Master, Masters Adopted in theosophical literature to designate those human beings further progressed on the evolutionary pathway than the general run of humanity, from which are drawn the saviors of humanity and the founders of the world-religions.

These great human beings (also known by the Sanskrit term mahatma, "great self") are the representatives in our day of a brotherhood of immemorial antiquity running back into the very dawn of historic time, and for ages beyond it.

It is a self-perpetuating brotherhood formed of individuals who, however much they may differ among themselves in evolution, have all attained mahatmaship, and whose lofty purposes comprise among other things the constant aiding in the regeneration of humanity, its spiritual and intellectual as well as psychic guidance, and in general the working of the best spiritual, intellectual, psychic, and moral good to mankind. From time to time members from their ranks, or their disciples, enter the outside world publicly in order to inspire mankind with their teachings.

Two of Blavatsky's teachers became publicly known under the names of Master M (Morya) and Master KH (Koot Hoomi). Some of their correspondence with one of Blavatsky's earlier theosophical helpers has been published as The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett.

(See also: Master, Masters, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Mystic Death An experience at a certain stage of initiation, where the candidate undergoes the experiences of virtual death, differing from actual death in that his body is prevented from dissolution so that he may resume it when the trial has been passed.

Through its symbolic representation in the exoteric Mystery dramas, it has passed into the substance of religious creeds where it has been adapted to those formulas, as in the story or mythos of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Egyptian Book of the Dead is, among other things, a description of some of the experiences undergone by such a candidate.

(See also: Mystic Death, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Mysticism The doctrine that the nature of reality can be known by direct apprehension, by faculties above the senses, by intuition.

"Mysticism demands a faculty above reason, by which the subject shall be placed in immediate and complete union with the object of his desire -- a union in which the consciousness of self has disappeared, and in which therefore subject and object are one" (Encyclopedia Britannica, 9th ed. "Mysticism"). It overlaps in meaning such terms as the Neoplatonic ecstasis, and the theosophy of Iamblichus.

(See also: Mysticism, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

'Or (Hebrew) [from 'or to be or become light]

Also aior, aour, aur. Light, with secondary meanings of dawn, daybreak, lightning; the light of life; mystically light in the sense of instruction, knowledge, hence doctrine. Metaphorically, happiness, prosperity, guidance, and a teacher. By extension when used with paneh (face), to make the face shine, said of a candidate during initiation.

Equivalent to the astral light, and the source and synthesis of the two aspects of the manifested astro-etheric light: the one being the light- and life-giving ('od) and the other the matter side ('ob), the dealer of death.

(See also: 'Or, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Master M.

See MORYA

(See also: Master M, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

M'bul.

See MABBUL

(See also: M'bul, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

mysticism: Spirituality; the pursuit of direct spiritual or religious experience. Spiritual discipline aimed at union or communion with Ultimate Reality or God through deep meditation or trance-like contemplation. From the Greek mystikos, "of mysteries."

Characterized by the belief that Truth transcends intellectual processes and must be attained through transcendent means.

See: mysticism, occultism, clairaudient, clairvoyance, psychic, trance.psychic abilities, siddhi.

(See also: Mysticism, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

M - The thirteenth letter of the Hebrew and of the English alphabets, and the twenty-fourth of the Arabic. As a Roman numeral, this letter stands for 1,000, and with a dash on it (M) signifies one million.

In the Hebrew alphabet Mem symbolized water, and as a numeral is equivalent to 40. The Sanskrit ma is equivalent to number 5, and is also connected with water through the sign of the Zodiac, called Makara (q.v.).

Moreover, in the Hebrew and Latin numerals the m, stands "as the definite numeral for an indeterminate number"(Mackenzie’s Mason. Cyc.), and "the Hebrew sacred name of God app]ied to this letter is Meborach, Benedictus." With the Esotericists the M is the symbol of the Higher Ego - Manas, Mind.

(See also: M - Letter M, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Migmar mig dmar (Tibetan) [from mig eye + dmar red]

The "red eye," the planet Mars, whose symbol is an eye; corresponding to the Sanskrit mangala. Also Tuesday. The solar house of Mars is Aries, whose symbol is said to be written on the face in the eyebrows and nose. Mystical astrology states that there is a general correspondence among Mars, fire, and the human eye.

(See also: Migmar mig dmar, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Migmend {BCW 13:292&n}

(See also: Migmend, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Mikael.

See MICHAEL

(See also: Mikael, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Miles (Latin) Soldier; name given to the candidate who passed the third stage of initiation into the Mithraic Brotherhood.

(See also: Miles, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Milk {SD}

(See also: Milk, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Milky Way.

See GALAXY; VIA STRAMINIS

(See also: Milky Way, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Mimameid (Icelandic) [from Mimir a giant + meid tree]

The Norse Tree of Knowledge, belonging to the "wise giant" Mimir, owner of the well of wisdom from which Odin, Allfather of gods and men, daily drinks. Mimir represents basic matter from which all worlds are formed, corresponding to Mulaprakriti.

Mimameid is said to spread its branches over the land where Menglad (the goddess Freya) dwells. None may know of what root it is sprung but it "falls not for fire or iron." In its topmost branches perches a golden bird named Wideopener, and in the Underworld a magic brew is secreted in an iron caldron secured with nine strong locks and guarded by the dread hag Sinmara.

According to the tale of Svipdag, a postulant undertaking initiatory trials, he must wrest from Sinmara the magic potion which alone can give him access to the Wideopener but, in order to get the potion he must bring her a feather from the golden bird! This impossible task illustrates how thorough a familiarity with all aspects of the Tree of Knowledge is demanded of one seeking union with his higher self, represented by Menglad, the principle of spiritual intelligence.

(See also: Mimameid, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Mimansa (Sanskrit) [from the verbal root man to think]

Profound thought, profound consideration; one of the six Darsanas or Hindu schools of philosophy. There are two Mimansas, the older or Purva-mimansa, founded by Jaimini, and the younger or Uttara-mimansa founded by Vyasa. The older is commonly known as the Mimansa, and the younger as the Vedanta.

While the Uttara-mimansa is usually considered by European Orientalists to be the later in time, it contains the philosophic key to the entire system and in other senses may be called the theosophy of the Vedas. The word vedanta itself means "end of the Veda," in the sense of being its philosophical explication or completion.

(See also: Mimansa, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Mimir, Mimer (Icelandic, Scandinavian) In Norse mythology, the foremost of giants representing space on nine levels of existence, of which our physical space is but one -- the number nine may stand for an infinite continuum rather than a precise figure.

Mimir is owner of the well of wisdom (Mimisbrunnr), of which Odin, the living deity, drinks each day (life). For this privilege he had to forfeit one eye, which is kept at the bottom of the well. Symbolically Odin (divine consciousness) enters spheres of life in space and partakes of the waters of wisdom through experience. In doing so he "raises the runes (of wisdom) with song," i.e., with motion, life, activity. At the same time the matter-giant Mimir partakes of Allfather's forfeit (divine vision) as he quaffs the waters.

It is possible that the lost eye of Odin has reference to humanity's third eye which, according to theosophic tradition, retreated into the skull a long time ago, though a vestigial remnant of it remains imbedded in the brain as the pineal gland. There it awaits future use as the organ of the intuition or sixth sense, which in the far future is due to become active again.

During the war in heaven between the Aesir and the Vanir (lower and higher gods), Mimir was slain by Njord (time) and his body cast into a swamp. Of his severed head Odin made the "moon shield" also called water divider. Odin consults Mimir's head, gaining wisdom from it daily. In the realm of Night, Mimir judges the dead.

Mimir's well is one of the three springs which water the Tree of Life, Yggdrasil, the other two being those of Hvergelmir and Urd. His tree, Mimameid, is the Tree of Knowledge, which spreads its branches over the heavenly abode of Menglad (Freya), the higher mind.

(See also: Mimir, Mimer, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Mimra meymra' (Aramaic) Voice of the Will, the Word {SD 1:346, 384}

(See also: Mimra, meymra', Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Miaotse (Chinese) {SD 2:280-1, 337, 339}

(See also: Miaotse, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Michael micha'el (Hebrew) Who is as God; one of the seven archangels, in the Old Testament one of the chiefs of the heavenly host, regarded as the guardian angel or celestial patron of Israel. According to one legend, Michael was chief of the four or seven angels who surrounded the heavenly throne.

The Roman Catholic Church regards Michael in much the same light, his festival, Michaelmas, being held on September 29. With the Gnostics, the first of the Aeons, called the savior. In the New Testament Michael leads the angelic host against the Apocalyptic Dragon, repeating the familiar tale of many ancient mythologies. Again, he is the chief opponent of Samael, the principal antagonist of the heavenly host.

Originally, however, both Michael and Samael were as one, both proceeding from ruah (soul), neshamah (spirit), and nephesh (vitality) -- as taught in the Qabbalah (in the Chaldean Book of Numbers).

"Samael is the concealed (occult) Wisdom, and Michael the higher terrestrial Wisdom, both emanating from the same source but diverging after their issue from the mundane soul, which on Earth is Mahat (intellectual understanding), or Manas (the seat of Intellect). They diverge, because one (Michael) is influenced by Neschamah, while the other (Isamael) remains uninfluenced. This tenet was perverted by the dogmatic spirit of the Church; which . . . made of Samael-Satan (the most wise and spiritual spirit of all) -- the adversary of its anthropomorphic God and sensual physical man, the devil!" (SD 2:378).

In Ezekiel's vision of the Cherubim, or the four sacred animals, the angel with the face of the lion corresponds to Michael, as in the Ophite scheme.

(See also: Michael, micha'el, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)