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'''Chaos''' (from the Greek χάος, khaos) means "emptiness, vast void, chasm, abyss" and in the Greek creation myths it refers to a moving, formless mass from which the cosmos and the gods originated. In [[Theosophy]], Chaos is space filled with darkness, which is primordial matter in its pre-cosmic state.<ref>H.P. Blavatsky, ''The Secret Doctrine'' vol. I (London: The Theosohpical Publishing House, 1978), 336</ref> It contains in itself all the Elements in their rudimentary, indifferentiated State.<ref>H.P. Blavatsky, ''The Secret Doctrine'' vol. I (London: The Theosohpical Publishing House, 1978), 342</ref>
'''Chaos''' (from the Greek χάος, khaos) means "emptiness, vast void, chasm, abyss" and in the Greek creation myths it refers to a moving, formless mass from which the cosmos and the gods originated. In [[Theosophy]], Chaos is space filled with darkness, which is primordial matter in its pre-cosmic state.<ref> Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Secret Doctrine'' vol. I (London: The Theosohpical Publishing House, 1978), 336.</ref> It contains in itself all the Elements in their rudimentary, indifferentiated State.<ref> Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Secret Doctrine'' vol. I (London: The Theosohpical Publishing House, 1978), 342.</ref>


[[The Secret Doctrine (book)|''The Secret Doctrine'']] uses many synonyms for this Principle. Some of them can be found in the following definition by [[H. P. Blavatsky]]:
[[The Secret Doctrine (book)|''The Secret Doctrine'']] uses many synonyms for this Principle. Some of them can be found in the following definition by [[H. P. Blavatsky]]:


<blockquote>Chaos (Gr.). The Abyss, the "Great Deep". It was personified in Egypt by the Goddess Neith, anterior to all gods . . . Neith is the "Father-mother" of the Stanzas of the Secret Doctrine, the Swabhavat of the Northern Buddhists, the immaculate Mother indeed, the prototype of the latest "Virgin" of all. . . Neith is Swabhavat and also the Vedic Aditi and the Puranic Akasa.<ref>H. P. Blavatsky, Theosophical Glossary (Krotona, CA: Theosophical Publishing House, 1918), 77</ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>Chaos (Gr.). The Abyss, the "Great Deep". It was personified in Egypt by the Goddess Neith, anterior to all gods . . . Neith is the "Father-mother" of the Stanzas of the Secret Doctrine, the Swabhavat of the Northern Buddhists, the immaculate Mother indeed, the prototype of the latest "Virgin" of all. . . Neith is Swabhavat and also the Vedic Aditi and the Puranic Akasa.<ref> Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Theosophical Glossary'' (Krotona, CA: Theosophical Publishing House, 1918), 77.</ref></blockquote>





Revision as of 16:22, 7 April 2012

Chaos (from the Greek χάος, khaos) means "emptiness, vast void, chasm, abyss" and in the Greek creation myths it refers to a moving, formless mass from which the cosmos and the gods originated. In Theosophy, Chaos is space filled with darkness, which is primordial matter in its pre-cosmic state.[1] It contains in itself all the Elements in their rudimentary, indifferentiated State.[2]

The Secret Doctrine uses many synonyms for this Principle. Some of them can be found in the following definition by H. P. Blavatsky:

Chaos (Gr.). The Abyss, the "Great Deep". It was personified in Egypt by the Goddess Neith, anterior to all gods . . . Neith is the "Father-mother" of the Stanzas of the Secret Doctrine, the Swabhavat of the Northern Buddhists, the immaculate Mother indeed, the prototype of the latest "Virgin" of all. . . Neith is Swabhavat and also the Vedic Aditi and the Puranic Akasa.[3]


Notes

  1. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine vol. I (London: The Theosohpical Publishing House, 1978), 336.
  2. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine vol. I (London: The Theosohpical Publishing House, 1978), 342.
  3. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, The Theosophical Glossary (Krotona, CA: Theosophical Publishing House, 1918), 77.


Further reading