Theos-Talk Archives (June 2012 Message tt00009)

Here is another cite.

One good article I was able to locate on the issue of obsequies is in The
Theosophist, Vol IV, June 1882, page 221 titled âThe efficacy of funeral
ceremoniesâ. The editorâs (H P Blavatsky) comments are worth reading. The
bottom line is simple. All the religious rites are the work of the priests
whose lively hood depends on them. Gullible men and women fearful that
either some injury will result to them or the departed, continue them in
all religions. Many theosophists I know of in India, do not follow to the
rites. Hope someone else will add to the above.

The Theosophist can be downloaded from theosophy.net and can be found
under the tab âResourcesâ.

MKR



On Mon, Jun 4, 2012 at 7:24 AM, fernandosob <chandrasekaryas@q3jFxSRjDFo3ShcONlG3NoY-cJXALBl2aouKUlHgM_UFe0xWBPPq_g6d9SaFsk_oXr4T8wQ_9vVBu7GTxhV7p40GCBWpFQ.yahoo.invalid>wrote:

> **
>
>
> I suggest Rao Bahadur Janardan Sakharam Gadgil (The Theosophist VOL. I.,
> No. 3 - DECEMBER, 1879), on "Hindu Ideas about Communion with the Dead,"
> for a initial plain exposition of this question of earth-tied souls, or
> Pisachas.
> Best regards
> Chan
>
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, vimal balachander <vimal_b@...> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Is there any mention among the theosophic texts about the elaborate post
> death rituals conducted by surviving hindu family members for the
> 'advancement' of the soul. The rituals in a shorter simpler form is also
> conduted annually and reasons cited are the same.
> >
> > Do these prayers and offerings really help the deceased? What i have
> read so far indicates,one can potentially harm a souls's progress by
> contacting thru mediums etc, by the same logic, then, do prayers help the
> progress?
> >
>
>  
>


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