Theos-Talk Archives (December 2005 Message tt00264)

Hey Adelasie,

Glad you liked it. The photos of bonobos are very interesting; they 
really do seem to have a delicate, soulful quality compared to 
chimps. Here's a link:
http://bonoboducongo.free.fr/us/generaliteus.htm

You wrote:

> I'm assuming that the scientists you quote are working from the 
> Darwinian assumption that human beings evolved from apes.

"Assumption" is not quite the word; it's a conclusion based on 
evidence, not an a priori assumption.
snip
> 
> OK, but it makes sense to me from my pretty much theosophical POV, 
> that polarity is the nature of reality as we know it. If one is 
> considering one pole of something (an attitude, a behavior, etc.) 
he naturally calls the other pole into action. It's a bit like a 
seesaw.

Yes, that's the Jungian perspective as well. Thinking vs. feeling, 
intuition vs. sensation, always interacting in unstable equilibrium.
 
snip

> 
> In the case of Theosophy, there are
> > abundant texts that can be cited to justify dogmatic aggression on
> > behalf (allegedly) of the Masters or their agent HPB.  
> 
> When I first read this sentence I thought you were saying there are 
> texts written by HPB or the Masters which seek to justify dogmatic 
> agression.

Not that seek to do so, but that are easily twisted to that purpose 
by dogmatic aggressive people.

But upon rereading I get that you are referring to things 
> written by others. Is that right?
> 
No, I mean the source texts. Theos-talk is a good example. Some 
participants continually frame discussions of HPB and Theosophy as 
being unique, special, superior, above reproach, yada yada compared to
everything else. "Mine's better than yours" is inherently dogmatic 
and aggressive. You can find lines like "our doctrine being the only 
true one" and many others like it in the literature. You can also 
find "no religion higher than truth." Which gets noticed depends on 
who does the noticing.

> 
> As though it were predetermined, a sort of result of which branch 
of the post ape evolution one belongs to? A chilling thought, that. 
> 
I just meant it as a personality trait, not a genetic inheritance.  

> I have limited exposure to different theosophical organizations so 
> can't really say anything about them. My experience, limited as it 
> is, suggests to me that there are all sorts of people everywhere I 
> go. 

Sure, but some settings are more conflict-ridden than others and give 
more opportunity for mischief. Cyberspace, as you suggested, is 
a "place" with abundant opporunities for showing the less noble human 
traits. Yet there are also fora online that are very bonobo-like, 
supportive, respectful. It takes moderation though!

Happy holidays,

Paul