Theos-Talk Archives (June 2001 Message tt00055)

Wednesday, June 13, 2001

Re: ICONOCLASM

Dear Friend:

You may recall that after Protestantism took hold in medieval
Europe, the reaction against the Catholic faith (brought on
mainly by impositions and charges made on the ignorant - such as
the purchase of "INDULGENCES" -- resulted in actual vandalism of
the churches and cathedrals. It was diring this period that
many of the images and statues inside and outside those precincts
were pulled down and destroyed. The Church called this the age
of iconoclasm.

H.P.B. wrote about IDEAS that deserved to be pulled down for the
reason that they are illogical and do not conform with the rules
and the LAWS of KARMA in the UNIVERSE, which universally protect
the rights of the weak and the innocent.

The Law of Karma works by insuring that anyone who deviates from
charity, honesty, and protection of those weaker and poorer than
themselves, receives eventually the full force and result of
their unfair treatment and deviation from the "straight and
narrow." We all know this innately. Our VOICE OF CONSCIENCE and
our INTUITION (from the Buddhi-Manas) both warn us when we are
about to be unfair to anyone. Why is this, and what does it
prove?

It demonstrates that inherent in us is a deep knowledge of the
way in which Nature is constituted and how it works. It shows
that there are TWO EGOS in Man: The Higher (spiritual - honest,
sincere, true, compassionate), and the Lower (Kamic - full of
selfish desires and passions).

If one desires to find out what these VIRTUES are, they are
briefly, the IDEALS OF TRUE LIVING. And these may be summed up
on a word: BROTHERHOOD. In a phrase: PROTECT the IGNORANT and
the POOR. The basis for this concept is the fact that in
manifestation the total SPACE of the UNIVERSE is made up of
Monads ( ATMA-BUDDHI intertwined) [S.D. I 289 (xix)].

I would say that THEOSOPHY is never iconoclastic. It merely
states again what the ETERNAL LAWS and DUTIES of all beings are.
When present practice is measured with those the "iconoclasm" of
such poor and faulty ideas becomes evident. Those who make such
comparisons are then the iconoclasts - I mean they destroy their
own false ideas.

The full value of Theosophy is realized when one finds that it
gives explanations that ill the gaps of ignorance we all have,
One of the greatest of these is to be satisfied with a statement
of the EFFECTS. Behind every "effect" is a CAUSE.

If we are to find out why we receive either accidents or benefits
for apparently no reason, we have to become acquainted with
Theosophical principles and concepts as these are directly
derived from the PRIMARY METAPHYSICS of our Universe.

There are three basic truths:

1. Every BEING regardless of its "form" is at SOURCE an
IMMORTAL. Every Being has a Soul (Mind) either in potential, or
in active existence at some level. Man's Soul is the MIND
(Manas). The "Forms" constantly change and are renewed as needed
during life (by the constant exchange of life-atoms and
molecules) by rebirth, and all is in reincarnation. But the EGO
(Buddhi-Manas) is always invariable and permanent.

2. The Entire Universe has always been ruled by LAW -
KARMA - which is just, fair, harmonious, and adjusts the least
disturbance. Effects follow causes in just measure, everywhere.
The end of a Manvantara is like the death of a body. After a
period of rest and assimilation of the spiritual advances made,
there is a REINCARNATION of the whole universe and of every MONAD
which was involved in this continuing process. At no time is the
entire universe TOTALLY in Maha-Pralaya.

3. The UNIVERSE exists for the purpose of the Soul's
evolution and eventual emancipation as it becomes ALL-KNOWING and
WISE with COMPASSION absolute. [ S.D. I 14-19 ]

Accordingly man has three states or planes on which the immortal
Soul/Mind that he is can operate:

1. the Spiritual World of Wisdom and Universal vision and
causality. TRUTH as FACT.

2. The Intellectual and psychic world consisting of the
eternal polarity of WISDOM ( Buddhi) and selfish desires and
passions ( Kama ). LEARNING. And,

3. The physical world of forms. [ S.D. I 181 ]

So teaches The SECRET DOCTRINE, as I read it .


Best wishes,

Dal


================================




-----Original Message-----
From: lisa a kolts [mailto:llkingston2@juno.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2001 3:59 AM
To: study@blavatsky.net
Subject: [bn-study] iconoclasm

First let me thank Reed for his confidence in me by asking me to
share in
the responsibility for moderating this study list. I hope to be
able to
continue the high standards of excellence laid down by those who
have
devoted much time and effort to make this "chat-list" the most
valuable
tool for Theosophy that it is.

Reed opened an interesting and provocative discussion with the
topic of
the Bamian statues. Let's expand that a bit.

Dictionary definitions of ICONOCLAST include:

1-"one who attacks conventional or cherished beliefs and
institutions as
being false or harmful"

2-"one who seeks to destroy, or opposes the use of images in
religious
worship"

Can we agree that HPB and thus Theosophy is certainly
iconoclastic
according to the first definition?

But what of the second? I find no evidence of advocacy for
pulling down
images of any sort. For that matter which is really the more
important?
Is the idea in the image? Can destroying the image alter the idea
or is
it more important to effect the minds of men.

Lets start with this.

Larry Kolts
Moderator
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