Atma Vidya

By Cyrus Ryan

The experience of a small spiritual group and learning from a mandala was intriguing and totally new to me. Even the title, the “Occult Constitution of Man”, gave me goose bumps as I sensed that a door to a new and maybe secret knowledge was about to open. RN had designed this occult mandala and his wife had painted it in very bright colors under his direction. He said that this Mandala was the key to understanding both oneself and the esoteric teaching of the Master D.K. This was the teaching on ‘Atma Vidya’, the radiant knowledge of Self or Personality, Soul, Spirit.

These diagrams were very helpful in getting insights into the deeper teachings. Each diagram was an expression of a complex teaching in a two-dimensional form, based on geometric symbols and color. In a way, each of these diagrams synthesized an entire teaching that you would have to read an entire book to understand. This was like a shortcut. Over time, these diagrams evolved and RN added subtle changes that expressed more of the esoteric truths.

Atma Vidya explains how the One Life and Light, the source of All, the OM manifests through the seven planes, from Adi, the first plane, down to the physical or 7th plane (Vaisvanara). As the ONE Ray (Spirit) from this Greater Life (ALL SELF) descends, it separates from this One Life and individualizes as a selfcontained Soul (Jiva Atma). From this Soul, this individualized self-identity sends its ray of life and light (consciousness) to its reflection, the soul in incarnation, the lesser light, the Essential Nature. From here this life energy – now prana – radiates to the individual form that lives and thrives on the physical plane. It is this Essential Nature, the soul in incarnation, the lower light, that has to be awakened from its sleep. The ‘lower light’ is that which is hidden within the human being, the personality, on the physical plane. “This light, at a certain stage of man’s experience, is awakened throughout the physical body and blends eventually with the ‘greater light’ (5). This is a most esoteric point the Master D.K. points out in Rule Two in Treatise on White Magic and I will discuss it further shortly.

Atma Vidya explains the function of reincarnation, karma, and the evolution of consciousness. These are three indispensable concepts that the aspirant to esoteric knowledge should understand thoroughly. RN explained to us that the teaching of Atma Vidya was very old and that meditating on the Mandala of Atma Vidya was like a mystic key that could unlock the doors to many esoteric systems, plus transform you in the process. It would help to awaken the ‘higher manas’, the higher abstract mind, through contemplating the ideas expressed by the different symbols and aspects in the mandala. By using the creative imagination of visualization, in time, the teaching of Atma Vidya will awaken within you.

Creativity and spiritual experiences have marked Cyrus Ryan's life since a young age. He has spent time in India and Tibet, where he gained insights into the practices of esoteric Buddhism. An artist, writer and lecturer, Cyrus has lectured at The Theosophical Society, the Association for Higher Awareness (AHA), the New Jersey Metaphysical Society, and the University of Seven Rays. He has published articles in a variety of new age periodicals including The Beacon. Cyrus has been exploring esoteric knowledge for over forty years. He lives in Toronto, Canada.

Living on the Inner Edge - A Practical Esoteric Tale is published by Axis Mundi Books December 2018.

ISBN: 978-1-78535-780-0 (Paperback) £14.99 $23.95.

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