We have been looking at the initiatory process a monad evolves through as they ascend the ladder of consciousness. In the last presentation, we reached the level of the master or adept (45). H. P. Blavatsky has pointed out that a Master’s physical envelope is just a vehicle. It does not retain anything like a causal envelope does but serves as a point of contact with the physical plane, an envelope used as an instrument for the Master’s work and then discarded when no longer needed. The same applies to the emotional and mental envelopes.
The Masters support humanity’s progress in numerous ways. From their highest realm, they radiate light and life to the world, which can be absorbed and assimilated by those who are open to it; much like how the physical world thrives on sunlight focused by the sun, the spiritual world thrives on the same Life concentrated by the Hierarchy. Some Masters are closely associated with religions and use them as sources of spiritual energy, which they distribute to the followers of each religion through the designated “means of grace.”
They also engage in intellectual work by transmitting thoughts of high intellectual power, which are received by individuals of genius, assimilated, and then shared with the world. At this level, they also communicate their wishes to their disciples, informing them of the tasks they should undertake.
In the lower mental realm, the Masters create thought forms that influence the concrete mind, guiding it toward beneficial activities in this world and instructing those in the spiritual realm. In the intermediate realm, they assist the so-called dead, oversee the education of younger students, and provide assistance in numerous cases of need.
In the physical world, there are beings who observe the trends of events, and they correct and neutralise evil influences within the limits of the law. They strive to maintain a balance between forces that promote and hinder progress, strengthening the good and weakening the evil. They also work in collaboration with Angels and Devas of the Nations, guiding spiritual forces just as others guide the material world.
The entire earth is divided into specific areas, each overseen by a Master. These areas, which can be as large as entire countries or continents, are somewhat similar to “parishes” in Church organisations. For example, one Adept may be responsible for Europe, while another oversees India.
The Adept considers all forms of evolution, not only humanity but also the kingdom of Angels and Devas, nature spirits, animals, plants, minerals, elemental kingdoms, and others that have not yet been revealed to Humanity.
The work of the Adepts goes far beyond the physical realm. They pour out their own power and the force from the great store filled by the Nirmanakayas. The world’s karma dictates that it shall have a certain amount of this uplifting force at its service, and because of this, humanity is evolving as a unit. The concept of brotherhood enables everyone to make much more progress than possible if they were standing alone.
The Great White Brotherhood distributes the supply of force from the great reservoir to all souls, without exception, on the higher mental plane, thus providing the greatest possible assistance to the unfolding of the indwelling life. While an Adept may distribute His force to enormous numbers of people, often running into many millions simultaneously, the wonderful quality of this power adapts itself to each one of these millions as though they were the only object of its influence. It appears as though what, for us, would be full attention is being given to each individual.
This arises from the fact that the Master’s nirvanic or atmic consciousness is a point that includes the entire plane. He can bring that point down through several planes and spread it like a bubble. On the outside of that enormous sphere are all the causal bodies He is trying to affect, and He, filling the sphere, appears all in all to each individual. In this way, he fills with his life the ideals of millions of people and is, for them, the ideal Christ, the ideal Rama, the ideal Krishna, an angel, or perhaps a spirit guide.
In their work, the Masters often take advantage of special occasions and places with strong magnetic centres. They harness the conditions where a holy person has lived and died or where relics of such a person create a suitable atmosphere. They cause their own force to radiate along these channels. When a large gathering of pilgrims comes together with a receptive attitude, the Masters pour their forces out upon the people through the channels they have been taught to expect help and blessings.
Another example of the Masters’ methods at the causal level is seen in the case of talismans, which a Master may link with his own causal envelope so that its influence will last through the ages. Apollonius of Tyana did this with certain physical objects, burying them at various points of future importance.
The Adept, having become one with the Third Aspect of the Logos and manifesting on the plane of atma, takes the next step to become one with the Aspect represented by the Christ in the bosom of the Father. It can be presumed that later on, He will draw nearer and nearer to the Deity of the Solar system.
When human life is completed, the Perfected Person usually discards their various material bodies but retains the power to take up any of them if needed in the course of their work. In most cases, one who reaches that level no longer needs a physical envelope. They no longer retain an emotional, mental, or even a causal envelope but live permanently at their highest level.
Of those who attain Adeptship, only a few remain on our earth as members of the Hierarchy, as will be explained more fully presently. Beyond the Fifth or Asekha Initiation (i5), the higher Path opens up in seven great ways, among which the Adept must make their choice. These seven have been mentioned in previous presentations and are as follows:—
[1] They may enter into the blissful omniscience and omnipotence of Nirvana with activities far beyond our knowing to become, perhaps, an Avatar or Divine Incarnation in some future world. This is sometimes called “taking the Dharmakaya vesture.” The Dharmakaya keeps nothing below Plane 44, though what the vesture of the Monad may be on its own plane, we do not know.
[II] They may enter “the Spiritual Period” – a phrase covering unknown meanings, among them probably that of “taking the Sambhogakaya vesture.” They retain their manifestation as a triple spirit and probably can reach down and show themself in a temporary vestiture on the causal plane.
[III] They may become part of that treasure-house of spiritual forces, on which the Agents of the Logos draw for their Work, “taking the Nirmanakaya vesture.” The Nirmanakaya appears to preserve their causal envelope and keeps all their permanent atoms, and therefore have the power to show themself at whichever level they choose. The Nirmanakayas are spoken of in The Voice of The Silence as forming a Guardian Wall, which preserves the world from further and far greater misery and sorrow.
[IV] They may remain a member of the Hierarchy, which rules and guards the world once they have reached perfection.
[V] They may pass on to the next Chain to aid in building up its forms.
[VI] They may enter the splendid Angel or Deva Evolution.
[VII] They may give themselves to the immediate service of the Solar Logos, to be used by Him in any part of the Solar System: His servant and messenger, who lives but to carry out His will and do His work over the whole of the System which He rules. This is called joining the “Staff”. It is considered a very hard path, perhaps the most significant sacrifice open to the Adept and carries great distinction with it.
A member of the General Staff does not have a physical envelope but can create one using Kriyashakti, the “power to make,” from the matter of the globe to which they are sent. The Staff includes beings at various levels, from Arhatship (46) upwards.
Beyond the Initiation of the Adept lies the Sixth Initiation (i6), that of Chohan (44-Self), which means “Lord.” This is the designation that is used for the Heads of Rays Three to Seven. The Ray to which an Adept belongs not only affects their appearance but also the work that they have to do. The following table briefly outlines certain facts regarding the Rays:
The following are examples of the methods likely to be employed by representatives of the different Rays:
The First Ray individual would achieve their objective through sheer force of resistless will, without condescending to employ any means at all.
The Second Ray individual would also work by force of will but with the full comprehension of the various possible methods and the conscious direction of their will into the channel of the most suitable one.
The Third Ray individual would use the forces of the mental plane, noticing very carefully the exact time when the influences were most favourable to success.
The Fourth Ray individual would employ the finer physical forces of the ether.
The Fifth Ray individual would set in motion the currents of what used to be called the emotional light.
The Sixth Ray individual would achieve their result by the strength of their earnest faith in their particular Deity and in the efficacy of prayer to Him.
The Seventh Ray individual would use elaborate ceremonial magic and probably invoke the aid of non-human spirits, if possible.
In attempting to cure a disease, different types of individuals would approach it in various ways:
- The First Ray individual would draw upon the universal life force for health and strength.
- The Second Ray individual would seek to understand the nature of the illness and use their willpower to address it effectively.
- The Third Ray individual would call upon planetary spirits and choose an auspicious astrological moment to apply remedies.
- The Fourth Ray individual would mainly rely on physical methods such as massage.
- The Fifth Ray individual would use medical drugs.
- The Sixth Ray individual would practice faith-healing.
- The Seventh Ray individual would use mantras or magical invocations.
The highest initiation that can be taken on our globe is the Mahachohan initiation (i7), beyond the Chohan initiation, on Rays Three to Seven. It is possible, however, to go further on the First and Second Rays. The following table of Initiations indicates that the Buddha initiation (i8) is possible on the Second and First Rays and that the Adept may go still further on the First Ray.
The Planetary Government is divided into three departments, ruled by three officials, who are not merely reflections of the Three Aspects of the Logos but are actual manifestations of them. These three are:
- The Lord of the World, who is one with the First Aspect, on the Adi plane (43), and wields the divine will on earth.
2. The Lord Buddha, who works through the Second Aspect. This aspect resides on the Anupadaka or Divine plane (44), and sends the divine Wisdom down to Humanity.
3. The Mahachohan, who is one with the Third Aspect, operates through the nirvanic or atmic plane and exercises the divine Activity – representing the Holy Ghost.
(See diagram)
In this great Triangle, the Lord of the World and the Lord Buddha are different from the Mahachohan, being engaged in work that does not descend to the physical plane, but only to the level of the buddhic body (46), in the case of the Lord Buddha, and the atmic plane (45), in that of the Lord of the World. Yet, without Their work, none of that at lower levels would be possible, so They provide for the transmission of Their influence, even to the lowest plane, through Their representatives, the Manu and the Bodhisattva, respectively. It must be recognised that the Lord of the World and a Buddha can not actually enter the Cosmic Physical plane. They have no vehicle to use within it. They dissolved their triad structure when they took the (i8).
The Manu and the Bodhisattva, along with the Mahachohan, form another triangle that administers the powers of the divine down to the physical plane. These relationships are depicted in the diagram, which is taken from The Masters and the Path with minor modifications. The three great officers of the Human Hierarchy just mentioned operate from plane 43 and are active in our solar system as they have permanent atoms at their disposal that they can use if they wish to descend to lower planes within our system. You notice that the term “Human Hierarchy” is used. This is because there are parallel hierarchies for all seven life streams evolving through our solar system. The only other hierarchy we know about is associated with the devic stream, and their highest officers are known as archangels.
That concludes our look at the causal envelope, although we have extended our investigations further up the evolutionary tree towards the end. I hope at least some of what has been presented makes coherent sense. It remains for me to draw all four series on the Etheric, Emotional, Mental and Causal Envelopes into a single conclusion.
