DEVAS
天神
(1) Working as members of that Hierarchy are a great number of beings called angels by the Christian, and devas by the oriental. Many of them have passed through the human stage long ages ago, and work now in the ranks of the great evolution parallel to the human, and which is called the deva evolution. This evolution comprises among other factors, the builders of the objective planet and the forces which produce, through those builders, every form familiar or unfamiliar. The devas who co-operate with the Hierarchical effort, concern themselves, therefore, with the form aspect, whilst the other members of the Hierarchy are occupied with the development of consciousness within the form. (1 – 36).
（1）作为灵性阶层的成员进行工作的存有当中，有大量的存有被基督教称之为天使，被东方人称作天神。他们中的很多存有在很久之前就已经通过了人类的阶段，现在在与人类平行的伟大进化的行列中工作，他们的进化被称作天神的进化。这种进化包括其他的因素，包括目标行星的建造者，以及通过这些建造者产生的每一种熟悉或者不熟悉的各种形态的力量。这些与灵性阶层合作的天神，他们关注的是形态的面向，而灵性阶层的其他成员则关注于形态内意识的发展。
(2) The devas, with the exception of those greater devas who have in earlier cycles passed through the human kingdom and are now co-operating in the evolution of man, are not yet self-conscious. They grow and develop through feeling and not through the power of conscious thought. . . . The devas seek to feel, whilst man seeks to know. (1 – 97).
（2）除了那些在较早周期通过了人类王国并与人类进化共同合作的更伟大的天神外，这些天神还没有发展出自我意识。他们通过感觉而不是通过有意识思考的力量进行成长和发展…这些天神寻求感受，而人类寻求知晓。
(3) There are certain large groups of devas, called the “devas of the shadows”, or the violet devas, who are closely allied with the evolutionary development of man’s etheric body, and who transmit to him solar and planetary radiation. (3 – 90).
（3）有一些特定的较大的天神团体，被称为“阴影天神”，或者紫罗兰天神，他们与人类以太体的进化密切相关，并向人类传导太阳和行星的辐射能量。
(4) The devas are the qualities and attributes of matter, the active builders, who work consciously or unconsciously upon the plane. Here I would point out that all the devas of the higher levels of the mental plane, for instance, and of the systemic planes from there on to the centre (the divine plane, the plane of the Logos, sometimes called Adi) co-operate consciously, and are of high rank in the system, and of position equal to all the ranks and grades of the Hierarchy, from a first degree initiate up to, but not including, the Lord of the World Himself. (3 – 468).
（4）天神决定了物质的品质和属性，他们是积极的建造者，有意识或无意识地在某一层面工作。这里我要指出的是，在更高心智层面的所有天神，比如，从宇宙层面来到中心（神圣层面，逻各斯层面，有时候也被称为Adi）的天神有意识地合作，并且在宇宙中处于高阶，他们的地位与灵性阶层的所有等级和位阶相同，从初级启蒙者一直至世界之主自身，但是不包括他。
(5) Much that might be imparted (anent the deva evolution) is perforce withheld owing to the danger arising from superficial knowledge, unaccompanied by wisdom and the inner vision. . . .The devas are the mother of form, but the self-conscious unit, MAN, should realise his independence of the form, and should follow the path of Self-expression. . . . Man, while functioning in material, substantial forms in the three worlds, may not trespass across the separating line between the two evolutions. . . . On the planes of the cosmic dense physical plane (our mental, astral and physical [Page 77] planes) disaster only results from contact. I have dwelt on this point, for the danger is real, and near at hand. (3 – 472/3).
（5）由于肤浅的知识，缺乏智慧和内在洞察力，很多本可能被传授的（有关天神进化的内容）被强制性地收回了…天神是形态之母，但是他们是拥有自我意识的单位；人，应该意识到他独立于形态，应该遵循自我表达之路…人，当在三个世界的物质、实体形态中进行运作时，可能不会跨越这两种进化的分界线…在宇宙稠密的物质层面上（也就是我们的心智、星光和物质层），接触会导致灾难。我一直在重复这一点，因为危险是真实存在的，而且近在咫尺。
(6) All matter is living matter, or is the vital substance of deva entities. For instance, a plane, and forms built of that particular plane substance, is the material form or sheath of a great deva, who is the essence back of manifestation and the soul of the plane. (3 – 488).
（6）一切物质都是生命物质，或者说是天神实体的生命体。比如，某个层面，以及由那个层面物质构成的形态，是一位伟大天神的物质形态或外壳，他是显化背后的本质，是那个层面的灵魂。
(7) All forms, vibrating to any keynote, are fabricated by the building devas out of the matter of their own bodies. Hence they are called the great Mother aspect, for they produce the form out of their own substance.
（7）所有的形态，不论振动在何种基调，都是由构建天神用他们自己的身体制造的。因此，他们被称为伟大的母亲面向，因为他们从自身的材质中创造形态。
. . . All deva essences and builders on the physical plane are peculiarly dangerous to man, for they work on the etheric levels and are – as I have earlier pointed out – the transmitters of prana, or the vital, animating substance, and hence they set loose upon the ignorant and the unwary, fiery essence which burns and destroys. (3 – 489).
…在物质层面，所有天神的本质和建设者对于人类来说都特别危险，因为他们在以太层面工作，正如我之前所说，他们是普拉纳、能量、有生命物质的传导者，因此他们会对无知和粗心的人释放出燃烧和破坏性的灼烧本质。
(8) The Hierarchy works with the soul within the form and produces results that are intelligent, self-induced and permanent. Wherever attention is centred on the form and not on the Spirit, the tendency is to deva worship, deva contact and black magic, for the form is made of deva substance on all planes. (3 – 491).
（8）灵性阶层与形态内的灵魂一同工作，产生的结果是智能的、自我引导和永久性的。只要注意力集中在形态上而非灵性上，就会有天神崇拜、天神接触和黑魔法的倾向，因为在所有的层面，形态都是由天神的材质构成。
(9) It can be seen, therefore, how necessary it is that the functions of the devas of all grades be comprehended. It is, however, equally important that man should refrain from the manipulation of these forces of nature until such time as he “knows” himself, and his own powers, and until he has fully unfolded the consciousness of the ego; then, and only then, can he safely, wisely, and intelligently co-operate in the plan. As yet, for the average man or even the advanced man this is dangerous to attempt and impossible to accomplish. (3 – 615).
（9）由此可见，了解所有等级天神的功能是多么必要。然而，同样重要的是，人们应该避免去操控这些自然力量，直到他“了解”他自己，他自己的力量，直到他完全展开灵魂的自我意识；那时，也只有那时，他才能安全、智慧、理智地参与计划。然而，对于普通人，即便是进化程度高的人来说，这种尝试是危险的，也是不可能完成的。
(10) If man only realised it, the devas of the astral plane at present very largely control what he does and says, and his goal of evolution (his immediate goal) is to liberate himself from their control in order that he, the real Ego or thinker, may be the dominating influence. . . .If the man is controlled by them, he is as yet under deva influence, and must free himself. If the deva life is of a low order, the man will demonstrate low and vicious instincts, and desires of a vile calibre. (3 – 662/3).
（10）如果人类意识到这一点，目前星光层的天神在很大程度上控制着他的言行，而他进化的目标（他直接的目标）就是让自己从他们的控制中解脱出来，以便他、真正的自我或思想者，成为主导性的影响…如果这个人被他们控制，他就处于天神的影响之下，必须让自己获得自由。如果天神的生命是处于低阶层的，这个人就会表现出低等和邪恶的本能，以及卑劣的欲望。
(11) The goal of the devas (below the rank of solar Pitris) is individualisation, and their objective is to become men in some future cycle. (3 – 836).
（11）天神（等级低于太阳先祖）的目标是个体化，他们的目标是在将来的某个周期中成为人。
(12) In connection with manifestation on the physical plane the devas may be divided into three groups:
（12）就物质层面的表达而言，天神可以被分为三组：
1. The transmitters of the will of God, the originators of activity in deva substance. These are the greater builders in their various groups.
1. 神之意志的传导者，他们是天神材质中活动的发起者。他们是他们不同团体中伟大的建设者。
2. The manipulators of the initiated energy. These are the myriads of workers with force who transmit the impulse in their turn to the elemental essence. They are the builders of lesser degree, but are on the evolutionary arc, as are the first group.
2. 启蒙能量的操控者。有无数的工作者，他们与这些能量工作，并传导这些能量至元素精华。他们是较小规模的建造者，但是与第一组一样，同样处于进化螺旋上。
3. The recipients of force, the sumtotal of the living substance of a plane. These lives are passive in the hands of the builders of greater degree. (3 – 890).
3.能量的接收者，某个层面生命体的总和。这些生命在很大程度上被动地掌握在建设者手中。
(13) It is commonly supposed that all the fairies, gnomes, elves, and like nature spirits are to be found solely in etheric matter, but this is not so. They are to be found in bodies of gaseous and liquid substance likewise, but the mistake has arisen for the reason that the basis of all that which can be objectively seen is the etheric structure, and these little busy lives frequently protect their dense physical activities through the agency of glamour, and cast a veil over their objective manifestation. When etheric vision is present then they can be seen, for the glamour, as we understand it, is only a veil over that which is tangible.
（13）通常认为，所有的小仙子、小地精、小精灵，以及类似的自然精灵都只能在以太物质中找到，但事实并非如此。他们同样存在于气态和液态物质身体中，错误的出现是因为所有可以客观地看到的事物的根基都是以太结构，而这些忙碌的小生命通常通过幻影，或者是在他们显化出来的身体上覆盖一层面纱，来保护他们在稠密肉身中的活动。当以太视觉存在时，他们就可以被观察到，对幻影而言，正如我们所理解的那样，只是覆盖在有形事物之上的面纱。
. . . All dense physical forms, whether a tree, an animal, a mineral, a drop of water, or a precious stone, are in themselves elemental lives constructed of living substance by the aid of living manipulators, acting under the direction of intelligent architects. . . . A beautiful diamond, a stately tree, or a fish in the water, are but devas after all. (3 – 892).
…所有稠密的物质形态，不论是一棵树、一只动物、一种矿物、一滴水，还是一块宝石，它们自身都是在智能建筑师的指导下，在有生命的能量操控者的帮助下，由有生命的物质构建而成的基本生命…一颗美丽的钻石，一棵庄严的树，水中的一条鱼，都是天神的显化。
(14) The bird kingdom is specifically allied to the deva evolution. It is the bridging kingdom between the purely deva evolution and two other manifestations of life (3 – 895).
（14）鸟类王国与天神进化相关度很高。它是把纯粹的天神进化和其他两种生命的表达构建起来的桥梁王国。
(15) The devas of water find for themselves the path of service in their great work of nourishing all the vegetable and animal life upon the planet; the goal for them is to enter into that higher group of devas which we call the gaseous or fire devas. (3 – 902).
（15）水之天神在滋养地球上所有植物和动物生命的伟大工作中为自己找到了服务之道，他们的目标是进入我们称之为气态或者火之天神的更高等天神群体中。
(16) As conditions of harmony gradually evolve out of the present world chaos, devas and human beings will meet as friends. . . . At the beginning of this period of recognition, men will principally contact the violet devas, for those of the higher ranks amongst them are definitely making the attempt to contact the human . . .
（16）从现世的混沌中逐渐演化出和谐的境界，天神和人类将相会为友…在这个相认时期的最初，人类主要接触到紫罗兰天神，因为他们中较高等级的肯定会做出与人类建立接触的尝试…
Some of the groups of devas to be contacted on the physical plane are as follows:
在物质层面可以连结到天神的一些团体如下：
Four groups of violet devas, associated with the etheric doubles of all that exists on the physical plane . . .
四组紫罗兰天神，与在物质层面存在的所有存有的以太双体相关…
The green devas of the vegetable kingdom. . . . They are of high development, and will be contacted principally along the lines of magnetisation. The greater devas of this order preside over the magnetic spots of the earth, guard the solitude of the forests, reserve intact spaces on the planet which are required to be kept inviolate. . . . Just as the Masters are endeavouring to prepare humanity for service when the World Teacher comes, so these Raja Lords are working along similar lines in connection with the devas. They are arduous in Their work, intense in Their zeal, but much obstructed by man.
植物王国的绿色天神…他们高度发展，主要是沿着磁性的进化线路来建立接触。属于这一秩序的伟大天神掌管着地球的磁力点，守护着僻静的森林，守护着地球上需要保持不受侵犯状态空间的完整性…正如上师努力让人类做好当世界导师到来时进行服务的准备，这些领域上主也按照类似的线路与天神一起工作。他们的工作是艰巨的，他们的热忱是强烈的，但是却有来自很多人类的阻挠。
The white devas of the air and water who preside over the atmosphere work with certain aspects of electrical phenomena, and control the seas, rivers and streams. From among them, at a certain stage in their evolution, are gathered the guardian angels of the race when in physical plane incarnation. Each unit of the family has his guardian deva. . . . For the white devas the path of service lies in the guarding of the individuals of the human family. (3 – 912/3).
空气和水之白色天神，他们居住在大气层，与电现象的某些面向一起工作，并控制着海洋、河流和溪流。在他们之中，在他们进化的某个阶段，在物质层面转世时聚集起来的是种族的守护天使。种族的每个个体都有他自己的守护天神…对于白色天神来说，服务之道在于守护人类家族中的个体。
(17) The lowest types of devas or builders on the evolutionary Path are violet devas; next come the green, and, last of all, the white devas. These are all dominated by a fourth and special group. These control the exoteric processes of physical plane existence. (4 – 389).
（17）在进化路径上最低等的天神或建设者，是紫色天神，然后是绿色天神，最后是白色天神。他们都由第四个特殊的群体主导。这些天神控制着存在的物质层面的外在过程。
https://www.lucistrust.org/books/ponder_on_this/ponder_online/contents
