Theos-Talk Archives (August 2004 Message tt00196)

Hi Daniel,

There is freedom of thought on the one hand, there is finding the
truth on the other. For the second, we need the first. On the other
hand, each writer has the responsibility of keeping themselves to the
truth they know, or feel they know, and keep speculation to a minimum.
Then again, Sinnet was urged to trust his instincts... It is a hard
lesson to learn to on the one hand trust ones instincts and on the
other not follow every fancy as it presents itself. The middle ground,
as often, is hard to keep to. Extremes are so much easier. I'm
reminded of a spinning horizontal wheel (think a potters wheel
spinning fast) and the difficulty of staying in the middle in order
not to be thrown off it (saw something like that in a game show
recently). The middle ground is hard to keep to and "Error runs down
an inclined plane, while Truth has to laboriously climb its way up
hill." (SD I, p. xvii)

Each of us has that same responsibility - to find the middle ground
between fancy and trusting our instincts. 

Katinka
--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Daniel H. Caldwell"
<danielhcaldwell@y...> wrote:
> First two quotes: one from Blavatsky and one
> from Master K.H. The quotes are then followed by
> some questions. Pedro, Anand and Morten,
> feel free to give your opinions on the
> subjects raised.
> 
> During the early and mid 1880s, Sinnett and 
> several other Theosophists had written various 
> expositions of the Theosophical teachings. HPB 
> in The Secret Doctrine stated quite forcefully 
> that they had indulged in "wild and fanciful speculation": 
> 
> "The publication of many of the facts herein stated 
> has been rendered necessary by the wild and fanciful 
> speculation in which many Theosophists and students 
> of mysticism have indulged, during the last few 
> years, in their endeavour to, as they imagined, 
> work out a complete system of thought from the 
> few facts previously communicated to them." 
> S.D., original edition, Vol I, p. viii 
> 
> And Master K.H. in his August 1888 letter to 
> Olcott had also written on this same subject: 
> 
> "I have also noted, your thoughts about the 
> 'Secret Doctrine.' Be assured that what she 
> [HPB] has not annotated from scientific and 
> other works, we have given or suggested to her. 
> Every mistake or erroneous notion, corrected 
> and explained by her from the works of other 
> theosophists was corrected by me, or under 
> my instruction. It is a more valuable work 
> than its predecessor, an epitome of occult 
> truths that will make it a source of information 
> and instruction for the earnest student for l
> ong years to come. . . ." Letters from the 
> Masters of the Wisdom, Series I, p. 47 
> 
> Surely one can safely conclude that
> both Blavatsky and KH believed that
> expositions of Theosophy could contain
> "wild and fanciful speculation" and
> mistakes and erroneous notions. 
> 
> Notice that both Blavatsky and KH
> thought the wild speculations and
> erroneous notions were important enough,
> that they called attention to them
> and even made corrections.
> 
> Surely one of the implications of their 
> statements is that they possessed the 
> genuine teaching. And that they were
> in a position where they could call
> not only attention to the erroneous
> ideas but could even give corrections.
> 
> Is anyone on Theos-Talk suggesting that
> therefore Blavatsky and KH were setting
> up dogmas and infallible revelations?
> 
> Therefore can one not conclude that
> since the 1880s when Blavatsky and
> KH made those statements, there have
> probably been other books on Theosophy
> which have given out wild and fanciful
> speculation and erroneous notions on
> Theosophy? 
> 
> How would a present day student
> determine what is a correct notion
> of Theosophy as opposed to a erroneous
> notion of Theosophy?
> 
> It seems to me that these questions
> and similar ones should be pondered if
> not answered by serious students of Theosophy and
> should be discussed in such a
> forum as Theos-Talk.
> 
> Daniel
> http://hpb.cc