Theos-Talk Archives (March 2003 Message tt00373)

Dear Katinka,

My answer was for the post below... By the way I will
send you also an answer on the comments you made...

Dear Erica,

“My questions were directed towards you to know your
views, as you hold them today, because from your
discussion with Leon it was clear that you are not in
favour of the traditional way advocated by the
followers of the great beings who have visited our
planet and left verbal and written eso and exoteric
instructions.
>From whatever little I've understood, this much I can
tell you that the first target/goal is to "MAN KNOW
THYSELF". Limitations of language make it appear as a
contradiction - for who is the one who has set this
target and who has recognised this fact that one has
know him/herself.
Instructions from others - verbal or written - clear
one's mind / help one to understand theory, inspire
and lead that person to take the decision to achieve
the goal. The aspirant then chooses the way and then
starts working towards it. That's the way everybody
(and I mean everybody) begins - whether it be in this
life or some other previous life(s). See for your
self. Did you not come across problems in your life or
face confusion regarding what is going on in our life
& in this world? Even that person who reaches the Goal
in his/her last incarnation has to have his head
sorted out and then he can proceed. Look at the life
of any realized being. 
When one starts to question & starts to look for the
answer, then he/she comes across that which ultimately
leads him to accept a particular set of ideas which
he/she think will lead him to the Goal (which is also
a part of the set of ideas).
And like I said before this happens with everyone -
even in those who do not believe in any set of ideas
(eg. krishnji's followers, illiterate persons advanced
on the path in this life).
Just like a total colour blind person cannot realize
what it is to see colour, even though he can write
his/her PhD thesis on colors, likewise the millions or
the whole of India cannot become Self Realised. And I
might add to these Indians the members of TS, ES,
Krishnamurti foundation & other such organizations.
To me the following makes sense - till the time focus
of consciousness remains in the lower three bodies -
physical, astral and lower mental, this focus
obviously cannot escape from these bodies. If I focus
my attention/awareness on some physical sensation or
activity, or feel or think, I'll remain on these
levels,isn't it ? Even if I think deeply and discuss
these matters, and even if these lower bodies can
catch a few glimpses from the Ego, then also the focus
of attention remains on these levels and I will always
find myself in these levels and thereby fail to KNOW
MYSELF. So what has to be done?
When Annie Besant came to this conclusion that she had
to follow the way propounded by H.P.B. she went to
H.P.B. and requested to be trained. H.P.B. just
flicked a match box towards A.B and asked her to
concentrate on it. Why ?
Buddha's eigthfold path has concentration,etc in it.
Why ?
I could go on with other examples. But the fact is
that a very stong concentrated focus of attention has
to be created-the object of concentration can be
external / internal which ultimately will lead to the
stillnes of all the lower bodies and the escape of
this focus of attention through the channel which
interconnects the self with the Ego (in TS terms)
leading to the First Step.
This is all we can do. Anything beyond this level has
not been given properly and even if it was to be
given, it will not be graspable - and the situation
will be like that of the colour blind Phd student. The
real work of the Guru starts from this level onwards,
because then one enters into a new world about which
no book / author/ guide can inform us. Whatever little
that has been given, has been given in context of
reaching First Step. You know that absolutely nothing
has been given about the topmost planes of nature and
also about the Monad, except a little to make the Plan
understandable.
The Guru guides the entry of the chela into the new
world and is like the mother of that candidate.
Now to still the lower bodies the focus of attention
has to centered onto something. It can be an object/
sound/ breath or the focus of attention itself (the I
itself). No Guru or any other person can do it for us.

This way has been trodden by all who have reached to
the Goal. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY. Please corelate these
ideas with the life-history of different advanced
persons. 
So we now come down to practice, which I can talk
about later, if you want me to. 
Hope I've not bored you with something which you
already know.”

Rajiv


Dear Rajiv,

“Disputes and conflict is ditthi-mana. Therefore the
Buddha taught us to let go of views. Don't allow mana
to cling to those views beyond their relevance.”
How may someone to progress on the path, if not have
faced his dark sites? How may someone to progress in
the path if not have awaken and enlighten the dark
corners of his/her soul? How may someone to progress
if he/her does not know deeply his or her nature? How
can someone to progress if still has believes?
Necessarily will remain a silent faith on the unknown,
nothing else. 
When one wants to accelerate this process, attending
the call of his soul he will be tested friend. Facing
situations in life and conflicts in the inner self.
The real strength and power arises when someone
recognize and face his/her own weakness. This is hard
dear friend! Have you faced yours? I would advice
nobody to try; it’s not a “game for children in the
kindergarten”. You may not understand what am I
talking about, because of the limitations of the
language.
I am not denying the teachings of the Great Ones, this
would be blindness, I am not in favour or against any
teacher, and I am not a follower of Krishnaji.
Actually the love I have for Madame Blavatsky and for
the Master is too deep to allow me to be in favour or
against any other sincere try made by someone to break
the veils of Maya. Of course I am against any kind of
teaching with leads deeper into anger, racism etc.
I go further even Krishnaji’s followers aren’t able to
understand what he was talking about. Many of them
also within Kama-Manas take his teachings as a body of
truth and the best truth. Is this a reaction of a mind
still rooted deeply on kama? 
What I see as result of many persons trying to follow
a series of techniques and methodology is that they
are more nourishing the Kama-Manas, instead to
overtake it. It’s very easy friend when everything is
apparently correct into someone’s life to keep on
making prayers, meditation, concentration exercises
etc. Of course results will flourish, but still within
kama-manas such results will be rooted. 
After one have open the inner gates, things change in
a way no description in words can be done. 
“A mind filled with craving is not wholesome, a mind
filled with aversion is not wholesome, and a mind
filled with ignorance is not wholesome. When the mind
is concentrated with the help of an object of craving,
aversion or ignorance, it will achieve concentration,
but it will be neither balanced nor equanimous. Such
concentration of the mind is not proper, not pure, and
not conducive to happiness. Concentration that is
dependent upon craving, aversion or ignorance is the
absorption of an unbalanced mind-how can it be
beneficial?”
Annie Besant, as you mentioned about the way Blavastky
advice her to start exercising on “Dharana”. I will
tell you such try sincerely made, but with a mind
still rooted on Kama-Manas will lead eventually into
the development of lower Siddhis, and an apparent
balance of the mind. Don’t forget that Annie Besant
strong expression of a mind still rooted on Kama-Manas
was her try to make out of Krishnamurti the new
Messiah and the creation of a new world religion.
I am sure you are aware that she closed down the
German Section, expelling from the Theosophical
Society 2.000 members because they didn’t want to
accept Krishnaji as the new messiah. See history shows
that human nature to change it’s the most difficult
task, doesn’t matter what techniques one may follow
and practice, what believes one may hold, any motion
arising within kama-manas will reflect intolerance
towards the ones that have other believes, and the
need to hold himself or herself within a body system
of knowledge leading to disunion, intellectual
antagonism, etc. 

Erica Letzerich

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