Theosophy and the Number
Seven
A selection of articles
relating to the esoteric
significance
of the Number 7 in Theosophy
On The Septenary
Constitution
of
Our Planet
An Extract from The Key To Theosophy
By
H P Blavatsky
Q. I understand that you describe our earth as forming part of a
chain of
earths?
A. We do. But the other six "earths" or globes, are not on the same plane of
objectivity as our
earth is; therefore we cannot see them.
Q. Is that on account of the great distance?
A. Not at all, for we see with our naked eye planets and even
stars at
immeasurably greater
distances; but it is owing to those six globes being
outside our
physical means of perception, or plane of being. It is not only that
their material
density, weight, or fabric are entirely different from those of
our earth and
the other known planets; but they are (to us) on an entirely
different layer of
space, so to speak; a layer not to be perceived or felt by
our physical
senses. And when I say "layer," please do not allow your fancy to
suggest to you
layers like strata or beds laid one over the other, for this
would only lead
to another absurd misconception. What I mean by "layer" is that plane
of infinite space which by its nature cannot fall under our ordinary
waking
perceptions, whether mental or physical; but which exists in nature
outside of our
normal mentality or consciousness, outside of our
three-dimensional space,
and outside of our division of time. Each of the seven
fundamental planes
(or layers) in space-of course as a whole, as the pure space
of Locke's
definition, not as our finite space-has its own objectivity and
subjectivity, its own
space and time, its own consciousness and set of senses.
But all this will be hardly comprehensible to one trained in the
modern ways of
thought.
Q. What do you mean by a different set of senses? Is there anything
on our human plane that you could bring as an illustration of what you say,
just to give a
clearer idea of
what you may mean by this variety of senses, spaces, and
respective
perceptions?
A. None; except, perhaps, that which for Science would be rather
a handy peg on which to hang a counter argument. We have a different set of
senses in
dreamlife, have we
not? We feel, talk, hear, see, taste and function in general
on a
different plane; the change of state of our consciousness being evidenced
by the fact
that a series of acts and events embracing years, as we think, pass
ideally through
our mind in one instant. Well, that extreme rapidity of our
mental
operations in dreams, and the perfect naturalness, for the time being, of
all the other
functions, show us that we are on quite another plane. Our
philosophy teaches
us that, as there are seven fundamental forces in nature, and
seven planes of
being, so there are seven states of consciousness in which man
can live,
think, remember and have his being. To enumerate these here is
impossible, and for
this one has to turn to the study of Eastern metaphysics.
But in these two states-the waking and the dreaming-every
ordinary mortal, from
a learned
philosopher down to a poor untutored savage, has a good proof that
such states
differ.
Q. You do not accept, then, the well-known explanations of
biology and
physiology to
account for the dream state?
A. We do not. We reject even the hypotheses of your
psychologists, preferring
the teachings
of Eastern Wisdom. Believing in seven planes of Kosmic
being and states of Consciousness, with regard to the Universe or the
Macrocosm, we stop at the fourth plane, finding it impossible to go with any
degree of certainty
beyond. But with
respect to the Microcosm, or man, we speculate freely on his
seven states
and principles.
Q. How do you explain these?
A. We find, first of all, two distinct beings in man; the
spiritual and the
physical, the man
who thinks, and the man who records as much of these thoughts as he is able to
assimilate. Therefore we divide him into two distinct natures; the upper or the
spiritual being, composed of three principles or aspects; and the lower or the
physical quaternary, composed of four-in all seven.
Theosophical Society, Cardiff Lodge,
Cardiff Lodge’s Instant Guide to Theosophy
Cardiff Lodge’s Gallery of Great Theosophists