Deity, Cosmos and Man by Geoffrey Farthing Deity, Cosmos and Man by Geoffrey Farthing Published in the late 1900's Geoffrey Farthing has authorized us to reproduce this document for purely non-commercial purposes only. CONTENTS FOREWORD BIBLIOGRAPHY Key to abbreviated titles INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1 ABOUT ESOTERIC SCIENCE THE SCOPE AND FRAMEWORK OF CHAPTER 2 THE SCIENCE THE OCCULT CONSTITUTION OF CHAPTER 3 COSMOS AND MAN CHAPTER 4 THE HIERARCHIES OF BEINGS Document 1 CHAPTER 5 AKASHA AND THE ASTRAL LIGHT on web CHAPTER 6 ELEMENTS AND ELEMENTALS BOOK - I - CHAPTER 7 LAW IN COSMOS AND HUMAN LIFE CHAPTER 8 DEATH AND REBIRTH CHAPTER 9 ORIGINS CHAPTER 10 GLOBES, ROUNDS AND RACES EVER-BECOMING - THE PROCESSES CHAPTER 11 OF EVOLUTION CHAPTER 12 SPIRITUALISM AND PSYCHISM CHAPTER 13 SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER 14 RELIGION Page 1 Deity, Cosmos and Man by Geoffrey Farthing INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1 ABOUT ESOTERIC SCIENCE CHAPTER 2 THE SCOPE OF THE SCIENCE THE OCCULT CONSTITUTION OF COSMOS CHAPTER 3 AND MAN CHAPTER 4 THE HIERARCHIES OF BEINGS CHAPTER 5 AKASHA AND THE ASTRAL LIGHT BOOK - II - CHAPTER 6 ELEMENTS AND ELEMENTALS Document 2 CHAPTER 7 LAW IN COSMOS AND HUMAN LIFE on web CHAPTER 8 DEATH AND REBIRTH CHAPTER 9 ORIGINS CHAPTER 10 GLOBES, ROUNDS AND RACES EVER-BECOMING, THE PROCESS OF CHAPTER 11 EVOLUTION CHAPTER 12 SPIRITUALISM AND PSYCHISM CHAPTER 13 SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER 14 RELIGION EPILOGUE GLOSSARY Page 2 Deity, Cosmos and Man by Geoffrey Farthing FOREWORD A thread of Esotericism runs through the chronicled events of the world's history. Although the origins of the esoteric tradition are lost in the mists of time, the tradition itself may be discerned in the myths and fairy-tales of many cultures, with their stories of giants, dragons, magicians and wise men. As we approach historical times, we come to the legendary semi-divine figures of Krishna in India, Hermes in Egypt, Mithras in Persia, followed in due course by the great historical teachers known to us as Gautama the Buddha, Lao-tse and Jesus. In the west, the esoteric tradition is evident in the Greek philosophers such as Pythagoras and Plato, as also among the Gnostics, Valentinus, Basilides and Simon Magus among others. Ruthlessly suppressed by the Christian Church, it nevertheless emerges among the mediaeval Rosicrucians, Alchemists and Hermetists, and is in part made explicit in the works of individual writers such as Robert Fludd and Jacob Boehme. The condition of western thought in the latter part of the 19th century, with religion in conflict with materialistic science, made it necessary for the Guardians of the esoteric tradition to let its existence be more openly known. For the first time in recorded history some parts of the teachings were given out publicly in the early literature of the theosophical movement. The author of the present work has attempted to offer an outline of the teachings of Esoteric Science, with abundant reference to the great literature in which the student may discover for himself something of the scope and grandeur of the Wisdom tradition. -oOo- The compilation of the work has gone on over many years and it has seen many changes. The author is very grateful particularly to two editors: Miss Muriel Daw, one time editor of the Buddhist Society's magazine, who did an extensive preliminary edit of this work; it was later felt, however, that there was too much material in it and Miss Ianthe H. Hoskins, then General Secretary of the Theosophical Society in England, did some ruthless pruning, virtually rewriting the book and adding some further apt quotations, to make it more readable and informative for the general reader. The author is also particularly grateful to Jill Leslie for much typing and he patient work on the index. The author, as a non-literary man, is very grateful to these ladies for the great help he received from them. Thanks are also due to Eldon Tucker, for managing the book material for printing, and for more careful work on the index. The author also acknowledges an irredeemable debt of gratitude to H.P. Blavatsky and her Adept Teachers who made what knowledge of Esoteric Science we have available to us. Page 3 Deity, Cosmos and Man by Geoffrey Farthing BIBLIOGRAPHY There is a very wide literature covering the subjects dealt with in this book but, as explained in the introduction, the writings of H.P. Blavatsky have been taken to be the most informative and authoritative that there are available. Her knowledge was from two sources, one her Initiate Teachers and second her own insights, her own apperception, her intuition resulting from great inherent gifts and intense training. Her Teachers also committed much to writing, a very rare occurrence where genuine Occultism is concerned. Books by H.P. Blavatsky are as follows: 1. ISIS UNVEILED : 1877; J.W.Bouton, New York; subtitle: A Master-Key to the Mysteries of Ancient and Modern Science and Theology; a large work in two volumes of over 600 pages each. This is a mine of information, some of it very little known, and a mass of enlightened comment on the science and theology of the day. While some of this is out of date, much in the book is of an enduring nature. This book, while being regarded by some as iconoclastic, is liberating. It helps us to free ourselves from our prejudices and preconceptions. It is in a number of editions, by various publishers, but the text is the same in them all. 2. THE SECRET DOCTRINE : 1888; The Theosophical Publishing Company, London; subtitle: The Synthesis of Science, Religion and Philosophy; two volumes of some 1500 pages altogether. This is a massive work of great erudition, some 1100 other works being referred to in the text. It outlines the vast scheme of knowledge of the nature and function of Cosmos available to mankind in the extensive world literature on the subject and adds some items of great significance, not previously given out. In spite of the work's extent and depth, H.P.B. says that in it only "a corner of the veil" was lifted. In her preface H.P.B. says, "The aim of this work may thus be stated: to show that Nature is not 'a fortuitous concurrence of atoms' and to assign to man his rightful place in the scheme of the Universe, etc. etc.". She further says that it, The Secret Doctrine, is as much as 20th century man can apprehend. 3. THE KEY TO THEOSOPHY : 1889; numerous editions about 250 pages; "Dedicated by H.P.B. to all her pupils that they may Learn and Teach in their turn". This book covers the main aspects of the teaching as they affect mankind. She discusses among others the Wisdom-Religion, Occultism, Spiritualism, God and Prayer, the septenary Nature of Man, the After- death states, Reincarnation, the Complex Nature of Mind, Karma, etc. etc.; all this by way of question and answer. Page 4 Deity, Cosmos and Man by Geoffrey Farthing 4. THE VOICE OF THE SILENCE : 1889; numerous editions; about 250 pages; subtitle: Chosen Fragments from the "Book of the Golden Precepts" - for the Daily Use of Lanoos [Disciples]; it is "dedicated to the Few". This is a book small in volume but massive in content. It is in three Fragments: the first entitled The Voice of Silence, of 100 verses; the second, The Two Paths, of 95 verses; the third, The Seven Portals, of 120 verses. This is a work intended for the aspirant after true, or self, knowledge, aiming to play a significant part in helping mankind along its arduous evolutionary path to ultimate self-redemption and liberation. 5. THE COLLECTED WRITINGS : edited by Boris de Zirkoff; 14 volumes. This is a collection of H.P.B.'s numerous writings by way of articles, published letters, stories and so on, written during the period 1875 to 1891, arranged chronologically. These writings contain much teaching which supplements (and is entirely consistent with) what is contained in her books. Some of the material gives an insight into how the teachings could affect the lot of humanity in the circumstances of earth life, having regard to its traditions, institutions, ignorances, superstitions and so on. They are particularly illuminating on such subjects as spiritualism, the Christian religion, and Occultism generally. Always H.P.B. has an eye to essentials, to objective facts, which she sees clearly against the background of her encyclopaedic knowledge. In these works is to be found much wisdom and inspiration. 6. THE MAHATMA LETTERS TO A.P.SINNETT : 1923; first published by Rider & Co., London; 500 pages. This is a volume of letters received from H.P.B.'s two initiate Teachers, in answer to questions put to them mostly by A.P. Sinnett with some by A.O. Hume. The letters contain much metaphysical and philosophical teaching in the occult tradition, among much material relating to the early days of the Theosophical Society and the people in or associated with it. Many aspects of the teaching, among them those relating to the after-death states, are unique, having been kept secret up to that time. This is a book essential to any serious student of modern Occultism. It is the source of the main principles of the subject given and elaborated in H.P.B.'s writings. 7. TRANSACTIONS OF THE BLAVATSKY LODGE : Theosophical University Press, Covine, California. A collection of notes, in question and answer form, taken at a series of meetings of the Lodge, in the first six months of 1889, at which H.P.B.