Commentary on Rule VIII for Disciples and Initiates
Part IV of V
Focus for the Fifth Month of Study on Rule(s) VIII
(Underlining, Bolding and Highlighting, MDR)
Let us now briefly interpret or rather paraphrase the [Page 164] four sentences by means of which I have sought to embody this law, or as much of it as it is possible to put into words, for the enlightenment of the initiates of the future.
1. Finally, at the end of the chapter on Rule VIII, we come to an interpretation of the four sentences by means of which Master DK (at the beginning of the chapter) sought to embody the Law of the Supplementary Seven. We recognize, realistically, that He wrote these four sentences “for the enlightenment of the initiates of the future”. Some of the ones for whom He wrote are in incarnation at this time.
2. In many ways, the Law of the Supplementary Seven is a Law concerning death, and, of course, Life. We are dealing with the eighth Rule, naturally correlated to Scorpio. Scorpio per se has rulership over the death processes and, through one of its rulers, Pluto, is related to the processes of death and abstraction.
3. The number eight is also related to the antahkarana, and in the lines of connection between the various septenates, we are dealing with the individual antahkarana, the group antahkarana and its extensions—into Hierarchy, and even, into Shamballa.
4.
The lines of transmission between
septenates come under the
5. Beginning with Rule VIII, we deepen our occultism, and enter into the technicalities of the higher initiatory process.
1. The Law demands the entrance of that which can effect a change.
Bearing in mind what I have elsewhere given, it is obvious that that which must find entrance is that vital concentrated will which, when set in motion in an individual, in a group, in a nation, in a kingdom of nature (a planetary centre), and in the planet as a whole, i.e., in all the planetary centres simultaneously, will cause a stirring, a changed measure, a new movement and momentum, an uprising and a consequent abstraction.
6. The Law demands an entrance of the first aspect of divinity in the form “vital concentrated will”. Note, that because this will is “vital”, it is a “living” will.
7. Let us tabulate the effects of that vital concentrated will, once it enters:
a. A stirring
b. A changed measure
c. A new movement
d. A new momentum
e. An uprising
f. A consequent abstraction
8. It matters not into what kind of group that will gains entrance; the final result will be an abstraction
The changes wrought in the centres when the death of the physical body is taking place have never yet been observed or recorded; they are, however, definitely present to the eye of the initiate and prove most interesting and informative.
9. DK speaks of the changes which can be observed in the human chakras as the death processes are occurring.
It is the recognition of the condition of the centres which enables the initiate to know—when in process of bestowing healing—whether the physical healing of the body is permissible or not. He can see whether the will principle of abstraction to which I have been referring is actively present or not.
10. These are important statements for healers. If the “will principle of abstraction” is present in the one seeking healing, it is not permissible to work against it.
11. For every healer the principle, “Not my will but Thine be done”, is indispensable.
The same process can be seen taking place in organisations and in civilisations in which the form aspect is being destroyed in order that the life may be abstracted and later again rebuild for itself a more adequate form.
12. Under this Law, the destruction of the form is always purposeful and serves, at length, the greater expression of life.
13. We remember that the Law of the Supplementary Seven is a Law of Life, (a lesser aspect of the Law of Synthesis) and is related to abstraction, destruction and the rendering supplementary of a septenate no longer needed.
14. When the vital will enters, it initiates a process of abstraction. This Law is inseparable from the concept of abstraction.
15. It is as if Life calls to a lesser life, and the lesser life responds to the greater. The life has been immersed in form, and the impact of the will signals that the time has come for the liberation of the confined life aspect. This again, as we can see, relates to Scorpio and the dynamics of death.
16. The “uprising” caused by the impact of the will is related to Pluto (the symbol of which is the upward-pointing “arrow of death”). Scorpio definitely represents an ending and a beginning.
17. It is important to realize that the processes of death and the kundalinic processes are closely related.
18. Interestingly, all the planets ruling or strongly associated with Scorpio are related to kundalini and the base of the spine.
a. Mars is related to “kundalini latent”
b. Mercury to “kundalini active”
c. Pluto, definitely, to the base of the spine center.
d.
Uranus (exalted) wields the seventh
ray and is thus related to the seventh center, the base of the spine. From
a certain perspective, the Sun can be seen as the ruler of the entire crown
chakra and Uranus the ruler (for advanced man) of the base of the spine, from
which a major kundalinic transformation is initiated. Uprisings and overthrows
are also within the
It is the same under the great processes of initiation, which are not only processes of expanding the consciousness but are rooted in the death or the abstraction process, leading to resurrection and ascension.
19. This is a deep thought to be pondered—that the great processes of initiation are “rooted in the death or abstraction process”. We may relate this to the fact that Shiva (Lord of Life and Death) is the great ascetic and guide of those upon the yogic path.
20. Initiation, especially the higher initiations, are not just about the expansion of consciousness; they are about the freedom and liberation of the Spirit. Scorpio/death/the quality of the eight/Uranus/Pluto—all these bring freedom.
21. This vital point is not usually appreciated.
That which effects a change is a discharge (to use a totally inadequate phrase) of directed and focussed will-energy. This is so magnetic in quality that it draws to itself the life of the centres, bringing about the dissolution of the form and the release of the life. Death comes to the individual man, in the ordinary sense of the term, when the will-to-live in a physical body goes and the will-to-abstract [Page 165] takes its place. This we call death.
22.
The word “discharge” (though the Tibetan
finds it inadequate) suggests a sudden, dynamic release and impact. There
appears to be nothing gradual in it. In the case of individual death it emanates
from the will aspect of the soul, and is accompanied by a “word”. In the case
of initiatic life (a greater than normal ‘death’ is intended) and it would
seem to be a monadic discharge.
Respond, O Rising One,
to the call which comes within the sphere of obligation; recognise the call
emerging from the Ashram or from the Council Chamber where waits
the Lord of Life Himself. The Sound goes forth. Both soul and form
together must renounce the principle of life and thus permit the Monad to
stand free. The soul responds. The form then shatters the connection. Life
is now liberated, owning the quality of conscious knowledge and the fruit
of all experience. These are the gifts of soul and form combined. (EH 535-536)
23. This discharge is magnetic; it involves the magnetic aspect of the first ray. In the realm of Spirit, “like seeks like”; Spirit seeks Spirit. The sudden presence of dynamic Spirit within the personality life causes the imprisoned Spirit to arise.
In cases of death in war, for instance, it is not then a case of the individual will-to-withdraw, but an enforced participation in a great group abstraction.
24. This “group abstraction” may have little or nothing to do with individual karma. This may be hard to fathom. It may be presumed that such ‘interruptions’ in the individual karmic process will be recompensed.
From its own place, the soul of the individual man recognises the end of a cycle of incarnation and recalls its life. This it does through a discharge of the will-energy that is strong enough to bring about the change.
25. The major point to be grasped is that death in its various forms is caused by a “discharge” of will energy.
26. Perhaps this need not be involuntary, and one can will one’s own abstraction by identifying with soul or Monad and willing one’s own release.
27.
These discharges come, I would suspect,
as “Words of Power”. Sound carries the discharge of will.
“Hearken o Disciple to the call
which comes from the Son to the Mother and then obey. The Word goes forth
that form has served its purpose. The principle of mind then organizes itself
and then repeats that word. The waiting form responds and drops away. The
soul stands free.” (Law X of Healing)
2. The Law demands that right direction should then guide the entering forces.
The entering forces, working under this law, are directed first of all to the head centre, from thence to the ajna centre and then to that centre which has been the governing and most active centre during the incarnation of the life principle.
28. We notice that as the will-force enters, a triangle is created. From the head center to the ajna center, and thence to that center which has been most governing and active during the incarnation. This could be, again, the ajna or head center. In any case a sequence is preserved, even if only two centers are involved.
29. Probably, for the ajna center or head center to be most active, the individual would be rather advanced. One wonders whether, under such circumstances, the Technique of Duality (which succeeds the Fusion Formulas in Esoteric Psychology II) would be in effect.
30. It must be borne in mind that for the highly advanced individual, the ajna center or head center could be the very center which has been the governing and most active during the life.
This varies according to the point reached upon the ladder of evolution, and according to the personality ray, with later the soul ray bringing about a major conditioning and change.
31. We are told that this “most active center” varies according to the point in evolution. Presumably, as evolution proceeds, the higher centers would be most active—with the exception of the base of the spine which is fully activated only at a very advanced level of human evolution (the fifth initiation). Perhaps the evolutionary order would be base, sacral, solar plexus, throat, ajna, heart, ajna, base, head—with the ajna and base of spine appearing more that once.
32. The question is not simple, because first the personality ray and, later, the soul ray enter as variables along with the stage in evolution reached.
In the work of the initiate who is consciously wielding this law, the principle of abstraction (when entering the body) is held focussed in the head and is of such a magnetic potency that the energy of the remaining centres is rapidly gathered up and withdrawn.
33. The true initiate is always majorly focussed within the crowning head center.
34. The center above the head exerts an irresistibly magnetic force on all lesser centers. They are “gathered up” or synthesized into the crown center.
35. The centers activated according to ray would be (only generally—since every center can eventually respond to every ray) sacral/7, solar plexus/6, ajna/5, ajna/4, throat/3, heart/2, head/1, base of spine 1 or 7.
36. For those within whom the soul and personality are contesting, the centers affiliated with the ray of each might also be in contest.
37. The true initiate is a conscious abstractor. He can, as it were, ‘die at will’, entering the blissful state of Samadhi which is closely related to death.
What is true of the individual process of abstracting the life principle, under the Law of the Supplementary Seven, is equally true of the process in all forms and in all groups of forms. Christ referred to this work of abstraction, as regards the third great planetary centre, Humanity, when He said (and He was speaking as the Representative of the Hierarchy, the second planetary centre into which all human beings achieving initiation are "withdrawn" esoterically), "I, if I be lifted up will draw all men unto me."
38. We are given yet another way of understanding the Law of the Supplementary Seven: this Law can be related to Christ’s great statement concerning abstraction: “I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me”.
39. The one achieving initiation is being occultly “lifted up”. It is a process involving both the life and death.
40. The great planetary project occurring at present involves abstraction from the third planetary center (Humanity) into the second (Hierarchy), or, viewed another way, from the fourth kingdom of nature into the fifth.
41. The group which can consciously abstract is rare, though presumably it is among the skills possess by that that kind of group called an Ashram.
42. It would be an interesting experiment for a group to focus together in one center after another for a sufficient amount of time to feel the changes in group energy.
43. Just as it is possible for the initiate to abstract in such a way as to enter the Ashram at will (for what is the Ashram but a state of spiritual tension?), it would be possible for a sufficiently advanced group, together, to enter the Ashram at will.
44. Always the greater center exerts a magnetic pull upon the lesser center, ‘feeding’, as it were, upon the energy of the lesser center; thus abstraction occurs. “To them that have, more shall be given; to them that have not, even that which they have shall be taken away.” This “hard saying” seems to refer to the Law of Abstraction, and the dynamics of obscuration.
A different word to this word of His will be spoken at the end of the age when the Lord of the World will speak from Shamballa, will abstract the life principle from the Hierarchy, and all life and consciousness will then be focussed in the planetary head centre—the great Council Chamber at Shamballa.
45. One day, we see, Humanity will be abstracted into Hierarchy (probably when its soul ray is the second and its personality ray the fourth); later, at the planetary “Day Be with Us”, the Hierarchy itself will be abstracted into Shamballa. The motion is the opposite of emanation—it could be called ‘emanative withdrawal’.
46. Again, this abstraction will occur in response to a “Word”, this time uttered by the Lord of the World.
47. From what is said here, it seems that Sanat Kumara will stay with our planet until it has no more need of a Spiritual Hierarchy.
48. We can wonder if this final abstraction will occur during the seventh root race of our round, or in the next or fifth round. These are the mysteries we cannot at this time penetrate.
49. In all these acts of abstraction, there is nothing lost. When the causal body is consumed in flames, the essence is abstracted into the spiritual triad. There is no loss. “Let there be no recollection and yet let memory rule”. (Rule II for Disciples and Initiates)
50. We can understand, if we follow the description of possible and coming abstractions, that one day planetary life will end in bliss.
3. The Law demands that the changes thus effected remove the form, bring quality to light, and lay the emphasis upon life.
[Page 166]
Here the three great aspects—form, quality and life—are brought into relation and the point of the evolutionary objective is seen in its true light—LIFE. Note this phrasing.
51. The idea is simple and exalted: LIFE is the evolutionary objective, and to the achievement of this objective, the Law of the Supplementary Seven leads.
52. The word “LIFE” (all in upper case) suggests conscious entry into a greater Being (or state of being) via monadic awareness.
Form or appearance, having served its purpose, disappears. Death of the form takes place.
53. The Law of the Supplementary Seven brings about the death of form and the emergence into greater consciousness of the quality aspect of divinity.
Quality, the major divine attribute being developed in this planet, becomes dominant and is "conscious of itself "—as the ancient writings put it. It is identified and individual but has no implementing form, except that of the greater whole in which it finds its place. Neither form nor quality (body nor consciousness) are paramount in the new state of Being, but only the life aspect, the spirit on its own plane, becomes the dominating factor.
54. The movement is from the third aspect into the second aspect. Quality usually needs form through which to express, but at the time this Law is called into play, the period of expression through limited form is over.
55. An “implementing form” does however remain, but it is not so localized a form. It is the form of the greater group or even of the whole, through which quality can now flow in an unimpeded manner.
56. Many of the members of Hierarchy, for instance, have no form in the three worlds, but are very effective in working through various individual and group forms within the three worlds—forms not “their own” in the personal sense.
57. It is a mystery how “quality can become conscious of itself”. This kind of consciousness has been explored by Franklin Merrill Wolfe in his book, “The Philosophy of Consciousness without an Object”.
58. Whether or not it is, strictly speaking, “quality conscious of itself” is often a subject of debate among thinkers. A more reasonable explanation is that consciousness becomes focussed in the quality aspect and withdrawn from the aspect of what we usually call form. But since we are on the cosmic physical plane, even quality is a kind of form, with which consciousness becomes totally preoccupied. There are certain meditative states in which even the individual immersed in form can become conscious of quality almost exclusively.
59. An even more advanced level of abstraction witnesses Spirit conscious of itself—or perhaps we might say, ‘fully being itself’ (because, at that level of ‘elevation’, consciousness as we know it has been transcended).
Some faint dim light on the significance of this may come if you bear in mind that our seven planes are only the seven subplanes of the cosmic physical plane. The process of developing sensitivity in this sevenfold evolution has been undergone in order to enable the initiate to function upon the cosmic astral plane, when withdrawn or abstracted after the higher initiations. He is abstracted from our planetary life altogether.
60. There are seven systemic planes in the cosmic physical plane. A kind of abstraction onto the cosmic astral plane is here discussed—this is an eighth step, corresponding to death (death with respect to the cosmic physical plane). Always this eighth Rule is associated with death.
61. A quite extraordinary reason is given for the development of sensitivity in the sevenfold evolution of the cosmic physical plane: it takes place so that the initiate is able to function upon the cosmic astral plane when abstracted from our planetary life altogether after the higher initiations. All stages in the evolutionary process have their higher objectives.
Only one factor could prevent this, and that might be his pledge to serve temporarily within the planetary ring-pass-not.
62. Gradual abstraction is a natural process, and eventually the cosmic astral plane becomes an attainable ‘destination’. This attainment, we are told, can be delayed if for reasons of service the entity capable of such abstraction decides to ‘remain below’ for service purposes—choosing in this connection the Path of Earth Service.
Such Members of the Hierarchy Who pledge Themselves to this work are stated to have the Buddhic consciousness, and the line of Their descent (occultly understood) is from the Eternal Pilgrim, the Lord of the World, then the Buddha, and then the Christ.
63. The sacrifice of these Saviors is to remain identified with the consciousness aspect rather than giving themselves fully to the blissful Spirit aspect. They are Bodhisattvas and remain, like the Lord of the World, “prisoners of loving intention”.
64. The line of descent of these exponents of the buddhic consciousness is noteworthy:
a. The “Eternal Pilgrim, the Lord of the World” [I think it is correct to equate them]
b. The Buddha
c. The Christ
65. Above and beyond the Eternal Pilgrim and inspiring this flow of buddhi energy, will be found our Solar Logos, Sirius, the Pleiades and the Dragon (both these last two are source of cosmic buddhi)
They remain identified through the free choice with the "quality seen within the light," and for the term of Their freely rendered service They work with the consciousness aspect in order to lay the emphasis later upon the life aspect.
66. Since these Saviors remain identified with “quality seen within the light,”, They do not give themselves fully to the implications of Rule IX, which says, “Let the group know there is no colour, only Light, and then let darkness take the place of light, hiding all difference, blotting out all form”.
67. It is reasonable to think that those possessed of the second ray Monad will be found serving in this way. The Buddha, interestingly, does not have a second ray Monad, and, we are told, that the choice of the Path of Earth Service was, for Him, an incorrect choice.
68. There is reason to suspect that Sanat Kumara is a second ray being at a very high level of His energy system.
69. Cosmic Buddhi, the Dragon, the Pleiades, and the second ray (resonant to the second ray soul of this planet) are all factors in choosing to delay abstraction, as we learn by studying the Path of Earth Service. “Lo, I am with you even unto the end of the….what shall we call it?—‘Age’, the ‘Platonic Age’, a ‘World Period’, a planetary manifestation…?” The various types of Saviours abide with the sphere to be waved for various periods of time. The Christ will abide (so the inference runs) until the end (or very nearly the end) of the Aquarian Age.
70. Since all entities are limited, there is eventually and necessarily, in this gradual ascent through abstraction, a “losing touch” with the dimension from which abstraction occurs. There is necessarily a “moving on” (by drawing the seven into the One), unless…the choice is to delay because of Divine Love and Compassion.
4. The Law demands that this is brought about by the One, working through the Three, energising the Seven and creating the straight line from there to here, and ending in a point which ignores the Three .
Let me paraphrase this, for detailed comment is not possible or permissible. The One directed will (of the individual, [Page 167] of humanity, of the Hierarchy) and the great Lords of Shamballa, working through the three major centres (head, heart and throat; Humanity, the Hierarchy and Shamballa), thereby energise all the seven centres (to the point of abstraction), using the straight line of the antahkarana from above downwards (from the centre of power, the head or Shamballa), and gather all upwards into a point which is neither of the Three (Shamballa, the Hierarchy and Humanity) and ignores them, for they must no longer limit the life. This point lies outside manifestation altogether. Abstraction is complete.
71. The Tibetan closes with a glorious synthetic statement—as difficult to interpret as it is glorious.
72. He simultaneously references three possible spheres of activity (or more) in relation to which the abstraction process is occurring.
73. Note that the number four is half of number eight. The theme of Rule IV is closely related to the theme of Rule VIII, but occurring on a lower turn of the spiral—more in relation to the fourth initiation, where Rule VIII deals with themes active even at the ninth initiation.
74. When considering the tetrahedron, the point elevated about the trinity, represents the point of abstraction. This point “changes geometrical plane”, just as the point of abstraction on the cosmic astral plane, changes ‘dimensional plane’.
75. The point of abstraction which lies outside of manifestation altogether may be interpreted as lying on the cosmic astral plane.
76. It is clear, is it not, that there is a numerical, rayological, astrological code in relation to these Rules, and to the subject matter which is discussed under any particular Rule. I have been amazed to see how important is the number eight in relation to the major themes brought forward in Rule VIII.
77. How interesting that in making a given septenate supplementary, the number eight is needed to complete the abstraction process, for withdrawal into the seventh center, though climactic, is not ultimate.
78. In terms of the initiatory abstraction process of human being, withdrawal into the head center to achieve samadhi would not be the final withdrawal, for the head center corresponds only to seven. A point of abstraction ‘above’ would correspond to the number eight.
79.
Note as well that the eighth
Creative Hierarchy is the one that begins to have something to do with the
Cosmic Astral Plane. It is ruled by
80. This entire Rule is about the power of the monadic aspect (the monadic aspect of whatever type of elevated being) to bring blissful release from imprisoning supplementarity and a merging with the next sphere of LIFE.
Ponder, therefore, upon this doctrine of abstraction. It covers all life processes, and will convey to you the eternally lovely secret of Death, which is entrance into life.
81. Master DK ends this study of Rule VIII with one of His most beautiful statements—a most memorable statement which contravenes entirely the usual human conceptions regarding death.
82. We have no doubt that this Rule has concerned itself with the secrets of life and death.
83. It would seem that one would have to be a Master to offer this closing statement with such a blend of poetry and conviction.