Theos-Talk Archives (January 2001 Message tt00151)

Based on what Leon has said in his message, which is found below mine, new
students to Theosophy may find this series of articles, entitled "The Pursuit of
Self-Knowledge", helpful:
http://www.wisdomworld.org/additional/ThePursuitOfSelf-Knowledge/index.html

John DeSantis
(Compiler)

You may find a great deal of the Truth that you are searching for here:
http://www.wisdomworld.org/index.html

-------

leonmaurer@aol.com wrote:

> Mauri,
>
> You take such an awful lot of words to express your thoughts, which are not
> only "diffuse" but sometimes so contradictory that one finds it difficult
> figuring out how to respond. (Although lately, I notice it's improved
> somewhat.:-) But you certainly can ask the right question -- which, in this
> case I boil down to; Why can't theosophy be expressed in other terms or other
> symbols that can make it's inner complexity more evident to those that do not
> wish to search for the answers within themselves by their own "self defined
> and self determined efforts"?
>
> Of course, aside from the indictment that you would like to have the inner
> teaching handed to you on a silver platter -- actually, in one respect, you
> have already answered your question.
>
> The reason that you have to use roundabout, long drawn out, wordy and diffuse
> methods to express your own theosophical ideas -- which (with no intent to
> denigrate what you are attempting to say) generally results in vague
> indecision, inconclusiveness and, sometimes, confusion for the readers -- is
> that the English language, with it's paucity of esoteric meaning related to
> any of its words (that can only deal in limited, linear, sequential, and
> concrete logical mechanical, or architectural terms) will never be able to
> fully express the subtle intuitive ideas and that can lead to a true
> understanding of theosophy's basic "simplexity" (to use a word coined by a
> scientist trying to explain how ultimate simplicity can lead to infinite
> complexity).
>
> Isn't that why HPB had to write the Secret Doctrine using 1500 or more fine
> print pages and innumerable foreign words and inflectional tricks (to
> indicate words that could be intuitively "seen" with the inner eye as
> nonlinear symbols), along with a great deal of redundancy to explain even the
> basic fundamentals of theosophy? Or, why she and WQJ had to write thousands
> of more pages of articles further explaining those explanations, as well as a
> comprehensive glossary clarifying the meanings of the foreign words?
>
> Therefore, what need is there for any more words? Isn't it already obvious
> that theosophy's inner, esoteric meaning, which is non-linearly, non locally,
> and non-temporally (non-sequentially) multidimensional in nature, can never
> be entirely expressed in linear words and sentences? For the purpose of
> learning whatever one needs to know intellectually (before one can correlate
> that knowledge with what remains to be learned intuitively) I don't think
> that anyone could do any better than what HPB and WQJ have already done in
> almost infinite detail and multiple repetition\.
>
> So, what's the point in trying to repeat all this in e-mail correspondence
> (other than trying to restate particular teachings in our own words in order
> to clarify our own minds as well as answer the queries of others)... Since,
> any serious student who really want's to know can make the effort by studying
> deeply in the SD and other writings of HPB and WQJ in combination with the
> meditative practices necessary to awaken one's own direct intuition? On top
> of that, there are many advanced students in these forums who can easily
> answer (or at least further clarify) any direct questions that any student on
> a lower rung of the ladder might have.
>
> Besides, to further answer your questions; It's obvious that in any public
> (exoteric) teaching, much has to be left out or inserted in the form of
> "blinds"... Since, any written teaching that can lead one toward a thorough
> understanding of the "magical powers" or the nature of controlling the Will
> could be quite dangerous in the hands of those of a greedy or self serving
> nature who have not yet understood the essential unity and compassion that is
> necessary to maintain the harmonious progress of evolution for the benefit of
> ALL LIFE.
>
> Thus, trying to expand the teachings in writing further than what has been
> already done could be a manifest waste of time and effort (if not unwise).
> Such effort might be better applied to individual study of a private nature
> in the books that are given to us by Masters and transmitted by Adepts (e.g.,
> HPB and WQJ) in quite adequate "language of the age" (provided one
> assiduously refers to the theosophical glossaries to explain the meaning of
> foreign words the teachers were obligated to add to the basic English).
>
> So, who are we to compete with them -- other than to attempt to further
> clarify their teachings when direct questions are asked by beginning students
> who have already done their homework? And, usually, the best way to do this
> is to refer to the original teachings, stressing the moral-ethical
> implications, and let the student use his own intuition to comprehend the
> occult metaphysical meanings. (This is not to say that further
> clarifications in the form of scientific and logical analysis and synthesis
> using geometric and other mathematical symbolism, is not also appropriate.)
>
> This need for "blinds" and secrecy, of course, gives us a lead as to why the
> Ancient Masters had to use "oral" ("mouth to ear") teachings along with
> "secret" symbolical drawings and paintings to transmit the esoteric ideas to
> their "avowed" disciples. (Avowed -- referring to those students whom the
> teachers trusted would not, for selfish motives, improperly or harmfully use
> the deeper teachings that lead to applications of tthe so called "magical"
> processes.) For one thing, the language that was (and still is) used for such
> oral teachings was always the sacred languages of Sanskrit, or Hebrew, both
> of which, in their esoteric or cabalistic aspects, uses inflectional, and
> variable tonal (musical) chanting to give single words many different subtle
> meanings. Also, sound, being in itself a nonlinear radiative wave form, much
> like the original etheric "light" of primal emanation, reaches much deeper
> into the higher transcendental intuitive (Buddh-Manas) "field" nature of the
> listener than any written words can... This is in contrast to the written
> words which, when taken literally, can be interpreted only through limited
> linear, one, two and three dimensional conceptualizations... And which, by
> themselves, can sometimes retard us from arriving at an unlimited intuitive,
> nonlinear, coadunate, inner enfolded, multidimensional understanding.
>
> In addition, the Ancient symbology, some of it in the form of mandala
> paintings, for example -- complexly combine color (having 3 aspects of hue,
> chroma and shade) with organically, numerically and geometrically related
> forms and figures -- which together with the oral teachings, are capable of
> reaching deeply into our inner intuitive knowledge (e.g., Jung's "archetypal
> memories" which are basically stored in the Akasha) to express highly subtle
> esoteric and occult meanings.
>
> Therefore, even if we were given all this superficial knowledge in any
> language, we would still have to subjectively interpret the esoteric meaning
> for ourselves. That's why, it been said, that unless one can awaken the
> Master within (by, perhaps, recall of one's previous life's training as an
> occultist, or through a transcendental experience triggered by meditation, or
> an understanding practice of Raja Yoga such as Patanjali, both during and
> after thorough preliminary study of the written teachings) -- to arrive at
> the complete understanding of the hidden depths of the "secret" wisdom -- one
> must have a "living Master" teacher or "Guru" to GUIDE one's way through the
> labyrinth and side tracks in order to ultimately untie the "Gordian knot"...
> But, not, I presume, to TELL us the true nature of those truths themselves.
> For how can anyone describe to us the color and smell of a rose -- let alone
> the feeling of the "correlation of one's inner forces," or the "realization"
> of being one with the higher Self -- all of which has to be directly
> (subjectively) experienced for oneself? This also applies to the
> understanding of the psychical powers latent in man (which, those of us who
> chose to be occultists, were enjoined to investigate in the third object of
> the TM).
>
> As I see it, the theosophical teachings were given out on two levels... The
> primary one being more or less exoterically religiously oriented, and des
> igned to instill a conviction in a student's mind of the fundamental truths
> of theosophy as a rationale for the moral-ethical precepts along with the
> incentive to practice altruism, so as to be "better able to help and teach
> others." And the other, the esoteric teachings directed toward those who are
> ready to be initiated in the occult "mysteries" so as to be able to work on
> the higher planes in conjunction with the Masters. Of course, these occult
> teachings could never be disclosed in any public forums -- even if we had the
> language to do so.
>
> So, my suggestion for any new students is to stop guessing and trying to
> formulate or interpret theosophy further than the Masters, HPB and WQJ have
> already taken it, or trying to use linear language (that can only go off on
> tangents, lead nowhere, and add more to everyone's confusion) to speculate on
> nonlinear concepts that are best grasped intuitively. Such students might
> also be far better off, and learn much more by asking direct questions based
> on their study of the original teachings, or on their basic interpretations
> give by those advanced student/teachers (such as Dallas, Peter, Adelesie,
> etc.) who reference their comments directly with the SD or other writings of
> the Masters and Adepts.
>
> Further, my advice for all new students, for what it may be worth, is to
> follow the path laid down by the Masters and focus on self devised and self
> determined study -- along with deep meditation -- with the purpose of
> awakening the higher intuition (or Atma-Buddhi-Manas nature) to the deepest
> nonlinear, multidimensional teachings of theosophy -- that cannot be fully
> expressed in any linear language, symbolic drawing, or numerological
> sequence. Remember, that Theosophy, no matter how expressed in linear
> linguistic terms, always ends up in paradoxical uncertainties -- which can
> only be resolved by awakening one's inner, non linear, multidimensional,
> intuitive knowledge that emanates directly from the original source (located
> within every coadunate "zero-point" in the "auric space" of our own
> seven-fold nature). This can only come about by searching within by means of
> deep meditation practice (following the paths laid down in HPB's Voice of the
> Silence and Patanjali's Yoga Aphorisms) in order to attain the realization of
> ultimate occult theosophical truths that must forever remain purely
> subjective in impression and totally "Silent" in expression.
>
> I hope this gives some further food for thought -- (as well as for "silent"
> meditation in our own "private chambers":-)
>
> Incidentally, my personal attempt to exoterically explain (with a minimum of
> theosophical terminology) the esoteric meaning of theosophy was designed to
> specifically bring modern science and theosophy into a closer conformance...
> Not, primarily to teach theosophists per se (although the symbolical aspects
> could be helpful in meditative visualization of primal energy flows,
> correlation of forces, and the coenergetic field interactions) -- but to
> directly influence scientists to accept transcendental ideas and, through t
> hem, reach all other people for whom they are the current "gurus." This was
> guided by HPB's message to "write (our) own 'Secret Doctrines' in the
> 'language of this age.'"
>
> The aim, also, was to give us the tools to directly reach the minds and
> intuitions of those already caught up in the materialistic scientific
> viewpoint, and bring them closer to an understanding that science itself, as
> HPB predicted, is now on the verge of accepting the transcendental field
> theories of theosophy, which can eventually lead to a final Grand Unified
> Field Theory of Everything -- encompassing both metaphysical and physical
> science in perfect synthesis. This is evidenced by the slowly growing
> acceptance of superstring/M-brane theories that are getting closer and closer
> to acknowledging the theosophical concepts of coadunate, transcendental,
> multidimensional fields within fields within fields, etc., (1) and is, at the
> same time, coordinating relativity and quantum physics with each other --
> which have long been contradictory... (As Einstein said, referring to the
> indeterminacy theories of quantum physics, "God does not throw dice.").
>
> This is the revolution in thought, that HPB enjoined us (as "theosophical
> companions" working conjointly) to try to engender into the group mind of
> humanity during this new (and last) cycle of the "Theosophical Movement." It
> is my hope that many others among us might also join in this effort to bring
> scientific theosophy -- not as a religion, not as a new science, or new
> philosophy, but as a synthesis of them all -- into the mainstream of current
> thought on both secular and religious levels. This means, for those of us
> who are journalists, writers, directors, producers, etc. -- trying to bring
> these ideas into popular mainstream publications and other mass media. This
> could be one of the most effective ways that we can ultimately defeat and
> reverse the growing trend toward an increasingly materialistic and selfishly
> oriented world -- that could only lead to an ultimate worldwide catastrophic
> collapse... Which, judging by the rapid asymptotic acceleration of change in
> this minor Kali Yuga age, is becoming more and more imminent every day. This,
> however, is not to be taken as a "prophesy of doom"... But, as HPB said, if
> we do not succeed in at least tempering this trend -- Humanity could be set
> back "another million years of evolution" before the end of this century.
>
> LHM
> (1) http://members.aol.com/uniwldarts/uniworld.artisans.guild/chakrafield.html
> http://tellworld.com/Astro.Biological.Coenergetics/
>
>

SNIP