The Chain of Continuity

Wisdom Teachings
Inner Realities

Periodically, from the eternal existence, the creation arises and merges again into existence. It is like watching the moving water in a river - it is always different water we are seeing. So, as with creation, there is an uninterrupted chain of events, which produces the continuum of apparent existence through the interplay of the three forces of creation, evolution, and completion. In this process, background existence acts as the cementing principle that holds together the solar systems, the planets, and all beings.

Continuity is a principle in creation, while the foundations for living beings evolve. Life has not only a physical aspect, but there is also a subtle, a causal and a soul aspect, and this is also true for our earth. Our planet consists of seven stages that form a unity. The globe precipitates down through three regular stages until it reaches the fourth state, where the globe then becomes visible. The three preceding stages are invisible. When this earth completes its life span, it again passes into invisibility and continues to evolve on subtle planes in three steps. Thus, an earth principle works out upon seven globes.

When this earth has completed its life span and passes into invisibility, another earth, which is preparing for its manifestation on the subtle level, will appear at the same time. Before this subtle globe forms, there is another Earth in a nebulous state, preparing to take the place of the subtle Earth which is now preparing for manifestation. And one planet has also already receded while the visible planet is here in function. In this way seven planets form a chain of connected globes. Madame Blavatsky received this concept of the globe chains through her Master and expounded on it in the Secret Doctrine, offering humanity this information for the first time in modern times. The stories of Noah's Ark and of Manu Vaivasvata indicate how the beings who had not completed their evolution on a previous earth were brought to the present earth. They are not the same globes. Globes appear, and globes disappear. No planet is only a single, isolated globe; it is always part of a larger system.

To better understand this principle, we can also apply it to our family: We are there, and there is our father (who for some is no longer on the physical plane), there is a grandfather and also a great-grandfather. Though they may not be in physical form, they have not disappeared; they are very much there. Just because our father has passed away, we should not think that he is no longer there. He has simply left his physical body. To remind us, rituals are performed in the East where once a year, through a representative, the father, grandfather, and great-grandfather are invoked and food and clothing are offered to them. It does not go further back than the great-grandfather. We only count the three preceding generations and the three following generations, that is, the son, the grandson, and the great-grandson. We can understand this with the help of Madame Blavatsky's teaching of the globe chains. There are three before us and three after us. Together with us, there are seven.

That is why tradition says that a person has reached fulfilment when he sees his great-grandson. We should not think that we are independent individuals doing anything we want. We form a group with our ancestors and descendants. If we behave badly, our behaviour will affect the three generations before and the three generations after.

We can observe how glorious families experience a decline over the course of two or three generations because one person misbehaved. This not only affects the three generations that follow, but also the ancestors. They are brought down by our evil deeds, not by unreasonable deeds. Thus, we have a responsibility to maintain or, if possible, even improve the vibration of our family. It is wise for us to know that our wrongful behaviour can harm our father and mother, as well as their parents. We should take up the best from our parents, practice it ourselves and pass it on. If we behave wrongly, we cannot expect our children to behave rightly either.

The sphere of influence of the soul includes the three preceding souls and the three succeeding souls. It is like the seven strings of a musical instrument that produce music together. There are three higher notes and three lower notes, and the fourth note, the middle note, is very important. We are the fourth string of the instrument. If the fourth string is not well tuned, the three preceding strings and the three following strings will be disturbed. All seven strings are intertwined with each other.

Just as our ancestors are either promoted or dragged down by us, what we do in the name of our teachers also has an impact on the teachers. That is why teachers do not select their disciples lightly. They do not nominate anybody until they are very confident of whom to entrust. Because if they entrust, they need to know very well that the person will continue to maintain the vibration and even might improve upon it. The one who improves upon it has a positive impact on the teacher, and the one who causes damage also has a negative impact on the teacher. We should not, therefore, quote the name of our teacher; we are not fit to do until we have realized the teacher.

In the Invocation of the Hierarchy of Teachers, three generations of teachers are invoked, and respect is paid to them. We receive teaching from a Master of Wisdom; then we apply what we have heard in our lives, and if possible enable its flowering, and then pass it on to the next ones. This is the way the chains are built.

Through extraordinary good deeds, the three preceding generations, as well as the three preceding teachers, can be uplifted. The line of continuity exists not only in the family or with the teachers, but also in one’s profession and in society. We have a job, and there is a predecessor from whom we have taken responsibility. We receive, we experience, we enlighten and then we pass it on. Continuity of work of goodwill is ensured when wisdom is lived. Living wisdom is pure magic. It heals and nourishes the soul.

A tree lives on by offering the seeds. Parents continue through their children by offering their energy called life. The teacher lives on through the student by offering his energy called wisdom. This is how continuity is maintained. We must offer what we have received. We have received the love and care of the elders. Hence, we need to give loving care to the young ones. We receive food, clothing and many other things. We must also give these things to others. We receive money and comfort from society. We need to also give money and comfort to the members of society.

The strength we carry within us is not only our strength, but also the strength of the three preceding generations, and it can be the future strength for the three generations to come. “Do not cut the thread of continuity” is an occult injunction from the Vedas. The thread has carried the family lineage up to us, and it should always be continued, if possible in multiple ways. It says, “You have been given a body and you have the responsibility to also give a body to at least one other being yourself.” If we do not have children ourselves, but our brother has children, then the family tree is continued.

Many couples decide not to marry and have children for economic reasons, and so there are no successors. This is considered an irresponsible act. If nature does not allow us to marry and if we do not have children, that is another story, but have we ourselves made an effort to marry and have children? The wisdom teachings explain that if we do not have children, this dimension needs to be fulfilled in the next life. If this knowledge is lost, then we have made a point behind a dynasty that reached to us.

Today, there are nations where there are no youth to run the country. The population structure has shifted to the detriment of the younger generation. The retirement age is increasing because there are not enough young people to support the pension system. The power of the generations is used very well by our brothers from the Gulf, who are also all over Europe. They are having many children, which is quite in line with the original recommendation of the Creator.

A soul that wants to incarnate always looks for a suitable place where it can land. Airplanes, which do not get a possibility for landing on the intended runway, just land somewhere else; and so it is today also with incarnating souls. Airports are closed everywhere at the moment, that is, couples do not want to have children. Then where will the souls go? We are doing a disservice to nature’s plan if we close ourselves off. Who knows, maybe a great being will be born through us.

There is another aspect, that of sanyasa, renunciation of all worldly things and obligations. When the one who walks the path of renunciation is fulfilled in sanyasa, rises to realms of light and performs great deeds of service, the ancestors are also elevated. This also needs to be considered.

Sources used: K.P. Kumar: Lectures on Secret Doctrine; div. seminar notes. The World Teacher Trust - Dhanishta, Visakhapatnam, India