And the Way to
True Happiness
Damodar K.
Mavalankar
Damodar K. Mavalankar, an advanced chela, was invited by
the Mahatmas to live
in their Ashrams and left the outer world shortly after writing the
present article
A 2013 Editorial Note:
“Real Knowledge” is
reproduced from the book “Damodar and
the Pioneers of the Theosophical Movement”, by Sven Eek, T.P.H., Adyar,
1978, 720 pp., pp. 515-517.
We include the word “try” in italics and square
brackets in this decisive sentence:
“… The Mahatmas, who are conscious of the Logos, are
in constant magnetic relation to those who succeed in extricating themselves
from the lower animal nature; and, by evolving the higher manas (the mind, the
fifth principle of the occultist), [try]
to unite it permanently with buddhi and atma, the sixth and the seventh
principles mentioned in the occult doctrine.”
Including the word “try” is an attempt to complete the
sentence from the practical point of view of theosophical study. It is also meant
as a stimulus to further research and meditation.
The fact is well-known that a magnetic relation exists
between the Mahatmas and those who do
their best in the direction of uniting their Manas (Mind), to Buddhi (Spiritual
Soul).
A permanent
union of these two principles, however, emerges as the result of many
successive attempts, each one tending to
be a little more effective than the previous one.
A second possibility exists for “mending” the sentence
for practical purposes in theosophical study. It consists in replacing the
words “to unite” by the words “in uniting”. Then the sentence would
read, and it would refer to highly advanced chelas, as Damodar Mavalankar
himself undoubtedly was:
“… The Mahatmas, who are conscious of the Logos, are
in constant magnetic relation to those who succeed in extricating themselves
from the lower animal nature; and, by evolving the higher manas (the mind, the
fifth principle of the occultist), [in
uniting] it permanently with buddhi and atma, the sixth and the seventh
principles mentioned in the occult doctrine.”
The unity of
Manas and Buddhi seems to be a priority for disciples, and H. P. Blavatsky
wrote in “The Secret Doctrine”:
“In the metaphysical sense the ‘Fire of friction’
means the Union between Buddhi, the sixth, and Manas, the fifth, principles,
which thus are united or cemented together; the fifth merging partially into
and becoming part of the monad (…).” (The
SD, Vol. II, p. 247)
The short and axiomatic article below deserves careful
reading. Damodar lived what he wrote
about. His last paragraph, for instance, is premonitory of his retreat to the
Himalayas, which took place after he received an invitation from the Masters. The
text was written in February 1885, just before he left the theosophical scene in India to never come back.
(Carlos Cardoso Aveline)
Real Knowledge
Damodar K.
Mavalankar
The important
question: “What is Real Knowledge?” should be answered. Many people confound
physical seeing with knowledge. They do not think deeply enough to discover
that one may see a thing and not know it, while he may know a thing and
yet not see it.
True perception is true knowledge. Perception is the
capacity of the soul; it is the sight of the higher intelligence whose vision
never errs. And that can be best exercised in true serenity of mind, as Mahatma
K.H. observes: “it is upon the serene and placid surface of the unruffled mind
that visions gathered from the invisible, find a representation in the visible
world.” In short - as the Hindu allegory has it - “It is in the dead of night
that Krishna is born.”
In Occultism, Krishna represents the Christ Principle;
the Atma of the Vedantins, or the seventh principle; the Logos of the
Christians - the Divine Spirit, who is the manifested Son of the unmanifested
Father. In the dead of night, that is, when there is complete physical and
mental rest, when there is perfect quiet and peace of mind. It is only then
that the individuality of man - his higher nature - becomes a fit vehicle for
the manifestation of The Word. This
is what is meant in the Bible where it says that we must try to obtain
“redemption through Christ”. The Divine Principle in man is indivisible; the
human soul is universal. He who would live and enjoy eternal life must live in
and unite the human soul with the Divine Principle. Therefore, a sense of
personal isolation brings on death and
annihilation, while genuine unselfish philanthropy places the individual in
touch with the Divine Spirit, and thus gives him eternal life.
The Divine Spirit is all-pervading, and those who put
themselves en rapport with the Divine
Spirit are necessarily en rapport
with all other entities who are also en
rapport with it. Hence, the Mahatmas,
who are conscious of the Logos, are in constant magnetic relation to those who
succeed in extricating themselves from the lower animal nature; and, by
evolving the higher manas (the mind, the fifth principle of the occultist), [try] to unite it permanently with buddhi
and atma, the sixth and the seventh principles mentioned in the occult
doctrine. It is by this means that the Mahatmas must first be known. What is a
Mahatma? Is it his physical body? No! The physical must perish, sooner or
later. But the Mahatma lives in his higher individuality and, to know him
truly, he must be known through that individuality in which he is centered. The
body is merely a fulcrum of the lever through which physical results have to be
produced. But, for him, the body is like a house. He inhabits it so long as it
serves his purpose.
Knowledge increases in proportion to its use. That is
to say, the more we teach, the more we learn. In the same manner, the more that
an organ is exercised, the greater is its functional activity increased;
provided, of course, that too much is not expected of it at once. So also is
the will strengthened, the more it is exercised; and the more one meets with temptation
- which can only be possible if he lives with his companions - the greater
opportunities has he of exercising, and thereby strengthening the will. In this
process, there does come a time when the constitution of one is changed as to
incapacitate him for work on the physical plane. He must then work upon it,
through higher planes into which he must retire. But until that time arrives he
must be with humanity, and unselfishly work for their real progress and
advancement. This alone can bring true happiness.
000
In September 2016, after a careful analysis of the state of the
esoteric movement worldwide, a group of students decided to form the Independent Lodge of Theosophists,
whose priorities include the building of a better future in the different
dimensions of life.
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