Meditation and the "power to hold"

Since 'holding' is a major theme with Ophiuchus and Quaoar was discovered in that constellation, let us have a look at a few different ways in which this word can be used.

For one thing it can be used in relation to meditation practices, where "the mind is prepared for concentrated meditation. Johnston's edition gives a beautiful rendering of this sutra in the words: "Thence comes the mind's power to hold itself in the light—," the idea being that once the condition of quiescence [Page 229] has been reached, and the fourth stage of supernormal impression has been made possible, the remaining means of yoga, abstraction, attention, meditation and contemplation can be properly undertaken. The mind can be gripped and used and the process of transmitting the knowledge, light and wisdom from the ego or soul, to the brain via the mind can be safely undertaken."

Furthermore, it can be said that "sustained Concentration (dharana) is meditation (dhyana). Meditation is but the extension of concentration and grows out of the facility a man achieves in "fixing the mind" at will on any particular object. It falls under the same rules and conditions as concentration and the only distinction between the two is in the time element. Having achieved the capacity to focus the mind steadily upon an object, the next step is developing the power to hold the mind stuff or chitta unwaveringly occupied with that object or thought for a prolonged period. The Purana quoted above continues: "An uninterrupted succession of presented ideas single in intent upon His form, without desire for anything else, that, O King, is contemplation. It is brought about by the first six aids of yoga." The word contemplation here is synonymous with meditation. This meditation is still with seed or with an object. Dvivedi says in his comment on this sutra: "... Dhyana is the entire fixing of the mind on the object thought of (to the extent of making it one with it). In fact, the mind should, at the time, be conscious only of itself and the object." The man's attitude becomes pure fixed attention; his physical body, his emotions, surroundings, and all sounds and sights are lost sight of and the brain is conscious only of the object which is the topic or seed of meditation, and the thoughts which the mind is formulating in connection with that object."

The "power to hold" as an essential quality

In the DINA books by Alice Bailey, we find mentioned the word 'holding', in the letters to the disciple DLR. This is of interest since DLR has Sun and Chiron conjunct Quaoar in the 10th; and Libra rising with Venus in very close parallell to Quaoar: "The essential quality which you should radiate is an understanding holding of those for whom you are responsible. I said "holding," brother of mine. A.A.B. has called my attention to the interesting fact that it is the rarest thing for you to lose a student out of your secretarial group, yet at the same time you write less and (apparently) upon the outer plane, do less, than the other secretaries. Why is this so? It is indicative of the quality which you radiate. This quality is in the [Page 758] nature of a potency. It is the power to hold others steady by the nature of your understanding; this they feel, even if you do not consciously express it. It remains still basically subjective. A quality such as this—binding, forceful and enduring—carries its limitations as well as its benedictions. People can be held too closely to you for their own good, and it is ever the weaker who are thus held and the less advanced. People in this way can become dependent upon the one who holds, and thus fail to express themselves, and thus again their weaknesses are developed and a tendency to negativity. You can develop this theme yourself. But the beneficent aspect of this radiation is predominant in you and must be increased and this deliberately."

The Ancient dilemma of knowing when to 'hold' or 'let go'

Within the radius of power and life which is the expression of the fourth kingdom in nature, the human, there was to be found a correspondence to that "assumption of independence" and to that "breaking away" which characterised the major grouping. Back in later Lemurian times, a group of men of high development, from the point of view of that time, and numbered among the then disciples of the world, took issue with the planetary Hierarchy, and broke away from the "law of the initiates". It was a time wherein the emphasis of the teaching was upon the material side of life, and where the focus of attention was upon the physical nature and its control. The Old Commentary expresses what happened in the following terms":

"The law went forth from the inner group which guided the destinies of men: Detach yourselves. Withdraw within yourselves the power to hold and gain and get. The sons of God, who train themselves to leave the world of men and enter into light, they ever travel free. They hold not what they have. Release yourselves, and enter through the gates of peace.

"Some of the sons of God, waiting outside those gates, ready to enter when the Word went forth to roll the gates aside, were laden with the treasure of the earth. They brought their gifts as offerings to the Lord of life, who needed not their gifts. They sought to enter through those gates, not with a selfish end in view, but to present the garnered treasures of the world, and thus shew their love.

"Again the Word went forth: Leave all behind and pass beyond the portal, laden with naught of earth. They waited and discussed. The rest of those who were prepared entered into light and passed between the pillars of the gate; they left behind the loads they brought and entered free, and were accepted, carrying naught.

"Because they travelled as a group, and as a group progressed and grasped, the group responded to the divine command and halted. There they waited, standing before the portal of the Path, grasping the garnered treasures of a thousand cycles. Naught did they wish to leave behind. They had laboured for the riches which they held. They loved their God, and Him they sought to dower with the fullest measure of the riches they had gained. They loved not discipline.

"Again the Word went forth: Drop on the ground all that you hold, and enter free.

"But three revolted from that stern command. The rest obeyed. They passed within the gates, leaving the three outside. Many were raised unto the heights of joy. The three remained without the gates, holding their treasure firm."

...

"They were three advanced disciples who resented the command to enter, free and untrammelled, the place where light is to be found. They sought to hold that which they had gathered and to dedicate it to the service of God. Their unrecognised motive was love of riches and a desire to hold safe their gains. Ancient tradition, as taught by the teachers of the past, tells us that..."

"They turned their faces towards the gates of earth. Their friends went on..... They stayed behind..... The Masters met in conclave and decided what should be the fate of those who, having reached the Gates of Light, loved the possessions of the world more than they loved the service of the light. Again the Word went forth to the revolting three, who waited still without the gates:

"`Hold what you have and gather more, but know no peace. Garner the fruits of mind, and seek your power in wide possessions, but have no sure abiding place.

"`Within yourselves, because you are disciples of the Lord, you shall have no share in peace, no sure and certain knowledge of success, nor power to hold your gains.

"`Always shall there be the knowledge dim of Him Who watches over all. Always the urge to gather and amass. Never the time to hold and to enjoy. Pass on therefore until the time shall come, and again you stand before the Gates of Light, this time with empty hands. Then enter, free, accepted by the Servants of the Lord, and know, forever, peace.'"

...

"Curiously enough, this ancient race, founded by the three who loved that which they had to offer more than that which they longed to take, were the originators of the Masonic tradition. Their history (and incidentally the history of humanity) is embodied in that dramatic ritual. The reward for their sincerity,—for they revolted in utter sincerity, believing they knew best—was the permission to enact each year, on the return of the day when they might have entered into light, the story of the search for light. Because they had been so [Page 399] nearly resurrected from the death of earth into the life of light, the great tradition of the mysteries was started by them. They chose death and slew that which "had lived and which could have claimed reward", and which could have spoken the word of power which would have caused the gates of resurrection to open wide.

We are told that these three swore an everlasting vow to stand together and never to desert each other. This vow down the ages they have kept; it has consequently produced that racial separativeness and community of interests which arouses the antagonism of other races."

The ancient tendency to grasp and hold, and also to preserve racial and national integrity, are outstanding characteristics, making absorption difficult or impossible. This is very much in symbol, the history of humanity. The seeds or roots of this Ancient dilemma is found with most nations of the world today and may be surfacing as Quaoar now has been discovered in Ophiuchus.

Ophiuchus, the Bull and the Scorpion

In the area east of the constellation Ophiuchus and inclusive of it, was once formed a constellation called Poniatowski's Bull. This name is derived from the distinct 'V' shape that is found with the seven stars forming this constellation. The 'V' shape is of course the distinct shape of the greater Bull--the constellation of Taurus. The desire nature of the bull is so strong that it does not let go of what it consideres to be its property--"it is mine and I do as I please with it". This may be one of the reasons why Ophiuchus partly was called Poniatowski's Bull, because of the issue of 'holding' and a need to readjust ones sense of values. Another theme of the Bull is of course the 'Eye of the Bull', which emphasise the importance of sight and vision and "If thine Eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light". Important is also the ability to change ones angle of vision or perspective, thus setting new standards or benchmarks as a result of this. Seeing events and happenings with different and 'new eyes' as it were.

It is interesting to consider the fact that Ophiuchus healed and restored the life of Orion. In the heavens, we know that Orion is fighting the 'Bull of desire', but now we also find that Ophiuchus himself has a 'Bull of desire' symbolically next to it in the heavens. Again we therefore find the themes of the battle between the light and the dark, will and desire, spirit and matter being emphasised in a very concrete way.

The fact that Ophiuchus is related to one of the decanates of Scorpio is also of great interest. This also involves the fact that Aquila, the Eagle struck Ophiuchus dead with a bolt of lightning. In a way it has to do with the rightful dominance or manipulation by the higher aspect of the lower one, and the eventual destruction and replacing of the mediating principle by a higher and more synthesising one.

By NN © 2002

Sources

1. Patterns in the Sky, Julius D. W. Staal

2. CD-ROM: Twenty-four books on Esoteric Philosophy, Alice A. Bailey