The Aquarian Theosophist

www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE ?

THE FAR-REACHING EFFECTS

OF A FALSE ASSUMPTION

______________

G.A. FARTHING

REVISED EDITION NOVEMBER 1996

1
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

DIFFERENCES IN THEOSOPHICAL TEACHINGS

AN EXAMINATION OF SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES IN DATA AND

TERMINOLOGY BETWEEN THE ORIGINAL LITERATURE AND LATER VERSIONS

Introduction
There are many of the more thoughtful students of Theosophy and many teachers
who are genuinely confused at the discrepancies they find between what has become known
as second generation Theosophy (the Annie Besant/ C.W. Leadbeater or A.B./C.W.L.
system) and the teachings of the two Masters instrumental in setting up the Theosophical
Society and introducing Theosophy as given out through H.P. Blavatsky (the H.P.B./ Masters
system).
These discrepancies do not come to light as long as only one system is studied. In the
minds of such students there are no difficulties or inconsistencies to worry about. The
attitude can then well be that really there cannot be any serious divergences because surely
the source of data, the main outlines of the Esoteric Science, are common to both systems,
therefore discrepancies are likely to be trivial and really inconsiderable. This attitude is not
really tenable but it is one generally held by those who have studied nothing but second
generation literature. Moreover, it is this second generation literature which has become the
commonly accepted one throughout the Adyar Society and generally in the world at large. Its
classifications of the principles of man and the planes of Cosmos are now the commonly
accepted ones. They do not accord, however, with those originally given out in the vast
Blavatsky literature. Some of the areas of difference are presented and examined in this
article. It will be seen that nearly all hinge on the introduction into the A.B./C.W.L. literature
of the Etheric Body into the constitution of man. Many alterations not only to that

2
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

constitution but also to the planes of Nature had to be made to accommodate this
introduction, chiefly to preserve a sevenfold classification.
The purpose of this paper is not only to point out the discrepancies but to demonstrate
that they are unjustified because there is not and cannot be such a thing as an Etheric Body
constituted as described by Leadbeater.
The ramifications of the impossibility of there being such a body are discussed.

Some Areas of Difference

The main areas of difference are in the classification of the human principles and the
'planes' of being. These differences stemmed from the division in the A.B./C.W.L. system of
the physical plane into seven sub-planes, with three of them regarded as dense physical and
four as 'etheric', a term first used by Leadbeater to describe four states of matter he had
observed during a clairvoyant examination of the common physical elements.
In the book Occult Chemistry which records some prolonged and painstaking
investigation work done by Leadbeater and Besant over about three decades in their
discoveries of the graded formation and the nature of the sub-atomic aggregations that make
up physical atoms, there is a passage towards the end describing four pre-normal states of the
common elements of Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Oxygen which Leadbeater named
'etheric'. He added that this was done 'perhaps unadvisedly' (see Occult Chemistry revised
edition 1919, table opposite p.7, and Appendix after p.109). He said this because of the sense
in which the word 'ether' was then being commonly used. Ether was then regarded as the
postulated universal all-pervading 'substance' which conveyed electro-magnetic vibrations
such as heat, light, electric charge, etc., throughout space and through a vacuum.
Nevertheless, the term 'etheric' as above defined was adopted and became generally used
thereafter in the A.B./C.W.L. literature, making three gross states, viz. solid, liquid and
gaseous, and four etheric states.
It is important to note that these investigations were done clairvoyantly, or, in the
author's parlance, using astral sight (presumably in Blavatsky's nomenclature). This is

3
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

important because, according to the Blavatsky teachings, there is a laya centre, or neutral
condition between each plane of Cosmos and it is explained that senses of a different order
are needed for each plane. In other words, physical senses will not respond to 'astral' stimuli
and vice versa. This means that anyone using 'etheric' (astral) sight could not be seeing
physical matter. What would be seen would be the etheric (astral) counterpart of the physical,
not the physical itself. In order to examine these 'etheric' sub-atomic structures Leadbeater
had to use a special power of the will (siddhi) to break down the atoms from their normal
state (of gaseous) to the abnormal disintegrated sub-states which he saw. It must be stressed,
however, that these sub-states of matter were created by Leadbeater using his siddhi, and that
they do not exist in the normal way, either in the 'etheric' (astral) plane or at physical level.
They have never been observed as existing in the 'free' state at physical level, although
specimen states corresponding to them may exist under abnormal conditions, for example
during sophisticated and powerful experiments. If they exist at physical level they would be
observable by normal physical senses or suitable sense-extending instruments. Similarly the
astral (Blavatsky) world being that from which all that is in the physical is projected, would
contain the counterparts of 'etheric' atomic states normally (i.e. without Leadbeater having to
break down atoms into their constituent parts). However, they do not, or he would have seen
them without having to use his siddhi.
If these 'etheric' states do not exist at physical level, there is no matter of which the
'etheric' double could be composed. That there was, was an assumption made by Leadbeater.
This assumption could have been checked by his clairvoyantly examining an Etheric Body
direct. There is no record of such an examination and presumably none was made, i.e. the
assumption of the composition of an Etheric Body was not checked by direct observation,
neither was the real existence of such a body (as described) ever established by him or any
other person.
The 'etheric' states of physical matter, or its astral Blavatsky counterpart, were
'created' by Leadbeater, and the idea of an 'etheric' body or semi-physical plane, was an
unsound deduction.

4
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

Leadbeater's 'Etheric' States of Matter

The conception of an 'Etheric Body' and its location on an 'etheric' semi-physical
plane arose from the naming as described of what might be regarded as the formative stages
of the atoms of common chemical elements, by a series of aggregations of what Besant and
Leadbeater called the ultimate physical atom (Anu). It is important to note that, whereas in
such a developmental stage, i.e. moving from one 'etheric' state to the next, there is a change
in atomic structure, but in the three normal states of matter, i.e. solid, liquid and gaseous,
there is no such change. This is an inconsistency from the normal process of change of state.
Besant refers (on p 72 of The Ancient Wisdom) to these etheric stages as 'higher' than
the physical atoms of science. There is a serious objection to this contention in that the
'etheric' states are clearly formative, i.e. more primitive states than those of the elements as
they now exist. If there were such a thing as an Etheric Body it would be lower on the
evolutionary scale than the physical body.
Furthermore, as pointed out above, apart from the chemical elements (listed in the
periodic table) composed according to Leadbeater of the sub-atomic particles of his
investigations, which comprise the 'matter' of our objective world, Leadbeater's sub-particles
have normally no independent existence. Therefore no bodies, and no plane, could be
composed of them.
Besant later, consistently with the original (Blavatsky) literature, added 'fire' to the
gross physical states, corresponding the classical four elemental states of Earth, Water, Air
and Fire and the invisible beings, the elementals, supposed in mediaeval times to have been
associated with them, viz. the gnomes, the sylphs, the undines and the salamanders. These
four Elements correspond in the original literature to the tattvic states of matter which
include Fire but the A.B./C.W.L. classification in Occult Chemistry omits Fire as a state of
matter, having however its four etheric states. If Fire is included as an element there is room
only for three etheric states. In Blavatsky's classical scheme there are seven tattvic states.

5
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

Tattvas and corresponding States of Matter

In several places Blavatsky identified the four states of matter, viz. earth, water, air,
fire, and associated them with elementals of corresponding classes and with the Tattvas under
the Hindu names of Prithivi, Apas, Tejas, Vayu. Continuing up the tattvic scale she put the
5th as Alaya or Akasa, and then mentioned two more above that, viz. a 6th, Anupadaka and a
7th, Adi. These are the expressions used in the Table opposite p 500 in S.D.III (C.W.XII,
614; E.W., 399) and compared with the A.B./C.W.L. nomenclature in the table below:

TABLE I
Comparative Table of the STATES OF MATTER in the two Systems

H.P.B./MASTERS SYSTEM A.B./C.W.L. SYSTEM

TATTVAS No. ELEMENTS & No. STATES OF MATTER

STATES OF (Unrelated to Tattvas)
MATTER
ADI 7 AETHER (Akasa) 1 ETHER 4 (Ultimate Physical
Atom. Anu)
ANUPADAKA 6 DIVINE FLAME 2 ETHER 3 Etheric

ALAYA (or AKASA) 5 ETHER 3 ETHER 2 Physical

TEJAS 4 FIRE 4 ETHER 1

-------------------------------------
VAYU 3 AIR 5 AIR. GASEOUS
Gross
APAS 2 WATER 6 WATER. LIQUID
Physical
PRITHVI 1 EARTH 7 EARTH. SOLID

(Fire omitted)

Note the inverted numbering.

Notes
1) Adi simply means first or supreme - not used to apply to a plane in the S.D.
2) Anupadaka (lit. parentless) - apart from being the name of a tattva, it was applied to the seven Dhyani
Buddhas (see S.D.I, 571, 3rd Ed., 624, 4th Ed., 295)
3) The inversion of the numbering should be noted. It is a further cause of confusion to students.

6
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

In the S.D.III Table the 5th Tattva (Alaya) is referred to as Akasa, but is the
equivalent of the 2nd differentiation from Adi: commonly in the text of the S.D. Akasa is
synonymous with Aether, i.e. the One Element. Alaya is referred to elsewhere as (and
corresponds to) Ether. Further it must be noted that the Table in The Secret Doctrine shows
the correspondences of the Tattvas with, among other things, the human Principles, which
include the Linga Sarira (as such). Ether is significantly mentioned on p 12 of S.D.I (3rd Ed.,
40, 4th Ed., 78) wherein it says,

For clearer understanding on the part of the general reader, it must be stated that
Occult Science recognizes seven cosmical elements, four entirely physical and the 5th
(Ether) semi-material, as it will become visible in the air towards the end of our
Fourth Round, to reign supreme over the others during the whole of the Fifth. The
remaining two are as yet absolutely beyond the range of human perception. These
latter will, however, appear as presentments during the sixth and seventh Races of
this round, and will become known in the sixth and seventh Rounds respectively.

Obviously the first four entirely physical elements are those enumerated above and
the fifth, Ether, is in the process of manifesting now, but the other elements, whether
regarded as Ethers or not, are not yet manifest on our globe. There is therefore nothing in the
H.P.B./Masters system that could correspond to the A.B./C.W.L. system's four 'ethers or
etheric states of matter.

Sub-atomic States of Matter

It can be asked, if the above is true, what is the matter that is manifest at spiritualistic
seances as ectoplasm and of what are the 'auras' of Kirlian photography composed?
To answer the second question first, Kirlian photographs are relatively high voltage
discharges affected by the emanations from living bodies, or where a part of a body has been
detached (cut off or severed by accident) the astral (not etheric) model still remaining intact
affects the discharge. An understanding of this involves a knowledge of how forms or models
in the astral are projected into objectivity at physical level.

7
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

The first question concerning the exuding of the matter called ectoplasm from
mediums (spiritualistic) during seances involves a process of the disintegration of the
physical substance of the medium's body, i.e. the creation of a special state of physical matter
for the time being. The phantom's weight increases as that of the medium correspondingly
decreases. Ectoplasm is exuded as an amorphous mass from an orifice, e.g. mouth or nostril,
and then it, or some of it, assumes a form, or a number of forms, of recognizable likenesses.
These are impressed on the substance by psychic (astral) force by elementals from patterns in
the minds of those present or in the Astral Light.
Blavatsky describes (see S.D.I, 257, 3rd Ed., 267, 4th Ed., 259) what characteristic of
matter will correspond to the 'etheric' state when it does manifest, and she says it will be that
of 'permeability'. Along with it a sixth sense will develop in man which will enable him to
see 'through' solid matter. Not only that, in the then proper 'etheric' state a solid object will be
able to pass through another solid one, say a wall, or knots will be able to be tied in an
endless cord, etc. This is something that elementals are now able to do and sometimes do at
seances. If the etheric states as described by Leadbeater were of this nature this state of
permeability and the sixth sense would also be here now, but they are not. It should be noted
that, just as Leadbeater 'created' his 'etheric states of matter, so there must be other states of
matter than those we normally know - as implied a number of times by Blavatsky - which do
not ordinarily exist in a free state. An example of the temporary creation of one of these
abnormal states would be that of the endless cord knots just cited, wherein abnormal states of
matter would have been created by the Elementals.

Established Terminology
When Blavatsky wanted to describe something non-physical and tenuous in nature
she used the word 'ethereal' (not etheric), which again she specifically related to the astral
plane (see S.D.II, 299, 3rd Ed., 313, 4th Ed., 300). Further, towards the end of an article that
she entitled 'A Danger Signal' written for La Revue Théosophique, April 1889, (see C.W.XI,
185 et seq.) Blavatsky makes the following statement: 'The terminology established some

8
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

fifteen years ago in the Theosophical Society is the correct one, because in every case these
terms are a faithful translation of their Sanskrit equivalents, almost as old as the latest human
race', and then significantly she adds, 'This terminology could not be modified at present
without running the risk of introducing into the theosophical teachings a chaos which would
be deplorable and dangerous to their clarity'. This statement is particularly relevant and
significant in the light of what in fact happened to the theosophical terminology in the books
written later on.
It was in 1889 that Blavatsky wrote The Key to Theosophy and therein she very
carefully defined her terms and their meanings. Towards the end of Chapter IX (p 171
Original Ed.) she wrote a section, 'Definite words for definite things'. In this she was
concerned that the terminology should be settled. She used a large part of that section for
definitions of the elements of the human 'soul'. In a footnote (p 175) she puts, ‘Shifting of
Metaphysical terms', which she says 'applies here only to the shifting of their translated
equivalents from the Eastern expressions: for to this day there never existed such terms in
English, every Theosophist having to coin his own terms to render his thought. It is high time
then to settle on some definite nomenclature', and this she did in The Key where she defined
precisely all the more commonly used words and gave their Sanskrit equivalents. She set out
the constitution of man, giving the English equivalents of the Eastern names, in Table II on
the following page.
Besant's The Ancient Wisdom was written in 1897, eight years after this terminology
had been established. In it (p 194) she equates the Linga Sarira to her Etheric Double which
in her system, as explained above, she places on the physical plane. This introduces a
difficulty because the Linga Sarira in the Hindu and original theosophical sense is on the
plane above the physical.
It must also be remembered that, according to Blavatsky, there is a Laya Centre
between the physical plane proper and the one of the Linga Sarira (the astral) above it, and
therefore distinctly different sets of senses operate on the planes on either side of the Laya
Centres. The physical is cognizable by physical senses but the plane of the Linga Sarira (the

9
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

Astral in the Blavatsky system) is not; the latter requires astral senses, i.e. those of
clairvoyance and clairaudience. In the A.B./C.W.L. system, however, the Etheric Body or
Double being 'etheric' physical, but on the physical plane, would not be separated from the
dense physical by a Laya Centre: physical senses would therefore apply to both the gross
physical and the etheric physical.

( Go to the next page )

10
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

TABLE II
THEOSOPHICAL DIVISION

SANSKRIT TERMS ESOTERIC MEANING EXPLANATORY

The Lower (personal) Quaternary:-

(a) Rupa, or Sthula (a) Physical Body (a) Is the vehicle of all the other
Sharira 'principles' during life.
(b) Prana (b) Life, or vital (b) Necessary only to a, c, d, and the
principle functions of the lower Manas, which
embrace all those limited to the
physical brain.
(c) Linga Sharira (c) Astral body (c) The double, the phantom body.
(d) Kama Rupa (d) The seat of animal (d) This is the centre of the animal
desires and passions man, where lies the line of demarcation
which separates the moral man from
the immoral entity.

The Upper Imperishable Triad:-

(e) Manas - a dual (e) Mind, intelligence; (e) The future state and the karmic
principle in its the higher human mind, destiny of man depend on whether
functions whose light or radiation Manas more gravitates downward to
links the Monad, for the Kama Rupa, the seat of the animal
life-time, to the mortal passions, or upwards to Buddhi, the
man. spiritual Ego. In the latter case, the
higher consciousness of the individual
spiritual aspirations of mind (Manas),
assimilating Buddhi, are absorbed by it
and form the Ego, which goes into
devachanic bliss.
(f) Buddhi (f) The spiritual soul (f) The vehicle of pure universal spirit
(g) Atma (g) Spirit (g) One with the Absolute, as its
radiation

[Key VI, 91/2, Original Ed.]

11
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

She gave some further significant definitions which are of relevance

in the light of some later usage of the terms:

I. Atma, the Higher Self, is neither your spirit nor mine, but like sunlight shines on all. It is
the universally diffused divine principle, and is inseparable from its one and absolute super-
spirit, as the sunbeam is inseparable from sunlight.

II. Buddhi, the spiritual soul is only its vehicle. Neither Atma nor Buddhi separately, nor the
two collectively, are of any more use to the body of man, than sunlight and its beams are for
a mass of granite buried in the earth, unless the divine duad is assimilated by, and reflected
in, some consciousness. Neither Atma nor Buddhi are ever reached by Karma, because the
former is the highest aspect of Karma, the working agent of Itself in one aspect, and the latter
is unconscious on this Plane. This consciousness or mind is

III. Manas, the derivation or product in a reflected form, of ahamkara, 'the conception of I,'
or 'Ego-ship'. It is, therefore, when inseparably united to the first two, called the spiritual
Ego, and taijasa, the radiant. This is the real individuality, or the divine man. It is this Ego
which - having originally incarnated in the senseless human form animated by, but
unconscious of, the presence in itself of the dual monad, since it had no consciousness - made
of that human-like form a real man. It is this Ego, this 'causal body', which overshadows
every personality into which Karma forces it to incarnate. It is this Ego which is held
responsible for all the sins committed through and in, every new body or personality - the
evanescent masks which hide the true individual through the long series of rebirths. [Key
VIII, 135]
__________

The Higher Self

is Atma, the inseparable ray of the Universal and One SELF. It is the
God above, more than within us. Happy the man who succeeds in
saturating his Inner Ego with it!
The Spiritual
Divine Ego is the spiritual soul or Buddhi, in close union with Manas, the mind-
principle, without which the former is no Ego at all, but only the
Atmic Vehicle.
The Inner, or
Higher Ego, is Manas, the 'fifth' principle, so called, independently of Buddhi. The
mind-principle is only the Spiritual Ego when merged into one with
Buddhi; no materialist being supposed to have in him such an Ego,
however great his intellectual capacities. It is the permanent
individuality or the reincarnating Ego. The Lower, or Personal ego, is
the physical man in conjunction with his lower self, i.e. animal

12
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

instincts, passions, desires, etc. It is called the false personality, and

consists of the lower Manas combined with Kama Rupa, and operating
through the physical body and its phantom or double. [Key IX, 176]

It is also important to note that, whereas there are tattvic correspondences to the solid,
liquid, gaseous and fiery states of matter, there are none to the four physical 'etheric' states.
Besant's Terminology
In her book The Ancient Wisdom, in a footnote, Besant says, 'Linga Sarira was the
name originally given to the Etheric Body and must not be confused with the Linga Sarira of
Hindu philosophy. Sthula Sarira is the Sanskrit name for the dense body'. But the 'Etheric
Body' is her modern term and Linga Sarira is an ancient one. She does not explain the origins
of the term 'Etheric Body' nor what she meant by 'originally', but in the original (Blavatsky)
theosophical literature there is no 'etheric' body or state of matter. Besant does not say why
the Etheric Body should not be confused with the Linga Sarira. She implies that the term
Etheric Body was somehow of more ancient usage than Linga Sarira but does not justify her
statement. It was certainly used as a word by mediaeval and even 19th century occultists but
not in the sense in which Besant used it. To this double, however, she ascribed most of the
characteristics and qualities of the astral body (2nd principle) of the Blavatsky system, often
referred to by its Indian name Linga Sarira.
In the H.P.B./Masters literature the word 'etheric' does appear in a few places, e.g.
concerning the force used in the Keeley motor (see S.D.I, 562, 3rd Ed., 613, 4th Ed., 285))
but there Blavatsky expressly relates 'etheric' to Astral (i.e. her 2nd plane). It could be that in
contrasting it with the meaning given to the word by the Hindus Besant was thinking of
Linga Sarira being translated as 'sex-body' (see C.W.IV, 53), Linga being the Sanskrit word
for phallus or maleness. Blavatsky does mention this but persists with her use of the word.
The meaning she gave to Linga Sarira in her Theosophical Glossary is as follows:

'Linga Sarira. The 'body', i.e., the aerial symbol of the body. This term designates the
doppelgänger or the 'astral body' of man or animal. It is the eidolon of the Greeks, the
vital and prototypal body; the reflection of the man of flesh. It is born before and dies
or fades out, with the disappearance of the last atom of the body.'

13
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

It is used in this sense consistently throughout the Blavatsky writings. Linga Sarira is the
direct equivalent of Blavatsky's astral body. Later she explains the Linga Sarira's relationship
to the Kama and Mayavi Rupas in Collected Writings Vol.IV, p 53.
In all the voluminous literature that came during and after the Besant era, the astral
plane became identified with the Kama Loca (4th Blavatsky plane), but to add to the
confusion many of the qualities ascribed to the astral plane in the later literature were in fact
those of the astral plane (2nd) as originally described by Blavatsky, and sometimes of the
Astral Light (Blavatsky).
Little or no mention of the Astral Light, as such, is made in the later literature in spite
of its importance, particularly in explaining psychic phenomena. Another important
difference between the A.B./C.W.L. view on 'etheric' states and the H.P.B./Masters
description of Ether is that the former might be regarded, as 'developmental' states of matter,
and would then be associated with the processes of involution, whereas the tattvic Ether and
higher states are evolutionary, i.e. they will appear only in the Rounds after our present
fourth.
Besant said she was making these changes to eradicate confusions but it is difficult to
see that any confusions existed, especially as Blavatsky had been at such pains to define her
terms which she used consistently throughout both her own and the Masters' writings.

14
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

Principles and Planes

Many confusions were introduced by the changes made by Besant in both the terminology
and classifications of the principles and planes. A fundamental one was the use of the word
'Monadic' to describe a plane (2nd) (see Table IV below). Monad is defined in the Blavatsky
literature as a duad, the combination of Atma and Buddhi. It is also used in the universal
sense to include Mahat i.e. Monad is then regarded as a triad (see S.D.I, 570, 3rd Ed., 623,
4th Ed., 293). There is a reference in the S.D. Vol.III to the Monad as both a duality and a
triad, but by the latter the Ego (the upper Triad in man) is obviously meant. Although Monad
as defined by Blavatsky is one and indivisible, the triad Atma-Buddhi-Manas is sometimes
referred to in her literature as the human Ego (see terminology and definitions given at the
end of Chapter IX of The Key, p 176 in the Original Ed.).
The division of the physical plane by Besant into two (a dense lower and an upper
etheric) not only meant a radical rearrangement of the principles of man, but also affected the
naming of the planes in Nature on which the 'subjective' globes of a Chain are placed. The
H.P.B./Masters scale of principles is clearly set out in The Key (see Table II). Besant's
variations on this are given on p 194 of her The Ancient Wisdom (Table III herein). They are
also set out on p 48 and there are further variations in the footnote, where the numbering of
the principles is inverted. Here Atma is allocated to the 5th plane, counting from the bottom,
instead of the 7th (see Table IV). It is explained in the text that two higher principles above
the 5th (3rd in Table IV) are beyond the consciousness of man at this time. No reference to
any such higher principles or planes is given in the Blavatsky literature. Corresponding
planes of Nature are given on p 3 of Besant's A Study in Consciousness. Here Adi and
Anupadaka are names given to the two planes above Atma, whereas in the H.P.B./Masters
classification Atma is supreme, i.e. no planes above it, and the names Adi and Anupadaka are
those of the Tattvas corresponding to Atma and Buddhi (see Table I).

15
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

TABLE III

COMPARATIVE TABLE OF CLASSIFICATION OF PLANES

MASTERS/H.P.B. System A.B./C.W.L. System (OLD)

1 ADI

2 ANUPADAKA

7 ATMA 3 ATMA

6 BUDDHI 4 BUDDHI

Higher Higher
5 MANAS ---------------------- 5 MENTAL -------------------
Lower Lower

4 KAMA 6 ASTRAL

3 PRANA

2 LINGA SARIRA (Astral)

1 STHULA SARIRA Etheric

(Physical Body) 7 PHYSICAL -----------------
Dense

The inversion of the numbering should be noted.

It is a further cause of confusion to students.

Note Table IV (p 14) for new names of planes in A.B./C.W.L. system (see
Besant's Study in Consciousness, p 3)

16
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

Besant applied the word 'Monadic' (see Table IV) to her No.2 plane (counting
downwards) making it superior to the Spiritual (Atmic). Apart from the fact that in the
classical system there is no 'plane' above Atma, Besant's nomenclature is illogical in that
whether Monad is regarded as a duad or triad, Atma is its highest component. Any
combination of Atma with Buddhi and Manas, both derivatives of 'Atma', could not possibly
be superior to Atma.
On p 194 of The Ancient Wisdom Besant gives a table of principles and 'forms'. Under
the forms she lists a series of bodies which she says corresponds to the Koshas in the
Vedantic classification, but here she relates Atma to the bliss, Buddhi to the causal and
Manas to the mental body respectively. These terms are not so used in the Blavatsky system
where the causal body corresponds to the higher Manas and bliss to Buddhi (see S.D.I, 157,
3rd Ed., 181, 4th Ed., 211). In Besant's Table the astral body is equated to Kama, or the
animal soul, and the Etheric Double to Linga Sarira and the dense body to Sthula Sarira.
Underneath the Table Besant says: 'It will be seen that the difference is merely a question of
names and that the 6th, 5th, 4th and 3rd 'principles' (not however numbered in the Table) are
merely Atma working in the buddhic, causal, mental and astral bodies while the 2nd and 1st
principles are the two lowest bodies themselves'. To this statement was added, 'This sudden
change in the method of naming is apt to cause confusion in the mind of the student, and as
Blavatsky, our revered teacher, expressed much dissatisfaction with the then current
nomenclature as confused and misleading and desired others and myself to try and improve
it, the above names as descriptive, simple and representing the facts are here adopted'. The
changes, together with others, made by Besant did not in fact represent the same 'facts', e.g.
the invention and insertion of the 'etheric' body, but they were adopted both within and
outside the Theosophical Society. In the meanwhile they have virtually become standard
'Theosophy'. It is difficult to understand how Blavatsky's 'then current nomenclature' was
'confused and misleading', in that so near to her death as 1889 when she wrote The Key to
Theosophy she set out so clearly and simply the terminology which had been devised over

17
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

many years with the Masters' cooperation. Up to that time there were no English expressions
for the then devised terms, and there was certainly no confusion in them.
As an example of how Besant's new nomenclature was imposed on the membership
of the T.S. (and the interested public), we have the following from Leadbeater's Textbook of
Theosophy, p 61:

'The President has now decided upon a set of names for the planes, so for the future
these will be used instead of those previously employed. A table of them is given
below for reference.

TABLE IV

NEW NAMES OLD NAMES

1 Divine World Adi Plane

2 Monadic World Anupadaka Plane
3 Spiritual World Atmic or Nirvanic Plane
4 Intuitional World Buddhic Plane
5 Mental World Mental Plane
6 Emotional or Astral World Astral Plane
7 Physical World Physical Plane

'These will supersede the names given in Vol.II of The Inner Life.'

It will be noted that neither the 'New' nor the 'Old' names referred back to those given by
Blavatsky.

18
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

Further Differences between the Systems

Confusions have certainly arisen because of the altered nomenclature and numbering
of both planes and principles. In the H.P.B./Masters literature specific expressions are used
quite consistently; for example, the Linga Sarira is always the astral body or the astral
double. In the A.B./C.W.L. system this term, Linga Sarira, was dropped, together with its
corresponding plane, as was also the principle of Prana and its plane. Both the Blavatsky
astral and prana principles, however, have their corresponding states of consciousness, but
both of these were omitted in the A.B./C.W.L. system.
It is true that Blavatsky made some variations in the ordinary septenary classification
of planes and principles in the Papers for her Esoteric School, particularly in dividing Manas
into upper and lower, and sometimes omitting the physical body as a principle, but she never
altered the main theme of her sevenfold system, with Atma as the supreme principle and
plane. It will be seen from the foregoing that the alterations made by Besant, which were
generally adopted by later writers in the Society, e.g. Leadbeater, C. Jinarajadasa, A.E.
Powell, etc., were more than mere terminological changes and certainly did nothing to
improve clarity.
It is important to note what is said in S.D.III (495 fn, C.W.XII, 608 fn; E.W., 394 fn).
'It is erroneous to call the fourth [2nd in A.B./C.W.L.] human principle 'Kama Rupa'. It is no
Rupa at all until after death, but stands for the Kamic elements in man, his animal desires and
passions, such as anger, lust, envy, revenge, etc., the progeny of selfishness and matter'. This
states categorically that there is no Astral Body (4th principle vehicle as such) until after
death. In what body then it can be asked does 'astral' travel occur, if there is no body during
life in which to travel? Blavatsky tells us,

'When a man visits another in his Astral Body, it is the Linga-sarira that goes, but this
cannot happen at any great distance.
If a man thinks intensely of another at a distance, his Mayavi-Rupa (see later) may
appear to that person, without the projector knowing anything about it. This Mayavi-
rupa is formed by the unconscious use of Kriyashakti. (C.W.XII, 706/7).

19
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

Doubles
In the matter of the 'doubles' in man's constitution Blavatsky wrote an article, in
question and answer form between herself and M.C., for Lucifer (December 1888, see
C.W.X, 217 et seq.) 'On Astral Bodies, or Doppelgängers' wherein she clearly states:

H.P.B. Our occult philosophy teaches us there are three kinds of 'doubles', to use the word in
its widest sense. (1) Man has his 'double' or shadow, properly so called, around which
the physical body of the foetus - the future man - is built. The imagination of the
mother, or an accident which affects the child, will affect also the astral body. The
astral and the physical both exist before the mind is developed into action, and before
the Atma awakes. This occurs when the child is seven years old, and with it comes
the responsibility attaching to a conscious sentient being. This 'double' is born with
man, dies with him and can never separate itself far from the body during life, and
though surviving him, it disintegrates, pari passu, with the corpse. It is this, which is
sometimes seen over the graves like a luminous figure of the man that was, during
certain atmospheric conditions. From its physical aspect it is, during life, man's vital
double and after death, only the gases given off from the decaying body. But, as
regards its origin and essence, it is something more. This 'double' is what we have
agreed to call linga-sarira, but which I would propose to call, for greater
convenience, 'Protean' or 'Plastic Body'.

M.C. Why Protean or Plastic?

H.P.B. Protean, because it can assume all forms; e.g. the 'shepherd magicians' whom popular
rumour accuses, perhaps not without some reason, of being 'were-wolves', and
'mediums in cabinets', whose own 'Plastic Bodies' play the part of materialized
grandmothers and 'John Kings'. Otherwise, why the invariable custom of the 'dear
departed angels' to come out but little further than arm's length from the medium
whether entranced or not? Mind, I do not at all deny foreign influences in this kind of
phenomena. But I do affirm that foreign interference is rare, and that the materialized
form is always that of the medium's 'Astral' or Protean Body.

M.C. But how is this astral body created?

H.P.B. It is not created: it grows, as I told you, with the man and exists in the rudimentary
condition even before the child is born.
M.C. And what about the second?

H.P.B. The second is the 'Thought' body, or Dream body, rather; known among Occultists as
the Mayavi-rupa, or 'illusion-body'. During life this image is the vehicle both of
thought and of the animal passions and desires, drawing at one and the same time

20
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

from the lowest terrestrial manas(mind) and Kama, the element of desire. It is dual in
its potentiality, and after death forms, what is called in the East Bhoot, or Kama-rupa,
but which is better known to theosophists as the 'Spook'.

M.C. And the third?

H.P.B. The third is the true Ego, called in the East, by a name meaning 'causal body' but
which in the trans-Himalayan schools is always called the 'Karmic body', which is the
same. For Karma or action is the cause which produces incessant rebirths or
'reincarnations'. It is not the Monad, nor is it Manas proper; but is, in a way,
indissolubly connected with, and a compound of the Monad and Manas in Devachan.

M.C. Then there are three doubles?

H.P.B. If you can call the Christian and other Trinities 'three Gods', then there are three
doubles. But in truth there is only one under three aspects or phases: the most material
portion disappearing with the body; the middle one, surviving both as an independent,
but temporary entity in the land of shadows; the third, immortal, throughout the
manvantara unless Nirvana puts an end to it before.

After this Blavatsky went on to explain the difference between the Mayavi and Kama
Rupa, very relevant to 'astral' travel and the after-death states. All this explanation was to
eradicate confusion.

Man's Constitution as Principles and Aspects

There is important explanatory passage in SD.III, 493, or C.W.XII, 607, which gives
another view of the elements of man's make-up, and which significantly supplements what
was in The Key tabulated above. These extracts indicate how precisely Blavatsky defined the
terms which had then been decided upon. The established classification and numbering of the
principles of man were those used consistently throughout the massive Blavatsky literature.
Some variations on the main theme were made in her E.S. Papers but these were
explained. It is hard to see how any confusion could have arisen prior to the changes made by
Besant herself.

21
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

ABOUT 'PRINCIPLES' AND 'ASPECTS'

Speaking metaphorically and philosophically, on strict esoteric lines, man as a complete unit
is composed of Four basic Principles and Three Aspects produced by them on this earth. In
the semi-esoteric teachings, these Four and Three have been called Seven Principles, to
facilitate the comprehension of the masses.

THE ETERNAL BASIC PRINCIPLES TRANSITORY ASPECTS PRODUCED

BY THE PRINCIPLES

1. Atman, or Jiva, 'the One Life', which 1. Prana, the Breath of Life, the same as
permeates the Monadic Trio. (One in three Nephesh. At the death of a living being,
and three in One.) Prana re-becomes Jiva. (Remember that our
reincarnating Egos are called the
Manasaputras, 'Sons of Manas' (or Mahat),
Intelligence, Wisdom.)

2. Auric Envelope; because the substratum 2. Linga-Sarira, the Astral Form, the
of the Aura around man is the universally transitory emanation of the Auric Egg. This
diffused primordial and pure Akasa, the form preceded the formation of the living
first film on the boundless and shoreless Body, and after death clings to it,
expanse of Jiva, the immutable Root of all. dissipating only with the disappearance of
its last atom (the skeleton excepted).

3. Buddhi; because Buddhi is a ray of the 3. Lower Manas, the Animal Soul, the
Universal Spiritual Soul (ALAYA). reflection or shadow of the Buddhi-Manas,
having the potentialities of both, but
conquered generally by its association with
the Kama elements.

4. Manas (the Higher Ego); for it proceeds As man is the combined product of two
from Mahat, the first product or emanation aspects: physically, of his Astral Form, and
of Pradhana, which contains potentially all psycho-physiologically of Kama-Manas, he
the Gunas (attributes). Mahat is Cosmic is not looked upon even as an aspect, but as
Intelligence, called the 'Great Principle'. an illusion.

The Auric Egg, on account of its nature and manifold functions, has to be well studied. As
Hiranyagarbha, the Golden Womb or Egg, contains Brahma, the collective symbol of the
Seven Universal Forces, so the Auric Egg contains, and is directly related to, both the divine

22
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

and the physical man. In its essence, as said, it is eternal; in its constant correlations, it is a
kind of perpetual motion machine during the reincarnating progress of the Ego on this earth.

The aim of this booklet is to draw attention to the fact that the Ethers of which the
Etheric Double was said to be composed (see The Ancient Wisdom p 50 et seq.) do not exist.
Students may also be interested in the alterations to the original classification of the human
principles which were made to accommodate the Etheric Body. These, as given by Besant,
are set out in tabular form below (see A.W. p 193):

TABLE V

PLANES AND PRINCIPLES (BESANT)

PLANES PRINCIPLES
7 Hidden *
6 Hidden *
5 Nirvanic (Atmic) 7 Atma
4 Buddhic 6 Buddhi
5 Higher
3 Mental Manas -----------------------
Lower
2 Astral 4 Kama
3 ( Prana
1 Physical 2 Physical { Etheric Double
1 ( Body (Dense)

* The 7th and 6th planes are described in The Ancient Wisdom pp 46/7. See also footnote to p
48. Principles 1, 2 and 3 are regarded as physical.

It will be seen from this Table that neither the planes nor the principles nor their
numerous correspondences accord with those given in the original literature, particularly in

23
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

THE ETHERIC DOUBLE? G.A. FARTHING

the Inner Group Notes (C.W.XII or S.D.(1897) Vol III), where the planes and principles
correspond exactly to each other according to the Law of Analogy. Similarly the
characteristics of the planes as described by A.B./C.W.L. do not agree in important
particulars with those given in the H.P.B./Masters system. Besant gives the colour of the
Etheric Double (A.W. p 54) as violet-grey or blue-grey. In the Notes (H.P.B./Masters
system) violet is the colour of the Astral Double, which is on the plane above the physical.

After Death
Another serious difficulty that arises is that the whole of the Masters' account of what
occurs at and after death cannot be understood in terms of the classification of principles later
used by Besant. This is apart from essential differences between the Masters' account of what
actually happens after death and that enunciated later by Leadbeater. Besant's account in her
early book Death and After is, however, generally in accord with that of the Masters.

Summary
The foregoing analysis and comparison deals with only some of the salient points of
difference between the Theosophy as given us by the Masters and the system propounded by
Besant and her followers. There are many other areas of difference not touched on in this
paper, viz. group souls, permanent atoms, the dispensing of Karma and the attitude to
religion.
From what has been given it is quite clear that in the respects mentioned the two
systems are irreconcilable. This is particularly so in connection with the latest information
Blavatsky gave out in the Papers to her Inner Group. The A.B./C.W.L. system is
incompatible with the correspondences given there and with, for example, the hierarchical
colours and their relationship to the principles of man. It is important that serious students of
Theosophy should know about these discrepancies.

24
 The Aquarian Theosophist
www.TheosophyOnline.com - www.CarlosCardosoAveline.com

000

The end of “The Etheric Double?”.

000

On the role of the esoteric movement in the ethical awakening of mankind during the
21st century, see the book “The Fire and Light of Theosophical Literature”, by
Carlos Cardoso Aveline.

Published in 2013 by The Aquarian Theosophist, the volume has 255 pages and can
be obtained through Amazon Books.

000

25