Chapter II: General Principles

A view of the general laws governing the Cosmos. The
sevenfold division in the system. Real Matter not visible and
this always known to the Lodge. Mind the intelligent portion
of the Cosmos. In the universal Mind the sevenfold plan of
the Cosmos is contained. Evolution proceeds upon the plan
in the universal Mind. Periods of Evolution come to an end;
this is the Night of Brahma. The Mosaic account of cosmogenesis
has dwarfed modern conceptions. The Jews had merely
one part of the doctrine taken from the ancient Egyptians.
The doctrine accords with the inner meaning of Genesis. The
general length of periods of Evolution. Same doctrine as
Herbert Spencer’s. The old Hindu chronology gives the details.
The story of Solomon’s Temple is that of the evolution
of man. The doctrine far older than the Christian one. The
real age of the world. Man is over 18,000,000 years old. Evolution
is accomplished solely by the Egos within that at last
become the users of human forms. Each of the seven principles
of man is derived from one of the seven great divisions of
the Universe. Pages 14 to 22.

CHAPTER III.

THE EARTH CHAIN.

The doctrine respecting the Earth. It is sevenfold also. It
is one of a chain of seven corresponding to man. The whole
seven are not in a chain separated as to members, but they
interpenetrate each other. The Earth chain is the reïncarnation
of a former old and now dead chain. This old chain was
one of which our moon is the visible representative. Moon
now dead and contracting. Venus, Mars, etc., are living
members of other similar chains to ours. A mass of Egos for
each chain. The number, though incalculable, is definite.
Their course of evolution through the seven globes. In each
a certain part of our nature is developed. At the fourth globe
the process of condensation is begun and reaches its limit.
Pages 23 to 28.

CHAPTER IV.

SEPTENARY CONSTITUTION OF MAN.

The constitution of man. How the doctrine differs from the
ordinary Christian one. The real doctrine known in the first
centuries of this era, but purposely withdrawn from a nation
not able to bear it. The danger if the doctrine had not been
withdrawn. The sevenfold division. The principles classified.
The divisions agree with the chain of seven globes. The lower
man is a composite being. His higher trinity. The lower
four principles transitory and perishable. Death leaves the
trinity as the only persistent part of us. What the physical
man is, and what the other unseen mortal man is. A second
physical man not seen but still mortal. The senses pertain to
the unseen man and not to the visible one. Pages 29 to 34.

CHAPTER V.

BODY AND ASTRAL BODY.

The body and life principle. The mystery of life. Sleep
and death are due to excess of life not bearable by the organism.
The body an illusion. What is the cell. Life is universal.
It is not the result of the organism. The Astral Body.
What it is made of. Its powers and functions. As a model
for the body. It is possessed by all kingdoms of nature. Its
power to travel. The real sense organs are in the astral body.
The place the astral body has at spiritualistic _séances_. The
astral body accounts for telepathy, clairvoyance, clairaudience,
and all such psychical phenomena. Pages 35 to 44.

CHAPTER VI.

KAMA-DESIRE.

The fourth principle. Kama Rupa. In English, the Passions
and Desires. Kama Rupa is not produced by the body
but is the cause for body. This is the balance principle of the
seven. It is the basis of action and mover of the will. Right
desire leads to right act. This principle has a higher and a
lower aspect. The principle is in the astral body. At death
it coalesces with the astral body and makes of it a shell of the
man. It has powers of its own of an automatic nature. This
shell is the so-called “spirit” of _séances_. It is a danger to the
race. Elementals help this shell at _séances_. No soul or conscience
present. Suicides and executed criminals leave very
coherent shells. The principle of desire is common to all the
organized kingdoms. It is the brute part of man. Man is
now a fully developed quaternary with the higher principles
partially developed. Pages 45 to 51.

CHAPTER VII.

MANAS.

Manas the fifth principle. The first of the real man. This
is the thinking principle and is not the product of brain. Brain
is only its instrument. How the light of mind was given to
mindless men. Perfected men from older systems gave it to
us as they got it from their predecessors. Manas is the storehouse
of all thoughts. Manas is the seer. If the connection
between Manas and brain is broken the person is not able to
cognize. The organs of the body cognize nothing. Manas is
divided into upper and lower. Its four peculiarities. Buddha,
Jesus, and others had Manas fully developed. Atma the Divine
Ego. The permanent individuality. This permanent individuality
has been through every sort of experience in many bodies.
Manas and matter have now a greater facility of action
than in former times. Manas is bound by desire, and this
makes reïncarnation a necessity. Pages 52 to 59.

CHAPTER VIII.

OF REINCARNATION.

Why is man as he is, and how did he come. What the Universe
is for. Spiritual and physical evolution demand reïncarnation.
Reïncarnation on the physical plane is reëmbodiment
or alteration of form. The whole mass of matter of the globe
will one day be men in a period far distant. The doctrine ancient.
Held by the early Christians. Taught by Jesus. What
reïncarnates. Life’s mysteries arise from incomplete incarnation
of the higher principles. It is not transmigration to lower
forms. Explanation of Manu on this. Pages 60 to 69.

CHAPTER IX.

REINCARNATION CONTINUED.

Objections urged. Desire cannot alter law. Early arrivals
in heaven. Must they wait for us. Recognition of the soul not
dependent on objectivity. Heredity not an objection. What
heredity does. Divergences in heredity not recognized. History
goes against heredity. Reïncarnation not unjust. What
is justice. We do not suffer for another’s but for our own
deeds. Memory. Why we do not remember other lives. Who
does? How to account for increase of population. Pages 70 to 78.

CHAPTER X.

ARGUMENTS SUPPORTING REINCARNATION.

From the nature of the soul. From the laws of mind and
soul. From differences in character. From the necessity for
discipline and evolution. From differences of capacity and
start in life at the cradle. Individual identity proves it. The
probable object of life makes it necessary. One life not enough
to carry out Nature’s purposes. Mere death confers no advance.
A school after death is illogical. The persistence of
savagery and decay of nations give support to it. The appearance
of geniuses is due to reïncarnation. Inherent ideas
common to man show it. Opposition to the doctrine based
solely on prejudice. Pages 79 to 88.

CHAPTER XI.

KARMA.

Definition of the word. An unfamiliar term. A beneficent
law. How present life is affected by past acts of other lives.
Each act has a thought at its root. Through Manas they react
on each personal life. Why people are born deformed or
in bad circumstances. The three classes of Karma and its
three fields of operation. National and Racial Karma. Individual
un-happiness and happiness. The Master’s words on Karma.
Pages 89 to 98.

CHAPTER XII.

KAMA LOKA.

The first state after death. Where and what are heaven and
hell? Death of the body only the first step of death. A second
death after that. Separation of the seven principles into
three classes. What is _Kama Loka_? Origin of Christian purgatory.
It is an astral sphere with numerous degrees. The
_Skandhas_. The astral shell of man in _Kama Loka_. It is devoid
of soul, mind, and conscience. It is the “spirit” of the
_séance_ rooms. Classification of shells in _Kama Loka_. Black
magicians there. Fate of suicides and others. Pre-devachanic
unconsciousness. Pages 99 to 108.

CHAPTER XIII.

DEVACHAN.

The meaning of the term. A state of _Atma-Buddhi-Manas_.
Operation of Karma on Devachan. The necessity for Devachan.
It is another sort of thinking with no physical body to
clog it. Only two fields for operation of causes—subjective
and objective. Devachan is one. No time there for the soul.
Length of stay therein. Mathematics of the soul. Average
stay therein is 1500 mortal years. Depends on psychic impulses
of life. Its use and purpose. On the last thoughts at death
the devachanic state is fashioned. Devachan not meaningless.
Do we see those left behind? We bring their images before
us. Entities in Devachan have a power to help those they
love. Mediums cannot go to those in Devachan except in rare
cases and when the person is pure. Adepts only can help
those in Devachan. Pages 109 to 116.

CHAPTER XIV.

CYCLES.

One of the most important doctrines. Corresponding words
in the Sanskrit. Few cycles known to the West. They cause
the reäppearance of former living personages. They affect
life and evolution. When did the first moment come. The first
rate of vibration determines the subsequent ones. When man
leaves the globe the forces die. Convulsions and cataclysms.
Reïncarnation and karma intermixed with cyclic law. Civilizations
cycle back. The cycle of Avatars. Krishna, Buddha,
and others come under cycles. Minor personages and great
leaders. Intersection of cycles causes convulsions. The Moon,
Sun, and Sidereal cycles. Individual cycles and that of reïncarnation.
The motion through the constellations, and the
meaning of the story of Jonah. The Zodiacal clock. How the
ideas are impressed and preserved by nations. Cause for
earthquakes, Cosmic Fire, Glaciation, and Floods. The Brahmanical
Cycles. Pages 117 to 126.

CHAPTER XV.

DIFFERENTIATION OF SPECIES—MISSING LINKS.

Ultimate origin of man not discoverable. Man not derived
from a single pair, nor from the animals. Seven races of men
appeared simultaneously on the globe. They are now amalgamated
and will differentiate. The Anthropoid Apes. Their
origin. They came from man. They are the descendants of
offspring from unnatural union in the third and fourth rounds.
The Delayed Races. The secret books on the question. Human
features of apes accounted for. The lower kingdoms
from other planets. Their differentiation by intelligent interference
by the Dhyanis. The midway point of evolution.
Astral forms of old rounds solidified in physical rounds.
Missing links, what they are and why Science cannot discover
them. The aim of Nature in all this work. Pages 127 to 134.

CHAPTER XVI.

PSYCHIC LAWS, FORCES, AND PHENOMENA.

No true psychology in the West. It exists in the Orient.
Man the mirror of all forces. Gravitation only a half law.
Importance of polarity and cohesion. Rendering objects invisible.
Imagination all powerful. Mental telegraphy. Reading
minds is burglary. Apportation, clairvoyance, clairaudience,
and second-sight. Pictures in the Astral Light. Dreams
and visions. Apparitions. Real clairvoyance. Inner stimulus
makes outer impression. Astral Light the Register of
everything. Pages 135 to 146.