Theos-Talk Archives (December 2009 Message tt00062)

If you harp on a moral code no one is going to want anything to do with  
Theosophy.
 
Chuck the Heretic
 
www.charlescosimano.com  

 
In a message dated 12/15/2009 8:13:43 A.M. Central Standard Time,  
mkr777@gmail.com writes:

 
 
 
Can Mirage of a vision help Theosophy leap into the Future?

All of  us who are fired up with the ideal of Universal Brotherhood are
eager and  passionate about wanting theosophy leap into the future. In
the recent  times, there is too much talk in theosophical arena about
visions of some  theosophists which are viewed by many others as a
mirage; and mirages are  what they are. It is time to look back to the
wise words spoken 130 years  ago:

WHERE THEOSOPHY SHOULD GO

âThe doctrine we promulgate being  the only true one, must - supported
by such evidence as we are preparing to  give - become ultimately
triumphant, like every other truth. Yet it is  absolutely necessary to
inculcate it gradually; enforcing its theories  (unimpeachable facts
for those who know) with direct inference, deduced  from and
corroborated by the evidence furnished by modern exact science.  That
is why Col. H. S. Olcott, who works to revive Buddhism, may  be
regarded as one who labours in the true path of Theosophy, far  more
than any man who chooses as his goal the gratification of his  own
ardent aspirations for occult knowledge. Buddhism, stripped of  its
superstition, is eternal truth; and he who strives for the latter  is
striving for eternal truth; and he who strives for the latter  is
striving for Theo-Sophia, divine wisdom, which is a synonym of  truth.

For our doctrines to practically react on the so-called moral  code, or
the ideas of truthfulness, purity, self-denial, charity, etc., we  have
to preach and popularize a knowledge of Theosophy. It is not  the
individual and determined purpose of attaining Nirvana -  the
culmination of all knowledge and absolute wisdom, which is after  all
only an exalted and glorious selfishness - but the  self-sacrificing
pursuit of the best means to lead on the right path our  neighbour, to
cause to benefit by it as many of our fellow-creatures as we  possibly
can, which constitutes the true Theosophist.â

âThe true  religion and philosophy offer the solution of every problem.
That the world  is in such a bad condition, morally, is a conclusive
evidence that none of  its religions and philosophies, those of the
civilized races less than any  other, has ever possessed the truth. The
right and logical explanations on  the subject of the problems of the
great dual principles, right and wrong,  good and evil, liberty and
despotism, pain and pleasure, egotism and  altruism, are as impossible
to them now as they were 1880 years ago. They  are as far from the
solution as they were; but to these problems there must  be somewhere a
consistent solution, and if our doctrines will show their  competence
to offer it, then the world will be the first to confess that  there
must be the true philosophy, the true religion, the true light,  which
gives truth and nothing but the truth.â

HUMAN  NATURE

Has not changed in million years according to many wise people.  Thus
human weakness is present and in action whether it is NY,  London,
Peking, Rio, Adyar or Wheaton. Still the fundamental fact is that  good
side of human nature respond to personal interaction. Politicians  know
it very well. That is why even with modern leading edge  communication
technology such as telephone, fax, video etc. they travel in  person
and meet with the public and try to communicate their messages  and
influence the public. This works and no one can dispute it.  Technology
cannot be a substitute for human interaction.

TECHNOLOGY  - EXTENT OF ITS USE

Technology is simply another tool much like all  tools we use. They
allow certain functions to be done efficiently and  effectively. They
are not an end in themselves and have their limitations.  So no one
should be looking to technology to fix problems arising from  basic
human nature. So long as we are aware of this, we will not be  deluded
into applying wrong tool in the wrong place and time and  wrong
purpose.

INCESTUOUS TALK

Some feel that too long we  have been talking the talk within our
circle of theosophists. While this is  necessary to some extent and
gives us a cozy feeling, unless we go out and  touch the public, we
cannot broadcast the key object of theosophy. In the  early days of TS,
the monetary situation was tight all around. Both HPB and  HSO, while
not having a fat wallet or inheritance, were involved in  practical
human endeavors affecting the suffering public. That was why  HSO
started the school at Adyar for the poor children. HPB also  initiated
a Sanskrit school. She also spoke against child marriage in  India,
even though it was then an accepted norm in the entire society and  few
dared to speak up on this issue. This was followed by the well  known
activism of Besant, of course in her personal capacity, in  political
and social issues in India. Even Jiddu Krishnamurti encouraged  the
formation of schools all around the world. All this shows that  each
one of us should stop trying to talk the public into meditation  and
other occult practices, instead get involved in local activities  which
affect people in our neighborhoods. This will yield results  and
present theosophy in the right light to the public.

MIX OF  MONEY, PROPERTY AND REVOLUTIONARY IDEAS

Today, many lodges and sections  around the world own valuable property
and have fat bank balances. This  combination, while can be helpful,
may have contributed to problems as  shown by the lack of public appeal
of theosophical doctrines as reflected  in the poor membership growth,
especially in the West. The mix of  philosophy with money and property
and unconscious selfishness seem to be  combustible and can bring the
worst in otherwise good individuals who may  be fortunate to occupy
leadership positions. And when such worst comes out,  it does a lot of
damage to the growth of the TS and spread of theosophy. So  it looks
like this aspect needs careful thought and examination or even  mass
meditation.

FUTURE NEEDS SIMPLE APPROACHES

Theosophy  need to reach masses and it is not just for the scholars and
academicians  and the elite. The presentation has to be simple and
uncomplicated and has  to be at 7th grade level. The moment the
presentation becomes complex or  complicated or one has to reach for a
dictionary to decipher a new word, it  is a red flag that we are far
from simple presentation which everyone can  understand. .

PAST HISTORY

Past can guide us to the future. Very  simple ideals have altered the
course of societies. Take for example, two  of them:

Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.
NonViolence

They  were understood by everyone and masses responded to them and that
brought  fundamental changes in the societies.

MOTIVATING BASED ON  SELFISHNESS

In the early literature, you will not see much discussion  on
Meditation. Since the object of TS is not to start a school  of
meditation, it was not discussed. There seems to be too much  talk
these days, especially in the West, about Meditation when  presenting
theosophy. This is being sold as a commodity by many as a  panacea for
many human problems, health or mental or psychic well being. So  most
who are sold on this, pursue it for purely selfish objectives.  So
those who are attracted to theosophy through this, soon lose  interest
in the main object of theosophy - Brotherhood. It is reflected in  the
poor growth of membership in the West. We need to look for ways  to
present theosophy to those simple folks who are likely to be fired  up
by the principle of Universal Brotherhood.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO  BROADCAST THEOSOPHY

The real work is the responsibility of each one of  us and not only
those who may have been placed in leadership positions by  their good
Karma. Actions always speak louder than words. Action is what  people
observe and respond to. Unselfish altruistic involvement in any  local
activity which helps our fellow beings is the only way to go. One  on
one contact cannot be replaced by any other tool or technique. It  is
the individual creativity that can spur the spread of theosophy.  That
was why the Inner F_ounders provided the TS with the most  unique
totally autonomous setup. No one can dictate how we  understand
theosophy and how we apply it in day to day matters. Let us make  best
use of it and do what we all can.

MKR




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