Theos-Talk Archives (March 2003 Message tt00268)

Wednesday, March 12, 2003

Dear Larry:

Re: Buddhism.

In the West we tend to over-simplify. No “Buddhism” is NOT a
religion but a living philosophy.
[ See S D I 47, xix - xxi, xxiii, 49fn, 122, 411; II 570,
585, 632 ]

Some have made aspects of it into ritual following the “tantras.”
[ ex: S D I 422-3, 439fn, 578, II 637, ] The inner Schools
of philosophy, following the Buddha’s secret teachings and those
of his Arhats are what I refer to. [ S D I 55, 77, 110, 113,
312, 610, 631, II 22fn, 34-5, 156fn, ]

Those are not “ritualistic.” But if you wish to view the areas
of similarity then go to Mme. Blavatsky’s PRACTICAL OCCULTISM .
Here are some excerpts from that

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

H P B Articles II
91


The following seemed important to me:


Note : These were published in LUCIFER April - June 1888 they
indicate what true universal esotericism can imply if practised
by an individual who intends to do good to mankind generally and
assiduously.


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





P. 91 As there are many people looking for practical
instruction in Occultism.[One has to ask, first of all, for
instruction. Occultists do not seek for disciples.]

P. 91 It becomes necessary… to state :--

(a) The essential difference between theoretical and
practical Occultism; or …Theosophy on the one hand, and Occult
science on the other, and:--

(b) The nature of the difficulties involved in the study of
the latter.

P. 91 …a Theosophist [is]…any person of average intellectual
capacities, and a leaning toward the metaphysical; of pure,
unselfish life, who finds more joy in helping his neighbour than
in receiving help himself; one who is ever ready to sacrifice his
own pleasures for the sake of other people; and who loves Truth,
Goodness and Wisdom for their own sake, not for the benefit they
may confer...

P. 91 …it is quite another matter to put oneself upon the
path which leads to the knowledge of what is good to do, as to
the right discrimination of good from evil; a path which also
leads a man to that power through which he can do the good he
desires

P. 92 …"Chelas" are required to serve a seven years
probation to prove their fitness, and develop the qualities
necessary to the security of both Master and pupil.

P. 92 Occultism is not magic…For it is the motive, and the
motive alone, which makes any exercise of power become black,
malignant, or white, beneficent Magic. It is impossible to employ
spiritual forces if there is the slightest tinge of selfishness
remaining in the operator.

P. 92 …unless the intention is entirely unalloyed, the
spiritual will transform itself into the psychic, act on the
astral plane, and dire results may be produced by it.

P. 92 The powers and forces of animal nature can equally be
used by the selfish and revengeful, as by the unselfish and the
all-forgiving; the powers and forces of spirit lend themselves
only to the perfectly pure in heart--and this is DIVINE MAGIC.

P. 92 What are then the conditions required to become a
student of the "Divine Sapientia"? …certain conditions are
complied with, and rigorously carried out during the years of
study. To give an approximate idea of the conditions under which
alone the study of Divine Wisdom can be pursued with safety, that
is without danger that Divine will give place to Black Magic, a
page is given from the "private rules," with which every
instructor in the East is furnished.

P. 93 - 95 The few chosen passages which follow are
explained in brackets.

1. The place selected for receiving instruction must be a spot
calculated not to distract the mind, and filled with
"influence-evolving" (magnetic) objects. The five sacred colours
gathered in a circle must be there among other things. The place
must be free from any malignant influences hanging about in the
air.

[The place must be set apart, and used for no other purpose. The
five "sacred colours" are the prismatic hues arranged in a
certain way, as these colours are very magnetic. By "malignant
influences" are meant any disturbances through strife, quarrels,
bad feelings, etc., as these are said to impress themselves
immediately on the astral light, i.e., in the atmosphere of the
place, and to hang "about in the air."]

2. Before the disciple shall be permitted to study "face to
face," he has to acquire preliminary understanding in a select
company of other lay upasaka (disciples), the number of whom must
be odd.

["Face to face," means in this instance a study independent or
apart from others, when the disciple gets his instruction face to
face either with himself (his higher, Divine Self) or -- his
guru. It is then only that each receives his due of information,
according to the use he has made of his knowledge. This can
happen only toward the end of the cycle of instruction.]

P. 93-94 Before the teacher shalt impart to thy Lanoo
(disciple) the good (holy) words of LAMRIN, or shall permit him
"to make ready" for Dubjed, thou shalt take care that his mind is
thoroughly purified and at peace with all, especially with his
other Selves. Otherwise the words of Wisdom and of the good Law,
shall scatter.

["Lamrin" is a work of practical instructions, by Tson-kha-pa, in
two portions, one for ecclesiastical and exoteric purposes, the
other for esoteric use. "To make ready" for Dubjed, is to prepare
the vessels used for seership, such as mirrors and crystals. The
"other selves." refers to the fellow students. Unless the
greatest harmony reigns among the learners, no success is
possible. It is the teacher who makes the selections according to
the magnetic and electric natures of the students, bringing
together and adjusting most carefully the positive and the
negative elements.]

4. The upasaka while studying must take care to be united as the
fingers on one hand. Thou shalt impress upon their minds that
whatever hurts one should hurt the others, and if the rejoicing
of one finds no echo in the breasts of the others, then the
required conditions are absent, and it is useless to proceed.

[This can hardly happen if the preliminary choice made was
consistent with the magnetic requirements. It is known that
chelas otherwise promising and fit for the reception of truth,
had to wait for years on account of their temper and the
impossibility they felt to put themselves in tune with their
companions. ]

5. The co-disciples must be tuned by the guru as the strings of a
lute (vina), each different from the others, yet each emitting
sounds in harmony with all. Collectively they must form a
key-board answering in all its parts to thy lightest touch (the
touch of the Master). Thus their minds shall open for the
harmonies of Wisdom, to vibrate as knowledge through each and
all, resulting in effects pleasing to the presiding gods
(tutelary or patron-angels) and useful to the Lanoo. So shall
Wisdom be impressed forever on their hearts and the harmony of
the law shall never be broken.

6. Those who desire to acquire the knowledge leading to the
Siddhis (occult powers) have to renounce all the vanities of life
and of the world …

7. None can feel the difference between himself and his
fellow-students, such as "I am the wisest," "I am more holy and
pleasing …" etc.,-- and remain an upasaka. His thoughts must be
predominantly fixed upon his heart, chasing therefrom every
hostile thought to any living being. It (the heart) must be full
of the feeling of its non-separateness from the rest of beings as
from all in Nature; otherwise no success can follow.

P. 94-5 8. A Lanoo (disciple) has to dread external living
influence alone (magnetic emanations from living creatures). For
this reason while at one with all, in his inner nature, he must
take care to separate his outer (external) body from every
foreign influence: none must drink out of, or eat in his cup but
himself. He must avoid bodily contact (i.e. being touched or
touch) with human, as with animal being.

[No pet animals are permitted and it is forbidden even to touch
certain trees and plants. A disciple has to live, so to say, in
his own atmosphere in order to individualize it for occult
purposes.]

9. The mind must remain blunt to all but the universal truths in
nature, lest the "Doctrine of the Heart" should become only the
"Doctrine of the Eye," (i.e., empty exoteric ritualism).

10. No animal food of whatever kind, nothing that has life in it,
should be taken by the disciple. No wine, no spirits, or opium
should be used: for these are like the Lhamayin (evil spirits),
who fasten upon the unwary, they devour the understanding.

[Wine and Spirits are supposed to contain and preserve the bad
magnetism of all the men who helped in their fabrication; the
meat of each animal, to preserve the psychic characteristics of
its kind.]

11. Meditation, abstinence in all, the observation of moral
duties, gentle thoughts, good deeds and kind words, as good will
to all and entire oblivion of Self, are the most efficacious
means of obtaining knowledge and preparing for the reception of
higher wisdom.

12. It is only by virtue of a strict observance of the foregoing
rules that a Lanoo can hope to acquire in good time the Siddhis
of the Arhats, the growth which makes him become gradually One
with the UNIVERSAL ALL.
__________


P. 96 Personal ambition, personal feelings and desires, are
not encouraged to grow …When the soil is naturally good, it is
cultivated in the right way, and the child grows into a man in
whom the habit of subordination of one's lower to one's higher
Self is strong and powerful.

P. 97 "The key in each degree is the aspirant himself." It
is not "the fear of God" which is "the beginning of Wisdom," but
the knowledge of SELF which is WISDOM ITSELF.

P. 97 How grand and true appears…the answer given by the
Delphic Oracle to all who came seeking after Occult Wisdom--…
enforced again and again by the wise Socrates:--MAN KNOW THYSELF.
. . .

P. 98 One may study with profit the Occult Sciences without
rushing into the higher Occultism.

P. 99 …solitude is the best condition for study.

P. 99 Chelaship is a state of mind, rather than a life
according to hard and fast rules on the physical plane. This
applies especially to the earlier, probationary period, while the
rules given … indicate, the mode of life which ought to be
followed by all aspirants so far as practicable, since it is the
most helpful to them in their aspirations.

P. 99 Occultism is concerned with the inner man who must be
strengthened and freed from the dominion of the physical body and
its surroundings, which must become his servants.

P. 99 …the first and chief necessity of Chelaship is a
spirit of absolute unselfishness and devotion to Truth; then
follow self-knowledge and self-mastery. These are all-important;
while outward observance of fixed rules of life is a matter of
secondary moment.

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

One must make a clear distinction between the appearance and the
inner reality in these matters.

That is what I was trying to say.

Best wishes,

Dallas

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

-----Original Message-----
From: Tatoorachael@aol.com [mailto:Tatoorachael@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 6:32 AM
To: study@blavatsky.net
Subject: [bn-study] RE: War and Buddhism

In a message dated 3/12/2003 8:03:14 AM Eastern Standard Time,
dalval14@earthlink.net writes:




As I understand it "Budhism" is NOT a religion or a
belief-system -- with the paraphernalia of rites, rituals
dogmas, etc. It has remained free of those -- however it has
seen many aspects of study recommended which have become separate
schools.


Wow and double wow! First ULT is not an organization and now
there is no Buddhist religion!

We have two Buddhist monasteries in this area, one Tibetan and
one Zen. No ritual? It seems their entire day is ritual. Sit a
certain way, meditate a certain way and get a switch across your
back if you slump. What are those saffron and maroon robes if not
a religious uniform? And there's a whole system of beliefs some
sects more dogmatic than others. Plus the idols. They have turned
the Buddha into a personal God! Just like Jesus and Krishna.

Any observations from anyone else?

Larry



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]