Dictionary of all Scriptures & Myths

INITIATIONS

There are two lines of initiations, a lower and a higher. The lower line refers to the perfectionment of the lower self,-the Personality, as it appears, or is expressed, regarded from below. The higher line is the expression of the Individuality in the causal-body, the evolution of the "Lord from heaven," into which at length the lower Personality is absorbed, when the twain become One, and the final initiation is accomplished for this cycle.

Four higher initiations may be taken from the Christian and Buddhist scriptures, and compared together.

The Birth of Jesus from the Virgin is equivalent to the stage Srotapatti or Sohan (He who has entered the stream). This initiation is the entrance of the Christ-soul into the physical life-intent upon living it spiritually by consecrating it to noble and worthy Ideals.

The Knowledge disclosed by the child Jesus when he is said to discourse with the doctors is the equivalent to Sakridagamin (He who will receive birth, but once more). It consists in the arousing of the intellect to a perception of the Truth and the Life.

The Ministry of Jesus terminating in the Trial and Sentence is equivalent to Anagamin (He who will be re-incarnated no more). It is the high resolve to go through to the bitter end, to drink the cup to the dregs in the three years (the number three signifying completeness).

The Crucifixion is equivalent to Arhat (He who sees Nirvana). It is the consummation of the physical
life. The Christ-soul at this initiation has arrived at every experience which it is necessary he shall undergo.

"The lowest class is made up of the Srotâpanna, i.e. those who have attained the path (of sanctification). Of them it is said: By the annihilation of the three ties, they have attained the path; they are not liable to re-birth in the lower worlds (hells, spirit worlds, and world of lower animals); they are sure (of deliverance); they shall attain the highest knowledge.' The next higher class is that of the Sakadâgâmi ('those who return once.'): By the annihilation of the three ties, by the suppression of desire, hatred and frivolity, they have become “once returning :” when they have returned once only to this world, they shall attain the end of sorrow.' Then follow the Anâgâmi (the not-returning) By the annihilation of the five first ties they have come to be beings, who originate of themselves (i.e. who enter upon the state of being without being begotten or born; this is the case of the higher worlds of the gods); they attain the Nirvâna up there (in the world of gods); they are not liable to return from that world.' The highest of the four stages and last is that of the Arhat, i.e. the Saint." - H. OLDENBERG, Buddha, pp. 319, 320.

"Conduct corrects vice, meditation corrects lust, insight corrects error, Conduct is the virtue of the beginner (sotâgâmi), meditation of the advanced (anâgâmi), insight of the perfect (arhat)." - R. S. COPLESTON, Buddhism, p. 365.

See Also

ADEPT
ANAGAMIN
ARHAT
ASEKA
ASRAMAS
BIRTH OF JESUS
CAUSAL-BODY
CONJUNCTION
CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS
DEATH
EVOLUTION
FIELD
FOOTSTEPS
FORTUNATE
GOSPEL STORY
INCARNATION OF SOULS
INDIVIDUALITY
INTELLECT
JESUS OF GOSPELS
JESUS (severe)
MAN (righteous)
NIRVANA
PATRIARCHS
PERSONALITY
REINCARNATION
SAKRIDAGAMIN
SROTÂPANNA
STRIDES OF SOUL
UNION
VESTURES
WALKS