Theos-Talk Archives (December 1997 Message tt00045)

Dec 12th 1997

Dear Brant:

For one of the most brilliant views of the nature of the mind, of
consciousness and of intelligence, not only in humans but also in all other
beings, see what you an get out of reading Mme. Blavatsky's the KEY TO
THEOSOPHY.  Starting around p. 83 and going on to p. 176 -- about 90 pages
will give you a view of the evolution of intelligence in man and nature
that no book on psychology will give.  It includes all so far written and
goes a good distance beyond them.  But you should try it.  Holmes book is
good, but some of the conclusions if compared with those of HPB will show
themselves to be truncated.

Karma is the general law of progress and living in the whole Universe and
on our world.  It includes mankind as a part of the whole and gives it a
logical basis for its existence.  Grace is apparently (as I understand it)
the extension of a reprieve to a justly deserving person whose life conduct
merits a cessation of pain and suffering -- it is a kind of resting moment.
 The real question is, in my mind:  Is "Grace: deserved ?"  If that can be
answered then a logic develops.  But, first, what do you mean by "Grace ?"

Predestination is in our own hands under the law of karma.  We impose on
all beings (Nature) around us our thoughts, feelings acts and will.  The
impression so lad either improves or depresses their efficiency.  They form
an active part of our bodies, feelings, minds, etc... as tools are fitted
to the hands of the worker.  If we make errors in choice and judgement, we
make for ourselves distorted, blunted or unsatisfactory tools, and then we
complain when we are not able to make them function well or accurately.  Is
that fair ?  Not under justice and law.

	Perhaps this is too brief, but it is resolved in the KEY.

						Dallas

> From: "Brant Jackson" <bjack5259@aol.com>
> Subject: definitions
> Date: Friday, December 12, 1997 1:09 AM
>
> Can anyone give me some insight into the Theosophical definitions /
> interrelationships of these terms:  Karma, Grace and predestination.
>    I have heard a number of Theosophical speakers use the term "grace"
quite
> freely, and wonder if there is any consensus on the meaning of this term
in TS
> circles.  The common usuage of "Grace"  is certainly in opposition to the
> common meaning of "karma".
>     Secondly, St. Paul, who was supposedly an adept according to HPB,
was
> quite concerned with "predestination" if this portion of his writings
have not
> been altered  - as supposedly many of his writings were.  Does this term
have
> any esoteric meaning within the TS body of writings?  Does anyone have
any
> references to the meaning of these terms?
>     Brant Jackson