Theos-Talk Archives (July 2004 Message tt00228)

Hello Dallas,
Thanks for your comments, 
I think this point is one that rings truly for me that the less
attention we give to the lower self with all its demands, the more the
Higher Self can come through, not easy but none the less a process
that can deepen the awareness of compassion which is surely what the
world needs more of.

I just finished studying that section on Dreams in 'Transactions of
the Blavatsky lodge' in a reading group and its really an interesting
read, discussing the relation of the Manasaputras and the Soul and how
when the body is asleep the Soul leads a life of it's own.
Very interesting implications for all those writings on dream
interpretation, when you consider how many and varied the differant
the types of dreams are.

The quote that sticks out for me on page 167 of v2 in the SD is 
"the Monads are not discrete principles limited or conditioned, but
rays from the one universal absolute principle".

Regards
Perry



--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Dallas TenBroeck" <dalval14@e...>
wrote:
> July 17 2004
> 
> Dear Perry:
> 
> For myself, I think you have stated the situation admirably.
> 
> As I see the next step is to help others to look into their own
natures, to
> think and see, the inner Guru. The ATMA -- the HIGHER SELF.
> 
> Buddhi is its residence, but ITS presence is to be recognized and
> approached.
> 
> Have you looked at SECRET DOCTRINE II 167? 
> 
> Also if you have TRANSACTIONS OF THE BLAVATSKY LODGE ( I know it is in
> Blavatsky: COLLECTED WORKS Vol. X -- around pp. 250-3; in my
book it is
> on p. 64-6) it speaks of the nightly "confabulations between the higher
> mind and the HIGHER SELF." Gave me something to wonder about, and
> research.
> 
> Also in SECRET DOCTRINE II there is on pp. 275 fn, and 281-2 a
hint about
> the "undying race." Curious.
> 
> Best wishes,
> 
> Dallas
> 
> ====================================== 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Perry Coles [mailto:perrycoles@y...] 
> Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2004 6:37 AM
> To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Theos-World Re: Mahatmas, Evolution and Emptiness
> 
> Hello Katinka & Pedro
> 
> One of the common complaints about HPB and her writings is 
> what many people see as over complexity.
> 
> It seems the trend to take the path of least resistance and accept 
> the simplifications of many of the Occult concepts is what the 
> western mind seems to want.
> 
> Maybe there is a methodology with the struggle involved in an open 
> minded, critical and persistent study of these works of HPB - it can 
> be quite an uncomfortable experience especially if we are seeking 
> absolute and simplistic answers.
> 
> I would even go so far as to say it can be painful.
> 
> HPB takes you certain way down this tack then that one and people
feel this
> is confusing and unnecessary.
> 
> The simplified latter versions of `theosophy' dotted every I and crossed
> every t and made it all so `simple' which I would suggest simply
develops
> mindsets that are easily fooled and dogmatic that seek comfort over
truth.
> 
> The Secret doctrine on the other hand makes you work hard and keep 
> on digging rather than accept easy answers for me its more a
methodology 
> than a statement. 
> 
> As HPB said in the beginning of the key to theosophy "to the
> mentally lazy or obtuse, theosophy must always remain a riddle..." 
> she emphasises mental effort and her writings demand that sort of 
> commitment.
> 
> The trend of today wants easy quick enlightenment, psychic whistles 
> and bangs or prescribed pathways the `sweet tongued voices of
> illusion'.
> 
> The heart doctrine described in the Voice of the Silence shows its
better to
> be ignorant than to have head learning with no Soul Wisdom or
compassion to
> guide it.
> 
> So its a razors edge and of course motive always comes into the
equation.
> 
> Perhaps the methodology in HPB and the Mahatmas writings is designed 
> to stretch the mind so that the aspirant can go beyond it and the
Buddhic 
> wisdom illumine the mind.
> 
> Its the path of the jnani but there are many roads up the mountain,
> this methodology is just one approach and its not for everyone.
> 
> Many paths focus on personal illumination for self but the
theosophical path
> 
> is that of self forgetfulness, to gain Nirvana but to renounce it.
> 
> Perry
> 
> 
> 
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Katinka Hesselink" <mail@k...>
> wrote:
> > Hi Pedro,
> > 
> > First of all - HPB and the Mahatmas were of an esoteric buddhist
> > lineage, not an exoteric one. What's come out to the west is by
> > definition exoteric. 
> > 
> > Still, I've puzzled over the similar question of: why focuss on so
> > many details of the world around us: cosmogony, evolution. Why
> didn't
> > she focuss on the spiritual path and philosophy as buddhists do
> today?
> > My thoughts go in the following direction:
> > The times were different from what they are today. Psychology hadn't
> > yet found its limelight, for instance. People just hadn't en masse
> > found introspection and all that crap out. So it took a lot of work
> > before HPB found enough students to write 'The Voice of the
> Silence' for. 
> > Also - if we take brotherhood seriously - and by all accounts HPB
> and
> > the Mahatmas did - then one cannot just give something new and drop
> > it. One has to (from a didactical standpoint) embed the new
> knowledge
> > in something. That something was the spiritualist movement, at first
> > anyhow. Also, society was starting to learn how to deal with
> evolution
> > as a Darwinian concept. This concept threatened to negate all
> > spirituality (as it does still do today). So they gave out (or
> > created) something to counter that and grow from that. The form of
> the
> > Secret Doctrine is (apparently, I haven't studied the subject) very
> > typical for the kinds of books that were being written at the time
> in
> > the sense of gathering information from all possible sources and
> > coming up with some wild theory to connect the dots. Whether or not
> > HPB's theory was wild I'll leave up to the readers here (I don't
> think
> > so myself), but her focuss was very much determined by the time she
> > wrote in, I think. 
> > 
> > Katinka
> > --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, Pedro Oliveira <prmoliveira@y...>
> > wrote:
> > > The connection between HPB's Teachers and Mahayana
> > > Buddhism is well established in "The Mahatma Letters",
> > > in a number of her articles and in "The Voice of the
> > > Silence". But although in Mahayana Buddhism emptiness
> > > (sunyata) is one of the core principles, it does not
> > > seem to occupy a prominent place neither in "The
> > > Secret Doctrine" nor in "The Mahatma Letters", in both
> > > of which evolution seems to be a central concept.
> > > 
> > > Can anyone throw light on this apparent puzzle?
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Pedro
> 
> 
> 
> 
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