7rcTIX1xP

A Series of Lessons in Gnani Yoga910
various cycles, but may mention another division common to the Yogi
teachings, beginning with the Great Year. The Great Year is composed of
360 earth years. Twelve thousand Great Years constitute what is known as a
Great Cycle, which is seen to consist of 4,320,000 earth years. Seventy-one
Great Cycles compose what is called a Manwantara, at the end of which the
earth becomes submerged under the waters, until not a vestige of land is
left uncovered. This state lasts for a period equal to 71 Great Cycles. A Kalpa
is composed of 14 Manwantaras. The largest and grandest Cycle manifested
is known as the Maya-Praylaya, consisting of 36,000 Kalpas when the
Absolute withdraws into Itself its entire manifestations, and dwells alone in
its awful Infinity and Oneness, this period being succeeded by a period
equally long—the two being known as the Days and Nights of Brahm.
You will notice that each of these great Cycles has its “Day” period and its
“Night” period—its Period of Activity, and its Period of Inactivity. From Day
to Maya-Praylaya, it is a succession of Nights and Days—Creative Activity
and Creative Cessation.
The “Chain of Worlds,” is that great group of planets in our own solar
system, seven in number, over which the Procession of Life passes, in Cycles.
From globe to globe the great wave of soul life passes in Cyclic Rhythm.
After a race has passed a certain number of incarnations upon one planet, it
passes on to another, and learns new lessons, and then on and on until finally
it has learned all of the lessons possible on this Universe, when it passes
on to another Universe, and so on, from higher to higher until the human
mind is unable to even think of the grandeur of the destiny awaiting each
human soul on The Path. The various works published by the Theosophical
organizations go into detail regarding these matters, which require the
space of many volumes to adequately express, but we think that we have
at last indicated the general nature of the question, pointing out to the
student the nature of the subject, and indicating lines for further study and
investigation.