Theos-Talk Archives (June 2000 Message tt00019)

One's sincerity does not guarantee the truthfulness of one's beliefs

Over the past few years on all the various internet
discussion groups, I have seen comments made by
various theosophical students stating directly or
indirectly that a person's sincerity is somehow
relevant to the validity or truthfulness of one's views
or belief system.

But if you do a little thinking on the subject, you
will see the fallacy on that type of thinking.

Even in a communication from the Master Morya,
a telling phrase is used:

"erroneous and sincere beliefs"

http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/mahatma/ml-134.htm

In other words, a sincere belief may yet be erroneous!

For example, there are millions of sincere Christians
who believe in the orthodox heaven and hell and believe
that Jesus Christ alone can give human beings salvation.
The sincerity and goodness of these people do not
really have any bearing on the truthfulness or falsity of
their beliefs on these matters.

There are thousands of humanists who believe a human
is only a physical being and there is no life after death.
But the sincerity with which that belief is held is really
irrelevant as to the truthfulness or not of that view.

I could multiply the examples by the dozens.

Let us turn our attention to a similar way of thinking about
the truthfulness of visionary experiences.  I have heard
a number of Alice Bailey students imply that Mrs. Bailey
was a sincere, good person and therefore that these
qualities somehow validate her claims and teachings.

But the fallacy in this kind of thinking can be shown by
again referring to the words of Master Morya.  In describing
a mystic in India, the Master wrote:

"Suby Ram -- a truly good man -- yet a devotee of another error. Not his
guru's voice -- his own. The voice of a pure, unselfish, earnest soul,
absorbed in misguided, misdirected mysticism. Add to it a chronic disorder
in that portion of the brain which responds to clear vision and the secret
is soon told: that disorder was developed by forced visions; by hatha yog
and prolonged asceticism. S. Ram is the chief medium and at same time the
principal magnetic factor, who spreads his disease by infection --
unconsciously to himself; who innoculates with his vision all the other
disciples. There is one general law of vision (physical and mental or
spiritual) but there is a qualifying special law proving that all vision
must be determined by the quality or grade of man's spirit and soul, and
also by the ability to translate divers qualities of waves of astral light
into consciousness. There is but one general law of life, but innumerable
laws qualify and determine the myriads of forms perceived and of sounds
heard. There are those who are willingly and others who are unwillingly --
blind. Mediums belong to the former, sensitives to the latter. Unless
regularly initiated and trained -- concerning the spiritual insight of
things and the supposed revelations made unto man in all ages from Socrates
down to Swedenborg and "Fern" -- no self-tutored seer or clairaudient ever
saw or heard quite correctly."

http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/mahatma/ml-40.htm

Notice that Suby Ram is described by the Master as "a
truly good man" and  as "a pure, unselfish, earnest soul."  But all
those good qualities didn't keep the man from being a victim of
"misguided, misdirected mysticism" and having a psychic "disorder"
and "infection".

Master Morya goes on to make comments about Suby Ram's deceased
guru:

"You are right: they say and affirm that the one and only God of the
Universe was
incarnated in their guru, and were such an individual to exist he would
certainly be higher than any "planetary." But they are idolators, my friend.
Their guru was no initiate only a man of extraordinary purity of life and
powers of endurance. He had never consented to give up his notions of a
personal god and even gods though offered more than once. He was born an
orthodox Hindu and died a self-reformed Hindu, something like Kechub-Ch-Sen
but higher purer and with no ambition to taint his bright soul. Many of us
have regretted his self-delusion but he was too good to be forcibly
interfered with. Join them and learn -- but remember your sacred promise to
K.H. Two months more and he will be with us. I think of sending her to you.
I believe you could persuade her for I do not wish to use my authority in
this case."

http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/mahatma/ml-40.htm

Suby Ram's deceased guru turns out to be Siva Dayal Saheb, the founder of
the Radha Soami Satsang, a well-known religious movement in India.  See
the ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA:
http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/7/0,5716,69797+1+68032,00.html

http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/4/0,5716,63974+1+62394,00.html

Dayal Saheb is revered by several million followers as the founder of the
Radha
Soami religion.  Down through the decades his followers have done much good
social work such as setting up soup kitchens to feed the hungry,
establishing schools,
hospitals, etc.

Even Master Morya described Dayal as "a man of extraordinary purity of life"
and
as "a self-reformed Hindu . . . with no ambition to taint his bright soul."
Yet the Master M. told A.P. Sinnett that Dayal was "no initiate" and
furthermore
was a victim of "self-delusion" and held "sincere and erroneous" notions
"of a personal god and even gods."

There are many more examples that could be culled from the Mahatma Letters
and HPB's writings.

Unfortunately, our sincerity and good qualities do not guarantee that the
beliefs
and views that we hold are true, correct and accurate.  Our sincerity and
good qualities do not necessarily validate the truthfulness of our inner
"visions" and
"intuitions."



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