|
|
| [MASTER INDEX] [DATE INDEX] [THREAD INDEX] [SUBJECT INDEX] [AUTHOR INDEX] |
| [Date Prev] [Date Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] |
Apr 11, 2001 05:17 PM
by dalval14
|
Wednesday, April 11, 2001 Dear
Friend: One of the
first propositions of Theosophy is “ Something can not be made out of
Nothing.” Anything
that is in existence now, has a cause for its “beginning” and ahistory of its
own -- of its progress on the great and common evolutionary path, which leads
from the ignorance of potential “beginning” to the full WISDOM of the Sage, who
has investigated the entire Universe and knows it all (visibly and invisibly)
currently and in every detail of its ‘past.’ Theosophy
says that the plant always starts with a seed. If you
look at any plant you see the truth of this fact. So if you look for the beginning of a Universe, you start
with an earlier one of which this present one is the “child.” From the “atom” (and the such-atomic
particles and forces) to the furtherest extent of our perceptible GALACTIC
SPACE you will discover that Law rules everything. Each cause produces an exact result. We get
confused by the multitude of effects that flash across our perception and it
becomes difficult to identify and isolate any one of those -- this is because
the whole Universe and every being in it is united into a harmonious
whole. Separately if compared (in
spite of our similarities), we are a discordant and helter-skelter lot. Apparent chaos and lawlessness seems to
rule our so petty lives. Yet
behind and within our natures the harmony reigns and affords us a living space.
The theory
of the BIG BANG with which this tangible physical Universe is supposed to have
began is -- when all is said and done only an hypothesis. Theosophy states that instead of a
violent and causeless explosion of the PRIMORDIAL UNIVERSAL ATOM into heat,
motion, isolation and “cooling” there was very simply an awakening. Tis
awakening is comparable to the assembling of our own faculties when we wake
every morning to resume our daily tasks, work and responsibilities. Both consciously and unconsciously we
draw together our faculties and change our physical situation from repose to
the guided activity of Waking.
Consciousness floods through the may structures of our bodies, our
emotions, our minds, and our memory.
This is of course an oversimplification of many processes, which if
carefully analyzed are seen to impact and fit in and around one another. In agrand
way it is the same for a solar system, a Planet, or a Galaxy (like the Milky
Way -- made up of numberless solar-systems, comets, planets, suns, novae,
“dark” matter, meteors and other forms of substance ). Philosophically
it is said that SPIRIT (or perfection and Wisdom) always finds itself wrapped
up in “Primordial Matter.” Matter
is said to set real or arbitrary limits to environment. In matter as well as in Spirit are
stored (permanently) the memories of every experience we have ever had. The primary compound of SPIRIT/MATTER
is called a MONAD. The MONAD
is said to be an immortal being which is called the “Eternal Pilgrim” for the
reason that with it starts the whole evolutionary process in which we already
participate. At the core of
ourselves (as humans with an active and independent Mind) is a MONAD. Spirit-Matter-Mind is thus the
“life-unit.” It may be
conceived as the building block of the Universe and since it never dies, it
passes through experiences of many kinds, always acquiring greater
understanding of its environment and its own nature. Since it
is not possible to learn everything at once, this immortal pupil passes through
its own days and nights. Onemight
say that our life-time is for it a day.
Then the body becoming old and worn is set aside and a period of sleep
supervenes. This is a periodof
reflection and meditation. And
when the forces that induced this state are exhausted, a reawakening in a fresh
body occurs. But the processis
not hap-hazard. It is always
regulated by the law of Nature that adjusts all phases of interactive life so
that we have not only community growth and responsibility but individual
seclusion during which we review our own acquired experiences. Thislong
introduction is to show you have the philosophical pictures of our Universeand
our Earth dovetail with our own seemingly minor existence and work. Everything has its place. The
concept that we carry with us our own facilities and disabilities is a basic
one in Theosophy. Our bodily
makeup, for instance, is dependent on the quality of the atoms, molecules,
cells, and other structures that compose it, and which come and go all through
our life-time with an intelligence of their own, constantly filling gaps that
become vacated by other “life-atoms” and “Life Units” that pass into, through
and out of us all the time. A good
book on physiology will show you details of this process. We are
usually not conscious of our bodies until they fall ill, or tired and fail us
in some response. We occupy them,
and treat them (usually) as we would slaves. But the thing to remember is that they too are living
beings. And although we may call
them today “Monads of lesser experience,” they are immortals intheir own
right, and will eventually rise to the human stage when the progressive setof
tests conducted on a universal scale gives them the opportunity we now enjoy:
of studying nature voluntarily and examining her secret workings. The term
“Predestination” seems to imply a Being of compelling and superior power. A being that imposes arbitrarily a fate
on others. That may cause sorrow,
suffering, joy, pain, disease, elation, and that these swings of fate are
whimsical, uncontrollable (by us) and totally inexplicable. We then begin to believe we live in a
chaotic and lawless situation in which there is no place for our independent
and free choice, action or progress.
But is this logical in any way?
This
concept has been offered by a priesthood which stands to benefit from the
ignorance and the lack of ability to reason in their “flock.” I say if the priests know better,then
why not educate? Why perpetuate a
condition of ignorance and illogical stupidity? If they take refuge in the often quoted: “It’s the Will of god.” -- which
explains nothing -- then either they are deluded or they delude their
votaries. Theosophy opens the
whole situation for logical consideration. It does
this first by stating that although the body will die and be dispersed, the
SPIRIT/SOUL within is an immortal entity and perpetually reincarnates. Thus loved ones because of the force of
love, service, mutual assistance, and interdependence, will eventually
reincarnate together But
earlier we indicated that the Monads are all pupils, from the “beginners” which
have just emerged from the Universal MONADIC ESSENCE, through humanity (as a
stage of education) to the position of the Wise Sages who are able to assist
Nature in her perpetual work of cooperation. The
operation of this vast process (in which not a single “life-unit” is ever
forgotten or “discarded”) s handled by immutable and ever-acting just and
impartial laws. Fundamentally we
may say the LAW (of Karma - action and reaction) is always present, even inthe
most intimate and secluded aspects of our life -- when we think and feel
intently we evoke it. The Monads
that surround us are the repositories of our thought-feelings. We impress them. That impression is either of assistance
to them or it distorts them. They
leave us and take with them the impress we gave them, and after a while
according to their own laws and to the Great Law that controls all Nature they
return to us. They bring also the
return of the impressions we laid in and on them. Becoming thus “clothed” in our old vestures we are helped or
impeded by those impressions. It I
at that time we feel the impact of fate, or accident and the result may be
joyous or sorrowful. If from
this small survey, The ideas of theosophy are seen, then we may see we are
every moment creating our own future.
Changing our residence, or adopting some new work, does not wipe outthe
burden of responsibility we assumed when we impressed those Monads that came to
us for assistance, and trusted us to treat them fairly and constructively. Thus
instead of “PREDESTINATION” we are offered the continuous opportunity to
improve. We have to do the work
ourselves. We thus create our own
future. It is clear that themore
we know about Nature and her work, the better will we be able to make
choices. Life and Living now
assumes a position of great and valuable importance for us. Theosophy
adds to our understanding of life several things. 1. There is a universal urge, or purpose,
and that is to become WISE. The
whole of SPACE is our shared habitat -- we constantly depend on others for our
life (air, water, food clothing, housing, warmth, etc…) and we share them in
one ay or another with the rest. 2. Nature (the Universe) already contains
everything and all lines and laws of progress are available to those who seek
to find and use them. Naturelives
and works according to LAW. 3. Brotherhood is the main process that
places the cooperative and interdependence aspect of Nature right before usto
understand and to use. 4. Being immortals, and our learningbeing
continuous we are “brothers” not only to other humans and to our families, but
also to every least “life-unit” in or near us. We are their protective parents or “elder brothers,” for the
time-being. 5. Karma is the Law of evolution. It is fair, just, true, honest, and
demands that if we desire to become wise we must also become harmless to all
other things. Generosity and
charity are the prime qualities required of one who would advance in wisdomand
spiritual living. 6. We make our own “path.” We advance at the speed and in the
directions that we chose. 7. Sleeping and waking are the vibratory
changes that enable us to work and then reflect on what we have learned. We do this on a voluntary basis. No one can compel us to do
anything. The Planet we liveon
and our solar system, as well as the whole galaxy, have their vaster periods of
work and rest. But the underlying
immortal beings that we all are, ever progress forward to the ONE COMMON GOAL: UNIVERSAL SPIRITUAL PERFECTION. No period
of rest however long will have the effect of destroying or annihilating us as
MONADS., We are the ETERNAL PILGRIMS of our UNIVERSE. The only “predestination” we meet is that which we have
ourselves created by voluntary choice. I hope
this may prove to be of some help Best
wishes, Dallas ======================== -----Original Message----- In a message dated 4/11/01 3:00:53 AM
Eastern Daylight Time, subject:
progress/Progress?
|