Theos-Talk Archives (May 2003 Message tt00198)

Wednesday, May 21, 2003

Re Authors that Introduce & Explain Theosophy


Dear Friend:

Thank you for your inquiry.

Two good introductory books can be recommended:

1.	The KEY TO THEOSOPHY (HPB) {Principles & Practice of
Theosophy}

2.	The OCEAN OF THEOSOPHY ( Judge ) (A summary of The SECRET
DOCTRINE)

They are available "on line" so you can read them at:
http://www.blavatsky.net


As an introduction we could say:

Our present day knowledge of Theosophy is derived from the
writings of Mme. H. P. Blavatsky. She lived between 1831 and
1891.

Her providing of Theosophy as a philosophy, science and religious
compendium began around 1875. In 1877 she wrote ISIS UNVEILED.
This is a compendium and an introduction to the range and depth
of knowledge that "Theos-sophy" represents. [Theos = Deity;
Sophia = wisdom. "God-like" wisdom.]

In 1875, the Theosophical Movement was launched to promote and
sustain three objects:

1.	To form the nucleus of a Universal Brotherhood, without
distinction of race, color, or creed.

2.	To promote the study of Aryan [noble] and other scriptures, of
the World's religion and sciences, and to vindicate the
importance of old Asiatic literature, namely of the Brahmanical,
Buddhist, Zoroastrian and Kabalistic philosophies, and

3.	To investigate the hidden mysteries of nature under every
aspect possible, and the psychic and spiritual powers latent in
man... KEY TO THEOSOPHY, p. 39 ]


Today a number of fraternally affiliated yet, independent
Theosophical societies flourish and exist to offer all students a
free forum for the study of the original literature of Theosophy
and cooperative work.

Theosophy in our modern World is aimed at: 1. demonstrating the
validity of "Universal Brotherhood," a recognition of the "Family
of Man," and 2. encouraging cooperative work on an impartial,
non-sectarian basis.

In 1877 Madame Blavatsky, published the book: ISIS UNVEILED. It
was a sensation. It went through many editions in rapid
succession. In this she reviewed the history of Science and
Theology in respect to the invisible and hidden side of Nature.

In response to questions and further demands, she founded and
edited, along with Col. H. S.
Olcott the magazines: 1. The THEOSOPHIST (India) in 1879, and
2. LUCIFER (London) in 1887.

In 1888 she published The SECRET DOCTRINE . Another sensation.
In this book, she provided a survey (as a summary taken from the
secret libraries and records of the age-old College of Adepts
[see ISIS, Vol. II, pp 98 - 103] ) of creation -- COSMOGENESIS,
and of Man's
evolution, not only as a physical form, but psychologically and
spiritually -- ANTHROPOGENESIS.

In this she takes the reader through the metaphysics that form
the basic concept of Universal Evolution, and with their help,
she explains how it is the Spiritual Essence which informs and
energizes "material forms" with intelligence and consciousness.
This present field of manifestation is said to be the
reincarnation of earlier ones.

Evolution, is therefore considered to be three-fold.

1. material in our bodies,

2. psychologically in our desires and thoughts, and

3. spiritually in our aspirations and virtuous urges.

In this she demonstrates the reason for the view held by the
ancient Sage Patanjali : "The Universe exists for the Soul's
experience."

Theosophy, in brief, deals with the "causes" for our existence,
and the presence of the invisible Spiritual and psychological
universe that underlies, as energic Force, as the "causal
motivation," of the visible, physical Universe we are familiar
with.

It posits the concept that every" atom of matter" is a "little
life," (or "monad"). Each of these is alive and is aware in its
own way. As an individuality it is continuous, and never "dies."
It has a spiritual, and immortal center of energy, a "Force,"
which is the "cause" of its existence.

No event, no experience, is ever "lost," but all are indelibly
impressed on the living consciousness of these innumerable
"Monads." These, when condensed out of invisible matter, make up
the material "forms" we deal with daily. The concept of
"invisible" matter ("dark matter") is an old one to Theosophy.
Each of these three-fold Units are said to be, as a "Force,"
inextinguishable.

Theosophy holds that it is these eternal "Pilgrims" that form all
the components of evolution. These provide in a regulated
manner, and through a vast process of planned evolution, the
individual development of that increasing Intelligence that is
innate to each of them. These increments in experience, lead to
self-conscious individualization. Expressed in various ways, but
essentially: "I AM I" It is held that evidence for this lies in
the existence of humanity. "I think, therefore I am," said
Descartes.

But the progress of the vast army of thinking and individual
Monads is held to proceed, from the level of intelligence we
might designate as the "Man-Mind," to a perception of, and an
understanding of the entire universe. [ "The Universe grows I."
is one way of expressing
this.]

Ideas and memories are traces of the immortality of our
experience.

Since this course of learning would be impossible to achieve in a
single life-time, the process of "reincarnation" is said to
exist, both as a process and as a law of development. It is
averred that
there is an ultimate goal of individual perfection to be
attained. This "ultimate goal" is expressed mystically, as "
Supreme Perfection," or "Universal Wisdom." It is a concept
that has long
been held by ancient Brahmanism, Buddhism and Zorastrianism.

It will be seen, on reflection, that these concepts provide, the
interactive basis, that every choice or change at any level has
ethical / moral consequences. Ancient Hinduism speaks of this as
"karma" or, the effects that are consequent upon any "choice."
For it is held that the "Mind-Man" is a free agent and his free
decisions cause the progress of evolution for the whole Universe
to advance or slow down. [ It is for this reason that Patanjali
offered his observation quoted above. ] Karma, impartial and
universal, provides for the exact return of moral and any other
impressions to whoever generated any cause.

Our human physical forms become incapacitated and grow obsolete
over time. This leads to the
dissolution we call "death." But Theosophy posits that the
experiences of a lifetime, as "memories," survive the death of
the physical form. These are the traces of immortality.

They are the continued basis for every increment of knowledge
and wisdom. These memory-impressions are said to be impacted in
the imperishable spiritual aspect of every Monad. From this, the
remote Goal is posited as : Sublime and Universal Perfection for
each individual Monad.


"Theosophy is Divine Knowledge, or Science, "Divine Wisdom"
(Theo-Sophia) -- the term is many thousand years old."	KEY TO
THEOSOPHY , p. 1.


"Theosophy is synonymous with everlasting Truth."	KEY TO
THEOSOPHY, p. 302.


"We have no two beliefs or hypotheses on the same subject."
KEY TO THEOSOPHY , p. 72.


"Theosophy is the substratum and basis of all the world-religions
and philosophies taught and practised by a few elect ever since
man became a thinking being."
The THEOSOPHICAL GLOSSARY p. 328.


"The "Wisdom Religion" is the inheritance of all the nations, the
world over." S D I xviii


"Theosophy [is]...the one bond of unity which is so universal and
all-embracing that no man, as no speck -- from gods and mortals
down to animals, the blade of grass and atom -- can be outside of
its light. Therefore any organization or body of that name
[Theosophical] must necessarily be a Universal Brotherhood."
H P B: IS THEOSOPHY A RELIGION ? H P B Articles, (U L T),
Vol. I, p 59, [LUCIFER Nov. 1888.]


Theosophy is not new but forms a seamless whole in the world of
ideas and concepts. In our
experience and wide reading, there is no one who has written such
a comprehensive, and logical
view of our world, universe and the important part that Mankind
plays in that.

Since H P B anticipated that Theosophical theories and hypotheses
would be received with various degrees of incredulity, and even
scorn, from the academies, she was careful to make it clear that
the information was taken from the annals and HISTORY that the
Adepts and their disciples
(chelas) had recorded down the ages. All that she requested was
"equal time" and an open-minded consideration of what Theosophy
had to offer.

She wrote in ISIS UNVEILED :

"When, years ago, we first traveled over the East, exploring the
penetralia of its deserted sanctuaries, two saddening and
ever-recurring questions oppressed our thoughts: Where, who
what is GOD ? Who ever saw the IMMORTAL SPIRIT of man, so as to
be able to assure himself of man's immorality?

It was while most anxious to solve those perplexing problems that
we came into contact with certain men, endowed with such
mysterious powers and such profound knowledge that we may truly
designate them as the sages of the Orient. To their instructions
we lent a ready ear.
They showed us that by combining science with religion, the
existence of God and immortality of man's spirit may be
demonstrated like a problem of Euclid.

For the first time we received the assurance that the Oriental
philosophy has room for no other faith than an absolute and
immovable faith in the omnipotence of man's own immortal self.
We
were taught that this omnipotence comes from the kinship of man's
spirit with the Universal Soul--God ! The latter, they said, can
never be demonstrated but by the former. Man-spirit proves
God-spirit, as the one drop of water proves a source from which
it must have come...all the rest may be inferred...Blind faith
would no longer be necessary, he would have supplanted it by
KNOWLEDGE....prove the soul of man by its wondrous powers--you
have proved God !" I U, Vol. I , p. vi

"The essence of Theosophy is the perfect harmonizing of the
divine with the human in man."
H P B -- FIVE MESSAGES TO AMERICAN THEOSOPHISTS , p. 6.


What does Theosophy teach?


The immortality of man's Spirit/Soul and the "God-Spirit," being
present in every "life-atom" of our living universe are
fundamental concepts.

Everything in Nature may be seen to trend in its life-experience
towards a higher degree of knowledge, wisdom, and perfection.

Each life-cycle (incarnation) is like a separate day at school
and all are drawn together by the uniting thread of the immortal,
and eternal spiritual Self which is at their core. In fact she
shows
how Theosophy traces the evolution of the "consciousness and
intelligence" of the SPIRITUAL SOUL or Monad, through many
forms -- from the atom to the human condition of independent
free-will.

This sweep and concept is one that can be traced in every one of
the great religions and philosophies of the world. It is the
record of their existence and of our participation, again and
again, in those processes.


"Her main teachings can be reduced to the following propositions:

That Morals have a basis in Law and in fact.

That Moral law is Natural Law.

That Evolution makes for Righteousness.

That the "fundamental identity of all souls with the Oversoul"
renders moral contagion possible through the subtle psychic
medium.

That the Spiritual Identity of all Being renders Universal
brotherhood the only possible path for the truth-seeking man."
[H P B Articles (U L T ), Vol. I p. 115. SHE BEING DEAD YET
SPEAKETH -- PATH, July 1892 ; Vol 7, p. 121 ]


"True Theosophy is everything that aids or elevates mankind; and
our chief object is not so much to gratify individual
aspirations, as to serve our fellow men." PATH, Vol. IV, p.,
96


"...the Wisdom-Religion was ever one, and being the last word of
possible human knowledge, was therefore, carefully preserved. It
preceded by long ages the Alexandrian Theosophists [ 1st Cent.],
reached the modern, and will survive every other religion and
philosophy."
KEY TO THEOSOPHY , p. 7.


The SECRET DOCTRINE speaks of the intelligent guides {Dhyan
Chohans, and Dhyani Buddhas], as Self-conscious assistants that
Nature employs to recreate and supervise a
fresh evolutionary effort, a "new Day," of evolutionary progress
for all beings.


Encourages Independent Inquiry


If this is grasped, as a working and actual concept, the minute
details and studies of specialists, while respected, as
continuing proof of the inclusive nature of Theosophy, are also
shown
to be but the outer covering, or, to be but some one way selected
to approach to the interior mystery of man's own immortal Mind,
and of Nature's infinite capacities to assist that Mind to grow.
The process Nature employs is reincarnation. It is reembodiment
under the exacting Law of
universal Karma.

If this infinite capacity of the human mind to grow and to
understand the most simple, as well as the most complex subjects
is granted, the more learned will continually encourage those who
now are at various stages of learning to investigate and prove
for themselves all avenues, however diverse, of information,
tradition and lore. And that is the always growing tip of the
self-enlightening Mind. It always widens out to that which is
permanent and universal, when given
a chance to emerge from ignorance, doubt, skepticism and lethargy
of authoritarianism.

"[ THEOSOPHY ] Its creed is Loyalty to Truth, and its ritual "To
honor every Truth by use." KEY TO THEOSOPHY (HPB)

"The true Theosophist is a philanthropist -- "not for himself,
but for the world he lives." This and philosophy, the right
comprehension of life and its mysteries will give the "missing
basis" and show the right path to purse." -- Mahatma K. H.


Universal Science, Religion and Philosophy


In regard to the prevalence and diffusion of theosophy as a
science and a philosophical religion, it has been expressed :--


"Proofs of its diffusion, authentic records of its history, a
complete chain of documents, showing its character and presence
in every land, together with the teaching of all its great Adepts
exists to
this day in the secret crypts of libraries belonging to the
Occult Fraternity."
S D I xxxiv.


"The members of several esoteric schools...claim to have in their
possession the sum total of sacred and philosophical works in MSS
and type; all the works, in fact, that have ever been written,
in whatever language or character since the art of writing began;
from the ideographic hieroglyphics down to the alphabet of Cadmus
and Devanagri." S D I xxiii


"Our work, then, is a plea for the recognition of the hermetic
philosophy, the anciently universal Wisdom-Religion, as the only
possible key to the Absolute in science and theology."
I U I p vii


"The aim of this work [ The SECRET DOCTRINE ] may be thus
stated: --

1. To show that Nature is not "a fortuitous concurrence of
atoms,"

2. and to assign to man his rightful place in the scheme of the
Universe;

3. to rescue from degradation the archaic truths which are the
basis of all religions;

4. and to uncover, to some extent, the fundamental unity from
which all spring

5. finally to show that the Occult side of Nature has never been
approached by the Science of modern civilization." Secret
Doctrine I viii


The Future


"The problem of true Theosophy and its great mission are, first,
the working out of clear unequivocal conceptions of ethic ideas
and duties, such as shall best and most fully satisfy the right
and altruistic feeling in men; and second, the modeling of
these conceptions for their adaptation into such forms of daily
life, as shall offer a field where they may be applied with most
equitableness. Such is the common work placed before all who are
willing to act on
these principles."
THE GREAT MASTER'S LETTER, LUCIFER, January, 1888,
Vol. I p. 344. U L T Pamphlet No. 22, p. 13


"Theosophy alone can gradually create a mankind as harmonious and
as simple-souled as Kosmos itself; but to effect this
theosophists have to act as such... [helping] to awaken the
spirit in many a
man" H P B Articles (U L T) , Vol. I, p. 105
-- THE TIDAL WAVE. [LUCIFER, Nov. 1889.]


Theosophy is to be explained by reference to the three great
principles which underlie all life, as well as every religion and
every philosophy that ever has been, or ever can be. They may be
briefly named:

(1) The Self, as reality in man;

(2) Law, as the processes by which man evolves both in form and
soul;

(3) Evolution, as the design of life in terms of meaning and
purpose.



FIRST FUNDAMENTAL IDEA

--DEITY

As to Self, and the Source of Life, the great Theosophists, both
ancient and modern, have recorded that there is One Infinite
Principle, which is the Cause of all that was or ever shall be.
Thus this causal Self, the only true "Deity," can be absent from
no point of space, and we are inseparable from it. Each one is a
ray from and one with that Absolute Principle. This is the one
realization which immediately sets our minds in order: we are, in
essence, THAT which is unchangeable and unchanging.

Behind, or within, all perceiving and knowing and experiencing is
the One undivided Self. The power in us to perceive, to know, to
experience - apart from anything that is seen, known or
experienced - is the One Self, the one Consciousness, shared by
all alike, the Power of every being. Herein lies the true basis
of Brotherhood - the unifying bond for all above man and for all
below man.


SECOND FUNDAMENTAL IDEA

-- KARMA [LAW]

The second great principle - law, is referred to in Theosophy as
Karma. Karma is the law of recurring cycles in Nature and the
constant tendency to restore disturbed equilibrium. Applied to
man's moral life it is the law of ethical causation, of justice,
reward and punishment, the cause for birth and rebirth. Viewed
from another standpoint it is simply effect flowing from cause,
action and reaction, exact result for every thought and act. It
is act and the result of act; for the word's literal meaning is
action.

Theosophy views the Universe as an intelligent whole, hence every
motion in the universe is an action leading to results, which
themselves become causes for further results. We are all reaping
what we have sown, individually and collectively; we never act
alone. We always act on and in connection with others, affecting
them for good or evil, and we get the necessary reaction from the
causes set in motion by ourselves. This presents to us the idea
of absolute Justice, in accordance with which each being receives
exactly what he gives - the essence of free-will.


-- REINCARNATION

Indissolubly connected with Karma is another aspect of the law of
cycles - Reincarnation. It means that man as a thinker, composed
of soul, mind and spirit, occupies body after body in life after
life on the earth which is the scene of his evolution, and where
he must, under the very laws of his being, complete that
evolution, once it has been begun. In any one life he is known to
others as a personality, but in the whole stretch of eternity he
is one individual, feeling in himself an identity not dependent
on name, form, or recollection. The physical body is merely the
shell of man, made of matter of the earth, from the three lower
kingdoms - mineral, vegetable, and animal - and is being
constantly renewed and worn out from day to day. Man, himself, is
that invisible entity which inhabits the body, which is the cause
of its present construction and development from lower forms of
consciousness. The body is but one instrument of the man within.

Other divisions are the psychic, mental and intuitional natures.
Each of these "instruments" is composed of intelligent "lives,"
and when the controlling being withdraws at death, the
"instruments" and "lives" separate, only to be later
re-assembled. In this separation of the instruments of man lies
the explanation of "spirit-manifestations" - which are nothing
more than the automatic reflexes of "lives" impressed by the
departed soul with psychic impulses.

The doctrine of Reincarnation is the very base of Theosophy, for
it explains life and nature. It is one aspect of evolution, since
evolution could not go on without reembodiment. Reincarnation was
believed in at the time of Jesus and taught by some of the early
Christian Fathers. According to the view offered by Karma and
Reincarnation, each is his own judge, and his own executioner;
one's own hand forges the weapon which works for his punishment,
and each earns his own reward.

Reincarnation banishes the fear and sorrow of death, for as sleep
is a release from the body, during which we have dreams, so death
is a rest and release, after which we are again incarnated in a
new body on earth. We come once more into what we call waking
existence, and meet again and again the various Egos whom we have
known in prior births, that the causes generated in company with
them may be worked out. Schopenhauer once wrote that this
doctrine "presents itself as the natural conviction of man
whenever he reflects at all in an unprejudiced manner."


THIRD FUNDAMENTAL IDEA


TOTAL EVOLUTION


Reincarnation brings us to the doctrine of Universal Evolution as
expounded by the Sages of the Wisdom-Religion. The third
fundamental principle of Theosophy points to the fact that all
beings in the universe have evolved from lower points of
perception into greater and greater individualization; that
beings above man have gone through our stage; that there never
can be a stoppage to evolution in an infinite universe of
infinite possibilities; that whatever stage of perfection may be
reached in any race, on any planet, or in any solar system, there
are always greater opportunities beyond. Viewing life and its
probable object, with all the varied experience possible for man,
one must be forced to the conclusion that a single life is not
enough for carrying out all that is intended by Nature, to say
nothing of what man himself desires to do. The scale of variety
in experience is enormous; every form of evolving intelligence in
nature either is now a man, has been a man, or will become a man.
Further there is a vast range of powers latent in man which may
be developed under lawful conditions. Knowledge infinite in scope
and diversity lies before us, although we perceive that we have
no time to reach up to the measure of our high aspirations. To
say that we have but one life here with such possibilities put
before us and impossible of development is to make of the
universe and life a huge and cruel joke.


THE TEACHING OF HOPE

The two teachings that the West is most urgently in need of are
those of Karma and Reincarnation, the doctrines of hope and
responsibility. Karma, the doctrine of responsibility, means that
whatever a man sows he shall also reap. Reincarnation, the
doctrine of hope, means that whatever be is reaping, he may yet
sow better seed. The very fact of suffering is a blessing. Karma
and Reincarnation show us that suffering is brought about by
wrong thought and action; through our suffering we may be brought
to a realization that a wrong course has been pursued. We learn
through our suffering.


WHAT THEOSOPHY EXPLAINS

Theosophy is the only system of religion and philosophy which
invites study and criticism. It gives satisfactory explanation
of such problems as these:

First. The contrasts and unions of the world's faiths, and the
common foundation underlying them all.

Second. The existence of evil, suffering, sorrow - a hopeless
puzzle to the mere philanthropist or theologian.

Third. The inequalities in social condition and privilege; the
sharp contrasts between wealth and poverty, intelligence and
stupidity, culture and ignorance, virtue and vileness; the
appearance of men of genius in families destitute of it, as well
as other facts in conflict with the theory of heredity; the
frequent cases of unfitness of environment around individuals, so
sore as to embitter disposition, hamper aspiration, and paralyze
endeavor; the violent antithesis between character and condition;
the occurrence of accident, misfortune and untimely death - all
of them problems solvable only by the Theosophic doctrines of
Karma and Reincarnation.

Fourth. The possession by individuals of psychic powers -
clairvoyance, clairaudience, etc.

Fifth. The true nature of genuine phenomena in spiritualism, and
the proper antidote to superstition and to exaggerated
expectation.

Sixth. The failure of conventional religions to extend their
areas, reform abuses, re-organize society, expand the idea of
brotherhood, abate discontent, diminish crime, and elevate
humanity; and an apparent inadequacy to realize in individual
lives the ideal they professedly uphold.

>From the perspective of Theosophy, life is one grand school of
Being, and we have come to that stage where it is time for us to
learn to understand the purpose of existence; to grasp our whole
nature firmly; to use every means in our power in every
direction - waking, dreaming, sleeping, or in any other state -
to bring the whole of our nature into accord, so that our lower
instrument may be "in line" and thus more fully reflect our
divine inner nature.


THE THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT

The Theosophical Movement, broadly considered, is to be found in
all times and in all nations. Wherever thought has struggled to
be free, wherever spiritual ideas, as opposed to forms and
dogmatism, have been promulgated, there the great movement is to
be discerned, for noble action is inspired by noble thought, and
Theosophy represents the principles of such thought.


I hope this may help,

Dallas

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

-----Original Message-----
From: gmc
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2003 10:24 AM
To:
Subject: Authors of Theosophical Works

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

Hello,



I am new to Theosophy and I am looking for some authors who would
be
ideal for a beginner.

Apart from Madame Blavatsky's work, I have come across two
authors of
interest: HT Laurency and William Q Judge. Is anyone familiar
with
these authors and which authors would you reccommend.

Thanks,

Gareth