Fall 2012, Volume 8, Number 3
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Fall 2012, Volume 8, Number 3 The Esoteric Quarterly A publication of the School for Esoteric Studies ______________________________________________________________________ Esoteric philosophy and its applications to individual and group service and the expansion of human consciousness. The School for Esoteric Studies 345 S. French Broad Avenue, Suite 300. Asheville, North Carolina 28801, USA. www.esotericstudies.net/quarterly; e-mail: [email protected]. The Esoteric Quarterly The Esoteric Quarterly is published by the School for Esoteric Studies. It is registered as an online journal with the National Serials Data Program of the Library of Congress. International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) 1551-3874. Further information about The Esoteric Quarterly, including guidelines for the submission of articles and review procedures, can be found at http://www.esotericstudies.net/quarterly. All corres- pondence should be addressed to [email protected]. Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief: Donna M. Brown (United States) Editor Emeritus: John F. Nash (United States) Alison Deadman (United States) Judy Jacka (Australia) Gail G. Jolley (United States) Katherine O'Brien (New Zealand) Webmaster: Dorothy I. Riddle (Canada) Copyright © The Esoteric Quarterly, 2012. All rights reserved. Copies of the complete journal or articles contained therein may be made for personal use on condition that copyright statements are included. Commercial use without the permission of The Esoteric Quarterly and the School for Esoteric Studies is strictly prohibited. Fall 2012 The Esoteric Quarterly Contents Volume 8, Number 3. Fall 2012 Page Page Features Triple Sign Meditations 53 Stephen D. Pugh Editorial 5 Great Esotericists Publication Policies 6 Letter to the Editor 7 Tallapragada Subba Row 67 Poems of the Quarter: “The 8 Student Paper Pure Are,” “Alone in the Triangle” and “In the Modern Science and Its 70 Beginning” by Irina Kuzminsky Connection with Ancient Spiritual Traditions Picture of the Quarter: 9 “Intentional Bliss” by David C. Galloway Christopher Beikmann Book Reviews Quotes of the Quarter 10 Essence of the Bhagavad Gita: 73 Advertisements 12 A Contemporary Guide to Yoga, Meditation and Indian Articles Philosophy The New World Religion: By Eknath Easwaran 17 Opportunities and Challenges Evolutionary Enlightenment: 74 John F. Nash A New Path to Spiritual Awakening Ways of Approach to 39 Understanding the Seven Rays By Andrew Cohen Iván Kovács The mission of the Esoteric Quarterly is to traditions. We also encourage feedback from provide a forum for the exploration of esoteric readers. Comments of general interest will be philosophy and its applications. Full-length published as Letters to the Editor. All articles and student papers are solicited communications should be sent to: pertaining to both eastern and western esoteric [email protected]. Copyright © The Esoteric Quarterly, 2012. 3 The Esoteric Quarterly Fractal Butterfly Flower by Peggi Wolfe wolfepaw.deviantart.com Death: Entrance into a Fuller Life he problem of death is founded upon love of life and love of the physical T form. As the consciousness of thinking humanity rises from personal to transpersonal levels where we begin to know ourselves as the Soul, our attachment to physical form loosens and a new understanding and experience of death becomes possible. The Soul does not know death or the fear of death. Through the Soul we gain a sense of participation and cooperation in the cyclic process of life; we can meet death in a different way and can prepare for it as simply the Bringer of Changes. What then do people experience during transition from life in form to life without form? Is it possible to gain control of the process? Answers can be found in a 34- page compilation of the writings of Alice A. Bailey, Death: Entrance into Fuller Life, available free: School for Esoteric Studies 375 S. French Broad Avenue Asheville, NC 28801 Email: [email protected] - www.esotericstudies.net 4 Copyright © The Esoteric Quarterly, 2012. Fall 2012 Editorial The Sapiential Function and the Transmission of Trans-Himalayan Knowledge he Trans-Himalayan system of thought appointed place as part of the new religion. He T represents a synthesis of profound ideas or also takes aim at the negative attitudes that wisdom garnered from the great religious, some esotericists have adopted with respect to philosophical and psycho-spiritual traditions of the major Christian denominations. Although East and West. As such, the Trans-Himalayan Nash cites justifiable concern with the system, also known as Esoteric Philosophy, institutional Church, he points out that venerates the sapiential literature, both old and Christianity’s numerous insufficiencies “must new, of the world’s metaphysical traditions. be balanced with its achievements and ongoing These teachings esteem the wisdom of the attempts to reform.” The article concludes with ancients and provide a new level of philo- an examination of the “opportunities that are sophic insight that allows humanity to both open to Christians and esotericists who might plan for the future and advance its present be drawn to facilitate transformation within the state. Their primary function is to impart Church.” universal truths on the nature and origin of Iván Kovács contributes our second full-length reality, the ultimate and overarching meaning feature. His article surveys the ways in which of human existence and its relationship to the knowledge of the Seven Rays is being Divine. disseminated by individuals in the esoteric Each of the featured articles in this issue community, the psychological profession and explores and expounds upon the sapiential elsewhere. Written for those who are relative aspects of the Ageless Wisdom. One article newcomers to esoteric teachings and the prompts us to rediscover the wisdom Science of the Seven Rays, the article’s dimension in one of the world’s foremost primary concern is not with providing religious traditions. Another examines the comprehensive information about each ray, but liberating philosophy of the Wisdom teachings with an examination of the latest material on esoteric psychology and the study of the written after Alice Bailey’s pivotal exegesis on Seven Rays, while the third article examines the theme. The article begins with a concise an advanced meditation technique designed to introduction and description of the rays. This is help evoke the energies of Life or the Monad. followed by a discussion on the rays from Each article, therefore, performs a sapiential Rosicrucian, Anthroposophical, Theosophical function by emotionally connecting the knower and Psychological perspectives. Kovács gives with the known and by piercing the heart with special emphasis to the contributions of Kurt the light of Wisdom so that the Light of Life Abraham and Michael Robbins whose works can be eventually seen. serve as the most important adjunct to Bailey’s teachings to date. His article closes with some The first article, by John Nash, examines examples of how to think more creatively Christianity’s often overlooked but found- about the rays. ational role in the New World Religion. Drawing on the teachings of Alice A. Bailey, The last full-length article in this issue—Triple the article elaborates on the characteristics of Sign Meditations—is from Stephen Pugh. The the new religion, the role of the Christ, the article describes a creative process that begins masters and their senior disciples. The author with the establishment of a relationship touches upon Christianity’s failings as well as between the Sun Sign and Rising Signs so that the nature of the renovation that Christianity the disciple, who is identified with his or her must undergo in order for it to take its Soul Purpose through the Ascendant, can bring Copyright © The Esoteric Quarterly, 2012. 5 The Esoteric Quarterly the Sun Sign and Opposite Sign together his “Buddhist Gallery” which weaves elements through a planned process of invocation and of nature with Buddhist spiritual themes. To evocation. This two part process results in a share in his exploration of the world’s religions fusion of the subjective potencies of the Sun or and metaphysics and their correspondence to Personality, Soul or Ascendant and Monad or the evocative beauty of the natural world, we Opposite Sign. Triple Sign Meditations invite you to visit the artist’s website at: presents an insightful overview of this new http://www.ancientartizen.com/. method of aligning and blending these three energies. It achieves its aims, in part, Publication Policies by showing how the Science of Triangles Articles are selected for publication in the pertains to the human system via the astrology Esoteric Quarterly because we believe they of the spirit, soul and body. represent a sincere search for truth, support the In addition to the featured articles, we have service mission to which we aspire, and/or included a student paper by David Galloway contribute to the expansion of human titled Modern Science and Its Connection with consciousness. Ancient Spiritual Traditions, as well as a short Publication of an article does not necessarily paper contributed by John Nash, exploring the imply that the Editorial Board or the School life of Tallapragada Subba Row, one of the for Esoteric Studies agrees with the views Great Esotericists of the Past. Also included expressed. Nor do we have the means to verify are two book reviews: the first of which all facts stated in published articles. evaluates the contemporary relevance and Essence of the Bhagavad Gita, by Eknath We encourage critical thinking and analysis Easwaran. The second review is for a highly from a wide range of perspectives and acclaimed book by Andrew Cohen titled traditions. We discourage dogmatism or any Evolutionary Enlightenment. view that characterizes any tradition as having greater truth than a competing system. Finally, we want to draw your attention to our Poems and Picture of the Quarter. The poems Neither will we allow our journal to be used as in this issue are from Irina Kuzminksy, the a platform for attacks on individuals, groups, Russian born dancer, singer, pianist and poet, institutions, or nations.