Theos-Talk Archives (September 1998 Message tt00091)

Sept 8th 1998

Dear Martin:

Some interjections to your queries		Dal

> From: Martin Leiderman
> Sent:	Monday, September 07, 1998 9:31 PM
> Subject: Re: Study Theosophy On-line

Moving along on Addenda Chapter 1

HPB says (Vol I p. 478)

"Materialism and scepticism are evils that must remain in the
world as
long as man has not quitted his present gross form to don the one
he had
during the first and second races in this Round. Unless
scepticism and
our present  natural ignorance are equilibrated by intuition and
a
natural spirituality, every being afflicted with such feelings
will see
in himself no better than a bundle of flesh, bones, and muscle,
with a
empty garret inside him which serves the purpuse of storing his
sensations and feelings."

Study questions:

1)  What is the difference between 'scepticism'  and a healthy
dose of
doubt and criticism  Because I have found myself in that grey
area.


The skeptic as I understand it usually has a "closed mind."  It
means that they will not consider anything that is new and
presented for consideration if they judge that it has not been
approved by "authority."  In other words they have stopped the
effort of learning and evaluating on their own   responsibility.
They have resolved to remain as they are and if it is ignorance,
they accept that, as they no longer want to be bothered with the
necessity of thinking.  In many cases these are "blind
believers," and "fanatics" in regard to the things they have
"accepted."

The critic on the other hand, and the person who has "healthy
doubt," is by his own admission open to conviction.  He is still
learning, he has not stopped the process of examining and
observation, and correlating the new with the old, and testing
all information for its accuracy and the fitting in with what is
already known and proved.  Students of Theosophy are of this
type, usually.  Not, "blind believers."

The materialist is anyone who thinks that our material universe
is the be-all, and end-all of the Universe.  They become confused
when they are asked about causes.

If you suggest that electricity, magnetism, light, the
life-force, ether, radio and other wave transmission - the
question as to whether light is vibration or corpuscle, the
nature of sub-atomic particles, the "weak force," and matters
relating to astro-physics, or biological sensitivity, mind and
thought transference, the realm of spiritual phenomena,  etc...
are still to be determined, they think that the foundations of
Science are being attacked instead of being extended.

Many true and honest scientists are constantly extending the
frontiers of science and knowledge because they seek to
understand the nature of force and power which they theorize
underly these phenomena.  Many of their peers, entrenched in
tenure at Academies resist all advances on the thesis that their
positions are threatened   and so on.


Any real life experience and understanding on this?


I have traveled widely in academic circles as an editor of
scientific material, and was constantly met with these
situations.

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


2) How to develop 'intuition and a natural spirituality' ???
In my experience intuition is increase with concentration
(dharana) and
meditation and natural espirituality with the practice of the
paramitas.

Any opinions?

Study what HPB says in KEY TO THEOSOPHY concerning the 7
principles of man and nature. They key is KARMA and universal
UNITY.

So long as the permanence of the SPIRIT as a base that is
invariable, although as metaphysical as the "ether," no grasp of
the whole set of evolutionary causal links will be had.   [ see
NIDANA in Theosophical GLOSSARY by HPB ]

HPB makes it plain that it is only through harmlessness,
cooperation  - brotherhood in action, thought and intent - that
the real secrets of Occult Nature can be secured.  But who wants
to believe that ?  when selfishness desires secret powers to be
made available so that advantage over others can be unjustly
secured ?  that is the balking point for all such maters.


Quote from Taimni's Self-Culture

" A mind full of facts even though they are correct may be quite
unintellingent if there is not the light of Buddhi to co-ordinate
those
facts and show their real significance."


Look at the definitions given in Theosophy  of BUDDHI if one
desires to understand the rest of the questions.



Best wishes,

Dallas