Theos-Talk Archives (January 2002 Message tt00098)

Monday, January 07, 2002


Dear Adelasie:


We do see eye to eye in so may things It is most refreshing
after one has to delve into other's writings -- I mean those that
are polemical, destructive and quite nauseously self-promoting..

As I look on what you write, the following ideas arise: purely
my own concepts.

Of course meditation is implied -- but the actual practice of
meditation has to be carefully defined because many people think
it is making the mind a "blank." As I understand it, it is most
intense and careful -- an attempt to get at the CAUSE of any
proposition, and then see how it fits in with all the rest. Is
not the life of the adept, a life of continual meditation? It
has to become "second nature, and effortless."

I would say that sincerity and honesty are the only parameters in
which true meditation will ever operate. Anything else is
self-delusional.

Besides "altruism," I would say, Occultism implies a very
comprehensive knowledge of things, right down to their roots --
causes, motives and forces -- and the potential effects any
action will lead to. Always -- we have to universalize. Always
we have to pay close attention to the details that will be
affected by our motives in any kind of action. It's the effort
to change for the better (the WISER) , I think.

I also agree, if I reed you correctly, that it is our DUTY to
defend the Teachings and the Teacher, once we are convinced of
their accuracy, viability and truth. What else can we do? If we
remain silent, then we give our acquiescence to some form of lie
and cowardice.

The word "theosophist" is loosely used, and really ought to be
restricted to those who are STUDENTS, endeavoring to practice
Theosophy 100% in their lives. One really ought to consider how
was it possible for an H P B to exist, or a Jesus, or a Buddha,
or a Krishna, or a Pythagoras -- and so on down the line of
historically known Great Ones.

(Did I ever send you a copy of the chronological review made up
some years back of the many aspects of ancient study that have
been covered in Theosophical literature? You might be interested.
Let me know.) I can send it as an ATTACHMENT. I use the NORTON
/ SEMANTEC virus system and have every incoming or outgoing
document security checked. May I send this to you, at least to
look at. It may be valuable for th future.

Separately I sent out to all to look at a chronological
bibliography of the early and ORIGINAL teachings of THEOSOPHY for
this, our modern era. I see I have a few errors I didn't catch.
So am sending it again as an attachment hereto.

I don't think very much of "scholarship: in my personal self --
it is to my mind only an attempt to draw together the information
that any one who seeks for it will find.

By the way, in recent acrimonious cross-fire comments, the only
ones worth paying attention to are those that are specific --
quoting chapter and verse. if any one is so careless as to put
forward anything with adequate "BACK-UP" it really is not worth
taking notice of. However, thinking of the potential wide
audience, and the effect on them of information they would find
it difficult to verify, it is necessary to protest or to readjust
so many things.

Many thanks again, and best wishes as always,

Dallas

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


A chronological

BIBLIOGRAPHY of some of the "Fundamental" THEOSOPHICAL
TEXTS.


Question: What is "Fundamentalism?" Who can decide ?


THEOSOPHY is a philosophy. It claims extreme antiquity, and in
its literature it demonstrates familiarity with the most ancient
of texts and concepts.

Its modern exponent is Mme. Blavatsky.

The THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY is an organization made up of
individuals interested in its objects. It was started in 1875.

The 3 Objects are:

1. To form the nucleus of a Universal Brotherhood of
Humanity without distinction of race color or creed...

2. To promote the study of Aryan and other Scriptures,
of the World's religions and sciences...

3. To investigate the hidden mysteries of Nature under
every aspect possible, and the psychic and spiritual
powers latent in man... KEY TO THEOSOPHY p. 39

Only three of the Original Founders remained with it right up to
their respective deaths: H. P. BLAVATSKY, Col. H. S. Olcott and
Mr. Wm. Q. Judge.

Individuals associated with Theosophical work and activities in
the early days of the Movement which re-began in 1875 seem to
have focused around the TEACHINGS which Mme. Blavatsky
offered.

"Orthodoxy," "Heterodoxy, or "Fundamentalism" are not at issue,
ever, in Theosophy. Theosophy considers all statements of ideas
in the light of certain basic concepts. These can be found
throughout its literature to be uniform, although the words
chosen
to express them may differ from place to place. One of the best
definitions will be found in The SECRET DOCTRINE Volume I,
pp. 14 to 19. [ Subjects are: DEITY, SPACE, LAW, and
Universal EVOLUTION -- Spiritual, Intellectual and Physical..

Theosophy is a record of the history of the evolution of the
Universe, and of Man on our Earth -- of the Macrocosm and
Microcosm. It offers succinctly the threefold basis of this
system
which has always been under review and supervision by the Great
Ancient Lodge of the ADEPTS.

Theosophy does not forbid any presentation, discussion or
criticism of these, but it does request of those who use its
system that they offer to others the same freedom of expression
as they claim for themselves. That is UNIVERSAL
BROTHERHOOD in practice.

One cannot discuss "THEOSOPHY" unless one is reasonably well
read in its literature. The study of Theosophy is not the study
of the
doings of individuals connected with the T S, or any other body
associated with it. That, considered separately, may be called
the
study of the personalities who contributed the most to its study
and
presentation. The philosophy of THEOSOPHY is a separate matter.

Chronologically, some of the important books dealing with this
history are those which were earliest published. Here is a
selection of
these :



1. 1877 - ISIS UNVEILED by Mme. Blavatsky was published.
It
was an instant success and highly respected. It reviews
scholarly and
current evidence of a single cooperative system that underlies
and
unites the whole of the Universe, our Earth, and Mankind. A
photographic reproduction of the original is in print Volume 1 :
SCIENCE; Volume 2, THEOLOGY.


2. 1879 - The THEOSOPHIST magazine, was started in
October
1879 in Bombay, India. Mme. H. P. Blavatsky as co-Editor
contributed
many articles of explanation and added further explanations of
the
doctrines of Theosophy, as needed, and as interest from the
public
grew. But the Fundamental Concepts remained the same. They
are disclosed in the PREFACE and the section BEFORE THE VEIL in
Vol. I of that book. An expression of those basic concepts will
be
found repeated in the prefatory pages of The SECRET DOCTRINE ,
and the KEY TO THEOSOPHY . Most of H P B's articles and some
of her letters have been reprinted by several publishers.
Blavatsky:
THE COLLECTED WORKS (T P H) and, a 3 volume edition by the
Theosophy Company, LOS ANGELES .


3. 1881 -82 - FRAGMENTS OF OCCULT TRUTH were printed in
the THEOSOPHIST magazine during 1881, 1882.


4. 1879 - 1880 - Articles by H P B as "Radha Bai,"
written in
Russian were printed in Moscow. Latter, translated, they were
issued as: FROM THE CAVES AND JUNGLES OF HINDOOSTAN.


5. THE PEOPLES OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS, part of the same
series also by H P B ( Radha Bai) were published and translated.
These
relate to the mysterious tribes in the Nilgheri Mountains of
South India.


6. 1880 - 1887 - The correspondence between Mr. A. P.
Sinnett and
Mr. A. O. Hume with the Mahatmas began around October 1880 and
continued to about May 1887. (according to Margaret Conger's
pamphlet on the Combined Chronology of these Letters, published
in
1939). Later, Mr. Trevor Barker in London, edited, and issued as
the
MAHATMA LETTERS in 1923. In 1918, under the editorship of Mr.
Jinarajadasa two further series of Mahatma LETTERS were issued.
A
chronological publishing of the MAHATMA LETTERS was issued in
1993 by the T P H, in the Philippines.


7. 1880 - 1886 - Trevor Barker also issued an edited
version in
December 1924, of THE LETTERS OF H. P. BLAVATSKY to A.
P. SINNETT (covering a period from 1880 to about 1886.)


8. 1883 - Mr. A . P . Sinnett published ESOTERIC BUDDHISM
and, in
1885, the OCCULT WORLD. In these one finds information largely
based
on the correspondence he had had with the Mahatmas. In The
SECRET
DOCTRINE one finds that H P B devoted a number of pages to
correcting
and adjusting errors made in ESOTERIC BUDDHISM to the original
Occult
doctrine.


9. 1885 - LIGHT ON THE PATH, "written down by M. C." was
published.


10. 1886, April -- the first issue of the magazine PATH was
issued by
Mr. W. Q. Judge in New York. H P B contributed articles and
letters.


11. 1887, September - H P B started the bi-weekly magazine
LUCIFER in
London.


12. 1888 - The SECRET DOCTRINE was published by Mme.
Blavatsky . Vol. 1: COSMOGENESIS; Vol. 2, ANTHROPOGENESIS.


13. 1889 - The KEY TO THEOSOPHY, 1st and 2nd Editions,
were
issued in 1889 and 1890. In Question and Answer format, H P B
surveys
the doctrines and the practical application of Theosophy.


14. 1889 - The VOICE OF THE SILENCE was issued. In
America, Mr. Judge issued an edition in 1893 with typographical
revisions. [ Adopted in 1920 and reprinted by Theosophy Company,
LOS ANGELES ] This offers the essence of Theosophy in the shape
of
the "Heart" doctrine ( as opposed to "literalism" -- the "Eye"
doctrine.)


15. 1890 - TRANSACTIONS OF THE BLAVATSKY LODGE OF THE
BLAVATSKY LODGE was issued in London. This covers a series of
Answers by H P B to questions asked by her contemporaries.
{Pages
1 to 103 covered in S D Vol. I]


16. 1891 - LETTERS THAT HAVE HELPED ME by WM. Q. Judge --
Reprinted from the PATH, these deal with the practical and
doctrinal
aspects of Theosophy.


17. 1892 - THE THEOSOPHICAL GLOSSARY was compiled by H P B,
before her death but she did not live to complete the proofs.
Her secretary G. R. S. Mead completed the work. It was issued in
London in 1892, a year after her death. The "Esoteric" meanings
of
many technical words used in Theosophy are given.


18. 1893 - The OCEAN OF THEOSOPHY by Wm. Q. Judge A
synopsis of the teachings given in The SECRET DOCTRINE.


19. 1893 REMINISCENCES of H. P. Blavatsky and The SECRET
DOCTRINE - by Constance Wachmeister and others, biographical
and
letters concerning H P B and the writing of The SECRET DOCTRINE


20. 1894 - FIVE YEARS OF THEOSOPHY -- Edited by M. M.
Chatterjee in 1885 -- a selection of articles by H P B and
others,
originally printed in the THEOSOPHIST (1880 - 1885).


21. 1895 - A MODERN PANARION -- a collection of the early
writings of H P B, letters and articles, between 1874 and March
1882.

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


----Original Message-----
From: adelasie
Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2002 3:26 PM
To:
Subject: RE: Theos-World Randolph in the Mahatma letters.



Dear Dallas,

Your comments are so kind and I thank you. As far as I can tell,
we
are each one doing our best to study, comprehend, and manifest
the ancient wisdom teachings as revealed in this cycle by HPB and
her co-workers. Those who choose to view her and her writings
with
skepticism are simply exercising their right to choose how they
approach this material. Someone posted recently that the correct
approach to theosophical study is to read and then to meditate. I
would add that putting these teachings to practice in our daily
lives
is also essential. If we take the statement, "Occultism is
altruism,"
seriously, we have to decide how to express our thoughts in ways
that do not attack others or attempt to make them wrong. A key to
how to do this is the Golden Rule. Do unto others...But of course
you know this.

I would say, however, that defending someone who is unjustly
attacked is completely within the realm of the above maxim. I
would definitely want to be defended if so attacked. In the case
of
HPB, I read the running "historical" debates about her validity
with
interest, since they give me a view into the world of
theosophists of
which I was previously ignorant. It seems there are those who
limit
their exposure to the intellectual approach, and who therefore
miss
the true significance of the life and work of this remarkable
woman.
As many times stated, theosophy cannot be understood with the
mind alone. But how can I demand that others accept this
statement? They have to find this out for themselves, and of
course they will, in time. What bothers me now is that such
wilfull
avoidance of the essential nature of the teaching is like rocks
in the
stream. It causes turbulence, and takes attention away from the
real purpose of the material. Humanity is in a very difficult
cycle
right now, and our future hangs in the balance. If we continue to
try
to understand with our intellect alone we simply give power to
the
materialisic age which is coming to a close, retarding
evolutionary
progress. If we learn to embrace the mind/heart approach to
living,
we add energy to the progress of our evolution, and help to bring
the coming cycle closer. But of course, the latter demands
renunciation of the lower ego and its clamoring desires, and most
are just not ready to take that step. I wonder sometimes about
people who say they are theosophists, but who seem quite able to
ignore the first principle of theosophy, the unity of all life.
When we
attack others, we are subscribing to separateness, the opposite
of
unity. And our words are powerful. We actually augment the forces
of negativity, which manifest in such things as war and natural
disasters, by choosing to concentrate on differences instead of
similarities. However, obvious as this seems to me, it is
evidently
not obvious to some. But I do find it surprising that
theosophists
would choose to manifest this type of behavior, since if anyone
should be able to focus their attention on unity instead of
separateness, it seems theosophists would be the ones.

Thank you for the quotes from WQJ. He so often puts things just
exactly the way I can grasp them. And may I say, you have shown
over the few years I have been reading your posts, a very fine
blending of mind and heart. I very much appreciate your excellent
and comprehensive scholarship, and I have seen many times when
you could have chosen a personal attack, but have refrained and
concentrated instead on the underlying principle. Each time you
do
this it helps others like me to try to do so as well. It does
sound as
if your computer is "overshadowed," by some helping
intelligences.
I think sometimes mine is too, since it makes me be pretty
careful
somehow to say only what I am sure I mean.

Best Wishes to you always, and keep up the wonderful good work
you do, as if I needed to say that...

Adelasie

On 5 Jan 02, at 17:25, dalval14@earthlink.net wrote:

> Saturday, January 05, 2002
>
>
> Dear Adelasie:
>
> I think that is well said -- they don't read.
>
cut