Here
I will analyze what theosophist Geoffrey Barborka said about the
correspondences that exist between the seven principes of man and the seven rounds. The following is found in the sixth section of
chapter nine of his book "The Divine Plan."
--oOo--
ONE PRINCIPLE IN EVERY ROUND
Barborka said:
In
view of what has been explained in the previous sections, the
relationship of Rounds and Principles covers the teaching, with special
reference to the Human Kingdom, that one of the seven principles of
which man is constituted is fully developed in a Round.
Observations
I think Barborka meant that each of the seven principles that compose the human being:
- His divine nature (Atma)
- His spiritual nature (Buddhi)
- His human nature (Manas)
- His bestial nature (Kama)
- His vitality body (Prana)
- His astral body (Linga-Sarira)
- His physical body (Sthula-Sarira)
Each of them is fully developed in one of the seven rounds.
But I disagree with this assertion because in the early rounds humans are just beginning to form.
Master Kuthumi explained that:
« In the first round, man is an ethereal being — not intelligent, but
highly spiritual [not as a great initiate, but as a newborn child]. And
in each of the subsequent races —roots , sub-races, and minor races through which he passes— he
develops more and more into an encased or incarnate being, though still
predominantly ethereal. And like the animal and the vegetable, man in
this first round develops monstrous bodies in correspondence with the
coarseness of the environment (which is also initially ethereal).
In
the second round, man is still gigantic and ethereal, but his body
becomes increasingly firm and compact. He becomes more physical, though
still less intelligent than spiritual, for the evolution of the mind is
slower and more difficult than that of the physical structure, and the
mind does not develop as rapidly as the body.
In
the third round, man has a perfectly concrete or compact body;
initially in the form of a giant ape, and more intelligent (or rather
cunning) than spiritual. For in the downward arc, he has now reached the
point where his primordial spirituality has been eclipsed or dominated
by his nascent mentality. And in the latter half of this third round,
his gigantic stature decreases, his body improves in texture (perhaps a
microscope could help demonstrate this), and he becomes a more rational
being—though still more ape than man. »
(ML 14, p.87)
Therefore,
in the first three rounds, none of the principles that constitute man
could have been fully developed. And that is why I believe that each
round focuses primarily on a specific principle, which will then
continue to be refined in subsequent rounds.
WHAT PRINCIPLE IS DEVELOPED IN EACH ROUND?
Barborka said:
As
this is the Fourth Round, the fourth principle, Kama (the principle of
desire) is experiencing its main phases of development.
Observations
Since
the fourth round is where matter becomes denser, I am more inclined to
consider that in the fourth round one works mainly with the physical
body.
And
since Master Kuthumi specified that humans of the fifth round will have
developed wisdom, and humans of the sixth round will have developed
spirituality, that leads me to conclude that in the fifth round one
works mainly with manas, in the sixth round one works mainly with
buddhi, and in the seventh round one works mainly with atma.
This
leads me to consider that perhaps in the first round the work was
mainly done with the astral body, in the second round the work was
mainly done with the pranic body, and in the third round the work was
mainly done with kama.
THE PROGRESSIVE EMANATIONS OF THE PRINCIPLES
Barborka said:
Although
Atman is considered to be the seventh and final principle to be fully
developed, it is nevertheless the originating principle from the point
of view of emanation.
By this I mean that the seven principles are emanated, or unfolded, from this universal principle.
Similarly,
the seven Principles-Elements have been described as emanating from the
originating Principle-Element, Ādi-tattva. Likewise, in the case of a
universe, it emanates or emerges from its originating Central Point –
its Ātman or Paramātman.
It
has been repeatedly stated that Ātman is incapable of functioning or
manifesting itself on the physical plane, and therefore must make its
presence possible through its upādhi, which is the Buddhic principle.
Upādhi
is generally translated as “a vehicle,” but it can also be translated
as “a substitute,” since the literal meaning of the word is “that which
stands in place of,” hence a “veil,” or the “veil of the spirit,” which
Ātman emits so that it can shine through the emanation.
However,
even Buddhi is unable to manifest or function on the physical plane
without its upādhi, Manas, which emerges from Ātma-Buddhi.
From Ātma-Buddhi-Manas Kāma is emanated.
From Ātma-Buddhi-Manas-Kāma emerges Prāna.
From Ātma-Buddhi-Manas-Kāma-Prāna unfolds Linga-śarīra.
And finally from Ātma-Buddhi-Manas-Kāma-Prāna-Linga-śarīra Sthūla-śarīra is emanated.
Because
of this emanational “descent”, it should be clear that each principle
shares not only its next emanating principle, but the entire series of
principles.
Observations
I
agree with what Barborka said about the successive emanations of the
principles, and based on what Master Kuthumi said, I believe that in the
first round the six subtle principles were created (although still in a
very rudimentary state); and only the physical body will be created
later, I am not clear whether in the third or fourth round.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE PRINCIPLES
Barborka said:
Expressed in a mystical symbol used in the Stanzas of Dzyan, man is a Saptaparna (a “seven-leafed plant”), where a parna unfolds in each Round.
Since the word parna means "leaf," it can be said that a parna symbolizes a principle. And in seven Rounds all the leaves will develop.
Another symbolic way of expressing this teaching is provided in the Commentary:
« Man needs four Flames and three Fires to be human on Earth, and requires the essence of all forty-nine Fires to be perfect. »
(SD II, p.57)
The
four Flames are represented by the perishable quaternary, or the four
lower principles: Sthūla-śarīra (the physical body), Linga-śarīra (the
model body), Prāna (the life principle), Kāma (the desire principle).
While
the three Fires represent the eternal triad, the three higher
principles: Manas (the principle of mind); Buddhi (the discerning
principle); Ātman (the universal principle).
And
the essence of the forty-nine fires can be translated as the seven
principles subdivided into seven – seven with seven, 7 x 7 = 49. In
other words, the “seven within the seven” represents the seven
principles with their septenary aspects, that is, each of the seven
principles consists of seven aspects: 7 x 7 = 49.
In the words of a commentary:
« The same applies to man and to each 'man' (each principle) within man. »
(SD II, p.29)
As far as the evolutionary development of a principle in a Round is concerned,
« It
is simply this: Each Round brings with it a new development and even a
complete change in the mental, psychic, spiritual, and physical
constitution of man; all these principles evolving on an ever-ascending
scale. »
(SD I, p.162)
The following diagram serves to indicate the development of a principle for each Round, as well as to represent the 49 Fires.
On
the left are the Rounds, on the right the Principles, one for each
Round. The Principles are arranged in descending emanation, with Ātman
represented first. The Rounds, however, are indicated in ascending
order, signifying the spiraling advance or ascent being undertaken
during the Cycle of Necessity, with one Round being equivalent to a
curve in the spiral ascent.
Again,
the seven principles are arranged horizontally, each principle
represented by seven stars in a column, with six stars being "empty" and
the seventh "filled." The "filled star" in each column serves to show
the special principle being developed during a Round.
Since
the Host of Human Monads is currently engaged in following the Fourth
Round, in the spiral ascent, it will be evident that the Fourth
Principle, Kāma, is sustaining its preeminent development.
Since
humanity is engaged in developing the fifth major phase of development,
which is equivalent to what is called the Fifth Root Race, the Manas
aspect of the Kāmico principle is being emphasized.
During
the Sixth Race, the Buddhic aspect of the Kama principle will come to
light in its development. Then, during the Seventh Race, the Atman
aspect of Kama will receive its preeminent unfolding.
During the Fifth Round the Manasic principle will unfold in all its sevenfold aspects.
In
the diagram, the "free stars" serve to indicate the other six aspects
of each Principle. The "full star" represents the Principle fully
developed by the Round.
However,
a word of caution will be added regarding diagrammatic representations:
A diagram is useful for illustrating a specific point, although at the
same time the diagrammatic representation can be misleading with respect
to other aspects of teaching.
Thus,
it would be erroneous to consider the 49 Fires as being different and
separable parts of one another. The entirety of the 49 Fires
interpenetrates each other, just as the seven principles interpenetrate
one another. They are separated in this way only for the purpose of
study.
In
the case of the 49 Fires, represented diagrammatically in this way, the
illustration serves to draw attention to the fact that some of the
Fires have been "lit" or developed, particularly those belonging to the
lower principles.
On
the other hand, the Fires of the higher principles await their
development or unfolding in future Rounds. In fact, all the Fires
belonging to the higher Rounds are inactive at present.
Regarding
his higher principles, humanity is still in the dark. However, there is
a possibility of achieving this enlightenment. Examples of this appear
on Earth from time to time.
Observations
I
don't like that Barborka refers to sub-principles in the same way as
principles because that creates confusion, although surely each of those
sub-principles is primarily associated with a principle.
Theosophical instructors revealed almost nothing about the sub-principles ("the 49 fires").
I
suspect that the seven sub-principles of the physical body must be the
different systems that make up the physical body (the skeletal system,
the respiratory system, the nervous system, etc.).
And
for example, the skeletal system may be the physical sub-principle of
the physical body, the respiratory system may be the pranic
sub-principle of the physical body, the nervous system may be the manasic sub-principle of the physical body, etc.
Therefore,
this leads me to believe that Barborka's explanation of the development
of the 49 sub-principles throughout the seven rounds is probably not
correct.
