Theosophical Society,
The
Law of Periodicity
(AKA. Constant
Renewal / Periodic Recurrence / Alternation)
Study
Group Notes April 2004 Prepared by D Marsland
Blavatsky
states that what she termed the Law of Periodicity is one
of the basic laws governing existence. It states that for every period of
activity there is a corresponding equal period of rest. This period of rest is
followed by another span of activity.
The Law of
Periodicity stresses the need for Constant Renewal. Without this renewal forces
would exhaust themselves (Burn-out) Through this
process of Constant Renewal everything is evolving on an eternally ascending
spiral. Repeated manifestation without progress is pointless
The operation
of this law is observable in the nature of night & day ,
the flow and ebb of tides, waking and sleeping etc. At a more esoteric
level the manifestation (Manvantara) and subsequent non-manifestation (Pralaya)
of a universe, a planetary system or a planet. Physical science has
observed periodicity in all departments of nature.
Our universe is
one in a great cosmic chain of universes just as today is one day in a person’s
life. Nothing can be considered in isolation from what has gone before or from
what follows after.
The universe
itself is an organic living whole and everything in it expresses life. When
discussing the universe Theosophists are usually speaking the totality of the
cosmic process. space in the esoteric sense is
dimensionless. The ultimate units of life are defined as Monads.
Manvantara
This is
literally the period between two Manus. Manus are the entities which appear
collectively first at the beginning of a manifestation and from which
everything is derived or born. .
Pralaya
This means
literally a melting away and can be best translated as a state of latency.
When a universe
goes into Pralaya at the end of a Manvantara it does not cease to exist but
still exists in potential.
Evolution (meaning in Theosophy)
To
Theosophists, Evolution is the progressive development of everything (even
atoms) this includes spiritual progress as well as material, physical
and intellectual. Reincarnation is part of the evolutionary process. The whole
of nature shows a progressive march for a higher life.
Evolution
and Involution (The
Principle of the Shadowy Arc)
Evolution does
not simply involve moving progressively upwards as if following the line on the
graph of a successful sales department. It is also unlike moving through school
in which students tend to move up through the school at the same speed and stay
in the same groups or classes.
In fact
Evolution (of both spirit & matter) involves first a descending arc. Spirit
must descend into matter and clothe itself in it. On the downward arc matter
eclipses spirit more and more until it is shadowed (The Shadowy Arc). Matter is
evolving to a greater extent than spirit during this descent.
Eventually the
spirit reaches the lowest point on the arc of descent and begins to rise out of
matter. In this ascending arc spirit evolves to the greater extent. Ultimately
spirit separates itself from matter and the cycle is repeated again after a
period of rest.
Evolution and
Involution operate together, one is not possible
without the other. Matter and Spirit are parts of the same whole and both must
evolve.
A human
incarnation is a descent into matter in which the spiritual part of man
acquires a human body to gain physical experience. Humans can be described as
spiritual beings who have physical experiences but
when in incarnation it is easy to regard it as the other way round.
In human
evolution our level of consciousness gives us a level of choice or self
determination which means we can accelerate or impede our evolution both
individually and as a whole.
Theosophical Society,