Theos-Talk Archives (June 2002 Message tt00009)

Dear Friend:

I can only offer that which I have learned from studying theosophy.
It shows how the logical and the metaphysical blend in virtue -- say
it succinctly. It makes history, investigation and observation its
tools and demand absolute honesty, sincerity and of course
discrimination, as you say.

If you imagine that THEOSOPHY is something special, then dispel that
idea. it is simply common sense -- a sense that is common to all and
no one owns it or has any special access to an understanding of it.

Theosophy is the knowledge and the wisdom of the world -- of life in
general and in particular. If however one desires to devote one's
life to its study and dissemination then at least a knowledge of its
tenets and fundamentals is needed. Strangely we are already
knowledgeable in most of them, out have not assembled them into a
consecutive whole. So I would say that is our first job. To Know, to
Dare to Achieve, and then to remain Silent until asked.

I agree as usual with most you say. Strange but words make some
differences !


The Head and the Heart doctrines have to be made to coincide. But
only the living mind can do that, as I see it.


Best wishes.,

Dallas

-----Original Message-----
From: gsch
Sent: Sunday, June 02, 2002 8:11 AM
To:
Subject: Helping Others

<<<In my esteem it is more important to ask : "What can I do to
assist others? ">>>

A worthy question, Dallas. And I wonder how you go about answering it.
Do we have to study Theosophy in order to give a begger a few bucks or
to hand food to someone who is hungry? Is a knowledge of Theosophy
required in order to help a neighbor in distress, babysit for someone,
or give someone a ride? I don't think it is.

IMO, Theosophy is necessary in order to provide us with a working
worldview and Path in order to develop spiritually and psychially to
the point where we can look into another's aura and see what they
karmically need, and then give them that. What people appear to need
is not usually what they really need. Sometimes when we "help" others
in what they appear to need, we delay their own spiritual progress and
inadvertantly prevent their karmic development. Unless we can know
what their karmic situation is, we are as apt to hurt as much as help.

Although the above is my own opinion, I share it with the Bodhisattva
tradition of Mahayana Buddhism, which is where I first encountered
this idea. Since then, my observations with people have shown me that
this is so. Without insight into the karmic needs of others, we
sometimes do more damage than good. There is an occult analogy about
the blind leading the blind and both falling into a ditch, which fits
this situation, I think.

Case in point is the US helping starving tribes in Africa by giving
them food to eat. They ate and did well, had more babies, and when the
care packages stopped the starvations began all over again. The US
discovered that it was more productive to give them seeds and train
them in agriculture so that they could grow their own food. When we
look back on these kind of things with hindsight they seem obvious,
but they are not obvious at first. Basically the same is true with
anyone who tries to help another -- "hell is paved with good
intentions" etc. Most people help others without understanding karma.
We Theosophists do understand karma, and therefore we have to take it
into consideration on a case-by-case basis.

Can you tell a person's karmic needs? If so, then go ahead and assist
them. If not, study Theosophy some more until you can. Meanwhile,
help as best you can,but know that some of the help you give will
actually be detrimental by increasing their karmic burden unstead of
decreasing it

Jerry S.