Theos-Talk Archives (September 2009 Message tt00125)

Dear friends

My views are:

Thank you for writing your e-mail MKR.

I tend to quote a few of my favorites as a response to your words...


>>> The awaited Messiah and the central Krishnamurti saints <<<
"People are always looking for leaders; that does not mean that this is the time for a leader. The problems that a leader would be able to resolve have not been identified. Nor does the clamor mean that those who cry out are suitable followers. Most of the people who demand a leader seem to have some baby's idea of what a leader should do. The idea that a leader will walk in and we will all recognize him and follow him and everybody will be happy strikes me as a strangely immature atavism." 
(Idries Shah)
http://www.katinkahesselink.net/sufi/sufi-shah.html



Perhaps the following from H. P. Blavatsky would still be very well to re-read, so to understand that the Law of Karma was and is very important, when promoting theosophical teachings for - the masses!



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1.


H. P. BLAVATSKY said:

"THEOSOPHY FOR THE MASSES.
ENQUIRER. And you think that Theosophy would, by stepping in, help to remove these evils, under the practical and adverse conditions of our modern life? 



THEOSOPHIST. Had we more money, and had not most of the Theosophists 

to work for their daily bread, I firmly believe we could. 



ENQUIRER. How? Do you expect that your doctrines could ever take hold of the uneducated masses, when they are so abstruse and difficult that well-educated people can hardly understand them? 



THEOSOPHIST. You forget one thing, which is that your much-boasted modern education is precisely that which makes it difficult for you to understand Theosophy. Your mind is so full of intellectual subtleties and preconceptions that your natural intuition and perception of the truth cannot act. It does not require metaphysics or education to make a man understand the broad truths of Karma and Reincarnation. Look at the millions of poor and uneducated Buddhists and Hindoos, to whom Karma and re-incarnation are solid realities, simply because their minds have never been cramped and distorted by being forced into an unnatural groove. They have never had the innate human sense of justice perverted in them by being told to believe that their sins would be forgiven because another man had been put to death for their sakes. And the Buddhists, note well, live up to their beliefs without a murmur against Karma, or what they regard as a just punishment; whereas the Christian populace neither lives up to its moral ideal, nor accepts its lot contentedly. Hence murmuring, and dissatisfaction, and the intensity of the struggle for existence in Western lands. 



ENQUIRER. But this contentedness, which you praise so much, would do away with all motive for exertion and bring progress to a stand-still. 



THEOSOPHIST. And we, Theosophists, say that your vaunted progress and civilization are no better than a host of will-o'-the-wisps, flickering over a marsh which exhales a poisonous and deadly miasma. This, because we see selfishness, crime, immorality, and all the evils imaginable, pouncing upon unfortunate mankind from this Pandora's box which you call an age of progress, and increasing pari passu with the growth of your material civilization. At such a price, better the inertia and inactivity of Buddhist countries, which have arisen only as a consequence of ages of political slavery. 



ENQUIRER. Then is all this metaphysics and mysticism with which you occupy yourself so much, of no importance? 



THEOSOPHIST. To the masses, who need only practical guidance and support, they are not of much consequence; but for the educated, the natural leaders of the masses, those whose modes of thought and action will sooner or later be adopted by those masses, they are of the greatest importance. It is only by means of the philosophy that an intelligent and educated man can avoid the intellectual suicide of believing on blind faith; and it is only by assimilating the strict continuity and logical coherence of the Eastern, if not esoteric, doctrines, that he can realize their truth. Conviction breeds enthusiasm, and "Enthusiasm," says Bulwer Lytton, "is the genius of sincerity, and truth accomplishes no victories without it"; while Emerson most truly remarks that "every great and commanding movement in the annals of the world is the triumph of enthusiasm." And what is more calculated to produce such a feeling than a philosophy so grand, so consistent, so logical, and so all-embracing as our Eastern Doctrines? 



ENQUIRER. And yet its enemies are very numerous, and every day Theosophy acquires new opponents. 



THEOSOPHIST. And this is precisely that which proves its intrinsic excel-lence and value. People hate only the things they fear, and no one goes out of his way to overthrow that which neither threatens nor rises beyond mediocrity. 



ENQUIRER. Do you hope to impart this enthusiasm, one day, to the masses? 



THEOSOPHIST. Why not? since history tells us that the masses adopted Buddhism with enthusiasm, while, as said before, the practical effect upon them of this philosophy of ethics is still shown by the smallness of the percentage of crime amongst Buddhist populations as compared with every other religion. The chief point is, to uproot that most fertile source of all crime and immorality â the belief that it is possible for them to escape the consequences of their own actions. Once teach them that greatest of all laws, Karma and Re-incarnation, and besides feeling in themselves the true dignity of human nature, they will turn from evil and eschew it as they would a physical danger. "

http://www.phx-ult-lodge.org/aKEY.htm







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2.

HPB said:
"There were portions of the Secret science that for incalculable ages had to remain concealed from the profane gaze. But this was because to impart to the unprepared multitude secrets of such tremendous importance, was equivalent to giving a child a lighted candle in a powder magazine." (SD., vol. I, p. xxxv)
http://www.phx-ult-lodge.org/SDVolume_I.htm

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3.
EH=Elizabeth Hall 
IS=Idries Shah


"IS: In responsible Sufi circles, no one attempts to handle either the sneerers or the worshippers, and they are very politely detached from the others. 

EH: They are not fertile ground? 

IS: They have something else to do first. And what they need is offered abundantly elsewhere. "
http://www.katinkahesselink.net/sufi/sufi-shah.html
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M. Sufilight


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: MKR 
  To: theos-talk 
  Sent: Friday, September 25, 2009 6:55 AM
  Subject: Theos-World Recent trends on how theosophists are presenting themselves


    When you look at some of the modern writings and messages and articles about
  theosophical subjects by members of the theosophical society, one notices
  some curious subtle attempts to impress the reader. First, you will find
  photos to show how impressive they look. At least if you are an actor or
  actress, with a handsome figure, you may want to publicise your looks to
  trigger their emotions!

  Sometimes one wonders if this is to impress or influence the readerâs
  personal bias towards oneâs continental origins. A famous politician once
  mentioned that people like others who are like themselves.

  Next, we have seen publicising their academic accomplishments however
  unconnected that may be to theosophy. Frequently one finds many beating
  their own drums about the positions they held in the past, even when that
  has nothing to do with theosophy.

  Finally, you find mention about how long one is a member and even mention
  about life membership. Does all these help further the cause of theosophy or
  are they self serving.

  I do not know if all of the above affects a prospective member or an earnest
  student of theosophy. Or are they just make the individualâs ego feel good?

  There seems to be great downside to all of the above. Theosophy is for the
  masses; not only for the highly educated and learned. An ordinary person may
  either be impressed or simple turned away by all of the above display.

  I am reminded of the dictum of Pythagoras, that donât have or show off
  anything that would trigger disappointment or envy of the onlooker. A very
  good practical advise to any theosophist.

  May be it is time for us to discuss how effectively we can keep a low
  profile on our accomplishments unrelated to theosophy or theosophical work,
  so that a real brotherly/sisterly feeling can be generated. This may help us
  spread the message of theosophy.

  MKR

  There is no religion higher than Truth.

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