Theos-Talk Archives (July 2004 Message tt00032)

June 1 2904

Re EXOTERIC AND ESOTERIC -- Do they meet ?

Dear Mauri:

Your analogy is good I think. 

Sound and color are two good areas linked to each other if we consider the
whole electro-magnetic spectrum of vibratory action in the known world of
physics.  

In this age, we devise ever more subtle apparatus and ways of registering
and analysing the vibratory methods of recording and transmission that
influence physical matter, near and far. I notice that in the
electro-magnetic fields that penetrate everywhere, there is increasing
attention paid to this phenomena and as time passes some of the early
Theosophical predictions are now proving true, and accurate. Did you notice
the SOHO presentations of vibratory waves emanated from our Sun -- in 7
different colors -- perhaps, for emphasis those are arbitrary enhancements,
but they indicate at least 7 chief sources of energy that emanate from it?
The "esoteric" and hitherto unknown, is made patent and exoteric -- as an
example. Now with that knowledge what is to be done with it? I am waiting
for that -- the use.

We have OBE (Out of Body Experiences) and NDE (Near Death Experiences),
and, we have many levels and kinds of dreams, all these are noted, and,
speculations as to their cause, reason, usage and existence is rife.  

But one thing is indicated, and that is:-- that there is in us all a
"Recorder." Psychology has progressed far beyond behaviorism and the
reactions to unusual images and experiences. Now what is the nature of this
"Recorder" in us? Is it passive or active? If one or both, then is it the
"Real Myself?" Who, or What directs my actions and frames my choices for the
future, so that I act in my own personal and INDIVIDUAL way?

The power of the imagination, and the will, are being looked into more
closely. The causes of events, cycles, and the power for us to create
things are scrutinized. And so on -- there, are "growing tips of science
everywhere.  

But what esoteric, or occult forces and powers are being now exposed? Are
they not found to be inherent in Nature? (Already present there, but we did
not know that?) 

Does their presence not show we had them there -- Nature provided them, but
we were, up to now, unaware of them? Does this relate to the contention
that THEOSOPHY makes that NATURE is the TOTAL ENVIRONMENT -- and includes
every aspect of LIFE? And we are only one centralizing and reactive aspect,
just one part of that LIFE ? If so, do we not have in potential all the
faculties and powers of the ONE WHOLE? 

Let me continue:

If we are able to "experience and explore," then, "WE" are what? A
Perceiver, a Witness, a Recorder, an Interpreter ? We "exist." The
experience we are noting is from either "outside" as an impression (a
vibration ?) or, it is from "inside" as a memory or a creative thought
process. OK so far ? 

As to express or describe -- there are words, sounds, pictures, symbols, --
again vibrations of some kind, impressed or exhibited to another, or, made
as a record for our future use on some ling-lived material. [How long can a
memory be impressed with accuracy?] What may the ultimate substance /
material be? In Ancient philosophy this was called the Akasa ( the "sky") a
kind of permanent "astral substance" -- also the "ultimate fabric" of the
Universe.

Hypnotism in some cases, is able to educe memories from a layer of inner,
personal record we don't normally know how to access with our will from our
own layers of mental records. Yet, it has been proved to be present. What
shall we do with that piece of evidence? I think it opens a vista of
investigation. How do we awake the "forgotten" impression and make them
evident now? And if we were to secure the key to our total memories (and
some seem to be born with that faculty -- How and Why?) what would we then
do with them? To have is one thing. To use and act, are others.

I think "occult" means "hidden, recondite, obscure -- to ordinary persons,
etc." I also think "esoteric" means "secret, withheld from public display,
abstruse, designed for "those who are initiated" (instructed ? ) to use and
understand." So for most of us there are a few things we "know," and perhaps
millions of things we don’t see to have any access (yet) to. That does not
mean they don't exist. Nor does it imply we ought to envy those who may
have this faculty. 

You might say, for any one person, that there is an enormous amount of
information that belongs to Nature in all her many departments and of which
we are quite unaware in this single life-time of experience. We only seem to
acquire a portion of Nature's secrets and we may anticipate there are many
more available, Now what could the key to those be? If Nature is as
careful and sentient so as to support with her life, simultaneously, the
life of so many beings, then one might suppose that we are in receipt of
just as many faculties and abilities as we can use with a fair share,
benefit and profit to all. Now, if we should abuse and misuse our
faculties, what happens? We find in most cases, that the ability to employ
them diminishes and disappears. How? By our exaggeration of one or more
aspects of personal power, we bring disharmony around us (selfishness,
isolation, tyranny) and, to correct this, and revert to HARMONY for all,
Nature withdraws certain supports from us and redistributes them. We think
this is suffering restriction, pain and sometimes disease for us, as a
personal being, usually. 

Supposing we were indeed Immortals, and were able to carry interiorly a
permanent record of all our past experiences in earlier personalities? How
would they manifest today in our make-up in terms of capacity, character,
talents -- or their lack ? Why are some of us impelled to learn all we can.
And others just "can't be bothered ?" Why are we such an "interesting
mixture of talents and ignorances and some positive dislikes?

I think we can safely say that our capacity (a "stability" in us) to
distinguish change is the linking factor in each case, and we the REAL
PERSON INSIDE. It is able at will (How's that ?) to choose, and attempt to
direct these functions.

But, inasmuch as there is a "real person" in each of us that uses the
faculties of hearing and seeing, the difference is a rate of vibration in
terms of the sensitivity of the organs of sensation we use (eyes and ears),
and the difference, we notice in each other, of the capacity to interpret
the structure of colors and shapes in pictures and symbols, vs. tones,
rhythms, and melodies (in sounds). In either case there are cacophonies
where some more perfect harmony is evidently distorted or deliberately
destroyed. [We can ask how that happens later.]

In such a case the capacity to discriminate between harmony and chaos
evidences (to me) another faculty : that of discernment of beauty,
harmony, law and their opposite. [Consider our common acceptance as "art"
of pictures, sculpture, buildings, music (?) today as compared with those of
100 to 300 years ago. Why such a change? Is it better, or what?]

So here we deal with 

1	Surface effects and the transmission of the modifications of
impressions between originator and recipient using sound and light.
(producing images and melodies). [And there are other methods implied in
touch, smell taste, etc... and the subtle percipience of motives.]

In this regard consider with me the historical significance of "thought and
message transfers without apparatus" made in the early days of the
THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY This appeared inexplicable in those days and was
classified as "magical" if not merely fraud, Léger-de-main or
"mystification." 

2	Sub-surface impressions of meaning:-- (1, the conveying --
intellectually -- of intelligent concepts and data, and (2. the emotional
stresses produced on a recipient by the nature of pictures, symbols,
rhythms, and sound sequences as in music. The 2nd group would include
feelings and emotions -- involving pleasure, pain, fear, interest, aversion,
etc... to which the recipient would respond with their own selected: -- 1).
interest and attention, or, 2). indifference, or, 3). aversion and
repulsion. 

To me this implies that there is usually more "depth" to the conveyance of
meanings than ordinarily meets the comprehension, or the ear, or the eye.
But if one seeks to understand what is going on inside ourselves, one is
forced to the conclusion we are many-faceted beings: Altruistic, intuitive,
intellectual, emotional, selfish, full of life (or the reverse), and finally
the physical envelope we all know and live in. The last is for most of us
(I think) a great barrier to understanding the independence of the rest
which are interior (or exterior) to us.

That there is a sensitive Witness or Moderator within each of us -- one that
responds to stimulus is evident. How are we to secure more information
about its abilities and capacities? ["MAN, KNOW THYSELF," said Hermes a few
thousand years ago. "LOOK INWARD, THOU ART BUDDHA" said the Lord Gautama
Siddartha 2,500 years back. "I AM THE EGO SEATED IN THE HEARTS OF ALL
BEINGS" said Krishna the Avatar for the Kali Yuga, 5,000 years ago.]

Now I come to exoteric / esoteric. 

If one is untrained (through lack of interest or lack of study) in say,
music or physics, or geography, or dramatics, those gaps can, these days be
made up by study and reference to text books where the experience of many
researchers have been epitomized and reduced to a few expressions concerning
the common laws that run through those manifestations.  

How is that done? 

It is by seizing our capacity to be "attentive" and deliberately focusing it
on a subject to be studied. In this, the "like or dislikes" of our
emotional nature, are confined and disciplined by the superior force of our
decision, followed by the exercise of our indomitable and irreversible WILL.


But, we notice that if we waver in applying the latter, the emotions (that
we had suppressed and controlled), and our old "likes and dislikes" awaken,
and can take over our personality again and reverse that discipline.  

Who benefits? Now that is the one question to answer? Who benefits in the
long run? If we think we die and all is lost, then, like most, we live to
enjoy and forget about benevolent and compassionate "endings."  

If we happen to be convinced we are Immortals, then all learning is seen to
be of continuing and permanent value -- when regulated with an intent to
share and use for mutual benefit. We then act as though we were part of a
band of "immortal brothers" -- and act accordingly -- we SHARE OUR WISDOM.
This you will have noticed, is the motivation for THEOSOPHY and its
presentation of the important links between religion, philosophy and
science.  

Information as to LAWS and their application is generally available.

Suppose we move to some of the highly developed areas of mathematics or
sub-atomics, or astro-physics. At first sight the language used by those
scientists and their students and assistants, trained in those disciplines
is a mystery -- until we learn it. We could say that at first it appears
"ESOTERIC." Once we have learned and can participate we are "initiated" and
communications in that area are for us exoteric. Some have criticized H P
B's presentation of THEOSOPHY as diffuse and difficult to absorb. She says
from the outset that her SECRET DOCTRINE was written "for students of
Occultism." So, if it is a presentation of the wisdom of the World and the
Universe it has to be presented in such a way that the student (if careful
and assiduous) acquires a mundial and a universal view as he proceeds. 

Let us say that the SECRET DOCTRINE is ESOTERIC for you (and me) but, as we
read and reread and research the meaning of what is said there, I think we
will gradually universalize ourselves; and, delving into our own innate
records (the permanent astral self) we educe therefrom the "knowledge of
past lives." 

After securing familiarity through study, the "esoteric" becomes clear to
us, and because we grasp the underlying laws and discoveries that prove a
certain probability (as causes for) common facts and dependable reactions --
we say that it has become EXOTERIC to us. (but it will still remain esoteric
to those who do not have such knowledge.).

Let's move to Theosophy.

In what way is THEOSOPHY different from ordinary information? To me, I
would say that it needs to be studied and verified because it advances
concepts we have not yet become very familiar with. What are some of these?

It speaks of

1	The unity of all things in the Universe. Science demonstrates this
by the universal diffusion of vibratory force and fields of influence. 

2	This unity is one of electro-magnetic relations and these all are
found to behave in a predictable manner. Hence LAW is said to pervade all
of it.

3	If Law pervades then there are optimum methods of
inter-relationships. If those are distorted or broken, the LAWS themselves,
seek to mend the breach, and restore harmony. We see this in Nature all
around us. Science depends on it.

4.	The evolution of INTELLIGENCE, as a manifestation of the power of a
single CONSCIOUSNESS to perceive, evaluate, compare, and act in and through
many "agents" ought to be clearer to us. This "I" in us the EGO is most
probably an "Immortal," and clothes itself when incarnated with other Monads
"of lesser experience." [Those monads, themselves immortals, are each, on
their own "path" towards perfection, and in the course of time, will become
"Men of thought and mind," and independence, such as we now are -- as
"MONADS of experience." We have a responsibility at present to assist them
by providing them with a harmonious truth-seeking environment, while they
are sheltered by us in our own area of "search for TRUTH."] This explains
inter-dependence and the great search for unity and compassionate
comradeship.

5.	Between the IDEAL (SPIRIT Universal) and any one physical form are a
series of steps (known of as the "7 Principles of the Universe" and of "Man"
-- see S D I 157-8; II 596). These can be designated (my way of
thinking of these) : 1). THE IDEAL - indefinable; 2). the
Wisdom-Compassion, 3). the intellectual (thought, memory, anticipation),
4). Emotion and desire, 5). The Life-vivifying principle, 6). The
electro-magnetic body (called "astral"), and 7). the physical body (a
condensation of the "astral."

6.	A sequence of development is evident in all this, and these 7 steps
are offered because they assist us in grasping our present potentials.
Taken all together, they have been called "Evolution." Theosophy states
that this proces is a circling [see, as an example the diagram given in S D
I p. 200] and a progressive development of the faculties associates with
the 7 "principles" above enumerated and described.  

First there are 3 stages of:-- 1). the "descent of Spirit into Matter.
Then 2). there is a balance stage where MIND becomes active and
self-control and self-development occurs. With Mind, the faculty of
"Emotion and Desire" is adjusted, the two are blended into one, and given
each, its essential and rightful place ; 3). There follows three stages of
ascent from the Intellectual condition to that of full knowledge, wisdom and
responsibility.

7.	Full wisdom is unity with the ONE PERMANENT SELF of ALL BEINGS.
Individuality is always preserved, but the exercise of wisdom implies that
"compassion absolute" is continuous, normal and ever-active.

See if this is of any help.

Dallas

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

-----Original Message-----
From: Mauri
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 7:58 PM
To: 
Subject: re "exoteric/esoteric"

Seems to me that one possible 
interpretive sense/context re "esoteric" 
might be, e.g., as in that which can only 
be experienced but cannot be described. 

For example, how does one describe 
music or color to a person who is 
congenitally both blind and deaf ... 
Seems to me that such attempts would 
generally tend to be "exoteric."

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

Dallas TenBroeck wrote:

> June 30 2004

> Dear Mauri:
>
> Why don't you take a shot at defining 
the esoteric and the exoteric?
>
> You like the word and I suppose, the 
idea. But what are they?
>
> Who can see both? Or are they 
"supposes?"
>
> Choose a subject, and try ...
>
> Here's hoping
>
> Dal
=============

Hopingly,

Mauri