Theos-Talk Archives (December 1996 Message tt00013)

Bruce:

> Hello, Theos-Talk, and good morning from Santa Barbara, CA

Greetings from Los Angeles.

> I just signed up to this list yesterday, and if I've done it
> right, I just wanted to send my greetings -- and ask a question
> or two.

The list has been fairly quiet, except for occasional
announcements and a discussion at present on Theosophy and
Postmodernism. I've been contemplating entering the discussion
myself, but have been reading Jerry Hejka-Ekins article first.

> I might mention, too, that I did have the chance to hear Dr.
> Raghavan Iyer when he was lecturing on Theosophy here in SB, and
> I appreciate the list of his writings available on line (I guess
> that's at theosophy.org?).

The last I heard, it's at:

 http:/theosophy.org/IyerArticles.htm

> Somebody on another mailing list mentioned the electronic
> publication of _Fundamentals of the Esoteric Philosophy_ the
> other day, and I did download it.

I made the announcement in three places, theos-l@vnet.net,
theos-talk@theosophy.com, and on alt.theosophy.

> It seems to be a very fine book, very substantial, and full of
> stuff I can use.

It's one of my favorites, and I liked it enought to computerize it
early in the year. It's been sitting around since then awaiting
some finishing touches, and the final thing I was waiting for was
Adobe Acrobat 3.0 to come out. Now it's out on the Internet for
anyone to take advantage of.

> I'm wondering how I could most easily go about getting a printed
> version. It looks very good in its "Adobe Acrobat" format, but
> it is a little hard to read, and I think it would be worth paying
> a few dollars for a copy I can scribble all over...

That's what I expect will generally happen. People will get a copy
of the ebook and like it and then want to buy a printed version.
The paper copy of the book is used for deep study, and the ebook
is used for searching for passages on topics of interest.

On the copyright page, the book lists both publishers, Point Loma
Publications, and Theosophical University Press, gives the current
prices and ISBN numbers and addresses to order a copy from.

> Also, by way of possibly promoting some discussion, I might
> mention that I am currently very interested in the concept and
> principle of "Logos", and have been doing some writing on this
> theme, particularly involving ways to interpret the idea as a
> logical and mathematical and even "scientific" principle.

It would make an interesting topic for discussion, and if you have
something more organized to start off the discussion, you could
send it to THEOSOPHY WORLD (editor@theosophy.com).

> I am exploring the theme that, roughly speaking, "Logos = Cosmic
> Christ", and that this idea can be understood in terms of a kind
> of crystalline mystical mathematics, possibly as a "general
> theory of order", possibly in terms such as "the class of all
> classes".

Sounds like you're pulling together Greek philosophy,
Christianity, mathematics, physics, and object-oriented
methodologies.

> I have been experimenting with ways that we could understand
> Logos as a principle of logic design, in ways that would allow us
> to employ this design in the development of electronic networks.

It would be interesting to hear you explain how you might go about
doing this.

> In this sense, I am following a rather "Teilhardian" vision of
> the "Noosphere", and am interested in helping weave or construct
> a "global network of light", an "electronic antehkarana". It can
> be strongly argued that is already happening, but I like the idea
> that we could intentionally model or design this network in ways
> that instantiate or unfold the core mysteries of Logos as the
> fundamental design principle behind the network.

Are you talking about networks in the sense of interconnected
people, related via the Internet and other scientifically-enhanced
means?

> That's a mouthful, or a mind-full, maybe an overload. I'd be
> interested in any suggestions on the book, and also any comments
> regarding Logos, or ways to empower the global network of light.

If we do our "theosophical work" with whatever means are at our
disposal, and the Internet is one new such means, by using it, we
are helping bring that "global network of light" about.