Theos-Talk Archives (April 2002 Message tt00134)

Monday, April 08, 2002

re: SELF-RELIANCE AND DISCERNMENT

Dal offers:

As I understand it, discernment is a faculty or aspect of
WISDOM. It would therefore emanate if universal and correct,
from the BUDDHI principle. That Principle is the one closest to
the ATMA or the UNIVERSAL SPIRIT.

It (DISCERNMENT) transcends "opinion." And it has the inherent
faculty of being able to offer the proof of validity within its
expressions.

If Theosophy is truly a "statement of facts in nature" and, in no
way a mobile set of opinions, beliefs, and unreasonable dogmas,
then the ability to prove itself is discernable within every
correct statement made.

The purpose of Theosophical discussion is to enable honest,
sincere and discriminative minds to exchange opinions on
statements with a view to deeper understanding, universalizing
and testing the validity of any statement claimed to be
"theosophical."

Ultimately, each individual has to prove everything for
themselves. There can be no "other reliance" as the Upanishad
says. Everything has to be self-reliance.

But, there also is a matter of selecting those basics which we
can all call the FUNDAMENTALS. If there is uncertainly about
those, then the edifice of thought is drafty.

Best wishes.


Dallas

-----Original Message-----
From: Nisk98114
Sent: Sunday, April 07, 2002 8:37 AM
To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Discernment...

The simple idea of discernment brings about , it seems, an almost
unending
complexity. Yet , it also seems, we are to undertake such a task
if we are to
have any hope of recovering a true feeling of strength when it
comes to the
Light of Theosophy.
Pairs of opposites are often mentioned in theosophy and hopes
seem to be the
opposite of fears, so , is there a state beyond hopes and fears?

A calm state that merely reflects and is not the
participant?
Theosophy states that this is the perceiver which is beyond all
conditioned
states. This seems to be what is pointed to as being "I and my
Father are one"
in
a great Masters statement.
This is pointed to as being helpful when regarding any being's
statements or
actions
as a means of discerning the false from the true and reading, as
it were,
between the words and actions of anyone. Without attaining that
true "Home"
within ourselves we are apt to flounder and remain confused as to
the
"rightness" of statements made by even great beings(in our minds,
d
information.
Theosophy "smacks" of home and , by G'd most of us seem to
realize that to a
degree.
Let us all return through mutual aid and understanding.