A Paper On Avatars And The Aquarian Christ
by Bruce Lyon
Much information is given in the Secret Doctrine and in the Bailey material on the subject of Avatars. This paper is an attempt to synthesise some of this information as it relates in particular to the Aquarian Age into which we are now entering and to the role of humanity with respect to the avataric process.
We are told that an Avatar can be defined as an entity "Coming down with the approval of the higher source from which it came and with benefit to the place at which it arrives." ROC p 7 and that there are a variety of levels of Avatar - cosmic, solar, interplanetary, planetary, and human ( Tcf p 729 ). Furthermore, human avatars can be divided into racial avatars, teaching avatars, ray avatars, transmitting avatars and divine embodiments.( EXH 297 ) There are many references to the 'coming avatar' that seem to refer to different levels of being and must be understood synthetically in order for the full picture to emerge. We will begin by focusing on the avatars appearing in the three worlds.
THE THREE TEMPLES OF THE MYSTERIES
The Buddha and The Christ were expressions of transmitting avatars. The Buddha transmitted the energy of light and the Christ that of Love. We await the appearance of a third avatar who will transmitt the energy of power upon the physical plane and thus the three "temples of the mysteries" will be built.
These three Temples of the Mysteries (of
which two are already existing, and the third will later appear) are each of
them related to one of the three divine aspects, and the energy of the three
major rays pours through them. ...
Over the
Next century, when the seventh ray has achieved complete manifestation and the Piscean influence is entirely removed, the seventh ray Avatar will appear. His work will demonstrate the law, order and rhythm of the creative process as it works out on the physical plane, blending spirit and matter. And as this ray is called the Ray of Ceremonial Order or Ritual, He will be largely instrumental in producing those conditions which will permit of the reappearance upon Earth of the Mysteries of Initiation, of which the Hierarchy is the custodian. EXH 299
Indeed we could relate each of these avatars to a particluar quality of divinity expressing on a particular plane. The Buddha transmits the third ray on the fifth or mental plane. The Christ transmits the second ray on the sixth or astral plane. The 'power avatar' transmits the first ray upon the seventh or physical plane. Together they therefore express the synthesis of the personality on the three lower planes, coming under the impression of energies from the three highest.
These Avatars operate synthetically and to understand this we must free ourselves from the Piscean attitude of focus on an 'individual' and adopt an Aquarian approach which sees a hierarchy of beings operating together. Is, for example the coming avatar the 'Avatar of Synthesis'? The Spirit of Peace?the 'rider on the white horse'? the Christ? the Buddha? the seventh ray avatar,? Sanat Kumara? A Solar Avatar? The Avatar from Capricorn? the Avatar from Sirius? The answer must be Yes! We need to understand how all these beings, and others, operate together to form a great antahkarana from cosmic to planetary levels of being.
Some hint to this mode of approach is given by the following enigmatic quote from Cosmic Fire 1195 ( bolds mine )
This is true of all men, of the Heavenly Men and of the solar Logos likewise, and there is a mysterious analogy concerned in the manifestation of the three higher principles in man (which may be considered as demonstrating through the perfected Adept, the Bodhisattva) and the three higher principles of the solar Logos as they demonstrate through the major three aspects. They form but one principle showing forth in three ways. So it is with the unmanifested Monad (unmanifested from the standpoint of the lower man). That Monad can—at a certain very advanced stage in evolution, and one far beyond that of the Adept—have its triple simultaneous manifestation, and show forth as a Master in the three worlds, as a Bodhisattva on His own plane and as the emancipated Dhyani Buddha; yet these Three will be but One, will be the result of a great spiritual vibration and will perform the triple work which may (from the standpoint of the three worlds) appear as the work of three separate great Existences. They are forms of three monadic "vestures," worn by the one Monad as a man wears his three bodies simultaneously, and functions in them separately.
One or other of these three can, if so He will, occupy a body on the physical plane which will not be simply a created mayavirupa. This is done in one of two ways: either through the occupancy of a willingly vacated body, as was the case when the Christ occupied the body of Jesus, or by a divine overshadowing of a disciple, as has been and will be the case. The quality of the form occupied or used, and the nature of its work depends upon which of the three higher aspects of the initiating impulse, is manifesting. Very rarely a more mysterious phenomenon occurs and the overshadowing Buddha, Bodhisattva, or Adept each makes His "appearance" upon earth thus demonstrating the three aspects of knowledge, love and will and all taking form.
This may seem to be a great complexity, but it is not so much stranger after all than the phenomenon of the Monad (in time and space and during evolution) demonstrating forth as the Triad, the Ego and the Personality. This type of triple Avatar only makes its appearance under a peculiar series of cycles concerned with a group of Monads who were the most progressed and advanced at the opening of the mahamanvantara. As yet, there are not many progressed enough to do this triple work; the Buddha and nine others being the only Ones as yet remaining in touch with our particular planet in this particular manner. A few are as Christ is, and have the power to make a dual appearance. This type of monad is only found on Rays two, four, six.
Physical plane centric that we are, humans tend to think in terms of ascent when we think of spiritual growth. However, Avatars descend which is why in the Aquarian age we will see the 'reign of avatars' as spiritual energy descends on to the physical plane. As we go through the first three human initiations we think in terms of freedom from the physical, emotional and mental planes. This is a personality perspective. The soul descends into the mental, astral and physical respectively. At the third initiation, energy from the monad is bought down onto the physical to awaken the kundalini in the base chakra. The Solar Logos is taking the third cosmic inititiation therefore energy from the solar monad must descend and raise the energy stored in the base chakra of the system. We might think of units of the fourth hierarchy as a form of solar kundalini that is being freed by the descent of this extrasystemic energy. This is a collective form of initiation which is distinct from the sequential piscean approach.
On the Way of Descending Approaches, the Buddha from the mental plane and also upon it, embodied in Himself the blazing enlightenment which is the result of a rare occurrence—a Cosmic Touch. He challenged the people to the Path of Light, of which knowledge and wisdom are two aspects. These, when brought into relationship with each other, produce the light. In a curious and esoteric manner, therefore, the Buddha embodied in Himself the force and activity of the third ray, of the third aspect of divinity—the divine cosmic principle of Intelligence. By its fusion with the ray of our solar system (the ray of Love) He expressed perfectly the significance of light in matter, of the intelligence principle as found in form, and was the Avatar Who carried in Himself the fully ripened seeds of the past solar system. We should not forget that our present solar system is, as was stated in A Treatise on Cosmic Fire, the second in a series of three systems.
Then came the next great Avatar, the Christ, Who, enfolding in Himself all that the Buddha had of light and wisdom (being fully enlightened in the occult and spiritual sense) on the Ray of Descending Approach, embodied also the peace of inclusiveness, which comes from the Touch of Divine Acquiescence. He was the embodied force of submission, and He carried the divine approach to the astral plane, the plane of feeling.
Thus two great stations of energy and two major powerhouses of light have been established by these two Sons of God, and the descent of the divine life into manifestation has been greatly facilitated. The Way is now opened so that the ascent of the sons of men can become entirely possible. It is around these two ideas of divine descent and of human corresponding ascent that the coming new religion must be built.
Stations of power exist and
have been founded through the work of the various World Saviours. These
stations of power must be contacted by humanity as time transpires, through
their individual re-enactment (on a tiny scale) of the cosmic approaches, or
the touches of divinity, dramatically engineered by the cosmic Avatars, the
Buddha and the Christ. It is because the Christ has approached closer
to humanity by focussing divine energy upon the astral plane through His divine
acquiescence that He is the First Initiator.
From one point of view, these two centres of force constitute the Temples of
Initiation through which all disciples have to pass. This passing is the
theme of the coming new religion.
Mankind has entered into the Temples at the great cosmic Approach of Appropriation in Lemurian times. Certain of the more advanced sons of men were passed in Atlantean times and still more will be passed in the immediate future, whilst a fair number will also be raised to immortality, but from the angle of the race it is the initiation of passing which is ahead for a very large number, and not the initiation of being raised. I am not here speaking of the so-called five major initiations, but of certain group events which are predominantly cosmic in nature. The major initiations which are the goal of human endeavor are individual in nature, and constitute, as it were, a preparatory period of expansions of consciousness. There were, if I might so express it, seven steps or approaches on the part of the life of God in the subhuman kingdoms prior to the Approach of Appropriation when humanity individualised. There are, as we know, five initiations ahead of the world disciples and these are steps towards the Approach of Acquiescence which will become possible on our planet before long. There are—after these seven and five steps—three more to be taken before the cosmic Approach of Enlightenment can take place in a far distant future. So humanity enters into the outer Court of God's love, passes into the Holy Place and is raised in the Secret Place of the Most High.
Later, the Avatar will emerge Who will embody in Himself all that the Buddha had of enlightenment and all that Christ had of acquiescing love. He will, however, also embody the energy which produced the Approach of Appropriation, and when He comes forth, there will transpire a great appropriation by humanity of its recognised divinity, and the establishing upon earth of a station of light and of power which will make possible the externalising of the Mysteries of Initiation upon earth. This approach is the cause of much of the present turmoil, for the Avatar is on His way. EP 2 279
The Christ, in taking the seventh initiation on the path of Earth Service, set the scene for His decision to return as the leader of not only the Piscean Age but also the Aquarian ( ROC 82 ). How should we understand His return? We might remember that at His last coming He did not take a physical form but chose to overshadow the Master Jesus. We are told that He has decided to make physical contact with Humanity again. What does this mean? We know that at the seventh degree a Master no longer functions through his own etheric centres. ( RI 699) Further his consciousness ( if we might term it such ) is extra planetary - participating in the true 'life more abundant'. How is this 'life more abundant' to be transferred to the etheric physical plane? To understand this in the Aquarian sense we must realise that His etheric centres are no longer physical but buddhic - in other words the 49 ashrams on the buddhic plane. He is operating through the cosmic physical etheric and not the systemic physical. The 'body of Christ' IS the lower three worlds and it is infused and directed from the planetary ethers. Whether or not Masters take physical bodies is not the point except as demonstration of the highest in the lowest. The true 'return of the Christ' is a planetary phenomena. At the third degree the lower three vehicles are fully integrated and come under synthetic control of the buddhic plane and the ashram. This is why the development of the New Group of World Servers is so important to the Externalisation process for they collectively serve as the outer expression of the body of Christ controlled by the planetary etheric. The Return of the Christ is a 'demonstration' of His capacity to control the three worlds - not of His own vehicles - but of the planet as a whole! Earth's civilisation will become the body of Christ, integrated with and directed by Christed energies flowing through the planetary etheric.
The three Temples on the mental, astral and physical planes are in effect 'solarised' centres within the planetary personality. All those whose minds are under soul control are part of the Temple of Light. All those whose hearts are open and 'christed' are part of the Temple of Love. What remains is for the demonstration of this light and love upon the physical plane through the inauguration of the Temple of Power. This outer temple is in effect the 'seed of the coming seventh ray , aquarian civilisation' where the wine ( life more abundant ) and the bread ( economics ) will be shared according to the dictates of the planetary soul. When these temples are operating synthetically we will have the Acquiesence of the planetary personality ( polarised in the emotional body ) to the planetary soul.
We will go into the role of humanity in this process more fully later but for now we might research further into the process of building the cosmic antahkarana. The following diagram expresses the relationship of Christ, as the coming Avatar, the Rider on the white horse to the three temples.
This lower synthesis is the result of the transmission of energies from a higher triangle representing the monadic triad
Thus the Christ serves as the 'atoneing' point between these triangles bringing atma to manas, monadic to astral and logoic to physical. He is able to do this because He has reached into the highest plane at the seventh initiation and is therefore able to transmit this energy to the lowest. The Avatar of Synthesis is primarily a first ray Avatar, assisting the second ray Christ to establish His seventh ray kingdom on earth - thus the three rays of the synthesis ashram all come in to play. The anthakarana on the cosmic physical plane is completed from the highest to the lowest.
In
those three words—light, love and power—the energies of His three Associates
(the great Triangle of Force which stands in power behind Him) are described:
the energy of the Buddha: Light, for the light ever comes from the East; the
energy of the Spirit of Peace: Love, establishing right human relations; the
energy of the Avatar of Synthesis: Power, implementing both light and love.
At the centre of this Triangle the Christ took His stand; from that point His
Aquarian work began, and it will continue for two thousand five hundred years.
Thus He inaugurated the new era and, upon the inner spiritual planes, the new
world religion began to take form. The word "religion" concerns relationship,
and the era of right human relations and of a right relation to the Kingdom
of God began. Such a statement as this is easily made but its implications are
far-reaching and stupendous.
ROC 83
THE AVATAR FROM SIRIUS
Extending this thought of synthesis on to the cosmic planes we must realise that the Solar Logos is similarly engaged in a project to synthesise his lower three vehicles. He is working towards the third cosmic inititiation and needs to coordinate His three systems and the three lower cosmic planes into one functioning unit. The Avatar of Synthesis is a cosmic Avatar and thus liberated from the two lower cosmic planes ( Tcf 727 ) . The Law of Synthesis is that of the cosmic mental plane so this Avatar could be said to represent that energy. The Spirit of Peace is along the second ray line so could be said to represent the cosmic astral plane, and the Buddha represents the flower of the earlier system and therefore the cosmic physical plane. If we put these Avatars - cosmic, solar and human in a triangle, the centre would be taken by the Avatar from Sirius, a Cosmic Christ sent to aid in the synthesis of the Solar Personality or Agni. Sirius then, would serve to build the cosmic antahkarana allowing eventually for the descent of energy from the highest cosmic plane to the lowest. Thus when we speak of Avatars we must include the cosmic , solar and planetary process as expressions of one underlying synthetic expression. A planetary avatar arrives to initiate humanity, a solar avatar arrives to initiate a planetary logos and an avatar from Sirius arrives to initiate a Solar Logos. The descent of the Christ energy moves through the centre of a whole series of triangles. Elsewhere I have postulated that in the centre of the major constellational triangle of Gt Bear, Sirius, Pleaides is a cosmic logos whose outer form is a galactic or blackhole centre and that our galaxy is linked with two others forming another triangle with the galaxy of Andromeda taking the Christ or Sirius point.
The effect of such
a visit as that of the Avatar from Sirius is seen as the sumtotal of civilisation
and culture, viewing these from the standpoint of the entire system and in one
flash of time. Tcf 724
The three Laws of the lower three cosmic planes are part of one synthetic Law given in Cosmic Fire as The Law of Being.
In the widest sense of the idea the Laws of Economy and of Synthesis are only divisions of that same cosmic law of which Attraction and Repulsion are also manifestations. This cosmic law, demonstrating thus in a threefold manner, might (for lack of a better term) be called the Law of Being, and is of a nature so incomprehensible to the finite mind of man that he can only sense it partially through the aforesaid three branches. tcf
We might imagine this Law of Being to function on the cosmic buddhic plane and that Sirius serves to step the energy of this Law into the cosmic mental via the Sirian Law of Freedom - the Freedom to descend from above and save. It is under this same Law of Freedom that Sanat Kumara became the Great Sacrifice for our planet.
It is also interesting that the Law of Being has particular reference to the base chakra which we know is on the fourth ether. If Earth was the base chakra in the solar system then it would be found on the buddhic plane or fourth cosmic ether. We know Earth has a first ray monad and the purpose of the Planetary Logos is to anchor a seed of Solar will. If the Solar Logos is taking the third cosmic initiation then it must awaken its base chakra and raise the kundalini fire through the whole system
The Centre at the Base of the Spine. This centre is, above everything else, controlled and governed by the Law of Being, above referred to, and is established where spirit and matter meet and where matter, the Virgin Mary—under the influence of the Holy Spirit, time energy of the etheric vehicle—is translated "into Heaven," there (as the Christian phraseology puts it) "to be seated beside her Son in the house of the Father." EH 181
As a digression Sanat Kumara is also an avatar coming in the third rootrace of the fourth round. He would seem to therefore have a relationship with the Avatar from Capricorn who arrives in the third round of the third chain and stays til the fifth round of the fourth chain as also does the Karmic solar Avatar. Hidden in their mutual relationship no doubt lies the reconciliation of events on the moon chain with those on the earth chain. In this reconciliation the consciousness principle will be brought into full flower. Venus has a unique relationship to Capricorn associated with the third initiation and Sanat Kumara has a unique relationship to Venus. SK is a disciple of the Solar Logos while the Venusian Logos is a disciple to the Sirian Logos. Sirius may assist in the building and synthesing of the solar egoic lotus in the same way that Venus is involved with the human one.
The association of Venus and Sirius with the ajna centre has a lower reflection in the New Group of World Servers.
I would point out that just as the energies released by use of the first three phrases of the Invocation relate to the Head, Shamballa; to the Heart, the Hierarchy; and to the Throat centre, Humanity; so the right use of this fourth phrase will bring into conscious, functioning activity the centre between the eyebrows, the ajna centre in individual man and in humanity as whole. This centre begins to become active and to function dynamically, governing and directing the individual energies, once any real measure of personality integration has been achieved. It is, as you know, the fourth centre found above the diaphragm in the human body and the phrase which awakens it (both individually and in the group) is this fourth phrase. EXH 166 ( "May forgiveness on the part of all men be the keynote at this time" is the fourth phrase - we are now in an international week of forgiveness - BL )
The ajna centre of the Lord of the World is just beginning to express itself in a recognisable manner through the New Group of World Servers. This intermediate group—between the Hierarchy and Humanity—is a carrier of the energy which makes the Plan possible (the Plan of which the Hierarchy is the custodian). This Plan implements the Purpose, and later, when the New Group of World Servers is organised and is recognised as a living organism, it will definitely receive energy from Shamballa in a direct reception, via the Hierarchy. This information is, I realise, of little immediate importance to you, but—towards the end of the century—it will be found explanatory of much. R&I 368
The NGWS as the ajna centre can similarly be placed at the centre of a triangle thus:
The rapid coming of the Avatar Who will found the station of light and power upon the physical plane is dependent upon the rapid unfoldment and appearance of integrated personalities who love and think and seek to serve. There has here been given a new hint upon one of the more esoteric aspects of the work of the New Group of World Servers Ep 282
The New Group of World Servers has a peculiar function and the coordination of this group is essential to act as a lens through which the energy of the Hierarchy combined with the energy of Shamballa can reach through humanity to the physical plane and condition the coming civilisation. The key phrase concerning 'forgiveness' has to do with their capacity as an ajna centre, not only to direct energy but to be receptive to impression - to give themselves up, as a group, on behalf of humanity in order to become the conduit for planetary etheric energies. This necessarily requires the integration of the personality and will allow many to take the third initiation as part of this group activity.
Today, through human effort and hierarchical endeavour, a great alignment and linking up is taking place, and Monad-Soul-Personality are being more directly related than has hitherto been possible. One reason for this is that there are present in incarnation upon the planet many more initiates of the third degree than ever before; there are many more disciples being prepared for the third initiation; and in this third strictly human race, the Aryan (using this term in its generic sense and not in its prostituted German connotation), the three aspects of the personality are now so potent that their magnetic influence and their creative effect are making the building of the antahkarana an outstanding achievement, thus linking and aligning the three aspects in man. The same is true of the three divine centres in the planet which embody these divine qualities: Shamballa, Hierarchy, and Humanity. R&I 473
The focal point of His effort and the Agent through
which distribution of His energy can be made is the New Group of World Servers;
this group is uniquely related to this Avatar of Synthesis. The bringing together
of all the agents of goodwill (who are responsive to the energy of the divine
will-to-good) constitutes the major objective of the New Group of World Servers
and always has been. Their work can now be constructively and creatively intensified
through the association of the Avatar of Synthesis with the Christ. Their task
is to usher in the New Age; in that New Age, the five Kingdoms in Nature will
begin to function as one creative whole. Their work falls into the following
parts, functions or activities:
a. The production of a human synthesis or unity which
will lead to an universal recognition of the one humanity, brought about through
right human relations.
b. The establishing of right relations with the subhuman
kingdoms in nature, leading to the universal recognition that there is One World.
ROC p 79
This task is aided by the energies both of Aquarius and of the seventh ray
This inflow of Aquarian energy is one of the factors which will enable the Christ to complete His task as World Saviour and World Teacher; it will also enable Him to take the initiation which lies immediately ahead of Him and for which He has been preparing for close upon three thousand years—so exalted and peculiar an initiation it is It is this influence also which has enabled the Master R. to assume the mantle of the Mahachohan and become the Lord of Civilisation—a civilisation which will be conditioned by the rhythm of the seventh ray. R & I 232
We know that this is the seventh time that the energies of the seventh ray and Aquarius have coincided in this fifth rootrace and that this coincidence allows for 'light supernal ' to be known on earth. Light supernal is a synthetic light of all seven rays synthesised by the seventh. It is this synthesised light which pours down the antahkarana between the highest and lowest planes. This is all connected with the fifth point of revelation
"When the light of the seven Rays is blended with that of the seventh Ray, then light supernal can be known."
The implications attendant upon this fifth point are amazing at the first glance, and they demand an immediate recognition of the two factors of time and space. The significances which are implicit in this point may be clearer if I paraphrase the statement and thus give you a sense of significance which will give you understanding. When the energy of the light of all the rays can express itself through the medium of the seventh ray, then the highest aspect of the divine light can penetrate down into the physical plane Dina 2 426
To sum up a few of these thoughts.
1. The Aquarian Christ is a composite being referring to many levels of Avatar
2. The synthesis occurring between the Solar Logoic personality and Triad is having its effects upon the cosmic physical plane
3. The Planetary Logos of Earth is seeking to anchor an aspect of the Solar Will through the triangle of Shamballa, Hierarchy and Humanity.
4. Via the Christ aided by other Avatars the energy of 'light supernal' is bought from the highest plane of the cosmic physical to the lowest
5. This anchoring results in a synthesis occurring between the cosmic ethers and the three lower worlds. This synthesis is generated on the buddhic plane through the work of the synthesis ashram and passed through the lens of the NGWS.
6. The NGWS focuses this light supernal ( by turning their back on it ) through the three worlds onto the physical plane.
7. As a result of this work the Temple of the Mysteries can be founded on the physical plane through the cooperation of first, second and seventh ray avatars
The NGWS contains those at all levels of development but, at its core is composed of initiates of the third degree who are therefore members of Hierarchy as well as members of Humanity. They form the bridge between the planetary soul and the planetary personality. They are bought together, not by any outer organisation or group but by their spiritually instinctive response to the inpouring energy of synthesis which allows them to recognise each other across their many differentiated lines of work. They are called together by Hierarchy to form an 'organ' within the body of humanity through which this light supernal can be passed and through which eventually a new divine quality can be bought to earth.
See you, therefore, the necessity of eventually organising a group in the world which will be so constituted and so carefully chosen and interiorly related that all its members are initiates, all have created their own "rainbow bridges" with understanding and accuracy, and all can now work in such complete unity that the group antahkarana becomes a channel of unimpeded communication direct from Shamballa to the group because every member of the group is a member of the Hierarchy. In this manner the three planetary centres arrive at the needed relationship, and another great triangle reaches true functioning activity. When this takes place, a revelation undreamt of will be manifested upon the Earth; a new divine quality, of which no knowledge at present exists, will make its presence felt, and the work of the Buddha and of the Christ, and the work of the coming Avatar, will be superseded by One for Whom both Shamballa and the Hierarchy have unitedly waited and of Whom the doctrine of the Messiah and the doctrine of Avatars have been and are today only the dim distant symbols. They preserve this concept of the Great Revelation in the consciousness of men, in the expectancy which the Hierarchy evidences, and through the "preparatory work" now being undertaken at Shamballa. R&I 258
I like to think that when we come together at the full moon of Aquarius with no other agendas than the contact and release of 'this light, this 'life more abundant' into the world, that we do our small part in assisting in the eventual formation of such a group.
Bruce Lyon