Theos-Talk Archives (May 2001 Message tt00071)

Alan,

You express your ideas in a very thought-provoking, helpful, and useful way.

You may or may not have read the series of articles that I provided links
for in posting number 1413 here, which posting was headed this way: "Some
History of our Movement & Organizations". If not, they may be of interest to
you. Since I already posted them here, rather than do it again, if you want
to check them out, simply use the feature that is found on each message
here, where you type the message number into a box, and click on the "GO"
button in order to get to the message.

Fraternally,

John DeSantis
(Compiler)
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You may find a great deal of the Truth that you are searching for here:

Wisdom World web site (Main Page):
http://www.wisdomworld.org/index.html

The Index page of the Introductory Book on the web site:
http://www.wisdomworld.org/setting.html

The page where "Additional" articles are steadily being added:
http://www.wisdomworld.org/additional/index.html

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alwilli wrote:

> Hello Mr Caldwell,
> Friday, May 11, 2001, you wrote:
> > WHO PLAYED THAT TRICK ON H.P.B.? THE PUZZLE OF "THE THEOSOPHICAL
> > GLOSSARY." by Boris de Zirkoff
> >....informative article snipped to save bandwidth.........
>
> Thankyou for the heads-up that not all one reads pertaining to
> Theosopy, especially that with HPB's name attached, is to be taken
> at face value. The naive and unwary are always in danger of falling
> into the pits dug by their own enthusiasm, their wish to believe.
>
> And I would fall into that class at the moment, because until now I
> would have honestly placed my faith in anything issuing from an
> established Theo printing house and even moreso in anything published
> under HPB's name.
>
> However, it's still a matter of concern that questionable material is
> issued in this way. No doubt there are reasons. But as a newcomer
> to Theosophy, having read Isis Unveiled, browsed the Mahatma letters,
> read through your account of HPB's life (the anecodtal compendium of
> references by her fellow workers); having read the abridged version of
> SD (though far too quickly with far too little pondering) to get a
> gist and feel, I am at a stage when fine discrimination is at a
> minimum because Im still struggling with the discrimination of the
> larger parts. And as far as I'm aware, there has been no credible
> debunking of any of that. Therefore matters such as the glossary are
> but quibbles (though important in their way, because wrong definitions
> could lead to wrong consequences in someone's thinking).
>
> Nonetheless this makes me want to pose a question to you all: Is
> anyone in doubt about the provenance or veracity of this teaching?
> Obviously not, otherwise you'd have hived off to seek elswhere.
>
> But there are always some who might hang around and sow little seeds
> of doubt hoping they might grow large in another's mind, so justifying
> their own doubts.
>
> I'm the last mortal to deny I myself have ever been guilty of this
> often unconcious negativism. However the life of Religion and Science
> - and Philosophy, the mother of them all - are rife with
> well-researched examples (IU) of just this pernicious "friendliness".
> And I think your account of HPB's life shows well-known cases of
> vicious jealously and reactivism which led people to lie, slander and
> twist the truth in an attempt to neutralise someone who, though she
> posed no physical threat, her ideas and thoughts struck such damaging
> iconoclistic blows at the very foundations of civilization (its
> acknowledged "treasure" of establishment thought and idea). To do this
> they often had to be very "picky" and seize on the minutest detail.
>
> But it appears that as many as culumniated her were matched by
> supporters who expended equal effort in research and dissemination to
> quash the falsities.
>
> All this then diverted, and now diverts, efforts to apperceive,
> apprehend and adhere to HPB's fundamental message. I understand that
> it is important to protect the standing of Theosophy and its founders
> so that the sly dogs of materialism cannot fill the pitcher of doubt
> and mistrust "drop by drop". So doubts must immediately be dispelled.
> It is also possible that I, and newcomers like me (may I speak for us
> all), are at a vulnerable stage; when misunderstanding, doubt and
> confusion have their best chance, so we appreciate any pointers to the
> possible minefields ahead.
>
> But the bottom line is and always (in my mind) will be this: Truth has a
> certain sweet taste. Trickery and ledgerdemain have a smug but
> unbelievable taste. False beliefs and religions, twisted philosophies
> and debased ideals and their like have an uncomfortable, unhappy,
> repellent taste.
>
> Nothing I have tasted yet, tastes so fine, so truly sweet, as HPB has
> written (any non- mis- or other not-understandings notwithstanding).
>
> Those who would feed on the food should do so, those who who would
> feed on the maggots, attracted in their cycle by the richness of the
> food, will do so, whatever you or I could do to avoid it.
>
> --
> Best regards,
> Alan
> mailto:alwilli@iafrica.com
>
>
>
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