Theos-Talk Archives (October 2003 Message tt00133)

Oct 11 2003

Dear Fred:

I really appreciate what you write. I have learned such a lot from
others' views.

THEOSOPHY has always seemed to me to be a kind of formula -- an
introduction to the world of invisible causes all around us.

We don't know about electro magnetic fields or the power of radio waves
until we get the apparatus to detect them.  

I am constantly amazed at the sensitivity of cellular phones, for
instance, as evidence of the permeability of "solid matter." Those and
TV emanations go everywhere. So why not the astral? Perhaps they
belong to the astral plane and we are just bridging a gap

In aviation the "sound barrier" was broken years ago, the terrible
vibrations that seemed to limit sub-sound from super-sound was defined
and surpassed. We now could make materials that would survive that
violent molecular material frontier and, protecting feeble human flesh,
would enable us to fly faster than
The bang of a bullet or the sound of a lightning strike. 

Sometimes people speak of catching others' thoughts -- not well but
occasionally. How does that work?

We observe that some feel overwhelmed with a wave of emotion, which may
or may not agree with our thinking. We read or hear of something
(radio, Magazine, TV, talk...) and suddenly we feel an "influences" that
almost overwhelms our integrity and almost urges us to do something --
like "subliminal" advertising was found to do. 

Did you ever read HPB's ISIS UNVEILED ? I found it most interesting.

Best wishes,

Dallas

==========
Consider some of the statements made below:


A broad point of view:

 

Theosophy starts out with the same concept as that held in original
Christianity.

God is omnipresent. That is PRESENT EVERYWHERE and without any
exception. It was on it, much later, that church doctrinaires made up
the idea that Satan (or the "Devil) was the eternal opponent of God and
was "different."

This introduced duality. It severed GOD from the rest of the Universe
(His Universe) and made him a Personal Being detached from everything,
-- and naturally, from that, arose the supposed powers of the priesthood
which could, on demand (and being suitably recompensed) reconnect humans
with the DIVINE - GOD. Then, it was but a step to declaring that
every human child was "born in sin."

Theosophy does away with this mummery. And for this reason is heartily
disliked by all in the priesthood who might claim authority -- for
whatever reason.

Theosophy declares that the word which are used in various languages to
convey the concept of the supreme original and ONE SELF are: DEITY --
GOD -- SPIRIT -- PERFECTION -- RIGHT and GOOD -- TRUTH IMMUTABLE
-- IMMORTALITY --- ETERNAL --- etc, etc. designate a "Supreme
Being" which cannot be demonstrated, but is sensed -- as a logical
necessity -- within, behind, over, permeating PRINCIPLE.

It therefore states without any equivocation that all beings in
manifestation reside within this ONE SELF -- THE UNIVERSAL DEITY or the
IMPERSONAL and IMMUTABLE GOD. Being universal there is no place or
condition, or plane which escapes its OMNIPRESENT permeability.

Logically, omnipresence includes immortality, omniscience, and
omnipotence. It is the source for LAW impersonal and universal, for
Wisdom and Knowledge that is exact and honest and true, since the
timeless and indefinable beginning of EXISTENCE. And as it always
was/is/and will be its power is the support of the Kosmos as will as the
micro-cosmos that is man on his various habitats.

In what way are divinity and holy different? They are not. Everything
is by definition made up of aspects of God and consists of God's powers
made manifest in various ways.

Even the independent human MIND is only a microcosmic aspect of the
UNIVERSAL MIND which shapes and molds and operates all. Man is
therefore called a potential GOD. And certainly we cannot deny to him
or her any of the divine potentials. This includes the potential to
deny and refuse to conform to Laws and to distort and confuse living for
one's self and for others -- who are our companions and are
inter-related to us. It is man who creates vice by ignoring or
distorting Law. Law always tends to perfection and to cooperation. vice
always tends to separation, isolation and selfishness. And in the
plenum that is the UNIVERSE this is not possible, so Karma the Law of
compensation is invoked to educate, reform and adjust the disturbing
element.

To account for perversity the GOD IN MANIFESTATION is philosophically
(metaphysically) impossible, since "God" is considered a DIVINE
UNIVERSAL MONAD.  

GOD OUT OF MANIFESTATION is the indefinable, indescribable,
attributeless ABSOLUTE.


God in manifestation as a MONAD is described as the LIVING Monad -- a
being of polar opposites where "sprit" and "matter" confront one
another. There they are united by the line of the MIND. It is there
that the PERCEIVER as the 3rd aspect of DEITY, comes into being. With,
and in it is the universal Power to view, to organize, to ensure
fairness, justice, harmony

 

Hence all people, all places, all events being immersed entirely into
the DEITY, no place is especially sacred or holy. Such places as might
be chosen for meetings in which such subjects are discussed might
receive special attention, but the quality of sanctity is lent to them
by the character of those who attend and who direct the purpose of the
meetings.

 

To make such designation and to assume a power that tone does not
possess are illusionary in the extreme and demean the integrity of
others who might be presumed to lack in the identical relation with the
ONE UNIVERSAL AND IMPERSONAL DEITY (GOD) that everyone has innately and
eternally.

--------------------------------------

THEOSOPHY -- What Is It ?

 

Our present day knowledge of Theosophy is derived from the writings of
Mme. H. P. Blavatsky. She lived between 1831 and 1891. Her providing
of Theosophy as a philosophy, science and religious compendium began
around 1875. At that time (1877) ISIS UNVEILED was published. 11 years
later the SECRET DOCTRINE was published and for students as an
introduction, The KEY TO THEOSOPHY . As students we ought to
familiarize ourselves with those.

In 1875, the Theosophical Society was launched to promote and sustain
three objects:

 
1. To form the nucleus of a Universal Brotherhood, without
distinction of race, color, or creed.

2. To promote the study of Aryan [noble] and other scriptures,
of the World's religion and sciences, and to vindicate the importance of
old Asiatic literature, namely of the Brahmanical, Buddhist, and
Zoroastrian philosophies, and

3. To investigate the hidden mysteries of nature under every
aspect possible, and the psychic and spiritual powers latent in man...
KEY TO THEOSOPHY, p. 39 ]

 
Today a number of fraternally affiliated yet, independent Theosophical
societies flourish and a United Lodge of Theosophists exists which
offers all students of whatever affiliation a free forum for the study
of the original literature of Theosophy and cooperative work.

One may say that Theosophy in our modern World is aimed to demonstrate
the validity of "Universal Brotherhood," a recognition of the "Family of
Man.," and encouraging cooperative work on an impartial, non-sectarian
basis.

In 1877 Madame Blavatsky, published the book: ISIS UNVEILED. It was a
sensation. It went through many editions in rapid succession. In this
she reviewed the history of Science and Theology in respect to the
invisible and hidden side of Nature. In response to questions and
further demands, she founded and edited, along with Col. H. S. Olcott
the magazines The THEOSOPHIST (India) in 1879, and later LUCIFER
(London) in 1887.

In 1888 she published The SECRET DOCTRINE . Another sensation. In
this book, she provided a survey (as a summary taken from the secret
libraries and records of the age-old College of Adepts) [see Isis, Vol.
II, pp 98 - 103] of creation -- COSMOGENESIS, and of Man's evolution,
not only as a physical form, but psychologically and spiritually --
ANTHROPOGENESIS.

In this she takes the reader through the metaphysics that form the basic
concept of Universal Evolution, and with their help, she explains how it
is the Spiritual Essence which informs and energizes "material forms"
with intelligence and consciousness. Evolution, is therefore considered
to be three-fold.


1. material in our bodies,

2. psychologically in our desires and thoughts, and

3. spiritually in our aspirations and virtuous urges.

 
In this she demonstrates the view held by the ancient Sage Patanjali :
"The Universe exists for the Soul's experience."

Theosophy, in brief, deals with the "CAUSES" for our existence, and the
presence of the invisible Spiritual and psychological universe that
underlies, as energic Force, as the "causal motivation," of the visible
Universe we are familiar with.

It posits the concept that every atom of matter ( "monad") is alive and
is aware in its own way. As an individuality it is continuous, and
never "dies." It has a spiritual, and immortal center of energy, a
"Force," which is the "cause" of its existence. No event, no
experience, is ever "lost," but all are indelibly impressed on the
living consciousness of these innumerable "Monads." These, when
condensed out of invisible matter, make up the material "forms" we deal
with daily. The concept of "invisible" matter ("dark matter") is an old
one to Theosophy.

The "monads" are held, metaphysically, to be indissoluble compounds of
two "poles" of variance. These are held united by the bond of
interactive intelligence (Mind). They are "Spirit" (as perfection and
wisdom), and "Matter" (as limitation and ever shifting form) bonded
together for eternity as living units by the unitary consciousness that
gives them their permanent individuality and immortality. Each of these
three-fold Units are said to be, as a "Force," inextinguishable.

Theosophy holds that it is these eternal "Pilgrims" that form all the
components of evolution. These provide in a regulated manner, and
through a vast process of planned evolution, the individual development
of that increasing Intelligence that is innate to each of them. These
increments and experience, lead to self-conscious individualization.
Expressed in various ways, but essentially: "I AM I" It is held that
evidence for this lies in the existence of humanity. "I think,
therefore I am," said Descartes.

But the progress of the vast army of thinking and individual Monads is
held to proceed, from the level of intelligence we might designate as
the "Man-Mind," to a perception of, and an understanding of the entire
universe. [ "The Universe grows I." is one way of expressing this.]

Since this course of learning would be impossible to achieve in a single
life-time, the process of "reincarnation" is said to exist, both as a
process and as a law of development. It is averred that there is an
ultimate goal of individual perfection to be attained. This "ultimate
goal" is expressed mystically, as " Supreme Perfection," or "Universal
Wisdom." It is a concept that has long been held by ancient Brahmanism,
Buddhism and Zoroastrianism.

It will be seen, on reflection, that these concepts provide, the
interactive basis, that every choice or change at any level has ethical
/ moral consequences. Ancient Hinduism speaks of this as "karma" or,
the effects that are consequent upon any "choice." For it is held that
the "Mind-Man" is a free agent and his decisions cause the progress of
evolution for the whole Universe to advance or slow down. [ It is for
this reason that Patanjali offered his observation quoted above. ]
Karma provides for the exact return of moral and any other impressions
to whoever generated any cause.

Our human physical forms are observed to become incapacitated and grow
incapable and obsolete over time. This leads to the dissolution we call
"death." But Theosophy posits that the experiences of a life-time, as
"memories," survive the death of the physical form. They are the
continued basis for every increment of knowledge and wisdom. These
memory-impressions are said to be impacted in the imperishable spiritual
aspect of every Monad. From this, the remote Goal is posited as :
Sublime and Universal Perfection for each individual Monad.



"Theosophy is Divine Knowledge, or Science, "Divine Wisdom"
(Theo-Sophia) -- the term is many thousand years old." 
KEY TO THEOSOPHY , p. 1.

 
"Theosophy is synonymous with everlasting Truth."   
KEY TO THEOSOPHY, p. 302.

 
"We have no two beliefs or hypotheses on the same subject."   
KEY TO THEOSOPHY, p. 72.

 
"Theosophy is the substratum and basis of all the world-religions and
philosophies taught and practised by a few elect ever since man became a
thinking being." The THEOSOPHICAL GLOSSARY p. 328.

 
"The "Wisdom Religion" is the inheritance of all the nations, the world
over." S D I xviii

 
"Theosophy [is]...the one bond of unity which is so universal and
all-embracing that no man, as no speck -- from gods and mortals down to
animals, the blade of grass and atom -- can be outside of its light.
Therefore any organization or body of that name [Theosophical] must
necessarily be a Universal Brotherhood."

H P B: IS THEOSOPHY A RELIGION ? H P B Articles, Vol. I, p
59,
[ LUCIFER Nov. 1888.]

 
This suggests that THEOSOPHY is not a new fangled system of collated
ideas drawn from many sources. In fact, if it were even that, then the
marvel is of HPB's mind and capacity in drawing such a vast diversity
together and showing how the many pieces fit together to form a seamless
whole in the world of ideas and concepts. In our experience and wide
reading, there is no one who has written such a comprehensive view of
our world, universe and the important part that Mankind plays in that.

 

HPB does not claim "authority." She claims to be a "messenger."
Specifically a messenger from the Great and Ancient Lodge of ADEPTS. She
offers the teachings of the Great Ones, the Elder Brothers of humanity
as a bouquet of "culled flowers" for us to appraise.

In both ISIS UNVEILED and The SECRET DOCTRINE she disclaims any
personal authority and gives the credit for the records she transmits to
the Real Authors, the Mahatmas. [ see certificate of authorship, by H P
B and the two Mahatmas, PATH, Vol. VIII, p. 1 ]

Since she was well aware that Theosophical theories and hypotheses
would be received with various degrees of incredulity from the
academies, she was careful to make it clear that the information was in
reality taken from the HISTORY that the Adepts and their disciples
(chelas) had recorded down the ages. All that she requested was "equal
time" and an open-minded consideration of what Theosophy had to offer.

She wrote in ISIS UNVEILED :

"When, years ago, we first traveled over the East, exploring the
penetralia of its deserted sanctuaries, two saddening and ever-recurring
questions oppressed our thoughts: Where, who what is GOD ? Who ever
saw the IMMORTAL SPIRIT of man, so as to be able to assure himself of
man's immorality?

It was while most anxious to solve those perplexing problems that we
came into contact with certain men, endowed with such mysterious powers
and such profound knowledge that we may truly designate them as the
sages of the Orient. To their instructions we lent a ready ear. They
showed us that by combining science with religion, the existence of God
and immortality of man's spirit may be demonstrated like a problem of
Euclid. For the first time we receive the assurance that the Oriental
philosophy has room for no other faith than an absolute and immovable
faith in the omnipotence of man's own immortal self. We were taught
that this omnipotence comes from the kinship of man's spirit with the
Universal Soul--God ! The latter, they said, can never be demonstrated
but by the former. Man-spirit proves God-spirit, as the one drop of
water proves a source from which it must have come...all the rest may be
inferred...Blind faith would no longer be necessary, he would have
supplanted it by KNOWLEDGE....prove the soul of man by its wondrous
powers--you have proved God !" I U , Vol. I , p. vi


"The essence of Theosophy is the perfect harmonizing of the divine with
the human in man."
H P B -- FIVE MESSAGES TO AMERICAN THEOSOPHISTS , p. 6.

THEOSOPHY teaches:

1.	The immortality of man's Spirit/Soul and the "God-Spirit," being
present in every "life-atom" of our living universe are fundamental
concepts. Everything in Nature may be seen to trend in its
life-experience towards a higher degree of knowledge, wisdom,
perfection.


2	Each life-cycle (incarnation) is like a separate day at school
and all are drawn together by the uniting thread of the immortal, and
eternal spiritual Self which is at their core. In fact she shows how
Theosophy traces the evolution of the "consciousness and intelligence"
of the SPIRITUAL SOUL or Monad, through many forms -- from the atom to
the human condition of independent free-will.

 

3	This sweep and concept is one that can be traced in every one of
the great religions and philosophies of the world. It is the record of
their existence and of our participation, again and again, in those
processes.

Her main teachings can be reduced to the following propositions:

That Morals have a basis in Law and in fact.

That Moral law is Natural Law.

That Evolution makes for Righteousness.

That the "fundamental identity of all souls with the Oversoul" renders
moral contagion possible through the subtle psychic medium.

That the Spiritual Identity of all Being renders Universal brotherhood
the only possible path for the truth-seeking man."
[H P B Articles, Vol. I p. 115: SHE BEING DEAD YET SPEAKETH
-- PATH, July 1892 ; Vol 7, p. 121 ]

 
"True Theosophy is everything that aids or elevates mankind; and our
chief object is not so much to gratify individual aspirations, as to
serve our fellow men." PATH, Vol. IV, p., 96

 
Theosophy the Root of All Religions

Currently there is debate as to whether Theosophy has its roots in
Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, etc... It is understood that scholars who
are familiar with those systems and their development can trace
similarities. However HPB claims that all those were derived from the
"Sanatana Dharma," the "Perennial Philosophy." which is an ancient and
universal record of Life's development and history.

As such, it claims to be at the root and at the origin of all the great
ancient religio-philosophical systems and provides a reason for their
development, as systems of practice, leading to that kind of
"initiation" which develops Wisdom in thought and mind as well as,
simultaneously, the application of compassion and harmlessness in
motive.

"...the Wisdom-Religion was ever one, and being the last word of
possible human knowledge, was therefore, carefully preserved. It
preceded by long ages the Alexandrian Theosophists [ 1st Cent.] ,
reached the modern, and will survive every other religion and
philosophy." KEY TO THEOSOPHY , p. 7.

 
Thus, Theosophy is not exclusively religion, or philosophy but also
includes science -- as the power to investigate and record the workings
of NATURE (Life as a whole) in every stage, visible or invisible, and
in every department of the world and our Universe.

The sweep of the ever-present immortal Life, through cycles of evolution
lead each Monad at last to a "goal," the "all-Knowingness" of the
PERFECTED MAN. The designation Mahatma (Great Soul) is one that
includes all such self-developed men of superior knowledge and nature.

The SECRET DOCTRINE therefore speaks of those as the intelligent guides
{Dhyan Chohans, and Dhyani Buddhas], and Self-conscious assistants that
Nature employs to recreate and supervise a fresh evolutionary effort, a
"new Day," of evolutionary progress for all beings.
 

Encourages Independent Inquiry


If this is grasped, as a working and actual concept, the minute details
and studies of specialists, while respected, as continuing proof of the
inclusive nature of Theosophy, are also shown to be but the outer
covering, or, to be but some one way selected to approach to the
interior mystery of man's own immortal Mind, and of Nature's infinite
capacities to assist that Mind to grow. The process Nature employs is
reincarnation. It is reembodiment under the exacting Law of universal
Karma.

If this infinite capacity of the human mind to grow and to understand
the most simple, as well as the most complex subjects is granted, the
more learned will continually encourage those who now are at various
stages of learning to investigate and prove for themselves all avenues,
however diverse, of information, tradition and lore. And that is the
always growing tip of the self-enlightening Mind. It always widens out
to that which is permanent and universal, when given a chance to emerge
from ignorance, doubt, skepticism and lethargy of authoritarianism.


"[ THEOSOPHY ] Its creed is Loyalty to Truth, and its ritual "To honor
every Truth by use." KEY

 
"The true Theosophist is a philanthropist -- "not for himself, but for
the world he lives." This and philosophy, the right comprehension of
life and its mysteries will give the "missing basis" and show the right
path to purse." 
-- Mahatma K. H.

 
Universal Science, Religion and Philosophy

 
In regard to the prevalence and diffusion of theosophy as a science and
a philosophical religion, it has been expressed :--

"Proofs of its diffusion, authentic records of its history, a complete
chain of documents, showing its character and presence in every land,
together with the teaching of all its great Adepts exists to this day in
the secret crypts of libraries belonging to the Occult Fraternity."
S D I xxxiv.

"The members of several esoteric schools...claim to have in their
possession the sum total of sacred and philosophical works in MSS and
type; all the works, in fact, that have ever been written, in whatever
language or character since the art of writing began; from the
ideographic hieroglyphics down to the alphabet of Cadmus and Devanagri."

S D I xxiii

 
"The work [ISIS UNVEILED ] now submitted to public judgment is the fruit
of a somewhat intimate acquaintance with Eastern adepts and study of
their science....It is an attempt to aid the student to detect the vital
principles which underlie the philosophical systems of old....We believe
in no Magic which transcends the scope and capacity of the human mind,
nor in "miracles." I U, v. I, p. i

 
"Our work, then, is a plea for the recognition of the hermetic
philosophy, the anciently universal Wisdom-Religion, as the only
possible key to the Absolute in science and theology." I U I p vii

 
"The SECRET DOCTRINE is not a treatise, or a series of vague theories,
but contains all that an be given out to the world in this century."
S D I xxxviii


"The aim of this work [ The SECRET DOCTRINE ] may be thus stated: --

1. To show that Nature is not "a fortuitous concurrence of atoms,"

2. and to assign to man his rightful place in the scheme of the
Universe;

3. to rescue from degradation the archaic truths which are the basis of
all religions;

4. and to uncover, to some extent, the fundamental unity from which all
spring

5. finally to show that the Occult side of Nature has never been
approached by the Science of modern civilization." 
S D I viii

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

-----Original Message-----
From: Fred D
Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2003 7:43 AM
To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: Leon, are you serious or is this a joke?



At the end of the day ... when those that come after us look at whom has
made a contribution to Theosophy ... Daniel Caldwell will be known.
There are many others here on the list that will be remembered ... after
now
several years of following the list ... I can not "unfortunately" say
that
all of them will be remembered as those that contributed to the
understanding of Theosophy ... but I am very fortunate to have seen the
reflects of many that have regularly shared their Theosophical
understanding
to the benefit of those that read and seek.

Many times thru disagreement of honest students (maybe even from
different
organizations) much is shared and revealed that otherwise would not have
been realized. That each student has differences is understandable (look
at
HPB and T. Subba Row).

I want to thank each one of the serious students and contributors to
this
list for seeking to share and make clear not only your understanding but
also the willingness to reveal what you truly stand for by responding to
even stupid comments such as my own.

Thank you.

- Fred Davis