devachan

(Sanskrit) The heavenly world where weary souls rest, refresh the spirit, and experience no pain in a spirit reality

(See also: Devachan, Body Mind and Soul)

A Theosophical definition of Devachan :

Devachan

[Tibetan, bde-ba-can, pronounced de-wa-chen] A translation of the Sanskrit sukhavati, the "happy place" or god-land. It is the state between earth-lives into which the human entity, the human monad, enters and there rests in bliss and repose.

When the second death after that of the physical body takes place  - and there are many deaths, that is to say many changes of the vehicles of the ego  - the higher part of the human entity withdraws into itself all that aspires towards it, and takes that "all" with it into the devachan; and the atman, with the buddhi and with the higher part of the manas, become thereupon the spiritual monad of man. Devachan as a state applies not to the highest or heavenly or divine monad, but only to the middle principles of man, to the personal ego or the personal soul in man, overshadowed by atma-buddhi. There are many degrees in devachan: the highest, the intermediate, and the lowest. Yet devachan is not a locality, it is a state, a state of the beings in that spiritual condition.

Devachan is the fulfilling of all the unfulfilled spiritual hopes of the past incarnation, and an efflorescence of all the spiritual and intellectual yearnings of the past incarnation which in that past incarnation have not had an opportunity for fulfillment. It is a period of unspeakable bliss and peace for the human soul, until it has finished its rest time and stage of recuperation of its own energies.

In the devachanic state, the reincarnating ego remains in the bosom of the monad (or of the monadic essence) in a state of the most perfect and utter bliss and peace, reviewing and constantly reviewing, and improving upon in its own blissful imagination, all the unfulfilled spiritual and intellectual possibilities of the life just closed that its naturally creative faculties automatically suggest to the devachanic entity.

Man here is no longer a quaternary of substance-principles (for the second death has taken place), but is now reduced to the monad with the reincarnating ego sleeping in its bosom, and is therefore a spiritual triad. (See also Death, Reincarnating Ego)

See also: Devachan, Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul)

DEVACHAN

The Land where the Gods are reborn. Life's threshold, located between the manvataras and between earth-lives. The higher realm above the astral (Skt. and Tibetan deva, "light" + chan, "dwelling place"). Madame Blavatsky, in writing of the realm of Devachan and the "wheatfields of Aanroo", is careful to point out that Manas splits here, after death, between the higher and lower minds. Only the higher mind remains. The lower, self-directed mind goes with the kama-rupa to the "Abode of Shells", or the place of the Hebrew Qlipoth. Our "I" or "atman" (with small a) rejoins that spiritual part of itself that is not incarnated, and as "Atman (large A), it proceeds on through the aionic planets. According to HPB, in Devachan we relive the totality of our past lives and re-experience our "enduring selfhood". We relive the trans-personal "I" which our labors, filtered through numberless incarnations, have made of the monadic essence which we originally introduced into form. The visualized solar system is the materialistic waste of an as-above-so-below operation. Hence all archetypes and ideas ultimately surface to the material world. Here we blueprint all the evolutions and involutions ("Not the One in many, but the oneness of the Many"). Rulers of these archetype-beings along with their human evolution make up the Dhyan-Choans, gods or "contemplative lords".

There are rare beings who sacrifice their rest, Devachan or Nirvana to remain earthbound in continual rebirth out of compassion for mankind. Animals, though their astral bodies possess some temporary survival potential, have no ego-manas, hence no Devachan. The animal monad can reincarnate only as a higher species. By the same token, HPB states (Secret Doctrine), "Eastern philosophy rejects the Western theological dogma of a newly-created soul for every baby born, as being as unphilosophical as it is impossible in the economy of nature. There must be a limited number of monads growing..."

Prior to Zoroaster and the Forth, or present, race, there was no Devachan, but only rebirth, phoenix-like out of the ashes of the previous body. Xtianity teaches the doctrine of the Old Third Race in which there is no higher Manas and the human monad does not reincarnate until the Second Coming.

In orthodox Xtianity there is no rebirth - only literal resurrection on the Day of Judgment with Christ's return (this opening of graves does not accompany the return of Zoroaster, Kalki or the Maitreya Buddha). Also, unlike the Theosophical version of the hereafter, there is no comparable split of spirit from soul in orthodox Xtianity. Reincarnation is a Gnostic or Neoplatonic heresy (Plato called this the "Realm of Ideas").

(See also: DEVACHAN, Magick, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul, )

 Would it surprise you to hear that there are many people who would prefer NOT to believe in an afterlife? For many, the prospect of what they may face after death can be quite horrifying. "When you're dead, you're dead" is a way of looking at life grounded totally in the physical world and its body, but for many, this concept of life and death offers great comfort. This is because believing this way allows the individual to do whatever he or she wishes to whomever he or she wishes without having to worry about "paying the price" at some later time, in some other realm of life.

Read more here: » Spirit World: Heaven and Hell - Places or States of Mind?

(Eg.) The second division of Amenti. The celestial field of Aanroo is encircled by an iron wall. The field is covered with wheat, and the "Defunct" are represented gleaning it, for the "Master of Eternity"; some stalks being three, others five, and the highest seven cubits high. Those who reached the last two numbers entered the state of bliss (which is called in Theosophy Devachan); the disembodied spirits whose harvest was but three cubits high went into lower regions (Kamaloka). Wheat was with the Egyptians the symbol of the Law of Retribution or Karma. The cubits had reference to ...

Including:

• Aanroo - Reference

Read more here: » Aanroo: Encyclopedia - Aanroo

Trailokya, or Trilokya (Sk.). Lit., the "three regions" or worlds; the complementary triad to the Brahmanical quaternary of worlds named Bhuvanatraya. A Buddhist profane layman will mention only three divisions of every world, while a non-initiated Brahman will maintain that there are four. The four divisions of the latter are purely physical and sensuous, the Trailokya of the Buddhist are purely spiritual and ethical. The Brahmanical division may be found fully described under the heading of Vyahritis, the difference being for the present ...

Read more here: » Trailõkya: Encyclopedia - Trailõkya

Subtle bodies Causal plane: Causal body Mental plane: Mental body Astral plane: body, projection Etheric plane: Etheric body Physical plane: Physical body The 7 Worlds & the 7 Cosmic Planes The Seven-fold constitution of Man The Ten-fold constitution of Man Cosmology Sufi cosmology Tanazzulut Ray of Creation The Laws Three Centres Five Centres Plane (Dungeons & Dragons)   Inner Plane    ...

Including:

• Astral body - The astral body in Neoplatonism
• Astral body - The astral body in Theosophy
• Astral body - The desire body in Rosicrucianism
• Astral body - Later interpretations
• Astral body - The astral body in generic New Age thought
• Astral body - Artistic depictions

Read more here: » Astral body: Encyclopedia - Astral body

Devachan (Sanskrit). The "dwelling of the gods". A state intermediate between two earth-lives, into which the EGO (Atma-Buddhi-Manas, or the Trinity made One) enters, after its separation from Kama Rupa, and the disintegration of the lower principles on earth.

(See also: Devachan, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Devachan bDe-ba-can de-wa-chen (Tibetan) (from bde-ba happiness + can possessing)

The happy land; exoterically, a translation of the Sanskrit sukhavati, the happy Western Realm or Pure Land of the dhyani-buddha Amitabha of East Asian Buddhism. Certain Tibetan books contain glowing descriptions of devachan, such as the Mani Kambum (or Kumbum) and the Odpagmed kyi shing kod. The term was first employed in theosophical literature by the Mahatmas in their letters to A. P. Sinnett.

In theosophy, devachan is the interlude between earth-lives during which the strictly higher human part of the human composite constitution, the reincarnating ego or higher manas, rests in perfect bliss. Recurring time periods of manifestation and quiescence are fundamental in nature, and devachan is the subjective part of the cyclic rhythm of human evolution on this globe. It corresponds, post-mortem, to the sleeping state of the imbodied, but the devachanic "dreams" are far more vivid and real than ordinary dreams; as a matter of fact, earth life is more truly a dream -- to many oftentimes a nightmare.

Devachan commences after the "second death" has taken place, when the lower quaternary of human principles (sthula-sarira, linga-sarira, prana, and kama) has separated from the reincarnating ego, which has drawn into itself the noblest thoughts, emotions, and the unrealized hopes of the past incarnation. Atma-buddhi and the more spiritual part of manas -- the reincarnating higher human ego -- become the spiritual monad for the time being, so that the human ego takes its devachan within the monad. The devachanic state applies only to the middle human principles, the purified personality. It has many degrees, and the ego finds its proper place in harmony with its karmic evolutionary stage.

Devachan is a state of peace and happiness beyond ordinary mental cognizance, and no disturbing element can enter until the reincarnating ego has finished resting and recuperating its energy for a new sojourn on earth. Because the reincarnating ego builds its own paradise out of the materials it gathered in the last incarnation, there are great varieties in the devachanic state. It is the product of every individual's unfulfilled spiritual yearnings, longings, and aspirations: since these were not fulfilled or only partly so in earth life, during the interval between earth-lives the ego seeks to fulfill them, rehearsing its spiritual yearnings which, being mental visions or pictures, are thus real in a far truer sense that anything possible on earth, where the consciousness is so thickly enshrouded with the obscuring veils of lower attractions. It is the quality of these aspirations, however, which determines the length of the devachanic state: the more lofty and spiritual the aspirations, the longer the stay. Devachan is not a state of positive action and responsibility, and therefore not a field of retribution for wrong done in the past.

The purified ego is far beyond the reach of ordinary mediums whose contact is confined to far grosser entities and planes. Occasionally a sensitive can rise to the devachanic plane and enter into a spiritual communion with an ego with whom there is close sympathy, but even this is rare, and to retain it in the memory is perhaps rarer.

In considering devachan and nirvana, devachan appertains to the higher human ego, however sublimated it may be, of any particular incarnation; whereas nirvana is a far higher state in which the personality is completely transcended and dropped, or has become so thoroughly purified that it is identified with the higher self. The devachanic state is of an illusory nature (although real enough to the devachani, just as earth life is to us); but the nirvani has attained universal consciousness and experiences reality -- sachchidananda, as expressed by the Vedantists.

Devachan and nirvana are not localities, but the states of consciousness of the beings in those respective spiritual conditions. Nirvana is the highest spiritual or superspiritual state; devachan is the intermediate or high psychological states; and avichi, popularly called the lowest of the hells, is the nether pole of the spiritual condition. These three are states of beings existing in the lokas or talas, the worlds of the cosmic egg; whereas paranirvana ("beyond nirvana," a super-nirvana) is that divine state which is virtually identification with cosmic reality.

(See also: Devachan, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Sekten (Egypt, Egyptian). Devachan; the place of post mortem reward, a state of bliss, not a locality.

(See also: Sekten, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Tiaou (Egypt, Egyptian). A kind of Devachanic post mortem state.

(See also: Tiaou, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Walhalla (Scandianvian Norse). A kind of paradise (Devachan) for slaughtered warriors, called by the Norsemen "the hall of the blessed heroes"; it has five hundred doors.

(See also: Walhalla, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Zabulon (Hebrew, Jewish). The abode of God, the tenth Devachan in degree. Hence Zabulon, the tenth son of Jacob.

(See also: Zabulon, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

A Theosophical definition of Heaven and Hell :

Heaven and Hell

Every ancient exoteric religion taught that the so-called heavens are divided into steps or grades of ascending bliss and purity; and the so-called hells into steps or grades of increasing purgation or suffering. Now the esoteric doctrine or occultism teaches that the one is not a punishment, nor is the other strictly speaking a reward.

The teaching is, simply, that each entity after physical death is drawn to the appropriate sphere to which the karmic destiny of the entity and the entity's own character and impulses magnetically attract it. As a man works, as a man sows, in his life, that and that only shall he reap after death. Good seed produces good fruit; bad seed, tares  - and perhaps even nothing of value or of spiritual use follows a negative and colorless life.

After the second death, the human monad "goes" to devachan  - often called in theosophical literature the heaven-world. There are many degrees in devachan: the highest, the intermediate, and the lowest.

What becomes of the entity, on the other hand, the lower human soul, that is so befouled and weighted with earth thought and the lower instincts that it cannot rise? There may be enough in it of the spirit nature to hold it together as an entity and enable it to become a reincarnating being, but it is foul, it is heavy; its tendency is consequently downwards. Can it therefore rise into a heavenly felicity? Can it go even into the lower realms of devachan and there enjoy its modicum of the beatitude, bliss, of everything that is noble and beautiful? No. There is an appropriate sphere for every degree of development of the ego-soul, and it gravitates to that sphere and remains there until it is thoroughly purged, until the sin has been washed out, so to say.

These are the so-called hells, beneath even the lowest ranges of devachan; whereas the arupa heavens are the highest parts of the devachan. Nirvana is a very different thing from the heavens. (See also Kama-Loka, Avichi, Devachan, Nirvana)

See also: Heaven and Hell, Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul)

Sukhavati, Sukhavati (Sanskrit) The heaven of Buddha-Amitabha, exoterically situated in the West; equivalent to devachan (cf ML 99-100).

(See also: Sukhavati, Sukhavati, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

Svarga (Sanskrit) In Hindu philosophy, a heavenly abode -- also often called Indraloka, or Svarloka, said to be situated on Mount Meru. It corresponds in theosophical writings to devachan.

(See also: Svarga, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

Lethe (Greek) Forgetfulness; a river of the Underworld which confers upon souls destined to live again on earth the boon of oblivion of their former experiences. It refers to the postmortem destiny of the human soul as it sinks into its pre-devachanic unconsciousness and final carefree devachanic bliss, thus gaining oblivion of inferior human concerns and utter peace before the time comes for the resumption of new bodies on earth. Also it refers to the loss of memory of the postmortem experiences and prebirth panoramic vision before birth.

(See also: Lethe, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Chandramasanjyotis candramasanjyotis (Sanskrit) (from chandramas moon + sam with + jyotis light)

Having the same light as the moon; according to Subba Row, a symbol of the devachanic existence, for just as the moon shines by the reflected light of the sun, so does the ego in devachan shine by the light emanating from the atma-buddhi or monadic portion of any entity's being. The word was probably coined by Subba Row.

(See also: Chandramasanjyotis, candramasanjyotis, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Sukhavati (Sanskrit). The Western Paradise of the uneducated rabble. The popular notion is that there is a Western Paradise of Amitabha, wherein good men and saints revel in physical delights until they are carried once more by Karma into the circle of rebirth. This is an exaggerated and mistaken notion of Devachan.

(See also: Sukhavati, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Tefnant (Egypt, Egyptian). One of the three deities who inhabit "the land of the rebirth of gods" and good men, i.e., Aamroo (Devachan) The three deities are Scheo, Tefnant, and Seb.

(See also: Tefnant, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )