Theos-Talk Archives (August 2001 Message tt00186)

Sunday, August 19, 2001


Dear Larry:

I agree wit all you write and thoroughly approve of independent
study. There is no other way that we can get at the truth of
things. I also agree that the TRUTH is the most valuable of our
commodities to offer, freely.

All contributions are aimed at mutual assistance. I am perfectly
sure that most real students are readers of and completely
familiar with both the KEY TO THEOSOPHY (HPB) and the OCEAN OF
THEOSOPHY.

My purpose in writing is not only to cover some specific item of
discussion but also to consider the wider audience we are in
contact with. Also to provide the interesting points that
theosophy has to offer for consideration. I am sure you do the
same.

Not everyone has the time or opportunity to cover all yet. But,
little by little as interest deepens and widens, more becomes
clear. We make it happen individually, each by themselves. No
one can stuff it into any other person. And no one ought to
accept another's views without rigorous examination.

So some points are made, not to limit any one, but to enfranchise
them -- as THEOSOPHY is designed to do.

As far as my studies go, covering Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism,
Christianity (various sects, including Mormonism) it appears
that THE BASIS of all of them is a great similarity in the realm
of ETHICS and practical life. What a developed priesthood has
don e in most cases is to obscure and blur the original prophetic
value of the reformer who came to revive the philosophy for his
people and era.

None of them suggest that this physical and personal life alone
guides and cements either the past or the future.

Reincarnation and the immortality of the SOUL-EGO is a sine qua
non. The 3 fundamentals are to be found in the basic teachings
of all the great religions. But first we have to secure an idea
of exactly what THEOSOPHY DOES COVER.

What are the responsibilities of our choices? What are they
based on? Where do they lead us? How do we affect others? Are
we clear, just, fair, charitable, and virtuous.?

Without that we have no basis for comparison or writing. Things
have a tendency to become flimsy fantasies and have little logic
or metaphysical basis to support them on a UNIVERSAL and an
IMPERSONAL SCALE.

I do NOT write for myself, nor do I intend to place my views as
PERSONAL SPECULATIONS (unless I so indicate.) What I write is, I
hope at most times, strictly in conformity with what Theosophy
teaches, and usually I can quote directly from the literature to
support comments I make.

I feel that all who adopt the onerous task of "moderator,
"commentator," or "scribe" need to be careful of their position
in regard to a presenting of the Theosophical Philosophy, as
they, for the time being, assume the responsibility for the
millions who will be following and will be influenced by anything
they may say.

If we take our own immortality and the idea of REINCARNATION into
account, whatever we may say or write now will be the guiding
principle we will meet in a future incarnation under KARMA.

Best wishes,

Dallas

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

-----Original Message-----
From: Larry F Kolts [mailto:llkingston2@juno.com]
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2001 6:05 PM
To: study@blavatsky.net
Subject: [bn-study] Re: Mormons and polytheism

Dear Dallas,

I appreciate your comments as usual. You are truely a major
champion of
the various concepts of theosophy. I value that!

I do fear, however, that sometimes we get our Theosophical
blinders on
and are less open than we should be.

Your post ends with:

> This is a brief description of what you will find in the KEY
TO
> THEOSOPHY (HPB) if you go and read it. There is far more
there,
> and most of it is very important. Similarly you can go the
OCEAN
> OF THEOSOPHY by Mr. Judge where you will find he gives the same
> information, but in another fashion. Both are available on
line
> through http://.www.blavatsky.net .
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Dallas
>

I have also read these book. Not anywhere near as long as you,
but I have
deeply and seriously studied them, along with others. Along with
the
precepts you mention are some other quotes.

Towards the very end of THE KEY, HPB writes:

"I spoke rather of the great need which our successors in the
guidance of
the Society will have of unbiassed and clear judgement. every
such
attempt as the Theosophical Society has hitherto ended in
failure,
because, sooner or later, it has degenerated into a
into a sect, set up hard-and-fast dogmas of its own. and so lost
by
imperceptible degrees that vitality which living truth alone can
impart.
You must remember that all out members have been bred and born in
some
creed or religion, that all are more or less
of their generation both physically and mentally, and
consequently that
their judgement is but too likely to be warped and unconsciously
biassed
by some or all of these influences. If, then, they cannot be
freed from
such inherent bias, or at least taught to recognize it instantly
and so
avoid being led away by it, the result can only be that the
society will
drift off on to some sand bank of thought or another, and there
remain a
stranded carcass to moulder and die." (p. 305)

William Q. Judge also has an interesting article on this entitled
"Dogmatism in Theosophy." Among other things he writes, "If our
effort
is to succeed we must avoid dogmatism in Theosophy as much as in
anything
else, for the moment we dogmatize and insist on our construction
of
Theosophy, that moment we lose sight of Universal Brotherhood and
sow the
seeds of future trouble." (Theosophical Articles Vol II p 221-223
for the
entire article.)

Along with this what about HPB's emphasis on comparisons and
analogies of
which she says in SECRET DOCTRINE vol I p. 116 "Everything in
nature
has to be judged by analogy."

Also what of HPB's concept of "self induced and self devised
efforts in
obtaining intelligence" (SD I:17)

I hope we can keep an open mind as we pursue this study of world
religions. We are at such an important threshhold of
advancement, it
would be a shame now to see it all crumble down around us.

Larry Kolts
moderator
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