Science of Contact – A Short Theory Review (Revised 09.07.23)

(HZ: Please note that this ten-part series is just a review of Alice A Bailey’s Esoteric Works in respect to this Science of Contact theory review with some additions plus experiential heuristic observations based upon a various subjective contacts made during meditation and as a rule does not contain reified source impressions received during meditation.)

Science of Contact – Introduction Part 1

“The Science of Contact will not only reveal quality, but is revealing the lines of relationship which underlie all manifestation and of which the etheric body is the symbol. It is also rendering man sensitive to ideas” TEV, page 65.

Quality is given as sentient consciousness aspect in form and also can be understood as the second aspect. It develops through a harmonious response to vibration, and leads to the integration of the unit in the whole.  It progresses the state of understanding assisting in the elimination of all barriers in his consciousness. Over time this revealed quality gives a complete response to all conditions and states of awareness.  And this ability is due to the power to identify the “human consciousness with all other forms of consciousness and of awareness, with all forms of unconscious and instinctual response, and with all forms of the superconscious or divine sense of being.  Eventually this can ultimately be done at will.”  Esoteric Psychology Volume I, pg 331.

Quality, in the last analysis, is neither more nor less than the nature of that awareness, and the response in terms of quality to sentient contact.  Through the gradually unfolding mechanism of contact (itself the result of active quality, determining the life of the unit cells which compose the form) the range of contacts extends indefinitely, and the response of the living entity to contact becomes more vital, more understanding in its capacity, and more synthetically comprehended.  This response develops in two directions:

1. It leads to a comprehension of the response apparatus and to a wise use of the mechanism of contact.
2. It leads also to an understanding of the response of the individual consciousness to the consciousness contacted. This is brought about through the medium of the response mechanism. This other response apparatus may be either more developed or less developed than the one that does the contacting. EP I, pp. 193-194

The science of contact is closely related to the science of impression and sciences of invocation and evocation at first glance but their field of influence gets more defined as one understands experientially and theoretically the variables of the Science of the Path.

“True telepathic rapport is part of the Supreme Science of Contact and has peculiar and definite reference to humanity. Many different terms might be used in the effort to convey some understanding of this subtle, subjective mode of relationship, and I have used among others the following:

1. The Science of Contact.
2. The Science of Impression.
3. The Science of Invocation and Evocation.
4. The Science of Relationship.
5. The Science of Sensitivity.

All these terms convey different aspects of the reaction of form or forms to contact, to impression, to impact, to environment, to the thought context of various minds, to ascending and descending energies, to the invocation of agents and the evocation of their response. The whole planetary system is in reality a vast interlocking, inter-dependent and inter-related complexity of vehicles communicating or responsive to communication.” TEV Page 83.

There is an inherent order, as denoted, of these sciences that is easily grasped by the astute student.  First a past evolved “sensitivity” gives rise to “contact” than possible “impression” then  “invocation” and then “evocation”, meaning once impressed by “quality of substance” further “relationship” is invoked by the “Eye of Mind” with or without soul infused personality mind under the Supreme Science of Contact and a like response is evoked which sets up a “relationship” and a growing conditioned “sensitivity” to such “contact” alignment.  Each contact can be understood as being found within a lighted area of divine (or not) awareness.

“Contact” represents a recognition of a sensed unknown and eventually a “contact” impression is made by the directed conscious attention of the one who has sensed its presence.  “Contact” eventually leads to “impact” of an impression which can lead to a conscious invocation and evocation interaction that conveys information and “revelatory” in nature “and can be defined in its initial stages as the guarantee to the one who responds to it of a new area for exploration and for spiritual adventure”. TEV, Page 59.

I have provided just a few possible examples in the charts below which represent contacts and their respective impact of impressions that can lead to new relationships and or revelatory information. Experientially, one can understand that it is difficult not to get caught up in the “spiritual adventure” of exploring the unknown especially if new contacts/impacts are being isolated in one’s auric sensitivity on a regular basis.  One can spend years just exploring a few dozen new contacts/impacts and ignoring dozens more due to time, priorities, or lack of true direction or correct organization of mind.  It is rarely one’s intent to discover new contacts.

The soul, in relation to the human being, is the mind principle in two capacities, or the mind expressing itself in two ways.  These two ways are registered and become part of the organised equipment of the human body when it is adequately refined and sufficiently developed:

1. The lower concrete mind, the mental body, the “chitta” or mind stuff.
2. The higher spiritual or abstract mind.

These two aspects of the soul, its two basic qualities, bring into being the human kingdom and enable man to contact both the lower kingdoms in nature and the higher spiritual realities.  EP I, pp.54-55

“Contact, with resultant impact from the soul, is also quite rapidly developing, hence the necessity for my laying the foundations of further knowledge which will clarify still higher contact, emanating from the Spiritual Triad and opening up areas of interaction hitherto known only to the Hierarchy.” TEV, pg. 58.

Below are various sources where soul impacted contact can be made by probationary initiates. Full contact implies contact with all three of an entity’s major aspects. The chart below indicates possible aspect contact and relationship:

Just to clarify, contact is made with or without “resultant impact from the soul” the chart above is a potential listing of initial conscious contacts with soul impact but the chart below represents various conscious contacts made without resultant soul impact. Please keep in mind that the same contacts below could (but not normally) also result in “resultant impact from the soul”. Please also keep in mind that these examples also are inclusive of methods related to the other sciences besides just the science of contact but contact would still have to be made initially before any “ideas”or content exchanged.

One of the first qualifications the aspirant becomes aware of in making a new contact is the particular aspect of the entities three occult aspects – 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd.  One rarely contacts all three aspects except over time through inter-relating with the source of such contact.  Because of this fact it is very easy to be misguided as to the purpose of such contact if any.  And as you might imagine determining the source and purpose of such contact is problematic at best. Unfortunately this is a large topic that can not be pursued herein the introduction. Patanjali points this out also in Book III (fruits of meditation) Sutra 16 & 17.

“17. The Sound (or word), that which it denotes (the object) and the embodied spiritual essence (or idea) are usually confused in the mind of the perceiver.  By concentrated meditation on these three aspects comes an (intuitive) comprehension of the sound uttered by all forms of life.” LoS, pg. 217

The “first aspect” can be understood as representing the entities intent and it’s group directional will aspect.  The “second aspect” can be understood as representing the personification of the entity concerned through its consciousness. The third aspect represents an entity’s form activity expression.

Some examples of contact without soul related impact or organization:

“One of the great needs of all disciples and aspirants is the detached relinquishing of pet theories as to life, discipleship and the Plan; the preserving of that open mind which is ever ready for the unexpected presentation and able (when the spiritual vision is strong enough) to achieve a quick reversal of all preconceived ideals.” DINA 1, pg. 85.

Under the technique of divine indifference where there is divine indifference to the call of matter, then inspiration becomes possible. Please keep in mind that inspiration accompanies a soul impacted impression related to a contact triadally considered. This technique is related to karma yoga used with complete impersonality which enables a man to live a life, inspired by God.  Inspiration is the applied power of transmission and allows the man to take the 1^st initiation and become a probationary disciple. The mechanism for this is the life and consciousness threads and the developing creative threads now include the mental permanent atom. Thus, the lower mental chakras and microcosmic senses are rapidly unfolding (Higher Clairaudience, Planetary Psychometry, Higher Clairvoyance, and Discrimination).

It is necessary to understand the distinction between what occult variables produce a contact and what produces an impression.  Contact is made through the developed microcosmic senses which unfold by way of evolution, intensive group training, or by way of initiation.  The senses are directly related to the unfoldment of the centers or the center spirilla.  Impression is related to the unfoldment of magnetized areas of the aura which is a radiatory effect of the centers. The intent here is to stay focused upon the science of contact but it is useful to introduce the concept of impact derived from some contact.  Contact with impact can be made also by the mechanisms of the science of invocation and evocation but again contact will not be made unless the subjective senses are functioning, or impact made until parts of the aura are magnetized.

“They (HZ: impressions from some contact) drop into his field of consciousness because he has created a magnetic aura which invokes them and brings them “into his mind”. This magnetic aura begins to form itself from the first moment he makes a contact with his soul;” TEV, pg. 95.

Later, when the first Stage of the Antahkarana or Intention is mastered then the path of contact between soul and brain via the mind (with resultant impact) has been opened and the aspirant passes on to the path of discipleship again by the applied power of inspiration or impression.  This also permits subjective impacts to be sensed and registered in brain awareness and impressions to be recorded. Also, the manasic microcosmic senses are rapidly unfolding (Discernment, Group Vibratory Response, Spiritual Telepathy). This leads to the 2^nd initiation and accepted discipleship. Please keep in mind that subjective sense contact with and impact from the soul takes place within one’s subjective “ field of consciousness” long before brain awareness of such is established directly.  Symbolic dreaming is a product of this contact and impact.

 “The problem of the aspirant as he “engenders” his magnetic aura is himself to withdraw, and thus lessen the extent and the power of the astral aura, and extend and increase the potency of the mental aura.” TEV, pg. 99.  Once this is accomplished the aspirant can more readily begin to unfold the higher (psychic) senses and thus the Son of Mind which uses the mind as its brain awareness.

Sense Impacts from Contacts are indirectly due to sensitivity of one’s aura.  Aura sensitivity is due to the magnetization of areas of the aura and directly related to the state of one’s chakras (degree of egoic lotus unfoldment) and one’s type and degree of sensitivity is closely related to the path of purification (or not) and the first four Means of Yoga applied to all three bodies applies here.

“Light f the Soul (LoS), Book II, Sutra 29. The eight means of yoga are:  the Commandments or Yama, the Rules or Nijama, posture or Asana, right control of life-force or Pranayama, abstraction or Pratyahara, attention or Dharana, meditation or Dhyana, and contemplation or Samadhi.  LoS pg. 180.

Once the higher mental microcosmic senses and centers are unfolded mental contacts with life-forms and thought-forms become possible but when the group vibratory response microcosmic center is unfolded on the second subplane of the manasic plane the Son of Mind and thus the personality can make contacts with various group life-forms and thought-forms upon the manasic plane and all lower planes when soul infused.  This is what is implied by “contact with resultant soul impact” as explained in Part 1.

Higher planes of subjective contact symbolize an ongoing successful outcome of transmutation of the human atom and the transferring of the positive life of the unit out of the human kingdom into the spiritual kingdoms under the Law of Radiation.  Magnetized areas of the aura can be seen to also be due to increased radioactivity and translated into magnetism which is necessary for telepathy, triadal impressions, invocation and evocation of life-forms, radiatory healing, working with higher forms of Devic units. It also symbolizes the successful application of the Rules for White Magic (intensive training method) and the Rules for Group Initiation (in terms of unfoldment through the initiation method).  This will be further discussed in Part 2 which addresses the analysis of a contact with a thought-form or life-form.

“It might here be pointed out with propriety that radiation is the result of transmutation; transmutation marks the completion of a cycle of rotary-spiralling activity.  No atom becomes radioactive until its own internal rhythm has been stimulated to a point where the positive central life is ready for the imposition of a higher vibratory activity,…” TCF, pg. 1075.

“Radiation and magnetism, invocation and evocation, are four aspects of a dual whole and all must be unfolded by the Server.” DINA II, pg. 417

“A disciple is a magnetic centre of light and knowledge just in so far as the magnetic aura is held by him in a state of receptivity. It is then constantly invocative of the higher range of impressions; it can be evoked and set into “distributing activity” by that which is lower and which is demanding aid. … They involve a primary recognition of points of tension and their consequent expansion into magnetic auras or areas, capable of invocation and evocation.

These areas of sensitivity pass through three stages, upon which it is not my intention to enlarge:

1. Sensitivity to impression from other human beings. This sensitivity becomes of use in service when the needed magnetic aura has been engendered and is brought under scientific control.

2. Sensitivity to group impression—the passage of ideas from group to group. The disciple can become a receptive agent within any group of which he is a part, and this ability indicates progress in his part.

3. Sensitivity to hierarchical impressions, reaching the disciple via the antahkarana and—later—from the Hierarchy as a whole, when he has attained some of the higher initiations. This indicates ability to register impression from Shamballa.” TEV, pg.96-97.

Inner-dimensional “contact”with resultant impact from the soul  is also brought about by the unfoldment of the vibratory group response microcosmic sense thus recognizing of some “life-unit form” potential impression which is the first requirement for creating an invoked (recognition) and evoked “life-form” impact.  The ability to register it in the brain is due to a magnetized area around the head. The three methods available to bring about increased vertical vibratory response to life-forms are through the process of gradual evolution of consciousness, intensive training, or the rod of initiation.  This statement cannot be underestimated in respect to methods of evolution or expansion of consciousness as only these three methods apply.

The Supreme Science of Contact, in respect to the ability to make contacts, requires the unfoldment of the microcosmic senses evolutionarily considered.  This permits a growing awareness of those lives outside ‘ immediate physical senses.

“Supreme Science of Contact” can be—as already explained—broken up into the following phases which are all progressively developed from each other.

• Astral sensitive awareness. This is based upon the reactions of the solar plexus, and the entire process is carried forward upon the astral plane and with astral substance. This, in its highest form, becomes the factor which later makes intuitive awareness and intuitive sensitivity possible; then the process is carried forward in buddhic substance. Aspirants are, at one stage of their development, strongly astral-buddhic in nature. This should be remembered.

• Mental telepathy. This involves naturally two minds or several minds, and the process is carried forward in the substance of the mental plane. It is the factor which makes possible the activity which we call “impression.” This impression comes largely from certain aspects of the mental plane, such as:
  • The soul of the telepathic individual, using the knowledge petals of the egoic lotus—a high form of mental intelligence.

• • The abstract mind, so called. This aspect of mental substance is largely used by the Hierarchy in order to reach the minds of disciples. It is only within the last few centuries that the Hierarchy has shifted the focus of its living attention on to the buddhic plane and away from the mental plane. This has become possible because the aspirants of the world are now sensitive to contacts which are founded upon an astral-buddhic consciousness but which are strictly carried on within mental substance. This necessarily involves the three aspects of the mind, found therein: the concrete mind, the Son of Mind, and the abstract sensitivity or reaction. This involves (on the physical plane) an activity of the pituitary body (as you can readily see) and also the use of the ajna centre (HZ: These above developments correlates to the earlier stage up to the 3^rd initiation).

• The occult Science of Impression. This becomes possible when the other two forms of telepathic rapport are present and are developing to a certain point of accuracy. It is dependent also upon the construction of the antahkarana and upon the steady orientation of the aspirant or disciple toward the Spiritual Triad; it also becomes possible when the abstract mind is developed and sensitive, and can thus become the seed or germ of the spiritual Will; this will involve responsiveness to divine purpose. The higher aspect of this abstract mind is the atmic plane. It is useful to realise the substantial nature of these two levels of consciousness. It is within the substance of the atmic plane that the activity is set up which can impress the abstract mind, which then becomes the seat of the consciousness of the spiritual man; at the same time, he remains in active possession and use of his personality and continues to employ the concrete mind; astral sensitivity, however, then begins to fall below the threshold of consciousness…TEV page 112-113

“This Science of Contact governs relations within our entire planetary life…” TEV, page 68.

Therefore the aspirant is taught to turn within; to study motives; to acquaint himself with the qualities which are seeking [Page 196] expression in the outer world through the medium of his outer mechanism.  As he learns to do this, the nature of that outer world of mechanisms alters, and he increasingly becomes aware of the qualities struggling for expression behind the outer forms.  Thus the range of his conscious contacts extends, and he passes (through scientific research) from an exoteric understanding of the world of phenomenal appearances to an esoteric comprehension of the world of qualities.  Never forget, therefore, that this dual apprehension must be emphasized, and that as a man learns to “know himself,” he automatically learns to know the quality underlying all appearances.  Look therefore for the quality everywhere.  This is what we mean when we speak of seeing divinity on every hand, of recognising the note sounded by all beings, and of registering the hidden motif of all appearing.  The unawakened man or woman sees the form, notes its forms of activity, and “judges by appearances.”  The awakening aspirant begins to sense some of the beauties that lie unrevealed behind all forms; the awakened disciple lays the focus of his attention upon the emerging world of qualities, and becomes steadily aware of colour, of new ranges of sound, of an inner evolving and newer response apparatus which is beginning to enable him to contact the unseen, the intangible, and the unrevealed.  He becomes aware of those subjective impulses which condition the quality of the life, and which are slowly and gradually revealing themselves.

A consciousness, an awareness and a sensitivity to an ever-widening and more inclusive contact is gradually being developed, and this is the consciousness of God, the awareness of the solar Logos, and the sensitivity of the cosmic Son of God. EP I, pp. 195-196

Composed by HZ

 The Supreme Science of Contact – 24-Fold Occult Sciences Model