Theos-Talk Archives (August 1998 Message tt00416)

To Dallas:

>Enjoyed your comments on mine on "meeting Adepts."
>
>Personally, the reason why I refer to the core or original texts is because
>they convey so much.  We may think a lot of things but is our thought "on
>line?"
>
>Having found out how valuable Theosophy is I frequently revisit old friends
>and review what I have learned in terms of what I looked at earlier -- a
>kind of consolidation.  Is it still true ?

There is indeed much in the early texts of modern theosophy, and, like
other literature of profound content, they can keep on revealing more and
more, with repeated reading. The experience of coming back to a book we got
a lot out of some time in the past, and finding new meaning in it is a
tribute to not only the depth of the book, but to the growth and inner
sensitization of the person over that time.

How we know our thought is "on line" is something which, of course, each of
us must determine in their own way. There is a balance to be struck between
the reliance on outer sources and on inward experience and insight, as we
assign the sense of authority to our ways of knowing. Inner and outer can
be used to test the other and develop a best estimate of how we believe the
universe to be. That is how we find whether our thought is on line, apart
from experiencing the results of our actions. And not only do people differ
greatly in where they fall on this spectrum, but the same person can shift
significantly on the spectrum as they go through life and their inner world
becomes richer.

So, in a sense the literature is like a stake providing support for a young
tree as it grows. It is extremely valuable when it is young, but in the
end, the tree stands of its own strength. To change the metaphor, it is a
magnificent but partial map of a landscape we have already begun to walk upon.

>As to the Bridge building.  I agree that it is from both sides.  But it is
>important to grasp that the potentials are not only inside us, primarily,
>but also in every other being (mankind included) which seem so "outside" to
>our usual "personal" view.

Ah.... I like it. More than a little insight there, I dare to say :-)

Best wishes

Murray