Theos-Talk Archives (October 2001 Message tt00006)

The first two articles in this 9-part series, entitled MISUNDERSTOOD
BIBLICAL TRADITIONS, are on "Prayer", and may be useful to everyone:

http://www.wisdomworld.org/additional/MisunderstoodBiblicalTraditions/index.html

If the long link ends up broken on either of the web sites being posted to,
you will find the series in the "Additional Articles" index page (in the
CHRISTIANITY IN THE "LIGHT OF THEOSOPHY" section).

John DeSantis
(Compiler)
-------

You may find a great deal of the Truth that you are searching for here:

Wisdom World web site (Main Page):
http://www.wisdomworld.org/index.html

The Index page of the Introductory, "Setting the Stage" book:
http://www.wisdomworld.org/setting.html

The page where "Additional" articles are slowly being added:
http://www.wisdomworld.org/additional/index.html

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dalval14@earthlink.net wrote:

> Monday, October 01, 2001
>
> Re: PRAYER and PRAYERS
>
> Dear Rodolfo:
>
> Would it not be a good idea to ask ourselves what is PRAYER?
>
> 1. What is a Prayer? A request, a demand, a --- what ?
>
> 2. To WHOM OR TO WHAT is it to be addressed?
>
> 3. Does it request special ( i.e., personal), or general (i.e.,
> impersonal and universal) attention? Do we actually believe
> that GOD does not know what is going on, and has had no hand in
> its planning and development? Is it not an impertinence of ours
> to try and tell Him that we are dissatisfied with His management?
>
> 4. What exactly is a "faith?" Does it mean a reasoned set of
> propositions concerning the rules and government of our World and
> the Kosmos? Does it mean only some specific rites and
> regulations relating to a particular "faith?" Does it relate
> solely to our "faith" or doe the views of God and "His works"
> include our little earth lost in the infinitudes of vast space?
>
> 5. What is a "belief?" Is it a statement of certain well
> ascertainable "facts in nature" that we can inquire into,
> investigate and prove? [ I mean like the rules of Mathematics,
> chemistry, physics, astronomy, engineering, etc... ] Or, does it
> consist in certain dogmas and statements which we are prohibited,
> or discouraged from investigating? Are those stated logically or
> not? And how is it possible, if a portion of God is also within
> us, to tell us that we may not inquire? Is it an expression of
> KNOWLEDGE or of ignorance ?
>
> 6. Since every human being is called and designated a "Child of
> God" then, regardless of how the "God" is named by us, IT is
> UNIVERSAL, IMPERSONAL, SUPPORTIVE OF LIFE, the creator and
> sustainer of all things as they have been and now are? Why
> should any one be excluded from the universal GOD principle? Do
> catastrophes occur because of Karma? Are all who are involved
> receiving some effect due to their Karma?
>
> 7. Is "GOD" a Person or a Power that is universal. ? If the
> UNIVERSE (and our world and our own physical being) are the "body
> of God manifest," then how can anything occur which has not had
> God's prior attention and sanction? Is Karma not an expressions
> of "As you sow, so shall you reap." -- that statement is found
> in every religion. Not everyone trusts it, or believes in it,
> and many hope to "escape" its effects returning to them.
>
> 8. Are we debarred from inquiring into the purposes, objectives,
> and methods of God's work? After all GOD IS WITHIN US to some
> extent, so it is not impertinent or sacrilegious to make such an
> honest inquiry. Should not that "Ray" of God within each of us
> be able to answer our mental inquiry? How does one become wise
> unless it is through continued inquiry into God's ways?
>
> 9. Is our view (and that of our :belief") so vast as to include
> the WHOLE UNIVERSE ( 50 billion years old, and an immeasurable
> size) with our "personal God's purview ? Is it possible that our
> view of the Power of our Earthly God is not UNIVERSAL ? [ As an
> analogy, it is like a single citizen in our nation asking if the
> rules and regulations of his existence are identical with those
> of a citizen of INDIA, or of Patagonia -- the answer would be:
> "No, not exactly, but they might be similar."
>
> When it comes to Prayer, let us see what the original teachings
> given to us by H.P.Blavatsky say:
>
> If we use the INDEX to the KEY TO THEOSOPHY (HPB) we find a
> number of interesting entries:
>
> p. 10 mediation is unuttered prayer; ( But, what is
> meditation? )
> 66 verbal and will prayer ( What is the difference between
> "word" and "thought?" )
> 67 Father in Heaven -- its esoteric meaning ( Is this not the
> God within ?)
> 68-70 an occult process
> 70-1 prayer and action ( does not a thought and a choosing
> precede all acts ?)
> 72 prayer does not teach or encourage self-reliance ( Why is
> self-reliance essential?)
> 198 Karma cannot be turned aside by prayer. ( How does the
> equity of KARMA work?)
>
> >From the INDEX to The SECRET DOCTRINE
>
> SECRET DOCTRINE I
>
> p. 280fn to Father in Secret ( True worship )
>
> 416, 467-9 Prayer can be BLACK MAGIC if used personally for
> self-benefit,
> or for revenge against another
>
> We have to always remember that in our innermost essence we are
> all IMMORTAL BEINGS. No matter how horrible, or how peaceful is
> the departure of the Inner spirit from its body, the even is
> regulated by the personal Karma of the EGO, the Spiritual Mind
> being that we are in our essence.
>
> We also have to remember that Nature, (GOD, the UNIVERSE) does
> not work haphazardly. It runs under laws which include all
> beings who have an affinity for certain events, peaceful or
> cataclysmic. But there are some sequences and causes which we
> cannot determine as of origin in this lifetime -- they come from
> our past lives, and represent some unsettle balance which is now
> being adjusted.
>
> This is not extending "cold comfort." But is a warm and
> heart-felt way in which to give true comfort to any one who is
> closely affected -- the continuity of the glorious SPIRIT IN MAN,
> the continuity of life's efforts to become wise, the fact that
> Karma adjusts all causes to their effects. There is no question
> that the world has receive a violent "awakening." How many will
> begin to seek in their own lives for potential causes that made
> them participate near by or remotely in this?
>
> Is this not far better than making prayers to a questionable
> "Personal god" who may or may not respond in the way we hope may
> happen, but who never explains?
>
> I hope this proves valuable,
>
> Dallas
>
> =====================================
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rodolfo Guzman
> Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2001 4:29 PM
> To:
> Subject: Prayer from a theosophical point of view
>
> Dear Friends:
>
> Since at this time of crisis millions are turning to prayer
> within their
> respective faith traditions, myself included, I am interested to
> know how
> the members of the theosophical community regard the subject of
> prayer. I
> am aware of the views of HP Blavatsky and, although they seem
> antagonistic
> to certain prayer traditions, this misunderstanding seems to me
> to be
> mainly skin deep, since many of her views are in harmony with
> many aspects
> of prayer practiced in the different faith traditions, especially
> in their
> more mystical or liberal forms.
>
> I am extremely interested about the different ideas and opinions
> our website members may have on this matter. I will not comment
> much further since I am new to the theosophical
> tradition and wish to know more about the opinions of more
> advanced students.
>
> R--- G---
>
>
>
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