COLLATION OF THEOSOPHICAL GLOSSARIES

Sk - So


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List of Title Abbreviations (in alphabetical order)


MO Skade [[Norse]] (skah-deh) Sister-wife of Njord, daughter of the giant Tjasse


MO Skald [[Norse]] Bard


MO Skaldemjod [[Norse]] (skal-deh-myeud) [skald poet + mjod mead] Inspiration


TG Skandha or Skhanda (Sk.). Lit., "bundles", or groups of attributes; everything finite, inapplicable to the eternal and the absolute. There are five -- esoterically, seven -- attributes in every human living being, which are known as the Pancha Skandhas. These are (1) form, rupa; (2) perception, vidana; (3) consciousness, sanjna; (4) action, sanskara; (5) knowledge, vidyana. These unite at the birth of man and constitute his personality. After the maturity of these Skandhas, they begin to separate and weaken, and this is followed by jaramarana, or decrepitude and death.

KT Skandhas. The attributes of every personality, which after death form the basis, so to say, for a new Karmic reincarnation. They are five in the popular or exoteric system of the Buddhists: i.e., Rupa, form or body, which leaves behind it its magnetic atoms and occult affinities; Vedana, sensations, which do likewise; Sanna, or abstract ideas, which are the creative powers at work from one incarnation to another; Samkhara, tendencies of mind; and Vinnana, mental powers.

FY Skandhas, the impermanent elements which constitute a man.

WG Skandas, the impermanent elements that enter into man's constitution and which he assumes upon incarnating. (Literally, "branches," "ramifications.")

WG Skanda, a name of Karttikeya, son of Siva and god of war. (Literally, "leaping.") (See Karttikeya.)

GH Skanda The name of the god of war, also known as Karttikeya (so called because he was reared by the six Pleiades, Krittikas), hence he is described as six-headed. For the purpose of destroying the Daitya Taraka, who had become a potential source of trouble to the deities because of the austerities he had performed and his strict religious observances, Skanda was produced, springing from the seed of Siva which had been cast into the fire and then carried to Ganga (the Ganges river). He is represented as riding the peacock, Paravani holding a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other.

GH Skanda is also the regent of the planet Mars. (Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. 74)

OG Skandha(s) -- (Sanskrit) Literally "bundles," or groups of attributes, to use H. P. Blavatsky's definition. When death comes to a man in any one life, the seeds of those causes previously sown by him and which have not yet come forth into blossom and full-blown flower and fruit, remain in his interior and invisible parts as impulses lying latent and sleeping: lying latent like sleeping seeds for future flowerings into action in the next and succeeding lives. They are psychological impulse-seeds lying asleep until their appropriate stage for awakening into action arrives at some time in the future. In the case of the cosmic bodies, every solar or planetary body upon entering into its pralaya, its prakritika-pralaya -- the dissolution of its lower principles -- at the end of its long life cycle, exists in space in the higher activity of its spiritual principles, and in the dispersion of its lowest principles, which latter latently exist in space as skandhas in a laya-condition. When a laya-center is fired into action by the touch of wills and consciousnesses on their downward way, becoming the imbodying life of a solar system, or of a planet of a solar system, the center manifests first on its highest plane, and later on its lower plane. The skandhas are awakened into life one after another: first the highest ones, next the intermediate ones, and lastly the inferior ones, cosmically and qualitatively speaking.

The term skandhas in theosophical philosophy has the general significance of bundles or groups of attributes, which together form or compose the entire set of material and also mental, emotional, and moral qualities. Exoterically the skandhas are "bundles" of attributes five in number, but esoterically they are seven. These unite at the birth of man and constitute his personality. After the death of the body the skandhas are separated and so remain until the reincarnating ego on its downward path into physical incarnation gathers them together again around itself, and thus reforms the human constitution considered as a unity. In brief, the skandhas can be said to be the aggregate of the groups of attributes or qualities which make each individual man the personality that he is; but this must be sharply distinguished from the individuality.

SKo Skandha Literally Skandha means 'aggregate' or 'bundle.' Philosophically the Skandhas are the groups of manifested attributes of character, such as bodily form, sensations, perceptions, and physical, mental, and moral tendencies, which together form the finite parts of any being. The Skandhas therefore create those causal vibrations which attract the Reincarnating Ego back to Earth-life; and as the Ego returns from the higher worlds it gathers up its Skandhas or 'impulse-seeds' and they are awakened once more into activity and build the new personality of the Reincarnating Ego.

SP Skandha -- literally "bundle," the psycho-physical constituents of persons.

SD INDEX Skanda (Skt) (or Karttikeya)

described II 382
refused to create I 457-8n


SD INDEX Skanda-Purana, no longer procurable I 367n


SD INDEX Skeletons (human)

American, nine-twelve feet fr fifth race II 293
Atlantean, may be discovered II 674
in Cro-Magnon cave II 678
57,000 years old (Dowler) II 352
giant, at Carthage II 278
giant, found by ancients II 753
of Haute Garonne ancient II 739
man's, unchanged II 720, 725, 734
no, before Quaternary II 723
older, larger II 278
pagans spoke of giants' II 336
Paleolithic, superior to present II 257-8
why no giant, in dolmens II 753-4


SD INDEX Skepticism I 479-80, 676; II 74, 443


MO Skidbladnir [[Norse]] (sheed-blahd-neer) [skid slat + blad leaf] Ship created by dwarfs for Frey. The planet earth


SD INDEX Skin

Earth's, cast off each round II 47
seven layers of II 92


SD INDEX Skinner, James Ralston

acute scholar, mystic II 388
discovered two of the keys I 315
esoteric measurements of II 465
great services of I 308
----- "The Cabbalah"
Ain-soph & great circle I 429
Alhim & sephiroth II 39-40
Alhim, Jehovah, light I 91; II 37-8
Cassell & kabbalistic trinity II 38
our perceptions of light II 41
sephiroth, dbrim [debarim], etc II 37
seventh day, conjunctions, etc II 76-7
----- "Hebrew Metrology"
elohim, dhyani-chohans same number I 90 &n
----- Key to the Hebrew-Egyptian Mystery in the Source of Measures
ansated cross, etc II 36
Ararat & Arath II 597n
candlestick & cross II 581n
confirms Isis Unveiled I 318n
creation basis of Jewish religion II 543
on crucifixion II 36, 542, 558-61, 600
cube unfolded, man I 321
Easter Island, Aztecs, etc I 322
Hermes as a cube II 542
Hindu knowledge concealed II 499n
"I have gotten a man" (Genesis 4:1) II 127
immaculate conception I 59-60
Jehovah derivation II 125
Jehovah male, female II 125, 467
Jehovah's measure II 38
Jod (Yod) & Havah-Eve II 467
King's Chamber, Holy of Holies I 264
language based in number II 560
Mars & conception II 43-4n
Mars, Melchizedek II 392-3
men call themselves Jehovah II 388n
Moses, Jehovah, "I am" II 468
nails of cross II 561
numerical analysis of "raven" I 443-4
origin of measures I 313
pagan basis of Jewish religion II 465
Parker ratio I 313
Parker's key to Kabbala II 544
pi & alhim same numbers I 90-1
sacr, sacrament, sacrifice I 5n; II 467n
tau cross II 543
Tree of Knowledge & cross II 215-16
Tree of Life & ansated cross II 216-17
Vulcain II 392-3n
----- Manuscripts (unpublished)
ancient symbolic language I 308-9
androgynous goddess I 392
bull, cow, Moon etc I 390
cube unfolded I 321
Holy of Holies I 383, 391
IOH, Moon, Jehovah II 464
Jewish & Aryan esotericism I 115n
lotus as symbol of generation I 381-2
Moses & Lord's Glory (Exodus) II 539
Nile River, Isis, etc II 583
Old Testament number values I 444
Parker ratio I 313-14
secret of ancient symbol I 389
solar year & Moon cycles I 392
symbology of the womb I 382


TG Skrymir (Scand.). One of the famous giants in the Eddas.

SD INDEX Skrymir (Norse) giant. See also Ymir

sons of gods fought against II 754


MO Skirner [[Norse]] (sheer-ner) [radiance] Ray of the god Frey, an emissary to the giant world


SD INDEX Skull(s). See also Neanderthal Man

comparison of II 523, 677-8, 687, 792
enormous, found on Thera II 278-9
judging intellect by, capacity II 168n, 193, 522-3, 686n, 721
old, of Europe like Caribs II 738-9, 790
old, of Negro type II 278
old, of very tall men II 278
prehistoric & modern, compared II 522-3
variety of European, (Littre) II 738-9


SD INDEX Sky, Egyptians divided, into seven parts II 631


SD INDEX Slack, Henry James, "Recent Researches in Minute Life," metaphysics & science I 588, 600


SD INDEX Slaughter, Reverend William. B., The Modern Genesis, rationale of nebular rotation I 97n


SD INDEX Slavonia (ic, ian)

chiton (coat) became, word II 202
deluge in, mythology II 270
God of, fr Greek Bacchus I 347
legends of giants in II 754-5
Leibniz of, descent I 628n
red Easter egg of I 368
Russian &, "R" is Latin "P" II 547n


SD INDEX Sleep(ing)

Atlanteans did not dream in II 761
dreamless I 47, 266
dreamless, of first two races (Adam) II 181
ideation ceases in deep I 38
laya or, center I 147
matter during universal I 69
mental, of early man II 194
profound, too deep for dreams II 701
sushumna ray during I 537


SD INDEX Sleep of Siloam, initiated adept plunged into II 558


MO Sleipnir [[Norse]] (slayp-neer) [slider] Odin's eight-legged steed


TG Sloka, (Sk.). The Sanskrit epic metre formed of thirty-two syllables: verses in four half-lines of eight, or in two lines of sixteen syllables each.

FY Slokas, stanzas (Sanskrit).

OG Sloka -- (Sanskrit) "The Sanskrit epic meter formed of thirty-two syllables: verses in four half lines of eight, or in two lines of sixteen syllables each" (H. P. Blavatsky, Theosophical Glossary).

GH Sloka A stanza, especially a particular kind of epic meter, also called the Anushtubh, which consists of 4 padas (quarter verses) of 8 syllables each; or it may be 2 lines each containing 16 syllables. The syllables of each line may be altered as desired except for the 5th, 13th, 14th, and 15th syllables which have a fixed method for composition. The following indicates this:

. . . . , . . . | . . . . , - , .

The dots represent syllables which may be either long or short. The 6th and 7th syllables should be long; but if the 6th is a short syllable then the 7th is short also. As an example the first sloka of the Bhagavad-Gita is given illustrating this (although the 14th syllable is short in both lines):

dharmakshetre kurukshetre samaveta yuyutsavah,
, , , , / , , , , | , , , - / , , , ,
mamakah pandavaschaiva kimakurvata sanjaya.
- , - / - , - - , | , , , , , / , , ,

The Ramayana relates that the first sloka was composed by Valmiki who was moved to such sorrow by seeing the mate of a bird killed by a hunter during the wooing of the pair, that in his grief he developed the spirit of poesy. The word sloka means sound, or noise; in the Rig-Veda it means a hymn of praise. (cf. (The following word is derived from the verbal root:) sru, to hear. Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. i)

SKs Sloka A verse. A Sloka is generally formed of verses in half-lines of eight, or in two lines of sixteen syllables each. This Sloka is the Sanskrit epic-metre formed of thirty-two syllables.

IN Sloka (Skt) Verse of a stanza; the usual Sanskrit epic meter of 32 syllables.

SP Sloka -- the usual Sanskrit epic meter, or a 32-syllable stanza in that meter.


SD INDEX Sloth II 733


SMARAGDINE TABLET

The Emerald Tablet by Hermes Trismegistus


TG Smaragdine Tablet of Hermes. As expressed by Eliphas Levi, "this Tablet of Emerald is the whole of magic in a single page"; but India has a single word which, when understood, contains "the whole of magic". This is a tablet, however, alleged to have been found by Sarai, Abraham's wife (!) on the dead body of Hermes. So say the Masons and Christian Kabbalists. But in Theosophy we call it an allegory. May it not mean that Sarai-swati, the wife of Brahma, or the goddess of secret wisdom and learning, finding still much of the ancient wisdom latent in the dead body of Humanity, revivified that wisdom? This led to the rebirth of the Occult Sciences, so long forgotten and neglected, the world over. The tablet itself, however, although containing the "whole of magic", is too long to be reproduced here.

SD INDEX Smaragdine Tablet (of Hermes)

as above, so below . . . II 113
disfigured by Christian hands II 113
Isarim, an initiate, said to have found II 556
seven keys to meaning of II 109
swastica in II 99

SEE ALSO; EVOLUTION


TG Smartava (Sk.). The Smarta Brahmans; a sect founded by Sankaracharya.

SD INDEX Smarta, Smartava Brahmans

founded by Sankaracharya I 271
head of, sometimes a real initiate I 272


SD INDEX Smell I 251

Anugita
on I 535 &nn
Earth rudiment of I 372
evolution of II 106-8


SD INDEX Smith, George

----- Assyrian Discoveries
evil gods II 61-2
evil principles emblems of chaos II 386
Hea-bani raised to heaven II 531
King Sargon's date II 691
story of Moses fr Babylonia I 319n
War in Heaven II 386
----- Chaldean Account of Genesis
Adam (mankind) II 4
Chaldean gods, genii II 248n, 383-4
corroborates teachings II 5
cosmogenesis described in I 357
creations, two or more II 53, 54
Curse & the Fall II 282
dragon of Chaldea II 354
evil gods II 61
monsters II 52
proves forgeries of Eusebius I xxvin
Sargon's story I 319n
seven races (kings) II 2
Sun & Moon II 145
tablets written before Moses II 3n
war between gods, dragons II 383-4
War in Heaven & Fall II 104
Zu & Umsimi II 283-4n
----- Transactions of Society of Biblical . . .
Sargon-Moses story I 319n


SD INDEX Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge

Alexander on nebular theory I 588
Stockwell on glaciations II 141, 144


SD INDEX Smithsonian Reports, Retzius on Guanches, Caribs II 792


SD INDEX Smoke

baptism by, Holy Ghost II 566-9
clouds of, are Montanist heresies II 485
stood for exoteric religion II 566-7


TG Smriti (Sk.). Traditional accounts imparted orally, from the word Smriti, "Memory" a daughter of Daksha. They are now the legal and ceremonial writings of the Hindus; the opposite of, and therefore less sacred, than the Vedas, which are Sruti, or "revelation".

FY Smriti, legal and ceremonial writings of the Hindus.

WG Smriti, remembrance; tradition; laws handed down by human authors, not "revealed," as sruti.

SKs Smriti, Sruti The Smritis were the original unwritten esoteric teachings or 'what has been remembered' and handed down by tradition. They were the truths and legends that were passed on orally from one generation to the next, and which were finally written down. The Smritis comprise the Vedanta, the Sutras, the Mahabharata, the Ramayana, the Puranas, and the Dharma-Sastras. Smriti is derived from the verb-root smri -- to remember.

The Srutis are those teachings 'that have been heard'; derived from the verb-root sru -- to hear. They are those direct oral revelations received by the Rishis of old from divine beings. The Srutis comprise the Vedas and their including works, the Mantras, Brahmanas, and Upanishads.

SP Smrti [smriti] -- literally "remembering"; tradition, a class of Hindu scriptures (including the Dharma Sastras and the Epics) for which the remembered meaning, but not the exact wording, is authoritative.


SD INDEX Smyth, Charles Piazzi

Astronomer Royal of Scotland I 317n
Hebrew language divine I 316-17
height of Grand Gallery II 466
King's Chamber & sarcophagus I 317n
Mosaic origin of measures I 313
pyramid figures I 314, 315
Solomon's temple I 115n


SD INDEX Snails II 659

intermediate hermaphroditism & II 167
Sons of Light or Heavenly I 103


SD INDEX Snake(s). See also Dragons, Nagas, Serpents

blind, atrophied eyes II 296n
cosmic, -gods born of Kasyapa II 382n
great, of the Pueblos II 181n
hole or initiation passages II 379-80
initiate called I 408
king-, or nagas II 381
Kneph, emblem I 353
Nagpur city of II 346n
Ophites revered a living II 386
tortuous, of the Jews II 230


SD INDEX Sochoniston. See Sanchoniathon


SD INDEX Society of Antiquaries [Archaeologia] II 380


SD INDEX Socrates

believed in higher beings I 611
daimon of II 419
would not argue about Being I 4


SD INDEX Socrates [Scholasticus], calls Eusebius forger I xxvi


TG Sod (Heb.). An "Arcanum", or religious mystery. The Mysteries of Baal, Adonis and Bacchus, all sun-gods having serpents as symbols, or, as in the case of Mithra, a "solar serpent". The ancient Jews had their Sod also, symbols not excluded, since they had the "brazen serpent" lifted in the Wilderness, which particular serpent was the Persian Mithra, the symbol of Moses as an Initiate, but was certainly never meant to represent the historical Christ. "The secret (Sod) of the Lord is with them that fear him", says David, in Psalm xxv., 14. But this reads in the original Hebrew, "Sod Ihoh (or the Mysteries) of Jehovah are for those who fear him". So terribly is the Old Testament mistranslated, that verse 7 in Psalm lxxxix., which stands in the original "Al (El) is terrible in the great Sod of the Kedeshim" (the Galli, the priests of the inner Jewish mysteries), reads now in the mutilated translation "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints". Simeon and Levi held their Sod, and it is repeatedly mentioned in the Bible. "Oh my soul", exclaims the dying Jacob, "come not thou into their secret (Sod, in the orig.), unto their assembly", i.e., into the Sodality of Simeon and Levi (Gen. xlix., 6). (See Dunlap, Sod, the Mysteries of Adoni.)

SD INDEX Sod, Sodalian (Heb)

arcanum, mystery (ies) I 463; II 212n, 626
calculations of II 395
Mysteries of Baal, Adonis, Bacchus II 212
mysteries of the seven stars II 633


TG Sodales (Lat.). The members of the Priest-colleges. (See Freund's Latin Lexicon, iv., 448.) Cicero tells us also (De Senectute, 13) that "Sodalities were constituted in the Idaean Mysteries of the MIGHTY MOTHER". Those initiated into the Sod were termed the "Companions".

SD INDEX Sodales

members of priest colleges II 212n
Moses chief of II 212
of right-, left-hand paths II 211


TG Sodalian Oath. The most sacred of all oaths. The penalty of death followed the breaking of the Sodalian oath or pledge. The oath and the Sod (the secret learning) are earlier than the Kabbalah or Tradition, and the ancient Midrashim treated fully of the Mysteries or Sod before they passed into the Zohar. Now they are referred to as the Secret Mysteries of the Thorah, or Law, to break which is fatal.


SD INDEX Sod-Ihoh, Mysteries of Ihoh II 212n


SD INDEX Sod, the Mysteries of Adonis. See Dunlap, S. F.


SD INDEX Sod, The Son of the Man. See Dunlap, S. F.


SD INDEX Sogdiana (Sagdiani in text), Aryan Magi emigrate into II 356


TG Soham (Sk.). A mystic syllable representing involution: lit., "THAT I AM".

FY Soham, a mystic syllable representing involution; (lit. "that am I.")

WG So'Ham, the reverse of Hamsa, symbolizing black magic. (sas, that; aham, I: I that very person, I myself -- expressive of bad egoism -- while Hamsa (aham, I; sas, that: I am That) is an affirmation of divine unity.)

SD INDEX Soham (Skt), "he (is) I" I 78; II 465. See also A-hamsa, Hamsa-vahana, Kalahansa


SD INDEX Soirees de St. Petersbourg. See Maistre, J. de


TG Sokaris (Eg.). A fire-god; a solar deity of many forms. He is Ptah-Sokaris, when the symbol is purely cosmic, and "Ptah-Sokaris-Osiris" when it is phallic. This deity is hermaphrodite, the sacred bull Apis being its son, conceived in it by a solar ray. According to Smith's History of the East, Ptah is a "second Demiurgus, an emanation from the first creative Principle" (the first Logos). The upright Ptah, with cross and staff, is the "creator of the eggs of the sun and moon". Pierret thinks that he represents the primordial Force that preceded the gods and "created the stars, and the eggs of the sun and moon". Mariette Bey sees in him "Divine Wisdom scattering the stars in immensity", and he is corroborated by the Targum of Jerusalem, which states that the "Egyptians called the Wisdom of the First Intellect Ptah".


TG Sokhit (Eg.). A deity to whom the cat was sacred.

SD INDEX Sokhit. See Seket


SD INDEX Sol (Lat) II 575. See also Sun


SD INDEX Sol alter, Sukra-Venus called II 31


SD INDEX Solar. See also Solar System, Sun

body & seven rays I 525n
dynasty, Moru [Maru] will restore I 378
extinctions of, fires I 84, 552
fire & the gandharvas I 523 &n
life part of universal life I 591
lunar &, beliefs of Christians I 388, 395
lunar &, cycles II 620-1
lunar &, deities I 362, 397; II 427
lunar &, influences & "Wind" II 105
mythos I 303-4
vortex of Kepler I 623
year interpreted by St Germain II 583


SD INDEX Solar Boat

Osiris & seven rays enter II 141
soul coeval & disappears w I 227
Thoth, solar discus & II 529


SD INDEX Solar Devas. See also Pitris (Solar)

brought mind to humans I 181


SD INDEXa Solaris luminis particeps II 28 (Lat) "Participating in solar light."


SD INDEX Solar Lhas (spirits) II 105, 109-10. See also Lhas


SD INDEX Solar System(s) II 148. See also Manvantara, Pralaya

anima mundi of II 672n
becomes ocean at pralaya I 371
birth of I 110-11, 289
central & other suns in I 13; II 240
cosmic evolution refers to II 68 &n
cosmic monads progenitors of II 311
critique of evolution of I 501-2
dhyan-chohans limited to I 13; II 700-1 &n
elements differ in planets of I 142-3
enormous age of, (Laing) II 72
fabricated by Kosmocratores II 23
failures born into new II 232-3n
fire septenary in I 87
formation out of nebular rings I 149-50n
heart, brain, circulations of I 541
Humboldt on other, like ours I 497n
intelligences regulate laws of I 530-1
invisible worlds of I 605-6
is a monad I 21
knowledge of previous I 369
kosmos may refer to our I 199n
lifetime of II 68 &n
many planets in I 654n
matter different outside I 601
nebular theory of I 595-9
other intellectual beings in I 133, 164
pralaya of I 53
rotations, revolutions in I 501
science secure only within I 601
Secret Doctrine deals mostly w our I 60
seven conditions of matter in I 139; II 597n
Sinnett's mistakes re I 163-5
starts as nebula I 22
sukshma form of I 138
Sun-fluids impart motion to I 529
Sun heart of I 540-2
vital principle of I 530-1; II 311n
young, old, dead planets in II 251


SD INDEX Soleil, Le. See Secchi, Father P. A.


SD INDEX Solids, liquids, gases & I 526; II 136-7n

SD INDEX "Solids, Liquids, and Gases." See Williams, M. M.


SD INDEX Soliman's Ring. See also Suliman

brings one to fountain of life II 398


SD INDEX Solinus, Gaius Julius ("Polyhistor"), [Collectanea rerum memorabilium], Hyperboreans sow, reap in one day II 773


SD INDEX Solomon, King. See also Temple of Solomon

biblical, fr Persia II 396n
on circuits of the spirit II 553
did not recognize Moses or Law II 541
left pillar in temple of II 461
never really existed II 314
Seal of I 118; II 591
seventy-two of, (Herbelot) II 396


TG Solomon's Seal. The symbolical double triangle, adopted by the T. S. and by many Theosophists. Why it should be called "Solomon's Seal" is a mystery, unless it came to Europe from Iran, where many stories are told about that mythical personage and the magic seal used by him to catch the djins and imprison them in old bottles. But this seal or double triangle is also called in India the "Sign of Vishnu", and may be seen on the houses in every village as a talisman against evil. The triangle was sacred and used as a religious sign in the far East ages before Pythagoras proclaimed it to be the first of the geometrical figures, as well as the most mysterious. It is found on pyramid and obelisk, and is pregnant with occult meaning, as are, in fact, all triangles. Thus the pentagram is the triple triangle -- the six-pointed being the hexalpha. (See "Pentacle" and "Pentagram".) The way a triangle points determines its meaning. If upwards, it means the male element and divine fire; downwards, the female and the waters of matter; upright, but with a bar across the top, air and astral light; downwards, with a bar -- the earth or gross matter, etc., etc. When a Greek Christian priest in blessing holds his two fingers and thumb together, he simply makes the magic sign -- by the power of the triangle or "trinity".

WG Solomon's Seal, two interlaced triangles, one pointing tip, the other down, one dark and the other light, expressing the union of spirit and matter.


SD INDEX Solon

Atlantis story & II 221, 371, 395, 436, 743 &n, 781, 786
Egyptian dynasties related to I 266
giant intellect II 217
knew power of names II 767
one of Grecian seven sages II 743n


SD INDEX Solstice(s) I 363, 639; II 533, 546, 576. See also Equinox

Northern & Southern in Gita passage I 86
symbols of living verity I 639


SD INDEX Solus (Lat). See also Sun

later became Sol, the Sun II 575


SD INDEX Solvent

hydrogen & occult II 112-13
motion, the alchemical I 258
universal I 260


TG Soma (Sk.). The moon, and also the juice of the plant of that name used in the temples for trance purposes; a sacred beverage. Soma, the moon, is the symbol of the Secret Wisdom. In the Upanishads the word is used to denote gross matter (with an association of moisture) capable of producing life under the action of heat. (See "Soma-drink".)

IU Soma. -- This Hindu sacred beverage answers to the Greek ambrosia or nectar, drunk by the gods of Olympus. A cup of kykeon was also quaffed by the mysta at the Eleusinian initiation. He who drinks it easily reaches Bradhna, or place of splendor (Heaven). The soma-drink known to Europeans is not the genuine beverage, but its substitute; for the initiated priests alone can taste of the real soma; and even kings and raja, when sacrificing, receive the substitute. Haug shows by his own confession, in his Aytareya-Brahmanan, that it was not the Soma that he tasted and found nasty, but the juice from the roots of the Nyagrodha, a plant or bush which grows on the hills of Poona. We were positively informed that the majority of the sacrificial priests of the Dekkan have lost the secret of the true soma. It can be found neither in the ritual books nor through oral information. The true followers of the primitive Vedic religion are very few; these are the alleged descendants from the Rishis, the real Agnihotris, the initiates of the great Mysteries. The soma-drink is also commemorated in the Hindu Pantheon, for it is called the King-Soma. He who drinks of it is made to participate in the heavenly king, because he becomes filled with it, as the Christian apostles and their converts became filled with the Holy Ghost, and purified of their sins. The soma makes a new man of the initiate; he is reborn and transformed, and his spiritual nature overcomes the physical; it gives the divine power of inspiration, and developes the clairvoyant faculty to the utmost. According to the exoteric explanation the soma is a plant, but, at the same time it is an angel. It forcibly connects the inner, highest "spirit" of man, which spirit is an angel like the mystical soma, with his "irrational soul," or astral body, and thus united by the power of the magic drink, they soar together above physical nature, and participate during life in the beatitude and ineffable glories of Heaven.

Thus the Hindu soma is mystically, and in all respects, the same that the Eucharistic supper is to the Christian. The idea is similar. By means of the sacrificial prayers -- the mantras -- this liquor is supposed to be transformed on the spot into real soma -- or the angel, and even into Brahma himself. Some missionaries have expressed themselves very indignantly about this ceremony, the more so, that, generally speaking, the Brahmans use a kind of spirituous liquor as a substitute. But do the Christians believe less fervently in the transubstantiation of the communion-wine into the blood of Christ, because this wine happens to be more or less spirituous? Is not the idea of the symbol attached to it the same? But the missionaries say that this hour of some-drinking is the golden hour of Satan, who lurks at the bottom of the Hindu sacrificial cup. [In their turn, the heathen may well ask the missionaries what sort of a spirit lurks at the bottom of the sacrificial beer-bottle. That evangelical New York journal, the "Independent," says: "A late English traveller found a simple-minded Baptist mission church, in far-off Burmah, using for the communion service, and we doubt not with God's blessing, Bass's pale ale instead of wine." Circumstances alter cases, it seems!]

WG Soma, the moon; a liquid expressed from the moon-plant.

GH Soma Astronomically, the Moon -- an occult mystery, for the moon as a symbol stands for both good and evil. "Soma is the mystery god and presides over the mystic and occult nature in man and the Universe" (Secret Doctrine, II, p. 45). In mystical phraseology Soma is a sacred and mystic beverage which was drunk by Brahmanas and Initiates, during their mysteries and sacrificial rites, producing mystic visions. "The partaker of Soma finds himself both linked to his external body, and yet away from it in his spiritual form. The latter, freed from the former, soars for the time being in the ethereal higher regions, becoming virtually 'as one of the gods,' and yet preserving in his physical brain the memory of what he sees and learns." (Secret Doctrine, II, p. 499). "The Soma-drink known to Europeans is not the genuine beverage, but its substitute; for the initiated priests alone can taste of the real Soma; and even kings and Rajas, when sacrificing, receive the substitute." (Theosophical Glossary, H. P. Blavatsky, p. 304) (Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. 67)

IN Soma (Skt) Hindu male lunar deity; also a "beverage'' from a sacred plant which can induce spiritual vision.

SD INDEX Soma (Skt) Moon. See also Deus Lunus, Moon, Soma Juice

born fr churning of the Ocean I 398
Brihaspati, Tara, Budha & I 228n; II 45 &n, 138, 456, 498-500
as Earth's calf or Moon I 398
embodies Trimurti power I 398
fish, sin, & I 238
fourth race & globe under II 29, 44-5
fruit of Tree of Knowledge II 499n
gandharva force of I 523n
generative, creative god II 466
illegitimate father of Budha I 288n
Indra & his, drinking II 378
King, masculine Moon I 386, 395
lunar god I 392, 396-8; II 23, 29, 139n, 386, 495
makes alliance in solar portion II 496
moon-plant I 210, 523n; II 45n, 101n, 378, 384n, 498-9, 590
occult potency of Moon I 396
our globe under II 29
parent of esoteric wisdom II 500
rays of, mature Marisha II 175
regent of visible Moon II 45
second race & II 175-6
sidereal Don Juan I 228n
Sin &, parents of Earth II 23
sons of, not immortal II 44
War in Heaven story & II 45


GH Somadatta A favorite name in ancient times: many kings bore this appellation. The son of one so named sided with the Kurus. (Meaning of the word itself: gift of Soma. Bhagavad-Gita, W. Q. Judge, p. 3)


TG Soma-drink. Made from a rare mountain plant by initiated Brahmans. This Hindu sacred beverage answers to the Greek ambrosia or nectar, quaffed by the gods of Olympus. A cup of Kykeon was also quaffed by the Mystes at the Eleusinian initiation. He who drinks it easily reaches Bradhna, or the place of splendour (Heaven). The Soma-drink known to Europeans is not the genuine beverage, but its substitute; for the initiated priests alone can taste of the real Soma; and even kings and Rajas, when sacrificing, receive the substitute. Haug, by his own confession, shows in his Aitareya Brahmana, that it was not the Soma that he tasted and found nasty, but the juice from the roots of the Nyagradha, a plant or bush which grows on the hills of Poona. We were positively informed that the majority of the sacrificial priests of the Dekkan have lost the secret of the true Soma. It can be found neither in the ritual books nor through oral information. The true followers of the primitive Vedic religion are very few; these are the alleged descendants of the Rishis, the real Agnihotris, the initiates of the great Mysteries. The Soma-drink is also commemorated in the Hindu Pantheon, for it is called King-Soma. He who drinks thereof is made to participate in the heavenly king; he becomes filled with his essence, as the Christian apostles and their converts were filled with the Holy Ghost, and purified of their sins. The Soma makes a new man of the initiate; he is reborn and transformed, and his spiritual nature overcomes the physical; it bestows the divine power of inspiration, and develops the clairvoyant faculty to the utmost. According to the exoteric explanation the soma is a plant, but at the same time it is an angel. It forcibly connects the inner, highest "spirit" of man, which spirit is an angel like the mystical Soma, with his "irrational soul", or astral body, and thus united by the power of the magic drink, they soar together above physical nature and participate during life in the beatitude and ineffable glories of Heaven.

Thus the Hindu Soma is mystically and in all respects the same that the Eucharist supper is to the Christian. The idea is similar. By means of the sacrificial prayers -- the mantras -- this liquor is supposed to be immediately transformed into the real Soma, or the angel, and even into Brahma himself. Some missionaries have expressed themselves with much indignation about this ceremony, the more so, seeing that the Brahmans generally use a kind of spirituous liquor as a substitute. But do the Christians believe less fervently in the transubstantiation of the communion wine into the blood of Christ, because this wine happens to be more or less spirituous? Is not the idea of the symbol attached to it the same? But the Missionaries say that this hour of soma-drinking is the golden hour of Satan, who lurks at the bottom of the Hindu sacrificial cup. (Isis Unveiled.)

SD INDEX Soma Juice

Akta anointed w II 101n
fr Asclepias acida II 498-9
experiences of drinker of II 499n
of Moon-plant I 210
real, & the reborn initiate II 499
Rig-Veda, Puranas on II 378
sacred II 45n


TG Soma-loka (Sk.). A kind of lunar abode where the god Soma, the regent of the moon, resides. The abode of the Lunar Pitris -- or Pitriloka.

SD INDEX Soma-Loka (Skt) region of the Moon II 44


TG Somapa (Sk.). A class of Lunar Pitris. (See "Trisuparna.")

SD INDEX Somapa Pitris (Skt), worshiped by Trisuparna Brahmans II 590


SD INDEX "Some few whose lamps . . ." See Dryden, J.


SD INDEX "Some Things the Aryans Knew." See Brahmachari Bawa


TG Somnambulism Lit., "sleepwalking", or moving, acting, writing, reading and performing every function of waking consciousness in one's sleep, with utter oblivion of the fact on awakening. This is one of the great psycho-physiological phenomena, the least understood as it is the most puzzling, to which Occultism alone holds the key.

KT Somnambulism. "Sleep walking." A psycho-physiological state, too well known to need explanation.


SD INDEX Somniis, De. See Philo Judaeus


SD INDEX Son

above is kosmos, below is mankind I 60
becomes own father & mother I 398
Father &, equivalents of II 492
Father &, meaning of II 231n
fatherless, & immaculate Mother I 256
Father, Mother, & I 40
Heavenly Man is Logos or II 236n
kosmos is, w Plato I 348
Logos or, various names of II 703-4n
of Mahat II 103
mother's husband I 614
one w the Father II 113
only begotten, is Brahma I 349
right side of triangle I 614
seventh, of a seventh II 213
by whom God made worlds II 703


SD INDEX Sonata of Beethoven, cannot play itself II 348


TG Son-kha-pa (Tib.). Written also Tson-kha-pa. A famous Tibetan reformer of the fourteenth century, who introduced a purified Buddhism into his country. He was a great Adept, who being unable to witness any longer the desecration of Buddhist philosophy by the false priests who made of it a marketable commodity, put a forcible stop thereto by a timely revolution and the exile of 40,000 sham monks and Lamas from the country. He is regarded as an Avatar of Buddha, and is the founder of the Gelukpa ("yellow-cap") Sect, and of the mystic Brotherhood connected with its chiefs. The "tree of the 10,000 images" (khoom-boom) has, it is said, sprung from the long hair of this ascetic, who leaving it behind him disappeared for ever from the view of the profane.

SEE ALSO; TZONGKA-PA


SD INDEX Son of Kriyasakti. See also Sons of Will & Yoga

Mundane Tree compared w I 211


SD INDEX Son of Righteousness I 656


SD INDEX Son of the Morning. See Lucifer


SD INDEX Son(s) of the Serpent, Dragon

hierophants of Egypt & Babylonia II 378-80, 530
sheds old skin, has new body II 380


SD INDEX Son(s) of Wisdom II 52

Atlantean survivors led by II 428
became Sons of Darkness II 272
becoming a, described II 380
Chinese teachers, adepts I 271n
deferred incarnation II 161, 228, 286
dragon mystic name for II 280n
entered those who were ready II 167, 185, 286
failed karmic duty II 185
first mind-born sons II 204
give rise to adepts II 167
incarnated in Aryan ancestors II 318
incarnated in early buddhas II 423
incarnated in Sons of Will II 199
legendary names for II 269-70
manasa or II 171
produced Sons of Ad I 207
seed of iniquity carried by some II 228
serpent of Genesis & II 236
sin of mindless & II 185, 191, 228
some, refuse to create II 191
Sons of Night II 161
warned re forbidden fruit II 267
will enlighten humanity II 167-8


SD INDEX Son of Yered (Jared) or Enoch II 532


SD INDEX Sons of Ad. See also Sons of the Fire Mist

produced by kriyasakti I 207


SD INDEX Sons of Atri, barhishads reborn as II 89


SD INDEX Sons of Brahma I 88-9, 116, 236, 413, 436, 457n, 521, 571; II 44, 78, 82, 89, 91-3, 121, 132, 161, 173, 176 &n, 249, 253, 284, 374, 382n, 548, 613n, 624-5 &n, 775n. See also Asuras, Dhyanis

kumaras or, refused to create I 236
were sons of Vasishtha II 146n


SD INDEX Sons of Cycles, Cyclopes I 208n


SD INDEX Sons of Darkness

asuras called II 487-8
human failures became II 272


SD INDEX Sons of Dark Wisdom

archangels or II 248
Atlantean adept sorcerers II 495
"fallen," pure, divine II 248


SD INDEX Sons of God. See also Asuras, Bnei Elohim, Elohim

Aryan adepts II 495
assist Christian creator I 440
Bamian statues depict II 224
became fallen angels I 412
brahmaputras or I 209
could live in water, fire, air II 220
destroyed sorcerers II 772
as dragons, serpents II 274
fallen angels in Genesis II 61, 229, 284
founded civilizations I 208 &n
four, of Egyptians II 213
hierophants of King's Chamber II 470
history begins w, marrying II 284
immaculate virgin legends fr I 61
initiated Brahmans descend fr I 209
instructed hierophants II 221
lower, had sexual connection II 375
not punished in Genesis II 491
prototype of Enoch's angels I 523n
of Sacred Island II 221, 495
Satan as one of II 378, 489
seventh race will be II 483
Sons of Light are II 489
taught arts, sciences I 208 &n; II 572
Titans progeny of II 501
various, described II 374-6
Vedas on II 605
War of, & Sons of Darkness II 495, 500
Wondrous Being guided I 208


SD INDEX Sons of Jacob

allegory of black & white II 211-12
story of, & fifth race II 428-9


SD INDEX Sons of Joseph, Afghan tribe called II 200n


SD INDEX Sons of Krisasva, gods of legendary weapons II 629


SD INDEX Sons of Kriyasakti I 211


SD INDEX Sons of Light. See also Ahriman, Asuras, Elohim

are Sons of Darkness II 489
battled Sons of Night II 772
described I 481
formless fathers of dhyanis I 572
root of spiritual man I 106
self-generated in infinite ocean I 481
seven, & sacred planets I 575
seven, born fr conscious life I 572
sishtas of seventh root-race II 531
those who conquered joined II 272


SD INDEX Sons of Manasseh, Afghan tribe II 200n


SD INDEX Sons of Marichi, agnishvattas reborn as II 89


SD INDEX Sons of Necessity, universes I 43


SD INDEX Sons of Night II 161, 772


SD INDEX Sons of Passive Yoga

Daksha's will-born progeny II 275
early third root-race I 207; II 165, 275


SD INDEX Sons of Rebellion (Egypt), dragons, serpents were II 386


SD INDEX Sons of the Dragon, hierophants II 379, 380, 530


SD INDEX Sons of the Fire, Fire-Mist I 86-7

Chinese teachers, adepts I 271n
did not fall into sin II 319
first to evolve fr fire I 87
not fiery serpents II 212
Sons of Ad or I 207


SD INDEX Sons of the Flame of Wisdom, saviors, agnishvattas II 411


SD INDEX Sons of the Shadow. See also Black Magic

war w Sons of God II 500


SD INDEX "Sons of the Sorceress" (Isaiah), phallic practices of II 588


SD INDEX Sons of the Sun, war w Sons of Night II 772


SD INDEX Sons of Twilight, pitris II 91, 120-1, 138, 163


SD INDEX Sons of Will & Yoga II 163, 771

adepts &, seventh race II 275
ancestors of arhats, mahatmas II 173
body gnawed at by time I 211
born before separation of sexes II 181
created by kriyasakti II 172, 181, 228
did not fall into sin II 319
divided into sexes I 209
early third root-race II 181
first to have mind II 199
four sacrificed themselves II 281-2 &n
pitar were called II 394n
remained apart fr mankind I 207
remnants of, & inland sea II 220
roots of, & Mundane Tree I 211
seed of future saviors II 173
Sons of Wisdom incarnated in II 199
third race created II 173
warred w Atlanteans II 227n


SD INDEX Sons of Yoga II 109

first race called II 198
forms created by fathers II 115
seven stages of evolution of II 117
zodiacal calculations fr II 436n


TG Sooniam. A magical ceremony for the purpose of removing a sickness from one person to another. Black magic, sorcery.

FY Soonium, a magical ceremony for the purpose of removing a sickness from one person to another.


SOORYA -- SEE SURYA


SD INDEX Sopatros (Sopater of Apamea), unchained the winds I 469


TG Sophia (Gr.). Wisdom. The female Logos of the Gnostics; the Universal Mind; and the female Holy Ghost with others.

SD INDEX Sophia (Gnos) Wisdom

akasa or I 197
Mother, Holy Ghost I 72n, 197, 618; II 512
serpent symbol of II 386
Seven Sons of I 434; II 210n
universal soul or I 353
Venus & II 512, 540


TG Sophia Achamoth (Gr.). The daughter of Sophia. The personified Astral Light, or the lower plane of Ether.

SD INDEX Sophia-Achamoth (Gnos)

Aditi is II 43
daughter of Sophia, wisdom I 197, 449
Divine Mother (King) II 570n
lower astral light or ether I 197
mother of Ialdabaoth (demiurge) I 197 &n, 449; II 243
rescued fr chaos by Christos I 132n
spiritual principle of first couple fr II 215


SD INDEX Sophocles II 674


SD INDEX Sorcerer(s, y). See also Black Magic, Dugpa

African, & Irish stones II 343-4
astrology & II 179
Asuramaya a II 67, 70
Atlantean II 93n, 224, 272n, 286, 371, 762
Atlantean, destroyed II 93-4n, 147, 350, 493, 495, 636, 772
Atlantean, memory of, lingers II 503
Cain, Ham &, (Roman Church) II 391
died after passing the Word I 404
Easter Island statues of II 224
followed beginning of Christianity I xl
giant races of II 285
holy, survived II 350
Institutes of Justinian & I 469
Jews acquainted w I 230
Lords of the Dark Face or II 427
Moon friend of I 156
Mysteries deteriorate into II 281
reverse five-pointed star symbol of I 5
reverse side of Magic II 179
Roman Catholic legends of II 272
serpent or II 26
seventh son of seventh son is II 213
sex during some lunar phases is I 228-9n
Sons of God victorious over II 224n
war betw initiates & I 419; II 384, 492-5


SD INDEX Soret, estimates Sun's heat I 484n


TG Sortes Sanctorum (Lat.). The "holy casting of lots for purposes of divination", practised by the early and mediaeval Christian clergy. St. Augustine, who does not "disapprove of this method of learning futurity, provided it be not used for worldly purposes, practised it himself" (Life of St. Gregory of Tours). If, however, "it is practised by laymen, heretics, or heathen" of any sort, sortes sanctorum become -- if we believe the good and pious fathers -- sortes diabolorum or sortilegium -- sorcery.


TG Sosiosh (Zend). The Mazdean Saviour who, like Vishnu, Maitreya Buddha and others, is expected to appear on a white horse at the end of the cycle to save mankind. (See "Sambhala".)

SD INDEX Soshiosh. See Saoshyant


SD INDEX Sothiac Cycles (Egy), five, observed in Egypt I 435


TG Soul. The psuche, or nephesh of the Bible; the vital principle, or the breath of life, which every animal, down to the infusoria, shares with man. In the translated Bible it stands indifferently for life, blood and soul. "Let us not kill his nephesh", says the original text: "let us not kill him", translate the Christians (Genesis xxxvii. 21), and so on.

IU Soul is the psyche or the nephesh of the Bible; the vital principle, or the breath of life, which every animal, down to the infusoria, shares with man. In the translated Bible it stands indifferently for life, blood, and soul. "Let us not kill his nephesh," says the original text: "let us not kill him;" translate the Christians (Genesis xxxvii., 21), and so on.

VS budding soul (I 5) [[p. 3]] Soul is used here for the Human Ego or Manas, that which is referred to in our Occult Septenary division as the "Human Soul" (Vide the Secret Doctrine) in contradistinction to the Spiritual and Animal Souls.

VS towards the Diamond Soul (II 4) [[p. 26]] "Diamond Soul" "Vajrasattva," a title of the supreme Buddha, the "Lord of all Mysteries," called Vajradhara and Adi-Buddha.

VS Diamond-Soul (III 19) [[p. 60]] Vide Glossary of Part II., Number 4. "Diamond-Soul" or Vajradhara presides over the Dhyani-Buddhas.

VS the Master-Soul is one (III 8) [[p. 50]] The "MASTER-SOUL" is Alaya, the Universal Soul or Atman, each man having a ray of it in him and being supposed to be able to identify himself with and to merge himself into it.

OG Soul -- This word in the ancient wisdom signifies "vehicle," and upadhi -- that vehicle, or any vehicle, in which the monad, in any sphere of manifestation, is working out its destiny. A soul is an entity which is evolved by experiences; it is not a spirit, but it is a vehicle of a spirit -- the monad. It manifests in matter through and by being a substantial portion of the lower essence of the spirit. Touching another plane below it, or it may be above it, the point of union allowing ingress and egress to the consciousness, is a laya-center -- the neutral center, in matter or substance, through which consciousness passes -- and the center of that consciousness is the monad. The soul in contradistinction with the monad is its vehicle for manifestation on any one plane. The spirit or monad manifests in seven vehicles, and each one of these vehicles is a soul. On the higher planes the soul is a vehicle manifesting as a sheaf or pillar of light; similarly with the various egos and their related vehicle-souls on the inferior planes, all growing constantly more dense, as the planes of matter gradually thicken downwards and become more compact, into which the monadic ray penetrates until the final soul, which is the physical body, the general vehicle or bearer or carrier of them all.

Our teachings give to every animate thing a soul -- not a human soul, or a divine soul, or a spiritual soul -- but a soul corresponding to its own type. What it is, what its type is, actually comes from its soul; hence we properly may speak of the different beasts as having one or the other, a "duck soul," an "ostrich soul," a "bull" or a "cow soul," and so forth. The entities lower than man -- in this case the beasts, considered as a kingdom, are differentiated into the different families of animals by the different souls within each. Of course behind the soul from which it springs there are in each individual entity all the other principles that likewise inform man; but all these higher principles are latent in the beast. Speaking generally, however, we may say that the soul is the intermediate part between the spirit which is deathless and immortal on the one hand and, on the other hand, the physical frame, entirely mortal. The soul, therefore, is the intermediate part of the human constitution. It must be carefully noted in this connection that soul as a term employed in the esoteric philosophy, while indeed meaning essentially a "vehicle" or "sheath," this vehicle or sheath is nevertheless an animate or living entity much after the manner that the physical body, while being the sheath or vehicle of the other parts of man's constitution, is nevertheless in itself a discrete, animate, personalized being. (See also Vahana)

WW Soul Soul is the personal center, the conscious, vitalized, personal center in man.

"For of the soule the bodie forme doth take;
"For soule is forme, and doth the bodie make."
-- (Spenser's "Hyme in Honor of Beautie", line 132.)

This is a perfectly correct definition of what 'soul' is in Theosophy. When we come to study Individual and Person, and their derivatives Individuality and Personality, we shall see that the spirit is individual and the soul personal, and that while a man may truly be said to have one soul during one life, yet as his personality -- the working of his person, his personance -- changes almost from year to year, indeed possibly from day to day, so a man may be said to have 'legion' when his soul is spoken of. The soul of 1913 is not the soul of 1914; the soul of childhood is not the soul of youth, or of manhood, or of old age. The soul of youth is not the soul of maturity; but the spirit is the same always. Our souls are then legion; we live in our souls, we are souls. It is our soul in the general sense which incarnates; the spirit cannot, does not incarnate. We incarnate because the working of the soul in the between-life states brings back by attraction the monad to incarnation. The soul is semi-material. Being a creature of semi-matter, its instincts, its desires, its impulses are matterward. Being also a creature of spirit, its instincts, its impulses are spiritward, and we find therefore the dual person, the dual nature of the soul, dragged down to the dust and lifted upward to the spirit -- a mixed being, as we saw when we studied hierarchies, half hero, half beast. Which shall man follow? Shall he follow the beast and go to perdition (perdition, from the word perdere, to lose), and so in the end lose the personal element? Or shall he follow the star, follow the God within, allying himself with that divine thing which is so far above his normal conception that man in ancient days spoke of it as the breath of the Deity? These words "of the Deity" are very beautiful, and when we understand them we see the reverence that is inherent in the ancient thought. Soul, then, is the ordinary personal man, thinking, cogitating, willing, loving, hating, morbid, natural, in fact possessing all the phenomena of human nature as we know it today. This soul changes, grows, becomes less, decreases, according to the line of thought which is followed, according to the choice which is made. It may sink so low that it may actually pass out of the human circle, out of humanity; it can then no longer incarnate in human bodies. What happens to it? It is no longer a human soul. Were it a human soul it could incarnate. It goes into the animals, and we have here the real meaning of the transmigration of souls so-called, based as we saw it in former studies upon a truth. This is not all the truth, but it is an adumbration of what one might say, but it is not in my place to do so. In plain words, the question of the loss of the soul you will find touched upon by H. P. Blavatsky in her esoteric writings, but the Teacher is the only one in power in this case. It is a subject which we must allude to and leave.

Now this loss of the soul, we may truly say, is attended with agony unspeakable. Examine any man in a passion. Let the passion be what you will, a passion of anger, a frenzy of love. He is by so much a maniac, he is by so much insane; he has lost his mind. The better, the nobler, the higher part is gone, according to the ratio of development of the passion. If he follows this passion, he links himself with forces magnetically attracted to him, elementals, creatures of the lower sphere, the underworld, who cling to him. He feeds them, and he also draws nourishment from them, his passion does; they stimulate him; and as in physical things an over-stimulated organ, while it is worn to pieces, nevertheless may grow and become a monster, so some of the most virulent, loathsome diseases of mankind have had their origin in misuse. "Sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny." On the other hand man links himself with the diviner part of his nature, and he raises himself to the gods; he becomes impersonal, charitable, cleanly in life, sweet-tempered, lovable, loving and loved. It is said that the very animals and little children cling to a man like that. Not always is it that animals and little children cling to such a man, because human nature is very complex; but such a man undoubtedly is instinctively trusted by other men, and as he goes higher his brain expands, reverence grows within him, and loyalty and all other beautiful virtues, and step by step his character grows greater, his will becomes stronger, more one-pointed, less split up, the battles grow less, the struggles diminish, peace and calm rest upon his face. Why? Because these are attributes of the god within him, towards which he is raising himself. We all respect a strong man, we all admire a strong and good man, but we all love a man who is not only strong and good but trustworthy. In that one word we can sum up all the attributes of the higher nature, that which is worthy of trust. No man would instinctively trust a strong man, or even a strong and good man (though immediately with a good man trust begins to grow), but when a man is strong and in addition is trustworthy he possesses all those elements which arouse trust. This, I believe, is one of the signs by which we may judge of the spiritual stature of a man.

Now we see, then, that the spirit represents the most lofty, the divine part of our nature. It is called 'breath' because it is so intangible, so subtle, that they of old could only liken it to that which the Deity breathed out, as it were, by an act of the will, the spiritus, the efflux. You will remember the Oriental religions speak of the inbreathing and outbreathing of Brahman. This, applied to man, is the spirit; and the soul is the personal man. The person changes, as I have said.

SD INDEX Soul(s). See also Animal, Human Soul

animates every atom I 51, 567
ascends fr lowest to highest I 17
atom, genius, angel or I 569
blending w spirit II 639n
butterfly symbol of, (Greek) I 74
cell, evolves into human, (Haeckel) II 670
Christian view of I 106, 182-3, 570; II 302-3
cosmic, or astral light II 113
could die while body lives I 234 &n
descends first as astral mold II 728
descent of spirit into I 113n, 226n
distinct fr spirit I 568-9
divine, or buddhi I 216
divine, Prometheus aspires to II 419
divine, remembers all past II 424
divine, symbolized by water, Moon II 113
"Doctrine" of Buddha I xxi
each, born fr boundless light I 577
evolution of, (Stobaeus) II 137-8
faculties fr planets (Plato) II 604
human, & earth, water II 43n
human, symb by wind, air II 113
identity of all, w oversoul I 17
influence on evolution II 728
intracosmic, no beginning or end I 3
is number four II 575
journey of, & moksha I 132
Kantian, & prakriti I 602
latent in monad II 150
Luciferian, Lucianist views on II 239n
mahatma a purified, I 46n
matter, spirit, life, & I 49
mayavic vehicle of, -mind I 624n
monads are atomic I 619, 629
Odin gives man, & life II 97
Paul on man's (Adam's) II 513
physical intellect & I 225
pineal gland seat of, (Descartes) II 298
Plato's definition of II 88
psyche or I 194
purified in Amenti, reborn I 365
scintillas & I 619
separation of, fr body I 234-5 &n
spirit &, or Father & Son II 231n
spiritual, or anima mundi II 573
struggle betw spirit & II 377
thread-, or sutratman I 17n, 610n
-voice II 424
whirling, or atoms I 568
will pass into new bodies II 760
of the World (Plato) I 338, 343

SEE ALSO; SPIRIT, MATTER, MAYA


OG Soulless Beings -- "We elbow soulless men in the streets at every turn," wrote H. P. Blavatsky. This is an actual fact. The statement does not mean that those whom we thus elbow have no soul. The significance is that the spiritual part of these human beings is sleeping, not awake. They are animate humans with an animate working brain-mind, an animal mind, but otherwise "soulless" in the sense that the soul is inactive, sleeping; and this is also just what Pythagoras meant when he spoke of the "living dead." They are everywhere, these people. We elbow them, just as H. P. Blavatsky says, at every turn. The eyes may be physically bright, and filled with the vital physical fire, but they lack soul; they lack tenderness, the fervid yet gentle warmth of the living flame of inspiration within. Sometimes impersonal love will awaken the soul in a man or in a woman; sometimes it will kill it if the love become selfish and gross. The streets are filled with such "soulless" people; but the phrase soulless people does not mean "lost souls." The latter is again something else. The term soulless people therefore is a technical term. It means men and women who are still connected, but usually quite unconsciously, with the monad, the spiritual essence within them, but who are not self-consciously so connected. They live very largely in the brain-mind and in the fields of sensuous consciousness. They turn with pleasure to the frivolities of life. They have the ordinary feelings of honor, etc., because it is conventional and good breeding so to have them; but the deep inner fire of yearning, the living warmth that comes from being more or less at one with the god within, they know not. Hence, they are "soulless," because the soul is not working with fiery energy in and through them.

A lost soul, on the other hand, means an entity who through various rebirths, it may be a dozen, or more or less, has been slowly following the "easy descent to Avernus," and in whom the threads of communication with the spirit within have been snapped one after the other. Vice will do this, continuous vice. Hate snaps these spiritual threads more quickly than anything else perhaps. Selfishness, the parent of hate, is the root of all human evil; and therefore a lost soul is one who is not merely soulless in the ordinary theosophical usage of the word, but is one who has lost the last link, the last delicate thread of consciousness, connecting him with his inner god. He will continue "the easy descent," passing from human birth to an inferior human birth, and then to one still more inferior, until finally the degenerate astral monad -- all that remains of the human being that once was -- may even enter the body of some beast to which it feels attracted (and this is one side of the teaching of transmigration, which has been so badly misunderstood in the Occident); some finally go even to plants perhaps, at the last, and will ultimately vanish. The astral monad will then have faded out. Such lost souls are exceedingly rare, fortunately; but they are not what we call soulless people. If the student will remember the fact that when a human being is filled with the living spiritual and intellectual fiery energies flowing into his brain-mind from his inner god, he is then an insouled being, he will readily understand that when these fiery energies can no longer reach the brain-mind and manifest in a man's life, there is thus produced what is called a soulless being. A good man, honorable, loyal, compassionate, aspiring, gentle, and true-hearted, and a student of wisdom, is an "insouled" man; a buddha is one who is fully, completely insouled; and there are all the intermediate grades between.


SD INDEX Soulless Men I 234-5 &n


SD INDEX Soul of the World. See also World Soul

akasa, divine astral light or I 140
Alaya or I 48, 49
born of purusha & matter I 365, 461
female, or "Great Deep" I 353
primordial substance, chaos, & I 338, 343
various names for I 365


SD INDEX Soul of Things, The. See Denton, Prof & Mrs


VS Nada (I 2), the Soundless Sound [[p. 1]] The "Soundless Voice," or the "Voice of the Silence." Literally perhaps this would read "Voice in the Spiritual Sound," as Nada is the equivalent word in Sanskrit, for the Sensar term.

VS sounds of the Akasic heights (I 35) [[p. 18]] These mystic sounds or the melody heard by the ascetic at the beginning of his cycle of meditation called Anahad-shabd by the Yogis.

SD INDEX Sound(s). See also Communication, Languages, Logos, Voice, Word

akasa & Ether cause of I 296n
akasa & touch, color & I 205, 372
akasa the Mother-Father of II 400n
Anugita on I 534-6
apex of ladder of life I 539
atoms called, in occultism I 633
bell-, in space I 557
bhutadi devours, in pralaya I 372
collective Demiurgos or I 372
commanding forces by, & color I 514n
described, explained I 554-5
disturbs atomic equilibrium I 565
effect of equal, waves meeting II 489
ether produced, [Vishnu Purana] I 587
Fohat & I 139, 145
Gandharva & causes of I 523n
Keely's occult ideas on I 564-5
language of second race II 198
noumenal & phenomenal I 145-6
occult power of I 93-5, 464, 534-7, 555, 564-5
odor &, real substance I 564
opens door betw mortals & immortals I 464
related to elements & senses I 307; II 107
rhythm &, related to elements I 307
Second Logos or II 563
septenary law governs II 613, 622, 627, 628
seven II 613
speech &, ether of space II 107
subjective or sensational I 633
Tyndall has traced physical I 633
ultimate causes of I 514-17
Vach magic potency of I 137
in Vishnu Purana I 521


FY Souramanam, a method of calculating time.


SD INDEX "Source of Heat in the Sun." See Hunt, R.


SD INDEX Source of Measures. See Skinner, J. Ralston


SD INDEX South (direction)

red corn depicts, (Zuni) II 629
Yama guards the I 128


SD INDEX South Africa

arrowheads of Bushman of II 522
mere fragment of Lemuria II 333


SD INDEX Southall, Dr J. P., Epoch of the Mammoth . . ., Paleolithic man came to Europe II 740n


SD INDEX South America(n)

beaches rose 100-1,300 feet II 787n
bird-eating spider of II 440
esoteric schools in I xxiii
fossils linked w Europe, Africa II 791
India &, connected once II 327
man on cross carvings in I 322


SD INDEX Southern Cross

Alpha Draconis of Pyramid I 407
three & four shown in I 321


SD INDEX Southern Fish, & kali-yuga I 663


SD INDEX South Pole

abode of cosmic elementals II 274
fohatic forces, akasa & I 204-5
lethal influences fr II 400n
nether pole, demons, hells II 404, 785
passing of North Pole to II 360
Patala associated w II 357
Pit, Hell or II 274, 357, 785


SD INDEX South Sea Islander(s) II 168, 421n


TG Sowan (Pali). The first of the "four paths" which lead to Nirvana, in Yoga practice.


TG Sowanee (Pali). He who entered upon that "path".

VS Sowanee (III 23) [[p. 65]] Sowanee is one who practices Sowan, the first path in Dhyan, a Srotapatti.


SD INDEX Soyuti, on Seth, Enoch, pyramids II 361-2


SD INDEX Sozura

entirely unknown to science II 669, 745n
Haeckel's mythical amphibian II 652, 656, 745n