Theos-Talk Archives (December 2001 Message tt00005)

Friday, November 30, 2001

Re: CAN THEOSOPHY TEACH US TO BECOME GOOD OR SPIRITUAL ?


Dear Friends:

Without disagreeing with what Peter wrote, let me add that the
practical side of Theosophy is always in the hands of the
individual. As to my knowledge, there is no available or secure
compilation of methods whereby one can secure "enlightenment" by
following rites, rituals, formulas, ceremonies, etc...

The fundamental doctrine of Theosophy is that each of us as well
as each being from the Atom to the Galaxy, has at root SPIRIT --
Perfection in potential is resident within the gross forms of
physical flesh and matter we use. Theosophy says to us all: We
may say that inside us there is always resident a "Ray" of the
ONE UNIVERSAL SPIRITUAL ALL.

The real question is : Why don't we manifest it in our daily
lives ? Why do we think we can get it from outside.

As an example, look at the "Sermon on the Mount." Who practices
those injunctions today, in Christendom? There are wonderful
points -- but we are scared of them. We revere Jesus for what he
said and did. And, we have the same "God" in us. Did He no,
turning to His disciples, say: [John . 10 . 34-5]: "Know Ye
not, ye are Gods." (or some such statement) Do you think He did
not mean it ? Every Great Reformer, Teacher, Prophet has said
this. H P B and the Masters of Wisdom have aid it and they have
given us the reasons for it. We can always follow good examples
if we WANT to. The question is: Do we want to ? Are we afraid
of the cost ?

If anything, the inward search to find out own divinity is the
reward we seek -- it is never outside.

As you may have gathered from the theory of theosophical
doctrines. The increments in intelligence, consciousness, etc..
are to be worked at on the basis of applying Universal
brotherhood.

This in turn is based on the concepts that the Spirit in Man is
an immortal being working its way through all kinds of
experiences and learning how Nature works and how Karma governs
all.

The concept that the whole of Nature is alive and is composed of
every kind of being, each at its own level of advance is
important since it gives the ethics and morals for our dealing
with others as our brothers.

There are no special "advantages" to be learned or earned. But
one can constitute ones self an assistant to Nature's ways and
only on her terms -- as outlined above.

There is current in the world and in the history and lore of the
past that there are ways and avenues to extraordinary power. But
the motive for the acquisition of such force, energy, power will
not be useful to any individual unless they are going to be used
for the general GOOD of all beings. [This is also to be found in
the basic teachings of all the great world religions, when they
are stripped of the accretions that sacerdotalism has
overburdened them with.]

The gist of this practice is something that Tomas Paine expressed
succinctly: THE WORLD IS MY COUNTRY. TO DO GOOD IS MY RELIGION.

Best wishes to you,

Dallas

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


-----Original Message-----
From: Ihar
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2001 8:10 AM
To:
Subject: RE: List

Hi Peter. Thanks for your response. So what you're saying that
Theosophy itself has no practises which may lead to
'enlightenment' (or more accurately, esoteric knowledge), but of
course each may engage in such practises by themselves?

So does that mean that in some senses Theosophy is a meeting of
the minds, a kind of general discussion group about such matters
rather than promoting anything which will lead anyone to their
own direct experience of true reality?

CUT