Theos-Talk Archives (January 2003 Message tt00375)

"The age-old method of arriving at truth by the process of accepting 
new authorities and comparing them with previously established 
doctrines, while of undoubted value in the training of the mind, is 
gradually being transcended. In its place is emerging in both the 
religious and philosophical worlds a new capacity to take a more 
scientific position. Spiritual teaching will be increasingly 
accepted as an hypothesis to be proved less by scholasticism, 
historical foundation and authority, and more by the results of its 
effect upon the life lived and its practical usefulness in solving 
the problems of humanity. Heretofore, advanced esoteric teaching has 
almost invariably been obtainable only by the student's acceptance 
of the authority of the teacher, varying degrees of personal 
obedience to that teacher and pledges of secrecy. As the new 
Aquarian dispensation progresses these limitations will 
disappear..." 

If we really reflect deeply on what is said above, there may be an 
understanding as to the different approaches of esoteric students 
today. 

The phrases, "accepting new authorities and comparing them with 
previously established doctrines, while of undoubted value in the 
training of the mind, is gradually being transcended", 
and "Spiritual teaching will be increasingly accepted as an 
hypothesis to be proved less by scholasticism, historical foundation 
and authority", are interesting to note.  

The first thing that several theosophists have demanded from me on 
this forum: where is your documentary evidence?, whose authority?, 
and descriptions to the effect that such and such has done 20 years 
comparative study and found `contradictions' and `differences' - of 
course you have.

I concur that this is the old approach and to which many 
theosophists still adhere. I think it is important and useful as the 
above quote states, to adopt this approach. But because it demands 
such concrete and rigid criteria, and seems with some so unalloyed 
with balanced intuition, there is an immediate default to the lower 
mind, like fast drying concrete. Very dry, and with not much heart. 
Tedious, tedium ad nauseum – not much Te Deum.

So, although I have tried to comply with demands from some of the 
inquisitive, (inquisitors?) I do not want to play that game, and 
will respond as I see fit. Better to aspire toward:

"Spiritual teaching will be increasingly accepted as an hypothesis 
to be proved less by scholasticism, historical foundation and 
authority, and more by the results of its effect upon the life lived 
and its practical usefulness in solving the problems of humanity."
This may bear some reflection for some of you chained Prometheus-
like to your laptops day in and day out. There is another world out 
there. The irony is that many well-intentioned aspirants' protection 
of the hallowed holy grail of theosophy is actually strangling it.

P.

PS - the quote is from the foreward to Cosmic Fire by Foster Bailey.