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{{Style P-No indent|for ages, but hitherto bitterly derided. “ Matter is eternal,” says the Esoteric Doctrine. But the matter the Occultists conceive of in its ''laya'', or ''zero state'', is not the matter of modern science ; not even in its most rarefied gaseous state. Mr. Crookes’ “ radiant matter ” would appear matter of the grossest kind in the realm of the beginnings, as it becomes pure spirit before it has returned back even to its first point of differentiation. Therefore, when the adept or alchemist adds that, though matter is eternal, for it is {{Style S-Small capitals|Pradhâna}}, yet atoms ''are born at every new manvantara'', or reconstruction of the universe, it is no such contradiction as a materialist, who believes in nothing beyond the atom, might think. There is a difference between ''manifested ''and ''unmanifested ''matter, between ''pradhâna'', the beginningless and endless cause, and ''prakriti'', or the manifested effect. Says the sloka ; —}} | {{Style P-No indent|for ages, but hitherto bitterly derided. “ Matter is eternal,” says the Esoteric Doctrine. But the matter the Occultists conceive of in its ''laya'', or ''zero state'', is not the matter of modern science ; not even in its most rarefied gaseous state. Mr. Crookes’ “ radiant matter ” would appear matter of the grossest kind in the realm of the beginnings, as it becomes pure spirit before it has returned back even to its first point of differentiation. Therefore, when the adept or alchemist adds that, though matter is eternal, for it is {{Style S-Small capitals|Pradhâna}}, yet atoms ''are born at every new manvantara'', or reconstruction of the universe, it is no such contradiction as a materialist, who believes in nothing beyond the atom, might think. There is a difference between ''manifested ''and ''unmanifested ''matter, between ''pradhâna'', the beginningless and endless cause, and ''prakriti'', or the manifested effect. Says the sloka ; —}} | ||
“ That which is the unevolved cause is emphatically called by the most eminent sages, ''pradhâna'', ''original base'', ''which is ''subtile ''prakriti'', ''viz.'', that which is eternal, and which at once is, and is not, ''a mere process.''” * That which in modern phraseology is respectively referred to as Spirit and Matter, is one in eternity as the perpetual cause, and it is neither Spirit nor matter, but {{Style S-Small capitals|it}} — rendered in Sanskrit {{Style S-Small capitals|tad}} (“ that ”), — all that is, was, or will be, all that the imagination of man is capable of conceiving. Even the exoteric Pantheism of Hinduism renders it as no monotheistic philosophy ever did, for in superb phraseology its cosmogony begins with the well-known words : — | “ That which is the unevolved cause is emphatically called by the most eminent sages, ''pradhâna'', ''original base'', ''which is ''subtile ''prakriti'', ''viz.'', that which is eternal, and which at once is, and is not, ''a mere process.''” * That which in modern phraseology is respectively referred to as Spirit and Matter, is {{Style S-Small capitals|one}} in eternity as the perpetual cause, and it is neither Spirit nor matter, but {{Style S-Small capitals|it}} — rendered in Sanskrit {{Style S-Small capitals|tad}} (“ that ”), — all that is, was, or will be, all that the imagination of man is capable of conceiving. Even the exoteric Pantheism of Hinduism renders it as no monotheistic philosophy ever did, for in superb phraseology its cosmogony begins with the well-known words : — | ||
“ There was neither day nor night, neither heaven nor earth, neither darkness nor light. And there was not ought else apprehensible by the senses or by the mental faculties. There was then one Brahmâ, essentially ''prakriti ''(Nature) and Spirit. For ''the two aspects ''of Vishnu which are other than his supreme essential aspect are prakriti and Spirit, and Brahman. ''When these two other ''{{Style S-Small capitals|aspects}} ''of his no longer subsist'', ''but are dissolved'', then that aspect whence form and the rest, ''i.e.'', ''creation'', proceed ''anew'', is denominated time, O twice-born.” | “ There was neither day nor night, neither heaven nor earth, neither darkness nor light. And there was not ought else apprehensible by the senses or by the mental faculties. There was then one Brahmâ, essentially ''prakriti ''(Nature) and Spirit. For ''the two aspects ''of Vishnu which are other than his supreme essential aspect are prakriti and Spirit, and Brahman. ''When these two other ''{{Style S-Small capitals|aspects}} ''of his no longer subsist'', ''but are dissolved'', then that aspect whence form and the rest, ''i.e.'', ''creation'', proceed ''anew'', is denominated time, O twice-born.” | ||
It is that which is dissolved, or the illusionary ''dual ''aspect of That, the essence of which is eternally one, that we call eternal matter or Substance (Vide in Part II., “ ''Primordial Substance and Divine Thought ”''), formless, sexless, inconceivable, even to our ''sixth ''sense or mind, † in which, therefore, we refuse to see that which Monotheists call a ''personal'', anthropomorphic God. | It is that which is dissolved, or the illusionary ''dual ''aspect of That, the essence of which is eternally {{Style S-Small capitals|one}}, that we call eternal matter or Substance (Vide in Part II., “ ''Primordial Substance and Divine Thought ”''), formless, sexless, inconceivable, even to our ''sixth ''sense or mind, † in which, therefore, we refuse to see that which Monotheists call a ''personal'', anthropomorphic God. | ||
How are these two propositions — “ that matter is eternal,” and “ the atom periodical, and not eternal ” — viewed by modern exact Science ? The materialistic physicist will criticize and laugh them to scorn. The | How are these two propositions — “ that matter is eternal,” and “ the atom periodical, and not eternal ” — viewed by modern exact Science ? The materialistic physicist will criticize and laugh them to scorn. The | ||