Glossary entry

Permanent Atom

An enduring centre of record connected with the Permanent Personality and the experience of human life.

Short explanation

In these teachings, a Permanent Atom is an enduring centre of record connected with the Permanent Personality. Material, Psychical and Noetical Permanent Atoms are distinguished. The Material Permanent Atom is described as etheric in nature and associated with a centre in the region of the heart, linking the material and psychical aspects of the human being and preserving the record of experience.

Meaning within the teaching

A Permanent Atom may be compared both to a seed containing possibilities and to a book whose pages correspond to incarnations and experience. The Material, Psychical and Noetical Permanent Atoms record experience simultaneously within their corresponding conditions.

The record is distinguished from ordinary recollection: much may be mercifully forgotten as conscious memory while its value is retained as experience. Through the Permanent Atoms, experience contributes to the continuity and growth of the Permanent Personality. The three Permanent Atoms are not themselves the Permanent Personality.

Important distinctions

It is not a scientific physical atom.
It is not the Self or the Permanent Personality.
The Material Permanent Atom is related to, but is not identical with, the Etheric Double.
The heart-centre description of the Material Permanent Atom must not be applied mechanically to all three.

Related terms

Permanent Personality — continuing self-aware identity.
Present-day Personality — the current incarnational expression.
Etheric Double — related to the material body and Material Permanent Atom.