University Research and the Movement
Dec 05, 2006 08:00 AM
by carlosaveline
Friends,
If university researchers want to have a deeper understanding of the theosophical movement, so that they can better know the subject about which they talk and write, they probably must acknowledge in the first place that this movement works at various levels of consciousness, some of which are “a mystery”, let's say, to conventional states of mind.
This very mystery or inner side of the movement creates as its counterpart dangerous occult pitfalls. And these have produced dire situations like those we see in the lives of James Wedgwood, Annie Besant and Charles Leadbeater.
Yet opportunities and pirtfalls are just about everywhere for one who looks for the higher knowledge.
Defeats and failures may be much easier to identify than their luminous conterparts -- the higher mysteries. But that does not mean that the authentic mysteries of esoteric philosophy are not there, or that they cannot be grasped, at least in part, by a truly scientific mind. On the contrary. Manifested universe is always apparently dual, and the existence of visible shadows (failures, illusions and defeats in the movement) but reflects the presence of a strong inner light (universal wisdom and opportunities). Shadows can only follow light.
As to science researchers, they are often are patient. They wait for opportunities and sometimes create them. They do not think that the things they don’t know or don’t see, just because they don’t see or know them, are necessarily false or non-existent. Many of them (like David Bohm, Fritjof Capra and Rupert Sheldrake in recent years) go beyond conventional university academicism.
Expanding on a true scientific perspective, H.P.B. closes the first volume of ‘Isis Unveiled’ with these words:
“The few elevated minds who (....) only disbelieve because they do not know, we would remind of that apothegm of Narada, the ancient Hindu philosopher: ‘Never use these words: I do not know this, therefore it is false. One must study to know, know to understand, understand to judge.’ ” (p. 628, facsimile editions)
Regards, Carlos.
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