Theos-Talk Archives (April 2006 Message tt00692)

Hallo all,

My views are:

Thanks to Bruce on his friendly remarks on my latest email here at Theos-talk.

The next stage is then to understand the following:
The article "The Wisdom of Sufic Humor" is an interview of Idries Shah, and  was divided into four emails.
Part 1 http://theosophy.com/theos-talk/200303/tt00041.html
Part 2 http://theosophy.com/theos-talk/200303/tt00042.html
Part 3 http://theosophy.com/theos-talk/200303/tt00043.html
Part 4 http://theosophy.com/theos-talk/200303/tt00044.html


Especially the following is interesting to relate to some of the recent emails here at Theos-talk.
At least I find it interesting.


A few slightly rewritten excerpts:
"Since most people's spiritual life is really their 
emotional-psychological-social life renamed, Theosophists (or Sufis) start with this aspect 
when trying to clear up the confusion that is the usual condition of most 
people's minds."

"Instead of presenting a body of thought in which one must believe 
certain things and reject others, Theosophists (or Sufis) try to provoke the experience in a 
person. Why provoke or develop experience instead of teaching dogmatic 
principles or processes? The Theosophists (or Sufis) assert that knowledge comes before 
ritual. Rituals may become outworn, may not function as intended when 
practiced by communities for which they were not designed. If rituals and 
practices are, as Theosophists (or Sufis) believe them to be, specially developed psychological 
methods, only those who have the knowledge that lies behind them can confirm 
whether historically notable ones are still functional. Hence priority is 
given to knowledge and understanding over feeling or belief."


A few comments on this:

So too much value given to promoting the impression of western academic lectures to beginners 
as an important path, -a value which are so prevalent in various Theosophical groups and offshoots, 
- might prove to be problematic and not helpful. Provoking an experince in the Seeker, as the Sufis often do
might be a better solution.

And the same goes on meditation. Meditation has its stages. In the beginning it is very good, and 
calms the seeker. But one aught not to be addicted to it in a manner, which makes one useless to 
the Masters and ParaBrahman on the physical plane or other planes. Meditation and the amount of it aught 
to be adapted to time, place, people and circumstances. It aught not to be adapted to ritualistic schedule 
at all costs. Meditate not too much and not too little, not too deep and not too soft...etc...Life is like art, a living art!
There has been written a lot of good stuff on meditation in the theosophical literature, but meditaiton will alone not make 
you into a Dhyan Chohan. More is required. Altrusim and service on all the seven planes have to be taken into 
account every moment in life. Service on the physical plane is really also important. Meditations at the computers keyboard 
is not the only theosophical activity on this planet, and aught not to be given too much importance.

Well, just af few views.




from
M. Sufilight with peace and love...

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