Theos-Talk Archives (March 2005 Message tt00076)

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Alaya" <lalaya7@y...> wrote:
Muchos Bravos!
Christina
> Dear Dallas
> I totaly agree with you
> I not trying to defend afilliations
> quite the contrary
> I believe, like you, that the individual should make his own efforts
> and quite often, organizations, societies and stuff mislead the 
> individual, get him struck on the ideias this society gives, and 
> only... 
> I guess when one searches his own interests, without having to 
follow 
> only what the X organization accepts he can 'let his soul flow' 
more 
> easily and in its own way, and maybe learn more, and deeper... it 
> depends on the person... and you go for what you want and feel is 
> better to 'your soul'...
> 
> 
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "W.Dallas TenBroeck" 
> <dalval14@e...> wrote:
> > Mar 4 2005
> > 
> > Dear Alaya:
> > 
> > How can membership in any "society or organization" help anyone? 
> > 
> > We are all involved in the THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT and this includes
> > individuals affiliated or non-affiliated.
> > 
> > As I see it the only value to "membership" is that we may enjoy 
the 
> company
> > of sympathizers and we may share with the our problems and 
> questions, for
> > mutual assistance -- I mean who may help us in our individual 
> study. 
> > 
> > Look at one of our basic books by HPB: The KEY TO THEOSOPHY 
> > 
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------
--
> -----
> > 
> > Page	The KEY TO THEOSOPHY 
> > 
> > 4	The Policy of the Theosophical Society 	
> > 
> > 5 fn	"...We can show the line of descent of every 
Christian 
> religion, as
> > of every, even the smallest, sect. The latter are the minor twigs 
> or shoots
> > grown on the larger branches; but shoots and branches spring from 
> the same
> > trunk ¯the WISDOM-RELIGION. ..."
> > 	
> > "...not only the philosophers of Greece, but also all those of 
the 
> different
> > barbarian nations, were perfectly in unison with each other with 
> regard to
> > every essential point, he made it his business so to expound the 
> thousand
> > tenets of all these various sects as to show they had all 
> originated from
> > one and the same source, and tended all to one and the same end." 
> > 
> > "He adopted the doctrines which were received in Egypt (the 
> esoteric were
> > those of India) concerning the Universe and the Deity, considered 
as
> > constituting one great whole; concerning the eternity of the 
> world . . . and
> > established a system of moral discipline which allowed the people 
> in general
> > to live according to the laws of their country and the dictates 
of 
> nature,
> > but required the wise to exalt their mind by contemplation."
> > 
> > 6	"...the whole Christ had in view was to reinstate and restore 
> to its
> > primitive integrity THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS; to reduce within 
> bounds the
> > universally-prevailing dominion of superstition; and in part to 
> correct, and
> > in part to exterminate the various errors that had found their 
way 
> into the
> > different popular religions....the purpose of Jesus was to 
restore 
> the great
> > doctrine of wisdom in its primitive integrity." 
> > 
> > 7 - 8	"...The WISDOM-RELIGION was ever one, and being the 
last word 
> of
> > possible human knowledge, was, therefore, carefully preserved. It 
> preceded
> > by long ages the Alexandrian Theosophists, reached the modern, 
and 
> will
> > survive every other religion and philosophy."
> > 
> > 10 - 11	"Real ecstasy was defined ... as "the 
> liberation of the mind
> > from its finite consciousness, becoming one and identified with 
the
> > infinite." ... It is, indeed, identical with that state which is 
> known in
> > India as Samadhi. The latter is practised by the Yogis, who 
> facilitate it
> > physically by the greatest abstinence in food and drink, and 
> mentally by an
> > incessant endeavour to purify and elevate the mind.
> > 
> > Meditation is silent and unuttered prayer, or, as Plato 
expressed 
> it, "the
> > ardent turning of the soul toward the divine; not to ask any 
> particular good
> > (as in the common meaning of prayer), but for good itself ¯for 
the 
> universal
> > Supreme Good" of which we are a part on earth, and out of the 
> essence of
> > which we have all emerged. Therefore, adds Plato, "remain silent 
in 
> the
> > presence of the divine ones, till they remove the clouds from thy 
> eyes and
> > enable thee to see by the light which issues from themselves, not 
> what
> > appears as good to thee, but what is intrinsically good." 
> > 
> > 11 fn	"Real Theosophy is, for the mystics, that state which 
> Apollonius of
> > Tyana was made to describe thus: "I can see the present and the 
> future as in
> > a clear mirror. The sage need not wait for the vapours of the 
earth 
> and the
> > corruption of the air to foresee events. . . . The theoi, or 
gods, 
> see the
> > future; common men the present; sages that which is about to take 
> place."
> > "The Theosophy of the Sages" he speaks of is well expressed in the
> > assertion, "The Kingdom of God is within us."
> > 
> > 12	"...Theosophy has ever been kept secret. ...
> > 
> > The causes for it were: 
> > 
> > Firstly, the perversity of average human nature and its 
> selfishness, always
> > tending to the gratification of personal desires to the detriment 
of
> > neighbours and next of kin. Such people could never be entrusted 
> with divine
> > secrets. 
> > 
> > Secondly, their unreliability to keep the sacred and divine 
> knowledge from
> > desecration. It is the latter that led to the perversion of the 
> most sublime
> > truths and symbols, and to the gradual transformation of things 
> spiritual
> > into anthropomorphic, concrete, and gross imagery¯ in other 
words, 
> to the
> > dwarfing of the god-idea and to idolatry. "
> > 
> > 247 -248	"ENQUIRER. Then is all this metaphysics and mysticism 
> with
> > which you occupy yourself so much, of no importance? 
> >  
> > THEOSOPHIST. To the masses, who need only practical guidance and 
> support,
> > they are not of much consequence; but for the educated, the 
natural 
> leaders
> > of the masses, those whose modes of thought and action will 
sooner 
> or later
> > be adopted by those masses, they are of the greatest importance. 
> > 
> > It is only by means of the philosophy that an intelligent and 
> educated man
> > can avoid the intellectual suicide of believing on blind faith; 
and 
> it is
> > only by assimilating the strict continuity and logical coherence 
of 
> the
> > Eastern, if not esoteric, doctrines, that he can realize their 
> truth. 
> > 
> > Conviction breeds enthusiasm, and "Enthusiasm," says Bulwer 
> Lytton, "is the
> > genius of sincerity, and truth accomplishes no victories without 
> it"; while
> > Emerson most truly remarks that "every great and commanding 
> movement in the
> > annals of the world is the triumph of enthusiasm." 
> > 
> > And what is more calculated to produce such a feeling than a 
> philosophy so
> > grand, so consistent, so logical, and so all-embracing as our 
> Eastern
> > Doctrines? 
> >  
> > ENQUIRER. And yet its enemies are very numerous, and every day 
> Theosophy
> > acquires new opponents. 
> >  
> > THEOSOPHIST. And this is precisely that which proves its 
intrinsic 
> > excellence and value. People hate only the things they fear, and 
no 
> one goes
> > out of his way to overthrow that which neither threatens nor 
rises 
> beyond
> > mediocrity. 
> >  
> > ENQUIRER. Do you hope to impart this enthusiasm, one day, to the 
> masses? 
> >  
> > THEOSOPHIST. Why not? since history tells us that the masses 
adopted
> > Buddhism with enthusiasm, while, as said before, the practical 
> effect upon
> > them of this philosophy of ethics is still shown by the smallness 
> of the
> > percentage of crime amongst Buddhist populations as compared with 
> every
> > other religion. 
> > 
> > The chief point is, to uproot that most fertile source of all 
crime 
> and
> > immorality -- the belief that it is possible for them to escape 
the
> > consequences of their own actions. 
> > 
> > Once teach them that greatest of all laws, Karma and Re-
> incarnation, and
> > besides feeling in themselves the true dignity of human nature, 
> they will
> > turn from evil and eschew it as they would a physical danger. "
> > 
> > 248 -9	"ENQUIRER. How do you expect the Fellows of 
> your Society to
> > help in the work? 
> >  
> > THEOSOPHIST. 
> > 
> > First by studying and comprehending the theosophical doctrines, 
so 
> that they
> > may teach others, especially the young people. 
> > 
> > Secondly, by taking every opportunity of talking to others and 
> explaining to
> > them what Theosophy is, and what it is not; by removing 
> misconceptions and
> > spreading an interest in the subject. 
> > 
> > Thirdly, by assisting in circulating our literature, by buying 
> books when
> > they have the means, by lending and giving them and by inducing 
> their
> > friends to do so. 
> > 
> > Fourthly, by defending the Society from the unjust aspersions 
cast 
> upon it,
> > by every legitimate device in their power. 
> > 
> > Fifth, and most important of all, by the example of their own 
> lives. 
> > 
> > 	
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------
--
> --
> > 
> > Page	FIVE MESSAGES FROM HPB TO AMERICAN THEOSOPHISTS
> > 
> > 
> > 2 - 3	"Theosophy has lately taken a new start in America 
which 
> marks the
> > commencement of a new Cycle in the affairs of the Society in the 
> West. And
> > the policy you are now following is admirably adapted to give 
scope 
> for the
> > widest expansion of the movement, and to establish on a firm 
basis 
> an
> > organization which, while promoting feelings of fraternal 
sympathy, 
> social
> > unity, and solidarity, will leave ample room for individual 
freedom 
> and
> > exertion in the common cause- that of helping mankind.
> > 
> > The multiplication of local centres should be a foremost 
> consideration in
> > your minds, and each man should strive to be a centre of work in 
> himself. 
> > 
> > When his inner development has reached a certain point, he will 
> naturally
> > draw those with whom he is in contact under the same influence; a 
> nucleus
> > will he formed, round which other people will gather, forming a 
> centre from
> > which information and spiritual influence radiate, and towards 
> which higher
> > influences are directed.
> > 
> > But let no man set up a popery instead of Theosophy, as this 
would 
> be
> > suicidal and has ever ended most fatally. We are all fellow-
> students, more
> > or less advanced; but no one belonging to the Theosophical 
Society 
> ought to
> > count himself as more than, at best, a pupil-teacher -one who has 
> no right
> > to dogmatize."
> > 
> > 4 - 6	"The Theosophical Society led the van of this 
> movement; but,
> > although Theosophical ideas have entered into every development 
or 
> form
> > which awakening spirituality has assumed, yet Theosophy pure and 
> simple has
> > still a severe battle to fight for recognition... The faint-
hearted 
> have
> > asked in all ages for signs and wonders, and when these failed to 
be
> > granted, they refused to believe.
> > 
> > Such are not those who will ever comprehend Theosophy pure and 
> simple. 
> > 
> > But there are others among us who realize intuitionally that the 
> recognition
> > of pure Theosophy -the philosophy of the rational explanation of 
> things and
> > not the tenets -is of the most vital importance in the Society, 
> inasmuch as
> > it alone can furnish the beacon-light needed to guide humanity on 
> its true
> > path.
> > 
> > This should never be forgotten, nor should the following fact be 
> overlooked.
> > On the day when Theosophy will have accomplished its most holy 
and 
> most
> > important mission-namely to unite firmly a body of men of all 
> nations in
> > brotherly love and bent on a pure altruistic work, not on a labor 
> with
> > selfish motives -on that day only will Theosophy become higher 
than 
> any
> > nominal brotherhood of man. This will be a wonder and a miracle 
> truly, for
> > the realization of which Humanity is vainly waiting for the last 
> eighteen
> > centuries, and which every association has hitherto failed to 
> accomplish.
> > 
> > Orthodoxy in Theosophy is a thing neither possible nor desirable. 
> > 
> > It is diversity of opinion, within certain limits that keeps the
> > Theosophical Society a living and a healthy body... Were it not, 
> also, for
> > the existence of a large amount of uncertainty in the minds of 
> students of
> > Theosophy, such healthy divergencies would be impossible, and the 
> Society
> > would degenerate into a sect, in which a narrow and stereotyped 
> creed would
> > take the place of the living and breathing spirit of Truth and an 
> ever
> > growing Knowledge.
> > 
> > According as people are prepared to receive it, so will new 
> Theosophical
> > teachings be given. But no more will be given than the world, on 
> its present
> > level of spirituality, can profit by. It depends on the spread of 
> Theosophy
> > -the assimilation of what has been already given -how much more 
> will be
> > revealed and how soon.
> > 
> > It must be remembered that the Society was not founded as a 
nursery 
> for
> > forcing a supply of Occultists-as a factory for the manufactory 
of 
> Adepts.
> > It was intended to stem the current of materialism, and also that 
of
> > spiritualistic phenomenalism and the worship of the Dead. 
> > 
> > It had to guide the spiritual awakening that has now begun, and 
not 
> to
> > pander to psychic cravings which are but another form of 
> materialism. For by
> > "materialism" is meant not only an anti-philosophical negation of 
> pure
> > spirit, and, even more, materialism in conduct and action-
brutality,
> > hypocrisy. and, above all, selfishness,-but also the fruits of a 
> disbelief
> > in all but material things, a disbelief which has increased 
> enormously
> > during the last century, and which has led many, after a denial 
of 
> all
> > existence other than that in matter, into a blind belief in the
> > materialization of Spirit.
> > 
> > The tendency of modern civilization is a reaction towards 
> animalism, towards
> > a development of those qualities which conduce to the success in 
> life of man
> > as an animal in the struggle for animal existence. 
> > 
> > Theosophy seeks to develop the human nature in man in addition to 
> the
> > animal, and at the sacrifice of the superfluous animality which 
> modern life
> > and materialistic teachings have developed to a degree which is 
> abnormal for
> > the human being at this stage of his progress.
> > 
> > Men cannot all be Occultists, but they can all be Theosophists. 
> > 
> > Many who have never heard of the Society are Theosophists without 
> knowing it
> > them selves; for the essence of Theosophy is the perfect 
> harmonizing of the
> > divine with the human in man, the adjustment of his god-like 
> qualities and
> > aspirations. and their sway over the terrestrial or animal 
passions 
> in him. 
> > 
> > Kindness, absence of every ill feeling or selfishness, charity, 
> good-will to
> > all beings, and perfect justice to others as to one's self, are 
its 
> chief
> > features. He who teaches Theosophy preaches the gospel of good-
> will; and the
> > converse of this is true also,-he who preaches the gospel of good-
> will,
> > teaches Theosophy.
> > 
> > 
> > 11	" ...the Ethics of Theosophy are even more necessary to 
> mankind than
> > the scientific aspects of the psychic facts of nature and man.
> > 
> > 
> > 14	"...that cure is "ALTRUISM." And this is the keynote of 
> Theosophy
> > and the cure for all ills; this it is which the real Founders of 
the
> > Theosophical Society promote as its first object-UNIVERSAL 
> BROTHERHOOD.
> > 
> > Thus even if only in name a body of Altruists, the Theosophical 
> Society has
> > to fight all who under its cover seek to obtain magical powers to 
> use for
> > their own selfish ends and to the hurt of others. Many are those 
> who joined
> > our Society for no other purpose than curiosity. Psychological 
> phenomena
> > were what they sought, and they were unwilling to yield one iota 
of 
> their
> > own pleasures and habits to obtain them. These very quickly went 
> away
> > empty-handed."
> > 
> > 
> > 15	"But to work properly in our Great Cause it is necessary to 
> forget
> > all personal differences of opinion as to how the work is to be 
> carried on.
> > Let each of us work in his own way and not endeavor to force our 
> ideas of
> > work upon our neighbors."
> > 
> > 
> > 16	"But Karma will reconcile all our differences of opinion. A 
> strict
> > account of our actual work will be taken, and the "wages" earned 
> will be
> > recorded to our credit. 
> > 
> > But as strict an account will be taken of the work which any one, 
by
> > indulging in personal grievances, may have hindered his neighbors 
> from
> > doing. Think you it is a light thing to hinder the force of the 
> Theosophical
> > Society, as represented in the person of any of its leaders, from 
> doing its
> > appointed work? 
> > 
> > So surely as there is a Karmic power behind the Society will that 
> power
> > exact the account for its hindrance, and he is a rash and 
ignorant 
> man who
> > opposes his puny self to it in the execution of its appointed 
task."
> > 
> > 
> > 18 - 19	"My words may and will pass and be forgotten, 
> but certain
> > sentences from letters written by the Masters will never pass, 
> because they
> > are the embodiment of the highest practical Theosophy. I must 
> translate them
> > for you :- 
> > 
> > "* * * Let not the fruit of good Karma be your motive; for your 
> Karma, good
> > or bad, being one and the common property of all mankind, nothing 
> good or
> > bad can happen to you that is not shared by many others. Hence 
your 
> motive,
> > being selfish, can only generate a double effect, good and bad, 
and 
> will
> > either nullify your good action, or turn it to another man's 
> profit." *
> > 
> > * "There is no happiness for one who is ever thinking of Self and
> > forgetting all other Selves."
> > 
> > "The Universe groans under the weight of such action (Karma), 
> and none
> > other than self-sacrificial Karma relieves it. 
> > 
> > * How many of you have helped humanity to carry its smallest 
> burden, that
> > you should all regard yourselves as Theosophists. Oh, men of the 
> West, who
> > would play at being the Saviours of mankind before they even 
spare 
> the life
> > of a mosquito whose sting threatens them!, would you be partakers 
> of Divine
> > Wisdom or true Theosophists? Then do as the gods when incarnated 
> do. 
> > 
> > Feel yourselves the vehicles of the whole humanity, mankind as 
part 
> of
> > yourselves, and act accordingly. * * * * *"
> > 
> > These are golden words; may you assimilate them! 
> > 
> > This is the hope of one who signs herself most sincerely the 
> devoted sister
> > and servant of every true follower of the Masters of Theosophy..
> > Yours 
> fraternally,
> >  
> > H. P. BLAVATSKY. . . .
> > 
> > 
> > =================================
> > 
> > I think this gives a good idea of the basic answers that can be 
> offered.
> > 
> > You asked: (1) "is everyone here a member of the T.S???"
> > 
> > I would say not everyone.
> > 
> > (2) "...anyone who isn't? why not? "
> > 
> > Individuals do. Others do not. And none have to "belong," as 
> members, to the
> > THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.
> > 
> > Anyone can benefit from a study of THEOSOPHY, as HPB makes clear 
> above. 
> > 
> > But the practise is always a matter of individual decision.  
> Nothing can be
> > enforced. 
> > 
> > I would say (from personal observation and by reading what is 
> offered by
> > members) that in some cases, some of the THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETIES 
no 
> longer
> > teach or closely advocate the practise of that which is to be 
found 
> taught
> > by HPB in The KEY TO THEOSOPHY.  
> > 
> > Their members don't know it very well any more. In some cases it 
> (the "Key,"
> > and other original texts) has been reissued in a mutilated 
(edited) 
> form --
> > to suit the current desires and views of the "management."  
> > 
> > A review of the recent history of the THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT 
reveals 
> this
> > clearly. 
> > 
> > The "Original Texts" (both 'on line' and as books) are available 
> and anyone
> > can verify these changes by proof-reading the new versions 
against 
> the
> > originals. 
> > 
> > HPB was (and is) the real "founder" of the modern THEOSOPHICAL 
> MOVEMENT --
> > following her, a number of writers have tried to interpret her 
> writings,
> > claiming they made them more easy to understand. In so doing her 
> original
> > teachings have been changed and altered.  
> > 
> > To realize this one has to be familiar with The KEY TO THEOSOPHY, 
> The VOICE
> > OF THE SILENCE and the SECRET DOCTRINE and ISIS UNVEILED, and, of 
> course,
> > her many articles. There are no "short-cuts." 
> > 
> > Best wishes.
> > 
> > 
> > Dallas
> >  
> > ====================================\
> > 
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Alaya 
> > Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 9:36 AM
> > To: 
> > Subject: is every one a member?
> > 
> > 
> > is everyone here a member of the T.S???
> > anyone who isn't? why not?