Theos-Talk Archives (December 2001 Message tt00042)

Tuesday, December 04, 2001

Re: Self-sacrifice -- becoming a Buddha.

Dear Bill:

As I read and study Theosophy I am convinced that the :

Acceptance of the Karma of the world and our environment is not
PASSIVITY.

But very often it is an ACTIVE attempt to avoid the continuing of
the evils that are prevalent and which are often excused and
supported by KAMA-MANAS ( the Lower Mind united to desires and
passions). It is ACTIVE self-sacrifice. { Example: see S D I
207-210 }

Further, there is the continuous pressure on all of us to live
and act as though this was THE ONLY LIFE we would ever live. If
Reincarnation and Karma, and the Immortality of the TRUE MAN
(his Ego-SELF) are facts and truths, then the way we live this
life assumes a better dimension. It also demands a clear cut
understanding of the difference between "good" and "evil."
(breaking Nature's Laws -- and acting selfishly and immorally --
careless of what is due to others who are also our BROTHERS in
Spirit as well as in material ways.

If we try to discover why Theosophy emphasizes UNIVERSAL
BROTHERHOOD, then the reason for self-sacrifice can also be made
clear. It is the "lower Self, that has to agree to sacrifice its
present aggregate existence form the greater good of its many
brothers also in existence right now.

The tenets, doctrines and logic inherent in Theosophy gives us
the ability to prove this to ourselves. But the fierce
resistance of our Lower Self ( Kama-Manas) makes this very
difficult. If we are to progress "spiritually" we have to
recognize this, and then do something about it. We have to put
the Disciplines on ourselves. No one else can do this. We
always will "progress" at our self-chosen "pace." The difference
between a Gandhi and his "murderer" is always to be found
interior to our own psychological make-up. How we deal with our
"lower-selves," is our decision. It is a moment to moment
affair.

In another post today there is mention of the self-sacrifice of
Gandhi and Christ. One could well add to this brief list by a
reading of the JATAKA TALES that recount the many lives prior to
Gautama becoming the BUDDHA in his last incarnation some 1600
years ago.

I am sure that some good libraries near you have a translation of
the JATAKA TALES available. It is well worth reading.

He made himself the living personification of self-sacrifice.

Best wishes,

Dallas

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

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill M
Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2001 5:55 PM
To:
Subject: Re: What is Theosophy?


----------
> From: adelasie <adelasie@surfari.net>
> To: basic@blavatsky.net
> Subject: [bn-basic] Re: What is Theosophy?
> Date: Sunday, December 02, 2001 4:36 PM
>
> Estela,
>
> Unity is all there is. All life is one, in essence, in origin,
in
reality.
> What we see on the material plane of manifestation is unity in
> diversification, something like the drops of water which make
up the
> ocean viewed as separate entities, but which are ocean, come
from
> ocean and return to ocean. Separateness is an illusion, called
the
> great heresy. The world of nature does not question its unity
with all
> life. Its units simply function according to the laws that
govern their
> nature. But humanity has the responsibility to choose to act
> according to the laws that govern it, and there is where the
illusion
> of separateness causes a lot of trouble. We tend to take the
> appearance for the reality. We think and act upon such
perceptions
> as, "He is wrong and I am right. He is different from me. He
> deserves to suffer but I do not." etc etc.

May I interrupt here, Adelasie? What if our perception is, "He
is trying to
kill me." What then? Shall I sit passively and wait for him to
kill me?
I do not find any evidence for such passivity in my observations
of the
world of nature. The field mouse scrambles for safety, even as
the hawk's
shadow dims the sun.

> Our perceptions are
> limited to the material plane, which is only a reflection of
the real
> existence of life, and we allow this limitation to govern us.

Here I think we diverge the most. Our intellectual perceptions
are limited
to the material plane, but our intuitions and inner motivations
are not so
limited. I think that when we resign ourselves to being governed
by our
limitations rather than raising ourselves toward our potentials,
we do indeed miss the real
existence of life.

cut