Theos-Talk Archives (August 1998 Message tt00072)

Aug 9th 1998

    Dallas suggests:

Dear Eldon:

MERCURY RETROGRADE

Your observation about the possible effect of retrograde Mercury on
communications and our psychic natures is interesting.

I recall asking a wise friend many years ago about the effect of the planets
considered astrologically and was given to understand that the effect noted
down through the ages was an environmental change which affected everything
to some extent but did not RULE it.

In other words:  the effect obtains, but the individual's FREE-WILL made us,
humans, independent of any such general effect.

The advantage of knowing what general effect pertained was that , as you
say, become aware of it, but we are NOT ruled by it.


THEOSOPHY -- WHAT IS ITS NATURE AND SCOPE ?

As to your suggestion that we concentrate on ascertaining what HPB taught --
as to what THEOSOPHY actually is and means -- is a valuable one, and we all
need to refresh our understanding.

As far as we are concerned, HPB was the pioneer.

Around her writings (beginning with ISIS UNVEILED) the Theosophical Society
studies and works.  She was the latest of a long line of wise and honorable
predecessors delegated by the Adept Brotherhood [ of which she speaks -- see
ISIS II ppp. 98 - 107 ] to again present to mankind those truths and laws
that relate to his capacities and relation with the environment that
reincarnation brings him to under the general laws of Nature..

Why not start a "round-robin" on this ?



I offer some of the ideas that seem pivotal to me :


1.    Theosophy is a system of philosophical and scientific inquiry into our
own natures.

2.    Theosophy considers that all living beings are in themselves (as
conscious intelligences of various degrees of experience ) immortals -- just
as the "atom" is an indestrucible and eternal "being" according to our own
Science.  It is used as a basis for all physics, chemistry and is defined
chiefly by those of its properties which can be defined chiefly by
mathematics.  So why not extend the concept to include all of us "humans ?"

3.    Theosophy includes our psychology, our mental capacities, and our
physical environment (including the present body and personality we live
in).

4.    Theosophy has evolved a vocabulary.  The exchanges between its
students is facilitated by a knowledge of this vocabulary, as each helps the
others in augmenting their understanding and refining their perceptions.  WE
are all in search of "Truth."

5.    Theosophy is persuasive rather than argumentative, and does not
recommend any "blind belief" or acceptance on "authority".  It therefore
provides examples both historical and current to substantiate its ideas and
views.  Since it draws from the whole of experience it is eclectic,
non-dogmatic, and uses analogy and correspondence to support those examples
of fact that it offers.  It relies heavily on the history of past events and
research, which it claims is impacted imperishably in the "Astral Light"
(the electro-magnetic medium, or lattice-work that envelops and underlies
the whole of Nature and every being in it, including mankind).

6.    H. P. Blavatsy was, for us, that Pioneer who wrote the material around
which the Theosophical Society, and its derivatives work and function.  A
study and a reading of THE KEY TO THEOSPHOPHY is highly recommended to those
who desire to participate in an interchange of Theosophical ideas,
information and questions.  The "KEY" provides a vocabulary and organizes
the areas of research that are of interest to students of Theosophy.

7.    Theosophy has some definitions to offer as a result of study over many
years of, by those who employ it.  We can all profit by that.  If we read
the KEY, we will be able to find those ideas that the T S (Theosohical
Society), U L T (United Lodge of Theosophists), etc... study together.

8.    Theosophy is both cross- and multi-disciplinarian, speaking of it
academically.
Since it is age-old, it includes information and observations on every
discipline of research.  HPB wrote over 100 years ago, and since then
students of Theosophy observe that the world of Academia has gradually been
making use of Theosophical information [ Example:  Albert Einstein kept a
well used copy of THE SECRET DOCTRINE on his desk for ready reference. ].
It is possible to show that Science, Psychology, Religion, Physics and
Chemistry, etc., have all adopted many of those ideas that HPB presented in
her books and articles.

9.    Theosophy takes into account the unknown laws of Nature [ studied in
the past by the members of the Adept Brotherhood -- some of whom are called
the Mahatmas (Great Souls) ].  HPB has offered us some details relating to
those hidden and secret Laws that are well-known to the Aepts and which
operate in Nature, in ourselves, and around us.

10.    Science, and the development of knowledge are gradually catching up
to these facts, which are already known to deep students of Theosophy.

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

If one desires to find out what Theosophy considers to be fundamental ideas
one might consult the opening chapter of THE SECRET DOCTRINE,  Vol. I, pp
14 - 20:

1.    The Universe is "without walls" either in size or in time.

SPACE, as an abstract concept, represents its totality, and its reality.  It
consists of "CONSCIOUS UNITS."

Manifestation, Evolution periodically occupies the vast stage of living from
time to time, and periodically these are withdrawn into quiescence and
rest -- similar to our sleeping at night.  At the time of a "new
manifestation" the "units" reawaken (or, reincarnates) to resume their/its
interrupted evolutionary growth, each at the level from which it stopped
during the recent "sleep."

NATURE as a word, is often used to indicate the intricate web of living that
envelops each Conscious Unit, of which mankind is the epitome.

"SPIRIT" is considered to be the underlying ABSOLUTENESS which is
undefinable.  It is an "eternal background."  Under the LAW OF KARMA
everything manifests periodically.  Sleep and reincarnation are examples of
this in operation.

2.    LAW envelops each and every aspect of living and conscious being, from
the "atom" to the vastest Galaxy, every apparently independent "being" is
inextricably involved in the awareness and living of every other being.

The whole of "evolution" forms a vast inter-active WHOLE -- a "Plenum."
Mankind, considered as units, represents that necessary stage of being where
MIND (and its many faculties) is develped (and is developing in us).

Humanity, mankind, is a necessary stage of development for the growth and
experience of each of the individual MONADS.  Hence each of us has as a core
being interior to us, a MONAD (Immortal Spirit-Soul) which gives us our
sense of Individuality;  and in this manifested world-of-forms, our
Personality.

3.    EVOLUTION is a universal process whereby the "MONAD"  ( Spirit-Soul or
Atma-Buddhi) -- or, those individualized "rays" or "drops" of conscious
being, obtain experience, become self-conscious (as in mankind) and fulfills
its progress towards becoming Wise.  [ Wisdom is defined as the obtaining of
a complete vision of this universal process.  It includes a realization of
the immortality of each spirit-Soul.  It includes a realization that the
whole of Nature is constituted of innumerable CONSCIOUS UNITS.  Each of thse
is indestructible in itself.  Each has the potential of adding to its range
of perception.]

Mankind represents all of us who are in the process of acquiring the power
to use our Minds, to think, and to discern the differnece between emotion
and ratiocination.

GOAL OF EVOLUTION

The "goal" to which our attention is drawn is that of a perfect knowlege
(wisdom) of all the many details of Natural Law and being.  In order to
obtain any knowledge or power that is extra-ordinary, we have to comply with
the Laws of nature relative to the use of that power or law.

Theosophy teaches that in each member of the Fellowship of mankind reposes a
key to Universal Wisdom.  It can be used constructively as well as
destructively depending on motive.  Nature as a whole is constructive --
growing.  It therefore demands of those who would become Wise, complete
harmlessness.  They have to demonstrate that under no circumstances will
they employ "power" for personal ends.  Unselfishness, altruism, compassion
and generosity are the hallmarks of those to whom Nature entrusts knowledge
and power.  There is no other way that ensures permanency to our growth and
advance as conscious units

Since we are, each of us an Immortal, and since we deal all the time with
others who are also immortals, the Karma of relationships operates.

KARMA

Karma is the active educator, the universal Instructor.  Impersonally it
brings to us the results of all our choices.  As a result we receive, in the
circumstances of our advancing lives, effects that we rate as "good," or
"bad."  Once that we realize that we fashion our own "fate," we begin to
take active steps to regulate our feelings, our thoughts and or actions or
deeds.  Thus we are in effect our own teachers.

Vicarious atonement does not operate.  It is selfish and vicious.  It denies
as a concept any full or total repartion to victims.  Nature in her justice
is impartial.  Each one of us knows when he/she is about to make a harmful
choice.  At that moment we are alse aware that we cannot "escape" the
consequences. Nature as the Law of Karma administers educative (not
punitive) conditions which bring us (as Personalities) to realize the hurt
and anguish that our selfish choices of the past have imposed on others.

SPIRIT: UNIVERSAL AND IDEAL

Theosophy thus treaches the Universality of Spirit as a common base for all
of us.  We cannot "escape" from its purview.  Interior to each of us is a
"ray" of the ONE SPIRIT.  It is that which we call the MONAD and it gives to
us our sense of being an Individual, and of living in a Personality.  These
two are distinct foci for our conscious living.  Their presence in each of
us gives us the power to think, to discuss, to hold a conference with
ourselves, and finally, they show themselves as our "Voice of Conscience,"
as our "Intuition."

BROTHERHOOD

Brotherhood represents a key idea of cooperative and inter-relative life --
a condition that we are all involved in, and which we cannot escape from, or
isolate ourselves from.

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

These are a few of the ideas that I consider to be primary and useful -- and
these are to be found offered as basic in Theosophy.

No doubt our friends and correspondents will have found other aspects to
offer and to emphasize for our common growth.

Best wishes to all,            Dallas

> Date: Saturday, August 08, 1998 8:02 PM
> From: "Eldon B Tucker" <eldon@theosophy.com>
> Subject: mercury is retrograde