Theos-Talk Archives (September 2006 Message tt00113)

Hi Barbara,

You seem to have found the central issue here, and it is a very 
important one, IMHO. Our work, first and foremost, as exemplified by 
all the great teachers in the tradition of the Wisdom Religion, is to 
be that which we aspire to, to manifest in our daily, hourly lives 
the qualities of altruism, compassion, and honor that are 
traditionally admired by humanity, regardless of appearances. We are 
continually told that it is our efforts to manifest the best in 
ourselves that creates the opportunity for others to do the same. 
It'a s kind of "pay it forward" idea, that is immensely satisfying, 
even in the imagining.

All the best,
Adelasie
 
> Perhaps.
> 
> I understand the urge of wanting to do more for the world; at the same
> time, I am reminded that Reality looks very different from my present
> vantage point.  Hopefully, the continual renunciation of the self and
> devotion to wisdom has a purifying effect on the environment. In the
> pledge to the work, the process transforms a student to be a beneficent
> force in nature, and everyone and things will benefit from it.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> barbara
> 
> This is the only kind of Occultism that any Theosophist who admires
> "Light on the Path", and who would be wise and unselfish, ought
> to strive after. All the rest is some branch of the "Occult
> Sciences", i.e., arts based on the knowledge of the ultimate essence
> of all things in the Kingdoms of Nature - such as minerals, plants
> and animals - hence of things pertaining to the realm of material
> nature, however invisible that essence may be, and howsoever much it has
> hitherto eluded the grasp of Science. Alchemy, Astrology, Occult
> Physiology, Chiromancy, exist in Nature, and the exact Sciences -
> perhaps so called, because they are found in this age of paradoxical
> philosophies the reverse - have already discovered not a few of the
> secret of the above arts. But clairvoyance, symbolized in India as the
> "Eye of Siva", called in Japan, "Infinite Vision", is
> not Hypnotism, the illegitimate son of Mesmerism, and is not to be
> acquired by such arts. All the others may be mastered and results
> obtained, whether good, bad, or indifferent; but Atma-Vidya sets small
> value on them. It includes them all and may even use them occasionally,
> [highlighted by me] but it does so after purifying them of their dross,
> for beneficent purposes, and taking care to deprive them of every
> element of selfish motive. Let us explain: Any man or woman can set
> himself or herself to study one or all of the above specified
> "Occult Arts" without any great previous preparation, and even
> without adopting any too restraining mode of life.
> 
> 
> 
> From OCCULTISM VERSUS THE OCCULT ARTS by H.P.BLAVATSKY