Theos-Talk Archives (May 2006 Message tt00759)

Bruce, Friends, 

Thanks. 

There is not doubt that even in the case of SUDDEN ENLIGHTNEMENT, there must be a long and gradual training (often more than one lifetime) before it "suddenly" occurs... 

On the other hand, I guess the relationship between words and silence should be a conscious one,  in Theosophy. As much as possible. 

Regards,  Carlos.  

De:theos-talk@yahoogroups.com

Para:theos-talk@yahoogroups.com

Cópia:

Data:Tue, 23 May 2006 15:13:14 -0000

Assunto:Theos-World Re: BEYOND SCRIPTURES

> Hi Carlos,
> 
> The practice of Zen reminds me of the example of the discharge of a
> capacitor. Two plates are brought close together with the one plate
> suddenly discharging onto the surface of the other. We use intuition
> and practical wisdom to remove the insulator that lies between the two
> Selves. This can take a long or short time, it all depends. Then in a
> flash, perhaps unexpectedly so, we rise high enough and our hard-earned
> wisdom is energized onto the lower self in a certain knowledge.
> 
> Bruce
> 
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "carlosaveline" 
> wrote:
> >
> > Dear Friends,
> >
> >
> > There is a challenging Zen koan on silent attention. It was published
> for the first time in 1783.
> >
> > The story goes that Zen master Hsüan-sha sent a monk to his own old
> teacher, Hsüeh-Fêng, with a letter of greeting.
> >
> > The old master Hsüen-feng gathered his monks in the Zen-do and
> opened the letter in their presence. The envelope contained nothing but
> three sheets of blank paper. Hsüeh-fêng showed the paper to the
> monks and said:
> >
> > "Do you understand?"
> >
> > There was no answer, and Hsüeh-fêng completed the lesson of the
> day:
> >
> > "My prodigal son writes just what I think."
> >
> > The 20th century master Nyogen comments the episode thus:
> >
> > "Zen is like lightening. No human eye can trace it." (1)
> >
> > Indeeed, words play a limited role in learning. Zen or Wisdom cannot
> be transmited by words only. There is a passage in the "Mahatma
> Letters" which explains this need for an inner transmission, which
> is independent from scriptures or speech. An Adept-Teacher writes:
> >
> > "The Occult Science is NOT one, in which secrets can be
> communicated of a sudden, by a written or even verbal communication. If
> so, all the `Brothers' should have to do, would be to publish a
> HAND-BOOK of the art which might be taught in schools as grammar is.
> (...) The truth is that till the neophyte attains to the condition
> necessary for that degree of Illumination to which, and for which, he is
> entitled and fitted, most IF NOT ALL of the Secrets are
> INCOMMUNICABLE." (2)
> >
> > Hence the blank pages. Hsüan-sha most frankly expressed in the
> letter to his old Master Hsüeh-Fêng all of his lower-self
> thoughts. They were none. And Hsüeh-Fêng was happy about that:
> "That's just what I think."
> >
> > Understanding comes in silence. It emerges due to the acceptance of
> – and in the diving in – blank space or the void.
> >
> > By studying and contemplating Theosophy beyond words, we can get to
> the right kind of silence and understanding, and this will expand our
> consciousness.
> >
> > But what is "Theosophy"? Well, it transcends any particular
> set of concepts, though universal concepts are a starting point to get
> to it. Theosophy is but the common Wisdom present in different
> Traditions, and words can only point to it.
> >
> > Best regards, Carlos Cardoso Aveline
> >
> >
> >
> > NOTES:
> >
> > (1) "The Iron Flute", 100 Zen Koan, Translated and edited by
> Nyogen Senzaki and Ruth Strout McCandless, published by Charles E.
> Tuttle Co., Rutland, Vermont & Tokyo, Japan, second printing, 1985, 175
> pp., see p. 77.
> >
> > (2) "The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett", Facsimile Edition,
> Theosophical University Press, Pasadena, CA, USA, 1992, 493 pp, see
> Letter XLIX, pp. 282-283.
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> 
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