Theos-Talk Archives (March 2006 Message tt01035)

Vince
   
       I am aware of how daunting the very thickness of these texts can appear, but I really think that you are doing yourself a great disservice, by not doing the study yourself, and expecting others to, sort of, hand it to you in some palatable form intended just for you. This is a great deal like going to church or temple and expecting the paid servent on the pulpit to do the same thing. 
       Now please, don't take this wrong, but an important aspect of the philosophy of becoming a discriminating human being and student, is, so that what you find for yourself will be something you can trust in. "We are all Gods", says the ancient wisdom, or "You too can do what I have done" as Jesus says. In other words, we have what we need within us, we just have to flesh it out. That is the purpose of theosophical thought, not the memorization of thick texts. But the study of them, and application of what we see as true, brings rewards immediately, as the mind wakes up to its own powers of wisdom and discrimination.
   
  Steve

Vincent <vblaz2004@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
  Steve-

I'm just trying to understand what I can about Theosophy, insofar as 
it is new to me. HPB's writings are so extensive in such large 
volumes that I'm honestly a little bit daunted as to where to begin, 
so I'm likely going to be relying on secondary abridgments for 
awhile. In other words, someone's probably going to have to teach 
it to me in the form of abridged quotes, before I get into extensive 
reading of the core volumes.

Christians claim that the Bible contains 'absolute truth', both 
inerrant and infallible. But this then leaves those portions of 
universal truth concerning which we lack a firm and total grasp. 
Namely 'occult' truth, or anything which has not been declared to 
be 'absolute truth' by the Christian community. Hence universal 
truth may potentially be subdivided into categories of 'absolute 
truth' and 'occult truth'. Of course, I don't believe that any of 
us really has a firm grasp on 'absolute truth' in the first place, 
insofar as our minds are mortal, and we commonly have errors 
somewhere in every belief that we hold, whether small or great. 
Hence so many different biblical interpretations among Christians.

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, Steven Levey wrote:
>
> Vince-
> 
> Your intution about the reason for the term "Secret" in The 
Secret Doctrine is somewhat correct, but, it is also a bit to quick 
a judgement. I'm afraid you are going to have to study the thing, to 
get a really good idea about the use of her terms. However, in doing 
so, I found it wise to read HPB in a thorough way to begin to 
undestand her motivation. By this I mean, read The Key to Theosophy, 
and study The Voice of the Silence, as well, or something like that. 
Or, pick up one of her collected writtings of shorter articles, or 
the Panarion. Mostly all of these are available at the Public 
Library, but definately on-line or in Theosophy Lodges of different 
types.
> 
> Good Searching-Steve
> 
> Vincent Blazina wrote:
> Perry:
> 
> Thanks for the welcome. The Jehovah's Witnesses that you refer 
also seem to have some narrow biblical interpretations, much like 
Christian fundamentalists. I'm curious about what some of the 
similarities and differences are between the Bible and the Secret 
Doctrine. Why is the Secret Doctrine considered to be secret? Does 
this simply mean that it is occult (meaning hidden) in nature? My 
own biblical interpretations go very deep for me, and are anything 
but dry, although I view Christian fundamentalists as often shallow 
in their own biblical interpretations much of the time.
> 
> Vince
> 
> plcoles1 
> wrote:
> Hello Vince, 
> Welcome to theos-talk!
> My background was in the Jehovah's Witnesses and so as a result 
had what amounted to at 
> least 5 1/2 hours a week of meetings to attend, and NO questioning 
what you were being 
> told.
> 
> The thing I've found with studying theosophy for someone who has 
studied the Bible is 
> that theosophy and in particular the Secret Doctrine opens up many 
interesting and 
> profound interpretations of passages in the Bible.
> 
> An interesting article written by H.P Blavatsky is `The Esoteric 
character of the Gospels'
> http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/hpb-sio/sio-eso2.htm
> It's a good place to start as the Secret Doctrine can be a little 
bit daunting to begin with.
> 
> After only hearing what was to me very empty and dry 
interpretations of the Bible, 
> theosophy can help you to begin to get some kind of understanding 
as to the deeper 
> meaning in the bible as well as what other great thinkers, sages 
and philosophers from 
> various traditions have taught on these subjects which may help 
you have some context 
> and reference point for your own experiences.
> Very Best Wishes on your Spiritual journey and once again Welcome 
to the theos-talk!
> 
> Regards
> 
> Perry
> 
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "vblaz20042004" wrote:
> >
> > Hi there, I'm Vince and I am new to the group. I have recently 
been 
> > attending the Theosophical Society of Wheaton, Illinois for the 
past 
> > month, and have been enjoying the various teachings and 
discussions 
> > at that facility.
> > 
> > My life has been rich with metaphysical experiences, but the 
> > Christian Fundamentalist churches that I had previously attended 
for 
> > twenty years got very judgmental towards me when I might venture 
to 
> > reference them. I also began finding many inconsistencies with 
the 
> > way that many Christians were representing the Bible, and my 
> > questions about Christianity were often deemed dangerous to 
people's 
> > religious faith.
> > 
> > I am looking for a place in the Theosophical Society wherein I 
may 
> > potentially freely discuss metaphysical issues as they directly 
> > pertain to my life, with people who are more open to such 
> > discussions. I am very well read with the Bible, although my 
> > interpretations of it are more metaphysical versus orthodox.
> > 
> > I look forward to constuctive discussion with the people here, 
and 
> > would like to learn more about the Theosophical Society and it's 
> > perspectives, insofar as many of them are brand new to me.
> > 
> > Thank you,
> > 
> > Vince
> >
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