Theos-Talk Archives (October 1997 Message tt00050)

Rodolfo Don --

you are right of course.  No question but all our minds are
"conditioned" in various ways.

Apart from such personal or limited bias, what is common ?

I find we can all think about any chosen subject.

We have either little, some, or a lot of knowledge on any chosen
subject.

We can all ask questions for further understanding and
information.

We can independently (or with our own bias/conditioning) consider
the answers we get.

We can use our memory of past information on a subject or of the
location of some place where such information can be obtained.

We can try to anticipate the outcome of logic, putting what we do
know, and what we can learn in the context of a future result, or
even of several potential outcomes.

Our mind then considers and evaluates these to determine their
possible use.

We can even look at our own mind and seek to find if it has bias
by comparing its way of thinking with a universal piece of
information concerning the subject or action that is proposed.

So, perhaps, our bias can be changed by our will moved by our
"desire to change."

Apart from the "mind" we can consider the nature and action of
"desire."

Also we can consider the nature of "will," or the force we exert
to make changes in our thoughts.

Finally we can consider who and what "WE" are.

Thinking along these lines, I came to the conclusion that the
mind is a "tool," or an "instrument" which the "I" in me (perhaps
the Real Man or EGO) can direct, using desire and will.

"Desires" are either necessities, or they are "fancies," that can
come and go.

The "will" seems to be a powerful force of persistence, which is
used to achieve a result that the mind has selected.  It can be
used to drive the personal man through all kinds of adversity and
obstacles so that the desired result, or goal, is at last
attained.

I think you will agree that all these are common experience, on
careful review of the definitions and observations I give.

Theosophy presents some intersting ideas.  Separately I have put
some down concerning Space, Law, and Evolution in regard to the
"life-atom" and its growth by experience and effort into the
"Human-mind."

The information and logic it uses concerning the mind and the
inner powers of each human are considered to some extent in the
questions above.

I am not sure if Theosophy "conditions" the mind any more than a
knowledge of mathematics as taught in school and college
"conditons" the mind of a mathematician.  Logic, mathematics are
tools (and also conventions) which many good minds over the years
have considered and tried to codify.  Anyone can enter those
fields of study and learn or criticize.

Similarly with Theosophy, which has been called by one student:
"The Theory of Everything."

Are you familiar with its origin as described by Mme.  Blavatsky
in "The Secret Doctrine" Vol.  I, pp.  272-3 ? If the information
there is correct it is a result of the efforts of many
investigators down the ages, of wise men and sages, who like the
Scientists and Professors of our Academies today, have been
seeking in Nature for the secrets that she has there already
operating.  At the moment we are trying to find these out, to
investigate all possibilities, and to test all theories to see if
they are valid.

Theosophy is not a "belief," or a "faith." It asks no one to take
anything on "authority." It does ask that we investigate all
conclusions made by others and try to find out if they are
correct.  This is nothing new.  We always do this, but we do not
always understand that we are free and independent at all times.

Take your own comment on "bias." If we suspect its existence,
then something in us is not affected by the "bias," and is able
to stand off (mentally) and apart from such a possibility, and
consider its nature, using some "universal" ideas as contrast,
which may be called fair, just, and true -- as demonstrated by
similar findings down many years and by many observers.

As I look at my own make-up, I see an "Intelligence" which is
separate from the "mind" (which I use).  It is able to consider a
number of "thoughts."

It is separate from my many "desires," and can select the ones to
pursue.

It has the power to make decisions (good and bad) and as a result
it enjoys or suffers according to those choices.  [ This is
assumed to be true if we also assume that the whole of Nature is
fair, just and impartial.  This is the basis for the concept of
Universal LAW, or, Karma.  ]

There are many other faculties relative to our individual
consciousess.  Some of those are particular to us alone.  Others
we share in common with other people.

So from the "emptiness" of inquiry can emerge the solidity of
conclusions.  then the conclusions have to be reviewed for
accuracy and fairness.

I hope this is of some help.  At least it is the way my mind
works at present.