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“To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:
Better
to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav'n.”
Satan
puts his case in Milton’s Paradise Lost
Is
he expressing the attachment to material gain and power
of
someone trapped on the lower levels of the Astral Plane?
Posted
The
extracts in this entry come from Paradise Lost Book I in which Satan is defeated
and expelled from Heaven and ends up with his lieutenant Beelzebub and the
fallen angels on the burning
To
Theosophists, the spirit realms of the after death states (Kama Loka) do not
last forever no matter how unpleasant they may be. To
In both
cases, the spirit realms are constructed by those who reside there. In Kama
Loka the spirit realm one creates for oneself is governed by the prevailing
environment just a Satan’s followers construct their “unhappy Mansion” on the
burning
Milton has
a dire and uncompromising description of Hell making it clear that once you end
up there, you never get out. The Theosophical view is that also you can remain
stuck on the lower levels of the Astral Plane for a very long and miserable
time, you will eventually rise out of them.
“As one
great Furnace flam'd,
yet from
those flames
No light,
but rather darkness visible
Serv'd
only to discover sights of woe,
Regions of
sorrow, doleful shades, where peace
And rest
can never dwell, hope never comes
That comes
to all; but torture without end
Still
urges, and a fiery Deluge, fed
With
ever-burning
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“The mind
is its own place, and in it self
Can make a
Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n.”
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Satan
justifies his position as ruler of the lower worlds and it is interesting to
note that he uses the word “ambition” which is a term normally associated with
material gain and power. He shows no remorse and is quite intent on his evil
agenda and getting even with god. To Milton he is expressing the views of
someone who is irredeemable and who is in Hell for good. To a Theosophist his
attitude can be seen as that of someone who will remain trapped at the lowest
levels of the Astral Plane until his attachment to material gain and power can
dissolve. This is clearly going to take a very long time.
“To reign is
worth ambition though in Hell:
Better to
reign in Hell, than serve in Heav'n.
But
wherefore let we then our faithful friends,
Th'
associates and copartners of our loss
Lye thus
astonisht on th' oblivious Pool,
And call
them not to share with us their part
In this
unhappy Mansion, or once more
With
rallied Arms to try what may be yet
Regaind in
Heav'n, or what more lost in Hell?”
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Pandemonium
This term
was coined by Milton and means the Realm of Demons. Theosophy postulates that
the lower levels of the Astral Plane contain a number of horrific Discarnate
Entities which we are better off not knowing about. Torment by Demons is
therefore a real possibility for anyone ending up on the lower levels of the
Astral Plane. You have been warned.
Biography of
John Milton (1608-1674)
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