Theos-Talk Archives (March 2003 Message tt00036)

Wednesday, March 05, 2003


Dear Friend:


Exactly what I meant to draws attention to: But, I think, the
analogy is not perfect. People save those things which to them are
important. They also assist others when a necessity demands it --
even in some cases to sacrificing their own lives and health. Those
we respect.

Wisdom is not in books, although portions of that is to be found
there. Wisdom is a continuous living ideal put into practice.
Brotherhood best expresses that. It is something we practice (if we
can) without expecting any return from our efforts. Ideals come from
universal and impersonal laws that bind all things together into
LIFE..

Wisdom is interior to us all -- if we could only realize that the
IMMORTAL PILGRIM -- we as the HIGHER SELF and the eternal STUDENT of
Nature survive all catastrophes.

No particular religion of political philosophy or self-serving
economic view survives the passage of time. Why? Because it is too
limited and does not entirely fit the actual existing LAWS of nature
which are only understood as cooperation, and harmony.

10,000 years from now and any surviving memory of Christianity or
Islam will have vanished. That which is indestructible is precisely
that MORALITY based on UNIVERSAL LAWS. Those are the real objects of
Theosophical study and verification and when discovered they can be
lived.

It is futile to place much effort in any religion as the way they are
practised is generally in opposition to the way in which they were
preached by Prophets and reformers of yore. One needs only to
carefully study religions -- not one, but as many as possible -- to
detect the basis on which they are built. There is a COMMON MORALITY
there, (built on universal and impersonal Law) but gradually, as time
past it split and developed a little orthodoxy here,. and a little
orthodoxy there, until real opposition resulted in violence.

All deviations, and sects that arose, can be traced to individuals
who seized the direction of a portion of a religion and decided that
visible orthodoxy was superior to philosophical and tolerant
brotherhood. The final effect of this is to "believe" on "faith"
without any investigation. The priests say they will take care of
that. And how !!!! Example: Try running our world for a week,
purely on the principles of the SERMON ON THE MOUNT . What's wrong
with that ? Why is freedom to do wrong in the shadows so enticing?
Why do people (those that do) seek some hidden and/or powerful
advantages over others ?

ISLAM and its proliferation today is only a continuation of its
efforts ever since Muhammad revealed it. Trace its efforts in
history. Having been banished from Mecca he later returned to conquer
it. Thus the "sword" was made an unfortunate part of that religious
tradition.

No man's say-so establishes as an unalterable fact any view of Nature,
or of our existence. Yet those stand - as visible proof -- here and
now, as proof of some purpose and regulations in the world and
universe. This is what Theosophy discusses, and why it pays so little
attention to the orthodox presentation and enforcement of any
religion.

To quote a universal idea, found in all religions. Remove the "post"
from your own eye before you concern yourself with the "mote" in
another's. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

No religion has the right to enforce its views or to proseletyze,
using the sword, threats or other forms of attack on one's fellow men
and women. In other words order your own affairs and don't meddle
with others'.

Question:

Why do they attract such attention?

Unfortunately as in the case of Christianity both religions were
promoted by fanatics (and still are) who thought nothing of the
IMMORTAL SOUL and its persistence, but only of making lip adherents
through threats to life or one's beloved.

In other words they wanted numbers right now. They can only see the
present life.

Consequently the philosophy of theosophy is not considered except by
the SUFIS who promote the ancient philosophical teachings.

In closing .let me apologise to all those of any religion (including
those I use as broad examples) that are sincere and benevolent and
live in altruism and idealism. This is not addressed to them.

Best wishes,

Dallas

======================




-----Original Message-----
From: Bart
Sent:	Tuesday, March 04, 2003 10:44 AM
To:
Subject:	Reconflicting moral imperatives

dalval14@earthlink.net wrote:
> If everyone of us are immortal spiritual souls, the killing of the
body
> delays but does not obliterate its continued existence.
Reincarnation
> takes care of that.

In case you haven't noticed, there is a movement among the Islamic
people to spread, multiply, and take over. It is not even a secret;
many
Islamic leaders have publicly stated that this is their goal,
especially
in places where they can do so under the protection of "religious
freedom."

In terms of the Universe, probably not so terrible. It will only set
back the evolution of humanity a thousand years or so. But, if it is
preventable, why accept such a turnback? What will set back the
evolution of humanity more, having a small war now, or having a world
war in a decade or so? We must look further than the immediate
consequences of our actions; we need to look at the long-term
consequences too.

There is a story of a man who worked at a library. A fire started
near
the rare books collection, and the librarians frantically started
trying
to save the rare books. But the man remained calm.

"Don't worry.", he said. "It will be taken care of."

The fire kept burning, but through major efforts, the other
librarians
managed to save all the rare and irreplaceable books. Exhausted,
burned,
and bruised, they all collapsed on the street while the firefighters
worked to put out the blaze.

The man looked at the piles of rare books that had been saved, and
said, "You see? I told you it would be taken care of!"

Bart Lidofsky