Theos-Talk Archives (December 1997 Message tt00133)

>> Mark wrote :
>>
>> I want to stress the fact that I believe it is
>> psychologically healthier to understand the cause of "selfishness" and
>> "ego," (theosophically speaking) etc., than to react with fear
>> and self-loathing against it.

> Sophia TenBroeck wrote:
>
> The following quotation may be of some help.
>
> "Voice of the Silence"  p. 12-14

Thanks for typing all that chapter and verse there, Lanoo, but I find
the self-immolating language of that book to be off-putting. It's just
the kind of example I was trying to talk about. It can become seriously
misconstrued to the point where a person ends up hating their own
personality and becomes needlessly self destructive and disrespectful to
other people in their thirst to wiggle out of the despised 'self' in the
lust to become a "god".

There are much more understanding and compassionate source texts from
various traditions that deal with the same issue from a kinder, loving
perspective. I hate to say it, but the holy "Voice" is of as dubious an
origin as the "Stanzas of Dyzan" until someone produces an actual
historical text. How can we argue so fiercely over historical accuracy
when the bottom line is that we are supposed to take these books on
faith?

Using mind to to destroy itself is ludicrous. Love, wisdom and
compassion work better to accomplish the wonderful goal. I'm all for
self discipline and the sacrificial relationship of one's personality to
the Inner Divine, but lust for power and status in the next kingdom is
just plain fanaticism. It's the human ego at it's finest. I don't ever
want to become a god unless I first earn it by thoroughly becoming the
best human being I can be.

Mark
--------
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