Theos-Talk Archives (August 2003 Message tt00172)

As Daniel Caldwell has pointed to a whole raft of articles in connection with 
taking Theosophy to the world in general , this becomes a matter when the 
Ideal and the real seem to clash and brings out in some of us a "vulnerability"? 
The article below seems to help address this "vulnerability. What does anyone 
think about this article?

THEOSOPHY, Vol. 22, No. 9, July, 1934 
(Pages 395-396; Size: 6K) 
CAN WE BE WRONG?

AS the world of men in which we live is not motivated nor operated in 
conformity to Theosophical teachings, it is quite the usual thing for students of 
Theosophy to find themselves at variance with the thoughts and actions of those 
about them, while they must still conform in outward detail at least to 
established custom. When one is working with a group whose members think and act as 
he does his convictions are apt to be a bit stronger than when he is alone, but 
it is when surrounded by those of opposite aim and motive that his real tests 
come. He may be tempted to compromise, to seclude himself, or to conceal the 
nature of the ideas under which he labors. Excuses for such temptation are 
matters of every day occurrence, but excuses for falling into temptation are not 
to be considered. As Theosophists are not accountable to any central or local 
authority, to whom could such excuses be offered? 

When one is in Rome he may be affected by Roman ideas and may outwardly 
conform to such practices and customs as do not involve compromise, hypocrisy or 
deceit; but if one has obtained at home a reasoned conviction that certain ideas 
are true he will know that any change in his location will not alter the 
truth of them. 

To be in such condition and subject to the pressure of ideas alien to his 
convictions is at this time the lot of practically every Theosophist. This should 
be cause for rejoicing; it is a golden opportunity. Ideas do rule the world, 
but the ideas held by any majority of men are by no means, because of their 
majority, a criterion of truth. Yet, when we are alone in conviction on any 
certain matter, and opposed by dozens or hundreds who act from a purely personal 
and "one life" basis, their very earnestness, the apparent logic of their 
arguments and the popular support they enjoy may cause us to ask ourselves, "Can we 
be wrong?" And who can answer the question save ourselves, for who else 
knows? 

We can, indeed, be wrong and frequently we are wrong. We are always wrong 
when we ask that question, because we are considering our little selves instead 
of the value of the ideas under question. Here is our opportunity -- two of 
them, in fact: one, to place ourselves in proper relation to ideas; this done, we 
are no longer concerned as to whether we are right or wrong. The other is, by 
standing firm to teach a respect for, and possibly agreement with, the ideas 
we know to be true, however unpopular. How is it possible for us to find 
ourselves in opposition to popular ideas, unless we are either moved by the truth 
within us, or are swayed by some emotion or complex? If we know the former to 
be the case, we are right; if the latter, we are wrong. 

To stand upon our conviction in the face of popular prejudice requires 
strength; to make wise use of what we know as right requires discrimination. Every 
Theosophist knows why nothing worth while can be gained by argument. Every 
Theosophist should know the occult meaning of the saying "Blessed are ye when men 
shall revile and persecute you for my sake; rejoice and be exceeding glad for 
great is your reward in heaven." 

One student, complaining to another that he was treated by his associates as 
being "queer" because he was a Theosophist, was told "If you are sure that 
Theosophy is right, remember it is their queerness which makes you seem queer to 
them," and thus found an intelligent basis upon which to deal with and 
tolerate his neighbors. 

When arguments are loudest, Truth seems to stop her ears; when we know what 
is right we will not argue. Let us remember, if we can, how we acquired the 
degree of Theosophical knowledge we possess. In the beginning we heard certain 
propositions laid down; they seemed to be logical and the ideas were repeatedly 
said to be "universal and without exception." Wanting the truth, we began to 
test those ideas, and have been testing them ever since. We will continue to 
test them, because our nature is the same as that of those fundamental ideas of 
Life, Law, and Being. They have been tested ever since Man became a thinking 
being, and have always been found "universal and without exception." Dogmatism? 
No, -- fact! All our real knowledge has come about by that testing, along 
with practical application. 

Having such criterion for the testing of all ideas, we must of necessity 
stand alone when false ideas hold sway over men's minds. Yet we are not really 
alone; the entire universe is in sympathy with us, for it exists in accordance 
with the ideas for which we stand. Let us remember that no major premise or 
minor detail of the Theosophical philosophy has ever been found in error, 
notwithstanding the many challenges made. We can be wrong -- but only when we fail to 
act upon such basis of fact! 











[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]