Nirvana - An Occult Experience (A Study in Synthetic Consciousness)

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About the Book This book is a description of Nirvana and Nirvanic consciousness as experienced by the author. 'Each section is the pen impression of the Nirvanic landscape just as it impressed itself upon me at that time' writes Dr G. S. Arundale. Here is a remarkable passage:

Bathed in the lightning-standing-still which is Nirvana, I perceive the imprisoned lightning’s in all things ... the Light which is bright - [in] the man evolved; the Light which is glory - the Superman, the Master.

Mr C. W. L.eadbeater, the distinguished clairvoyant, described the book as 'a very remarkable production - a valiant attempt to describe the indescribable .... There is living fire in his (author's) words.'

Foreword I HAVE been asked by my life-long friend Bishop Arundale to write a few words of introduction to his book. I consider it a very remarkable production-a valiant attempt to describe the indescribable. Few among men still living on earth are they who have experienced Nirvana; fewer still have made any Endeavour to record their impressions. Those of us who have touched that truly tremendous altitude know well that all human words fall short in the effort, that all earthly colors are hopelessly inadequate, to depict its supernal glories; yet must we try, even though we are foredoomed to failure. That which is given to us we must share with our brethren, so far as may be, for that is the law of the occult life; in obedience to that law this book is written.

I have myself tried to convey in words some- thing of that super celestial atmosphere, as you may read in The Masters and (he Path, but I think my brother Bishop has been more success- full than I. There is a living fire in his words.

True, that which he has seen cannot be portrayed; yet the enthusiasm which he throws into the essay is so infectious that we feel ourselves on the very verge of understanding.

Much of upliftment, much of help he certainly can and does give us; if we cannot yet know all, at least we are nearer to the knowing, at least we are encouraged by the testimony of one who already knows. And where he stands now, all will stand one day.

So let us unite in outpouring our heartfelt gratitude for this rare book which he has given us; and the best way in which we can show it is to aid him and to follow him in the splendid work which he is doing in the service of our Holy Masters.

Preface I THINK I may say I have been a rather strenuous person for many years, for over twenty-five years now, under the inspiring guidance of my revered Chief, Dr. Annie Besant; and my strenuousness has been very much on the physical plane. I confess to having thought little of what people call "higher things," of causes and of origins, of theories of life, of planes of nature, of hierarchies of beings, and so forth. I have had work to do in the outer world, and I have tried to do it. and have not concerned myself with whys and wherefores. Whenever I have studied, I have studied specifically to the immediate ends of a particular piece of work. I have never studied for study's sake. I have never cared for wisdom for what wisdom is, but for what wisdom can do. My universe is full of the things I need. If I could not relate a thing to my work, then that thing has been out of my perspective, at all events for the time being. I have been one-pointed, even though I may have turned my eyes from much upon which they might usefully have rested.

But during the last year or so I have been making a discovery. I have discovered that however much I may have been strenuous on the physical plane, this physical plane strenuousness has been almost as nothing compared with my strenuousness on other planes. This is probably the case with everybody, but it came as a great surprise to me on the physical plane. I began at once to realize that I must cease to live in these plane-tight compartments. r must begin to live on many planes simultaneously. I began to realize that the one life unites all planes and all things; and that in reality there is nothing which should be indifferent to me. Everything is related to everything else, and everything modifies everything else. Why, the far- distant Sun Himself presses physically upon every part of the world, as science itself teaches us.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages