Abortion
Theosophical Society founder H. P. Blavatsky was opposed to abortion, although not for religious reasons. In her teachings, the soul of a human being does not incarnate in a fetus, but does it gradually as the child grows up:
The sin [of abortion] is not regarded by the occultists as one of a "religious" character, for, indeed, there is no more of spirit and soul, for the matter of that, in a foetus or even in a child before it arrives at self-consciousness, than there is in any other small animal—for we deny the absence of soul in either mineral, plant or beast, and believe but in the difference of degree.[1]
It is important to remember that in Theosophical literature, the term "soul" is often used in a general sense for those principles linking lowest matter (body) with the highest spirit (atman). Thus, there is mention of a vital soul (prana), animal soul (kama), human soul (manas), and spiritual soul (buddhi). Prana and kama are present in both humans and animals since conception. The source of human consciousness, however, is manas, also referred to as the reincarnating soul or ego. It is this principle that Blavatsky states is not yet connected to a fetus.
Further explanations can be found in a conversation with Walter Old. In it, he mentions the triple Monad (atma-buddhi-manas), telling H. P. Blavatsky: "We have been accustomed to think . . . that this “Monad” incarnates at some period or other in the newly-born child—not, however, fully incarnating until seven years after birth."[2] Her answer was:
The Monad overshadows the fetus only in the seventh month, and enters fully the child after he reaches consciousness. The Devachanic entity [reincarnating ego] envelops, so to speak, the new entity, lights it up, but begins its process of assimilation only after the first ray of consciousness say at seven or eight months. Thus it does not enter it. It begins to overshadow it, it is there, it is led by Karmic law to it, but it cannot enter immediately. It is perfect nonsense to say the child has a soul, and is a human being before it is born.[3]
Walter Old thought that this view "is rather dangerous against the law of infanticide," to which Mme. Blavatsky replied:
It cannot be taught to the masses and the people. But unfortunately the Hindus know it, and therefore they get rid of their children very easily.[4]
Blavatsky was against abortion due to the "willful and sinful destruction of life, and interference with the operations of nature, hence with KARMA."[5] She warned that abortion,
When even successful and the mother does not die just then, it still shortens her life on earth to prolong it with dreary percentage in Kamaloka, the intermediate sphere between the earth and the region of rest.[6]
Online Resources
Articles
- Is Foeticide A Crime by H.P. Blavatsky
- Colbert, James, "Abortion and the Reincarnation of the Soul." Theosophy Forward June 23, 2013. Avaiable online at Theosophy Forward website.
Notes
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings vol. V (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1997), 108.
- ↑ Michael Gomes (transcriber), The Secret Doctrine Commentaries (The Hague: I.S.I.S. foundation, 2010), 573.
- ↑ Michael Gomes (transcriber), The Secret Doctrine Commentaries (The Hague: I.S.I.S. foundation, 2010), 575.
- ↑ Michael Gomes (transcriber), The Secret Doctrine Commentaries (The Hague: I.S.I.S. foundation, 2010), 576.
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings vol. V (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1997), 108.
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings vol. V (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1997), 107.