Navigate the Chapters of this Book

3. THE SOLAR ANGELS, THE AGNISHVATTAS. - Part 2

The mystery of Capricorn is hidden in these five and in the Biblical words "the sheep and the goats." [ccxxxv]36  The Christian hints at this when he speaks of the Christ reigning on earth a thousand years during which the serpent is imprisoned.  The Christ principle will triumph for the remainder of the manvantara, and the lower material nature and mind will be held in abeyance until the next round, when fresh opportunity will arise for certain groups of the discarded, though the majority will be held over until another system.  Something similar again will take place on the fifth chain but as it concerns a centre in the planetary Logos of which we know but little, we need not here enlarge upon it.

The planetary chains embody centres, and as they are awakened and come under stimulation, they swing into physical incarnation certain types of manasaputras.  The type dominated by the fifth chain energy is little known as it is yet in process of evolution within another scheme, the fifth, so it is waste of our time to consider it.  It is connected with the unfoldment of the fifth egoic petal of a planetary Logos on His Own plane and consequently with the activity of the fifth spirilla.  When the hour strikes, these units of energy will "come in" from another scheme on a stream of cosmic energy which will swing through a particular systemic triangle, just as when the egos came in this round.

It might here be pointed out that the solar Angels concerned with the fifth Hierarchy are naturally a potent factor in the evolution of the fifth or spiritual kingdom; they are that which make it possible, for they not only [707] bridge the gap between the fourth and third kingdoms, but bridge that found between the fourth and fifth.

We need not consider any further this question of the fifth principle, for two reasons:

First, that the subject has been sufficiently covered for our purpose in an earlier section, and secondly, that the full revelation in connection with cosmic manas and the entities who come in on that influence may not further be revealed at this moment.  That which is given in the Secret Doctrine, and supplemented here by further details, will suffice for the investigations of students for another generation.  Each generation should produce those able to ascertain subjective fact for themselves; they will utilize that which is exoteric and known as stepping stones on the path to perfect knowledge.  They will know, and they will give out, and only the next cycle of fifty years after their work is accomplished will see the recognition by the many of the truth revealed by the few.  In the case of H. P. B. this is apparent.  On the tide of the present endeavour, the Secret Doctrine will be vindicated and her work justified.

b. On Individualisation.

(a.) The Work of the Solar Angels.  Let us briefly consider the general construction of the body of the Ego enumerating its component parts and bearing in mind that the form is ever prepared prior to occupancy.  From the study of this body, we can get some idea of, and some light upon macrocosmic Individualisation.

The causal body, called sometimes (though inaccurately) the "karana sarira," has its place on the third subplane of the mental plane, the lowest abstract plane, and the one whereon the Ray of the third Logos provides the necessary "light for construction."  (This is because each subplane comes specially under the influence of its Number, Name, or Lord.)  When the hour [708] strikes and the vehicles for buddhi are to be co-ordinated certain great Beings, Lords of the Flame, or Manasadevas, through driving external force, come in conjunction with the material of that subplane, and vitalise it with Their Own energy.  They form a new and positive impulse which co-ordinates the material of the plane and produces a temporary balancing of forces.  Hence the meaning of the "white," or transparent condition of the new causal body.  It remains with the new-born ego first to upset the equilibrium, and then to regain it, at the close of the process, producing a radiant form, full of primal colours.

At the coming in of the Manasadevas to produce self-consciousness and to bring about the incarnation of the divine Egos, four things occur on that plane.  If the student adds to these four those which have been already imparted in various occult books anent the effect of individualisation on animal man and his appearance as a self-conscious identity on the physical plane, a working hypothesis is provided whereby man can scientifically undertake his own unfoldment.  These four are given in the order of their appearance in time and space:

First.  There appear upon the third subplane of the mental plane certain vibratory impulses—nine in number—corresponding to the fivefold vibration of these Manasadevas in conjunction with the fourfold vibration set up from below and inherent in the matter of this subplane, the fifth from the lower standpoint.  This produces "the ninefold egoic lotus," which is at this stage tightly closed, the nine petals folded one upon the other.  They are vibrant, and scintillating "light" but not of excessive brightness.  These "lotus buds" are in groups, according to the influence of the particular ones of the fivefold Dhyanis Who are acting upon it and Who form it out of Their own substance, colouring it faintly with the "fire of manas."

[709]

Second.  There appears a triangle on the mental plane, produced by manasic activity, and this triangle of fire begins slowly to circulate between the manasic permanent atom, and a point at the centre of the egoic lotus, and thence to the mental unit, which has appeared upon the fourth subplane through innate instinct approximating mentality.  This triangle of fire, which is formed of pure electrical manasic force, waxes ever brighter until it produces an answering vibration from both the lower and the higher.  This triangle is the nucleus of the antaskarana. The work of the highly evolved man is to reduce this triangle to a unity, and by means of high aspiration (which is simply transmuted desire affecting mental matter) turn it into the Path and thus reproduce in a higher synthetic form the earlier "path" along which the descending Spirit came to take possession of its vehicle, the causal body, and from thence again work through the lower personal self.

Third.  At a certain stage of vibratory activity, the work of the Lords of the Flame having produced a body or form and a vibration calling for response, there occurs a practically simultaneous happening.

A downflow of buddhi takes place along the line of the manasic triangle until it reaches a point at the very centre of the lotus.  There, by the power of its own vibration, it causes a change in the appearance of the lotus.  At the very heart of the lotus, three more petals appear which close in on the central flame, covering it closely, and remaining closed until the time comes for the revelation of the "jewel in the Lotus."  The egoic lotus is now composed of twelve petals, nine of these appear at this stage in bud form and three are completely hidden and mysterious.

At the same time, the three permanent atoms are enclosed within the lotus, and are seen by the clairvoyant as three points of light in the lower part of the bud, beneath [710] the central portion.  They form at this stage a dimly burning triangle.  The causal body, though only in an embryonic condition, is now ready for full activity as the eons slip away, and is complete in all its threefold nature.  The matter aspect, which concerns the material form of the man in the three worlds, or his active intelligent personal self can be developed and controlled through the medium of the mental unit, the astral permanent atom and the physical permanent atom.  The Spirit aspect lies concealed at the heart of the lotus, in due course of time to stand revealed when the manasadevas have done their work.  The will that persists forever is there.  The consciousness aspect embodying the love-wisdom of the divine Ego as it reveals itself by the means of mind is predominantly there, and in the nine petals and their vibratory capacity lies hid all opportunity, all innate capacity to progress, and all the ability to function as a self-conscious unit, that entity we call Man. [ccxxxvi]37  Mahadeva sits at the heart, Surya or Vishnu reveals Him in His essence as the Wisdom of Love and the Love of Wisdom, and Brahma, the Creative Logos makes that revelation possible.  The Father in [711] Heaven is to be revealed through the Christ, the Son, by the method of incarnation made possible through the work of the Holy Spirit.  All this has been brought about by the sacrifice and instrumentality of certain cosmic entities who "offer Themselves" up in order that Man may be.  From their very essence, they give out that which is needed to produce the individualising principle, and that which we call "self-consciousness," and thus enable the divine Spirit to enter into fuller life by means of limitation by form, by means of the lessons garnered through a long pilgrimage, and through the "assimilation of manifold existences."

The fourth point to be noted is that when these three events have occurred, the light or fire that circulates along the manasic triangle is withdrawn to the centre of the lotus, and this "prototype" of the future antaskarana, if so it may be expressed, disappears.  The threefold energy of the petals, the atoms and the "jewel" is now centralised, because impulse must now be generated which will produce a downflow of energy from the newly made causal vehicle into the three worlds of human endeavour.

We have dealt with the method of individualisation through the coming in of the Lords of the Flame because it is the prime method in this solar system; whatever methods may be pursued in the varying schemes and chains, this—at the middle stage—is the universal rule.  Karmic conditions having to do with a planetary Logos may effect modifications, and bring into action manasadevas whose activity may not be the same in working detail, but the results are ever similar, and the divine Egos in their causal bodies have analogous instruments to work through....

A final point which is of profound significance is that the Agnishvattas construct the petals out of Their Own substance, which is substance energised by the principle [712] of "I-ness," or ahamkara.  They proceed to energise the permanent atoms with Their own positive force, so as to bring the fifth spirilla in due course of time into full activity and usefulness.  All possibility, all hopefulness and optimism, and all future success lies hid in these two points.

As we have seen, the work of the Agnishvattas on the mental plane resulted in a downflow of force or energy from the Monad (or Spirit) and this, in conjunction with the energy of the lower quaternary produced the appearance of the body of the Ego on the mental plane.  In ordinary electric light, we have a faint illustration of the thought I seek to convey.  By the approximation of the two polarities, light is created.  By an analogous type of electrical phenomena, the light of the Monad shines forth, but we have to extend the idea to the subtler planes, and deal with seven types of force or energy in connection with the one polarity and with four in connection with the other.  A scientific formula for the process of individualisation conveys this dual approximation with its differing types of energy in one symbol and a number, but it cannot here be revealed.

The Manasadevas are themselves energised by force from the cosmic mental plane—a force which has been in operation ever since the individualisation of the solar Logos in kalpas far distant.  They, in Their corporate nature, embody the will or purpose of the Logos, and are the cosmic "prototypes" of our solar Angels.  The solar Angels on the mental plane of the system embody as much of that will and purpose as the Logos can work through in one single incarnation and as They, in Their groups, can develop.  They work, therefore, through egoic groups and primarily, after individualisation, upon the mental units of the separated identities who go to the constituency of the groups.  This is Their secondary work.  Their work in part might be described as follows:

[713]

Primarily, they bring about the union of the divine Ego and the lower personal self.  This has been dealt with.

Secondly, they work through the mental units, impressing upon the atom that portion, microscopic as it may be, of the logoic purpose which the individual can work out on the physical plane.  At first their influence is unconsciously assimilated, and the man responds to the plan blindly and ignorantly.  Later, as evolution proceeds, their work is recognised by the man in a conscious co-operation with the plan of evolution. [ccxxxvii]38  After the third initiation, the will or purpose aspect predominates.

It might here be noted that it is the positive force of the Manasadevas that produces initiation.  Their function is embodied by the Hierophant.  He, seeing before Him the vehicle for buddhi, passes the voltage from the higher planes through His body, and by means of the Rod (charged with positive manasic force) transmits this higher manasic energy to the initiate so that he is enabled to know consciously and to recognise the plan for his group-centre through the immensely increased stimulation.  This force descends from the manasic permanent atom via the antaskarana and is directed to whichever centre the Hierophant—under the Law—sees should be stimulated.  He stabilises the force, and regulates its flow as it circulates throughout the egoic Lotus, so that when the work of unfoldment is accomplished the sixth principle at the Heart of the Lotus can stand revealed.  After each initiation the Lotus is more unfolded [714] and light from the centre begins to blaze forth—a light or fire which ultimately burns through the three enshrining petals, and permits the full inner glory to be seen, and the electric fire of spirit to be manifested.  As this is brought about on the second subplane of the mental plane (whereon the egoic lotus is now situated) a corresponding stimulation takes place in the dense substance which forms the petals or wheels of the centres on the astral and etheric levels.

(b.) Individualisation and the races.  If this treatise serves no other purpose than to direct the attention of the scientific and philosophic students to the study of force or energy in man and in groups, and to interpret man and the human family in terms of electrical phenomena, much good will have been accomplished.  The polarity of a man, of a group, and of a congery of groups, the polarity of the planets and their relationship to each other and to the Sun, the polarity of the solar system and its relationship to other systems, the polarity of one plane to another, and of one principle to another, the polarity of the subtler vehicles, and the scientific application of the laws of electricity to the totality of existence on the physical plane will bring about a revolution upon the planet second only to that effected at the time of individualisation.  I would point out here a certain significant fact which students will do well carefully to consider.

In the third rootrace [ccxxxviii] 39 individualisation took place.  It was an event which became possible through certain conditions and polar relationships, and because the scientific laws were understood and the Knowers took [715] [715] advantage of a peculiar electrical condition to hasten the evolution of the race.  It was electrical phenomena of a stupendous kind, and produced the "lights which ever burn."  It was the result of the knowledge of natural law and its adaptation to opportunity.

In the fourth rootrace another adaptation of force occurred.  Again time and opportunity were taken advantage of to open the door into the fifth kingdom by the method of forced initiation.  A third type of electricity played its part in bringing about this event, and it is the effect of this electrical phenomenon upon the units (who are themselves centres of energy) which—scientifically viewed—indicates a man's suitability for the ceremony of initiation, and his availability as a transmitter of spiritual energy to the world.  Every initiate is technically a transmitter of force and his work is consequently threefold:

1. To provide a threefold vehicle capable of the necessary resistance to the force and able to receive and hold it.

2. To transmit it as energy to the world which he serves.

3. To store up a certain amount of it for a twofold purpose:

a. To provide a reservoir of force for emergencies and for special work as required by the Great Ones.

b. To act as a dynamo for the immediate group which all advanced souls, disciples and initiates gather around them on some one or other of the planes in the three worlds.

In the fifth rootrace, another tremendous happening may be looked for, and the time lies immediately ahead.  It had its beginning in the energy which eventually culminated in the world war.  The first effect of the appearance of fresh electrical stimulation from extra-systemic [716] centres, is ever to bring about a primary destruction leading on to revelation.  That which is imprisoned must be loosed.  So it will be in this rootrace, the fifth.  Certain cosmic forces are at work and the full effect of their energy is not yet apparent.  This incoming force, the Hierarchy will avail itself of in order to push forward the planetary plans.  In every case the effect of the phenomenon is felt in some one or other of the kingdoms beside the human.  In the individualisation period, it is apparent that a tremendous stimulation took place in the animal kingdom—a stimulation which has persisted, and which has led to the phenomenon of "domestic animals" as we call them, and their relatively high stage of intelligence as compared to the wild animals.  In Atlantean days the opening of the door into the fifth kingdom, or into the stage of buddhic consciousness, had a profound effect upon the vegetable kingdom.  This effect can be seen working out in such results as are achieved by Burbank, and which are of a nature corresponding to the initiatory process in man, involving a rapid achievement of relative perfection.

In the tremendous event which is impending, in the great revelation which is near at hand, the Hierarchy will again take advantage of the time and the energy to bring about certain events which will work out primarily in the human kingdom but which will also be seen as force regeneration in the mineral kingdom.  The energy, when first felt in the human kingdom, brought about the conditions which caused the tremendous activity which resulted in war, and which is causing the present world stress; in the mineral kingdom it affected certain of the minerals and elements, and the radioactive substances made their appearance.  This characteristic (or radioactivity) of pitchblende and the other involved units is comparatively a new development under the evolutionary law, and one which, though latent, only [717] needed the drawing forth of the type of energy now beginning to pour in on the earth.  This force began to flow in at the end of the eighteenth century, and its full effect is by no means yet felt, for it will be several hundred years before it passes away.  By means of it, certain discoveries are possible, and the new order comes in upon it.  The Great Ones, Who know the time and the hour, will bring about, in our rootrace, that which corresponds to the occurrences in the earlier third and fourth races.

(c.) Methods of Individualisation.  We have seen how the characteristic method of individualisation in this solar system is the result of force emanating from the cosmic mental plane, which sweeps into activity those entities whose function it is to form the body of the ego out of their own living substance on the mental plane and thus, through their own quality and nature, endow human units on the physical plane with the faculty of self-consciousness, thus producing Man.  It is their work also to energise the mental units of all men, and to co-ordinate, by means of the force which they embody, and to energise the sheaths of the threefold lower man, so that they may in due course of time intelligently express the will and purpose of the indwelling Thinker.  Through the carrying out of this function in the case of the human family, certain planetary and systemic conditions are brought about.

The dense and etheric bodies of the Logos and of the planetary Logoi are merged, and one coherent vehicle of expression is provided for these cosmic Entities.

In the producing of self-consciousness in the human family, the full conscious occupation by the Logos involved is consummated.  It is the moment of fruition, and (from a certain esoteric standpoint) marks the attainment of one perfected Septenary.  The three involutionary or elemental kingdoms and the three sub-human [718] kingdoms find their seventh principle in the fourth kingdom in nature, 3 + 4 = 7.  When the life of God has circled through these seven kingdoms, then full self-consciousness is achieved from a certain relative standpoint, and the Son is on the way to attainment.  This relative perfection has then to be carried on to other stages, but they are stages in which the separated self-consciousness of the Identities concerned (whether human or planetary) must eventually merge itself in universal consciousness.

Certain centres in the bodies logoic and planetary are also stimulated and the Rays (if it might be so expressed) become radioactive.  It is this radiation which will eventually bring about conscious  group activity, which will lead to interaction between the planets, and which, under the Law of Attraction and Repulsion, will bring about eventual synthesis.

On extra-systemic or cosmic levels, the individualisation process produces a corresponding activity in the egoic body of the Logos, and hence increased vibration in that centre in the body of the ONE ABOUT WHOM NOUGHT MAY BE SAID, which our Logos represents.  It also produces a reaction or "occult recognition" in the prototype of the Septenate, or in the seven Rishis of the Great Bear, and this reaction in cosmic circles will persist until the end of the mahamanvantara, when the Logos is set free (even though temporarily), from physical plane existence.

It also brings about a setting loose of force from the cosmic mental plane which is cyclic in character.  In this round, the fourth, the maximum force of this cycle was felt in the third root race.  In the next round, during the fourth root race, and for a very brief period, a fresh cycle will reach its zenith, and will again open the door of individualisation in order to permit the entry of certain very advanced Egos who are seeking [719] incarnation in order to carry out a special piece of work.  This round will provide no bodies adequate to their need.  The next round may do so if the plans proceed as anticipated.  In this case the Manasadevas concerned will not individualise animal men as in the previous round, but will stimulate the mental germ in those members of the present human family who—as H. P. B. says—though apparently men, are without the spark of mind. [ccxxxix]40  During the next seven hundred years, these low aboriginal races will practically die out and will not—in this round—reincarnate.  They will be rejected .  In the next round opportunity will again occur, and the Manasadevas will again renew their work of forming individualistic nuclei for the development of self-consciousness.  The Egos awaiting opportunity will not, of course, enter in until the human type of that era is sufficiently refined for their purpose.  They are concerned with the unfoldment of the sixth petal of the logoic egoic Lotus, and are of such a nature that we can scarcely conceive of them.  They are on the line of the Buddhas of Activity, but the above named are free for this mahamanvantara, whereas these particular Egos have yet somewhat to work out.  They could only "come in" in the middle of the fifth round, and were a group of initiates who arrested their own evolution (technically speaking) in order to take up a special piece of work on the planet Vulcan; therefore, they must return to continue and complete that which has been left undone.  Owing to the results of their experience on Vulcan, the physical vehicle necessitated is of such an order that they could not at this time, and in this round, incarnate without disaster.

Individualisation in the next round will begin to show indications of the third method,—that of the next system. [720] This method has been described as that of "occult abstraction."  It will concern itself with the withdrawal from out of the lowest type of the then existing men (through knowledge of the etheric constitution of the body) of the vitality latent in it, and a temporary turning of that latent fire to the increase of the activity of the germ or spark of mind; this will be effected by a dynamic action of the will.  This seems impossible, and well nigh senseless phraseology when considered in terms of consciousness and of spirituality, but let the student study the phenomenon in terms of the cosmic physical plane, and from the standpoint of the gaseous and etheric subplanes, and he will see that in all these septenary fires it is ever the fire of matter in reality, and these sevenfold diversifications of electrical phenomena can ever affect each other.

Thus, in the mahamanvantara, the three methods of individualisation in connection with our planetary scheme are to be seen

a. In the Moon chain, the gradual evolution of self-consciousness under natural law.

b. In the Earth chain that of achieved self-consciousness through the aid of extraneous agencies.  It is the distinctive method of this system.

c. In the next round and chain the method will be abstraction through will power, but this in an embryonic manner.

I have dealt with these three from the standpoint of our own scheme.  In all the schemes whereon man is found at some period or another, these three methods will be contacted.  They mark the gradual control by the Logos on cosmic levels of His threefold lower nature.  In the first, the correspondence lies in the latent consciousness of matter, and works under the Law of Economy.  It concerns primarily the Self-consciousness of the Logos [721] in His dense physical body, and His polarisation therein.  It is likewise the same for a Heavenly Man, and a part of the mystery of evil is to be found in the readiness of certain of these cosmic entities (particularly our planetary Logos in the moon chain) to remain polarised in the physical etheric body after having supposedly dominated the material aspect, or gained the control of the third Fire in an earlier system.  A hint lies here for the wise student anent present evil on this planet.

The second correspondence concerns the latent "consciousness of desire," and works under the Law of Attraction; it is the law for this system, and deals with the ability of the Logos to "love wisely," in the occult sense of the term.  It has relation to the polarisation of the Logos in His astral body, and produces the phenomenon called "sex activity" on all planes in the system.  In the earlier system, emancipation was effected through the faculty of discrimination, though that word as used to-day is but a faint indication of the systemic process in those days.  Through the force engendered during the process that vibration was set up which persists to-day in matter.  It is evidenced by the active intelligence and the discriminative selective capacity of the atom of substance.  In this system emancipation will be brought about through the line of occult dispassion; this likewise will leave its mark upon matter, tinging it in such a way that in the third system, primordial substance will demonstrate a second quality.  In the next system "non-attachment through abstraction" is as near as we can get to the method of the liberating process but it is useless for man to speculate upon this as his mind cannot conceive of the condition.

(d.) Avatars, Their nature and Their Work.  We have, in our discussion above, connected the phenomenon of individualisation with the appropriation by the Logos, or by a planetary Logos, of Their dense physical vehicles, [722] and Their self-conscious existence through the medium of the physical body.  A very difficult and mysterious subject might be touched upon here,—that of AVATARS, and though it will not be possible for us to expound it fully, as it is one of the most occult and secret of the mysteries, perhaps a little light may be thrown upon this profound subject.

For purposes of clarity and in order to elucidate a matter of extreme difficulty to the occidental mind above all (on account of the fact that it has not yet grasped the rationale of the process of reincarnation), it would be wise to divide the differing types of avatars into five groups, bearing in mind that every avatar is a Ray, emanated from a pure spiritual source, and that a self-conscious entity only earns the right to this peculiar form of work through a previous series of lives of achievement.

1. Cosmic Avatars.

2. Solar Avatars.

3. Inter-planetary Avatars.

4. Planetary Avatars.

5. Human Avatars.

As just said, an avatar is a Ray of effulgent and perfected glory, clothing itself in matter for the purpose of service.  All avatars in the strict sense of the word are liberated souls, but the cosmic and solar avatars are liberated from the two lower planes of the cosmic planes.  While the planetary and the interplanetary avatars are liberated from the cosmic physical plane, our systemic planes, the human avatar has achieved freedom from the five planes of human endeavour.  In a strictly technical and lower sense, a Master in physical plane incarnation is a type of avatar, for He is a "freed soul" and therefore only chooses to incarnate for specific purpose, but we [723] will not deal with Them.  Let us again subdivide these groups so as still further to clarify our ideas:

1. Cosmic Avatars:  They represent embodied force from the following cosmic centres among others:

a. Sirius.

b. That one of the seven stars of the Great Bear which is ensouled by the prototype of the Lord of our third major Ray.

c. Our cosmic centre.

They represent entities as far removed from the consciousness of Man, as man is from the consciousness of the atom of substance.  Thousands of those great cycles which we call "a hundred years of Brahma" have passed since They approximated the human stage, and They embody force and consciousness which is concerned with the intelligent co-ordination of the starry Heavens.

They have achieved all that man can conceive of as the transcendence of will, of love and of intelligence, and in the synthesis of those three have added qualities and vibrations for which we have no terms, and which cannot be visioned by even our highest adepts.  Their appearance in a solar system is very unusual, and is only recognised on the highest two planes.  Yet, owing to the material nature of our solar system, Their advent is literally the appearance in a physical form of a spiritual Being Who is fully conscious.

Such entities from Sirius appear at the occasion of the initiation of the solar Logos, and They have a peculiar connection with the five Kumaras and through Them (using Them as focal points for force) with the Mahachohan's department in all the occult Hierarchies of the system.  Only once has such a Being visited our system, in connection with the appearance in time and space of the five mind-born Sons of Brahma.  The effect of such a visit as that of the Avatar from Sirius is seen [724] as the sumtotal of civilisation and culture, viewing these from the standpoint of the entire system and in one flash of time.

An avatar from the cosmic centre will appear as pralaya is nearing and will produce in the body of the Logos that which we call "Death."  He is the cosmic Reaper, and (to reduce the above to words of an understandable nature) He belongs to a group which represents the abstracting energy of the cosmos, of which we find faint correspondences in the work of the "destroyer" aspect of the Logos, and in the forces which produce physical death, and the disintegration of the physical body of man.  It is not possible to say more on these fundamentally esoteric matters, and the value of what is said lies largely in the bringing to the mind of the student the reality of our cosmic interrelation.

2. Solar Avatars:  These avatars are of three types though there are really many more.  They are also extra-systemic visitors, and are mainly concerned with certain processes in the system, among others the administration of the law of cause and effect, or of karma.  They embody the karma of the past kalpas as far as our Logos is concerned, and give the initiatory impulse to the processes of adjustment, of expiation and of recognition as it concerns the present system as a whole.  One such Entity, the "Karmic Avatar" appeared upon the second logoic vibration, being swept in on the second Breath; He has stayed until now:  He will remain with us until all the schemes have entered upon their fifth round, and are nearing their "Judgment Day."  At that time, He can withdraw, leaving the planetary Logoi concerned to fulfil the karmic purpose unwatched.  The vibratory impulse will then be so strong and the realisation of the buddhic principle so consciously vivid that nothing can then arrest the onward march of affairs.  Under Him work a number of cosmic entities who, as stated in the Secret Doctrine ,[725]  [ccxl]41 have the privilege of "passing the ring-pass-not"; these are, nevertheless, not avatars for They are Themselves evolving through the administration of karma.  It is Their work, and opportunity to progress.  An avatar can learn nothing from the place of His appearance.  His work is to apply the force of some type of electrical energy to substance in one of its many grades, and thus bring about anticipated results.

Another type of solar avatar, Who can be seen appearing in the schemes, has relation to the heart centre of a planetary Logos, and appears on the higher planes (never on the lower) when the heart activity is making itself felt, and when the energising process is seen to bring about three things:

a. An expansion of consciousness.

b. An increase of spiritual light and brilliancy.

c. Planetary radioactivity.

It is this planetary phenomenon which produces (in connection with the fourth kingdom in nature) the throwing open of the door of initiation to man.  Such avatars do not come in connection with any particular Hierarchy but only in relation to the total system.  They produce the blending of the colours, and the synthesis of the units in their groups.

At the initiation of a planetary Logos, an avatar may appear in His scheme on the seventh globe from that cosmic centre or star which is ensouled by the particular Rishi Who (in the constellation of the Great Bear) is His cosmic prototype.  This is, for the Entity concerned, the taking of a physical form, for our higher planes are but matter from Their standpoint.  This has been emphasised frequently, as its significance is not yet sufficiently grasped.  By means of the appearance of this Avatar on the seventh globe, the planetary Logos is [726] enabled to preserve continuity of cosmic consciousness even when in physical incarnation; this solar avatar performs the same function for the planetary Logos as the Guru does for His disciple.  He makes certain events possible by means of the stimulation and protection of His aura, and He acts as a transmitter of electrical energy from the cosmic centre.  We must be careful to hold this analogy very lightly, for the real work accomplished cannot be grasped by man.  This avatar has naturally a direct effect upon the centres of the Heavenly Man and therefore upon the units or human Monads, but only indirectly and upon the Monad on its own plane.  This influence meets with little response from the Monad until after the third Initiation when its conscious life becomes so strong that it grips afresh its egoic expression in one direction, and awakens to planetary realisation in another.  This type of avatar appears only at the time of the initiation of a planetary Logos.  The number of initiations taken by a planetary Logos in this system vary from two to four.

3. Interplanetary Avatars.  A very interesting group of avatars is here to be found.  They are mainly concerned with three things:  first with the superintendence of the transfer of force units or egoic groups from one scheme to another (not with individual units from chain to chain).  They appear usually twice in the history of a scheme, and though unable to take physical bodies of grosser material than those formed of atmic and the buddhic substance, they work with impulse in mental matter and thus effect these group transfers.  They Themselves are subdivided into three groups:

a. Those effecting the transfer from the minor schemes or Ray manifestations on to the third Ray; They concern Themselves with the result of the merging of the polar opposites in the four [727] lesser schemes until but one is left; and then with the transference of the life and quality of this remaining one on to the third Ray.

b. Those dealing with the transference and interaction of the life forces between the three major Rays.

c. Those producing the final systemic transfer at the end of the age.

Secondly, certain avatars from the fourth Creative Hierarchy, for esoteric and for us inexplicable reasons, leave Their Own Hierarchy, and appear in one or other of the deva Hierarchies.  This happens only once in the history of each scheme and occurs at the time of its densest physical appearance, and has relation to the transference of deva impulse from one scheme to another.  They are connected in this way with the appearance of the self-conscious units, being the primal embodiment of the latent self-consciousness of the atom of deva substance.  They set the type for the devas of any particular scheme.

Once in the history of each scheme, an avatar from the constellation Capricorn appears on mental levels.  This level is the lowest one on which these interplanetary deities appear.  No more can be communicated on this matter.  "The mystery of the goat" lies hidden here.  This avatar makes His appearance in the third round of the third chain, and disappears in the fifth round of the fourth chain.

These interplanetary avatars come in, as the products of much earlier kalpas when systemic conditions are refined enough to permit of Their appearance.  They are the nirmanakayas of an earlier solar cycle Who now again take the opportunity to effect (in an active sense and through physical manifestation) certain uncompleted work.

4. Planetary Avatars.  These emanate from the central [728] planetary Logos of a scheme and embody His will and purpose.  They are of two different kinds.  The first type is a manifestation on etheric physical levels of the planetary Logos Himself for a specific length of time.  It involves the definite taking of a physical body by one of the Kumaras.  Such an avatar is to be seen in Sanat Kumara, Who, with the three other Kumaras, embodies the four planetary quaternic principles.  In a very real sense, Sanat Kumara is the incarnation of the Lord of the Ray Himself; He is the Silent Watcher, the great Sacrifice for humanity. [ccxli]42

As noted in the above paragraph, there are secondly three Entities Who embody planetary principles.  They are (speaking from the present standpoint) the dynamic energy which holds together the three lower kingdoms, viewing these kingdoms as units and not as differentiations.  They are closely connected with the energy aspect of the three earlier chains, and it only needed the work of an interplanetary avatar (at the formation of the triangle which resulted in the individualisation period in Lemurian days) to enable Them to take etheric bodies and incarnate among men.  They act as focal points for the energy of the planetary Logos on His own plane.  The first Kumara is in a mysterious sense the energy which produces self-consciousness in the human family.  The three other kumaras, or the three Buddhas of Activity, act as similar focal points for the energy which animates the three lower kingdoms, and which produces their differing grades of consciousness.  It is not possible to express this great mystery more clearly but if the student couples these few hints with those earlier given in the Secret Doctrine, the mystery of the "Holy Four" may be somewhat clarified from the standpoint of energy and evolution.

The times and seasons of their appearing vary according [729] to the particular karma of the Lord of the Ray, and nothing in connection with these great cycles, and incarnation periods, can be revealed to the unpledged and the profane.

5. Human Avatars.  These are fully dealt with by H. P. B. and there is nothing further to add to her information, for the time is not ripe. [ccxlii]43  All the above has its place here, as it concerns the mystery of force and consciousness, and the fullest manifestation of a planetary Logos and of a solar Logos in a dense physical body is hidden in the appearance of these various avatars and in their effect.

(e.) Individualisation, a form of Initiation.  There is but little more that can be said at this time anent individualisation.  What has been said here and in the Secret Doctrine is but a manner of endeavouring to express profound and significant facts, concerning existence and manifestation, in terms of human thought, and through the limiting medium of language.  From the most esoteric standpoint "Man is a deva;" he is Spirit and deva substance, united through the work of conscious deva energy.  He unites within himself the three aspects of the Deity.  He is, while in objectivity:

1. The Self, the Not-Self, and the intelligent link in a very vital sense.

2. He is Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma, in synthetic manifestation.

3. He is the medium whereby the Will of God, the Love of God, and the Mind of God become intelligible and apparent.

4. He is positive electrical force, plus negative electrical force, plus the equilibrising medium.

5. He is the Flame, the Fire, and the Spark in essential manifestation.

6. He is electric fire, solar fire and fire by friction.

[730]

But the point which it is necessary here to emphasise, is that man does not, in space and time and in the three worlds, demonstrate all these aspects simultaneously, but only simultaneously towards the close of the process of evolution.  As in the Macrocosm, Brahma manifests activity first, then the second or middle aspect and finally the first or purposeful will makes itself seen, so with the microcosm.

The Brahma aspect, that in which the Not-Self or material aspect is apparent and predominant.  This covers the sub-human stages, and the first three cycles of the Personality Life:

a. First cycle.............savage state.

b. Second cycle........average man.

c. Third cycle............intellectual successful man.

The Vishnu aspect, that in which the love-wisdom aspect gradually predominates and emerges through the medium of the Brahma aspect.  It covers the final two stages of the human personality life, and that period of egoic growth which embraces the final two Initiations:

a. First cycle.............The Path of Probation.

b. Second cycle........The Path of Initiation.

(till the third Initiation)

c. Third cycle............That covering the fourth and

fifth Initiations.

This is the temporary consummation, but just as in the animal kingdom, the human mind was latent and instinctive, and just as in the human kingdom the buddhic aspect is latent and instinctive, so during the final cycle of human endeavour, the Atma, or highest aspect of the Monad, is also latent and instinctive.  This must produce later stages of development.  There are no gaps in evolution, and no periods wherein there is total absence of any one aspect; all are ever present but they [731] "show forth" in alternation.  Only when the fires of matter are blazing brightly, and become radiatory, does it become possible for the fire of mind to show forth, even though ever inherently present.  Only when these two fires of matter and of mind have reached a stage of energetic heat and light, can the electric fire of Spirit show forth in its glory.  Only again when these three are unitedly burning does the fire of matter die down for lack of that which it may consume, and only when that occurs is it possible for the fires of mind (on mental levels) to burn up that which it has hitherto animated.  When this is accomplished, the fire of pure Spirit (increased and intensified by the gaseous essence of the fire of matter, or "fire by friction," and coloured, and rendered radiatory by the fire of mind) blazes forth in perfected glory, so that naught is seen save one vibrant flame.  This idea can be extended away from Man to a Heavenly Man, and again to the Logos in His cosmic relationship.

Individualisation marks one stage of the process in the intensification of "fire by friction."  It has relation to the achievement of Brahma, and marks a point in the energising of substance.  Certain forms are ready for self-consciousness.  Two cosmic Rays of differing polarities are mutually attracted.

Initiation marks a stage in the intensification of "solar Fire."  It has relation to the achievement of Vishnu, and marks a point in the evolution of consciousness, through self-consciousness to group consciousness, or universal consciousness.