Theos-Talk Archives (December 1997 Message tt00124)

Dear Dallas:
Thanks for writing on Xmas day with such an uplifting message.  I was
thinking that day of some people perhaps who were alone and feeling a
little depressed and would enjoy the connection and receipt of a
"letter" from a friend.  You obliged.

Thanks also for the information on the history of the date and nativity
traditions.  It was a start in answering my former question about the
connection between Druidism and Xmas.  I bought myself a book on Celtic
traditions and will be studying this for more answers.

I have no argument with what you say.  I am also getting on quite well
with understanding better the language in which you guys express what I
think are "universal principles".  I think that your following comment
is most important for me and is the path I have chosen to take to reach
higher understanding:
> If at our base we are "immortals," each of us being a necessary part of
> this vast living whole, which some have called "Universe,"  "God,"  or
> "Nature," then we are sharing the space we live in with many other beings,
> and many other forces and powers, most of which are invisible to the
> average person, but, for those who are sensitive, touched and understood in
> whole or in part.
I just think that "education of the masses" seems to have "explained
away" the mystical dimension of life, so that what used to be a comfort
and strength for the "average person" who was innately "sensitive" and
rejoiced in so being, has been forced into "new age" or wierdness.  I
have no stats to support my opinion, but I feel strongly that each
person must find their own personal way and "light".

This is where we may diverge.  In this personal process, at times it
seems very important to share what feel like revelations and we write,
lecture and some take to preaching.  Others appear to be "just getting
on with" the good works, but how often in history do we see that these
"good works" come with a price that is far too high?  Even those
"Eastern" leaders who detached themselves from organizations still
eventually said something like,"this is the way that works and it will
only work for you if you follow this path".  Maybe I am simply an
egotistical stubborn person, but in all of this life so far I have felt
very strongly that no one can or should tell me what is best for me.
As soon as someone tells me that I have a responsibilty or duty to do
something, or that they have discovered the answer or method or formula,
my reaction is that I am happy for them, that's their way and I will not
stand in their way, but I will find my own way, my own reason for being,
and this is the only way it will be lasting and strong enough for me.
Of course this only works so far because I agree with and try to
practice the basic rules of appreciation for all life, and the concept
of stability in society.

I think that my expression of this concept is not in disagreement with
yours of "a change in attitude, a sharing of essentials", more like an
harmonic of it.

Interesting stuff about communication by all beings across space and
time and HPB simply brought back to everyday consciousness what ancient
people, and us as children, knew and lived everyday.  When I chose to
remember and celebrate this as an adult recently, I immediately thought
of and was reminded of by those who live it daily, all of the aspects of
it, including the need for protection in a society which has largely
forgotten and the responsibility to give back that energy I was taking
for my personal manifestations. Trying to discuss this new area for me
on the theosophy chat lines, I got a barrage of quotations from your
literature about not succumbing to the temptation of using magik.
This is part of what I meant in my comment about theosophy not meeting
all my needs.

In your following comments:
> But there remains the question of those who offend us in one way or
> another, of thoughts that seem to be perverted or obstructionist.  Of
> transgressions against what we think are the norms of decent and brotherly
> relationships.  What about them ?
(snip)

you are debating that age old question of what to do about those humans
who would harm us.  Surprisingly this question was asked at my office
Xmas dinner, along with the one, "are some people born evil".  Do we
turn the other cheek, convert, incarcerate, lobotomize, kill (shudder)?
Personally, I can't debate that yet as I think it will be something that
may become clear to me as I develop spiritually, however, being a
practical being with a strong survival instinct, who would only
voluntarily die to protect my children, I am learning all the "magical"
methods of protection I can get my hands on!

Finally, you write:
> So as regards "duties," or 'sacrifices," perhaps we do not value them
> highly as concepts, but somewhere they hae a value.  perhaps some search to
> discover those things, might be useful, and would give us at least a clue
> to our own abilities, likes, dislikes and talents.  We might discover that
> we had some hidden genius that needed only investigation for it to bloom.
(snip)

Dear Dallas, I believe that everyone of us has all the hidden talents
and genius we need, just ready to bloom, that the task of discovering
this and the courage to live it is the "real" task of life.
I think that's why I am so adamant about "feedom".  At this point in
time, you might be in "helping humanity" mode and I might be in
"developing myself" mode.  Next year it could be the reverse.
Eventually we both could be doing both at the same moment.  Ultimately,
when all of us go through all modes, we evolve to the next level.  And
that leads to another difficult question.  Can anyone of us reach the
truth if even one other has not yet achieved it?
Nice to converse with you.
Love and Light
annette