Theos-Talk Archives (May 2002 Message tt00163)

May 14 2002

Dear Friend:

Although addressed to our friend Adelasie, I thought I might send you
some ideas to look over and perhaps consider -- concerning Theosophy
and its nature, as well as the subject of its views about "God" and
also "Theosophy."

I put these just below.

Best wishes.

Dallas

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THEOSOPHY -- What Is It ?


Our present day knowledge of Theosophy is derived from the writings of
Mme. H. P. Blavatsky. She lived between 1831 and 1891. Her providing
of Theosophy as a philosophy, science and religious compendium began
around 1875.

In 1875, the Theosophical Society was launched to promote and sustain
three objects:

1.	To form the nucleus of a Universal Brotherhood, without distinction
of race, color, or creed.

2.	To promote the study of Aryan [noble] and other scriptures, of the
World's religion and sciences, and to vindicate the importance of old
Asiatic literature, namely of the Brahmanical, Buddhist, and
Zoroastrian philosophies, and

3.	To investigate the hidden mysteries of nature under every aspect
possible, and the psychic and spiritual powers latent in man...
KEY TO THEOSOPHY, p. 39 ]


Today a number of fraternally affiliated yet, independent Theosophical
societies flourish and a United Lodge of Theosophists exists which
offers all students of whatever affiliation a free forum for the study
of the original literature of Theosophy and cooperative work.

One may say that Theosophy in our modern World is aimed to demonstrate
the validity of "Universal Brotherhood," a recognition of the "Family
of Man.," and encouraging cooperative work on an impartial,
non-sectarian basis.

In 1877 Madame Blavatsky, published the book: ISIS UNVEILED. It was
a sensation. It went through many editions in rapid succession. In
this she reviewed the history of Science and Theology in respect to
the invisible and hidden side of Nature. In response to questions
and further demands, she founded and edited, along with Col. H. S.
Olcott the magazines The THEOSOPHIST (India) in 1879, and later
LUCIFER (London) in 1887.

In 1888 she published The SECRET DOCTRINE . Another sensation. In
this book, she provided a survey (as a summary taken from the secret
libraries and records of the age-old College of Adepts) [see Isis,
Vol. II, pp 98 - 103] of creation -- COSMOGENESIS, and of Man's
evolution, not only as a physical form, but psychologically and
spiritually -- ANTHROPOGENESIS.

In this she takes the reader through the metaphysics that form the
basic concept of Universal Evolution, and with their help, she
explains how it is the Spiritual Essence which informs and energizes
"material forms" with intelligence and consciousness. Evolution, is
therefore considered to be three-fold.

1. material in our bodies,

2. psychologically in our desires and thoughts, and

3. spiritually in our aspirations and virtuous urges.

In this she demonstrates the view held by the ancient Sage Patanjali :
"The Universe exists for the Soul's experience."

Theosophy, in brief, deals with the "causes" for our existence, and
the presence of the invisible Spiritual and psychological universe
that underlies, as energic Force, as the "causal motivation," of the
visible Universe we are familiar with.

It posits the concept that every atom of matter ( "monad") is alive
and is aware in its own way. As an individuality it is continuous,
and never "dies." It has a spiritual, and immortal center of energy,
a "Force," which is the "cause" of its existence. No event, no
experience, is ever "lost," but all are indelibly impressed on the
living consciousness of these innumerable "Monads." These, when
condensed out of invisible matter, make up the material "forms" we
deal with daily. The concept of "invisible" matter ("dark matter") is
an old one to Theosophy.

The "monads" are held, metaphysically, to be indissoluble compounds of
two "poles" of variance. These are held united by the bond of
interactive intelligence (Mind). They are "Spirit" (as perfection and
wisdom), and "Matter" (as limitation and ever shifting form) bonded
together for eternity as living units by the unitary consciousness
that gives them their permanent individuality and immortality. Each
of these three-fold Units are said to be, as a "Force,"
inextinguishable.

Theosophy holds that it is these eternal "Pilgrims" that form all the
components of evolution. These provide in a regulated manner, and
through a vast process of planned evolution, the individual
development of that increasing Intelligence that is innate to each of
them. These increments and experience, lead to self-conscious
individualization. Expressed in various ways, but essentially: "I AM
I" It is held that evidence for this lies in the existence of
humanity. "I think, therefore I am," said Descartes.

But the progress of the vast army of thinking and individual Monads is
held to proceed, from the level of intelligence we might designate as
the "Man-Mind," to a perception of, and an understanding of the
entire universe. [ "The Universe grows I." is one way of expressing
this.]

Since this course of learning would be impossible to achieve in a
single life-time, the process of "reincarnation" is said to exist,
both as a process and as a law of development. It is averred that
there is an ultimate goal of individual perfection to be attained.
This "ultimate goal" is expressed mystically, as " Supreme
Perfection," or "Universal Wisdom." It is a concept that has long
been held by ancient Brahmanism, Buddhism and Zorastrianism.

It will be seen, on reflection, that these concepts provide, the
interactive basis, that every choice or change at any level has
ethical / moral consequences. Ancient Hinduism speaks of this as
"karma" or, the effects that are consequent upon any "choice." For
it is held that the "Mind-Man" is a free agent and his decisions cause
the progress of evolution for the whole Universe to advance or slow
down. [ It is for this reason that Patanjali offered his observation
quoted above. ] Karma provides for the exact return of moral and any
other impressions to whoever generated any cause.

Our human physical forms are observed to become incapacitated and grow
incapable and obsolete over time. This leads to the dissolution we
call "death." But Theosophy posits that the experiences of a
life-time, as "memories," survive the death of the physical form.
They are the continued basis for every increment of knowledge and
wisdom. These memory-impressions are said to be impacted in the
imperishable spiritual aspect of every Monad. From this, the remote
Goal is posited as : Sublime and Universal Perfection for each
individual Monad.

With this in view, the reader is invited to look at the following
expressions abstracted from Theosophical literature.

================


"Theosophy is Divine Knowledge, or Science, "Divine Wisdom"
(Theo-Sophia) -- the term is many thousand years old." KEY TO
THEOSOPHY , p. 1.


"Theosophy is synonymous with everlasting Truth." KEY TO THEOSOPHY,
p. 302.


"We have no two beliefs or hypotheses on the same subject." KEY TO
THEOSOPHY , p. 72.


"Theosophy is the substratum and basis of all the world-religions and
philosophies taught and practised by a few elect ever since man became
a thinking being."
The THEOSOPHICAL GLOSSARY p. 328.


"The "Wisdom Religion" is the inheritance of all the nations, the
world over." S D I xviii


"Theosophy [is]...the one bond of unity which is so universal and
all-embracing that no man, as no speck -- from gods and mortals down
to animals, the blade of grass and atom -- can be outside of its
light. Therefore any organization or body of that name [Theosophical]
must necessarily be a Universal Brotherhood."
H P B: IS THEOSOPHY A RELIGION ? H P B Articles, (U L T), Vol. I,
p 59,
[ LUCIFER Nov. 1888.]


Theosophy is Not New


This suggests that THEOSOPHY is not a new fangled system of collated
ideas drawn from many sources. In fact, if it were even that, then the
marvel is of HPB's mind and capacity in drawing such a vast diversity
together and showing how the many pieces fit together to form a
seamless whole in the world of ideas and concepts. In our experience
and wide reading, there is no one who has written such a comprehensive
view of our world, universe and the important part that Mankind plays
in that.


Who was H. P. Blavatsky?


HPB does not claim "authority." She claims to be a "messenger."
Specifically a messenger from the Great and Ancient Lodge of ADEPTS.
She offers the teachings of the Great Ones, the Elder Brothers of
humanity as a bouquet of "culled flowers" for us to appraise.

In both ISIS UNVEILED and The SECRET DOCTRINE she disclaims any
personal authority and gives the credit for the records she transmits
to the Real Authors, the Mahatmas. [ see certificate of authorship,
by H P B and the two Mahatmas, PATH, Vol. VIII, p. 1 ]

Since she was well aware that Theosophical theories and hypotheses
would be received with various degrees of incredulity from the
academies, she was careful to make it clear that the information was
in reality taken from the HISTORY that the Adepts and their disciples
(chelas) had recorded down the ages. All that she requested was
"equal time" and an open-minded consideration of what Theosophy had to
offer.

She wrote in ISIS UNVEILED :

"When, years ago, we first traveled over the East, exploring the
penetralia of its deserted sanctuaries, two saddening and
ever-recurring questions oppressed our thoughts: Where, who what is
GOD ? Who ever saw the IMMORTAL SPIRIT of man, so as to be able to
assure himself of man's immorality?

It was while most anxious to solve those perplexing problems that we
came into contact with certain men, endowed with such mysterious
powers and such profound knowledge that we may truly designate them as
the sages of the Orient. To their instructions we lent a ready ear.
They showed us that by combining science with religion, the existence
of God and immortality of man's spirit may be demonstrated like a
problem of Euclid. For the first time we receive the assurance that
the Oriental philosophy has room for no other faith than an absolute
and immovable faith in the omnipotence of man's own immortal self. We
were taught that this omnipotence comes from the kinship of man's
spirit with the Universal Soul--God ! The latter, they said, can
never be demonstrated but by the former. Man-spirit proves
God-spirit, as the one drop of water proves a source from which it
must have come...all the rest may be inferred...Blind faith would no
longer be necessary, he would have supplanted it by
KNOWLEDGE....prove the soul of man by its wondrous powers--you have
proved God !" I U , Vol. I , p. vi

"The essence of Theosophy is the perfect harmonizing of the divine
with the human in man."
H P B -- FIVE MESSAGES TO AMERICAN THEOSOPHISTS , p. 6.


What does Theosophy teach?


The immortality of man's Spirit/Soul and the "God-Spirit," being
present in every "life-atom" of our living universe are fundamental
concepts. Everything in Nature may be seen to trend in its
life-experience towards a higher degree of knowledge, wisdom,
perfection.

Each life-cycle (incarnation) is like a separate day at school and all
are drawn together by the uniting thread of the immortal, and eternal
spiritual Self which is at their core. In fact she shows how
Theosophy traces the evolution of the "consciousness and intelligence"
of the SPIRITUAL SOUL or Monad, through many forms -- from the atom to
the human condition of independent free-will.

This sweep and concept is one that can be traced in every one of the
great religions and philosophies of the world. It is the record of
their existence and of our participation, again and again, in those
processes.


"Her main teachings can be reduced to the following propositions:

That Morals have a basis in Law and in fact.

That Moral law is Natural Law.

That Evolution makes for Righteousness.

That the "fundamental identity of all souls with the Oversoul" renders
moral contagion possible through the subtle psychic medium.

That the Spiritual Identity of all Being renders Universal
brotherhood the only possible path for the truth-seeking man."
[ H P B Articles (U L T ) Vol. I p. 115. From: SHE BEING DEAD
YET SPEAKETH
-- PATH, July 1892 ; Vol 7, p. 121 ]


"True Theosophy is everything that aids or elevates mankind; and our
chief object is not so much to gratify individual aspirations, as to
serve our fellow men." PATH, Vol. IV, p., 96


Theosophy the Root of All Religions


Currently there is debate as to whether Theosophy has its roots in
Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, etc... It is understood that scholars
who are familiar with those systems and their development can trace
similarities. However HPB claims that all those were derived from the
"Sanatana Dharma," the "Perennial Philosophy." which is an ancient and
universal record of Life's development and history.

As such, it claims to be at the root and at the origin of all the
great ancient religio-philosophical systems and provides a reason for
their development, as systems of practice, leading to that kind of
"initiation" which develops Wisdom in thought and mind as well as,
simultaneously, the application of compassion and harmlessness in
motive.

"...the Wisdom-Religion was ever one, and being the last word of
possible human knowledge, was therefore, carefully preserved. It
preceded by long ages the Alexandrian Theosophists [ 1st Cent.] ,
reached the modern, and will survive every other religion and
philosophy."
KEY TO THEOSOPHY , p. 7.


Thus, Theosophy is not exclusively religion, or philosophy but also
includes science -- as the power to investigate and record the
workings of NATURE (Life as a whole) in every stage, visible or
invisible, and in every department of the world and our Universe.

The sweep of the ever-present immortal Life, through cycles of
evolution lead each Monad at last to a "goal," the "all-Knowingness"
of the PERFECTED MAN. The designation Mahatma (Great Soul) is one
that includes all such self-developed men of superior knowledge and
nature.

The SECRET DOCTRINE therefore speaks of those as the intelligent
guides {Dhyan Chohans, and Dhyani Buddhas], and Self-conscious
assistants that Nature employs to recreate and supervise a fresh
evolutionary effort, a "new Day," of evolutionary progress for all
beings.


Encourages Independent Inquiry


If this is grasped, as a working and actual concept, the minute
details and studies of specialists, while respected, as continuing
proof of the inclusive nature of Theosophy, are also shown to be but
the outer covering, or, to be but some one way selected to approach to
the interior mystery of man's own immortal Mind, and of Nature's
infinite capacities to assist that Mind to grow. The process Nature
employs is reincarnation. It is reembodiment under the exacting Law of
universal Karma.

If this infinite capacity of the human mind to grow and to understand
the most simple, as well as the most complex subjects is granted, the
more learned will continually encourage those who now are at various
stages of learning to investigate and prove for themselves all
avenues, however diverse, of information, tradition and lore. And
that is the always growing tip of the self-enlightening Mind. It
always widens out to that which is permanent and universal, when given
a chance to emerge from ignorance, doubt, skepticism and lethargy of
authoritarianism.

"[ THEOSOPHY ] Its creed is Loyalty to Truth, and its ritual "To honor
every Truth by use."
KEY


"The true Theosophist is a philanthropist -- "not for himself, but for
the world he lives." This and philosophy, the right comprehension of
life and its mysteries will give the "missing basis" and show the
right path to purse." -- Mahatma K. H.


Universal Science, Religion and Philosophy


In regard to the prevalence and diffusion of theosophy as a science
and a philosophical religion, it has been expressed :--


"Proofs of its diffusion, authentic records of its history, a complete
chain of documents, showing its character and presence in every land,
together with the teaching of all its great Adepts exists to this day
in the secret crypts of libraries belonging to the Occult
Fraternity." S D I xxxiv.


"The members of several esoteric schools...claim to have in their
possession the sum total of sacred and philosophical works in MSS and
type; all the works, in fact, that have ever been written, in
whatever language or character since the art of writing began; from
the ideographic hieroglyphics down to the alphabet of Cadmus and
Devanagri." S D I xxiii


"The work [ISIS UNVEILED ] now submitted to public judgment is the
fruit of a somewhat intimate acquaintance with Eastern adepts and
study of their science....It is an attempt to aid the student to
detect the vital principles which underlie the philosophical systems
of old....We believe in no Magic which transcends the scope and
capacity of the human mind, nor in "miracles." I U I p. i


"Our work, then, is a plea for the recognition of the hermetic
philosophy, the anciently universal Wisdom-Religion, as the only
possible key to the Absolute in science and theology." I U I p vii


"The SECRET DOCTRINE is not a treatise, or a series of vague
theories, but contains all that an be given out to the world in this
century." S D I xxxviii


"The aim of this work [ The SECRET DOCTRINE ] may be thus stated: --

1. To show that Nature is not "a fortuitous concurrence of atoms,"

2. and to assign to man his rightful place in the scheme of the
Universe;

3. to rescue from degradation the archaic truths which are the basis
of all religions;

4. and to uncover, to some extent, the fundamental unity from which
all spring

5. finally to show that the Occult side of Nature has never been
approached by the Science of modern civilization." S D I viii


The Future


"The problem of true Theosophy and its great mission are, first, the
working out of clear unequivocal conceptions of ethic ideas and
duties, such as shall best and most fully satisfy the right and
altruistic feeling in men; and second, the modeling of these
conceptions for their adaptation into such forms of daily life, as
shall offer a field where they may be applied with most equitableness.
Such is the common work placed before all who are willing to act on
these principles."
THE GREAT MASTER'S LETTER, LUCIFER, January, 1888, Vol. I p. 344.
U L T Pamphlet No. 22, p. 13


"Theosophy alone can gradually create a mankind as harmonious and as
simple-souled as Kosmos itself; but to effect this theosophists have
to act as such... [helping] to awaken the spirit in many a man" H P
B Articles (U L T) , Vol. I, p. 105
-- THE TIDAL WAVE. [LUCIFER, Nov. 1889.]

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Offered by
DTB

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-----Original Message-----
From: Willgram@aol.com
Sent: Monday, May 13, 2002 6:21 PM
To:
Subject: Re: God (and Theosophy)

Ad---------,

My name is Bill Quinn and I really feel that I have not been a member
of
this study group long enough to have the right to express my somewhat
different opinion, especially since Larry has been kind enough to ask
you
folks to edit my view of Theosophy. I know from my counter that at
least 20
of your list have called up my URL.

But---I want so much to say that my essay does, in fact deal with
yourr
subject. I too, have struggled with your "God" subject, which
eventually
caused the contents of my essay.

As I read all the postings, it seems to me that you are debating
various
standard beliefs of Christianity, in most cases Catholic, or
Protestant
dogma trying to prove that the Philosophy of Theosophy is better.

Actually Theosophy, as I have come to understand it, is a scientific
study
of the Process of Evolution; is organized like no other religion and
no
normal religious theology is broad enough to stand up side by side to
the proven Process of Evolution as described by Ms. H. P. Blavatsky.

Most people have long ago accepted from childhood a standard set of
beliefs
that tend to answer such questions as: How did I get here on earth?
How am I
supposed to behave while I am living here on earth? What punishment
will be
dealt to me if I do something that is wrong according to what I have
been
taught by my church? Will I go to "Hell when I die".Over the years of
my
life I have tended to believe and follow most of the rules and since I
know
that I must die some time, I think I have a good chance of avoiding
"Hell"
and be accepted in Heaven. Our chances of changing anyone's mind in
their
adult life has little or no possibility of changing their philosophy.
They
may change from one religion to another but that is just about as far
as they
will go. They can see death in the distance and they are fearful of
making a
big mistake and ending up in "Hell".

So, as you read my essay I just lightly brush a couple of Catholic
beliefs
and compare them to common sense and logic. After that. I suggest
that the
founding fathers of Christian dogma, for local reasons at that time
did not
include all the scientific knowledge that was available. So I tell
them
what was left out and let them see for themselves that they can
continue to
believe the important parts of their required behavior according to
their old
teaching. I hope, if they take the trouble to think about what I
say, that
they will then dig a little deeper and spend a few dollars to buy "The
Ocean
of Theosophy" and begin to see "Life", and "Life after Death" and
"Reincarnation" as we see ourselves learning ever more about the
Creator's
Process of Evolution.

I strongly believe that on the subject of religion, all people have to
make
up their own mind. It is a very personal subject. Please forgive me
if I am
butting into the discussion in such a radical fashion.

Bill Quinn

CUT