HPB’s Diagram of Meditation

by Pablo and Michele

Meditation on Unity

Theosophical Context

Dual Nature of ManUniversal Brotherhood

Inner Revolution vs Social RevolutionUltimate Goal in Theosophy - Occult Path to

DiscipleshipDaily Study, Meditation, Service

It is not the policy of self-preservation, not the welfare of one or another personality in its finite and physical form that will or can ever secure the desired object and screen the Society from the effects of the social “hurricane” to come; but only the weakening of the feeling of separateness in the units which compose its chief element. And such a weakening can only be achieved by a process of inner enlightenment. It is not violence that can ever insure bread and comfort for all; nor is the kingdom of peace and love, of mutual help and charity and “food for all,” to be conquered by a cold, reasoning, diplomatic policy. It is only by the close brotherly union of men’s inner SELVES, of soul-solidarity, of the growth and development of that feeling which makes one suffer when one thinks of the suffering of others, that the reign of Justice and equality for all can ever be inaugurated. This is the first of the three fundamental objects for which the Theosophical Society was established, and called the “Universal Brotherhood of Man,” without distinction of race, colour or creed.

(Blavatsky, Collected Writing 10, 74-75)

Why should we practice this, why should we study theosophy, why should we be on a spiritual path?

Diagram of Meditation - Goal

The name is a misnomer. This is not just a diagram of meditation—it is more of a whole yoga, a spiritual path. It involves not only sitting meditation but also the development of a very specific attitude for our daily life. The sitting meditation is a small part – it is the beginning and, of course, the foundation for what is to come. But the body of this diagram is focused on daily life, on how we should live our life so that we can see the truth.

The whole purpose of the diagram is to shift our perception from the idea that we are this separate, limited entity to the idea that we are the whole. We are the totality, experiencing life and the universe through different forms, through different vehicles that are each one of us. Each of us is the one self experiencing the universe from different points of view.

General Structure

Sitting Meditation Meditation on Unity On States of Consciousness

Daily Life Acquisitions Deprivations

Sitting Meditation

… it has much deeper aspects. Its greatest potential benefit lies in the fact that it offers the possibility of access to dimensions of consciousness which lie beyond the personal self.

Meditation may be said to have a twofold purpose. It is a way of relating to the deeper aspects of one’s own nature, but it is not only that. It is also a way of relating oneself to a much greater reality which we can think of under different guises: as the unity underlying nature, or the spiritual dimension, or God ….

Dora van Gelder Kunz

First conceive of UNITY by Expansion in space and infinite in

Time.(Either with or without self-identification).

Meditation on Unity

In All Space …

1. Let us lift ourselves in thought above our house and gaze down on all in it, pouring down on all our love and charity. There must be no ill feelings to anyone. . . .

2. Get well up above the town and look down on it. Let our love pour down, especially on the ignorant and unhappy. . . .

3. All the country is below us now. . . Pour love on all our countrymen. Do not forget the animals . . . the trees and the beautiful flowers. Let us pour down love on all.

4. Now the whole world lies below us. . . . Let us love [all humanity]. May the Divine Love inspire them all, purify them all.

5. Look around and cast our thoughts down no more. See those other worlds, planets, stars, clusters, nebulae. . . .

6. Now look into the worlds invisible. Pierce the light. Let us lift our eyes to the Perfect Ones, and adore Them. . . . Let us think of our brothers who have passed into the worlds invisible and surround them with all our love. Let us think too of the angels, the shining ones, and give them joyous greeting.

7. Eternal Love Himself. (Clara Codd, Meditation, Its Practice and Results)

And Time …

Then meditate logically and consistently on this

[UNITY] in reference to states of consciousness.

States of Consciousness

The three states of consciousness . . . are Jagrat, the waking; Swapna, the dreaming; and Sushupti, the deep sleeping state. These three Yogi conditions, lead to the fourth, or . . . the Turiya, that beyond the dreamless state, the one above all, a state of high spiritual consciousness.

(Blavatsky, The Voice of the Silence Fr. 1)

State of Consciousnes

sPrinciples Awareness

Jagrat(waking state)

Physical Body Aware of external objects

Linga -Sharira

Prana

Svapna(dreaming state)

Kama - Manas Aware of internal objects

Sushupti(deep sleep state)

Buddhi - Manas Aware ofno objects

Turiya(beyond)

Atma Aware beyond the three

Transcend and Integrate

How to meditate on these states of consciousness

The four states of consciousness repeat in each state. We need to generate self-awareness on each state. Thus, let us take jagrat, the waking state.

 Jagrat of jagrat: Many people are not really awake (that is, self-aware) in the waking state. First stage in

practice: Pay attention to what you are doing on the physical plane, to what is going on, instead of just reacting mechanically.

 Svapna of jagrat: To be self-aware in this state we need to start paying attention to the workings of our

minds and consciousness during our daily living. Sushupti of jagrat: To be self-aware in this state means that we are able to remain aware in a state of

silence, when there are no thoughts in consciousness. Generally speaking, all these states alternate. The person may be aware of what he is doing when

acting, but not so aware of the mental processes, or vice versa. Then, he can be aware of the silent state of just being, but only when he is not engaged in external or psychological activities. But there is another possible state:

 Turiya of jagrat: When this state is attained, the person can integrate the three states and remain

aware on the three levels as they come and go. He is established beyond the fluctuation of the three states. This state opens the door to awareness on a higher plane.

Acquisition is complete with the conception

“I am all space and time”. Beyond that …… (it cannot be said).

Complete the AcquisitionsYou can think your way up to the threshold of unity, but you cannot cross it by thought alone. “To get behind consciousness with consciousness is impossible.” You need a higher organ, another instrument of consciousness. Before the centre of awareness and observation in man can reach this condition where unity is obvious, and see the uniting principle, three mental procedures are necessary:

a) Think your way towards the principle of Oneness as far as you possibly can.

b) Then still the mind so that it does not interfere, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 40:10). “Let us be silent that we may hear the whisper of the Gods (Emerson).

c) Focus the centre of awareness above the mind, above division into unity, affirming unity with God and the becoming mentally still. Do the last two in imagination until, by practice, it becomes possible to transfer the centre of consciousness from the form to the formless level, from the phenomenal to the noumenal Universe, from effects to causes.

(Geoffrey Hodson, Basic Theosophy, 352)

“Deprivation” is completed by the meditation:

“ I am without attributes”.

Complete the Deprivations

All you can tell about the person is not the self, and you can tell nothing about the self . . . All attributes are personal. The real is beyond all attributes. (Nisargadatta Maharaj, I Am That, 528) Once you have understood that you are nothing perceivable or conceivable, that whatever appears in the field of consciousness cannot be your self, you will apply yourself to the eradication of all self-identification, as the only way that can take you to a deeper realization of your self. You literally progress by rejection. (Nisargadatta Maharaj, IAT, 518)

Complete the Deprivations

The plane of atma is . . . the region of being, where all is reality, where true consciousness resides. We are to seek this way by study of our inmost being. . . . We begin to search for it by trying to realize its existence. . . . You can only do so by a series of negatives. You think: "Is it phenomenal? It is not so. Is it intellectual? It is not so." You seek it by eliminating what it is not. You then say: "It is not a thing that the senses can perceive; it is not what the intelligence can imagine; it is not found even by the illuminated intelligence, with its vast extent," and so on.

(Annie Besant, Talks on the Path of Occultism, Vol. 3)

Complete the Deprivations

And so you shut out part after part, until perchance nothing seems left, for you find that all is changing, and you seek the real and the Changeless. But in that emptiness that you have made, in that void whence  the unreal has disappeared . . . there arises upon you the higher consciousness, the death less, the unchanging, the eternal. (Annie Besant, Initiation - The Perfecting of

Man)

Proposed Steps

1- Conceive of Unity.

2- Meditate on the states of consciousness.

3- Meditate on “I am without attributes”.

4- Go beyond and remain in silence.

HPB’s Diagram of Meditation

Thank you

Student––Is there not some attitude of mind which one should in truth assume in order to understand the occult in Nature?

Sage—Such attitude of mind must be attained as will enable one to look into the realities of things. The mind must escape from the mere formalities and conventions of life, even though outwardly one seems to obey all of them, and should be firmly established on the truth that Man is a copy of the Universe and has in himself a portion of the Supreme Being. To the extent this is realized will be the clearness of perception of truth. A realization of this leads inevitably to the conclusion that all other men and beings are united with us, and this removes the egotism which is the result of the notion of separateness. When the truth of Unity is understood, then distinctions due to comparisons made like the Pharisee’s, that one is better than his neighbor, disappear from the mind, leaving it more pure and free to act. (CW 9, 400-J)