Theos-Talk Archives (May 2005 Message tt00095)

Yeah..
Perhaps we all need to widen our historical horizon a tiny bit.
I just read this one...
http://theosophy.org/tlodocs/hpb/NotesOnSomeAryan-ArhatEsotericTenets.htm

"
II.

The Vedas, Brâhmanism, and along with these Sanskrit, were importations 
into what we now regard as India. They were never indigenous to its soil. 
There was a time when the ancient nations of the West included under the 
generic name of India many of the countries of Asia now classified under 
other names. There was an Upper, a Lower, and a Western India, even during 
the comparatively late period of Alexander; and Persia, Iran, is called 
Western India in some ancient classics, and the countries now named Tibet, 
Mongolia, and Great Tartary were considered as forming part of India. When 
we say, therefore, that India has civilized the world and was the Alma Mater 
of the civilizations, arts and sciences of all other nations (Babylonia, and 
perhaps even Egypt, included), we mean archaic, prehistoric India, India of 
the time when the great Gobi was a sea, and the lost Atlantis formed part of 
an unbroken continent which began at the Himâlayas and ran down over 
Southern India, Ceylon, Java, to far-away Tasmania.


III.

To ascertain such disputed questions [as to whether or not the Tibetan 
adepts are acquainted with the "esoteric doctrine taught by the residents of 
the sacred Island"], we have to look into and study well the Chinese sacred 
and historical records a people whose era begins nearly 4,600 years back 
(2697 B.C.). A people so accurate by whom some of the most important 
'-inventions" of modern Europe and its so much boasted modern science (such 
as the compass, gunpowder, porcelain, paper, printing, etc.), were 
anticipated, known, and practised thousands of years before these were 
rediscovered by the Europeans ought to receive some trust for their records.

> From Lao-tze down to Hiouen-Thsang their literature is filled with 
allusions and references to that Island and the wisdom of the Himâlayan 
adepts. In the Catena of Buddhist Scriptures from the Chinese, by the Rev. 
Samuel Beal, there is a chapter "On the Tian-Ta'i School of Buddhism " (pp. 
244-258), which our opponents ought to read. Translating the rules of that 
most celebrated and holy school and sect in China founded by Chin-che-chay, 
called the wise one, in the year 575 of our era, on coming to the sentence, 
"That which relates to the one garment (seamless) worn by the Great Teachers 
of the Snowy Mountains, the school of the Haimavatas" (p. 256), the European 
translator places after it a sign of interrogation, as well he may. The 
statistics of the school of the Haimavatas or of our Himâlayan Brotherhood, 
are not to be found in the General Census Records of India. Further, Mr. 
Beal translates a rule relating to "the great professors of the higher order 
who live in mountain depths remote from men," the Âranyakas, or hermits.

So, with respect to the traditions concerning this Island, and apart 
from the (to them) historical records of it preserved in the Chinese and 
Tibetan Sacred Books, the legend is alive to this day among the people of 
Tibet. The fair Island is no more, but the country where it once bloomed 
remains there still, and the spot is well known to some of the "great 
teachers of the snowy mountains," however much convulsed and changed its 
topography may have been by the awful cataclysm. Every seventh year these 
teachers are believed to assemble in Scham-bha-la, the "happy land." 
According to the general belief it is situated in the north-west of Tibet. 
Some place it within the unexplored central regions, inaccessible even to 
the fearless nomadic tribes; others hem it in between the range of the 
Gangdisri Mountains and the northern edge of the Gobi Desert, south and 
north, and the more populated regions of Khoondooz and Kashmir, of the 
Gya-Pheling (British India) and China, west and east, which affords to the 
curious mind a pretty large latitude to locate it in. Others still place it 
between Namur Nur and the Kuen-Lun Mountains but one and all firmly believe 
in Scham-bha-la, and speak of it as a fertile, fairy-like land, once an 
island, now an oasis of incomparable beauty, the place of meeting of the 
inheritors of the esoteric wisdom of the god-like inhabitants of the 
legendary Island."


These continous exchanges in the below and elsewhere of who was first - "The 
chicken or the egg?" -
reminds me of the Seekers who are mistaking the content for being the 
container.
And who like a good dispute more than they do good wisdom.
<:-)
(Me and my egg-head. Smile.)

Wise theosophical Teaching has to be performed according to time place, 
people and circumstances.
If a teacher who has passed away was a non-vegtarian and a smoker,
there could be a social reason for that.
If a teacher was a vegetarian and a non-smoker, who all in all promoted
an emotional almost non-AtmaVidya-like doctrine, there could be reasons for 
that as well.

What teaching, which would be proper to promote today might be something 
quite different - it depends upon
the audience - and yes - time, even timesequences, place, people and 
circumstances - and so on.

And when we just keep retelling the same story - by quoting dead authors -
the Seekers know, that they get a second best, - and that this is not
as real as a first hand account.
The fruits yielded are because of that somewhat small in size.
We will have to face these facts.



from
M. Sufilight


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Anand Gholap" <AnandGholap@AnandGholap.org>
To: <theos-talk@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2005 1:36 PM
Subject: Theos-World Re:Annie Besant was real founder of the TS


> Olcott and Blavatsky were technically founders of the TS. However when
> they were in-charge there was not much acceptance of Theosophy nor was
> it internationally recognized organization. Blavatsky was told not to
> look into administration. She wrote some 3-4 books. Compare it with
> Annie Besant's work. Besant wrote some 300 books, she was incharge of
> ES and administration of the Theosophical Society. Under her
> leadership
> Theosophical Society became truly international organization with
> recognition in many countries. Vast high quality literature was
> written
> when she was leader which was appreciated around the world. Blavatsky
> became famous not because of her writing but because Annie Besant made
> TS internationally reputed organization and Blavatsky was technically
> founder of it. So little fame which Blavatsky has is to much extent
> due
> to work of Annie Besant.
> So although Annie Besant did not sign papers when TS was incorporated,
> practically Annie Besant was founder of the Theosophical Society.
> Anand Gholap
>
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