Theos-Talk Archives (February 1999 Message tt00081)

Dear Dallas,

>  I think you have given an excellent series of observations.
>  Christianity - that of Jesus - is not perverted, but that which
>  the Churches have done with it, is at the root of all its present
>  faults. Did you ever read HPB's:   THE ESOTERIC CHARACTER OF THE GOSPELS


Thanks, and I take your point about Churchianity.  It was the latter I was
refering to.  Yes I have read the above some time ago now.  But I will take
your tip and re-visit it.

Dallas, I got a *copy* of your post but I don't think it made it to the
list, or if it did I didn't see it.  I often have the sense that people are
replying to mails that I've not seen posted.  However, since it contains
many valuable thoughts and questions that might be of interest to others, I
have reposted it in below.

Best wishes

Peter

________________

Feb 8th 1999

Dear Peter:

I'll comment on this by making some insertions below.  I think
you have given an excellent series of observations.
 Christianity - that of Jesus - is not perverted, but that which
the Churches have done with it, is at the root of all its present
faults.  We ought to go "back to Jesus" and "forward to "applying
what Jesus taught."  Otherwise, non of us deserves the
designation "Christians."

Did you ever read HPB's:   THE ESOTERIC CHARACTER OF THE GOSPELS
?"  Available "ON Line" through "BLAVATSKY.NET"  It's well worth
a read as she goes into the esoteric base of Christianity.

Dal

>Hi Jerry and Dallas,
>>If I understood Dallas correctly, he is saying that Theosophy
*explains* the basis of brotherhood and it's importance, rather
than just *says* brotherhood and love is important.  Below are
just a few thoughts that immediately come to mind.

DALLAS;	Not quite, as "Brotherhood" and "Love," being the result
of UNITY in the One Spiritual Source for all of us, the logic or
reason which our embodied brain-minds (which are 'reflections' of
the eternal Egoic Mind-Principle) requires in order to assure
itself that it is dealing with a fact, a law, or a truth.

>>Theosophy states that our ultimate essence is ONE and is that
which is 'uncreate'.  "the root of every atom individually and of
every form collectively, is that seventh principle or the one
Reality.." (SD)

DALLAS:	That is correct as I've understood and followed the
logic.

>>However, Christianity teaches that we are *created* in the
likeness of God.  There is already an inherent duality in this
idea.  The mystic who states "verily I and thou art That" is
blasphemous according to Christianity.

DALLAS:	That is what the CHURCHES teach, and not what Christ
taught.
"I (the EMBODIED SELF/MIND) and my Father (THE HIGHER SELF) are
ONE."  Also He addressed the multitude saying "KNOW YE NOT THAT
YE ARE GODS ?"

>>In Christianity, brotherhood applies only to human beings.  The
other kingdoms of nature are here solely for the benefit of
humans.

DALLAS:	Again, that is Churchianity.

>>In Theosophy, Universal Brotherhood applies to all the kingdoms
of nature and extends throughout all the planes of consciousness
and Being. "..for every atom in the Universe has the potentiality
of self-consciousness in it, and is, like the Monads of Leibnitz,
a Universe in itself, and for itself.  It is an atom and an
angel."  SD Vol 1 p 107
Thus Theosophy teaches that brotherhood encompasses all kingdoms
of nature for all are evolving and all will go through the stage
of humanity (where spirit and matter are in equilibrium). The
Monadic essence travels through all these stages...
"...ascending through all the degrees of intelligence, from the
lowest to
the highest Manas, from mineral and plant, up to the holiest
archangel
(Dhyani-Buddha)." SD I Proem p17.

Hence duty is that which is due to all that lives based on the
above principle of One-ness and evolutionary Law.

DALLAS:  	Again, this is correct, and HPB says this again and
again in many places, in her articles, in the KEY TO THEOSOPHY,
and also the VOICE OF THE SILENCE.  It is the idea of
universality, of continuity, of the immortality of the Monadic
Pilgrim that is so important.  We either live in a Universe and
World that is run by fir and just laws or we do not.

>>In contrast to this eternal pilgrimage of the soul,

DALLAS:	I suggest modifying this to read:  "In contrast to the
pilgrimage of the eternal soul"  --  of course the way you
expressed it is not wrong either, as the pilgrimage for an
immortal Being is also eternal.  Time is not relevant, but
progress is.
In an infinite Universe, eternity implies to an immortal, that
"it" is always mid-way between the imperceptible and unprovable
"beginning" and the ever-unreachable, and indefinable "end."

And that is a mental construction, condition, and situation,
which may not appeal to many minds who like startings and
stoppings, and more tangible results.  In the BHAGAVAD GITA
Krishna teaches Arjuna to perform DUTY, but to detach himself
mentally from any "HOPED-FOR RESULTS."  A most difficult thing to
describe or to visualize in our world of all too many limits.  In
other words, to separate the mind faculty, from that passionate
grabbing nature in us, which depends for its personal
satisfaction on its desires and acquisitions.  "If I can't get it
or hold it in subjection, it does not exist for me!"  And that is
the essential difference between the desire to possess, and the
friendship of sharing.

>>Christianity teaches that for every new born human infant, God
creates a new soul, even if that infant never makes it out of the
womb.  Whether the soul is born into a life of 'rags' or 'riches'
is a matter of God's will rather than a result of individual
effort.

DALLAS:	And how is the difference between a "soul" and a "mind"
defined ?
If Man has a "Soul" what is it, and what is its value ?  And if
he is ill trained, then why entrust him with anything valuable
which he is incapable of understanding or using ?  Paradoxes.
These ought to be explained.  No.. No mysteries are of any use,
and no area of search ought to be forbidden.  Why should the
Church be afraid of the "free-mind" of its parishioners ?  Why
does it encourage "belief" and "credulity ?"  Has it ever been
able to prove any of its claims ?  Miraculous cures are done in
all parts of the world outside the area of Church control - in
other words "miracles" are not reserved to the priests of any
creed modern or ancient, as history and literature reveal.

DALLAS:	And that is supposed to be a "good God ?"  I would call
it tyranny.  Whim, Lawlessness, and the root of all vicious
thoughts and acts.  To attribute  to the MOST HIGH the lowest
possible image of the selfish and isolated personality, one which
sets itself up against the rest of the World, its "friends,"
family" and all that is most to be cherished.  And the wonder of
it all is that most people do not realize what a horrible
inversion of the prerogatives of the "all-seeing, benevolent
Father-DEITY" this is.
If ever there was a devil devised by the cunning of Man ( a kind
of wolf in sheep's clothing) this is one of the lowest possible
examples.  And in every case it is priesthood (of whatever
religion) that has devised this in order to subjugate the
thoughtless, lazy and the unwary to their will.
>From an educative position (which all wise persons ought to
adopt) their position (as priests and guardians for their
"flock") has become domineering, self-serving and intolerant of
any impartial fairness.
Consider for a moment (if at all possible)that a whimsical God
does in fact "create" the World and all that is in it.  He (or
She) then places it in the hands of an ill-trained, thoughtless,
opinionated selfish group named "Priesthood," and for the moment
to be considered the best that "humanity" offers as examples of
honesty, and fairness.  (Not but some really are so.)
What kind of insanity is that ?  Is that a sample of God-like
ability ?  Consider that the laws of the Land (at least in most
countries at this time, are administered by a non-denominational
group) are far more impartial and just than that.  And now
consider that a special and important trust - the shepherding of
many lives - is given to a group of individuals who actively
devise ways to support such a caricature of REALITY ?  One feels
inclined to ask if we live in a World of madmen and people whose
perception of fairness is always in conflict with the desire to
preserve a personal ease of life that is in conflict with the
rights and lives of others like them.  Further, no one person is
able to prolong his own life for more than a rather short span.
So, to what end is selfishness and the unfairness ?
Now let us set to work and reverse this, and ask what would be
the highest, most just, most noble and altruistic, charitable and
cherishing opposite - something that can be relied upon to be
just, fair, impartial, always sensitive and true - so that all
beings are treated alike with fairness and assisted in developing
the best qualities desirable.

>>According to Christianity suffering is the will of God and it's
origin is a mystery to us for GOD's will cannot be known.
Theosophy teaches that each of us creates our own Karma.  We
alone are responsible for the suffering we create for ourselves
and for others.  Our Karma is inextricably linked with that of
all beings.  Theosophy states, lift a little of your own Karma
and you lift a little of the whole world's.
Theosophy teaches that Universal Brotherhood is a fact in nature
rather than an inherent human quality or a virtue to be
cultivated.

DALLAS:  	And that ought to end any argument.  But if adopted as
a basis it will change many lives and ways of living.  What a
wonderful world would it not introduce ?

Thanks and best wishes,  Dal.  (Feb 8th)




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