| Undergoing transition. The Occult Tradition. Transition | | | | a string, is the sutratma. This sutratma is sometimes |
| and the after death state. The Clear Light. At times the | | | | referred to as the "silver cord." This term comes from |
| soul undergoing transition is led across rivers with the | | | | one of the books of the Old Testament. |
| aid of an escort. In Greek myths, Charon, the boatman, | | | | "Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl |
| was assigned the task of guiding souls to the | | | | be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or |
| Otherside. Hermes, acting as psychopompos, led | | | | the wheel broken at the cistern." (Ecclesiastes 12:6) |
| deserving souls to Olympus. The ushabtis, or | | | | While the indwelling soul is incarnated in the physical |
| statuettes buried with the dead among ancient | | | | form, the sutratma remains intact, connecting the lower |
| Egyptians, could conceivably represent escorts or | | | | form to the higher principles. It functions primarily as a |
| soul-bearers, aside from the usual interpretation of | | | | channel for divine life forces--the energies emanating |
| scholars of them being servants in the afterlife. In other | | | | from the Monad. In sleep and in the astral state, when |
| religions, the escort of the soul is the Angel of Death, | | | | the awareness-principle roams about in the higher |
| the grim reaper wielding a scythe as depicted in one | | | | dimensions, this cord serves as a connecting link |
| of the cards of the Major Arcana of the | | | | between the material body and the astral form. So |
| Tarot--although the average Christian sees that being | | | | long as this cord exists intact, the soul is bound to the |
| not as an escorter but as an avenger. Muslims call this | | | | physical body. Once the cord is severed, as occurs in |
| Angel of Death, "Izrail." There is a possibility that | | | | the death process, the soul loses its connection with |
| escorts of the soul do not always fetch departing | | | | the physical body. A person may be in a coma, or in a |
| souls from the Otherside. They may, in fact, also come | | | | cataleptic state with a resemblance of death, but so |
| from our physical dimension aiding souls in their | | | | long as the cord endures, it is always possible for life |
| transition. What we are intimating is that the mastery | | | | to return--it is possible to "raise the dead," so to speak. |
| of astral projection or lucid dreaming actually gives the | | | | Another point to consider concerning man's occult |
| mystic or psychic the power to act as psychopompos, | | | | anatomy which is relevant to our discussion of the |
| or guide of the soul. Our own personal experience | | | | process of transition are the seed-atoms. These |
| may suggest this, as we will relate below, however, | | | | atoms are vortexes of energies which collectively |
| we are not implying here that we have personally | | | | speaking, may be considered as the records of the |
| mastered the art of occult mobilization, or attained a | | | | unfolding soul, or as the soul's "book of life." They |
| spirituality of a high degree: | | | | correspond to "Kiramun-i-Kaitibun," the recording angels |
| We (I, me, myself) once had a dear friend who was a | | | | in sufi teachings. Occultism teaches the existence of |
| Theosophist. Although there were decades of physical | | | | three seed-atoms--the mental, astral and the physical |
| years between us, we were rather close. One day, | | | | seed-atom. These atoms register all of the thoughts, |
| we received a call informing us of her demise. Her | | | | feelings and actions of the incarnated soul. They are |
| passing was sudden and unexpected. Wondering | | | | records of the quality and nature of the soul, and may |
| what her condition was like in the bardo, that night we | | | | be thought of as the memory book of all the |
| decided to be by her side to offer assistance. And so | | | | experiences of the soul's past incarnated lives. They, |
| with affirmations, intense mind-programming, and a | | | | therefore, also contain the records of one's karmic |
| strong desire, we spontaneously attained a projection | | | | history. It should be noted that although Buddhism |
| without strenuously going through the usual steps as | | | | teaches reincarnation, they do not believe in a "self" |
| taught in occult books and schools. Moments later, we | | | | that reincarnates. To Buddhists, that which reincarnates |
| were by her side, leading her to a certain place, to a | | | | are the karmic traits of the awareness-principle. |
| certain spiritual guide or master with whom in the astral | | | | Although we will not consider the question of what |
| state we were well acquainted with. When we | | | | survives and reincarnates, it is interesting to know that |
| reached our destination, we said to her: "from hereon | | | | these "karmic traits" correlate with the contents of the |
| you are on your own. We shall meet again." After | | | | seed-atoms. |
| bidding her farewell, we were once again back in our | | | | The mental seed-atom is associated with the soul's |
| physical body. | | | | consciousness and mental world of thoughts and |
| All along the projection, we were lucid and | | | | ideas. In the physical body it resides in the pineal gland. |
| aware--aware that a part of us was asleep in bed; | | | | One's feelings, negative and positive, are registered in |
| while another aspect, was active in another world. This | | | | the astral seed-atom. The liver is the temporary home |
| is one of the signs indicating that the experience was | | | | of this seed-atom. The physical seed-atom abides in |
| not a dream. Soul-travel as we have mentioned | | | | the heart. It is associated with the life-principle within the |
| before, is a mystery to the average religious devotee. | | | | body. In the death process, the seed-atoms emerge |
| Eventhough mystics, prophets and saints have alluded | | | | out of the physical body in sequence, as we shall see |
| to this particular occult ability possessed by man, the | | | | presently. |
| average person still remains unconvinced and skeptical | | | | According to occultism in general, in the beginning of a |
| as to its reality; or from another perspective they fear | | | | manvantara, or cycle of manifestation and creation, the |
| it as a satanic gift. However, at least the Bahái'i | | | | First Cause emanated from Itself streams of energies |
| faith firmly states the possibility for one to experience | | | | of varying densities; or Spirit vibrating in a whole |
| the afterlife while yet still alive and embodied on earth. | | | | spectrum of frequencies. These energies, structured |
| Many modern saints such as Padre Pio were adepts | | | | electronically in high and low densities, are the various |
| of soul-travel. | | | | dimensions, planes, realms, or mansions of the |
| Soul-travel, or astral travel is a natural mode of rest for | | | | manifested Cosmos. In the Qaballah, these dimensions |
| the incarnating soul from the vicissitudes of everyday | | | | and planes are referred to as the 4 worlds and the |
| life. This usually occurs through sleep, but may be | | | | sephiroths. According to theosophical teachings, there |
| induced through various means. It is through this occult | | | | are seven planes that concerns man's present |
| faculty that knowledge of the various dimensions may | | | | evolution. These seven planes are collectively called |
| be gained. Ancient Greeks were familiar with the art of | | | | the cosmic physical plane. Though there are higher |
| astral projection. In their myths there are many | | | | planes, we will not consider them, as they have very |
| references to heroes visiting the underworld, such as | | | | little to do with man's evolution, and are far beyond our |
| Hercules, Aeneas, and Odysseus, or sorceresses such | | | | status as human souls. |
| as Medea accompanying Jason, the captain of the | | | | The seven planes, in theosophical teachings are called: |
| Argonauts in his adventures--although she in her astral | | | | Logoic, Monadic, Atmic, Buddhic, Mental, Astral, and |
| body. These myths probably refer to the astral | | | | Physical. Certain Sufi teachings refer to these various |
| aspects of the secret initiations of the ancient Mystery | | | | planes as: "Alam-i-tabi-at," "Alam-i-surat," "Alam-i-ma'na," |
| Schools. | | | | "Alam-i-malakut," "Alam-i-jabarut," "Alam-i-lahut," and |
| The Occult Tradition | | | | "Alam-i-hahut." Each of the seven planes mentioned |
| Before explaining the death process from the occult | | | | are subdivided into seven lesser realms making 49 in |
| and metaphysical point of view, we ought to possess | | | | all. The various heavens and hells (realms of joy and |
| some knowledge of man's occult anatomy, for man's | | | | suffering) which the human soul sojourns and dwells |
| hidden structure and physiology play an important role | | | | are to be found in the Mental and Astral regions. In the |
| in the release of the soul from its confinement to the | | | | upper regions of the Mental subplanes is to be found |
| form and the disintegration of the physical body and | | | | what is called the Causal plane. This is paradise proper |
| they are, therefore, a pertinent factor to our | | | | where most souls go to rest before reincarnating in |
| understanding of transition. It is also of some relevance | | | | the physical dimension. Tibetan Buddhism refers to the |
| to know the structure of the various planes or | | | | Physical, Astral and Mental planes as the six worlds: |
| dimensions. We shall, therefore, consider these two | | | | the world of gods (Devaloka), of Titans (Asuraloka), of |
| essential topics briefly before discussing the process | | | | hungry ghosts (Pretaloka), of hell, of animals, and of |
| of transition from the occult perspective. | | | | humans. These descriptive realms symbolically refer to |
| The Microcosm | | | | human behaviour and evolutionary development with a |
| Man, the microcosm, possesses several bodies, | | | | predominating characteristic vice: for instance, pride, |
| principles, or vehicles. According to Theosophy, these | | | | envy, greed, hatred, ignorance, and desire. These six |
| principles/bodies are seven in number: Monad, Atma, | | | | worlds are the abodes or heavens--or hell, as the |
| Buddhi, Higher Mental/Causal, Lower Mental, Astral | | | | case may be--of souls of varied spiritual development. |
| Body, and Etheric/Physical. Christianity divides man's | | | | Below we give the evolutionary level of souls in |
| components into body, soul and spirit. The concept of | | | | correlation with the six worlds that they vibrate in |
| man possessing several bodies is also to be found in | | | | harmony with: |
| Hinduism, the Qaballah, and Islam; and is in fact based | | | | Causal-Higher Mental Planes - World of gods - Saints, |
| on the teachings of the Ageless Wisdom; it is to be | | | | masters . . . |
| found underlying all spiritual traditions in one form or | | | | Lower Mental Planes - World of Asuras - |
| another. The Initiates of ancient Egypt, for instance, had | | | | Philosophers, heroes . . . |
| a clear understanding of man's subtle anatomy as we | | | | Higher and Mid-Astral Planes - World of Pretas - |
| can see from the following suggested correspondence | | | | Average man |
| with the Theosophical system: | | | | Lower Astral Planes - World of Animals - Purgatory, |
| Physical Body - Khat | | | | temporary abode of average man. |
| Etheric Body - Khaibit (shadow) | | | | Sub-Lower Astral Planes - World of Demons - Hell, |
| Astral Body - Ka (double) | | | | temporary abode of evil and wicked men. |
| Lower Mental - Ba (heart-soul) | | | | Physical Plane - World of Humans - Physical world, all |
| Causal Body - Sahu (spiritual body) | | | | types of souls. |
| Higher Mental - Ren (name) | | | | Transition and the after death state |
| Buddhi - Khu/Ab (spiritual soul) | | | | We have already discussed the various relevant parts |
| Atma - Sekhem (power) | | | | of man's occult anatomy that are directly involved in |
| Monad - Khabs | | | | the death process. We shall now see how they fit |
| In average cases, the bodies directly involved in the | | | | together in the soul's birthing process into another |
| death process and in the afterdeath state are of the | | | | realm. It should be noted, however, that there are |
| first five-the physical body, etheric, astral, lower mental, | | | | variations in the death process. We shall be |
| and causal. In certain conditions it may involve the first | | | | considering the normal process of death for the |
| two or three. | | | | average person, but before we do, let us consider |
| Each body or principle has energy-centers fully | | | | how occultism advocates the method of assistance to |
| developed and functioning, or in the process of | | | | the dying. |
| unfoldment. These energy-centers are called chakras | | | | Occultism teaches the necessity for absolute |
| in Hindu occultism and there are seven of major | | | | quietness surrounding the dying. The moanings and |
| importance. In the physical body the endocrine glands | | | | wailings of relatives and friends should be kept at a |
| and the plexi correspond to these chakras. The | | | | minimum and away from the presence of the one |
| following are the Hindu terms for these chakras as | | | | undergoing transition. The dying's sense of perception |
| well as their correspondence to the glands and their | | | | is heightened during transition and is focused strongly |
| location: | | | | on the bardo, and, therefore, it is imperative at this |
| Muladhara - gonads - base of spine | | | | stage that nothing disturbs the dying person. To do so |
| Svadishtana - spleen/pancreas - naval | | | | would distract the soul from liberating itself in the early |
| Manipura - adrenals - solar plexus | | | | stages of the bardo and prevent it from being reborn |
| Anahata - thymus - heart | | | | in a higher realm. It is said that orange light in the room |
| Vishuddha - thyroid - throat | | | | of the dying helps the awareness-principle to maintain |
| Ajna - pituitary - center of eyebrows | | | | consciousness so that it would not miss the Clear Light |
| Sahasrara - pineal - crown | | | | of the first stage of the bardo. Oneness and |
| Every vehicle of consciousness possesses chakras, | | | | identification with the Clear Light is what causes |
| some of which are not functioning to its full potential or | | | | liberation for the soul--liberation from the necessity to |
| fully-developed as yet in the average human being. | | | | reincarnate. Sandalwood incense and chanting of |
| Chakras are channels and transformers of energy. | | | | mantras also aid the dying to remain focussed and |
| They receive the influx of energies originating from | | | | mentally alert. In the Tibetan tradition, certain guidance is |
| higher spheres and distribute those energies to a lower | | | | given verbally to the dying pilgrim, that it may recognize |
| principle. The frequencies or qualities of these chakras | | | | the various stages of the bardo and what it should do |
| are associated with one's evolutionary development; | | | | once they are encountered and experienced. |
| this account for the many colours attributed to them | | | | Occultism advocates similar assistance to the dying, |
| by various authorities who often seemingly contradict | | | | since the basic purpose underlying both systems are |
| one another. These chakras vibrate at a rate | | | | one and the same, that is, the liberation of the soul |
| determined by the quality of the indwelling soul. During | | | | from an unfortunate rebirth in one of the lower regions |
| transition the soul escapes through one of these | | | | of the cosmos which causes evolutionary stagnation. |
| portals. One's evolutionary development determines | | | | The techniques for aiding the dying as well as dying |
| where the soul would make its exit. According to | | | | fruitfully is well worth knowing--especially to practicing |
| occult teachings, it is favorable for the soul to be | | | | metaphysicians. |
| released through the crown chakra or other higher | | | | What is important to learn is the maintaining of one's |
| centers; escape through the lower centers results in a | | | | mind and consciousness at a lofty level through |
| transition to one of the lower worlds. Generally | | | | constant meditation and mental reflection in everyday |
| speaking, the average person evacuates the body, in | | | | life. This polarizes the consciousness in the head |
| the process of transition, through the solar plexus | | | | chakra and facilitates the recognition of the dawning |
| chakra. This is because the manipura chakra is | | | | light in the first stage of the bardo. Dying consciously is |
| associated with the qualities of self-centeredness, and | | | | more advantageous than dying in an unconscious |
| is the normal expression and polarization of the | | | | manner for the above reason. |
| average person. Aspirants and servers of humanity | | | | Strangely enough, depending upon our perspective, |
| often emerge out of the heart chakra, as this chakra is | | | | highly evolved souls are aware of the time and onset |
| related to an expanding love for all sentient beings. | | | | of their death. This inner knowing is derived from |
| Enlightened, spiritual souls pass out of the physical form | | | | intuitive impressions from the Oversoul, or Higher Self. |
| through the crown chakra. This major center is | | | | Such initiates are knowledgeable of the process of |
| associated with pure, lofty thoughts and feelings, with a | | | | death and they transit in full awareness without a |
| sense of oneness and identification with all beings. It is | | | | break or a hiatus in their consciousness. Some even |
| this crown chakra that Hopi Indians believed to be the | | | | attain what is called "the Rainbow Body." This is the |
| exit of the soul at death. Occultism declares that the | | | | transformation or the absorption of physical particles |
| point of exit indicates the realm that the indwelling soul | | | | of the body into one's spiritual light during transition, |
| would sojourn, whether it be in the lower regions of | | | | leaving no empty corpse behind. This is alluded to in |
| "hell," or in the upper localities of "heaven." | | | | the biblical passage concerning the prophet Enoch, |
| Connecting the various bodies together, like beads on | | | | where it is said that he walked with God "and was not. |