Theos-Talk Archives (September 2007 Message tt00168)

Organizations cannot get involved on serious issues that face the world
everyday since much of it purely politics based. But individuals like you
and me can. That is where Internet maillist like this come into play.

The problem I see, when we look at the historical actions taken by
theosophists in the past, leads many into confusion. Issues such as White
Forces and Black Forces, good wars and bad wars, national karma etc seem to
cover up the fundamental issue -- war -- which is the root cause of pain and
suffering.

In terms of priorities, I find many getting involved in attending to the
pain and suffering -- which are the result of war. What is the priority that
theosophists have  to deal
with. Are we going to be active in the back end -- helping those who
are the willing or unwilling victims of war or do something in the
front end, which is to just avoid war -- not encourage and support the
war machine. We see heroic efforts made in treating wounded in
battlefield and as well as those injured physically and mentally as a
result of the war. These are the issues that we need to think over and
decide for ourselves what we can do in our own little way.

It is simple
hippocracy, IMHO, to talk about "higher" things, meditate and look for
spiritual growth while at the same time being totally disinterested in
the suffering that is going on around the world and doing nothing
about the root causes, even though on an individual level the actions
may show only marginal immediate results.


mkr


On 9/20/07, Cass Silva <silva_cass@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> A good starting point with Karma is to ask what lesson is being learnt by
> this suffering. Democracy is the new colonialism. Will all this pain and
> suffering cause an Iraki or an American soldier to reevaluate his ideals.
> Will it challenge their faith in their religion? What do we, the armchair
> philosophers learn from sitting back and watching the daily attrocities, the
> inhumanity to man. I admire those protestors who get out of their warm beds
> to voice their opposition to these actions. Is it enough to say I am being a
> good theosophist, I preach the gospel of sophia, from my ivory castle? Where
> are the dissenting voices of our belief system?
>
> As a society of free thinkers why hasn't Adyar or Pasadena shown its
> disgust for current world events. We can offer sympathy even empathy, but in
> reality our lack of action and commitment to our fellow brothers and
> sisters, lies on the comfortable couch of, it's not my karma. It seems to me
> that we are no better than the Roman Church which selectively becomes mute
> when its followers are massacring others or are being massacred.
>
> Cass
>
> Cass
>
> Scribe <scribe@rs.org <scribe%40rs.org>> wrote:
> MK,
>
> Thank you for your questions, they look familiar. I have been asked
> essentially the same questions and I have tried to respond with the
> answers
> below which you may judge:
>
> Best Regards,
> Scribe
>
> MKR: "The bottom line is - war is causing a lot of pain and suffering to a
>
> very
> large number of people.
>
> "How does one view the above from a Karmic point of view:
>
> "Is all the suffering due to repayment of Karmic Debts by those who are
> facing pain & suffering?"
>
> ME: Except for accidents, yes.
>
> MKR: "What are the Karmic consequences for those responsible for the
> destruction
> and pain? Or are they just acting as the agents of Lords of Karma so that
> they do not have to face any consequences?"
>
> ME: Karma is mitigated when one is involved because their country is at
> war.
> They should not incur more than they should unless they go off on their
> own
> and do bad things to others.
>
> MKR: "Since countries are involved, what are the national karmic
> consequences? Do
> we - you and I going to pay for the national karma?"
>
> ME: This is partially answered above. There is national karma and we are
> part of that, Again, unless we do something bad from a personal point we
> will be in the general national karma situation.
>
> MKR: "For some of us who believe in Karma, what are our responsibilities
> and
> what
> we can do to minimize the pain and suffering?"
>
> ME: To me, at this point in my understanding of Theosophical teachings and
>
> high philosophy, that is the quintessential question for all of us. My
> first
> duty is to my family, and that means not to do anything rash that will
> come
> back and harm them physically or financially if I were to be arrested in a
>
> protest, etc. I feel I can do the most good by being a good example in
> person in my actions at home and outside my home by my cordial treatment
> of
> others including Muslims. My livelihood is modest but beneficial to
> mankind,
> I do no harm. I am blessed with a good mind and I try to interject healing
>
> thoughts and Theosophical comments in my everyday discourse and in
> particular in my forums and emails on the internet. Since the internet
> came
> out I have dedicated a web site to Theosophical teachings and other good
> works. My Mars is conjunct Uranus in Gemini and my Mercury is on my Medium
>
> Coeli--so I must write, it's in my genes. :)
>
> MKR: "Etc. Etc.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Mkr"
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "M K Ramadoss" <mkr777@gmail.com <mkr777%40gmail.com>>
> To: <theos-L@yahoogroups.com <theos-L%40yahoogroups.com>>; <
> theos-talk@yahoogroups.com <theos-talk%40yahoogroups.com>>
> Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 2:48 PM
> Subject: Theos-World Karma & Reincarnation
>
> We are exposed to the principles of Karma and Reincarnation and from time
> to
> time we think about it when we act or react in any situation we are faced
> with.
>
> The world is watching the war that is going on in the Afghanistan and
> Iraq.
> Thanks for the modern technology; we are able to see live pictures of what
> goes on in a war. In the past, we were able to read eyewitness accounts of
> the action and some still pictures. For any sensitive person who sees the
> live pictures on TV will be very much pained to see what is happening
> unless
> one is insensitive to all the horror.
>
> From a factual/statistical point of view:
>
> 1. Numerous buildings - residences and commercial are destroyed by
> bombs and firefight.
> 2. Many young men and women have lost their lives causing a lot of
> suffering to their kith and kin and the results are going to last a very
> long time.
> 3. Many young men and women have been seriously wounded - losing their
> limbs and disabling head injuries. Lifelong suffering will be faced by
> them.
> Again causing suffering to kith and kin.
> 4. Several million have been displaced and are refugees from their own
> countries. Most with no jobs and homeless living on government handouts.
> 5. Several thousands have been killed, maimed.
> 6. Countries infrastructure destroyed.
>
> The bottom line is - war is causing a lot of pain and suffering to a very
> large number of people.
>
> How does one view the above from a Karmic point of view.
>
> Is all the suffering due to repayment of Karmic Debts by those who are
> facing pain & suffering?
>
> What are the Karmic consequences for those responsible for the destruction
> and pain? Or are they just acting as the agents of Lords of Karma so that
> they do not have to face any consequences?
>
> Since countries are involved, what are the national karmic consequences?
> Do
> we - you and I going to pay for the national karma?
>
> For some of us who believe in Karma, what are our responsibilities and
> what
> we can do to minimize the pain and suffering?
>
> Etc. Etc.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Mkr
>
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>
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