Theos-Talk Archives (August 2001 Message tt00290)

Katinka wrote, "I agree, the Dune books are great.

As for "We should use the medium of novels more". I think "we" (as in
people who ponder about the subjects we ponder) do that. There is a lot of
science fiction out there that incorporates ideas that we would call
theosophy. Whether the authors call it theosophy, is hardly relevant. Not
only Frank Herbert falls into this category, but so do Marion Zimmer Bradly
and Azimov, as far as I'm concerned. But "we theosophists" tend to limit
the theosophical movement to people who are actually members of a
theosophical organization.

" Such fools "we" are. (sorry, this is a hobby-horse of
mine). "



John: I wonder sometimes whether some authors or playwrights may actually
have been inspired by Adepts. One of the Mahatma letters speaks of a Mr
Bennett, saying that he was Their agent, though Mr Bennett was unaware of
that connection. In fact, he was an atheist, and was prominent in the
American "Free Thought" movement (neaming atheist).

There are several movies that come to mind as possible having been
inspired. My favorite is "Groundhog Day", in which Bill Murray has to live
the same day over and over until he lives it perfectly. To me, this seems
an illustration of reincarnation. "Babe" (the pig) might also have been
inspired. I read a newspaper article just today saying that many children
were inspired by that movie to become vegetarians.

British composer Cyril Scott, author of "The Initiate", also wrote a
book describing the Masters' influence on music through the ages. He says
that England had sunk into considerable depravity when Handel showed up and
became very popular. Handel's music had a purifying effect - so much so
that England went into a phase of prudishness. The counter to this was
Beethoven, whose music took one through every human emotion. And so on....