Some of these diverse viewpoints have often confused the student. Some believe that while this subject is interesting, it is not sufficiently practical, and ultimately, any knowledge (philosophical or otherwise) needs to be applicable in everyday life for it to be considered as valuable. Therefore, the objective of this article is to provide a more profound overview of the concept of the ‘Seven Rays’ (through the lens of the teachings of Master Choa Kok Sui), as well as to provide insights on why an understanding of the ‘Seven Rays’ is essential.

MCKS on ‘The Seven Rays’

Master Choa Kok Sui clarified the concept of the ‘seven rays’ in his writings. In his Golden Lotus Sutras (Achieve the Impossible), MCKS states that the seven rays reflect “the seven energies utilized in the process of creation.” A deeper analysis and examination of this statement is adequate to understand the importance and significance of this important concept.

At this point, it also merits the (original) teachings on the ‘Seven Rays’ as provided by Madam Blavatsky in her magnum opus – The Secret Doctrine. The instructions of HPB, in many cases, are significantly different from those of other theosophists such as Besant, CW Leadbeater, Hodson, Woods, Bailey, and others.

The Seven Rays According to Madam Blavatsky

The Secret Doctrine by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (or HPB) lays the foundation of modern Theosophy. It has been described as “one of the monuments of modern esotericism.” Originally published in 1888, it gave the spiritual history of the development of the Cosmos (or Kosmos, as the author would have it) and of human life on Earth. If you are interested in reading The Secret Doctrine, you may also want to check our article on studying the book.

The cornerstone to understanding The Secret Doctrine lies in the three fundamental propositions laid out by HPB in the PROEM (or the preface). In the First Fundamental Proposition, HPB talks about what she calls the ABSOLUTE. HPB describes the ABSOLUTE as the infinite, eternal divine principle, the supreme and ultimate reality beyond all definition, description, and comprehension. HPB uses the words ‘Parabrahm’ or ‘Parabrahman’ as equivalent terms for the ABSOLUTE. In The Secret Doctrine, the ABSOLUTE is symbolized as a black circle.

MCKS taught, “A word is like a finger pointing at different things. Do not look at the finger; focus on the essence of the word. Focus on what the finger is pointing at!” The ABSOLUTE, according to HPB in particular (and most theosophists in general), is what most people understand as the “Supreme God.” Theosophy uses terms such as “Deity,” “The Divine,” and “The Absolute” but generally avoids the “God” word.

In the first volume of The Secret Doctrine (Cosmogenesis), HPB describes the model for the birth of the Universe. While everything proceeds from the ABSOLUTE, HPB teaches that the ABSOLUTE is forever unmanifested, unmanifestable, unconditioned, undifferentiated, and without any attributes, characteristics, form, or personality.  While the ABSOLUTE is described in The Secret Doctrine as the “causeless cause,” it is important to note that we should not think of the universe as something produced “out of the ABSOLUTE.” As HPB explains later in the Second Fundamental Proposition, manifestation and dissolution are facets of the ABSOLUTE reality.

Creation takes place by what is called the appearance of the THREE LOGOI. While describing the manifestation of the Universe, HPB describes the following sequence or stages of evolution:

• Stage 1: The “appearance” of the FIRST LOGOS is the first stage for the formation of the Kosmos. According to the teachings of HPB, the FIRST LOGOS is a periodic “radiation” from the ABSOLUTE. HPB uses the term ‘Brahman’ or ‘the Unmanifested Logos’ for the FIRST LOGOS. The FIRST LOGOS is symbolized as a black circle with a white point in the center.
• Stage 2: The second stage in the manifestation of the Kosmos is the transformation of the FIRST LOGOS into the SECOND LOGOS. HPB uses the term ‘Father-Mother’ or the ‘Semi-Manifest Logos.’ The SECOND LOGOS is symbolized as a black circle with a white line through the diameter.
• Stage 3: The third stage in the manifestation of the Kosmos is the transformation of the SECOND LOGOS into the THIRD LOGOS. HPB uses the term ‘Brahma’ or ‘the Manifested Logos’ (HPB also uses the words Ishwar, Prajapati, or Elohim for the THIRD LOGOS). The THIRD LOGOS is symbolized as a black circle with a white cross. Note that ‘Brahma’ is the name given to the creator in the Hindu tradition.
• Stage 4: In The Secret Doctrine, HPB talks about an “emanation” from ‘Brahma’ (the THIRD LOGOS) of seven celestial beings. HPB uses the term PRIMORDIAL SEVEN to refer to these seven beings (the first to appear during the manifestation process). These beings are equivalent to the Archangels of Christianity and Brahma‘s eldest ‘Mind-born sons’ (Veddhas). These beings are responsible for creating the Universe and containing the “seeds of everything.” These great celestial beings see to the fulfillment of the ‘plan’ for constructing and building the Universe. Blavatsky also uses “Ah-hi” or “Dhyani-Buddhas” as equivalent terms for the PRIMORDIAL SEVEN.

In her writing, HPB refers to the PRIMORDIAL SEVEN as ‘the Seven Rays.’ In the Transactions of the Blavatsky Lodge, HPB describes the PRIMORDIAL SEVEN as “Forces, not Human Beings.” These seven forces are ‘the seven energies utilized in the process of creation.’ If anything exists, it must have been created by combining these energies.

So what are the Seven Rays?

As discussed above, a ‘ray’ refers to a particular force or type of energy with a certain quality that it exhibits. According to HPB, the ‘Seven Rays’ have their own quality, although the quality of all the other rays is present in each one.

However, HPB, in her teachings, didn’t assign any names or qualities to the ‘Seven Rays.’ The qualities of the ‘rays’ were elucidated by the (later) writings of Leadbeater, Hodson, Wood, Bailey, and others. However, there are differences in the classifications of the qualities of each of the ‘Seven Rays’ by these writers.    

Based on the teachings of MCKS, the following classifications can be applied to the various rays: 

• 1st Ray: The Ray of Will and Power  
• 2nd Ray: The Ray of Love and Wisdom  
• 3rd Ray: The Ray of Active Intelligence
• 4th Ray: The Ray of Harmonizing Conflicting Factors  
• 5th Ray: The Ray of Science or Concrete Knowledge
• 6th Ray: The Ray of Devotion or the Power of Focused Love
• 7th Ray: The Ray of Order or Ritual

Why is the knowledge of ‘the Seven Rays’ vital?

MCKS states that the seven rays reflect: “the seven energies utilized in the process of creation.” Having understood the teachings of HPB, it might become easier to understand the importance of studying the ‘Seven Rays,’ their qualities, and their application. Ultimately, everything in the Universe is created using these seven forces. No object can exist without the presence of each of these seven forces. Hence all of these seven forces are also present within us. Therefore, if you want to succeed, all these seven forces must be developed within yourself.

Let’s attempt to understand this using an example. Consider for a moment that you want to accelerate your spiritual development. To meet your objective, you need to do multiple things, such as:

• Increasing your discipline to meditate
• Doing more service
• Sharpening your mind to understand deeper spiritual principles and experiences
• Harmonize your work and spiritual schedule to live a balanced life
• Create a structure of powerful spiritual practices to attain your goals.

However, if you lack (for instance) the will and discipline to meditate regularly, then spiritual development will be slow. Hence the aspirant needs to focus on developing the ‘First Ray’ qualities of ‘will.’ It sometimes becomes difficult to meet your spiritual goals without a strong focus on the goals backed with the willpower to meditate.

Let’s take another example, suppose you would like to improve your financial situation. One of the things that you would need to do is apply intelligence (or the 3rd ‘ray energy’). Do you think you can become rich without using your head? If the intellgence aspect, which manifests as proper planning, is missing then it would be difficult to achieve your financial goals.

Hence, a deeper understanding of the ‘rays’ would help us understand our strengths and areas for improvement. Once you can identify your areas for improvement, you will be able to work on removing your weaknesses – consequently making it easier to meet your goals.

Business Management and ‘the Seven Rays’

In an organization, different people often provide different interpretations about the same issue (all of which might be correct when viewed from a particular standpoint). One of the reasons behind such diverse conclusions is that people sometimes look at the same situation from different perspectives. According to MCKS, “Understanding the Seven Rays gives you the ability to “see people as they are, by seeing people from different aspects, from different facets, your understanding deepens.”

Specifically, the MCKS Spiritual Business Management Workshop delves deeper into the science of how this esoteric teaching can be applied to business management. According to MCKS, “According to ancient esoteric teachings, management through the ‘Seven Rays’ reflects the seven energies utilized in the Process of Creation. If you want to be successful, copy the Management System of God!” Interestingly, these teachings can also be used for Organizational Design.

You may also read more about the principles of Spiritual Business Management in the Golden Lotus Sutra titled ‘Achieve the Impossible.’

Arhatic Yoga and the Seven Rays

According to MCKS (in a talk aired on www.globalpranichealing.com on Founders Day 2016), tArhatic Yoga aims to develop all seven rays within the practitioner. That’s why there are different types of yoga. Ordinary people can handle only one kind of energy, so they can only practice one type of yoga. Arhatic Yoga is for advanced students where a practitioner can develop all the facets via the different advanced spiritual practices. For example, Meditation on the Inner Breath corresponds to the First Ray, dealing with energy and power. Techniques taught in the higher levels of Arhatic Yoga (Levels 1, 2, and 3) deal with higher energies and power. This also corresponds to the First Ray. Techniques such as the Meditation on Twin Hearts, the Meditation on the Guru, and service (via Karma Yoga) develop the Second and Fourth Ray. Understanding meditation (taught in Arhatic Yoga Level 1) corresponds to the Yoga of Knowledge and the Third Ray.  The Concretizing Meditation (taught in Arhatic Yoga Level 2) corresponds to the Fifth and Seventh Ray. Arhatic Yoga is the Yoga of Synthesis. It is not only the Synthesis of Yoga but also where all the Seven Rays (all seven Energies) are manifested and gradually manifested in the practitioner. The practitioner becomes multi-faceted and a genius. Arhatic Yoga is truly the Yoga of Greatness.

There is also a deep connection between the ‘Seven Rays’, the Five Virtues, and the Five Pillars taught in Arhatic Yoga. Unfortunately, we cannot elaborate on this on a public website.

Final Words on This

This article merely scratches the surface of a profound esoteric teaching. Going forward, a 12-part lecture series on ‘the Seven Rays’ would form the subject of the New Moon Meditations at the Local Foundation (that started in November 2017). The series would focus on a more detailed understanding of each of the rays, their importance, and (most importantly) practical steps on how to strengthen the qualities of the rays within the practitioner. We look forward to seeing all Pranic Healers at Kolkata in the upcoming events.