The Causal Body and the Ego - Canadian Theosophical Association

The Causal Body and the Ego by Arthur E. Powell
the faculty of reason is not yet fully developed, as indicated by the narrowing of the band.
An entirely new factor, however, is introduced by the point on the higher mental or causal plane, because
man possesses a causal body and a permanent reincarnating ego.
In the case of the great majority of men, the consciousness does not rise beyond the third mental subplane.
Gradually only, as his development proceeds, the ego is able to raise his consciousness to the
second or the first of the mental sub-planes.
The band on the extreme right hand side represents—a man much in advance of the ordinary man. Here
we have the consciousness, of a highly spiritual man, whose consciousness has evolved beyond that of
the causal body, so that he can function freely on the plane of buddhi, and also has consciousness - at
least when out of the body-on the plane of atma.
It will be noted that the centre of his consciousness indicated by the widest part of the band, is not, as in
the case of most men, on the physical and astral, planes but between the higher mental and the buddhic
planes. The higher mental and higher astral are much more developed than are their lower parts, and
although he still retains his physical body, yet this is indicated, merely by a point, the explanation being
that he holds it solely for the convenience of working in it, and not in any way because his thoughts and
desires are fixed there. Such a man has transcended all karma which could bind him to incarnation, so
that he takes the lower vehicles solely in order that through them he may be able to work for the good of
humanity and to pour out at those levels those forces which otherwise could not descend, so far.
After this necessary disgression, in order to explain the relative degrees of consciousness attained by
each of the kingdoms of nature, it is important to note that the evolutionary process, which leads into
expression the involved, consciousness, has to begin by contacts received by its outermost vehicle, i.e.,
it must begin on the physical plane. The consciousness can become aware of an outside only by impacts
on its own outside. Until then, it dreams within itself, as the faint inner thrillings ever outwelling from the
Monad cause slight pressure in the Jivatma [Atma-Buddhis-Manas] like a spring of water beneath the
earth, seeking an outlet.
With this process of ascent, and the Third Outpouring, which results in the formation of the causal body
of the man, we shall deal in succeeding chapters, in due course.
Reverting to the Second Outpouring, we must note that it not only divides itself to an almost infinite
degree, but also appears to differentiate itself, so that it comes through countless, millions of channels on
every plane and sub-plane. Thus, on the Buddhic Plane it appears as the Christ-Principle in man; in
Man's mental and astral bodies it vivifies various layers of matter, appearing in the higher part of the
astral as a noble emotion, in the lower part as a mere rush of life-force energising the matter of the body.
In its lowest embodiment, it rushes from the astral body into the etheric chakrams or force centres, where
it meets the Kundalini welling up from the interior of the human body.
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