Theos-Talk Archives (March 2002 Message tt00146)

Dear Bill,

You have a point. What do we call the individual mental process that 
is referred to as, "the mind," as in "to my mind?" I don't think 
"brain" would work, as that is just a sort of biological computer, 
the radio, so to speak, that picks up and sorts the mental impulses 
coming and going. If I "change my mind," is it still the same mind? I 
must say I think it is, since I have changed my mind myriads of times 
and I am still I. Maybe some of the memory sort of sloshes out, with 
the rapid shifting of direction, is the only substantial change I 
would note:-)

As to Einstein, I would look at the letter that he was responding to. 
The lady asks, "...whether the soul exists and with it personal, 
individual development after death," and other questions of that 
nature. Einstein's response may be directed toward dispelling the 
sort of "astral intoxication" suggested by this question, in a 
similar way to the statements quoted elsewhere recently by 
Krishnamurti. Seen in this way, the statement about 'so-called 
theosophy' could be a reference to theosophy misinterpreted, as it 
would be if it was read to mean that the soul continues personal, 
individual development after death of the body. 

This is just an idea, a possible explanation. More suggestive of 
doubt is the next paragraph, "Since our inner experiences consist of 
reproductions and combinations of sensory impressions, the concept of 
a soul without a body seems to me to be empty and devoid of meaning." 
This sounds like something a materialist would say, suggesting that 
all experience comes from the body, that there is nothing beyond the 
material universe. If it was said in an attempt to curb astral 
intoxication, incipient spiritualism, as could possibly be the case, 
it's pretty heavy-handed, to my mind. 

Still the same mind, as far as I can tell,
Adelasie



On 6 Mar 2002 at 21:58, Bill Meredith wrote:

> Hi Adelasie. Yes I agree with you about the same mind being of
> different opinions at different times given different contexts,
> circumstances, and points of view. Although, when a mind is radically
> changed I'm not sure we can call it the same mind. :) What do you
> think Einstein intended using the phrase 'so-called Theosophy' instead
> of just 'theosophy'?
> 
> Bill
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "adelasie" <adelasie@surfari.net>
> To: <theos-talk@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 05, 2002 11:32 PM
> Subject: Re: Theos-World understanding or attacking Theosophy?
> 
> 
> > Dear Bill,
> >
> > It is interesting indeed. It seems that great minds can entertain
> > different opinions at different times. I can relate to that, and I'm
> > not even a great mind. It suggests that even diametrically opposed
> > opinions can both be true, given differences of context,
> > circumstances, points of view. What do you think?
> >
> > Adelasie
> >
> > On 4 Mar 2002 at 14:16, Bill Meredith wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Adelasie, here is yet another view from Einstein which you may
> > > find interesting:
> > >
> > >
> > > In Berlin in February 1921 Einstein received from a woman in
> > > Vienna a letter imploring him to tell her if he had formed an
> > > opinion as to whether the soul exists and with it personal,
> > > individual development after death. There were other questions of
> > > a similar sort. On 5 February 1921 Einstein answered at some
> > > length. Here in part is what he said:
> > >
> > > The mystical trend of our time, which shows itself particularly in
> > > the rampant growth of the so-called Theosophy and Spiritualism, is
> > > for me no more than a symptom of weakness and confusion.
> > >
> > > Since our inner experiences consist of reproductions and
> > > combinations of sensory impressions, the concept of a soul without
> > > a body seems to me to be empty and devoid of meaning.
> > >
> > > Albert Einstein: The Human Side,
> > > Selected and Edited by Helen Dukas and Banesh Hoffman,
> > > Princeton University Press, 1979. p. 40
> > >
> > > copied here from: 
> > > http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/einprayr.htm
> > >
> > > regards,
> > > Bill
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
> >
> 
> 
> 
> 
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