Theos-Talk Archives (September 2001 Message tt00335)

Sunday, September 30, 2001


Re: common ideals in all faiths. They can be found.


Dear Friend:

Many of our acquaintances come from different racial, cultural and religious
backgrounds.

A common factor between us is the ability to think impersonally, along
pathways of logic.

These pathways of logic are our common basis for idea exchange and
comparison. If we were studying physics or chemistry, or mathematics and
astronomy -- or engineering, the question of “faith” would not enter the
equation. The “pure” Science is a common meeting ground.

But once one steps into the arena of “religion” a great deal of confusion
arises, and everyone finds that, unlike the Sciences, the concepts of faith,
belief and religion seem to get rather uncertain, foggy.

But even there if we search we will find areas of agreement. We need to
ascertain for ourselves the validity of such common denominators. that all
agree are reasonable and can be explained back and forth without reference
to either “faith,” or “belief.”

We have as humanity, a common ethos -- a general sense of true values and
ideal ways of behavior. A person can travel anywhere in the world, and not
know the religious specifics of an area. But if they behaved honorably, and
with regard for the common basic morality of every region, there was no
question of his welcome.

Every great religion emphasizes them. [ For a quick survey and comparison,
see ISIS UNVEILED , Vol. 2, pp. 537, where the main teachings of Krishna,
Jesus and Gautama the Buddha are compared across the page. In the Koran of
the Muslims the same teachings can be found enumerated in various places.]

The Veds and the Upanishads of ancient India, possibly the most ancient
scriptures in the world we know of, state that the Universe is to be seen
as a compound of three great elements. [ In the BHAGAVAD GITA (Krishna) we
find then described as: 1. Purity, 2. Action and 3. Indifference].
Nothing and no one can be excluded from the others in manifested Nature,
and each counterbalances the rest. These are: (in general descriptive
way )

1. PURITY - Wisdom, knowledge of the TRUE, Virtue as practice,
unlimited and universal vistas, law…all-inclusiveness, the plane of the
spiritual and impartial justice and fairness to all,

2. ACTIVITY - the power to think, to reason logic, plan, act,
judgment, consideration, balance, the plane of the mind and the “feelings,”

3. REPOSE - inertia, rest, forms and limits, the tendency to do
nothing, selfishness, isolation
the plane of the material and of physical limits, indifference,



We find Gautama the Buddha summarizing the conditions that lead the human
Mind to the Goal of Sublime Perfection, as follows:

1. Sorrow is. It is a fact that all beings feel pain and sorrow,
and frequently cannot find the cause of accidents, disease and pain.

2. The Cause of Sorrow is to be actively looked for. The lines of
Karma are to be sought.

3. The Cessation of Sorrow consists in self-discipline, obedience to
the Laws of Life, and the active practice of Virtue at all times and in all
places. It is making ourselves deliberately universal in all we think, feel
and do.

4. The PATH -- It has 8 steps and leads to Buddhahood. Complete
WISDOM in embodied life. This is the final stage in manifestation, where
the “material” raises itself (by deliberate self-effort) to “divinity.”



What are these 8 STEPS on the PATH to WISDOM and ENLIGHTENMENT ?


1. A set of DOCTRINES THAT ARE TRUE and STATE THE LAWS OF NATURE are
to be used. They are to be found in all religions and philosophies but are
not sectarian or divisive. They UNITE us all.

2. RIGHT PURPOSE -- good-will to all, brotherhood in all acts.
Benevolence, generosity, friendliness.

3. TRUE SPEECH -- honest and sincere statements concerning all
things. Never to hurt another through uncontrolled speech.

4. HONEST BEHAVIOR -- whether in public or in private, all deeds
are for the good of all.

5. PURITY OF MOTIVE. Attunement of the person to the Universe --
co-operation and generosity, and friendliness always used in inter-action.

6. PURITY AND VIRTUE AS A BASIS FOR ALL THINKING.

7. MEDITATION, STUDY, SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND (AND APPLY) the way in
which every thought, feeling and act fits into the scheme of Nature as a
universal life-giving support.

8. Establishing a state whereby THE PERSONALITY IS ENABLED TO EXPAND
to encompass the entire Universe and understand its greatest as well as its
smallest actions.



What are the SINS AND VICES that enchain us? These are identified as
follows. [ Note: the vices are not to be dwelt on (in terms of memory).
The corresponding VIRTUE is to be visualized and then made a “living power
in our lives.”


Table of VICES and VIRTUES (Gautama Buddha)


1. SELFISHNESS, isolation the desire to make ourselves powerful
because we are unique.

VIRTUE: Universality, recognition of the Divine Spirit in all Beings,
search for WISDOM and MORALITY of an impersonal and universal quality,

2. DOUBT, insecurity, the creator of illusion, fear, defense of one’
s self,

VIRTUE: Knowledge based on sound reasoning, a grasp of impartial history
and of metaphysics. Actively seeks for wisdom, tests all statements in terms
of fundamental propositions, has to make proof in his/her own mind,

3. FAITH -- as a blind and unreasoning adoption of any explanation
(or of none) which springs solely from ignorance, hope and a desire to be
happy and undisturbed.

VIRTUE: Wisdom and a knowledge of nature’s Laws as common property,
recognizes the freedom due to wisdom and the search for knowledge, is
actively engaged in learning, always learning,

4. DESIRE, PASSION, a search for completeness based on physical
possessions and psychic joys, this leads to the desire for possession, and
for the pleasure possessions give,

VIRTUE: Calmness, dispassion, readiness to consider all facts and adjust
one’s mind to truths wherever found, Impartiality,

5. HATRED, ANGER, IRRITATION and a lust for the power that crushes
others to one’s will, breeder of atrocities, war, torture,

VIRTUE: Love, compassion, calmness, gentleness, consideration for others,
peace,

6. The desire TO LIVE A LONG LIFE in the present body,

VIRTUE: Permit Nature and Karma to determine the length of one’s life.
Consider that our usefulness is arranged by wiser hands and minds than our
own.

7. The DESIRE TO BE FAMOUS, well-known, an authority,

VIRTUE; Humility, concealing one’s identity, anonymity,

8. PRIDE OF BIRTH-POSITION, or of accomplishment and the desire to
have others recognize and bow to it

VIRTUE: avoidance of any advertisement, anonymity,

9. SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS, justification of anything we may do by
reasoning that “We know best.”

VIRTUE: humility, self-abnegation, avoidance of any special “position.”

10. IGNORANCE, which breeds FEAR and hatred, and urges one to do
immoral and wrongful acts in secret or, eventually, in public -- as a
tyrant, a false “King,” or, an invader might, destroyer of Wisdom and the
right to discuss freely in the search for Wisdom.

VIRTUE: Encouragement of learning, study, universality in law, laws and
freedom to pursue one’s course as one determines,

Hope this might help a little in seeing how other “faiths” have the same
general definitions.

Best wishes,

Dallas

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







-----Original Message-----
From: I--- M---- [
Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2001 12:32 PM
To:
Subject: Something To Think About VICE & VIRTUE What are they ?

Dear Louie

I thank you for your response. Perhaps the one thing I should have omitted
in my opinion was "I am a Christian, I believe in God." We are all entitled
to our opinions and beliefs and in no way should anyone over step our
bounds.

I have several very close friends and we are all of different beliefs, but
that does not keep us from being friends and at any time anyone of us would
be there for each other. That is what it would take to resolve global pain
and suffering. Everyone wants to be in control but will not take the time
to listen to another.

There is so much for all of us to learn from each other so where do we
begin. How does Theology fit into all this?

The one thing I have found; We must all be open to others beliefs and learn
from them.

Again thank you.




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