Theos-Talk Archives (August 2012 Message tt00026)

Thanks. I am in the process of getting hold of a pdf copy of the lectures
which were published. Will post a message when it is available.

MKR

On Sat, Aug 18, 2012 at 10:29 AM, don ridgway <scribe@aN7Qmf6Q6Nb8ENrHbWcZ2XSkBkI1PkFQZIBpR3NHISOXE_P7U3mtbJOyN9dMUGaEMHwXFh86kg.yahoo.invalid> wrote:

> **
>
>
> Thank you for posting this.
> Don
>
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, MKR <mkr777@...> wrote:
> >
> > T Subba Rao, a very well known theosophist and contemporary of HPB
> > delivered four lectures on Gita at the International Convention at Adyar
> in
> > 1886. He made some comments at the end of the last lecture which are very
> > significant to any theosophical student. He said:
> >
> > ++++
> > We have merely commenced the study of Bhagavad GitÃÂ in these lectures.
> Try
> > to examine, by the light of the statements found in our own books, and in
> > modern books on Psychology and Science, whether the theory I have placed
> > before you is at all tenable or not -- decide for yourselves -- whether
> > that is the theory supported by the Bhagavad GitÃÂ itself. Do not rely
> on a
> > host of commentaries which will only confuse you, but try to interpret
> the
> > text for yourselves as far as your intelligence will allow; and if you
> > think this is really a correct theory, try to follow it up and think out
> > the whole philosophy for yourselves. I have found that a good deal more
> is
> > to be gained by concentration of thought and meditation, than by reading
> > any number of books or hearing any number of lectures. Lectures are
> utterly
> > useless, unless you think out for yourself what they treat of. The
> Society
> > cannot provide you with philosophical food already digested, as though
> you
> > were in the ideal state of passivity aimed at by the advocates of the
> > Sankhyan philosophy; but every one of you is expected to read and study
> the
> > subject for himself. Read and gain knowledge, and then use what you have
> > gained for the benefit of your own countrymen.
> >
> > The philosophy contained in our old books is valuable, but it has been
> > turned into superstition. We have lost almost all our knowledge. What we
> > call religion is but the shell of a religion that once existed as a
> living
> > faith. The sublime philosophy of Sankaracharya has assumed quite a
> hideous
> > form at the present day. The philosophy of a good many Adwaitis does not
> > lead to practical conduct. They have examined all their books, and they
> > think with the Southern Buddhists of Ceylon, that Nirvana is the Nirvana
> > promised by the SÃÂnkhya philosophers, and instead of following out their
> > own philosophy to its legitimate conclusion, they have introduced by
> their
> > Panchayatanapuja and other observances what seems to be a foolish and
> > unnecessary compromise between the different views of the various sects
> > that have existed in India. Visishthadwaita philosophy has degenerated,
> and
> > is now little more than temple worship, and has not produced any good
> > impression on men's minds. Madhwa philosophy has degenerated in the same
> > manner, and has perhaps become more fanatical. For instance,
> Sankaracharya
> > is represented in their Manimanjari as a Rakshasa of former times. In
> > Northern India people generally recite Saptashati and many have adopted
> > Shakti worship. Kali is worshipped in Calcutta more perhaps than any
> other
> > deity. If you examine these customs by the light of Krshna's teachings,
> it
> > must appear to you that, instead of having Hinduism, we have assimilated
> a
> > whole collection of superstitious beliefs and practices which do not by
> any
> > means tend to promote the welfare of the Hindu nation, but demoralise it
> > and sap its spiritual strength, and have led to the present state of
> > things, which, I believe, is not entirely due to political degeneration.
> >
> > Our Society stands upon an altogether unsectarian basis; we sympathise
> with
> > every religion, but not with every abuse that exists under the guise of
> > religion; and while sympathising with every religion and making the best
> > efforts we can for the purpose of recovering the common foundations that
> > underlie all religious beliefs, it ought to be the duty of every one of
> us
> > to try to enlighten our own countrymen on the philosophy of religion, and
> > endeavour to lead them back to a purer faith -- a faith which, no doubt,
> > did exist in former times, but which now lives but in name or in the
> pages
> > of forgotten books.
> >
> > +++++
> >
> > His emphasis on the need for each one of us to do our own thinking and
> not
> > to expect the TS to provide philosophical food already digested is worth
> > noting.
> >
> > MKR
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>  
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]