Theos-Talk Archives (August 1998 Message tt00228)

Aug 14th 1998

Dear Mike:

Agreed -- there are plenty of areas of expertise everywhere.

As one suggests, there are books to read and study.  And if one desires to
study philosophy, mathematics, logic, Theosophy, algebra, painting ... there
are enough written guides to satisfy one for a long time.

Remains one additional means of attaining insights and making sure that one
is thinking correctly.  That is a forum at which one can place one's ideas
in front of others and ask if they are valid.  Mutual consideration and
study -- somewhat what this theos-talk work resembles.  The T S and the ULT
for example provide such forums with regularly recurring programs -- talks,
the study of texts, etc... -- and in addition they have made themselves
responsible for the publishing of books that deal with Theosophy.
Pre-eminently among these are those books of H.P.Blavatsky around whose
teachings and presence the original T S was established in 1875.  If you ask
what ULT means it is THE UNITED LODGE OF THEOSOPHISTS.  It is dedicated to
the spreading broadcast of the teachings of Theosophy as recorded in the
writings of H.P.Blavatsky and Wm. Q. JUDGE.  That makes it appear as though
it was very one pointed.  But it has done this deliberately because if one
learns Theosophy from the Masters through HPB and her close pupil Wm. Q.
Judge, one will have less trouble in grasping the interlocking and
cooperative aspects of that which Theosophy represents -- namely,  facts in
nature.

Theosophy claims to be the accumulated wisdom of the ages and that it has
and is being studied by Adepts and their students.  [ SD I 272-3 ]  If that
is true, then the laws and operations of Nature have been noted and
recorded, checked and reverified many times.  We are in the process of
repeating this right now as we go along in our talks, studies and
considerations.  It is a search for the truths which are innate in Nature
already, but which we are still unaware of.

I do not see what it matters whether those who are the Adepts (or the
Mahatmas, as some name them -- those Great of Soul who have preceded us in
our work ) live visibly in front of us or invisibly, doing what work is
their responsibility.  It is conceivable if they were well known that they
would be pestered and they would be unable to do the work that they have to
do.  In self-defense they remain anonymous.  If one reads HPB's letters one
can see how she was "pestered" from time to time with inconsequential
things.  One might even say that a neglect of her writings today is
indicative of the lack of sincerity that those who carelessly approach
Theosophy show.  They expect wisdom and knowledge to descend on them by some
miraculous process perhaps, and Masters to appear for their edification
simply because they have paused in their lives to say they were curious.
But Nature does not work that way, ever.  No one can approach the Masters
unless they have worked to learn what they teach.  In other words all of us
have to spend real time and effort to learn what HPB taught.  Is this
dogmatism ?  Is this fanaticism ?  Or is this only a clear statement of fact
?  Is Einstein's mathematical philosophy his, or someone else's ?  If we
desire to find out what Einstein taught do we go to his commentators and
biographers or to his published papers ?  So it is with Theosophy and HPB.

Someone recently suggested that proofs of their work and existence are to
seen in the books on Theosophy that were written for (and by) Them by their
Agent HPB.  for those who go deeper, there is THE MAHATMA LETTERS which can
be consulted along with the S D  and ISIS UNVEILED, the VOICE, and the KEY.

If we desire to know what Theosophy teaches and deals with, we will have to
look at those with attention, just as we would look at textbooks if we
desired to find out and learn any of the great academic disciplines.

The main difference as I see it between Theosophy and those academic
disciplines is that it acts like the mortar in stone-work -- it fills the
interstices and shows how each discipline fits into and around the others,
so that there is a WHOLE.  In a way theosophy is a report on the binding
qualities of Nature.  It is always a study in karma.  Karma brings the
Universes into manifestation and puts them to sleep.  And all the
uncountable billions of cooperative beings that use the universes for their
learning classes pass from activity to rest and then resume their work as
those Universes sleep or waken to work.  Time is not a factor, as the
Consciousness and the individual Intelligence is undying and immortal.  So
it is with us if we will only look closely at the logic of our being.

Those who have studied the KEY TO THEOSOPHY -- a summation of theosophical
doctrines -- find that most of the subjects asked about are answered, as for
instance the question of the Mahatmas and the Adepts -- see pp. 286 - 301 in
the KEY.

Mr. W. Q. Judge, HPB's closest pupil wrote the OCEAN OF THEOSOPHY, and you
will find that the first chapter there deals with the subject of the Adepts
and those members of the Human race who have preceded us in this pursuit and
study of Theosophy.  Both books I believe deal successfully with this
subject.  In addition there are innumerable references in original
Theosophical article literature to Their being, and their work.

In TRANSACTIONS OF THE BLAVATSKY LODGE, a book that HPB edited and which
recorded several studies in the SECRET DOCTRINE she conducted after its
publication, you will find that she lays stress on the fact that interior to
each of us is the HIGHER SELF [ see pp. 66 - 76 ].  In terms of the 7
Principles of man, these are the Divine Monad and consist of the eternal
Unity -- a triad -- consisting of ATMA-BUDDHI-MANAS  [ or spirit, wisdom and
the higher mind ].  It is this Triad which is the potential Adept in each
one of us.  When we succeed in contacting It, within, we will see the Adepts
everywhere in their work as we will have achieved the right to enter their
brotherhood and work harmoniously with nature in one or other of its many
departments.  And we will not be asking:  Where are they ?  We will know.

Our embodied mind,  "Lower-Manas" is the reflection so to say within the
purview of the physical brain of this personality of ours of these divine
potentials.

It is, therefore the Lower Mind, or the embodied brain-mind that is ours and
which we use consciously and deliberately when we are awake, that is the
present "pupil."

What then do we find:

We live in a body concerning which we know little if anything.  We are like
a tenant and much is done for us, breathing, blood circulation, digestion,
excretion, etc... and we are not even very grateful for those services,
usually.

We treat it as our slave.  And we often abuse it.

Our minds are usually fully influenced by our desire and emotional principle
[Kama].  We are vastly absorbed in our ambitions, hopes, ignorances, and
laziness -- a whole range of activities that are rarely well thought out.
consequently the Lower Mind is confused, ignorant and uncertain.  But from
time to time it is aware of aspirations.

However, when we do become aware of an Ideal and Superior set of
aspirations, inclinations to nobility to unselfishness and to compassion;
the desire to learn and to know, to acquire power and to apply it -- these
we recognize as some of the
concepts that dimly emerge from the core of our being.  Often w wonder about
them as they do not seem to benefit the personality immediately or directly.

It is these that we study and seek to learn about in Theosophy.

The ensuing progress of the embodied mind represents all the panorama of
conditions and psychological states we know of, or have heard of, and then
plenty more we are still unaware of.

How do we make this welter of impinging feelings, ideas, concepts, hopes and
desires into something reasonable, organized and in fact make of it a tool
that leads to our improvement as individuals ?  How do we gain control ?

That is what Theosophy deals with, and in so doing it draws our attention to
the problems we face, to our existing condition, to our potentials, and to
our deficiencies

As I see it, we have all the potencies of the Universe within grasp of our
understanding.  The Adepts represent to us what Professors represent to the
freshman who enters college.  Some think that they deserve to be approached
and recognized -- why ?

The Adepts do not what to acquire a bunch of "followers."  They are not
physical plane, pretend gurus, who desire money or power from their dupes.
they are engaged in the work of the world.  If we desire to be of assistance
they welcome us. but for curiosity they have no time to waste.  They
promulgate the philosophy and leave it to us to make the efforts to learn
and apply it.  They go on with their work.

They set forth the philosophy and give the means and the disciplines we are
to impose on  ourselves for attaining progress.  If and when we pass on to
the stage of real and sincere students, and our karma permits such a
conscious approach, then they will manifest.  Until such a time, we have
their assurance that they, working on the inner planes of nature are
sensitive to every impulse of a kind that is in harmony with nature's
purposes.  Are we going to generate such impulses ?  Are we going to assist
however humbly in their work ?  Each answers for themselves.

In other words, if our motives are at all selfish we alone are the one who
raise the barriers of distance and of a different line of interest.  To
attract Their attention we have to work as they do:  unselfishly, for the
rest of humanity, and for the Universe.  Are we ready to do this ?

Please, these are only a few considerations on this wonderful subject, and I
am sure that most of those are well known to you, therefore I set them out
so as to make sure that we are thinking along similar lines -- but if you
think I am off base somewhere, do not hesitate to let me know.

Best wishes,

Dallas

> Date: Thursday, August 13, 1998 4:50 AM
> From: "Mike Perala" <mikap@dlc.fi>
> Subject: Approaching adepts

>Jerr wrote:
>>
>> They can be approached on the astral or mental planes, but not
>> physically, IMHO. Today, books often serve as gurus. I think the
>> current official position in the TSs is that that we should try to
>> approach our own inner Adept (divine spark within, etc) rather
>> than try to find any external Teacher.
>
>If I want to study music, and I want to find a best possible teacher, an
>'adept' of his/her own art, I look and can find him/her in the physical
>plane. Same goes with all the other 'arts'. But this is not true for
>spirituality, I believe this is what you are saying?
>
>And if there are these 'real adepts' only in inner planes, do we
>personally need them? I am sure there are lot of people here 'on earth'
>that we can learn from.
>
>
>mika Perala
>
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