Theosophical Society,
Four Basic Ideas
Study
Group notes April 2004
Prepared
by D Marsland
H P Blavatsky presents four
basic ideas which
provide a framework for studying Theosophy
These are
1) The Fundamental Unity
of all Existence
This goes beyond the
concept of unity as understood in the ‘unity’ seen in a nation or a political
party. It is that existence is ONE THING, not any collection of things linked
together.
Fundamentally there is ONE
being. The being has two aspects. positive and
negative.
The
positive is Spirit, or Consciousness
The
negative is Substance, The subject of consciousness
This being is the absolute
in its primary manifestation. Being absolute there is nothing outside it. It is
All-Being and indivisible otherwise it would not be absolute.
If a portion could be
separated, that which remains would not be absolute and the concept of
comparison would arise. Such comparison is incompatible with any idea of
absoluteness
2) There is No Dead
Matter
Every atom is alive. This
is because every last atom is itself fundamentally absolute being. Every atom of substance, no matter of what plane is in itself a
life.
The Ancient Greek concept
of solid atoms (Democritus 5th century B.C.E) was disproved at the end of the
19th century. Modern science now knows that the atom is a composite of moving
particles in rapid revolution around a nucleus. A structure
similar to that of the solar system. The cutting edge of sub-atomic
physics appears to be identifying ever smaller particles and some research
suggests that the behaviour of sub-atomic particles
can be influenced by an observer. At present however, in claiming that an atom
is a life, Theosophy goes farther than contemporary physics.
3) Man is the Microcosm
of the Macrocosm
The inherent hierarchy of
the universe exists within man and man is an integral part of the one
existence. On a more day to day level, man is part of the planet which gave
rise to him and not separate from it. Being aware of our own existence does not
change this. In fact
man’s attainment of self awareness in addition to other
attributes such as self direction and creative intelligence are reflections of
a universal intelligence principle.
Man’s immense
potentialities unfold slowly, through countless lives, under the Law of
Adjustment called Karma by which men determine their own destiny, reaping what
they have sown, thus gradually learning by experience until finally they realise their responsibility to their fellow man and all
the other kingdoms of nature. Then it is possible for us to become co-workers
with the eternal Universal Intelligence and to become perfected human beings.
4) As Above so Below
Existence is one life and
one law. The same laws of nature apply at all levels in the Divine Economy.
Everything acts and reacts
according to its stage of evolution. The one universal intelligence operating
in all things at all levels ensures the balance and harmony of the dynamic
vital whole.
Theosophical Society,