Theos-Talk Archives (April 2004 Message tt00279)

I think this is an interesting quote for reflection:

"No Theosophist should blame a brother, whether within or outside 
the association; neither may he throw a slur upon another's actions 
or denounce him, lest he himself lose the right to be considered as 
a Theosophist. For, as such, he has to turn away his gaze from the 
imperfections of his neighbor, and center rather his attention upon 
his own shortcomings, in order to correct them and become wiser. Let 
him not show the disparity between claim and action in another, but, 
whether in the case of a brother, a neighbor, or simply a fellow 
man, let him rather ever help one weaker than himself on the arduous 
walk of life." 

H.P.B

Erica Letzerich





--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "christinaleestemaker" 
<christinaleestemaker@y...> wrote:
> 
> Hallo Daniel,
> Here you make a great point clear!!!!!!!!!!
> The Charlatan and 
> The False "masters".
> The moneymakers; bookwriters with a little essence and a total on 
> MAYA.
> The young-ones needs to warn;
> but we know better...
> 
> HPB warned; 2000 years ago Jezus warned the people for the 
Pharisees 
> and so on.
> Why even now the people cannot distinguish ? Need torches for 
light!
> Oke more and more will see; but still the selfish ones makes profit
> at the cost of others.
> 
> Christina
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Daniel H. Caldwell" 
> <danielhcaldwell@y...> wrote:
> > Pedro, you wrote:
> > 
> > ---------------------------------------------
> > Probably this is the reason why when I became aware of
> > the controvesies surrounding "Theosophy and
> > Neo-Theosophy" I didn't give them much attention,
> > although I am familiar with the main arguments. And
> > that is still my point of view. Theosophical
> > historians may argue any way they want to try to prove
> > that Besant and Leadbeater "betrayed" HPB, that they
> > distorted the her teachings. That left me and leaves
> > me perfectly cold, for I know, from my earliest
> > association with theosophical studies, that the
> > essence of their contribution to theosophical
> > literature is a message of altruism and selfless
> > service. And this is the essence of Theosophy
> > according to HPB.
> > -----------------------------------------------
> > 
> > Pedro, you write that according to HPB "the essence
> > of Theosophy" is "a message of altruism and selfless service"
> > or IS "altruism and selfless service."
> > 
> > And you believe that Besant's and Leadbeater's contribution
> > to Theosophical literature is THAT "message of altruism and
> > selfless service."
> > 
> > Therefore in light of that, you don't pay much attention to
> > the controversies and "the main arguments" surrounding 
> > "Theosophy and Neo-Theosophy."
> > 
> > You apparently say that the contention that Besant and 
Leadbeater 
> > "betrayed" HPB by "distorting"her teachings leaves you "cold."
> > 
> > But though you may be left "perfectly cold" by these arguments 
and 
> contentions,
> > it would appear that both Madame Blavatsky and the Master Koot 
Hoomi
> > were VERY MUCH concerned about the distorting and disfiguring of 
the
> > Theosophical teachings.
> > 
> > In HPB's great work, in the preface, we find the following 
> statement:
> > 
> > "The publication of many of the facts herein stated has been 
> rendered 
> > NECESSARY by the wild and fanciful speculations in which many 
> Theosophists 
> > and students of mysticism have indulged, during the last few 
> years. . . . 
> > THE SECRET DOCTRINE, Vol. 1, Page viii. caps added.
> > 
> > Notice HPB's adjectives: WILD .....FANCIFUL.
> > 
> > And Master Koot Hoomi told Colonel Olcott about the forthcoming
> > SECRET DOCTRINE:
> > 
> > "Every mistake or erroneous notion, corrected and explained by 
her 
> [HPB] from 
> > the works of other theosophists was corrected by me, or under my 
> instruction." 
> > Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom, Series I, p. 47 
> > 
> > Here KH was not inattentive or "perfectly cold" to such 
distortions 
> but took an
> > active part in being sure that CORRECTIONS would be made.
> > 
> > Again notice KH's words: MISTAKE....ERRONEOUS 
notion....CORRECTED
> > 
> > And in THE MAHATMA LETTERS, Master KH writes:
> > 
> > "I dread the appearance in print of our philosophy as expounded 
by 
> > Mr. H[ume]. I read his three essays or chapters on God (?) 
> cosmogony 
> > and glimpses of the origin of things in general, and had to 
cross 
> out 
> > nearly all. . . . if he publishes what I read, I will have 
H.P.B. 
> or 
> > Djual Khool deny the whole thing; as I cannot permit our sacred 
> philosophy 
> > to be so disfigured. He says that people will not accept the 
whole 
> truth. . .
> > In such a case the less such idiots hear of our doctrines the 
> better 
> > for both. If they do not want the whole truth and nothing but 
the 
> truth, 
> > they are welcome. But never will they find us -- (at any rate) --

> compromising 
> > with, and pandering to public prejudices." 2nd ed., Letter 54
> > 
> > Notice KH's words: "I cannot permit our sacred philosophy to be 
so 
> DISFIGURED...."
> > caps added
> > 
> > Pedro, though you may be inclined not to give "much attention" 
to 
> the possible
> > disfiguring of Theosophy, here we find the Mahatma quite 
concerned 
> and ready to
> > take action if necessary so that the public would not be 
> misinformed and mislead.
> > 
> > Also in the opening pages of HPB's first instruction to her 
> esoteric students,
> > she gives the following WARNING:
> > 
> > ". . . A new and rapidly growing danger. . . is 
threatening . . . 
> > the spread of the pure Esoteric Philosophy and 
knowledge. . . . 
> > I allude to those charlatanesque imitations of Occultism and 
> > Theosophy. . . . By pandering to the prejudices of people, and 
> > especially by adopting the false ideas of a personal God and a 
> > personal, carnalized Saviour, as the groundwork of their 
teaching, 
> > the leaders of this 'swindle' (for such it is) are endeavoring 
to 
> > draw men to them and in particular to turn Theosophists from the 
> true path."
> > 
> > ". . . A close examination will assuredly reveal. . . materials 
> > largely stolen . . . from Theosophical writings. . . [and] 
> distorted 
> > and falsified so as to be palmed off on the unwary as 
revelations 
> of 
> > new and undreamed of truths. But many will neither have the 
time 
> nor 
> > the opportunity for such a thorough investigation; and before 
they 
> > become aware of the imposture they may be led far from the 
> Truth. . . . 
> > Nothing is more dangerous to Esoteric Truth than the garbled and 
> > distorted versions disfigured to suit the prejudices and tastes 
of 
> > men in general." 
> > 
> > Notice HPB's key words: DANGER ....CHARLATANESQUE 
> IMITATIONS....FALSE IDEAS...DISTORTED AND FALSIFIED....
> > 
> > She warns her students that such imitations, such false ideas, 
such
> > distorted and falsified teachings may TURN THEOSOPHISTS FROM THE 
> TRUE
> > PATH....THEY MAY BE LED FAR FROM THE TRUTH.
> > 
> > And HPB's last sentence in her quote bears repetition:
> > 
> > "Nothing is more dangerous to Esoteric Truth than the garbled 
and 
> > distorted versions disfigured to suit the prejudices and tastes 
of 
> > men in general."
> > 
> > NOTHING IS MORE DANGEROUS.....garbled and distorted 
> versions...disfigured
> > versions of Esoteric Truth or Theosophy.
> > 
> > If anything, HPB was WARNING her students to be ON THE LOOKOUT 
FOR 
> and to 
> > pay ATTENTION for such "garbled and distorted versions" of 
> Theosophy.
> > 
> > I could quote numerous other statements from HPB and KH which 
show 
> that
> > THEY at least were NOT "cold" to such issues.
> > 
> > Daniel
> > http://hpb.cc
> > http://theosophy.info
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]