Theos-Talk Archives (May 2006 Message tt00537)

Hi Eldon,

I had gotten so used recently to deleting Theos-talk with a very 
cursory glance at titles, that I deleted the original of your 
message, and I'm grateful that Sufilight reprinted it so I could 
finally read it. 

First let me say, Welcome back Dallas!!! We missed you!!!

So, why was I deleting Theos-talk? For exactly the reasons you 
mention, and I am glad you stepped in and made some things clear. It 
never ceases to amaze me that we who actively and quite competently 
study the ancient teachings can so quickly forget the most basic 
underpinnings of occultism, things like common courtesy and kindness, 
the everyday emanations of the principles of Unity of All Life, 
Brotherhood, Compassion. The student, indeed, the disciple, of the 
ancient wisdom is exhorted over and over again by the Teacher to 
pursue a course of harmlessness, of altruism. 

Perhaps we simply need to be reminded from time to time. After all, 
the internet seems so anonymous and safe (NSA etc. notwithstanding) 
and most of us probably deal daily with stresses that would have 
finished our ancestors just a few generations ago. It helps sometimes 
to vent. Certainly the world in general is quite a hotbed of 
negativity. But the occultist learns early to take responsibility for 
every thought word and deed, and email list participation must fall 
into one of those categories at least. 

It never hurts to remember why we in this cycle have been given this 
material to study, to make a part of our very beings, to embrace 
consciously and emanate throughout our daily lives. Humanity is at a 
crisis. We have been given an opportunity the likes of which may 
never have happened before in our history, to affect a sea change, to 
bring about the evolution of consciousness of Brother/Sister hood of 
all humanity, of all life, to initiate the Golden Age of Humanity, 
which is to say the whole Earth, the Solar System, who knows how far 
our influence may be felt, if we will only try, just try, to be 
faithful and true, to do the right thing. We lose sight of the 
magnitude of our opportunity sometimes, so it is good perhaps to be 
reminded that our every waking moment is fraught with opportunity. 
There are no little things. Everything we say think or do helps to 
create the future we will all share. We have so much help, so much 
guidance, so many who have gone before and smoothed the path we must 
trod. And we only have to look around us, and, thanks to electronic 
communication,  know what truly terrible things are being done in our 
world in the name of evil. Why amplify that? Why not step into the 
Light and learn to shine from within?

A list such as this can bring the ancient teaching, that which 
humanity needs right now more than anything else, to other hungry 
souls who despair of finding the light. We are its representatives, 
its examples. Do we really want to chase them away from that which 
has brought us so much hope and understanding? I'm sure we do not.

Adelasie




> 
> 
> > [Read this carefully if you are actively participating in the
> > mailing list or are considering doing so.]
> >
> > The past few months have been a wild time at theos-talk, but now it
> > is time for things to return to the type of discussion for which
> > theos-talk was intended.
> >
> > The purpose of the list is to allow people of all backgrounds to
> > share their interests as seekers and as students of the theosophical
> > philosophy. The list is independent. It is not subject to the
> > particular agenda and politics of any theosophical organization.
> >
> > The list does not have any special people that are entitled to write
> > on behalf of Theosophy, correcting others and telling them they are
> > wrong when they disagree. People can think differently and do not
> > have to adhere to the outlook of anyone's favorite theosophical
> > organization.
> >
> > It is a place for learning and sharing ideas. With people from all
> > the different theosophical traditions welcome, there will be
> > differing views on things. Disagreement is fine, although we can
> > learn new things from one another.
> >
> > The hope is that people will come to respect others of different
> > backgrounds, form a growing brotherhood, broaden their thinking,
> > clarify their ideas, and learn from the experience.
> >
> > The first important rule of behavior is being respectful of others.
> > Remember that you are talking to people. It is not any different
> > than if you had a theosophical meeting in your living room and you
> > are conversing face to face with them. Watch how you express
> > yourself. Stop and listen to how you are putting your ideas into
> > words.
> >
> > We should tolerate differing views. We are all entitled to write and
> > have our own views. We should not find ourselves attacked when we
> > disagree with someone else's favorite author.
> >
> > Ad hominem attacks are unacceptable. This is when we reply in a
> > discussion with an attack on the other person or the person's
> > motives. This is a discussion list, not a fighting club. Everyone,
> > try to stick to the points under discussion without name calling or
> > saying others are acting with bad motives.
> >
> > What does this mean? You do not tell everyone what someone else's
> > agenda is, nor call someone else a liar or slanderer, nor judge and
> > tell everyone if he or she is a Theosophist or not, nor speak for
> > him or her about what his or her motives may be. Stick to positions
> > and premises rather than attack personalities.
> >
> > If you are unclear about what someone said, ask them. Each person is
> > entitled to speak for himself or herself about what is meant. You
> > are not entitled to tell them and everyone else what they actually
> > mean.
> >
> > An additional rule of good behavior is that you do not hound someone
> > about things they have not been discussing and do not want to talk
> > about. If, say, Paul Johnson were to be on the list again and write
> > about an interesting book he had read, he would be within his rights
> > as a theosophical seeker to want to talk about it without being
> > called to task by sharp critics of books he wrote many years
> > earlier.
> >
> > This is not a historical research list nor is it a mouthpiece for
> > the United Lodge of Theosophists, the Theosophical Society [Adyar],
> > the Theosophical Society [Pasadena], nor any other particular group.
> > Long-running fights between groups should not be bitterly fought out
> > here between hard-line supporters.
> >
> > Right now, there are some active threads of discussion that are
> > getting tiresome. They are getting nowhere and have had the effect
> > of driving people away. In the past week, three people have
> > unsubscribed, including one that lasted less than a day, someone
> > that initially indicated great interest in learning about Theosophy
> > and that was likely gravely disappointed in what she read.
> >
> > One thread is about there being two editorial styles of gathering
> > and offering historic information on Blavatsky. We have repeatedly
> > read of the merits of each approach and been exposed to far too much
> > name-calling.
> >
> > A second thread is about there being plots to subvert Theosophy and
> > the suggestion that some participants on the list might be somehow
> > involved.
> >
> > We are here on the list to learn about Theosophy and consider a
> > broad spectrum of emerging ideas that might broaden our thinking on
> > life. We are not here to squabble over styles of historic books nor
> > are we here to play a game of "Who is the real Dugpa?"
> >
> > It is time that we move on, so I am stating that as of Monday
> > morning, the two threads be closed. That gives everyone about a day
> > to write any final thoughts on the subject. I am also stating that
> > the ad hominem attacks must stop. Granted, someone might lose his or
> > her temper and have a one-time outburst, and then express sorrow
> > about the mistake. But a persistent pattern of lashing out at people
> > must not continue.
> >
> > This is an unmoderated list and I would like it to remain that way.
> > But if any individual cannot behave, he or she might face personal
> > moderation (or expulsion in extreme cases). Each person has the
> > right to express himself or herself, but not to deny others their
> > equal rights of expression.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
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