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Dictionary on Ancient of the Ancient
Ancient of the Ancient (translation of Chaldean `Attiqa' de-`Attiqin) Qabbalistic term referring to the primordial aspect of the first Sephirah: "He is formed and yet is not formed. He is formed to sustain All and not formed because He is not found. When He is formed nine flaming Lights go out from Him; and from these Lights are emitted flames and they expand themselves out to all directions, like a lamp which spreads light to all sides" (Zohar iii 288a). The nine flaming lights refer to the nine consequential emanations of the Sephirothal Tree. The Qabbalah here uses "He" to describe one of the most profound and mystical -- because purely impersonal -- conceptions in cosmogony; because the first Sephirah is Kether the Crown and hence the first of the cosmic rays emanating from the abysmal cosmic deep. From this Crown, called Ancient of the Ancient, flowed forth in emanational procession all the other developments of the cosmic Tree of Life or cosmic hierarchy. . . For articles related to Ancient of the Ancient , see: Ancient of the Ancient , Occultism, Occultism Dictionary, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul. . . . Definition of Ancient of the Ancient is extracted from the home page of The Theosophical Society, International Headquarters, Pasadena, California. A Society founded in 1875 in an effort to promote the expressed awareness of the Oneness of Life. "The Encyclopedic Theosophical Glossary is presented to the public as a work in progress. The manuscript, produced originally in the 1930s and '40s, is currently being revised and expanded by the Editorial Committee. Theosophical University Press is presenting this working version online because, even in its present unfinished form, we feel that the contents will be of value to students of theosophical literature, particularly of the works of H. P. Blavatsky. " Please visit http://www.theosociety.org for more information. . . LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS BCW - H. P. Blavatsky: Collected Writings, BG - Bhagavad-Gita, BP - Bhagavata Purana, cf - confer, ChU - Chandogya Upanishad , Dial, Dialogues - The Dialogues of G. de Purucker, ed. A. L. Conger, Echoes - Echoes from the Orient, by William Q. Judge (comp. Dara Eklund), Ancient of the Ancient , ET - The Esoteric Tradition, by G. de Purucker, FSO - Fountain-Source of Occultism, by G. de Purucker, Fund - Fundamentals of the Esoteric Philosophy, by G. de Purucker, IU - Isis Unveiled, by H. P. Blavatsky, MB - Mahabharata , MIE - Man in Evolution, by G. de Purucker, Ancient of the Ancient , ML - The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett, ed. A. Trevor Barker, OG - Occult Glossary, by G. de Purucker, Rev - Revelations, RV - Rig Veda , SD - The Secret Doctrine, by H. P. Blavatsky, SOPh - Studies in Occult Philosophy, by G. de Purucker, TBL - Transactions of the Blavatsky Lodge (Secret Doctrine Commentary), by H. P. Blavatsky, TG - Theosophical Glossary, by H. P. Blavatsky, Ancient of the Ancient , Theos - The Theosophist (magazine), VP - Vishnu Purana , VS - The Voice of the Silence, by H. P. Blavatsky, WG - Working Glossary, by William Q. Judge, ZA - Zend-Avesta A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V X Y Z A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V X Y Z
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