CHAPTER VI

THE CONSTITUTION OF MAN
TO pave the way for an examination into which we must shortly enter concerning the actual conditions of those realms through which the soul must pass in the course of its progress from physical death to rebirth, it will be desirable to pause for a moment in order to get a clearer view of the complex constitution of man. This constitution includes within itself vehicles adapted to the expression of consciousness on every plane of Nature besides that with which, for the moment, we are chiefly concerned, and no adequate comprehension of the process through which the evolution of the central individual consciousness is accomplished, can be attained by any thinker who fails to grasp the true character of the various vehicles in which that consciousness may at different times be manifest. On the plane of physical incarnation the vehicles are all involved one within the other, and in higher realms of Nature, we are, from one point of view, simpler beings than on this level. But confining our view for the moment to the physical plane, a series of vehicles of consciousness available for use on higher planes, are, during the wakeful state of the physical entity, involved one within the other.
At an early stage of theosophical research, when definite teaching from higher levels related mainly to very broad ideas which had first to be conveyed, I was led to describe these various vehicles as " the seven principles of man." That phrase crept into general use and reappears in many of the earlier theosophical books. I should never have used the word " principles " had I, in the beginning, quite understood the analysis I was endeavouring to work out.
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The vague expression was adopted in the first instance because some of what were then regarded as the con- stituent elements of the human being, were rather in the nature of force than of materiality, however refined. Then, again, it was connected with the belief that the number seven was in some mysterious way the key number of all natural activities connected with this world. It seemed necessary to think that there must be a septenary constitution of man discernible if we could understand it correctly. And, indeed, that last idea was well founded; but we failed at first to realise that the seven should in this case relate definitely to seven varied vehicles of con- sciousness, each invested with spiritual attributes whicii might properly be described as principles. Thus in the early presentation of the seven principles, Jiva, the life force emanating from the Sun, used to be ranked as one. This mistake spoiled the scientific harmony of the arrange- ment and further confusion arose from early mistakes which identified the astral and manasic vehicles as separate souls spoken of as the animal, the human, and the divine souls. This involved a comfortless conception of the human being as a sort of bundle of entities instead of being a definite unity, and gave rise, amongst other consequences, to a great deal of sarcastic treatment devoted by outsiders to the criticism of theosophical teaching in the beginning. Now we are clear of all these embarrassments. There is a possible septenary view of the human constitution, and it relates entirely to the various vehicles of conscious- ness which on different planes of nature it is possible for the Ego to make use of. They may be set forth in this order : —
The Physical Body.
The Etheric Double.
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The Astral Body.
The Lower Manasic Vehicle.
The Higher Manasic Vehicle.
The Buddhic Vehicle.
The Atmic Vehicle.
Now that classification only applies in reality to the perfected human being. It is simply a mis-comprehension of the whole subject to regard the ordinary human being around us at this period of evolution in numerous millions, as endowed with seven vehicles of consciousness. An average human being even of the modern civilised cultured races, cannot be said to have evolved any vehicles of con- sciousness higher than that of the lower manasic condition. The savage races cannot be regarded as having evolved anything beyond a half-grown astral body. But in some mysterious fashion there must in all cases be something within the human Ego representing the invisible germ of higher things, just as the potentialities of the tree reside in the acorn or of the highly organised chicken within the egg. But no thoughts working in a physical plane can even approximately forecast the aspect of those higher vehicles of consciousness which will eventually become available for use by the Ego, when, in the ordinary course of things, innumerable ages hence, it will have evolved the need of activity on those higher planes.
Treating the seven constituents of the human being as in all cases vehicles of consciousness, some embarrassment may arise from the fact that our etheric doubles can hardly, as a rule, be thought of as vehicles of conscious- ness at all. Etheric matter is of an order too refined and subtle to affect the senses directly or even to be cognised by the most delicate instruments of physical research that
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we can make use of. But nevertheless, from the point of view of occult science, the ether belongs to the plane of physical manifestation. And just because it is, so to speak, on the outskirts of this manifestation, it becomes an intermediary between the higher forces of nature and results worked out on the physical plane. To the eye of the qualified clairvoyant the etheric double permeating the whole physical body is a replica of that in regard to form with a nerve system of its own through which the life forces originally emanating from the Sun circulate in much the same way that blood circulates in the physical body. It may be thought of from one point of view as nature's preliminary sketch of the physical body that is coming into manifestation. The idea is almost too intri- cate for explanation in language, and it would be a mistake to imagine that Nature first of all constructs a complete etheric plan of what the future body of a newly born child is going to be when it grows up. And yet on some higher plane of thought that design has been created and is gradu- ally realised in etheric matter as the child grows, becom- ing the means by which the physical molecules are arranged within the body as it gradually advances towards maturity. In this way, it has been correctly stated that the first seven years of a child's life are spent quite uncon- sciously to the Ego under the guidance of natural forces, in the absorption of etheric matter. Only in normal cases, when the child is seven years old, can it be thought of as actually having an etheric double. And yet you have also to think of that etheric double as gradually growing into the form represented by the original thought of the creative agents in the beginning.
In the mature man it seems hardly true to say that the etheric double, even when complete, is a vehicle of con-
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sciousness, for during normal life it rarely has to play this part. It never leaves the physical body, or never com- pletely, until death. The astral vehicle may, and does, emerge from the body quite freely every night in sleep, hut it does not draw out the etheric double with it until the period of that change commonly called death. On the other hand, though I cannot stop here to elaborate this statement more fully, there is a definite etheric plane of consciousness with which ordinary humanity has little or nothing to do, intervening between the physical and the astral worlds. On that plane it is possible for an etheric body to carry the complete consciousness of the Ego, plus the involvement of the higher vehicles. So there is no impropriety in classing the etheric double with the septenary series of human vehicles of consciousness.
Coming now to the astral, we are concerned with that which, at our present state of evolution, is for most of us, perhaps, the most important vehicle of the whole series. Again, — as is the case with almost any sweeping statement one can make in attempting to follow the intricate work- ing of natural law, — the statement just made is not quite theoretically true because, however apparently grovelling and ignoble, the physical plane of life i§ that from which all important spiritual achievements must be inaugurated. But dealing with the man of fairly advanced culture (and let me here interpolate the remark that, of course, one uses the term " man " for simplicity as covering both the varieties of sex in which human Egos are embodied in physical life), — the man of fairly advanced intelligence and spiritual growth has grown an astral body capable, when out of the physical body, of becoming an efficient vehicle of consciousness. That would not be true of less
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developed entities amongst whom the astral body, when detached from the physical in sleep, is itself hardly more awake than the form it has left in a temporary trance. To assume a fair development of progress, the astral of such an entity, once free of the body, is free, also, of all the limitations he is used to in the denser vehicle. He can instantaneously visit regions of the earth where the ties of affection or even of intellectual interest may draw him, and beyond this become cognisant to some extent of the infinite variety and incidents attaching to consciousness in the astral world. Where still further progress has been accomplished, — where an entity is in definite relation with the divine hierarchy presiding over the government of the world, and of all the planes of Nature surrounding it, — he may be able in the astral body to do much more than merely cognise distant scenes or friends. He may be able, under superior direction, to do actually useful work in connection with what may vaguely be described as the Divine purpose. But that possibility may be dealt with more definitely at a later stage of this dissertation.
The manasic vehicles have to do with lofty conditions of consciousness not readily touched by any of the human family still belonging to what may be called the average multitude. And in a still higher degree that remark applies to our ultimate potentialities as regards the still loftier planes of consciousness described in terms of Eastern origin as Buddhic and Atmic. Occult teaching being in no way limited to the eastern world is sometimes hampered at present by the want of terms in European languages appro- priate to ideas with which European metaphysicians have not so far concerned themselves. But just as words of Greek etymology became definitely Anglicised by use, so I think a few of the expressions we have to borrow still
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from Sanscrit, may pass into the English language and be recognised as English words with a definite meaning.
This comprehensive survey of the septenary consti- tuents of manifest humanity would be incomplete without some interpretation of what is generally called the Human Aura. To clairvoyants a complete human being of a fairly advance^! type is always surrounded by a more or less luminous cloud, highly variegated in colour, undergoing constant changes, full of significance for those who under- stand its cryptograph and replete with information con- cerning the mental and emotional condition of the person under observation. The whole phenomenon is intricate because blended together in the case of a fairly advanced Ego there are auras of different vehicles, those of the higher constituents being indeed only within the cognis- ance of clairvoyants of a very high order. The subject has been very fully treated in books devoted to it exclu- sively, and can only here be noticed in passing. But at all events, that which is generally seen by clairvoyants who can see auras at all is the aura of the astral body, and some- times this appears to be the external portion of the astral vehicle, itself much larger than the physical body to which it is attached. But without presuming to be dogmatic in this matter — for like many of the even apparently simple phenomena of nature, there are mysteries it is difficult to understand involved in the subject we are dealing with — I am inclined to think that however large the astral body may be in the case of well-developed people, it also has an aura which is not part of itself, but an emanation of some kind, the occult chemistry of which, so to speak, it is very difficult to follow. But, however this may be, within the astral aura or circumambient portions of the astral body lying beyond the physical, there is a definite physical
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aura that we can more easily understand. That is dis- tinctly visible to qualified clairvoyant observation and is fairly comprehensible. It consists, closely examined, of myriads of minute lines apparently radiating from the surface of the body in all directions, only to the distance of an inch or two, if so much, and these lines give a definite clue to the comprehension of the health conditions prevailing in the body from which they emanate. If all goes well, they all stand out at right angles from the part of the body from which they proceed, and seem, if the phrase may be used, stiff and free from mutual entangle- ment. In a weakened or diseased body they droop and become entangled. Now the scientific meaning of this is clear. Those minute and radial points, minute as they are, are really tubes through which the superfluous prana developed within the body is flowing out. Further explanation is here needed. I spoke of the etheric double as involving what may be described as a nerve system through which the life forces originally emanating from the Sun are circulating. Within the physical body at certain ganglionic centres within the etheric double, this life force is, if the phrase may be used, digested or converted into a condition in which it is available for maintaining the vitality of the physical system. Again, it is inevitable that we should use words of an eastern origin, because these ideas are to a certain extent developed in Eastern literature, and absorbed from them into our own language. So we may call the force — the life force emanating from the Sun — Jiva, and when it has under- gone the change within the physical system, or, rather, within the etheric system, which we call above digestion, it assumes a new aspect and is known to occult science as Prana, Now a healthy human being digests a good deal
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more Jiva than he really requires for his own personal use. It flows from him freely, a contribution to the welfare of humanity at large, and flowing through those radial points or tubes above referred to, keeps them dis- tended and rigid. And it does more than this, for it carries with it those inconceivably minute molecules of physical matter which are always being worn off from the body as time goes on. It is a very familiar truth connected with physiology that our bodies are continually being disinte- grated and re-made, that in advanced life we have few, if any, of the molecules which build up our bodies at earlier periods. The Health Aura, as it is sometimes called — this surrounding haze of minute radiant points — is the mechanism by means of which this change is carried on. For more complete attempts to interpret the significance of the astral aura I can only leave the reader to consult volumes exclusively directed to that intricate subject.
It may be just worth while to add in reference to the Health Aura that the very familiar experience we must all have had of finding ourselves energised or invigorated by association with some people, and depleted or weakened by association with others, has entirely to do with the activities of the Health Aura. Those who are pouring forth an abundant stream of superfluous prana are stimu- lating others with whom they may be in close association. Where their own supplies have fallen short and their own radiant points are drooping and impoverished, they become absorbent of the energy thrown out by others to an extent that they seem to sop this up as a sponge sops up water, leaving the healthier companion considerably the worse for the change. Not necessarily in any way that is it perma- nently prejudicial to his welfare, and, indeed, the correct appreciation of this idea is the interpretation of the benefit
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which may often be given to weak patients by a vigorous mesmerist who thus is consciously and willingly pouring out his superfluous volumes of Pranic energy into the patient whom he desires to benefit.
Etheric matter is still physical according to the most accurate classification that can be adopted, although it is already entirely beyond the reach of instrumental observation and can only be seen by the finer senses appertaining to the Astral vehicle. Each plane of Nature, as we ascend through the refinements of the Cosmos, is constituted of different orders of matter, each order being subject to various modifications on its own plane. For example, we have solid, liquid, and gaseous matter, and beyond these, four varieties of etheric matter into which the molecules of elementary matter, as known to ordinary chemistry, may gradually be broken up. The whole subject is one of very deep interest, but I should be turning too far aside from the main path of what I have to say if I stopped here to unravel its complexities, even as far as these have at present been examined by occult students qualified to engage in such researches. It will be enough to make the leading idea of this occult development of chemical science intelligible in its broad outlines. The molecule of matter which possesses the characteristics of one of the known chemical elements must be thought of, in accordance with the actual truth of Nature, as a complicated structure built up of numerous ultimate physical atoms. All these ultimate physical atoms are identical in their own composition and attributes, or approximately so; at all events for our present purposes whatever differences are latent within them have nothing to say to their physical plane aspects. Each mole- cule may be roughly thought of as a different building, but
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each building is constructed of similar bricks. A great many bricks are required for some molecular structures, and whereas the simplest known to ordinary chemistry, the hydrogen molecule, contains only eighteen atoms, the molecules of some gases included many hundreds, and those of other substances some thousands, the figures expanding enormously in the case of molecules represent- ing the metallic elements.
On the lowest etheric condition the gaseous molecules known to chemistry are broken up into sub-divisions, and in this condition appear at once to escape entirely beyond the reach of physical senses and instruments. Their effects are, of course, manifest in all the various phenomena of Nature which have to do with etheric vibrations; and a time, of course, will come in the progress of physical plane knowledge when all this will be the A B C of the text books. In the higher varieties of etheric matter the sub- divisions get broken up again and again until finally, in the highest condition of etheric matter, we find the atoms entirely separated one from the other, and matter at that level to be perfectly uniform in its structure.
It is of matter derived from the etheric sub-planes that the Etheric Double is composed under the guidance of extremely subtle laws, and as the expression indeed of the most exalted spiritual will with which the affairs of this planet are directly concerned. The Etheric Double guides the actual deposition of physical molecules as the body grows, growing with it indeed, but always one step in advance; and the force which circulates through the nerve system of the Etheric Double is that which constitutes the physical life-principle, which as it becomes differentiated from the vast stores of Nature for the purpose of human requirements, itself comes within the field of vision of the
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astral senses, and can actually be seen, by persons adequately qualified, coursing through the nerve system of the Etheric Double as the blood flows through the veins of the physical body. The force pours into this planet from the sun. It has a multitude of tasks to perform connected with organic Nature, but keeping for the present to the question of human growth, we find it undergoing, in healthy human organisations, a process of differentiation which adapts it for its peculiar task, just as organic food is converted into blood by the physical body. A strong and healthy human being specialises a good deal more than he requires for his own use, just as the bees make more honey than they really want for themselves In such a case it is constantly radiating from him, supply- ing the deficiencies more or less completely of those who are too feeble to specialise enough for themselves.
A man in good health is thus constantly, even without intention, imparting some of his spare vitality to others, though he does this with far greater energy when he employs mesmeric passes to assist the process, and uses his will-power, in a greater or less degree according to the extent of its development, to render them effective. Con- versely the man in bad health, who through inefficient action of the appropriate organs in his own system is unable to specialise for his own use an adequate volume of the solar radiation all around us, acts unconsciously as a sponge, absorbing that specialised by others with whom he is in contact. To different degrees most people are conscious that some others weary and tire them by their contiguity, even though they may not be able to trace the nature of the process by which they are affected. Persons of a very robust temperament hardly experience this feeling, perhaps, because in most such persons the higher principles,
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including those subtle emanations belonging to the astral plane, are more inextricably entangled with their physical molecules; and the very materialistic nature which is extremely insensitive itself is generally as little disposed to part with its own influences. The sensitive, very ready to feel the magnetic emanations of others, is, on the other hand, generally the person who is most easily drained of whatever vitality he may himself possess. These con- siderations, however, must not be read as implying that perfect physical health and robust constitution are identical with materialistic self-involvement. The whole subject of sensitiveness is profoundly misunderstood when, as is too often the case, people imagine it to be in some way identified with states of health; but the complete examina- tion of that idea would take me too far away from the main part of the explanation I am now pursuing.
The third constituent, or Astral Body, is the vehicle in which the soul may function on the astral plane of Nature, that immediately above the physical, the nature and characterises of which we must next examine.