Theos-Talk Archives (March 2002 Message tt00161)

Hi Adelasie. Yes I had thought that Einstein might be leaving room for
theosophy amidst a sea of 'so-called theosophy.' I also had the same
thoughts on the last paragraph with respect to Krishnamurti's refusal to
reduce being to mere concepts & words (even theosophical concepts and
words). However, it could be that Einstein, an avowed atheist, and a
recognized genius, could live quite peacefully with that 'other' which can
not be explained.

thanks for your response,
Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "adelasie" <adelasie@surfari.net>
To: <theos-talk@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 07, 2002 11:18 AM
Subject: Re: Theos-World Einstein and theosophy


> 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
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> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
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> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
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