Theos-Talk Archives (May 2002 Message tt00093)

At 12:25 PM 5/9/02 -0700, you wrote:

> --- Bart Lidofsky <bartl@sprynet.com> wrote:
> > Philosophy is probably the most ignored aspect of
> > theosophical study,
> > and logic is considered to be a branch of
> > philosophy. Therefore, a
> > general discussion of logic is quite apropos for a
> > theosophical
> > discussion.
>
> If a discussion of theosophy had to be logical (or -
> horrors! - sensible, which is similar but worse) then
> many of our members would have to leave in disgust.
>
> You would not want that, now would you?
Steve:

Yeah? Perhaps as logical as a Zen Koan, but with
no Zen Master to hit you with a big stick when
you give the wrong answer. (That's the problem
with a spiritual lineage without a guru or teacher
succession to impart a particular dharma.
We're left with a do-it-yourself kit rather
than learn under a trained instructor.)

There are logical aspects to Theosophy, but the
material is designed to take one's mind to a
certain limit, threshold, or road block and then
it's up to the individual to break through that
self-made barrier to higher forms of understanding.

This is experiential, and a theoretical discussion
of it is no more helpful that a theoretical
discussion of the experience of a Dai Session
to someone who hasn't undertaken Zen practice.

Who would think there was something useful happening
with a bunch of people sitting most of the day in
a cold hall as a man walks around sometimes hitting
them with a stick? How could there be wisdom from
them growling a chant in unintelligible Japanese
syllables to the rapid-fire beating of a wooden
drum? It certain doesn't feed hungry
people nor provide shelter for the homeless.

Could there be things that happen inside people
that don't bear apparent connection to the
outward physical things they do?

-- Eldon