AS IN THE BEGINNING, SO IN THE END

It turns out that there is a numerical correspondence between the solar wisdom cognized at the beginning of the path and the supreme wisdom cognized at its end. This correspondence can be understood in terms of the ascending and descending paths of the self.

When the self ascends, it starts on the scale of the half measure and then climbs through the twelve solar layers, which correspond to the twelve adityas, or the twelve at the beginning. When the self descends, it starts on the immeasurable scale, and then descends through the twelve supreme layers, which correspond to the twelve at the end. There is, then, a numerical correspondence between the twelve at the beginning and the twelve at the end.

Based upon this correspondence, the seers were fond of comparing the supreme self to the divine sun, whose rays illuminate the universe. These rays are the souls that abide within the forty-two layers of the path. Yet just as the interior of the sun is filled with rays of sunlight, so the interior of the divine sun is filled with its own divine rays, which correspond to the truly immortal souls who have completed the path and taken up residence within the supreme abode. There, in a nondual way, they become identified with the Supreme Being.

The correspondence between the solar wisdom and the supreme wisdom is reflected in many ancient traditions in which the Supreme Being was often conceived as a creator sun god. This is true particularly of the ancient Egyptian tradition.