Theos-Talk Archives (August 1998 Message tt00231)

Replying to Bart and Jerry

First, sorry about the delay in responding; computer problems and various
time demands have kept my writing in the world of intentions.

It was good to see you and Jerry S. write something on this question.

I agree with Bart in a couple of ways: First, I don't see a being of the
stature of an Adept wanting to be approached by people whose primary
motivation is self-promotion, ego enhancement or desire for learning just
for the sake of learning, etc. With these types, the psycho-spiritual
distance would generally be too great for significant interchange to occur
anyway, even if physical proximity was reached.

However, to a being in whom the Bodhisattva vow or a similar commitment
underpins their whole range of intentions, the signs of that same fire
kindling in another human would likely catch the Adept's attention and lead
them to begin to relate in ways that foster it. We are perhaps used to
thinking of aspirants feeling drawn to the distant Teacher figure, but the
pull can work the other way too when conditions are right. It has to, given
the overriding intentions of the Adept, as indicated in the following quotes
from The Mahatma Letters:

I can come nearer to you, but you must draw me by a purified heart and a
gradually developing will. Like the needle the adept follows his attractions.
        Letter #47 (Chronological version), #45 (old 3rd Ed'n)

Every step made by one in our direction will force us to make one toward
him. But it is not by going to Ladakh that one shall find us, as Mr Lane-Fox
imagines.
        Letter #136 (Chronological version), #65 (old) , near the end.

As for public personal contact, well, I agree that that bridge seemed to be
pretty well burnt in those early days as far as theosophical Adepts writing
letters were concerned. As for now, it's probably unnecessary. I believe
there are signs that the Teacher spirit, spiritual energy (call it what you
will) is welling up more within people, and that a good number are becoming
more sensitive inwardly. Put the two together ....

The Teacher spirit, as I've called it, certainly can be touched or found
through books, I agree, Jerry - and also in all sorts of areas of life
including the people we meet and live with, IMO, if we will just be open to it.

And that actually leads on to why it's a serious issue facing the
organizational T.S. It is important to consider it unless one believes that
*all* those who find affinity and useful guidance in any other sources such
as ECP and the dozens of other purported sources of teaching are stupid,
misguided etc etc. We have seen through history, of course, where that kind
of thinking can lead ....

Murray


Murray Stentiford wrote:
>> The question of whether - and if so, how - the Adepts can be approached
>> today is one of the most serious issues facing the organizational T.S.
>> today.

Bart replied:
>	I thought the Adepts made it clear that they do not wish to be
>approached, and had no intention of making public personal contact with
>anybody else. Of course, they also said that they were not the only
>group of Adepts...

Jerry replied to the same thing:
>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.