Translation Issues -- IIH
© 2002
[ Note: With the advent of the new English translations of Bardon's three books by Merkur Publishing, issues have arisen regarding the difference in wording between the older Ruggeberg English editions and the new Merkur editions. For the most part, these differences are minor, but sometimes, even these minor differences become important to the serious student. On this page, I will inform you of those instances that come to my attention where the older translation aids in understanding the new, or where the new translation obscures understanding. This page will be periodically updated. ]
>> I have the new Merkur edition. Bardon says in the introduction, on the soul (astral body), that the soul is the actual human being (p. 43), but isn't the spirit higher? Isn't the mental body the true human being, who really we are? <<
This is another example of where the new Merkur translation gives a different impression than the older Ruggeberg editions.
Merkur:
"Through the finer vibrations of the Elements, through the polarity of the Electric and Magnetic Fluids, the actual human being, the soul, has come forth out of the Akasha Principle or the finer vibrations of the Ether."
Ruggeberg:
"Through subtler vibrations of the Elements, through the Electric and the Magnetic Fluid of their polarity, the man proper, the soul has proceeded from the Akasha-Principle or the finer etheric vibrations."
I think the Ruggeberg edition's phrase "the man proper", expresses Bardon's meaning more clearly than does the Merkur edition's phrase "the actual human being".
All that Bardon is saying here is that the astral body or soul is the *character* of the human being and that this is the part of the human being that expresses the inner spirit (mental body) within the material realm. Here he is trying to point out that the *physical body* is not the essential person and that the personality or character is. In other words, the you that the world knows is your personality, hence "the man proper". The soul is the face we show the outside world. It is who we are, as expressed through our actions in the material realm.
On the next page, Bardon states: (Ruggeberg edition)
"As the spirit would not be able to operate [in the material realm] without the intervention of the soul, the astral body is the seat of all the qualities the immortal spirit has."
Here again, Bardon is saying that (within the material realm) the soul or astral body is the vehicle of expression for the spirit. But even though the root essence is the mental body (spirit), this essence is made materially manifest through the agency of the astral body or soul. It is made recognizable because of the soul, hence "the man proper".
What Bardon is NOT saying is that the soul is the true essence of the human being. It is the spirit or immortal mental body that is the truest, most essential part of the human being.
My best to you,
:) Rawn Clark
01 Jun 2002