Theos-Talk Archives (July 2002 Message tt00188)

July 22 2002

Dear Friend:

Glad you have gone through so much of the original Theosophical
Literature.

What has struck you as initially interesting and informative?

16 is a good point in .life to start investigating. I think the
main thing (as I have always felt) is to look at all the
information and decide that impartially, you will try and find
out what is the most accurate and correct. One can clutter one’s
mind with data, (true or false ). Determining value is the
important thing. Once that is achieved, one can proceed. It was
also my experience that in talking to friends my age one could
not delve deeply into subjects they were unfamiliar with. So I
waited for the opportunity to drop hints that there were “depths”
to be discovered, and age meant nothing in that, only the ability
to think (ageless) was important. Occasionally there were found
friends and new acquaintances with whom one could go into a
search for “causes.”

So I would be critical of all information which I have not
actually proved for myself by experiment (either physically or
mentally, given the parameters of examination and the step of
procedure which any one ought to be able to follow). Most data
is based on some kind of “observed effects.” It is therefore
superficial and subject to underlying changes -- whose power we
ought to discover. Or, so was my own thinking.

But to be critical is to entertain all points of view until they
are proved to be inaccurate or false -- or true. In my case I
started a note book and under various subjects placed the
propositions made (scientific and Theosophical) , and as I
studied and read further I made note (reference pages and texts)
of either those pieces of the puzzles that agreed or differed.

Tedious, but also very useful to keep accurate score of
discoveries personal to one’s own progress. We always discover
again what others provide. This is essential if later we are
asked for proofs or we endeavor to place fresh propositions
before others.

Out of your reading of The SECRET DOCTRINE and ISIS UNVEILED what
have you gathered? Let me observe that after I had begun my
study (over 60 years ago, I discovered those books had INDEXES,
and then I could make references to various subject easier as
they were indexed subject-wise. My work then fell in the
category of questioning, investigating, reasoning and a search
for proof and corroboration.

I agree that mathematics is perhaps the purest and least
argumentative area of research. All discoveries can be related
to a number system. All discoveries are related to measurements.
The important single thing to realize is: NATURE (our
environment) has established them and put them in place. We are
only unveiling what is there.

So we ought to look into the invisible side of Nature to discover
her reasons, laws and basis. Now that is not easy, as we have
not developed adequately sensitive probes and equipment to
penetrate below the physical surface of phenomena. To discover
the many “causes;” and then, to try to find out the ultimate
CAUSE. [ Like : Why are we here? Where are we all going? Why
is Nature, the Earth and the Universe as they are? Who or how
were they set into existence? What will be their future ? Do we
(some part of us) survive “death” of the physical form? What is
the Mind? Why are some curious and others not? ]

In this, our world of life, we are bounded by the physical
parameters: measure, size, temperature, qualities, quantities,
space, orientation, existing conditions, variables, etc., etc.
Most of these can be made more accurate by instruments of
observation. Most observations depend on vibration and movement
against some stab le base. In our case the largest is our Earth.
In Astronomy it is a selected measure that involves distance,
motion and usually some form of “Light.” as a “weightless”
indicator. In our case “mathematics” can be used as a
“weightless” indicator -- a tool which inherently is trustworthy,
universal, and open to any ones’ testing and proving. This I bel
ieve to be important. Would you agree ?

The only problem with maths is that if one starts with corrupt
data the results will be corrupt. We have to start with
something that is true, even if unknown, it ought to be part of
the equation.

As we zero in on data, (a little as selected by us, or a lot) we
seek to secure the most accurate and refined measurements. Since
we know the Earth is in constant movement and subject to
variables, we seek to establish as “base” some one condition
under which those variables are known and referable. It is an
assumed “ZERO POINT.” But this you know. We have both been
through the study of the sciences and engineering. Mathematics
is always the trustworthy tool as it gives true results providing
it is started on TRUE premises.

Where then do variables in our “view-points” arise? Is it not in
the Mind? is it not part of our “desires?” The desire to
discover, to find out causes -- Where does that come from? Why
us? why not others to an equal degree ? -- and there are more
questions, but instead of cataloguing differences, let us look
for “similarities.”

That’s the real problem: WHAT IS TRUE ? What can we rely on to
be consistent, in the past as in the present and on into the
future ?

Let me draw your attention to the fact that the real nature of
LIGHT, of ELECTRICITY, of MAGNETISM, of GRAVITY, of extremes in
heat and cold, are not completely determined physically. Their
causes are deemed by Science not to be relevant to discovery.
They then form the basis for many theories and hypotheses as to
“origins.” The only basis for such developments (as the history
of the past is very fragmentary) are relics and fossils --- and
there we come to another problem: dating, and the traditions and
myths of old nations and peoples, some embodied in religion and
culture. How to discover TRUTH there. (Well, if you have read
The SECRET DOCTRINE and ISIS UNVEILED you are aware of the way in
which Mme. Blavatsky presents a review of the past and draws
together reports on the various ancient cultures and their
traditions, myths and religions. She also speaks of a secret
tradition and of a Lodge of Wise Men who have preserved such
information in spite of the destruction of cities, civilizations,
religious cultures and artifacts, and other indices of living in
the past. (see ISIS UNVEILED II 98-103)

We, as humans, are in constant motion and our bodies are very
unstable. So we use measurements that employ those physical
materials we have observed to change the least, or over a very
long period of time. But that does not completely eliminate
certain secular changes we have no way yet of measuring.

It begins to sound like the passenger on board a train seeing
another person on a train that is moving parallel to his own, and
seeking to make some accurate measurements in regard to both. A
point that is not moving at all is essential.

All this is only preface to some observations.

The concept of DEITY (or the “Ineffable Name) is one which has
been offered in the past as a kind of basis for explaining the
universal SPIRITUAL EXISTENCE. These ideas tend to personalize
it, so one has to be careful to keep the concept impersonal and
universal. In one way, we can say that the idea of “God,” makes
for a “planner.” Plans mean Laws. Laws mean cooperation and
assistance in progress. This is called generally the “Harmony of
diversity.”

One seeks to understand the enormity of this in a UNIVERSE that
present measurement extends to about 15 to 18 billion light
years. The quantities are so enormous that our own presence
shrinks into comparative obscurity. yet, we know we exist and
our minds are capable of envisaging (seeing ?) there theory, the
concept, the formula that could only be expressed mathematically
in terms of both the infinite and the singular. Calculus is
required, Limitations are etherealized (?), and yet, admitted
existence, depending on the nature of the senses that the MIND
employs to detect them.

The Mind of man (as directed by the REAL MAN within -- Theosophy
would call this the Spiritual Being present as a “ray” of the
Universal SPIRIT in every part of space and in ourselves) is
therefore the key factor in each of us. It transcends dimensions
and also the planes. It grasps string theory as well as
indeterminacy. It looks on probability and quantum theory as
potentially unified in a grand unified Theory of existence. It
treats indeterminacy (also “chaos theory”) as a mathematical
proposition which relates to various “planes” of manifestation,
of their inter-relation, and, of the constant change that
proceeds everywhere. Yet, it also recognizes that behind every
“being,” there is an indestructible ENTITY of Consciousness and
developing INTELLIGENCE. You must have noticed the use of the
word MONAD. That is important, as the whole of space is held to
be crowded with those immortal and eternal entities, as centers
of living force.

You are right, those who seek for ever more understanding, if
they talk about it to those who are not yet interested, may evoke
fear -- fear of the unknown. And we find this everywhere
present, unfortunately.

What is called Eastern Mysticism, may be either Reality, or some
kind of mask of words used by the clever to bewilder the curious.
Only the truly fearless, usually basing themselves on their own
sense of identity and immortality, proceed further, and delve
into causes and meanings, and their impact on living.

An academic education will lead us to see how Science and
Research have departmentalized the organization of date. it also
revels how scanty much of the older data is. It also shows that
the older Authorities have either espoused or generated theories
as to the origins of things in the hazy dawn of pre-history. And
they become mentally wedded to those concepts. They defend them,
and expect their students to adopt them without question. At
that point “Science” and ”Research” cease to be the open minded
process they are ideally, and become traps for those who desire
to excel in the academic game of securing a degree and receive
recognition, and tenure, and respect from their peers. In other
words, it ceases to be impersonally Scientific, and becomes a
matter or pride and authority in a personal way.

If you get into Philadelphia try and contact the UNITED LODGE OF
THEOSOPHISTS there at 1811 Walnut St. find out in advance when
they meet, and see if a visit helps. I am sure there are those
there who have followed this same path you write about and which
is the essence of the Theosophical method of study and research.
You may fin, of course, that part of the meeting is pitched to
the level of “newcomers.” -- those just acquiring a knowledge of
Theosophy and who will be interested in Karma, Reincarnation, the
Unity of Life (expressed as Brotherhood) and the causes of
existence -- so there is plenty of latitude.

Additionally, underlying the physical surface of things is the
ASTRAL -- a plane where electro-magnetic field-forces play,
interblend, and provide a kind of “lattice-work” on which the
physical molecules can be assembled. Nature does this assembly,
as it is ever-active and designs and follows its own Laws of
justice, fairness and equity for all. This is the next plane of
formative force that Science needs to penetrate. And beyond that
are its causes which will be found to exist in the active desires
and thoughts of all men and women -- as they affect subtly but
powerfully the whole environment. Theosophy speaks of Karma --
the ever interactive Law of cause and effect. It links all
physical and astral forms to this active aspect of motive as a
“creative” force. But this requires quite a bit of explanation..
Have you read the OCEAN OF THEOSOPHY by Mr. W. Q. Judge ? It
covers this ground rather well and with enough detail. Theosophy
adds to physical observations the impact of the thoughts, desires
and feelings of living people. We already know about the
sensitivity of plants to thoughts directed at them, and there is
reason to believe that telecommunication between minds in a
rudimentary form is always present in conversations.

Let me know how you fare. Your letter is most interesting. I
would like to share it with others, and will not reveal your name
unless you permit it.


Best wishes,

Dallas

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

-----Original Message-----
From: Phan Dia
Sent: Sunday, July 21, 2002 10:56 PM
To: study@blavatsky.net
Subject: Re: Sharing Theosophy


Hello all,

I apologize that this is going to be a post with a bit of a
mishmashing of topics. I love this study group to death, but I've
been superbusy lately, and just caught up on a month's worth of
emails in two days=D
Anyway, I can't help but remark on degenerate society. I am
sixteen years old. All of my friends are older than me (college
age), and most of them are male. It is nearly impossible to find
anyone my age with an interest in learning at all, hence the
older friends, and sadly, 9.9 out of ten young women have been
successfully conditioned by the media to believe that they are
incapable of doing anything intelligent for themselves. Hence,
thinking and reading are big no-no's. Must do mindless things,
like paint my nails and tell my abusive boyfriends how beautiful
they are!-.-
Since January/since I've had a job that gave me money to spend, I
practically bought out of the local bookstores. I stumbled upon
Blavatsky when doing extensive research on out of body
experiences (strange things happened before I knew what they
were, so that was all the objective proof I needed to investigate
the world of metaphysics at the time). I've read the SD twice and
Isis Unveiled, some Confucius, the Gita, I'm also working on
Plato. I've read an obscene amount of books on string theory and
particle physics, my other passion (funny how this all comes
together?).
I try to talk to some of my friends my age about the things I've
discovered through my reading. Before I started reading
Blavatsky, I was like every other "intellectual" my age--if you
can't see it and can't touch it, it isn't real, so I need lots of
proof with the word "scientific" attached to it! Bwahaha! The
fact that the only future in particle physics lies in seeking out
a set of mathematical equations that defines the laws of the
universe (can this be anything less than Deity, the Ineffable
Name?) was only made possible AFTER introducing an Eastern point
of view into science, mudering materialism, reductionism,
determinism, linear reality as the ONLY reality absolutely
ASTOUNDS ME. There is Chaos theory, the necessity for holism,
there are constant recurring numerical patterns in nature, and
there is the totally awesome fact that our solar system so much
resembles an atom, added to the idea that they are all made of
essentially the same components AND governed by th! e same laws!
For my end of the year project in school, I wrote a 24 page paper
on the similarities between particle physics and Eastern
mysticism (the SD moved me and I have been moving ever since),
and as I become more educated on the subject, not only do I
understand that I know less and less and finally nothing, but I
am more and more humbled, locked in silent awe. No one else my
age, or even a lot older than me, understands the feeling. Which
is fine, because in the end I don't either, though that's half
the beauty. What I find unnerving is that no one CARES to know!
The basic ideas can be expressed simply, there is no need for
awards as a quantum physicist or a degree as a Sanskrit scholar
(though I'd love both^.^) to pass on the IDEA, the KERNEL of
knowledge that we are all interconnected, that Deity is
everything we live in and breathe, in every plant, animal, man,
and so much more. Deity IS. And there IS something awesome
uniting us, whether we can fully comprehend i! t or not.
And NO ONE even WANTS to know. There is NO DESIRE! They are
happy, sitting, rotting their minds away in front of the
television, clogging their arteries with processed foods, doing
things like dully cutting me off in the middle of an impassioned
declaration to tell me to leave, because the message on the cell
phone shooting fatal amounts of gamma rays into their hand says
that their girlfriend is coming over for a night of meaningless
sex.
Still bleaker! The ones who CAN grasp what I am saying, or at
least have a desire TO grasp what I am saying, in the end are
either tainted with a bitter materialism, or deathly afraid of
the occult, because even though they've discarded exoteric,
dogmatic, militant Christianity, the **FEAR** that the religion
breeds will never die. There was a quote I read somewhere, no
idea where anymore, but it was excellent and ran something along
the lines of there being no refund when subscribing to a religion
that sells fear. (That may have even been said here a long while
back?) Blavatsky addressed this problem over a century ago, and
the youth today, I fear, may only be worse.
I suppose that somewhere, beneath all of my
ranting/raving/rambling, is not only an accurate description of
the mindset of the youth the media struggles so hard to produce
(I find television so sickening that I have not watched it for
about five years now), but there is the issue I would like to
address: SHARING Theosophy, a practical application to the
everyday world, for everyone.
I do not live anywhere near a major city,
unfortunately--Philadelphia is about an hour away--so I realize
that there is generally LESS of an interest where there are LESS
people, especially in an area with LESS intellectual resources
and facilities. Although, while some of the more sublime
teachings of Theosophy may only be grasped by the intellectual,
brotherhood, unity, and love are for everyone. I have always
hesitated in sharing to a degree, because I have a tendency to be
very militant (there's a lot of Scorpio in my natal chart besides
my sun^.^), and I've always wondered, how militant is too
militant? It is always proper to defend, but given the
circumstances are right, is it proper to initiate conversation?
How many people WOULD pick up the topic if they only knew? WE
don't know. IS a gentle gamble considered militant? I've got a
job at a local Auntie Anne's soft pretzel store in the mall
nearest my house, and there is a vending stand in the middle of
the mall nea! r the entrance, detached from the main store, but
smack in the center of public traffic. I spend a lot of nights up
there, and when I am up there, I'm alone. Weeknights are not
busy, so I often read, and a lot of Blavatsky I HAVE been reading
on the job. Occasionally people do stop to ask me what I'm
reading, and I have yet to come up with a satisfactory response.
I don't want to say I have a tendency of speaking above people
because that sounds arrogant, and I don't mean it to be arrogant,
but that's half the problem right there--I don't want to sound
arrogant, like some punkish know-it-all kid who is just brushing
people off. "Theosophy," I say, and they lose interest before I
can explain. Hm, some big word they've never heard coming from
the mouth of some evil nerd who never speaks otherwise, a lot of
potential interest there. "Ancient religion," I say, and that's
too vague, for me AND for them. It's the same with everything. My
friends ask what religion I am, and I have ! the choice of either
A) throwing around seven hundred philosophical terms they have
never heard of and could care less about or B) getting
tongue-tied. How DO you explain Theosophy to the utterly
uneducated, Western-theology-robot-by-default,
puppet-of-the-media youth in fear to think for themselves?
Everyone has some good inside them, and some potential. What
brings it out?
Heh. So I guess it's back to the beginning. Sharing Theosophy? I
want to become more active. I can't really go lodge-hunting until
I get a bit older, unfortunately (the current situation is
something like, "Hello! My hardcore Christian father! I JUST got
my driver's license! Can I drive god knows how many hours away to
participate in something you'd tell me I'm going to hell for?"
Hahah... right)... There is also the infamous "setting a good
example through actions," but that needs to be done no matter who
you are and whether or not you want to share Theosophy... People
have a tendency to jump in fright when they hear words such as
"pantheism," "occult," "pagan," and usually start to fall over
and drool when you say something like "the philosophical
necessity of an intracosmic deity." The fact of the matter is,
there are plenty of ugly stereotypes in the Western world, and
there are probably *not* a lot of people who attended college to
minor in philosophy (or let alone s! hare a fanatical interest).
Furthermore, Western culture promotes quite the opposite of an
ascetic lifestyle, which is bound to cause some heavy clashes on
some points sooner or later, and there are plenty of
misconceptions, such as the "worship of many gods" (or "why MUST
people who do yoga wear spandex?" I've done yoga since February,
I have yet to see anyone clad in anything other than loose,
comfortable clothing, and YES, men DO attend classes, ye gods,
the questions people ask because they honestly have no clue...)
Hopefully I've made a point somewhere in all of that... I stress
the need for a minimally threatening way to introduce Theosophy
to people with zero religious background, and a way to
effectively destroy the stereotypes and misconceptions that we,
as Theosophists, are faced with, on a level that everyone can
understand (I think as the explanations get more specific and
advanced, once there is some common ground and basic
understanding, it should become easier, but the trick lies in
having someone who is to that point to chat with...) Thanks!
Love, light, and happy astral travels,
Meg


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