Theosophy Wales:- Esoteric Glossary A

Esoteric

Glossary

Abstract ideas Embodied thoughts of the divine mind, carrying the energy of their creator and consequently the cause of phenomenal effects in the three worlds.

Abstraction (right) A mental activity, an attitude of mind which affects primarily the entire life-attitude of the personality. It involves not only the detachment from long habit, but it involves also a complete readjustment of the entire threefold person to the world of souls.

Abstract mind The interpreting agent for the Monad, and the lowest aspect of the Triad; the pattern-building facility, or the mind that works with the blue prints upon which the forms are modeled; the intuition or pure reason.

Abstract thought A function of the Self expressing itself through the higher mental or causal body.

Active intelligence The energy which animates the form aspect and which creates forms in line with the subjective purposes of the presiding intelligence - God or man, human or divine, the third ray energy.

Adept A Master of Wisdom who, having traversed the path of evolutionand entered upon the final stage of this Path of Initiation, has taken five of the initiations and passed into the fifth or spiritual kingdom, from the fourth or human kingdom.

Agni Lord of Fire and one of the oldest and most revered gods in the Vedas. Symbol of the mental plane - the fires of mind or manas.

Agnichaitans The devas who construct and build in matter of the densest kind in connection with logoic manifestation. They function on the seventh subplane of the cosmic physical plane, and are the producers of the greatest concretion. In the planetary body of our planetary Logos, the agnichaitans are the builders of the earth, His densest form, and throughout the entire solar system they are the sumtotal of that activity and vibration which demonstrates what we call the "solid substance."

Agnishvattas The builders on the fifth or gaseous subplane of the cosmic physical and, from the human standpoint they are the builders of the body of consciousness per se. From the psychic standpoint of occult psychology, they have a close connection with the physical brain, the seat or empire of the Thinker.

Agnisuryans The builders on the sixth subplane of the cosmic physical plane, our systemic astral plane. They represent the sympathetic nervous system in the logoic physical body.

Air Air is the symbol of the higher life in which the Christ principle dominates, in which freedom is experienced and the soul comes to full expression.

Akasha (1) Sanskrit root "kas" - to radiate or shine. Higher correspondence of ether and relates to the substance which is Buddhi. (2) Vitalized matter, or substance animated by latent heat. The akasha is everywhere, in it we live and move and have our being.

Akashic Records Records of all karmic action "impressed" upon the ethers. Most psychics perceive the distorted reflections on the astral plane.

Alignment (Occultly) means that a lower state has been brought into contact with something still higher; correct, unimpeded relationship; the establishment of a direct channel, not only between the one source, the Monad, and its expression, the purified and controlled personality, but also between the seven centers in the human etheric vehicle.

Alta Major center The nerve center at the top of the spine where the cranium and the spine make approximate contact; the synthesis of that which might be called nervous energy. It is the physical correspondance to the antahkarana on higher levels.

Angel See "Deva".

Angel of the Presence The devic aspect of the "causal body" of a person. The Soul whose nature is love and light and inclusive understanding.

Antahkarana (also Antaskarana) Path or bridge between higher and lower mind, serving as a medium of communication between the two. Built through meditation/visualisation, service to humanity and study of occultism. Connects the threefold personality and the Spiritual Triad.The Antahkarana embodies the response of the consciousness within the form to the steadily expanding range of contacts within the environing whole. It is built by the aspirant themself in mental matter and is the first creation of the soul-infused personality acting as a unitary being.

Appearance Expresses that which we call matter, or form, or objective expression; it is that illusory tangible outer appearance which is animated by life. This is the third aspect, the Mother, oveshadowed and fertilized by the Holy Ghost, or Life, united with intelligent substance.

Archetype The original pattern or model; the prototype; "Archos" means first and "typos" means model; a perfect example; the blue print, the basic pattern, smelling is the faculty of keen perception that eventually brings a person back to the source from whence they came, the archetypal plane, the plane where their true home is to be found; forms originate upon the archetypal planes, through the agency of divine thought, and from thence (through directed streams of intelligent energy) acquire substance as they are reproduced upon each plane, until eventually (on the physical plane) the form stands revealed at its densest point of manifestation.

Ashram A centre to which the Master gathers aspirants and disciples for personal instruction and where nothing of the personality is allowed to enter. The state of consciousness of a spiritual group.

Ashrams of Loving Intent Ashrams closest to the aura or periphery of Shamballa.

Aspect Expression; that of which quality is an emanation.

Aspiration From the Latin "ad" - to and "spirare" - to breathe, to breathe towards. Aspiration must precede inspiration, a burning desire and a fiery determination.

Astral Emotion; sentient reactions.

Astral body The emotional or feeling body. Watery in nature and the seat of our desires. One of the most difficult bodies to control.

Astral plane Simply a name given to that sumtotal of sentient reactions, of feeling-responsiveness, and of emotional substance which humanity has created. The plane of the emotions, including the polar opposites such as hope and fear, sentimental love and hate, happiness and suffering. The plane of illusion.

Astrology Essentially the purest presentation of occult truth in the world at this time because it is the science which deals with those conditioning and governing energies and forces which play through and upon the whole field of space and all that is within that field.

Atlantis A continent now submerged in the Atlantic ocean, according to occult teaching and Plato. Home of the Atlantean or fourth rootrace.

Atma Universal spirit. The divine Monad. The seventh principle, so-called in the septenary constitution of man.

Atman Man's originating source; the essential immortal "spark" or divine essence.

Atom Part of the greater whole; a center of energy or electric forc; a living entity; a little vibrant world.

Aura A subtle or invisible essence or fluid which emanates from human and animal bodies and even things. It is psychic effluvium, partaking of both mind and body. It is electo-vital and electro-mental. Etheric, astral, mental bodies. The sumtotal of the attractive forces in the field of individual activity; the quality of a sphere of radiatory activity (see Magnetic Aura).

Avatar A special emissary of Light and Love that incarnates for the benefit of humanity, having technically no karmic obligation to incarnate. There are many types of avatars, from the earthly to the cosmic. One who has a peculiar capacity (besides a self-initiated task and a pre-ordained destiny) to transmit energy or divine power, and who is capable of reflecting some cosmic Principle or divine quality and energy which will produce the desired effect upon humanity, evoking reaction and producing needed stimulation.

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