Theos-Talk Archives (July 1996 Message tt00059)

Judge's inspiring article also implies a shadow side to our being
radiating centers of thought.  This quote is from some unknown
Pt.  Loma theosophist, who was writing around 1907.

"The morphine and opium dens only provide *method* and
opportunity of indulgence for the increasing numbers who desire
to reduce their souls to stagnation with that drug.  So with the
drink stores and the drink habit.  Going one layer deeper, we can
say that the morphinomaniac, the dipsomaniac, the elemental
sub-human criminals and *roues* are only the focal units in the
general human consciousness to which converge and where
accumulate the tendencies to those things existing in many men.
Five per cent of vicious (though possibly checked) thought in
twenty men cause a whole vicious act in the twenty-first.  Him
alone do we punish; but in passing we might ask, is there not a
Law and insight deeper than human which will apportion to the
twenty their share of punishment? Prisons, Reformatories, Lunatic
Asylums, the graves of suicides, opium dens and inebriate Homes,
are filled with the integrated results of these unnoticed
`five-per-cents' in you and me."

While it is encouraging to know that the noblest & best parts of
our inner life are, at times, definitely helping some of our
fellows; it is also sobering to think of the responsibility we
incur, when some of our vileness corrupts another into doing
evil.  Who wants to contribute the "last straw" that breaks the
spiritual backbone of a staggering, overloaded pilgrim soul?