Theos-Talk Archives (January 2000 Message tt00072)

Jan 27th

Dear Jim:

"The Path" is a symbol of the disciples "way" -- or discipline
and was an image used in Buddhism and originated there by the
Buddha. The  "path" is described and shown to be a series of
virtues (Paramitas) which the aspirant can adopt and perfect as
attributes in his character that he employs to clarify and pacify
the desire principle: Kama.

To do this, the Inner Ego,  (Higher Mind or Buddhi-Manas) -- the
Real Self uses the Lower mind (embodied Mind -- the "personal
self") to adopt the virtues (see VOICE, pp. 52-3)  as a basis for
continued living and action to be applied at all points in its
future embodied living.

Yes, each has to discover the "path" for himself, test it, and
adopt it if he desires to reach the "goal" of service that is the
final perfection that this concept offers.

You will find that this is explained in detail in the verses of
THE VOICE OF THE SILENCE.  and I would recommend that book be
carefully read and questioned by you and every one who desires to
find "freedom" from the round of births and deaths.  "The Wheel
of Rebirth."  It is also mentioned in the poetical life of the
Buddha that Sir Edwin Arnold wrote:  THE LIGHT OF ASIA.

The "divine" being universal and all-present ( omnipresence of
"God" ) it is at all times at the base of every manifested being
and thing.  And that includes you and me in the concept of our
"Spirit."  It is the ATMA , the highest and purest of the of the
7 principles of man,

It is the Paramatma (or the ABSOLUTE) in the Kosmos, and, that is
quite indescribable from the basis of our embodied life. It is
the basis of all existence, either manifested or non-manifested.
It cannot be excluded from any consideration or proposition.

Our materialistic science and psychology exclude it because we
cannot "prove" it.  But we cannot disprove it either.  If we were
going to exclude all the things we cannot "prove," we would not
be using electricity or magnetism.  I say this in the sense that
we can demonstrate their presence, but in themselves we cannot
describe them.  We know things exist and we are able to describe
how they work, and after we are finished with describing their
phenomena, and their working, the thing in itself is not to be
discovered.  Does that mean it does not exist?  WE harness an
undefined force.  How many other "forces" are there in Nature
that we are yet to discover?

Memory is a common possession -- but neither its recording nor
the substance of the Mind can be described.  (Materialism
attributes "thought" to the action of certain brain molecules,
cells and synapses which are seen to give off electro-magnetic
impulses when used.  But it does not say who or how they are
selected and used.)  They do not say who or what the Real Person
within each Human is.

We see the power of "thought" but the existence or the reason for
feelings, desires,  memory, forgetfulness, emotions, will-power,
and logic or various other minds of thought are not described.
Their action and existence are described and deduced, but THEY
are not to be isolated for analysis.  Also the brain can be
trained to eventually substitute for tissues that have been
removed by surgery or accident.  But the important question is:
"Who or What is the Being that decides to rebuild those functions
in the remaining tissues?  How is this done?  What is the nature
of the forces that are employed?  Can they be studied?  Can they
be placed within the reach of the average person?  How should
they be used if and when acquired?

We exist and that is undeniable.  The Universe in its vast
complexity exists.  We frame theories about the presence and
interaction of various component aspects of Nature, but these
things in themselves remain invisible and have no PHYSICAL
existence or reality.  Does that eliminate them?  So we have
three irremovable components of life:  Ourselves, the Universe we
live in, and the Interaction between ourselves and that Universe.

Science provides a record of many studies made but remains to
integrate them in terms of faculties that all can identify, study
in themselves and frame areas of development for.  This is the
area that Theosophy covers.  It has no conflict with Science
insofar as descriptions of phenomena and experiment go. but it
does not agree with the theories that science has erected on
limited grounds, namely the purely material.

The quotation taken from MAHATMA LETTERS on the uphill road is
from the verse of Christina Rossetti.

Best wishes,

Dallas


dalval@nwc.net

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


-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Rodak [mailto:rodakjl@pcola.gulf.net]
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2000 8:51 PM
To: basic@blavatsky.net
Subject: [bn-basic] "The Path" As I Perceive It


 Fraternal Greetings:

   I have always thought of "The Path" not as something that a
seeker after
Truth decides to follow but as something that one has to discover
for
him-/herself after much sweat and toil in the "harsh jungles of
living
mortal life."  Yes, I believe, the Path is there but buried under
the thick
canopy of life's vegetation, rock, soil, and other vicissitudes
encountered
during the many incarnate pilgrimages made toward ultimate
perfection.  More
and more, through increasingly difficult trials and tribulations,
does "the
Path" become manifest as the dross and glamour of mortal life is
sloughed
off into insignificance.  To me its almost as if the Pilgrim has
to cut
his/her personal  path out of the jungles of life.

    I would also add that I believe that before any of the
concepts espoused
as theosophy have any real meaning and can "sink in and make
sense", the
Pilgrim must first have a particular mindset, a "knowing affinity
for the
Divine," if you will.  Otherwise, in my opinion, the study of
theosophy and
being on "the Path" are nothing but intellec-tual exercises.
Without the
mindset and the affinity, it's all Greek.  And that's whether the
seeker is
in the books or trying to live the theosophical life.

    In my notes on the Mahatma Letters, I have a quote (precise
reference
unknown) that seems appropos in the context of my foregoing
remarks.  It
reads as follows:

    Q: "Does the road wind uphill all the way?
    A:  Yes, to the very end.

    Q: Will the day's journey take the whole day long?
    A: From morn to night, my friend."

        Respectfully,    Jim Rodak


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