Theos-Talk Archives (December 1996 Message tt00072)

Max:

> > I will not write a great deal.  However, if one does want to
> > see the contrast and polarity between the two, the following
> > four methods will help.
> >
> > 1) Compare statements of purpose, goals & objectives.
> >
> > 2) Determine & compare apparent shared key themes; such as the
> > nature and relationship to humanity, of the Occult Brotherhood.
> >
> > 3) Compare technical & doctrinal aspects.
> >
> > 4) Contrast the differing meanings of shared terminology.
>
> It took many years of very reluctant investigation for me to even
> want to resolve the conflict between -- and even more years to
> see that there was a huge difference -- and then there was time
> for research & thinking.  The 4 methods will help anyone who
> wishes to do the same.  Max, dear one, I suspect you are not
> going to do this anytime soon.  Which is fine.  But if the time
> ever arrives, you and anybody else so inclined will have to do
> your own research and thinking.
>
> I feel you want to wrap up the entire thing (or this subthread),
> so let me add just a few comments, although it may be already too
> late.
>
> I appreciate what you wrote about the methods of investigation.
> It's pefectly OK with me.  As a scientist (a research physicist),
> I myself is committed to strict rules of games -- maybe too rigid
> as some scholars believe.  But, IMO, your list is incomplete,
> there is a crucial omission: applying one's own intuition.
> Failure to do that (i.e.  to strain intuition) will lead to
> dogmatism, repeated stumbling over apparent contradictions, etc.,
> (as is clearly seen from Hume and Sinnett's letters to the
> Mahatmas) given the fact that the system as we know it is
> incomplete and full of blinds.

The four methods are suggestions, not a complete list for
everybody.  More importantly they are designed for *believers* to
use when studying & comparing another view or path.  People with
no strong existing spiritual convictions are far more likely to
have an intuition that is real.  "Contrast & polarity" is what is
needed to cut through all the "intuitional" bells of truth
tinkling away.  Does intuition in quotes mean I do not think most
folks who think they have it, in fact do have it? Right you are.
Far too often "intuition" is the inner, mental equivalent of "if
it feels good, it is Good".  In addition "intuition" can become
the dominating factor -- any other conflicting (or potentially
bothersome) facts, ideas, or evidence are ignored or denigrated.
In short, the ring of truth is often sounding brass.  There is,
of course, a real intuition, but it so overlaid with our
reactions, that we do not know what it really referred to.  When,
for example, AAB's writings shine brightly on our intuitive
screen, it may mean simply that "The soul is real & we are it" or
"The Masters are real & beneficent" etc.  It does not mean IMO
that every or even most of her writings are true.  Intuition
comes from far beyond the mind and we are normally far below our
mind.  When a root idea, like the two examples about Masters or
the soul, hits us for the first time in a lifetime, it is so
splendid that anything close to is bathed in reflected glory.

Fare thee well Max.