Theos-Talk Archives (January 1999 Message tt00209)

In a message dated 1/15/99 11:03:20 AM, Richtay@aol.com writes:

>In a message dated 1/15/99 3:03:10 AM, Leon wrote:
>
><<I would be curious to know what other "problems" there might be that
>would
>cause HPB to ignore this book (which, as far as I have heard, is actually
>a
>manual for an exoteric religious ritual funerary practice, and used as
>a guide
>for departing souls passing through the lower astral realms). >>
>
>It is quite true that the Bardo Thodol text is now used that way by many
>(not
>nearly all) Tibetans.  However, the origin of the text, according to Tibetan
>mythic tradition, is that it was a "hidden" (terma) text, planted in the
>7th
>century by the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, Padmasambhava.  It was then
>discovered in the 13th century by Karma Lingpa.  So the book's history,
>if one
>accepts the legend, is quite esoteric.  It's use now is quite exoteric.
>Anyone heard from Elizabeth Clare Prophet lately?  That woman is using
>Theosophical ideas and names and specific teachings as exoterically and
>financially as anyone could, I think.  Shall we thus impugn the source
>of
>Theosophy, because certain scoundrels see fit to abuse and "exotericize"
>it?
>
>Leon further writes,
>
><<I don't think it was any part of HPB's mandate to give out or promote
>such cultish or religious practices in her expositions of pure esoteric
>theosophy.>>
>
>Couldn't agree more.  On the other hand, the Bardo Thodol *need not* be
>used that way, even though it *often is* used that way.