Theos-Talk Archives (May 1998 Message tt00259)

Bart
You ask an interesting question.  It is not really a matter of agreeing or
disagreeing, but rather trying to see what the situation is.
It is sad to say that the Theosophical Society has an amount (how much?) of
Dogma about it.  The very fact of using the term Theosophical Societies in
itself suggests dogma and splits.  But Theosophy is the secret doctrine.
The secret being the highest "in" us, it is also the upper triad which
includes the latter, like the monad is strictly speaking Atma, but it is
also Atma-Buddhi, and also sometimes referred to as Atma-Buddhi-Manas.

The doctrine on its own, is seen as in the field of the lower quarternery,
and what would be termed the "eye" doctrine, when worked on using the brain
only. When studied like this, in the field of the personality, well then the
splits and divisions and worse occur, readers want to change the doctrine,
etc.  This is so evident. Once it is "studied" esoterically, it then is the
"heart" doctrine.  As accurate a blue print we are going to find in English
to building a solar system.
The Theosophical Society is one thing, the TS another, becoming the Tau and
Serpent, and illustrated on the upper covers of "The Secret Doctrine" and
"The Key to Theosophy."  Above (on the cover), this symbol is transformed
into the theosophical emblem.  We can try and do likewise.

Tony


>A number of theosophists have reacted very negatively to a statement
>that the Theosophical Society has a doctrine. Now, given that there IS a
>difference between doctrine and dogma, a statement (whether true or not)
>can be made: The Theosophical Society has a teaching or set of
>teachings, which the individual members can either accept or reject as
>they see fit. This was the gist of every statement I have heard or read
>by Theosophists that the Theosophical Society has a doctrine.
>
>Now, given that there are a number of representatives of a number of
>Theosophical Societies here, I would like to know who agrees or
>disagrees with the statement given above (The Theosophical Society has a
>teaching or set of teachings, which the individual members can either
>accept or reject as they see fit), and, more importantly, why.
>
>Bart Lidofsky
>
>P.S. I will forgo answering the question myself, at first, so that
>people who agree with me won't decide to let me speak for that side by
>myself.