Theos-Talk Archives (May 2000 Message tt00215)

May 21 2000

Dallas offers:

As I see it, HPB wrote in regard to the physical/physiological
heredity of the aboriginal physical forms that Egos compatible
with Australian, etc..., forms needed experience in, and could
use under their individual Karma.

We may have (in general) developed a different reaction to the
word "race" than when it was used by HPB.  That does not make it
necessary for us to explain or alter what she wrote, nor are we
able to fully interpret her "meaning," and attempt to explain or
rewrite it.  --  I mean any one of us.

Suffice it to say that the Theosophical teaching is that the
physical/physiological races that carry a certain ancient
heredity are dying,  and on their way out as physical races.
[Examples of this are the Tasmanians and the Veddhas of Ceylon.

It also means that the Egos that used that line of heredity are
finding for (and when) reincarnating, other types and racial
heredities to use when they return from Devachan and reincarnate.

That is as I understand it.

WE need not worry over the extinction of any species, as Nature
in her progression makes changes which are commensurate with the
total desired improvement of things.  The physical and
physiological are only the last and grossest of those vehicles
that are needed by the inner Spirit/Soul to experience.

Dallas


D. T. B.

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-theos-talk@theosophy.com
[mailto:owner-theos-talk@theosophy.com]On Behalf Of Eldon B
Tucker
Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2000 9:45 PM
To: theos-talk@theosophy.com
Subject: Re: Theos-World Theosophy, Aryans, and Racism

In THE SECRET DOCTRINE, I. 480, HPB says:

 > Since only a certain portion of the secret teachings can be
given out
 > in the present age, if they were published without any
explanations or
 > commentary, the doctrines would never be understood even by
 > theosophists. Therefore they must be contrasted with the
speculations
 > of modern science. Archaic axioms must be placed side by side
with
 > modern hypotheses and comparison left to the sagacious reader.

Blavatsky was writing in terms that westerners of her age would
understand. Her references to science, to how things were viewed
in
her era, were clothed in the language, myth, metaphor, and
prejudice
of the time. If she were writing the same materials in our age,
it'd
likely be in different words.

If Blavatsky were writing in the middle ages, her words would
have
to conform to the prejudices of the time, in order to not be
violently stamped out. The language of the Mysteries, which she
sought to express, would have to be more thickly veiled.

The very lowest part of ourselves, the animal-physical nature,
called
the vital-astral-physical monad, has definite features, traits,
genetic code that has a strong influence on what it is and what
happens to us. But that is not the real "us." We are the
intermediate
nature, a conscious entity of mind and heart, pulled down by our
animal nature and uplifted by our spiritual core.

While we may have a physical body of a certain appearance, with
certain traits, our actual self is quite independent. Someone
may be born in China, with one appearance, yet feel more at home
in California. Another person may be born in a crowded European
slum, yet find most comfort in the life of a woodsman.

In Blavatsky's time, the term "race" may have been useful. In our
day the same term more likely denotes prejudice based upon
superficial
things likes someone's appearance. (Of course, there are many
forms
of prejudice, some acknowledge as bad, others openly practiced,
like the hateful shunning of fat people, as though there were
something
wrong with them.)

Earlier root races and subraces may have different physical
appearances. But the physical form is not the determining factor.
One can have a particular physical form and yet be in any
currently
existing so-called race.

The races are more like cultural theaters. They are also like
special classes at school. Some are at different grade levels;
but
many are just different courses, subject areas, specialized
experiences
that any of us may, through karmic necessity, chose to go
through.
Yet another way to describe them is as different specializations
of
the collective unconscious, several active at any period of
history,
new ones arising as others fade into oblivion.

In considering human evolution through the races, we need to
keep clear the distinction between the evolution of races,
cultures, societies, on a macro scale, as distinguished from the
evolution of the individual on a micro scale, who through
personal
karma slips into and out of one race after the other, not
necessarily in a particular sequence.

Various cultures have persisted over time. There have been
general improvements in most or all of them. For the most part,
slavery is gone, both based upon race, nation of birth, and
social standing. Women are getting more of an equitable position
in life. Disease and starvation are being wiped out in some parts
of the globe, though still rampant elsewhere. Constant warfare,
crime, and violence is on the decline, although again there are
hot spots on the globe where things are still awful. More and
more people are getting the basics of food and shelter taken
care of, leaving them a bit of time for philosophy, a
consideration
of art, for doing things for others and wondering about life and
the world.

Coming finally to the comment regarding the Australian natives
as degenerate remnants, this means that the culture-form, the
type of society and life-experience that they currently have, is
old, worn old, losing its life energy, becoming less and less
attractive, as less-and-less people chose to be born into it.
This is not to say that renovation isn't possible there. In any
part of the world, certain pioneering spirits, certain advanced
humans may be born that can bring about revolutionary changes in
a culture's psyche, transforming it into a place
highly-attractive
for incarnating souls -- be it there, or in the uncaring heart
of a major western metropolis like New York City, or in our
own neighborhood!

-- Eldon

At 10:18 PM 5/20/00 -0400, you wrote:
>In the Secret Doctrine I found a reference to the "Negroid" race
as a
>degenerate remnant of the Lemurian race that would soon die out.
She
>describes them physically and actually names examples of certain
peoples (I
>believe the Australian natives were one of them.)  What do you
make of that?
>Its pretty hard to write that off as a reference to a a totally
spiritual
>race.  If you dont believe me i can fish out the quote I believe
I have it
>highlighted.


-- 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.


-- 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.