Theos-Talk Archives (December 2002 Message tt00625)

Dallas wrote: <<I think that one of the reasons why "spiritual 
cultivation" is not mentioned as an object of the 
THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT is that the SPIRIT
is innate -- is in all of us. It makes us INTELLIGENT and 
offers us our CONSCIOUSNESS as a proof of its existence.>>

By "spiritual cultivation" I had in mind whatever it takes 
individually for people to realize something or other (if in 
"exoteric terms," say) about the apparent nature of their 
innate/latent spirituality, aspects of which, during such as 
"meditation," or whatever, might be tuned into "more 
experientially," or "more directly" (if not "directly enough"?) ....

<<Why we don't see it is because we have obscured by 
selfishness doubt, isolation, our personality through which it 
would normally flow.>>

I've been speculating that such as "spirituality" might be 
somewhat better off seen as transcending personality ... 
although, of course, the words "spiritual personality" are often 
used, (justifiably enough, in many cases?), apparently?

<<Do you think the world today represents the best that there 
is? >>

To me, that sentence is made up of a series of generalizations of 
the kind that the mainstream church people have been using for 
ages. I'm trying to cultivate some kind of somewhat more 
specific and more relevant (and more Theosophic) ways of 
evaluating things. One might wonder about: "World today" in 
what sense ..."Represents the best" in what sense ... "There is" 
where, how, in what sense ...

<<Is VIRTUE easily found? if not WHY ?>>

Again, I tend to see various possible meanings for "VIRTUE" 
and "easily found," so ... what can I say ...

<<But what is VIRTUE ?>>

I already asnwered that question from various angles in a 
number of my previous posts. Maybe we all learn about 
"virtue," whatever it is, as well as about so many other things, 
at some point, in our various "own" ways, "for better or worse," 
as they say ...

<<What is dualism? It isn't possible to have that without a third
presence that is able to distinguish between singularity and the
"mirror image." Now what is that? Best wishes for 2003
Dal.>>>>

The meaning of Duality and Maya (as opposed to 
Nonduality---maybe the caps help?), of the kind referred to by 
the esoteric tradition and Tzongkhapa, Asanga, Blavatsky, etc, 
is, in Mahayananic terms, as far as I can see, related to the kind 
words and concepts that that kind of sentence, from you, 
Dallas, represents (as per "third presence," "able to distinguish," 
"mirror image," and the like), although (of course?) manas 
might choose variations on some "theme of duality/nonduality" 
(as per "exoteric versions") and opt for the use of such as 
"mayavicity," or "mayavic"...? Not that I know any more than 
you, Dallas, about what "Nonduality" is from an experiential 
standpoint. Apparently that's something that we find out about 
when we get there?

Best wishes,
Mauri

PS Sorry, guys, for posting again so soon on Theos Talk after 
that recommendation on Theos Talk that I take some time off 
from Theos Talk. Here's a tip: If you really want me to take 
some time off, how about not reading/responding to my posts? 
That way I should get the message soon enough ... or eventually 
at any rate, I think ... But (a word of warning here) what with 
all the speculating I seem to be prone to, I'm liable to keep on 
speculating even after being told to take a hike, or time off, or 
whatever, so ... what can I say ... ^:-) ...

PPS So far, seems as if nobody's suggested that I take time off 
from Theos-1, but, since we're on public lists, well ...

PPPS Hmmm ... I wonder if I ought to recommend to 
somebody something about taking some time off ... ^:-) ... 
because of something like, say, "uselessness of unstudied 
verbosity," or whatever ...

PPPPS Of course, on the other hand, (if I may add some more 
useless, unstudied---and speculative?---verbosity here?): 
Taking time off might be in line with ... with something, after all 
... seeing as ... well, I'll think about it ....

PPPPPS Thanks for that kindly suggestion, guy. Uh ... surely it 
was kindly, since it appeared to have originated from a... 
someone with some interest in Theosophy? 

PPPPPPPPS What with all the trouble I'm in, already, I figured 
maybe I had better not sign off with another "Speculatively," 
for a change.

PPPPPPPPPPPS On second thought, "uselessness of unstudied 
verbosity" doesn't sound like me at all. What was I thinking!?

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPS Happy Holidays, etc, etc!

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPS Or is it too soon to wish for Happy Holidays ...