Theos-Talk Archives (May 1998 Message tt00010)

May 1st 1998

Dear Doss:

Thanks for the valuable suggestions an the list of "Web-sites"
that could be given a cross-index to Theosophical subjects.  That
is splendid.

Keep it, and perhaps add to it as you go through some of the
material I send you by "snail-mail" of floppies.

Separately I send you 2 batches of Floppies (9).  You will find
thereon a mass of work done to partially index Theosophical
statements (quotes, etc.) on a large number of subjects.  I can
always add to this, on request, by delving into the "literature"
on just about any subject that Theosophy ha something to say
on -- and that coves a very wide area.

Taken all in all, reading through them would be a kind of study
introduction to Theosophy in itself.

But (as usual) let me elevate a preliminary warning:  no one
ought to take that as "Gospel."

As HPB repeatedly says:  All the statements are PROPOSITIONS --
they may be leaves taken from the Ashwatta tree of ancient
knowledge or history, and from the records of the experiments
conducted by the Adepts  (SD I 272-3),  Insofar as we are
concerned, we have, EACH OF US, to re-verify them with our
thinking, and with our minds, such as they are, so as to decide
INDEPENDENTLY on their usefulness.  This is in line with the
complete freedom that all WISDOM requires.  In dealing with truth
and facts there ought to be no coercion at all.  But, there can
be mutual exchange, and assistance.  Each one selects their own
"Path."  Each proceeds at their own "pace."

In other words, what you will find there is the kind of
importance that my mind-filter assigns to certain statements.
The whole is a tendency towards affirming the value and
reasonableness of what I have found in Theosophy.

Another person on his/her study might choose a quite different
set, and again, there may be overlaps.  Each one, as we progress,
are always FREE to choose those ideas which appeal to us the
most -- from there, the task becomes one of organization and
reconfirmation of value.  There is no stoppage to such a process,
as it becomes (or rather continues) to be a whole-life activity.
It has been called:  "the line of a life's meditation.

For instance, I had forgotten the fact that AB had opposed Gandhi
to such an extent as to make an ES issue of it.  This shows you
how the position of the Es was abused, as no such thing was ever
envisaged by HPB/Judge when it was originally set up -- according
to the documents available.

As to how Martin Luther King and his movement in the US was
handled by the Adyar E S, I have no idea.  Perhaps you may find
some indication of it in your area.  I would be curious to know.

I do know that Wadiaji and Gandhiji were ideologically very great
friends.

Yes -- as we proceed to look at the history of persons and
organizations, we can see how either good points or errors
occurred.  After the event we have 20/20 vision.  It is the
forecasting process that is our real "test." -- Each of us is
tested there as to our real progress -- and that is what I mean
when I write of the "moral/ethical" nature of Theosophical
application, and the "harmlessness' to others that the true
student has to develop in all he does.  Study the VOICE OF THE
SILENCE.  Make it you daily companion, it will help.  All is
contained there as the seed of the Lotus contains a miniature and
whole plant in embryo.

After you have sifted through what I send separately, you may be
able to decide further on the suggestions that you make.  Is
there enough material ?  Should the Books and Articles of the
Source ( Core ) Theosophy be emphasized ?

Have a good look at " blavatsky.org" in NY -- they have some very
good ideas,  But those could be improved on.  See also the
following:

You have as an existing work -- I mean, along the lines  of
spreading Theosophy,
the -- http://www.blavatsky.org -- site in New York .  It is run
voluntarily by
( Reed Carson --  scribe@blavatsky.org ) ;

and --   http://www.theosophycompany.org --  site in Kent, (near
Seattle) Washington State.   It is run as a volunteer project by
(Gail Stevenson -- compass@theosophycompany.org  ),   On this
site, the monthly THEOSOPHY is being made available to those who
want to read it.

and there is another at  theolit@whidbey.com  --
 http://www.whidbey.net/theolit  ]  this specializes in W.Q.Judge
Articles, etc... (it is run as a volunteer activity my Janet
Whitman ).  All of these follow the ULT principle:  No charges,
No fees.

I mention these because they are ULT oriented and therefore they
offer the "original Texts" and have no restrictions of any kind
imposed on those who seek for information.

http://www.blavatsky.org  offers hyperlinks to the data bases at
several other T S source centers.

I am taking the liberty of forwarding your suggestions to two
good ULT friends of mine:

Wesley Amerman  ( amerman@soca.com  )

and Gabriel Bleckman  (gabor7@aol.com )

They have been active in the concept of spreading Theosophy
through the Internet.

That 's all I can think of for now.  After you have reviewed the
mass of material I send you, lets hear how you think this project
ought to proceed.

=========================

Floppies:  I send you duplicates one set is in the original
WORDSTAR 7.0.

The second set ( not an exact duplicate of the WORDSTAR batch )
is in MS WORD and was translated on my 486 to MS WORD from the
WORDSTAR version. ( So it may actually be in MS-WORD 6.0 )

Personally I do not like MS WORD as I find it less flexible than
WORDSTAR.  But I also realize that it may be my inexpertness.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
-

I am curious about your suggestions that some work be done in DOS
on the WIN 95 system.  I will have to try this out.

I am running so short of time it is annoying, as there is much to
be done, and all I want of the computer is to save time.  And
have things go smoothly -- you can't imagine (yes, you do ) the
amount of time I am spending on just learning the capabilities of
this equipment -- what I need is a good manual.  Any ideas, as I
can buy from CompuServe or Fry's or BEST BUYS, etc -- all within
5 miles.  I need a comprehensive title.

Of the several SCANNERS that are currently offered - at
reasonable prices now, do you happen to have any
recommendations -- for accuracy, flexibility, and speed ?  I do
not need color, though that is offered, as all my work so far is
in black and white.

'bye for the moment and thanks.                Dal.

> From: "M K Ramadoss" <ramadoss@eden.com>
> Date: Wednesday, April 29, 1998 11:42 PM
> Subject: Re: Theosophical Movement

>Dallas:
>
>Yes it is a very grand picture indeed. At least some of us will
be around
>to see it.
>
>The move towards increased volume and velocity and easy access
to
>information is going on at a galloping pace. None of us can
predict how it
>is going to affect the world tomorrow.
>
>You have asked a very basic and pertinent question. How does one
get to
>know the word Theosophy? It has to be introduced thru other
simpler
>concepts or ideas.
>
>Most Internet users use search engines to search www's and
usenet groups
>using key words. The search engines scour all the websites and
index them
>on key words. To get some of the key words indexed in these
search engines,
>we can setup web pages on the following topics:
>
>Theosophy
>Karma
>Reincarnation
>Para Normal Experiences
>Dreams
>Mesmerism
>Clairvoyance
>Mysteries
>Atlantis
>Sorrow and Suffering
>Death
>Immortality
>Wisdom
>...
>...
>
>These words will get indexed by the search engines and if anyone
searches
>for say Mesmerism or Immortality, they will find the web page
and when they
>visit the web page, the word Theosophy and related topics can be
>described/introduced and links provided where they can find more
information.
>
>Key words and links are critical for inducing users to visit the
website.
>Once they are visiting, the presentation they find should be
attention
>grabbing and simple to understand.
>
>
>
>At 06:56 PM 4/29/1998 -0700, you wrote:
>>April 29th
>>
>>Doss:
>>
>>It is quite a grand picture that you present on the potential
of
>>Internet.
>>
>>I have been wondering about the position that Theosophy might
be
>>able to offer or to hold -- at least to serve as an
introduction.
>>
>>Where should it be posted, and in what context of reciprocity
if
>>any ?
>>
>>Apparently if one has heard the word THEOSOPHY one might  zero
in
>>on what is currently available.  But if one does not know of
>>that, what is the "entry point ?"
>>
>>Why not have a thinking bee on that and see what emerges.
>>
>>====================================
>>
>>As regards the "organizations" and their stick in the mud of
the
>>past -- not all are ignorant of the Web potential, but they may
>>not yet see how it can be employed for the benefit of the
>>users/inquirers.
>>
>>It is my belief that the oldsters in "Theosophical
>>Organizations"may hold tight reins on their galloping
youngsters.
>>How else to hold an "organization" together.
>>
>    In today's free world when everything is questioned, we may
have to
>leave the organizations to go their own way. While I have
nothing against
>oldsters, much of the monumental work is usually done by people
who are in
>the prime of life and work full time for a cause, not for a
living.
>
>
>>However THEOSOPHY is FREE.
>
>Let us state this again and again.
>
>
>
>>
>>It is feast of IDEAS as well as of practical IDEALS.
>>
>>Why did Einstein, as an instance, use the SD ?
>>
>>Are there other eminent persons who profited from Theosophy.
>>
>>Gandhi acknowledge indebtedness, and then he proceeded to ask
>>himself very simply if he could put the principles of freedom
and
>>of non-violence into actual practice.  History tells the
>>subsequent struggle -- and the freeing of a sub-continent, at
>>least politically.  That freedom was paid for him in his own
>>blood.  and the people of the country must carry the shame,
even
>>if creedal orthodoxy is to blame.  He was as always quite
>>unprotected.  He is a martyr to his own ideals.
>>
>
>One of the most revealing things in the msg Wadia gave when he
left
>TS(Adyar) was the issue of difference of opinion between Besant
and Gandhi
>relative to tactics adopted to fight for Independence.
>
>Besant did not subscribe to Gandhi's non violent non cooperation
actions
>and Gandhi's demand for total independence from England. During
the
>Independence struggle, I saw many active members of TS(Adyar)
avoiding
>Gandhi and the Indian National Congress. I wondered about it.
>
>>From Wadia's msg, I learnt that Besant as head of the ES, would
not allow
>anyone to remain in the ES if he/she joined Gandhi's camp and
participated
>in his non violent struggles. This was quite a surprise and
shock to me. It
>would be very interesting to find out if any such policy
exisited in this
>country in the ES during the time Martin Luther King engaged in
non violent
>protests.
>
>>But look around India today, and ask who actually is inspired
>> among the students and the masses) with Gandhian idealism and
>>action ?  Who is it that knows actually the life and history of
>>Jawaharlal Nehru, of Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan ? and of other
>>great ones of the Freedom Movement ?
>>
>>Each country in the World since 1947 can think of their heroes
>>and of the freedom that they now enjoy -- and the suffering
that
>>has come on many -- and ask what lesson has been learned ?  Who
>>has profited?
>>
>>Same for Theosophy.
>>
>>What shall we do, Where is the next channel of work ?
>>Dallas
>
>Let us all thinking bees get to work and share our results.
>
>
>mkr
>