Theos-Talk Archives (May 2005 Message tt00125)

I think there is more to it than just the user's intent; here's my opinion:

A practicing occultist usually can find 2 (or more) techniques to
achieve the same result; one would be a "lower path" and another the
"higher path". You differentiate between the two, because the higher
path is often harder to achieve, but is more reliable in the terms of
effectiveness.

For instance, if someone just used a form of telepathy that they were
gifted with at birth, it might not be as effective as if someone
properly trained their senses to be able to use the ability. Also, the
training involved would probably increase one's self-awareness, which
is why I labeled it the higher path.

If not, can one's need for self-validation spoil their intent?
Example, if I wanted to use telepathy just to see if it does in fact
work?


-Mark H.

On 5/3/05, W.Dallas TenBroeck <dalval14@earthlink.net> wrote:
> May 3 2005
> 
> Dear Friend Mark and others:
> 
> Re: SORCERY vs. ADEPTSHIP
> 
> TELEPATHY, ASTRAL TRAVEL, etc.
> 
> I find that THEOSOPHY teaches that the dividing line between sorcery and
> adeptship lies in motive.
> 
> Broadly: The occult powers and forces are all present in Nature, they are
> the same. Like the Laws of nature, they exist and are invariable, but the
> reason for using them by an individual who has Knowledge depends on motive
> and therefore the results will differ.
> 
> The question is of selfishness and isolation, vs cooperation and mutual
> assistance.
> 
> In other words: The individual who has such Knowledge is faced with the
> basic question:
> 
> We either live in a Universe of invariable laws, or we do not.
> 
> We either receive the exact effect for any cause we generate, or we do not.
> 
> The problem revolves around consciousness, and particularly of
> self-consciousness.
> 
> It then proceeds to ask us: Are you considering your ultimate future?
> 
> Some may ask: Can we, in hiding, perform acts that may bring harm to others
> and somehow avoid the recoil of Nature upon ourselves? Intuitively, we
> always know we will have to either receive "good" or "bad" Karma from all
> our choices. We all have some intuitive sense of Nature's just and fair
> response. We accept our independence, but many do not realize that
> "responsibility" is entailed thereby.
> 
> This condition of perception, anticipation, choice, is defined by some asa
> portion of the innate Monadic mental faculty. And, of the powers of the
> Mind, this includes the capacity to (in mental reflection and consideration)
> perceive ones' self as a "unit," and also, as a member of a host, or massof
> similar units. The Monad (conjoined SPIRIT-MATTER) is deemed to be an
> IMMORTAL and lives associated with many more of its kind.
> 
> The need of the mass is also deemed to be superior to any one unit, and
> thus, the concept of cooperative self-sacrifice arises. [ Is this true? ]
> 
> But the Unit, being immortal, has only a portion of its life-span to offer
> for this purpose, as an exercise of its own "free-will."
> 
> As NATURE (the UNIVERSE and our Earth) is seen to be graded into several
> effective levels of awareness, consciousness and action, we consider:
> (1) Mineral, (2) vegetable, (3) animal and (4) human to be known examplesof
> these categories.
> 
> A fifth category appears to exist: (5) the "super-human " -- where it is
> apparent that there exists a group of "graduates from the 'School of Life'
> (gifted by study and self-effort) with various degrees of an advanced
> knowledge of Nature's laws.
> 
> This, if correct, then permits such individuals to act in harmony and
> equilibrium with their peers, so as to act with what appears to the average
> man, as extraordinary powers. [ We find a parallel to this in our advanced
> educational academies all over the world, such as Universities -- there the
> professors and their staff, not only embody Knowledge as memory, and an urge
> to discover more, but use and diffuse it by teaching, coordinating
> discoveries and actions, and, finally, by applying it for the general good
> of people around them. ]
> 
> This field of deeper and superior knowledge [ of which some aspects -- such
> as telepathy, clairvoyance, apportation, and seership -- are examples ] has
> been given by some the designation: the fields of "occultism," or of
> "esotericism."
> 
> The literature of THEOSOPHY points to these facts and offers explanationsin
> line with universal Laws.
> 
> One may trace the presentation of THEOSOPHY, starting with H. P. Blavatsky's
> ISIS UNVEILED (1877). There psychic, and religious phenomena, were
> considered with the Science of that time.
> 
> Study and questions arising therefrom brought monthly magazines such as
> THEOSOPHIST, PATH and LUCIFER into being. These contained additional
> explanations.
> 
> Finally, eleven years later, the SECRET DOCTRINE (1888) was issued so as to
> expose an outline of the lore and records preserved by the Adept Brotherhood
> of Mankind. There one may trace logic and philosophy, aspects of the occult
> esoteric Science, along with the history of Earth's "creation" -- the
> evolution of individual intelligence, its successes and dangers; all this,
> over immense periods of time, leading to the establishing and seating of the
> individual MIND in each member of our mankind, and thereafter, educational
> efforts to bring it into our present time.
> 
> It necessitated the presentation of the facts (reposing in the secret
> libraries of the Ancient Occult School) concerning the "creation,"
> re-awakening and guidance of evolutionary trends in three distinct areas on
> our Earth (physical, psychic and spiritual -- S D I, 181-2), and, by
> analogy, implied to be featured similarly on many worlds. Finally, there is
> demonstrated a process of a progressive development of Intelligence in the
> kingdoms of nature, culminating in Man where the gift of the Mind has made
> him individually independent.
> 
> These are all areas THEOSOPHY covers and explains to be the actual progress
> of humanity seen and recorded by these deathless Sages.
> 
> Returning to application.
> 
> If one considers primarily that one is entitled to use any advantage solely
> for ones' self -- and usually at the expense of others, then morally it is
> vicious and, "bad" Karma inevitably results. As we are deathless Monads,
> the "memory" of similar failures, previously made, remains impacted in our
> Buddhi (Pure Matter), and it warns us (via the Voice of Conscience) prior
> to decision making, if we are likely to repeat an error of choice.
> 
> Nature is essentially and spiritually cooperative and works, as eternally
> life-supporting, for the general assistance of mankind and all beings
> involved in evolution. It considers that the smallest life- unit involvedis
> a "life-atom" or a "monad" in which is conjoined SPIRIT and MATTER.
> 
> "MIND" (sometimes called "Soul") is that medial faculty within the Monad
> that enables the perception of these polar attitudes of life and living.
> Every human is considered to be an immortal Mind-soul in evolution.
> 
> Since each of these life-atoms is an immortal entity and cannot be killedor
> destroyed. [Science recognizes this intuitively, and as an actual necessity
> for explaining the invariable laws of physical nature], it is a faculty of
> every "atom," as an entity in perpetual motion and capable of receiving and
> recording impressions at many levels.
> 
> It is posited that the universal purpose of all manifestation is the
> elevating of each such monadic unit to a full knowledge and understandingof
> its environment -- the UNIVERSE and its laws and purposes. The "Goal" has
> been called by some: "Supreme Perfection," or, "All Knowingness."
> 
> These are the basic conditions of each living Soul-mind that make it evident
> that virtuous living is the only sure, certain and secure method and an
> attitude of careful attention to every detail of life is to be maintained.
> 
> Best wishes,
> 
> Dallas
> 
> ========================
> -----Original Message-----
> 
> From: Mark Hamilton Jr.
> Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2005 10:10 AM
> To: Theosophy
> Subject: Question for Occultists
> 
> Was telepathy ever considered an act of sorcery if not properly
> learned? For instance, if someone found they were naturally telepathic
> and they attempted to delve into it further without first attuning
> their senses, would that be considered sorcery?
> 
> The reason I ask is because I know this was true for other "gifts"
> that people indulged upon, such as astral travel, and was not
> tolerated by the masters unless it was properly learned.
> 
> Usually there is a two-fold path when you train in occultism; a lower
> method that achieves a similar result, and a higher method that's much
> more effective and reliable. So I'm going to make an educated guess
> and say that it would be the lower path, and not generally tolerated
> by the Masters.
> 
> -Mark H.
> 
> 
> Yahoo! Groups Links
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 


-- 
Mark Hamilton Jr.
waking.adept@gmail.com