Author: A P Sinnett
Publisher: Theosophical Publishing
Year: 2008
Language: English
Pages: 216
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8170595436
Description
This book was published in 1883 and probably constituted the earliest. ‘Karma’ and ‘Reincarnation’ and other such terms, almost unknown in the West, thereafter came to be used in literary and theological circles.
The book gives occult details concerning the Universe and its planets, going beyond the material world.
Along with The occult World, which preceded, and The Growth of the Soul, which followed it, the present book is a study as envisaged in the Third object of the Theosophical Society, ‘To investigate unexplained laws of Nature and the powers latent in man’.
Contents
Preface to the Annotated Edition
Preface to the Original Edition
CHAPTER I - Esoteric Teachers
Nature of the Present Exposition - Seclusion of Eastern Knowledge - The Arhats and their Attributes - The Mahatmas - Occultists generally - Isolated Mystics - Inferior Yogis - Occult Training - The Great Purpose -Its Incidental Consequences - Present Concessions
CHAPTER II - The Constitution of Man
Esoteric Cosmogony - Where to Begin - Working back from Man to Universe - Analysis of Man - The Seven Principles
CHAPTER III -The Planetary Chain
Esoteric Views of Evolution - The Chain of Globes - Progress of Man round them - The Spiral Advance - Original Evolution of the Globes - The Lower Kingdoms
CHAPTER IV -The World Periods
Uniformity of Nature- Rounds and Races - The Septenary Law - Objective and Subjective Lives - Total Incarnations - Former Races on Earth - Periodic Cataclysms - Atlantis - Lemuria - The Cyclic Law
CHAPTER V - Devachan
Spiritual Destinies of the Ego - Karma - Division of the Principles of Death - Progress of the Higher Duad - Existence in Devachan - Subjective Progress - Avitchi - Earthly Connection with Devachan - Devachanic Periods
CHAPTER VI - Kama Loca
The Astral Shell - Its Habitat - Its Nature - Surviving Impulses - Elementals - Mediums and Shells - Accidents and Suicides - Lost Personalities
CHAPTER VII - The Human Tide-Wave
Progress of the Main Wave - Obscurations - Twilight and Dawn of Evolution - Our Neighbouring Planets - Gradations of Spirituality - Prematurely Developed Egos - Intervals of Re-Incarnation
CHAPTER VIII - The Progress of Humanity
The Choice of Good or Evil - The Second Half of Evolution - The Decisive Turning-point - Spirituality and Intellect - The Survival of the Fittest - The Sixth Sense - Development of the Principles in their Order - The Subsidence of the Unfit - Provision for All - The Exceptional Cases - Their Scientific Explanation - Justice Satisfied - The Destiny of Failures - Human Evolution Reviewed
CHAPTER IX -Buddha
The Esoteric Buddha - Re-Incarnations of Adepts - Buddha’s Incarnation - The Seven Buddhas of the Great Races - Avalokiteshwara - Addi Buddha - Adeptship in Buddha’s Time - Sankaracharya - Vedantin Doctrines - Tsong-ka-pa - Occult Reforms in Tibet
CHAPTER X - Nirvana
Its Remoteness - Preceding Gradations - Partial Nirvana - The Threshold of Nirvana - Nirvana - Para Nirvana - Buddha and Nirvana - Nirvana attained by Adepts - General Progress towards Nirvana - Conditions of its Attainment - Spirituality and Religion - The Pursuit of Truth
CHAPTER XI - The Universe
The Days and Night of Brahma - The Various Manvantaras and Pralayas - The Solar System - The Universal Pralaya - Recommencement of Evolution - “Creation” - The Great First Cause - The Eternal Cyclic Process
CHAPTER XII - The Doctrine Reviewed