Theos-Talk Archives (August 1998 Message tt00061)

Paul J wrote:

> > There is a difference between disrespect and giving an honest opinion.
>
> Absolutely.  But you seem to think that I lack the ability to
> discriminate between the two,

No such thought entered the head.

> > There is a tendency these day's to tread the road of least
> resistance, along
> > with fluffy-bunny political correctness where, it appears, one
> should avoid
> > "upsetting" anyone at all costs.  Fortunately, this is not a
> trend HPB had
> > the slightest inclination for.
>
> You see that as fortunate.  I see it as terribly unfortunate,
> full of karmic consequences for the war-of-all-against-all that
> the modern Theosophical movement has been, and continues to be on
> the Net.

Does apathy and selfish silence produce more conducive results?  And, yes,
maybe there is a "war".  Did the opposing forces quietly slip into pralaya
once HPB's body had turned to dust?

> > A theosophist (or non theosophist, for that matter) should
> speak freely and
> > fearlessly with little or no personal regard for being liked/disliked;
>
> Should?  Is that a moral should?

Not sure what you mean.

>  It's a not a matter of being
> liked or disliked but a matter of deliberately wounding people.
> Or, more accurately perhaps, wilfully disregarding the potential
> destructive effects of one's words.  That should be so obvious as
> to go without saying.

Deliberately causing another (or others) harm, be this psychological or
physical, for selfish, personal, motive/benefit (e.g. vengeance) is Black
Magic.  This is entirely different from a personality re-acting against a
sprinkling of Truth which, in the process, causes itself to suffer or get
irritated as a result of its own avidya and/or unwillingness to change.
Motive is all important.  Should, for example, the USA, Great Britain and
others chucked all their munitions into the sea for fear of 'hurting' the
Nazi war machine?  "Inaction in a deed of mercy becomes an action in a
deadly sin" (rough quote, Voice of the Silence).

> > agreed-with/disagreed-with etc.  How another acts - or *re*acts
> - to this is
> > largely a matter for themselves . . . and karma.
>
> The karma of the willful infliction of pain on others over
> doctrinal matters is not enviable.  Not that I've ever seen you
> do this.

Lost on that one.

Best wishes,
Paul (Bazzer)