Theos-Talk Archives (January 2003 Message tt00504)

Nicholas: "Bhavani Shankar had a jewel published titled: THE DOCTRINE 
OF THE BHAGAVAD GITA. Most of this book is his esoteric comments on 
the Jnana Yoga chapter of the Gita given in a lecture series in 
1914. This is also the chapter that mentions Avataras. Speaking of 
qualifications of a spiritual aspirant he says: 'The third 
qualification he should acquire is by study and deep thinking. He 
should regularly study the scriptures, and by deep thinking and 
cogitation on the profound truths dealt with therein, he should 
develop the penetrative intellect which can intuit the spiritual 
truths which lie embedded under the apparent tangle of scriptural 
contradictions."

Valuabnle comment. There is something wrong with the statement that 
intellectual study is one of the "qualifications" of Jnana Yoga, 
though. There are only four qualifications in the sadhana catustaya, 
thus:

The First Qualification: Indifference to Ambition and Desire (Viveka)

The Second Qualification: Dispassion (Vairagya)

The Third Qualification: The Six qualities of perfection (Shad?Sampat)

Regulation of Thought (Sama)
Regulation of Conduct (Dama)
Eschew Superstition (Uparati)
Forbearance (Titiksha)
Steadfastness (Samadhana)
Confidence (Sraddha)

The Fourth Qualification: Desire for Enlightenment (Mumukshutva)

Am I missing something?

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Nick Weeks" <nick.weeks@w...> 
wrote:
> HPB once told Robert Bowen: "The True Student of The Secret 
Doctrine is a Jnana Yogi, and this Path of Yoga is the True Path for 
the Western student. It is to provide him with sign posts on that 
Path that the Secret Doctrine has been written." 
> 
> Aside from the alleged disciple of KH, Alice Bailey, there were at 
least three real disciples who knew HPB & the Brothers personally. 
One would profit from the study of their writings & translations. 
They were Bhavani Shankar, Damodar Mavalankar, & Mohini Chatterji. 
Chatterji was not too successful a chela, but his translation of 
Shankara's Vivekchudamani is good. Damodar's writings are in DAMODAR 
AND THE PIONEERS OF THE THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT. Bhavani Shankar had a 
jewel published titled: THE DOCTRINE OF THE BHAGAVAD GITA. Most of 
this book is his esoteric comments on the Jnana Yoga chapter of the 
Gita given in a lecture series in 1914. This is also the chapter 
that mentions Avataras.
> 
> Speaking of qualifications of a spiritual aspirant he says: "The 
third qualification he should acquire is by study and deep thinking. 
He should regularly study the scriptures, and by deep thinking and 
cogitation on the profound truths dealt with therein, he should 
develop the penetrative intellect which can intuit the spiritual 
truths which lie embedded under the apparent tangle of scriptural 
contradictions."
> 
> Evidently, intuition cannot develop properly without one first 
doing much "deep thinking and cogitation". This would make sense 
because, Buddha, Je Tsongkhapa, Shankara & other wise ones, 
recommended to their disciples thundering logic, discrimination and 
the debate of spiritual ideas. 
> 
> KH said of Bhavani Shankar: " Bhavani Shankar has seen me in my 
own physical body and he can point out the way to others..." Also KH 
said of him: "He is stronger and fitter in many a way more than 
Damodar and even our mutual `female' friend [HPB]."
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]