Theos-Talk Archives (June 2000 Message tt00192)

June 22 2000

Dear Kym:

Your message makes one think.  Let me see if this proves to be of
help:


WHY DO WE EXIST?  WHY ARE THINGS AS THEY ARE?


These are difficult to answer if we try to do so from the point
of view of our present limited experience.

We need to ask ourselves why we know we are both limited (by
birth, circumstances, education, this life's memories, etc... and
the POTENTIAL from which these limits can be viewed AS LIMITS.

If there is that in us which perceives the DIFFERENCE, then that
point of perception is not LIMITED.

Using this as a basis then we have a series of perceptive levels,
from UNITY to extreme diversity.  Yet even in DIVERSITY, taking
even a single ultimate, there will always be (as in the MONAD)
the contrast of SPIRIT (perfection, wholeness, unity, wisdom,
law, universality, un-selfishness, stability, etc... all
universals)  vs.  MATTER (isolation, form, limitations,
selfishness, ignorance, etc...)   But DUALITY is insufficient.
The ability to perceive DIFFERENCE implies a THIRD FACTOR. It is
MIND.  The Power to perceive the contrasts that the interaction
of SPIRIT/MATTER continuously demonstrate.

This TRINITY in manifestation demonstrates the CAUSE -- it is
wisdomism, to coin a word.

Ancient sages said:  "Desire first arose in IT that was the
primal germ of mind.  And which Sages, searching with their
intellect, have discovered in their HEART to be the bond which
connects ENTITY with non-entity," or Manas with pure
Atma-Buddhi."   [ SD II 276,  Theos. Glossary,  p. 171 ]

This is an answer in terms of meta-physics, and it may prove
difficult to satisfy the purely brain-mind with it.  But it is
the only answer that satisfied me so far.  One has to acquire a
sense of permanence.  The survival of the REAL MAN -- the THINKER
as a concept is all-essential.  If we deny that, then in deed, we
become materialists and in a material universe there is no answer
as to CAUSE.  All causes begin in the non-material.

Perhaps this is why THEOSOPHY is so difficult fro some to grasp.
It takes out of the material -- which explains NOTHING into the
CAUSAL area -- which gives balance to the whole structure of our
being.

It is something that needs deep thought (meditation) about.

Why is a GOD invoked?  Are we important to IT, or is IT important
to us as a kind of marvelous or miraculous solution?  Or can we
think ourselves out of the dilemma?

Why do we need to be afraid of anything?  If we are one with, or
a part of -- the UNIVERSE, then we are automatically a part of
GOD-UNIVERSE.  It is one with us also.  Protection and
understanding are natural between parent and child.  No?  Should
any parent desire its child to remain ignorant?

Best wishes.


D. T. B.



-----Original Message-----
From: kymsmithSent: Thursday, June 22, 2000 4:56 PM
To: Theosophy Study List
Subject: Re: Dallas' e-mail

Dallas offered in another e-mail:

****************

This idea of MAHAT (the great) AKASHA or Brahma's aura of
transformation with the Hindus, of ALAYA, "the DIVINE SOUL of
thought and COMPASSION" of the trans-Himalayan  mystics;  of
Plato's "PERPETUALLY REASONING DIVINITY," is the oldest of all
the doctrines now known to, and believed in, by man...."   --HPB
:  THE  MIND IN NATURE  -  Lucifer Sept. 1896;  ULT HPB's
Articles II 220-221.

Everything relates, finally, to these.  Any question or answer in
theosophy relates to these for its basis.  We ought to make it a
habit of tracing the connections when faced with a puzzle.


*********************

But HPB does not answer what is for me the fundamental question:
Why is
there life at all?  Why are there people and grass and poopies
and animals
and sugar?  I mean, WHAT'S THE POINT?

"Tracing the connections" seems little help in this area.  Why
would the
"Soul of the Universe" need anything or desire anything?  To do
so seems to
suggest an 'imperfection' since, in human thought, perfection is
without
any need or desire.  And if 'God' is imperfect or has needs,
then, unless
there is something higher than God, there exists at this time no
such thing
as perfection.  Yet, many occultic writings speak about "Nirvana"
or
"Heaven" or the 'consciousness without need or desire' as if such
a 'thing'
or 'being' already is.  But I do not see any evidence or. .
.ahem. . .logic
in such a theory.

I partly subscribe to the idea that this universe was created by
a
'demi-god' and that helps a bit in dealing with the 'good vs.
evil'
problem.  But the philosophy of a 'demi-god' creator is like
reading a
chapter in the middle of a book (as it is with most
philosophies).  A
Jesuit priest once told me, after I asked the question why God
"creates,"
that God is Love and Love needs to exchange and co-create.  Ok,
but then
that throws out the concept of anything being in and of itself,
deathless
and eternal and self-content and self-fulfilled.

Until humanity can reconcile why God can be perfect and yet still
need - or
even possess the capability - to create, creature comforts such
as ice
cream will continue to be huge profit-makers.  Then again, if it
comes out
that God does have needs, many of us will turn to heroin to cope
with the
death of heaven.  To know that even God is vulnerable is. .
.well. . .you
know. . .and, not to mention that in order to fulfill a need of
God's,
His/Her/Its creations have, and continue to, undergo a great deal
of
suffering.  And THAT opens up another box of messy philosophical
questions.


Kym


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