Theos-Talk Archives (April 2009 Message tt00290)

I meant no disrespect Barry - your path appears to the
path of ritual/mystic - as a child I was drawn to this
in the rituals of the catholic church, but by the age of 14 
saw the hypocricy and double standards of its priests and
nuns that I never returned. 
 
As I matured I came to the conclusion that although one 
feels a sense of calm and peace - where or what this sensation 
came from could not be explained.  I could have been caught
up in the drama of the whole event. I had no evidence to
support these feelings -what may have been -the wishful thinking
of a 7-12 year old child.  Hence I have spent the last 40 years 
studying, as you say, the academic.  

I have a need 'to know' more than a need 'to
feel' hence my journey into the academic - hoping one day
this will confirm my 'feelings' as reliable.  Whether or not I
ever find solace on my path is immaterial because I have
learnt over the years that what is important is not the result
but the search for truth.

I embraced HPB's teachings as they fit quite comfortably with
my innate belief of what may point the way to the underlying
truth of our true nature.

I have diverged from the original topic somewhat - I have spent
many Sundays at the TS lecture hall and have gained wonderful
insight into the philosophy which underlies comparative eastern 
religions.  I was probably most drawn to Sufism - as it gives
a rational understanding of the connection between man and 
god.

Yes, perhaps, we may meet face to face one day.

Cheers
Cass


 




________________________________
From: butchie122 <brianparry@ymail.com>
To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, 21 April, 2009 2:04:42 PM
Subject: Re: Theos-World Hello everyone and a question for Keith





--- In theos-talk@yahoogro ups.com, Cass Silva <silva_cass@ ...> wrote:
>
> Hi Barry
> I understand your hands on approach however for me
> the study of comparative religions is a purely academic
> exercise - Blavatsky told us that most of these 
> religions had lost touch with their inner core of truth so
> what the altars represent is merely the external trappings
> of a once beautiful truth.  
> If we truly accept that divinity is within the trappings
> are merely a diversion.
> Theosophy is based on ancient wisdom, where are the
> symbols of our ancient truths - where is Apollonius -
> where is Hypatia - where is Plato - ????
> 
> Cass

Hi Cass,

I was thinking about your above post on this last weekend. On Saturday my wife and I joined some Buddhist friends chanting the Heart Sutra. Then on Sunday I was in a Victorian country town for a conference. The small town has a Benedictine Abbey so at 5pm I joined the three monks & three nuns for sund Vespers & Benediction. It was there that I thought of you & your desire to make your study of religion only academic. Thomas Acquinas wrote tomes of theology that can be studied but unless one experiences the 'feeling' underlying his hymns that form this service one will never understand his religion. If there is divinity within a religion then it can never be found through the writings of its exponents. Tonight I am giving a talk at the melbourne lodge on Kashmir Shaivism which, as you probaly know is very, very close to Theosophy. One cannot really come close to it unless there is some experience of its impact on the lives of individual practioners - or
 at least so it seems to me. Perhaps we could discuss this some time face to face?

regards

Brian

> 
> 
> 
> 
> ____________ _________ _________ __
> From: butchie122 <brianparry@ ...>
> To: theos-talk@yahoogro ups.com
> Sent: Tuesday, 14 April, 2009 4:52:53 PM
> Subject: Re: Theos-World Hello everyone and a question for Keith
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogro ups.com, Cass Silva <silva_cass@ ...> wrote:
> >
> > and to study other religions does not mean to build
> > altars.
> > 
> > Cass
> > Cass, The study of religions is much more than an academic exercise. It includes a willingness to enter into the 'feeling' of a religion. This can often be attained by joining in their worship. I found out a great deal about Hinduism by joining in the morning puja at the Hindu shrine in Adyar or about Mahayana Buddhism at the Yun Ying Temple Narre Warren worship. It would be like trying to understand Theosophy without actually using Theo Voice of the Silence and HPB's Diagram of Meditation.
> 
> Many Theosophists spend months at Adyar for the School of the Wisdom and some like to practice their religion whilst they are there; so why not a shrine provided that the worship does not include hurt to animals or human sacrifice etc.
> 
> regards
> 
> Brian Parry
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > ____________ _________ _________ __
> > From: Morten Nymann Olesen <global-theosophy@ ...>
> > To: theos-talk@yahoogro ups.com
> > Sent: Monday, 13 April, 2009 3:59:49 PM
> > Subject: Re: Theos-World Hello everyone and a question for Keith
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Dear Cass
> > 
> > My views are:
> > 
> > That is how we are told the objects of the TS as they were given by the Masters are best promulgated at Adyar. :-)
> > 
> > H. P. Blavatsky said:
> > "The Theosophical Society was organized for the purpose of promulgating the Theosophical doctrines, and for the promotion of the Theosophic life. "
> > (The Key to Theosophy, p. 16) - http://www.phx- ult-lodge. org/aKEY. htm
> > 
> > M. Sufilight
> > 
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: Cass Silva 
> > To: theos-talk@yahoogro ups.com 
> > Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 5:30 AM
> > Subject: Re: Theos-World Hello everyone and a question for Keith
> > 
> > There goes the farm!
> > Cass
> > 
> > ____________ _________ _________ __
> > From: "drsjwebber@ ymail. com" <drsjwebber@ gmail. com>
> > To: theos-talk@yahoogro ups.com
> > Sent: Monday, 13 April, 2009 1:04:28 PM
> > Subject: Re: Theos-World Hello everyone and a question for Keith
> > 
> > Hello Cass
> > 
> > The Church of St Michael and All Angels is a Liberal Catholic Church. It is one of the many shrines among some of the world's religions on the Adyar campus. You may be interested to know as well, that inside the main hall of the Adyar headquarters are bas-reliefs of current and extinct religions. 
> > 
> > Regards
> > 
> > Simon
> > 
> > --- In theos-talk@yahoogro ups.com, Cass Silva <silva_cass@ ...> wrote:
> > >
> > > WHAT! Why is there a Church of St Michael at Adyar????
> > > 
> > > Cass
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > ____________ _________ _________ __
> > > From: "drsjwebber@ ..." <drsjwebber@ ...>
> > > To: theos-talk@yahoogro ups.com
> > > Sent: Monday, 13 April, 2009 7:22:04 AM
> > > Subject: Theos-World Hello everyone and a question for Keith
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Hello everyone
> > > 
> > > I have just joined this group. I am a member of TS from New Zealand. Arthur Goodall welcomed me to the HPB Lodge in 1991. He also married me June last year! I studied in Adyar in 1994/95 with Ravi Ravindra at the School of the Wisdom. I returned to Adyar again in December 2007 after completing my PhD, where unexpectedly, I got engaged to Sushma Sreenath, whom I first met in Adyar in 1995. Pedro Olivera conducted an engagement blessing for us in Adyar, at the Church of St Michael and All Angels.
> > > 
> > > I love Adyar, so Keith, I am pleased to see your honest comments about the presidential election. In New Zealand, we are labouring under an illusion regarding Adyar, courtesy of our current national president, Mr Keys. 
> > > 
> > > Do you know Keith, why Mary Anderson left Adyar? According to Mr Keys, it was because she nominated John Algeo for president and therefore, Radhaji kicked her out! Very odd, considering that she was in charge of the presidential voting, and therefore, rigged the votes against John Algeo. 
> > > 
> > > Kind regards
> > > 
> > > Simon 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
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> > >
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> 
> 
> 
> 
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