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A Treatise on Cosmic Fire - Section Two - Introductory Questions
From the standpoint of evolution we regard the higher two and the highest one as the correspondence to the Absolute as He manifests in duality. This is prior to objectivity, which requires the presence of the three. In manifestation we might regard the principles as follows: [264]
  • First Principle - The sphere of manifestation, the monadic egg.
  • Second Principle - Atma - Will.
  • Third Principle - Buddhi - Pure reason, wisdom.
  • Fourth Principle - Manas - Pure mind, higher mind.
  • Fifth Principle - Manas - Lower mind.
  • Sixth Principle - Kama-manas.
  • Seventh Principle - Pure emotion, or feeling.

These are the principles for the microcosm viewed as having transcended the physical bodies altogether, and thus the tabulation deals entirely with the subjective life, or the development of the psyche or soul.

This should be borne carefully in mind else confusion will ensue. In our enumeration we are here dealing with subjectivity and not with form. We have, therefore, considered:

  1. Sevenfold objectivity - the material forms.
  2. Sevenfold subjectivity - the psychic evolution.
  3. Sevenfold spirituality - the life of the Entity.

We will note also that in the tabulation of the spiritual life of the Monad we considered it as fivefold. This was necessarily so in this fivefold evolution, but the remaining two principles might be considered as:

  1. The life of the Heavenly Man in Whose body the human Monad finds a place.
  2. The life of the Logos in Whose body the Heavenly Man finds place.

It might be useful here to consider another enumeration of the principles of man 10 as he manifests in the [265] three worlds, the planes whereon the subjective and the objective are united. What have we there? Let us begin where man begins, with the lowest:
7. The etheric body. 1. The vital body.
6. Prana. 2. Vital force.
5. Kama-manas. 3. Desire Mind.
4. Lower mind 4. Concrete Mind.
3. Manas 5. Higher or abstract mind.
2. Buddhi 6. Wisdom, Christ force, intuition.
1. Atma 7. Spiritual Will.
This is the lowest enumeration for little evolved man at the present time.

From the standpoint of the Ego what can be seen?

  1. The Absolute - Atma. Pure will-to-be.
  2. The Duad.
    1. Buddhi - Pure reason, wisdom.
    2. Manas - Pure mind.
  3. The Triad.
    1. The causal body.
    2. Lower mind. [266]
    3. Kama-manas.
    4. Prana.
    5. The etheric body.

In these various enumerations of the principles we are dealing with them (as H. P. B. has pointed out they must be dealt with) 11, 12 from differing standpoints, dependent upon the stage reached and the angle of vision. We have considered them thus in answering question six because we have sought to emphasize and to impress clearly upon our minds that the three lines of development must be remembered when considering the evolution of the Manasaputras.

10 Enumeration of the Principles - S. D., II, 627, 631.

  • 1st Principle - Dense physical body. Sthula Sharira.
  • 2nd Principle - Etheric body. Linga Sharira.
  • 3rd Principle - Prana. Vital energy.
  • 4th Principle - Kama-rupa. The energy of desire. - S. D., I, 136.

(These are the lower four principles.)

  • 5th Principle - Manas. The energy of thought. The middle principle. - S. D., II, 83, 84. II, 332. S. D., II, 669.
  • 6th Principle - Buddhi The energy of love. - S. D., II, 649, 676. S. D., III, 58.
  • 7th Principle - Atma. The synthetic principle. - S. D., I, 357, 201. S. D., III, 142.
    See S. D., III, 201, note.
  1. Buddhi is the vehicle for atma.
  2. Manas is the vehicle for buddhi.
  3. Kama-rupa is the vehicle for manas. - S. D., II, 171.
  4. The etheric body is the vehicle for prana.

Remember also:

  1. That the physical body is not a principle. - S. D., II, 652. III, 445. III, 652.
  2. That atma is not a principle. See also S. D., III, 62, 63. III, 293.

(Other enumerations, differing in certain particulars will be found: - S. D., I, 177, 181, 685. II, 669. III, 476, 560. The latter is more esoteric.)

11 H. P. Blavatsky says in the Secret Doctrine in connection with the Principles,

  1. That mistakes in the classification are very possible. - S. D., II, 677.
  2. That we must seek the occult meaning. - S. D., II, 652.
    That there are really six not seven principles.
  3. That there are several classifications. - S. D., III, 374, 446.
  4. That the esoteric enumeration cannot be made to correspond with the exoteric - S. D., III, 476.
  5. That the numbering of the principles is a question of spiritual progress. - S. D., III, 456, 460.

12 S. D., III, 456.
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