Theos-Talk Archives (September 1999 Message tt00121)

Sept 8t 1999

Dear Gerry:

No one desires to have HPB stand as the only exponent of theosophy,
she, least of all as she frequently declares in her writings.

Theosophy is not based on what HPB wrote.  But, since she was the
"messenger" of the Mahatmas, then would you not think that Theosophy
can best be garnered through what she wrote?

Why should it not be looked at as she wrote it?  And why not studied?
What particular objection is there to HPB ?  Or is it, by chance, that
her exposition demolishes some of the cherished opinions that some
have framed?

So what is valuable in the long run?  The truth or the opinions about
that truth?  You and others may not value what HPB writes.  You may
not consider the it to be honest, true, accurate or valuable -- but
what can be opposed to that -- that is logical, concise and
verifiable?

Let's have comparative tables so that all may be able to see exactly
what the differences or ??? are.

Theosophy does not depend on her at all, as anyone can conclude if
they go through the KEY TO THEOSOPHY, ISIS UNVEILED and the SECRET
DOCTRINE.

Theosophy is a system of recording the history of the development of
ideas and ideals,  it covers the world of antiquity as it covers our
modern world,  it describes the laws of Nature in operation.

So  ?

If there is anything wrong in this let me know.

Dal.


Dallas
dalval@nwc.net 


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-theos-talk@pippin.imagiware.com
[mailto:owner-theos-talk@pippin.imagiware.com]On Behalf Of Gerald
Schueler
Sent: Thursday, September 02, 1999 4:48 PM
To: theos-talk@theosophy.com
Subject: Theos-World Re: theos-talk-digest V1 #856


 > So I ask the group, what does Theosophy have to offer that no
readily
 > accesible spiritual group today has?  I would be very interested to
hear
 > replies.
 >
 > Rich

Absolutely nothing. All of its literature can be obtained via
bookstores
without joining any TS. I think that the strong emphasis on ethics
and moral development are a plus, but this is exactly what turns
many seekers off. I cannot see how any of the TSs will ever attract
members, and in fact, I expect to see continual loses down to a
hard small kernel of devoted followers (Pasadena is already at that
point and I suspect ULT is also). On the other side of the coin, the
Pasadena leadership chose to have a small devoted core rather
than a larger membership (I don't know about ULT, but maybe Dallas
knows??).

Personally, I think the TSs are all doing a good job via newbies.
However, there is little in any of them to make anyone want to stay.
This is largely because of resistance to new ideas within the
existing membership. "If Blavatsky didn't say it, then it ain't
Theosophy, period."  On the plus side, this attitude ensures
purity of doctrinal teaching. On the down side, it shows narrowness
of outlook and an elitist attitude which drives most new members
away by limiting "Theosophy" to just what Blavatsky wrote (and you
don't need to join a TS to read everything she wrote).  HPB herself
warns against "grooves of the mind" but we humans just can't seem
to help ourselves.

Jerry S

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