Prometheus - Revision history

Pablo Sender: /* Prometheus and Manas */

2012-09-06T17:00:02Z

Prometheus and Manas

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:00, 6 September 2012
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	<blockquote>The Greeks have all this depicted in their great fable of Prometheus stealing the heavenly fire -- which, be it known, is divine intelligence, not the physical flame we cook our suppers with! -- from the gods and bringing it to man for his behoof. It was what the Theosophists call Manas, the spark of thinking intelligence which made "man" a manasic being, or capable of abstract thought.<ref>Alvin Boyd Kuhn, ''Theosophy: A Modern Revival of Ancient Wisdom'' (New York: Henry Holt and Co., 1930), ???</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>The Greeks have all this depicted in their great fable of Prometheus stealing the heavenly fire -- which, be it known, is divine intelligence, not the physical flame we cook our suppers with! -- from the gods and bringing it to man for his behoof. It was what the Theosophists call Manas, the spark of thinking intelligence which made "man" a manasic being, or capable of abstract thought.<ref>Alvin Boyd Kuhn, ''Theosophy: A Modern Revival of Ancient Wisdom'' (New York: Henry Holt and Co., 1930), ???</ref></blockquote>

	The acts of Prometheus also give man the ability to elevate beyond his capacities. By fostering the Manas into mankind, Prometheus gave man the spiritual ability to become universal beings. To develop this higher intellegence, it is noted that the [[Manvantara]] cycle must have a long duration, as remarked by Gertrude van Pelt:		The acts of Prometheus also give man the ability to elevate beyond his capacities. By fostering the Manas into mankind, Prometheus gave man the spiritual ability to become universal beings:

			<blockquote>This “audacious revolt” is again an anthropomorphic and personifying allegory that we owe to the Church, which materialized, in order to disguise them the better, all the ancient ideas—old as the world. It was a philosophic doctrine imbedded in the esoteric meaning of the Promethean legend. The sacred fire which he stole from the Gods is the flame of conscious intellect, the spark which animates the fifth principle, or Manas; it is also the generating and sexual flame; that spark is the reflection —if not the very essence—of the Archangels or Monads, forced by their karma from the preceding manvantara, to incarnate in the astral forms of the third great pre-Adamite race before its “fall”—the fall of Spirit into Matter. That supposed “revolt,” that “theft” of the creative fire, is a result of Evolution (of which the Darwinian theory is but the rough exterior husk on the physical or material plane).<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. VIII (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1990), 386-387.</ref></blockquote>

			To develop this higher intellegence, it is noted that the [[Manvantara]] cycle must have a long duration, as remarked by Gertrude van Pelt:

	<blockquote>The story is told in allegory in the myth of Prometheus, who brought the		<blockquote>The story is told in allegory in the myth of Prometheus, who brought the

Lauren Rourk: /* The Legend of Prometheus and H. P. Blavatsky */

2012-08-13T15:58:47Z

The Legend of Prometheus and H. P. Blavatsky

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:58, 13 August 2012
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	==The Legend of Prometheus and H. P. Blavatsky==		==The Legend of Prometheus and H. P. Blavatsky==

	[[H. P. Blavatsky]] refers to Prometheus in ~~her~~ [[The Theosophical Glossary (book)\|''Theosophical Glossary'']] as the following:		[[H. P. Blavatsky]] refers to Prometheus in the [[The Theosophical Glossary (book)\|''Theosophical Glossary'']] as the following:

	<blockquote>Prometheus (Gr.). The Greek logos; he, who by bringing on earth divine fire (intelligence and consciousness) endowed men with reason and mind. Prometheus is the Hellenic type of our Kumâras or Egos, those who, by incarnating in men, made of them latent gods instead of animals. The gods (or Elohim) were averse to men becoming “as one of us” (Genesis iii., 22), and knowing “good and evil”. Hence we see these gods in every religious legend punishing man for his desire to know. As the Greek myth has it, for stealing the fire he brought to men from Heaven, Prometheus was chained by the order of Zeus to a crag of the Caucasian Mountains.<ref> Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna. ''Theosophical Glossary'' (Los Angeles, CA: Theosophical Company, 1973), 263.</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>Prometheus (Gr.). The Greek logos; he, who by bringing on earth divine fire (intelligence and consciousness) endowed men with reason and mind. Prometheus is the Hellenic type of our Kumâras or Egos, those who, by incarnating in men, made of them latent gods instead of animals. The gods (or Elohim) were averse to men becoming “as one of us” (Genesis iii., 22), and knowing “good and evil”. Hence we see these gods in every religious legend punishing man for his desire to know. As the Greek myth has it, for stealing the fire he brought to men from Heaven, Prometheus was chained by the order of Zeus to a crag of the Caucasian Mountains.<ref> Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna. ''Theosophical Glossary'' (Los Angeles, CA: Theosophical Company, 1973), 263.</ref></blockquote>

Pablo Sender at 20:01, 27 July 2012

2012-07-27T20:01:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:01, 27 July 2012
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	In [[Theosophy]], Prometheus' flame is seen as the transmission of [[Manas]] to man. It is through Manas alone that man is considered intellectual, which distiguishes the human race from the other members of the animal kingdom:		In [[Theosophy]], Prometheus' flame is seen as the transmission of [[Manas]] to man. It is through Manas alone that man is considered intellectual, which distiguishes the human race from the other members of the animal kingdom:

	<blockquote>The Greeks have all this depicted in their great fable of Prometheus stealing the heavenly fire -- which, be it known, is divine intelligence, not the physical flame we cook our suppers with! -- from the gods and bringing it to man for his behoof. It was what the Theosophists call Manas, the spark of thinking intelligence which made "man" a manasic being, or capable of abstract thought.Kuhn, ~~Alvin Boyd~~.</blockquote>		<blockquote>The Greeks have all this depicted in their great fable of Prometheus stealing the heavenly fire -- which, be it known, is divine intelligence, not the physical flame we cook our suppers with! -- from the gods and bringing it to man for his behoof. It was what the Theosophists call Manas, the spark of thinking intelligence which made "man" a manasic being, or capable of abstract thought.<ref>Alvin Boyd Kuhn, ''Theosophy: A Modern Revival of Ancient Wisdom'' (New York: Henry Holt and Co., 1930), ???</ref></blockquote>

	The acts of Prometheus also give man the ability to elevate beyond his capacities. By fostering the Manas into mankind, Prometheus gave man the spiritual ability to become universal beings. To develop this higher intellegence, it is noted that the [[Manvantara]] cycle must have a long duration, as remarked by Gertrude van Pelt:		The acts of Prometheus also give man the ability to elevate beyond his capacities. By fostering the Manas into mankind, Prometheus gave man the spiritual ability to become universal beings. To develop this higher intellegence, it is noted that the [[Manvantara]] cycle must have a long duration, as remarked by Gertrude van Pelt:
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	heavy surgings of the bestial nature; linked divine aspiration with		heavy surgings of the bestial nature; linked divine aspiration with
	sensual appetence. Theosophists view this situation as the ground of man's		sensual appetence. Theosophists view this situation as the ground of man's
	whole moral struggle.<ref>Kuhn, ~~Alvin Boyd.~~ ''Theosophy: A Modern Revival of Ancient Wisdom'' (New York: Henry Holt and Co., 1930), ???</ref></blockquote>		whole moral struggle.<ref>Alvin Boyd Kuhn, ''Theosophy: A Modern Revival of Ancient Wisdom'' (New York: Henry Holt and Co., 1930), ???</ref></blockquote>

	==Name of Prometheus==		==Name of Prometheus==

Pablo Sender: /* Prometheus and Manas */

2012-07-27T19:59:27Z

Prometheus and Manas

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:59, 27 July 2012
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	==Prometheus and Manas==		==Prometheus and Manas==

	In ~~Theosophy,~~ [[~~Prometheus~~]]' flame is seen as the transmission of [[Manas]] to man. It is through Manas alone that man is considered intellectual, which distiguishes the human race from the other members of the animal kingdom:		In [[Theosophy]], Prometheus' flame is seen as the transmission of [[Manas]] to man. It is through Manas alone that man is considered intellectual, which distiguishes the human race from the other members of the animal kingdom:

	<blockquote>The Greeks have all this depicted in their great fable of Prometheus stealing the heavenly fire -- which, be it known, is divine intelligence, not the physical flame we cook our suppers with! -- from the gods and bringing it to man for his behoof. It was what the Theosophists call Manas, the spark of thinking intelligence which made "man" a manasic being, or capable of abstract thought.Kuhn, Alvin Boyd.</blockquote>		<blockquote>The Greeks have all this depicted in their great fable of Prometheus stealing the heavenly fire -- which, be it known, is divine intelligence, not the physical flame we cook our suppers with! -- from the gods and bringing it to man for his behoof. It was what the Theosophists call Manas, the spark of thinking intelligence which made "man" a manasic being, or capable of abstract thought.Kuhn, Alvin Boyd.</blockquote>

Pablo Sender: /* Prometheus and Manas */

2012-07-27T19:58:56Z

Prometheus and Manas

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:58, 27 July 2012
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	==Prometheus and Manas==		==Prometheus and Manas==

	In Theosophy, Prometheus' flame is seen as the transmission of ~~the~~ [[Manas]] to man. It is through ~~the~~ Manas alone that man is considered intellectual, ~~and~~ distiguishes the human race from the other members of the animal kingdom:		In Theosophy, [[Prometheus]]' flame is seen as the transmission of [[Manas]] to man. It is through Manas alone that man is considered intellectual, which distiguishes the human race from the other members of the animal kingdom:

	<blockquote>The Greeks have all this depicted in their great fable of Prometheus		<blockquote>The Greeks have all this depicted in their great fable of Prometheus stealing the heavenly fire -- which, be it known, is divine intelligence, not the physical flame we cook our suppers with! -- from the gods and bringing it to man for his behoof. It was what the Theosophists call Manas, the spark of thinking intelligence which made "man" a manasic being, or capable of abstract thought.Kuhn, Alvin Boyd.</blockquote>
	stealing the heavenly fire -- which, be it known, is divine intelligence,
	not the physical flame we cook our suppers with! -- from the gods and
	bringing it to man for his behoof. It was what the Theosophists call
	Manas, the spark of thinking intelligence which made "man" a manasic
	being, or capable of abstract thought.Kuhn, Alvin Boyd.</blockquote>

	The acts of Prometheus also give man the ability to elevate beyond his capacities. By fostering the Manas into mankind, Prometheus gave man the spiritual ability to become universal beings. To develop this higher intellegence, it is noted that the [[Manvantara]] cycle must have a long duration, as remarked by Gertrude van Pelt:		The acts of Prometheus also give man the ability to elevate beyond his capacities. By fostering the Manas into mankind, Prometheus gave man the spiritual ability to become universal beings. To develop this higher intellegence, it is noted that the [[Manvantara]] cycle must have a long duration, as remarked by Gertrude van Pelt:

Pablo Sender: /* The Legend of Prometheus and H. P. Blavatsky */

2012-07-27T19:56:27Z

The Legend of Prometheus and H. P. Blavatsky

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:56, 27 July 2012
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	==The Legend of Prometheus and H. P. Blavatsky==		==The Legend of Prometheus and H. P. Blavatsky==

	[[H. P. Blavatsky]] refers to Prometheus in her ''Theosophical Glossary'' as the following:		[[H. P. Blavatsky]] refers to Prometheus in her [[The Theosophical Glossary (book)\|''Theosophical Glossary'']] as the following:

	<blockquote>Prometheus (Gr.). The Greek logos; he, who by bringing on earth divine fire (intelligence and consciousness) endowed men with reason and mind. Prometheus is the Hellenic type of our Kumâras or Egos, those who, by incarnating in men, made of them latent gods instead of animals. The gods (or Elohim) were averse to men becoming “as one of us” (Genesis iii., 22), and knowing “good and evil”. Hence we see these gods in every religious legend punishing man for his desire to know. As the Greek myth has it, for stealing the fire he brought to men from Heaven, Prometheus was chained by the order of Zeus to a crag of the Caucasian Mountains.<ref> Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna. ''Theosophical Glossary'' (Los Angeles, CA: Theosophical Company, 1973), 263.</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>Prometheus (Gr.). The Greek logos; he, who by bringing on earth divine fire (intelligence and consciousness) endowed men with reason and mind. Prometheus is the Hellenic type of our Kumâras or Egos, those who, by incarnating in men, made of them latent gods instead of animals. The gods (or Elohim) were averse to men becoming “as one of us” (Genesis iii., 22), and knowing “good and evil”. Hence we see these gods in every religious legend punishing man for his desire to know. As the Greek myth has it, for stealing the fire he brought to men from Heaven, Prometheus was chained by the order of Zeus to a crag of the Caucasian Mountains.<ref> Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna. ''Theosophical Glossary'' (Los Angeles, CA: Theosophical Company, 1973), 263.</ref></blockquote>

Pablo Sender: /* The Legend of Prometheus and H. P. Blavatsky */

2012-07-27T19:55:44Z

The Legend of Prometheus and H. P. Blavatsky

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:55, 27 July 2012
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	==The Legend of Prometheus and H. P. Blavatsky==		==The Legend of Prometheus and H. P. Blavatsky==

	[[H. P. Blavatsky]] refers to Prometheus in her Theosophical Glossary as the following:		[[H. P. Blavatsky]] refers to Prometheus in her ''Theosophical Glossary'' as the following:

	<blockquote>Prometheus (Gr.). The Greek logos; he, who by bringing on earth divine fire (intelligence and consciousness) endowed men with reason and mind. Prometheus is the Hellenic type of our Kumâras or Egos, those who, by incarnating in men, made of them latent gods instead of animals. The gods (or Elohim) were averse to men becoming “as one of us” (Genesis iii., 22), and knowing “good and evil”. Hence we see these gods in every religious legend punishing man for his desire to know. As the Greek myth has it, for stealing the fire he brought to men from Heaven, Prometheus was chained by the order of Zeus to a crag of the Caucasian Mountains.<ref> Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna. ''Theosophical Glossary'' (Los Angeles, CA: Theosophical Company, 1973), 263.</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>Prometheus (Gr.). The Greek logos; he, who by bringing on earth divine fire (intelligence and consciousness) endowed men with reason and mind. Prometheus is the Hellenic type of our Kumâras or Egos, those who, by incarnating in men, made of them latent gods instead of animals. The gods (or Elohim) were averse to men becoming “as one of us” (Genesis iii., 22), and knowing “good and evil”. Hence we see these gods in every religious legend punishing man for his desire to know. As the Greek myth has it, for stealing the fire he brought to men from Heaven, Prometheus was chained by the order of Zeus to a crag of the Caucasian Mountains.<ref> Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna. ''Theosophical Glossary'' (Los Angeles, CA: Theosophical Company, 1973), 263.</ref></blockquote>

Lauren Rourk: Created page with "'''Prometheus''' was a Titan in ancient Greek mythology, who was credited with the creation of man. In order to fully provide for his creations, Prometheus stole fire from Mt..."

2012-07-25T19:14:08Z

Created page with "'''Prometheus''' was a Titan in ancient Greek mythology, who was credited with the creation of man. In order to fully provide for his creations, Prometheus stole fire from Mt..."

New page

'''Prometheus''' was a Titan in ancient [[Greek mythology]], who was credited with the creation of man. In order to fully provide for his creations, Prometheus stole fire from Mt. Olympus, but was punished by [[Zeus]] as a result. Prometheus is often analogous to the light-bearers of other ancient cultures.

==The Legend of Prometheus and H. P. Blavatsky==

[[H. P. Blavatsky]] refers to Prometheus in her Theosophical Glossary as the following:

<blockquote>Prometheus (Gr.). The Greek logos; he, who by bringing on earth divine fire (intelligence and consciousness) endowed men with reason and mind. Prometheus is the Hellenic type of our Kumâras or Egos, those who, by incarnating in men, made of them latent gods instead of animals. The gods (or Elohim) were averse to men becoming “as one of us” (Genesis iii., 22), and knowing “good and evil”. Hence we see these gods in every religious legend punishing man for his desire to know. As the Greek myth has it, for stealing the fire he brought to men from Heaven, Prometheus was chained by the order of Zeus to a crag of the Caucasian Mountains.<ref> Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna. ''Theosophical Glossary'' (Los Angeles, CA: Theosophical Company, 1973), 263.</ref></blockquote>

==Prometheus and Manas==

In Theosophy, Prometheus' flame is seen as the transmission of the [[Manas]] to man. It is through the Manas alone that man is considered intellectual, and distiguishes the human race from the other members of the animal kingdom:

<blockquote>The Greeks have all this depicted in their great fable of Prometheus
stealing the heavenly fire -- which, be it known, is divine intelligence,
not the physical flame we cook our suppers with! -- from the gods and
bringing it to man for his behoof. It was what the Theosophists call
Manas, the spark of thinking intelligence which made "man" a manasic
being, or capable of abstract thought.Kuhn, Alvin Boyd.</blockquote>

The acts of Prometheus also give man the ability to elevate beyond his capacities. By fostering the Manas into mankind, Prometheus gave man the spiritual ability to become universal beings. To develop this higher intellegence, it is noted that the [[Manvantara]] cycle must have a long duration, as remarked by Gertrude van Pelt:

<blockquote>The story is told in allegory in the myth of Prometheus, who brought the
spiritual fire from heaven to mortals and was chained to a rock for ages -- the
rock of matter, which was the animal body. The lacking principle was mind or
manas, which must have lain sleeping as a germ forever had not Prometheus
lighted and awakened it with spiritual fire. To quicken it permanently; to make
a mortal, immortal; to change a dawning intelligence into a god -- for this, a
long manvantara is needed.<ref>van Pelt, Gertrude W. ''Archaic History of the Human Race'' (San Diego, CA: Point Loma Publications, 1979), 28.</ref></blockquote>

==Connection to Lucifer==

The Legend of Prometheus is often equated to the Story of [[Lucifer]]. Both are the light-bearers, who are punished for their transmission of higher knowledge to man. As [[H. P. Blavatsky]] comments:

<blockquote>The allegory of the Fall of man and the fire of Prometheus is also
another version of the myth of the rebellion of the proud Lucifer, hurled down
to the bottomless pit -- Orcus.<ref>Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna. ''Isis Unveiled'' (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1972), 299.</ref></blockquote>

H. P. Blavatsky also recognizes that Prometheus gave man the knowledge of the gods, so that they could be gods themselves. This threatens Zeus, as man equal in spiritual knowledge with the gods is not tolerated. Thus, Prometheus shares the same fate with [[Satan]]:

<blockquote> Hence the allegory of Prometheus, who steals the divine fire so as to allow
men to proceed consciously on the path of spiritual evolution, thus transforming
the most perfect of animals on earth into a potential god, and making him free
to "take the kingdom of heaven by violence." Hence also, the curse pronounced by
Zeus against Prometheus, and by Jehovah-Il-da-Baoth against his "rebellious
son," Satan.<ref>Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna. ''The Secret Doctrine Vol. II'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1979), 244.</ref></blockquote>

==Relation with Epimetheus==

Prometheus (Beforethinker or Forethought) and Epimetheus (Afterthinker or Afterthought) were both Titan brothers who were assigned with the creation of mortal creatures. Using the gifts of the gods, Epimetheus created animals as quickly as he could, giving them the gifts of speed, sight, and strength. Prometheus, conversely, used his time wisely to painstakenly create man, and found his brother had used the majority of the gifts. This led Prometheus to take the light of knowledge from Mt. Olympus to give man the gift of consciousness. As Grace F. Knoche notes:

<blockquote>"Man the thinker was born: instead of being less qualified than the animals which Epimetheus had so well equipped, he now stood a potential god, conscious of his power, yet
innately aware that from then on he would have to choose between good and evil,
and earn the gift Prometheus had brought."<ref>Knoche, Grace F. ''To Light a Thousand Lamps: A Theosophic Vision'' (Pasadena, CA: Theosophical University Press, 2001), 25-26.</ref></blockquote>

Epimetheus also serves as a parallel to Prometheus' intentions. In this definition of Prometheus and Epimetheus, the former is described as altruistic, while the latter is described as egotistical. [[H. P. Blavatsky]] notes that mankind has become comsumed with the Epimetheus condition, and should become aware of their potential to reach the intentions of Prometheus once again. She states:

<blockquote>The modern Prometheus has now become Epi-metheus, "he who sees only after
the event"; because the universal philanthropy of the former has long ago
degenerated into selfishness and self-adoration. Man will rebecome the free
Titan of old, but not before cyclic evolution has re-established the broken
harmony between the two natures -- the terrestrial and the divine; after which he
becomes impermeable to the lower titanic forces, invulnerable in his
personality, and immortal in his individuality, which cannot happen before every
animal element is eliminated from his nature. When man understands that "Deus
non fecit mortem" (Sap. I., 13), but that man has created it himself, he will
re-become the Prometheus before his Fall.<ref>Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna. ''The Secret Doctrine Vol. II'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1979), 422.</ref> </blockquote>

==Importance of Prometheus in Theosophy==

In regards to [[Theosophy]], Prometheus has primarily been to illustrate the struggle between between spirituality and materialism. Prometheus represents the essence of the spiritual being, while the gods represent the brute humanistic urges. As the high intentions of Prometheus are inhibited by the crude behaviors of the gods, Prometheus' choice remains of great interest to many Theosophists, including [[H. P. Blavatsky]]. She remarks:

<blockquote>This drama of the struggle of Prometheus with the Olympic tyrant
and despot, sensual Zeus, one sees enacted daily within our actual mankind: the
lower passions chain the higher aspirations to the rock of matter, to generate
in many a case the vulture of sorrow, pain, and repentance. In every such case
one sees once more --
"A god . . . in fetters, anguish fraught;
The foe of Zeus, in hatred held by all. . . . "
A god, bereft even of that supreme consolation of Prometheus, who suffered
in self-sacrifice --
"For that to men he bare too fond a mind. . ."
as the divine Titan is moved by altruism, but the mortal man by Selfishness and
Egoism in every instance.<ref>Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna. ''The Secret Doctrine Vol. II'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1979), 422.</ref></blockquote>

Theosophists do not limit the struggle of materialism and spirituality to the legend of Prometheus. They also extend it into contemporary life, as it is a continuation of the challenge to balance these moral forces. When man had recieved the fire of higher knowledge from Mt. Olympus, they were faced with the responsibility of living with both the divine purpose of Prometheus and the lowly desires of the gods. As commented by [[Alvin Boyd Kuhn]]:

<blockquote>The gift of Prometheus thus became "the chief cause, if not the sole
origin of evil," since it joined in an unstable equilibrium in one
organism the free will and spiritual purity of the angel hosts with the
heavy surgings of the bestial nature; linked divine aspiration with
sensual appetence. Theosophists view this situation as the ground of man's
whole moral struggle.<ref>Kuhn, Alvin Boyd. ''Theosophy: A Modern Revival of Ancient Wisdom'' (New York: Henry Holt and Co., 1930), ???</ref></blockquote>

==Name of Prometheus==

The Name of Prometheus also takes on an [[Esoteric]] meaning as well. As the legend of Prometheus is a story of man's creation, the duality of perfection out of imperfection is evident. As Prometheus had chosen to extend his awareness to mankind, he realized that his ability to give man their knowledge of perfection must also come with their knowledge of imperfection. This decision and its consequences have been preserved in the Greek Tradegy, ''Prometheus Bound''. The drama is cited often in ''The Secret Doctrine'', and has led H. P. Blavatsky to state:

<blockquote>This was left to that class of Devas who became symbolised in Greece under the name of Prometheus, to those who had nought to do with the physical body, yet everything with the purely
spiritual man...Each class of Creators endows man with what it has to give: the one builds
his external form; the other gives him its essence, which later on becomes the
Human Higher Self owing to the personal exertion of the individual; but they
could not make men as they were themselves -- perfect, because sinless; sinless,
because having only the first, pale shadowy outlines of attributes, and these
all perfect -- from the human standpoint -- white, pure and cold as the virgin
snow. Where there is no struggle, there is no merit; The first
humanity, therefore, was a pale copy of its progenitors; too material, even in
its ethereality, to be a hierarchy of gods; too spiritual and pure to be MEN,
endowed as it is with every negative (Nirguna) perfection. Perfection, to be
fully such, must be born out of imperfection, the incorruptible must grow out of
the corruptible, having the latter as its vehicle and basis and contrast.
Absolute light is absolute darkness, and vice versa.<ref>Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna. ''The Secret Doctrine Vol. II'' (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1979), 95.</ref></blockquote>

==Notes==

<references/>

==Further Reading==

*[http://theosophy.ph/encyclo/index.php?title=Prometheus# Prometheus] at Theosopedia

[[Category:Greek Mythology]]
[[Category:Concepts in The Secret Doctrine]]