Septenary (Theosophy)

The Septenary in H.P. Blavatsky's teachings refers to the seven principles of man. In "The Key to Theosophy", pp.90-93 she presents a synthesis of Eastern (Advaita Vedanta, Samkhya) and Western (Platonism, 19th century Occultism) ideas, according to which human nature consists of seven principles. These are:

* "Atma" - Spirit or Self - one with the The Absolute as Its Radiation
* "Buddhi" - Spiritual Soul - vehicle of pure universal spirit
* "Manas" - consisting of "Higher Manas", the spiritual, inner, or higher Ego; and "Lower Manas", the ordinary mind.
* "Kamarupa" - the "desire body", seat of animal desires and passions
* "Prana" - the vital principle
* "Linga Sharira" - the double or phantom body.
* "Sthula Sharira" - the physical body

Despite using Sanskrit terminology, many of these concepts are expressed differently from their Indian counterparts. The Atman or Self in monistic Vedanta for example is considered the Universal Self that is the same as, and not just a "ray" of, the Absolute or Brahman.

These seven principles can be grouped into a three-fold division of "Monad" (transcendent Spirit, consisting of Atma and Buddhi), "Ego" (the higher immortal spiritual Personality, made up of the Higher Manas only) and "Lower Quaternity" (the mortal personality, the Lower Manas and the remaining principles). In this, the Lower Manas is a transitional principle, the soul so to speak, which can choose to join either with the Kama (Desire) principle to form the "Kama-Manas", which becomes an "elementary" or "astral" spirit after death (equivalent perhaps to the "preta" or hungry ghost of Buddhism), or link with the higher or Buddhi principle to form a higher spiritual consciousness, the "Buddhi-Manas".

As well as seven subtle bodies, there are also seven Kosmic Planes of existence. However, in Blavatsky's teachings, the Planes and Principles don't match up (post-Blavatskian re-interpreters like C.W. Leadbeater reinterpreted the seven principles so they equate with the seven planes; this interpretation since became standard everywhere but original or orthodox Blavatskyian Theosophy).

While undergoing some changes and modifications in the hands of later esotericists such as Leadbeater, Rudolph Steiner, and Alice Bailey, Blavatsky's description of the seven bodies or principles remained a central part of western esoteric and New Age thinking ever since.

External links

* [http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/thomas/thomasprinciples.htm Principles of Man]
* [http://www.theosophy-nw.org/theosnw/human/hu-rook.htm The Seven Principles of Man] by Andrew Rooke
* [http://www.kheper.net/topics/Theosophy/HPB-7principles.htm The Seven Principles of Man]

References

* H.P. Blavatsky, "The Key to Theosophy", pp.90-93