What is the Theosophical view on immortality?

[George Hall]

Personally i believe in immortality bcause we are made up of energy. Accoding to the laws of physics energy cannot be created nor can it be destroyed; it can only change form!

[Konstantin Zaitzev]

Though every human being is immortal by default (in its higher self), nevertheless, the adepts, mahatmas are called immortals, and this can confuse. Blavatsky in the "Key to theosophy" explains: "Immortality is but one's unbroken consciousness; and the personal consciousness can hardly last longer than the personality itself, can it?". So here we speak about conscious, practical immortality. In this mahatmas differ from other men.

[Janeth]

"Immortality is but one's unbroken consciousness; and the personal consciousness can hardly last longer than the personality itself, can it?".--Hum...I am thinking..., if immortality is unbroken consciouosness..., how can personal consciousness hardly last longer than personality? Even when we reach that level where personality disolves isn't consciousness still there?

[George Hall]

Good point and well take!

[Konstantin Zaitzev]

> if immortality is unbroken consciouosness..., how can personal consciousness hardly last longer than personality?

Of course, personal consciousness doesn't last longer than personality, as it was defined as consciousness of personality. So one should gain an impersonal consciousness (i.e., of the higher self) during his personal life; then he will be able to keep his consciousness unbroken during all subsequent changes of form.
When one watches himself during his daily life, he soon founds that even our daily consciousness isn't unbroken; one often loses it and suddenly founds himself that he is dwelling in memories or dreams. It proves that personal consciousness is very unreliable thing. How can we hope to keep is eternally, if we lose it every night and even during the day. Though it also proves that it can be regained (in new personality, for example).

[Janeth]

Oh my...This is so interesting!!☺

>"Of course, personal consciousness doesn't last longer than personality, as it was defined as consciousness of personality."--Kindly, please give us your understanding of 'personality', Konstantin, will you?

[Konstantin Zaitzev]

Persolality (from per sona - "for sound", a mask in the ancient theather through which an actor spoke) is our lower quarternary, i.e. collection of gross and subtle bodies which is created for one life. After the death it slowly dies, giving all valueable experiense and information, which it have gained, to the higher self (higher triad). (There is an exception what Hodson mentions: in case if early death reincarnation of the personality is possible).
We can compare the higher self with the NASA center while the personalities with the automatic space stations being sent to some planet. Some of they crush, some work much longer than the initial program implied, but not destiny of them what matters but the experience which the center has gained through them.
I think that this is very well explained in books by H.P. Blavatsky and C.W. Leadbeater.
Yet is is disputable: does it have a consciousness of its own or borrows all of it from the higher self.

[George Hall]

Good point and well taken!

[Katinka Hesselink]

Our personalities are a mixture of all kinds of energy: physical, emotional and mental at least - and perhaps some spiritual as well (or buddhi in theosophical terms). Each of these continues on in it's own realm, but there's no reason to think they are eternally connected. Though de Purucker did seem to think so.

They are connected eternally through memory though - or karma.

[Katinka Hesselink]

The issue with the Mahatmas is, I think, that their consciousness is so unified that their emotions, thoughts and spirituality are all in tune with one another - so their memory is clear from one life to the next, so their personality too can be said to go on. For most of us though, we're not so consistent - and our karma is therefor mixed and we do NOT remember our past lives. & the forces of karma will create such a different personality next time, to balance things out, that the memory of the previous life just doesn't fit.

[michaelcarlo]

The EGO at the Causal plane is immortal. It keeps projecting a Ray, the personality, that exponentially evolves from wisdom gained from past incarnations of itself as it reconnoiters the lower worlds to gain knowledge and experience. After numerous incarnations it succeeds in projecting the ONE personality that crosses the Antahkaranic abyss between the Higher and Lower Self and an Initiate is born.

[Dr.Himabind]

Immortality(Physical immortality) is like living with the astral body permanently, where the soul crosses the stages of births and deaths. We believe our Masters are Immortal. We too become immortal if we cross the stages like Physical, Mental, Etheric, Buddhic, Nirvanic, Paranirvanic and Maha para Nirvanic levels. Presently we have Master CVV's - Brikta Rahitha Taraka Raja Yoga (Brikta means Hidden. Hidden means previous birth karmic effects; Rahitha means evaporation/Eradication;Taraka means Superior, Raja Yoga means one should not leave family life) is the best Meditation Program in the world for reaching the Physical Immortality. Physical immortality is the Independence for the soul. One of the prayer follows like this -
***
Master CVV Namaskaram
Master MTA Namaskaram
Masters own adjustment, Bhrammam leading,
Gupta Bahistathya,
Yoga Teach - Prana Treat
Please make me fit to realize Bhrammam and attain independency in this life. Please rectify and develop my system.
***
Yoga Teach - Prana Treat is the main principle in this Yoga, means learn the Yoga and treat the needy (health problems).
The prayers were given by Master MTA (Master Mythreya)

*** Master's Word***
As per ‘Master’s’ words on 20th August 1917, " I want to develop the physical to such a stage as to resist decaying and to be always giving knowledge to our physical systems. None has proper ganglion full sushumna or full pieces of vertebra as moulded by T and TS levels regulation. By this development vertebra is bored ‘S’ is carried thus and the building is planned and is under construction. So many valves and so many fittings are to be constructed from Physical to Astral twelve divisions and from Astral to Mental twelve divisions. "
***

[Te Ngako-o-te-rangi]

Ive posted a video on "immortality" by Krishnamurti - That might help.