Theosophy's Origin of the Universe

[Nick the Pilot]

Hi everybody!

Brian and I thought it would be good to look at the Theosophical verson of how the universe was created.

The story is contained in a poem called The Stanzas of Dzyan.

Link: The Stanzas of Dzyan

The poem is full of confusing symbolism, and is difficutl to read. For example, the first line reads:

"The Eternal Parent wrapped in her ever invisible robes had slumbered once again for seven eternities."

We will be taking a look at the story, a little at a time. The story now starts:

~~~

Total Non-Activity

In the beginning … there was no beginning that we can comprehend. This story deals with an incredibly long period of time. Universes come and go. We can only say this story deals with a period of time with "no conceivable beginning nor imaginable ending"*. Our story deals with the beginning of our universe. It actually begins before that, during the period after the previous universe had ended, and before our present universe had begun.


* The Secret Doctrine, vol 1 p 43

[I, Brian]

Thanks for the thread - much appreciated.

An initial skim looks like it's dealing with a cyclical universe - ie, it comes into being, it goes out of being, it comes into being...

However, is that a reader flaw due to translation? I'm presuming the Stanzas of Dzyan originate in a non-English language? In which case, were they channelled, or do they have a recorded history before the Theosophy Society?

Also, you mentioned something about reading in Constellations in the Genesis account - would it be possible to provide pointers on where this perception originates, please?

[Nick the Pilot]

Brian, you asked,

"...is that a reader flaw due to translation?"

--> No, that is the correct interpretation of the Theosophical version. Although whether it is the same universe each time is a matter of interpretation.

"I'm presuming the Stanzas of Dzyan originate in a non-English language?"

--> They do.

"In which case, were they channelled, or do they have a recorded history before the Theosophy Society?"

--> They were channeled into English. It is said Initiaties have had access to the Stanzas since humanity started, but this is the first time the Stanzas have been made available to everyone. (I must add a caveat: This is the first time parts of the Stanzas have been made available to everyone. The entire poem is still not available.)

"Also, you mentioned something about reading in Constellations in the Genesis account - would it be possible to provide pointers on where this perception originates, please?"

--> "See Genesis ch. ii., v. 19. Adam is formed in verse 7, and in verse 19 it is said: ... for the animals mentioned in chapter i. are the signs of the Zodiac, ..."
Blavatsky.Net
link: Blavatsky Net Foundation

[Nick the Pilot]

Hi everybody!

It must be said that these are only one man's interpretations of the Stanzas. Many parts can be interpreted in different ways. Indeed, many parts have multiple meanings. In the end, each person must interpret the Stanzas in their own way. Happy interpreting!

My subjective interpretation now continues:

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What were the conditions like, before our universe began? It is difficult to describe. Perhaps it is easier to describe what did not exist, rather than to describe what did exist. Time did not exist — at least time as we know it. This brings us to a contradiction; Was the interval between universes measurable? How can such an interval be measured, if time did not exist? Yet, time did not exist.

[Nick the Pilot]

The basic duality of Nature (Spirit and Matter) did not exist. The pilgrimage of consciousness into the physical Universe (culminating in the manifestation of the Earth and humanity) had not yet begun. “Naught was”*.

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* The Secret Doctrine, Shloka i-1-6

[Nick the Pilot]

We can think there was no form of anything existing. But there was — the ONE LIFE. Also called the Absolute, it is said to be, “eternal, invisible, yet Omnipresent, without beginning or end … unconscious, yet absolute Consciousness; unrealizable, yet the one self-existing reality….”*. It is the one constant, unchanging from universe to universe.

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* The Secret Doctrine, vol 1 p 2

[Nick the Pilot]

The Absolute is often referred to as Darkness. This is perhaps the best way describe it — it cannot be described in any other way. It is something totally beyond the understanding of man. It is as if it were behind a dark cloak, impervious to any examination by man. To our finite understanding it “appears quite impenetrable....” *. Everything rested within the Absolute in a state of “Non-being” **.

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* Blavatsky, H. P., The Secret Doctrine, vol 1 p 56

** Blavatsky, H. P., The Secret Doctrine, vol 1 p 2

[Bruce Michael]

Originally Posted by I, Brian

Thanks for the thread - much appreciated.

An initial skim looks like it's dealing with a cyclical universe - ie, it comes into being, it goes out of being, it comes into being...

However, is that a reader flaw due to translation? I'm presuming the Stanzas of Dzyan originate in a non-English language? In which case, were they channelled, or do they have a recorded history before the Theosophy Society?

Also, you mentioned something about reading in Constellations in the Genesis account - would it be possible to provide pointers on where this perception originates, please?

Hi Brian,
The language of the Stanzas is Senzar. HPB says she is actually holding the book. She could read books in the "Astral Light"- which means they were back to front..

The Stanzas do describe an outbreathing and an inbreathing. They are largely incomprehensible without the commentary (and even then).

I find in Steiner's Occult Science an Outline, a clearer picture.

Best Regards,
Br.Bruce

[Bruce Michael]

For more:
"Book of Dzyan Research Reports" by David Reigle

The Book of Dzyan Research Reports

by David Reigle

[Nick the Pilot]

-- Un-awakened Matter --

It is important to note the state of “matter” during this time. There is a form of matter called “pre-cosmic pre-matter” that “existed” even during this period of “non-existence”. Imagine, if you will, a speck of today’s ordinary dirt. Many years ago, science started telling us dirt is composed of atoms — objects too small for the human eye to see. We could not imagine objects smaller than atoms. However, we then learned that atoms have sub-particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons. We then believed these to be the smallest particles possible. However, we then learned that there are sub-particles called quarks, etc., that are even smaller. We then believed these to be the smallest particles possible. On the contrary, science is now telling us of even smaller particles called strings, which are part of a new sub-atomic theory called String Theory. (We can only wonder what science will tell us “strings” are composed of, but that is still a long way off in the future.)

Consider then, if we were to divide atoms into their sub-particles, then into smaller sub-particles, again and again, we would eventually come to a substance that cannot be divided anymore. This is the basic substance that “existed” even during the rest-period between universes. (This substance is also called “virgin matter”, from which we get the name “Virgin Mary”.) Let’s call it “pre-matter”. Pre-matter rested during the period of Non-Being between universes, along with everything else.

[Nick the Pilot]

One more aspect of our present physical universe needs to be considered — spirit. Was there spirit during the pre-universe period of Non-Being? Yes and no. Spirit and matter had not yet begun to exist. They were merely two opposites of the same principle, two opposites which had had not differentiated yet from their common source — pre-matter.

[Nick the Pilot]

Spirit and matter were ready to appear. Pre-matter had not yet awakened to activity, in a process that can only be described as “expanding from within without”*. Time was in the midnight of non-existence.

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* Blavatsky, H. P., The Secret Doctrine, vol 1 p 4

[Nick the Pilot]

-- A New Universe Begins --

Pre-Matter has often been described by the metaphor Water. Darkness moved over the pre-universal Waters, thrilling the Waters to activity.

“And Darkness was upon the face of the Deep” (Genesis 1:2).

Thus energized, pre-matter was ready to produce spirit and matter.

[Nick the Pilot]

Pre-Matter “thrilled into activity”*. It “swelled, expanding from within without, like the bud of the lotus”**. This means that pre-matter (Father-Mother) differentiated into Father and Mother. Reality had changed into a Duality. Spirit and Matter had now appeared. Time had now reached the sunrise of another spiritual Day.

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* Blavatsky, H. P., The Secret Doctrine, Shloka i-3-1
** Blavatsky, H. P., The Secret Doctrine, Shloka i-3-1

[Nick the Pilot]

There is another way to look at it. Spirit came forth from out of the Darkness. A single ray of Light shot forth. Everything was now concentrated on the Light that had appeared — Darkness now disappeared into the background. The Ray dropped into the Waters. The one Ray became many rays.


Behold the appearance of “the radiant child of the two, the unparalleled refulgent glory: bright space son of dark space”* which emerged from the depths of the great dark waters. The brightness of the Son, the Child shone forth.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given....” (Isaiah 9:6)

For unto us an entire universe was born. It is important to make two observations.

1. The universe emanated from virgin matter. From this we get the saying, “Christ was born from the Virgin Mary.”

2. There have been other universes: the Son has had many siblings.

We had now reached the full brightness of a noon of the spiritual Day.

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* Blavatsky, H. P., The Secret Doctrine, Shloka i-3-7