The Permanent Atom
A permanent atom is not the atom of the physicist, but it is similar in that it is a basic unit behind creation. It is a tiny center of force that draws to it all the elements needed for creation in the worlds of form.
Our DNA which contains the programming and memory of our physical bodies is perhaps the closest science has come to discovering it.
Another correspondence is a seed which has the ability to create the entire plant.
A permanent atom is a center of force, beyond the realm of physical perception, that has the ability to store all knowledge of form building within its plane.
We carry the programming with us from life to life, for they enable us to create the forms necessary for incarnation. DK says this:
“By means of these permanent atoms the Ego, according to its state of evolution can construct his lunar bodies (physical bodies), acquire knowledge on the lower three planes.” … “It is that which is the basis of form-building.” Treatise on Cosmic Fire, Pages 761 & 527
When reading the Bailey writings, it often sounds like there are only five permanent atoms, one for each of the lower five planes. But then DK clarifies and tells us that there are “six permanent atoms . . . physical, astral, two mental, buddhic and atmic.” Treatise on Cosmic Fire, Page 535
It is helpful here that he clarifies that there are two permanent atoms on the plane of the mind, as the writings often make it sound like there is only one on that plane.
Concerning their shape DK tells us that they are “definitely spheroidal and are slightly flattened at the top, where the correspondence to the polar depression may be found, and equally flattened at the under surface.” Treatise on Cosmic Fire, Page 531
All but the mental have seven streams of force called spirillae which are linked to the seven planes as well as the seven rays. These spirillae when activated link our consciousness to higher planes.
The lower permanent atom on the mental plane has no active spirillae and is linked to the lower mind. The higher one has four spirillae and is linked to our higher self or the planes of atma-buddha manas.
As we move from life to life the permanent atoms go with us and retain for the average person the memory of past physical bodies and emotional feelings. Thus a physical affliction or emotional trauma may resume some of their effects in numerous lives.
This is not the case with the lower mind which has no active spirillae. Because of this our memories of past lives are not carried over into future lives until the higher mind is accessed. We are thus born with a blank slate as far as the lower mind goes. Not only is the memory affected but the entity is unable to access the realm of pure reason and is thus subject to many mental errors. DK adds this:
“The mental is not a septenary permanent atom, but only responds to four types of force, and not to the entire range of vibrations. Herein lies a reason for tolerance. Until a man is coming consciously under the control of the Ego and is beginning to sense the vibration of the manasic (higher mental) permanent atom, it is useless to expect him to respond to certain ideals, or to grasp certain aspects of truth.” Treatise on Cosmic Fire, Page 530
The unenlightened person is thus under a great handicap of being unable to “respond to certain ideals, or to grasp certain aspects of truth.”
This explains why, when you present spiritual ideals and teachings to one focused in the lower mind, that he is completely unable to comprehend them. He must first access the higher mind with its four spirillae.
The question that may arise is where are these permanent atoms?
In each plane of existence there are seven subplans and the permanent atoms are in the highest subplane with which they are associated. The only exception is the lower mind. Instead of the seventh from the bottom it is the third, but still the highest available to the lower mind.
Most of humanity is limited to being connected to the three lower permanent atoms which are the physical, the astral/emotional and the lower mental. These atoms are located in the inner round of three petals within the causal body. These are the last to unfold for the disciple. Dk says this:
“At the base of the lotus petals are the three points of light which mark the position of the permanent atoms.” Treatise on Cosmic Fire, Page 762
“The three permanent atoms are enclosed within the lotus, and are seen by the clairvoyant as three points of light in the lower part of the bud, beneath the central portion.” Treatise on Cosmic Fire, Page 709
The permanent atoms are the means to cause us to attain individuality and feel separate from other entities.
“Surrounding these three atoms is the causal sheath, answering the following purposes: It separates one unit of egoic consciousness from another unit of consciousness.” Treatise on Cosmic Fire, Page 507
These three permanent atoms circulate around their center – the jewel in the lotus – similarly to the planets circulating around the sun. In fact, the sun is a higher correspondence of the physical permanent atom.
“The Sun, which is in an occult sense the physical permanent atom; it, therefore, attracts, and holds attracted, all within its sphere of influence, thus producing the logoic physical body.” Treatise on Cosmic Fire, Page 1180
The innermost permanent atom is the physical and this corresponds to Saturn. Further away is the astral and this corresponds to Uranus. Finally, the lower mental is the furthest and this corresponds to Neptune. (See Treatise on Cosmic Fire, Page 406)
For many ages the pilgrim is linked to his causal body and the three permanent atoms within it
Finally he reaches the point where he “knows that the lower mind, the mental body, is also an illusion and is, for him, non-existent.” Rays and Initiations, Page 481
At this point his attention shifts from the lower triad to the higher which are the atma-buddha manas where he relies in the intuition to access higher knowledge.
At this point it is said that the causal body along with the permanent atoms are destroyed. Rather than being destroyed I believe that saying they are synthesized, or incorporated into the higher three to be the more accurate way to perceive it:
“At his transference into the spiritual kingdom, these three aspects – the mental body, the astral body, and the physical body – are synthesised into the higher by a dual process: His polarisation shifts from out of the lower three atoms into the Triadal atoms.” Treatise on Cosmic Fire, Page 526
Nothing is lost for when the lower three are no longer needed, all intelligence and history within them are absorbed into the higher three permanent atoms.
After this process of synthesis, the entity establishes a direct connection to his monad through this spiritual triad and becomes as the Prodigal Son who returns to his spiritual home.
“A man may imagine things that are false, but he can only understand things that are true.” – Sir Isaac Newton
June 11, 2025
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