Theos-Talk Archives (July 2006 Message tt00245)

Carlos it would seem to me that the `road is open to hierocracy' when 
we merely look at the surface and dont going any deeper and stay 
within our comfort zone.

Any person whether priest, religious devotee, or `ritualist' plays 
that role according to their own depth of understanding and insight.

To use the example of Bede Griffiths who was all three Priest, 
Christian and `ritualist'  (to me at any rate) displayed a truly 
theosophical mindset and example, another example that comes to mind 
is Bishop John Shelby Spong, as someone once said to me they thought 
he is more a theosophist than Bishop.
I am sure many other examples could be given.

I would agree however that the priesthood of the Catholic Church was 
from its inception a means to disempower and suppress personal 
freedom keeping the power with an elite few, that seems fairly clear 
however we cannot and should not paint everyone who happens to work 
within or be a member of such institutions with a broad brush.
The more people who can take a `theosophical' perspective into their 
chosen tradition the better imo.

Regards

Perry


--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "carlosaveline" 
<carlosaveline@...> wrote:
>
> Friends, 
> 
> Pedro poses an interesting question.  How can the higher 
principles  be 'contaminated' by the lower ones? 
> 
> Because they have a living interaction all the time.  
> 
> No doubt, subtle and flexible matter initially and originally 
belonging to Buddhi-Manas  can be 'taken prisoner", so to say, by 
lower and strong personal feelings of pride, love-for-power, orfear, 
etc.  
> 
> Daniel Goleman, author of the bestseller "The Emotional 
Intelligence",  calls this "emotional kidnapping": a strong personal 
emotion  "takes away" the generous impulses and lead then to egoistic 
regions.    
> 
> Ritualism and "Christian Faith"  do something similar: the desire 
to belong to a "prestigious club" or to get such and such degree, to 
be a priest,  and so on,   "kidnaps", lets say, or "captures"  the 
independence of the individual, which is of the essence to the 
development his Buddhi-Manas. 
> 
> Then the road is open to hypocrisy. 
> 
> That's why the Masters and HPB did not recommend  dogmatic churches 
or ritualism, and taught Esoteric Philosophy instead.  
> 
> Regards,   Carlos Cardoso Aveline 
> 
> De:theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
> 
> Para:theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
> 
> Cópia:
> 
> Data:Tue, 11 Jul 2006 04:45:39 -0000
> 
> Assunto:Theos-World Paradoxes in Theosophy (I)
> 
> > Assuming that the exploration of theosophical teachings is still 
> > possible in theos-talk, I would like to draw attention to a 
seeming 
> > paradox contained in the following passage:
> > 
> > "Self personality, vanity and conceit harboured in the higher 
> > principles are enormously more dangerous than the same defects 
> > inherent only in the lower physical nature of man. They are the 
> > breakers against which the cause of chelaship, in its 
probationary 
> > stage, is sure to be dashed to pieces unless the would-be 
disciple 
> > carries with him the white shield of perfect confidence and trust 
in 
> > those he would seek out through mount and vale to guide him 
safely 
> > toward the light of Knowledge." (Mahatma Letters, #134, 
> > chronological sequence)
> > 
> > The question which occurred to me is: how can the higher 
principles 
> > [Atma, Buddhi, Manas] harbour such divisive qualities? 
> > 
> > 
> > pedro
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
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