Round (Theosophy)
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
A Round in the esoteric cosmology of Theosophy and Anthroposophy is a cosmic cycle or sequence by which an evolving reincarnating being passes through the various stages of existence as the Earth, the Solar System or the Cosmos comes into and passes out of manifestation.
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The Theosophical Concept of Rounds
In Theosophy, the whole process is very complex. A Round is a part of a planetary chain, according to which a life cycle or life-wave of souls or monads begins its evolutionary journey on the first and most subtle or spiritual of the series of seven or ten globes; then finishing its evolution there, proceeds to the next, and so on, to the densest or most manifest globe (usually called globe D), which in our case is the Earth. From there it proceeds on the ascending arc, through increasingly more etherial globes. Each of these stages is called a globe round, and during this time the the reincarnating life wave has passed through seven root-races.
When the life wave has gone through all seven globes (and globe rounds) of the planetary chain, it has completed one planetary round or globe manvantara. This is followed by the dissolution of the planetary chain in a nirvana (which is not the same as what Buddhism calls nirvana because it is not premanent) or pralaya. Finally, a new round begins, in which consciousness is now more developed than in the preceeding round.
Seven such planetary rounds (or forty-nine globe rounds) represents one kalpa or manvantara or day of brahma. This is followed by a higher "nirvana" or pralaya, which is the pralaya of that planetary chain. This lasts until a new planetary chain forms with its various life waves.
Seven such planetary chains and their pralayas constitute a solar manvantara, after which the solar system is dissolved in a cosmic pralaya, before the cycle begins anew.
This elaborate cosmology, first formulated by Blavatsky, and was also taught by (de Purucker, Leadbeater, and Alice Bailey
The Anthroposophical Concept of Rounds
Rudolph Steiner retained the basic concept of root races and seven-fold cycles within cycles, but his description is considerably simpler, concentrating only on the seven cycles of the present Solar System. Each of these cycles constitutes a coming into being and passing out of being of the solar system, and each is divided into seven rounds, upon which man passes through seven root races. For Steiner, the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms represent "cast off" elements of the human entity from previous rounds. These teachings have been incorporated into the Anthroposophical Society that Steiner founded.
Links
- Round (http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Round/id/69168) (de Purucker)
- Steiner's Occult Cosmology (http://www.kheper.net/topics/Anthroposophy/Steiner-cosmology.htm)
References
- de Purucker, G, Glossary - a Compendium of Oriental and Theosophical Terms (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theosophical_Glossary|Occult)
- Arthur E. The Causal Body and the Ego
- Steiner, Rudolph, Occult science - An Outline. Trans. George and Mary Adams. London: Rudolf Steiner Press, 1909, 1969
