Theosophy - The Spiritual significance of Motherhood by Geoffrey Hodson
THE
SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE OF MOTHERHOOD
By GEOFFREY
HODSON
Chapter
I- The Influence and Work of the World Mother
Chapter
2- The Descent to Birth of the Human Soul
Chapter
3- Factors Influencing the Character and he Conduct of the Child
Chapter
1-
The
Influence and Work of the World Mother
Christianity,
Hinduism ( see note )and other great World Faiths all teach
that there exists a Being here on our earth Who embodies in perfection all the
highest attributes of the Feminine Aspect of both the creative Deity and the
human race, including human motherhood. She, the all-compassionate One, gazes
with infinite tenderness and concern upon life on earth. What must She see?
A frankly ruthless and nakedly cynical violation and desecration by man- chiefly,
though not entirely, by the male- of everything holy and beautiful for which
She stands. She must see everywhere throughout the world irreverence, abuse
and cruelty- the continual infliction of unnecessary suffering by man upon man,
and by man upon the animal kingdom
If it were not that
She must also know that this epoch is a phase out of which there will grow a
nobler, a fairer, a kinder and a more gentle civilization, surely Her heart
would be unbearably torn by what She must see. If we add that in Her divine
love She voluntarily remains near to humanity, that She is not only an outside
observer, not only a great Spirit removed from us, not only an ascetic Adept
who long again attained to a spiritual mountain top, but that in a mysterious
way She is actually present within our hearts, and especially within the hearts
of every woman and child, what an almost unbearable experience such nearness
to mankind would be!
I am myself profoundly
convinced that such a Being exists and that, beyond human understanding. She
is the perfected embodiment of all that is highest and noblest in womanhood.
Her heart, I believe, is filled with love and compassion for us all and, while
She does see our sins, She does not condemn us. Rather does She draw nearer
to enfold us in Her arms of love, even whilst we transgress.
St. Catherine of
Sienna, when for a time she had lost contact with her Lord and in her own eyes
had fallen deeply, asked, "Lord, where wast Thou amidst all that failure?" In
what is called the mystic locution, when the devote communes with God and hears
His voice, the Lord answered, "Daughter, I was there with thee in thy heart."
So She, the Mother of the World, is here with us in our hearts, as well as brooding
maternally over all humanity, especially now when a new racial birth is occurring,
the racial Christ-consciousness being "born". (See Theosophy Answers Some Problems
of Life- also by Geoffrey Hodson)
Let us now look at
our world and see some of the problems with which we- and so the World Mother,
since She is one with us- are confronted.
In the world of today
we observe a great reliance on force and cunning. "Let him take who has the
power and let him keep who can" is the general philosophy, particularly under
totalitarian regimes, I am aware of the existence of the United Nations and
its wonderful subsidiary agencies, but it must be confessed that, by some people,
honour, morality and goodwill have come to be regarded only as useful means
to a selfish ends. In the ultimate, all right still tends to be founded on power.
Then consider the
greatest casualty of the Second World War- loyalty. When the Spanish Commander
outside Madrid said he could easily conquer the Capital City because he had
four columns outside and a fifth column within, the world pounced on the phrase
like a writer who had been seeking a word. "Fifth Column" has since come to
connote the great corroding influence in the world today. Other times have had
their traitors but never before have such large numbers of people been willing
to band themselves together in disloyalty to bring about the downfall of the
system within which they live and are nourished, and to act secretly and subversively
even while under the protection of the National they seek to destroy. "Fifth
Column" "Fifth Column" is now a fear-inspiring phrase, a tocsin of calamity,
if ever there was one; for how can we build a brave new world unless we have
loyalty?
The world She loves
and serves is also deeply sullied by organized crime and vice, such as drug
peddling, even to children and adolescents, prostitution, white slavery- horrible
to contemplate when thinking of the World Mother and ideal womanhood. Other
evils deeply affecting the progress, happiness and health of mankind, particularly
the birth of a new and nobler race of man, with which process the World Mother
may also be presumed to be concerned, consist of monopolies, cartels, price
fixing, corruption in public, professional and business life, soil exploitation
and timber denudation. All these bring gain to the few but result in poverty,
and in some parts of the world in famine, to the many.
Other serious evils
must be known to Her. The colossal consumption of alcohol, for example, takes
more lives than war, ruins homes, degrades men and women, brings immeasurable
sorrow and loss everywhere, but very great gain to a few who do not hesitate
to foster the evil in order to acquire that gain. Then think of the wholly unnecessary
and brutal annual slaughter of hundreds of millions of animals for food which
also brings immense profit to the few, ugliness to civilization, ill-health
to millions, agonized suffering to food animals and degradation to the slaughterman.
All these wickednesses
are voluntary and quite deliberate. The infliction of the greatest possible
disaster to one's fellow-men and to animals in order to bring gain for oneself
is deliberately chosen by all too many people as a most desired way of life
and means of making money.
Such are some of
the plainly discernible phenomena of the particular phase of evolution through
which mankind is now passing. In consequence, most people go on living their
everyday life half-frightened, half indifferent, not daring to think into the
future and, as Thoreau said, " in quiet desperation". So we, the people of the
world see- as She, the World Mother, must also see- the ghastly, tragic comedy
that is being performed on the international, national, political and economic
stages, where the fate of mankind is being largely decided and individuals find
themselves relatively helpless. No wonder disillusionment, bitterness and cynicism
characterize the thinking and the outlook of youth and adult alike.
Hence the deep significance
of those Movements which focus attention on certain aspects of this problem,
particularly those concerning the birth of a new and higher Race of men and
the life and work of woman in the world. There are all too few of such Movements
on earth, born our of tenderness and compassion for humanity, out of a spiritual
vision and a recognition of the existence of a Feminine Principle in God, in
all Nature and in man.
If I may here introduce
a personal note, I well remember how the vision of the veritable existence of
the World Mother first dawned upon me many years ago. I think I was privileged
to see Her, however faintly, not only as an ideal, or even as One in the succession
of Personifications of the Mother Aspect of Deity, but also as a wondrous living
Being, the Exquisite Jewel in the Hierarchy of Earth's Adepts, the World Mother
for this epoch, the Star of the Sea, as She is severally named.
Some thirty years
ago it fell to my lot to try and collaborate with certain physicians in London
in a search for the root cause of disease. Our thoughts were constantly led
back to prenatal life where it seemed that the seeds of disease, the tendency
to disease, latent disease, first appear. In consequence, it was decided that
I should attempt clairvoyant (clairvoyance, an extension produced by self-training
and used in full waking consciousness, of the normal range of visual response,
now known as Extra-Sensory Perception or ESP) investigations (see "The Miracle
of Birth, also the description of Plates 29 and 30, and Chapter IV of The Kingdom
of the Gods by Geoffrey Hodson) . Two of the doctors owned a large Maternity
Hospital, and so ample opportunity for observation was provided. In certain
cases, investigations were made day by day and week by week into the prenatal
development of the new mental, emotional, etheric and physical bodies of the
reincarnating Egos . In certain cases the studies were followed
right through to the birth itself. Some of the principles of human incarnation
were observed and support gained for the view that susceptibility to disease
can be observed in the human embryo.
Gradually, as the
time of delivery came near, a sheen of beautiful pure blue began to unveil and
tinge the auras of both the mother-to-be and the devas (Sanskrit word) meaning
"shining ones", the Angelic Hosts.) responsible for part of the work of building
the new bodies. As the last weeks went by, this blue deepened in the auras of
the devas , who began to assume Madonna-like forms. This culminated in the appearance
at the time of birth of the Mother of the World as a veritable Presence, presiding
over the "miracle" of human motherhood and childbirth.
As a result of these
experiences, I feel that I came to know at least that She Exists and a little
of what may be seen in Her eyes and in her Heart- a divinely tender, maternal
solicitude for all mankind. I learned, I think, that motherhood should ideally
be as conscious as possible, though never at the cost of undue pain: for certain
expansions of consciousness can then be experienced which can effect, can exhalt,
the consciousness of the mother and through her that of the whole Race.
How may She be truly
envisaged? Whilst the beautiful Madonna blue is probably universal, the form
in which She presents Herself is apparently adapted to those who see Her. Possibly
their own minds shape the vision of Her into a familiar form. As those of us
who were then studying prenatal life were all Christians, She in Her compassion
may have deliberately adopted the Madonna form so that we might recognize her.
A Chinese lady once
invited me to her home and showed me her beautiful garden. Amongst the trees
were status of Kwan Yin, Goddess of Wisdom and Compassion, the Feminine Logos
of Chinese Buddhism. My hostess said to me, "I have had thirteen children and
on more than one occasion Kwan Yin Herself saved my life. When the pangs of
birth became unendurable and I would die, I saw Her there beside my bed. She
stretched out Her hand towards me and immediately the pain was eased and the
lost poise and steadiness restored, not once, but many times."
Thus I have come
to believe, even to know, that there is such a wondrous and glorious Being on
our Earth as the World Mother, that She is very near to human mothers during
pregnancy and at the time of birth. I have also learned that She ever seeks
human agents and human helpers who will serve in Her name and endeavour to live
in Her presence. Whilst women especially represent Her, She also needs men of
honour to be her knights, ever ready to fight for the weak and the exploited
and to guard with knightly loyalty all women and children, as true knights should.
Unhappily, men tend to forget the ideals of chivalry, save those who are still
knightly in their nature.
A great Mahatma once
wrote: "Not till woman bursts the bonds of her sexual slavery, to which she
has ever been subjected, will the world obtain an inkling of what she really
is and of her proper place in the economy of Nature." (See The Paradoxes of
the Highest Science , by Eliphas Levi, page 171)
On one other memorable
occasion an Angel Teacher opened my consciousness into some realisation of the
present holder of the Office of World Mother, who is Mary, the mother of Jesus.
She also attained perfection and chose that one of the seven roads open to the
Adept which leads out of the human into the Angelic Kingdom of Nature. The Angel
showed me that "She labours ever for the cause of human motherhood, and even
now is bending all Her mighty strength and calling her Angel Court to labour
for the upliftment of womanhood throughout the world. Through Her angel messengers,
She Herself is present at every human birth, unseen and unknown, it is true,
but if men would but open their eyes She would be revealed.
"She sends this message
through the Brotherhood to men:-
"In the Name of Him
whom long ago I bore, I come to your aid. I have taken every women into my heart,
to hold there a part of her that through it I may help her in her time of need.
"Uplift the women
of your race till all are seen as queens, and to such queens let every man be
as a king, that each may honour each, seeing the other's royalty. Let every
home, however small, become a court, every son a knight, every child a page.
Let all treat all with chivalry, honouring in each their royal parentage, their
kingly birth; for there is royal blood in every man; all are the children of
the KING.'"
"All nations have
recognized, honoured and worshipped this Maternal Principle in Nature. All their
exoteric religions have personified it as a Goddess, an Archangel Mother of
universes, races, nations and men. These personifications of the World Mother
are amongst the very noblest concepts of the human mind, which in creating,
reverencing and serving them reaches its highest degrees of idealism, devotion
and religious self-expression. Such reverence, such devotion and such worship
as are offered to World Mothers are therefore worthy of the deepest respect
and, gross superstition apart- ever to be resisted- may usefully be encouraged.
For through human devotion, human beings may be reached from on high. Through
human aspiration, higher love and supplication, man is susceptible to both his
own Spiritual Self and the influence of the Adept Ministrants of mankind. The
Madonna ideal, for example, has been and still is of incalculable value in consoling,
purifying and ennobling humanity. Through it, a realisation of the Mother-Love
of God has been brought within reach of millions of suffering and aspiring people.
The concepts of Kwan Yin, Isis, Ishtar, Parvati and other Goddesses are similarly
founded upon the existence, nature and function of the same great Being. Perhaps,
because I am a Christian and the cases I was examining were also Christian,
the Madonna-like forms here pictured presented themselves to my mind.
"The planetary World
Mother is conceived in certain schools of occult philosophy as a highly evolved,
Archangel Representative and Embodiment on earth of the Feminine Aspect of the
Deity. She is also thought of as an Adept Official in the Inner Government of
the World, in whom all the highest qualities of womanhood and motherhood shine
forth in their fullest perfection." (See Kingdom of the Gods pages 242-243 )
Such are some of
the thoughts and the ideals which have awakened in me since I passed through
those experiences of many years ago, followed as they have been by others. Is
it not worthwhile to be associated with such an ideal and with such a work as
Hers? I feel strongly urged to appeal to those similarly moved, that they will
participate and contribute to the best of their ability that this, Her Work,
shall not only live on and prosper, but that it shall enter on a great era
of activity in Her Name, which is the Name of Compassion, Wisdom and Universal
Love.
Chapter 2-
THE
DESCENT TO BIRTH OF THE HUMAN SOUL
The situation in
the world concerning woman, womanhood and the maternal and paternal functions
is deplorable, being chiefly characterized by the absence of reverence. Humanity,
or at least some parts of western humanity, seem to be losing the sense of holiness.
When a Nation loses its sense of the holiness of life in any aspect, and particularly
in that of the maternal function, then that nation is in a moral decline. As
I travel through the Nations of the world, I see evidences of that decline.
The moral standard everywhere is far too low. That is why I welcome and value
so greatly such a Movement as the Mothers' Research Group of America.
I feel there cannot
be too many such Movements and branches of such Movements, and that is indeed
practical Theosophy. I hope many of you who can spare the time from existing
obligations, which must always come first, will feel moved to help in this beautiful,
much-needed work.
I am now going to
offer, undogmatically, some ideas concerning the process of the descent of the
Ego into incarnation- ideas born of the study of Theosophy and of attempted
research into pre-natal life.
Let us imagine that
we are functioning in our Causal Bodies and watching the process of descent
to birth. What are we likely to see? First of all there will have been consultation
between certain high Authorities, Intelligences connected with the outworking
of karma, racial, national and individual. These beings are partly concerned
with the evolution of the Egos of humanity, give careful consideration to the
evolutionary necessities of Egos about to descent to birth. These Representatives
of the Lipika (a Sanskrit word. (A uniting) Great karmic deities of the Cosmos,
agents of the law of cause and effect) are participating at the Causal level
and there will be One Who might be called the Presiding Angel for the period
and processes of pre-natal life Who, under Its seniors, makes the decision.
This Angel knows the whole of the karma of the Ego- pleasure-giving, pain-producing
and neutral. It also knows, often by consultation with Its Seniors, how much
of benefice and how much of adversity can be worked out in the new incarnation
without hurting, injuring or holding up the progress of that Ego.
After such consultation
with Its colleagues and certain Officials in the Adept Hierarchy, the Presiding
Angel portions out in general, and very flexibly, the karmic position for the
new life. All karma , let us remember, is good karma , because it is harmonizing,
balancing and educative. Before birth the amount of karma, adverse and beneficent
in its outworking, which is to be expressed and at what levels- mental, astral
or physical- in the life about to begin, is decided upon. That knowledge will
then be handed on to the building devas at the mental and astral levels, and
it is part of their office to make the very most of the situation and to see
that any adverse physical tendencies, malformations or disease are offset by
benefices, to the end of the best possible result. They cannot, however, work
against the karma of the person. If we think of the descending Word-Force of
the Ego, sounding down into the mental, astral and physical worlds as a formative
agency which will build the corresponding bodies (This is a manifestation by
man, as microcosm, of precisely the same processes by which the Logos, as macrocosm,
forms universes out of pre-cosmic substance by the agency of Will-Thought-Sound.)
then you can think of the karma from past lives as a lateral energy. Where there
has been cruelty and the abuse of the body, the resultant discordance could
impinge on the descending Word-Force and cause a dissonance, which in its turn
will produce malformation, deficiency or weakness down in the physical body.
Then there is the
whole karmic question of the choice of country, which is not in the least accidental.
The karma of the incarnating Ego must harmonise reasonably well with the karma
of the Nation. If the Ego has a karma which could be reasonably worked out under
the stress and strain of war, or disruption, or revolution, or catastrophe,
or flood, or famine, or whatever it might be, and there is a Nation which is
going to endure those afflictions, then, other things being equal, that is the
Nation to which such an Ego would be sent. If, on the other hand, an Ego does
not have an adversity of that kind waiting in suspension between lives for its
precipitation when the conditions are ripe, then a neutral country like Switzerland
or somewhere else which was not going to be seriously affected by the war, or
invaded by the enemy or injured by catastrophe, would be chosen. The main factor
to be considered would be the harmonization of the two karmas.
Next comes the selection
of the city and the neighbourhood in which the Ego will be born. These also
are not chosen by mere chance. The outworking of karma is seen in the choice
of fellow citizens and in what is going to happen to the city and the neighbourhood,
none of which is haphazard. That brings us to the choice of parents. This involves
the perpetuation of personal or Egoic links from former lives, for nearly always
there are links of love between the Egos of children and those of their parents,
I said nearly always, for sometimes there is a bond of discord, and even dislike,
and that also can draw people together and children into a family. Then you
get the phenomenon of a child in a family who does not fit in, who is the cause
of distress, and who eventually leaves to find his own happiness elsewhere.
Both sides have had the opportunity to harmonise the situation, however, and
if they are wise they will have done so. Parents who have such discordant children
in their families should take good care to try and do their utmost to resolve
that discord into harmony, to serve and never to neglect them under those conditions.
Then the problem is more or less solved and will no recur. This knowledge is
part of the practical value of our philosophy. Of course, the true Theosophist
would act in that way in any case, but humanity as a whole does not always do
so. It would be well if we took as our guide in all problems of karma, the injunction
always to be kinder than the situation demands.
Let us remember that
big issues are at stake in a great number of our human relationships- far bigger
than we realise- and that when we meet and are drawn, or not drawn, to each
other, casually or intimately, karma is all the time being both worked out and
generated for the future. Wisdom should therefore always be applied. We should
try never to generate adversity by inflicting pain unnecessarily, and endeavour
always to be wise and balanced in the conduct of human relationships. With children
especially there should be the greatest possible kindness, love and care, however
poor the response might be and however difficult the situations.
Where the karma of
the incarnating Ego has been very adverse and there are mental or physical deficiencies,
or both, it should be remembered that the parents are really being honoured
by being chosen to help the Ego through very grave adversity. As far as is sane
and reasonable, keep the child at home, surround him with all possible love
and care, help the Ego through this time, remembering that this is a kind of
call- from God if you like- to shepherd and shelter someone through a dark period
in a series of incarnations. Where, however, the other members of the family
suffer unduly, and the situation is rather, hopeless, then it would not be wrong
to consider provision outside of the home, so long as it is helpful.
Other matters to
be considered when an Ego descends to birth are those of the class or caste
to which the parents belong, the opportunities for education and a start in
life which they can offer, the environment and special possibilities and openings
which would be provided, the educative curriculum, the type of school and teachers.
All of these are also given consideration in the choice of parenthood. Some
further factors include within fairly wide and flexible limits, the possibility
or likelihood of cruelty, as in corporal punishment at home and in school, and
the experience of harshness or lack of understanding. These would tend to drive
the more advanced type of Egos away. I will be considering these matters in
more detail later on.
Thus, according to
Theosophy, nothing is left to chance, Our lives are lived according to a strict
law which provides absolute justice for everyone, and that justice is administered
with compassion and wisdom to the end of the greatest possible evolutionary
advancement. When the Ego which is about to reincarnate is sufficiently developed,
and where there is a choice, then it may be consulted. This would especially
refer to the caste or class into which it is to be born- the ruling, aristocratic
or wealthy classes, or those of the artisan or other manual workers. Egos will
sometimes choose an adverse situation for the sake, first, of the lessons to
be learned, and second, of the service to be rendered. That is why one may find
advanced Egos in lowly circumstances.
The Inner Self of
an advanced person nearly always has a sense of a mission, knows to a considerable
extent what it wants to do with the new life, what contribution it wants to
make, what qualities of character it hopes to develop, and what existing faculties
are to be increased. A spiritually awakened Ego is well aware of these possibilities
and has ideals for he new life. There, again, a great responsibility is thrown
upon the parents. They can make or mar the incarnation, and, moreover, quite
early in life.
It should always
be recognized that it is only the body which is infantile, childish, adolescent,
and that the shining Ego is often wiser than the parents, more advanced in evolution,
and is seeking to continue the great pilgrimage of life by their aid. Everything
which draws out and encourages the highest faculties and attributes should surround
the child. Anything which suppresses, unduly represses, causes sorrow or suffering-
as by severe corporal punishment, which drives the Ego back in humiliated retreat-
should be avoided. Corporal punishment warps the personality, twists it, hardens
it, makes it deceitful, can awaken the determination to bully others in turn
when the opportunity comes. It solves no problems at all, except the mere temporary
ones of local difficulty. As one teacher said to me, "Every time I use the strap
or the cane, I consider it to be acknowledgement of defeat."
All of these possibilities
and factors and doubtless many more- problems and other influences from past
lives and the future mission of the Ego up to Adeptship- all of this is taken
into account and given consideration largely in the Causal world as the Ego
is about to descend. Particularly is this so with regard to the more advanced
and developed Egos.
Let me sum up these
ideas before I pass on to a further aspect of our subject. Each cycle of human
rebirth is presided over by members of the Orders of Angels which are especially
associated with man. At each successive rebirth, individual Egos receive the
special assistance of angels responsible for the construction of mental, emotional,
etheric and physical forms. These angels operate partly under the direction
of representatives of the Lipika. The choice of era, continent, Nation, Religion,
parents, environment and opportunity, sex, type and condition of body and degree
of potential or actual health and disease, are all decided according to law
by these presiding Intelligences. The several karmas of the incarnating Ego,
of the natal Nation, of members of groups with whom there will be association,
of the whole family and of the future husband or wife and children, are all
fully considered. The inherent rhythm of the Monad-Ego (Monad. The one, indivisible
Self-the unity; the eternal, immortal and indestructible human Spirit) the
ultimate destiny according to Monadic temperament or Ray, the past karma and
the immediate and future missions are all reviewed and with unfailing justice
the most favourable choices are made under the karmic circumstances.
Then the incarnation
begins, very much in the same way as the incarnation of a Logos in a newly emanated
Solar System. The Egoic Word, also, is uttered. The microcosmic Logos, which
is a human Ego, again turns its attention to the material worlds and utters
its Word, or sends out a ray of its own creative power, life and consciousness,
which impinges primarily upon the matter of the mental world. Think of it diagrammatically
(actually, from within outwards) if you will, as projecting downwards like a
finger of fire, or a ray of light, or a beam of creative sound vibrating on
the frequencies of the Ego's characteristic Nature, powers and faculties. Impinging
on the mental world, this ray sets up a kind of vortex into which surrounding
matter from the mental plane, vibrating on frequencies of similar types to the
Ego, is drawn in and gradually shaped into an ovoid- the embryo mental body.
The preponderance
of one or other of three gunas, or attributes of matter, rajas- activity, salva-
harmony, rhythm and tamas-inertia, is also decided by the Egoic Self and the
vibrating Word Forces by which it is expressed down there. In the very substance
of which our bodies are built, therefore, complete justice is meted out to us,
and they fit us as perfectly as is possible and as karma permits. Then the ray
impinges upon the matter of the astral plane and sets up a vortex there into
which, similarly, astral matter is drawn and the astral body begins to be built.
Again the same principles apply, because only the matter which is vibrating
on the same frequencies as those of the Egoic current of creative force is drawn
in. Resonance and magnetic properties ensure this.
These bodies look
like small ovoids, perhaps 10" to 12" high at first. They are almost transparent,
with very little colour in them. There is a suggestion of colour, however,
a kind of opalescence, like mother-of-pearl, gleaming in the otherwise white
aura of the child. These all represent skandas (Sanskrit word. "Bundles" or
groups of attributes which unite at the birth of a man and constitute his personality.
The results of the past which become seeds for future lives. Karmic results.)
properties, capacities brought over from former lives and latent for the time
being, until physical life and its experiences bring them out again.
In due course, and
not necessarily from the beginning, the physical body will begin to be built.
The descent into incarnation can, and not infrequently does, commence before
physical conception. Eventually, however, the twin cell is formed and the physical
permanent atom (Permanent atom: An atom retained by the reincarnating Ego after
the death of his vehicles. The experiences in essence of the body of which it
has formed a part are impressed upon the permanent atom and from it the tone
or vibratory rate is transferred to the new body when the Ego reincarnates.
Vide: A Study in Consciousness, By A. Besant. ) is then attached to it by a
member of the Angelic Hosts. Then the Ego through the "descending", vibrating
ray of creative Life-Force, is in contact with the physical plane and the new
physical body begins to be built.
All of this process
is watched over and cared for by certain angels. As far as I know- and remember
that research in this field is very limited and there is a tremendous amount
of it still to be done- there is, under the Causal, Presiding Deva of the incarnation,
a Deva at the mental level and another at the astral level. These angels extend
their auras around the mother, the vibrating ray and the mental and astral bodies.
So far as karma permits, they thus shelter from shock and from intrusion from
outside. They are also at work on the adjustment of the mechanism of consciousness.
This latter is very delicate; it consists of the seven chakras in the mental
and astral bodies and, later, those in the etheric body and the associated,
physical nerve centres and glands.
As far as I know,
particular types of nature spirits of the four "elements" are at work on our
bodies from the moment of conception to the moment of death, building, repairing
and regenerating as occasion demands, and in accordance with physical laws.
The mystery of the development of a perfect physical body from so small an organism
as the twin cell is not yet solved by science. Why certain microscopic areas
in the germ develop certain kinds of tissue in a certain part of the body-to-be
until the whole, with all its tremendous variety, comes into existence according
to the prototype, the pattern or plan, never failing- that is still a mystery
and will continue so until the subject is studied from within and from the superphysical
worlds.
During this time
the mental and astral angels have been at work, supervising the building of
the mental and astral bodies and chakras, and their adjustment, whilst the
nature spirits themselves are under their direction. Thus, throughout the period
of gestation, the physical, etheric, astral and mental bodies are gradually
built, according the karma and the evolutionary necessities of the reincarnating
Ego. Then, all being well, the time of delivery or birth arrives. At that moment,
if all has proceeded satisfactorily, the angels associated with the pre-natal
life withdraw at birth and the new personality is then in the hands of man.
The foregoing practically
completes what I have to say on this important subject, I might, perhaps, add
one further thought, which is that the Ego is only very dimly conscious through
the physical body during prenatal life. At quickening, the development of the
nervous system has reached a point where a certain small measure of the consciousness
of the Ego can manifest, and a little more of the Ego is added to its manifestation
as power and life; for it should be remembered that the Inner Self of man is
a triplicity and that the formative Egoic ray or current of thought-force is
also threefold. The three component aspects and currents of force are expressive
of Spiritual Power, Spiritual Life and Spiritual Intelligence. The first two
of these play through the physical permanent atom from the moment of conception
and influence the building of the embryo. Only when the foetal cerebro-spinal
system has become sufficiently established can the third, the Intelligence aspect
of the Ego, find a vehicle of expression. Even when this is absent owing to
injury, as in the case of insanity of varying degree, the power and the life
of the Ego will still keep the physical body alive and the Ego will remain in
incarnation so far as they are concerned.
After the quickening,
then, the Ego in the embryo is dimly, drowsily aware of warmth, protection,
seclusion and safety. From the point of view of the elemental consciousness
of the body, and even that of the subtler bodies, birth is a shock, a somewhat
sudden extrusion from that comfort, warmth, complete protection and internal
nutriment of the gestatory period. Therefore, in the early days and weeks- yes,
and months- but especially in the early days and weeks, that shock should be
minimized, I personally think, by as close a relationship with the mother, and
as much affection and comfort as is possible.
I find myself completely
disagreeing with these modern schools of thought which advise taking the babies
and keeping them away from the mothers, only bringing them back to be fed. Some
doctors rather advise against frequent picking up, petting and loving babies.
They seem to prefer a somewhat strict regime from the beginning, to encourage
the development of habit patterns to ease the processes of weaning and upbringing.
One sees a certain
value in it, but a certain undesirable effect as well. The mother needs the
outlet for her love provided by the near presence of her baby- maternity is
a spiritual as well as a physical experience, bringing expansions of consciousness
to the mother which are shared with the Race. They are therefore very valuable
and important. The child, in its turn, needs the influence of the mother's aura,
her magnetism and her love. Little ones are very dependent, so that as far as
the health of the mother, her duties and her environment all permit, the baby
should stay, I think, as close to her as possible. I am happy to learn of some
reversals of the newer methods of people in that field and a tendency to return
to the earlier, more natural treatment of babies.
Chapter-3-
FACTORS
INFLUENCING THE CHARACTER AND
CONDUCT OF THE CHILD
Theosophy teaches
that all manifested divine Power, Life and Consciousness, and so all human Monads
or Spirits, radiate from the One Source and pass through the Three and the Seven.
In their passage through the Three and the Seven, these three Emanations of
the Logos- divine Power, Life and Consciousness- are impressed with the special
quality of that One of the Three "Persons" and the seventh Sephiroth through
which they pass, are attuned to their vibratory frequency or chord and are stained
with their particular colour. The colour of the spectrum and divine attribute
which each of these Sephiroths represents is accentuated in each projected Monadic
Ray, and thereafter predominates over he other six.
The pure Ray type
is rare, admixtures with consequent modification of ideal, temperament and method
being the rule. The evolutionary position or "age" of the Spiritual Self usually
decides the degree in which the Ray qualities and virtues are displayed and
the defects and limitations are overcome. As a general rule, the more advanced
the Ego, the more readily discernible in the personality is the primary Ray.
One particular quality
is generally regarded as supremely desirable by persons on each of the seven
Rays. For the first Ray this is power; for the second, wisdom; for the third,
comprehension; for the fourth, beauty; for the fifth, knowledge; for the sixth,
one-pointed devotion; for the seventh, order.
Knowledge of the
seven Rays is helpful in the comprehension of others, specially of those
whose approach to life, methods of obtaining desired ends and ultimate destiny
differ from one's own. Such knowledge can bestow upon those who possess it one
of the highest virtues. This is a wide tolerance, born of deep understanding,
concerning the ideals and actions of other Nations and of other individuals.
This virtue is beautifully expressed in the words of the Lord Shri Krishna,
who was speaking as an incarnation of Vishnu, the Second Aspect of the Blessed
Trinity:
" However men approach
Me, even so do I welcome them, for the path men take from every side is Mine.
(Bhagavad Gita, IV, translated by A.Besant)
If this knowledge
of the Rays is applied to child training, then the eight factors influencing
and in large measure forming the character of very child are as follows:-
1-The Ray and more
dominant sub-Rays, generally two in number.
First ray Egos, generally
with the fifth and seventh Rays, subdominant, manifest the qualities of power,
will, and an inherent tendency to independence, which should be respected within
the reasonable limits of domestic harmony.
Second Ray Egos,
generally with the fourth and sixth Rays subdominant, manifest unity and love,
with an inherent tendency to dependence upon the love of others, which also
should be respected, especially in childhood.
Third Ray Egos, generally
with the fourth and fifth Rays sub-dominant, manifest reason and inherent tendency
to understanding and reasonableness. The purpose of rules, redirection of energy
and disciplinary correction should always be explained to such children, though
this practice is eminently desirable in all cases.
Fourth Ray Egos,
generally with no fixed sub-dominant Rays, manifest an inherent tendency to
harmoniousness and love of colour, rhythm and beauty. All children who display
these attributes should be granted every opportunity for self-expression and
training of the body through the arts.
Fifth Ray Egos, generally
with the first and third Rays subdominant, manifest logic and determination,
even to obstinacy. These tendencies should be respected, so redirection should
always be accompanied by a reasonable explanation.
Sixth Ray Egos, generally
with the second Ray sub-dominant and the fifth almost absent in the early years,
manifest a desire for love, to be loved, to make love, to possess personally
and exclusively. These attributes, and the parental instinct which may accompany
them, should be wisely directed along constructive channels and never wholly
repressed.
Seventh Ray Egos,
generally with the first and fifth Rays sub-dominant and the fourth often well-developed,
manifest an inherent tendency to personal dignity. They are peculiarly sensitive
to affronts, particularly when accompanied by violence, rudeness and disrespect.
This attribute, together with those of the sub-dominant Rays, should always
be respected.
2- The phases of
evolution which the Ego has reached, through which it will pass, and which therefore
are to be accentuated in the new life. Every effort should be made by parents
and teachers to discern and be guided by these factors.
3-World thought during
pre-natal life and the early years. This influences the personality, in some
cases strongly enough to modify, and even temporarily neutralize, the Egoic
influences.
4-National thought,
tendencies and characteristics. These are inevitably built into the mind of
the new personality.
5-Local, parental
and family mental outlook, which affect the building and nature of the mental
body. Strong, well developed Egos overcome factors 3, 4 and 5, but others are
moulded by them.
6-The emotional atmosphere
of the home and neighbourhood. Harmony, love and self-restraint help greatly,
as their opposites can hurt the formation of the emotional character and body.
7-The racial, ancestral
and parental physical characteristics which are transmuted through the father
and the mother to the child.
8-The immediately
preceding incarnation:
(a) All the above
influences as they affected the last life
(b) The nature, and
especially the failure or success, of that life. Failure, disaster, tragedy,
can leave an impression which may reappear in the next life, particularly up
to adolescence, though even afterwards.
(c) The major activities
and achievements, which also play their part in moulding the character of the
new personality.
(d) Any acute suffering,
particularly if prolonged, will give a natural tendency to shrink from pain,
and inability in a child to contemplate and cope with it successfully. Apparently
unreasoning fears may cloud the early years. All of such children should be
carefully protected from experiences which arouse fear and every effort should
be made to establish in the child a sense of security, safety and freedom from
personal attack. The child's hyper-sensitivity to the thought of pain, to the
threat of pain, and to pain itself, should not be regarded as a weakness . It
should never be punished, but always be regarded with a special tenderness and
respect, for it stems from suffering in a former life so acute as to produce
extreme sensitivity to pain. This is one of the most important of all factors
in child-training at home and at school, and yet one of the most neglected,
and even abused. A whole incarnation can be marred in consequence.
(e) A position of
rule, power over others, tyrannical tendencies and cruelty in one life can produce
a very difficult personality in the next. Such a new personality can, in childhood,
exhibit rebelliousness and unreadiness to co-operate in the management either
of its own body, or of the home in general. Most of such rebels have been created
by unfortunate conditions and by opportunities for tyranny, major or minor,
in former lives, especially the immediately preceding one.
In consequence, the
Ego is placed in a difficult position, is handicapped in developing and exhibiting
the opposite qualities in the new personality. This difficulty should be recognized
and respected. Above all, the child should not be bullied or harshly treated,
with a view to "breaking its spirit". Nevertheless discipline must be firm,
redirection, not repression, being the ideal.
(f) The manner of
death. If "natural", as from old age or disease, then no particular influence
will be brought over. If violent, then the next life will inevitably be affected.
Certain inherent fears will show themselves, generally related to the circumstances
and the cause of premature death. Some examples, as related to the four elements,
are: earth- smothering, burial or falling; water- drowning; air- heights, falls,
extremes of temperature; fire-burning, explosions, volcanic catastrophes.
Admittedly, the average
parent cannot know by seership all of these factors. Most of them do, however,
become evident quite early in life.
Knowledge of these
principles can serve as a guide to both parents and teachers who seek to discern
the factors of major importance. As these are realised, the treatment and the
training of the child can be adapted to its special needs.
One principle which
emerges and which should never be forgotten is that, though children can be
naughty and must be trained by firm handling when necessary, no child is wholly
to blame for adverse characteristics. All the above factors enter in to produce
both the general and the temporary goodness or badness of the child.
Another basic principle
is that virility and effectiveness in a man do not demand roughness, harshness,
brutality and so-called "toughening" in childhood. The toughened child is generally
cut off from its Ego. A middle course has therefore to be followed in developing
the character. A certain sensitivity, tenderness and natural kindliness should
be blended with a courageous independence and initiative.
The doctrine of reincarnation,
which shows the present life as only one in a series of incarnations, with many
lives ahead, and the influence of many former lives, is the great key which
Theosophy gives to parents and to teachers and, indeed, to all who are responsible
for the children of the Race.
Ego
. "Self"; the unified triad, Atma-Buddhi-Manas, or the duad (djad), Atma-Buddhi,
that immortal part of man which reincarnates and gradually progresses to the final
goal- Nirvana. Also the consciousness in man- "I am I" - or the feeling of "I-am-ship".
Esoteric philosophy teaches the existence of two Egos in man, the mortal or personal,
and the Higher, the Divine and the Impersonal, calling the former "personality,
and the latter "individuality". Adapted from The Theosophical Glossary, H.B.Blavatsky.
In Hinduism
, the Supreme Deity is worshipped in both Masculine and Feminine Aspects, is regarded
as Universal Father of the World and Universal Mother. The Feminine Aspect is
worshipped under many names and in many forms. She is chiefly known as Jagadamba,
the World Mother, and this concept includes also the Shakti (expressed energy)
Aspect or Complements of the Trimurti. These are Parvati, the Complement of Shiva,
Lakshmi of Vishnu, and Sarasvati of Brahma.
All women are regarded
as representatives of the Jagadamba who is the Mother of all mothers, the Divine
Queen of the Kingdom of Motherhood, woman's highest ideal. |