Theos-Talk Archives (February 1998 Message tt00237)

Dear Jerry:
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    Apparently we all have preferences.  But I would not call myself =
qualified to judge as to the relative excellence of any one presentation =
over another unless I had fully tested it.  Then of course I give =
references to back it up.  No one quibbles over the stature or nature of =
HPB.  She was pivotal.  WQj was her co-worker.  Testimonials from HPB =
are many and strong and can be easily adduced from the back pages of =
LETTERS THAT HAVE HELPED ME (ULT - Theosophy Company edition, p 276 et =
seq.)=20
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    I have no argument with this.
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    Judge worked to introduce Theosophy to as many people who wanted it, =
right from the very beginning. HPB ( and the Masters) called him the =
"Resuscitator of Theosophy in America."  You can certainly say that the =
work of WQJ was to introduce Theosophy to the masses -- and he then =
pointed to HPB and to ISIS and the SD if they desired to proceed =
further.
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    Correct.
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    He was of the opinion that Theosophy was essentially a matter of =
practice and the metaphysics and doctrines, while studied, ought to form =
the basis for explaining the practical side.  HPB offered the thesis =
consistently that if there was to be any progress in true occultism it =
was to be by the perfection of the moral channel in ones personal life.=20
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    I don't know that I fully agree here. He did advocate the practice =
of altruism and of helping others. However, I feel there is more to =
theosophy than just this. One of my pet peeves
    with the TSs is that they say very little about practice. Perfecting =
the "moral channel"
    is a necessary first step, I agree. But occultism has many steps, =
and ethics is only
    the first.
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    As to his views on the "psychic side" of things being one-sided, I =
cannot say as you do not give me a basis to know how or why you say =
that.  Check what he says in the OCEAN chapters 4, 5,6, 7, and 16, 17 =
for continuity with what HPB says in the KEY as from pp. 52 - 60,  83 - =
226. (a longer reading)
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    Basically he says ad nauseum that psychism is always wrong and =
always dangerous.
    This has led the entire Pasadena TS to be extremely fearful of any =
kind of psychism
    or yoga practice (they were appalled at me for practicing Kundalini =
Yoga, for example).
    HPB warns us, and rightly so. But she also practiced what she =
preached. And she
    never said not to practice magic or to develop psychic abilities, =
but only that we
    should develop ethics first.
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    But while you and many might call these "basic" or "preliminary" I =
find that most of us are not fully aware of the statements made there, =
so as to be able to use them without reference to the texts.  I know =
that I have to refer back to them constantly.  I also know from =
practical and a many-yeared experience that they are one of the best =
keys to understanding the S D. =20
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    Please let me know if you can find anything at all of any real =
substance that
    Judge taught or wrote that HPB did NOT say first. I can't. G de P =
did so. It is
    my understanding of Judge that he did the best he could to teach =
those few who
    were ready to understand, and for that I think he did a fine job. =
But it is still all
    exoteric material. I suspect that he knew much more than he gave =
out; certainly
    HPB did so, but then again she admitted to this.
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    If we don't have the logic of Theosophy firmly in mind, from the =
original Messengers, then we are not easily able to figure out the =
details of the doctrines and metaphysics that give still greater depth =
in understanding.
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    Agreed, but the vast majority of today's Theosophists mistake the =
finger pointing
    to the moon for the moon itself.
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    I like the idea that Nature (the Universe) contains all.  That we as =
self-conscious beings (minds) are linked inseparably to the ABSOLUTE .  =
We are a part of IT, and therefore have all the potentials within =
ourselves.  But we are learning to access them, and we need all the help =
we can secure, from our own minds, here and now, to every bit of help we =
can get from any source that is not prejudiced or self-interested. =20
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    Agreed.
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    Knowledge is the property of everyone.  Wisdom comes from experience =
in trying to apply that knowledge and in sharpening our memory so that =
we do not repeat errors. =20
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    Agreed. But my feeling is that the TSs have done a poor job in the =
application dept.
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    I would place for my self an indefinite goal of ever-progressing, =
as, if I am immortal in essence (not in personality) then this immortal =
individual that takes on body after body is the one which grows, and =
when it reincarnates it takes less and less time for it to recapture the =
memory of past lives. (and I do not mean the name, form and works of =
those personalities, but, rather, the character, capacity, talents, and =
hopes).
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    Agreed.
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    I have tried to read de Puruker starting from the basis I have =
acquired from HPB and WQJ.  And I found that I was trying to disentangle =
his views from theirs.  I noticed the difference and it was to me, =
tedious.  Well, what else can I say ?  In some cases where his talks =
were reported he starts out telling his audience that they cannot =
possibly understand the metaphysics ... and frankly I dislike being =
talked down to.  If we are all immortals, then my "spirit and Buddhi" is =
no less than the highest of the Mahatmas.  The difference between my =
"lowly" position on the ladder and Theirs -- is that they have mastered =
their personality and I still have far to   do that for mine !  Such =
being the case I respect and revere Them -- all of them  -- and hope =
some day to be worthy of Their notice and assistance.  In the meantime, =
I try to help others.
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    No one fully masters the personality. Its all a matter of degree. =
And I agree that
    we are all equal with no one better than anyone else.
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    What else can one do ?  One has to start from the position Karma has =
placed us in.
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    Absolutely.
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    thanks for the response -- hope I have made myself clear.        =
Best wishes as always,
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                                                                         =
                                                                         =
  Dallas
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    I don't think we have any real disagreement here. I simply like G de =
P better. But
    I too learned a lot from Judge and thank him for it.
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    Jerry S.