Theos-Talk Archives (October 2005 Message tt00114)

10/21/2005 4:09 AM

RE: Various Theosophical Traditions ...

Dear Friends:

Suppose we look at the whole instead of the "cracks?" 


Are we so sure we can write a SECRET DOCTRINE ?

Can we produce, unaided, a philosophy as all-encompassing as THEOSOPHY ? 

In my view we are pigmies in mind, learning the ABCs of independent
thinking. 

If we deem ourselves able to criticize, what is our basis?

Can we SYNTHESIZE ? [Can we draw in all the factors we perceive and make of
them a working model? ]

Can we give meaning and purpose to our Universe?

Are we able to apprehend its purpose and our roles?

What are our "tools" at present for this incarnation?

How do we lay them out, and how can we value their capacity and growth? What
standards exist or are able to be matched?

What are their equivalents and opposite faculties?

How do we distinguish and employ them?


May I say that I have noticed that THEOSOPHY teaches:


1	The spiritual unity of all beings makes a single Universe and all
Nature -- in effect it is DEITY. We are a part of IT and IT is a part of
us.  

These two aspects of Nature we may designate: SPIRIT and MATERIAL FORMS.  

These are no doubt at polar opposites, seemingly, yet, they are forever
united.  

The third aspect of the Universe is MIND -- it is mid-way between SPIRIT and
FORMS of matter, and is able therefore, to balance and observe in them their
many kinds of interactions. The mind evolves plans of action and
development, and these, to be fair to all, have to be "lawful." [ We can
demonstrate this to ourselves by choosing any example, and carrying out its
sequence of interaction mentally to a satisfactory joint conclusion that
unites and does away with annoying, shocking or adverse "differences." ]

Both the spiritual Unit and the material Unit are immortal entities (says
THEOSOPHY ) and in universal symbology they are represented by the marriage
of SPIRIT and MATTER. Of these two are born a "son": the MIND -- and this
is able by observation and reflection to develop wisdom -- or a knowledge of
LAW and LAWS. 

We may say of Spirit that it is the "Ideal." Of Matter, we may say it
provides all the vast diversity of forms in which "Spirit" lives and acts.
Mind, the 3rd aspect of the Universe, provides the laws of cooperation and
interaction, so that the many diverse forms can co-exist. [ Anyone who has
studied a little of mathematics, chemistry, physics, engineering, biology,
music, poetry or astronomy will recognize that these living areas and
sciences could not have any value if they did not detect and define the LAWS
already established there by Nature / the Universe / or, DEITY -- of which
we are a part. ] 

Possibly, the reason we so readily accept the idea of "chaos" is we do not
fully see the many links we are part of in time and space -- of how "causes"
(or our and others' choices) lead to "exact results" and effects that work
for or against us. The difference between "good" and "bad," while sensed, is
not clear. To connect the two is often impossible for us. 

I find THEOSOPHY, as a philosophy and a science, clears this up by declaring
that any choice or action that does not take others (and their well being)
into account is selfish and usually "bad." For this reason it declares that
our motives and reactions to situations ought to be impersonal and
impartial, thus we cease from being personally "selfish," and do "good." 

2	The Universe supports the whole of living Nature by accurate and
responsive laws. These provide for on-going cooperation and living, and are
equal for all (because we are immortals -- this is a UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD
!) as an ideal concept.  

There is no "chaos" in that. Science, in its investigations, finds LAW and
LAWS everywhere. The Universe, and we, cannot live without them. It
declares that the basic "atoms" are eternally in motion and alive -- hence,
to them, the forever interacting of "life-atoms" (monads) is intelligent,
essential to on-going life, and meaningful.

3	The purpose of the Universe and Nature (says THEOSOPHY) is to
gradually educate all its intelligent components -- to understand these
concepts and practice them. We as humans -- as mind beings -- are in the
middle of this process. 

This may seem extraordinary, because it is so vast and all-inclusive. But
when we consider that every such component (monad) is co-existent with all
the rest, and each is as indestructible and as ancient as the whole; we are
dealing not only with ourselves (as Monads that have reached the mental
stage of evolution) but with all the rest of those intelligent monads that
compose the mineral, vegetable, animal, human and super-human divisions of
nature. 

Many who are interested in THEOSOPHY may have not yet read through The KEY
TO THEOSOPHY and noted how this unified philosophy explains this, and every
other aspect of living. Hence, the concept of chaos prevails -- even when
observation and logic show that cannot be true.  

How could any of us live for an instant if "chaos" truly prevailed? Since
we are alive and remember our past, there is at least a law of continuity.
And where does that come from? What can we do with a knowledge of it? 

Such a consideration leads to the teachings of:

1	Soul immortality,

2	reincarnation,

3	perfectibility of all Monads and humans,

4	there are Wise And Sagacious Men who remain with mankind as their
Teachers, for all there is 

5	a goal that some have designated: The SUPREME PERFECTION of WISDOM. 

6	These ideas and facts lead to an understanding of Karma -- the Law
of moral compensation, 

7	and the suggestion that we carefully and always examine our motives
before putting our decisions into action.  

No one in their right mind would invite for themselves future suffering and
pain -- so why give those any basis for existence by making selfish choices?


Best wishes, 

Dallas

======================================= 

-----Original Message-----

From: S.F.

Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2005 11:19 AM
To: 
Subject: Various Theosophical Traditions ...

Daniel wrote:

>>The important question I want to ask and bring to the discussion is:
What should inquirers and new students to Theosophy believe about all
these claims? And remember there are OTHER claims (e.g. those of Alice
Bailey, Helen Roerich, etc.).<<

In brief - my thoughts are:

There is a crack in everything. No "Teaching" is perfect. Language is
not suited to metaphysics. We only have fragments of perfection, such
as: "The Eightfold Path."

I have been a hard seeking student of Theo-philosophy for about sixty
years. What we can learn form books is as nothing compared to what we
can learn from experience. We must focus on union with Spirit - our
Spirit-man in the Monad-wheel. From there we can learn what we need to know.

Regarding Alice Bailey and Helena Roerich I wish to say: Both did a
good work and tried hard. But they did not always know when they were
right and wrong and therefore asserted statements to be true that
were not. Students of Alice Bailey should read here writings in the
first edition. Important sentences have been omitted from the early
books. About Helena we should notice, that the writings of Helena
Roerich change in quality after death of Nicholas Roerich.

Best wishes

Sveinn Freyr