First Semester - Section 1
A Treatise on Cosmic Fire pp. 3-7, 37-76
Note: Please keep in mind that it
is not necessary to understand it all at first reading. The sections are repeated and developed
further along the book. Trust that as
you read further the detailed whole will become clear to you.
1.
p.
3 - 7 Please study carefully the three Fundamentals of The Secret Doctrine as
presented in A Treatise on Cosmic Fire; Why are these statements absolutely fundamental to an understanding of life and cosmos? Why is
the understanding of each of these fundamentals so important? Why are they important to you?
2.
p.
6: Can you explain in one sentence per Law, your understanding of the Seven
Systemic Laws?
3.
p.
7: What is your understanding of the Law of Correspondences? How, specifically,
is it different from the Law of Analogy? Why is the Law of Correspondences the
great interpretive law of the system?
4.
p.
38: In your own words, define Fire by
Friction, Solar Fire and Electric Fire. How, specifically are they different from each
other? Judging from your own experience, what do they mean to you as an
individual?
5.
p.
39-40: After studying the Hindu Chronology, what insights have come to you
regarding the patterns of the great planetary, systemic and cosmic
cycles?
6.
p.
41. How is it that the Law of Synthesis is the basis of that systemic movement
described as driving forward through
space? What has synthesis to do with
this motion?
7.
p.
42: Please consider the three types of cosmic motion: rotary motion, spiral
cyclic motion and forward progression. How are these three related to each
other? Why are they related respectively to the third, second and first rays?
What is the justification for this relationship?
8.
p.
42: What relationship does spiral cyclic motion bear to rotary motion and
forward progression?
9.
p.
43: Please explain the difference
between latent heat and active heat?
10.
p.
45: Why are the three rays called respectively, the primordial ray, the divine ray and the cosmic
ray of intelligent will?
11.
p.
48: Why is it said that the second fire emanates from the cosmic mental plane?
12.
p.
48: After reading the footnote from A
Study of Consciousness by Annie Besant, do you believe that
"consciousness is the one reality.?" How is consciousness related to
the concept of "being"?
13.
p.
49: The third fire deals with the evolution of spirit? Can it
truly be said that spirit evolves? In what way yes? In what way no?
14.
p.
52: Please contrast the three internal fires of the system——interior fire,
radiatory fire and essential fire. Is
there in your mind a distinct significance between these fires?
15.
p.
58 - 62: Consider the one fundamental statement which can be laid down anent
the internal fire of four entities——a sun, planet, man and atom. Review the
expression of the internal fires as they express in each of these entities.
What patterns or parallelisms stand out to you?
16.
p.
61: How would you define the word "substance"? What are at least two
significant and contrasting definitions of this word?
17.
p.
65: What is the definition of Agni? Does this term have more than one definition?
18.
p.
66: Is there a contrast between fire elementals and devas? If so what?
19.
p.
66: Consider the footnote on Fohat. How can "electricity" be said to
be an "entity"?
20.
p.
66: What insights emerge for you when you consider the five classes of fire
elementals——salamanders, fire spirits, Agnichaitans, pranic elementals and
light devas?
21.
p.
70: When you consider the difference between the structure of the atom as
described by contemporary physics and
the structure of the atom as described by D.K. on p. 70, how can you account
for the difference? Do you note any similarities?
22.
p.
71: What insights of illumination emerges for you when you consider the
relationship of the rays of the three periodical vehicles to the three permanent
atoms? What implications exist, do you think, because the personality ray is
related to the physical permanent atom, the egoic ray to the astral permanent
atom and the monadic ray to the mental unit?
23.
p.
73-76: In your own thoughts and words, what is
the relationship existing between
the personality ray and the factor of karma?
24.
p.
74: What is the correspondence between the four Lords of Karma, on the one
hand, and the three Buddhas of Activity and Sanat Kumara on the other?
A Treatise on Cosmic Fire pp. 77-127
Note: Please keep in mind that it
is not necessary to understand it all at first reading. The sections are repeated and developed
further along the book. Trust that as
you read further the detailed whole will become clear to you.
1.
p.
77: In what way does it seem justifiable to you to relate the principle of Atma
to Prana?
2.
p.
78: In a study of the first paragraph on the etheric body, what are the major
implications which occur to you? Are
there statements therein which seem to you especially important?
3.
p.
78: In a study of the second paragraph on the etheric body, what are the major
implications which occur to you? Are
there statements therein which seem to you especially important?
4.
p.
79: In a study of the paragraph beginning by ‘Finally,...’ on the
etheric body, what are the major implications which occur to you? Are there statements therein which seem to
you especially important?
5.
p.
79: Why should the etheric body be referred to as the "golden
bowl"? Why "golden"? Why a "bowl"?
6.
p.
81: Consider the eight statements concerning the etheric body. What, to you, are the practical implications of the first statement in terms of the life
of discipleship and initiation?
7.
p.
81: Consider the eight statements concerning the etheric body and the table of
correspondence. Are there any
correspondences between the four levels here listed which seem to you
especially revelatory or interesting?.
What, to you, are the practical
implications of the second statement in terms of the life of discipleship and
initiation?
8.
p.
82: Consider the eight statements concerning the etheric body. What, to you, are the practical implications of the third statement in terms of the life
of discipleship and initiation?
9.
p.
82: Consider the eight statements concerning the etheric body. What, to you, are the practical implications of the fourth statement in terms of the life
of discipleship and initiation?
10.
p.
82: Consider the eight statements concerning the etheric body. What, to you, are the practical implications of the fifth statement in terms of the life
of discipleship and initiation?
11.
p.
83: Consider the eight statements concerning the etheric body. What, to you, are the practical implications of the sixth statement in terms of the life
of discipleship and initiation?
12.
p.
84: Consider the eight statements concerning the etheric body. What, to you, are the practical implications of the seventh statement in terms of the
life of discipleship and initiation?
13.
p.
85: Consider the eight statements concerning the etheric body. What, to you, are the practical implications of the eighth statement in terms of the life
of discipleship and initiation?
14.
p.
90-91: Study the solar prana: What, in essence, is its function and sphere
of activity? What is its relative importance to the disciple? Do you think you can, experientially,
differentiate it from the other types of prana in your life?
15.
p.
91-93: Study the planetary prana: What, in essence, is its function and sphere
of activity? What is its relative importance to the disciple? Do you think you can, experientially,
differentiate it from the other types of prana in your life?
16.
p.
93-97: Study the prana of forms: What, in essence, is its function and sphere
of activity? What is its relative importance to the disciple? Do you think you can, experientially,
differentiate it from the other types of prana in your life?
17.
p.
94: Study this chart. What realizations, insights, or new relationships occur
to you from this study? What
relationship have the "Three Outpourings" to the evolution of the
human being?
18.
p.
97-98: Consider the etheric body as a receiver
of prana. What are the principal conditions which affect this
reception? Have your experienced these
conditions in your life?
19.
p.
99: Consider the etheric body as the
assimilator of prana. What are the
principal conditions which affect this assimilation? Have you experienced these
conditions in your life?
20.
p.
101: Consider the etheric body as the
transmitter of prana. What the the
principal conditions which affect this transmission? Have you experienced these
conditions in your life?
21.
p.
101-102: Compare and contrast the methods of etheric transmission in the solar
system, the planet and the microcosm (man).
22.
p.
104: Define the distinction between the three types of disorders of the etheric
body: functional, organic and static.
23.
p.
105-108: Consider the microcosmic functional disorders. How do they work out in
the life of man? To what extent do you
believe that you as an individual suffer from this microcosmic disorder?
24.
p.
108-110: Consider the microcosmic organic disorders. How do they work out in
the life of man? To what extent do you
believe that you as an individual suffer from this microcosmic disorder?
25.
p.
110-111: Consider the microcosmic static disorders. How do they work out in
the life of man? To what extent do you
believe that you as an individual suffer from this microcosmic disorder?
26.
p.
101-111: Which of the three types of microcosmic disorders do you consider the
most serious and why?
27.
p.
110: Consider the ten keys to the Secret
Doctrine listed in the footnote on
p. 110. Give in a few words the essential
idea of each key. Which of these keys have you as an individual begun to
turn? How do you know you have? What have you learned in the turning? What does
it mean that each key has to be turned seven
times?
28.
p.
110: In your own words and in practical terms what is the definition of a
"ring pass not"? Does this term mean anything to you experientially?
29.
p.
112-3: Consider the relationships between the various quaternaries here
described. What are the essential relationships existing between the four
Maharajas, the four Lipikas, the fourth Creative Hierarchy (the human), the
four planetary Logoi representing the four Rays of Attribute, and the Deva
Lords of the four lower systemic planes of our solar system?
30.
p.
114 plus Note 51: Why is the sutratma called the "silver thread" or
the "silver cord"? Why silver?
What are the deeper occult implications of the term "silver"?
Contrast the "golden bowl" with the "silver cord"?
31.
p.
115: What does it mean that our Solar Logos is a Logos of the fourth order?
32.
p.
116: What is the difference between systemic ethers and cosmic ethers? In what
way are the so called cosmic ethers truly "ethers"?
33.
p.
117: According to your understanding, what is the cosmic physical plane?
34.
p.
118: Please explain how, according to H.P.B., matter and ether are synonymous
terms. What has this idea to do with the
existence and nature of the cosmic physical plane?
35.
p.
118: Explain to the best of you ability the term Mulaprakriti. How does It
differ from Parabrahman? Does It, in
fact?
36.
p.
119: Explain the systemic etheric plane and the cosmic etheric plane (the
buddhic) as "meeting grounds."
37.
p.
120: Please give your present understanding of the differentiated functions of
the three types of Monads: Monads of Will, Monads of Love and Monads of
Activity. How are these functions
different from that of souls upon the first, second and third rays?
38.
p.
120: Compare and contrast the functions of the Manu, the Bodhisattva and the
Mahachohan. What are the meanings of
these terms? With which of these great
Individualities and Their offices do you feel yourself to be essentially
related?
39.
p.
121: What is a Heavenly Man? Is this Entity any different from a Planetary
Logos? If so why? If not, why not?
40.
p.
121: What does it mean that man is a "cell" within the body of a
Heavenly Man? What does this statement imply about the origin of man?
41.
p.
121 plus note 57, p. 122: What in essence are the nature, functions and most
important relations of the three solar
systems?
42.
p.
122: Consider the protective purpose of the etheric body. What, in essence, are
these protective functions? Have you experienced them? If so, how so?
43.
p.
124: What is etheric "dross"? How can it cleansed? Why should it be
cleansed?
44.
p.
124: What, in practical terms, does it mean (in relation to the chakras) that
the "wheels turn upon themselves."?
45.
p.
124-126: What is the effect of Kundalini in the etheric system? What is this
great force meant to accomplish?
46.
p.
126-127: What are the dangers of premature awakening or incorrect handling?
47.
p.
127: What is your understanding of the term "lost souls"? What has the creation of this state to do
with the incorrect unification of the fires?
First Semester - Section 3
A Treatise on Cosmic Fire pp. 128-161
Note: Please keep in mind that it
is not necessary to understand it all at first reading. The sections are repeated and developed
further along the book. Trust that as
you read further the detailed whole will become clear to you.
1.
p.
129-130: What are the three main causes which bring about the withdrawal of the
etheric body of a man, a planet, or a solar system?
2.
p.
130: What is the relationship existing between the four planes of abstraction
for the following units: the physical permanent atom, man, the Heavenly Man,
the Logos? What parallelism exists between these planes of abstraction?
3.
p.
135: When the three major triangles on p. 135 are considered, what are the
correspondences between them? For instance, what is the correspondence to the
pineal gland in the two lower triangles, and so forth?
4.
p.
136: Is the Alta center a physical or etheric center?
5.
p.
137: Enlarge upon the etheric processes that parallel the building of the
antahkarana.
6.
p.
139: Upon what Ray is the progression of Kundalini up the spine dependent?
7.
p.
139: Please describe, in essence, the ascent of the kundalini fire, and its
subsequent blending with pranic fire, the fires of manas and the fire of
spirit.
8.
p.
140: What is the occult interpretation of the Biblical statement: "The
path of the just shines ever more and more until the day be with us." What
has it to do with kundalini and the building of the antahkarana?
9.
p.
142-143; 150: State your understanding of the Third Logos, its name, goal,
function, mode of action, and the Law under which It functions.
10.
p.
143-145; 150: State your understanding of the Second Logos, its name, goal,
function, mode of action, and the Law under which It functions.
11.
p.
144: Explain how it is possible that the Law of Repulsion should be an aspect
of the Law of Attraction.
12.
p.
145: What are the dynamics by which, according to the Law of Evolution, the
three cosmic laws (of Economy, Attraction and Synthesis) supersede each other?
13.
p.
145: Sometimes the Sun is referred to as the eighth among eight brothers, and
sometimes the Sun is said to have six brothers. Wherein lies the discrepancy?
14.
p.
145-150; 150-152: State your understanding of the First Logos, its name, goal,
function, mode of action, and the Law under which It functions.
15.
p.
148: What, in your estimation, is the relationship between the Law of Synthesis
and the principle of abstraction?
16.
p.
149-150: What is an occult Law? Is there
a hierarchy of Laws If so, what
determines this hierarchy and where a given law is placed within such a
hierarchy?
17.
p.
152: What are a few of the profound implications which stem from the following:
Every sphere in the body macrocosmic
rotates.
18.
p.
152: What do you suppose is the principal "reason" for the dynamic of
rotation? What purpose does it serve?
19.
p.
152: If a plane is essentially a state of consciousness, how can it be said to
rotate?
20.
p.
153: What do you suppose are the meaning and implications of the statements:
"The planes rotate from east to west. The rays rotate from north to
south."?
21.
p.
152-156: From rotation come separation, momentum, friction and absorption. What
are the occult correspondences to these various states of motion?
22.
p.
156: You have here two tabulations concerning sources and kinds of energies.
Can you correlate these two triangles, and give justifications for the
correlations you determine?
23.
p.
157-158. The three qualities of rotary motion are inertia, mobility and rhythm. What are the esoteric implications of these
three modes of motion?
24.
p.
159-161: Consider the following occult statement: “Every
rotating sphere of matter can be pictured by using the same general cosmic
symbols as are used for the portrayal of evolution: the circle, the circle with
the point in the centre, the circle divided into two, the circle divided into
four, and the swastika.” What are
the meanings of these various symbols and their progression from the first to
the last? How would you apply these
symbols upon the solar, planetary, human and atomic level—but especially upon
the human level?