The Atom,
Man, Planetary Logos and Solar Logos

(Referencing this comparison when studying the Commentary S3S4 will be useful)
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Atom	Man	Planetary Logos	Solar Logos
a. An atom consists of a spheroidal form containing within itself a nucleus of life.	a. A man is spheroidal in form, he can be seen as a circular ring-pass-not, a sphere of matter with a nucleus [Page 248] of life at the centre. In predicating this we are considering the true man in his fundamental position as the Ego, with his sphere of manifestation, the causal body,—that body which forms the middle point between Spirit and matter.	a. Each Heavenly Man is likewise to be seen as spheroidal in shape. He has His ring-pass-not as has the atom and the man. This ring-pass-not comprises the entire planetary scheme; the dense physical globe of any one chain being analogous in His case to the physical body of any man, and to the atom on the physical plane. Each scheme of seven chains is the expression of the life of an Entity, Who occupies it, as does a man his body, for purposes of manifestation and in order to gain experience.	a. A solar Logos, the Grand Man of the Heavens, is equally spheroidal in shape. His ring-pass-not comprises the entire circumference of the solar system, and all that is included within the sphere of influence of the Sun. The Sun holds a position analogous to the nucleus of life at the centre of the atom. This sphere comprises within its periphery the seven planetary chains [why chains?] with the synthesising three, making the ten of logoic manifestation. The Sun is the physical body of the solar Logos, His body of manifestation, and His life sweeps cycling through the seven schemes [why here “schemes”?] in the same sense as the life of a planetary Logos sweeps seven times around His scheme of seven chains. Each chain holds a position analogous to a globe in a planetary chain. Note the beauty of the correspondence, yet withal the lack of detailed analogy.^4
b. An atom contains within itself differentiated molecules, which in their totality form the atom itself. For instance, we are told that the physical atom contains within its periphery fourteen thousand millions of the archetypal atoms, yet these myriads demonstrate as one.	b. A man contains within himself differentiated atoms, which in their totality make up the objective form of the man on the planes of his manifestation. All are animated by his life, by his persistent will-to-be; all vibrate according to the point reached by the man in evolution. As seen from the higher planes man demonstrates as a sphere (or spheres) of differentiated matter, vibrating to a certain measure, tinctured by a certain color, and rotating to a fixed key—the key of his life cycle.	b. A Heavenly Man contains within Himself that which corresponds to the cells within the vehicles of expression of a human being. The atoms or cells in His body are made up of the aggregate of the deva and human units who vibrate to His key note, and who respond to the measure of His life. All are held together and animated by His will to be, and all vibrate according to the point achieved by Him in evolution. From the cosmic standpoint a Heavenly Man can be seen as a sphere of wondrous life, which includes within its radius of influence the vibratory capacity of an entire planetary scheme. He vibrates to a certain measure, which can be estimated by the activity of the life pulsating at the centre of the sphere; the entire planetary scheme is tinctured by a certain color, is rotating to a fixed key which is the key of His life cycle within the still greater mahamanvantara or logoic cycle.	b. A solar Logos contains within Himself, as the atoms in His body of manifestation, all groups of every kind, [Page 256] from the involutionary group-soul to the egoic groups on the mental plane. He has (for the animating centres of His body) the seven major groups or the seven Heavenly Men, who ray forth Their influence to all parts of the logoic sphere, and who embody within Themselves all lesser lives, the lesser groups, human and deva units, cells, atoms and molecules. Seen from cosmic levels, the sphere of the Logos can be visualised as a vibrating ball of fire of supernal glory, containing within its circle of influence, the planetary spheres likewise vibrating balls of fire. The Grand Man of the Heavens vibrates to a steadily increasing measure; the entire system is tinctured by a certain color,—the color of the life of the Logos, the One Divine Ray; and the system rotates to a certain measure, which is the key of the great kalpa or solar cycle, and revolves around its central solar pole.
c. An atom is distinguished by activity, and shows forth the qualities of: 1. Rotary motion. 2. Discriminative power. 3. Ability to develop.	c. A man is distinguished by activity on one or more planes in the three worlds, and shows forth the qualities of: 1. Rotary motion, or his particular cycling on the wheel of life, around his egoic pole. 2. Discriminative capacity, or the power to choose and gain experience. 3. Ability to evolve, to increase vibration and to make contact.	c. A Heavenly Man is distinguished by His activity on one or other of the planes which we call the Triadal, or Atma-Buddhi-Manas, in the same way as a man is distinguished by his activity on one of the planes in the three worlds, mental-astral-physical. Eventually a man is self-conscious on all three. Eventually a Heavenly Man is fully self-conscious on the higher three. Every forward movement or increased vitality in the aggregate of men in the three worlds, is paralleled by an analogous activity on the three higher planes. The action and the interaction between the life animating the groups or the Heavenly Men, and the life animating the atoms or men who form the units in groups is both mysterious and wonderful. A Heavenly Man on His own planes likewise shows forth the qualities of: Rotary motion, or His particular cycling activity around His life wheel, a planetary scheme, and thus around His egoic pole. [Page 252] Discriminating capacity, or the power to choose and thereby gain experience. They are the embodiments of manas or the intelligent faculty (hence Their title of Divine Manasaputras) which comprehends, chooses and discards, thus attaining knowledge and self-consciousness. This manasic faculty They developed in earlier kalpas or solar systems. Their purpose is now to utilise that which is developed to bring about certain specific effects and to attain certain specific goals. Ability to evolve, to increase vibration, to gain knowledge, and to make contact. This increased vibration is of a gradual and evolutionary order and proceeds from centre to centre as it does in man, and as it does in the case of the atomic spirillae. Their aim is to achieve uniformity of contact with each other, and to merge eventually Their separated identities in the One Identity, retaining simultaneously full self-consciousness or individualised self-apprehension.	c. The solar Logos is distinguished by His activity on all the planes of the solar system; He is the sumtotal of all manifestation, from the lowest and densest physical atom up to the most radiant and cosmic ethereal Dhyan Chohan. This sevenfold vibratory measure is the key of the lowest cosmic plane, and its rate of rhythm can be felt on the cosmic astral, with a faint response on the cosmic mental. Thus the life of the logoic existence on cosmic levels, may be seen paralleling the life of a man in the three worlds, the lowest of the systemic planes. On His own planes the Logos likewise shows forth: First. Rotary motion. His life as it cycles through a day of Brahma, can be seen spiralling around His greater wheel, the ten schemes of a solar system. Second. Discriminatory capacity. His first act, as we know, was to discriminate or choose the matter he needed for manifestation. That choice was controlled by: [Page 257] Cosmic Karma. Vibratory capacity. Responsive coloring or quality. Numerical factors involved in cosmic mathematics. He is the embodiment of cosmic manas, and through the use of this faculty He seeks—by means of animated form—to build into His cosmic causal body, a paralleling quality of love-wisdom. Third. Ability to progress, to increase vibration, and to gain full self-consciousness on cosmic levels.
d. An atom, we are told, contains within itself three major spirals and seven lesser^2. which ten are in process [Page 247] of vitalisation, but have not yet attained full activity. Only four are functioning at this stage, and the fifth is in process of development.	d. A man contains within himself three major principles,—will, love-wisdom, active intelligence or adaptability—and their differentiation into the seven principles. These, making the eventual ten of perfected manifestation, are in process of vitalisation, but have not yet attained full expression. Only four principles in man are active, and he is in process of developing the fifth, or manasic principle. Note how perfect is the analogy between man, viewed as the lower quaternary developing the principle of mind, and the atom with its four spirillae active; and the fifth in process of stimulation.	d. A Heavenly Man contains within Himself three major principles—will, love-wisdom, intelligence, and their manifestation through the seven principles so often discussed in our occult literature. These make the ten of His ultimate perfection, for the seven are resolved into the three, and the three into the one. Each Heavenly Man has, of course, His primary coloring or principle as has man and the atom. Man has for his primary coloring or principle that of the Heavenly Man in Whose body he is a unit. He has also the other two major principles (as has the Heavenly Man), and their differentiation into the seven as earlier said. The atom has for primary coloring or principle, that of the egoic ray of the human being for instance in whose body it finds place. This, of course, is in connection with the [Page 253] physical atom in a man's body. This coloring manifests as the vibration setting the measure of the major three spirillae and the minor seven. Only four principles in the Heavenly Men are as yet manifesting to any extent, though One of Them is rather in advance of the others, and has the fifth principle vibrating adequately, while certain others are in process of perfecting the fourth. The Heavenly Man of our chain is vibrating somewhat to the fifth principle, or rather is in process of awakening it to life. His fourth vibration or principle in this fourth round or cycle, and on this fourth globe, is awakened, though not functioning as it will in the fifth round. Much of the trouble present in the planet at this time arises from the coming into activity of the higher or fifth vibration, which will be completed and transcended in the next or fifth cycle. The analogy, as in man and the atom, again holds good but not in exact detail.	d. The solar Logos contains within Himself the three major principles or aspects, and their differentiation into seven principles. These make the ten of His ultimate perfection and are eventually synthesised into the one perfected principle of love-wisdom. This ultimate principle is His primary coloring. Each principle is embodied in one of the schemes, and is being worked out through one of the Heavenly Men. Only four principles are as yet manifested to any extent, for the evolution of the Logos parallels that of the Heavenly Men.
e. An atom is governed by the Law of Economy, is coming slowly under the Law of Attraction, and will eventually come under the Law of Synthesis.	e. A man is governed by the Law of Attraction, is [Page 249] evolved through the Law of Economy, and is coming under the Law of Synthesis. Economy governs the material process with which he is not so much consciously concerned; attraction governs his connection with other units or groups, and synthesis is the law of his inner Self, of the life within the form.	e. A Heavenly Man is governed by the Law of Attraction, has transcended the Law of Economy, and is rapidly coming under the Law of Synthesis. Note therefore the gradual stepping-up of the control and the fact that: First. The Law of Economy is the primary law of the atom. The Law of Attraction is coming into control of the atom. The Law of Synthesis is but slightly felt by the life of the atom. It is the law of life. Second. The Law of Attraction is the primary law of man. The Law of Economy is a secondary law for man. It governs the matter of his vehicles. The Law of Synthesis is steadily beginning to be felt. Third. The Law of Synthesis is the primary law of a Heavenly Man. The Law of Attraction has full sway. The Law of Economy is transcended. The dense physical body is not a principle for a Heavenly Man, hence the Law of Economy is transcended. [Page 254] The Law of Attraction governs the material process of form building. The Law of Synthesis is the law of His Being.	e. The solar Logos is governed by the Law of Synthesis. He holds all in synthetic unity or homogeneity. His subjective life is governed by the Law of Attraction; His material form is governed by the Law of Economy. He is coming under another cosmic law as yet incomprehensible to men, which law is but revealed to the highest initiates.
f. An atom finds its place within all forms; it is the aggregation of atoms that produces form.	f. Man finds his place within the group form. Egoic groups and the Heavenly Men are formed by the aggregate of human and of deva units.	f. A Heavenly Man is finding His place within the logoic groups, and is seeking to realise His position among the seven and by realisation to approximate unity.	f. The solar Logos is in process of ascertaining His place within the greater system in which He holds a place analogous to that of a Heavenly Man in a solar system. [cf. TCF 293] He seeks first to find the secret of His own existence, and to achieve full Self-Consciousness; secondly to ascertain the position and place of His polar opposite; thirdly to [Page 258] merge and blend with that polar opposite. This is the cosmic marriage of the Logos.
g. Its responsiveness to outer stimulation: Electrical stimulation, affecting its objective form. Magnetic stimulation, acting upon its subjective life. The united effect of the two stimulations, producing consequent internal growth and development.	g. His responsiveness to outer stimulation: a. Electrical stimulation, affecting the outer form, or pranic response. b. Magnetic stimulation, acting upon his subjective life. This emanates from his egoic group, and later from the Heavenly Man, in Whose body he is a cell. c The united effect of these two stimulations, inducing steady growth and development.	g. His responsiveness to outer stimulation. This viewed from the limited human standpoint touches on realms unattainable by man's intellect as yet. It deals with: Electrical stimulation, and concerns the response to solar radiation, and to paralleling planetary radiation. Magnetic stimulation, acting upon His subjective life. This radiation emanates from sources outside the system altogether. We might note the following facts: Magnetic stimulation of the physical atom emanates from man on astral levels, and later from buddhic levels. Magnetic stimulation of man emanates from the Heavenly Men on buddhic, and later on monadic levels. Magnetic stimulation of a Heavenly Man emanates extra-systemically, from the cosmic astral, the united effect of these stimulations inducing steady internal development.	g. A solar Logos is distinguished by His responsiveness to outer stimulation. This concerns itself with: Electrical stimulation or His response to electrical fohatic force emanating from other stellar centres, and controlling largely the action of our system and its movements in space in relation to other constellations. Magnetic stimulation, acting upon His subjective Life, and emanating from certain cosmic centres hinted at in the Secret Doctrine. These find their source on cosmic buddhic levels. It is their united effect which induces steady development.
An atom therefore is distinguished by: 1. Its spheroidal shape. Its ring-pass-not is definite and seen. 2. Its internal arrangement, which comprises the sphere of influence of any particular atom. 3. Its life-activity, or the extent to which the life at the centre animates the atom, a relative thing at this stage. 4. Its sevenfold inner economy in process of evolution. 5. Its eventual synthesis internally from the seven into the three. 6. Its group relation. 7. Its development of consciousness, or responsiveness.	A man is distinguished therefore by: 1. His spheroidal shape. His ring-pass-not is definite and seen. 2. His internal arrangement; his entire sphere of influence is in process of development. At present that sphere is limited and his range of activity is small. As the body egoic is developed, the nucleus of life at the centre increases its radius of control until the whole is brought under rule and government. 3. His life activity or the extent to which at any given time he demonstrates self-consciousness, or controls his threefold lower nature. 4. His sevenfold inner economy; the development of his seven principles. [Page 250] 5. His eventual internal synthesis under the working of the three laws from the seven into the three and later into the one. 6. His group relation. 7. His development of consciousness, of responsiveness to contact, involving therefore the growth of awareness.	A Heavenly Man is distinguished therefore by: 1. His spheroidal shape. His ring-pass-not, during objectivity, is definite and seen. 2. His internal arrangement and His sphere of influence, or that activity animating the planetary chain. 3. His spiritual life control at any given period. It is the power whereby He animates His sevenfold [Page 255] nature. Note the increase of influence as compared to man's threefold radius. 4. His eventual ultimate synthesis from the seven into the three and from thence into one. This covers the obscuration of the globes, and the blending into unity of the seven principles which each globe is evolving. 5. His evolution under Law and consequent development. 6. His group relation. 7. His development of consciousness and of awareness.	The solar Logos is distinguished 1. By the spheroidicity of His manifesting existence. His solar ring-pass-not is definite and seen. This can only be demonstrated as yet by the endeavour to ascertain the extent of the subjective control, by the measure of the solar sphere of influence, or the magnetic attraction of the Sun to other lesser bodies which it holds in circular motion around itself. 2. By the activity of the life animating the ten schemes. 3. By the extent of the control exerted by the Logos at any given period. 4. By the ultimate synthesis of the seven schemes into three and thence into one. This covers the obscuration of the schemes and the unification of the seven principles which they embody. 5. By His subjection to the Law of His Being. 6. By His group relation. 7. By His unfoldment of Consciousness, the time factor [Page 259] being controlled by the measure of the unfoldment of all the conscious units in His body.