Theos-Talk Archives (January 2002 Message tt00491)

January 29, 2002


Dear Friend:

We looked for your notes but they were not included. may we see
these ?


One of the better exponents of Theosophy wrote recently:

Many times I have asked myself, what does Theosophy really mean.

What are the basic ideas that I need to think about in order to
have a better understanding of the "larger" scheme of things.
Where do I start and how do I build upon it. Below is a brief
introductory check list that is on the site. It is intended as a
first step toward the study of
Theosophy, and so it is by no means complete, rather the "first
skin of a well developed and
thick onion."


ANCIENT WISDOM knew - and continues to know - deep and vast
knowledge about ourselves, our purpose in life, nature, the
universe, the highest god-like principles, and man's long
pre-history on this earth. Theosophy is the portion of that
ancient knowledge brought to us by H. P.
Blavatsky toward the end of the 19th century, as taught to her by
her Teachers in Tibet.

Some of its principles are:

-Everything in the universe originates from one boundless,
eternal, unknowable source. After a period of manifested
existence the returns to that source.

-The universe itself is an organic whole, alive, intelligent,
conscious, and divine.

-The laws of nature are the result of intelligent forces.

-The law of karma holds throughout the universe. It operates at
all levels, ensuring justice, harmony, and balance.

-We reincarnate into successive lives. Once we have reached the
human level we do not regress back into animal forms.

-The law of karma acts over our successive lives to ensure
justice. (We don't get away with it.) We are the cause of every
joy and pain in our own life.

-A law of cycles provides fundamental structure at all levels.
Two examples are our pattern of reincarnation, and the continuing
"lives" of the universe as it appears, then returns to its
source.

-Analogy and correspondence provide fundamental structure for the
universe. This is a broad statement of the Hermetic axiom - "As
above, so below".

-Evolution applies on a grand scale to all of life.

-Soul gets involved in this world of matter. It experiences and
learns. Soul then works its way back in a long pilgrimage to its
primal source. This again follows a cyclic pattern.

-This evolution achieves experience, self-awareness, and ever
increasing perfection. Evolution occurs on the physical, mental,
and spiritual planes.

-"Survival of the fittest" along with gradual accumulation of
small beneficial changes does not explain the "origin of the
species". The origin of the species is due to intelligent
design.

-Humanity has experienced significant evolution in long periods
on the ancient continents (not islands) of Atlantis and Lemuria.

-There is a seven fold constitution of man ranging from the
physical plane to the purely spiritual plane.

-Thoughts are tangible objects on higher planes. Every thought
and action has its effect on us and on our surroundings and has a
karmic consequence.

-The three higher planes of this constitution form the "higher
self" and that is what reincarnates from life to life and
accumulates the experience, the lessons, the virtues. The lower
planes form the "lower self" and are the vehicle used by the
higher self while it is living in this active testing ground of
incarnate life.

-At the moment of death we have a review of our life just past -
as we cast off this physical frame. After a short period, that
varies greatly between individuals, we cast off other lower
aspects of our constitution and the reincarnating self begins a
long period of merciful, earned, rest before
the next birth.

-Often during this life, our spiritual nature is obscured in our
self-centered daily lives as we cater to our immediate needs and
desires. But the spiritual self is always there to guide us if
we seek it with strong earnest desire.

-We can strive to reach our higher self by:

-Listening to our still small voice of conscience.

-Noting the dreams from the higher self.

-Developing our intuition.

-Meditating.

-Studying principles of the Wisdom Religion.

-Aligning ourselves with Nature.

-Engaging in action for the greater good.

-Carefully reading the events of our daily life.

-Brotherhood is a fact in nature. We are ONE at the highest
spiritual component of our nature. We are sparks from one flame.
We are the fingers on one hand. We are ONE at other levels as
well.

-We should:

-Understand we are not separate from humanity or the
world.

-Emphasize brotherhood, altruism, and compassion in our
daily lives.

-Strive to know our Higher Self.

-As a guiding rule - act for and as the Self of All.

-The religions of the world are branches on the tree whose trunk
is the one ancient - once universal - wisdom religion. The
religions are the tributaries of one great river. (But they
borrow from each other to make the actual details much more
complex.)

-Mythology often transmits some of this knowledge in symbolic
form.

-Periodically, great teachers come amongst us to help us in this
evolutionary path. They may create another branch on the tree.

-Humanity's potential is infinite and every being has a
contribution to make toward a grander world. We are all in it
together. We are one.

To this I would add:

The study of theosophy is a shared adventure. We are always
asking questions of one another. All are welcome.

Theosophy has a definite set of doctrines and tenets which on
close examination will be found to be the same as "common sense."

The only "difference: you will soon note, is that in Theosophy we
look for the CAUSES of things and are not always satisfied when
they are identified with a "word," or a "label."

If anything you could call the process of using Theosophy a
continual exercise is asking WHY, WHERE, HOW, WHEN and WHY .

Those who have been for some time in Theosophy have read and
studied these two relatively short books:

H. P. Blavatsky, the KEY TO THEOSOPHY (HPB) , and

W. Q. Judge, the OCEAN OF THEOSOPHY

both are "on line" and can be "downloaded" from
http://www.blavatsky.net -- The also have a bookshop and can
ship those to you if and when you desire to have copies with you
for further reference.

Be patient, as your knowledge of Theosophy expands, you will find
your other areas of knowledge expand also. You have to study in
a gentle, firm and disciplined way.

Start slowly and gradually, seek only to grow as you are able to
digest the principal ideas.

Try to study and grasp the basic ideas first.

Then as you expand your reading, observe as they serve you to
grasp more and more.


3 FUNDAMENTALS

1 SPACE is everywhere, AND CANNOT BE MEASURED.

2. LAW is everywhere. It is always honest, true, fair,
universal and impersonal

3. The EVOLUTION of all creatures and beings starts from
the same single SPIRITUAL BASIS. It makes them all "brothers."
Even the material of all forms ( atoms, molecules ) are immortals
and come from the same one SOURCE: SPIRIT.

This makes the entire Universe a UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD -- Spirit
and Soul are the basis for all things. Evolution and
self-progress are the methods that lead to "perfection.'


MAJOR BASIC IDEAS:

HERMES taught: "The stone becomes a plant. The plant becomes an
animal, The animal becomes a Man ( a THINKER), and, a Thinker
becomes a GOD. Never is anything made less or lowered again."
All progress is forward and upward and eventually we learn and
know everything.

4. REINCARNATION is the Process by which all beings
progress. The forms constantly change. The SPIRIT that is
behind the forms, and creates them, NEVER DIES.

5. Sleep is death. Death is sleep. The CONSCIOUSNESS
always survives.

6. The LAW OF SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT is through
BROTHERHOOD.

7. MAN'S DUTY IS TO HELP ALL OTHERS.

These are 7 of the principal points of Theosophical philosophy.

Think about them. Try to see if they are true. Ask all the
questions you want.

As to Karma, belief or non-belief -- the whole of SCIENCE study
is based on one fact:

An effect always follows a cause.


Science in investigating Nature in her many departments has found
that the LAWS of Nature are invariable and always operate. Water
boils and freezes at one temperature for each. Wind blows,
depending on changes in atmospheric pressure. Salt is always
salt and not gold or silver. How do these things happen?

In Man, why are we the way we are ?

Why do we inquire into our make-up ?

Where can we find a true psychology?


I hope there is enough information here to help you. If not,
then please ask further.

Best wishes,

Dallas

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

-----Original Message-----
From: C van H--------n
Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2002 12:05 PM
To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: A complete short rational theory ...

I have taken an interest in Theosophy for a while. Í have just
always felt
that there must be an more succinct way to answer the questions
of the
Universe.

I have scribbled down my main thoughts (in ms word format). I
have gone for
a more rational approach, attempting to demystify mysticism.
Following the
laws of logic as far as possible.


MAY WE SEE THESE ?