Theos-Talk Archives (August 2004 Message tt00544)

Aug 26 2004



Dear Louis -



Thanks always helpful.



My ideas are based on certain universals:



1 SPIRIT-MATTER is always linked by MIND. [Mind is a faculty that
bridges all conditions and states of perception and of form. It is innate to
all beings which experience the process of evolution.]



2 Universe is the manifested aspect of the ABSOLUTE.

It includes all substances and grades of matter.



3 At the end of a period of evolution (a life for a Man), a Yuga or
Manvantara for a world, a Maha-manvantara for a Galaxy, etc.. THEOSOPHY says
all the many disparate forces (Monads) that manifest as intelligent beings,
are all (except for the Adepts, Mahatmas, etc,) gathered into a condition
of stasis (much like our physical sleep, but on a grander scale). 



3 This period of rest [Pralaya] may be one of general physical
dissolution, but, for the Intelligences (Monads) it is also one of
assimilation - of the psychic and mental impulses, memories, etc.. stored
and unexpended, to be reviewed and re-sorted (by Karmic Law) in preparation
for the next period of activity (Waking or Manvantara.) 



4 "Karmic Load" is the accumulated results of causes we generated
in the past and cannot be altered as such. What can be altered is our
reception of whatever comes to us. Our attitude matters, since, if adversity
is to be our lot, we can make a choice, when it arrives, of how to meet with
it. 



5 Every one of us is an immortal Monad, pursuing, whether we know
it and understand it or not, a "pilgrimage" of many lives. The actual
pilgrimage began aeons ago, and will continue forward from here. In this
life we find an opportunity of seeing this, understanding it, and then
deciding to act. To prepare for this and make our progress as smooth as
possible, we need to evaluate impartially our present nature, character and
its inclinations. 



It will be found to be a mixture of good and bad notions - fundamentally and
looked at impartially, we can be our own judges and classify our "motives"
as assets and liabilities. We will then know where we are strong, and where
we need to shore upon ourselves and eliminate "weaknesses." But our
"motives" are the balance point of our future progress. That is why the
"Ring Pas Not " and the "Moment of Choice" are spoken of in the ancient
Mysteries. We have heard of them, probably in earlier lives. 



Then, when confronted with any "problems" we need only recollect we are
"Immortals" on a long pilgrimage, and, no matter what happens, we are truly
deathless and will continue to the end - (if this body "dies" our immortal
Self continues and after the rest of Devachan, under Karma, it will have to
live in a future body carefully designed by Nature for it). 



You will be surprised how this one idea can stabilize our decisions if and
when good or bad Karma comes. "Look not behind or thou art lost," (Voice)
implies that we ought not try to relive our past, good or bad. We cannot
change those things and reviewing them only makes them "worse." 



6 So, to be positive, we will want to live presently as free from
"bad karmic" causes (and memories) as we can. One thing helps, and that is
to analyse the meaning of the "virtues" I mean, in general. If we are
satisfied they are helps, then, how do we build them into our own responsive
character? I would say that is our present task. No one can do it for us, we
have to do the digging and then decide how we are going to build our
character. 



7 Availing ourselves of "virtues" we can make ourselves
invulnerable to adverse situations known or unknown. We then can act "for
good" or better still, impersonally. [The BHAGAVAD GITA is a valuable book
that shows how this can be done.] 



8 It of course relates to the "brotherhood" aspect of THEOSOPHY -
as we begin to look on, all around us, we see all beings as brother Monads,
each engaged in the same kind of pilgrimage as we are, towards an eventual
"Supreme Perfection." 



If we can adopt the idea that we are in fact all "brothers and sisters,"
much of the "Thine and Mine attitude" will fade. And so will "fear." If we
realize we will have to meet our past choices and overcome our "weak"
tendencies, we will gain moral strength and wisdom. 



And if we know that karma is implacable, we won't feel inclined to hurt
anyone, since we know that it is we who will receive back, eventually, the
hurt we generated and encumbered another with. 



9 As to thinking, logic, etc. Let's remember that we are, when
awake and thinking, using our "brain-mind" (it has been called "lower-Mind,
or Kama-Manas - the "feeling personal selfish mind). It is not just a
physical organ but includes the more tenuous power of "Thought." 



And this, in our "here and now" is also involved in our sentiments, emotions
and feelings (as I just said above). It is in the "brain mind" and its
almost automatic actions (as we have allowed it to develop) that "bad karma"
is generated. (But you know this only too well.) 



So, if we apply the narrative of the BHAGAVAD GITA to ourselves, it is in
our own brain-mind we have to bring order. It is painful, as it means
constant control and re-adjustment. But it can be done. And we ought to
constantly keep in mind the fact that the real SELF - the "INNER GOD" is
always there and responsive to our appeals for help and counsel when the
Lower Mind asks. 



This brings up the concept that superior to the "brain-mind - Lower-Manas"
is the "Higher-Manas" ("Buddhi-Manas" -- a true Immortal and part of the
eternal interior Monad: ATMA-BUDDHI). In periods of manifestation and
evolution, the Monad (ATMA-BUDDHI) is ATMA-BUDDHI-MANAS.



Now that is the spiritual end of the "bridge" between the "Lower" and the
"Higher Self." It is what can be called the SUPERIOR (or Higher) MIND, and
it is our real Self - the Higher EGO - (and by definition it is impartial
and universal in its outlook - and therefore fair, just and merciful to
all).



It is, as the barrier between the Lower and Higher Manas that the "Ring Pass
Not" is established. I try above to show how it can be pierced by the Lower
Mind aspiring to be guided by the wisdom of the Higher Mind. 



This, when successful, makes of the lower Mind a docile and intelligent,
willing servant to the Higher Mind. It also understands that it no longer
will build up a fund of "bad Karma." For it, is a kind of
"self-preservation." In this the "personality" becomes transfigured and
transmuted - purged of all "bad" and "evil" inclinations. However, it takes
a while for the great change to occur, for the past to be exhausted and
reduced to a cipher. So we learn patience and place attention on everything
that comes to us in the course of life, striving, always to improve the
atmosphere for all. 



This does not mean the extinguishing of our Lower Mind, but rather raising
it up to the nobility and dignity of conscious God-hood. It is the glorified
Lower Manas that becomes in due course the Wise Sage - the Mahatma rare to
find.



And that is why THEOSOPHY was exposed to the world and to those who seek
through its means the "Way" to "conscious immortality." This is not a pat
phrase but indicates that our "self-consciousness" can be raised by our
efforts to "Universal Self-Consciousness." 



Best wishes, 





Dallas



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



-----Original Message-----
From: Teos9
Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2004 2:17 AM
To: 
Subject: [bn-study] Re: TIME & EVOLUTION and freedom



Dallas,



Please allow me to address a few of your comments, stated below: 

If we are indeed spiritual at core and heart, then we(as humanity en masse)
are a Majority, not a minority at all.



Perhaps I did not make myself clear enough. As I interpret certain key
theosophical concepts, It is abundantly clear that the human being,
individually and collectively, is a multi dimensional organism. Along with
various levels of consciousness and awareness, the OPERATIVE FOCUS of each
life on the physical plane, is it's PERSONALITY. It reflects its multi
dimensionality by being sometimes outward turned, sometime inward turned. In
it's outward turned state, it seems to be almost entirely shut off from
conscious inner guidance. It is in that sense which I use the terms majority
and minority as related to theosophy. In my forty odd years of theosophical
meandering, I have only met a handful of personalities who I consider to be
"consciously guided" by their inward turned, life experiences. They are
definitely the minority. Another larger minority, are those who HAVE
discovered theosophy, often for the first time in this lifetime, and are
intuitively inspired by their discovery, and whatever study they are capable
of. I measure that minority against the rest of humanity as I see it
behaving at the moment. It seem to me that the vast majority are very much,
living outward turned lives and for the most part, creating and resolving
the negative karma that is associated with this evolutionary moment.



<<Now it is true that there is a scarcity of thinking and knowledge. But
that can be remedied by encouraging people to THINK and be LOGICAL>>



Dallas, do you really think that is the "remedy" for what may very well be
part of an individual's karmic load. I have always considered that brief or
extended periods, indeed even whole lifetimes, of ignorance and darkness, or
the INABILITY to THINK and be LOGICAL, is just one of the many effects of
karmic justice. If such is the case, I am not sure that any amount of
encouragement, while it certainly does no harm, is in fact a remedy. 



<<The "ring Pass Not" is (to me) a barrier to closer spiritual communion on
the physical level simply because we have not yet done enough
"spiritualizing" on our lower selves our Kama, specifically, and our daily
behaviour suffers. But we are in no way precluded from touching and being
touched by that true universal SPIRITUAL INFLUENCE on other planes of our
being.>>



Agreed, as to individual "ring-pass-nots" but it seems that there may be,
more collective, or cosmic ring-pass-nots, which apply to an immature
humanity and protect it from powers which it is not ready for yet. The cloud
of knowable things is another metaphorical image which points to the notion
that there experiences, knowledge and powers that must remain latent and
within until such time that human personalities are pure enough to
accommodate these gifts. Also, there is the question of "bleed-through."
Having touched, or being touched, by the Spiritual Influences on other
planes of our being, does that experience or knowledge, trickle down to the
personality with any degree of integrity and fidelity.



Thanks for your thought Dallas, I hope you don't mind me adding a few of my
own.

CUT



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