Theos-Talk Archives (March 2006 Message tt00512)

CONTINUED.

 

 

March 11, 2006

 

As far as I can see there is no "feud" between U  L  T  and "Adyar."

 

There is merely a confrontation of documentary evidence with nonsense and
moonshine.  Anyone can perceive this when accurate historical documents are
compared. 

 

There is no attempt to 'personalize' anything, or 'attack' the reputation of
anyone.  We all live or perish (morally) according to what we do and say --
and to clear the air thoroughly, we need only invite all who wish to do so,
to inquire specifically into the recorded history of the THEOSOPHICAL
MOVEMENT.

 

This ought to be done through the documents, and those by now are open and
available to all who desire to spend time finding out what actually happened
and who said what.

 

However none of us can alter the past.  So rather than spend time seeking to
justify choices we made, in my opinion it is better to drop those into the
duct-gathering files of experience and proceed to advance .

 

Let all gather together and study THEOSOPHY together.  Thus we may avoid
credal and sectarian interpretations that have interposed themselves between
our present study and their words of the TEACHERS.  

 

Let us say:  

 

1)         what did the Masters or HPB write and say?  What subjects?  What
does THEOSOPHY as a doctrine and history actually cover ?

 

2)         How do I understand these?

 

3)         How do my fellow students and friends now understand these?

 

4)         Are there differences?   Can those be determined, isolated and
resolved?

 

 

 

Let us look at the historic effort of Col. Olcott who endeavored to
reconcile the various schools of Buddhism on such facts and fundamentals as
all could accept.  

 

But we find there is a precedent available to which a 'model,' or an effort
for the present bodies that use the word THEOSOPHY can emulate.

 

Since it is difficult to achieve a complete consensus from "bodies" of
students, is it not easier to secure the attention and response of
individual students in manners that do not impair their current adhesions
and past positions, official or unofficial? 

 

Basically, [it seems to me] we are all students of various degrees, and our
respect (if any) for THEOSOPHY,  and our own freedom and independence,
provide us with our individual "positions."

 

A non-denominational situation exists, and can be used or not, as each
pleases.  But, please, one does not "feud" with facts or truths - or do we ?


 

Best wishes,  

 

Dallas

 

-----------------------------

 

PS:  

            I write this [on a basis that I understand to be accurate]
because there appears to be some continuing misunderstandings about the
non-denominational:  U  L  T.

 

It [UNITED LODGE OF THEOSOPHISTS ] is NOT an "organization;" nor does it
have "members."  It is formed of independent "associates," from whom no
questions are asked, and from whom no duties (other than those they select
for themselves) are required.

 

It exists, to provide on the matter of THEOSOPHY, a firm and clear "consider
the ORIGINALS" --  so all can check those original documents individually,
and independently, without the burden of any other's opinions or coercion.


 

Personally, I see little value in tying up what little energy we all have in
trying to repair the past actions and the supposed opinions of several
bodies of students - lets get on with the future.

 

  Let us, all together, elevate the flag of   THEOSOPHY.  [The most ancient
SANATANA DHARMA - ETERNAL TRUTH.]

 

Here are solid valuable points of direction in my opinion.

 

 

            Extracts from the GREAT MASTER'S LETTER:

 

   "he doctrine we promulgate being the only true one, must--supported by
such evidence as we are preparing to give--become ultimately triumphant,
like every other truth. Yet it is absolutely necessary to inculcate it
gradually; enforcing its theories (unimpeachable facts for those who know)
with direct inference, deduced from and corroborated by the evidence
furnished by modern exact science. 

 

 

"That is why Col. H. S. Olcott, who works to revive Buddhism, may be
regarded as one who labours in the true path of Theosophy, far more than any
man who chooses as his goal the gratification of his own ardent aspirations
for occult knowledge. Buddhism, stripped of its superstition, is eternal
truth; and he who strives for the latter is striving for eternal truth; and
he who strives for the latter is striving for Theo-Sophia, divine wisdom,
which is a synonym of truth. 

 

"For our doctrines to practically react on the so-called moral code, or the
ideas of truthfulness, purity, self-denial, charity, etc., we have to preach
and popularize a knowledge of Theosophy.

 

"It is time that Theosophy should enter the arena. The sons of Theosophists
are more likely to become in their turn Theosophists than anything else. No
messenger of the truth, no prophet, has ever achieved during his life-time a
complete triumph--not even Buddha. 

 

"The Theosophical Society was chosen as the cornerstone, the foundation of
the future religions of humanity. To achieve the proposed object, a greater,
wiser, and especially a more benevolent intermingling of the high and the
low, the alpha and the omega of society, was determined upon. The white race
must be the first to stretch out the hand of fellowship to the dark nations,
to call the poor despised "nigger" brother. This prospect may not smile for
all, but he is no Theosophist who objects to this principle.

 

"For everyone knows that total emancipation from the authority of the one
all-pervading power, or law--called God by the priests, and Buddha, Divine
Wisdom and enlightenment or Theosophy, by the philosophers of all
ages--means also the emancipation from that of human law. Once unfettered
and delivered from their deadweight of dogmatism, interpretations, personal
names, anthropomorphic conceptions, and salaried priests, the fundamental
doctrines of all religions will be proved identical in their esoteric
meaning. Osiris, Krishna, Buddha, Christ, will be shown as different means
for one and the same royal highway to final bliss--Nirvana.

   

"Mystical Christianity teaches Self-redemption through one's own seventh
principle, the liberated Paramatma, called by the one Christ, by others
Buddha; this is equivalent to regeneration, or rebirth in spirit, and it
therefore expounds just the same truth as the Nirvana of Buddhism. 

 

"It is.but the self-sacrificing pursuit of the best mean to lead on the
right path our neighbour, to cause to benefit by it as many of our
fellow-creatures as we possibly can, which constitutes the true
Theosophist..

 

".how is the combative natural instinct of man to be restrained from
inflicting hitherto unheard-of cruelty and enormous tyranny, injustice,
etc., if not through the soothing influence of brotherhood, and of the
practical application of Buddha's esoteric doctrines?.

 

"All of us must get rid of our own Ego, the illusory, apparent self, to
recognize our True Self, in a transcendent divine life.

 

But if we would not be selfish, we must strive to make other people see the
truth, and recognize the reality of the transcendental Self, the Buddha, the
Christ, or god of every preacher.  

 

This is why even esoteric Buddhism is the surest path to lead men towards
the one esoteric truth  . no religion, with the exception of Buddhism, has
taught a practical contempt for this earthly life; while each of them
[has].inculcated the greatest dread of death.

 

"Teach the people to see that life on this earth, even the happiest, is but
a burden and an illusion;  that it is our own Karma [the cause producing the
effect] that is our judge -- our Saviour in future lives -- and the great
struggle for life will lose its intensity..

 

"If the Theosophists say we have nothing to do with all this; the lower
classes and the inferior races (those of India, for instance, in the
conception of the British) cannot concern us, and must manage as they can,
what becomes of our fine professions of benevolence, philanthropy, reform,
etc.? Are those professions a mockery? And if a mockery, can ours be the
true path? Shall we devote ourselves to teaching a few Europeans--fed on the
fat of the land, many of them loaded with the gifts of blind fortune--the
rationale of bell-ringing, of cup-growing, of the spiritual telephone, and
astral body formation, and leave the teeming millions of the ignorant, of
the poor and oppressed, to take care of themselves, and of their hereafter,
as best they can? 

 

"Never! perish rather the Theosophical Society with both its hapless
Founders, than that we should permit it to become no better than an academy
of magic, and a hall of occultism! That we, the devoted followers of that
spirit incarnate of absolute self-sacrifice, of philanthropy, divine
kindness, as of all the highest virtues attainable on this earth of sorrow,
the man of men, Gautama Buddha, should ever allow the Theosophical Society
to represent the embodiment of selfishness, the refuge of the few with no
thought in them for the many, is a strange idea, my brothers!  

 

"Let us understand each other. He who does not feel competent to grasp the
noble idea sufficiently to work for it, need not undertake a task too heavy
for him. But there is hardly a Theosophist in the whole Society unable to
effectually help it by correcting erroneous impressions of outsiders, by
himself actually propagating this idea. Oh! for noble and unselfish men to
help us effectually in that divine task! All our knowledge, past and
present, would not be sufficient to repay him.

   

"Having explained our views and aspirations, I have but a few words more to
add. The true religion and philosophy offer the solution of every problem.
That the world is in such a bad condition, morally, is a conclusive evidence
that none of its religions and philosophies, those of the civilized races
less than any other, has ever possessed the truth. 

 

The right and logical explanations on the subject of the problems of the
great dual principles, right and wrong, good and evil, liberty and
despotism, pain and pleasure, egotism and altruism, are as impossible to
them now as they were 1880 years ago. 

 

"They are as far from the solution as they were; but to these problems there
must be somewhere a consistent solution, and if our doctrines will show
their competence to offer it, then the world will be the first to confess
that there must be the true philosophy, the true religion, the true light,
which gives truth and nothing but the truth."

   

  [Lucifer, August, 1896]

 

\==================================

 

 

 

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

From: kpauljohnson

Sent: Saturday, March 11, 2006 

Subject: Transformation of the legacy

 

Hi Vladimir,

 

If there is a consensus that I have a place here, then I will stay.  

But am concerned by Erica's recent post and by the realization that 

the feud between ULT and Adyar has been consuming all the air in 

this room for a long time.  Both sides have taken whacks at me, but 

what is happening is really mostly between these two organizations 

and their members.  ..

 

                        snip

 

 

 



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