THE EQUINOX
There is a further terrible confusion between the personal
progress of the man, and his progress in relation to his in-
carnations.
It cannot be too clearly understood that these things are
altogether different. Blavatsky’s attempt to mix up Hin-
duism and Buddhism is productive of constant friction.
The first Path in Dhyana has nothing whatever to do with
being a Srotapatti. It is perfectly clear that you could be
Master of all the eight Jhanas with no more hope of be-
coming a Srotapatti than a Pwe-dancer.
However, this is an extremely poetical description of what
happens on the seventh Path.
‘You must notice that there is a certain amount of con-
fusion between the Paths and the Portals at the end of them.
Apparently one does not reach the seventh Gate till the end
of the treatise. “A Master of the Day” is said to refer to
the Manvantara, but it is also an obvious phrase where day
is equivalent to Sun.
75. He standeth now like a white pillar to the west, upon
whose face the rising Sun of thought eternal poureth forth
its first most glorious waves. His mind, like a becalmed
and boundless ocean, spreadeth out in shoreless space. He
holdeth life and death in his strong hand.
It is interesting to notice that he is stillin the West. This
is the penultimate stage. He is really now practically iden-
tical with Mayan himself. He has met and conquered the
maker of illusion, become one with him, and his difficulty
will then be so to complete that work, that it shall be centred
on itself, and leave no seed that may subsequently germinate
and destroy all that has been accomplished.
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