Theosophy - Miracles, Magic and Science by Luz Maria Durand
Miracles,
Magic and Science
Luz Maria Durand
WHAT
is a miracle when deeply considered? Do real miracles exist, or have they existed
in human or superhuman history? To analyse it, let us consider the following
definition:”Miracle: marvellous event, due to some super-natural
agency.” As far as I can see, that dictionary definition is completely
wrong. If the word “natural” means “pertaining to or constituted
by nature,” and the word “nature” means “the essential
qualities of things,” it is obvious that in any of the planes of manifested
Life, nothing can be supernatural. Manifestation starts in Spirit-Matter,
and both are the natural basis of all phenomena that we can perceive
which are always relative. So, I propose the following definition for a miracle:
“The inner and subtle work of natural, but not generally comprehended
and studied, universal laws.”
...seriously
considered, miracles have not, do not, and cannot exist.
When
we think of the fascinating word “miracle,” we have to remember,
with our full reverence and love, the great Teachers of the past, such as Hermes,
Sri Krishna, Zoroaster, Buddha and Christ. Did they perform miracles? No, they
did not. What they did, using the high knowledge acquired at their superior
level of thought and experience, was to manipulate certain universal natural
laws and certain hidden natural energies. They did it as easily as we
drive a car, or use and dominate the force of a big waterfall for electrical
purposes. So, the very word “miracle” was born from the astonished
ignorance of the multitudes, from the childish admiration of the illiterates,
incapable of understanding the basis and manipulation of such natural forces
and powers. It is a truism which we should have in mind, that any fact may appear
“miraculous” according to the knowledge and stage of evolution of
a given person. For instance, if some of us could go back into the fifteenth
century, carrying a radio or a television set with us, undoubtedly the people
would be frightened to death, thinking that these devices are “born of
Satan”; or, on the other hand, they may see in this a “marvellous
miracle,” which may lead them to reverence and to propitiate us as “divine
gods”. So, we must underline the fact: seriously considered, miracles
have not, do not, and cannot exist. Certain cases of apparent miracles
due to prayer, and carried on through prayer, are merely natural results of
mental force. Prayer is a tremendous astro-mental healing and harmonizing power,
more or less unconsciously used and put into action. For instance, a single
mystic or a group may pray intensively, with their minds and hearts fixed in
the direction of a certain objective. Afterwards, in accordance with the intensity
of their vibrations, and the nature of their karma, this objective is sometimes
reached and fulfilled. Then, they sincerely proclaim: “A miracle!”
They do not observe that this apparent “miracle” is only the natural
and progressive result of vibrations they themselves have generated acting as
an electrical magneto. How many followers of religions and even how many priests
would be extremely surprised, if we let them know that they are really, although
unconsciously, acting daily as black magicians! Black magic, in one of its main
aspects, is the use of our mental and astral force, in order to obtain some
selfish and material results. This matter of magic mixed with prayer becomes
extraordinarily interesting. Unsuspectingly, not only mystics but all people
act constantly as black, grey or white magicians, being animated by selfish
or unselfish, pure or impure, helpful or obstructive motives towards those around
us, and humanity as a whole. In regard to this matter, we must remember Madame
Blavatsky’s teachings: “Pure thoughts, pure feelings, pure words
and pure actions. This is the ‘Yoga of yogas,’ that can be and must
be practised always and for everybody, without any danger...”
Do relics
exist as a real fact? They do, because a so-called “miraculous”
relic, belonging to a pure and spiritual, person is saturated with his vibrations;
also, if the relic is in a temple or place of public adoration, it becomes strongly
impregnated with the thousands and millions of thoughts and feelings of the
worshippers, becoming a powerful force. It is said that once there was a very
religious woman, who asked her husband to bring, from a remote temple, a special
relic. When the man was coming home, he realized that he had forgotten to look
for the relic, and knowing that his wife would be very angry, the man suddenly
picked up from the sand a piece of a dog’s tooth. He went to the river,
washed it carefully, and wrapped it in cotton and silk. His wife and family
were anxiously awaiting the coming of the holy relic; so , as soon as he gave
it to them, it was placed, with full reverence, on their alter, and day by day
a long procession of neighbours came to worship the relic, with intense devotion
and love. After some time, they began to observe at night a glorious resplendence
coming forth from the relic, and reports of the so-called “miracle”
travelled far and wide. One day, a great scientist arrived, attracted by accounts
of the miracle, and started secret investigations. The first thing he did was
to have a private interview with the man who brought the relic from the temple.
He offered him a good sum of money and promised that he would not say anything
of it to others, if he told the truth about the relic; in response the man confessed
the whole trick. Afterwards the scientist, using his instruments, did a careful
examination of the dog’s tooth supposed to be a saint’s tooth
and found that the accumulated electro-magnetic vibrations of the religious
worshippers were the real cause of the physically perceived reflections. We
have to bear in mind, also, how, in our daily life, these accumulated devotional
vibrations contribute to form and to augment the powerful atmosphere of certain
temples and holy public and “miraculous” places of mystic adoration.
In other cases, the apparently “miraculous” waters owe their power
to some chemical substances, and individual faith and auto-suggestion do the
rest. At other times, the main agent is Devic force or invisible disincarnated
helpers’ force, acting in accordance with karma.
“When
the physical counterpart suffers, the soul smiles.”
Let us
consider another important aspect: astro-mental force mixed with healing prayer.
It is obvious that prayer lifts consciousness to the infinitude, and of course,
when in an unselfish way we pray for another’s health the intention is
useful and pure. Contemplating things from our low and dark level of evolution,
we feel it is important to keep the welfare and comfort of the physical body
uppermost. However, we rarely feel the same with regard to the spiritual Self.
I often remember a beautiful thought that says: “When the physical counterpart
suffers, the soul smiles.” When some terrific physical catastrophe happens
such as a deluge, a big earthquake, and so on, there is nothing wrong, nothing
bad but on the contrary a necessary, beneficent and good circumstance, because
it represents a collective karmic payment and a purifying agent for the future
inner progress, evolution and liberation of thousands of human souls. In this
case, though very many physical bodies may suffer hunger, cold, pain and starvation,
the catastrophe contributes to and facilitates spiritual growth and expansion
of consciousness. For example, old cities, linked with ancient traditions, at
a certain time may have to be destroyed, because they have fulfilled their basic
mission, and afterwards their accumulated, traditional vibrations become negative,
and represent a very strong obstacle for future developments of evolutions.
Tradition is useful and helpful while it keeps and protects racial characteristics
and knowledge. But afterwards it becomes a serious obstacle, when converted,
age by age, into rigidity, intolerance, prejudice and cruelty, working against
the renovating and wider flowering of life and thought. All this shows us clearly
how even wars will not exist in future purer civilizations, but at the beginning
of our century they have been in a certain way constructive and useful as every
historical and human circumstance is, when considered in the light of Theosophical
teachings.
The
hidden paths of purification and spiritual flowering need our physical illnesses,
discomforts, troubles and pain....
It is
said that once the Lord Jesus, with a group of His disciples, stayed overnight
in the house of a very old man. Next morning, when they left the house and started
walking through the mountains, they saw the granary of the poor old man being
destroyed by fire. Then one of the disciples said: “Oh, Lord, please stop
that fire!” But the Lord Jesus, with a serene and divine smile, answered:
“Use your inner Eyes of Light, and not your external and physical eyes:
this old man has in the city a son, to whom he is sending, continually, a certain
amount of money. The son does not spend it in studying, but in vices. So, occultly
considered, “the best” for both of them would be the fire that
destroys the granary. Then the old man will not be able to send more money to
his son, and the son will have to come back to work and help his father; and
by this action, his soul will be purified. So try to use always your inner
Eyes of Light!...”
The hidden
paths of purification and spiritual flowering need our physical illnesses, discomforts,
troubles and pain, as internally valuable karmic equilibrating forces and evolutionary
collaborators to the main goal: the fulfilment of human consciousness and liberation.
It being always our duty to help, to love and to act as instruments of the good
karma of others, the practice of healing prayer becomes beautiful and wise,
if we think or say always, before the use of that astro-mental power:
“Within the karma of this soul. May we all learn our lessons as soon as
possible and give of our higher service!” And although healing prayers
and ceremonies are useful and valuable as channels and instruments for the fulfilment
of good karma, we will sooner or later come to the conclusion that the highest
and wisest prayer is merely an abstract and silent meditation in which nothing
is asked for. To ask for proper inspiration, righteousness and enlightenment
to comprehend and help others is always very good, but to go on asking and asking
supposed “favours” or “miracles” from “God,”
seriously considered, is an absurdity, because our small and earthly points
of view will be in logical contradiction with the bitter and unavoidable karmic
adjustments that will have to be made. Neither “God” nor the wise
Lords of Karma need our childish claims, complaints, wrong petitions and desires
to act in Their superior planes. To suppose the Great Ones may “forget”
if we do not ask and remind Them, is to doubt Their perfection. We should not
try vainly to avoid the results of karma but should face them with courage,
serenity and wisdom. So we will achieve maturity. Karma cannot touch us,
unless attracted by our action. There is no such thing as “bad karma”
as in evolutionary paths everything is certainly and always good, necessary,
useful and valuable. Therefore, it is much better to spend time in helpful and
good deeds than to waste it in complaining and mistaken petitions. It is obvious
that we should always keep in our mind and heart constructive and beneficent
thoughts, hopes and feelings, and that we must do everything possible to sublimate
and change our so-called “bad karma” and the so-called “bad
karma” of humanity. But this must be done always harmoniously and wisely,
and without trying to force or misunderstand any circumstance. For instance,
there is a great moral and medical problem in what is called euthanasia, which
is, whether we should bring about a gentle and easy death in cases of incurable
and painful disease. From a Theosophical point of view, it must not be
done, as long and painful, unavoidable agonies are very purificatory. On the
other hand, if for instance a very old and incurable person feels and says he
has already finished his mission and earthly experiences in this incarnation,
it would be a great mistake for his family and friends to use through prayer
their inner power of thought and feeling in order to attempt to retain this
soul on earth any longer, only because they do not want to lose his physical
company and presence.
...every
prayer, in accordance with the inner evolution and liberated force of the one
who prays is a magnetic and magic energy...
Passing
to another part of our subject, the etymological origin of the word “magic”
is quite interesting: it comes from the Greek mag and agios which
means “great action”. Various English words hold the same etymological
root: mag-num, mag-nificent, mag-nate, mag-nanimos, mag-nitude, mag-netic. Really
every prayer, in accordance with the inner evolution and liberated force of
the one who prays is a magnetic and magic energy, directed straight to
the purpose of the prayer. According to the following definition of magic “Occult
control of Nature’s forces,” apparent miracles and magic
always work together. But, is there any relation between apparent miracles,
magic and science? Certainly! As science, whose definition is “systematic
knowledge,” is the hidden basis of all apparently ‘miraculous”
or “magic” facts. Really, as somebody wisely said, the so-called
“magic” is not “magical” for the magician, who knows
the natural, logical and scientific laws of its manipulation. Thus, as
for the word “magic,” an elucidation similar to the above explanation
can be given for the word “miracle”: deeply and scientifically considered,
magic does not exist, and can only be called “magic” because of
the ignorance and low grade of evolution of the person who observes and judges
it. There are certain words such as “miracle”, “magic,”
“luck” and “hazard” that must belong to and be used
only by ignorant and superstitious people. “Good luck” and “bad
luck” do not exist; only the karmic working out of the law. “Hazard”
does not exist, because, as very wisely said by H.P. Blavatsky, “there
is an uninterrupted concatenation of causes and effects in every life”
in accordance with its proper karmic and vibrating atmosphere, which embraces
even the apparently most insignificant facts. Universal mathematics cannot
fail. Hence, the so-called “magic” is a sort of “esoteric
chemistry,” while official and today’s external science is “exoteric’.
But both will have to approach day by day, and finally meet, as happened in
the golden centuries of the past, when religion, magic and science used to work
together. The “happy dream” of the medieval alchemist-transmutation
of copper into gold - had been reached by modern science. But why is it not
performed? Because the whole process is more expensive than the price of gold.
However, the main point to observe is this: Miracles, magic and science are
really “one in three and three in one,” representing another
interesting trinity of values on the philosophical human horizon. When the majority
of people gradually become aware of the fact, prejudices, obstacles and struggles
between scientist, magician and priest will tend to disappear, as all of them
are working basically in complementary aspects of the same field; all of them
are seeking the same truth through diverse angles; all of them manipulating
the same energies, although at different levels of vibration. Their whole activity
basically is science, manifesting and growing in different branches that may
be called “concrete science,” “abstract science” and
“mystic science”. As the general grade of human evolution approaches
the sixth and seventh sub-races, the three paths towards the Supreme and the
Highest, will have to mingle more and more with one another, as they are now
beginning to do. Old, superstitious and degenerated religions will have to become
friends of science, if they do not want to be laughed at by intellectual and
cultured people. Magic (also nowadays degenerated into lower psychism, and mixed
almost always with sinful and economic exploitation of the ignorant) will have
to regenerate and vindicate itself, going back to its superior and proper footing
of scientific dignity. Official science deplorably degraded in our century,
as in the atomic bomb at Hiroshima and in the tremendous daily economic exploitation
of human sorrow and pain, will have to spiritualize and purify itself, facing
and remembering this sublime attitudes and aspirations of pure and fraternal
mysticism. In fact, every one of them needs the approach and the complementary
help of the others. It is logical and natural, as all of them integrate and
constitute one of the great triangles of inner and outer force and inspiration,
among the concrete-abstract keys of present human evolution.
Only
in this philosophical serenity is it possible to reach the ecstasy of the mystic,
the magic work of the magician, and the scientific meditation and practice of
the scientist.
What
is the position of philosophy in this regard? If we have observed religion,
magic and science as three branches of the same tree, growing up to infinitude,
and based on eternal truths given to humanity, this tree is the expanding tree
of philosophy: the love of knowledge and wisdom which deals with ultimate reality
and with the most general causes and principles of things. Moral philosophy
studies the principles of human action and conduct; natural philosophy becomes
the natural basis of religion, magic and science, considered as a whole. The
philosopher is a lover of wisdom, natural and moral: one who shows philosophical
calmness in trying circumstances. Only in this philosophical serenity is it
possible to reach the ecstasy of the mystic, the magic work of the magician,
and the scientific meditation and practice of the scientists.
Frequently
it has been asked: Is Theosophy a religion, or a magical practice, or a philosophy,
or a science? Although opinions are divided in this regard, as far as I can
see, Theosophy is not and cannot be any one of these aspects of Truth separately,
but embraces them all in a higher, enriched, concrete-abstract and superior
whole. To think that Theosophy can be described or defined only in one way or
another, is to limit and mutilate its greatness. We must be, or at least must
try to be, at the same time profound philosophers, skilful scientists, beneficent,
white magicians and sweet and spiritual mystics. It is very difficult, but also
very necessary, in the century whose realities and ideals we have to serve.
A person
can have a very tender and exquisite heart, full of love and spirituality, with
compassion for all beings in the universe; but if this love and spirituality
are not supported and helped by a strong, brilliant and cultivated mind such
people will not be able to serve properly and to love intelligently.
A person can have a very strong intellectual and remarkable mind; but his mind,
without the abstract wisdom of tenderness and compassion, will become cruel
and proud. Another person can have a very strong will, but this will, without
the help and the necessary equilibrium of love and knowledge, will convert him
into a forceful and inharmonious character. So, the great “formula”
is to cultivate and blend ourselves in well-balanced proportions of love, will
and knowledge, in order to reach wise, dynamic and helpful action.
To achieve
the serenity of the philosopher, the skilled brain of the scientist, the beneficent
and attractive power of the white magician, and the always sweet and tender
heart of the pure and universal mystic, is our goal, and it embraces the supreme
art of living.
The Theosophist
1961
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