Theos-Talk Archives (April 1998 Message tt00525)

Dear Dallas,

Walt Whitman illustrated an important point. There will always be variety.
Variety causes dissension due to personal egos and limited viewpoints.
Even when we defend something that we think is worth defending, we can
trace that to personal ego also. We defend it because an opposing
viewpoint threatens our personal ego. Defending the Masters, HPB,
Krisnamurti, political viewpoints, your country and etc., are actually a
defending of the personal ego. I am not saying this is good or bad. I am
saying that is what it is. That is its function. It is actually a
function of the personal ego, and is necessary, just as having a body is
necessary. The thing is that when we are out in the world, on this list,
wherever, and we are defending, realize that is what it is. Does the
Masters, HPB, or Krisnamurti care whether we defend them or not? No. If
they're in some non-earthly place, they probably know that it doesn't
matter. If we study our personal ego very carefully, we will see that we
were actually defending our personal self when we state our case, whether
it be years of devotion and study, personal independence, or other causes.

The problem comes when we don't realize that we are actually arguing for
our personal egos. We place huge emphasis on the importance of the cause,
we sacrifice more, or we demonize opposing viewpoints. I'm not saying that
we shouldn't oppose when we feel something is wrong. I'm saying that by
realizing that it is our personal ego that we are defending, we can call a
square a square.

If we look at the history of Theosophy, we can see how personal egos have
caused dissension and separation of various theosophical groups. Just
viewing the various theosophical lists, we can see this in action.

Thoa :o)

>April 24th
>
>Dear Thoa:O
>
>Our debating circle as you characterize it is something else, I
>agree, but not divisive, only cooperative.
>
>It takes many facets carefully crafted to make a good diamond.
>The interplay between us all educates us, I know compared to 6
>months ago, I have learned a lot, and all from "you-all."
>
>As to HPB - who I revere, I find her so clear when real problems
>arise. Sometimes our problems are of language and not of
>understanding.
>We try to get each others' ideas clear, and then fit them into
>the mosaic we have already been patterning -- lovely glass
>windows in our minds!
>
>Reminds me of a lovely poem of Walt Whitman :
>
>That we all labor together transmitting the same charge and
>succession,
>
>We few equals indifferent of lands, indifferent of times,
>
>We, enclosers of all continents, all castes, allowers of all
>theologies,
>
>Compassionaters, perceivers, rapport of men,
>
>We walk silent among disputes and assertions, but reject not the
> disputes nor anything that is asserted,
>
>We hear the bawling and din, we are reached at by divisions,
> jealousies, recriminations on every side,
>
>They close peremptorily upon us to surround us, my comrade,
>
>Yet we walk upheld, free, the whole world over, journeying up and
>down
> till we make our ineffaceable mark upon time and the diverse
>eras,
>
>Till we saturate time and eras, that the men and women of races,
> ages to come, may prove brethren and lovers as we are.
>
> -- Walt Whitman
>
>I think there is a lot for us as students of Theosophy to think
>about in this poem .
> Dallas