Theos-Talk Archives (November 1998 Message tt00433)

Nov 24th 1998

Dear Jerry:

This leads to a real paradox:  Are we or aren't we ?
WE have been over this before, when the wandering monk Vacchagota
asked the Buddha "Is there the Ego?" and the Buddha said nothing.
Then he asked again:
"Is there not the Ego ?" And the Buddha continued silent.  But
later on when Ananda asked him about it, he indicated his
reasons.  In the KEY, HPB concludes her observations (p. 80 fn)
"Gautama Buddha withheld such difficult metaphysical doctrines
from the masses in order not to perplex them more.  What he meant
was the difference between the personal temporary Ego and the
Higher Self, which sheds its light on the imperishable Ego, the
spiritual "I" of man."

It occurs to me that the following series of questions are
pertinent:


Why does the Ego of each of us come into existence ?

Why is it endowed with the power of the Mind ?

Why does Nature ( the Universe, etc.) exist at all ?

Why do we inquire into these things ?

Of what value is the concept of Karma or the equipoise of all
Nature ?

On this subject in an article entitled ISIS UNVEILED AND THE
VISISHTADWAITA
Published in THEOSOPHIST Jan. 1886 HPB says in part:

"I maintain as an occultist on the authority of the Secret
Doctrine, that although merged entirely into Parabrahm, man's
spirit while not individual per se, yet preserves its distinct
individuality in Paranirvana owing to the accumulations in it of
the aggregates, or skandhas that have survived after each death,
from the highest faculties of the Manas.  The most
spiritual -i.e., the highest and divinest aspirations of every
personality follow Buddhi and the Seventh Principle into Devachan
(Swarga) after the death of each personality along the line of
rebirths and become part and parcel of the Monad."
	[HPB Articles III p. 265,  ULT 3 Vol. set of HPB Articles.]

On might also find corroborative passages in SD I 535fn 453 243
116fn and HPB SPEAKS Vol. I, p 38-9

HPB concludes the above article with the statement, that I find
very helpful:

"That such Parabrahmic and Paranirvanic "spirits," or units have
and must preserve their divine (not human) individualities, is
shown in the fat that, however long the "night of Brahma" or even
the Universal Pralaya (not the local Pralaya affecting some one
group of worlds) yet, when it ends, the same individual Divine
Monad resumes its majestic path of evolution, though on a higher,
hundredfold perfected and more pure chain of earths than before,
and brings with it all the essence of compound spiritualities
from its previous countless rebirths."		[ pp 265-6 ]

Writing and thinking as a "Buddhist" you may object to these
ideas or statements.  But I would urge you to set aside the
tenets you use and consider them on their intrinsic merits.  And
that to me is part of the esotericism not only of Theosophy but
that of all the great philosophical reforms and systems offered
to humanity to consider.

Dallas

> From: Jerry Schueler
> Sent:	Tuesday, November 24, 1998 5:18 AM
> Subject: Re: Re: More on Karma

><< The Ego or Individuality only lasts for one manvantara. >>
>
>According to my watch, that's a long time !
>
---------------------------------------

Time is relative. The point is, it is NOT eternal.

Jerry S.