Theos-Talk Archives (February 2003 Message tt00094)

Hi Steve, 

Happy to be communicating with somebody here. (I mean: on this list)
> KH: "I don't quote understand, is Jerry a member here or not???
> 
> No. On theostalk we only address those who are absent.
:) 
> KH: "Still ? a theosophist usually sees in the outward and popular 
> forms of religion, merely the cloack for esoteric wisdom found only 
> by the few. Bhakti yoga, however defined, is clearly and exoteric 
> form in its doctrines and explanations of experiences.
> 
> True, but it is not absent from Theosophy. Blavatsky identified 
> Avalokitesvara with the Higher Ego or Higher Self (do not remember 
> which) and devachan, to which she refers constantly, is a Sanskrit 
> word which literally means "Pure Land." The problem with the Pure 
> Land from the Zen Buddhist perspective is that it is part of the 
> samsara (literally "the wandering"). According to legend, the 
> denizen of the Pure Land ecentually exhausts all his or her good 
> karma. He or she then sees his or her garments begin to tatter or 
> soil. The fruits on the trees begin to show signs of 
overripeness. 
> And these are the signs that good karms is soon to be exhausted and 
> the dweller will "die" out of the Pure Land and be reborn in 
another 
> of the six realms. Legend also maintains that one can fall 
straight 
> from heaven into hell, so that freedom from the Wheel of Rebirth is 
> the only legitimate objective. Unless one follows the Bodhisattva 
> path, that is.
Ah, so the Pure Land is actually our devachan. And having to leave 
it, means reincarnating again. That is interesting, based on the 
exoteric commentaries I read up on for this, I had not made the 
connection. 
Devachan is obviously samsara as it is "merely" an individual 
mindstate, or dreamland as you will. Glorified, happy, deserved, all 
of that, but still not nirvana or anything like that. 

Katinka