Isis unveiled, vol. I
Chapter XIV – EGYPTIAN WISDOM
Pages 539– 544
Continuing more illustrations of the claim of Adept Fraternity that the ancient world was not ignorant as believed by learned men of our times but had made great progress in arts and sciences, some of which were far in advance of the present times.
Wonderful art of preservation of mummies and the art of bandaging, which are now among the lost arts.
Mummies, if left in the dry climate of Egypt, seem to be practically imperishable; and even when removed after a repose of several thousand years, show no sign of change. None but those who have made special study of the subject, can estimate the amount of skill, patience, and knowledge exacted for the accomplishment of this indestructible work, which occupied several months. An expert who have made a study of it is cited as remarking : The body was filled with myrrh, cassia, and other gums, and after that, saturated with natron, then followed the marvellous swathing of the embalmed body, so artistically executed, that professional modern bandagists are lost in admiration at its excellency. Dr. Grandville remarks that there is not a single form of bandage known to modern surgery, of which far better and cleverer examples are not seen in the swathing of the Egyptian mummies; that the strips of linen are found without one single joint, extending to 1000 yards in length. There was not a fracture in the human body that could not be repaired successfully by the sacerdotal physician of those remote days.
Use of local anaesthesia in ancient Egypt
Modern discovery of anaesthesia is rightly considered a blessing to the suffering portion of humanity. It is proclaimed as the greatest discovery ever made. But the modern chemical formulae used in anaesthetics are not fool-proof, and many an accidental death has occurred and are occurring even today, though fatal accidents are more rare now than before. But the question is, is it the first discovery in history of mankind ?
Classical authors, Dioscorides and Pliny give a description of effective local anaesthesia Egyptian used. It was made from the stone of Memphis—lapis memphiticus. It is described as a sparkling small pebble, which was ground into a powder, and applied as an ointment to the part of the body which was to be subjected to surgical treatment, and the patent was immune to pain in the part operated upon. It was perfectly harmless to the constitution of the patient, who retained his consciousness throughout the operation, and it acted as long it was kept on the affected part. Pliny gives full description of it. (Historie naturelle” lib. Xxxviii, cap.vii)
Magical anaesthesia of ancient Brahmins
From immemorial times Brahmans possessed secrets which are invaluable. The widow who was bent on perfoming SATI—consigning herself to be consumed by the fire of cremation of her husband’s corpse. It was called sahamaranya. The widow did not dread of any suffering the least pain. The holy plant culled at the midnight hour on the spot where the Ganga and the Yamuna mingles their waters, and the process of anointing the body of the self-appointed victim with ghee and sacred oils
after she was bathed in all her clothes and finery, are so many magical anaesthetics. After going round the fire she cast herself on her husband’s body to be consumed in fire together, without the least pang of pain.
A missionary who witnessed one such ceremony reported that the ghee which was poured in the fire drugged the widow who died of suffocation before being consumed by the fire. H.P.B. says that was a misrepresentation, as missionaries decry every custom and tradition of ancient non-Christian peoples as devilish heathenism. She says widows were never drugged in the sense we understand it but only precautionary measures were taken against useless physical martyrdom. Her mind was free and clear as ever, firmly believing in the bliss of after-life, she died with a smile of heavenly rapture on her countenance.
It is important to note that no such rite was ever prescribed in the Vedas nor practiced but the widow enjoyed the freedom of remarriage and participating in normal life in Vedic times. It was only later that the crafty Brahmins, who had lost the secrets of their high minded ancestors, who interpolated certain verses in the scriptures to customise the practice. Oriental scholars, both native and European—Max Muller and Professor Wilson among the latter-- have shown how certain Rig Vedic verses was interpolated by the ambitious ignorant, and crafty priests and enforced it.
Egypt, the birth place of Chemistry
Egypt is the cradle of Chemistry. Egypt was known as Chemi or Chem. Chemistry of colours seems to have been thoroughly known to Egyptians. This is illustrated in the imperishable colours of their paintings in the halls of Karnak and Luxor still standing and fresh even after thousands of years. Embalming and mural painting were not a chance discovery by Egyptians but it was the result of research and development employing inductive sciences. Exquisite ancient Greek paintings were copies of the Egyptian art.
Titanic sculptures at Thebes.
There are no modern architecture comparable to the rock-cut temples of Ipsambul in Lower Nubia (south of Egypt and north of Sudan). These can be viewed on the sebwsite. The rock sculpted sitting human figures measure 70 feet high, carved out of a single rock. The torso of the statue of Ramses II at Thebes measures 60 feet around the shoulders and elsewhere in proportion. Besides these our own look like pigmies
Iron was known and used; metallurgy and chemistry were developed and included under Alchemy
Iron was known to Egyptians long before the construction of first pyramid which was not earlier that 20,000 years. Proof of it was hidden in the pyramid of cheops until Colonel Howrds Vyse found it in the shape of a piece of iron, in one of the joints, where it had evidently been placed at the time this pyramid was built. Ancients adduce many evidences that ancients were well acquainted with metallurgy in prehistoric times. The Col. Says that to this day we can find at Sinai heaps of scoriae produced by smelting. Metallurgy and chemistry in those days were known as Alchemy which was the foundation of prehistoric magic. Moses, who was instructed by the Egyptians proved his alchemical knowledge by pulverising the golden calf and strewn the powder on the water.
Maritime achievements of Egyptians
Necho II fitted out a fleet on the Red Sea and dispatched for exploration. The fleet was absent for over two years and instead of returning through the straits of Babelmandel, as was wont, it sailed back through the strait of Gibraltar. Herodotus was sceptical of the maritime achievements of Egyptians. He said that they claimed while the navigators were returning homewards d the sunrise on their right hand side, which, to Herodotus appeared incredible. But Co. Vyse said that the incredible assertion is now proved incontestable as they may well be understood to have doubled the Cape of Good Hope. It is proved that the feat which was attributed to Columbus was after all had been achieved ages ago y Egyptians. It is said that they anchored twice on theor way, sowed corn, reaped it, sailed back home through the pillars of Hercules, and eastward along the Mediterranean. Egyptians were far more deserving of the term veteris (veteran) than either Romans or Greeks.
Ancient Greece a mere infant before mighty older Egyptian civilization– admonition of Greeks by Egyptian Hierophants
Said the Egyptian Hierophants to Solon, the grand uncle, of Plato when he visited Egypt and confabulated with them, “O Solan, Solan, you Greeks are ever childish, having no ancient opinion, no discipline of any long standing !” Solon was surprised when he was told by them that the gods and goddesses of Grecian pantheon were but the disguised gods of Egypt. Ionnes (John) Zonara, historian and theologian of Constantinople, truly said : All these things came to us from Chaldea to Egypt, and from thence were derived to the Greeks.Gods of Greek pantheon are a disguised gods of Egypt.
Archytas, Plato’s teacher, was a mathematician and an inventor
Archytas, a native of Tarentum in Italy, instructed Plato. He was a philosopher distinguished for his mathematical achievements and achievements in practical mechanics, constructed a wooden dove. It must have been an extraordinary ingenious mechanism, as it flew, fluttered its wings, and sustained itself for considerable time in the air. He lived 400 B.C.E invented, besides wooden dove, the screw crane, and various hydraulic cranes.
Grape wine and glassware
Egyptians made grape wine, brewed her own beer and in quantity. The Ebers MSS prove Egyptians used beer 2000 years B.C.E. Glass was manufactured with all its varieties. In many Egyptian sculptures can be seen scenes of glass-blowing and bottles. Archaeological researches have revealed very beautifully fashioned glasses and glassware. Sir Gardener Wilkinson says Egyptians cut, ground and engraved glass, and possessed the art of introducing gold between the two surfaces of the substance. They imitated with glass, pearls, emeralds, and all the precious stones to a great perfection.
Great progress in musical art
They cultivated musical art, understood well the effect of musical harmony and influence on the human spirit. In their oldest sculptures and carvings can be seen scenes of musicians playing on various instruments. Music was used in the healing department of the temples for the cure of nervous disorders. On the monuments can be seen men playing in bands in concert, the leader beating time by clapping hands. They understood the laws of harmony, had their sacred music, domestic and military. The lyre, harp and flute were used for sacred music concerts; for festive occasions played the guitar, the single and the double pipes and castanets; for troops and during military service they had trumpets, drums and cymbals. The superiority of Egyptian lyre over the Grecian is an admitted fact. The material out of which were made such instruments was often of very costly and rare wood, some imported from far off lands, and they were beautifully carved, painted, inlaid with mother-of-pearl and ornamented with coloured leather. They used catgut for strings as in our days. Pythagoras learned music in Egypt and made a regular science of it in Italy. Egyptians are generally considered in antiquity the best music teachers in Greece. They understood thoroughly well how to extract harmonious sounds out of an instrument by adding strings to it, as well as multiplication of notes by shortening the strings upon its neck, which shows a great progress made in the musical art. Geometry, drawing, mechanics, and music were at the greatest perfection in Egypt.
On the walls of the palace of Amenoph II at Thebes, the king is represented as playing chess with his queen. The monarch reigned long before the Trojan war. In India chess was known to have been played at least 5000 years ago.
Knowledge of Medicine
One of the lost books of Hermes have been found and translated by Ebers, their knowledge of medicine is found in it to be in great advance. They understood the circulation of blood in the body, knew how to draw blood downward, stop its circulation for a while etc. A bas relief represents a scenes of healing in the halls of various temples. They had their dentists and oculists, and no doctor was allowed to practice more than one speciality—an indication that they lost fewer patients in those days that our own physicians do now. It is asserted by some authorities that the Egyptians were the first people in the world who introduced trisal by jury—though, H.P.B. says that this is doubted.
Subject of the next blog will dwell on other great civilizations of pre-historic Americas, the earliest navigators of the globe, Mexican ruins and myths, question of who built the ancient monuments of the Mayas.
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Saturday, May 25, 2013
Friday, April 26, 2013
Isis Study – January to March 2013 Summary and discussions
Isis unveiled, vol. I
Chapter XIV – EGYPTIAN WISDOM
Pages 530 – 539
The previous study closed with the remark :
“HPB shows that in the pride of some new discovery, we throw a look in to the past, we find, to our dismay, certain vestiges which indicate the possibility, if not certainty, that the alleged discovery was not totally unknown to ancients.”
H.P.B. illustrates this point with copious historical and other evidences. Some of them are here considered.
The proficiency of the ancient Egyptians in healing had been of the highest order. Orpheus, Plato, Pythagoras, Herodotus were all instructed by the Egyptians. These owe their philosophy and learning to the same temple in which the wise Solon was instructed by the priests. Pliny cites Antiklides that letters were invented in Egypt by an Egyptian by name Menon 15 centuries before the most ancient king of Greece, Phoroneus.
Jablonski proves that the heliocentric and earth’s sphericity were known for immemorial ages in Egypt. Wilkinson shows that the Egyptians knew the length of the year, the precession of the equinoxes, and the accurate astronomical cycles, and astrological influences emanating from the relative positions, groupings and conjunctions of heavenly bodies.
Several thousand years B.C. Chinese and Chaldean astronomers predicted eclipses. As far back as 1722 B.C. they delineated the zodiac with the exact positions of planets at the time of autumnal equinox.
Wendell Phillips delivered a series of most delightful lectures on Lost Arts in Boston in the last quarter of the 19th century—which are available on line even today—in which he shows that modern science and progress is just a partial rediscovery of ancient learning and wisdom which surpassed ours. He spoke of ignorance of modern men of learning in their estimation of the marvellous achievements of ancients.
The glory of Chaldea, Persia, Babylone have no parallel in history
The pillared halls of Persopolis were filled with miracles of art—carvings, sculptures, enamels, alabaster libraries, obelisks, sphinxes, colossal bulls. Ecbatana, in Media, the cool summer retreat of the Persian kings, was defended by several encircling walls of hewn and polished blocks, the interior ones in succession of increasing height, and of different colours, in astrological accordance with the seven planets. The palace was roofed with silver tiles, the beams were plated with gold. At midnight, in the halls, the sun was rivalled by many a row of naphtha cressets. The Persian empire was truly the garden of the world.
John William Draper in his The history of the conflict between religion and science, in chapter 1, in pages 10 and 11, says : In Babylon there still remained its walls, once more than 60 miles in compass, and after ravages of three centuries and three conquerors, still more than 80 feet in height. There were still the ruins of the temple of the cloud-encompassed Bel. On its top was planted the observatory wherein the weird Chaldean astronomers had held nocturnal communion with the stars. Still there were vestiges of the two palaces with their hinging gardens in which were trees growing in mid-air, and of the wreck of the hydraulic machinery that has supplied them from the river. Into the artificial lake, with its vast apparatus of aqueducts and sluices, the melted snow of the Armenian mountains found their way and were confined in their course through the city by the embankments of Euphratus. The most wonderful of all was the tunnel under the river bed.
Modern commentators of ancient achievements are misled by the outward symbols and rituals (exotericism) of the ancient temples which they cannot penetrate :
They are either unwilling or unable to discern the inner significance (Esotericism) of the outer symbols. The Hierophants of the temples instructed their pupils in the hidden significance of the outer worship. There was a vast difference between the true worship taught to those who showed themselves worthy. Ignorant of their Esoteric knowledge, the modern researchers accuse the ancient magians of all kinds of superstitions.
They ascertained the true meridian, measured time, had standard measures and weights and were proficient in algebra.
The meridian was correctly ascertained before the Pyramids were built, They had clocks and dials to measure time. Their cubit was the established unit of linear measure, being 1707 feet of the English measure. Herodotus has recorded that the unit of weight was known to Egyptians, they had the decimal and duodecimal modes of calculation from the earliest times, and were proficient in algebra. How could they otherwise bring into operation such immense mechanical powers, if they had not thoroughly understood the philosophy of what we term mechanical powers ?
Their art of making linen is one of the lost arts.
(p. 536) The art of making linen and fine fabric is proved to have been one of the branches of their knowledge. The Bible speaks of it. Joseph was presented by Pharao with a vesture of fine linen, a golden chain and many more things. The linen of Egypt was famous throughout the world. The mummies wrapped in it is beautifully preserved. Herodotus speaks of the beauty and admirable softness of the linen worn by the priests in the performances of Mysteries in honour of Isis.
Jews adopted the rites and ceremonies of Egyptians
The special dress of Levites was from Egypt. Clemens Alexandrinus, Origen and other Fathers of the Church reluctantly acknowledge it, but they attribute it to coincidence and clever trick of Satan in anticipation of events. Proctor, the astronomer, says in one of his books that the remarkable breastplate worn by the Jewish high Priest was derived directly from the Egyptians. The word Thummim itself is evidently of Egyptian origin, borrowed by Moses, like the rest.
Ornamental arts of the Egyptians
Their jewellery of gold, silver, and precious stones were beautifully wrought. So was the cutting, polishing and setting by their lapidaries in the finest style. The finger ring of an Egyptian mummy was pronounced the most artistic piece of jewellery in the London exhibition of 1851. The imitation of precious stone in glass is far above anything done at the present day, and emerald may be said to have been imitated to perfection.
Marvels of glass works
Mr. Wendell Phillips discovered in Pompeii a room full of glass. There were ground glass, window-glass, cut-glass and coloured glass of every variety. Catholic priests who broke into China 200 years ago (ie. 200 before 1870) were shown glass , transparent and colourless, which was filled with a liquor which appeared to be colourless like water. The liquor poured into the glass and then looking through, it seemed to be filled with fishes. The liquor was turned it out and repeated the experiment and again it was filled with fishes.
Great skill of the ancients in metals works
Wendell Phillips speaking of the skill of the ancients in metal works narrates that when the English plundered the summer palace of the Emperor of China the European artists were surprised at seeing the curiously wrought metal vessels of every kind, far exceeding the skill of the European workmen. African tribes in the interior of the country gave the travellers better razors than they had. Phillips goes on to say that George Thompson relating to him of the incident in which he saw a man in Calcutta throwing up a handful of floss silk into the air and a Hindu severing it into pieces with his sabre of native steel. He concludes with the significant remark : “Steel is the great triumph of metallurgy and metallurgy is the glory of chemistry.” So with the Egyptians and Semitic races. They dug gold and separated it with the utmost skill. Copper, iron, lead were found in abundance near the Red Sea.
Civilization in the East preceded that of the West by many centuries. Arts and sciences flowed from East to West. Remnants of iron furnaces are to be found on lonely mountain places.
Professor Albercht Muller says that introduction of bronze manufacture in Europe may be ascribed to a great race immigrants from Asia some 6000 years ago, called Aryan or Aryas; that there are many proofs that a considerable degree of culture existed at its very beginning. Bronze and iron were in use. Pottery was not only shaped on lathe but burned a good red. Manufacture s in glass, gold and silver existed. In lonely mountain places where the dross and the remains of iron furnaces are to be found. The dross are not volcanic ash as volcanic action is absent in places where the remnants were found.
A few other evidences of wonderful arts of the ancient world, now lost, will be considered in the next blog.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter XIV – EGYPTIAN WISDOM
Pages 530 – 539
The previous study closed with the remark :
“HPB shows that in the pride of some new discovery, we throw a look in to the past, we find, to our dismay, certain vestiges which indicate the possibility, if not certainty, that the alleged discovery was not totally unknown to ancients.”
H.P.B. illustrates this point with copious historical and other evidences. Some of them are here considered.
The proficiency of the ancient Egyptians in healing had been of the highest order. Orpheus, Plato, Pythagoras, Herodotus were all instructed by the Egyptians. These owe their philosophy and learning to the same temple in which the wise Solon was instructed by the priests. Pliny cites Antiklides that letters were invented in Egypt by an Egyptian by name Menon 15 centuries before the most ancient king of Greece, Phoroneus.
Jablonski proves that the heliocentric and earth’s sphericity were known for immemorial ages in Egypt. Wilkinson shows that the Egyptians knew the length of the year, the precession of the equinoxes, and the accurate astronomical cycles, and astrological influences emanating from the relative positions, groupings and conjunctions of heavenly bodies.
Several thousand years B.C. Chinese and Chaldean astronomers predicted eclipses. As far back as 1722 B.C. they delineated the zodiac with the exact positions of planets at the time of autumnal equinox.
Wendell Phillips delivered a series of most delightful lectures on Lost Arts in Boston in the last quarter of the 19th century—which are available on line even today—in which he shows that modern science and progress is just a partial rediscovery of ancient learning and wisdom which surpassed ours. He spoke of ignorance of modern men of learning in their estimation of the marvellous achievements of ancients.
The glory of Chaldea, Persia, Babylone have no parallel in history
The pillared halls of Persopolis were filled with miracles of art—carvings, sculptures, enamels, alabaster libraries, obelisks, sphinxes, colossal bulls. Ecbatana, in Media, the cool summer retreat of the Persian kings, was defended by several encircling walls of hewn and polished blocks, the interior ones in succession of increasing height, and of different colours, in astrological accordance with the seven planets. The palace was roofed with silver tiles, the beams were plated with gold. At midnight, in the halls, the sun was rivalled by many a row of naphtha cressets. The Persian empire was truly the garden of the world.
John William Draper in his The history of the conflict between religion and science, in chapter 1, in pages 10 and 11, says : In Babylon there still remained its walls, once more than 60 miles in compass, and after ravages of three centuries and three conquerors, still more than 80 feet in height. There were still the ruins of the temple of the cloud-encompassed Bel. On its top was planted the observatory wherein the weird Chaldean astronomers had held nocturnal communion with the stars. Still there were vestiges of the two palaces with their hinging gardens in which were trees growing in mid-air, and of the wreck of the hydraulic machinery that has supplied them from the river. Into the artificial lake, with its vast apparatus of aqueducts and sluices, the melted snow of the Armenian mountains found their way and were confined in their course through the city by the embankments of Euphratus. The most wonderful of all was the tunnel under the river bed.
Modern commentators of ancient achievements are misled by the outward symbols and rituals (exotericism) of the ancient temples which they cannot penetrate :
They are either unwilling or unable to discern the inner significance (Esotericism) of the outer symbols. The Hierophants of the temples instructed their pupils in the hidden significance of the outer worship. There was a vast difference between the true worship taught to those who showed themselves worthy. Ignorant of their Esoteric knowledge, the modern researchers accuse the ancient magians of all kinds of superstitions.
They ascertained the true meridian, measured time, had standard measures and weights and were proficient in algebra.
The meridian was correctly ascertained before the Pyramids were built, They had clocks and dials to measure time. Their cubit was the established unit of linear measure, being 1707 feet of the English measure. Herodotus has recorded that the unit of weight was known to Egyptians, they had the decimal and duodecimal modes of calculation from the earliest times, and were proficient in algebra. How could they otherwise bring into operation such immense mechanical powers, if they had not thoroughly understood the philosophy of what we term mechanical powers ?
Their art of making linen is one of the lost arts.
(p. 536) The art of making linen and fine fabric is proved to have been one of the branches of their knowledge. The Bible speaks of it. Joseph was presented by Pharao with a vesture of fine linen, a golden chain and many more things. The linen of Egypt was famous throughout the world. The mummies wrapped in it is beautifully preserved. Herodotus speaks of the beauty and admirable softness of the linen worn by the priests in the performances of Mysteries in honour of Isis.
Jews adopted the rites and ceremonies of Egyptians
The special dress of Levites was from Egypt. Clemens Alexandrinus, Origen and other Fathers of the Church reluctantly acknowledge it, but they attribute it to coincidence and clever trick of Satan in anticipation of events. Proctor, the astronomer, says in one of his books that the remarkable breastplate worn by the Jewish high Priest was derived directly from the Egyptians. The word Thummim itself is evidently of Egyptian origin, borrowed by Moses, like the rest.
Ornamental arts of the Egyptians
Their jewellery of gold, silver, and precious stones were beautifully wrought. So was the cutting, polishing and setting by their lapidaries in the finest style. The finger ring of an Egyptian mummy was pronounced the most artistic piece of jewellery in the London exhibition of 1851. The imitation of precious stone in glass is far above anything done at the present day, and emerald may be said to have been imitated to perfection.
Marvels of glass works
Mr. Wendell Phillips discovered in Pompeii a room full of glass. There were ground glass, window-glass, cut-glass and coloured glass of every variety. Catholic priests who broke into China 200 years ago (ie. 200 before 1870) were shown glass , transparent and colourless, which was filled with a liquor which appeared to be colourless like water. The liquor poured into the glass and then looking through, it seemed to be filled with fishes. The liquor was turned it out and repeated the experiment and again it was filled with fishes.
Great skill of the ancients in metals works
Wendell Phillips speaking of the skill of the ancients in metal works narrates that when the English plundered the summer palace of the Emperor of China the European artists were surprised at seeing the curiously wrought metal vessels of every kind, far exceeding the skill of the European workmen. African tribes in the interior of the country gave the travellers better razors than they had. Phillips goes on to say that George Thompson relating to him of the incident in which he saw a man in Calcutta throwing up a handful of floss silk into the air and a Hindu severing it into pieces with his sabre of native steel. He concludes with the significant remark : “Steel is the great triumph of metallurgy and metallurgy is the glory of chemistry.” So with the Egyptians and Semitic races. They dug gold and separated it with the utmost skill. Copper, iron, lead were found in abundance near the Red Sea.
Civilization in the East preceded that of the West by many centuries. Arts and sciences flowed from East to West. Remnants of iron furnaces are to be found on lonely mountain places.
Professor Albercht Muller says that introduction of bronze manufacture in Europe may be ascribed to a great race immigrants from Asia some 6000 years ago, called Aryan or Aryas; that there are many proofs that a considerable degree of culture existed at its very beginning. Bronze and iron were in use. Pottery was not only shaped on lathe but burned a good red. Manufacture s in glass, gold and silver existed. In lonely mountain places where the dross and the remains of iron furnaces are to be found. The dross are not volcanic ash as volcanic action is absent in places where the remnants were found.
A few other evidences of wonderful arts of the ancient world, now lost, will be considered in the next blog.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, March 15, 2013
Isis Study – January to March 2013 Summary and discussions
Isis unveiled, vol. I
Chapter XIV – EGYPTIAN WISDOM
Pager 520-526
Continuing her extensive and authentic citations from various authorities on the evidence of unsurpassed knowledge, skills and wisdom of ancient Egyptians, H.P.B. gives us glimpses in to the pre-historic past. She thus illustrates that races of men progress in cycles , age of civilization, learning and enlightenment alternating with cycles of intellectual decline and almost entire oblivion of knowledge and progress of the past ages, to rise again. Progress this civilization of ours prides itself to have achieved is shown not only to have been anticipated thousands of years ago but far exceeded the present day progress in every field of human endeavour.
An evidence of the astronomical erudition of Egyptians
Professor Draper admits it. He is supported by singular facts quoted by Mr. J.M. Peebles from a lecture delivered in Philadelphia, by Mr. O.M. Mitchell, the astronomer. On the coffin of a mummy, now lying in the British Museum, bore inscriptions of the Zodiac with exact positions of planets at the time of autumnal equinox in the year 1722 B.C. (“Around the World,” by Mr. J.M. Peebles)
Greece owes everything to Egypt
Prof. Draper in his History of the Intellectual Development of Europe gives historical evidence of this fact , and thus augments the theory of cyclic rise and fall of civilizations. He refers the best part of Greek culture to the Egyptian source. He was criticized by Prof. John Fiske for exalting non-European civilization. But then the latter criticism is nullified by the well-known historical confessions of great historians of ancient Greeks themselves. Herodotus, the father of History, confesses that Greece owes everything to Egypt.
Prof. Fiske’s criticism of the theory of cycles is again shown to be unwarranted by the plainly evident historical facts of many glorious nations which have passed away, ie., reached the end of their national cycle. Egypt of glorious past with its wondrous monuments, art, sciences, religion, its swarming population, bear no comparison with the present day Egypt, peopled with strangers. Says Gliddon that philologists, astronomers, chemists, painters, architects, physicians must return to Egypt to learn the origin of language and writing, of calendar and solar motion, the art of cutting granite with a copper chisel, giving elasticity to copper sword, making glass with variegated hues of the rainbow, of moving single blocks of polished syenite 900 tons in weight for any distance by land and water, building arches with Masonic precision antecedent by 2000 years to the ‘Gloaca Magna’ of Rome, of fresco painting in imperishable colours, practical knowledge of anatomy, of time defying pyramid etc., etc. Mr. Peebles says that temples and tombs of Ramses were as much a marvel to the Grecian Herodotus as they are to us.
But for the Books of Hermes and Herodotus the very memory of wondrous Egypt would have been swept away.
Cramped by the bias in favour of biblical chronology of 6000 years since the ‘creation’ of the world, clergy and scientists alike dreaded to trespass the limit of that time period in their estimation of the age of prehistoric remains.
Herodotus gives a description of the awesome labyrinth which was already in ruins before his time. He regarded it as more marvellous than the pyramids themselves. He found 3000 chambers, half subterranean and half over-ground. He said he examined them in detail as much as he was permitted by the keepers of the building permitted him to explore as they contained sepulchres of the kings who built the labyrinth. He says they excelled all human productions. Isis vo. I. p. 522-523 gives the account left by Herodotus. Can be read on line.
The wondrous Karnak stood as much testimony to the glory of Thebe which was in ruins when Memphis was in flower.
Champollion gives a description of Karnak. In one of its halls the cathedral of Notre Dame might stand and appear as a small ornament. He says one is astounded and overcome by the grandeur of the sublime remnants, the prodigy and magnificence of workmanship to be seen everywhere. French and English travellers confess to indescribably glory of Egyptian art, skill and monuments. Modern history gets the first glimpse of ancient Egypt when the latter was already in the evening of its glory.
Prejudiced scholars were always ready to discredit the achievements of the ancients. Fiske was one such who concluded that Egyptian monuments betoken of a barbarous civilization. His argument cuts both ways. If mega structures civilizations build are token of barbarity, then archaeologists of future millennia, finding remnants of skyscrapers of America might as well conclude that Americans were barbarians who built their mega structures through labours of slaves.
Illustration of law of cycles by which civilizations rise and fall
Nearly 700 years B.C. in the school of Thales and Pythagoras was taught the doctrine of the true motion of the earth, its form, and the whole heliocentric system. In A.D. 317 we find Lantantius, the preceptor of Crispus Caeser, son Constantine the Great, teaching his pupil that the earth was plane surrounded by sky, which is composed of fire and water, and warning him against the heretical doctrine of earth’s globular form.
NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN
HPB shows that in the pride of some new discovery, we throw a look in to the past, we find, to our dismay, certain vestiges which indicate the possibility, if not certainty, that the alleged discovery was not totally unknown to ancients.
In the next study class report some examples will be given to illustrate this point.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter XIV – EGYPTIAN WISDOM
Pager 520-526
Continuing her extensive and authentic citations from various authorities on the evidence of unsurpassed knowledge, skills and wisdom of ancient Egyptians, H.P.B. gives us glimpses in to the pre-historic past. She thus illustrates that races of men progress in cycles , age of civilization, learning and enlightenment alternating with cycles of intellectual decline and almost entire oblivion of knowledge and progress of the past ages, to rise again. Progress this civilization of ours prides itself to have achieved is shown not only to have been anticipated thousands of years ago but far exceeded the present day progress in every field of human endeavour.
An evidence of the astronomical erudition of Egyptians
Professor Draper admits it. He is supported by singular facts quoted by Mr. J.M. Peebles from a lecture delivered in Philadelphia, by Mr. O.M. Mitchell, the astronomer. On the coffin of a mummy, now lying in the British Museum, bore inscriptions of the Zodiac with exact positions of planets at the time of autumnal equinox in the year 1722 B.C. (“Around the World,” by Mr. J.M. Peebles)
Greece owes everything to Egypt
Prof. Draper in his History of the Intellectual Development of Europe gives historical evidence of this fact , and thus augments the theory of cyclic rise and fall of civilizations. He refers the best part of Greek culture to the Egyptian source. He was criticized by Prof. John Fiske for exalting non-European civilization. But then the latter criticism is nullified by the well-known historical confessions of great historians of ancient Greeks themselves. Herodotus, the father of History, confesses that Greece owes everything to Egypt.
Prof. Fiske’s criticism of the theory of cycles is again shown to be unwarranted by the plainly evident historical facts of many glorious nations which have passed away, ie., reached the end of their national cycle. Egypt of glorious past with its wondrous monuments, art, sciences, religion, its swarming population, bear no comparison with the present day Egypt, peopled with strangers. Says Gliddon that philologists, astronomers, chemists, painters, architects, physicians must return to Egypt to learn the origin of language and writing, of calendar and solar motion, the art of cutting granite with a copper chisel, giving elasticity to copper sword, making glass with variegated hues of the rainbow, of moving single blocks of polished syenite 900 tons in weight for any distance by land and water, building arches with Masonic precision antecedent by 2000 years to the ‘Gloaca Magna’ of Rome, of fresco painting in imperishable colours, practical knowledge of anatomy, of time defying pyramid etc., etc. Mr. Peebles says that temples and tombs of Ramses were as much a marvel to the Grecian Herodotus as they are to us.
But for the Books of Hermes and Herodotus the very memory of wondrous Egypt would have been swept away.
Cramped by the bias in favour of biblical chronology of 6000 years since the ‘creation’ of the world, clergy and scientists alike dreaded to trespass the limit of that time period in their estimation of the age of prehistoric remains.
Herodotus gives a description of the awesome labyrinth which was already in ruins before his time. He regarded it as more marvellous than the pyramids themselves. He found 3000 chambers, half subterranean and half over-ground. He said he examined them in detail as much as he was permitted by the keepers of the building permitted him to explore as they contained sepulchres of the kings who built the labyrinth. He says they excelled all human productions. Isis vo. I. p. 522-523 gives the account left by Herodotus. Can be read on line.
The wondrous Karnak stood as much testimony to the glory of Thebe which was in ruins when Memphis was in flower.
Champollion gives a description of Karnak. In one of its halls the cathedral of Notre Dame might stand and appear as a small ornament. He says one is astounded and overcome by the grandeur of the sublime remnants, the prodigy and magnificence of workmanship to be seen everywhere. French and English travellers confess to indescribably glory of Egyptian art, skill and monuments. Modern history gets the first glimpse of ancient Egypt when the latter was already in the evening of its glory.
Prejudiced scholars were always ready to discredit the achievements of the ancients. Fiske was one such who concluded that Egyptian monuments betoken of a barbarous civilization. His argument cuts both ways. If mega structures civilizations build are token of barbarity, then archaeologists of future millennia, finding remnants of skyscrapers of America might as well conclude that Americans were barbarians who built their mega structures through labours of slaves.
Illustration of law of cycles by which civilizations rise and fall
Nearly 700 years B.C. in the school of Thales and Pythagoras was taught the doctrine of the true motion of the earth, its form, and the whole heliocentric system. In A.D. 317 we find Lantantius, the preceptor of Crispus Caeser, son Constantine the Great, teaching his pupil that the earth was plane surrounded by sky, which is composed of fire and water, and warning him against the heretical doctrine of earth’s globular form.
NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN
HPB shows that in the pride of some new discovery, we throw a look in to the past, we find, to our dismay, certain vestiges which indicate the possibility, if not certainty, that the alleged discovery was not totally unknown to ancients.
In the next study class report some examples will be given to illustrate this point.
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Friday, March 8, 2013
Isis Study – January to March 2013 Summary
Isis unveiled, vol. I
Chapter XIV – EGYPTIAN WISDOM
Pager 515 -520
Antecedent remarks
H.P.B. interrupts her discourse at the end of the XIII chapter of Isis, and devotes the next two whole chapters, chapter XIV and chapter XV, to dwell in detail and in depth on Egyptian wisdom, in chapter XIV (p. 515 to 573), and on the priority, precedence and great achievements of ancient Indian (Hindu-Aryan) civilization, which spread to other parts of the world, (pages 574 to 628). With these two chapters closes the first volume of Isis, the subject matter of which is A Master Key to ancient and modern Science.
One of the great paradoxes of the modern world is that, in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary—historical, archaeological, literary, architectural, religious, philosophical and scientific—academies of modern learning and educated public should be under a powerful spell of a belief that civilization and culture began with the ancient Greeks, that true scientific advancement began with pioneers of European renaissance and attained for the first time, in the history of the world, the present high point of technological and scientific civilization, and that the archaic ages before ours was primitive and crude. The assumption of 19th century West was that it was under the benign influence of the world’s most perfect religion, Christianity, and advancement of modern science, that the civilization has reached its pinnacle of perfection, and that ignorance, superstition and primitiveness were the marks of archaic ages.
The whole of Isis is devoted to demolishing this most erroneous and conceited idea, and demonstrate with overwhelming evidence, authentic knowledge and erudition that contrary is the actual truth.
In first volume she demonstrates that scientific achievements of the archaic civilizations is till today unsurpassed, compared to which ours appear as a pale shadow. Moreover, it is shown that every modern discovery and invention, in every field, was but a partial re-discovery of far superior older science of ancient nations.
The reasons for the limitation and false assumptions of modern science is shown, and the universal basis and unfaltering methods of ancient science is juxtaposed with it, and the superiority of the latter is demonstrated with variety of proofs.
Summary of studies
Chapter XIV
Wisdom of Egypt
Pages 515 – 520
Great antiquity of Egyptian civilization of wondrous perfection in arts and sciences :
Egypt is a great mystery, a riddle no modern Oedipus has been able to decipher. She did not learn from her Semitic or Greek neighbours. The latter, in fact, got all their knowledge from her. The more we learn of the Egyptians the more marvellous they seem. A marked feature of her civilization is that farther back one goes in history the more glorious her achievements seem such as to make one wonder at what remote period did it make a beginning, which is lost in the misty past, impenetrable by present day researchers and historians. Farthest past to which modern history can stretch is found by historians to be the evening of Egyptian civilization, already on the decline, which make them wonder when then—at what remote epoch—did it reach its zenith, and when it first appeared on the horizon.
As to how Egypt came by her wondrous knowledge we have to consider the historical fact that India and Egypt were akin. The Eastern Ethiopians, the mighty builders, came from India, and colonized Egypt.
The Indian immigrants came to Eastern Ethiopia as a matured people, bringing civilization with them, colonized unoccupied Egyptian territory.
But this is the account of the annals of the sacred tradition of ancient India which H.P.B. sites from, and not unknown to Indologists. This is treated at some length in subsequent pages in the first volume, and in chapter 8 and 9 of the 2nd volume of Isis. It is available on line for those interested.
Egypt had reached perfection in hydrostatics, mechanics and hydrological engineering as seen in the construction lake Moeris during the reign of Menes—the first historical known emperor of Egypt, about 4000 B.C. Eusebe Salverte says that modern water works cannot match it in engineering perfection. During his reign the gigantic work of turning the course of the three tributaries of the Nile to bring it to Memphis was undertaken. Mr Wilkinson writes that Menes took accurate measurement of the power which he had to oppose, and constructed a dyke whose lofty mounds and enormous embankments turned the water eastward, and that since that time the river was contained in its new bed. Herodotus has left us a poetical but still an accurate description of the lake Moeris, so called after the name of the Phraoh who caused this artificial sheet of water to be formed. Historians described the lake as measuring 450 miles in circumference and 300 feet in depth. It was fed through artificial channels by the Nile and made to store a portion of the annual over for the irrigation of the country for many miles round. Its numerous flood gates, dams, locks, and convenient engines were constructed with greatest skill.
Romans at a later period got their notions on hydraulic constructions from the Egyptians. Criticism of scientists is that Egyptians could have employed watertight joints and iron pipes, of which they seemed to be ignorant, thus cutting the cost. But they evidently employed a far superior method in their channels and artificial water works.
Lesseps who employed engineers for the construction of the Suez canal learned from ancient Romans all their art could teach them, and the Romans derived their knowledge from Egypt.
Professor Carpenter says that for a distance of 500 miles above Cairo there stretches a strip of land reclaimed from the desert and made the most fertile land on the face of the earth. Says he, further, that for thousands of years these branch canals conveyed fresh water from the Nile to fertilize the land of this long narrow strip as well as the delta. He describes the network of canals over the Delta which dates from an early period of Egyptian monarchs.
Amazing architecture of Egyptian temples
H.P.B. quotes from the writing of one Carpenter who gives an account of the marvels of Egyptian architecture. [Perhaps the author whom HPB cites is Edward Carpenter. Some research needs to be done.] To quote a passage :
“These stupendous and beautiful erections...these gigantic pyramids and temples” have a “vastness and beauty” which are “still impressive after the lapse of thousands of years.” He is amazed at “the admirable character of the workmanship; the stone in most cases being fitted together with astonishing nicety, so that a knife could hardly be thrust between the joints.” He speaks of the Egyptian Book of the Dead sculptured on the old monuments and the ancient belief in the immortality of the soul. The language in which it was expressed anticipated that of the Christian Revelation. In the Egyptian Book of the Dead are to be found the very phrases we find in the New Testament in connection with the day of judgment, and these hierograms were engraved 2000 B.C.
Bunsen, the great Egyptologist, made exact calculations of the Pyramid of Cheops. The mass of masonry of the pyramid measured 82,111,000feet, and would weigh 6,316, 000 tons. The immense number of squared stones show us unparalleled skill of Egyptian quarrymen. Joints are scarcely perceptible, not wider than the thickness of a silver paper, and cement so tenacious, that the fragments of the casing stones still remain in their original position despite lapse of centuries. Who of our modern architects and chemists will discover the indestructible cement of old Egyptian buildings, asks H.P.B.
Transportation of huge stones over great distances
Researchers demonstrated the monoliths were brought from prodigious distances but are at a loss to account for the means employed by Egyptians. Old MSS show, however, that they were transported by means of portable rails resting upon inflated bags of hide rendered indestructible by the same process as that used for preserving the mummies.
Great antiquity of pyramids and what they signified
Modern dating of the age of pyramids is conjectural. Herodotus informs us successive kings erected one to commemorate his reign, and serve as his sepulchre. But Herodotus did not tell all though he knew the real purpose, as he was an Initiate and was bound by the oath of secrecy. H.P.B. says that they symbolized the creative principle of nature, and illustrated the principle of geometry, mathematics, astrology and astronomy, and that, internally, they were majestic fanes, in whose sombre recesses were performed Mysteries, and whose walls had often witnessed the initiation-scenes of the royal family. The Porphyry sarcophagus was the baptismal font (which the English Astronomer, Piazzi Smith mistook to be a corn bin) upon emerging from which the neophyte was “born again” and became an Adept.
Modern estimation of the age of pyramids and the purpose they served are all conjectures. Professor Piazzi Smith gives mathematical and astronomical bearing the pyramids. One of the Books of Hermes gives description of certain pyramids standing on the sea-shore, the waves of which dashed in powerless fury against its base. This account gives us an idea of antiquity of Egyptian pyramids to be far more than the modern scholars are prepared to admit. It implies that the geographical features of the country have changed, and indicate what researchers thought were granaries were really “Magico-Astrological Observatories” and royal sepulchres an origin ante-dating the upheaval of the Sahara. French archaeologist, Dr. Rebold was of the view that there were thirty or forty colleges of priests who studied occult sciences and practical magic.
Egypt far older, and shone brighter, than Rome and was the main-spring of civilization, learning and intelligence of the race.
H.P.B. quotes from the National Quarterly Review (vol. Xxxii, No. Lxii, December 1875) that excavations at Carthage showed traces of a civilization, a refinement of art and luxury, which must even have outshone that of ancient Rome; that while one empire swayed the world by force of arms alone, the other was the last and the most perfect representative of a race who had, for centuries before Rome was dreamed of, directed the civilization, the learning and intelligence of mankind.
Chapter XIV – EGYPTIAN WISDOM
Pager 515 -520
Antecedent remarks
H.P.B. interrupts her discourse at the end of the XIII chapter of Isis, and devotes the next two whole chapters, chapter XIV and chapter XV, to dwell in detail and in depth on Egyptian wisdom, in chapter XIV (p. 515 to 573), and on the priority, precedence and great achievements of ancient Indian (Hindu-Aryan) civilization, which spread to other parts of the world, (pages 574 to 628). With these two chapters closes the first volume of Isis, the subject matter of which is A Master Key to ancient and modern Science.
One of the great paradoxes of the modern world is that, in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary—historical, archaeological, literary, architectural, religious, philosophical and scientific—academies of modern learning and educated public should be under a powerful spell of a belief that civilization and culture began with the ancient Greeks, that true scientific advancement began with pioneers of European renaissance and attained for the first time, in the history of the world, the present high point of technological and scientific civilization, and that the archaic ages before ours was primitive and crude. The assumption of 19th century West was that it was under the benign influence of the world’s most perfect religion, Christianity, and advancement of modern science, that the civilization has reached its pinnacle of perfection, and that ignorance, superstition and primitiveness were the marks of archaic ages.
The whole of Isis is devoted to demolishing this most erroneous and conceited idea, and demonstrate with overwhelming evidence, authentic knowledge and erudition that contrary is the actual truth.
In first volume she demonstrates that scientific achievements of the archaic civilizations is till today unsurpassed, compared to which ours appear as a pale shadow. Moreover, it is shown that every modern discovery and invention, in every field, was but a partial re-discovery of far superior older science of ancient nations.
The reasons for the limitation and false assumptions of modern science is shown, and the universal basis and unfaltering methods of ancient science is juxtaposed with it, and the superiority of the latter is demonstrated with variety of proofs.
Summary of studies
Chapter XIV
Wisdom of Egypt
Pages 515 – 520
Great antiquity of Egyptian civilization of wondrous perfection in arts and sciences :
Egypt is a great mystery, a riddle no modern Oedipus has been able to decipher. She did not learn from her Semitic or Greek neighbours. The latter, in fact, got all their knowledge from her. The more we learn of the Egyptians the more marvellous they seem. A marked feature of her civilization is that farther back one goes in history the more glorious her achievements seem such as to make one wonder at what remote period did it make a beginning, which is lost in the misty past, impenetrable by present day researchers and historians. Farthest past to which modern history can stretch is found by historians to be the evening of Egyptian civilization, already on the decline, which make them wonder when then—at what remote epoch—did it reach its zenith, and when it first appeared on the horizon.
As to how Egypt came by her wondrous knowledge we have to consider the historical fact that India and Egypt were akin. The Eastern Ethiopians, the mighty builders, came from India, and colonized Egypt.
The Indian immigrants came to Eastern Ethiopia as a matured people, bringing civilization with them, colonized unoccupied Egyptian territory.
But this is the account of the annals of the sacred tradition of ancient India which H.P.B. sites from, and not unknown to Indologists. This is treated at some length in subsequent pages in the first volume, and in chapter 8 and 9 of the 2nd volume of Isis. It is available on line for those interested.
Egypt had reached perfection in hydrostatics, mechanics and hydrological engineering as seen in the construction lake Moeris during the reign of Menes—the first historical known emperor of Egypt, about 4000 B.C. Eusebe Salverte says that modern water works cannot match it in engineering perfection. During his reign the gigantic work of turning the course of the three tributaries of the Nile to bring it to Memphis was undertaken. Mr Wilkinson writes that Menes took accurate measurement of the power which he had to oppose, and constructed a dyke whose lofty mounds and enormous embankments turned the water eastward, and that since that time the river was contained in its new bed. Herodotus has left us a poetical but still an accurate description of the lake Moeris, so called after the name of the Phraoh who caused this artificial sheet of water to be formed. Historians described the lake as measuring 450 miles in circumference and 300 feet in depth. It was fed through artificial channels by the Nile and made to store a portion of the annual over for the irrigation of the country for many miles round. Its numerous flood gates, dams, locks, and convenient engines were constructed with greatest skill.
Romans at a later period got their notions on hydraulic constructions from the Egyptians. Criticism of scientists is that Egyptians could have employed watertight joints and iron pipes, of which they seemed to be ignorant, thus cutting the cost. But they evidently employed a far superior method in their channels and artificial water works.
Lesseps who employed engineers for the construction of the Suez canal learned from ancient Romans all their art could teach them, and the Romans derived their knowledge from Egypt.
Professor Carpenter says that for a distance of 500 miles above Cairo there stretches a strip of land reclaimed from the desert and made the most fertile land on the face of the earth. Says he, further, that for thousands of years these branch canals conveyed fresh water from the Nile to fertilize the land of this long narrow strip as well as the delta. He describes the network of canals over the Delta which dates from an early period of Egyptian monarchs.
Amazing architecture of Egyptian temples
H.P.B. quotes from the writing of one Carpenter who gives an account of the marvels of Egyptian architecture. [Perhaps the author whom HPB cites is Edward Carpenter. Some research needs to be done.] To quote a passage :
“These stupendous and beautiful erections...these gigantic pyramids and temples” have a “vastness and beauty” which are “still impressive after the lapse of thousands of years.” He is amazed at “the admirable character of the workmanship; the stone in most cases being fitted together with astonishing nicety, so that a knife could hardly be thrust between the joints.” He speaks of the Egyptian Book of the Dead sculptured on the old monuments and the ancient belief in the immortality of the soul. The language in which it was expressed anticipated that of the Christian Revelation. In the Egyptian Book of the Dead are to be found the very phrases we find in the New Testament in connection with the day of judgment, and these hierograms were engraved 2000 B.C.
Bunsen, the great Egyptologist, made exact calculations of the Pyramid of Cheops. The mass of masonry of the pyramid measured 82,111,000feet, and would weigh 6,316, 000 tons. The immense number of squared stones show us unparalleled skill of Egyptian quarrymen. Joints are scarcely perceptible, not wider than the thickness of a silver paper, and cement so tenacious, that the fragments of the casing stones still remain in their original position despite lapse of centuries. Who of our modern architects and chemists will discover the indestructible cement of old Egyptian buildings, asks H.P.B.
Transportation of huge stones over great distances
Researchers demonstrated the monoliths were brought from prodigious distances but are at a loss to account for the means employed by Egyptians. Old MSS show, however, that they were transported by means of portable rails resting upon inflated bags of hide rendered indestructible by the same process as that used for preserving the mummies.
Great antiquity of pyramids and what they signified
Modern dating of the age of pyramids is conjectural. Herodotus informs us successive kings erected one to commemorate his reign, and serve as his sepulchre. But Herodotus did not tell all though he knew the real purpose, as he was an Initiate and was bound by the oath of secrecy. H.P.B. says that they symbolized the creative principle of nature, and illustrated the principle of geometry, mathematics, astrology and astronomy, and that, internally, they were majestic fanes, in whose sombre recesses were performed Mysteries, and whose walls had often witnessed the initiation-scenes of the royal family. The Porphyry sarcophagus was the baptismal font (which the English Astronomer, Piazzi Smith mistook to be a corn bin) upon emerging from which the neophyte was “born again” and became an Adept.
Modern estimation of the age of pyramids and the purpose they served are all conjectures. Professor Piazzi Smith gives mathematical and astronomical bearing the pyramids. One of the Books of Hermes gives description of certain pyramids standing on the sea-shore, the waves of which dashed in powerless fury against its base. This account gives us an idea of antiquity of Egyptian pyramids to be far more than the modern scholars are prepared to admit. It implies that the geographical features of the country have changed, and indicate what researchers thought were granaries were really “Magico-Astrological Observatories” and royal sepulchres an origin ante-dating the upheaval of the Sahara. French archaeologist, Dr. Rebold was of the view that there were thirty or forty colleges of priests who studied occult sciences and practical magic.
Egypt far older, and shone brighter, than Rome and was the main-spring of civilization, learning and intelligence of the race.
H.P.B. quotes from the National Quarterly Review (vol. Xxxii, No. Lxii, December 1875) that excavations at Carthage showed traces of a civilization, a refinement of art and luxury, which must even have outshone that of ancient Rome; that while one empire swayed the world by force of arms alone, the other was the last and the most perfect representative of a race who had, for centuries before Rome was dreamed of, directed the civilization, the learning and intelligence of mankind.
-------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Isis Study – Sunday, 2nd December 2012
Summary and discussion
Isis Unveiled, vol. I
Chapter XIII – Realities and Illusion
Pages : 494 – 503
Two topics which were studied are : the phenomenon of Levitation, and the science of Alchemy and Elixir of life.
Levitation : By mediumistic passive method and by active will-effort
How does the phenomenon of levitation—i.e., rising freely in air of body or other ponderable objects---apparently in defiance of the law of gravity—occur ? There is nothing miraculous or “supernatural” in it.
Theosophy shows that the modern scientific theory of gravity, as defined by Sir Isaac Newton, is only half law, and that objects are attracted to each other not due to “mass” but on account of electrical and magnetic phenomenon. Gravity is only half law because only attraction is considered. What about repulsion ? An object or a body is held on the ground by its weight, an effect of gravity, according to science. But Theosophy demonstrates that the weight of objects is not due to gravity, as conceived by modern scientists, but in reality due to the attraction of the body to the earth, as the two are polarized into opposite electrical charges, and unlike poles attract each other. When the electrical and magnetic polarity of an object is altered—the ways by which this can happen, or is done, is the subject of our discussion now—so that the object and the earth are of the same electrical charge, then the body levitates, as like poles repel each other; or it becomes heavier than normal, if the potential difference of the electrical charge of the body vis vis the earth is enhanced.
Earth itself is one vast magnet because of the induction by the Sun’s magnetism, the central star of our system being itself a mega magnet. Man too possesses this property, and every thing else in the Solar system. Planetary motion is not due to gravity but to magnetic attraction and repulsion between the Sun and planets, which forces are so mutually adjusted that the planets are held in their respective orbits and made to revolve in harmonious revolutions. But this is intelligent and vital electricity and magnetism, not the crude one we ordinarily know of.
Mutual attraction and repulsion between individuals towards each other is also partly due to this property.
Unconscious aethrobacy or Levitation
The polarity of the medium is altered vis a vis the earth and the medium levitates. Because medium is an ordinary person with a peculiarity of constitution by which he becomes magnetized by an influx from the Astral Light, which is a magento-vital aura interpenetrating and surrounding the earth, just as a piece of iron is magnetized when placed near another magnet or a lodestone. The intensity and permanency of mediumistic power is in proportion to the saturation of the medium with the magnetic or the astral force, just as the magnetic property of the metal is measured by its more or less steel-like character. The condition of saturation of individuals may happen by :
Self-saturation with astral force may be achieved by will power by those who have developed power of will by persistence in fixed determination to subjugate matter so much so as to become insensible to external impressions to the extent of even simulating death itself. The ecstatic so enormously reinforces his will power as to draw into himself, as into a vortex, the potencies resident in the Astral Light to supplement his own natural store.
In mesmeric process, the astral force is projected by exercise of will by the mesmerizer so as to saturate with it another person, or he may draw the force into himself.
Occultists say that when a person so intently fixes his thought upon a point above himself, and the body is thoroughly imbued with the astral influence, the body follows the mental aspiration and rises into the air as easily as a cork held beneath the water rises to the surface.
The fascination of a precipice or the psychological phenomenon of vertigo
Why do some people feel giddy when on the edge of precipice or chasm ? The cause is the same as the one by which levitation of the body happens. People of certain temperament when standing on an edge overseeing a chasm picture in their imagination the consequences of a fall, which creates a centre of attraction below him, and the body follows the attraction. It is fascination created by his own imaginative mind. Unless the fascination is broken the body will follow the thought to the foot of the precipice.
Perpetual motion, Elixir of Life, Universal Solvent
The first is a dream of science but it has remained a dream. The other two are denied by it. Hermetists have claimed that for ages they have known of “elixir of life” by partaking of which a man can prolong his physical life in the body far beyond the average life span of human beings in general. Universal Solvent, called Alkahest in Alchemy, is a certain fluid in Nature which is capable of reducing all compound bodies under the sun into their primordial original essence—the first sate of pre-cosmic matter out of which all things in the universe are formed. Van Helmont, Paracelsus and other Kabalists of the middle ages were acquainted with it.
The universe itself illustrates perpetual motion. Atomic theory is science is a proof of it. When perpetual motion is discovered the secret of Nature will have been unravelled. Perpetual motion does not however mean endless motion but by a knowledge of it a machine can be run for an indefinite length of time by reducing resistance and waste by friction to an insignificant measure.
Elixir of Life is no myth. Nature herself demonstrates it. The old Hermetic doctrine teaches us that there is a terrestrial circulation similar to that of the human body. Nature is continually renewing her wasted energies by absorption from the source of energy. Why then man cannot discover this source and renew his life indefinitely ? Hermetists say that the source and nature of this recuperative energy is discoverable, the juices or the essence of it can be used to replenish his own forces. This is a secret of Alchemists. If terrestrial circulation is arrested there is stagnation and death. Similarly when circulation of fluids in human body is stopped, putrefaction and death ensue. It is asserted that Alchemists know of certain substances which can keep the channels of circulation of the human body unclogged and thus prolong life indefinitely. Mineral springs have certain virtues in the cure of diseases and restoration of physical vigour. If the recuperative energy in the bowels of the earth is discovered then the secret of the fountain of youth will have been discovered. Adepts know the secret. This is Esoteric Geography and Geology. Some axiomatic principles of it may be considered which are given in The Secret Doctrine, vol. II, page 400 and foot notes.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary and discussion
Isis Unveiled, vol. I
Chapter XIII – Realities and Illusion
Pages : 494 – 503
Two topics which were studied are : the phenomenon of Levitation, and the science of Alchemy and Elixir of life.
Levitation : By mediumistic passive method and by active will-effort
How does the phenomenon of levitation—i.e., rising freely in air of body or other ponderable objects---apparently in defiance of the law of gravity—occur ? There is nothing miraculous or “supernatural” in it.
Theosophy shows that the modern scientific theory of gravity, as defined by Sir Isaac Newton, is only half law, and that objects are attracted to each other not due to “mass” but on account of electrical and magnetic phenomenon. Gravity is only half law because only attraction is considered. What about repulsion ? An object or a body is held on the ground by its weight, an effect of gravity, according to science. But Theosophy demonstrates that the weight of objects is not due to gravity, as conceived by modern scientists, but in reality due to the attraction of the body to the earth, as the two are polarized into opposite electrical charges, and unlike poles attract each other. When the electrical and magnetic polarity of an object is altered—the ways by which this can happen, or is done, is the subject of our discussion now—so that the object and the earth are of the same electrical charge, then the body levitates, as like poles repel each other; or it becomes heavier than normal, if the potential difference of the electrical charge of the body vis vis the earth is enhanced.
Earth itself is one vast magnet because of the induction by the Sun’s magnetism, the central star of our system being itself a mega magnet. Man too possesses this property, and every thing else in the Solar system. Planetary motion is not due to gravity but to magnetic attraction and repulsion between the Sun and planets, which forces are so mutually adjusted that the planets are held in their respective orbits and made to revolve in harmonious revolutions. But this is intelligent and vital electricity and magnetism, not the crude one we ordinarily know of.
Mutual attraction and repulsion between individuals towards each other is also partly due to this property.
Unconscious aethrobacy or Levitation
The polarity of the medium is altered vis a vis the earth and the medium levitates. Because medium is an ordinary person with a peculiarity of constitution by which he becomes magnetized by an influx from the Astral Light, which is a magento-vital aura interpenetrating and surrounding the earth, just as a piece of iron is magnetized when placed near another magnet or a lodestone. The intensity and permanency of mediumistic power is in proportion to the saturation of the medium with the magnetic or the astral force, just as the magnetic property of the metal is measured by its more or less steel-like character. The condition of saturation of individuals may happen by :
Self-saturation with astral force may be achieved by will power by those who have developed power of will by persistence in fixed determination to subjugate matter so much so as to become insensible to external impressions to the extent of even simulating death itself. The ecstatic so enormously reinforces his will power as to draw into himself, as into a vortex, the potencies resident in the Astral Light to supplement his own natural store.
In mesmeric process, the astral force is projected by exercise of will by the mesmerizer so as to saturate with it another person, or he may draw the force into himself.
Occultists say that when a person so intently fixes his thought upon a point above himself, and the body is thoroughly imbued with the astral influence, the body follows the mental aspiration and rises into the air as easily as a cork held beneath the water rises to the surface.
The fascination of a precipice or the psychological phenomenon of vertigo
Why do some people feel giddy when on the edge of precipice or chasm ? The cause is the same as the one by which levitation of the body happens. People of certain temperament when standing on an edge overseeing a chasm picture in their imagination the consequences of a fall, which creates a centre of attraction below him, and the body follows the attraction. It is fascination created by his own imaginative mind. Unless the fascination is broken the body will follow the thought to the foot of the precipice.
Perpetual motion, Elixir of Life, Universal Solvent
The first is a dream of science but it has remained a dream. The other two are denied by it. Hermetists have claimed that for ages they have known of “elixir of life” by partaking of which a man can prolong his physical life in the body far beyond the average life span of human beings in general. Universal Solvent, called Alkahest in Alchemy, is a certain fluid in Nature which is capable of reducing all compound bodies under the sun into their primordial original essence—the first sate of pre-cosmic matter out of which all things in the universe are formed. Van Helmont, Paracelsus and other Kabalists of the middle ages were acquainted with it.
The universe itself illustrates perpetual motion. Atomic theory is science is a proof of it. When perpetual motion is discovered the secret of Nature will have been unravelled. Perpetual motion does not however mean endless motion but by a knowledge of it a machine can be run for an indefinite length of time by reducing resistance and waste by friction to an insignificant measure.
Elixir of Life is no myth. Nature herself demonstrates it. The old Hermetic doctrine teaches us that there is a terrestrial circulation similar to that of the human body. Nature is continually renewing her wasted energies by absorption from the source of energy. Why then man cannot discover this source and renew his life indefinitely ? Hermetists say that the source and nature of this recuperative energy is discoverable, the juices or the essence of it can be used to replenish his own forces. This is a secret of Alchemists. If terrestrial circulation is arrested there is stagnation and death. Similarly when circulation of fluids in human body is stopped, putrefaction and death ensue. It is asserted that Alchemists know of certain substances which can keep the channels of circulation of the human body unclogged and thus prolong life indefinitely. Mineral springs have certain virtues in the cure of diseases and restoration of physical vigour. If the recuperative energy in the bowels of the earth is discovered then the secret of the fountain of youth will have been discovered. Adepts know the secret. This is Esoteric Geography and Geology. Some axiomatic principles of it may be considered which are given in The Secret Doctrine, vol. II, page 400 and foot notes.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Isis Unveiled, vol. I
Chapter XIII – Realities and Illusion
Pages : 494 – 503
Two topics which were studied are : the phenomenon of Levitation, and the science of Alchemy and Elixir of life.
Levitation : By mediumistic passive method and by active will-effort
How does the phenomenon of levitation—i.e., rising freely in air of body or other ponderable objects---apparently in defiance of the law of gravity—occur ? There is nothing miraculous or “supernatural” in it.
Theosophy shows that the modern scientific theory of gravity, as defined by Sir Isaac Newton, is only half law, and that objects are attracted to each other not due to “mass” but on account of electrical and magnetic phenomenon. Gravity is only half law because only attraction is considered. What about repulsion ? An object or a body is held on the ground by its weight, an effect of gravity, according to science. But Theosophy demonstrates that the weight of objects is not due to gravity, as conceived by modern scientists, but in reality due to the attraction of the body to the earth, as the two are polarized into opposite electrical charges, and unlike poles attract each other. When the electrical and magnetic polarity of an object is altered—the ways by which this can happen, or is done, is the subject of our discussion now—so that the object and the earth are of the same electrical charge, then the body levitates, as like poles repel each other; or it becomes heavier than normal, if the potential difference of the electrical charge of the body vis vis the earth is enhanced.
Earth itself is one vast magnet because of the induction by the Sun’s magnetism, the central star of our system being itself a mega magnet. Man too possesses this property, and every thing else in the Solar system. Planetary motion is not due to gravity but to magnetic attraction and repulsion between the Sun and planets, which forces are so mutually adjusted that the planets are held in their respective orbits and made to revolve in harmonious revolutions. But this is intelligent and vital electricity and magnetism, not the crude one we ordinarily know of.
Mutual attraction and repulsion between individuals towards each other is also partly due to this property.
Unconscious aethrobacy or Levitation
The polarity of the medium is altered vis a vis the earth and the medium levitates. Because medium is an ordinary person with a peculiarity of constitution by which he becomes magnetized by an influx from the Astral Light, which is a magento-vital aura interpenetrating and surrounding the earth, just as a piece of iron is magnetized when placed near another magnet or a lodestone. The intensity and permanency of mediumistic power is in proportion to the saturation of the medium with the magnetic or the astral force, just as the magnetic property of the metal is measured by its more or less steel-like character. The condition of saturation of individuals may happen by :
- Mesmeric process : may be induced in another by one who is an expert magentizer.
- means of a so-called Spirit agency, the medium being under control of ‘familiar spirits.’
- means of self-will : those who consciously perform it by will power.
- hereditary propensity : the condition is hereditable like any other physical or mental peculiarity.
Self-saturation with astral force may be achieved by will power by those who have developed power of will by persistence in fixed determination to subjugate matter so much so as to become insensible to external impressions to the extent of even simulating death itself. The ecstatic so enormously reinforces his will power as to draw into himself, as into a vortex, the potencies resident in the Astral Light to supplement his own natural store.
In mesmeric process, the astral force is projected by exercise of will by the mesmerizer so as to saturate with it another person, or he may draw the force into himself.
Occultists say that when a person so intently fixes his thought upon a point above himself, and the body is thoroughly imbued with the astral influence, the body follows the mental aspiration and rises into the air as easily as a cork held beneath the water rises to the surface.
The fascination of a precipice or the psychological phenomenon of vertigo
Why do some people feel giddy when on the edge of precipice or chasm ? The cause is the same as the one by which levitation of the body happens. People of certain temperament when standing on an edge overseeing a chasm picture in their imagination the consequences of a fall, which creates a centre of attraction below him, and the body follows the attraction. It is fascination created by his own imaginative mind. Unless the fascination is broken the body will follow the thought to the foot of the precipice.
Perpetual motion, Elixir of Life, Universal Solvent
The first is a dream of science but it has remained a dream. The other two are denied by it. Hermetists have claimed that for ages they have known of “elixir of life” by partaking of which a man can prolong his physical life in the body far beyond the average life span of human beings in general. Universal Solvent, called Alkahest in Alchemy, is a certain fluid in Nature which is capable of reducing all compound bodies under the sun into their primordial original essence—the first sate of pre-cosmic matter out of which all things in the universe are formed. Van Helmont, Paracelsus and other Kabalists of the middle ages were acquainted with it.
The universe itself illustrates perpetual motion. Atomic theory is science is a proof of it. When perpetual motion is discovered the secret of Nature will have been unravelled. Perpetual motion does not however mean endless motion but by a knowledge of it a machine can be run for an indefinite length of time by reducing resistance and waste by friction to an insignificant measure.
Elixir of Life is no myth. Nature herself demonstrates it. The old Hermetic doctrine teaches us that there is a terrestrial circulation similar to that of the human body. Nature is continually renewing her wasted energies by absorption from the source of energy. Why then man cannot discover this source and renew his life indefinitely ? Hermetists say that the source and nature of this recuperative energy is discoverable, the juices or the essence of it can be used to replenish his own forces. This is a secret of Alchemists. If terrestrial circulation is arrested there is stagnation and death. Similarly when circulation of fluids in human body is stopped, putrefaction and death ensue. It is asserted that Alchemists know of certain substances which can keep the channels of circulation of the human body unclogged and thus prolong life indefinitely. Mineral springs have certain virtues in the cure of diseases and restoration of physical vigour. If the recuperative energy in the bowels of the earth is discovered then the secret of the fountain of youth will have been discovered. Adepts know the secret. This is Esoteric Geography and Geology. Some axiomatic principles of it may be considered which are given in The Secret Doctrine, vol. II, page 400 and foot notes.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary and discussion
Isis Unveiled, vol. I
Chapter XIII – Realities and Illusion
Pages : 494 – 503
Two topics which were studied are : the phenomenon of Levitation, and the science of Alchemy and Elixir of life.
Levitation : By mediumistic passive method and by active will-effort
How does the phenomenon of levitation—i.e., rising freely in air of body or other ponderable objects---apparently in defiance of the law of gravity—occur ? There is nothing miraculous or “supernatural” in it.
Theosophy shows that the modern scientific theory of gravity, as defined by Sir Isaac Newton, is only half law, and that objects are attracted to each other not due to “mass” but on account of electrical and magnetic phenomenon. Gravity is only half law because only attraction is considered. What about repulsion ? An object or a body is held on the ground by its weight, an effect of gravity, according to science. But Theosophy demonstrates that the weight of objects is not due to gravity, as conceived by modern scientists, but in reality due to the attraction of the body to the earth, as the two are polarized into opposite electrical charges, and unlike poles attract each other. When the electrical and magnetic polarity of an object is altered—the ways by which this can happen, or is done, is the subject of our discussion now—so that the object and the earth are of the same electrical charge, then the body levitates, as like poles repel each other; or it becomes heavier than normal, if the potential difference of the electrical charge of the body vis vis the earth is enhanced.
Earth itself is one vast magnet because of the induction by the Sun’s magnetism, the central star of our system being itself a mega magnet. Man too possesses this property, and every thing else in the Solar system. Planetary motion is not due to gravity but to magnetic attraction and repulsion between the Sun and planets, which forces are so mutually adjusted that the planets are held in their respective orbits and made to revolve in harmonious revolutions. But this is intelligent and vital electricity and magnetism, not the crude one we ordinarily know of.
Mutual attraction and repulsion between individuals towards each other is also partly due to this property.
Unconscious aethrobacy or Levitation
The polarity of the medium is altered vis a vis the earth and the medium levitates. Because medium is an ordinary person with a peculiarity of constitution by which he becomes magnetized by an influx from the Astral Light, which is a magento-vital aura interpenetrating and surrounding the earth, just as a piece of iron is magnetized when placed near another magnet or a lodestone. The intensity and permanency of mediumistic power is in proportion to the saturation of the medium with the magnetic or the astral force, just as the magnetic property of the metal is measured by its more or less steel-like character. The condition of saturation of individuals may happen by :
- Mesmeric process : may be induced in another by one who is an expert magentizer.
- means of a so-called Spirit agency, the medium being under control of ‘familiar spirits.’
- means of self-will : those who consciously perform it by will power.
- hereditary propensity : the condition is hereditable like any other physical or mental peculiarity.
Self-saturation with astral force may be achieved by will power by those who have developed power of will by persistence in fixed determination to subjugate matter so much so as to become insensible to external impressions to the extent of even simulating death itself. The ecstatic so enormously reinforces his will power as to draw into himself, as into a vortex, the potencies resident in the Astral Light to supplement his own natural store.
In mesmeric process, the astral force is projected by exercise of will by the mesmerizer so as to saturate with it another person, or he may draw the force into himself.
Occultists say that when a person so intently fixes his thought upon a point above himself, and the body is thoroughly imbued with the astral influence, the body follows the mental aspiration and rises into the air as easily as a cork held beneath the water rises to the surface.
The fascination of a precipice or the psychological phenomenon of vertigo
Why do some people feel giddy when on the edge of precipice or chasm ? The cause is the same as the one by which levitation of the body happens. People of certain temperament when standing on an edge overseeing a chasm picture in their imagination the consequences of a fall, which creates a centre of attraction below him, and the body follows the attraction. It is fascination created by his own imaginative mind. Unless the fascination is broken the body will follow the thought to the foot of the precipice.
Perpetual motion, Elixir of Life, Universal Solvent
The first is a dream of science but it has remained a dream. The other two are denied by it. Hermetists have claimed that for ages they have known of “elixir of life” by partaking of which a man can prolong his physical life in the body far beyond the average life span of human beings in general. Universal Solvent, called Alkahest in Alchemy, is a certain fluid in Nature which is capable of reducing all compound bodies under the sun into their primordial original essence—the first sate of pre-cosmic matter out of which all things in the universe are formed. Van Helmont, Paracelsus and other Kabalists of the middle ages were acquainted with it.
The universe itself illustrates perpetual motion. Atomic theory is science is a proof of it. When perpetual motion is discovered the secret of Nature will have been unravelled. Perpetual motion does not however mean endless motion but by a knowledge of it a machine can be run for an indefinite length of time by reducing resistance and waste by friction to an insignificant measure.
Elixir of Life is no myth. Nature herself demonstrates it. The old Hermetic doctrine teaches us that there is a terrestrial circulation similar to that of the human body. Nature is continually renewing her wasted energies by absorption from the source of energy. Why then man cannot discover this source and renew his life indefinitely ? Hermetists say that the source and nature of this recuperative energy is discoverable, the juices or the essence of it can be used to replenish his own forces. This is a secret of Alchemists. If terrestrial circulation is arrested there is stagnation and death. Similarly when circulation of fluids in human body is stopped, putrefaction and death ensue. It is asserted that Alchemists know of certain substances which can keep the channels of circulation of the human body unclogged and thus prolong life indefinitely. Mineral springs have certain virtues in the cure of diseases and restoration of physical vigour. If the recuperative energy in the bowels of the earth is discovered then the secret of the fountain of youth will have been discovered. Adepts know the secret. This is Esoteric Geography and Geology. Some axiomatic principles of it may be considered which are given in The Secret Doctrine, vol. II, page 400 and foot notes.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Isis Study report of November 11, 2012
Summary and discussion
Isis Unveiled, vol. I
Chapter XIII – Realities and Illusion
Pages : 493 – 496.
Necromancy was strictly forbidden in the days referred to in the Old Testament
In the Bible the only instance of necromancy found is the story of the king Saul who sought answers to some pressing questions through divination. Having failed to invoke the holy spirits who seem to have abandoned him, he sought out a witch to raise Samuel from the dead, though he, Saul, the ruler himself, had decreed that enchanters, people with familiar spirits, soothsayers etc. were all prohibited to exercise their gifts. When the apparition of Samuel did appear at the invocation of the witch the shade rebuked Saul for having disturbed it from its rest. Moses decreed death against those who raised the spirits of the dead. Nowhere throughout the Old Testament, not in the writings of Homer nor in those of Virgil are to be found any evidence that they regarded raising of the dead otherwise than as necromancy—an accursed art,
Rarest of rare cases of appearance of true Spirits from the abode of the blessed
The easily evoked “spirits” of the dead are nothing more than the spooks or the astral remains of the dead whose “Spirits,” or the Divine Souls, have been translated into high spiritual state which is pure and divine, inaccessible to sundry mediums. Mediums evoke through their mediumistic practices only the shade of the dead, merely the astral corpse of the departed.
The true spirit of the dead translated into the “abode of the blessed” can never be invoked except on rarest of rare occasions. It is the doctrine of the ancients that no Soul from the ‘abode of the Blessed’ will return to earth except on extremely rare occasions when its apparition might be required to accomplish some great object in view, as bringing some benefit upon humanity. In such instances the Souls has no need to be evoked. It either sends portentous message by an evanescent simulacrum of itself or through a “messengers” who could appear in material form and personify faithfully the departed.
Easily evoked souls are spooks and no more
They are spooks or Larvae. Seekers spill fresh blood to attract them. They are not to be communicated with as such communications infect the invokers with psychic and moral contagion. They are larvae from the infernal region of the limbo, the Shoel, the so-called eighth sphere; but these are not the ‘hell’ of the orthodox Christian theological dogma.
Porphyry speaking of such abominable evocations is credited to have remarked : “I cannot prevent the witches from picking up their bones…See the blood they pour in the ditches to allure the souls that will attract oracles.”
Spirit materializations of ancient days are much different and varied in character from the modern mediumistic evocations of spooks
Many and varied are the ways of communication with true spiritual beings in days of old. Accounts of them are to be found in Sacred books. By no stretch of imagination did they resorted to the practices of modern séances. Medium requires darkness or dim lights, passive condition of medium etc. But the Patriarchs and Prophets of old needed no such aids. For example :
Three angels appeared to Abraham and drank in the full blaze of the sun (Gen. xviii-1)
The spirit of Elias and Moses appeared in day time. It is not probable that Christ and Apostles climbed high mountains during the night—as mediumistic evokers of the dead do.
Jesus is said to have appeared to Mary Magdalene in the garden in the early morning.
Next we will discuss the phenomenon of Levitation—as practiced by Mediums, on the one hand, and Adepts (or Mediators), on the other, and vital differences between the two.
--------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Isis Unveiled Study – Sunday, 5th November 2012, Summary and discussion
Isis Unveiled, vol. I
Chapter XIII – Realities and Illusion
Pages : 487- 493
Subject: Mediumship and Mediatorship (continued)
Passive Mediums and active Mediators:
Both of these opposite characters have appeared in all ages. How can we distinguish between them ? By their character and actions, it is answered, as we judge a tree by its fruits.
Character of impure mediums:
They have in them “familiar spirits” who control them. They generally make of their gift a trade. Indian jugglers, African and Asian sorcerers and serpent charmers exercise their gifts for money. They become physically, psychically and morally sick, and reduced to pitiable condition. They are harassed by various intelligences, and their weak and nervous natures are unable to shake off these possessing entities which over-power them. Their disability become chronic and are prevented by these “influences” from undertaking any profession or occupation. They are thus driven to extreme helplessness and are constrained trade their mediumship for money. They are to be pitied, not persecuted.
There are, of course pure and genuine mediums, who are benevolent and do good. The above is not said of these. It is the sickly mediums who are players in séances and dabble with the so-called “spirits of the dead” who suffer.
Not so with Mediators and Hierophants.
Character of Mediators
Buddha was a mendicant who refused his father’s throne. The “Son of Man had not where to lay his head.” Apostles provided “neither gold nor silver, not brass in their purses.” Apollonius gave away one half of his fortune to his relatives and the other half to the poor. Iamblichus and Plotinus were renowned for their charity and self-denial. High character of Fakirs and holy mendicants of India is well described by the French Orientalist, Jacolliot. The Pythagorean Essenes and Therapeutae believed their hands defiled by the contact of money. When Apostles (except Peter, as showed himself a coward and thrice a renegade, according to Gospels) were offered money to impart their spiritual powers, indignantly spurned the offer, saying, “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.” These men were Mediators, guided merely by their own personal spirit, or divine soul, and availing themselves of the help of the spirits so long as these remain in the right path.
Mediums are controlled by inferior spirits or what are called gods. But Mediators have mastery over themselves and over all inferior potencies which obey their irresistible will. When Plotinus was asked to attend public worship of gods, is said to have proudly answered, “It is for them (the spirits) to come to me. In the Hindu sacred book, The Institutions of Manu, it said that the gods control the worlds, but that the gods are subservient to Mantras (incantations), and that Brahmans know the secret of Mantras, and, therefore, Brahmans exercise power over the gods.
Iamblichus asserted and proved by his own example that our soul can attain communion with the highest intelligences, with “natures loftier than itself,” and drove away every inferior spirit or bad demon from his theurgic ceremonies. He taught his disciples how to recognize them. He and Proclus attained and taught how to attain divine powers, over-power mundane life, rendering oneself an organ of Deity. Jesus declared man the lord of the Sabbath, much like the ancient Indian Rishis declared that Man is Deity himself (That Thou Art),and at his command terrestrial and elementary spirits fled from their temporary abodes. Apollonius and many of the Brotherhood of Essenes of Judea and Mount Carmel exercised divine powers. Upanishad declare man to be non other than Deity itself but is ignorant of it, and can overcome ignorance and realize himself to be God Himself.
Why in ancient times unregulated mediums were persecuted.
There must have been very good reasons. Moses had stringent laws against those who practiced such mediumship. Moses, David, Samuel maintained colleges for teaching their students to develop deific powers in themselves, and encouraged to study prophesy, astrology, soothsaying, but discouraged unregulated mediumship by which witches exercised divination by the spirit of Ob ( Astral Light) The latter were put to death, or exiled from the city walls and driven to tombs and waste places. Why was this ? Why were they not tolerated ? Because the ancients had the discerning power by which they could see the difference between good and evil spirits which possessed the poor witches. They knew well that unregulated intercourse with inferior evil spirits brought ruin on the medium and disaster to the community. This is supported by experience of mankind from time immemorial.
Can one develop powers of mediumship ?
It is a wrong question, as a medium has no powers, and he develops none. How then mediumship develops ? It is developed by a certain moral and physical condition of man which induces emanation, or an aura, in which controlling intelligences can live, and by which they manifest themselves. He will be channel through which they act and display their power. Their aura changes day by day, and hour by hour. The medium’s moral state determines the kind of spirits that are attracted to him, and influence him intellectually, morally and physically.
Mediumship, passivity and possessions
The perfection of mediumship is in ratio to his passivity, and the danger he incurs is equal in degree. When he is perfectly passive, his own astral spirit may be benumbed, even crowded out of his body, which is occupied by an elemental or what is worse, by a human fiend of the eighth sphere who proceeds to use as his own. Causes of most celebrated crimes is to be sought in such possessions.
Passive mediumship and possessions.
Mediums are possessed by elementals or Elementaries, the latter being the spooks of the evil-minded men who are dead. These latter seek such sensitives and weak-minded people and take possession of their bodies and minds, and drive them to vice and crime. Poor mediums labour under the mistaken notions that they are guided by their “guardian angels.” If they were really so guided by benevolent spirits, then they must answer why, in the history of mediuship, are mediums are allowed by these “guardian angels” to suffer nervous and mental disorders, not given them good health and domestic happiness, why deserted them when they faced trial of practicing fraud, driven them to abnormal vice, and so on.
On the contrary, ancient Apostles and thaumaturgists enjoyed good health, and their magnetism never conveyed to the sick patients, whom they sought to cure, their physical and moral taint, nor were they ever accused of vampirism, like the mediumistic healers are.
How to overcome mediumship ?
If one unfortunately develops mediumship it is difficult to overcome it. But it is not impossible to get over it. Physical mediumship depends upon passivity. The remedy lies in its antidote, that is—to be active in mind and positive in attitude. Let him cease to be passive. Spirits never control persons of positive character who are determined to resist all extraneous influences. The weak and the feeble minded fall victims to these ghoulish entities and are driven into vice.
More discussions follow.
Chapter XIII – Realities and Illusion
Pages : 487- 493
Subject: Mediumship and Mediatorship (continued)
Passive Mediums and active Mediators:
Both of these opposite characters have appeared in all ages. How can we distinguish between them ? By their character and actions, it is answered, as we judge a tree by its fruits.
Character of impure mediums:
They have in them “familiar spirits” who control them. They generally make of their gift a trade. Indian jugglers, African and Asian sorcerers and serpent charmers exercise their gifts for money. They become physically, psychically and morally sick, and reduced to pitiable condition. They are harassed by various intelligences, and their weak and nervous natures are unable to shake off these possessing entities which over-power them. Their disability become chronic and are prevented by these “influences” from undertaking any profession or occupation. They are thus driven to extreme helplessness and are constrained trade their mediumship for money. They are to be pitied, not persecuted.
There are, of course pure and genuine mediums, who are benevolent and do good. The above is not said of these. It is the sickly mediums who are players in séances and dabble with the so-called “spirits of the dead” who suffer.
Not so with Mediators and Hierophants.
Character of Mediators
Buddha was a mendicant who refused his father’s throne. The “Son of Man had not where to lay his head.” Apostles provided “neither gold nor silver, not brass in their purses.” Apollonius gave away one half of his fortune to his relatives and the other half to the poor. Iamblichus and Plotinus were renowned for their charity and self-denial. High character of Fakirs and holy mendicants of India is well described by the French Orientalist, Jacolliot. The Pythagorean Essenes and Therapeutae believed their hands defiled by the contact of money. When Apostles (except Peter, as showed himself a coward and thrice a renegade, according to Gospels) were offered money to impart their spiritual powers, indignantly spurned the offer, saying, “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.” These men were Mediators, guided merely by their own personal spirit, or divine soul, and availing themselves of the help of the spirits so long as these remain in the right path.
Mediums are controlled by inferior spirits or what are called gods. But Mediators have mastery over themselves and over all inferior potencies which obey their irresistible will. When Plotinus was asked to attend public worship of gods, is said to have proudly answered, “It is for them (the spirits) to come to me. In the Hindu sacred book, The Institutions of Manu, it said that the gods control the worlds, but that the gods are subservient to Mantras (incantations), and that Brahmans know the secret of Mantras, and, therefore, Brahmans exercise power over the gods.
Iamblichus asserted and proved by his own example that our soul can attain communion with the highest intelligences, with “natures loftier than itself,” and drove away every inferior spirit or bad demon from his theurgic ceremonies. He taught his disciples how to recognize them. He and Proclus attained and taught how to attain divine powers, over-power mundane life, rendering oneself an organ of Deity. Jesus declared man the lord of the Sabbath, much like the ancient Indian Rishis declared that Man is Deity himself (That Thou Art),and at his command terrestrial and elementary spirits fled from their temporary abodes. Apollonius and many of the Brotherhood of Essenes of Judea and Mount Carmel exercised divine powers. Upanishad declare man to be non other than Deity itself but is ignorant of it, and can overcome ignorance and realize himself to be God Himself.
Why in ancient times unregulated mediums were persecuted.
There must have been very good reasons. Moses had stringent laws against those who practiced such mediumship. Moses, David, Samuel maintained colleges for teaching their students to develop deific powers in themselves, and encouraged to study prophesy, astrology, soothsaying, but discouraged unregulated mediumship by which witches exercised divination by the spirit of Ob ( Astral Light) The latter were put to death, or exiled from the city walls and driven to tombs and waste places. Why was this ? Why were they not tolerated ? Because the ancients had the discerning power by which they could see the difference between good and evil spirits which possessed the poor witches. They knew well that unregulated intercourse with inferior evil spirits brought ruin on the medium and disaster to the community. This is supported by experience of mankind from time immemorial.
Can one develop powers of mediumship ?
It is a wrong question, as a medium has no powers, and he develops none. How then mediumship develops ? It is developed by a certain moral and physical condition of man which induces emanation, or an aura, in which controlling intelligences can live, and by which they manifest themselves. He will be channel through which they act and display their power. Their aura changes day by day, and hour by hour. The medium’s moral state determines the kind of spirits that are attracted to him, and influence him intellectually, morally and physically.
Mediumship, passivity and possessions
The perfection of mediumship is in ratio to his passivity, and the danger he incurs is equal in degree. When he is perfectly passive, his own astral spirit may be benumbed, even crowded out of his body, which is occupied by an elemental or what is worse, by a human fiend of the eighth sphere who proceeds to use as his own. Causes of most celebrated crimes is to be sought in such possessions.
Passive mediumship and possessions.
Mediums are possessed by elementals or Elementaries, the latter being the spooks of the evil-minded men who are dead. These latter seek such sensitives and weak-minded people and take possession of their bodies and minds, and drive them to vice and crime. Poor mediums labour under the mistaken notions that they are guided by their “guardian angels.” If they were really so guided by benevolent spirits, then they must answer why, in the history of mediuship, are mediums are allowed by these “guardian angels” to suffer nervous and mental disorders, not given them good health and domestic happiness, why deserted them when they faced trial of practicing fraud, driven them to abnormal vice, and so on.
On the contrary, ancient Apostles and thaumaturgists enjoyed good health, and their magnetism never conveyed to the sick patients, whom they sought to cure, their physical and moral taint, nor were they ever accused of vampirism, like the mediumistic healers are.
How to overcome mediumship ?
If one unfortunately develops mediumship it is difficult to overcome it. But it is not impossible to get over it. Physical mediumship depends upon passivity. The remedy lies in its antidote, that is—to be active in mind and positive in attitude. Let him cease to be passive. Spirits never control persons of positive character who are determined to resist all extraneous influences. The weak and the feeble minded fall victims to these ghoulish entities and are driven into vice.
More discussions follow.
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