Theos-Talk Archives (September 2003 Message tt00090)

"WHAT IS TRUTH?" by H. P. Blavatsky

LUCIFER, Feb. 1888


These are some sentences that seemed to me to be of particular value:


Truth is the Voice of Nature and of Time-- 
Truth is the startling monitor within us--
Naught is without it, it comes from the stars, 
The golden sun, and every breeze that blows. . . . 
--W. THOMPSON BACON 


. . . Fair Truth's immortal sun 
Is sometimes hid in clouds; not that her light 
Is in itself defective, but obscured 
By my weak prejudice, imperfect faith 
And all the thousand causes which obstruct 
The growth of goodness. . . .
--HANNAH MORE


p. 1	the truth which He [Jesus] did not divulge, remained unrevealed

p. 1	only such Words of Wisdom had been given to them as contained a
share of the truth, itself concealed in parables and dark, though
beautiful, sayings.

p. 1	The possible truths, hazily perceived in the world of
abstraction, like those inferred from observation and experiment in the
world of matter, are forced upon the profane multitudes, too busy to
think for themselves, under the form of Divine revelation and scientific
authority.
 
p. 1	There is no room for absolute truth upon any subject whatsoever,
in a world as finite and conditioned as man is himself. But there are
relative truths, and we have to make the best we can of them. 

p. 2	In every age there have been Sages who had mastered the absolute
and yet could teach but relative truths.

p. 2	For none yet, born of mortal woman in our race, has, or could
have given out, the whole and the final truth to another man, for every
one of us has to find that (to him) final knowledge in himself. 

p. 2	no two minds can be absolutely alike, each has to receive the
supreme illumination through itself, according to its capacity, and from
no human light. 

p. 2	The greatest adept living can reveal of the Universal Truth only
so much as the mind he is impressing it upon can assimilate, and no
more. 

p. 2	Polarity is universal, but the polariser lies in our own
consciousness. In proportion as our consciousness is elevated towards
absolute truth, so do we men assimilate it more or less absolutely. 

p. 2	Still each of us can relatively reach the Sun of Truth even on
this earth, and assimilate its warmest and most direct rays...  

p. 2	To achieve this, there are two methods: --

On the physical plane we may use our mental polariscope; and,
analyzing the properties of each ray, choose the purest. 

On the plane of spirituality, to reach the Sun of Truth we must work
in dead earnest for the development of our higher nature. We know that
by paralyzing gradually within ourselves the appetites of the lower
personality, and thereby deadening the voice of the purely physiological
mind.. which depends upon, the organic brain--the animal man in us may
make room for the spiritual; and 

once aroused from its latent state, the highest spiritual senses and
perceptions grow in us in proportion, and develop pari passu with the
"divine man." This is what the great adepts, the Yogis in the East and
the Mystics in the West, have always done and are still doing. 

p. 3	Such articles as our editorials.are addressed to Theosophists,
or readers who know in their hearts that Masters of Wisdom do exist:
an.absolute truth.has to be searched for in higher regions.

p. 3	absolute truth is. immovable. the kingdom of absolute truth is
not of this world, while we are too much of it. 


p. 4	truth is a multifaced jewel, the facets of which it is
impossible to perceive all at once

p. 4	develop in you the inner knowledge. 

p. 4	when the Delphic oracle said ."Man, know thyself," no greater or
more important truth was ever taught. . Man has to know himself, i.e.,
acquire the inner perceptions which never deceive, before he can master
any absolute truth. 

p. 4	Absolute truth is the symbol of Eternity, and no finite mind can
ever grasp the eternal, hence, no truth in its fullness can ever dawn
upon it. To reach the state during which man sees and senses it, we have
to paralyze the senses of the external man of clay. 

p. 4	first of all, love of truth for its own sake

p. 4	an impartial, unprejudiced mind, illuminated by pure Spiritual
Consciousness

p. 5	Observe the doings and the moral attitude.then name.that
exceptional spot on the globe, where TRUTH is the honoured guest, and
LIE and SHAM the ostracised outcasts.

p. 5-6	Selfishness is the impassable wall between the personal Self
and Truth. It is the prolific mother of all human vices

P. 6	Selfishness kills every noble impulse in our natures

p. 8	Theosophy is divine knowledge, and knowledge is truth; every
true fact, every sincere word are thus part and parcel of Theosophy. 

p. 9	Theosophy allows a hearing and a fair chance to all. It deems no
views--if sincere--entirely destitute of truth. 

p. 10	Outside a certain highly spiritual and elevated state of mind,
during which Man is at one with the UNIVERSAL MIND--he can get nought on
earth but relative truth, or truths, from whatsoever philosophy or
religion. 

p. 10	Concerning the deeper spiritual, and one may almost say
religious, beliefs, no true Theosophist ought to degrade these by
subjecting them to public discussion, but ought rather to treasure and
hide them deep within the sanctuary of his innermost soul. 

Such beliefs and doctrines should never be rashly given out, as they
risk unavoidable profanation by the rough handling of the indifferent
and the critical. Nor ought they to be embodied in any publication
except as hypotheses offered to the consideration of the thinking
portion of the public. 

p. 10-11	Theosophical truths, when they transcend a certain limit
of speculation, had better remain concealed from public view, for the
"evidence of things not seen" is no evidence save to him who sees,
hears, and senses it. 

It is not to be dragged outside the 'Holy of Holies," the temple of
the impersonal divine Ego, or the indwelling SELF. a ray from the
absolute truth can reflect itself only in the pure mirror of its own
flame--our highest SPIRITUAL CONSCIOUSNESS. And how can the darkness (of
illusion) comprehend the LIGHT that shineth in it?