Author: A P SinnettPublisher: Theosophical PublishingYear: 2008Language: EnglishPages: 216ISBN/UPC (if available): 8170595436 DescriptionThis book was published in 1883 and probably constituted the earliest. ‘Karma’ and ‘Reincarnation’ and other such terms, almost unknown in the West, thereafter came to be used in literary and theological circles. The book gives occult details concerning the Universe and its planets, going beyond the material world.Along with The occult World, which preceded, and The Growth of the Soul, which followed it, the present book is a study as envisaged in the Third object of the Theosophical Society, ‘To investigate unexplained laws of Nature and the powers latent in man’.ContentsPreface to the Annotated EditionPreface to the Original Edition CHAPTER I - Esoteric Teachers Nature of the Present Exposition - Seclusion of Eastern Knowledge - The Arhats and their Attributes - The Mahatmas - Occultists generally - Isolated Mystics - Inferior Yogis - Occult Training - The Great Purpose -Its Incidental Consequences - Present ConcessionsCHAPTER II - The Constitution of ManEsoteric Cosmogony - Where to Begin - Working back from Man to Universe - Analysis of Man - The Seven PrinciplesCHAPTER III -The Planetary ChainEsoteric Views of Evolution - The Chain of Globes - Progress of Man round them - The Spiral Advance - Original Evolution of the Globes - The Lower KingdomsCHAPTER IV -The World PeriodsUniformity of Nature- Rounds and Races - The Septenary Law - Objective and Subjective Lives - Total Incarnations - Former Races on Earth - Periodic Cataclysms - Atlantis - Lemuria - The Cyclic LawCHAPTER V - DevachanSpiritual Destinies of the Ego - Karma - Division of the Principles of Death - Progress of the Higher Duad - Existence in Devachan - Subjective Progress - Avitchi - Earthly Connection with Devachan - Devachanic PeriodsCHAPTER VI - Kama LocaThe Astral Shell - Its Habitat - Its Nature - Surviving Impulses - Elementals - Mediums and Shells - Accidents and Suicides - Lost PersonalitiesCHAPTER VII - The Human Tide-WaveProgress of the Main Wave - Obscurations - Twilight and Dawn of Evolution - Our Neighbouring Planets - Gradations of Spirituality - Prematurely Developed Egos - Intervals of Re-IncarnationCHAPTER VIII - The Progress of HumanityThe Choice of Good or Evil - The Second Half of Evolution - The Decisive Turning-point - Spirituality and Intellect - The Survival of the Fittest - The Sixth Sense - Development of the Principles in their Order - The Subsidence of the Unfit - Provision for All - The Exceptional Cases - Their Scientific Explanation - Justice Satisfied - The Destiny of Failures - Human Evolution ReviewedCHAPTER IX -BuddhaThe Esoteric Buddha - Re-Incarnations of Adepts - Buddha’s Incarnation - The Seven Buddhas of the Great Races - Avalokiteshwara - Addi Buddha - Adeptship in Buddha’s Time - Sankaracharya - Vedantin Doctrines - Tsong-ka-pa - Occult Reforms in TibetCHAPTER X - NirvanaIts Remoteness - Preceding Gradations - Partial Nirvana - The Threshold of Nirvana - Nirvana - Para Nirvana - Buddha and Nirvana - Nirvana attained by Adepts - General Progress towards Nirvana - Conditions of its Attainment - Spirituality and Religion - The Pursuit of TruthCHAPTER XI - The UniverseThe Days and Night of Brahma - The Various Manvantaras and Pralayas - The Solar System - The Universal Pralaya - Recommencement of Evolution - “Creation” - The Great First Cause - The Eternal Cyclic ProcessCHAPTER XII - The Doctrine Reviewed
