Theos-Talk Archives (August 2005 Message tt00244)

Jerry, 

You wrote:

"My position is that any teaching that makes for a 
better human being is a good teaching for that person, 
whether that teaching contradicts HPB or not."

I don't know if you are trying to limit the definition
of "any teaching" to only Theosophical teachings or not,
but what you say although it makes sense on one level,
on another level it also makes little sense.

For example, my cousin is a member of the Jehovah's
Witnesses. I think that those JW teachings have made
my cousin a better human being. So by your definition,
I guess those teachings are "good" for my cousin....

But are the JW teachings true? Do they have any basis
in reality? Is Jesus Christ literally coming to earth
to establish his kingdom?? etc. etc.

I have a friend who is in Eckankar. I think the Eck
teachings have made my friend a better person....and
maybe therefore the teachings are "good" for my friend....but so 
what? 

There are literally hundreds if not thousands of diverse and 
contradictory teachings [including what we will call anti-
theosophical teachings]out there in various religions, cults, 
new age movements, etc. that probably make people "better" people, 
more giving, more moral, etc., etc.

HPB even speaks of similar people:

"WERE it possible, we would keep this work out of the hands of many 
Christians whom its perusal would not benefit, and for whom it was 
not written. We allude to those whose faith in their respective 
churches is pure and sincere, and those whose sinless lives reflect 
the glorious example of that Prophet of Nazareth...These have 
ennobled Christianity, but would have shed the same lustre upon any 
other faith they might have professed -- for they were higher than 
their creed...They are to be found at this day, in pulpit and pew, 
in palace and cottage....Their charity, and simple, child-like faith 
in the infallibility of their Bible, their dogmas, and their clergy, 
bring into full activity all the virtues that are implanted in our 
common nature. We have personally known such God-fearing priests and 
clergymen, and we have always avoided debate with them, lest we 
might be guilty of the cruelty of hurting their feelings; nor would 
we rob a single layman of his blind confidence, if it alone made 
possible for him holy living and serene dying." Isis Unveiled, Vol. 
II, preface.

So by your definition, even these orthodox Christian teachings 
would be deemed "good teachings" for those people.

But in the same preface, HPB goes on to say:

"The clergy apart, none but the logician, the investigator, the 
dauntless explorer should meddle with books like this. Such delvers 
after truth have the courage of their opinions."

Seems to me she is appealing to DELVERS AFTER TRUTH. I would think 
this is the kind of person she was hoping to attract to her writings.

Are students of Theosophy DELVERS AFTER TRUTH or ......????

Daniel