Theos-Talk Archives (October 2001 Message tt00217)

Tuesday, October 16, 2001

Dear Friends:

I am of the opinion that one can find a number of references as
to what theosophy is. The question is to find those that are
fundamental. One could try UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD.

One could equally try to use the idea of the ABSOLUTE (whether in
or out of manifestation -- changeless -- ever the sole support
of the UNITY.

Next, we could consider its emanation: the ONE UNIVERSAL SPIRIT
in manifestation that is equally shared by all, as another.

Buddhi means "Wisdom." But what is Wisdom? where can it be
found?

Does it relate to the laws that Nature employs to operate the
Universe as a vast school of evolutionary processes -- from
ignorance, and the isolation of selfish passion.

To the intelligence that reflect on divergent choices, and the
causes for their existence.

To the sagacity of the Sage, who has found the keys to the
operations of Nature --

all are included in THEOSOPHY, are they not ?

Read H. P. Blavatsky's article: WHAT IS THEOSOPHY?
THEOSOPHIST, Vol. I, p. 1, ; U L T H P B's Articles, Vol. I,
p. 39 ] She gives some perfectly good definitions there.

Also S D I 272-3 is helpful.

It does not matter that Theosophists give a variety of versions
as to what they think THEOSOPHY is. They have their own
opinions.

THEOSOPHY is a definite statement concerning the operations of
nature, its history and the place and work of Mankind (here and
now) on and in and through it.

The practice of celibacy is felt to the individual to adopt,
depending on his perception of some necessity embodied in that
discipline. Theosophy does not rise or fall or change because of
it.
The same applies to vegetarianism. What comes out of a man's
mouth is more valuable than what goes into it. Sex for
reproduction is a natural process. The abuse of sex for
recreation is another thing and in any case the motive determines
the karma attached thereto.

But this is also a universal statement, and applies to any
choice.

The search for ideals is important, but there again, most people
establish their own patterns of choosing.

An IDEAL is identified by its practicality, and its universality.
Does it harmonize or conflict with nature's ways and laws? Is
brotherhood and tolerance, charity and generosity improved by it?
To determine this is a part of the testing of the disciple as
time passes. He determines if the doctrines and tenets of
THEOSOPHY are useful and true and valuable.

The main question here is : are nature's laws reasonable?
should we obey them?

According to the 7-fold division of Man's principles and of the
Universal PRINCIPLES of Nature, the SPIRITUAL ESSENCE as a
RADIANT STAR OF TRUTH ETERNAL forms the basis for everything in
nature -- it includes all divisions and reconciles them all. For
each Human Being it is the "God within." The closes place to God
is said to be in our won heart. One will find a good description
of the interaction of this IDEAL AND PERMANENT SELF and the
embodied brain-mind of the personality we are when we are awake
in this our world. It is in B P B's TRANSACTIONS OF THE
BLAVATSKY LODGE pp. 66 - 76 [ BLAVATSKY: Collected Works
(TPH), Vol. 10, pp 252-263 ]

Best wishes,

Dallas

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-----Original Message-----
From: J---y S
Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2001 6:08 PM
To:
Cc:
Subject: Re THEOSOPHY What is it ? Is it Practical ?

<<<<Diana Eck in her "A New Religious America",mentions religious
tolerance by accepting each religion for what it is. This is
put slightly different with theosophy it seems, that claims
to be the one that knows the "true" origine off "all" religions,
that is really "theosophy".>>>>

Brigitte, I find it extremely interesting, from a psychological
standpoint,
that Theosophy is said to somehow know the true origins (and
thus, one would
presume, the true teachings) of all of the worlds religions,
while at the
same time it is hard to find any two Theosophists who share the
same
definition(s) of "Theosophy." If Theosophy can't even define
itself to
everyone's satisfaction, then how can it presume to KNOW the
fundmamental
teachings of all of the world's religions? My own answer to this,
is that
the modern Theosophical Movement does NOT know, but presumably
its
originators (HPB's ever-illusive Masters) did know, that such
knowledge does
exist, but that it has never been given out publically. The small
amount
that has been given out through HPB's writings contains some of
this
"origin" material and some that is unique.


<<<<<<<What I wonder also is how this is (from the perspective of
the
history of ideas and the underlying message, that is the inner
attitude
that creates) works out with theosophy , where the emphasis is
"not
so much" on one source, or a God , but more on an elusive
group of beings called Masters , and one has to "wait" till one
is ready,
and "they" contact you?
Thank you,
Brigitte>>>

I will answer this in a way that others will possibly object to.
But I see
our situation as human beings as been completely reliant on faith
for
everything and anything - faith in others, faith in our senses,
faith in our
intellect, faith in our logic and reason, faith in intuition,
faith in our
spiritual experiences, and so on. I see this as our fundamental
human
condition. "Knowledge" and especially "reality" is simply a
consensus-based
faith. In the case of the Theosophical "core teachings" one must
have faith
in those who first propounded them, who put them together from
their own
experiences and cultural outlooks, and who passed them on to us
through
Blavatsky. One must also have faith that Blavatsky passed them
onto us
correctly. As just one example, look at sex and the strong
emphasis given on
its abstinance. Blavatsky was taught that sexual celibacy is
"necessary" for
any real spiritual Path. This idea is in total disagreement with
many other
spiritual Teachers (including Buddhist Tantricism or Vajrayana),
and with my
own experiences. Therefore, I do not see this as a "core
teaching" but
rather as a cultural issue in that celibacy possibly helps one at
the
beginning stages of the Path, but is not at all essential. This
is just one
example of a "linage" teaching that may or may not exist in other
equally
valid linages.

As far as "contact" is concerned, most is done esoterically
through dreams
and meditations rather than through direct physical contact.
Inner "contact"
with Masters is going on all the time - when we are mentally
ready/prepared,
their ideas will pour into our minds (of course, we pretty much
have to take
this on faith ...).

J S.