Theos-Talk Archives (January 2000 Message tt00013)

Jan 4th 2000

		January 4th is the "Theosophical New Year"
			Best wishes to all.


Dear Louis: and other friends:


I don't get the drift of the question.  What are
"neo-theosophists?"

All those who have benefited from Theosophy are in a sense
neo-theosophists.  But, essentially, Theosophy is a way of
looking at the constitution of our Universe, our World, and our
lives.  It is not a cult or an "ism."

As such there are no "authorities."  However there are advanced
Students, and the Masters of Wisdom show us by what they offer
for consideration that they have acquired a knowledge
(transformed by application into Wisdom) that can help us secure
a deeper and a wider view of the operations of nature.  If any
"reverence" is to be shown it would be for and to those who have
deserved it by virtue of their study and effort made to pass on
to us the information that has made them great.  There appears to
be a duty involve in acquiring wisdom and that is transmission.
It is not something that can be kept or concealed.  To live in us
it has to be diffused.  One is naturally grateful to anyone who
imparts a deeper view of facts that are common.

Particularly the operations of the power of thinking and feeling
are considered -- as the operations of Karma which we generate,
and which we later receive the results of.

Accordingly the appellation of "Theosophist" would fall on those
who perfectly apply the wisdom that is available and present all
around us in terms of the highest motives for their thoughts,
words and deeds.  None of us are able to judge others and their
success or failures in this.  Hence while we might like to
designate selected individuals for reverence and respect, it is
our own perception that is being judged.

No true "guru" ever seeks "recognition," or "honors."  They hide
anything that would attract such a regard, and they busy
themselves in drawing attention to the facts and laws of nature,
which of taken for use, can elevate anyone.  The whole effort is
individual self-devised ways and means.  And nothing can be given
as a gift, except that "windows of perception" can be shown to
exist.

The "original teachings of Theosophy" coming from the Masters,
through HPB will be found to answer to such a criterion.  But
such a determination is always by an individual for themselves.

"Windows" and "doors" to perspectives are opened to our minds in
Theosophical books and articles and statements.  But we are
always asked to investigate and PROVE them for ourselves.  And
then, there remains the duty of passing them on.

Such a freedom is basic and important to the whole of the
Theosophical philosophy.

Hence, "neo-theosophists" are ourselves in the making -- and as
Monads, or Eternal Pilgrims we owe each other brotherly
recognition and assistance.

That is why, to my way of thinking, UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD is one
of the quickest and shortest ways to a "spiritual success," and
nothing else will take us as those immortal pilgrims there except
that as a daily and an hourly attention and practice.

What did HPB come to do?  Briefly it was to awaken the dormant
mind of the whole race of mankind, not only here in the "West."
but also in the "East."  Consequently she wrote for the whole of
humanity and not for us who read and speak English alone or who
have the Christian religion as a basis for our moral views.  She
wrote for Hindus, Jews, Muslims, and the rest of the many world
religions.

Theosophy, like Science has no limits or barriers.  It is a
statement of facts in nature, and relates the observations and
findings of many generations of adepts who have tested and proved
the facts that are now exposed to us to consider.  We are not
asked to believe anything  We are asked to read, study, consider
and see if the applications are fair and honest.

One cannot make snap judgments about theosophical presentations
without raising the specter of "belief."  Consider with me that a
"belief" is an expression of a "closed mind."  It refuses to
investigate, to search, to look for more.  It holds to criteria
it has adopted and which it applies to itself and others . It
declares that it will not move from the position it has assumed.
On the other hand "faith" is found to be always renewed by
questioning, and by inquiry.  It is fueled by an eager mind
always willing to look into alternative fields and constantly
adding to those basic concepts that seem to be immovable and
reliable, but, even those are under constant review and the
process of confirmation every proceeds.

Theosophy does not give "Truth" but, rather, it provides the
means to find it.  And this is to be done by each one for
themselves.  There can be no vicarious imparting of wisdom.  It
has to be self-earned.  We are immortal pilgrims and our progress
gives in the eternity that stretches ahead, ample time to acquire
all that we need.  Every life seen an increment to that which has
already been gained.

We are in a vast school -- Nature is our class room and our
fellow pupils are not only our fellow humans, but are the hosts
of "Monads" or, the materials that make up our bodies, our
feelings and our minds.  "WE" (the Human Monad) are the Perceiver
which is experiencing all this, and now we have to ask "Why."

We are all independent, and yet we are also inseparable.  We live
all together, and yet, as mind-being our thoughts flow out and
around us and touch all the rest of mankind and Nature.  What
kind of impression do we leave?  If we cannot, with present
instrumentation, detect the influence of "thought-waves," that
does not mean they do not exist on some plane for which we still
lack sensory apparatus that will show their activity in our gross
material condition.

There is no one that we can "complain to." The problems we find
burdening us are those which our minds alone can solve directly.
Under karma we created them.  One could say briefly, mystically:
"To know the "Head" we must first use the "Heart."

There are three important questions that confront us all:

What is "Reality?"
How does it work?
What is it for ?

I am interested to hear from anyone who may have an answer to the
question originally asked.  It is an important one I think.

Best wishes,

Dallas


dalval@nwc.net

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

-----Original Message-----
From: Teos9@aol.com [mailto:Teos9@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2000 3:03 AM
Subject: [bn-study] More on new agers and neo-theosophists


In the HPB Quote of the Day (for Jan 3):

<<All are entitled to the grateful reverence of Humanity,
however, and man
ought to be ever striving to help the divine evolution of Ideas,
by becoming
to the best of his ability a co-worker with nature in the cyclic
task. --
Secret Doctrine Vol I page 280. By Helena Blavatsky, 1888.>>

Wouldn't this apply to the neo-theosophists also? Or did she mean
only those
who hold a certain view and agreed with the accepted version? Any
one care to
shed a little light?

Louis



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