Theos-Talk Archives (November 1998 Message tt00191)

>>Sorry Frank, but the astral body is the desire body; at least it is
>>according
>>to AB/CWL, who were, as far as I know, Theosophists. Pray tell us what
>>you think the difference is.
>>
>>Jerry S.
>
>
>When you believe in AB/CWL then it is really hard to understand what HPB
>taught.

Well, this may be true for you, but having read both, I find that I
haven't had that kind of problem at all. And no, I don't subscribe
to all the Christianization that CWL did, but I am not so stupid
that I can't tell the difference between the two. Not everything
that AB and CWL wrote were "different" from HPB, and you
want to throw out the baby with the bathwater. I prefer to read
*all* Theosophical writers and draw my own conclusions.


>I have met fellow-theosophists which were worry about their trouble
>to to understand HPB as needed many years to redirect their thoughts. In
>genuine Theosophy the astral body is the double and the matrix of the
>seventh "principle", whereas the desire body is the center of the animal
>man.

Everyone has trouble understanding HPB, because she contradicts
herself and deliberately writes in obscure ways (those who have ears,
etc. will be able to understand). Without Gnosis of some degree,
no one will ever be able to understand her words anymore than
we can "understand" the Bible or Koran. Like good poetry, its
meant to be subjective.

Thank you for your description. I think I see where you are coming from
now. The "double and the matrix of the seventh "principle", " is what
I call the etheric body. And "the center of the animal man" is kama.
While I don't agree with you (kama is a principle, not a body), at least
I think I see where are are coming from.

Let me take a moment to object to your use of "genuine" which
is a callous, disrespectful, and elitist term to use. I criticized Donald
Tyson in a book review of Enochian Magic for using the same
word to describe John Dee's original writings.  Tyson's implication
was that the Golden Dawn and OTO views on Enochian Magic are
not genuine and thus false. You are suggesting that only HPB
and the MLs are true and everything else is false, which is terribly
disrepectful (not so say narrow and plain wrong).  The yardstick
to use, and the only one that we as Theosophists should use, is
if someone encourages universal brotherhood, equality for all,
love and compassion for others, etc.  A person can be a Theosophist
and not beleive in reincarnation or karma or cycles or any of that
doctrinal stuff. Its whats in a person's heart that counts, not whats in
her head.


>One proof of the very short thinking of AB/CWL and their disinformation
>from Bhutan is law of universality. Using that key one can see why they are
>wrong. Margaret Thomas compares the teachings of AB/CWL and HPB/Masters in
>her valuable book "Theosophy vs. Neo-Theosophy" (see chapter about
>Principles).
>
>Frank
>

This all has to do with doctrinal belief, reality models, universe models,
world views, and mental baggage of all kinds. We are all free to accept
or reject any of this kind of stuff.  Your view that what they say is
"disinformation" is purely subjective (and not very nice). In my own view,
your postings contain much disinformation and I see your narrow views
as divisive rather than unifying. OTOH, you, and everyone else, have the
right to say what you think, and I appreciate hearing from you even while
not always agreeing with you.

Jerry S.