The Noetic (Divine) Worlds

Between the Absolute Reality - and more specifically the Noetic Absolute, which is eternally perfect, and the Dualistic Cosmos or Temporal Manifestation, which is imperfect (but evolving to perfection), is an intermediate hypostasis, or series of hypostases, that the Neoplatonists call the Nous or Noetic Cosmos. (I use the term "Noetic" in both cases to refer to the fact that these are both hypostases of Divine Mind - Sri Aurobindo uses the terms Supermind and Overmind, the latter being a delegate so to speak of the former)

In other wisdom traditions this reality is given different names, but the meaning is similar, although not always the same (because there is sometimes overlap with the Manifest Absolute). In Kabbalah and Modern Hermeticism it is the Divine world of Atzilut or Nearness to the Supreme. In Sufism it might be called Jabarut. In the system of Sri Aurobindo it is called the Overmind. In Sant Mat the term Paar-Brahm (Super-Causal) is used. In Mahayna Buddhism reference might be made to the Sambhogakaya. And so on.

The following represents a suggested overview of this segment of Reality, which represents the "lowest" emanation of the perfection of the Absolute, in which perfect knowledge, will, etc is retained. I have borrowed here from Neoplatonism, Gnosticism, Tantra, Sufism, Kabbalah, and the teachings of Max and Alma Theon. The terms themselves are adapted from Proclus (late Neoplatonism). Each of these worlds are characterised by Archetypal forces.

Divine Consciousness-Being - In forming and becoming Creation, the Noetic Absolute first takes the form of the Divine Consciousness-Being, which is so close to the Absolute Itself it can barely be distinguished. In Kabbalah this would seem to be Keter (the highest sefirot) of Atzilut or, in some (althogh not all) Lurianic interpretations, of Adam Kadmon.  In Tantric and Kashmir Shaivite terminology this might be equated with Sadashiva or Sadakhya (Eternal Shiva) in which the Shiva or Consciousness-pole predominating. In the system of Sri Aurobindo it is called the Supramental Overmind. According to Theon, the first world is beyond human attainment at present (hence his term for it Occultisms - hidden), but as none of the other teachings say this it would seem like he is here referring rather to the Aurobindoan Supermind (Manifest or Truth Consciousness Absolute) which represnets the future state of planetary evolution.

Divine Love-Empathy - Divine Consciousnes-Being takes the form of Divine Love-Empathy, lower "octave" of the stage or mode of The Godhead Absolute. In Late Neoplatonism, Life follows Being in the sequence of supernal hypostases. By associaton, life and love (or empathy) might seem to go go together. This stage or world might be equated with the Tantric/Kashmir Shaivite term Ishwara (God or Lord), in which Shakti predominates. Tentatively, the Sufi universe or Divine Presence (hadrat) of Jabarut (Sovereignty, Omnipotence), might be associated here and in the associated sub-levels. This is the realm of Divine Power, which is said to represent the level of Unity (wahdat), and is "an intermediate realm between the All-Encompassing and His commands". Theon refers to this hypostasis as Pathetisms, an embodiment of great power and universal love and empathy (his term Pathotism is very difficult to translate)

Divine Knowledge - This is the manifestation of Divine Love-Empathy, and tends more towards creation. In Tantric/Kashmir Shaivism it is the lowest of the purely cosmic grades. It is there called Sadvidya (True Knowledge), in which Shakti and Shiva are balanced and Creation is about to occur. In in Kabbalah this might be said to correspond to the sefirah Binah (Knowledge), the lowest of the three supernals (so the three supernals in Kabbalah can be compared to the three cosmic shanta tattwas in Kashmir Shaivism/Trika)

Essence-Archetypes - Formative - Maya-shakti - This important level is the abode of the Spiritual archetypes behind the gross and subtle cosmic realities. In Neoplatonism this would be the Nous or Divine Mind where are found the archetypes. In Kashmir Shaivism it is the lowest sublevel of Sadvidya, where are found the Eight Vidyeshwaras (Lords of Knowledge), as well as of Mahamaya (the highest level of maya). In Kabbalah some or all of the lower seven sefirot of the universe of Atzilut might go here; these are the creators of the subsequent worlds. In the teachings of Max and Alma Theon the third world or Etherisms where are found the source of the spiritual qualities of the "material" world (= Cosmos). Sri Aurobindo's Overmind-Proper would go here. In short, this is the region where the original Unity is divided into many autonomous realities (but also when ascending the many are unified as the one)

Essence-Archetypes - Maya-tattwa - This is a transitional level between the Noetic gnosis and cosmic enlightenment above, and finite delimited separative existence below. In Kashmir Shaivism this is the level of maya and the five kanchukas. Sri Aurobindo refers to the two lower Overmidn levels - Intuitive Overmind and Mental Overmind, which although not really the same are still transitional stages, and hence the subpalnes where the original Overmind gnosis and underlying unity is lost. In the teachings of Max and Alma Theon this is the "fourth veiling" which contains the attribute sor principles that formed created existence

Gross and Subtle Kosmos and planes - from the Essence-Archetypes is derived the gross and subtle cosmos or cosmoses, the Creation, the infinite worlds and emanated planes of Spiritual, Psychic and Physical existence and evolution, samsara, in Indian thought prakriti or maya, in Kabbalah the three worlds of Beriah, Yetzirah, and Asiyah, in Theon's terminology the seven or eight states of Materialisms, in Theosophy the seven planes and in Anthroposophy the seven rounds or cycles, the gradation of spirit to matter and vice versa, the sphere of evolution and duality, which are the worlds in which we find ourselves.

In keeping with the emanationist paradigm, each preceeding world constitutes the Godhead or Ground of Being in relation to the next hypostasis down, which is its expression, focus, and manifestion. So the Absolute (or more specifically The Logos or Dynamic Absolute, what Sri Aurobindo terms Supermind) is the Source and Ground of Being of Divine Consciousness-Being. But even though the Divine Consciousness-Being is limited relative to the Noetic Absolute is still infinite, eternal, omniscient, omnipotent, and all the other attributes of Godhead relative to the universe below it. And so on with each of the stages, each of which represents a progressively more self-involved or self-focused mode of Supreme Godhead or Absolute Deity (The Dynamic Absolute).

The following represents a very tentative and perhaps arbitrary (but what the heck) mapping of the stages of noetioc manifestation, from those adjacent to the Transcendent to those adjacent to the world of duality.

Unless otherwise attributed or quoted, all text is licensed under a
Creative Commons License.

images not loading? | error messages? | broken links? | suggestions? | criticism?

contact me