Theos-Talk Archives (August 2001 Message tt00213)

Thursday, August 23, 2001

Re: The value of advice.


Dear Christie:


Nothing ought to be taken on face value.

Anything that any one offers is but evidence of their work and
research. But, that may be biased. It is very important to
study for yourself and retrace those steps, or discover new ones,
which either support or refute opinions.

This is the view of Theosophy. We have to be "independently
devoted" to TRUTH. And we alone can determine if some fact is
opinion or an expression of TRUTH. Truth is that which is common
to all. Hence H P B said once that "common sense" was to be
always used. She called Theosophy: "Glorified Common Sense."

Theosophy assumes that there is in each of us humans, as also in
every "form" of matter, anywhere an immortal point of LIVING
SPIRITUAL SUBSTANCE. Taken all together this means the whole
Universe has always been, is now, and always will be at it root
DIVINE.

All forms that are manifested have at center a living sentient
MONAD ( Technically, the Monad in manifestation is a duality of
intertwined SPIRIT and PRIMORDIAL SUBSTANCE -- ATMA and
BUDDHI. And, with it (this dual Monad), is associated the MIND,
(this now makes it a Triad) -- which (the Mind) can see both
SPIRIT and MATTER, and make its own judgments.) Because of the
independence of MIND in each Human Monad, it is clear we have to
use it carefully. We have, to see clearly, to remove as far as
we can, all coloring of selfishness, or personal opinion and seek
for impersonal and universal expressions of the best way to think
and act.

And these many components of Nature we see around us, belong in
their entirety to the Universe (to which they contribute and give
"form") are really spiritual beings clothed in matter. Each is
experiencing, at their own level, individually," increments
along the long "Path" to eventual COMPLETE WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE.
This the cause of SUPREME PERFECTION is the goal of human
development over many reincarnations, and the effort culminates
with that achievement if faithfully pursued. But this pursuit is
in fact that of UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD -- the prime object of the
THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT .

We, as eternal Pilgrim-Monads, using human bodies, are such
"spiritual "points of Life (MONADS) and, we have come to the
mid-way point of evolution. So far "natural impulse": has
dominated our evolution as physical forms. Now we (as humans)
have Minds (encased in very sensitive and cooperative physical
forms -- that make up the marvelous complexity of our physical
bodies) and from here, our individual progress is dominated by
the FREEDOM to CHOOSE our own future destiny. The Mind is always
free. It can accept "influence" from another Mind, but in doing
so it CHOOSES to do so. We can accelerate or retard our own
"progress."

Theosophy thus holds: Each moment adds or subtracts from the
path of individual progress. But we are all on it and hence the
concept of UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD is deemed to be of the utmost
importance, for ourselves and for all others around us..

We "select" ourselves. Everyone lives in this which is an "equal
opportunity" Universe. We always "get: what we "deserve" from
it. It is to use an expression from football a "level field."
So we are in the position (enviable or unenviable OF SELECTING
OURSELVES. This may or may not appeal to us. One important fact
to realize is that we ought to study Theosophy carefully 9 Try
to master what PB teaches in the KEY TO THEOSOPHY (HPB) -- or
Judge in the OCEAN OF THEOSOPHY, and thus equip yourself with the
information those books give. That is basic, so far as
intellectual acquisition goes. Now comes the tough part. How
should this information be applied to ones' self and to our life
with others around us? It is the practical application of
Theosophical virtues and ethics that really gives us growth.

Now this concept may not be easy to deal with, and there are many
questions that can be asked and conclusions that need to be
rechecked. That is what this "list" and "exchange is for. You
will get responses like this one, but they have to all be taken
on "advisement." No one is "superior" to the DIVINE SELF within
you. Let your DIVINE SELF then rise and act through you.

Powers are "given" by NATURE -- the UNIVERSE as a vast and
all-inclusive SPIRITUAL WHOLE. No physical or "group" selection
does any one any good until they have a mastery of theosophical
principles and objectives, and those are acquired (and to be
evaluated independently) only by individual study. THERE ARE NO
SHORT-CUTS. Wisdom is never for "sale." Wisdom arise from
within as it is everyone's treasure, and the thick scales that
hide it from our personal physical brain mind view, have to be
removed by study and the application of brotherhood. Ask
yourself why anyone should be "given" powers and wisdom if they
are not ready to use them unselfishly and for general benefit?
Again true WISDOM is never selfish, nor an it be used
selfishly -- for if that is attempted those forces and powers
become evil (limited by selfishness) and become the obsessors of
those who transgress. Karma can never be something that we can
escape from. Karma rules every least aspect of the Universe, as
well as the greatest and we are as Karmic agents, Creative
beings. We "create" our own future through our choices.

Best wishes,

Dallas


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

-----Original Message-----
From: my email [mailto:christina@md.prestige.net]
Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2001 9:41 AM
To: dalval14@earthlink.net
Subject: RE: [bn-study] Re: RELIGIONS and their SOURCES

Dallas,

First i want to ask, if i readily accept this information, take
it at face
value [considering its source], am i falling short of learning
about truth
by not investigating the ideas further...? To validate much of
the
information would mean i need to access the references, and see
the words in
print. What do i gain from that? Or is my intuition enough
here? Please
answer, as it is important to me to receive a response to this
[no question
is dumb, right?!]



Onto my next question:

How were/are those "chosen few" selected to know secret truths?
[I am NOT
referring to other religions, only true wisdom] Are those
selections made
from monestaries, or people who spend their lives either
meditating or
helping others through charity work? Surely there has to be some
kind of
ethical or moral criteria met..? Or to they just KNOW through
their powers
of WISDOM?



-----Original Message-----
From: dalval14@earthlink.net [mailto:dalval14@earthlink.net]
Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2001 8:51 AM
To: my email
Subject: RE: [bn-study] Re: RELIGIONS and their SOURCES


Monday, August 20, 2001


Dear Christina:


Thanks for what you say, and the use you derive from what I offer
of the Theosophical philosophy. It is Theosophy that is
valuable, and not what I say. I can only open doors, or speak of
my experiences. Others have different ways of expressing the
same things. We are (all of us) a band of seekers, of pupils,
looking for the "light of wisdom that shines for all." No one
owns it. No one can be a "priest" to others. He has enough
troubles of his own to try and keep himself "straight".

As to the perversion of religion. It occurs whenever men who
learn the texts well decide to use that knowledge to control
others. It is selfishness on their part that they do this. It
is the attraction of "power" and really is the abuse of
knowledge. It is an abuse of psychological power and it
eventually leads to a reform and to the chaos of uncertainty. If
you want precedents, look to a good historical account of the
times of Jesus in Judea, of Krishna in India (5,000 years ago)
of the Buddha in India ( 2,500) years ago when the brahmins had
perverted Hinduism. Lao Tse in china and Pythagoras in Greece
and Italy also came at times of chaos when the people needed
moral and ethical advice. Our situation and the change in cycles
brought us Theosophy -- which is designed to explain the
rationale behind the moral and ethical injunctions. The
question: WHY should one do GOOD? Needs answering. And to do
this properly one has to invoke a far more accurate knowledge of
the world we live in and how it is constituted.

So we are given the IDEAS of SPACE, of UNIVERSAL just and fair
LAWS, of BROTHERHOOD, and of the immortality of the Spirit/Soul
which leads us all to Reincarnation as a process whereby our
pupilage is every growing and expanding until in the end we reach
the Universal GOAL and that is broadly said to be SUPREME
PERFECTION, or ALL-KNOWING-NESS.

In every organized religion you will find that obstacles are
raised to all freedom of inquiry. "Faith" and "Blind belief" and
the authority of the priests are invoked. If one were to
characterize it somewhat crudely we might say: "Keep the
people ignorant, and reserve all knowledge to the chosen few."
Create a "Personal god" who can be propitiated, praised and
prayed to, and sometimes what is asked for, happens. We don't
speak of the times it doesn't." The priest then claims to have
a special channel tuned into God's ear, wherein he whispers on
your behalf, if you pay him enough. And you, knowing, you may
have "sinned" seek to propitiate both priest and his "Gold," so
that KARMA will not strike you -- but in your secret heart you
also know this IS NOT TRUE. I have seen many friends who brought
up in some religion, and coming to Theosophy recoil from its
clear enunciation of facts. They prefer to retain the bondage of
"belief" and trust in the "priests." One said: " I'm sure there
is the BIG FELLOW up there, and I am sure HE is watching me." It
takes a lot of bravery to become a seeker for TRUTH.

As to a "darkness" brought on by the total authority of a
religion: We witnessed this historically in Europe from the 5th
to the 16th Century. We are still saddled with science that is
common knowledge, and religion which contradicts it in many of
its discoveries. We are still confused by it. It is found to
prevail in other countries and faiths as well. How can one
resolve the confusion. One of the ways in the study of ancient
RELIGIONS by going to the original texts if available. This
comparison revels that they originated in one SOURCE and then
diverged, because of the pride and demand for authority by the
men who became their priests.

Most are aware that there is an invisible and causative side to
Nature (Science investigates this all the time)..[ One of the
hardest things to become convinced of is: NATURE HAS ALREADY
ESTABLISHED ALL THE COOPERATIVE LAWS AND SYSTEMS WE LIVE UNDER.
Without that we could not even live a moment. If we do, then it
is due to the minute and comprehensive, interconnected
sensitivity of this LIVING UNIVERSE and particularly OUR WORLD.]

The laws and answers Science discovers do not tally invariably
with the dogmas of various religions.. People are uncertain.
The only remedy is to study and discover for ones' self. But
this takes time and effort. Many decide to give up the effort.
So undecided, they may conclude to rely on the things they were
taught early in life at home and at school and in the temples and
churches. And thus they stop thinking and inquiring into CAUSES.

The stake is: WHAT IS TRUTH? The practical answer is: WHAT
HAS NATURE ALREADY IN PLACE ? Next: Can WE find out? Next:
Are we going to devote our lives to finding out? Lets sit down
and make up a check list of what we are sure of and what we need
to find out about. The results will astonish. Next, lets
determine what is essential and valuable. Take any tow people
and do this in a serious, honest and determined manner to
discover not superficials, but some real basic NEEDS. The
coincidence of many items will be astonishing.

Theosophy does not establish any church or sect or religion. It
demands that we exert ourselves and personally seek for the TRUTH
of all things. How can this be said more forcibly?

Each one of us has two Egos -- strangely this is because in
humankind the descending God meets the ascending animal. Wisdom
and folly meet and mingle, and the Mind of man, which is found to
be intermediate between the two, swayed by truth one way and by
folly, disguised as personal pleasure -- selfishness -- on the
other.

The main question before all of us in our personal situation is:
What shall I do. The "inner God" says: "This is the law of
brotherhood -- treat all others as family -- serve them
impartially whenever you can." The voice of selfishness says "
How can I guard against future calamity unless I hoard up a fund
to cover lean times? Why should I abridge my pleasures to help
anyone else, especially "strangers?"

What does Theosophy offer: It speaks of the great universal
purpose of becoming wise and using our wisdom to help others. It
says that the God within is an immortal being and has
reincarnated millions of times already. It says that every
thought and feeling we generate, every choice we make sticks to
us and brings in the future the exact result of the effort we put
into it. If we did good we receive good, if we did ill, we
receive pain and suffering -- not because nature wants to torture
us, but because we first tortured and pained some of its
components, and we need to be educated into the ways of
brotherhood and cooperation. This it's the uniform law of Karma
(action and reaction) and works the same for everyone. It is
just, fair and inescapable.

We therefore have a very few great ideas: The UNIVERSE IS ONE
WHOLE. In effect it is GOD INCARNATED IN AND THROUGH ALL THINGS,
near or far, small or large, here or at the end of the Galaxy.

The ONE LAW is fairness and justice to all. We all progress
together, each atom is intelligent and is also an immortal. And
it is on its way to ultimately becoming a human -- no matter how
long it may take. We, each one of us have pursued that route.
What lies ahead? It is the ultimate perfection of
ALL-KNOWINGNESS -- one can call it the goal of SUPREME
PERFECTION. This is not exclusively ours but something that is
shared by all. The process of reincarnation brings the "animal
consciousness" (that is personal desire, folly, and selfishness)
to eventually see the value of cooperation and wisdom. It, (the
animal-consciousness) then determines in a part of itself that it
will try to achieve this by a process of self-discipline and
self-reform. This is where we as humankind are -- all of us.

As to thinking about ourselves: We are dualities to the extent
that the ascending animal consciousness meets in each human a
"God-like" consciousness that has "descended" to help it. It is
the "animal-like" consciousness (a mixture of desire, passion,
selfishness, and pride) which is our greatest barrier. We all
have it.

But we also have the VOICE OF CONSCIENCE and our INTUITION which
are the "voice of the Inner God," descending to help. What it
does is to inspire us and to make us feel that we can achieve
supreme Perfection. We can transform ourselves and from the
bondage of desire and its many follies, we can ascend to the full
range glory and power of a "God-like" survey, in the power to do
good to others. For this reason alone Theosophy is said to be
UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD in ACTION.

We have to voluntarily decide to do this. We can only raise
ourselves, all the while extending a helping hand to others who
may need it. It we seek to debase the power of Good, then we
create additional barriers and some very "bad" Karma for our
embodied selves.

Mind you, this is all for consideration. Theosophy does not
force anything on any one. It offers propositions and ideas and
leaves the recipient entirely free to use or reject them.

Best wishes, as always,


[This is what I had written and not sent. Just found it in
"drafts"]

Dal

========


-----Original Message-----
From: my email [mailto:christina@md.prestige.net]
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2001 5:09 PM
To: dalval14@earthlink.net
Subject: RE: [bn-study] Re: RELIGIONS and their SOURCES

Dear Dallas,

You said, "The jargon invented by the churches does not begin to
explain
things in psychology as theosophy does, nor are they impersonal
and assist
inquirers regardless of race, creed or sect."

Which would describe those jargon inventors...i made up the title
of
pro-religion activist, as it seemed to best describe those
religious sect
type people. I use Pro-religion, for those that subscribe to a
faith that
is not their own, let alone not one that is universal; and i use
the word
activist for the fact that most "church-goers" seem to have an
easy time
spreading the word about how the rest of humankind should live
[not that they
practice what they preach]. They also find it easy to change
from one
denomination to another, when they find it more convenient to
alter their
beliefs to go along with their present lifestyle.

So, my intention was to take a good guess as to what exactly
makes a person
want to believe in something that is not universal and
impartial...

...and i can only figure that it's either selfishness or fear [or
both] at
the foundation of the behaviour. Why else would their be so many
unsatisfied
people searching for...something...they don't quite know
what...the lost
sheep...

People must not even trust themselves, or think not so highly of
themselves,
to not know the difference between what is true and what is not
true.

What are your thoughts on this?

Dallas, i am always grateful for the lessons you impart in
responding to
e-mail messages...i wish to thank you for all of your insights,
and info
references...

... i do appreciate what you have to say on all matters, as it is
evident
that there are many principles we share as being truthful. You
are much
wiser than i, [of course you've been familiar with theosophy for
much more
of the present time] and i value your thoughts and opinions as
ones from a
mostly universal perspective. I consider you an authority on
theosophical
matters, and will always give due consideration to your inputs,
whatever the
subject matter.

Fondly,

Christina

=o)



-----Original Message-----
From: dalval14@earthlink.net [mailto:dalval14@earthlink.net]
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2001 3:13 PM
To: my email
Subject: RE: [bn-study] Re: RELIGIONS and their SOURCES


Sunday, August 19, 2001


Dear Friend:

I am not sure exactly what a "pro-religion activist" does or
says.



Theosophy is not a creed or a belief. It merely exhibits (by
unveiling them) propositions and principles that any one can find
either around him in the World (and Universe) or within his own
self. These are everyone's property.

At best Theosophy offers keys to a better understanding of
existence, regardless of the theories of science, or the dogmas
of religions. Theosophy means "god-like wisdom." If we take it
that "God" pervades all nature, then it cannot be a "HE," but it
can be an "IT." The UNIVERSE is God. The Laws of the Universe
express in all their complexity the life-support systems that
underlie our lives and our community -- I mean, the Earth, and
the Solar System as a part of the Universe.


-i cut the rest