The Atma Jyoti Blog

Satan is the force of cosmic delusion. But since it is to a great extent the collective energies projected by deluded intelligences (souls), it is also a kind of energy being that has a form of independent (though reflected) consciousness. Those who talk about how “if God did not exist, man would invent him” have intuited a fact. Humans can create thoughtform entities that become energy robots with a dim life and consciousness of their own. Many of the “gods” that have been worshipped throughout history were such creations of human will and consciousness. It is fashionable to sneer at the declaration by Judaism and Christianity that many of the “old” gods were demons, nevertheless–they were.

Satan is much more powerful than the thoughtform gods, being drawn from countless beings over a vast span of time. Satan can be thought of as an immense blind shark that swims around and intuits who can be engulfed or eaten and perhaps even assimilated in time. In this way it perpetually increases in power and effect. As Frankenstein’s monster was composed of parts taken from many bodies, so Satan is also a composite of energies or intelligent beings that are yet somewhat individual though submerged in a collective darkness of consciousness. So Satan is not an individual but a collection of both negative forces–and negative trapped souls. This is far more hideous than anything most of us can imagine. This awful conglomerate moves through the universe, both material and psychic, indeed seeking whom it may devour or debase. It both knows what it is doing and does not know, since much of its function is subliminal.

Lucifer is an altogether different matter, being a highly evolved creative being–an archangel or prajapati–that has turned negative while maintaining his definition as an individual entity. Since he is in total harmony with the cosmic Satanic force and has for ages added to its power as its agent, he can also be called Satan–just as Jesus “turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”

Q: Please explain how the world goes–what is the starting point and the end point?

This is best explained in Autobiography of a Yogi (first edition facsimile published by Crystal Clarity Publishers–View full text online here). Some of the major upanishads also give detailed descriptions of how the universe emanates from the Absolute–and also why. The Bhagavad Gita also deals with these matters. I recommend you get information directly from these authoritative sources rather than a synthesis from me.

Q: If we consider this world as cyclic when will Satya Yuga arrive?

This is also discussed quite completely in Autobiography of a Yogi as well as in The Holy Science by Swami Sriyukteswar Giri.

Please be aware, that Kali, Dwapara, Treta, and Satya are matters of prevailing consciousness at some point in time. But they are also indications of individual development. Therefore, we can inwardly be in Satya Yuga even when Kali Yuga prevails outside. And we can be in Kali Yuga inside even when the world in general is in Satya Yuga.

The answer to this all is meditation.

Read more about learning how to meditate.

Q:What do you think about astrology?

All that exists, despite the appearance of multiplicity, is really ONE in a very real and practical sense. And in every part the Whole is contained. Thus there is no possibility of separating ourselves from the universal life of creation except through transcendence. But until that transcendence occurs we must acknowledge our integral existence with all that “is.” And part of that existence is the phenomenon of change wrought by the invisible tides of life.

Long before recorded history the wise observed that the human being was a miniature universe, a reflection of creation. Further observance revealed that changes in the external world–including the solar system–corresponded to changes in the individual’s sphere of life. This was particularly noted in the matter of planetary movement. Thus it was discovered that the movements of the planets within the solar system corresponded to operations of biomagnetic and psychic forces within the individual person that were then reflected outward into the individual’s environment or daily life routine.

The ancients understood that the planets were not the causes of the observed changes, but were merely indicators of forces operating deep within the magnetic levels of universal life. Further, the ancients understood that these magnetic fluxes produced a tendency toward certain conditions, or a state of favorability for the development of certain situations or conditions, but they did not believe that they were inexorable or unavoidable causes of those effects. The movements of the planets revealed the likelihood of certain effects, but not their inevitability. Therefore those who studied the movements of the planets were in no way fatalistic about their seeming foreshadowings. Rather, the movements of the stars were simply looked upon as indicators that certain times were more favorable for certain results and less favorable for others. And that is all. The fatalistic attitude that some people have mistakenly adopted in modern times was unknown.

The movements of the planets mostly indicate the character of prevailing biomagnetic influences–energies that are only slightly more subtle than purely physical forces. Most of the world’s population is enmeshed in and controlled by such gross powers, although those who cultivate spiritual consciousness become less and less affected by those forces.

Consequently astrology can be used to comprehend what forces are moving within the collective psyche of “the masses.” For example, we can certainly gauge the tendencies of national or international politics or economics by means of astrology. I well remember going to the First Temple and College of Astrology in Los Angeles every week to learn the world news of the coming week! In the class on Mundane Astrology, the astrological aspects of the previous week would be considered, and the accuracy of the predictions given at the previous class would be undeniably evident. Then, having seen that we had every reason to trust in the accuracy of her analysis, the instructor would proceed to reveal the major events of the next seven days. Only the most determined bigot could have failed to see that astrology was a viable science.

Astrology may be used to discover the hidden mechanisms of the personality. A wise parent should have a child’s horoscope drawn up as soon after birth as possible, for it can be an invaluable guide to the parents in caring for their new charge. The horoscope will show the tendencies the child has brought over from its previous births and which are the seeds that are meant to germinate and come to fruition in the new life. But this is not meant to be accepted fatalistically or slavishly. Rather, the positive tendencies are to be cultivated to the optimum and the negative tendencies mitigated to the minimum.

Read More Questions and Answers

The absolute best translation is THE SONG OF GOD: BHAGAVAD GITA, by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood. It conveys the spirit of the Gita as no other translation does. It is, though, an interpretive translation. But the interpretations are according to the great commentators such as Adi Shankaracharya. The supplementary material, including an essay by Aldous Huxley, is extremely valuable in understanding the Gita’s subtle philosophy.

However, in time you need to engage in a deeper study of the Gita, and for that you need translations that will give you the original Sanskrit text, a word-by-word translation, and some commentary. Among the best of these are the translations of Swami Sivananda, Swami Swarupananda, and Winthrop Sargeant.

All four of these translations can be bought from Amazon.com.

The Gita is a lifetime study which you will find continually reveals new insights and inspiration.

Since the Gita is a digest of the upanishads, I also recommend that you get THE UPANISHADS: BREATH OF THE ETERNAL by Swami Prabhavananda.

Answers to questions posed by our blog readers

Q:Since it is all a matter of our personal development, why do Masters come into the world at all?

A:The presence of a perfected being enables those who are ready to experience a more open state of spiritual awareness. Actually, such a person does in a sense “awaken” those who are capable of awakening. People are changed by encountering them if they are so inclined. Those who truly awake then listen to the teachings being given and follow them. The teachings of a real master are only minimally philosophical and theoretical. They teach practical ways for their hearers to gain realization for themselves. The last thing they want to do is start a religion. All master-teachers are yogis and so are their disciples. Theologians and “believers” are those that move into the station and live there, never taking the train. “Why, the kingdom of God has come on earth!” they say. And never get anywhere. But, as Jesus said: “They have their reward.” And to them he inquires: “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and DO NOT the things which I say?” It is in the DOING, not the “believing,” “trusting,” “hoping,” “obeying,” “dedicating”–no, not even “loving”–that we truly follow a Great One.