Involution

What it is

Involution is a term in esoteric cosmology with more than one use. It can name a process that comes before evolution and brings the cosmos into being. It can also describe a stage inside evolution, or a stage after evolution has reached its human form. In the schools discussed here it usually means spirit entering matter: the Monad, a divine spark, takes up material vehicles, and those vehicles develop their own capacities. That descent is held to prepare the way for evolution, the later upward movement.

Where it comes from

The idea appears across several esoteric systems. In Theosophy, Anthroposophy and Rosicrucianism, involution and evolution belong to cycles called Rounds. Surat Shabda Yoga applies the pair to the whole creation and to a single soul. Max Heindel's Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception ties the later evolutionary stage to epigenesis. Sri Aurobindo, Meher Baba and Baba Hari Dass give Indian readings. G. I. Gurdjieff makes involution and evolution major themes in Beelzebub's Tales to His Grandson, and Ken Wilber takes up the term in integral thought.

How it is done

Involution is mostly a cosmological idea, not a ritual script. One practical reading comes from Baba Hari Dass, who sets it beside yoga. There, outward mental activity is called pravritti, while the inward turn is nirvritti. Deep introspection is said to weaken painful impressions of the mind and to lead toward one-pointedness, described as ekagra samskara. Meher Baba maps involution onto seven stages called planes, with experiences and powers on each and full enlightenment at the seventh. These are accounts of inner development, not instructions.

What it is for

In Theosophy and related schools, involution lets spirit take on matter so that evolution can later unfold what matter contains. The descent is said to reach the densest level of materiality, then life turns upward toward higher worlds. Sri Aurobindo gives the motive as Delight: the Absolute moves from Delight of Being into Delight of Becoming, then rediscovers itself through evolution. For Meher Baba the endpoint is full enlightenment. In Baba Hari Dass's yoga reading, the inward turn is held to quiet afflicting impressions and support one-pointed mind.

Who does it

The writers and teachers linked with involution are a mixed group. They include Theosophists, Anthroposophists and Rosicrucians, the Rosicrucian author Max Heindel, the Indian teachers Sri Aurobindo, Meher Baba and Baba Hari Dass, G. I. Gurdjieff, and the integral philosopher Ken Wilber. Baba Hari Dass is called a Maunisadhu monk who keeps continual silence. Meher Baba sets out seven planes of experience. Sri Aurobindo uses the Vedic and Tantric vocabulary of Sat, Chit and Ananda. Gurdjieff's teaching is presented by P. D. Ouspensky and others.

Peoples and places

Indian readings form one cluster. Sri Aurobindo works from Vedanta and Tantra; Baba Hari Dass reads involution through Samkhya and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali; Meher Baba gives seven planes. The Western esoteric cluster includes Theosophy, Anthroposophy and Rosicrucianism, with their cycles called Rounds, and Gurdjieff's teaching. Surat Shabda Yoga applies involution and evolution to both the macrocosm and the microcosm. Ken Wilber draws on Plotinus, Advaita Vedanta, Tibetan Buddhism and Sri Aurobindo. The term therefore crosses Indian and Western esoteric settings rather than belonging to one people.

What people believe

The worldview behind involution is one of levels. Spirit or consciousness is held to come first, then to enter denser matter and build forms. In Sri Aurobindo's scheme, Sat, Chit-Tapas and Ananda are aspects of Satchitananda; Supermind is a link between the higher and lower nature. Chit-Tapas is consciousness as effective force, and Delight is the reason creation occurs. The Monad descends into matter, and evolution later unfolds what was hidden. Gurdjieff asks how a descending flow can become an ascending one. Theosophy and related schools place the whole sequence inside cosmic Rounds.

When it is done

Involution is not fixed to a festival or a season. Its timing in Theosophy, Anthroposophy and Rosicrucianism is cosmic: involution and evolution make up cycles called Rounds. A period is given to the growth of self-consciousness and the building of vehicles for the spirit. Life is said to descend until the lowest point of materiality, then to rise toward higher worlds. Sri Aurobindo and Ken Wilber also set involution before evolution in a sequence, with Wilber placing something like the Big Bang after the descent into lifeless matter.

How scholars and sceptics see it

Ken Wilber, an integral philosopher, uses involution in a chapter called Kosmic Karma. He draws on Plotinus, Advaita Vedanta, Tibetan Buddhism and Sri Aurobindo. In his account, cosmic evolution is preceded by Spirit's descent into matter, and the stages run in reverse, from Spirit to soul, mind, life and matter. Once lifeless matter is reached, he says something like the Big Bang occurs. P. D. Ouspensky and others present Gurdjieff's teaching with other terms: ascending and descending octaves, the Ray of Creation, and emanation. These are philosophical and esoteric readings, not a single school's doctrine.

Compare and confuse

Involution is paired with evolution throughout these systems. In Gurdjieff's vocabulary the descending side is also called descending octaves, the Ray of Creation, or emanation. Theosophy and related schools set the pair inside Rounds. Sri Aurobindo links involution with Sat, Chit-Tapas and Ananda, and with the Supermind. Ken Wilber reverses the evolutionary stages to describe it. The term is not the same as evolution, but its necessary preparation in several of these accounts.

Questions people ask about Involution

Good reading and sources

• Involution (esotericism) on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data