Theos-Talk Archives (August 2003 Message tt00114)

Aug 22 2003


Dear Joe


This morning I have sent in some answers on similar questions.
Did you see them? They were strongly worded.

"Leadership" in Theosophy does not exist regardless of titles and
officer-ships or any other thing. There are none among us that
are not students and owe our knowledge to the gifts made by
others who have "gone before." We might recognize in some the
result of great study, and they may have unseen faults we know
nothing of. But learning alone does not constitute leadership.
We are on our own all the time and Karma sees to it. The coming
together of those who are truly interested in studying Theosophy
is because several heads, studying together
generally leads to better results for all. Small groups of
students are generally the order of the day. But no one may
pretend to "lead" the rest. Theosophy alone ought to lead us all
to assist one another.

The VEHICLE for Theosophical doctrines (books, lettres,
associations, etc...) and truths is not the basis and fact of
THEOSOPHY. The two are to be plainly distinguished.

The basis and theorems of geometry exist regardless of the abuses
made by users and students. An exact analogy.

The vicissitudes and errors or successes of various individuals
who have associated themselves with the modern THEOSOPHICAL
MOVEMENT may be read about and catalogued as we please. It is
the history of personal struggle by our predecessors, and ought
to lead us to learn from what has already happened.

But the history of those individuals working as such in the TM is
not a criterion for the judging of THEOSOPHY. That judgment is
obtained by our devotion to study and to leaning what it actually
is and how we can use it..

THEOSOPHY IS NOT A RELIGION nor does it proselyte for adherents.
It is an age old PHILOSOPHY which has for basis only the
impartial and universal LAWS of all Nature -- which is considered
to be GOD - DEITY - in the highest and truest sense.

Mathematicians and Physicists do to establish schools. They are
employed to teach laws of Nature -- impartial and universal. So
Theosophy does not establish schools I would say that our
present environment is this "THE SCHOOL" -- and we are all in
it. That is, if we accept the idea that our world and universe
are Lawful -- it has always existed (though under other names).

How does one go about to argue concerning arithmetic or
astronomy? Or Chemistry ? Experimental results can be
challenged and experiments repeated with great care. But the
fundaments and basis don't change. We learn greater detail of
the operations of Nature down to the vanishing point of our
ability to record changes in energy and still it runs UNDER LAWS.
Expanding our view of the UNIVERSE (we have such marvelous new
telescopes) we find the same thing -- law and harmony. Why
should humanity be suddenly excluded ?

Why do we doubt that, that does not also pertain to human
psychology and spiritual progress ?Why doe we doubt the SPIRIT in
Man and are daily confronted with his THINKING and his WILL to
make changes ? How this independence? What causes it? Where
does it lead us ?

The various Messages (and letters or words, from whatever source)
have all to be taken in that sole context. The opinions of
persons are still opinions -- Knowledge and facts are for the
recipients and the senders to determine, not us. Ow as an
instance: How many are presently STUDYING the MAHATMA LETTERS ?
Who knows those marvelous letter well ? Who is studying The
SECRET DOCTRINE ? How many are conversant with its contents and
methodology of instruction ? Reading once of twice is no basis
for decision making. Are we to follow the semi-literate? If so
what do we gain? Are not to study for ourselves?

Ask yourself how many "Christians" really know their BIBLE ? I
don't take the OLD TESTAMENT of the Jews into account. But just
what Jesus taught ? Who honors Him with applying his philosophy
? Are we sailing under "false colors?"

Under those terms only the MASTERS are true THEOSOPHISTS, the
rest of us are STUDENTS, each in our own degree of advance.
Making comparisons is therefore quite impossible. All that any
of us can do is to show others what they have studied, and
encourage them to do their own studying. The errors of our world
are universally the result of laziness and seeking for someone
who will: "TELL US WHAT TO DO." We have to learn to think and
act on our own. We are no loner children.

Theosophy is obviously also RAJA-YOGA. But we don't have the
ability to determine the least degree of value in statements made
to others. We can look at H P B's definitions and articles and
select for ourselves some (or all) of the criteria -- and then
seek to understand and apply them.

We have to impersonalize our efforts, and this is done by
observing carefully the injunction: we have to try our best to
serve others -- brotherhood -- is inclusive and not divisive.

Of course thee are only my views as culled from a study of
Theosophy. Others may see things differently. But, what are
their bases ? Can they explain as theosophy does ?

Best wishes,

Dallas

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

-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph
Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 3:22 AM
To:
Subject: Re: Theosophical leadership

Dallas,

Verily a paradox we have here now. A movement which is supposed
to
be creedless, and with the objects (VERY loosely stated) of a)
Promoting Universal Brotherhood, b) encouraging study of
religion,
philosophy & science, c) investigation of unexplained laws of
nature
and psychical powers latent in man...and what we are faced with
here...as anethema as it may sound, is that there is no
requirement
for theosophists to study "theosophy" in order to be members of
any
TS. The 1900 letter from KH to Besant exhorts her to make the ES
as
creedless as possible...and yet, if we read several of the
postings
put out here regularly for consideration, it ends up sounding
like
attempts to make a theosophical-based religion, complete with a
set
of canonical literature, much like what one would expect from a
Claire-Prophet, Bailey, or Besant-Leadbeater, instead of the open
and
honest inquiry exhorted by HPB and the Mahatmas.

Did someone here say that we shouldn't study astrology or occult
sciences, or investigate nature, only mahatma's have the right,
or
the reason to do that...where did that come from? How can anyone
who
considers themselves a student of theosophy could come up with
something like that! There is absolutely no precedent in the
early
literature to support such a statement! In fact, all evidence in
the
ML and other early literature would seem to be quite the
contrary!

Of course such an attitude leads to someone without practical
experience giving out advice on things they truly know nothing
about...it's just all theoretical flapdoodle, and it shows!!!
You
can't talk about Voice of the Silence authoritatively unless you
have
a background in Raja Yoga. That is horribly sad, and
unfortunate,
because what is in the "Voice" is practical in the deepest, most
important ways, and the dangers, likewise, are the same. THIS IS
A
WARNING!!!

For being concerned about not having an organization, it sounds
an
awful lot like creating a dogma...hmmmm.

I would like to think that all of the Theosophical organizations
are
in a complimentary relationship to each other, each fulfilling a
much
needed function within the movement as a whole. It is so
encouraging
to see a level of interest among ULT folk about the affairs of
Adyar...as it should be. I hope that the brotherly spirit can
build
and find addtional ways of expressing itself. The generations of
followers that animated previous divisions are dying off and
there
are psuedo-theosophical religions arising whose existence must be
addressed. One of the best ways to address the challenges is for
the
various theosophical organizations to use the strengths that they
have together to help create opportunities to promote Universal
Brotherhood that individually are beyond the grasp of any one.

Joe

CUT