Theos-Talk Archives (October 2003 Message tt00249)

>> Dallas TenBreoeck wrote:
>>
>> Permit me to observe that "Christianity" as a dogmatic religion 
>> based on the BIBLE: is not the teaching of Jesus.

> Bart Lidofsky wrote:
>
> Christianity is a GROUP of religions, many of which are dogmatic. And
> not even the Christians agree on whether or not a religion is Christian.

This sounds familiar. We can see this tendency for systems of thought to
break apart and specialize. We could rewrite the above, for instance, as:

>>Permit me to observe that "Theosophy" as a dogmatic religion based 
>>on THE SECRET DOCTRINE is not the teaching of Blavatsky.

>Theosophy is a GROUP of religions, many of which are dogmatic. And not 
>even the Theosophists agree on whether or not a religion is Theosophical.

These are extreme views, certainly overstating the situation with the
Theosophical Movement, but the pattern is everywhere, even with us. Within
the broad reach of the Movement are many groups with different
specializations, each with their own emphasis, which when too strongly
stressed can become dogmatic.

There are, of course, dozens of possible answers to the question, "What is
Theosophy?" Depending upon one's beliefs and assumptions, someone could come
up with an entirely different view from the person next to them. The process
of coming up with an answer to this question is almost like answering a Zen
koan. It is something to puzzle over, and the resulting answer comes as a
flash of intuition or direct insight. Such an inner connection is an early
step on the way towards self-perfection. Or the resulting answer could be an
opinion or simplistic judgmental answer, with no deeper significance than
forming or hardening a personal opinion.

Anyone wanting all the answers given them should join a church. It will
provide them with a creed of belief. Then no thinking is needed, no puzzling
over life, no questioning and inner quest. The theosophical doctrines won't
fill this need, because they can leave the student in a constant state of
being puzzled, wondering, questioning, and revising one's views.

Anyone wanting to find the reality behind life, to find truth, wisdom,
light, and inner peace, will find an opportunity to undertake this quest
with the theosophical philosophy. It's an opportunity that can be taken
advantage of, or simply ignored if one is not interested or does not see and
grasp it.

Organizations and groups form about it. They have their life cycle, going
from youth to the power and strength of middle age to the declining years
when hopefully the eyes stay bright with intelligence. No organization can
survive long without being subject to rule of life: All things are subject
to change and when change ends, they die.

The value of the Theosophical Movement depends upon a constant infusion of
new life, creativity, and renovation. It is not a dead, inanimate object,
looking the same year by year as might a large rock in someone's front yard.
But what is the essence of the Movement? It's a certain light or fire of
mind that represents a certain state of inspiration and enthusiasm that is
the "something more" that we might experience at an especially good
theosophical meeting. When this complete departs us, it matters not what the
printed words may be that we read; the Movement would be dead and needs
fresh inspiration from future generations.

-- Eldon