The Rishis

Wisdom Teachings
Sublime Beings | Invocation of the Hierarchy of Teachers
Lectures on Secret Doctrine - 2

The ancient seers recognized that space pulsates. They perceived that this pulsation is the basis of all creation and that it exists within us as the “I AM.” “I AM” is nothing other than the pulsating principle. It is the life and intelligence of space contained in all forms and manifested into plant, animal, human, deva, etc. The seers perceived that there is a gradual manifestation from the subtle to the gross, and they discerned seven stages of manifestation, which we understand as the seven planes of existence.

In Sanskrit, the great seers are also called Rishis. The Rishis were people who brought about a tremendous expansion of their consciousness and thus, are further along in evolution than humanity today. Modern scholars consider Rishis as pure speculation. But these higher souls have lived on the planet since time immemorial, and they support the spiritual evolution of human beings and of the Earth. They are called by different names in different places. Some of the Rishis are recognized as Masters by the Theosophists.

A Rishi can see both the subtle and gross planes. He can see the interplay of forces behind matter. He can also see the One Energy that is constantly transforming into force and the interplay of forces that manifests as matter. When a Rishi looks at a tree or a mountain, he sees not only the form, but also sees the colours and sounds underlying the formation, and he also sees the basis of pure existence behind the formations.

The Rishis see the inner principles that operate within us and within creation. These principles and laws exist as an undercurrent throughout creation. They were there before books were written. We cannot learn the knowledge or wisdom of the Rishis from books or the internet. It is an inner learning which is quite different from learning through books. It is not about information, but about feeling the wisdom and accustoming our consciousness to it. Strictly speaking, we cannot learn the knowledge of the Rishis at all, because we have to become that knowledge. This knowledge is attained through practice; it is a transformation through regular and persistent practice.

The seers recommend closing the eyes and visualising many things within - the etheric centres, the planetary and cosmic principles of creation, or even space. In their high states of awareness, the seers have practised so precisely seeing the space between two objects and the beings existing there that they perceive only space. They look through the things we see in space. They then do not see the tree or the wall that we see. For them, the wall does not exist and they pass through. For us, the wall clearly exists and we know very well that we cannot go through it. Master E.K. describes how he saw a Master coming through the wall into his room and how he himself, with the help of the Master, was able to go through a bed. The Master said to him, “Just look into my eyes and come to me.”

There are seers who observe distant places and activities with their third eye. The power of their knowledge has a regulating effect and they can bring about needed changes. They have developed such a profound understanding of the universe that, staying in one place, they can perceive the events on the whole planet or even the events in the solar system. For thousands of years, the Rishis in the Himalayas have been observing from within everything that happens on the planet and outside of it. They can survey the cycles of time and their regularly recurring manifestations. They visualised, verified, and confirmed their visualisation with other seers and published it in full detail. Today's big bang theory is not far from their vision.

As their service to humanity is eternal, they remain in subtle bodies where they are untouched by death. According to necessity, they assume a physical body and leave it when the purpose is fulfilled. Due to the fact that they have transcended what is commonly known as death, they have a continuous identity and know each other through life and death. They are fully aware of the Plan and their role in it. They have transcended the personal element in order to become fully attuned to the Plan. They work without ever demanding anything for their actions or teachings, and their actions are beneficial. They attend to external activities only as far as is absolutely necessary. They work from silence and speak only when necessary. Then they only express the truth and are a channel for the expression of the truth. Therefore, when a seer says something, it happens. Sometimes they are also surprised at what is expressed through them. When a seer speaks, it is preserved for all time in heaven. This is how all scriptures survive the cycles of time. Anything we utter with our emotional and intellectual logic will not survive.

In the Vedic and Puranic traditions, the guiding functional principles of yoga on the cosmic and solar planes are regarded as Rishis. However, they are not personalities. Each principle has been given a name so that we can recognise and understand it. Such a principle organises a solar system for a fixed period of time and then hands it over to the next principle. The solar system headed by that particular principle is given the name of a special Rishi or cosmic Master. There are many such cosmic Masters, and the few names we know are like small windows to a large space.

Among the stars and constellations, those that are more evolved than the Sun of our solar system play a special role. The seven stars of the Great Bear and the seven stars that form the Pleiades have a special influence. For this reason, the stars of the Great Bear are called “The Seven Great Seers” and the Pleiades are called “The Seven Mothers”. The constellation of the Great Bear is called the “Sapta Rishi Mandala” in Sanskrit, the circle of the Seven Rishis. Each of the seven Suns is named after a Rishi - Atri, Brighu, Angiras, Vasishta, Pulastya, Pulaha and Kratu. The seven Rishis are the seven principles or spiritual guides of the seven stars of the Great Bear. They are also the cosmic Masters of the Seven Rays.

These principles transmit their spiritual presence to our earth via the rays of the greater Suns through our Sun. This presence has an impact on our planet as an intuitive ideal or principle. Their rays exert various magnetic and electrical influences on the earth. In certain people these principles are also embodied on earth and they are named after the Rishis mentioned above. Thus, there is the expression of each Rishi on the cosmic, solar, planetary, and human planes. On the human plane, the regional name of that person may be quite different and correspond to the language of the group there. But the Vedas refer to these persons only by the name of the Rishi. Thus, we have Vasishta, Vishvamitra or Markandeya as persons, as earth principles, as solar principles and as cosmic principles. For this reason, the characters of the Rishis appear with the same names in stories that take place over several centuries.

These personifications live on our earth as human beings in various incarnations and they are units of pulsating life and light at all times. They come back again and again and work for the benefit of humanity. Without the inclusion of this perspective, the stories in the sacred books of various nations cannot be properly understood.

We can unite with the seven Rishis in the seven centres and visualise them in a certain order after inviting the Masters related to us. Starting in the head centre, we can visualise Atri there. In the Ajna centre we can feel Brighu, in the throat centre Angiras, in the heart centre Vasishta, in the solar plexus Pulastya, in the sacral centre Pulaha and in the base centre Kratu. This is the original order we follow; it is found in various writings of the Masters.

Contemplation on the Rishis gives knowledge and inspiration; it uplifts us and helps to unfold the path to the Divine. All these cosmic intelligences are also present in us. We have to get to know them and relate to them. Gradually, they then begin to cooperate with us and reveal to us the secrets of creation. All Rishis have gained their knowledge in this way. To know them and to pay attention to them is to pay homage to these our elder brothers. They know the path up to the cosmic system and beyond. There is a vast Hierarchy. At every level we are guided as we relate to wisdom and pledge to transform ourselves to be a finer and ever finer being, so fine that eventually we reach the state of Self-realisation. Otherwise, we keep coming back to earth and doing the same things over and over again. With the help of the Rishis, we ascend and experience the beauty of the ONE.

Sources used: K.P. Kumar: Lectures on Secret Doctrine 2; div. seminar notes / E. Krishnamacharya: Spiritual Astrology. Dhanishta/Kulapathi Book Trust, Visakhapatnam, India (www.aquariusbookhouse.com).