Theos-Talk Archives (March 2005 Message tt00193)

Mar 11, 2005

RE: the "Path" of Occultism (personal experience)


Dear K and friends:

In my opinion, giving advice concerning personal and occult experiences has
dangers which depend on the extent of the knowledge of the one who makes
suggestions or offers.

If a principle can be offered, so that one who is struggling, or in pain may
consider and use it, then I would consider the advice and effort made to
help is not wasted.

I have always considered that knowledge cannot be enforced but can always be
offered as a gift. It then becomes the responsibility of the recipient who
elects to use that gift -- to employ it for righteous or unrighteous
purposes. At that point the moral equation enters, and the difference
between vice and virtue becomes obvious. The whole of jurisprudence the
world around is based on this. Our whole life's purpose is benevolent and
generous development: Brotherhood it is called, in a word. 

If we were to study THEOSOPHY and draw from it the basic ideas, we find that
they are both universal and impersonal. Those are the ones to be offered.  

If we offer advice of a purely personal nature, or narrate ones' own
experiences and experiments, there is some danger there, (as I understand
it) as those may be misunderstood, and worse, misapplied. 

Consider that we are all pupils on, and in, the great and uniformly designed
School of the Earth. It is similar to such "schools" (we are told) on all
man-bearing globes throughout the Universe. As we progress and make
application of the wisdom and knowledge we acquire, we grade ourselves. 

The survey of the history of all development in our Earth is given in the
SECRET DOCTRINE. It is not speculative, or a theory of reconstruction, but
a synopsis of actual observations made by Those who have participated in it
since its onset, millions of years ago. 

There (in the S D ) we learn that our "Teachers" are "Men-Minds" like we are
in potential. But they have graduated earlier than we, and in periods of
evolution far earlier than ours, and thus, they are called the "Mahatmas" or
"Great Souls." They extend to us the fruit of their observations,
experiments and labors.

They point to the metaphysics and the basics of evolution. They indicate
what are the rules and laws of evolution as a whole, and in all its many
divisions. Additionally, they have adduced such evidence from ancient
literature as points to the validity and universality of the information
they offer in THEOSOPHY . 

The expression of the rules and laws of the Earth and Universe, are
summarized as "brotherhood." 

They state every entity and being in the whole Universe, our World, and
ourselves -- right down to the smallest conceivable atomic or sub-atomic
structure is a "MONAD," (a life-atom.)

1	These Monads are indestructible, immortal and eternal fragments that
crowd every part of space in the single and indefinable WHOLE -- called for
lack of a better term: THE ABSOLUTE.  

2	It is said that the ABSOLUTE is indescribable and no finite mind can
encompass IT. It therefore remains "apart" from its components. As
Krishna, speaking as Maha-Vishnu the universal Preserver, says in the
BHAGAVAD GITA (Ch. X): "I establish this whole Universe with a single
portion of myself, and remain separate. I am the Ego which is seated in the
hearts of all being; I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all
existing things." 

3	It always IS, whether there is manifestation or non-manifestation.  

4	The MONADIC fragments (spontaneously arising) always ARE, whether
there is manifestation or non-manifestation.

5	The cycles of manifestation and non-manifestation succeed each other
eternally, and have for object the perfection of intelligence,
consciousness, wisdom and knowledge in each individual MONAD. Perfection
for each Monadic unit is its ability to faithfully reflect the Whole In Its
Entirety, and yet, it is not separated from IT in any way.

6	Periods of non-manifestation interpose with manifestation to provide
time an opportunity for reflection and assimilation of all the experiences
gained during the period of mass, individual activity (called
"manifestation.")

7	These conjoined successive cycles provide the necessary contrast
where self determination by a mind-being (Monad) may be developed. 

8	Self determination demands the presence of a Mind -- which is a
sensitive bridge between the ideal perfection (expressed as LAW - KARMA) of
SPIRIT -- and the emotional and instinctual response of every personalized
form composed of "MATTER," as a 'mask' for its temporary existence. It is
both a duality and a triad, as each Monad develops its own independence and
determines to reflect the WHOLE in all its choices and actions. 

9	In "manifestation" the UNIT ONE (and every Monadic fragment divides
into two contrasting poles which we call "Spirit" and Matter." [Or: the
universal knowledge of the ideal, permanent and unchanging ONE WISDOM /
CONSCIOUSNESS, and (for contrast) the concept of "isolation" as may be
related to a specific and temporary 'form.' " 

10	The one universal Law is Karma -- every choice and action produces
an equivalent reaction, morally, physically and in every relationship.

11	The progress of every mind-monad demands re-embodiment or
reincarnation -- the spending of many consecutive "lives" on Earth in
pursuit of this wisdom. Each of these lives is like a "day" at School.


12	I would offer three "truths" which seem to some of us to be basic.
By that I mean if they are considered "basic" much of the rest emerges and
builds in, around and out from them.

1.	The Universe exists and has many forms and dimensions in it.

2.	We, as units of consciousness exist. We have an individuality
rooted in permanency (like the "atom" is deemed to be an eternal, a
perpetual motion entity, engaged in its own particular vortical condition).
For all we know we might be called (as humans) atoms eternally searching for
"truth."

3.	There is a field of vast relationships and especially of
cooperation, between us (as such units) and the UNIVERSE as the illimitable
and all inclusive ONE WHOLE. 

The rest of our study may go in different directions according to the
inclinations and desires of each student. Such are important to it (each
entity) and, may include our own interests. It can be noticed that the
Universe runs according to Law and Laws -- science, for instance and our own
intimate livelihood depends on this one fact. It is cooperation and the
give and take in all aspects of living. The Earth supports us and our
living: air, water, food, clothing, shelter etc...

If, indeed the UNIVERSE is like a vast, intelligent and inter-active
School. Every one of the many kinds of units is cared for and allowed to
assume a position in which it can live, grow, enquire, think, act, and reap
the consequences. It can be held that the Universe (which is also called by
some: NATURE) seeks to establish a dynamic and harmonious balance -- these
include both similarities and differences. Hence, one can trace analogies
and correspondences everywhere.

Here are a few quotes on	

"CORE TEACHINGS " -- THEOSOPHY
==============================


The Mahatmas and HPB believe(d) there is such a thing as "Core Teachings,"
Fundamental Principles, Occult Science, Uninterrupted Teachings, Secret
Knowledge the fullness of which is in the hands of the Initiates. A small
portion of these 'Core Teachings' is given out every so often to the world
at large. 

This is why they write, for example:

 
"But even the latter [the SD], though giving out many fundamental tenets
from the SECRET DOCTRINE of the East, raise but a small corner of the dark
veil. For no one, not even the greatest living adept, would be permitted to,
or could - even if he would - give out promiscuously, to a mocking,
unbelieving world, that which has been so effectually concealed from it for
long aeons and ages." 
(SECRET DOCTRINE I xvii)
 

"Theosophy is no new candidate for the world's attention, but only the
restatement of principles which have been recognised from the very infancy
of mankind." (MAHATMA LETTERS , No 8)
 

"Every race had its adepts; and with every new race, we are allowed to give
them out as much of our knowledge as the men of that race deserve it."
(Mahatma Letters No, 23b)
 

"Every old religion is but a chapter or two of the entire volume of archaic
primeval mysteries - Eastern Occultism alone being able to boast that it is
in possession of the full secret, with its seven keys."	(SD I 318)
 

"..every religion was based on one and the same truth; which is the wisdom
found in the Books of Thoth (Hermes Trismegistus), from which books
Pythagoras and Plato had learned all their philosophy. And the doctrines of
the former he affirmed to have been identical with the earliest teachings of
the Brahmans -- now embodied in the oldest Vedas."	(ISIS I 443-444)
 
HPB writes...
 
"... what I do believe in is: 

(1), the unbroken oral teachings revealed by living "divine" men during the
infancy of mankind to the elect among men; 

(2), that it has reached us "un-altered;" and 

(3) that the MASTERS are thoroughly versed in the science based on such
uninterrupted teaching.."  
(Blavatsky: Collected Writings, vol. 11, pages 466-467)
 

"The Secret Doctrine is the accumulated Wisdom of the Ages, and its
cosmogony alone is the most stupendous and elaborate system....it is the
uninterrupted record covering thousands of generations of Seers whose
respective experiences were made to test and to verify the traditions passed
orally by one early race to another, of the teachings of higher and exalted
beings, who watched over the childhood of Humanity."	(SD I 272-3)
 

"The.Secret Doctrine will show what were the ideas of all antiquity with
regard to the primeval instructors of primitive man and his three earlier
races. The genesis of that WISDOM-RELIGION, in which all theosophists
believe, dates from that period. So-called "Occultism," or rather Esoteric
Science, has to be traced in its origin to those Beings who, led by Karma,
have incarnated in our humanity, and thus struck the key-note of that secret
Science which countless generations of subsequent adepts have expanded since
then in every age, while they checked its doctrines by personal observation
and experience. The bulk of this knowledge - which no man is able to
possess in its fullness - constitutes that which we now call Theosophy or
"divine knowledge."
(Blavatsky: COLLECTED WRITINGS Vol. X: p.166) 
 

"The mysteries of Life and Death were fathomed by the great master-minds of
antiquity; and if they have preserved them in secrecy and silence, it is
because these problems formed part of the sacred mysteries; and, secondly,
because they must have remained incomprehensible to the vast majority of men
then, as they do now." (ISIS II 451)

 
"This esotericism is the common property of all, and belongs neither to the
Aryan 5th Race, nor to any of its numerous Sub-races. It cannot be claimed
by the Turanians, so-called, the Egyptians, Chinese, Chaldeans, nor any of
the Seven divisions of the Fifth Root Race, but really belongs to the Third
and Fourth Root Races, whose descendants we find in the Seed of the Fifth,
the earliest Aryans."	(SD I 113 ) 

 
So, these core teachings / knowledge go back a long way!

Best wishes,

Dallas

================================
 
-----Original Message-----

From: Konstantin 
Sent: Friday, March 11, 2005 
To: 
Subject: Re: Path of Occultism (personal experience)

--- leon maurer @ wrote:

>>I guess a true occultist never speaks of his personal experiences..
>>if he does, he is not a real occultist
 
> Are you sure? I've met a number of occultists who spoke to me of 

---------------------------------------

Sometimes it is possible when a beginner speaks about his experiences, 
he may lose his newly-acquired faculties. Maybe it is a reason why 
some occultists never speak about it.

>> Any occultist on this list who can speak from personal knowledge?

At least, I can say from personal experience that if you're trying to 
follow buddhist and theosophical teachings it can reduce the personal 
suffering, in some extent at least. The occult principle "the less you 
say, the better" also holds good. As a rule, I talk too much and 
consequences are always negative :)