Theos-Talk Archives (August 1999 Message tt00000)

Aug 1st 1999

Dear Clint McRae:

As friend Mark says in his note (July 27th) to you.  Don't be
worried that the practice is far less (at the moment) than the
ideal you read about.  The ideas of theosophy run parallel to
those of our every-day world.  They supplement them, you will
find, in many ways, as they give the "reason why."  If you know
something about our legal system and the constitution, you will
find that Theosophy gives to legalisms a base in common-sense
moral applications, which such legal writings only approximate.
They underlie those ideas which are expressed in so many words.

So do not be worried by the additional sense of responsibility
you note.  We are all in the "same boat."

To know a lot does not mean that we are necessarily good doers.
We are all TRYING.

Once that you know where improvement can be made, once that we
know why it ought to be made, we can set about doing the things
we now value, exactly from where we are.

It is not a good idea to make mental comparisons, because we
could fool ourselves very easily and mistake a large vocabulary,
or ease in writing about Theosophy, for an excellence in
practice.  The more we know, the more heavy is our
responsibility--that is true, but you do not burden a child with
the responsibilities of managing a large corporation.

One starts with the general learning were one is.  And then, as
we confirm the ideals as being useful and valuable, we build up
confidence, work on the "small things" and then go to larger ones
as they come to us.

Also looking back and chewing over at all the things that we
might have done better is a useless exercise.  We cannot "undo"
them.  Yet, if we truly desire to make amends, we can seek out
those who were wronged by us, and try to set things right.  That
goes a long way to reducing our load of "bad" Karma.  But it
takes a lot of moral strength to do that.  And if we do, then we
will improve our own characters greatly.  Of course, it is
better, now that we know something about "causes," and the
immutability of Karma, to stop, and prevent ourselves from doing
"wrongs" to any one else.  The future is always in our grasp.  We
are CHOOSERS.

And, we always know the difference between right and wrong,
because our faithful "Voice of Conscience" yells at us, and tries
us to stop us doing anything that is shady, selfish, or hurtful
to another.  It is very curious about the Voice of Conscience.
It comes from our Spiritual nature.  It is the voice of
experience.

We have all lived many, many lives and in our Spiritual center,
we have a full record of all we did earlier.  If the Spirit in us
sees that the embodied mind is about to do something "wrong,"  It
warns.  it says:  "You did that before, and you suffered.  Why do
it again ?"

Some stop and listen, and are cautious.  Others are rash and
believe that they can either "escape the consequences," or
"hide."  Neither of those is true.  Not in a Nature, a Universe
that runs always on LAW.  Of course if you try to fool yourself
into believing that there are no laws and we can hide, then our
"moral natures" could be called "blunted" in that direction.  It
remains for us, however, to examine and try to find out what the
truth really is.

Theosophy, contrary to popular psychology, states that the power
to alter one's character is always in our grasp, because our
mind, and our feelings are only tools, tools that can be used at
will by the immortal inner SELF -- the SPIRIT OF MAN.

Asking questions is the fist sign of interior wisdom. To know
what to ask is a great step.  How to handle information in
return, becomes the second step.  One might call that the next
"initiation."
All initiations are very private, and it does not help talking
about them to others.

Best wishes

And, be fearless about asking more questions.  There are always
those who are willing to respond.

Best wishes,

TRY.

Dallas
dalval@nwc.net 

==========================================

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-theos-talk@pippin.imagiware.com
[mailto:owner-theos-talk@pippin.imagiware.com]On Behalf Of Mark
Kusek
Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 1999 6:06 PM
To: theos-talk@theosophy.com
Subject: Re: Theos-World things seem hopeless




clint mccray wrote:

> > >This seems not only unrealistic for me, but completely out
of my
> league.  For that matter, though I agree with the Theosophical
ideals
> I've learned so far, I am not nearly a success at living them.
And I
> dont really know where Theosophy stands on the different lives
we are
> meant to live.  I feel like a child talking to you all about
this
> stuff.  If you have actually attained these things, that is.
If not,
> then what are we really talking about, or what should we really
talk
> about?

Clint,

Don't worry too much about it.

Take a big breath and a pause ....

You can't get THERE in one big jump, at least not in any
sustainable way.

It's a gradual process, with milestones, but no real ending.

You have to live it as a journey, day by day. Sometimes you'll
have
breakthroughs
and moments of clarity, other times you'll be slugging it out
with the
rest of us and lost in all the confusion.

That's sort of how it goes. It's OK.

The thing to keep in mind is that evolution proceeds THROUGH
the human kingdom. It does not SKIP OVER it.

Take comfort in that and with yourself. Be kind to yourself.

It's OK to be a person: a normal human Joe.
Be the best person you can be. Relate as much as your heart
allows you to
to the IDEALS
that it knows within you. The way is through the heart of being
human.

There are mysteries there for you to discover.

Wonder at the limits of what you know and what you don't know,
both in the outside world and within the sense of your own
identity.

Accept the actualities of the everyday human condition as well as
it's
fantastic possibilities.

If you do that, you'll find "soul", empathy and a little
brotherhood.
You'll begin to understand and you'll
feel OK accepting things as they are. That's where wisdom and
compassion
start.

Know what I mean, Bro?

Mark



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