Theosophical astral cosmology
Nirmāṇakāya in Theosophy
Leadbeater includes the Nirmanakaya in his catalogue but says an appearance on the astral plane is exceptionally rare. A temporary vehicle is said to be formed only when the work requires it. His comparison with deva evolution stresses renunciation and service rather than pursuit of a more glorious individual future. The imported Buddhist term thus receives a distinct role in his hierarchy.
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In the sources
Principal account
ReportedLeadbeater includes the Nirmanakaya in his catalogue but says an appearance on the astral plane is exceptionally rare. A temporary vehicle is said to be formed only when the work requires it.
Further detail
ReportedHis comparison with deva evolution stresses renunciation and service rather than pursuit of a more glorious individual future. The imported Buddhist term thus receives a distinct role in his hierarchy.
Context & interpretation
Leadbeater presents a Theosophical classification based on claimed occult investigation. Its planes, beings, and mechanisms belong to that historical esoteric system; the book’s assurance of reality is an authorial claim rather than independent scientific verification.
Original passages
Source 1
The Astral Plane
very rarely indeed that so exalted a being manifests himself upon so low a plane as this.Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Theosophical astral cosmology; active reader leaf 37
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0005-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0005-E001-P0037
- Original scan leaf
- 40
- Recorded leaf number
- 40
- Current Reader position
- 33
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
Source 2
The Astral Plane
is only one. In comparison with the sublime renunciation of the Nirmanakaya, the acceptance of this line of evolution is sometimes spoken of in the booksOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Theosophical astral cosmology; active reader leaf 83
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0005-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0005-E001-P0083
- Original scan leaf
- 86
- Recorded leaf number
- 86
- Current Reader position
- 79
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader