Theos-Talk Archives (March 2003 Message tt00437)

Sunday, March 30, 2003

Re: Communism, RPK - B'lore.


Dear Friends:


Let us say Theosophically, that Brotherhood expresses the ideal of a
living Universe which springs from a SPIRIT (or IDEAL) source.

Nothing in it can be killed and eliminated since the law of life
demands progress through reincarnation. We have lived and existed
with the same immortal Souls for aeons and at times we were of the
same sex, or community and at others we were total "strangers." But
the undying continuity of soul survival is not to be eliminated by
killing in any one life. Nor is the ever-acting Law of karma to be
swayed from its course. Our choices here and now make for new Karma
and the Karma of killing or torturing is not pleasant to contemplate,
is it?

In a war, such as is being waged now, the aggressors do not even know
each other in this life, nor have they personal cause to kill or
injure each other. Therefore why do people go to war? Because of a
principle? Because their "leader": tell them to ? Because there
resides in everyone a violent monster who would rend and tear and
torture others senselessly? And finally it is us, we, the Divine Self
incarnate, who has to decided to do or not to do.

We each need to decide to find out the source and core of the present
sentiment concerning this matter. What does this? Is it the
impersonal Mind ( Buddhi-Manas) that does the examination? What
principles does it discover to be active? Are they helps or
hindrances to true advancement in SPIRITUAL LIFE ? It is an act of
brotherhood to set out to kill any one else ? If it is the KAMA-MANAS
that is active, in what direction will the Buddhi-Manas allow it to
function ?

Being in an evolutionary environment such as ours, the ONE SPIRIT has
virtually sub-divided itself, and a portion of it works with, in and
around, and though Matter. These sub-divisions that fill the entire
space of the UNIVERSE have been called the Monads. In defining these,
theosophy uses analogies such as "life-atoms," "little lives." All.
taken together seem to be a vast series of isolated yet, immortal
beings and forms are aggregated around them under Law. On examination,
these are seen to be grouped, and, in each case, there are magnetic
force-fields that draw together other life-atoms (which are "monads of
lesser experience) and the atoms and molecules that make the bodies
and forms of minerals, plants, animals and humans. With these isolated
components are associated emotions and desires and an intelligence
called diversely Nature's intelligence, instinct, the mind, and
intuition.

In regard to "Communism":

The DICTIONARY says: "A system of social organization in which goods
are held in common;" Any system of social organization involving
common ownership of the agents of production, and some approach to
equal distribution of the products of industry."

Politically the DICTIONARY says: "A semi-political party of recent
years holding to the tenets and belies of communism."

It can degenerate into a tyranny as strong individuals invoke its
enforcement.

I find in dealing with this "communism" word-idea, that many have been
"brain-washed" politically and mentally, into believing it is a "bad
name," and consequently, they wont, or are afraid of, discussing it.
Even its misplaced and malacted idealism is rejected.

Theosophically what does it mean: "Holding things in common and making
them available as needed."

This sounds, thinking of humanity as a whole, wherever located: as a
brotherly way of holding and using necessities: housing, clothing,
food, education, recreation, leisure, etc... It also implies PEACE
since there is no reason to fear scarcity, famine, drought, or wants
of any kind. And if such occur then those are made available as
needed. It ought to provide a "no fear of imposition" on any one
That is no one ought to be deprived of the opportunity to develop
their individual skills and make them available to the rest. No one
ought to be forced into a position where they are constrained,
deprived, or "punished" for being unpopular.

The key word is "need." Most people want more than they need. Since
money is the most easily convertible currency with which to secure
(and store for an isolated personality) such excess, it becomes the
medium for selfishness -- creating eventually such arbitrary "class"
distinctions like Rich, moderately rich, city-dwellers vs. peasants,
the poor, and those in abject need. Finally, a class of rejects who
are "punished for their abnormality" by not being attended to at all:
the outcastes and pariahs, and sub-normal intelligences in man's
bodies.

Regardless of these, brotherhood can still be applied, and those who
have "wealth" can advance money (or goods and services) to be used to
"help" all those who are needy, outcastes, poor, etc.. It is to
establish forms of equity and treatment that "governments" are
devised. Inherent in this concept of popularly regulated "government'
is the concept of the Law of Karma that rules all, even when not well
grasped, as a fact in Nature. It is a recognition of the fact that
each individual has a right to justice and mercy, and ought to
regulate their own lives, and choices for action and speaking, by
using those features of the human psyche in dealing with all others.

Unfortunately, when "charity" is dispensed and done, in most cases it
is "through the hands of another" -- of an institution, a charitable
organization, -- an intermediate. Theosophically, all "help" ought to
be done person to person. This is important since the impersonality
of an "intermediate" prevents a careful personal assistance to these
who are needing help. Only those who share the problems of those in
need, and understand them, can do or give the best and most optimum
care and assistance. A gift of money alone does not safely secure
such an intention. A gift of food or other necessities to the strong
(such as a "government agency," and not directly to the weak and ill,
illustrates the careless nature of such gift-giving.

In this Karma works, and will work in the future -- as the balance and
harmony of Nature demands such an approach (person to person) be
conducted. Individuals who truly desire to assist others from their
hearts, using their wealth in money, time, and personal effort in
generosity, know this is a fact and such personal attention lends a
thousand fold greater results.

This is reasonable as the needs of most essentials will be covered.
It dissatisfies those who which to amass more than others -- for
whatever reasons.

Were does the idea of "communism" arise? Perhaps the oldest
suggestions of this nature in the "West" can be attributed to Plato
and are to be found in his dialog: THE REPUBLIC. This is an
important book and all students of Theosophical philosophy ought to be
acquainted with it.

It would seem to me that the liberation of the oppressed is being used
as an excuse of the "mighty" to secure a continuing commercial
advantage and the needs of the actual people are minimally considered,
in practice. It does not appear fully altruistic, although the
Kama-Manas will defend it.

I hope this may also be of help

Dallas

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

-----Original Message-----
From: ult-blr
Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2003 12:32 AM
To: study@blavatsky.net
Subject: [bn-study] Re: communism

Dear Reed,

You ask my opinion on communism. If by that term we understand the
doctrine of Marx--the rule of the Proletariate, the working class,
collective or communal ownership of means of production, individuals
producing according to their capacity and receiving according to their
wants, individual identity forcibly effaced to serve the community
interest, a kind of a forcible equality--is it not wholly unnatural,
unworkable ? Unnatural because wholly material as if humans are mere
souless animal-machines. Human capacities, ingenuity, need expression
and expansion, and what is more, human Soul needs of experience and
growth in accordance with Karmic necessities, and these are so diverse
and so irresistible that no forced external uniformity is ever be
possible. The very
constitution of the seven-fold man, the laws of his being and
evolution forbid it. So it is not surprising at all that the system
collapsed altogether in Eastern Europe, Russia. In China it is just
another ruthless despotic dictatorship, which is far from the
artificial social ideal envisioned by Marx, and which is doomed to end
by the very compulsions of human soul-needs, sooner than later.

Now, Reed I wouldn't like to be quized and put into a corner and drawn
into useless controversy. I feel that the hot debate that is going on
in the bn ought to be raised to the ethical-philosophical plane. Ideas
rule the world. As the Upanishads say, As your desire is so is your
will ; as your will is so are your actions ; whatever works one does
in the likeness of it one grows. If we are in such a deadly, dangerous
situation in the world to day
obviously there is something fundamentally wrong with the ideas,
beliefs, values, goals and life objectives we as nations are pursuing.
Can we ever bring about changes for the better by external
manipulations as long as we continue to hold and live by the same old
wrong views which are our unconscious motivators of the way we behave
and act ?

All that I mentioned in my previous post was with the intention of
drawing the attention of the bn to the enormous injustice, discord,
violence and soul-destroying materialism--the relentless chase after
wealth, power and animal gratification--to which the ideas and the
doctrines that move the Western nations have given birth, and fruits
of which we are reaping today. It is not to blame any one, not to
condemn any people or nation.

What then is the permanent solution to the terrible endless tragedy
and misery enveloping us all ? Obviously, the solution lies in
examining the basis of our most cherished beliefs, validity of the
premises of the ideas we hold with regard to man, nature, God, our
origin and destiny. Are they right ? As they are now, they cannot be
right; otherwise we would not be in the mess in which we are. What is
the criterion for judging their validity ? No existing religion or
science ever provide that criterion. But we have the criterion in the
body of Knowledge--not belief--called Theosophy which is as old as the
world. Try to see in that light the basic fault in our ideas and
ideals and apply the corrective. Unless one is well grounded in the
fundamental conceptions and their common sense applications to every
event and every experience such an intelligent, informed and
instructive debate cannot take place. We are not to attack persons,
religious groups, peoples and nations
but carryout honest, impersonal, impartial heart-searching on the
above lines. Such an exercise will educate people to think for
themselves on the basis of the Eternal Verities, to judge right from
wrong, good from evil, truth from falsehood, will greatly influence
the rulers and policy makers to take a re-look at their misdirected
policies and give them the right direction in conformity with the true
and the real. In this exercise of sowing the seeds of right mental
action alone lies the promise of a better morrow.

RPK.