Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 19.djvu/250

* THEOSOPHT. 206 THERAMENES. The phononicnon of life is a question of planes or states of consciousness. Consciousness is one, but matter is of seven grades or states. Coa- sciousness of matter is the result of an evolution independent of it, which endows it with a con- sciousness of each of the seven planes or states on which that matter is manifested. Conscious- ness remains tlio same in all planes. The seven states of consciousness are: Elemental, or atomic (prakrti). which is a simple conscious- ness of the elcnieuts of matter. Mineral or molecular consciousness {linga sarira) is the consolidating of the elements into form accord- ing to a definite principle of design. Vegetable or cellular consciousness (pratia) is a recom- bining of that matter through growth and expan- sion by the principle of life. Animal or organic consciousness (liCiina) is the directing of the life of matter and design by the principle of desire. Human or 'I — am — I' consciousness {manas) is the .self-identifying of the conscious- ness, as being distinct and separate from others by the intelligent principle of mind. At this point a man may rise to the divine or sink below the consciousness of the brute — at will. Uni- versal or T am thee and thou art I' consciousness {hiiddhi) is the relating of the elements and of all souls with each other, thus overcoming the sense of separateness of the mind by the prin- ciple of the divine soul. Divine consciousness ialnian) sees no separateness but unites all as one. Hell (ai^lci) is a low and depraved condition on this earth. A life of intense selfishnes% and wickedness w'ith no spiritual thoughts or aspira- tions causes the immortal soul to abandon the body before death. In such a case, it is not, however, the soul, but the body with the lower principles which is lost. After the death of such a body the desires with a reflection of the mind may be reimarnated in human form almost immediatel.y. Such a creature is entirely ma- terial and animal, intensely selfish in its pro- pensities, and doomed to final destruction, unless it makes a strong appeal to its divine soul, in which event the soul might again connect with it and try to help it on its upward path. In man divine powers .ire latent, for he is essentially a soul, a divine being. He has within his personality the potential powers of a God. By purification and training of the body, the latent and divine powers will develop and be- come active. In every period of evolution a number of soxils reach perfection. They are men whom the bonds of personality no longer bind to the attractions of the senses. They have con- sciously related themselves to the source of their being and have liecome one with the divine. They watch over hinnanity and are its guardians. Although they have earned their freedom from re- birth, they prefer to remain in contact with men on earth, to teach and to guide them. At certain (leriods some appear among men as great law-givers, rulers, teachers, and their agents found religious systems and schools of phi- losophy. Consult: Blavatsky, The f^ecret Doctrine (2 vols., London. 1888) ; id., Isis Unveiled (2 vols.. New York, 1877) : id.. Key to Theosophy (Lon- don, 1S91) ; id.. Voice of the Silence (ib..' 1891) ; Judge, Echoes from the Orient (New York, 1890): id.. The Ocean of Theosophy (1893); Sinnett, Esoteric Buddhism (Boston. 1884) : id.. The Occult ^yorld (ib., 1885) ; id., Growth of the Soul (London, 1896) ; Besant, Theosophical Manuals (ib., 1893) ; id.. The Ancient Wisdom (ib., 1890) : id.. Esoteric Christianiti/ (New York, 1901): Anderson, Reincarnation (San Francisco, 1896) ; id., Septennary Man (ib., 1895): Walker, Reincarnation (New York, 18S8) : Hartmann, Magic Black and White (ib., 1890) : id., Paracelsus '(ib., 1891) : Collins. Light on Ihe Path (ib.. 1897) : id.. Idyl of the White Lotus (ib.. 1890): id.. Through the Gates of Gold (Boston. 1887). THEOTOCOPTJLI, ta-o'tfi-ko-poo'le, Domeni- co (c.l548-l2.')). An Italian painter, engraver, architect, and sculptor, known as II Greco, born probably in Crete, and supposed pupil of Titian. His early life is surrounded by uncertainty and the first undoubted fact relative to him is that he was residing at Toledo, Spain, in 1577, when he began to paint for the Cathe- dral "The Parting of Christ's Raiments." In his quality of architect he designed and carved the retable in which the picture was hung and for which he was paid 182 ducats more than for the picture itself. Summoned to Madrid by Philip II., he executed altar- pieces for the Escorial, in which he attempted to adopt a style which should be distinctively his own, but failed entirelv. His best work is the "Burial of the Count of Orgaz in 1323" (1534), in Santo Tome, Toledo, containing many portraits of contemporary great personages. Other fine specimens of his ability as a portrait painter are in the Madrid Museum, which also contains a "Dead Clirist" and several biblical scenes; and a portrait of himself and one of his daughter are in the Louvre. The National Gallery, London, possesses a "Saint Jerome" and the Dresden Gal- lery the "Healing of the Blind." As an architect and sculptor, II Greco attained considerable repu- tation and designed several churches and admir- able monuments. His most important structure was the church and monastery of the Bernardine monks at San Domenico di Silvos, of which he executed the whole — architecture, sculpture, and painting. THE'RA. The ancient name of Santorin (q.v. ). one of the Cyclades. The chief town is Thera. THERAMENES, the-rfim'e-nez (Lat., from Gk. e-npafi^vris) ( ?-404 B.C.). An Athenian poli- tician. In B.C. 411 he was a leading member of the oligarchy of the Four Hundred at Athens, but soon, going over to the opposition, took a leading part in the deposition of that body. In B.C. 410 he took part in the battle of Cyzicus, and in B.C. 408 was present at the siege of Chal- cedon and the capture of Byzantium. At the battle of Arginus.ne. B.C. 406. he was one of the subordinate oflicers in the Athenian fleet, and after the battle was ordered to return to the spot where the action had taken place and rescue such of the disabled ships and their crews as he could. A severe storm having in- tervened, he found it all but impossible to exe- cute this order, and as a result a large number of Athenian citizens were drowned. Then, antici- pating the wrath of the people, he hastened to Athens and accused the commanders-in-chief of negligence. When, in B.C. 404, Athens was be- sieged bv the Laceda;monians, Theramenes was