Theos-Talk Archives (August 2001 Message tt00283)

Thursday, August 30, 2001


Dear Jerry

I have made no such distinctions. And how can one define them for accuracy?

For example we can describe the physical properties of anything selected.,

But what makes it the way it is?

Where are the rules and the laws and common bonds whereby everyone is
enabled to investigate and arrive at their own conclusions?

Now that is what I call esoteric and occult. All the “Principles” except
the physical are “esoteric” and “occult” to us I think. Our feelings,
emotions, thoughts, doubts hopes, fancies and suspicions are all immaterial
and invisible except to the INNER EYE of the REAL MAN and he (or IT) is
WHAT ?

Now if you think that THEOSOPHY is incapable of making a fair description
and assessment of any proposition, then indeed you have classified it (in
your mind) among the various sects or fancies of our world.

I see far more depth to it than that. But I am not in any position (because
my own knowledge is very limited) of attempting to write an ISIS UNVEILED or
a SECRET DOCTRINE.

If we read and understand what is attempted there, the we will benefit, I
think. But if one prefers to develop, one’s own speculations, studded with
doubts, suspicions and inconclusiveness, then indeed it becomes difficult
for us to correlate. And this is NOT aimed at either you or Mauri, but also
at myself, for anything I write as a result of my study and thought is
obviously based on my own opinions and understanding of the principles and
fundamentals that Theosophy displays for us to study.

Here are some of them -- as an example:


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

3 Transcendent and 7 Human Principles = Total 10

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

1. NON-MANIFESTED ABSOLUTE


2. MANIFESTED DIFFERENTIATED


1. SPIRITUAL HIGHER SPIRITUAL MAN ATMA-BUDDHI-MANAS & KARMA

and

2. PHYSICAL LOWER PERSONAL AND PHYSICAL MAN the LOWER 4

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

TABLES to check out
------------------------------------------------------


S D I 181 Table Triple Evolutionary Scheme



W Q J Articles I 298-9 The SEVENFOLD DIVISION



SECRET DOCTRINE II 596 Table HUMAN & COSMIC Principles
S D II 593, 599; NATURE &
HUMAN
S D I 157 200, 242-6,



SECRET DOCTRINE I 157 Table Theos. HINDU & VEDANTIN



SECRET DOCTRINE I 200 Diagram Rounds, Globes, Races, 3 & 7
FIVE YEARS OF THEOSOPHY pp 92 -123



SECRET DOCTRINE II 593 Table Human Principles & PHYSICAL



S D I 157 Table "Esoteric Buddhism" (book) classification
S D I 157 VEDANTIC Hindu Classification
in terms of
Koshas (vehicles)


H P B I 494 Table Rupa & Arupa Lokas (Forms & No-Forms)


S D I 157 Table TARAKA RAJA YOGA classification
Consciousness
H P B II 194-5 Taraka Raja Yoga classification discussed



S D I 242-246 Jewish KABALA Classification
S D II 630, 633 Kabalistic & Egyptian compared
PATH I 241 (H. P. Blavatsky on these )
T Glossary 377-8 Kabalistic & Christian Principles compared
S D I 375; II 57, 128 Aryan & Semitic
S D II 632-3 SANSKRIT & KABALA compared



PATH Vol I 240 Christian and Hindu Principles compared



Key 91-2 135-6 175-6 Tables of Principles and faculties



H P B Articles II p 285 EGYPTIAN Principles explained
and listed
S D II 632-4
PATH I 241



H P B Articles II p 233 Article on Classification of
principles


Key pp 95-6 GREEK & Theosophical Principles


S D II 759 MAZDEAN ( Zoroastrian, Persian)


H P B Articles II 348 CHINESE classification Principles
discussed


S D I 177 ELEMENTALS


S D II 113 ALCHEMY

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


If you go through the THEOSOPHICAL GLOSSARY carefully you will
find a surprising number of definitions given to the various
"Principles" as named in the various theogonies. It is well
worth abstracting them for student reference after showing how
they related to any one system.

------------------------------------------


But if you desire to choose some other designations then you have truly
“lost” me.

Dal

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

-----Original Message-----
From: Jerry S [mailto:gschueler@earthlink.net]
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2001 6:24 AM
To: Theosophy Study List
Subject: RE: ULT/esoteric/exoteric


<<<< All you need to do if you desire to discover what is “esoteric” is to
patiently go through The SECRET DOCTRINE and ISIS UNVEILED and look for
statements like: “The esoteric philosophy states…” “Occultism teaches…..”
etc. >>>

I can't agree with the above comment, and I will try to explain why.

Dallas, there is "esoteric" and "esotericism" which are quite different from
"esoteric tradition" and "esoteric teachings" which are also quite different
from "esoteric section" the latter pertaining to an inner Theosophical
organization. Your response, while I know to be well intended, addresses
esoteric tradition or esoteric teachings, and yes these are found in the
core teachings of Theosophy. However, Mauri and I were talking about the
first - just plain esoteric.

While talking about his book, the Esoteric Tradition, de Purucker said "It
is esoteric because few have as yet understood it; it is traditional because
it has been handed down from immemorial time." (Wind in the Spirit p 30).
Also, "This is what the great sages and seers taught: an open or outer
teaching and an inner or hid teaching" (p 139). And in that book he says
"Theosophy is not infrequently spoken of by its students as Esotericism or
the Esoteric Philosophy, when reference is made to its deeper, more
recondite, more hid, and more difficult doctrines ... Esotericism,
therefore, reveals the truth; exotericism - that is to say, the outward and
popular formulation of religious and philosophic doctrines - re-veils the
truth." (ET Vol 1 p 35). Blavatsky herself simply calls it "hidden, secret"
(KEY, p 331).

Now, when we use the term esoteric, do we just mean it in the sense of
keeping a secret? Only in the sense that it can't be put into words without
possible misinterpretation so that only a person who already understands the
concept will understand the words.

Donald Lopez quotes the famous Buddhist Atisha (in The Heart Sutra
Explained) as saying "Being secret or not being secret exists in the mind;
in actuality there is no difference in what is taught. The Teacher does not
have a closed fist." Here the "Teacher" refers to Buddha, but the idea is
true for all teachers including Blavatsky. They teach on levels because
students are naturally already on levels, not that they deliberately teach
one thing to one student and something else to another. A valid teacher will
not hold material back. Blavatsky's works, if she is a valid teacher, must
be subject to interpretation by her students on several levels (possibly
seven?).

And so, the bottom line, the Theosophical core teachings are subject to a
literal interpretation which is exoteric, and an inner hidden interpretation
which is esoteric. That is what I was trying to tell Mauri, and no one can
simply read Blavatsky and understand the esoteric meaning behind her words
unless they have directly experienced what she is saying.

Jerry S.
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