Re: Reply to "A Second Attempt"
Sep 19, 2004 05:06 PM
by Daniel H. Caldwell
Pedro,
Thanks for your comments below.
I will try to reply to some of your
statements soon.
Daniel
--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "prmoliveira" <prmoliveira@y...>
wrote:
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Daniel H. Caldwell"
> <danielhcaldwell@y...> wrote:
>
>
> > "Let us say that the two of us agreed to write such
> > an introduction."
>
>
> Oh, I see. But why me? You know English is not my native language.
> Besides, which publishing company would seriously consider
publishing
> an introductory book on Theosophy containing selected quotes, for
> example, from Besant and Leadbeater, which I would like to include?
> Theosophical University Press, Point Loma Publications, Theosophy
> Company? Not a chance. Quest Books, TPH? Maybe but not necessarily
> so. Then there is the karma of the caste I belong to. Why would you
> expose yourself and your established reputation as a published
author
> and admired student of Theosophy by co-authoring a book on
Theosophy,
> for Parabrahman's sake, with a priest!!!
>
> Incidentally, your post and its questions have created a bit of a
> domestic problem for me. Today being Sunday, after I come back from
> church I usually have to wrestle with full basket of ironing. It is
> my post-service karma yoga and it has now been delayed in order to
> answer your post!
>
>
> > Let us say that [under certain circumstances] the two of us
[MIGHT]
> > agree to write such an introduction to Theosophy.
>
>
> In this case, I would really need a watertight contract. In the
> history of business relations between Brazil and the US, guess
which
> part has had most considerable advantages? I would, of course,
agree
> to use the alphabetical order on the cover, with your name coming
> first. Also, I would very much like the Foreword written jointly by
> Bart and Chuck, and the Afterword written by Steve Stubbs with his
> comments (and notes) on every single concept in the book. Then, of
> course, there is the question of the title. Here are some
suggestions:
>
> "Theosophy - A Negotiated Introductory View"
>
> "Theosophical Gleanings: An Introduction to Theosophy by Authors
with
> Different Leanings"
>
> "A Dualistic View of Theosophical Monism"
>
> "Walking Where Devas Fear to Thread: Bridging the Theosophical
Divide"
>
> "Introduction to Theosophy: A Splintered View"
>
>
> > [In this hypothetical situation,] I write a draft chapter that
> reads
> > in part:
> >
> > ====================================================
> >
> > Our planet Earth forms part of a chain of septenary globes.
> > But the other six globes are not on the same plane of
> > objectivity as our physical earth or world. We cannot see these
> > other globes because they are outside our physical
> > means of perception.
> >
> > ======================================================
> >
> >
> > Another draft chapter contains the following statement:
> >
> > ==========================================================
> >
> > According to Theosophy, when most people die, there is no
conscious
> > existence for them in the Kamaloka (the psychic realm, the so-
called
> > astral world or plane). Most do not traverse the various planes of
> > the astral realm in consciousness. For the majority of persons who
> > die, they are not aware of either the physical world or the astral
> > world. They remain unconscious until they awaken in their
respective
> > Devachanic states.
> >
> > =========================================================
> >
> > IF [in this hypothetical situation] I sent this material to you
for
> > your input and feedback as the co-author of the book, how would
you
> > respond to the above material?
>
>
> 1) I think it is irrelevant to include in an introductory book on
> Theosophy a discussion of the planetary chains. It would only
confuse
> the newcomer to the subject. Also, if we value modern science's
view
> on the evolution of the cosmos, the teaching on planetary chains,
> both in the SD and in subsequent works, does not seem to resonate
> with it at all.
>
> 2) I have no problem in accepting that there are degrees of
> unconsciousness after death, as mentioned. But I would never
> absolutise this point for the Perennial Philosophy, in its
> universality, attests to the fact that in several traditions, like
> the Bardo Todrol Chenmo (Tibetan Book of the Dead), the Egyptian
Book
> of the Dead, the Kabbalah, the Hermetic Tradition, the Vedas, the
> Gnostic Gospels, the Christian Mystical tradition, the human
> consciousness that survives the transition of death undergoes
several
> changes and transformations, with varying degrees of awareness.
>
>
> > Would those quotes from your 18829 posting really have any
> relevance
> > in trying to state some of the teachings of Theosophy in this
> > hypothetical book?? If so, how?
>
>
> I think they would, Daniel, in the sense of acting as benchmarks
> towards an exposition of Theosophy that is free from dogmatism,
that
> encourages the newcomer to it to seek answers for himself or
herself,
> suggesting that perhaps the most important aspect of Theosophy is a
> living realisation that its core principles are indeed universal
> facts in Nature, thus avoiding encouraging a view of Theosophy "in
> which a narrow and stereotyped creed would take the place of the
> living and breathing spirit of Truth and an ever growing Knowledge."
>
>
> Pedro
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