Theos-Talk Archives (May 2005 Message tt00486)

May 18 2005

RE: Fundamentalism as a point of discussion?

Dear Perry:

"Fundamentalism" to me implies the use of basic ideas from which the small
details of present operations, and a future continuity are always derived. 

The mindset of a true fundamentalist is to assist everyone around him.  

It is also educative since it demands that the basic ideas of life and of
progress be known and discussed. In this way it is generous, kind and also
tolerant. 

It makes no demands on anyone else than ones' lower self. It is not
judgmental.

In effect, it means we operate from the same shared planes and ideas of
knowledge -- some call it truth, others may call it virtue.  

It then serves to abridge lengthy explanations. 

But in no way ought it to imply that free-thought is to be limited. Nor
does it imply we ought to be continually judging others and their motives.
It should never encourage any kind of prejudice. 


What are we humans? : Thinkers ! At least at 3 levels:

1	we have memories of what has happened, [ Past ]

2	we observe now, and	[ Present ]	

3	we think of alternatives on which we will base our decisions.
[ Future ]


If we seek to put everyone into the same straight-jacket it results in
failure. That is (I believe) because THINKING has not been taught
systematically.

THEOSOPHY as I see it, points always to the ever-acting law of Karma. Karma
provides freedom for everyone and everything. We are always dealing with
immortal Monads whose independence cannot be limited. How do we make
adjustments is the real question to ask.

What then is "black and white" -- Motive. The reason why anyone does
anything. It is either selfish and isolating, or it is impersonally generous
and universally kind. I think this definition is the great stumbling-block.
We have not been trained to think in that direction. But there are good
reasons for it. 

In the survey of evolution given by THEOSOPHY it is shown that the Universe
is made up of innumerable "life-atoms." ( Monads -- consisting of
permanently united SPIRIT / MATTER / MIND minute elements) . These elements
are immortals -- they do not die but continually progress, ever moving all
together forward, as they learn through experience. Eventually, over
millions of years, each such "life-atom"/ monad becomes independent as a
"feeler," as a "thinker" and finally as a Human. 

There, as in all of us, emotion and thought co-exist closely. Our present
task is apparently to discover how to separate these two and make good use
of them. They are our tools and not our masters. On this one point most
psychologists have trouble.  

It is because of this that THEOSOPHY teaches the difference between the
Lower and Higher Self. In an ancient illustration the Higher Self was
compared to a bird sitting at the top of the Tree of Life. Below it, it
brother, a second bird lives and eats the fruits of living. The lower bird
lives and works and as it meets problems, it asks for the advice of the
Superior bird who has acquired the wisdom of experience and Perfection. 

But for us, looking at our present -- all as humans, the journey to
Perfection is now only half done. The more difficult aspect begins. The
"feeling nature" has realise that the "thinking nature" is its friend and
not its enemy. Both depend on each other. 

The rest of the effort as the Lower Mind is led upward, will have to be
actively guided by the intelligent thought and control of the Human-Monad
for itself in the company of all the rest. We are at the beginning stage of
this effort. We live in emotional, sensitive and "feeling" forms. In
effect we have created them by drawing together compatible assistants in the
form of the many "life-atoms" of lesser experience. We have become their
guides and teachers. They depend on us, and as we make choices, they alter
and adopt them.  

It is for this reason that "bad choices" have to be first identified by us,
and then avoided. We mold those "lesser experienced monads," and they,
attached to us, become the carriers of the "bad Karma" we have imposed on
them by those molds. [ And similarly, it works in the reverse way for
"good" Karma.] 

This is the reason for drawing attention to virtue as motive vs. vice as
selfishness. Every great religious reformer of whatever age has said this. 

What effect should this information have on us ? 

This means the smallest atom and the wisest Mahatma are actually differences
in degree of knowledge, function and WISDOM. The will to improve is made
active and paramount. It works only through open cooperation and selfless
interaction. We have to decide to live impersonally for all. Thus we help
and are helped in return. 

The atoms work with each other according to general laws of attraction and
repulsion that are innate to their quality. The function of all atoms and
forms is to aggregate (as skandhas) and provide vehicles for higher
intelligences to reside therein. There is compatibility between these
aggregations and the single Monad which serves as a central point for them
-- It is that which we call: "I" in us.  

It has among other duties one that is automatic -- to help and arouse in
them a higher degree of intelligence and consciousness while they are doing
their duties each in its own way. Thus improvement is cooperative and a
constant effort. 

For such an enormous Universe as ours the nature of cooperative assistance
is a vita one -- as the amalgamation and the assimilation of every Monad
with the rest is continuous.  

The lines of force and of benevolence or of opposition run all through
Nature. Which will we choose to assist? 

Best wishes,

Dallas
 
================================
-----Original Message-----
From: Perry Coles
Sent: Monday, May 16, 2005 9:19 PM
To: 
Subject: Fundamentalism as a point of discussion?

Hi All,

The word fundamentalist is a word that immediately evokes fear in 
people's minds.

As a point of discussion perhaps it may be helpful to discuss what do 
we mean by fundamentalist.

What is it about fundamentalism that makes it dangerous and against 
freedom?

What types of mindsets do fundamentalists have?

How can theosophy help in a world that seems fixated with black and 
white concepts and simplistic beliefs?


Perry