Theos-Talk Archives (March 1999 Message tt00326)

You write:
>Do we as Theosophists actually desire total liberation?  If so, how do our
>lives reflect that in practical, daily terms?  If not, why not?

When you ask this, what do you understand liberation (or total liberation)
to be?  (Appreciate you have written what you see this to be)  Is the Buddha
liberated?  
An occultist, for example, becomes a beneficient force in nature, and acts
within (in line with) the laws of nature and truth.  Very hard work
(although it isn't most probably like this to them?) for the benefit of
humanity.  This could be seen to be "a kind of" liberation, but completely
unselfish.  Is it really possible to be totally liberated, unless the whole
of humanity (or everything?) is liberated?  Could total liberation exclude
anything?
Tony


>The topic of liberation has gotten me to thinking of a serious personal issue
>I struggle with, as no doubt we all do.
>
>Jerry S. has recently remarked that the very fact that we feel a desire for
>liberation means we are ready for it.  The trouble is, I hardly ever feel that
>way.  I certainly feel the desire to help others, and to make others happy,
>and I spend a good amount of time trying to do well on schoolwork, keep the
>house clean, keep up on correspondence.  Hardly ever do I actually feel I've
>had enough of happiness and suffering and desires and fears etc. etc. to
>really be rid of everything and experience total freedom.  When I do feel that
>way, it doesn't seem to last for long.
>
>Mostly I imagine liberation as some wonderful peaceful happy eternal state.
>Trouble is, intellectually I strongly doubt it is anything like that, or like
>anything I can imagine at all.  At that point I don't seem to want liberation
>one bit.  Yet the entire philosophy of Theososophy, in my opinion, was only
>intended for two things, and they are pratically the same (1) to induce us to
>be better people morally so that (2) we are fitted to begin the cycle of
>Adeptship in some life or other and attain liberation.
>
>Do we as Theosophists actually desire total liberation?  If so, how do our
>lives reflect that in practical, daily terms?  If not, why not?
>
>Rich
>
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