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VI – THE PERENNIAL PHILOSOPHY AND THE UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD:
The Essential Unity of All Humanity
55 - “The man who successfully probes his
own inner nature and existence back to its Centre and Core, finds one single
source of all men, all beings, all existence. Unity then emerges as the supreme
verity, the everlasting truth.” (G. Hodson, Basic
Theosophy, p. 81)
In the preceding chapter we analyzed
several passages concerning the importance of the principle or law of the
universal brotherhood of humanity. Most of them were written by the Adepts, Whom
hypothetically throughout this text we consider exemplary exponents of the true
Theosophy (Wisdom of the Gods, Liberation, Spiritual Illumination, and Altruism)
– the so-called Mahatmas or Masters. We were able to see clearly that, in short,
“That was Their main aim, from the beginning” in
relation to the TS, as N. Sri Ram stated in a previous quotation.
Thus, it appears that there must
exist a direct and fundamental relationship between true Theosophy or Altruism and the law of the universal brotherhood of
humanity. It can be seen that when the glance of those who climbed to the top of
the “Golden Stairs”
(which lead to the
“temple of Divine Wisdom”) turns
compassionately toward the problems of the world, the vision they transmit to us
is, in short, that there is no way of alleviating the suffering of the world
“if not through the soothing influence of a brotherhood, and of the
practical application of Buddha’s
esoteric doctrines,”
as was quoted from the
Maha-Chohan.
This same great Adept who expressed
the above view stated that these esoteric doctrines, if true, must offer
consistent solutions for the problems of the world. In this way, the law of the
universal brotherhood of mankind (and, naturally, its practical applications)
must at the same time be connected with the Perennial Philosophy (becoming one
of its most important laws) and with the consistent solutions to the problems of
the world.
In other words, this principle or law
of the brotherhood of humanity must, given the emphasis placed on it by the
Mahatmas, be one of the most important principles or laws of Esoteric
Philosophy, as it is in total agreement with the latter’s fundamental doctrines
such as the Unity underlying the manifestation, the essence, the divine destiny
of man, and the laws of Karma and Reincarnation, among others. And, when applied
to the world’s problems, the law of the universal brotherhood must be very
useful in the sense of offering them real solutions.
However, as we have observed in some
of the preceding quotations, this law of
the universal brotherhood of humanity, as well as its transcendental importance
to the solutions of the great problems of humanity, is not a subject that is
easily understood by the majority of people, not even by the members of the
TS in general.
This is the reason why, from this
point forward, we shall analyze the law of the universal brotherhood of humanity
in the light of the principal doctrines of Esoteric Philosophy, with a view
toward clarifying its fundamental aspects. We shall also attempt to show its
decisive importance in finding consistent solutions to the great human problems
by comparing the law of the universal brotherhood to the fundamental principles
of the guiding currents of thought of our times. In this way we shall attempt to
show the fundamental errors of these currents, as well as the errors incurred in
their failed models of socio-political organization.
Throughout this analysis we shall
attempt to show that this is valid for a given interpretation of the law of the
universal brotherhood. And that within this interpretation the three Objects of
the TS indicate roads of action that are perfectly in tune with the consistent
solutions to the world’s problems. In this case, the law of human brotherhood
and the three Objects, in the same way as occurs in Theosophy, turn into the
glory of the TS. Along the same lines we shall show that this does not occur
with other interpretations of the law of the universal brotherhood, nor, as a
consequence, with other interpretations of the three Objects of the TS, which
could lead to the paralysis of the progress of the TS (as we shall quote from
one of the Mahatmas), thus becoming the failure of the TS.
With this general panorama in mind,
let us begin to analyze the principle of the human brotherhood in the light of
Occult Philosophy. It is fairly obvious that in this kind of text it is not
possible to present the many aspects encompassed by this vast and perennial
philosophy, except in a very summary form. However, since it is possible that
this text will be read by someone with little knowledge of the Perennial
Philosophy, it becomes necessary to attempt an outline of its principal
doctrines and then, in the light of this sketch, to analyze the fundamental
aspects of the principle or law of the universal brotherhood of humanity.
A first very simple outline of this
kind was already given when we presented the “three truths which are absolute”
mentioned in The Idyll of the White Lotus. This is a synthesis of what they
tell us:
(1)The soul of man is immortal, and its
future is the future of a thing whose growth and splendour
have no limit. (2) The principle which gives life dwells in us and without us,
is undying and eternally beneficent and is perceived by the man who
desires perception. (3) Each man is his own absolute lawgiver, the dispenser of
glory or gloom to himself; the decreer of his life, his reward, his punishment.
These truths, which are as great as is life itself, are simple as the simplest mind of man. Feed the hungry with them.
Let us now look at a somewhat more
developed outline which is mostly based on a summary presented by Dr. I. K. Taimni in his book, Self-culture in the Light of Occultism
(chapters I and II; pp. 3-29). In accordance with this summary, these are the principal doctrines
of the Perennial Philosophy:
1) The manifested Universe is rooted in an Eternal,
Boundless, Immutable, Ever-unmanifested
Principle which is called the Absolute, Parabrahman or the Ultimate Reality. This Principle
transcends the power of ordinary human comprehension.
2) Consciousness and power, or Spirit and Matter are
not two independent realities but the two polar aspects of the Absolute. They
are the first products of differentiation and the basis of Manifestation.
3) From this Triad proceed all the numberless universes
which appear and disappear in an endless cycle of Manifestation and Dissolution.
4) The innumerable Solar Systems which form part of the
manifested universe are expressions of this Ultimate Reality, each Solar System
forming an independent unit and yet remaining rooted in the Ever-Unmanifested Reality
5) Every Solar System is a perfectly ordered mechanism
which is not only governed by immutable laws of Nature but is the manifestation
of a transcendent Intelligence which is called God or Logos.
6) The physical Sun and the planets connected with it
are the outermost or densest part of the Solar System, there being several
invisible worlds composed of increasingly finer matter interpenetrating the
physical world.
7) The whole Solar System with its planets, visible and
invisible, is a vast theatre of evolution on which life in its various stages
and innumerable forms is evolving to greater and greater perfection.
8) All this stupendous process is taking place
according to a definite Plan present in the Divine Consciousness and controlled
and guided by various hierarchies of Beings at different stages of evolution.
9) Life evolves gradually stage by stage through the
mineral, vegetable, animal and human kingdoms, the evolution being continued
even after the perfection of the human stage has been reached.
10) Every human being is Divine in essence, contains
within himself all the qualities and powers which we associate with Divinity in
a germinal state and these are unfolded gradually, leading to an ever increasing
perfection and expansion of consciousness which has no limit.
11) The unfoldment of these
latent qualities and powers is brought about through the process of
reincarnation, the soul incarnating again and again in different countries and
under different circumstances to gain experiences of all kinds and then spending
periods of rest on the superphysical planes to
assimilate these experiences.
12) The accumulation of these experiences is the main
factor in the explanation of the stage of evolutionary development reached by
each individual human being. And it is this same factor which determines the
differences in the evolutionary development between the great evolutionary
kingdoms (mineral, plant, animal, human and super-human), as well as the
extraordinary differences of evolution that are present inside each of these
kingdoms.
13) The absolute essential Unity and the Diversity of
manifested forms and existences are the determining factors to the understanding
of the evolutionary process in all its stages, including the human. Thus, in the
human kingdom these are the factors that are at the foundation of the principle
or law of the Universal Brotherhood of humanity.
14) Not only the physical but all other aspects of the
human life are governed by natural laws operating in their respective spheres.
This all embracing law of cause and effect which is generally known as Karma
makes man the master of his destiny and the dispenser of happiness or misery to
himself.
The
Universal Brotherhood in the Light of the Perennial Philosophy
With this global view in mind, we shall make a more thorough analysis of those points which may help us in our aim to clarify the law of the universal brotherhood of humanity.
From the perspective of the Esoteric Philosophy presented above, we are able to
verify the existence of a great evolutionary cycle rooted in the divine Unity
and which in its human stage is processed through successive reincarnations.
This view is decisive for the understanding of the law of the brotherhood of all
men, because it is this law on which it is based and which defines its principal
characteristics. On one side it reveals the aspect of the Unity that underlies
all beings, and on the other it shows and lights the aspect of Diversity
manifested (through the different evolutionary stages).
The very word “brotherhood” gives us
the key to this whole panorama not only in its basic structure but also in
relation to its development in time. Thus, we are structurally all brothers
(and
sisters) because we enjoy a communal parent; this parent is Divine Life,
although we may have different ages or find ourselves on different levels of
evolutionary development. These are the two fundamental aspects of Unity and
Diversity.
It is important, at this point, to emphasize that this is, in summary, the concept proposed to us by the Perennial Philosophy. And, if it is true as has been clearly declared by those highest on the evolutionary scale (the Mahatmas and Their more advanced disciples), then it is this concept on which the establishing of correct ethical notions and the corresponding duties are based. These notions and duties may be applied universally (i.e.: to all), which would indicate a universal morality. In the same way, it is on this morality that depend the upsurge of fair and scientifically healthy socio-political institutions that may conduct humanity to greater harmony and so alleviate its sufferings.
In view of the importance of this
point, it seems an appropriate moment to remember two passages in the letters
from the Masters, in which the facts and logical connections presented in the
preceding paragraphs are clearly stated. They declare
that the welfare of the whole human family largely depends on this view of
humanity as an all-encompassing (universal) brotherhood, as also does its
practical application, mainly in the form of new social institutions. And it is
in its absence that we shall find the roots of the greater part of human
conflicts and sufferings.
As stated earlier, this last point
will be taken up again in more detail at a later time when we shall attempt to
show the following fact: that the currents of thought that govern our times, as
well as the social institutions originating from them, are based on concepts
that contradict the view of humanity as a universal brotherhood. But let us
return to the passages of the letters from the Masters in this respect:
56 - “The term ‘Universal
Brotherhood’ is no idle phrase. (...) It is the only secure foundation for
universal morality. If it be a dream, it is at least a noble one for mankind:
and it is the aspiration of the true adept.” (K.H., ML, L. 4, p. 17)
57 - “The truths and mysteries of
occultism constitute, indeed, a body of the highest spiritual importance, at
once profound and practical for the world at large. Yet, it is not as a mere
addition to the tangled mass of theory or speculation in the world of science
that they are being given to you, but for their practical bearing on the
interests of mankind. (...) They have
to prove both destructive and constructive – destructive in the pernicious errors of the past, in the old creeds
and superstitions which suffocate in their poisonous embrace like the Mexican
weed nigh all mankind; but constructive
of new institutions of a genuine, practical Brotherhood of Humanity where all
will become co-workers of nature (...).” (K.H., ML, L. 6, pp. 23-24)
And since this principle or law is of
the greatest importance for the individual and the collective welfare of all
human beings and as there appears to be a generalized poor understanding of it,
we shall go into more details in our analysis of the principle or law of the
Universal Brotherhood of humanity in the light of the Perennial Philosophy. To
this end we shall divide our approach in accordance with the two fundamental
aspects of this principle. These aspects, as mentioned above, are the underlying
Unity and the Diversity in manifested existence.
The aspect of the Unity that
underlies human brotherhood is frequently commented on in the literature of the
TS as well as in spiritual literature in general. This being so, it will not be
necessary to extend ourselves in its analysis. Let us just look at a passage
from Geoffrey Hodson, well-known author and
clairvoyant, in which he deals with this first and fundamental aspect:
58 - “(...) I wish to advance one
supremely important idea concerning man. I speak not only of man as Thinker, but
man in his real Essence, the mysterious Dweller in the Innermost, the Logos of
the Soul, the Spark of the Divine Flame, the Scintilla of the Spiritual Sun.
“That supremely important idea is
that there is in existence in the whole Universe only one Spiritual Essence, one
Spiritual Being, one Divine Flame – and the Spiritual Self of man is for ever at
one with that all-inclusive One Alone. This is the one great truth, the true
source of power, the sovereign secret.
“The man
who successfully probes his own inner nature and existence back to its Centre
and Core, finds one single source of all men, all beings, all existence. Unity
then emerges as the supreme verity, the everlasting truth. ‘All are but parts of
one stupendous whole.’ (...) behind all existence is one Supreme Power, one
Energy, one Force, one Law and, because of this characteristic of oneness, all
the components of that One are united in the One Alone.
“All are one. Minerals, plants, animals and men, Supermen, Angels, Archangels, worlds, suns, stars and galaxies of stars – all are one, inseparably united. So far as the billion human beings now on Earth are concerned, all are members of one spiritual Race which is without divisions of any kind. This is the sublime truth, the Master fact – all are one.” (G. Hodson, Basic Theosophy, p. 81-82)
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