Theos-Talk Archives (May 2003 Message tt00285)

2nd Series Arranged by Subject

"SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION"
AMONG THEOSOPHISTS


In May, 1895, Mr. Judge announced that the Theosophical Forum, (a
small monthly pamphlet containing questions and answers on
Theosophy) "enters upon a new life and era." Henceforth, he said,
"it will be issued from the office of the President and under his
direction." In other words, Mr. Judge, then the president of the
Theosophical Society in America, took total responsibility for
the Forum. He also said there would be changes:

Editorial treatment of topics by W.Q.J., C. F. W. [Claude Falls
Wright], and others who hold similar views, will also vary from
the past; and as to this it can now be observed that if the
treatment of several subjects shall seem inconsistent with what
was said in the old series, the inconsistency will be due to a
present more definite and rigorous application of theosophical
theories to the questions in hand rather than the mechanical and
narrow view formerly obtaining.

This is the primary reason why "Forum" Answers, published by the
Theosophy Company in 1982, consists only of the answers made by
Mr. Judge to questions sent to the Theosophical Forum from 1889
to February, 1896.

In October, 1895, the sixth issue of the new Forum series, Mr.
Judge inserted the following note:

"Some members have taken the statements of these syllabuses as
being didactic and authoritative teachings. They should not be so
taken as they are merely analyses of theosophical subjects made
by different persons and are intended simply as suggesting
certain lines of thought, study, and work. They are an attempt to
fill a long-felt need among the Branches and to give each center
a good outline for discussion at its meetings; but nothing more
is intended, and they should not be taken as authoritative." --
W Q J

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

At the end of the first issue of the "new" Forum, Mr. Judge
inaugurated a section titled

"Subjects for Discussion;'

consisting of condensed paragraphs on various subjects considered
useful for discussion and study by individuals and Branches of
the Society.

In view of Mr. Judge's statement that the Forum was under his
direction, it may be assumed that he either wrote or approved of
these items. Present-day students of Theosophy will find them of
value.

They are reprinted here as they were presented in the "Forum,"
from May 1895 through March 1896.

In every issue, the following statement preceded the topics for
discussion:

"In articles and addresses never use Sanskrit or foreign terms
without also giving the English meaning; use English terms
preferably:'

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A B C by SUBJECT

2nd Series

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FUNDAMENTAL PROPOSITIONS OF THE "SECRET DOCTRINE"


THE FUNDAMENTAL PROPOSITIONS OF THE
"SECRET DOCTRINE"


Their metaphysical basis. To be found indirectly in all great
religions and philosophies. Their universal application.

(a) Necessary to postulate fundamental unity. Religion, science
and philosophies concur. Study of unity under three aspects of
consciousness, life (spirit or force) and matter. This applies to
man, atom and universe. These three aspects are interchangeable,
for ethics can be stated in terms of force and science in terms
of consciousness. Events, doctrines and humanity should be
considered from each standpoint. Impersonality helped in this
way, for man is seen as a center through which the One mani fests
as any of the above universal principles.

(b) On this the doctrines of reincarnation, Karma, cyclic law,
etc., are based. General theory of cyclic law: that of expansion
and contraction, of periodicity and vibration. As applied to
universe, to earth, races, man, daily life. The cause of birth
and death. Habits. The connection of the "pairs of opposites"
with this law.

(c) The dependence of this proposition on the two preceding. A
deduction drawn from them. The pilgrimage of the monad; and of
the Ego. The difference between these. The three streams of
evolution: that of monad, of Thinker, of matter. Their meeting in
man. The superiority of this to materialistic view. Are souls
separate from each other? When will the "pilgrimage" cease?

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HEART DOCTRINE


Misunderstood by many members of the Society. Not the doctrine of
sentiment or emotion. Should be studied as taught by the Voice of
the Silence. The real basis of all religious teaching. The only
road to progress. The doctrine of true understanding as differing
from mere intellectual perception. Differs from "feelings"
because unassociated with personality. The Secret Wisdom. Mind
was needed to "embrace the universe," not to dwarf it; hence
needed to verify and to interpret intuition, the resulting
experience being the true doctrine of the heart. So it is
"doctrine of experience" as witnessed from the heart. Relation of
heart and head. Intellect by itself fails. The Higher Manas the
true inspirer. Theosophists should be careful not to imagine the
heart doctrine as inspiring mere personal preference and
affections. True "love" includes all-friends and enemies alike.
Great difficulty for the ordinary man to decide between the love
which springs from personal magnetism and emotion, and that which
arises from the heart. So-called enemies often our best friends
because they develop us the most quickly. To the occultist there
is neither friend nor enemy nor distinction of persons nor
personal antagonism; and this is not because of the mere emotion
of a day, but as a result of the true heart doctrine which
embraces all things in nature, and studies and learns from all.

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HYPNOTISM


Modern exhibition of black magic or sorcery. Increasing year by
year. The Theosophical philosophy opposed to it. Not understood
by science; nor can it be understood with out a knowledge of
Occultism. Consists in the injection of auric or odic fluid of
one person into the system of another, thus upsetting the
vibrations of the atoms of the other's body. The name "hypnotism"
a misnomer, for all subjects do not sleep. Difference between
hypnotism and mesmerism explained by article, Lucifer, December
1890 ["Hypnotism," H.P.B. Articles II, 477].

Theosophists above all, should not practice it, for it destroys
the stability of the mind. Diseases cured by hypnotism liable to
be transferred to the hypnotist. Hypnotism of all degrees the one
thing which the world is striving to rid itself of. A dangerous
practice because interfering with the soul development of both
the hypnotist and the hypnotized. Theory of vibrations in
connection with it. A great deal of it the result of
"suggestions" and what used to be called "fascination." The
student of Occultism should above all things prevent his mind
being controlled by another. To give himself up to hypnotic
suggestion is to throw back his possibilities of advance many
years, if not for a whole lifetime. The errors of hypnotism lie
fundamentally in the interference with the free-will of the soul,
and secondarily in the upsetting of the psychic currents of the
body.

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IMMORTALITY [ & DEATH OF THE SOUL ]


CONDITIONAL IMMORTALITY (SOULLESSNESS)

Doctrine of soulless beings. Important to know that one's
immortality is conditional. Meaning of the phrase "loss of the
soul"; bad term because not fully expressing what is intended. It
is entire separation of the higher manas from the lower manas and
consequent absence of all that is spiritual in lower man. Lower
manas is the only part of the lower man incarnated in the body
and associated with earth that can achieve immortality. And this
is only done by its uniting itself with its other half, the
higher manas. Life in Devachan only results from this. But
strictly by immortality is meant the eternal life of the self,
the human personal being. This will live throughout the ages if
fully absorbed into its higher nature. Meaning of the phrase in
Isis Unveiled, "We elbow soulless men and women in every walk of
life." Such beings after death, not being united to their
spiritual egos, live but a short while in some of the various
inner regions. The spiritual ego creates a new lower manas or
vehicle and commences again a new incarnation. This is the new
personality and is frequently attacked by the dying remnant of
the past. This produces all those unaccounted for desires and
impressions in everybody. It has been said that a single pure
aspiration during one incarnation will insure the immortality of
the lower ego and spiritual possibilities in the future.

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INTUITION


Not to be confused with impulse, which is kamic. Impulse is
always towards action. Intuition rarely so. May be tested in that
way. It is synthetic and not analytic; will often instantaneously
explain a series of events, ideas, actions. The action of Buddhi
on this plane. Both reason and intuition necessary; reason to be
used as interpreter and verifier.


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KAMA


DESIRES AND PASSIONS - KAMA


Different classes of desire. Those related to physical existence;
bodily appetites
and tendencies. Those of the mind, such as pride, ambition, etc.
Higher desires for spiritual progress. How all these are often
intermixed. From what does desire arise?
Is it from polarity or what? Desire expressed in animal and other
kingdoms. Correspondence or likeness between chemical affinity
and desire. The difference between the two. The position and
relation of desire to and among the other human principles.
Compare this with the view of modern psychology. Relation between
will and desire. What is weak will? Is there absolutely such a
thing, or is the "weak willed" one who has many desires pulling
in various ways?

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KARMA


KARMA OR COMPENSATION


The law of Justice; of action and reaction. The doctrine in
different religions such as Buddhism, Brahmanism and
Christianity; responsibility of each man; responsibility of
races. Does Karma govern the constant rebirth into one race until
full compensation is made and similarity in race tendencies
exhausted? Is Karma fate? What kind of fate is it?


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MASTERS AND CHELAS


True Master the higher Self. Initiates always the guiding
teachers of those souls not yet progressed. Masters in contact
with the Higher Egos. Chelas the disciples of all Masters at
first; not until near the end of probation do they come under the
direct guidance of individual teachers. Chelas do not see their
spiritual teachers until after initiation. Seven years probation,
the fixed law of growth. Seven years chelaship necessary because
of the change of atoms and astral connections. Masters under the
same spiritual rays as their chelas. Nirmanakayas the helpers of
men. Many degrees of teachers. Masters in America and other
countries.

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MEDITATION & CONCENTRATION


Literal meaning "with the center," i.e., balance. To hold the
mind on any object without thinking of anything but it. One of
the practices of occultism. Does not consist in staring at a spot
on the wall or anything in particular, but in keeping the mind
free from thoughts and desires that draw it away from that upon
which it should be placed. Difficulty of concentration in the
West, owing to thought indulgences, and want of strength of
character. Concentration results from ability to keep the mind
fixed upon what ever duty it has to perform. To think of results
is to destroy the concentrative power. Hence duty without desire
for reward is one phase of it. It differs from meditation, in as
much as the latter consists in revolving a matter in the mind in
order to understand it, whereas concentration is merely the
holding of the mind on the object. Concentration however is a
necessary adjunct to meditation. Vanity, egotism, individual
affections and preferences, personality of all kinds, the desire
for position and wealth, hate, jealousy, fear, are all destroyers
of the concentrative faculty. Hence they are to be avoided by the
student. Through concentration lies the power of raising the
Kundalini or spiritual force. When the mind can hold itself upon
its karmic duties without any tendency to flee therefrom to other
objects, then it will discover how to unite itself with the
spirit.

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MEDIUMSHIP


Definition of the term. A spiritualistic one, meaning the
characteristic of one who gives himself up to psychic influences
and becomes the medium for their play. Medium is controlled by
astral forces. Many with psychic power not however mediums.
Mediumship more common than suspected. Does not always consist of
seeing clairvoyantly or being psychically controlled, but often
manifests in other ways. Drunkards, and those unable to control
their passions, probably mediumistic. Persons uncontrolled
generally, come under the title. Mediumship overcome by creating
positivity of character, and particularly by pre venting the mind
from wandering and from general passivity of disposition.
Spiritualistic mediums and those "sitting" for control, become
disorganized nervously and physically in a very short time.
Astral body is separated from the physical body and given up to
the mercy of the shells of the dead. Practice demoralizing in
every aspect. External forces rush in and the brain becomes
affected. Hence lying, and falsifying generally, often goes hand
in hand with the more complete phases. Part of the work of the
Theosophical movement to cure the world of medium- ship in all
phases. United States a "hot-bed" of psychism, and philosophy
alone can cure the condition. Warning against being misled by
mediumistic communications instead of by interior intuition.

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MEMORY


Phase of the mind important to understand as an aspect of the
imagination. Its
relation to psychism. A cause of rebirth. Fatal to concentration
or living in the present. Difference however between observing
the past and living in the past. Its relation to future selfish
hopes. The cause of desires. Teaching of all sages summed
up in "look not behind or thou art lost' Distinction between
reminiscence, recollection and memory. Why do most people not
remember past lives? Memory of events to be distinguished from
memory of experience. Memory one great cause of the sorrows of
the world. Uselessness of remorse. Students should practice to
prevent the mind turning over and over again the past. Difficulty
of this. Past, present and future unknown to the seer; all
absorbed in the Eternal. Memory may be defined as a getting into
the old astral currents. Dangers of this. Daydreaming and vacancy
of mind an effect. To the extent one lives over his past mentally
does he tend to act it over again externally; hence, memory the
great cause of habits. Memory not only con fined to the mind, but
also exists in the bodily organs and atoms. Hence great
difficulty of purifying the body. Seven years often necessary.
Relation of memory to knowledge.

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NATURE'S FINER FORCES [Astral, Psychism]


Intelligent appreciation of the finer forces of nature necessary.
Science takes no account of the action of these forces, it merely
observes their effects. The growth of trees and animals resultant
from action of intelligent energy. Ancient Aryans taught that
there were seven different forces corresponding to the seven
senses - two of which are not now known to the ordinary man, -
called the mahabhutas or tatwas by the Hindus. The action of
Purusha or Spirit in Prakriti or Matter throws it into seven
different conditions and causes it to generate in seven different
ways. On our planet this produces the seven kingdoms, i.e., the
three elemental, mineral, vegetable, animal and human. In the
Cosmos it produces the seven hierarchies of spiritual beings and
planets. All nature an outbreathing and inbreathing. Man only
lives by such action. The finer currents of nature also subject
to the same law, hence positive and negative. Astral light the
field for play of grosser forces exercising in this sphere; hence
not recognized by ordinary men. Many finer currents in the body
than those passing through the veins, arteries and nerves.
Hypnotism indicates the existence of some of these; clairvoyant
sight, that of others. The mind the great controller and exciter
of these currents. By controlling the mind the body can be
overcome, and through that the whole of nature; placing all under
the dominance of spiritual perception.

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OBJECTS OF THE THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT


THE THREE OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY


(1) Universal Brotherhood without any distinctions whatever. Why
no distinctions? Brotherhood in all kingdoms of nature. The true
meaning of caste. Relation of West to East. Relation of man to
animals, and animals to man. Difference between Christian and
Theosophical ideas of Brotherhood. One Universal Spirit
underlying all manifestations. Theosophy works to change man's
inner nature rather than to arrange for socialistic communities
or to give him food and clothing. The latter work, however,
necessary also to help those thrown down by Karma.

(2) Study of ancient and modern religions, philosophies and
sciences; demonstration of the importance of such study. How best
to study these. Ancient religions are the remnants of ancient
occult bodies. The Aryan philosophy. Has the Theosophical
Movement begun with the Theosophical Society? Proper conception
of God. Modern Science tending to reflect the teachings of
ancient Wisdom. The East the storehouse of wisdom. India has much
of it, but the Hindus do not understand their own philosophy.
Vedas the oldest books of the Aryan race. Why should Theosophists
understand and study Buddhism? Necessity and importance of
investigating the origin of Christianity so as to destroy
priestcraft, error and superstition. Work of the Theosophical
Society in this field.

(3) Investigation of the unexplained laws of nature and psychical
powers latent in man. All signs and thought tending in this
direction. The object of the Theosophical Society is to
investigate, not to experiment. Only students of occultism can
comprehend the laws of nature. All Theosophists not Occultists.
Hypnotism, mental telepathy, mediumship and psychic feats to be
avoided by the student who seek higher wisdom. Why is this?
Necessity for the Theosophical Society to explain modern
discoveries in this field by the ancient Occult Wisdom.

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OCCULTISM


Meaning of term. Difference between the occult arts and true
occultism. Chelaship and adeptship. Necessity for understanding
the true meaning of occultism so as to avoid foolish ideas about
this. Occultists in all ages; mentioned in Bible and other sacred
books. True occultism consists in understanding the inner
workings of mind and soul and not in psychic experiments. Occult
schools in the East. The West the future of occult science. Great
school of Occultism forming in America. No initiates in India, as
Mme. Blavatsky taught. No value in running after personalities;
the student must find his spiritual teacher in him self.
Difference between modern Christian teaching and the ancient
occultism of the followers of Christos. Necessity for purity and
aspiration and meditation in order to achieve any occult
knowledge. Theosophical Society an occult movement. One must
understand the philosophy of Theosophy before he can advance.

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PERSONALITY


FOURFOLD LOWER MAN


Is called the Quaternary. Composed of (1) body, (2) vital
principle or jiva; (3) astral body, ethereal double, linga
sarira; (4) desires and passions, kama rupa, kama manas or mind
ensnared in and tinctured by desires and passions.

Body is a limitation and not a cause. Is the physical instrument
needed for this plane? All bodies belong on this plane, our
instrument therefore is wholly animal. Its particles constantly
changing as admitted by scientific observers.

Vital principle, Jiva, Life. It is universal; pervades every
point of space; is derived from the supreme jiva and hence
universal; exchanged among all living beings.

Astral body; the ethereal double; Linga Sarira. Its functions and
powers: the form or matrix on which the physical is built; it
partakes of the nature of the astral matter; describe the latter.
Is the seat of the purely personal, but there is reflex automatic
action on it from the body as a person. New astral body general
rule for each birth, but some carried over from prior birth.

Desires and passions, Kama, and Kama Manas. The turning point;
shared with animals, except that, they have but little if any
manas. This battlefield for man, resembling the Earth itself.
Reincarnation; the wheel of rebirth due to the action and
reaction of desire and passion.

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PHYSICAL BODY


Built onto and into its prototype, the astral body. No hard and
fast division between these two "sheaths The nervous system
closest in touch with the astral body. The brain and nervous
system one form of the Ashwattha growing "with its roots above
and its branches below." Body composed of millions of "lives," of
which the microbes of science are one form. These "lives" compose
all things in nature, from a tree to an elephant. Their ceaseless
motion. They arrange themselves as cells. Cells are ideal forms.
The body the most illusionary of the principles; momentary
changes in its composition. On the death of the body, these
"lives," no longer correlated, run riot as destructive agents,
having become separative. Every "life" has a consciousness of its
own, with certain tendencies and desires. Selective action of the
cells, taking from the blood what they need, rejecting the rest,
proves this. The healing of a wound by these "lives;' without the
conscious participation of the human mind. Every cell has a
centralized or specialized consciousness. In combination these
produce a further centralization of consciousness in the organs,
each with its "presiding deity." All these with habits and
desires of their own. One meaning of the Hindu "crores of gods."
The heart the particular organ of manas; the liver and spleen the
organs of kama. Many desires and tendencies of man arise from
foolish identification of himself with these bodily desires. The
effect of heredity, family and national, on the moral and
physical character of the body. Possible to greatly extend the
life of the body through knowledge of its occult properties and
the laws governing it.

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3rd Series follows