RE: Theos-World RE:3 quo vadis theo sophus
Aug 31, 1999 07:00 PM
by W. Dallas TenBroeck
Dear Lucio:
May insert a few notes below our questions? in CAPS ?
Dal
Dallas
dalval@nwc.net
=================================
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-theos-talk@pippin.imagiware.com
[mailto:owner-theos-talk@pippin.imagiware.com]On Behalf Of Lucio
Sent: Sunday, August 29, 1999 4:45 PM
To: theos-talk@theosophy.com
Subject: Theos-World RE:3 quo vadis theo sophus
Dear Friends:
We
>need to think deeply over the implication of some of the following
:
>
>1. Brotherhood as an active practice.
********************
(A)
What do we understand of brotherhood?
ONE WHO IS OF THE SAME KIND OF SOURCE AND PRESENTLY OF THE SAME KIND
OF STUFF -- WHO SHARES THE SAME KIND OF OBJECTIVES AND HAS THE SAME
KIND OF GOALS.
IF WE CONSIDER THE BASIC IDEA OF THEOSOPHY THAT WE ALL EMANATE FROM
THE ONE Source the SPIRIT. AND THE SPIRIT IS EVERYWHERE WITHOUT
ANY EXCEPTION, THEN THERE CAN BE NO DIFFERENCES THAT ESTRANGE US.
IF WE PRESENTLY HAVE SUCH DIFFERENCES IT IS BECAUSE WE EMPHASIS THEM
OVER THE SIMILARITIES. OUR EDUCATION AND TYPE OF LIFE THESE DAYS
TENDS TO ACCENTUATE THOSE DIFFERENCES AND DOES NOT TEACH US TO LOOK
FOR SIMILARITIES. WHY ?
You can be just a brother. Sometime a partner in fortune or
misfortune is called a brother, A true friend?
IF YOU THINK THAT YOU LIVE ONLY ONE LIFE AND THAT THIS PRESENT
PERSONALITY IS THE BE-ALL AND END-ALL OF YOUR EXISTENCE, THEN THERE IS
NO EASY WAY TO ADOPT BROTHERHOOD.
BUT IF WE CONSIDER FIRST THE IDEA THAT WE EMANATE ALL FROM THE ONE
SPIRIT, AND THEN THAT WE EXCHANGE CONSTANTLY THE MATERIALS WE USE TO
MAKE OUR BODIES, AND THE AIR AND WATER WE USE, AND THE FOOD WE EAT,
ETC... AND IF WE ALL ARE ABLE TO THINK AND TO FEEL -- WHERE ARE THE
DIFFERENCES ? HOW DID THEY ARISE ?
I WOULD SAY THAT THE FEELING OF NON-BROTHERHOOD OUGHT TO BE SERIOUSLY
EXAMINED TO SEE IF IT IS TRUE OR SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN SADDLED
WITH BY CUSTOM, EDUCATION, RELIGIONS, POLITICS, AND THE AVERAGE
THINKING OF PEOPLE AROUND US (OR, RATHER, THEIR NON-THINKING).
HAVE WE ADOPTED THE ATTITUDE OF BEING AN AUTOMATIC STRANGER BECAUSE
WEE HAVE ACCEPTED THIS FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD AS A NORM?
DOES IT NOT NEED TO BE ANALYZED FOR ITS VALIDITY NOW? IF WE HAVE
DOUBTS, THEN, WHERE THEY COME FROM?
In theosophy the term brother is associated with a greater concept,
Some would say an impossible task.
CONSIDER WHAT HPB WROTE ON THIS SUBJECT:
" The essence of Theosophy is the perfect harmonizing of the divine
with the human in man, the adjustment of his god-like qualities and
aspirations, and their sway over the terrestrial or animal passions in
him. Kindness, absence of every ill feeling or selfishness, charity,
good-will to all beings, and perfect justice to others as to one's
self, are its chief features. He who teaches Theosophy preaches the
gospel of good-will."
The function of Theosophists is to open men's hearts and
understandings to charity, justice, and generosity, attributes which
belong specifically to the human kingdom and are natural to man when
he has developed the qualities of a human being. Theosophy teaches the
animal-man to be a human-man; and when people have learned to think
and feel as truly human beings should feel and think, they will act
humanely, and works of charity, justice, and generosity will be done
spontaneously by all.
The life of altruism is not so much a high ideal as a matter of
practice. Naturally, then, Theosophy finds a home in many hearts and
minds, and strikes a resounding harmony as soon as it reaches the ears
of those who are ready to listen. There, then, is part of your work:
to lift high the torch of the liberty of the Soul of Truth that all
may see it and benefit by its light. The Ethics of Theosophy are even
more necessary to mankind than the scientific aspects of the psychic
facts of nature and man.
"ALTRUISM." And this is the keynote of Theosophy and the cure for all
ills; this it is which the real Founders of the Theosophical Society
promote as its first object -- UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD.
" Let not the fruit of good Karma be your motive; for your Karma, good
or bad, being one and the common property of all mankind, nothing good
or bad can happen to you that is not shared by many others. Hence your
motive, being selfish, can only generate a double effect, good and
bad, and will either nullify your good action, or turn it to another
man's profit." * * "There is no happiness for one who is ever thinking
of Self and forgetting all other Selves."
How many of you have helped humanity to carry its smallest burden,
that you should all regard yourselves as Theosophists. Oh, men of the
West, who would play at being the Saviors of mankind before they even
spare the life of a mosquito whose sting threatens them!, would you be
partakers of Divine Wisdom or true Theosophists? Then do as the gods
when incarnated do. Feel yourselves the vehicles of the whole
humanity, mankind as part of yourselves, and act accordingly. " --
Master (Quoted by HPB)
----------------------
Others say it is a concept that befit a dreamer?
IF THAT IS SO IT IS A VERY NOBLE DREAM.
What is the great WHITE brotherhood? Someone of us that had
gone on the path before us. Now he may have the responsibility to
help and care for those that are struggling to keep on the path?
for there is no power without responsibility. True?
well dear brothers look down on the past two millennium what do
we see in way of progress is AHIMSA realised.
have we all become more compassionate to each other? as a
whole.
What are the benefit of being a great brother : )
An unvailed spiritual perception.
Can one say a lie to a brother like that ?will he let you become
dependent on him. After he supply you with what you need.
or does he let you be in his foster care till you can see more clearly
the plan? My vew are that there are three choices , they either have
no power to intervene,or they do it but only on a select few, or that
they are helping humanity as a whole but only within the limits of
what. Of what the great SPIRIT has preordained that we should
progress.
IN OUR SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES TODAY DO WE BLAME THE TEACHERS OR THE
PROFESSORS IF THE STUDENTS ARE UNDISCIPLINED AB ND DO NOT STUDY, OR
ARE THEY LEFT TO FIND OUT THE HARD WAY THAT ALL SUCCESS IS THE RESULT
OF STRONG EFFORT. IN THEOSOPHY AS IN ALL ASPECTS OF HONEST LIFE EACH
ONE PROGRESS AT HIS OWN SPEED.
IT IS SAID THAT THE MASTERS SEE ALL. SO THERE CAN BE NO PRETENCE WHEN
AND IF WE FACE THEM. THE TRUE MAN BECOMES ONE, HE DOES NOT BUY A
MANUAL OR PAY A GURU FOR SOME FOOLISH MANTRAM, THE POWER OF WHICH HE
IS UNABLE TO FATHOM, -- HE "BECOMES" BECAUSE HE KNOWS. THERE IS NO
SUBSTITUTE FOR THAT.
LUCIO *** Thanks Dallas.
WELL I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT IS OF ADDITIONAL HELP OR NOT, BUT IF THERE
ARE SOME MORE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, DO SEND THEM.
BEST WISHES
Dallas
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