Theos-Talk Archives (January 2003 Message tt00083)

January 6th 2003

Dear Friends:

Some correspondence recently has revolved around the objectives of the
THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT.

Here are some important statements made thereon found in our
literature:

Best wishes,

Dallas

---------------------------


THEOSOPHICAL OBJECTIVES


"...the chief object of the T S is not so much to gratify individual
aspirations as to serve our fellow men...in our view the highest
aspirations for the welfare of humanity become tainted with
selfishness if, in the mind of the philanthropist there lurks the
shadow of desire for self benefit or a tendency to do injustice, even
when these exist unconsciously to himself."
M L 7-8


"...we are not working for some definite organization of the new years
to come, but for a change in the Manas and Buddhi of the
Race...Masters could give now all the light and knowledge needed, but
there is too much darkness that would swallow up the light, except for
a few bright souls, and then a greater darkness would come on."
LETTERS 72


"At present the main fundamental object of the Society is to sow germs
in the hearts of men, which may in time sprout, and under more
propitious circumstances lead to a healthy reform, conductive of more
happiness to the masses than they have hitherto enjoyed."
HPB KEY 257


"It is the rich who have to be regenerated, if we would do good to the
poor...Work, therefore, to bring about the moral regeneration of the
cultured classes before you attempt to do the same for ignorant
younger brethren..." HPB ART I 103-5


"[ The T S has as its mission ] to furnish to the West that which it
can never get from the East; to push forward and raise high on the
circular path of evolution now rolling West, the light that lighteth
every man who cometh into the world--the light of the true Self, who
is the one true Master for every human being; all other Masters are
but servants of that true One; in it all real Lodges have their
union." LETTERS 75


"As a change in thought of a people who have been tending to gross
atheism is one always desired by the Sages of the Wisdom Religion, it
may be supposed that the wave of spiritualistic phenomena resulting
now quite clearly in a tendency back to a universal acknowledgment of
the soul, has been aided by the Nirmanakayas. They are in it and of
it; they push on the progress of a psychic deluge over great masses
of people. The result is seen in the literature, the religion and the
drama of today. Slowly but surely the tide creeps up and covers the
once dry shore of Materialism..." ECHOES 28


"Essentials are the only things on which true occultism and Theosophy
require an agreement..." LETTERS 70


"There must be an adherence to the program of the Masters. That can
only be ascertained by consulting her [HPB] and the letters given out
by her as from Those to whom she refers. There is not much doubt
about that program."..."This is the moment to guide the recurrent
impulse which must soon come and which will push the age toward
extreme atheism or drag it back to extreme sacerdotalism, if it is not
led to the primitive, soul-satisfying philosophy of the Aryans."..."We
must follow this program and supply the world with a system of
philosophy which gives a sure and logical basis for ethics, and that
can only be gotten from those to which I adverted." ..."By our unity
the smallest effort made by us will have ten-fold the power of any
obstacle before us or any opposition offered by the world."...

"Our destiny is to continue the wide work of the past in affecting
literature and thought throughout the world, while our ranks see many
changing quantities but always holding those who remain true to the
program, and refuse to become dogmatic or give up common sense in
Theosophy. Thus we will wait for the new messenger, striving to keep
the organization alive that he may use it."
WQJ - THE FUTURE AND THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY -
quoted by RC, FP p. 153 -- [WQJ ART II p. 145-6]


"The theory is widely known among the members of the Society that at
the close of each century a spiritual movement is made in the world by
the Mahatmas, which begins with the last 25 years of the century and
does not in that form begin after the close of 25 years until the last
quarter of the following period... The Masters are governed by the law
of action and reaction and are wise enough always not to do that which
might result in undoing all their prior work. The law of reaction
applies as much to the mind of man as to physical things and forces.
... In the West, following the historical cycles, a great and definite
effort is made among the people--for instance, as the Theosophical
Society--so as to aid the psychical and spiritual development in
man..."

"At the end of the 25 years the Masters will not send out in such wide
and sweeping volume the force they send during the 25 years. But that
does not mean they will withdraw. They will leave the ideas to
germinate in the minds of people at large, but never will they take
away from those who deserve it the help that is due and given to
all... During all the centuries there have been many persons who have
had direct and valuable help from Masters, and to suppose that at the
end of our first 25 years all of that will be finished is an absurdity
in itself."
WQJ ART II 76-7


"A band of students of the Esoteric Doctrines, who would reap any
profit spiritually must be in perfect harmony and unity of thought.
Each one individually and collectively has to be utterly unselfish,
kind and full of good-will towards each other at least--leaving
humanity out of the question; there must be no party spirit among the
band, no backbiting, no ill-will, or envy or jealousy, contempt or
anger." L M W (I) p. 16-7



HUMAN OBJECTIVES & THEOSOPHY


"The real object to be kept in view is to so open up or make porous
the lower nature that the spiritual nature may shine through it and
become the guide and the ruler...it is the real man, who is the HIGHER
SELF--being the spark of the Divine...overshadows the visible being,
which has the possibility of becoming united to that spark. Thus it
is said that the higher Spirit is not in the man, but above him...The
object of the student is to let the light of that spirit shine through
the lower covering...all selfishness must be eliminated from the lower
nature before its divine state can be reached...When systematically
trained in accordance with the aforesaid system and law, men attain to
clear insight into the immaterial, spiritual world, and their interior
faculties apprehend truth as immediately and readily as physical
faculties grasp the things of sense, or mental faculties those of
reason..."They are able to look directly upon ideas." EPITOME
13-14


"...the members of our Great Lodge have full information unknown to
those outside the Lodge, of the "conscious efforts to obtain knowledge
of principles and laws" on the part of good men and women, and in this
search that help is frequently extended but is not seen or recognized,
although it is felt and has its results." FORUM ANSWERS 50


"since the MAHATMA is but an advanced occultist, who has so far
controlled his lower "self" as to hold it more or less in complete
subjection to the Cosmic impulse, it is in the nature of things
impossible for him to act in any other but an unselfish manner. No
sooner does he allow his "personal self" to assert itself, than he
ceases to be a MAHATMA...The law of Cosmic evolution is ever operating
to achieve its purpose of ultimate unity and to carry the phenomenal
into the noumenal plane, and the MAHATMAS, being en rapport with it,
are assisting that purpose...they alone have got to the basic
knowledge which can determine the right course and exercise proper
discrimination. And for us...it will be evident that, as soon as the
least feeling of selfishness tries to assert itself, the vision of the
spiritual sense, which is the only perception of the MAHATMA, becomes
clouded and he looses the "power" which abstract "knowledge" alone can
confer. Hence the vigilant watch of the "will" we have constantly to
exercise to prevent our lower nature from coming up to the surface..."
TH. MVT. X p. 138-9


"A perfect man is not made to order but is a product of evolution.
Wisdom is not a matter of book-learning but of growth. General rules
for conduct can be given, but to apply them properly, the power of
discrimination is necessary...A virtue, practiced without moderation,
becomes a crime. To know how to find the point of equilibrium is the
great secret of the Adept, that cannot be told but must be learned by
experience, when sagacity and goodness will be united in wisdom."
HPB -- THEOSOPHIST 1885 THEOSOPHY, V. 47, pp. 441-2


"The whole individuality is centred in the three middle Principles or
third (MANAS), and fifth (ASTRAL BODY) principles. During earthly
life it is all in the fourth (KAMA-MANAS), the center of energy,
volition--will...the individuality survives...to run its seven-fold
and upward course [ it ] has to assimilate to itself the eternal-life
power residing but in the seventh (ATMA), and then blend the three
(4th, 5th & 7th) into one--the 6th (BUDDHI). Those who succeed in
doing so become Buddhas, Dhyan Chohans, etc... The chief object of
our struggle and initiations is to achieve this union while yet on
this earth." M L 77-8


"Happy the man physically pure, for his external soul (astral body,
the image of the body) is pure, it will strengthen the second (the
lower Manas), or the soul which is termed by him the higher mortal
soul, which, though liable to err from its own motives, will always
side with the reason against the animal proclivities of the body. In
other words, the ray of our Higher Ego, the lower Manas, has its
higher light, the reason or rational powers of the Nous, to help it in
the struggle with Kamic desires." HPB ART I 27-8


---


THE INNER MASTER -- SELF-DEVELOPMENT


"Every form on earth and every speck (atom) in Space strives in its
efforts towards self-formation to follow the model placed for it in
the "Heavenly Man"...Its [atom's] involution and evolution, its
external and internal growth and development, have all one and the
same object--man; man is the highest physical and ultimate form on
this earth; the MONAD in the absolute totality and awakened
condition--as the culmination of the divine incarnations on Earth."
S D I 183


"This 'Conscious Entity' Occultism says, comes from, nay, in many
cases is, the very entire essence and esse of the high Intelligences
condemned, by the undeviating law of Karmic evolution, to reincarnate
in the manvantara." S D II 248


"Rudimentary man...becomes the perfect man...when, with the
development of "Spiritual fire,"...he acquires from his inner Self, or
Instructor, the Wisdom of Self-Consciousness, which he does not
possess in the beginning." S D II 113


"The pivotal doctrine of the Esoteric philosophy admits of no
privileges or special gifts in man, save those won by his own Ego
through personal effort and merit throughout a long series of
metempsychoses and reincarnations." S D I 17


"...our own work, in and on ourselves, each one...has for its object
the enlightenment of oneself for the good of others...so as to make of
each a centre from which...may flow out the potentialities for good
that from the adept come in large and affluent streams...As we use the
moment, so we shift the future up or down for good or ill; the future
being only a word for the present, not yet come, we have to see to the
present more than all...The race is in a transition state...the only
way we can alter it is by such action now as makes of each one a
centre for good, a force that makes "for righteousness," and that is
guided by wisdom...we each one have a greater fight to wage the
moment we force our inner nature up beyond the dead level of the
world..." LETTERS 71


"Self-Consciousness belongs alone to man and proceeds from the SELF,
the Higher MANAS...whereas the psychic element (or Kama-Manas) is
common to both animal and human being...no physiologist...will ever be
able to solve the mystery of the human mind, in its highest spiritual
manifestations, or in its dual aspect of the psychic and the noetic
(or the manasic)...unless he knows something of, and is prepared to
admit this dual element...to admit a lower (animal), and a higher (or
divine) mind in man...the "personal" and the "impersonal" Egos."
HPB ART II 9-10


"...conscious communication with one's Master can only be accomplished
after long training and study. What a student has to do is to fit
himself to receive this training."
LETTERS 111


"...he who enters the secret Path finds his peace and pleasure in
endless work for ages for Humanity...with his added sight and
knowledge, he must always be seeing the self-inflicted miseries of
men...the wider sweep and power of soul make what we call sacrifice
and woe seem something different." LETTERS 116


"It is not high learning that is needed, but solely devotion to
humanity, faith in Masters, in the Higher Self." LETTERS 97


"...the door is always opened to the right man who knocks. And we
invariably welcome the newcomer;--only instead of going over to him he
has to come to us. More than that: unless he has reached that point
in the path of occultism from which return is impossible, by his
having irrevocably pledged himself to our association, we
never--except in cases of utmost moment--visit him or even cross the
threshold of his door in visible appearance." M L 8-9


"...whenever and whatever is possible will always be done for you
unurged; hence never to either ask for, or suggest it, yourself--
(avoid my having to refuse a friend) ...to teach (others in
Britain)...through your kind agency...I have never undertaken to
convince them of the extent of our powers or even of our personal
existence." M L 337


"Every human being contains within himself vast potentialities, and it
is the duty of adepts to surround the would-be chela with
circumstances which shall enable him to take the "right-hand path," if
he have the ability in him...until he has passed that period [of
probation] we leave him to fight out his battles as best he may; and
have to do so occasionally with higher and initiated chelas such as
H.P.B., once that they are allowed to work in the world, that all of
us more or less avoid...We were all so tested; and while Moorad
Ali--failed--I, succeeded. The victor's crown is only for him who
proves himself worthy to wear it; for him who attacks Mara single
handed and conquers the demon of lust and earthly passions; and not
we but he himself puts it on his brow...there is no such other
difficult struggle. If it were not so, adeptship would be but a cheap
acquirement." M L 318


"...let him rid himself of the Maya that any man living can set up
"claims" upon Adepts. He may create irresistible attractions and
compel their attention, but they will be spiritual, not mental or
intellectual...nothing draws us to any outsider save his evolving
spirituality... The supreme energy resides in the Buddhi, latent--when
wedded to Atman alone, active and irresistible when galvanized by the
essence of "Manas" and when none of the dross of the latter commingles
with that pure essence to weigh it down by its finite nature...When
the ancient founders of your philosophical schools came East, to
acquire the lore of our predecessors, they filed no claims, except the
single one of a sincere and unselfish hunger for truth."
M L 341-2


"Masters never cease working, but they cease at times from such public
efforts as were made at the establishment of the T.S. Before that
they were working with individuals" [ WQJ quoted by RC, FP 388 ]
...In this work, natures are intensified, good and bad come to the
surface. The "cleaning-up" process is gradual and each must do his
own work of elimination when such work is seen to be needed. The
barriers to help from Masters are in ourselves and nowhere else."
F P 399


"At times they come to nations as great teachers and "saviours," who
only repromulgate the old truths and systems of ethics. This
therefore holds that humanity is capable of infinite perfection both
in time and quality, the saviours and adepts being held up as examples
of that possibility."

"From this living and presently acting body of perfected men
H.P.Blavatsky declared she received the impulse to once more bring
forward the old ideas, and from them also received several keys to
ancient and modern doctrines. Added...to the testimony through all
time found in the records of all nations we have this modern explicit
assertion that the ancient learned and humanitarian body of adepts
still exists on this earth and takes an interest in the development of
the race." WQJ ARTICLES I PP. 1-2


"Under the protection and assistance and guidance of this Society of
Adepts are the disciples of each one of its members. These disciples
are divided into different degrees, corresponding to the various
stages of development; the least developed disciples are assisted by
those who are in advance of them, and the latter in a similar manner
by others, until the grade of disciple is reached where direct
intercourse with the Adepts is possible. At the same time, each Adept
keeps a supervisory eye upon all his disciples. Through the agency of
the disciples of Adepts many effects are brought about in human
thought and affairs, for from the higher grades are often sent those
who, without disclosing their connection with mysticism, influence
individuals who are known to be main factors in events about to
occur." ECHOES 29


"...the disciple of the Adept knows that...he is supposed to
concentrate into a few lives the experience and practice which it
takes ordinary men countless incarnations to acquire....he leaves
behind the hope for reward so common in all undertakings. Nothing is
gained by favor, but all depends upon his actual merit. As the end to
be reached is self-dependence with perfect calmness and clearness, he
is from the beginning made to stand alone...
solely in his own company. But this produces no selfishness, because,
being accompanied by constant meditation upon the unseen, the
knowledge is acquired that the loneliness felt is only in respect to
the personality." ECHOES 32-33


"But, hiding themselves under an exterior which does not attract
attention, there are many of the real disciples in the world. They
are studying themselves and other human hearts. They have no
diplomas, but there resides in them a consciousness of constant help
and a clear knowledge of the true Lodge which meets in real secrecy
and is never found mentioned in any directory. Their whole life is a
persistent pursuit of the fast-moving soul which, although appearing
to stand still, can distance the lightning; and their death is only
another step forward to greater knowledge through better physical
bodies in new lives." ECHOES 33


"The real object to be kept in view is to so open up or make porous
the lower nature that the spiritual nature may shine through it and
become the guide and the ruler...it is the real man, who is the HIGHER
SELF--being the spark of the Divine...overshadows the visible being,
which has the possibility of becoming united to that spark. Thus it
is said that the higher Spirit is not in the man, but above him...The
object of the student is to let the light of that spirit shine through
the lower covering...all selfishness must be eliminated from the lower
nature before its divine state can be reached...When systematically
trained in accordance with the aforesaid system and law, men attain to
clear insight into the immaterial, spiritual world, and their interior
faculties apprehend truth as immediately and readily as physical
faculties grasp the things of sense, or mental faculties those of
reason..."They are able to look directly upon ideas."
EPITOME 13-14


"...the members of our Great Lodge have full information unknown to
those outside the Lodge, of the "conscious efforts to obtain knowledge
of principles and laws" on the part of good men and women, and in this
search that help is frequently extended but is not seen or recognized,
although it is felt and has its results."
FORUM ANSWERS 50


"since the MAHATMA is but an advanced occultist, who has so far
controlled his lower "self" as to hold it more or less in complete
subjection to the Cosmic impulse, it is in the nature of things
impossible for him to act in any other but an unselfish manner. No
sooner does he allow his "personal self" to assert itself, than he
ceases to be a MAHATMA...The law of Cosmic evolution is ever operating
to achieve its purpose of ultimate unity and to carry the phenomenal
into the noumenal plane, and the MAHATMAS, being en rapport with it,
are assisting that purpose...they alone have got to the basic
knowledge which can determine the right course and exercise proper
discrimination. And for us...it will be evident that, as soon as the
least feeling of selfishness tries to assert itself, the vision of the
spiritual sense, which is the only perception of the MAHATMA, becomes
clouded and he looses the "power" which abstract "knowledge" alone can
confer. Hence the vigilant watch of the "will" we have constantly to
exercise to prevent our lower nature from coming up to the surface..."
TH. MVT. X p. 138-9


"A perfect man is not made to order but is a product of evolution.
Wisdom is not a matter of book-learning but of growth. General rules
for conduct can be given, but to apply them properly, the power of
discrimination is necessary...A virtue, practiced without moderation,
becomes a crime. To know how to find the point of equilibrium is the
great secret of the Adept, that cannot be told but must be learned by
experience, when sagacity and goodness will be united in wisdom."
HPB -- THEOSOPHIST 1885 THEOSOPHY 47 pp. 441-2


"The whole individuality is centred in the three middle Principles or
third (MANAS), and fifth (ASTRAL BODY) principles. During earthly
life it is all in the fourth (KAMA-MANAS), the center of energy,
volition--will...the individuality survives...to run its seven-fold
and upward course [ it ] has to assimilate to itself the eternal-life
power residing but in the seventh (ATMA), and then blend the three
(4th, 5th & 7th) into one--the 6th (BUDDHI). Those who succeed in
doing so become Buddhas, Dhyan Chohans, etc... The chief object of
our struggle and initiations is to achieve this union while yet on
this earth." M L 77-8


"Happy the man physically pure, for his external soul (astral body,
the image of the body) is pure, it will strengthen the second (the
lower Manas), or the soul which is termed by him the higher mortal
soul, which, though liable to err from its own motives, will always
side with the reason against the animal proclivities of the body. In
other words, the ray of our Higher Ego, the lower Manas, has its
higher light, the reason or rational powers of the Nous, to help it in
the struggle with Kamic desires." HPB ART I 27-8


"Force any one of the "Masters" you may happen to choose; do good
works in his name and for the love of mankind; be pure and resolute
in the path of righteousness (as laid out in our rules); be honest
and unselfish; forget your self but to remember the good of other
people--and you will have forced that "Master" to accept you." L M W
(I) p. 33


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