Diagramming the Planes-of-Existence

As stated in the Autobiography of a Yogi (cap. 43), the causal plane is attained by co-ordinating understanding of the two praevious planes : material and astral. However, the causal cannot be simply diagrammed as if located in the middle of a line-segment connecting the material and astral; for it is counterposed to (according to the literature of the Theosophical Society) yet three logoic planes – counterposed in the significant sense that whereas the causal (like the astral) must lead back to redincarnation in the material plane, the three logoic planes are in themselves free of the karmic attraction to redincarnation in the material body.

[A diagram can be constructed, repraesented [condensedly] the various planes-of-existence as dots (points) on that diagram. The diagram would serve better to repraesent the relationships amongst the various planes-of-existence if in the form of a two-dimensional figure than if in the Theosophical Society (and others’) form of a one-dimensional figure (line-segment).] The three logoic planes-of-existence ought to be depicted as on a [single] higher horizontal level than [higher because liberated from] the material (and astral); and because those three planes are counterposed to the causal, therefore the causal ought to be depicted [opposite the level of the three] on a lower level than the material (and astral). Thus, with the material depicted at the origin of the co-ordinate system, the astral ought to be on the same level s the material, but forward of it; whereas the causal ought to be at the vertex of a vertical downward-pointed triangle [which is facing left-and-right]. So, with the three logoic plane-of-existence diagrammed as on a forward-ranging line-segment [having its central dot (point) directly over (and two levels above) the dot repraesenting the causal plane; so that the whole would assume the form of a downward-pointed tetraktys.

As for the remaining two [subsidiary] planes-of-existence (namely, the mental plane and the aitheric plane), they might also be depicted as dots on the outline of the tetraktys : the mental plane [= Hiran.ya-loka of the Autobiography of a Yogi] 1/3 of the way down (and 1/3 of the way backward) from the dot repraesenting the astral plane, along the line-segment from the astral plane to the causal plane; and the aitheric plane 1/3 of the way up (and 1/3 of the way backward – above and behind one’s location) from the dot repraesenting the material plane, along the line-segment from the material plane to the central dot of the three dots repraesent the other set of three planes. A distance of merely 1/3 (instead of ½) would be praeferable on account of the affirmed close relationship of those two subsidiary planes to the plane which they are thus diagrammed as closest to. (The ordinary aitheric body is said to be very closely connected with the material body; and the mental body is said to be an alternate of the astral-body. As a resemblance, the causal body is said (in e.g. the Autobiography of a Yogi) to be a single point in space; whereas the mental body is said to be a collection of points in space.)

[written Mon Oct 3, 2011]

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Of the three logoic planes, atmik (nirvan.ik) plane, because it is said (Treatise on Cosmic Fire - Section One - Division C – "The Etheric Body and Prana") to be related to the aitheric, ought to be repraesented by a dot in the direction of the dot for the aitheric plane – further above and further behind one’s location. Adi plane, because "it is symbolized by points" (Causal Body and the Ego, p. 4), ought to be repraesented by a dot in the direction from the dot for causal body, of the dot for the mental body – above and forward of the dot for the astral body. Then, dot for the remaining logoic plane, namely the an-upadaka, ought to be in the centre (directly above the dot for the causal plane) of the of the upper horizontal line-segment.

[written Tue Oct 4, 2011]

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