Theos-Talk Archives (April 2002 Message tt00064)

Well put Adelasie, as usual you have removed the dirt
from the dingo's paw and slammed it on the kerosine
can for the rest of us diggers to mull over. Although
it is hard to restrain aggression, even if it is quite
passive, some people just seem to want to be
aggressive and have others be aggressive towards them.
I have been very reluctant of late to post anything of
importance on this list due to inevitable retribution
that I am certain would have been received by a
certain ex-member. Everyone else on this list has been
overwhelmingly helpful and to this I am most grateful.
Though I would not be so gracious if criticism were
not forthcoming. Having said this I think it is good
that we all show a little aggression in expressng our
points of view, but we must keep in mind the context
that this aggression is being displayed. It is fairly
similar to cricket players and the attitude they
(supposedly) adopt: on the field they are aggressive
and don't give an inch, off field they are most
inviting and would offer anyone a drink if they so
desired (even the opposition which, just 20 minutes
before, they were so aggresive towards). As we are
theosophists we should practice that principle of
universal brotherhood, altruism etc etc; but as
theosophists we should also seek the truth and, on
occassions, this may require one to be a little more
aggressive than what would be expected.
mic


--- adelasie <adelasie@surfari.net> wrote:
> Perhaps now is a good time to say some of the things
> I have been 
> thinking about lately. The recent furor over the
> list owner's 
> decision to take action raises some issues. 
> 
> Ever since I started participating in online
> discussions of 
> theosophy, I have noticed a decided tendency toward
> adversarial 
> comments, and even hostility, among list members.
> Certainly we live 
> in a time when argument, aggression, and anger seem
> to predominate. 
> We have only to look around the world to see many
> places where these 
> tendencies have become so entrenched that many of
> our brothers and 
> sisters are suffering terribly the effects of these
> traits put into 
> action, the inevitable extension of anger
> unrestrained ultimately 
> being war. 
> 
> But theosophy teaches a different way. Promoting the
> simple human 
> virtues of faith, hope, compassion, altruism,
> brotherly love, it 
> outlines a way to evolve beyond the endless pain and
> suffering caused 
> by man's inhumanity to man. 
> 
> Doesn't it seem that theosophists, of all people,
> would be the ones 
> to put these virtues into practice? Does anyone
> think this is a 
> valuable thing to try to do? And if so, why don't we
> do it? 
> Especially now, when humanity appears to be trying
> to tear itself to 
> shreds, destroy its habitat, and refuse to take
> responsibility for 
> the future of the planet or its inhabitants, why not
> make of 
> ourselves examples of a better way to behave? We
> have access to 
> volumes of information about how to do this. But we
> have to start 
> with ourselves. 
> 
> I think about people seeking to find meaning and
> direction in life 
> these days, searching the web and coming across a
> talk list like this 
> one, dedicated to studying theosophy in the spirit
> in which it was 
> given, with respect and courtesy. If such seekers
> find a bunch of 
> people arguing over who said what or whether the
> founders were 
> charlatans, or whether theosophy is even worth
> considering seriously, 
> how are they served? If they read posts where we
> accuse each other of 
> this or that fault, what are newcomers to think
> about theosophy 
> itself? Are we saying, "Do as I say, not as I do?"
> Or do we think 
> that theosophy is a mind game, not to be applied in
> our daily lives, 
> but simply to be debated, like an argument about how
> many angels can 
> dance on the head of a pin? 
> 
> The ancient wisdom is infinitely modern. Within its
> teachings lies 
> essential information for the solution to all the
> problems that beset 
> us. It is elegantly practical, offering us a way to
> understand 
> ourselves, individally and collectively, our lives,
> our world, and 
> all we are capable of even wondering about. Not
> everyone thinks that 
> theosophy is valuable, and that's fine. To each his
> own. But for 
> students of this valuable tool to unlocking the
> mysteries of life, it 
> is worth devoting our lives to. It was given out to
> the world in this 
> cycle for the very reason that we need its lessons
> now as never 
> before. We are at a crisis in our evolution. Great
> issues are being 
> dealt with every day. The future of humanity for
> eons to come is 
> being set in train even as we watch. Shall we sit on
> the sidelines 
> and play at childish games while our world
> self-destructs, or shall 
> we get busy and put what we study into practice,
> becoming examples of 
> that which we value and revere? We are told over and
> over again that 
> any change we wish to see in our world starts with
> us. Each of us has 
> the ability to make of ourselves a more perfect
> being, and we do that 
> by adopting and making manifest the finer aspects of
> human potential. 
> 
> I am not talking to anyone, any more than I am to
> myself. We are all 
> in this together, and noone is better than anyone
> else. But I keep 
> thinking that if we could find a way to rise above
> anger, hostility, 
> accusations, and all other 
> negativity, among ourselves, we would be taking some
> real steps 
> toward furthering the work theosophy and its
> founders came here to 
> do.
> 
> Any thoughts?
> 
> Adelasie
> 
> 
> 
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 
> 
> 


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