Theos-Talk Archives (May 2000 Message tt00085)

May 8th

WHITE LOTUS DAY 2000

Part I

In Memory and in Gratitude to HPB



  Master's Work


"Masters never cease working, but they cease at times from such
public efforts as were made at the establishment of the T.S.
Before that they were working with individuals"  [ WQJ quoted by
RC, FP 388 ] ...In this work, natures are intensified, good and
bad come to the surface.  The "cleaning-up" process is gradual
and each must do his own work of elimination when such work is
seen to be needed.  The barriers to help from Masters are in
our-selves and nowhere else."	F P 399


"At times they come to nations as great teachers and "saviors,"
who only repromulgate the old truths and systems of ethics.  This
therefore holds that humanity is capable of infinite perfection
both in time and quality, the saviours and adepts be-ing held up
as examples of that possibility."

"From this living and presently acting body of perfected men
H.P.Blavatsky declared she received the impulse to once more
bring forward the old ideas, and from them also received several
keys to ancient and modern doctrines. Added...to the testimony
through all time found in the records of all nations we have this
modern explicit assertion that the ancient learned and
humanitarian body of adepts still exists on this earth and takes
an interest in the development of the race."    WQJ ARTICLES I
PP. 1-2


  Work of the Disciples


"Under the protection and assistance and guidance of this Society
of Adepts are the disciples of each one of its members.  These
disciples are divided into different degrees, corresponding to
the various stages of development;  the least developed disciples
are assisted by those who are in advance of them, and the latter
in a similar manner by others, until the grade of disciple is
reached where direct intercourse with the Adepts is possible.  At
the same time, each Adept keeps a supervisory eye upon all his
disciples.  Through the agency of the disciples of Adepts many
effects are brought about in human thought and affairs, for from
the higher grades are often sent those who, without disclosing
their connection with mysticism, influence individuals who are
known to be main factors in events about to occur."     ECHOES,
p. 29


"...the disciple of the Adept knows that...he is supposed to
concentrate into a few lives the experience and practice which it
takes ordinary men countless incarnations to acquire....he leaves
behind the hope for reward so common in all undertakings.
Nothing is gained by favor, but all depends upon his actual
merit.  As the end to be reached is self-dependence with perfect
calmness and clearness, he is from the beginning made to stand
alone...solely in his own company.  But this produces no
selfishness, because, being accompanied by constant meditation
upon the unseen, the knowledge is acquired that the loneliness
felt is only in respect to the personality."    ECHOES, p. 32-33


"But, hiding themselves under an exterior which does not attract
attention, there are many of the real disciples in the world.
They are studying themselves and other human hearts.  They have
no diplomas, but there resides in them a consciousness of
constant help and a clear knowledge of the true Lodge which meets
in real secrecy and is never found mentioned in any directory.
Their whole life is a persistent pursuit of the fast-moving soul
which, although appearing to stand still, can distance the
lightning;  and their death is only another step forward to
greater knowledge through better physical bodies in new lives."
ECHOES 33


"The real object to be kept in view is to so open up or make
porous the lower nature that the spiritual nature may shine
through it and become the guide and the ruler...it is the real
man, who is the HIGHER SELF--being the spark of the
Divine--overshadows the visible being, which has the possibility
of becoming united to that spark.  Thus it is said that the
higher Spirit is not in the man, but above him...The object of
the student is to let the light of that spirit shine through the
lower covering...all selfishness must be eliminated from the
lower nature before its divine state can be reached...When
systematically trained in accordance with the aforesaid system
and law, men attain to clear insight into the immaterial,
spiritual world, and their interior faculties apprehend truth as
immediately and readily as physical faculties grasp the things of
sense, or mental faculties those of reason..."  They are able to
look directly upon ideas."	EPITOME, p. 13-14


"...the members of our Great Lodge have full information unknown
to those outside the Lodge, of the "conscious efforts to obtain
knowledge of principles and laws" on the part of good men and
women, and in this search that help is frequently extended but is
not seen or recognized, although it is felt and has its results."
FORUM Answers  50


"Since the MAHATMA is but an advanced occultist, who has so far
controlled his lower "self" as to hold it more or less in
complete subjection to the Cosmic impulse, it is in the nature of
things impossible for him to act in any other but an unselfish
manner.  No sooner does he allow his "personal self" to assert
itself, than he ceases to be a MAHATMA...The law of Cosmic
evolution is ever operating to achieve its purpose of ultimate
unity and to carry the phenomenal into the noumenal plane, and
the MAHATMAS, being en rapport with it, are assisting that
purpose...they alone have got to the basic knowledge which can
determine the right course and exercise proper discrimination.
And for us...it will be evident that, as soon as the least
feeling of selfishness tries to assert itself, the vision of the
spiritual sense, which is the only perception of the MAHATMA,
becomes clouded and he looses the "power" which abstract
"knowledge" alone can confer.  Hence the vigilant watch of the
"will" we have constantly to exercise to prevent our lower nature
from coming up to the surface..."			THEOS. MVT. Vol. X , p. 138-9


"A perfect man is not made to order but is a product of
evolution.  Wisdom is not a matter of book-learning but of
growth.  General rules for conduct can be given, but to apply
them properly, the power of discrimination is necessary...A
virtue, practiced without moderation, becomes a crime.  To know
how to find the point of equilibrium is the great secret of the
Adept, that cannot be told but must be learned by experience,
when sagacity and goodness will be united in wisdom."	HPB --
THEOSOPHIST 1885,  THEOSOPHY, Vol. 47,  pp. 441-2


"The whole individuality is centred in the three middle
Principles or third (MANAS), and fifth (ASTRAL BODY) principles.
During earthly life it is all in the fourth (KAMA-MANAS), the
center of energy, volition--will...the individuality
survives...to run its seven-fold and upward course [ it ] has to
assimilate to itself the eternal-life power residing but in the
seventh (ATMA), and then blend the three (4th, 5th & 7th) into
one--the 6th (BUDDHI).  Those who succeed in doing so become
Buddhas, Dhyan Chohans, etc...  The chief object of our struggle
and initiations is to achieve this union while yet on this
earth."	M L 77-8


"Happy the man physically pure, for his external soul (astral
body, the image of the body) is pure, it will strengthen the
second (the lower Manas), or the soul which is termed by him the
higher mortal soul, which, though liable to err from its own
motives, will always side with the reason against the animal
proclivities of the body.  In other words, the ray of our Higher
Ego, the lower Manas, has its higher light, the reason or
rational powers of the Nous, to help it in the struggle with
Kamic desires."	HPB ART I 27-8


"Force any one of the "Masters" you may happen to choose;  do
good works in his name and for the love of mankind;  be pure and
resolute in the path of righteousness (as laid out in our rules);
be honest and unselfish;  forget your self but to remember the
good of other people--and you will have forced that "Master" to
accept you."		L M W  (I) p. 33



	THEOSOPHICAL OBJECTIVES


"...the chief object of the T S is not so much to gratify
individual aspirations as to serve our fellow men...in our view
the highest aspirations for the welfare of humanity become
taint-ed with selfishness if, in the mind of the philanthropist
there lurks the shadow of desire for self benefit or a tendency
to do injustice, even when these exist unconsciously to himself."
M L 7-8


"...we are not working for some definite organization of the new
years to come, but for a change in the Manas and Buddhi of the
Race...Masters could give now all the light and knowledge needed,
but there is too much darkness that would swallow up the light,
except for a few bright souls, and then a greater darkness would
come on."	  LETTERS 72


"At present the main fundamental object of the Society is to sow
germs in the hearts of men, which may in time sprout, and under
more propitious circumstances lead to a healthy reform,
conductive of more happiness to the masses than they have
hitherto enjoyed."	HPB	KEY  257


"It is the rich who have to be regenerated, if we would do good
to the poor...Work, therefore, to bring about the moral
re-generation of the cultured classes before you attempt to do
the same for ignorant younger brethren..."	HPB Art  I  103-5


"[ The T S has as its mission ] to furnish to the West that which
it can never get from the East;  to push forward and raise high
on the circular path of evolution now rolling West, the light
that lighteth every man who cometh into the world--the light of
the true Self, who is the one true Master for every human being;
all other Masters are but servants of that true One;  in it all
real Lodges have their union."  LETTERS 75


"As a change in thought of a people who have been tending to
gross atheism is one always desired by the Sages of the Wisdom
Religion, it may be supposed that the wave of spiritualistic
phenomena resulting now quite clearly in a tendency back to a
universal acknowledgment of the soul, has been aided by the
Nirmanakayas.  They are in it and of it;  they push on the
progress of a psychic deluge over great masses of people.  The
result is seen in the literature, the religion and the drama of
today.  Slowly but surely the tide creeps up and covers the once
dry shore of Materialism..."  ECHOES  28


"Essentials are the only things on which true occultism and
Theosophy require an agreement..."		LETTERS 70

CARRIED FORWARD  TO  PART II

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





-- 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.