La Iniciación · Año I, Nº 3 · July 1942

YEAR 1 · JULY 1942 · Nº 3 — The Venerable Personality of the Master “Amo” — “My Spiritual Master”: that is the expression with which PAPUS — physician, magus, initiate and initiator, the “Balzac of Occultism”, the “Master of clarity” — designates, with INFINITE HUMILITY, the Master AMO. Who was that Master, before whom such figures as PAPUS, STANISLAS DE GUAITA, BARLET, DURVILLE, PHANEG and so many others bowed reverently?

He was a modest, silent man, a TRUE CHRISTIAN MYSTIC who, thinking of SERVING others, did so with marvellous powers brought with him from the cradle and cultivated daily, PUTTING THEM AT THE SERVICE OF THOSE IN NEED, whoever they might be; for in his luminous life he attended not only the powerful, such as the Tsar of all the Russias, but also humble people whose gratitude lives even today upon his name like a luminous halo.

His civil name was Philippe Nizier, or simply PHILIPPE, as he liked to be called. Born into a modest household in Lyon (France), he had to struggle in order to study; for in order to be able to use legally the DIVINE GIFTS he brought with him, it was necessary to be a physician. In order to be able to study, he worked. Every morning he went round the homes of a butcher's customers and delivered the meat.

I have known many “spiritualists” who, when they passed within fifty metres of a butcher's shop, already felt “their aura disturbed, and that this might hinder them in their spiritual work”. Working in that way did not prevent AMO from being a Master, a Physician and a Saint.

When he was in his first year of medicine (Papus relates) he one day brought back to life a person who, by the unanimous affirmations of the physicians, had died shortly before. That was enough for a grudge to be taken against him which grew to the point of preventing him from qualifying in France, owing to the “fraternal” opposition of certain graduates.

On another occasion, visiting the hospital ward, AMO looked at the sick and they improved so rapidly that everyone was astonished. On one occasion the physicians were disputing about the form of rheumatism that was causing a patient's headaches and earache.

AMO, present at the discussion, said that the man had a tumour of the inner ear (with an abscess of the mastoid), which provoked the laughter of those present; but AT THAT MOMENT the patient's ear began to discharge pus and shortly afterwards he was cured, confirming AMO's diagnosis.

AMO became the Head of the school of Theurgy of Lyon; but with his cures he had many difficulties with the physicians and the authorities, being prosecuted many times for the illegal practice of medicine. He doubtless thought that his duty was to continue, because he never ceased to do good, even so.

His small consulting room in the rue de la “Tête d'Or”, in Lyon, was always full of people who came seeking counsel, help and healing for themselves or for their relatives. In that small room extraordinary things happened, of which I shall relate the following:

When PAPUS, for example, analysing the lives of certain persons, believed he saw some injustice of destiny and, sincere researcher that he was, came to lay his concern before his Spiritual Master, the latter would say to him simply: “Come, I am going to ask the FRIEND to show you the Truth”.

And in AMO's small reserved room, swiftly, AMO's invocation permitted the passing of the plates of the ASTRAL LIGHT, in which PAPUS saw unfold the preceding life or lives of that individual, and the ANTERIOR CAUSES of his PRESENT DESTINY become as clear and logical as everything NATURAL.

And Papus, sincere as always, relates that at the end of each of those experiences he bowed the more devotedly before the Wisdom of the Universe and before the Knowledge and Power of his Master.

Many times, if a woman of the people, meeting the Master in the street, came to entreat him for the saving of her dying child, and AMO said to her, “Go, woman, you are richer through your courage and your constant service than the rich of the earth; go, your child is healed” — on returning home the poor good woman would verify the “miracle” that disconcerted and irritated the physicians. J.

Bricaud, former Grand Master of the Martinist branch of Lyon, relates that he knew many persons healed by AMO; that certain cures seemed truly miracles, and that a workman whose gangrenous leg was to be amputated was healed in less than an hour by the Master's action. AMO lived very retired, surrounded by a circle of friends and disciples.

When he was asked who he was and whence came his strange or terrible powers, he answered: “I AM LESS THAN A STONE. THERE ARE SO MANY BEINGS UPON THIS EARTH WHO ARE CERTAIN OF BEING SOMETHING, THAT I AM HAPPY TO BE SCARCELY ANYTHING AT ALL”.

And he taught men to reach the certainty that he who knows that he knows nothing is only then beginning to understand knowledge…; that he who possesses only a mattress and lends it to one who has none is richer than all the rich of the earth. AMO taught that there are three species of illness: the physical, the astral and the spiritual.

The physical belong to the domain of allopathic medicine; the astral were to be treated by homeopathy, by magnetism and by the processes of the ancient occultists. Spiritual illnesses could be treated only by prayer and by theurgy. A typical example of the powers and of the teachings of the Master AMO may be seen in the following cure: At AMO's house there were some twenty or thirty persons, among them PAPUS and two other physicians.

A lady who, when a girl, had already been saved from grave illness by the Master, brings her little boy of two or three years old in a comatose state, and asks the Master for pity and health for the little one. AMO asks the physicians to examine the child. The diagnosis is unanimous: tubercular meningitis, of rapid evolution. Death must come inexorably within a few hours. “Very well,” said AMO, “this child can be SAVED.

Will you all undertake to go TWO MONTHS without speaking of those who are absent? None of those present agreed, and Papus — a Master too, or almost, at that period — said that it seemed to him difficult to go more than two hours without speaking ill of his neighbour. AMO smiled, probably satisfied with the SINCERITY of them all, and said: “Very well, you will try to go two hours without speaking or thinking ill of anyone”. He took the child into the small reserved room and, two hours later, brought him out walking, his little hand in the 2

hand of the Master. He was totally and entirely cured, as the physicians present verified. I CAN ASSURE YOU that, to this day, nothing has changed in the Master AMO's manner of working.

I have been able to verify that never has a disciple or a well-intentioned person asked him for a cure or an improvement without its being swiftly effected, IN THE EXACT PROPORTION OF THE FORCE AND SINCERITY OF THE REQUEST and of the effort made by the one who asked TO GIVE SOMETHING, disinterestedly, for the healing of others.

And if some well-intentioned people would accustom themselves to keeping a serene attitude, never growing angry, never speaking harshly of anyone, and thinking principally of HOW THEY MAY SERVE OTHERS, they would be astonished at the protection the Master AMO would give to their altruistic longings, and at HOW EASY IT IS TO HAVE POWERS when one REALLY has the intense and exclusive desire to do good with them, without vanity and without desire for personal advancement.

The difficulty of the matter is that we can deceive our fellows, we can even come to deceive ourselves, but it is IMPOSSIBLE to deceive the Master. For this reason he who sees himself as he really is is never surprised at having received little; on the contrary, he always has the impression of HAVING RECEIVED MORE THAN HE DESERVED.

It was the Master AMO who founded the Martinist Lodge that functioned at the Imperial Court of Russia, in circumstances which I shall relate to you on another occasion. It was he who foretold the future of the well-known writer H.

Durville (later a Martinist also) when, after Durville had established his household and his first child was born, Philippe agreed to be godfather and travelled to Paris to attend the ceremony (let us note in passing that he was therefore NEITHER FANATICAL NOR INTOLERANT IN RELIGIOUS MATTERS). On meeting H. Durville personally, AMO said to him: “At present you believe in nothing, but later you will believe”.

In fact Durville, who followed the school of Mesmeric-fluidic magnetism and did not at that time accept the higher and mystical part of the Traditional Teachings, was later a complete Initiate.

The baptism ceremony took place in the Church of Sainte Marie in Paris, and on arriving there with Durville, Papus and others, AMO turned to a beggar who was at the church door and said to him: “It is dangerous that the eight thousand five hundred francs in gold you have in your mattress should be stolen, and such another sum in such a place”.

The beggar went away astonished and frightened that a stranger should so reveal to him the reality of his false poverty. Facts such as this, and others still more instructive, are very numerous in the Master's life; I shall relate some more of them in the next number. For the present I shall end by relating how CEDAÏOR came to know AMO.

Being still almost a child (twelve or thirteen years old), Cedaïor, in order to go from Valencia to Paris, had to pass through Lyon and remain there some days. A friend of his family took him into the presence of AMO, who, having looked at the boy, asked him whether he would like to help a lady who was very ill.

Commentaries on the First Degree of Martinism (Continuation) — Teaching of Jehel — The Degree of Apprentice Mason. And it is within the Temple described previously that the new Apprentice is going to “work”. Let us see under what conditions. We have said in preceding articles that they had made him swear an oath.

To do so they made him kneel — so that he might understand that before the Universal or Divine Forces we must all be humble, which we in fact very little are — and they placed a compass upon his heart, saying to him: “learn to regulate the beating of your heart”, which may be understood in three ways: 1st.

The “yoga” science of respiration and the control of the respiratory and cardiac rhythm, which are joined, and without the management of which there is no possibility of CONSCIOUS psychism. 2nd. The moral plane. Feel and understand the impulses of your heart, free yourself from the passions and be a “man of well-formed heart”. 3rd. The spiritual plane.

The whole universe pulses like a human heart; to know how to measure and apply that universal diastole and systole is to have become master of the Great Magical Agent from every point of view, and to have understood that LOVE is the Universal Law which works under the names of Attraction and Repulsion, Flux and Reflux, Involution and Evolution, Incarnation and Disincarnation, etc….

In such a position the oath sworn by the Apprentice is to be faithful in his work and silent concerning the initiatic secrets; and the Apprentice's sign, made with the right hand open and squared upon the throat, recalls that oath and explains that the Apprentice has undertaken to speak with rectitude and to keep silence with prudence.

It recalls also that the laryngeal plexus is one of those which must be developed in order to be a real and conscious servant of the Higher Planes. It symbolises, in this word, the Human Word, conceived as Creative Word, a reflection of the Divine Word.

This oath completed, they give the Apprentice, besides the gloves of which we have already spoken, a “mandil” or apron of white leather whose form is that of a rectangle upon which there is a triangle.

It is one of the most profound symbols, and among the least known to masons, who give the explanation — moral only — that “apprentices, being less experienced than companions and masters, need more protection, and for that reason wear the apron with the flap (the triangular part) raised”.

Such an explanation is doubtless a beautiful symbol of the greater protection which the ignorant, the beginner, the less evolved really needs, requires, and has a RIGHT to receive. But the symbol of the apron goes much further, since its form, as I said before, is that of a quadrilateral upon which there is a triangle.

One need only think a little to see that it is the summary of the whole masonic doctrine: the triangle of the Spirit, of Wisdom, Force and Beauty, UPON the QUADRILATERAL of MATTER, of the World of Forms — in other words, the very constitution of the Human Being with its FOUR lower principles: Physical Body, Vitality, Vital Body and Passional or Animal Soul or Concrete mind; and its THREE higher principles: Human Soul or Abstract mind, Angelic or Spiritual Soul, and Higher or Divine Spirit.

The apprentice is also given a “Sacred Word”, and it is curious to note that it is the only masonic degree that has a single word: the sacred one.

This is enough for “those who know” to show the link with the Egyptian mysteries, in which the aspirant or Apprentice, having no permission to LEAVE THE TEMPLE, knew only the Sacred Word by which to put himself in communication with the other Initiates inside the Temple; but did not know the Password that would allow him to leave it and return.

Such a sacred word varies according to the Rites, but it is always the name of the column at which, according to the Rite, the Apprentice is seated. It is therefore, in the majority of the Rites, the word B. O. A. Z., given in answer to the Apprentice's touch.

Such a word signifies, as we already know: Beauty, Form, the PASSIVE AND RECEPTIVE ACTIVITY of the Apprentice in receiving the inspiration and the instruction of his superiors, visible and INVISIBLE. The Apprentice's touch is generally given by question and answer. He who asks presses once with the right thumb upon the last phalanx of the index finger of the one questioned.

The one questioned answers by giving, in the same manner and in the same place, three spaced touches, as in the Scottish Rite. Sometimes it is two and one in certain Rites, as in the modern French. Afterwards comes the recognition by the sacred word. But I cannot teach this in a review; thus, SOMETHING BEING MISSING, no profane reader will be able to have himself improperly recognised as a mason.

Such a touch with the finger, and its answer, signify that the Apprentice is asked to indicate (three touches) WHY, WHEN and WHERE he ought to act; that is, he must prove his knowledge of the Triple Law which I have set out from the beginning of this teaching and which forms the basis of this masonic degree.

The age of the Apprentice Mason, symbolically speaking, is three years — an age significant of the TERNARY composition OF MAN, BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT, and also an image of the age at which the “life of relation” begins that is so important for the child, who by then walks, speaks, and begins to live in relation to his surroundings; and Masonry very rightly means by this to signify that the whole basis and all the consequences of our life depend, almost entirely, upon the USE we make of our faculties (Words and Actions) within the setting in which we act.

Finally the Apprentice, on returning to the Temple at each meeting, cannot be there as in any profane place. The correct form is the following: Placed on the outside, before the closed Door of the Temple, his right foot must be locked behind the left. Then, with the right hand closed, he will knock three times (in a triangle) upon that door.

When it opens he places his hand “at the order”, that is, making a square upon the throat, while the arm forms another square with the body, and the feet in their turn are also placed in a square. There stands, put simply, the following: rectitude and service, PHYSICAL (feet); MORAL (arm and breast); and MENTAL or SPIRITUAL (throat, head). The left foot being in front, the Apprentice then takes three equal steps.

symbolises force — physical and moral force and, above all, FORCE OF WILL. The CHISEL, a sharpened and penetrating instrument, is in the passive, receptive hand and symbolises PERCEPTION through Intelligence and Intuition. Let us note that both instruments are completely useless for working the Rough Stone if the Apprentice does not “bring” the two hands before the median line of his body in order to strike the chisel with the mallet.

He does so three times. This profound symbol signifies the following: without the union of will with intelligence and with intuition there is no possible progress, neither in the physical (first blow), nor in the moral (second blow), nor in the spiritual (third and last blow). We must still meditate upon the fact that, WITHOUT THE MALLET, the chisel does not penetrate the stone, does not change it, and it remains ROUGH.

That means that all knowledge — intellectual, intuitive or of any kind — yields no result if it is not APPLIED with the will (mallet) and repeatedly (blows). As you will realise, this symbolism is very beautiful and very profound, and the whole Degree of Apprentice is devoted to examining the applications of the ternary principle, from the most elevated to the most human.

We are going to end this study of the first masonic degree by making a summary of the knowledge it teaches. SYNTHESIS OF THE DEGREE OF APPRENTICE IN ALMOST ALL THE RITES. Universal Plane. — The Universe is composed of three planes: of Wisdom, of Force and of Form; that is, of a Divine World, an Astral World and a Physical World.

Hominal Plane. — The human Being is likewise ternary in his constitution, “made in the image of his Creator”, and has therefore SPIRIT, SOUL and BODY. Technical-Philosophical Plane. — Everything passes from Thought to word and to Act; a correspondence applying Spirit, Soul and Body.

Moral Plane. — The human being, in order to “polish his rough stone”, must attend to his constitution, treating his body by means of the Force of Will and the higher Intelligence. That is, he must develop a healthy body, a pure soul and a cultivated spirit in the true sense, in accordance with the universal laws.

Social Plane. — Everything is hierarchical, everything is governed by Wisdom, and power is no more than the means of action upon form, which only thus can be beautiful and just. To put the physical (brute force) in first place is to invert the natural order. To put moral or passional force in first place is to pervert the natural order by half; and to put the higher force alone in first place is likewise to create a sterile fanaticism.

Initiatic Plane. — First: to Learn — Then: to COMPARE — Finally, to Apply silently. A summary of the old phrase: TO KNOW, TO WILL, TO DARE and TO KEEP SILENT. Purely Philosophical Plane. — The Universe is mental. Religion, Science, Philosophy and Art are the four manifested aspects of the same thing: Universal Life.

Social Functions. — Body: that is, manual and material labour and all the physical means of action, from tools to capital, form the Social Body. Soul: that is, artistic, ethical and aesthetic functions and their professions, and their cultural or cultic results, form the Social Soul — they educate and orient the 7

FEELING of the collectivity. For this reason it is profoundly just and exact to say: Christian civilisation, or Confucian civilisation. Spirit: the real and higher knowledge of the collectivity, whence comes the Moral Authority of its civilisation — higher Science and Philosophy, represented by its most eminent thinkers.

SYNTHESIS. — The synthesis of a collectivity is its Initiates, for they are the only ones who embrace knowledge from a point of view that is NOT SECTARIAN, NOT INTOLERANT, and who can therefore be COMPREHENDING of the different religions and of the different scientific, philosophical and artistic points of view of the collectivity at a given moment.

For this reason Masonry, if it were well practised, would always be — as was its true purpose — a neutral ground of understanding and of synthesis of all the sectors of human thought, tending towards a profoundly gnostic end; that is, synthetic in every sense: material, moral and spiritual.

We shall see later that the Martinist doctrine is clearer still, and expresses this by means of symbols that go deeper yet into these problems which Masonry already sets so beautifully before the eyes of the Apprentices, to accustom them to meditate without reaction upon all facts and to draw from them all the postulates useful to individual and collective progress. End of the Degree of Apprentice. (To be continued).

DEEP DREAMS — Hollowed timbers of my feelings, / Scent of a field of wild thoughts, / Kettledrums of trunks with fungi of reverie, / Bare hair, sound of an oboe of living solitude. Rustic bodies of trees — giants! Shadows! Broken hopes, with green branches that filter disillusion, / Instruments of human fibre covered by the genius of the quixote, / The soul bends nature, with sensual contours, ignoring the spirit, in remembrances past. Vicente Parreta.

Practical Course of Judicial Astrology (Continuation) (Teaching of Surya, S.I.) — Papus continues still: “The ancients taught that the heavens had a dominant action upon the physical forces, upon living beings and upon the states of matter on the Earth.

For that reason they gave the name of Earth to everything found in the solid state, the name of Water to all that was liquid, the name of Air to all that was gaseous, and the name of Fire to all the manifestations of Force. It is therefore a very gross error to believe that these terms designated the Earth itself, or terrestrial Water, or atmospheric Air, or the Fire of the furnace or the hearth.

The terms earth of antimony, water of life, air (or spirit) of wine, philosophical fire, and so on, would serve, if it were necessary, to make the concept clear to the profane.

These various states of matter were indicated symbolically by triangles: FIRE by a triangle with the apex upward; AIR by a triangle also with the apex upward but cut in its upper part by a transverse line, whose origin we shall understand further on; WATER by a triangle with the apex downward and uncut; and finally EARTH by a triangle with the apex downward and cut transversely.

By contemplating the figure that follows, what we explain and its hieroglyphic origin will be perfectly understood; each of the Astrological Houses corresponds to one of these four elements: Houses 1, 5, 9 are FIERY and correspond to the element Fire. Joining the midpoints of those houses by a straight line inscribes the triangle of Fire in the heavens.

Houses 2, 6, 10 correspond to Earth and form in the heavens the triangle of the Earth of the Living. Houses 3, 7, 11 form the triangle of Air. Houses 4, 8, 12 form the triangle of Water, or of the Great Celestial Waters. The triangles of Earth and Water cut one another, forming a hexagram or Star of Solomon. The same happens with the triangles of Fire and Air. Let the preceding figures be well studied in this connection.

PLANETARY INFLUENCES — THE ASTEROIDS — URANUS AND NEPTUNE — The planets exercise a very great influence, according to the astrologers, upon one another. The Earth undergoes an influence from its neighbours, and that influence is manifested according to two principal factors: the size and the proximity of the planets.

Thus the Moon, a mere satellite but a very near body, has a real and positive influence upon terrestrial events, whereas the numerous asteroids situated between Mars and Jupiter count for nothing at all in astrological calculations. Planetary influence belongs, astrologically, not to the planet properly speaking but to its zone of influence, which is represented by the distance between that planet and its nearest neighbour.

The asteroids are therefore divided between the influence of Mars and of Jupiter, and cannot be taken into account separately. And now let me be permitted to give a very personal opinion (it is Papus who speaks) which should compromise no one but myself. I maintain that it is by a lamentable error that contemporary astrologers have introduced into their calculations the influence of Neptune and of Uranus, the two planets situated beyond Saturn.

I am going to explain why. Jupiter is 1300 times more voluminous than the Earth and is distant from it only 155 million leagues. Its influence is evident. Uranus is only as large as 75 Earths and is 673 million leagues from our Earth. Neptune, which is 86 times larger than the Earth, is 1073 million leagues away.

In my opinion, those two planets, and others that will be described later, are intermediaries between our solar system and the neighbouring solar system. The direction of their rotation indicates it, moreover, to those who know how to observe. The influence of Uranus and of Neptune must therefore be bound back to the influence of Saturn, which is worth 864 Earths and lies 268 million leagues away.

Because, in any case, if contemporary astrologers wish to show that they set great store by astronomical discoveries, they will then have to take account also of the existence of the asteroids that circulate between Mars and Jupiter, or else set aside the distant influences of Neptune and Uranus, binding them back to the calculations of the sphere or zone of Saturn.

That is why I take no account whatever of those two planets in this astrological primer. THE PLANETS — Papus ends by saying: “We have already seen the houses and the fixed signs of the Zodiac. Each house possesses, for the astrologer, a Lord, a Governor, who is one of the seven planets. Each planet except the Sun and the Moon has two domiciles: one positive or diurnal and the other negative or nocturnal.

The Moon has its single domicile in house 4, in the sign of CANCER; the Sun has its single domicile in house 5, in the sign of LEO. Mercury has its diurnal or positive domicile in house 3 (GEMINI) and its negative or nocturnal domicile in the 6th house, that is, in the sign of VIRGO. Venus: diurnal domicile in TAURUS (2nd house) and nocturnal in LIBRA (7th house). Mars: diurnal domicile in ARIES (1st house) and nocturnal in SCORPIO (8th house). 10

Jupiter: diurnal domicile in PISCES (12th house) and nocturnal in SAGITTARIUS (9th house). Saturn: diurnal domicile in AQUARIUS (11th house) and nocturnal in CAPRICORN (10th house).

All of which is clearly summarised in the following figure: We thus end the long and most interesting quotation we have made from the Master Papus, in order to show the foundations which, in the Initiatic temples of Antiquity, were given to the student of Astrology so that he might come to understand simultaneously not only the horoscopic side of Astrology but also, and most principally, its value as a key to the symbolism and to the reality of the Universal Laws, or Cosmobiology — whose expression through the science of the stars would be called Astrosophy.

THE ASPECTS — When two planets stand at distances from one another which, translated into degrees of the signs of the Zodiac, are multiples of 30 degrees, and sometimes of half that, 15 degrees, they form aspects which Astrology has classified as favourable and unfavourable.

There are besides neutral aspects, which are favourable if they occur between two benefic planets, moderate if they occur between a benefic and a malefic, and clearly unfavourable if they occur between two so-called malefic planets. Let us first classify the planets, then: BENEFIC — Jupiter, Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon. MALEFIC — Saturn, Mars.

There are besides Uranus and Neptune, the modern ones, whose influence is disputed, but which are considered rather — Uranus as malefic and Neptune as benefic. Opinions differ.

Summarising, we have: CONJUNCTION, distance 00º, aspect major and neutral · SEMISEXTILE 30º, minor and favourable · SEMISQUARE 45º, minor and unfavourable · SEXTILE 60º, major and favourable · SQUARE 90º, major and unfavourable · TRINE 120º, major and favourable · SESQUIQUADRATE 135º, minor and unfavourable · QUINCUNX 150º, minor and favourable · OPPOSITION 180º, major and unfavourable. 11

SIGNS OF THE ASPECTS — The notation of the aspects is made by means of conventional signs originating in their own measure “inscribed” in the circle, which are the following: (To be continued). THE SPRINGS — 12 — Blessed be God, who set the springs in the path of the thirsty! The springs which, without a murmur, offer themselves and refresh in silence.

The springs which, generous, seek the mouth of the pitcher they are to fill with the goodness of their waters — and fill it to the brim, in a kiss of peace and of health. The springs which spill over into rainbows of gentle gladness, which are transformed into lights of divine consolations, and which are mothers — because in giving their waters they give life! Marta A. M.

Progressive Course of Asana Yoga (Continuation) — Teachings of Asuri Kapila. It must not be forgotten that the principal accomplishments for the attainment of Yoga are: YAMA: to kill nor destroy no manifestation of life, to be truthful, and not to squander the sexual forces for the mere pleasure of sensuality. This is the first stage of RAJA YOGA.

Then comes NIYAMA, which is external purification, gladness, methodical study and complete devotion to God. This is the second stage of RAJA YOGA. ASANA is the third stage of what is called ASHTANGA-YOGA, while PRANA-YAMA is the fourth. Ordinary physical exercises develop only the superficial muscles; with them it is possible to become a perfect athlete with a fine physique.

But the Asanas are made very especially to develop conscientiously the internal organs — the liver, the intestines, the kidneys, the pancreas, the brain, the lungs — and most especially to carry a vivifying stimulus to the complex system of endocrine glands (thymus, thyroid, parathyroid, pituitary, pineal, etc.) which play an important part in the economy of Nature for the maintenance of health, in metabolism, in growth, and most especially in permitting the harmony and perfect nutrition of the different cells that compose the tissues of our physical body.

There will be given here, in these courses, the drawings corresponding to each Asana as the commentaries upon them appear. ASANAS FOR THE PRACTICE OF MEDITATION — DHYANA — The Gurus of India recommend, for the practice of meditation and also for what they call JAPA (the repetition of mantrams and sacred words), the exercise of four Asanas bearing respectively the names of PADMASANA, SIDDHA, SWASTIKA and SUKHASANA.

It is necessary to know the following: if the perfect performance of an Asana is not first secured, one will never be able to arrive at perfect meditation. The more tranquil one is in the Asana, the easier it will be to concentrate and to focus the mind upon a single purpose.

One will begin first with five minutes, then with ten, twenty, and so on, until an hour is reached; and only then will one be able to realise for oneself the infinite peace and tranquillity that will invade the physical body and, by reflection, reach the mind. When one is seated in an Asana, one must think the following: “I am as firm as a rock; nothing can shake me”.

This powerful suggestion must be given to the mind at least a dozen times; then the Asana will be perfectly performed. The 13

body of the practitioner should resemble a living statue when this Asana is practised for meditation. After six months of constant practice it will be possible to remain in an Asana for many hours without feeling the least fatigue or discomfort. If at the beginning some pain is felt in the legs, one will rest for a few moments, giving oneself some gentle massage with the hands along the legs, and then repeat the Asana.

They must be practised in the morning on rising, at midday, and before going to bed. Place the head, the neck and the trunk in a straight line; this is very important, and we shall explain further on why. Do not perform another Asana before the first has been well mastered. Today we shall begin with the one called PADMASANA, which means in Sanskrit the “posture of the lotus”.

Padma means lotus, and Asana posture, because when it is carried out it presents all the appearance of a lotus flower, for which reason the Gurus of India so named it. It is also known by another name: KAMALASANA. Kamala likewise means lotus.

Among the four postures advised by the classical Masters of Yoga for the practice of meditation, Padmasana is considered the most important and the most classical, being also the best for putting oneself in communication with the subtler planes of Nature.

All the RISHIS speak of this posture in the most auspicious terms; it is considered a vitalising, vivifying Asana and highly recommended for women, and can be practised as much by a person of age as by children. TECHNIQUE — Sit on the ground upon a rug, extending the legs forward; then place the right foot upon the left thigh, and the left foot upon the right thigh, as is shown in figure Nº 1.

It is necessary to keep the trunk, the chest and the neck well straight during the practice of Padmasana. We recommend most especially that these counsels be taken into account, for they ensure success and visible results.

The student should have a special little corner in which to practise the Asanas, always the same one, quiet, apart from all disturbing noise, interruptions, bad odours, dirty water and contaminated air — the most appropriate being a small room dedicated especially to that purpose.

The ideal is also to be able to perform the Asanas on a roof terrace with air and sun, the organism receiving in this way a triple benefit: the stimulus of the Asanas, the air which will strengthen the lungs, and the sun which will nourish and tone all the tissues — factors very important for health.

Now, if one has a small room to dedicate exclusively to this, that is the ideal; it must be used as a true sanctuary, entering it with devotion, seriousness and faith in what is to be performed, burning if possible some perfume to purify the atmosphere, as is customary in the East before any spiritual undertaking.

No one else should be allowed to enter it, so that the personal aura may not be disharmonised — an aura which, through the continual presence of the disciple, will naturally form day by day and become charged with his emotional and mental emanations; this 14

last warning is very important for the performance of highly spiritual work, where the mind must be in a perfect state of receptivity. Now, any corner is good provided one is not interrupted during the practice of the Asanas, if that purpose is not sought and only the side of physical improvement and the beautifying of the organism is. Be as constant as possible and practise every day at the same hours.

Do not perform Asanas with the stomach loaded with food, and especially with liquids, for not taking this warning into account could bring serious mishaps. It is best always to practise fasting. Do not perform Asanas if one is in a bad humour or if the mind is unquiet, loaded with many and varied thoughts such as hatred, rancour, envy, sensuality, and so on.

One must enter that little temple with the mind completely free of material things — or, speaking in the terms of Yoga, leave the VRITTIS outside so that CHITTA may be completely tranquil like the surface of a lake without waves; because, as PATANJALI, the Venerable Master of Yoga, says: “Yoga is not permitting the mind-stuff (Chitta) to take diverse forms (Vrittis).

Do not tire yourself excessively; perform the Asanas very slowly, without violence; do not overdo them in the early stages; remember that what cannot be done in a day will be done in five or ten, gradually; that every study needs its technique and its proper time.

As we have said before, Padmasana is almost always the first posture adopted by those who devote themselves to Asana Yoga, being the most classical; it gives for DHYANA the due state of physical, mental and spiritual tranquillity.

It is fairly easy to perform with exercise, and moreover it grants a very special rest to the physical body; the wise Gurus had need to find a posture uniting all those qualities, that could be practised hour after hour without the physical body resisting, without its causing harm, and so that during the practice of the different Yogas the mind might abstract itself for long hours; and thus was born that beautiful Asana bearing the title of Padmasana.

It is generally in this posture that the yogis perform what is called PRANA-YAMA (control of the breath) and JAPA (the recitation of prayers and sacred words: mantrams). The more tranquillity the body and the mind acquire, the easier it will be for the student to perform, later on, yogic meditation. Only when one is capable of remaining whole hours in that Asana will one arrive at complete control and mastery of body and mind.

It is a truly unforgettable sight, which remains always engraved on the mind, to observe a yogi or ascetic given over to meditation in Padmasana; one would think him a bronze statue, tireless and hieratic, whom nothing and no one can disturb. In practising this Asana some pain will be felt in the legs in the early stages; but there is no cause for alarm — this happens for want of practice.

Little by little those discomforts will disappear as the muscles and tendons of the legs grow accustomed. Nothing is achieved without small sacrifices. But one will be amply rewarded in time, and will feel a great gladness and an immense well-being during the moments in which Padmasana is performed.

And concentration may equally be performed, during Padmasana, upon the different plexuses which will be made known further on, or upon the tip of the nose, which comes to be the “Registrar of the inner vision”. This last meditation requires a very special technique which we shall make known in other courses, when the method of concentration upon internal and external objects is explained, and so on….

There exist a dozen variants of Padmasana which we shall study before coming to know the other Asanas that follow it. The yogi, before realising the supreme ideal of Yoga — which is to unite his divine SELF to the universal SELF — begins first by purifying his physical body and then his mind, which will inexorably bring, by reflection, the purification of the Higher Vehicles.

GLOSSARY — YAMA: Observance of respect for life, right thinking and purity. NIYAMA: Mastery, continence, the first observance, one of the eight parts of Yoga. DHYANA: Meditation, contemplation. JAPA: Repetition of prayers, of magical words, of mantrams. PADMASANA: Posture of the Lotus, lotus flower. SIDDHA: Perfect yogi. SWASTIKA: Four-footed cross, founded by FO-GHUI, in the year 1024 B.C.

SUKHASANA: Posture of happiness, pleasure, delight, gladness. KAMALASANA: Posture of the Lotus. VRITTIS: Thoughts that invade the mind and obscure it. CHITTA: Mind-stuff. TRIKUTI: The sacred mountain of three peaks. CHAKRA: Plexus. ANAHATA CHAKRA: Plexus situated in the centre of the heart, also called “Seat or Wheel of Life”. (To be continued). 16

COSMIC WAVES (By an S.I. of the Martinist Order) — Until now I have always refrained from publishing forecasts or astrological sections, given the difficulty of making absolutely scientific predictions based upon a horoscope calculated with full exactitude.

Nevertheless I offer my collaboration to LA INICIACIÓN today, in the desire to change the conviction held by some — including many esotericists — that Astrology is a marvellous science but of no use in practice. We must imagine our globe, the countries, the peoples, the human collectivities, as INDIVIDUAL BEINGS, and nature as a radio station where both possibilities exist: transmission and reception.

The horoscope of a given collectivity or individuality corresponds to the wavelength, to the number of kilocycles, of this “apparatus”. The great station of the Firmament radiates nothing but harmonious music; but we, with our defective apparatus, or through not knowing how to use it, receive, transmit or come to radiate such harmonious melodies.

The horoscope therefore constitutes, for the occultist's study, one of the first steps towards knowledge of the vibration surrounding him, towards becoming more conscious of himself, and towards a deeper understanding of his neighbour and of all creation.

If we know that a given station is broadcasting a beautiful sonata of Beethoven, we shall try to tune our apparatus so as not to lose a note; but if we know that the envelope, the atmosphere of the Earth, is too dense and provokes storms, so that the wave cannot reach our apparatus harmoniously, we shut it off so that the valves do not burn out.

Experience has shown me that the transit (passage) of the planets over the most important angles of our horoscope can be stronger than the planetary direction, if we know how to make use of the vibrations so originated.

Many already consider themselves “above” these influences; but if they analysed their acts and ideas minutely they would understand that, as they evolve, they become more sensitive to these vibrations and respond to them in higher proportion.

The Sun being one of the essential points of our horoscope causes the most powerful vibrations, and for that reason I shall explain each month who will feel, during that month, a strong wave between the degree where the Sun stands and the position of one of the more important planets.

INFLUENCES DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE 1942 FOR THOSE BORN: 17 to 19 March, 18 to 20 June, 19 to 24 December: Neptune square Sun — Causes a period unfavourable to the psychic faculty, through the danger of deceptions, betrayals and confused situations.

Neptune is the planet of clairvoyance and of intuition, and if we receive its ray at an angle that causes an unfavourable reaction, our vision — on the intellectual plane as on the spiritual — may be disturbed, and the consequences may be ruinous in our life.

FOR THOSE BORN: 17 to 19 January, 13 to 20 May, 20 to 22 July, 20 to 22 September and 18 to 21 October: Neptune in good aspect with the Sun — Causes vibrations opposite to the foregoing; it unfolds the psychic faculties; intuition gives us clarifications, ideas, 17

a desire for production, for escape, and for widening our horizon, whether by investigation of the higher planes or by travel and the study of the occult sciences or of art. FOR THOSE BORN: 19 to 23 February, 21 to 25 May, 23 to 27 August and 22 to 26 November.

Uranus in bad angles with the Sun — We may call this vibration the ray of impulsiveness and of precipitation; and in consequence there may come removals, journeys or unfavourable changes, disputes, lawsuits, accidents, injuries or operations begun precipitately, or turning out badly by reason of haste. Calm and reflection are the best means of neutralising this vibration.

FOR THOSE BORN: 20 to 23 January, 21 to 23 March, 23 to 25 June, 23 to 25 September, and possibly for those born 21 to 25 May, since these share in the preceding influence and in this one. Uranus in good aspects with the Sun — Provokes great changes, inspiration, or material and spiritual progress owing to a higher understanding.

Whoever studies the occult sciences and was born on those dates may obtain in this period a greater knowledge, if he knows how to take advantage of the occasions, the ideas presented to him, or the connections with the persons he comes into contact with. Uranus gives innovations, inventions and inspiration, in the profession, in technical activity, and in the artistic and intellectual alike.

It gives them, and those born 17 to 19 January and so on, the possibility of widening their horizon, and also the prospect of favourable journeys or changes. FOR THOSE BORN: 22 to 27 February; 24 to 30 May; 26 August to 1 September; and 25 to 30 November.

Saturn in bad aspect with the Sun — It is above all in consequence of this aspect that I now publish this study of the vibrations, since the persons influenced by it need to be warned so that DURING THIS MONTH OF JUNE, and also DURING JULY, they may take care of their health. Saturn and Uranus stand in the first degrees of Gemini and will provoke many illnesses of the respiratory passages and lungs.

In past years those two planets were in the sign of Taurus and occasioned many operations for appendicitis, illnesses of the glandular system and, by reflection, the illnesses of Scorpio, that is, of the whole genital system and lower abdomen.

At present they influence rather the composition of the blood (a reflection of Sagittarius) and the lungs, and will provoke for many not only bronchitis or asthma, which may become chronic, but also strong and acute crises of rheumatism.

All the possibilities cannot be determined without the individual horoscopes; but in general all who were born on the dates indicated, and on the days immediately following, should take great precautions against chills and against the possibility of illnesses becoming chronic.

Such a vibration, considered one of the most unfavourable, gives a great tendency to depression, to pessimism; and as thoughts attract events, we are under such a vibration more exposed to setbacks and to limitations of our action. The best way of neutralising this influence is to use that period for a voluntary seclusion, physical or mental, seeking to go deeply into ourselves rather than seeking expansion.

In active, professional and commercial life, persons born on such dates must for this period reckon with obstacles, delays and difficulties in accomplishment. FOR THOSE BORN: 22 to 28 January, 23 to 29 March, 24 to 30 June and 23 to 30 September: Saturn in good aspect with the Sun — This vibration gives a depth which, on the radio, may be compared to a beautiful organ concert.

It is the possibility of deepening our thoughts and knowledge and of achieving results and benefits through steadiness, through sincerity, fidelity, economy and prudence. Everything that requires our reasoning, that takes time to germinate, that tends to stabilise our life, everything relating to the soil or to any kind of foundation, should be begun under this vibration.

FOR THOSE BORN: 19 to 29 March, 22 to 31 October, and 20 to 30 December: Jupiter in bad aspects with the Sun — It is an aspect of little gravity; it only makes us somewhat lazy and gives a certain physical and mental indifference, from which setbacks may result through committing faults against our superiors or our health. We must make an effort so that our actions may always be in accord with the “LAW”.

The word must be understood thus: “Law in the three senses: natural, civil and spiritual”.

FOR THOSE BORN: 17 to 27 February, 18 to 28 May, 19 to 30 June, 21 to 31 August and 22 October to 1 November: Jupiter in trine, sextile and conjunction with the Sun — This is the vibration considered the most beneficent, and the one that permits the greatest accomplishments: the rejuvenation of the physique, the acceptance of appropriate treatments, and the new conceptions that permit them to be carried out.

During this period we can accomplish what at other times seemed impossible to us, since we now have, on the physical and social plane, the support of superiors and of chiefs, and on the mental and spiritual plane the protection of those who have already reached higher knowledge and higher degrees — less to give us initiation, which is rather indicated by Neptune and Uranus, than to make accomplishment easier for us.

For the present I shall confine myself to the vibrations caused by these four slower planets, since the swift motion of the others does not permit a monthly interpretation. I wish to add, moreover, that the dates indicated may be considered as beginning a day earlier and ending a day later than the periods marked for those born then, depending on the year in which the person was born.

If the birthday falls at the beginning of the period indicated, the effects noted will be felt rather at the start of the month, and may even have been felt from the month of May. If the birthday, on the contrary, falls at the end of one of the periods indicated, then the influence will make itself felt rather in the second part of June and sometimes during July, as I have indicated.

Let us become conscious of ourselves and of the vibrations that surround us so that, instead of being like little-selective and badly tuned radio receivers that provoke dissonance, we may come to be good receivers and also transmitters — receiving harmonised waves from the Firmament and radiating around us vibrations of HEALTH, GLADNESS AND WISDOM. 19

Notes on my journey to the countries of the Orient — The Obligatory Visit to the Temple of Madura (Conclusion) — We came at last to the Temple properly speaking. How is one to convey the marvel of the splendid high reliefs representing elephants, lions, monsters, goddesses, gods and a multitude of gesticulating genii, all carved directly in the great blocks of granite that seem miraculously to interlock, worked as if by an artistic woman's hand?

Passing before the coffers that hold the enormous treasures of the Temple, and crowns set with enormous pearls, rubies, diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, beryls and turquoises to the value of several millions of “rupees”, we made our way to the celebrated Hall of the Thousand Columns — which in reality has only 997, whose sum, 9 plus 9 plus 7, is 25, equal to 7, the mystical and magical number 7.

What refinement in those works of art deposited there, which make this Temple almost unique of its kind in all the world for the richness of its carvings and of its architecture! Cheerful rays of sun now pierced the portico of the gallery called MINAKSHI-NAIK.

At nightfall the brahmins light there the small lamps with their wick immersed in oil, which by night will illuminate the entrance to the corridors and lend the Temple an aspect more mysterious still. Under the arcades we saw boys and girls selling flowers, fruit and votive offerings. Further on are seen sellers of cakes and sweets; in some corner, closely huddled, a silent yogi in full meditation; further off, some kafir.

From time to time someone interrupts us with a: Salam Sahib, Salam! Welcome, Sir!... Others greet us with a “Bendangi”, a Hindustani salutation. We went on looking at the beautiful sculptures that recall historic personages; we contemplated the statue of VISWANATHA-NAIK, he who helped the emperor VIJAYANAGAR to recover his throne, which had been usurped from him in the year 1599 by a Chola King of Tanjore during his invasion of Madura.

The king was furious at the treachery of one of his generals, whom he suspected of having been the cause of his defeat. He summoned them all and said to them: How is it possible that among my valiant generals, who have won hundreds of battles, there is not one capable of bringing me the traitor, alive or dead?

There was a deep silence, broken by a handsome courtier, the son of the very general suspected of treachery; who addressed the Emperor, saying: “Majesty, I will bring you the traitor, though he were my own father”. And indeed the young general went to meet his father, defeated him in battle and brought him prisoner to the Court, where the emperor's favour was the reward of his loyalty.

The young VISWANATHA-NAIK was made governor of the kingdom of PANDYA. To him are owed the laws and the order that reigned there; justice was executed; fortifications were built to protect the Holy City from invasions, and everything possible was done to keep the brahmins as friends; sanctuaries were constructed and irrigation works carried out which brought that region an enormous prosperity.

brought the country an immense prosperity; she had roads and temples built, and to her are owed the fine highways still existing today in the districts of Madura and Tinnevelly. She was very charitable, and through the treachery of a brahmin whom she had protected she was led into an ambush and walled up alive. A sad end for many beings who have done good.

The sculptures of the Temple of Madura are marvellous and admirable for the pose and the feeling expressed in the images, impressed not only upon the faces but upon every muscle of the body, giving the sensation of a true vitality.

We were able to admire, on both doors of a temple within the “Great Temple”, an entrance which had carved upon its two leaves the figures of the sons of SIVA and PARVATI: GANAPATHI, with an elephant's head, and SUBRAMANYA with six heads and six arms, seated upon a peacock, expressing a whole profound esoteric symbolism.

GANAPATHI is venerated in India as God of knowledge, and he is found at the entrances of almost all the temples and of the bridges on the roads. The Puranas relate that his relatives asked him to marry; Ganapathi answered that he would marry the woman who equalled his own mother in beauty, power and wisdom. But who could equal the incomparable Parvati?

His relatives allowed him to search, and Ganapathi placed himself at the entrance of the temples so that no girl might pass unnoticed by him; but it is believed that he has not yet found what he sought.

Further on we admired the beautiful figures of Siva disguised as a mendicant, who, according to the story, wishing to test the fidelity of the wives of certain sages of the forest of TARUKA, assumed the beautiful form of a BHIKSHATANAMURTI, a handsome naked young mendicant. These ladies were proud of their chastity; but, according to the legend, Siva succeeded in subduing them all.

There is also the statue of MOHINI; VISHNU took that form in order to tempt the austere sages. It is masterfully represented in all its anatomical detail, and one can see in the face an expression of languor and of complete surrender, and a voluptuous abandon of the body.

If one considers that these works of art were made only with the intervention of a few rudimentary instruments — a sharp point with a primitive hammer — one can then appreciate at its full worth the genius of those artists. Opposite the figure of Mohini stands the graceful figure of ANASUYA, the symbol of chastity.

The story is as follows: PARVATI, SARASVATI and LAKSHMI heard NARADA say that ANASUYA was the most chaste and pure woman in the universe and, being jealous, told their respective husbands, who, in order to put that chastity to the test, disguised themselves as RISHIS (Masters) and entered her house asking for food.

ANASUYA, being very devout and hospitable, let them in and offered them rice, but they refused to eat, saying that they would do so only if she served them completely naked; it is easy to imagine the anxiety of that chaste lady; but the very power of her serenity and chastity came to the aid of her virtue, allowing her to turn the three mendicants into three infants, and so to keep her promise and serve them without any shame.

For all this, in truth, the temple of Madura presents itself as an encyclopaedia of the various religions, executed in wood, marble and granite. Near those guardians may be seen some frescoes relating the persecution of the Jains by Hinduism — these paintings recalling, even today, harsh annals. In a place near there is found the famous SANGAM-TAMIL. This was a body of 58 sages, something like the Academy of Sciences in our own day.

Walking along another corridor before a series of sixty-three saints of southern India known as the NAYANARS, one is struck by the fact that among the 63 images there is that of a woman called KARAIKAL-AMMAIYAR, who attained a great sanctity; one can see, from the ascetic features of her face, the elevation of her being.

There too are found various instruments and carriages which are borne in procession on days of religious festival; among them stands out the gigantic “Sacred Car”, upon which the divinities are set. Then our attention is called by SUNDARESWAR, the Saint of Saints, who is represented in the form of a lingam (phallus, or generative symbol).

SIVA, represented as SUNDARESWAR, is one of the three principal gods of Hindu Cosmogony, the other two being BRAHMA and VISHNU. Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver and Siva the destroyer. Some foreigners ask why this god of destruction is represented in the form of a lingam. The answer is that, according to Hindu beliefs, destruction implies reproduction.

Siva destroys not only the heavens and the earth at the end of a world cycle, but also the bond that ties the body to each soul. New worlds must be created and formed by the process of transformation, reincarnation and evolution. In this sense Siva is therefore regarded as creator, because he is responsible for the restoration of that which has been dissolved; and thence comes the representation in the form of a lingam.

Now we stood in admiration before the most beautiful figure, in artistic conception, carved in granite, that can be found in that temple. It is a pillar showing Siva and Parvati upon the mountain of KAILAS. One can see the gigantic figure of RAVANA with 60 heads and 20 hands doing penance, with the mountain KAILAS upon his many shoulders, as punishment for having wished to steal that sacred mountain to adorn his capital.

Near there is another pillar representing Siva in the form of ARDHANARI (the hermaphrodite). This form was the result of the devotion of SAKTI — that is, the doctrine which affirms that a God is able to function only when combined with his feminine element. This is a great esoteric symbol enclosing a mysterious meaning, the principal esoteric key of YOGA.

Siva is represented there by a masculine ring in the right lobe of his ear and the feminine ornament in the left lobe, indicating the inseparable union of the masculine and feminine elements in the Creator. Half the image represents Siva and the other half his wife Parvati; this image is marvellous for the perfect equilibrium achieved by the sculptor between the masculine and the feminine aspect.

Dios otorgó lo pedido y es realmente curioso verificar que, desde tiempos antiguos, ningún pescadito, ni siquiera una rana, habita el Estanque de los “Lotos de Oro”. (Continuará).

AÑO 1 JULIO DE 1942 Nº 3 La Venerable Personalidad del Maestro “Amo” “Mi Maestro Espiritual”: esa es la expresión con que PAPUS, Médico, Mago, Iniciado e Iniciador, el “Balzac del Ocultismo”, el “Maestro de la claridad”, designa con INFINITA HUMILDAD, al Maestro AMO. ¿Quién era ese Maestro, ante el cual valores como PAPUS, STANISLAS DE GUAITA, BARLET, DURVILLE, PHANEG y tantos otros se inclinaban reverentes? Era un hombre modesto, silencioso, un VERDADERO MÍSTICO CRISTIANO que, pensando en SERVIR a los demás, lo hacía con poderes maravillosos traídos desde la cuna y que cultivaba diariamente PONIÉNDOLOS AL SERVICIO DE LOS NECESITADOS, cualesquiera que fuesen; pues en su luminosa vida atendió, no sólo a poderosos como el zar de todas las Rusias, sino a humildes cuya gratitud todavía hoy vive sobre su nombre como una luminosa aureola. Su nombre civil era Philippe Nizier, so simplemente PHILIPPE, como a él le gustaba que lo llamasen. Nacido en un hogar modesto, en Lyon (Francia) tuvo que luchar para estudiar; pues para poder usar legalmente los DONES DIVINOS que traía, era preciso ser médico. Para poder estudiar, trabajaba. Todas las mañanas recorría los domicilios de los clientes de un carnicero y entregaba la carne. Yo he conocido muchos “espiritualistas” que cuando pasaban a cincuenta metros de una carnicería ya sentían “su aura perturbada y eso les podría molestar en sus trabajos espirituales”. A AMO el trabajar así no le impidió ser un Maestro, un Médico y un Santo. Cuando cursaba en primer año de medicina (refiere Papus) resucitó un día a una persona que, según las afirmaciones unánimes de los médicos, había muerto poco antes. Eso bastó para que le tomaran una ojeriza que creció hasta el punto de impedirle recibirse en Francia, debido a la “fraternal” oposición de algunos diplomados. Otra vez, visitando la sal del Hospital, AMO miraba a los enfermos y ellos mejoraban tan rápidamente que todos se extrañaban. En una ocasión los médicos discutían sobre la forma del reumatismo que causaba los dolores de cabeza y de oído de un enfermo, AMO, presente en la discusión, dijo que aquél tenía un tumos del oído interno (con absceso de la mastoides), lo que provocó la risa de los presentes; pero EN ESE MOMENTO el oído del enfermo empezó a verter pus y poco después se curó, confirmando el diagnóstico de AMO. AMO se hizo el Jefe de la escuela de Teurgia de Lyon; pero con sus curaciones tuvo muchas dificultades con los médicos y las autoridades, siendo procesado muchas veces por el ejercicio ilegal de la medicina. Pensaba sin duda que su deber era continuar, porque nunca dejó de hacer bien, aún así. Su pequeño gabinete de la calle de la “Tête d’Or”, en Lyon, estaba siempre lleno de personas que venían a buscar consejo, ayuda y curación para sí o para sus familiares. En aquel pequeño gabinete pasaban cosas extraordinarias, de las cuales voy a referiros éstas:

Su pequeño gabinete de la calle de la “Tête d’Or”, en Lyon, estaba siempre lleno de personas que venían a buscar consejo, ayuda y curación para sí o para sus familiares. En aquel pequeño gabinete pasaban cosas extraordinarias, de las cuales voy a referiros éstas:

Cuando PAPUS, por ejemplo, analizando la vida de ciertas personas, creía ver alguna injusticia del destino y, sincero pesquizador, venía a exponer su preocupación al Maestro Espiritual, éste le decía sencillamente: “Ven, voy a pedirle al AMIGO que te muestre la Verdad”. Y en la piecita reservada de AMO, rápidamente, la invocación de AMO permitía el desfile de los clisés de las LUZ ASTRAL, en la cual PAPUS veía desarrollarse la o las vidas precedentes de aquel individuo y las CAUSAS ANTERIORES de su DESTINO PRESENTE hacerse claras y lógicas como todo lo NATURAL. Y Papus, sincero como siempre, refiere que, al fin de cada de esas experiencias, se inclinaba más devocionalmente ante la Sabiduría del Universo y ante el Saber y Poder de su Maestro. Muchas veces, si una mujer del pueblo, encontrando al Maestro por la calle, venía a suplicarle por la salvación de su hijo moribundo y AMO le decía “Id, mujer, sois más rica por vuestro valor y por vuestro servicio constante que los ricos de la tierra; id, vuestro niño está curado”, al regresar a su casa, la pobre y buena mujer verificaba el “milagro” que desconcertaba e irritaba a los médicos. J. Bricaud, ex Gran Maestro de la Rama martinista de Lyon, refiere que conocía a muchas personas curadas por AMO; que ciertas curas parecían realmente milagros y que un obrero a quien quería cortar la pierna gangrenada, sanó en menos de una hora por obra del Maestro. AMO vivía muy retirado, rodeado de un círculo de amigos y discípulos. Cuando se le interrogaba quién era y de dónde provenían sus extraños o terribles poderes, contestaba: “SOY MENOS QUE UNA PIEDRA, HAY TANTOS SERES SOBRE ESTA TIERRA QUE TIENE LA SEGURIDAD DE SER ALGUNA COSA, QUE SOY FELIZ DE SER APENAS NADA”. Y enseñaba a obtener la seguridad de que, aquel que sabe que nada saber, empieza recién a comprender la ciencia…, que aquel que sólo posee un colchón y lo presta a quien no lo tiene, es más rico que todos los ricos de la tierra. AMO enseñaba que hay tres especies de enfermedades: las físicas, las astrales y las espirituales. Las físicas son del dominio de la medicina alopática; las astrales debían ser tratadas por la homeopatía, el magnetismo y los procesos de los antiguos ocultistas. Las enfermedades espirituales sólo podían ser tratadas por la oración y por la teurgia. Un ejemplo típico de los poderes y de las enseñanzas del Maestro AMO se puede ver en la cura siguiente: En casa de AMO estaban unas veinte o treinta personas, entre ellos PAPUS y otros dos médicos. Una señora que, cuando chica ya había sido salvada de grave enfermedad por el Maestro, trae su niñito, de dos o tres años, en estado comatoso, y pide al Maestro piedad y salud para el pequeño. AMO pide que los médicos examinen la criatura. El diagnóstico es unánime: meningitis tuberculosa, de evolución rápida. La muerte debía sobrevenir inexorablemente en pocas horas. “Pues bien, dijo AMO, este niño puede ser SALVADO. ¿Queréis comprometeros todos a quedaros DOS MESES sin hablar de los ausentes?”. Ninguno de los presentes accedió, y Papus –un Maestro también o casi, en aquella época- dijo que le parecía difícil quedarse más de dos horas sin hablar mal del prójimo. AMO sonrió probablemente satisfecho de la SINCERIDAD de todos y dijo: “Muy bien, trataréis de quedaros dos horas sin hablar ni pensar mal de nadie”. Se llevó al niño al cuartito reservado y, a las dos horas, lo trajo caminando, con la manito en la 2

Alma; es decir, funciones artísticas, éticas, estéticas y sus profesiones y resultado culturales u de cultos forman el Alma Social, o sea, educan y orientan el 7

SENTIR de la colectividad. Por eso es profundamente justo y exacto decir: civilización cristiana o civilización confucionista. Espíritu; el conocimiento real y superior de la colectividad, de donde proviene la Autoridad Moral de su civilización, Ciencia y Filosofía superiores, representadas por sus pensadores más eminentes. SÍNTESIS.- La síntesis de una colectividad son sus Iniciados, pues son los únicos que abracan el conocimiento desde un punto de vista NO SECTARIO, NO INTOLERANTE, pudiendo, por eso, ser COMPRENSIVOS de las diferentes religiones, de los diferentes puntos de vista, científicos, filosóficos y artísticos de la colectividad en un momento determinado. Por eso, la Masonería, si fuese bien ejercida, sería siempre, como era su verdadera finalidad, un terreno neutro de entendimiento y de síntesis de todos los sectores del pensamiento humano y tendiente a un fin profundamente gnóstico, es decir, sintético en todo sentido; material, moral y espiritual. Veremos más tarde que la doctrina martinista es más clara todavía y expresa esto mediante símbolos que van aún más a lo hondo en estos problemas que la Masonería ya pone de manera tan hermosa bajo los ojos de los Aprendices, para acostumbrarlos a meditar sin reacción ante todos los hechos y sacar de los mismos todos los postulados útiles al progreso individual y colectivo. Fin del Grado de Aprendiz. (Continuará). SUEÑOS PROFUNDOS Maderos ahuecados de mis sentimientos, Olor de campo de silvestres pensamientos, Timbales de troncos con hongos de ensueño, Cabellera desnuda, sonido de oboe de soledad viviente. Cuerpos rústicos de árboles ¡gigantes! ¡sombras! Esperanzas rotas, con ramas verdes que filtran desengaños, Instrumentos de fibra humana que cubre el genio del quijote, Cimbra el alma natura, con contorneos sensuales, ignorando el espíritu, en remembranzas pasadas. Vicente Parreta. 8

Las Casas 4, 8, 12 forman el triángulo del Agua o de las Grandes Aguas Celestes. Los triángulos de Tierra y Agua se cortan formando un hexagrama o Estrella de Salomón. Lo mismo pasa con los triángulos de Fuego y Aire. Estúdiese bien, a este respecto, las figuras precedentes. 9

INFLUENCIAS PLANETARIAS – LOS ASTEROIDES – URANO Y NEPTUNO Los planetas ejercen una influencia muy grande, según los astrólogos, los unos sobre los otros, La Tierra sufre una influencia por parte de sus vecinos, y esa influencia se manifiesta de acuerdo con dos factores principales: el tamaño y la proximidad de los planetas. Así, la Luna, simple satélite, pero astro muy próximo, tiene una influencia real y positiva sobre los acontecimientos terrestres, mientras que numerosos asteroides situados entre Marte y Júpiter no cuentan para nada en los cálculos astrológicos. La influencia planetaria no pertenece, en efecto, astrológicamente, al planeta propiamente dicho, sino a su zona de influencia, que está representada por la distancia entre dicho planeta y su más próximo vecino. Los asteroides se reparten, pues, entre la influencia de Marte y de Júpiter y no se les puede tener en cuenta especialmente. Y ahora, que me sea permitido dar una opinión muy personal (es Papus que habla) y que no debe comprometer sino a mí mismo. Yo pretendo que es por un error lamentable que los astrólogos contemporáneos han introducido en sus cálculos la influencia de Neptuno y de Urano, los dos planetas situados más allá de Saturno. Voy a explicar por qué. Júpiter es 1300 veces más voluminoso que la Tierra y dista de ella solamente 155 millones de leguas. Su influencia es evidente. Urano es grande tan sólo como 75 Tierras y dista 673 millones de leguas de nuestra Tierra. Neptuno que es 86 veces mayor que la Tierra, solamente dista 1073 millones de leguas. En mi opinión, esos dos planetas y otros que se describirán más tarde, son intermediarios entre nuestro sistema solar y el sistema solar vecino. El sentido de su rotación lo indica, por otra parte, para aquellos que saben observar. Se debe, pues, religar la influencia de Urano y de Neptuno a la influencia de Saturno que vale 864 Tierras y que se halla apartado 268 millones de leguas. Porque, de cualquier manera, si los astrólogos contemporáneos quieren mostrar que hacen mucho caso de los descubrimientos astronómicos, tendrán entonces que tener en cuenta también la existencia de los asteroides que circulan entre Marte y Júpiter, o dejar de lado las lejanas influencias de neptuno y Urano religándolas a los cálculos de la esfera o zona de Saturno. Es por eso que no tomo en cuenta para nada esos dos planetas en este abecedario astrológico. LOS PLANETAS Termina Papus diciendo: “Ya vimos las casas y los signos fijos del Zodíaco. Cada casa posee, para el astrólogo, un Señor, un Gobernador, que es uno de los siete planetas. Cada planeta, menos el Sol y la Luna, tiene dos domicilios: uno positivo o diurno y otro negativo o nocturno. La Luna tiene su único domicilio en la casa 4, en el signo de CÁNCER; el Sol tiene el único domicilio en la casa 5 en el signo de LEO. Mercurio tiene su domicilio diurno o positivo en la casa 3 (GÉMINIS) y su domicilio negativo o nocturno en la 6ª casa, o sea en el signo de VIRGO. Venus: domicilio diurno en TORO (2ª casa) y nocturno en LIBRA (7ª casa). Marte: domicilio diurno en ARIES (1ª casa) y nocturno en ESCORPIÓN (8ª casa). 10

Cuando se sienta uno en una Asana, hay que pensar lo siguiente: “Yo estoy tan firme como una roca, nada puede sacudirme”. Hay que dar a la mente esta poderosa sugestión por lo menos una docena de veces; entonces la Asana se realizará perfectamente. El 13

cuerpo del practicante debe parecerse a una estatua viviente, cuando se practica esta Asana para la meditación. Después de seis meses de constante práctica, será posible permanecer en una Asana durante muchas horas sin sentir el más mínimo cansancio o molestia. Si se siente al, al empezar, algún dolor en las piernas, se descansará por algunos instantes dándose algunos masajes suaves con las manos a lo largo de las piernas y se vuelve a repetir la Asana. Hay que practicarlas de mañana al levantarse, al mediodía y antes de ir a acostarse. Póngase la cabeza, el cuello y el tronco en línea recta; esto es muy importante, más adelante explicaremos por qué. No hacer otra Asana antes de que se haya dominado bien la primera. Hoy empezaremos con la llamada PADMASANA que significa, en sánscrito, la “postura del loto”. Padma significa loto, y Asana, postura, porque cuando es llevada a cabo presenta todas las apariencias de una flor de loto, razón por la cual los Gurúes de la India la llamaron así. Es también conocida por otro nombre: KAMALASANA42. Kamala significa igualmente loto. Entre las cuatro posturas aconsejadas por los Maestros clásicos de la Yoga para la práctica de la meditación, Padmasana está considerada como la más importante y la más clásica, siendo también la mejor para ponerse en comunicación con los planos más sutiles de la Naturaleza. Todos los RISHIS hablan de esta postura con los términos más auspiciosos, es considerada una Asana vitalizadora, vivificadora y muy recomendable para las mujeres, pudiéndose practicar tanto por una persona de edad como por los niños. TÉCNICA Sentarse en el suelo sobre una alfombra extendiendo las piernas hacia adelante; entonces colóquese el pie derecho sobre el muslo izquierdo, y el pie izquierdo sobre el muslo derecho, como está indicado en la figura Nº 1. Es necesario mantener el tronco, el pecho y el cuello bien derechos durante la práctica de la Padmasana. Recomendamos muy especialmente tomar en cuenta estos consejos que aseguran el éxito y los resultados visibles. El estudiante deberá tener un rinconcito especial para practicar las Asanas, siempre el mismo, tranquilo, apartado de todo ruido molesto, interrupciones, malos olores, aguas sucias, aire contaminado, siendo lo más apropiado una piecita dedicada especialmente para aquella finalidad. El ideal es también poder realizar las Asanas en una azotea con aire y sol, recibiendo en tal forma el organismo triple beneficio: el estímulo de las Asanas, el aire que fortalecerá los pulmones y el sol que nutrirá y tonificará todos los tejidos, factores muy importantes para salud. Ahora bien, si se tiene una piecita para dedicarla exclusivamente a esto, es lo ideal; hay que usarla como un verdadero santuario, penetrando en ella con devoción, seriedad y fe en lo que se va a realizar, quemando si es posible, algún perfume para purificar el ambiente, como se acostumbra a hacer, antes de toda realización espiritual, en Oriente. No de debe hacer penetrar a nadie en ella, para que así no se desarmonice el aura personal, que por la continua presencia del discípulo se irá, naturalmente, formando día a día, y cargándose de sus emanaciones emocionales y mentales; esta 14

No de debe hacer penetrar a nadie en ella, para que así no se desarmonice el aura personal, que por la continua presencia del discípulo se irá, naturalmente, formando día a día, y cargándose de sus emanaciones emocionales y mentales; esta 14

última advertencia es muy importante para la realización de trabajos altamente espirituales, donde la mente debe de estar en un perfecto estado de receptividad. Ahora bien, cualquier rincón es bueno siempre que sea interrumpido durante la práctica de las Asanas, si no se busaca aquella finalidad y sí sólo el lado del mejoramiento físico y el embellecimiento del organismo. Ser en lo más posible contaste y practicar todos los días a las mismas horas. No hacer Asanas con el estómago cargado de alimentos y especialmente de líquidos, pues podría acarrear serios percances no tomar en cuenta esta advertencia. Lo mejor es practicar siempre en ayunas. No hacer Asanas si se está de mal humor o si la mente se encuentra intranquila, cargada de muchos y variados pensamientos, como de odio, rencor, envidia, sensualidad, etc. Hay que entrar en aquel pequeño templo con la mente completamente libre de cosas materiales, o sea hablando en términos de la Yoga, dejar los VRITTIS43 afuera para que CHITA44 esté completamente tranquila como la superficie de un lago, sin oleaje, porque, como dice PATANJALI, el Ven. Maestro de la Yoga: “Yoga es no permitir que la materia mental (Chita) tome diversas formas (Vrittis).” No cansarse en exceso; hacer las Asanas muy despacio, sin violencia; no abusar de ellas en los primeros tiempos; recordar lo que no puede hacerse en un día, se hará en cinco o diez, paulatinamente; que todo estudio necesita su técnica y su tiempo adecuado. Como hemos dicho anteriormente, la Padmasana es casi siempre la primera postura que adoptan los que se dedican a la Asana Yoga, por ser la más clásica; ella da para la DHYANA el debido estado de tranquilidad física, mental y espiritual. Es bastante fácil de realizar con ejercicios, y además, otorga un descanso muy especial al cuerpo físico; los sabios Gurúes tenían necesidad de encontrar una postura que reuniera todas aquellas cualidades y que pudiera ser practicada hora y hora sin que el cuerpo físico se resistiera, sin que le causara daño y también para que, durante la práctica de las diferentes Yogas, la menta pudiera abstraerse largas horas; y así nació aquella hermosa Asana que lleva el título de Padmasana. Es generalmente con ella que los yoguis realizan el llamado PRANA-YAMA (control de la respiración) y JAPA (recitación de las oraciones y palabras sagradas: mantrams). Cuanto más tranquilidad adquieren el cuerpo y la mente, tanto más fácil le será al estudiante realizar, más adelante, la meditación yoguística. Solamente ciando se sea capaz de quedar horas enteras en aquella Asana, se llegará a un completo control y dominio del cuerpo y de la mente. Es un espectáculo verdaderamente inolvidable, que queda siempre grabado en la mente, observar a un yogui o asceta entregado en meditación en Padmasana; creeríase una estatua de bronce, incansable y hierática, que nada ni nadie puede turbar. Al practicar esta Asana, se sentirán en los primeros tiempos, algunos dolores en las piernas; pero no hay que alarmarse; esto sucede por falta de práctica. Poco a poco aquellas molestias irán desapareciendo a medida que se acostumbren los músculos y tendones de las piernas. Nada se hace sin pequeño sacrificios. Pero se será ampliamente recompensado con el tiempo, y se sentirá una gran alegría y un inmenso bienestar durante los momentos en que se realice la Padmasana. Cuando se practique la Padmasana, ciérrense los ojos, concentrando la mente sobre el espacio que está entre las dos cejas, llamado en término yoguístico TRIKUTE45, la “montaña sagrada de tres picos”. Se puede también concentrar la mente sobre el chacra46 o plexo cardíaco, al que suele llamarse Loto del Corazón, ANAHATA CHACRA47 en sánscrito, “Asiento de la Rueda de la Vida”, situado en el centro del corazón. 15

Se puede también concentrar la mente sobre el chacra46 o plexo cardíaco, al que suele llamarse Loto del Corazón, ANAHATA CHACRA47 en sánscrito, “Asiento de la Rueda de la Vida”, situado en el centro del corazón. 15

Y la concentración puede igualmente realizarse, durante la Padmasana, tanto sobre los diferentes plexos que se darán a conocer más adelante, como sobre la punta de la nariz, que viene a ser el “Registrador de la visión interna”. Esta última meditación necesita una técnica muy especial que daremos a conocer en otros cursos, cuando se explique el método de concentración sobre los objetos internos y externos, etc…. Existen una docena de variantes de Padmasana que estudiaremos antes de conocer a las demás Asanas que le siguen. El yogui, antes de realizar el supremo ideal de la Yoga, que es unir su YO divino al YO universal, empieza primeramente por purificar su cuerpo físico y luego su mente, lo que traerá inexorablemente por reflejo, la purificación de los Vehículos Superiores. GLOSARIO 34 – YAMA: Observancia del respeto a la vida, recto pensar y pureza 35– NIYAMA: Dominio, continencia, primera observancia, una de las ocho partes de la Yoga. 36– DHYANA: Meditación, contemplación. 37– JAPA: Repetición de oraciones, de palabras mágicas, de mantrams. 38– PADMASANA: Postura del Loto, flor de Loto. 39– SIDDHA: Yogui perfecto. 40– SWASTICA: Cruz de cuatro pies fundada por FO-GHUI, año 1024 a. de C. 41– SUDHASANA: Postura de la felicidad, placer, deleite, alegría. 42– KAMALASANA: Postura del Loto. 43– VRITTIS: Pensamientos que invaden la mente y la ofuscan. 44– CHITTA: Materia mental. 45– TRIKUTE: La montaña sagrada de tres picos. 46– CHACRA: Plexo. 47– ANHATA CHACRA: Plexo situado en el centro del corazón, llamado también “Asiento o Rueda de la Vida”. (Continuará). 16

43– VRITTIS: Pensamientos que invaden la mente y la ofuscan. 44– CHITTA: Materia mental. 45– TRIKUTE: La montaña sagrada de tres picos. 46– CHACRA: Plexo. 47– ANHATA CHACRA: Plexo situado en el centro del corazón, llamado también “Asiento o Rueda de la Vida”. (Continuará). 16

ONDAS CÓSMICAS (Por un S.I. de la O. Martinista) Hasta ahora dejé siempre de publicar previsiones o secciones astrológicas ante la dificultad de hacer predicciones absolutamente científicas, y que tuvieran por base un horóscopo calculado con toda minuciosidad. Sin embargo, ofrezco hoy mi colaboración a LA INICIACIÓN en el deseo de cambiar la convicción que tiene algunos, incluidos muchos esoteristas, que la Astrología es una ciencia maravillosa, pero que no sirve en la práctica. Debemos imaginar nuestro globo, los países, los pueblos, las colectividades humanas, como SERES INDIVIDUALES, la naturaleza, como una estación de radio donde existen las dos posibilidades: emisión y recepción. El horóscopo de una determinada colectividad o individualidad corresponde a la onda, al número de kilociclos, de este “aparato”. La gran estación del Firmamento no irradia más que música armoniosa; pero nosotros, con nuestro aparato defectuoso, o por no saber servirnos de él, recibimos, transmitimos o llegamos a irradiar tales armoniosas melodías. El horóscopo constituye, pues, para el estudio del ocultista, uno de los primeros pasos para llegar al conocimiento de la vibración que lo rodea, para volverse más consciente de sí mismo, así como para llegar a una comprensión más profunda de su prójimo y de toda creación. Si sabemos que determinada estación irradia una hermosa sonata de Beethoven, trataremos de sintonizar nuestro aparato para no perder una nota; pero si sabemos que la envoltura, la atmósfera de la Tierra, está demasiado densa, y provoca tempestades, por lo que la onda no puede llegar armoniosamente a nuestro aparato, lo cerramos para que las lámparas no se quemen. La experiencia me ha demostrado que el tránsito (pasaje) de los planetas en los ángulos más importantes de nuestro horóscopo, puede ser más fuerte que la dirección planetaria, si sabemos servirnos de las vibraciones así originadas. Muchos se consideran ya “por encima” de esas influencias; pero si analizaran minuciosamente sus actos e ideas comprenderían que, a medida que evolucionan, se vuelven más sensibles a estas vibraciones y responden a ellas en proporción más elevada. El Sol siendo uno de los puntos esenciales de nuestro horóscopo, causa las vibraciones más poderosas y por eso explicaré, mensualmente, quienes sentirán durante tal mes, una fuerte onda entre el grado donde se halla el Sol y la posición de uno de los planetas más importantes. INFLUENCIAS DURANTE EL MES DE JUNIO DE 1942 PARA LOS NACIDOS: de 17 a 19 de marzo, de 18 a 20 de junio, de 19 a 24 de diciembre: Neptuno cuadratura Sol – Causa un período desfavorable al psiquismo por el peligro de engaños, traiciones y situaciones confusas. Neptuno es el planeta de la clarividencia, de la intuición, y, si recibimos su rayo por un ángulo que causa una reacción desfavorable, nuestra visión, tanto en el plano intelectual como en el espiritual, puede ser perturbada, y las consecuencias pueden ser nefastas en nuestra vida. PARA LOS NACIDOS: de 17 a 19 de enero, de 13 a 20 de mayo, de 20 a 22 de julio, de 20 a 22 de septiembre y de 18 a 21 de octubre: Neptuno en buen aspecto son el Sol – Causa vibraciones opuestas a las anteriores; desenvuelve las facultades psíquicas; la intuición nos da aclaraciones, ideas, 17

PARA LOS NACIDOS: de 17 a 19 de enero, de 13 a 20 de mayo, de 20 a 22 de julio, de 20 a 22 de septiembre y de 18 a 21 de octubre: Neptuno en buen aspecto son el Sol – Causa vibraciones opuestas a las anteriores; desenvuelve las facultades psíquicas; la intuición nos da aclaraciones, ideas, 17

deseo de producción, de evasión y de ensanchar nuestro horizonte, sea por investigación de los planos superiores, sea por viajes y estudios de las ciencias ocultas o del arte. PARA LOS NACIDOS: de 19 a 23 de febrero, de 21 a 25 de mayo, de 23 a 27 de agosto y de 22 a 26 de noviembre. Urano en malos ángulos con el Sol – Podemos llamar a esta vibración, el rayo de la impulsividad y de precipitación y, en consecuencia, pueden sobrevenir mudanzas, viajes o cambios desfavorables, disputas, pleitos, accidentes, heridas u operaciones, empezadas precipitadamente, o de malos resultados por causa de la precipitación. La calma y la reflexión son los mejores medios para neutralizar esta vibración. PARA LOS NACIDOS: de 20 a 23 de enero, de 21 a 23 de marzo, de 23 a 25 de junio, de 23 a 25 de septiembre, y eventualmente para los nacidos de 21 a 25 de mayo, pues éstos participan de la influencia anterior y de ésta. Urano en buenos aspectos con el Sol – Provoca los grandes cambios, la inspiración o el progreso material y espiritual debido a una comprensión superior. Quien estudia las ciencias ocultas y haya nacido en esas fechas, puede obtener, en este período, mayores conocimientos, si sabe aprovechar las ocasiones, las ideas que se le presentan o las relaciones con las personas a cuyo contacto llegue. Urano da las innovaciones, las invenciones y la inspiración, tanto en la profesión, en la actividad técnica como en la artística e intelectual. Da la posibilidad, a ellos y a los nacidos de 17 a 19 de enero, etc… de ensanchar el horizonte, y también perspectiva de viajes o cambios favorables. PARA LOS NACIDOS: de 22 a 27 de febrero; de 24 a 30 de mayo; de 26 de agosto a 1º de septiembre y de 25 a 30 de noviembre. Saturno en mal aspecto con el Sol – Sobre todo como consecuencia de este aspecto publico ahora este estudio sobre las vibraciones, ya que las personas influenciadas por él precisan ser avisadas para que, DURANTE ESTE MES DE JUNIO y también DURANTE JULIO, presten cuidado a su salud. Saturno y Urano se hallan en los primeros grados de Géminis y provocarán muchas enfermedades de las vías respiratorias y pulmones. En los años pasados, esos dos planetas estaban en el signo de Toro y ocasionaron muchas operaciones de apendicitis, enfermedades del sistema glandular y, por reflejo, las enfermedades de Escorpión, o sea, de todo el sistema genital y bajo vientre. Actualmente influencian más sobre la composición de la sangre (reflejo de Sagitario) y obre los pulmones, provocarán, para muchos no solamente bronquitis o asma, que se pueden volver crónicos, sino también fuertes y agudas crisis de reumatismo. No se pueden determinar todas las posibilidades sin los horóscopos individuales; pero en general, todos los que nacieron en las fechas indicadas y en los días inmediatamente siguientes, deben tomar grandes precauciones contra los resfríos y contra la posibilidad que las enfermedades se vuelvan crónicas. Tal vibración, considerada como una d las más desfavorables, da una gran tendencia a la depresión, al pesimismo y, como los pensamientos atraen a los acontecimientos, estamos bajo tal vibración más expuestos a las contrariedades y a las limitaciones de nuestra acción. La mejor manera de neutralizar esta influencia es utilizar esa época para una reclusión, física o mental, voluntaria, tratando de ahondar profundamente en nosotros mismos, más bien que buscando la expansión. Eso es evidente, ya que si buscamos mucho contacto con los demás en este período tendremos contrariedades. Esto no quiere decir que debamos dejarnos deprimir o ser pesimistas, al contrario; debemos reaccionar con toda la energía que da la alegría interna y no cerrar los ojos a la belleza que nos rodea, buscando así un apoyo contra tal vibración. 18

Esto no quiere decir que debamos dejarnos deprimir o ser pesimistas, al contrario; debemos reaccionar con toda la energía que da la alegría interna y no cerrar los ojos a la belleza que nos rodea, buscando así un apoyo contra tal vibración. 18

En la vida activa, profesional y comercial, las personas nacidas en tales fechas deben para este período, contar con obstáculos, atrasos y dificultades en la realización. PARA LOS NACIDOS: de 22 a 28 de enero, de 23 a 29 de marzo, de 24 a 30 de junio y de 23 a 30 de septiembre: Saturno en buen aspecto con el Sol – Esta vibración da una profundidad que, en la radio, puede compararse con un hermoso concierto de órgano. Es la posibilidad de profundizar nuestros pensamientos y conocimientos y de conseguir resultados y provechos, por la seguridad, por la sinceridad, la fidelidad, la economía y la prudencia. Todo lo que necesita de nuestro raciocinio, que lleva tiempo para germinar, que tiene tendencia a estabilizar nuestra vida, todo lo que se refiere al suelo o a una base cualquiera, debe ser iniciado bajo esta vibración. PARA LOS NACIDOS: de 19 a 29 de marzo, de 22 a 31 de octubre, y de 20 a 30 de diciembre: Júpiter en malos aspectos con el Sol – Es un aspecto de poca gravedad; solamente nos hace algo perezosos y da cierta indiferencia física y mental, de la que pueden resultar contrariedades al cometer faltas contra nuestros superiores o nuestra salud. Debemos hacer un esfuerzo para que nuestras acciones se hallen de acuerdo siempre con la “LEY”. Hay que entender la palabra: “Ley en los tres sentidos: natural, civil y espiritual”. PARA LOS NACIDOS: de 17 a 27 de febrero, de 18 a 28 de mayo, de 19 a 30 de junio, de 21 a 31 de agosto y de 22 de octubre a 1º de noviembre: Júpiter en trino sextil y conjunción con el Sol – Es la vibración considerada como la más benéfica y que permite las mayores realizaciones; el rejuvenecimiento del físico, la aceptación de los tratamientos apropiados y las nuevas concepciones que permiten la realización de los mismos. Durante este período podemos realizar lo que en otros tiempos nos parecía imposible, ya que tenemos ahora, en el plano físico y social, el apoyo de los superiores y de los jefes, y en plano mental y espiritual, la protección de los que ya llegaron a conocimientos y grados superiores, menos para darnos la iniciación, que es más indicada por Neptuno y Urano; más bien, para facilitarnos la realización. Por ahora me limitaré a las vibraciones causadas por estos cuatro planetas más lentos, ya que el andar rápido de los demás no permite una interpretación mensual. Quiero adelantar además, que las fechas indicadas pueden ser consideradas como empezando un día antes y terminando un día después de los períodos marcados para los nacidos entonces, dependiendo del año en el cual la persona nació. Si el aniversario es el comienzo del período indicado, sentirá los efectos señalados más bien a principios del mes, y hasta lo puede haber sentido desde el mes de mayo. Si el aniversario, por el contrario, se encuentra al fin de unos de los períodos indicados, entonces la influencia se hará sentir más bien en la segunda parte de junio y a veces durante julio, como indiqué. Hagámonos conscientes de nosotros mismos y de las vibraciones que nos rodean para que, en lugar de ser como radio-receptores poco selectivos y mal sintonizados, que provocan disonancia, lleguemos a ser buenos receptores y también emisores, recibiendo ondas armonizadas del Firmamento e irradiando a nuestro alrededor vibraciones de SALUD, ALEGRÍA Y SABIDURÍA. 19

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Notas sobre mi viaje a los países de Oriente Visita obligada al Templo de Madura (Fin) Llegamos, por último, al Templo propiamente dicho. ¿Cómo traducir lo maravilloso de los espléndidos altos relieves que representan elefantes, leones, monstruos, diosas, dioses y una multitud de genios que están gesticulando, labrados todos directamente en los grandes bloques de granito que parecen encajar milagrosamente trabajados por una artística mano de mujer? Pasando delante de los cofres que guardan los enormes tesoros del Templo, y coronas en las que se encuentran engarzadas enormes perlas, rubíes, diamantes, esmeraldas, zafiros, berilos y turquesas por el valor de varios millones de “rupias”, nos dirigimos a la célebre Sala de las Mil Columnas, pero que, en realidad, sólo tiene 997, cuya suma 9 más 9 más 7 es 25, igual a 7, el místico y mágico número 7. ¡Qué refinamiento en aquellas obras de arte allí depositadas y que hacen de este Templo casi el único en su género en todo el mundo, por la riqueza de sus grabados y de su arquitectura! Alegras rayos de sol calaran ahora el pórtico de la galería llamada MINAKOHI-NAIK. Al anochecer, los brahmanes encienden allí las pequeñas lamparillas con su mecha sumergida en aceite, que, de noche, alumbrarán la entrada de los corredores y prestan al Templo un aspecto todavía más misterioso. Bajo las arcadas veíamos niños y niñas que vendían flores, frutas y exvotos. Más allá se ven vendedores de pasteles y dulces; en algún rincón, muy acurrucado, algún silencioso yogui en plena meditación; más lejos, algún kafir. De vez en cuando, alguien nos interrumpe con un: ¡Salam Sahib, Salam! ¡Bienvenido, Señor!... Otros nos saludan con un “Bendangi”, saludo indostaní. Seguimos mirando las hermosas esculturas que hacen recordar históricos personales; contemplamos la estatua de VISWANATHA-NAIK, el que ayudó al emperador VIJAYANACAR a recuperar su trono, que le había usurpado, en el año 1599, un Rey Chela de Tanjoie durante su invasión a Madura. El rey estaba furioso por la traición de unos de sus generales, que sospechaba había sido la causa de su derrota. Los llamó a todos y les dijo: ¿Cómo es posible que entre mis valientes generales que han ganado centenares de batallas, no se encuentre ninguno capaz de traerme, vivo o muerto, al traidor? Hubo un profundo silencio, interrumpido por un hermoso cortesano, hijo del propio general sospechado de traición; el cual se dirigió al Emperador, diciendo: “Majestad, yo os traeré al traidor aunque fuera mi propio padre”. Realmente, el joven general fue el encuentro de su padre, lo derrotó en batalla y lo trajo prisionero a la Corte, donde la gracia del emperador fue la recompensa de su lealtad. El joven VISWANATHA-NAIK fue hecho gobernador del reino de PANDYA. A él se deben las leyes y el orden que allí reinara; la justicia se cumplía; se hicieron fortificaciones para proteger a la Ciudad Santa de las invasiones, y también todo lo posible para tener a los brahmanes por amigos; se construyeron santuarios y se hicieron trabajos de irrigación que llevaron a aquella región una enorme prosperidad. Después, vimos la efigie del famoso THIRUMALAHAIK, que subió… (ilegible)…inmensamente rico: tenía una renta de 20 millones de rupias anuales, y asignó como renta anual al Templo de Madura la suma de 400.000 rupias, lo que permitió realizar muchos trabajos y juntar riquezas. Siendo el rey un gran admirador del arte, protegía a los escultores, y es fama que él mismo presenciaba los trabajos y acompañaba a los artistas, ofreciéndoles, por sus propias manos reales, hojas de “betel” como muestra de simpatía. Más adelante, vimos la famosa estatua de MANGANAL, la reina que gobernó durante quince años en el territorio de Madura; su energía y su firmeza diplomática 20

Más adelante, vimos la famosa estatua de MANGANAL, la reina que gobernó durante quince años en el territorio de Madura; su energía y su firmeza diplomática 20

trajeron al país una inmensa prosperidad; fizo construir caminos y templos y se deben a ella las hermosas carreteras todavía hoy en los distritos de Madura y Tinnevelly. Fue muy caritativa y por la traición de brahmán que ella había protegido, fue llevada a una emboscada y emparedada vida. Triste fin de muchos seres que han hecho el bien. Las esculturas del Templo de Madura son maravillosas y admirables por la posición y el sentido expresados en las imágenes, impresos, no solamente en los rostros, sino en todos los músculos del cuerpo, dando la sensación de una verdadera vitalidad. Pudimos admirar, en ambas puertas de un templo, dentro del “Gran Templo”, una entrada que tenía grabada en sus dos hojas, las figuras de los hijos de SIVA y de PARVATI: GANAPATHI, con cabeza de elefante y SUBBAMANYA con seis cabezas y seis brazos, sentado sobre un pavo real, expresando todo un profundo simbolismo esotérico. GANAPATHI es venerado en la India como Dios del conocimiento y se el encuentra en las entradas de casi todos los templos y puentes de los caminos. Los Puranas refieren que sus parientes le pidieron se casara; Ganapathi contestó que se casaría con aquella mujer que igualara en belleza, poder y sabiduría a su propia madre. Pero, ¿quién podría igualarse a la incomparable Parvati? Sus parientes le permitieron buscar, y Ganapathi se colocó a la entrada de los templos para que así ninguna muchacha pudiera pasar desapercibida por él; pero se cree que todavía no encontró lo que buscaba. Más adelante admiramos las hermosas figuras de Siva, disfrazado de mendicante, quien, según la historia, teniendo deseo de probar la fidelidad de las esposas de ciertos sabios de la selva de TARUKA, asumió la hermosa forma de un BEIKASHATAMAR, hermoso joven mendicante desnudo. Estas señoras estaban orgullosas de su castidad; pero, según la leyenda, Siva consiguió reducirlas a todas. Está también la estatua de MOHINI; VISHNU tomó esa forma para tentar a los austeros sabios. Está magistralmente representado en todos sus detalles anatómicos y se puede ver en su rostro una expresión de languidez y de completa entrega y un voluptuoso abandono de su cuerpo. Si se piensa que estas obras de arte fueron hechas solamente con la intervención de unos cuantos instrumentos rudimentarios, de una aguda punta con un primitivo martillo, se podrá apreciar entonces, en todo su valor, el genio de aquellos artistas. Opuesta a la figura de Mohini, está la graciosa figura de ANASUYA, el símbolo de la castidad. La historia es la siguiente; PARVATI, SARASVATI Y LAKSMI oyeron decir a NARADA que ANASUYA era la más casta y pura mujer del universo y, celosas, se lo comunicaron a sus respectivos esposos, los cuales para poner a prueba aquella castidad, se disfrazaron de RISHIS (Maestros) y entraron en su casa pidiendo alimentos. ANASUYA, siendo muy devota y hospitalaria, los dejó entrar y les ofreció arroz, pero ellos se negaron a comer, diciendo que lo harían solamente si ella les servía completamente desnuda; es fácil imaginar la ansiedad de aquella casta doncella; pero el propio poder de su serenidad y castidad vino en ayuda de su virtud, permitiéndole convertir a los tres mendicantes en tres criaturas, para así poder cumplir su promesa y servirles sin vergüenza alguna. Es por esto que se ve la estatua de ANASUYA cubierta con un SAREE (túnica hindú) que se está deslizando suavemente al suelo, y que muestra su hermoso y artístico cuerpo semidesnudo. Las entradas de los pequeños santuarios están generalmente guardadas por dos DEWARAPALAKAS (guardianes que vigilan a los visitantes con los serenos y escrutadores). Se puede ver también una cantidad de divinidades que están bailando. 21

Las entradas de los pequeños santuarios están generalmente guardadas por dos DEWARAPALAKAS (guardianes que vigilan a los visitantes con los serenos y escrutadores). Se puede ver también una cantidad de divinidades que están bailando. 21

Por todo esto, realmente, el templo de Madura se presenta como una enciclopedia de las diversas religiones, realizada en madera, mármol y granito. Cerca de esos guardianes pueden verse algunos frescos que relatan la persecución de los Jainas por el Hinduismo, rememorando estas telas, hoy todavía, fuertes anales. En un lugar cerca de allí se encuentra el famoso SANIAM-TAMUL. Este era un cuerpo de 58 sabios, algo parecido a la Academia de Ciencias en nuestros días. Caminando por otro corredor delante de una serie de sesenta y tres santos de la India del sur, conocidos como NAHAYARS; llama la atención el hecho de que, entre las 63 imágenes, se encuentra la de una mujer llamada KARAIKAL-AMMAIYAR, que llegó a una gran santidad; se puede ver, por los rasgos ascéticos de su rostro, la elevación de su ser. Allí también se encuentran varios instrumentos y carruajes que se llevan en procesión en los días de festividades religiosas; entre ellos se destaca el gigantesco “Carro Sagrado”, en el cual se posan las divinidades. Luego, nuestra atención es solicitada por SUNDARES-WAR, el Santo de los Santos, que está representado en forma de lingam (fallus o símbolo generador). SIVA, representado como SUNDARES-WAR, es uno de los tres principales dioses de la Cosmogonía Indostánica, siendo los otros dos BRAHMA y VISHNÚ. Brahma, el Creador, Vishnú el Conservador y Siva el destructor. Algunos extranjeros se preguntan por qué representan a este dios de la destrucción en forma de lingam. La contestación es que, de acuerdo a las creencias hindúes, la destrucción implica la reproducción. Siva no sólo destruye los cielos y la tierra al final de un ciclo mundial, sino también el lazo que ata el cuerpo a cada alma. Nuevos mundos deben ser creados y formados por el proceso de la transformación, reencarnación y evolución. En este sentido, Siva es mirado entonces como creador, porque es el responsable de la restauración de aquello que ha sido disuelto, y de allí viene la representación en forma de lingam. Ahora nos quedamos admirados delante de la más hermosa figura, en concepto artístico, grabada en granito, que puede encontrarse en aquel templo. Es un pilar mostrando a Siva y Parvati sobre la montaña de CAILAS. Se puede ver la gigantesca figura de RAVANA con 60 cabezas y 20 manos haciendo penitencia, con la montaña CAILAS sobre sus muchos hombros, como castigo por haber querido robar aquella sagrada montaña para adornar su capital. Cerca de allí se encuentra otro pilar representando a Siva en forma de ARDHANARI (el hermafrodita). Esta forma fue el resultado de la devoción de SAKTI, o sea, la doctrina que afirma que un Dios es capaz de funcionar solamente cuando está combinado con su elemento femenino. Este es un gran símbolo esotérico que encierra un misterioso significado, principal clave esotérica de la YOGA. Siva está representado allí por un aro masculino, en el lóbulo derecho de su oreja y el ornamento femenino en el lóbulo izquierdo, indicando la inseparable unión de los elementos masculinos y femeninos en el Creador. La mitad de la imagen representa a Siva y la otra mitad a su mujer Parvati; esta imagen es maravillosa por el perfecto equilibrio conseguido por el escultor entre el aspecto masculino y femenino. Al otro extremo se encuentra la figura de Siva, representado como Maestro de la Yoga, de la Música y otras ciencias. También se puede ver la de Sarasvati, diosa del Saber, con un laúd admirable, porque pueden verse distintamente sus cuerdas hechas de granito, y los dedos de la diosa con afiladas uñas, sin las cuales le sería imposible tocar aquel delicado instrumento. (Termina en el próximo número). MAYA, S.I. 22