Theos-Talk Archives (June 2003 Message tt00116)

Hi all of you,

Should the would be student protest against black magic and sorcery
conscious or not ?

I think so.
OCCULTISM VERSUS THE OCCULT ARTS
Article by H. P. Blavatsky
http://www.blavatsky.net/blavatsky/arts/OccultismVersusTheOccultArts.htm
(Lucifer, may 1888)

Quoting:
"There are four (out of the many other) names of the various kinds of Esoteric Knowledge or Sciences given, even in the esoteric Purānas. There is (1) Yajna-Vidya,1 knowledge of the occult powers awakened in Nature by the performance of certain religious ceremonies and rites. (2) Maha-vidya, the "great knowledge," the magic of the Kabalists and of the Tantrika worship, often Sorcery of the worst description. (3) Guhya-Vidya, knowledge of the mystic powers residing in Sound (Ether), hence in the Mantras (chanted prayers or incantations) and depending on the rhythm and melody used; in other words a magical performance based on Knowledge of the Forces of Nature and their correlation; and (4) ATMA-VIDYA, a term which is translated simply "knowledge of the Soul," true Wisdom by the Orientalists, but which means far more. 

This last is the only kind of Occultism that any theosophist who admires Light on the Path, and who would be wise and unselfish, ought to strive after. All the rest is some branch of the "Occult Sciences," i.e., arts based onthe knowledge of the ultimate essence of all things in the Kingdoms of Nature--such as minerals, plants and animals--hence of things pertaining to the realm of material nature, however invisible that essence may be, and howsoever much it has hitherto eluded the grasp of Science. Alchemy, Astrology,Occult Physiology, Chiromancy, exist in Nature and the exact Sciences--perhaps so called, because they are found in this age of paradoxical philosophies the reverse--have already discovered not a few of the secrets of the above arts. But clairvoyance, symbolised in India as the "Eye of Siva," called in Japan, "Infinite Vision," is not Hypnotism, the illegitimate son of Mesmerism, and is not to be acquired by such arts. All the others may be mastered and results obtained, whether good, bad or indifferent; but Atma-Vidyasets small value on them. It includes them all and may even use them occasionally, but it does so after purifying them of their dross, for beneficentpurposes, and taking care to deprive them of every element of selfish motive."



So there are maybe some on this list who think of themselves as being wise. 
But they are infact just only sorcerers of the artificial arts.

So what is Atma-Vidya ?
Please explain !




from
M. Sufilight


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