Theos-Talk Archives (May 2000 Message tt00062)

At least, now, everyone on this forum KNOWS that HPB wrote about "oblong 
squares" And, it's also interesting that this controversy at least gave many 
of us (including myself:-) an opportunity to think, and learn much about, as 
well as  clarify, the esoteric meaning (in context) of some of the word forms 
that HPB used.  Didn't HPB enjoin us to question everything that she wrote, 
as well as of those who later interpret and modify her teachings (Including 
Judge, Besant, Leadbeater, Mead, Perucker, et al)?   I, for one, am pleased 
that Daniel and Peter chose this controversial example in their discussion of 
those who modify or alter, rightly or wrongly, HPB's (not necessarily 
infallible) writings. 

As for the example of the Librarians... How can we compare a foolish 
controversy over the policy of a forum with a discussion that results in 
getting to the heart of the teachings themselves? 

LHM

In a message dated 05/03/00 9:09:37 PM, alpha@dircon.co.uk writes:
>
>Does this ring any bells anywhere, and what are we to make of it?
>
>The following appeared in the editorial of a magazine on antiquarian 
>books, about a subscribers list for librarians, book collector's etc:
>
>The list: "is largely made up of librarians, book dealers and 
>book collectors, from around the world some 1,600 in 
>number. The quiet types you would believe. This list which 
>usually posts only a few messages each day suddenly 
>produced over fifty e-mails in one day.  What hadhappened?  The
>list-server based in America, the 'land of the free' had sent out an e-mail
>from the moderator informing the subscribers that certain types of e-mails
>were now banned.  Apparently, at least one subscriber had been moved from
>the list.  For several days the e-mails raged, the contents ranged from
>sensible questions to rather rude remarks about the moderator, subscribers
>left the list.  It all reminds me of children squabbling in a playground.
>
>But as one subscriber pointed out what had happened to 'freedom of
>speech'...." [ANTIQUARIAN BOOK MONTHLY, May 2000 issue)
>
>How is this to be SQUARED (THIN OBLONG SQUARED, that is) with the 
>swhole pirit of the freedom of the Internet?
>
>As an example, it is interesting to see the different reactions to HPB's
>use of the term "thin oblong squares":
>
>Both Peter and Daniel have developed the whole concept of THIN OBLONG
>SQUARES using quotes from HPB and other sources.
>
>Others simply say HPB got it wrong, at the same time accusing others of
>bickering, being Jesuits and god knows what else, for suggesting HPB was
>right.
>
>And others MODERATE HPB's "The Voice of the Silence," so that yet others
>never get the opportunity of knowing that HPB ever wrote THIN OBLONG
>SQUARES.
>
>Tony

-- THEOSOPHY WORLD -- Theosophical Talk -- theos-talk@theosophy.com

Letters to the Editor, and discussion of theosophical ideas and
teachings. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message consisting of
"subscribe" or "unsubscribe" to theos-talk-request@theosophy.com.