Theos-Talk Archives (December 2002 Message tt00166)

RE: Re: Theos-World Question to LHM
Date: Mon, 02 Dec 2002 16:44:32 -0000 

--- In theos-talk@y..., leonmaurer@a... wrote:
> But, is that any reason to condemn the whole worldwide group of 
>true theosophists or the teachings itself for their actions? 

Steve responded: <<This is a minority opinion I am sure, but I 
think it would be well if there were a Back to Blavatsky 
movement and Leadbeater, Besant, Jinarajadasa and the 
rest of them were confined to the trash can of history. 
Leadbeater and Besant tried to steer people away from 
Blavatsky's teachings which they never understood in the 
first place. If I ran the TS I would simply let those books 
fall gradually out of print and not reprint them. None of 
those characters would be mentioned in TS publications 
and they would be gradually marginalized. The valuable 
stuff all came from Blavatskly's era anyway. Unless I am 
mistaken, in the UULT and Pasadena organizations all of 
them are utterly ignored. Anyway, that seems like a simple 
and workable plan of action.>> 

Speculating here about what might be seen as somewhat 
relevant to a "back-to-Blavatsky movement" that might be 
seen as "away from" Leadbeater, Besant, Jinarajadasa, 
Pinochio, or whoever . . . That is, "back" how, one might 
wonder, with what kind of specific mental/spiritual 
principles, attitudes . . . For example, how would one asses 
one's karmic/kamic influence at work if one were to think 
of joining in such a "back-to-Blavatsky movement," 
("away from"?) Leadbeater, Besant, Jinarajadasa, (and 
others?) . . .

Today's post from Steve brought to mind an earlier post 
from him (a post that might be seen as somewhat related to 
Steve's current topic, in some way, maybe . . . ?). 
Here it is:

<<Subject: Re: Re to Dallas - Phenomena & 
Noumena
Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2002 17:25:09 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Stubbs <stevestubbs@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: "Theosophy Study List" 
<theos-l@list.vnet.net> To: "Theosophy Study 
List" <theos-l@list.vnet.net>

--- Gerald Schueler <gschueler@earthlink.net> wrote:
> <<<Libido I equate with Kama and "lust." Not very
> inspiring.>>>
> 
> Dallas, you really are too much.

May I comment? After many years of study and [ractice
I have come to the conclusion that negative attitudes
toward the human body and its functions lead only to
diseases like cancer and are worthless for attaining
enlightenment. Sivananda says disgust for the world
is the key to vairagya and Buddhaghosa recommends his
famous "cemetery meditations." All this does is
create a process which opposes kama but does not
eliminate it. It creates a conflict in the mind and
accomplishes nothing else.

That this is true is stated in the following text from
one of India's saxred writings which I found on the
web:

"Kama says: 'I am not capable of being overcome by
anyone who does not resort to proper means. I rise
again in him who strives to strike me with the force
of his strength and thereby tries to kill me. I rise
again in him who tries to destroy me by means of
sacrifices, gifts, etc. I rise up in him who tries to
overcome me by the study of the Vedas and the learning
of the Vedanta. He does not understand me who tries to
destroy me by sheer determination, for I exist behind
his thoughts and feelings. I rise up in him who, by
austerity and self?mortification, tries to put an end
to me. When one tries, again, to bring me to an end by
directing his mind to Moksha, I, looking at his desire
for Moksha, dance and laugh in joy. Among all beings,
here, I am the one indestructible power.' Therefore, O
Yudhishthira, focus your desire on righteousness, so
that it may move in that direction, and rest there."

The key is not to denigrate the human body but to
reconsider the Rpicurean philosophy which is dominant
in our society, if not throughout the world. This
philosophy says that "bodily sensations are What Life
Is All About and if you stuff your ace as much as
possible, stay drunk as much as possible, and be as
lazy as you can be, then you have pursued the Life
Well Lived." That philosophy, like the self loathing
some people are into, leads ultimately to disease and
nothing else. Then when they get ill they still do
not re examine their assumptions, but sue the
cigarette manufactorers, or the restaurant or somebody
in the genuine belief that an eleventh hour windfall
is What Life Is All About.>>
==============snip

Speculatively,
Mauri

PS While "back-to-Blavatsky" sounds OK, to me, on the 
surface (as compared to, say, back-to-Leadbeater/Besant . 
. .), I have a feeling that she, herself, might've . . . Hmmm . 
. .