Theos-Talk Archives (April 1999 Message tt00197)

April 30th 1999

Dear Leon:

I have read your many messages and enjoyed them.  I was also
brought up in college (or rather I assigned myself) to study
Science and took basic courses in all of them so as to gain the
necessary foundations - then my life took a turn and I found
myself in the book world -- all aspects of it.

But my approach, theosophically, has always been to make sure
that it was clear, exact, and coherent.  I have always tried to
see how it and Science as it advances in the field of redefining
nature's workings (that are already in place--so "It" got there
ahead of everybody) meld.

Yes I am convinced that theosophy is a record of ancient
scientific investigation and as "history" if covers a wider field
than the investigations currently being made to re-verify the
exactness of those same ancient observations in individual
disciplines, couched as they are in their secretive (to us)
jargons and sacerdotal imagery.

Theosophy has the additional advantage of a very broad base and
does not need "theories" or "hypotheses" to advance.  All it
needs to do is to add to the ongoing record.  And that is
probably the private despair of modern scholars -- to find that
they are playing "catch-up" instead of being "pioneers" -- they
loose the advantage of being "First."  The great game that
developed was that of seeking to discredit Theosophy without
giving it the honor of a searching examination.

So many of our preconceptions have to be revised and changed if
we are to adopt Theosophy as a "touchstone" against which to
place our individual findings.  The "personality" takes a beating
there, I think.  Hence the opposition and the criticism, which to
me, shows that there has not been that thorough examination which
a true and honest scholar always applies.

I think your contributions have always been very helpful to me
and to others.

Best wishes,

Dallas



              Dallas TenBroeck
               dalval@nwc.net




-----Original Message-----
From: owner-theos-talk@pippin.imagiware.com
[mailto:owner-theos-talk@pippin.imagiware.com]On Behalf Of
LeonMaurer@aol.com
Sent: Friday, April 30, 1999 12:08 PM
To: theos-talk@theosophy.com
Subject: Re: RE: Theos-World Response to Arnaldo


Dear Peter:

Thank you for putting the below information on-line.  It does
much to clear
the air around here, as well as justify my own approach to
theosophy.  i.e.
To examine the scientific roots of theosophy and to continue my
efforts to
clarify its fundamental teachings "in the language of this age,"
(and without
reference to any other teachings except as confirmations)--as
well as "write
my own Secret Doctrine", articles and pamphlets on the cutting
edge of
science and philosophy--so that the principles of theosophy and
its goals may
become understandable to those whose present gurus are the
scientists,
teachers and professors who spout the "party line" of
materialism--and,
thereby, influence the bulk of ordinary people to think only of
themselves
and live in and of the illusory world of personality, egoism,
selfishness,
and greed--with no concern for the welfare of the their own
souls, or the
Souls of both the earth and the humanity of which they are an
integral part.

Hopefully, the result of such work will contribute to "spread
broadcasting"
the ideas of "universal brotherhood," "karma" and "reincarnation"
(cycles and
rebirth)--as fundamental "Laws of Nature," and that it will reach
many more
people than those who are now, like obsolete dinosaurs, still
doctrinally
hashing and rehashing the "teachings" amongst small, "separate"
groups of
constantly arguing organizational theosophists. (In name only for
the most
part--in my view.)  Do you wonder why the membership in ALL
theosophical
groups has dropped to such a minuscule level since the time of
HPB and WQJ?
In light of her statements quoted below, HPB certainly would not
intend us to
use the tremendous power of the Internet for these introverted,
self-serving
purposes.

It has also given me the incentive to turn my efforts toward a
more
productive direction, give up the time consuming and wasteful
efforts of
reading endless letters (few of which contain anything new or
interesting),
or arguing and nit picking about theosophy (and other religious
teachings)--strictly among ourselves--with no "real" or
influential
connection to the outer world... That's one of the reasons why I
never joined
any theosophical organization (or religious one for that
matter)... And why,
after many years of group study in ULT, have long ago given up
attending or
lecturing at meetings--to continue my studies of "fundamental
truths" and
their "scientific correlations" in my own "self devised and self
determined"
way.  I also have no use for people who argue that they first
have to take
care of their own spiritual "awakening", by engaging in endless
meditative
practices, exploration of "psychism", out-of-body experiences,
"work on the
higher planes," and the like.  For theosophy at this stage of
It's real
needs--mental practice of a discriminative nature (for the
"intuitive
student," as HPB might say), is more than enough.  (As for
myself; My own
personal spiritual attainments and work on the higher planes can
wait until I
get back to where I came from.:-)

The only reason I have remained in this forum and answered any
letters was to
"defend theosophy and its teachers," clarify my own thinking, as
well as
perfect my writing in preparation for more useful work.  Now,
it'll soon be
time to quit such time consuming and really pointless activities.
(Although
I still intend to subscribe to the moderated bn-study forum where
I might
make some useful contribution to a larger audience of serious
searchers.)

It's been fun though knocking heads with some of the mavericks on
this
forum:-)... And I hope a few of you serious theosophists will
continue to
keep an open channel with me by private e-mail, or through other
"moderated"
e-mail lists.  (Besides bn-study, I also attend and occasionally
contribute
to the (Journal of Consciousness Studies) JCS-online, Psyche-D,
and Quantum
Mind forums).

Best wishes,

Leon

http://users.aol.com/leonmaurer/LHM.index.html
________________________________________________________

>Here is something that HPB writes in the KEY TO THEOSOPHY:
>ENQUIRER. How do you expect the Fellows of your Society to help
in the
>work?
>
>THEOSOPHIST. First by studying and comprehending the
theosophical doctrines,
>so that they may teach others, especially the young people.
Secondly, by
>taking every opportunity of talking to others and explaining to
them what
>Theosophy is, and what it is not; by removing misconceptions and
spreading
>an interest in the subject. Thirdly, by assisting in circulating
our
>literature, by buying books when they have the means, by lending
and giving
>them and by inducing their friends to do so. Fourthly, by
defending the
>Society from the unjust aspersions cast upon it, by every
legitimate device
>in their power. Fifth, and most important of all, by the example
of their
>own lives.
>
>ENQUIRER. But all this literature, to the spread of which you
attach so much
>importance, does not seem to me of much practical use in helping
mankind.
>This is not practical charity.
>
>THEOSOPHIST. We think otherwise. We hold that a good book which
gives people
>food for thought, which strengthens and clears their minds, and
enables
>them to grasp truths which they have dimly felt but could not
formulate --
>we hold that such a book does a real, substantial good. As to
what you call
>practical deeds of charity, to benefit the bodies of our
fellow-men, we do
>what little we can.... What the Theosophist has to do above all
is to forget
>his personality.
>
>(KEY TO THEOSOPHY, p248-249)



-- THEOSOPHY WORLD -- Theosophical Talk --
theos-talk@theosophy.com

Letters to the Editor, and discussion of theosophical ideas and
teachings. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message consisting
of
"subscribe" or "unsubscribe" to theos-talk-request@theosophy.com.


-- THEOSOPHY WORLD -- Theosophical Talk -- theos-talk@theosophy.com

Letters to the Editor, and discussion of theosophical ideas and
teachings. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message consisting of
"subscribe" or "unsubscribe" to theos-talk-request@theosophy.com.