Theos-Talk Archives (February 2002 Message tt00085)

Dear Adelasie,
You make some very excellent points below. I hope you don't mind if, in my
comments below, I have interpreted your points more universally than you may
have intended. There is such truth in what you say.



----- Original Message -----
From: "adelasie" <adelasie@surfari.net>
To: <theos-talk@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2002 10:13 PM
Subject: Re: Theos-World how does theosophy explain 'disgust'?


> As I understand it, there is the ideal and there is the real. There is
> the aspiration and there is the daily grind. Theosophy recommends
> compassion, tolerance, loyalty, forgiveness. If, after sending out
> countless reams of messages of solid reliable information, endless
> patience with cant and diversions, steady attention to what is
> important in the face of endless blathering about side issues, and
> endurance of being called all kinds of names and having all sorts of
> untruths flung at him, a theosophist voices an personal opinion,
> shall we immediatly pounce on him and tear him to bits?

Of course not. And I think Paul Johnson has made a heroic effort not to
succumb to the personal attacks and I would never pounce on him and tear him
to bits just because he wrote a historical book that also voiced his
personal opinion ............ Why would anyone do that?

What is
> going on here? Where is our perspective? Is there anyone on this
> list who is perfect in every way? If so, that person is entitled to
> criticize others. But of course, if such a person did exist, he would
> not stoop so low. And if we are not perfect, what business do we
> have pointing out the faults of others?

I don't think there are any perfect people on this list. Perhaps we could
learn from each other's imperfect efforts anyway?


Let's get real. If theosophy
> means anything at all, it must be theosophists who think so. What
> have they to do with attacking each other for some word spoken in
> a moment of frustration?

I don't think Paul was frustrated when he wrote his book. I think he was a
sincere and thoughtful person seeking truth and wisdom where he found it.
I don't know why Paul is attacked so, but I'm sure he, better than mosts,
appreciates those moments of frustration to which we are all prone.

Does anyone really think we have any
> such right? And what do we hope to accomplish by behaving in
> such a manner?
>

The only reason I can think of is fear. Some people may be afraid of what
Paul Johnson has written, so they attack and drive him from the Theosophical
fold that should by definition include everyone. It is hard for me to
understand. But you are right. It speaks poorly of Theosophy.

> Adelasie

Bill