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'''Life''' in itself remains undefined by modern [[science]]. It is said to be ''a characteristic'' that distinguishes objects that have signaling and self-sustaining processes including the capacity for growth, reproduction, etc., from those that do not, either because such functions have ceased (death), or else because they lack such functions and are classified as inanimate. | |||
== General description == | |||
In [[Mahatma Letter No. 93b|one of his letters]], [[Koot Hoomi|Master K.H.]] wrote: | |||
<blockquote>[[Spirit]], life and [[matter]], are not natural principles existing independently of each other, but the effects of combinations produced by eternal [[motion]] in [[Space]].<ref>Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., ''The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence'' No. 93b (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 317.</ref></blockquote> | |||
<blockquote>Spirit . . . becomes something only in union with matter — hence it is always something since matter is infinite and indestructible and non-existent without Spirit which, in matter is Life. Separated from matter it becomes the absolute negation of life and being, whereas matter is inseparable from it.<ref>Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., ''The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence'' No. 93b (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 315-316.</ref></blockquote> | |||
The [[Masters of Wisdom|Master]] then added: | |||
<blockquote>Life, after all, — the greatest problem within the ken of human conception is a mystery that the greatest of your men of Science will never solve. In order to be correctly comprehended, it has to be studied in the entire series of its manifestations, otherwise it can never be, not only fathomed, but even comprehended in its easiest form — life, as a state of being on this earth. It can never be grasped so long as it is studied separately and apart from universal life. To solve the great problem one has to become an occultist; to analyze and experience with it personally, in all its phases, as life on earth, life beyond the limit of physical death, mineral, vegetable, animal and spiritual life; life in conjunction with concrete matter as well as life present in the imponderable atom. Let them try and examine, or analyze life apart from organism, and what remains of it? Simply a mode of motion; which, unless our doctrine of the all-Pervading, infinite, omnipresent Life is accepted . . . has to remain unsolved.<ref>Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., ''The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence'' No. 93b (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 316.</ref></blockquote> | |||
Regarding life in its concrete manifestation in living organism, he wrote: | |||
<blockquote>The greatest, the most scientific minds on earth . . . all had to come to the same conclusion — that of the [[Occultism|Occultists]] when given only partially — namely, that life in its concrete manifestations is the legitimate result and consequence of chemical affinity; as to life in its abstract sense, life pure and simple — well, they know no more of it to-day, than they knew in the incipient stage of their Royal Society.<ref>Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., ''The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence'' No. 93b (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 316.</ref></blockquote> | |||
==Universal life== | ==Universal life== | ||
[[H. P. Blavatsky]] saw life in its universal aspect as the source of [[Spirit]], [[Soul]] and [[Matter]]: | |||
<blockquote>Life we look upon as “the one form of existence,” manifesting in what is called matter; or, as in man, what, incorrectly separating them, we name Spirit, Soul and Matter. Matter is the vehicle for the manifestation of soul on this plane of existence, and soul is the vehicle on a higher plane for the manifestation of spirit, and these three are a trinity synthesized by Life, which pervades them all.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Secret Doctrine'' vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 49.</ref></blockquote> | |||
See also [[One Life]] | |||
==Personal vitality== | ==Personal vitality== | ||
See [[Prāṇa]] | |||
In [[Mahatma Letter No. 93b#Page 30|one of his letters]], [[Koot Hoomi|Master K.H.]] wrote: | |||
<blockquote>If, as I hope, in a few years, I am entirely my own master — I may have the pleasure of demonstrating to you on your own writing table that life as life is not only transformable into other aspects or phases of the all-pervading Force, but that, it can be actually infused into an artificial man. Frankenstein is a myth only so far as he is the hero of a mystic tale; in nature — he is a possibility; and the physicists and physicians of the last sub-race of the sixth Race will inoculate life and revive corpses, as they now inoculate small-pox, and often less comely diseases.<ref>Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., ''The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence'' No. 93b (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 316-317.</ref></blockquote> | |||
== See also == | |||
*[[One Life]] | |||
*[[Jīva]] | |||
*[[Prāṇa]] | |||
==Online resources== | ==Online resources== | ||
===Articles=== | ===Articles=== | ||
*[http://www.blavatsky.net/blavatsky/arts/ScienceOfLife.htm# The Science of Life] by H. P. Blavatsky | *[http://www.blavatsky.net/blavatsky/arts/ScienceOfLife.htm# The Science of Life] by H. P. Blavatsky | ||
===Audio=== | |||
*[https://archive.org/download/1193_20191126/1193.mp3# Life, Death and Immortality] by N. Sri Ram | |||
== Notes == | |||
<references/> | |||
[[Category:Theosophical concepts]] | [[Category:Theosophical concepts]] | ||
[[Category:Theosophical worldview]] | |||
[[Category:Concepts in The Secret Doctrine]] | [[Category:Concepts in The Secret Doctrine]] | ||
[[es:vida]] | |||
Latest revision as of 20:42, 29 April 2024
Life in itself remains undefined by modern science. It is said to be a characteristic that distinguishes objects that have signaling and self-sustaining processes including the capacity for growth, reproduction, etc., from those that do not, either because such functions have ceased (death), or else because they lack such functions and are classified as inanimate.
General description
In one of his letters, Master K.H. wrote:
Spirit, life and matter, are not natural principles existing independently of each other, but the effects of combinations produced by eternal motion in Space.[1]
Spirit . . . becomes something only in union with matter — hence it is always something since matter is infinite and indestructible and non-existent without Spirit which, in matter is Life. Separated from matter it becomes the absolute negation of life and being, whereas matter is inseparable from it.[2]
The Master then added:
Life, after all, — the greatest problem within the ken of human conception is a mystery that the greatest of your men of Science will never solve. In order to be correctly comprehended, it has to be studied in the entire series of its manifestations, otherwise it can never be, not only fathomed, but even comprehended in its easiest form — life, as a state of being on this earth. It can never be grasped so long as it is studied separately and apart from universal life. To solve the great problem one has to become an occultist; to analyze and experience with it personally, in all its phases, as life on earth, life beyond the limit of physical death, mineral, vegetable, animal and spiritual life; life in conjunction with concrete matter as well as life present in the imponderable atom. Let them try and examine, or analyze life apart from organism, and what remains of it? Simply a mode of motion; which, unless our doctrine of the all-Pervading, infinite, omnipresent Life is accepted . . . has to remain unsolved.[3]
Regarding life in its concrete manifestation in living organism, he wrote:
The greatest, the most scientific minds on earth . . . all had to come to the same conclusion — that of the Occultists when given only partially — namely, that life in its concrete manifestations is the legitimate result and consequence of chemical affinity; as to life in its abstract sense, life pure and simple — well, they know no more of it to-day, than they knew in the incipient stage of their Royal Society.[4]
Universal life
H. P. Blavatsky saw life in its universal aspect as the source of Spirit, Soul and Matter:
Life we look upon as “the one form of existence,” manifesting in what is called matter; or, as in man, what, incorrectly separating them, we name Spirit, Soul and Matter. Matter is the vehicle for the manifestation of soul on this plane of existence, and soul is the vehicle on a higher plane for the manifestation of spirit, and these three are a trinity synthesized by Life, which pervades them all.[5]
See also One Life
Personal vitality
In one of his letters, Master K.H. wrote:
If, as I hope, in a few years, I am entirely my own master — I may have the pleasure of demonstrating to you on your own writing table that life as life is not only transformable into other aspects or phases of the all-pervading Force, but that, it can be actually infused into an artificial man. Frankenstein is a myth only so far as he is the hero of a mystic tale; in nature — he is a possibility; and the physicists and physicians of the last sub-race of the sixth Race will inoculate life and revive corpses, as they now inoculate small-pox, and often less comely diseases.[6]
See also
Online resources
Articles
- The Science of Life by H. P. Blavatsky
Audio
- Life, Death and Immortality by N. Sri Ram
Notes
- ↑ Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence No. 93b (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 317.
- ↑ Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence No. 93b (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 315-316.
- ↑ Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence No. 93b (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 316.
- ↑ Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence No. 93b (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 316.
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 49.
- ↑ Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence No. 93b (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 316-317.