The general theme of the last few presentations is to point out the major realisation that Humanity needs to grasp. It is that there is a need to relate, consciously and effectively, the Spirit (3rd) and Soul (2nd) triads, with the persona and its threefold nature. How is this done? It happens through the creative work of the persona. This is augmented by the magnetic power of the triad. Finally, the conscious activity of the soul completes the task, utilising the triple thread. This thread comprises the Sutratma, the Consciousness and the Creative Threads. Collectively, they are known as the Antahkarana. This is why esotericists fixate on the concepts of fusion, unity and blending. When this happens, the disciple can begin to weave these three threads together. They create a bridge of light. This eventually becomes the “lighted way”, across which the disciple, consciously, passes to reach the 2nd triad. The imagery we use is why this process is described as “illumination”. References are made of liberation from the three worlds of the 1st triad. Yes, the monad is able to see beyond the confines of its organic reality suit, but it still had to function on these three planes of matter. There is still karma to be cleared and service to be rendered to others. Terms like liberation, stem from a worldview steeped in the consciousness aspect. This view is inherited from teachers who dwell on the 2nd triad. As someone firmly rooted in the 1st triad, I do not long for liberation. I seek clarity to know the causes of things and to better live out a soul destiny planned by my solar devas. Building the Antahkarana would allow clarification of the reason to be here. It is not an escape route to somewhere else.
It is worth reiterating the theme of the last two presentations, which was about understanding the three types of consciousness that need to be fused and expressed in a creative manner. The first of these we can call the Shamballa Consciousness. It brings into focus an awareness of the unity and purpose of life. The disciple comes to recognise and cooperate with the Divine Plan, at a level intelligible to them. Life is driven by a Will, a direction and an understanding of the oneness of purpose. This consciousness is influenced by the Triad. As was highlighted in the table that showed two possible paths. This consciousness is driven from outside the Solar System and manifests through the 3rd triad.
The second expression of consciousness is called Hierarchical Consciousness and results in the disciple gaining an awareness of self and the soul. There is a recognition of divinity. We know “divinity” is a code word for the Hierarchy in the 3rd triad, operating from Plane-44, known as the Divine World. The abiding forces that drive this consciousness are love, attraction and a relationship with all. Whereas the Shamballa consciousness was influenced by the Triad, Hierarchical consciousness is influenced by the Soul. Here the term soul is shorthand for our solar devas.
Finally, we come to Human Consciousness, where the disciple gains an awareness of the soul within form. Slowly, a recognition emerges of the existence of the soul and cooperation develops between the persona and the soul. These are the fields of intelligent action and expression. The primary influence here is the consecrated persona. The concept of sanctification inherent in the use of the term “consecrated” is not related to a priest sprinkling holy water over your head. It is about thinking and acting through a soul-infused persona.
The monad, slowly, seeks to build the Antahkarana across the whole of the Mental Plane, which is situated on both triads. They do this by relating these three divine aspects of consciousness. Finally, through a series of initiations, the three expressions become one. Put poetically, the disciple treads the Path of Return, builds the Antahkarana, crosses the Lighted Way and achieves the freedom from the Path of Life.
We have talked about the “bridge” that is woven from three threads that unite three levels of consciousness. These threads focus through three petals of a “lotus” that sits in an envelope on the 2nd triad. We are told that this unified thread, the Antahkarana, is made from ‘mind stuff’. What now needs to be driven home and is a deep esoteric fact, is that the Antahkarana is built through the medium of a conscious effort within consciousness itself. Ponder that for a while. This means it is an active, yet subjective process. The aspirant should not just focus on being good, or expressing goodwill to all around them. They should not just seek to demonstrate the qualities of unselfishness and high aspiration. It is very easy for an esotericist to think that treading the Path is about overcoming the lower nature. They may feel they should express life in terms of right living and thinking, coupled with love and intelligent understanding. Yes, all these things must be done and are part of the way along the Path, but there is much more to do. Good character and spiritual aspiration are essential, but these are taken for granted by the Master, who has a disciple under their wing. These foundational works are part of the path walked by the probationer.
To build the Antahkarana is to link the three divine aspects that we have been talking about over the last two presentations. This is an intense mental activity. It involves a lot of mental energy. The disciple has to imagine and visualise the “Lighted Way” in mental substance. We spoke about chittas, the three grades of mental substance. These animate the three threads of the Antahkarana. It is worth repeating that what is fused is:
- Force, that is focused and projected from the fused and blended forces of the personality.
- Energy, drawn from the causal envelope by a conscious effort.
- Energy, abstracted from the Spiritual Triad.
But there is something we must all understand. This is an activity that stems from an integrated and dedicated persona. Do not think you just have to sit there being good and your guardian angel is somehow going to gift this to you. The work of building the Antahkarana is primarily the activity of the persona, aided by the solar deva. This in time evolves into a reaction from the Triad. Lars laments that there is far too much inertia demonstrated by aspirants, currently.
Let us look at this situation from another perspective. As the monad develops through the five stages of the Human Kingdom of Nature, the persona begins to transmute knowledge into wisdom. When this is sufficiently developed, the (i2) is taken and the focus of the monad moves from the 48:1 permanent atom, in the emotional body, into the 47:4 permanent molecule, found in the mental envelope. The transmutation process just discussed, is focused on understanding, analysis, recognition and application of knowledge. The persona at this time is also functioning from the highest levels of its emotional body, 48:2-3. It begins to see love, not as something romantic but as group well-being. It is not seen in terms of the personal self, desire or even aspiration. True love is only properly understood by the monad, focused in its mental molecule, which is spiritually orientated. There are monads, focused in their mental body who are card-carrying atheists. Nevertheless, they have transitioned into this body by disentangling their mental processes from their emotional ones. Remember, all black magicians start their careers from this stage of their evolution.
The persona comes to realise that there is no such thing as sacrifice. When something seems like a sacrifice, it is only the thwarted desire of the lower nature. This is willingly endured by the aspirant but misinterpreted as a limitation. The real meaning of the term “sacrifice” to the disciple, is the complete conformity to the will of the “Father”, i.e., the instructions emanating from the chohans. The will of the persona aligns with the will of the “divine” will. The persona’s plan is incorporated into the Divine Plan. It can therefore be said that self-will, desire and those intelligent activities, which are dually motivated, are seen and recognised as lower expressions of the three divine aspects. This can change to soul-infused activity when the focus of life is in the mental body and the head as well. The heart is also slowly activated. At this stage of development, character building is seen by the persona to be essential and is willingly undertaken. But this is still not enough. When these foundations of good character and intelligent activity are fairly well established, something still higher is needed. It is more subtle and must be erected from this substructure. That will be the topic of the next presentation!