Theos-Talk Archives (December 1998 Message tt00253)

In a message dated 12/24/98 10:20:12 AM, Richtay@aol.com wrote:

>Members of this list, including me, Leon, Jerry S., Daniel Caldwell and
>others, are trying to sort out the differences between Theosophy and various
>schools of Tibetan Buddhism.  The similarities are there and cannot be
denied.
>There are also profound differences, and understanding these differences
could
>be of tremendous help both to current Theosophists and to Buddhists
>(especially scholars) who poo-poo Theosophy.

Please don't include me in your list of those interested in "trying to sort
out the differences between Theosophy and various schools of Tibetan
Buddhism".  My position is that all this is immaterial and irrelevant to the
study of the real purpose and meaning behind the teachings of HPB--which was
not intended to convince any particular school of Buddhism or Hinduism.   In
fact, HPB wrote the SD solely to convince the Western people of the
fundamental truths of theosophy, (all of which are known to Buddhists and
Vedantans) in order to turn them from their beliefs in "separateness",
"selfishness" and "greed" which are the roots of evil that is destroying the
Earth as well as the Human race by leading them into endless wars and
continuing depletion of the Earth's resources--with resultant depredation of
its ecological balance.  As dedicated theosophists, we would be wise to leave
the Buddhists and Hindus alone to their own internecine battles over doctrine
and practice, and devote our attention to discussing how we might understand
and fulfill the plan of the Theosophical Movement and, consequently, try to
save both the race and the planet--as HPB intended for us.

The only thing I have to say about this opinionated discussion of Tibetan
practices and beliefs (hoping to end it in this public theosophical forum once
and for all) is that HPB was professed to be a Gelugpa Buddhist (as are many
of her students) and that it was the Dalai Lama who wrote a dedication, on her
behalf, to the Voice of the Silence.

Leon