Theos-Talk Archives (August 2003 Message tt00052)

Thursday, August 14, 2003

Dear friends :

May I insert here?

Re: Some thoughts on our responsibility as implied in Theosophy

Consider with me a study of a field that is not strictly
Theosophical. say, the Arts -- of painting.-- sculpture --
architecture ... (I will leave literature, drama, music and
poetry out of it.) I write this to serve as an analogy to what
might be done for Theosophy by any one, or all of us.

There are numerous fine albums available to study the progress
and the progress of drawing, painting, perspective, geometry,
sculpture, ceramics, and of great monuments, buildings and city
lay-outs, all architecture.

We can learn the general rules of those arts and we are not
concerned with mysteries and symbology, although in the
beginning, and in antiquity, those were significant and important
in conveying knowledge and science.

They form a kind of underlay, and gave purpose to "sacred art."
In fact a whole science of form and color usage is found to be
associated with the earlier forms of the arts, architecture,
music, drama -- and we find, as we go further into the dawn of
history, as we know it, religion and philosophy as well as
science, open and esoteric, were very much involved. It gets to
be quite a mixture. But they are all associated with one
another.

If you take the doctrines of Theosophy on Karma and Reincarnation
as workable, they are based on the assumption of the immortality
of the human Spirit/Soul -- or Ego/Mind. We can
only say that we are the same one consciousness from babyhood to
the present. We have talents (or their lack) that are ours, and
constitute what we call our "personality." Where did they come
from? Where were they learned? Surely in previous lives ?Those
who have considered "heredity" from the physiological point of
view try to pin responsibility on our parents and their history
of gene mixtures extending back to an unknown past set of
sources.

In all sciences measurement forms the basis for the derivation
and demonstration of laws. Laws are based on similar repetitions.
So too, in the arts, even if the association seems remote.
Measurement depends on mathematics, and physical mathematics
starts with a chosen or designated base point that is stable,
(immovable), in relation to all others that follow.

Metaphysical or transcendental mathematics, deals with "pure
numbers." Such numbers are dissociated from objects. Those are
the mathematics of rules, laws and interactions -- where the
effects of observation, such as ideas, hopes, aspirations,
ignorance, fear, Wisdom and knowledge, are attempted to be
recorded in terms remote from the impact of opinion and personal,
biased emotion. Sometimes an attempt is made to represent them
in graphic form, but those pictures (an art) is always
analogetic, and is far less than the pure idea itself.

And although today, we are more concerned with the surface
effects (the emotional, psychological and mental impact of the
Arts, such as advertising and political values {?} ), their
foundation in the purest of sciences (mathematics) is traceable,
and those who really study have to secure a grasp of those
origins and rules handed down from antiquity.

I would say it is the same in Theosophy. In fact ISIS UNVEILED
and then 11 years later, the SECRET DOCTRINE trace for us those
remote paths and brings them up to the moment -- showing how our
"new Science" is indebted to the old. In so doing, H P B shows
how the information was concealed in special ways of drawing,
coloring and writing, to continue the analogy of "Arts" with
which we began.

Secret codes are traced in the past and right up to the present.
They concealed and transmitted knowledge when secrecy was needed.
And danger was to be avoided. Those codes represent the workings
of nature as traced by ancient
research.

Every aspect of theogony (and its systems involve the whole of
Nature, visible and invisible) is shown to have evolved their
variants on the same, common basis. H P B states that Theosophy
is that basis and it is a record of the knowledge, data and
WISDOM of the Universe and the operation of its laws.

She states that modern science merely uncovers, or peels back
some of the obscuration that hides Nature's operations from the
sight of the average "superficial" and materialistic oriented man
and woman.

Let us be clear. Nature was here first and she operates now --
without our interference or "supervision." We are but
re-discoverers, all of us. Nature will always be present in all
aspects of the ONE LIFE. We are parts of Her and she is a
part -- the most essential -- of us.

Our "microscopes" see ever the more minute aspects of the
vibrating, gyrating force fields that make up "real mater." But
they do not reveal, yet, the CAUSE. Similarly our telescopes,
and other apparatus for discovery in the depths of Space, show
more and more interdependence, so that the whole vast ONENESS is
impressed on our consciousness. The whirling, gyrating
force-fields of the "great" are analogous to those of the
"small."

It becomes clear that in any civilization, old or present, there
is interaction between all the departments of science and art.
The masses and individuals that constitute humanity are
considered to be immortal Pilgrims. Their similar paths all
trend towards a perfecting of knowledge and an application which
melds with the areas of others' work and living.

Supporting, and balancing, and making them possible are the arts
of applied science: technology and engineering. Ultimately
ecology, economy and government are inevitably involved.

Those rest on mathematics as a base. Mathematics, geometry and
schematics are representatives of the universal laws of order,
interaction, proportion and perspective. Just as a computer, no
matter how complex, depends on the four basic laws of arithmetic,
so all
things in the universe and in our relations are dependent on a
few laws and concepts of interpretation.

Usually, the basic laws are an "accepted," and held to be pretty
well inarguable. Students in school are now taught these laws
relative to optics, the conductivity of heat, sound, chemistry,
balance and proportion, mechanics, and so forth. Art and Science
join, and proceed ever as before, hand in hand. But who is the
Master ? who Knows what ought to be done by whom, and, where,
when and how?

Where argument and opinion emerge, they are in the area of
interpretation. The field is vast, and as it is difficult to
secure agreement and tolerance of opinions, when we find
diversion. This can be traced all down the history of any art,
science or government. The most unwise course is to choose
"leaders." Until we are qualified by learning, and
self-discipline, to know who is TRUE, it is better to follow our
own inspiration and intuition.

If anything our responsibility is to keep these great ideas ,
these perspectives that integrate positively, alive. We need to
know them well so as to explain with certainty the many
ramifications and aspects, sources and possible finalities.

What is the great finale for all manifestation? Is it not
conscious BROTHERHOOD -- of all the immeasurable components of
the ONE NATURE, the ONE UNIVERSE? Can that be anything less that
SUPREME PERFECTION?

One has to know what Theosophy is concerned with -- the whole
Universe -- which only a human mind can encompass. And is not
our appearance on Earth at this time only a phase a passing
moment in our own progress of learning these wonderful truths and
facts? And, putting them into practice as the great virtues?

As is this not also an aspect of inspiration? A combination of
Knowledge and of Hope. But these two alone are insufficient. The
third and most important of all is the Indomitable Will to
advance, to succeed and to do good. Without that, there is
stagnation.

Let the writings of H P B and W Q J stand forth, so that all may
bathe in their luminous LIFE -- we are but passers-on. That is
our present duty.

Best wishes,

Dallas

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-----Original Message-----
From: G E
Sent:	Thursday, August 14, 2003 6:44 AM
To:
Subject:	How do we TRY? "Aye, there's the rub!"

Joe,

Well said. When you said -TRY!!!!- it automatically brings to me
the question - HOW???

I understand the need on an individual level... that we need to
become living examples of the teachings - that will certainly do
the most good overall. But on an organizational level - what are
the organizations to do to reach more people?

How on an organizational level do the Theosophical groups look
towards the future and "get out of the past"?

A puzzling question that has bothered me for awhile. Because.. I
agree with you that there are a large number of intelligent,
talented and good people in the Theosophical movement. So the
compassion is there. The wisdom is there. Now... What about the
skillful means? That is the question..

With the brainpower available on theos-talk I'm sure that many
people have many good ideas on the subject.

-E G