Theos-Talk Archives (February 2002 Message tt00553)

Dear Adelasie:
Pl see my comments interspersed below.

At 09:31 AM 2/18/02 -0800, adelasie wrote:
> Dear Ramadoss,
>
> The danger you mention of esoteric information being used in the
> wrong way is definitely a real one. And yet, it seems, given the
> perfect justice of karma, that if a piece of information is available
> to humanity, to scientists, it must be true that humanity has earned
> the right to use it as best it can. We can imagine that there must be
> further information to be "discovered" at some later date, even more
> potentially powerful, but at this as at any given point in our
> evolution, we have the opportunity to use what we know for the
> benefit of all.
You are right. We may want to look at the issue from two levels. In our 
personal experience we may discover bits and pieces of the working of 
natural laws and we can employ them to everyone's benefit. On the other 
hand, scientists discover some of them. How they are used is usually driven 
by greed, or by patriotism or ideology or other considerations which means 
enrichment or domination over others. Mostly scientists and Governments are 
not concerned with the humanitarian side of the use of the discoveries. 
Only hope is that the collective consciousness becoming more humanitarian 
over a period of time.

> Modern technology provides us with many examples. Electronic
> communication, for instance, allows us to send out our ideas to many
> more people than previously possible. How do we use this? Do we use
> deductive reasoning to promote our side of an issue, without
> considering the opposite view? Do we try to reason inductively and
> present all sides of an issue so that our readers can make up their
> own minds? What about genetic engineering? Is it possible that the
> work being done in this area is potentially beneficial to humanity,
> or is it the result of misuse of the laws of nature for personal
> gain?
See comments above.

> More important, to my mind, is the question, what role does the
> theosophist play in this scenario? If we feel, as theosophy teaches,
> that our duty is to contribute to the evolution of our race toward a
> universal consciousness of the unity of all life, how are we to do
> this? What effect can we have on the trends of scientific research?
> Do we have any power to help direct the action of science, or of
> anything, toward the goal of positive application?
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Adelasie
Great achievements are the result of individuals and not of organizations. 
A handful can change the world. So it is in the power of each one of us to 
try. The results can vary due to various conditions. But it is our duty to Try!

mkr


> On 17 Feb 2002 at 23:35, MKR wrote:
>
> > Well put. Once we understand how the word *works*, then it is awful
> > power in the hands of the person who knows it and it is very likely
> > the power be used for selfish use - taking advantage of the knowledge
> > for personal gains -- either now or hereafter.
> >
> > While we may get bits and pieces of the operation of nature, an
> > intelligent person can pick them up and understand how to act so that
> > actions generate welfare and fairness to everyone.
> >
> > As you stated, since we do not see the whole picture, our
> > understanding and conclusions based on a piece of the puzzle is bound
> > to be wrong for most of the time.
> >
> > My .02
> >
> > mkr
>
>
>
>
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