Theosophical Society,
Human Evolution
Study Group
notes March 2004
Prepared
by D Marsland
Human Evolution
The Theosophical view is
that evolution is spiritually based. Physical forms (there is no dead matter)
are regarded as a means by which the spirit unfolds its potentialities to the
limit that these forms allow. The motivating factor driving evolution is a
constant urge towards ever less limitation, greater complexity and sensitivity
of form in order that the indwelling consciousness may be able to express
itself more and more fully.
The Darwinian Theory of
Evolution presents man as an evolved animal which has become burdened by
intelligence and some modern theorists postulate that humans separated from the
animal kingdom because, by adaptation, the human brain became ever more complex
to a point where it beame aware of its own existence.
These theories may be tenable and contain some truth at the purely scientific
level but at present science generally considers any spiritual or psychic
dimension to evolution to be outside its remit. There is some evidence that
scientific attitudes are changing but acceptance of any spiritual component in
evolution is probably a long way off.
Complete denial of a
spiritual dimension to evolution is a bit like presenting a flower cut from its
roots and then claiming that the roots never existed.
To understand the
Theosophical view of evolution it is necessary to be familiar with the
following 3 concepts.
The Fundamental Unity of
all Existence
Theosophy also postulates
that Human Evolution can only be understood in relation to the evolution of the
universe. This is because Theosophy maintains that existence is ONE THING and
not a unified collection of things.
Blavatsky states that there
is one being and that this being has two aspects, positive and negative.
POSITIVE
= SPIRIT
NEGATIVE
= SUBSTANCE (The subject of
consciousness)
Theosophical Society,