TAXONOMY
HUMAN ENDEAVOUR
& THE PLAN OF GOD
"Thus we stand today on the verge of
an era of new knowlegde, broader concepts, wider horizons and richer experience than aught known before."
TAXONOMY
A MASTER SPEAKS
THE NEW CIVILIZATION
Taxonomy is the practice and science of classification and categorization.
Its purpose is to create an outer framework for organized knowledge, providing a structure for the lower concrete mind.
This framework is founded upon the Plan of God, the alignment of the three planetary centres—Shamballa, Hierarchy, and Humanity—and the role of human endeavour in manifesting the Plan within civilisation. It also relates human endeavour to the New Group of World Servers and the principle of group work.
This taxonomy is an attempt to bring order to the New Era Concepts by revealing their relationships within a coherent and meaningful structure.
From this foundation begins the process of inner knowledge: discovering the living reality behind the ideas and concepts. It is a process of integrating and synthesising concepts and sciences, deepening and broadening our understanding of ourselves, the world processes, and our place within the greater planetary and cosmic scheme.
The ultimate goal is the transformation of knowledge into wisdom—into living experience, insight, and understanding of the realities that lie behind the ideas and concepts.
Humanity, and each individual as Self, soul, and personality, is inseparably connected with this greater scheme. Self-knowledge is therefore the primary key to the deepening of all knowledge.
HUMAN ENDEAVOUR
& THE PLAN OF GOD
1. The Plan of God
The divine purpose and evolutionary blueprint for humanity and the planet
.
2. Shamballa, Hierarchy, and Humanity
The three planetary centres through which the Plan is conceived, transmitted, and expressed.
3. Human Endeavour
The fields of civilization through which the Plan is progressively manifested.
The divine purpose and evolutionary blueprint for humanity and the planet
.
2. Shamballa, Hierarchy, and Humanity
The three planetary centres through which the Plan is conceived, transmitted, and expressed.
3. Human Endeavour
The fields of civilization through which the Plan is progressively manifested.
4. The New Group of World Servers
The world group that bridges Hierarchy and Humanity, translating spiritual ideas into practical service.
The world group that bridges Hierarchy and Humanity, translating spiritual ideas into practical service.
5. Group Work
The method through which the Plan is implemented in the Aquarian Age, emphasizing cooperation, synthesis, and shared responsibility.
6. Self-Knowledge
The key to understanding oneself as personality, soul, and ultimately spirit, enabling conscious participation in the Plan.
The method through which the Plan is implemented in the Aquarian Age, emphasizing cooperation, synthesis, and shared responsibility.
6. Self-Knowledge
The key to understanding oneself as personality, soul, and ultimately spirit, enabling conscious participation in the Plan.
The Six Pillars form the philosophical and structural foundation of this New Taxonomy. Together they provide a framework for understanding the relationship between divine purpose, planetary evolution, human civilization, and individual spiritual development. They unite the outer classification of knowledge with the inner path of wisdom, enabling knowledge to become a living experience.
The 6 pillars
TAXONOMY
THE PLAN OF GOD
The Plan of God is the central organizing principle of this New Toxonomy. It is the evolutionary blueprint through which the divine Purpose gradually unfolds in the life of humanity and the planet. The Plan is dynamic rather than static, revealing itself progressively through the expansion of consciousness and the cooperation of humanity with higher spiritual principles.
Every field of knowledge, every civilization, every culture, and every stage of human development contributes to the manifestation of this Plan. The New Taxonomy presents knowledge as part of this larger evolutionary process, showing how ideas become institutions, civilizations, and ultimately expressions of the divine Will.
The Plan provides meaning, direction, and purpose to all study and service.
MORE
PILLAR 1
THE 3 PLANETARY CENTERS
The three planetary centres form the living planetary organism through which the Life of the Planetary Logos is expressed. They are the fundamental framework of planetary evolution and the channels through which the divine Purpose is conceived, interpreted, and manifested. Understanding the relationship between these centres is essential for understanding the Plan of God and humanity's role within it.
Just as the human being expresses consciousness through major energy centres, the Earth likewise functions through three primary planetary centres. These centres are not merely symbolic but represent living fields of consciousness, each fulfilling a distinct function within the evolutionary process.
PILLAR 2
Shamballa is the highest planetary centre, the centre of Divine Will and Purpose. It is the planetary Head Centre, where the Purpose of the Planetary Logos is known and held in its purest form. Here resides the dynamic impulse that drives planetary evolution and initiates every major cycle of development.
The energy of Shamballa is the energy of will, synthesis, direction, and purposeful evolution. It provides the originating impulse behind the Plan and continually directs the unfolding destiny of the planet. Although its energies are too powerful to be directly contacted by the majority of humanity, they increasingly influence the world during periods of major planetary transition.
Shamballa is associated with leadership, vision, courage, initiation, and the power to bring about transformation. Its purpose is not control but the fulfillment of the divine evolutionary Purpose for all kingdoms of nature.
SHAMBALLA
PLANETARY CENTRE 1
SHAMBALLA
SPIRITUAL HIERARCHY
Hierarchy is the planetary centre of Love-Wisdom and serves as the planetary Heart Centre. It is the Kingdom of Souls, composed of the Masters of Wisdom, Initiates, and advanced disciples who have completed the human stage of evolution and dedicate themselves entirely to planetary service.
The Hierarchy receives the Purpose held within Shamballa and translates it into the evolutionary Plan that humanity can gradually understand and implement. It acts as the intermediary between Divine Purpose and human civilization, ensuring that spiritual energies are distributed according to humanity's readiness and need.
The primary function of the Hierarchy is education, guidance, inspiration, and the expansion of consciousness. Rather than imposing change, it works through impression, intuition, ideas, goodwill, and the awakening of human understanding. Every major spiritual movement, humanitarian advance, and expansion of consciousness throughout history reflects, to some degree, the influence of the Hierarchy.
The Hierarchy demonstrates that true leadership is founded upon love, wisdom, inclusiveness, and selfless service.
The Hierarchy receives the Purpose held within Shamballa and translates it into the evolutionary Plan that humanity can gradually understand and implement. It acts as the intermediary between Divine Purpose and human civilization, ensuring that spiritual energies are distributed according to humanity's readiness and need.
The primary function of the Hierarchy is education, guidance, inspiration, and the expansion of consciousness. Rather than imposing change, it works through impression, intuition, ideas, goodwill, and the awakening of human understanding. Every major spiritual movement, humanitarian advance, and expansion of consciousness throughout history reflects, to some degree, the influence of the Hierarchy.
The Hierarchy demonstrates that true leadership is founded upon love, wisdom, inclusiveness, and selfless service.
PLANETARY CENTRE 2
SPIRITUAL
HIERARCHY
HUMANITY
Humanity is the planetary centre of Active Intelligence, the planetary Throat Centre, and the creative centre through which the Plan is externalized within the world.
Humanity occupies a unique position within planetary evolution because it forms the bridge between the higher and lower kingdoms of nature. Through intelligence, creativity, science, culture, education, government, economics, religion, philosophy, technology, and every field of human endeavour, humanity gradually anchors spiritual principles into civilization.
The essential task of humanity is to consciously cooperate with the Plan by creating right human relations, expressing goodwill, developing right use of resources, and becoming a responsible steward of the Earth and all its kingdoms. As human consciousness expands, humanity increasingly functions as a unified planetary centre rather than as competing nations, cultures, or ideologies.
Humanity is also the centre in which free will is most actively expressed. Through individual and collective choices, human beings determine the speed and quality with which the Plan can manifest within civilization. The future of the planet therefore depends upon humanity's growing capacity for intelligent cooperation, harmlessness, group consciousness, and spiritual responsibility.
THE SCIENCE
OF IMPRESSION
THE GREAT
INVOVATION
WHITE
MAGIC
PLANETARY CENTRE 3
HUMAN ENDEAVOUR
Human endeavour represents the practical expression of the Plan within civilization. Every discipline of human activity contributes to the unfolding of consciousness and the building of a more enlightened world.
This New Toxonomy organizes knowledge into the major fields of human endeavour, including science, philosophy, psychology, education, government, economics, religion, art, history, ecology, medicine, astrology, culture, and community life.
Each field develops according to its own evolutionary rhythm while simultaneously contributing to the greater synthesis of human civilization.
Human endeavour demonstrates that spiritual evolution is not separated from everyday life but is expressed through creative work, service, discovery, cooperation, and responsible citizenship.
This New Toxonomy organizes knowledge into the major fields of human endeavour, including science, philosophy, psychology, education, government, economics, religion, art, history, ecology, medicine, astrology, culture, and community life.
Each field develops according to its own evolutionary rhythm while simultaneously contributing to the greater synthesis of human civilization.
Human endeavour demonstrates that spiritual evolution is not separated from everyday life but is expressed through creative work, service, discovery, cooperation, and responsible citizenship.
PILLAR 3
MORE
THE NEW GROUP
OF WORLD SERVERS
The New Group of World Servers is the bridge between Hierarchy and Humanity. It is not an organization but a worldwide subjective group composed of men and women in every nation, religion, profession, and culture who consciously or unconsciously work for the common good.
They respond to the impression of the Hierarchy and translate spiritual principles into practical action. Their work is found in education, science, politics, religion, culture, economics, environmental stewardship, humanitarian service, and every field where humanity is moving toward greater unity.
The New Toxonomy presents this group as the principal agent through which the ideas of the New Era are anchored within civilization.
The New Group of World Servers demonstrates that true service transcends nationality, ideology, and personal ambition, working instead for the welfare of the whole.
PILLAR 4
NEW GROUP OF WORLD SERVERS
RAY-DATABASE
OF DISCIPLES
GROUP WORK
Group work is the method of the Aquarian Age. The future of spiritual development depends increasingly upon cooperation rather than individual achievement.
True group work is founded upon shared purpose, harmlessness, goodwill, right human relations, mutual responsibility, and recognition of the One Humanity. It requires each individual to contribute unique capacities while subordinating personal interests to the welfare of the group and the fulfillment of the Plan.
Group work reflects the growing realization that evolution proceeds through synthesis and interdependence.
The New Taxonomy therefore emphasizes relationships between ideas, people, disciplines, and civilizations rather than isolated knowledge. It encourages the recognition of patterns, networks, and living wholes.
PILLAR 5
GROUP WORK
SELF-KNOWLEDGE
Self-knowledge is the key that transforms information into wisdom. It is the continual process of understanding oneself as personality, soul, and ultimately as a spiritual being.
Among the Six Pillars, Self-Knowledge is the most fundamental. The other five pillars provide the framework for understanding the Plan, the planetary centres, humanity's role, and the work of service. Self-Knowledge gives life to that framework. Without it, knowledge remains external, conceptual, and intellectual. Through it, knowledge becomes living wisdom, transforming both the individual and the way he or she participates in the greater evolutionary process.
Self-knowledge begins with direct observation of oneself. By becoming aware of the movement of thought, emotion, desire, fear, conditioning, and the sense of a separate self, the individual gradually develops right perception and intelligent discrimination. This awareness is not based on judgment or the accumulation of conclusions, but on attentive observation and direct experience.
Through study, meditation, service, and daily living, consciousness progressively distinguishes the transient personality from the enduring soul. As this process unfolds, identification shifts from the lower self to the higher Self, revealing humanity's relationship with the Plan, the three planetary centres, and the greater planetary and cosmic Life. Self-knowledge is therefore both psychological and spiritual: it frees the mind from illusion while awakening a deeper realization of one's true nature and purpose.
Self-knowledge becomes the bridge between outer knowledge and inner wisdom. Information is transformed into living experience; ideas become realized truths; understanding naturally expresses itself as intelligent, compassionate service. The purpose is not merely to know more, but to be more—to live in conscious alignment with reality.
For DiscipleBook, Self-Knowledge is the essential principle that unites the outer classification of knowledge with the inner transformation of consciousness. It enables the student not only to understand the world of ideas but also to discover his or her own place within the greater evolutionary and planetary scheme. In this sense, Self-Knowledge is not simply one pillar among six—it is the foundation that gives meaning and purpose to all the others.
Ultimately, Self-Knowledge finds its fulfillment in the Art of Self-Realization: the conscious realization of one's true identity and the expression of that realization in daily life through love, wisdom, right action, and selfless service. It is the natural culmination of the journey from knowledge, through wisdom, to living realization.
PILLAR 6
THE ART OF
SELF-REALIZATION
1. Art
2. Science
3. Government
4. Religion
5. Education
6. Cosmology
7. History
8. Philosophy
9. Envirionment
10 Economy
11. Community
12. Healing
13. Astrology
14. Psychology
2. Science
3. Government
4. Religion
5. Education
6. Cosmology
7. History
8. Philosophy
9. Envirionment
10 Economy
11. Community
12. Healing
13. Astrology
14. Psychology
THE FIELDS OF HUMAN ENDEAVOUR
SCIENCE
RELIGION
ART
GOVERNMENT
COSMOLOGY
EDUCATION
ENVIRONMENT
ECONOMY
HISTORY
PHILOSOPHY
COMMUNITY
HEALING
PSYCHOLOGY
ASTROLOGY
1. Art
1. Painting
2. Music
5. Living space
8. Other Arts
2. Music
- Composers
- Musicians
- Conductors
- Writers
- Poets
- Dramatists
- Journalists
- Publishers
5. Living space
- Architecture
- Interior design
- Landscape architecture
- Urban design
- Actors
- Directors
- Television & Radio
- Theatre
8. Other Arts
- Photography
- Design
- Cooking
- Fashion
- Origami
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2. Science
1. Physics
2. Chemistry
3. Mathematics
4. Biology
5. Enginering & Invention
6. Social Sciences
9. The Science of Energies
10. The Science of Triangles
11. The Science of the 7 Rays
2. Chemistry
3. Mathematics
4. Biology
5. Enginering & Invention
6. Social Sciences
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Criminology
- Geology
- Paleontology
- Botany
- Horticulture
- Oceanography
- Archeology
- Anthropology
- Ecology
- Meteorology
9. The Science of Energies
10. The Science of Triangles
11. The Science of the 7 Rays
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3. Religion
1. Religious people
2. New World Religion
6. Full Moon Festivals
2. New World Religion
- The fact of God
- The fact of man's
- The fact of immortality
- The continuity of revelation
- The fact of our relationship
- The fact of the Path to God
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
- Cristianity
- Islam
- Judaism
- Confucianism
- Baha'i
- Janaism
- Shinto
- Sikhism
- Taoism
- Zoroastrianism
6. Full Moon Festivals
- Festival Eastern (Aries)
- Wesak Festival (Taurus)
- Festival of the Christ (Gemini)
MORE
4. Government
1. United Nations
3. Diplomats
4. Military
5. Lesgislation
6. Explorers
7. Rulers & Aristocrats
8. The New Politics
- General Assembly
- Security councel
- Other departments
3. Diplomats
4. Military
5. Lesgislation
6. Explorers
7. Rulers & Aristocrats
8. The New Politics
- Serving the will of the people
- Securing bascic needs for citizens
- Making progess in the Destiny of the Nation
- Fascism - Ray 1 of Will or Power
- Democracy - Ray 2 of Love-Wisdom
- Communism - Ray 3 of Active Intelligence
- Department of Education
- Department of Health
- Department of the Interior / Home affairs
- Department of Foreign Affairs
- Department of Finance
- Department of Justice
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Transport/Transportation
- Department of Environment
- Department of Labor/Employment
- Department of Energy
- Department of Culture/Arts
- Department of Science or Technology
- Department of Defence
- Department of Immigration and Emigration
- The archetype of a race
- Manvantara
- Initiating Manu
- Ending Manu
- Destiny of the nations
- Continents
- Countries
- Cities
- Leaders of the Nations
- Destiny of Humanity
MORE
5. Education
1. Teachers
2. Educators
3. Pedagogists
4. Esotericists
5. The New Education
6. The Aims of Education
7. The 4 Atmospheres
9. Mystery schools
2. Educators
3. Pedagogists
4. Esotericists
5. The New Education
6. The Aims of Education
7. The 4 Atmospheres
- Atmosphere of Love
- Atmosphere of Patience
- Atmosphere of Ordered Activity
- Atmosphere of Understanding
9. Mystery schools
- Probationary schools
- Advanced schools
- Personel
- Curiculum
MORE
6. Cosmology
1. Cosmologists
4. Space Brothers
6. Cosmogenesis
7. The Cosmic Chain
- Objective and subjective
Cosmos
- Objective Cosmos
- Subjective Cosmos
4. Space Brothers
- Brothers from other planets
- Service to humanity
- Light Technology
- Crop Circles
6. Cosmogenesis
- Secret Doctrine: Stanza's van Dzyan
- The great chain of Being
- Atom
- Human being
- Kingdoms of nature
- Planet
- Solar System
- One About Whom Naught May be Said
- Galaxies
- Infinity
- Planets (Sacred and non-sacred)
- Solar System
- Stars
- Galaxies
- Krita Yuga
- Treta Yuga
- Dwapara Yuga
- Kali Yuga
- Maha Yuga
- Reign of Manu: 71 Maha Yugas
- Reign of 14 Manus: 994 Maha Yugas
- Sandhis (Intervals)
- Kalpa (Day of Brahma)
- Night of Brahma
- Year of Brahma
- Maha Kalpa (100 years of Brahma)
- Hubble
- James Webb
- Vera Rubin Observatory
- Parker Solar Probe
MORE
12. Healing
1. Medics
2. Psychologists
3. Endocrinilogists
4. Healers
5. Ostheopaths
6. Chiropractors
7. Homeopaths
8. Rules & Laws
11. Diagnosis
2. Psychologists
3. Endocrinilogists
4. Healers
5. Ostheopaths
6. Chiropractors
7. Homeopaths
8. Rules & Laws
- Radiation
- Magnetism
- Law 1: Energy follows thought
- Law 2: Soul governs personality
- Rule 1: Healer aligns with soul
- Law 3: Energy circulates freely
- Law 4: Disease is misalignment
- Rule 2: Purity enables healing
- Law 5: Healing obeys karma
- Rule 3: Energy follows healer’s focus
- Law 6: Death releases consciousness
- Law 7: Life animates form
- Rule 4: Healer remains detached
- Law 8: Disease precedes healing
- Rule 5: Know patient’s ray
- Law 9: Perfect health is balance
- Rule 6: Avoid personal desire
- Law 10: Soul heals indirectly
- Rule 7: Healing is group work
- Restitution
- Elimination
- Integration
11. Diagnosis
- Psychologist
- Physician
- Endocrinologist
- The monad
- The soul
- The personality
- The mental body
- The emotional body
- The etheric body
- The dense physical body
MORE
13. Astrology
1. Astrologers
2. New Astrology
3. 12 sign of the Zodiac
2. New Astrology
3. 12 sign of the Zodiac
- Aries (Ram)
- Taurus (Bull)
- Gemini (Twins)
- Cancer (Crab)
- Leo (Lion)
- Virgo (Maiden)
- Libra (Scales)
- Scorpio (Scorpion)
- Sagittarius (Archer)
- Capricorn (Goat)
- Aquarius (Waterbearer)
- Pisces (Fishes)
- Rising sign
- Sun sign
- Moon sign
- Houses
- Crosses
- Planets (Sacred and non-sacred)
- 7 Rays
- Decanates
- The axes
- The Quadrants
- Conjunction 0°
- Sextile 60°
- Square 90°
- Trine 120°
- Opposition 180°
- New Psychology -
Study of soul's influence on the personality and the integration process - New Astrology -
Study which energies (rays, signs, planets) are at work behind the integration process of the soul and the personality
MORE
14. Psychology
1. Psychologist
2. The New Psychology
2. The New Psychology
- Science of consciousness
- The science of the Soul
- The science of the Personality
- The science of the Mind
- The science of the Emotions
- The science of the Etheric body
- The science of the Physical body
- Classification of Emotions
- Emotion
- Character
- Behaviour
- Science of Human Relations
- Ray 1: Will or Power
- Ray 2: Love-Wisdom
- Ray 3: Active Intelligence
- Ray 4: Harmony through Conflict
- Ray 5: Concrete Knowledge or Science
- Ray 6: Devotion or Abstract Idealism
- Ray 7: Ceremonial Order or Magic
- New Psychology:
Study of soul's influence on the personality and the integration process - New Astrology:
Show which energies (rays, signs, planets) are at work behind that process of integration
- The monad
- The soul
- The personality
- The mental body
- The emotional body
- The etheric body
- The dense physical body
MORE
TOP
SCIENCE OF IMPRESSION
The Science of Impression is the science of receiving, interpreting, and transmitting spiritual ideas and energies. It describes the process by which divine Purpose is impressed from Shamballa to the Hierarchy, from the Hierarchy to the New Group of World Servers, and ultimately into Humanity and every field of human endeavour.
Its purpose is to cultivate a mind that is receptive, intuitive, and free from personal distortion, enabling the individual and the group to respond consciously to the Plan of God. Through impression, higher ideas become living realities that inspire culture, science, education, government, religion, and all aspects of civilization. It is therefore one of the key sciences of the New Era, linking the inner world of spiritual purpose with its outer expression in human life.
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TOP
THE GREAT INVOCATION
The Great Invocation is a world prayer and a scientific formula of invocation that aligns humanity with the three planetary centres: Shamballa, Hierarchy, and Humanity. It invokes the energies of Light, Love, and Will, creating a conscious relationship between humanity and the higher spiritual centres through which the Plan of God is revealed and expressed.
Its purpose is to strengthen the flow of spiritual energy into human consciousness, fostering right human relations, goodwill, and the externalization of the Plan. As an act of group invocation, it enables individuals and groups to cooperate consciously with planetary evolution, serving as a bridge between divine Purpose and practical service within civilization.
X
WHITE MAGIC
White Magic is the science of consciously cooperating with the Plan of God by bringing spiritual ideas into outer manifestation. It is the creative process through which energies received from the higher planetary centres are transformed into constructive thought, right action, and service.
Working in alignment with Shamballa, Hierarchy, and Humanity, White Magic enables the disciple to become a conscious creator rather than an unconscious reactor. Through right motive, meditation, and group service, the individual learns to build forms that express the soul's purpose and contribute to the evolution of civilization.
White Magic is the practical application of the relationship between the three planetary centres. It demonstrates how divine Purpose, transmitted through the Hierarchy, is intelligently expressed by Humanity, transforming spiritual ideas into living realities that further the unfolding of the Plan.
X
In the esoteric psychology of Alice Bailey, the mind has three principal aspects: the lower concrete mind, the higher abstract mind, and intuition or pure reason. Between these stands the soul, or Son of Mind, which constitutes the point of synthesis and unification.
The lower concrete mind is the instrument of knowledge. It analyzes, discriminates, classifies and organizes the world of form. The higher abstract mind is the custodian of ideas and principles, perceiving the patterns and blueprints behind outer manifestation. The intuition, or pure reason, apprehends higher truth directly and provides contact with the world of divine ideas.
Human evolution involves the conscious integration of these levels. Through the soul and the progressive construction of the Antahkarana, the concrete mind becomes receptive to higher impression, the abstract mind becomes a channel for spiritual ideas, and intuition begins to illuminate the whole field of consciousness.
The goal is therefore not to abandon the intellect, but to transform it into an illumined instrument of the soul: knowledge becoming wisdom, thought becoming understanding, and understanding becoming direct perception of truth.
The lower concrete mind is the instrument of knowledge. It analyzes, discriminates, classifies and organizes the world of form. The higher abstract mind is the custodian of ideas and principles, perceiving the patterns and blueprints behind outer manifestation. The intuition, or pure reason, apprehends higher truth directly and provides contact with the world of divine ideas.
Human evolution involves the conscious integration of these levels. Through the soul and the progressive construction of the Antahkarana, the concrete mind becomes receptive to higher impression, the abstract mind becomes a channel for spiritual ideas, and intuition begins to illuminate the whole field of consciousness.
The goal is therefore not to abandon the intellect, but to transform it into an illumined instrument of the soul: knowledge becoming wisdom, thought becoming understanding, and understanding becoming direct perception of truth.
THE 3 ASPECTS OF MIND
SCIENCE OF THE
ANTAHKARANA
NEW
EDUCATION
The Lower Concrete Mind — The Mind of Knowledge
The lower concrete mind is the aspect of mind concerned with the world of form, facts, differentiation, classification, analysis and concrete thought.
It is the reasoning principle. It is the aspect of mind most strongly developed through ordinary education and through humanity's scientific and intellectual development.
It asks:
Its great function is therefore to know.
The concrete mind takes impressions and experiences and organizes them into mental structures. It creates definitions, categories, systems, theories, classifications and explanations.
This is why it is extremely important for something such as a taxonomy. Taxonomy is, in a sense, a highly developed expression of the concrete mind: it takes a field of knowledge and gives it structure.
But the concrete mind has a limitation.
It tends to work primarily with what already exists in form.
It can analyze an existing reality extraordinarily well, but by itself it has difficulty perceiving the deeper idea or purpose behind that reality.
Bailey therefore describes it as transient in time and space. It is related to the personality and to the world of changing phenomena.
The positive function of the concrete mind
The concrete mind should not be regarded as something that has to be overcome or rejected.
It must be trained, disciplined and illumined.
When controlled, it becomes what Bailey calls a kind of searchlight of the soul. Concentration brings it under control, allowing the mind to become a precise instrument rather than an uncontrolled producer of thoughts.
Thus:
Untrained concrete mind → fragmentation, analysis and mental activity
Disciplined concrete mind → clarity, precision, discrimination and useful knowledge
Illumined concrete mind → intelligent instrument of the soul
The lower concrete mind is the aspect of mind concerned with the world of form, facts, differentiation, classification, analysis and concrete thought.
It is the reasoning principle. It is the aspect of mind most strongly developed through ordinary education and through humanity's scientific and intellectual development.
It asks:
- What is this?
- How does it work?
- What are its parts?
- What is its relationship to other things?
- What can be observed, measured or demonstrated?
- How can this knowledge be organized?
Its great function is therefore to know.
The concrete mind takes impressions and experiences and organizes them into mental structures. It creates definitions, categories, systems, theories, classifications and explanations.
This is why it is extremely important for something such as a taxonomy. Taxonomy is, in a sense, a highly developed expression of the concrete mind: it takes a field of knowledge and gives it structure.
But the concrete mind has a limitation.
It tends to work primarily with what already exists in form.
It can analyze an existing reality extraordinarily well, but by itself it has difficulty perceiving the deeper idea or purpose behind that reality.
Bailey therefore describes it as transient in time and space. It is related to the personality and to the world of changing phenomena.
The positive function of the concrete mind
The concrete mind should not be regarded as something that has to be overcome or rejected.
It must be trained, disciplined and illumined.
When controlled, it becomes what Bailey calls a kind of searchlight of the soul. Concentration brings it under control, allowing the mind to become a precise instrument rather than an uncontrolled producer of thoughts.
Thus:
Untrained concrete mind → fragmentation, analysis and mental activity
Disciplined concrete mind → clarity, precision, discrimination and useful knowledge
Illumined concrete mind → intelligent instrument of the soul
LOWER CONCRETE MIND
2. The Soul — The Son of Mind
The second aspect is particularly important because it is the point of union between the higher and lower aspects of mind.
Bailey calls this the Son of Mind, or the Ego/Soul.
This is not simply another form of thinking.
It represents a higher level of consciousness in which accumulated knowledge becomes wisdom.
Bailey describes the soul as summarising the results of accumulated knowledge and illuminating them through intuition. She also associates the soul with the second aspect—love-wisdom—and with the transformation of knowledge into something capable of expressing the Plan.
The distinction can therefore be expressed as:
Concrete mind:
"I know."
Soul:
"I understand."
The concrete mind gathers experience.
The soul extracts meaning from experience.
The concrete mind sees the multiplicity.
The soul begins to perceive the underlying unity.
The concrete mind asks:
"What is happening?"
The soul asks:
"What does this mean?"
And eventually:
"What is the purpose behind it?"
The second aspect is particularly important because it is the point of union between the higher and lower aspects of mind.
Bailey calls this the Son of Mind, or the Ego/Soul.
This is not simply another form of thinking.
It represents a higher level of consciousness in which accumulated knowledge becomes wisdom.
Bailey describes the soul as summarising the results of accumulated knowledge and illuminating them through intuition. She also associates the soul with the second aspect—love-wisdom—and with the transformation of knowledge into something capable of expressing the Plan.
The distinction can therefore be expressed as:
Concrete mind:
"I know."
Soul:
"I understand."
The concrete mind gathers experience.
The soul extracts meaning from experience.
The concrete mind sees the multiplicity.
The soul begins to perceive the underlying unity.
The concrete mind asks:
"What is happening?"
The soul asks:
"What does this mean?"
And eventually:
"What is the purpose behind it?"
THE SOUL - SON OF MIND
The third aspect is the higher abstract mind.
Bailey describes this as the custodian of ideas and as the faculty that can convey illumination to the lower mind once the lower mind has established relationship with the soul.
This is a completely different level from ordinary intellectual thinking.
The concrete mind works principally with thought-forms.
The abstract mind works with ideas.
That distinction is fundamental.
An idea is not yet a fully developed thought-form.
An idea is more like a seed, archetypal pattern or blueprint from which thought-forms can subsequently be constructed.
A useful sequence is:
Divine Idea → Abstract Mind → Soul → Concrete Mind → Thought-form → Physical expression
This is why Bailey associates the abstract mind with the world of ideas and with philosophy.
The abstract mind therefore asks questions such as:
What principle lies behind this?
What larger pattern is emerging?
What idea is attempting to incarnate?
What is the relationship between apparently separate phenomena?
What is the archetypal pattern behind this particular form?
How can an idea be brought into manifestation?
Bailey describes this as the custodian of ideas and as the faculty that can convey illumination to the lower mind once the lower mind has established relationship with the soul.
This is a completely different level from ordinary intellectual thinking.
The concrete mind works principally with thought-forms.
The abstract mind works with ideas.
That distinction is fundamental.
An idea is not yet a fully developed thought-form.
An idea is more like a seed, archetypal pattern or blueprint from which thought-forms can subsequently be constructed.
A useful sequence is:
Divine Idea → Abstract Mind → Soul → Concrete Mind → Thought-form → Physical expression
This is why Bailey associates the abstract mind with the world of ideas and with philosophy.
The abstract mind therefore asks questions such as:
What principle lies behind this?
What larger pattern is emerging?
What idea is attempting to incarnate?
What is the relationship between apparently separate phenomena?
What is the archetypal pattern behind this particular form?
How can an idea be brought into manifestation?
HIGHER ABSTRACT MIND
There is another terminology used by Bailey that is important.
In A Treatise on White Magic, she identifies three aspects as:
Mind-stuff or chitta
Abstract mind
Intuition or pure reason
These three have to become unified within the consciousness of the disciple.
Here, intuition is not instinct, feeling, imagination or a sudden personal impression.
In Bailey's terminology, intuition represents a much higher faculty of perception.
It is the faculty through which consciousness can contact the Universal Mind and apprehend fundamental truth or divine ideas.
This is why intuition should not simply be equated with "having a hunch."
A hunch may come from the personality, the astral nature, subconscious material or accumulated experience.
Esoteric intuition is different.
It is direct apprehension of truth.
It does not proceed primarily through sequential reasoning.
It recognises.
In A Treatise on White Magic, she identifies three aspects as:
Mind-stuff or chitta
Abstract mind
Intuition or pure reason
These three have to become unified within the consciousness of the disciple.
Here, intuition is not instinct, feeling, imagination or a sudden personal impression.
In Bailey's terminology, intuition represents a much higher faculty of perception.
It is the faculty through which consciousness can contact the Universal Mind and apprehend fundamental truth or divine ideas.
This is why intuition should not simply be equated with "having a hunch."
A hunch may come from the personality, the astral nature, subconscious material or accumulated experience.
Esoteric intuition is different.
It is direct apprehension of truth.
It does not proceed primarily through sequential reasoning.
It recognises.
INTUITION