Theos-Talk Archives (April 1999 Message tt00157)

In a message dated 4/15/99 9:03:44 PM, Rich writes:

>In a message dated 4/15/99 6:16:29 PM, Leon wrote:
>
><<1. [n.] Kindly concern for others
>     -benevolence
>     -kindheartedness
>     -beneficence
>     -charitableness
>     -good will
>     -kindliness
>     -kindness
>     -tenderness
>     -goodheartedness
>     -humaneness
>
>Doesn't that perfectly describe a Bodhisattva?  >>
 
>No, it doesn't.  It describes an altruist.  A bodhisattva is far, far greater
>than this.  A bodhisattva has PRAJNA or non-conceptual wisdom, which pierces
>through categories and concepts, which reveals the foundations of the world,
>which sees backwards and forwards through time, and which penetrates likewise
>any other kind of illusion you can think of.  Because a bodhisattva has
>perfected compassion AND wisdom, s/he is quite a transcendent being.  This
>is from the Mahayana text called the VIMALAKIRTI-NIRDESHA SUTRA:

You are perfectly right.  Those words were part of the dictionary definition 
of altruism (as I stated in the original context).  They were simply posted 
in answer to another comment that disparaged HPB's teaching of altruism as if 
it had nothing to do with being a bodhisattva.  Of course they are not the 
descriptions of a fully "adept" or "perfect" bodhisattva in that sense.  
However, while there certainly is much more to a bodhisattva than a 
description of his/her essential actions, HPB was also certainly a 
bodhisattva...  And, she taught us that altruism was her guiding principle 
which should also be the actions of a "true" theosophist--even while one was 
studying and long before one could obtain the discriminative wisdom that a 
full fledged bodhisattva "adept" would have gained (whether, through 
following a Buddhist path, or some other means).  According to HPB's 
teachings; to emulate the actions of a bodhisattva by practicing altruism to 
the best of one's ability should be the first step a theosophist should take 
while starting on the path to becoming a wise adept.  I don't think, however 
that one would need anything more than the teachings in the Secret Doctrine, 
plus the knowledge of proper meditative practices (which could be gained from 
any number of Buddhist or non-Buddhist sources) to arrive at the wisdom 
necessary to practice altruism with perfect discrimination.  

The Buddhist ways are entirely valid, but I'm sure there are many other 
equally valid paths to the same attainments.  In fact, I know many 
bodhisattvas who are not practicing Buddhists, and many practicing Buddhists 
who are not bodhisattvas.  I even know "perfect" bodhisattvas (in the sense 
of being both transcendentally wise as well as altruistic) who don't even 
know they are "bodhisattvas" (in the Buddhist sense)--nor do they know any 
Buddhist terms to describe their nature or their spiritual practices.  (Some 
of them are vedantists, others are kabbalists, a few are freemasons, and the 
rest are natural born theosophists with various religious and mystical 
society affiliations--or none at all.)  

In any event, I don't think labels or language has anything to do with 
spirituality.  Nor does Buddhism have a monopoly on bodhisattvahood.  It's 
the fundamental principles, and their understanding, assimilation and 
practice--leading to a "truer realization of the Self"--that rules in any 
case.  "Ancient" theosophy, as the entire root of its modern expression, owes 
nothing to any organized religion, but they all owe everything they base 
their teachings on, to it.  None if the ancient books used by any religion 
are old enough to supersede the wisdom that was there long before even the 
original Book of Dzyan was written.  But, we'll have to admit that the 
Eastern religions got to it first.  However, HPB gave its teachings to us as 
completely as necessary for Western chelas to base their practice on without 
having to learn the languages of the East--other than the terms she borrowed 
and thoroughly explained, or expected her Western students versed in Eastern 
languages to do so--like you, Rich.:-).  So, sincere thanks for your 
contributions. 

Best wishes,

Leon 

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