Consciousness

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Summary: A collection of statements by the Tibetan


     "We can do no more than sense a fraction of some wonderful whole, utterly beyond the reach of our consciousness -- a whole that the highest Angel or Perfected Being is but beginning to realise. When we recognise the fact that the average man is as yet fully conscious only on the physical plane, nearly conscious on the emotional plane, and only developing the consciousness of the mental plane, it is obvious that his comprehension of cosmic data can be but rudimentary. When we recognise the further fact, that to be conscious on a plane and to have control on that plane are two very different conditions, it becomes apparent how remote is the possibility of our approximating more than the general trend of the cosmic scheme." (Initiation, Human and Solar, p. 4)

     "The development of the human being is but the passing from one state of consciousness to another. It is a succession of expansions, a growth of that faculty oaof awareness that constitutes the predominant characteristic of the indwelling Thinker. It is the progressing from consciousness polarised in the higher self, ego, or soul, thence to a polarisation in the Monad, or Spirit, till the consciousness eventually is Divine." (Initiation, Human and Solar, p. 7)

     "All progression in the realm of consciousness, is naturally by a graded series of awakenings, but this would proceed much more gradually and cover a longer period of time than is the case under our present planetary conditions. This particular mode of developing the consciousness of the human family was initiated by the Hierarchy during the Atlantean root-race at the latter end of the fourth sub-race, and will persists until the middle of the next round. At that time the needed stimulus will have been imparted, and as three-fifths of the human family will then have esoterically 'set their feet upon the path', and a large percentage of them will then be in process of becoming the Path itself, the more normal routine will again be resumed." (Initiation, Human and Solar, p. 94)

     "These realisations, or apprehended expansions of consciousness, are under natural law, and come in due course of time to every soul without exception." (Initiation, Human and Solar, p. 176)

     "Let me assure you that under the pressure of modern life, under the strain of the imposed present conditions and civilisation, plus the mental concern, the terror of marching armies, the thunder of the many voices, and the stress of world wide economic stringency, the human consciousness is rapidly awakening from its long sleep. That great and fundamental reality, which we call the 'human state of mind', is just beginning to focus itself upon the things which matter, and to express itself in a living fashion". (The Destiny of Nations, p. 26)

     "Evolution, as we understand it, and as it must be studied by the human intellect, is the story of the evolution of consciousness, and not the story of the evolution of the form. This latter evolution is implicit in the other, and of secondary importance from the occult angle". (Esoteric Psychology, Vol. II, p. 57)

     "The energies of the twelve constellations are blended with those of the twelve planets, but their power to evoke response, and to be consciously received, recognized, and employed, is dependent entirely upon the type of response mechanism of the planetary life, and of the individual man. It has been rightly said that the consciousness is dependent upon the vehicles of consciousness, upon their point of development, and upon the ability of the individual to identify himself with the enegies and impulses which are reaching him, and is not dependent only upon that which is already a recognised part or aspect of himself. It might be said that the higher response to the realities and qualities revealed and made possible by the impact of energy from the zodiacal signs, is somewhat dependent upon the waning influence of the planets to hold down the consciousness aspect of the man. Ponder upon this, for it embodies a deep esoteric truth". (Esoteric Astrology, p. 53/4)

     "So often in oun studies, one is apt to forget that it is not possible for any unit of consciousness, within the planetary sphere of influence, to conceive of conditions as they exist apart from the Earth, because that small planet is inevitably, for that unit, the very centre of his known universe, and -- under the Great Illusion -- the constellations with their rulers, and with their prototypal counterparts, revolve around the Earth. When man has progressed further, and his consciousness is beginning to awaken to reality, the nature of this illusion will become apparent to him, but at present this is not possible." (Esoteric Astrology, p. 359)

     "That ancient occult truism remains accurate: 'Consciousness is dependent upon it's vehicle for expression, and both are dependent upon life and energy for existence.' This remains an immutable law". (Esoteric Astrology, p. 527)

     "You must always bear in mind that the consciousness remains the same, whether in physical incarnation or out of incarnation, and that development can be carried on with even greater ease than when limited and conditioned by the brain consciousness". (Discipleship in the New Age, Vol. I, p.81)

     "It is the expansion of consciousness and the production of increased sensitivity and perceptive awareness, which is the goal of all divine and hierarchical effort. The goal is not for betterment of material conditions. These will automatically follow when the sense of awareness is steadily unfolded. The future of humanity is determined by its aspiration and ability to respond to the idealism which is today flooding the world". (Education in the New Age, p. 103)

The Indwelling Consciousness

     "One point you all need to grasp is that the progressing disciple does not move into new fields or areas of awareness, like a steady marching forward from one plane to another (of the visual symbols of the theosophical literature would indicate). What must be grasped is that all that IS is ever present. What we are concerned with is the constant awakening to that which eternally IS, and to what is ever present in the environment, but of which the subject is unaware, owing to short-sightedness. The aim must be to overcome the undue concentration upon the foreground of daily life which characterises most people, the intense preoccupation with the interior states or moods of the lower self which characterises the spiritually minded people and the aspirants, and the imperviousness or lack of sensitivity which characterises the mass of men. The Kingdom of God is present on Earth today and forever has been, but only a few, relatively speaking, are aware of its signs and manifestations. The world of subtle phenomena (called formless, because unlike the physical phenomena with which we are so familiar) is ever with us, and can be seen and contacted and proved as a field for experiment and experience and activity, if the mechanism of perception is developed as it surely can be.
     The sounds and sights of the heavenly world (as the mystics call it) are as clearly perceived by the higher initiate, as are the sights and sounds of the physical plane as you contact it in your daily round of duties. The world of energies, with its streams of directed force and its centers of concentrated light, are likewise present, and the eye of the see-er can see it, just as the eye of the mental clairvoyant can see the geometrical pattern which thoughts assume upon the mental plane, or as the lower psychic can contact the glamours, the illusions and delusions of the astral world. The subjective realm is vitally more real than is the objective, once it is entered and known. It is simply (how simple to some and how insuperably difficult to others, apparently!) a question of the acceptance, first of all, of its existence, the development of a mechanism of contact, the cultivation of the ability to use this mechanism at will, and then inspired interpretation.
     It might be said that consciousness itself, which is the goal -- on this planet -- of all the evolutionary process, is simply the demonstrated result of the Science of Contact. It is likewise the goal in some form or other, and at some stage or other, of all planetary existences within the solar system itself. The unfoldment of this conscious response is, in reality, the growth of the sensitive awareness of the planetary Logos HIMSELF. The human mechanism and its ability to respond to its environment (as science well knows) has been developed in response to an inner urge, present in every human being and in all forms of life, and to the 'pull' and magnetic effect of the surrounding environment. Step by step, the forms of life upon the physical plane, down through the ages, have unfolded one sense after another; one form of sensitive response after another becomes possibe as the mechanism is produced, until the human being can receive impressions from the physical plane and rightly interpret them; can respond to the emotional contacts of the astral plane, and succumb to them or surmount them; and can become telepathic to the world of the mental plane, thus sharing -- physically, emotionally and mentally -- in the life and contacts of the three worlds which constitute his environment, and in which he is submerged whilst in incarnation. What he gets out of this life of constant impression, is largely dependent upon his power to invoke his environment and draw from it (in evocative response) what he needs in all the various departments of his being. This, in its turn, forces him -- whether he likes it or not -- to produce an effect upon other people; this can be far more potent for good or evil, and from the telepathic angle, than he likes to think or can conceive." (Telepathy and the Etheric Vehicle, p. 53/5)

     "Each point of life within a center has its own sphere of radiation, or its own extending field of influence; this field is necessarily dependent upon the type and the nature of the indwelling Consciousness. It is this magnetic interplay between the many vast centers of energy in space which is the basis of all astronomical relationships -- between universes, solar systems and planets. Bear in mind, however, that it is the CONSCIOUSNESS aspect which renders the form magnetic, receptive, repudiating and transmitting; this consciousness differs according to the nature of the entity which informs or works through a center, great or small. Bear in mind also that the life which pours through all centers, and which animates the whole of space, is the life of an Entity; it is, therefore, the same life in all forms, limited in time and space by the intention, the wish, the form and the quality of the indwelling Consciousness; the types of consciousness are many and diverse, yet life remains ever the same and indivisible, for it is ONE LIFE." (Telepathy and the Etheric Vehicle, p. 180)

Expanding Consciousness

     "Every expansion of consciousness, resulting in increased scope of service, is to be taken at a cost, and for this you will have to be prepared." (Discipleship in the New Age, Vol. I, p. 245) 

     "Each expansion of consciousness is preceded by a period of testing in some one of the three bodies, and in some aspect of the lower nature. . . . Such tests produce an inner unfoldment which may be more apparent to those who teach than to yourself. This testing and its results constitute a responsibility, and open up avenues of approach to the central reality of the soul, hitherto not employed." (Discipleship in the New Age, Vol. I, p. 545)

     "I would remind you of the Law which states that 'we grow through the medium of our recognitions'. A recognition, when it is seen as an aspect or fractional part of a greater whole, is the seed of a major exansion of consciousness. A stabilised expansion of consciousness connotes initiation. This is an occult statement of major importance." (Discipleship in the New Age, Vol. I, p. 740)

     "The objective of each aspirant is to expand his consciousness to include that which lies beyond himself, to attain to the more elevated states of consciousness in the life of the group and of humanity, and to integrate himself consciously into the Hierarchy, eventually into Shamballa, and occultly to 'know' God in His many phases of all-inclusive extension and perfection." (Discipleship in the New Age, Vol. I, p. 766)

     "In the total evolution of the spiritual man through physical incarnation during untold hundreds of lives, the entire process is simply one of expanding consciousness, and of attaining -- sequentially and stage by stage -- an ever more inclusive awareness." (Discipleship in the New Age, Vol. II, p. 194)

     "The disciple, when he becomes an accepted disciple (and this through the Lodge's recognition of his pledge to his own soul), arrives at a definite and factual recognition of the Hierarchy. His suppositions, his desires, his aspirational wish-life, his theories, or whatever you may choose to call his reaching out and up towards divinity, give place to clear knowledge of the liberated group of souls. This happens not through the occurrence of convincing phenomena, but through an inflow of the intuition. He undergoes, therefore, an expansion of consciousness which may or may not be registered in the brain. Every step of the way from that point of recognition onward has to be consciously achieved, and must involve a conscious recognition of a series of expansions. These expansions are not initiation. Have that clearly in your mind. The initiation lying immediately ahead is simply the effect of the recognition. They might be called 'stabilising points of crisis', in which the 'occasional becomes the constant and the intended becomes the intentional.' Ponder on these words." (Discipleship in the New Age, Vol. II, p. 247)

     "The life of the initiate is one of constant registration of new knowledge which must be transmuted into practical wisdom, of occult facts which must take intelligent place in the life-service of the initiate, and of new inclusions of areas of consciousness; these latter must become the normal field of experience and of expression; they then become the ground for further expansion." (Discipleship in the New Age, Vol. II, p. 307)

     "The point in consciousness is not necessarily identical with the point in evolution. A high point in evolution can be reached unconsciously and the disciple is frequently not truly aware of what IS. He has to become consciously aware of his exact point of attainment before he can really know what the next step is which he must consciously take." (Discipleship in the New Age, Vol. II, p. 414)

     "(The realisation of many aspirants) is often bigger than the present equipment of brain cells warrants. Therefore, knowledge and registered expansion of consciousness is temporarily withheld until a better physical vehicle is available. I mention this because some suffer from discouragement when, after years of work and the achievement of old age, they find themselves registering a static condition, or what they deem to be static. There is no need for such feeling, but there is need for care and the progression of the interior work, e'en when the external recording is apparently lacking." (Discipleship in the New Age, Vol. II, p. 488)

     "It is the expansion of consciousness and the production of increased sensitivity and perceptive awareness, which is the goal of all divine and hierarchical effort. The goal is not for betterment of material conditions. These will automatically follow when the sense of awareness is steadily unfolded. The future of humanity is determined by its aspiration and ability to respond to the idealism which is today flooding the world." (Education in the New Age, p. 103)

     "The psychics of the world are increasing greatly in number, and the growing sensitivity of the race to impression is a cause of rejoicing and of danger. All over the world aspirants are registering contacts hitherto unknown, are seeing a phenomenal world usually hidden to them, and are generally becoming aware of an expansion of consciousness. They are registering a world of phenomena -- often astral, sometimes mental, and occasionally egoic -- which does initiate them into a new dimension of consciousness, and into a different state of being. This expansion of consciousness serves both to encourage them in their achievement and to complicate the way of the aspirant." (Esoteric Psychology, Vol. I, p. 97)

     "The objectivity of all training given to the disciple, is to shift his conscious awareness from the point where he is, to levels which are higher than those in the three worlds of definitely human evolution; the intention is to teach him to function on those planes of conscious contact which are as yet so subjective that he only accepts them as existent in theory. The trained initiate knows that they have to become his natural habitat, and that eventually he has to relegate the ordinary and normal human experience to the three worlds of daily expression. These become eventually the worlds that exist below the threshold of consciousness; they are relegated to the realm of the subconscious -- recoverable consciously, if necessary for right service of humanity, but as much below the threshold of consciousness as are the ordinary emotional reactions of the average man. These are always recoverable (as modern psycho-analysis has demonstrated) and can become capable of expression and of formulation into conditioning concepts -- thus actuating mental perception if deemed of adequate importance. However, it should be borne in mind that the greater part of the emotional life of the disciple must become increasingly subconscious, just as the physical plane life of the normal healthy human being is entirely automatic and thus subconscious. When the disciple has striven to expand his consciousness, when he has learnt to stabilise his consciousness in the Spiritual Triad, then he becomes part of a great and constant hierarchical effort, which strives upwards towards the 'Place of Clear Electric Light', to which the clear cold light of the reason is the first key to the first door." (The Rays and the Initiations, p. 138/9)

Continuity of Consciousness

     "I would ask you, as life proceeds and you face eventually and inevitably the discarding of the vehicle, to hold increasingly on to your knowledge of the Hierarchy, and thus to pass over to the other side with complete dedication to the hierarchical Plan.This is not simply a suggestion on my part; it is an attempt on my part to call to your attention the concept of spiritual continuity of knowledge and of a righly oriented attitude. Thus time will not be lost; you can -- if you so choose, each and all of you -- attain a true continuity of consciousness." (Discipleship in the New Age, Vol. II, p. 101)

Limitation and Imprisonment

     "With the problem of limitation is closely linked that of liberation. Into the prison house of form enter all that live; some enter consciously and some unconsciously, and this we call birth, appearance, incarnation, manifestation. Immediately there sweeps into activity another law, or the working out of an active principle which we call the Law of Cycles. This is the principle of periodic appearance -- a beneficent operation of the love-wisdom on innate divinity, for it produces the sequence of the states of consciousness which we term Time. This produces therefore in the world field of awareness a gradual and slow growth towards self-expression, self-appreciation, and self-realisation." (A Treatise on White Magic, p. 533/4)

     "Let it be remembered always that each field of awareness in its boundaries constitutes a prison, and that the objective of all work of liberation is to release the consciousness and expand its field of contacts. Where there are boundaries of any kind, where a field of influence is circumscribed, and where the radius of contact is limited, there you have a prison. Ponder on this statement for it holds much of truth. Where there is an apprehension of a vision and of a wide unconquered territory of contacts, then there will inevitably be a sense of imprisonment and of cramping. Where there is a realisation of worlds to conquer, of truths to be learnt, of conquests to be made, of desires to be achieved, of knowledges to be mastered, there you will have a festering sense of limitation, goading on the aspirant to renewed effort, and driving the living entity on along the path of evolution. Instinct, governing the vegetable and animal kingdoms, develops into intellect in the human family. Later intellect merges into intuition and intuition into illumination. When the superhuman consciousness is evoked, these two -- intuition and illumination -- take the place of instinct and of intelligence.
Illumination -- what does that lead to? Straight to the summit of achievement, to the fulfilment of cyclic destiny, to the emergence of the radiant glory, to wisdom, power, God consciousness. These words however mean but little or nothing in comparison with a Reality which can only be sensed by any human being when his intuition is awakened and his mind illumined." (A Treatise on White Magic, p. 535)

Serving by Releasing the Prisoners

     "Grasping these facts anent imprisonment how, to be practical, can a man become a releasing agent for the 'prisoners of the planet'? What can humanity as a whole achieve along this line? What can the individual do?
     The task of humanity falls primarily into three divisions of labor. Three groups of prisoners can be released, and will eventually find their way out of their prison house through the instrumentality of man. Already human being are working in all three fields:

1. Prisoners within the human form. This involves working with one's fellow man.

2. Prisoners within the animal kingodm, and already much is being done in this field.

3. Prisoners within the forms of the vegetable world. A beginning has been made here.

     Much work is being accomplished by man for men, and through the agency of scientific, religious and educational endeavour, the human consciousness is steadily expanding, until one by one the Sons of God are breaking through their limitations into the world of souls. In the retrospect of history, the picture of the emerging prisoner, Man, can be seen in clear delineation. Little by little he has mastered the planetary boundaries; little by little he has grown from the stage of cave man to that of a Shakespeare, a Newton, a Leonardo da Vinci, an Einstein, a St. Francis of Assisi, to a Christ and a Buddha. The capacity of man to achieve in any field of human expression, seems practially unlimited, and if the past few thousand years have seen such a stupendous growth, what shall we see in the next five thousand years? If prehistoric man, little more than an animal, has grown into the genius, what unfoldment is not possible as more and more of innate divinity makes its presence felt? The superman is with us. What will the world manifest when all mankind is tending towards a concrete manifestation of superhuman powers?
     Man's consciousness is being released in varying directions and dimensions. It is expanding into the world of spiritual realities and beginning to embrace the fifth or spiritual kingdom, the kingdom of souls. It is interpenetrating, through scientific research, the world of superhuman endeavour, and investigating the many aspects of the Form of God, and of the forms that constitute the Form.
In touching upon the work of humanity in releasing the prisoners in the vegetable and animal kingdom, I want to point out two things, both of profound importance:
     First, in order to release the 'prisoners of the planet' that come under the title of subhuman, man has to work under the influence of the intuition; when working to release his fellow men he has to know the meaning of Illumination.
     When the true nature of Service is comprehended, it will be found that it is an aspcet of that divine energy which works always under the destroyer aspect, for it destroys the forms in order to release. Service is a manifestation of the Principle of Liberation, and of this principle, death and service, constitute two aspects. Service saves, liberates and releases on various levels, the imprisoned consciousness. The same statements can be made of death. But unless service can be rendered from an intuitive understanding of all the facts in the case, interpreted intelligently, and applied in a spirit of love upon the physical plane, it fails to fulfil its mission adequately.
     When the factor of spiritual illumination enters into that service, you have those transcendent Lights which have illumined the way of humanity, and have acted like search-lights, thrown out into the great ocean of consciousness, revealing to man the Path he can and must go.
     I would like to point out another thing. I have no specific rules for releasing the prisoners of the planet. I have made no classification of the prisons and their prisoners, nor of the methods of work nor of techniques of release.
     I urge only upon each and all who read these Instructions the necessity for renewed effort to fit themselves for service by a conscious and deliberate effort to develop the intuition and to achieve illumination. Every human being who reaches the goal of light and wisdom, automatically has a field of influence which extends both up and down, and which reaches both inwards to the source of light and outwards into the 'fields of darkness'. When he has thus attained he will become a conscious center of life-giving force, and will be so without effort. He will stimulate, energise and vivify to fresh efforts all lives that he contacts, be they his fellow aspirants, or an animal, or a flower. He will act as a transmitter of light in the darkness. He will dispel the glamour around him and let in the radiance of reality.
     When large numbers of the sons of men can so act, then the human family will enter upon its destined work of planetary service. Its mission is to act as a bridge between the world of spirit and the world of material forms. All grades of matter meet in man, and all the states of consciousness are possible to him. Mankind can work in all directions and lift the subhuman kingdom into heaven and bring heaven down to earth." (A Treatise on White Magic, p. 535/8)

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