Note on a Volume
By
The Viscount de
Figanière
Anonymous Theosophist
Anonymous Theosophist
Front cover and opening pages of the book “Submundo,
Mundo,
Supramundo” (or “Under, In, And Above the World”). A more accurate
translation of the title into English would be “Underworld,
World and Overworld”).
An April 2017 Editorial Note:
Probably written
by Helena P. Blavatsky, the following anonymous review was first published in
her “Lucifer” magazine, in London, May 1889, pp. 262-263.
Portuguese theosophist Viscount de Figanière
(1827-1908) was a friend of HPB’s and likely a member of her Esoteric School,
which can be inferred by perusing the bibliography he indicates in “Under, In, And Above the World”.
With 744 pages besides the opening pages and Summary,
the book is now available in our associated websites under its title “Submundo, Mundo, Supramundo”.
On Chapter 21 of his work, Figanière makes an accurate
approach to the relation between Masters, disciples and aspirants to
discipleship. In more than one aspect “Submundo,
Mundo, Supramundo” is comparable to
the works “Esoteric Buddhism”, by A.
P. Sinnett, and “Man: Fragments of
Forgotten History”, by “Two Chelas”. Like these two books, it is previous
to “The Secret Doctrine” and yet
gives the reader a description of the cycles of rounds, races and globes, a
central topic in discipleship.
Figanière first saw “The Secret Doctrine” published in paper while his own book was
being printed. That Figanière was not a beginner in occult studies is seen by
the way HPB refers to him and quotes from him in “The Secret Doctrine”, vol. II, p. 289, fn, and p. 290. However, he
was glad to correct his views whenever they differed from those of HPB and her
Masters.
Figanière lived several years in Brazil. As a
diplomat, he represented Portugal in Russia for approximately seven years. He
had a number of articles published in “The
Theosophist” and “Lucifer”, and
wrote books with essays and novels in English, French, and Portuguese.
His full name is Frederico Francisco Stuart de
Figanière e Morão. Readers can see two lengthy articles by him in the
collection of “The
Aquarian Theosophist”. One of them, entitled “Is Theosophy Pantheism?”, in the May 2003 edition, pp. 1-15. The
other one, “About the Ego and the Unmanifested Being”, is in the July 2002 edition, pp. 13-22. At
the time “The Aquarian” was
published from Los Angeles by its founding editor Jerome Wheeler.
(Carlos Cardoso Aveline)
Esoteric Studies: Under,
In, And Above the World [1]
The author is a
Grand Cross of the Order of St. Anne, in Russia; was Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary from Portugal to Russia 1870 to 1876, and like a
noble-minded man, places his Fellowship of the Theosophical Society above these
dignities.
When this work was as he tells us, ready for
publication in December last, the “Secret Doctrine” appeared, and a “fresh
light” thrown on the subject. The alterations he has made are embodied in a
supplementary chapter of 40 pages, which appears to convey a clearer abstract
of the Secret Doctrine, and a more systematic review than has yet appeared in
Europe.
The work, treating as it does of topics which form the
ground-work of Theosophical teaching, cannot be reviewed in these pages at the length
it probably deserves. A propaedeutic work is necessarily didactic in its
character, and the author who lays down certain general propositions has given
in all cases the sources of his information.
The first part is devoted to Evolution in general,
comprising metaphysics, ontology, and cosmogony. The second part to human
evolution. The genesis of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth race is
described. Chapters follow on the Origin of Language, on Kama-loka, Avitchi,
and Devachan. The definition and modes of operation of the law of Karma are
given in detail. The eighth sphere, the manvantaric manifestations, free-will,
the periodic cycles, the sixth and seventh race, the occult hierarchy and the
history of the Theosophical Society form each separate chapters.
We refrain from offering at this time an analysis of
each of these, and content ourselves with saying that the work is copiously
illustrated with diagrams, and is one of the most scientific manuals of
Theosophical literature that has yet appeared.
Portugal may well be proud of so eloquent an expounder
of elementary truths in such nervous language, and after our bitter experience
of English literature on the subject, it is a relief to read any work written
by an exact mind in clear language. We must also notice how this book contrasts
with the Spanish spiritist productions, and it will be seen that the learning
and elegance of the author have induced him to compile one of the most
important contributions to modern Theosophical literature.
NOTE:
[1] By Viscount de Figanière,
Oporto, Portugal, 8vo., 1889 [In Portuguese]. (Note by the author of the
review)
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Readers of our associated
websites can have access to the complete facsimile online edition of “Submundo, Mundo, Supramundo” (“Under, In, And Above the World”). In order to
see the book, it is enough to click for instance Here or Here.
A more accurate
translation of the title into English would be “Underworld, World and Overworld”.
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The above text
was also published in the June 2016 edition of “The Aquarian Theosophist”, pp.
16-17. Its Editorial Note was
updated in April 2017.
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