Theos-Talk Archives (September 1999 Message tt00001)

Dallas rote on 8/26/99 ..in part:


>What I am trying to say is that since the days of HPB, who held the
>Movement together between the years 1875-1891 there have been
>divergences as those who assumed the responsibility for continuing the
>movement can be seen (through their writings) to have diverged from
>what HPB wrote.  In fact, several have gone so far as to modify her
>statements claiming that they knew at least as much as she did (and
>the Masters), and could therefore "lead" those that "followed" into a
>system that might be simpler to understand.

Note Dallas, your remark "since the days of HPB who held the movemnet
together ...there have been divergences ... those who assumed the
responsibility for continuing the movement ... diverged from what HPB
wrote..."

If HPB did hold the movement together as you suggest, how could there be
such divergences?

And how could such divergences continue in those who assumed the
responsibility of continuing the movement?

There were those who modified her statements and claimed they knew at least
as much as HPB and the Masters did. I'm unsure who you mean Dallas, can you
be more specific in your references?  Who do you mean?

Dallas wrote:


It is very difficult to
>determine who is right in these affairs unless one has as a
>preliminary a thorough knowledge of what HPB had to teach.
>In several ways Theosophy runs contrary to current views of Religions,
>Sciences and Psychology.  If one has this knowledge of what Theosophy
>actually teaches, then it is easy to see what the gaps are, and how to
>bring about a reconciliation.  In fact, I would say that there is a
>continuous attempt to do this -- not to notice and accentuate the
>differences, but to draw those things that are similar together more
>strongly.

What HPB had to teach... That is a mystery isn't it? What was HPB really about?

In several ways Theosophy runs contrary to current views of Religions,
Sciences and Psychology... The reason Theosophy differs from current
thinking is that it developed over a hundred years ago. So no great mystery
here...

I would suggest that science based on the experimental method has achieved
a great deal in the past hundred years and should be given some credit...
after all more discoveries have been made in the past century than in  past
history as we know it. I qualify "as we know it"...

I agree with you that it appears easy to "fill the gaps" with a knowledge
of theosophy, but what do we mean here... the gaps ... To what are you
refering? So who is doing the reconciling here between say modern science
and theosophy... I assume you mean the theosophists.


>For instance, and to me this is important.  HPB speaks of the ASTRAL
>BODY and not the "etheric body."  Why the change of emphasis?  Who
>originated that?  What does it do to Theosophy to make a change from
>HPB's teaching to something else, even if it be considered to be
>"minor ?"

A major problem Dallas is that we're dealing with an area that is nebulous
at best.Pardon me for saying this Dallas but you read HPB like the pastors
of old read the King James Version from the pulpit. You hang on her every
word. Where did HPB develope her concepts of what an astral or etheric body
is? I would humbly suggest that her concept was derived from a mix of
nineteenth century spiritualism, Samkhya philosophy, and Tibetan lore. What
does it do to Theosophy to make a change in emphasis? My own view is that
theosophy does change... every thing changes Dallas... we are in a sea of
change from moment to moment ... even theosophy.

Can one be a theosophist and not agree with HPB, or hold different thoughts
and speak different words? I think so. I most sincerely in my heart of
hearts believe so. Otherwise Dallas, we are trying to reproduce HPB
everywhere at all times in all people... replicating her thoughts and ideas
constantly! What kind of hell is that?  What happened to an original idea?
Why can't anyone disagree or challenge? Sounds like you want to spray
buddhi with concrete so it is frozen in time! Nothing like that is
possible.

Fraternalmente,


Art Gregory





lgregory@discover.net




















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