Theos-Talk Archives (April 2006 Message tt00664)

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BUDDHA AND THE AUTONOMY OF THE DISCIPLE 
 
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Dear Friends, 

Thanks to Dennis for his contribution, see further below, in this posting. (Olcott really wrote some significant things.) 
  
Here is  the  Buddha’s teaching on the autonomy of the truth-seeker,  as given by Christmas Humphreys, who is an authoritative source in Buddhism.(1)  
 
This version is somewhat different in words from the quotation brought to us by Cass, yet the ideas are the same:  
 
“Do not be misled by report or tradition or hearsay. Do not be misled by proficiency in the Collections (of Scriptures), nor by mere logic and inference, nor after considering reasons, nor after reflection on some view and approval of it, nor because it fits becoming, nor because the recluse (who holds it) is your teacher. But when you know  for yourselves: These things are not good, these things are faulty, these things are censured by  the intelligent, these things, when performed and undertaken, conduce to loss and sorrow – then do you reject  them.”(2)  
 
As to “The Voice of Silence”, it states the fundamental Principle of Autonomy in the second verse of its Fragment III, with these words: 
 
“Prepare thyself, for thou wilt have to travel on alone. The Teacher can but point the way. The Path is one, the means to reach the  goal must vary with the  Pilgrims.” (3) 
 
What about the ritualistic fancies brought by Annie Besant into the theosophical movement?  

The Buddha says: 
 
“When ignorance has been got rid of  and knowledge has arisen, one does not grasp after sense pleasures, speculative views, rites and customs, the theory of self.” (4) 
 
Best regards,  Carlos Cardoso Aveline 
 
 
NOTES:
 
(1)  C. Humphreys split from the Theosophical Society (Adyar) in 1924,  during the “festival of initiations”, when Leadbeater posed as an Arhat and A. Besant and J. Wedgwood as Adepts. Humphreys  founded the Buddhist Society, in London, and played a pioneer role in bringing true Buddhiusm to the West. Born in 1901, he died in 1984. 
 
(2) “The Wisdom of Buddhism”, edited by Christmas Humphreys, Curson-Humanities, U.K., 1987, Copyright The Buddhist Society, London,  280 pp., see p. 71. 
 
(3) “The Voice of the Silence”, translated and annotated by H. P. Blavatsky,  TPH, Wheaton,  Ill.,  USA,  1992, see p. 45.
 
(4) “The Wisdom of Buddhism”, edited by Christmas Humphreys,  see p. 81.  
 
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De:theos-talk@yahoogroups.com

Para:theos-talk@yahoogroups.com

Cópia:

Data:Mon, 24 Apr 2006 18:31:30 -0700

Assunto:Re: Theos-World To Cass Silva -

> Although I am not Cass, here is the passage. It is also quoted in the 
> Complete Works of HPB, published by Wheaton, and offhand I don't know which 
> volume it is in.
> 
> Dennis
> 
> Buddha_Says
> 
> Our Lord Buddha has said that we must not believe in a thing said, merely 
> because it is said; nor in traditions because they have been handed down 
> from antiquity; nor rumors, as such; nor writings by sages, because sages 
> wrote them; nor fancies that we may suspect to have been inspired in us by a 
> deva (that is, in presumed spiritual inspiration); nor from inferences drawn 
> from some haphazard assumption we may have made; nor because of what seems 
> an analogical necessity; nor on the mere authority of our teachers or 
> masters. But we are to believe when the writing, doctrine, or saying is 
> corroborated by our own reason and consciousness.
> 
> See the KALAMA SUTTA of the ANGUTTARANIKAYA, as quoted in A BUDDHIST 
> CATECHISM, by H. S. Olcott, President of the Theosophical Society, pp. 55, 
> 56, Colombo, Ceylon, 1881
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "S F" 
> To: 
> Sent: Sunday, April 23, 2006 11:16 AM
> Subject: Theos-World To Cass Silva -
> 
> 
> > Dear Cass -
> >
> > What text are you referring to.
> >
> > Sveinn Freyr
> > --------------------
> > From: Cass Silva 
> > Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2006 20:27:46 -0700 (PDT)
> >
> > "Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no
> > matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your 
> > own
> > common sense."
> > [Gautama Buddha, 563BCE-483BCE]
> >
> 
> 
> 
> 
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