er--the energy of
motion--to another set. But because it manifests itself in the next set
as what is called kinetic energy, it does not follow that the first set
is deprived of it altogether; for it is still in it, as potential
energy, or life latent.* This is a cardinal and basic truth of
occultism, on the perfect knowledge of which depends the production of
every phenomenon. Unless we admit this point, we should have to give up
all the other truths of occultism. Thus what is "meant by the life-atom
going through endless transmigration" is simply this: we regard and
call, in our occult phraseology, those atoms that are moved by kinetic
energy as "life-atoms," while those that are for the time being passive,
containing but imperceptible potential energy, we call "sleeping atoms;"
regarding, at the same time, these two forms of energy as produced by
one and the same force or life.

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* We feel constrained to make use of terms that have become technical in
modern science--though they do not always fully express the idea to be
conveyed--for want of better words. It is useless to hope that the
occult doctrine may be ever thoroughly understood, even the few tenets
that can be safely given to the world at large, unless a glossary of
such words is edited; and, what is of a still greater importance, until
the full and correct meaning of the terms therein taught is thoroughly
mastered.
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Now to the Hindu doctrine of Metempsychosis. It has a basis of truth;
and, in fact, it is an axiomatic truth, but only in reference to human
atoms and emanations, and that not only after a man's death, but during
the whole period of his life. The esoteric meaning of the Laws of Manu
(sec. XII. 3, and XII. 54 and ), of the verses asserting that "every
act, either mental, verbal or corporeal, bears good or evil fruit
(Karma)," that "the various transmigrations of men (not souls) through
the highest, middle and lowest stages, are produced by their actions,"
and again that "a Brahman-killer enters the body of a dog, bear, ass,
camel, goat, sheep, bird, &c.," bears no reference to the human Ego, but
only to the atoms of his body, his lower triad and his fluidic
emanations. It is all very well for the Brahmans to distort, in their
own interest, the real meaning contained in these laws, but the words as
quoted never meant what they were made to yield later on. The Brahmans
applied them selfishly to themselves, whereas by "Bra