Theos-Talk Archives (May 2008 Message tt00856)

Mahatmas had asked NOT to publish letters, as far as I know. If they
had not permitted and somebody publishes, then I won't hold Masters
responsible for causing confusion or misunderstanding. But as letters
have got published, there are some statements which I find confusing.
Some letters contradict with actions of the disciples accepted by the
Masters. This letter is indeed very different from what would
otherwise be understood from Theosophy.  
> 
> "And now, after making due allowance for evils that are natural and 
> cannot be avoided, ? and so few are they that I challenge the whole 
> host of Western metaphysicians to call them evils or to trace them 
> directly to an independent cause ? I will point out the greatest, the 
> chief cause of nearly two thirds of the evils that pursue humanity ever 
> since that cause became a power. It is religion under whatever form and 
> in whatsoever nation. 

Do  Masters want to say Buddha who founded Buddism, Shankaracharya who
contributed to Hinduism, Jesus who founded Christian religion made a
mistake of founding these religions ? Some Mahatma Letters are such
that Masters themselves can be challenged ! I can understand letters
are not written always very carefully and so I won't take some
statements from Mahatmas literally. According to Theosophical leaders
like HPB, CWL, AB many of the Great Ones were themselves associated
with the founding of religions, spread of the religions and spiritual
schools. Do Masters want to say that these Great Ones from the same
White Brotherhood did wrong things by founding and spreading religion ? 

>It is the sacerdotal caste, the priesthood and 
> the churches; it is in those illusions that man looks upon as sacred, 
> that he has to search out the source of that multitude of evils which 
> is the great curse of humanity and that almost overwhelms mankind. 
> Ignorance created Gods and cunning took advantage of the opportunity. 
> Look at India and look at Christendom and Islam, at Judaism and 
> Fetichism. It is priestly imposture that rendered these Gods so 
> terrible to man; it is religion that makes of him the selfish bigot, 
> the fanatic that hates all mankind out of his own sect without 
> rendering him any better or more moral for it. It is belief in God and 
> Gods that makes two-thirds of humanity the slaves of a handful of those 
> who deceive them under the false pretence of saving them.

If belief in God was cause of problem, why did Masters gave Theosophy
through their accepted disciples HPB, AB, CWL ? Theosophy literally
means Wisdom of God.  God is central in Co-masonry and LCC. Why did
CWL created these two organizations ? And Besant was a co-mason.
According to HPB God exists. According to Subba Rao God exists. Does
that mean disciples like HPB contradicted Masters views on God ? 

> It is not man 
> ever ready to commit any kind of evil if told that his God or Gods 
> demand the crime ? voluntary victim of an illusionary God, the abject 
> slave of his crafty ministers? The Irish, Italian and Slavonian peasant 
> will starve himself and see his family starving and naked to feed and 
> clothe his padre and pope. For two thousand years India groaned under 
> the weight of caste, Brahmins alone feeding on the fat of the land, and 
> to-day the followers of Christ and those of Mahomet are cutting each 
> other's throats in the names of and for the greater glory of their 
> respective myths. Remember the sum of human misery will never be 
> diminished unto that day when the better portion of humanity destroys 
> in the name of Truth, morality, and universal charity, the altars of 
> their false gods."

Yes, this letter sounds like Krishnamurtian philosophy. But the
problem is this letter itself is weak and does not withstand logical
scrutiny. 
I don't blame Masters as they had asked not to publish letters.
Anand Gholap