Theos-Talk Archives (May 2005 Message tt00636)

Morten,
Theosophical Society does not have official definition of Theosophy. 
Theosophy includes everything. Theos means God and Sophia means 
wisdom. So Theosophy literally means wisdom of the God or Bramhavidya.
However TS considers Theosophy as all wisdom in the world. That 
includes sciences, religions, philosophies etc. So even if sometimes 
for convenience Atmavidya word might be used for Theosophy, one 
should not consider it limited to spiritual teaching. 

Blavatsky used words and sentences loosely many times, so her 
definitions and statements should not be considered as standard.
Blavatsky's definition as given by you "basis of the various 
teachings, which forms what we can call - Theosophy " means one 
esoteric teaching behind all religions. This is also comparatively 
narrow definition. Fact is there is no perfect word in Sanskrit for 
Theosophy, nearest are Atmavidya or Bramhavidya. So sometimes these 
words are used. 
Leadbeater or Besant did not use word Atmavidya regularly, though 
sometimes they have. They always used the word Theosophy- meaning 
vast, all-inclusive science.
I don't think LCC used word Atmavidya. TS is not connected to LCC or 
any other religious organizations. LCC likes Theosophy and so they 
spread that teaching, they are free to do so. But TS can not connect 
itself to any religion or LCC. According to TS all religions are 
given by Great Teachers or Rishis in Occult Hierarchy for guiding 
humanity or large parts of it. So TS respects all religions and 
religious organizations but does not associate itself exclusively 
with any one.
Anand Gholap


--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "M. Sufilight" <global-
theosophy@s...> wrote:
> Hallo Anand and all,
> 
> My views are:
> 
> 
> Thanks for your answer.
> 
> But the in the quote by Blavatsky I emailed in my previous email
> (An excerpt taken from this link : 
> 
http://www.blavatsky.net/blavatsky/arts/OccultismVersusTheOccultArts.h
tm )
> Blavatsky is not defining "AtmaVidya" as being the same 
as "Theosophy".
> She is defining it as the basis of the various teachings, which 
forms what 
> we can call - Theosophy.
> 
> So who is confusing who?
> 
> I have searched a long time for information on how The Liberal 
Catholic 
> Church
> can be said to use the AtmaVidya teachings mentioned by Blavatsky
> in the above link. I have never gotten a answer from any at TS 
Adyar about 
> this.
> Maybe no answer - also is an answer. I think so.
> Do you also think so Anand?
> 
> It is not that I do not respect that some people has done what they 
meant 
> was the right thing to do.
> But, I cannot not support something, - which is not build on a rock.
> I ask as a theosophical friend - Where - is Leadbeaters Liberal 
Catholic 
> Church teaching us about AtmaVidya as defined by Blavatsky?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> from
> M. Sufilight
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Anand Gholap" <AnandGholap@A...>
> To: <theos-talk@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, May 23, 2005 8:24 PM
> Subject: Theos-World Re:Those who study Blavatsky's writing become 
> fundamentalists
> 
> 
> > Morten,
> >> Anand wrote:
> >> "Special thing about modern
> >> > Theosophical movement is Annie Besant and Leadbeater gave IN
> > DETAIL
> >> > EXPLAINATION of laws of Nature."
> >>
> >> If we ask ourselves just one rethoric question:
> >>
> >> Where do Annie Besant and Leadbeater give out teachings on 
AtmaVidya
> >> in detail using Blavatsky's definition of AtmaVidya / 
BrahmaVidya /
> >> ParaVidya?
> >
> > Terminology was standardised in order to avoid confusion. These 
were
> > called later mostly as Theosophy. Teaching is in many books but I
> > would recommend reading Introduction to Yoga by AB.
> >
> >
> >>
> >> Here is one place where Besant is doing quite well.
> >>
> >> It is true that Annie Besant wrote or held lectures about the 
isse.
> >> The following is helpful to students:
> >> "Theosophy and the Theosophical Society" BY Annie Besant
> >> http://www.anandgholap.net/Theosophy_And_TS-AB.htm
> >> (She also wrote a book named "The Wisdom of the Upanishads")
> >>
> >
> >>
> >> I didn't find anything by Leadbeater on AtmaVidya, BrahmaVidya or
> > ParaVidya.
> >
> > They use word Theosophy for these.
> >
> >>
> >> Instead a lot of problems surrounding Leadbeater keep popping up
> >
> >> http://www.anandgholap.net/KH_Letter_To_CWL.htm
> >> The year it was revceived is not given. Maybe someone could
> >> help us on that one.)
> >
> > I added year. It was when he just joined TS. And one more letter 
is
> > also there.
> > Anand Gholap
> >
> >
> >
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message ----- 
> >> From: "Anand Gholap" <AnandGholap@A...>
> >> To: <theos-talk@yahoogroups.com>
> >> Sent: Sunday, May 22, 2005 8:12 PM
> >> Subject: Theos-World Re:Those who study Blavatsky's writing 
become
> >> fundamentalists
> >>
> >>
> >> >
> >> >> > Another thing is CWL and AB have shown problems in 
Blavatsky's
> >> >> > writing in their usual polite manner. If you have read their
> >> >> writings let me know where these have come. Otherwise read 
again
> >> >> carefully in case you want to know them.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> They attempted to make complex teachings more available to a
> > wider
> >> >> readership, and if they succeeded in this or not is for 
anyone to
> >> >> judge. They may have seen certain topics differently from her,
> > but as
> >> >> I said before the essence of their contribution upholds the 
core
> >> >> principles as presented by HPB: the unity of all life, the
> > lawfulness
> >> >> of the universe and the evolutionary pilgrimage for every soul
> >> >> towards full Self-identity.
> >> >
> >> > These basic principles were known for centuries. They are in
> > Vedas,
> >> > Upanishads, Shankaracharya's writing and writings of many 
yogis.
> >> > Blavatsky does not deserve credit for that. Special thing about
> > modern
> >> > Theosophical movement is Annie Besant and Leadbeater gave IN
> > DETAIL
> >> > EXPLAINATION of laws of Nature. Greatness of TS is it gave
> > details,
> >> > broad principles were known for centuries but never written in
> > such
> >> > details and given to world.
> >> >
> >> > Anand Gholap
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >