RE: [bn-basic] RE: Moderators consider: 3 FUNDAMENTALS, 3 Evolutionary schemes, 3 GOALS of Evolution
Sep 12, 2001 06:36 AM
by dalval14
Wednesday, September 12, 2001
Dear Daniel H.:
I will try to offer for your consideration some of the concepts that I believe Theosophy has offered us all. Of course, you must understand that thereare many expressions of it, and this is purely my own way of understandingit.
As I see it: Theosophy is not a creed or set of beliefs (or hypotheses) in which its statements are to “believed” on “faith” i.e. unproven.
It claims to be a statement of facts in nature -- and leaves those which weare not aware of to be proved or disproved by us. It always gives each of us entire freedom to inquire into everything. Nothing is “taboo.”
The method of its formulation has been in existence in some form or another(since the very beginning of man’s capacity to think independently-- and that is millions of years ago) to make statements of the rules and laws that underlie Nature’ processes. It recognizes that not all those laws have been taught in either religious bodies or in educational institutions that follow the discoveries and hypotheses of Science. But since it is very ancient it claims to be the source and origin of all the present world religions and sciences --- and says that if we trace eachof those back to their foundations, we will find them to be the same teachings as are pour forward in modern “Theosophy.” [ Theos = godlike; Sophia = wisdom ]
In other words it looks for verifiable Truth. and expects all who encounterit to examine, test and verify (or the reverse) its doctrines.
It claims to be very ancient--as an expressions of the discoveries of a band of Sages and their disciples-- (see SECRET DOCTRINE I 272-3, on its antiquity and methods of investigation and recording). It gives to, as a basis, and recognizes the freedom of the individual.
It claims to be wise because it has subjected itself constantly to rigorousexamination -- and this process continues wit all of us today, as every pupil is expected to test and prove to themselves the accuracy of the Theosophical statements.
In what way, then does it differ from Science or Religion.
1. It has no dogmas,
2. It discourages any “authority,” “blind belief” or “faith.”
3. It recognizes the freedom of each individual Mind/Soul to independently investigate all aspects of knowledge, and especially those which seem to be novel or difficult to understand.
4. The first Proposition itadvances is to consider SPACE as UNIVERSAL and unlimited.
All forms, all Beings, all Intelligences occupy and have a place for their existence in the ONE UNIVERSAL -- SPACE.
5. The Second Proposition is that the Universe and all beings of any and all degrees, visible or invisible, interact according to LAWS; and these LAWS cannot be altered or changed by any Being or Intelligence (including a non-existent “PersonalGod”), no matter how powerful or “advanced.”
6. The Third Proposition isthat every Being in the Universe shares in the Highest and most Wise aspect of knowledge -- as this is one of the all-pervasive and unlimited aspectsof SPACE.
The name given to this Highest aspect of Manifestation is SPIRIT, ATMA, andvarious other names meaning the ONE ALL AND ONLY ONE. In no religionhas it ever been given a “NAME.” This is another reason for Universal Brotherhood.
7. Whether we consider an “atom” (or the minutest sub-atomic particle), or the entireSPATIAL VOLUME -- the greatest that our minds can conceive -- all is ALIVE, has the power to record experiences, and has an individual undying CONSCIOUSNESS, and an Intelligence of its own. To be brief. Every FORM has at its core an immortal and undying SPIRITUAL CENTER. All theseare united indissolubly by the ONE SPIRIT OF THE ILLIMITABLE UNIVERSE.
8. Evolution of Intelligence is a constant and ever continuous process. It is to us the CAUSELESS CAUSE that propels every being into Life and to work for its own enlightment. It is a profound response to the sense of incompleteness -- which can only be expressed as infinite, tender, and all supporting LOVE. The Love of Truth, and the compassion for all our human brothers and sisters everywhere.
8. Theosophy claims that Wisdom (SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE ) is internal to every Being / Form, and that, astime and experience focuses a greater and increasing degree of knowledge in the learning unit ( a “Monad” consisting of SPIRIT + MIND + PRIMORDIAL MATTER, or ATMA-BUDDHI-MANAS ) the individual intelligence passes from the lower stages (elemental, mineral, vegetable, animal) to the HUMAN stage where it becomes (by self-effort) a THINKER.
9. Each Being is an eternal, and undying “Monad.” It has a growing Intelligence. It stores for all eternity a memory of the experiences it undergoes. It shares this with all other Monads, so there are no secrets. It is attracted primarily to “Monads of Greater Experience” (Humans) so that it may itself become wiser.
10. Every Human is a THINKER -- a MIND in evolution. It is a Mind/Soul or a Monad that has reached a stage where it is “free” to conduct its own education. This freedom brings on responsibility. That is epitomized in the concept of living, being and acting as a member of the UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD OF HUMANITY and of ALL BEINGS. This is in effect, another name for the UNIVERSE.
11. As a single life-time is inadequatefor a human to learn everything that the UNIVERSE has to offer, it takes many incarnations (repeated lives) to acquire a knowledge of, and a proof ofthe above mentioned propositions and statements. Reincarnation is anactual fact in nature. All beings, as Intelligent Units, share in this ever-progressive faculty.
12. Such Wisdom is already inherent in it as the SPIRITUAL POLE of the MONAD (Atma). The Forms it uses as itprogresses are also innate to it in: PRIMORDIAL MATTER (Buddhi) Its CONSCIOUSNESS (Manas) is undying, and continuously attracts and stores all aspects of learning that it experiences or determines to grasp.
13. One could say that the purifying and clarifying of the “form” aspect of our Monadic nature enables us to eventually perceive the inherent TRUTH (a perception of Universal law) that it has always enshrined. In effect our limitations and our ignorance is the result of neglecting to perceive and act on the TRUTHS (Intuitions ) we already possess.
14. Since the UNIVERSE runs according to LAW ( Karma or ACTION and REACTION ) every free choice we make, leaves an impression on the living and sensitive material used by every intelligence to build its own “Form.”
15. These Karmic impressions made by our independent choices on our “lower principles” (our forms)or, the “Monads of lesser experience,” form the basis for our Karma (which may be “good,” or “bad”). The direction and motive of our choices makes for the quality of our lives now and in the future as their results mature.
16. Humanity in general is at the beginning of its self-educative stage of the development of Human Intelligence. We are seeing to learn more of the supportive and all-prevalent LAWSof NATURE. At the same time we seek to purify our material “sheaths,” or “vehicles,” of the ignorance that has made them obstructive and blurred transmitters of TRUTH.
17. Our attitude when we realize we areself-obstructed ought to be to seek for the CAUSE of this impediment. We find that it resides in our desire, passions, in selfishness and a desire to enjoy ease without obstructions or the onus of duties. We will find that this psychological entity is closely allied to our Mind, because without us in the mind faculties it cannot secure for itself the selfish ease and isolation it values. In general this “Principle” is named KAMA and it represents the highest set of qualities that animal evolution provides. It is the realm of virtue and vice.
18. Virtues may be briefly described asall actions that are in accord with UNIVERSAL LAW. Vices are all actions that are purely selfish, and aimed primarily at satisfying our comfort, ease, pleasure -- at the expense of others, and of the conjoint duties weare responsible for.
19. The true spiritual Man learns to identify and separate the motives of both VIRTUE (Buddhi - Wisdom), andVICE ( Kama - selfish desire ). This is essentially the present arena of human development. That is why it is presently so difficult for us to disentangle THOUGHT from DESIRE. (Nous from Psyche).
20. Ro summarize. Theosophy holdsthat we are each an IMMORTAL working through the process of self-educationin an eternal School. Each life in a days is an incarnation. Life is the class. The subject for study is our selves as SPIRITUAL, Psychic, and as a human form. Our tool is the MIND. We the IMMORTAL PERCEIVER, observing our condition, decide what we will learn and how fast we will learn it.
21. We are all restrained in the futureby our choices, as we will be elevated or obstructed by the quality of generosity or selfishness resident in the MOTIVE behind our selection ofthe pathways of education for ourselves. Our selection is always free. Nature returns to us in exact measure the quality of the nature (virtuous or vicious) of our thought, feelings and deeds.
I know there will be many questions that arise from this summary, which unified all aspects of living, as our schools and religious instruction rarelyseems to entirely cover this vast area of development that each of us is faced with.
Best wishes
Dallas
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-----Original Message-----
From: D---el H---es
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2001 9:54 AM
To:
Subject:: 3 FUNDAMENTALS, 3 Evolutionary schemes, 3 GOALS of Evolution
Hello again,
I was further reading this article & found another couple of points, those on wisdom. You state that all religions have identical teachings, well that is not strictly true. My "religion" in the very loose sense of the word is not based upon teachings as such, it is based upon the experience of nature. There are other religions that are the antithesis of this, and believe that rather than experience the divine through nature, seek to suppress nature in order to reach the divine. It is tempting to try & draw parallelsbetween all religions & belief structures, but in order to do so one wouldbe forced to ignore, or attempt to explain away, those ideas which do not fit. You say:
God has been transformed from a UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLE -- a portion of which resides potential in all of us, and in every least thing -- into a PERSON who can be teased, prayed to, praised, and cajoled into apparently breaking His own Laws and those of equity and brotherhood in the Universe
This is an example of explaining away a difference in approach to deity. You say that they have moved from one approach to another but this is not strictly the case. The idea of the divine being an individual or individualsthat have personalities like humans is quite common in some of the oldest belief structures, especially in tribal beliefs. What you are saying is that you believe the opposite is true, thus anyone who believes differently has deviated from the "one truth" that you personally percieve, which is further indicated by the idea that all religions have...
in fact have sprung from the ONE SOURCE: THEOSOPHY.
I admit that ultimately we must all be going to one place & experiencing the same thing, but different paths suit different individuals, to try to create the "one path" or "one truth" will not happen as, whilst we are here anyway, we have individual selves. In fact to deny this would be to work against nature as it is manifested.
I also feel that faith & belief are necessary, and a part of life. They donot discourage free will, as long we don't have "blind faith". My beliefsare based on personal experience, not those which I have read in a book, or have come from one person, they are thus composed of free will & are opento change. Although I do agree that people should be able to work free ofpriesthood. Just my musings on the subject, religous free will & acceptance of difference being a trait of mine,
M---in
CUT
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