Devas and Men-A Compilation of Theosophical Studies On The Angelic Kingdom

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THE concept of Deva-Man is both intriguing and immense; intriguing, because much of it still remains a mystery and what information is available is often carefully veiled; immense, because it appertains to the whole of man and to his relationship with nature and the Universe. As one reference in this book states:

"To many of us it is a familiar thought that men and angels belong to a composite body, that they work together to fulfil the purposes of natural law and human evolution. But to many of us it is quite a different matter to begin to realize that each man is not only human but is also devic in the nmost profound aspects of his nature. He is indeed man and deva in his own right, and these two inseparable parts of himself constitute the whole individual, one part totally unable to function without the other." (Theos. Vol. 80, p. 259)

Such an idea as is conveyed herein should surely inspire man to search and discover not only what his true nature is, but what his true place is in the scheme of things. Indeed, he may discover that he is not necessarily the most important being on this earth! "It is the devas' world," says one writer, "and man, so far from being a householder, is a lodger, or, at least, a resident alien". What, then, the reader may ask, does "deva" mean?

The word is derived from the Sanskrit meaning "to shine" -hence the "shining ones", the "resplendent" ones. But the term is used very loosely and in Hindu Scriptures, for instance, may refer to all life which is invisible. It is suggested, too, that devic life is the sum total of substance itself, the basis of all manifestation, or, in other words, Spirit-Matter. It refers to a whole range of life that is evolving 'pari passu' with the human.

The kingdoms of nature are curiously inter-related and mutual comprehension between them is difficult, for "the human and devic consciousness are like inverted triangles. In human beings self-centredness is ingrained, but the devic life is governed by a joyousness in which there is no conflict between desire and duty. To make co-opera- tion possible between these two worlds it is necessary to realise their complementary nature. In every-day life a conscious touch with nature spirits has the same effect as beauty, religion or philosophy. It forms part of the fabric or background which influences and interpenetrates experi- ence with a vital thread. No one can prove the reality of such experience to another, it is born of personal conviction."