Theos-Talk Archives (November 1998 Message tl00024)

Nov 27th 1998

Dear Jerry and Dan:

If KARMA is a law it is a universal one.

I am quite familiar with the concept of a Jivan-Mukta ( which in
English means : "free of this Life" ).

I did not invent the definition of Karma, nor did Mme. Blavatsky.
It is, she says (and so do the Hindu Pundits) the undeviating law
that balances all causes with their effects.  No exceptions.

Our interpretations are valid so long as they are ours and may
please our minds, but the real question, to my mind is:  Are they
Universally valid ?  Are we in effect devising our own
limitations and exceptions, or are we studying the LAW as it is ?

I think we may always disagree on interpretations so long as they
are personal.  However the resolution becomes common when and if
we can perceive a universally similar definition.

Lets take the case of a JIVANMUKTA.  "An adept or yogi who has
reached the ultimate state of holiness and separated himself from
matter;  a Mahatma, or Nirvanee, a "dweller in bliss" and
emancipation.  Virtually one who has reached Nirvana during
life.:  [Theos. Glos. pp 165-6]

NIRVANI:  "It is "escape from misery" but only from that of
matter or the physical world;" freedom from Klesha, or Kama, and
the complete extinction of animal desires.
..and simply because the physical world is illusion, maya.
Sakyamuni Buddha said in the last moments of his life that "the
spiritual body is immortal."  ...Nirvana negatively is a state of
absolute exemption from all forms of existence; to begin with
freedom from all passion and exertion;  a state of indifference
to all sensibility" - and he might have added "death of all
compassion for the world of suffering."  And this is why the
Bodhisattvas who prefer Nirmanakaya to the Dharmakaya vesture,
stand higher in the popular estimation that the
Nirvanis..."Positively (and esoterically) they define Nirvana as
the highest state of spiritual bliss, as absolute immortality
through absorption of the soul (spirit rather) into itself, but
preserving individuality so that, e.g., Buddhas, after entering
Nirvana, may reappear on earth." - i.e., in the future
Manvantara.  (SD II 232)  Theos. Glos. p. 232

PRATYEKHA BUDDHA	"...A DEGREE THAT BELONGS ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY TO
THE Yogacharya school, yet it is only one of high intellectual
development with no true spirituality.

It is the dead-letter of the Yoga laws, in which intellect and
comprehension play the greatest part, added to the strict
carrying out of the rules of the inner development.  It is one of
the three paths to Nirvana, and the lowest, in which a
Yogi-"without teacher and without saving others" - by mere force
of will and technical observances, attains to a kind of nominal
Buddhaship individually;  doing no good to anyone, but working
selfishly for his own salvation and himself alone.

The Pratyekhas are respected outwardly but are  despised inwardly
by those of keen or spiritual appreciation....He is far below a
true "Buddha of Compassion."
T. Glos. p. 261

TRIYANA	"The three vehicles across Sansara-the ocean of births,
deaths, and rebirths are the three vehicles called Sravaka,
Pratyekha Buddha and Bodhisattva, or the three degrees of
Yogaship.  The term Triyana is also used to denote the three
schools of mysticism-the Mahayana, Madhyimayana and Hinayana
schools.  [Greater, Middle and Lesser Vehicles] All and every
system between the Greater and the Lesser Vehicles are considered
"useless."  Therefore... the Pratyekha Buddha state refers to him
who lives all for himself and very little for others, occupying
the middle of the vehicle, filling it all and leaving no room for
others."  Such is the selfish candidate for Nirvana."  Theos.
Gloss p. 344-5.

While these quotes that are descriptive settle nothing, they do
give a base for considering what Jerry offers.

His views on Karma are apparently limited to this Manvantara,
(4,320,000,000 years) or Kalpa (a larger period of
311,040,000,000,000 years) only.  But when they are considered
with the total background of interaction on a KOSMIC or Universal
scale, those selective limitations can be seen as such.

What is wrong with a Universe that runs by immutable law ?

Why should humans be exempt from ethical or moral law as it is
applied by Nature without deviation to all humans in whatever
time or circumstance ?

How can anyone proceed to improve or visualize "Perfection"
unless there is a certainty that lawful living will lead thereto,
even if Jivankukti or Nirvanee is the chosen goal ?

Dal.