Theos-Talk Archives (July 2001 Message tt00070)

Sunday, July 08, 2001

Dear Gopi:

No disagreements on your statements.

What I was trying to say is that we cannot define to others how
they ought to regard anything. But we can offer reasons (as you
have) for your own.

I did not try to say that one monolithic organization ought to be
formed. It probably won't happen. But as you say that which is
evident is that mutual respect exists more so now than say 50
years ago between all the various T. organisms.

The basis for unity is the ORIGINAL TEACHINGS.

We know that the Mahatmas (Masters, Brothers) certified they had
a hand in the writing of The SECRET DOCTRINE along with
H.P.Blavatsky. (Certificate received by Dr. Hubbe-Schleiden, and
published in PATH Magazine, Vol. 8, pp. 1 - 3.).

Both H.P.Blavatsky and W.Q.Judge claimed at various times to be
in direct contact with the Masters and their writings show that,
as far as I can determine. We also have the evidence of numerous
letters from the Brothers addressed to student as witness:
MAHATMA LETTERS to A. P. SINNETT, and in LETTERS FROM THE MASTERS
OF WISDOM (Series I and II) we have more given for us to study.


HOW SHALL WE RECOGNIZE TRUTH ?

As to other whose names you give, I cannot say, as some of their
writings at times are valuable, and at other times, quite
confusing to me, and in the latter case, they seem to lack the
clarity and directness I find in MAHATMA LETTERS . and in the
writings of H.P.Blavatsky and W.Q.J. But of course that is my
personal opinion. And it does not mean I have not read what they
wrote, and thought about it. I would say all individuals ought
to do that for their own sake.

Another index of value I use, is to compare monthly issues of
many magazines published by Theosophical organizations from
around the world. If one does this, then we may, individually,
draw conclusions as to worth and work being pursued in those
localities. The orientation is clear to all readers.

The situation and condition at this part of the cycle that began
with H. P. Blavatsky in 1875 is comparable I think to the
historical period (1st - 4th Centuries) when the Gnostic sects
were alive and working after the death of Jesus. If one studies
what little is left as a record of those we find that they
represent views taken from His saying that were selected by
various "leaders" to try and help their students to understand
aspects of what Jesus has taught.


LANGUAGES & LIBRARIES of the PAST

Take the example of the sources and languages of our past 3 to
4,000 years -- what remains to us of them, local reforms were in
local tongues, and these as they gained currency, (and were
seized and employed by growing priesthoods) were placed in the
more common languages current at the time and subsequently. The
situation current now, is that we can refer to traces of the
BASIC and ORIGINAL FACTS expressed as TRUTHS and Ethico-Moral
behavior -- and all with a common and singular ROOT BASE -- in
hundreds of versions of religious histories and tenets.

We need only remember the enormous body of Hindu and Buddhist
literature -- not all of which has been translated. In
retracing the paths of development, we are forced to deal with
ancient languages and their dialects. Some have disappeared, and
others have changed over the years (just as English is doing
nowadays). As a quick review, consider: Sanskrit (several
regional versions), Pali, Tibetan (several dialects), Singalese
(vast Buddhist Libraries were destroyed by invading Tamil
monarchs from South India), Burmese, Thai, Cambodian, Chinese
(Mandarin, Cantonese, and many other dialects -- (Ancient records
at the Imperial Library destroyed under several Emperors),
Korean, Japanese. Then there is Mongolian, Turkish (and
dialects), Persian (Farsi, Parsee, and Zend, and dialects),
Chaldean, Babylonian, Aramaic, Hebrew (several dialects), Arabic
(Sufi, Sunni, Shiite, Moorish, and other dialects); then Greek,
Latin, Egyptian [ Alexandria's Great Library was destroyed at
least three times, twice by invading Romans, and then thoroughly,
in the 6th Century, by the Islamic invader Omar. The Egyptian
inscriptions are still only partially deciphered. And when we
come to America we find the Conquistadors burned and destroyed
vast libraries, and other local languages were never written but
only oral traditions persisted, right up to the present. We
have: Mayan, Toltec, Aztec, Peruvian, Hopi, Iroquois, Cherokee,
Sioux, and a whole host of sub-dialects used in the Americas.
(And to these we can add the Christian versions: Catholic of
Rome (Latin, Douay, etc...), Eastern Orthodox (Greek, Russian,
etc...), Protestantism in English, German, French, and other
versions, Mormonism, the Quakers, Methodists, Baptists, and
innumerable sub-sects.)

Each of these contains a partial record available to us, not only
of the metaphysics and the communal lore of a sect or nation, but
also of the Ethical and Moral teachings of great reformers, or
"gods," who in the infancy of those nations, tried to reform
still more ancient faiths that had fallen into the traps of
literalism, dogmatism, orthodoxy and conformity (rites and
rituals). Liberalism gives room for individual growth.
Orthodoxy and dogmatism shackles one to the past. The free
student studies the past to secure from it what it retains of
value. He then becomes a practitioner of the difficult art of
application in his own daily life. His own wisdom increases, as
he learns how to distinguish "Head learning" (literalism) from
"Heart doctrine."

It is important in our valuing Theosophy and the work of
H.P.Blavatsky to see that there, she (and the Masters) worked to
fill gaps left in History. What we have been given are the
important ideas, as "flowers" have been culled to form a complete
bouquet for our present use. Thus we are given in a relatively
short space, information from all these past records and events.
It is shown to be consecutive and coherent.

ISIS UNVEILED and The SECRET DOCTRINE are full of the most
extraordinary correlations. Modern scholarship is envious and
cannot reconcile the fact that outside their Academies there
exists knowledge and wisdom which they have yet to encompass.
They also shy away from the concept that NATURE (the UNIVERSE)
has already everything IN PLACE so that life may proceed. All
they are doing is re-opening for examination and confirmation, of
Natures' "secrets." Their work is confirmatory and not novel or
discovery at all.

So, nowadays the various Theosophical bodies do comparable
things. None is either inferior or superior. All work for the
future of humanity that the false barriers of creedalism and
ignorance may be removed more quickly. Wisdom is n o one's
"property."

The only value to U.L.T. is its firm eclecticism. It imposes no
restrictions on any one who desires to participate in its work of
preserving and understanding the ORIGINAL TEACHINGS of THEOSOPHY.
I would say: All other writings (by those who followed
H.P.Blavatsky in time) may be treated as commentaries, and
valued as such. If we read H.P.Blavatsky's article WHAT IS
TRUTH? (H P B Articles I, p. 1) we will learn how H.P.Blavatsky
values EXPRESSIONS of the TRUTH.

The work and the help actually given to Theosophy by various
groups, and all students, will be valued by Karma. Our focus is
on what we can do to help.

Do you subscribe to the magazine published in Bombay: THE
THEOSPHICAL MOVEMENT? If so, then there is a worthy definition
of U.L.T. and its objectives and Declaration printed as an
"Editorial" in the June 2001 issue (just received here). If any
one desires to read this, let me know and I shall arrange a
reprint.

Better still, subscribe to THE THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT
40, New Marine Lines,
Mumbai, 400,020, INDIA
[ $ 12.00 / YEAR ]



Best wishes,

Dallas

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

-----Original Message-----
From: Gopi C----
Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2001 9:27 PM
To: study@blavatsky.net
Subject: [bn-study] Re: FW: RE: Esoterism

Dear Dallas,

Even though I do not claim to be an authority on Theosophy in any
shape
or form, I am not new to Theosophy. I agree with your comments
that you
so kindly took time to put together. However, they do not differ
much
from my comments.

" One need only read what they wrote to see the basis of their
lives and
actions. This has to be done first hand" There is no question
about it !
I definitely agree that I am ultimately responsible in deciding
what I
personally go along with and what I do not, yet it is not for me
to judge
them on the basis of what a third person says about them. They
all worked
a great deal and were true Theosophists and expressed in
different ways.
They all need to be recognized as such.

I do not say that all of the T organizations should be dissolved
and form
a monolithic organization, but I do recommend that they all have
mutual
respect and joint commitment for the good of T. I also suggest
that there
be a new push to make the T knowledge be available to common man
by all
of the organizations with a joint commitment and agenda to do so.
This
can not be done on the basis of ' I am bigger than you' or ' I am
better
than you' or ' I know more than you'. It has to be done on a more
inclusive basis. I think this is a great forum to do it from.

Ultimately, when the student is ready, teacher appears. I found
that to
be true. That is the reason why I am so insistent upon the truth
about
Masters. Once that happens the truth is not that complicated.
Theosophy
helps a great deal in getting ready and I am greatly indebted to
it.

Thanks
Gopi