Theos-Talk Archives (December 1999 Message tl00014)

Hello Dallas,

Thank you for putting me back on track, and your well-considered response.  You
are quite right  that it is natural
for all of us to act out of "animal consciousness," as we are still within our
human skins  and it is hard to deny that
essential connection.  It is also true that I can choose to pass on those
postings I find not useful.  The irony is that
I do in fact lack the necessary background to fully understand and appreciate
your postings (and that of several others)
and will take your suggestions to heart.  I have bookmarked Blavatsky.net, and
will begin my education, when I feel I can
make a positive contribution, I will do so.

In the meantime, I will remind myself to be more accepting, and hope that
everyone will be more accepting of how each
of us chooses our "path of progress."  I do agree that the goal is the same, and
yes, we are all in this together.  Some of
us are just a bit further along, as you have pointed out.  Perhaps our paths
will intersect at some point on our respective
winding journeys.  I will save your posting, and learn from it what I can, and I
thank you again.

Regards

Maureen

"W. Dallas TenBroeck" <dalval@nwc.net> on 12/02/99 01:21:01 PM

Please respond to "Theosophy Study List" <theos-l@list.vnet.net>

To:   "Theosophy Study List" <theos-l@list.vnet.net>
cc:    (bcc: Maureen T Fitzgerald/HLIFE)

Subject:  RE: theos-l digest: December 01, 1999-to all

Dec 2nd

Dear Maureen:

Theosophy is essentially the "religion" of common sense.  If
tries to show that this sense that is common is everywhere.  It
also serves to make a record of all the events of the past, and
in the latest exposition made by Mme. Blavatsky (ISIS UNVEILED,
THE SECRET DOCTRINE) it is shown how all the religions and the
philosophies and the sciences of the past have been recorded and
form a unity.

The Theologians and partial philosophers have made for all the
divisions in religion and belief.  The claims to infallibility
and the demands of "belief without proof" made by various
theologians on behalf of their creeds are not conducive to
individual search, or reconciliation.  And yet, the indomitable
spirit of man demands at some time that we find and prove for
ourselves the facts that lie all around us in Nature, and those
that we may not have examined with attention.

It is held that Truth, or "fact," is ONE, and can be no one's (or
no sects) property.  It is also claimed that the mind of man (the
Soul) is a free entity capable of considering anything in the
world because it is in its root and essence: "one with everything
else in the world."  There is however in each of us a section of
our minds that is still allied to the "animal" consciousness
which is personal, selfish, opinionated, defensive, and seeks
(usually) some "advantage," or control or domination over others.

It is this aspect of the Mind (allied with "desires and
passions") which causes all the troubles and the conflicts, and
the apparent "ego bashing" you read and see, which is so
deplorable.

You have to understand that students of Theosophy are quite
ordinary people who have seized an aspect of truth that is now
working in and through their minds.

They have abandoned and left behind them some of the restrictive
aspects of formalism, creedlaism, and in their search for truth
they do not always use tact with each other.  They are also quite
unformalized, and are in search of something they can share to
make sure that their new way of thinking is not an aberration but
has some value and continuity.

This friction is not to be condoned, but accepted for the way in
which some "personalities" find it easier to act.  Really it
helps no one.  You are quite right in that -- it is distressing.
But it also illustrates how it takes all kinds of personalities
to makeup a world.  If we don't like some writer or their
approach, we need only pass to another which is more reasoned, or
do that which you have just done:  protest and ask questions.

You also find and observe that many of those who lack tact, and
the real power to investigate, have substituted what they call
this discussing and exchange of ideas, for a sound basis from
which to talk to each other.

One of the distressing aspects of this is that they are
unfamiliar with the basic texts of Theosophy that demonstrate its
depth and breadth.  I mean books like THE KEY TO THEOSOPHY by
Mme. Blavatsky, or THE OCEAN OF THEOSOPHY by Wm. Q. Judge., which
we all ought to have familiarized ourselves with.  Then we could
talk about the principles laid out there, and not waste so much
time on "far-out" ideas and wild opinions.

Much time cold be saved and many a serious question could be
enhanced if we all, (and they) used the same basis for inquiry.
If one goes to college and adopts a discipline to learn, one
starts with text books that offer a basis.  One does not start in
to argue with the instructors.  Argument is not to be avoided,
but first a learning of certain facts is necessary -- otherwise,
as I say, much time is wasted.

The path of progress is really one for all -- we are in this
together -- and the human family is called a BROTHERHOOD in fact
not merely an ideal.

All religions, creeds, philosophies and sciences are of necessity
included in this.  If you should study the history of the
development of religions you will find the oldest to be the Hindu
and Chinese (religious-philosophies), then there were reforms to
those as they became in time orthodox and credalized:
Zoroastrianism, Jainism and Buddhism.

In parallel with these we find the very ancient Egyptian
"Mystery" schools, from which were derived the Greek Mysteries.
Also as a very ancient parallel is the little we know of the
mysterious systems of the Druids and the Scandinavians and the
Tautens.  The Semitic religions, Jewish, Arab, Druze, Sufi, are
found to be reforms or derivatives from the Zoroastrian.
Christianity, Gnosticism, Protestantism are all reforms of
Judaism, and so on down the line one can trace a succession of
Prophets, and "Sons of God, or "Wise Sages" who have come cycle
after cycle to bring back corrupted religions to the set of the
One Central Body of Truths from which they all spring.  Every
prophet proclaimed that every human is a Son of God, and claimed
inspiration from that fact.  Jesus did the same, as one can read
in the Bible.  At one point he turned to the disciples and said:
"Know ye not ye are the sons of God?"

Theosophy claims to be a re-presentation of that wisdom and
knowledge that was always taught in antiquity.  It stated always
that each human was HIS OWN AUTHORITY.   And that each had a
direct link to God.  Also that the Soul was immortal (for
reincarnation is taught in the Bible by Jesus -- this is easily
proved.

The main tenets of Theosophy consider the immortality of man's
Spirit/soul and his progress through successive reincarnations.
It states that the Universe and all things are under LAW.  Law is
one for all, just, fair, impartial and always active.  It is not
possible to have a fault reversed through prayer as that would be
unfair to the victims.  Each one reaps the harvest of the seeds
(choices) they sow, in this life or a subsequent one.  Every
being is an immortal on the "path" to perfection.  The whole of
nature and all being in it are there fore "brothers."

It is the details of this system that are under discussion.

One must consider that NATURE (our environment and its past)
includes everything we are able to think of as experience or data
(past) and all that we aspire to or desire to master (future).
The decisions and choices we make in the PRESENT form the basis
for our individual advance -- this is true for all of us.  Each
of us makes our own future.

But from that basic fact spring many divisions of thoughts,
feeling and attitude.  We have to develop (Theosophy says) the
ability to resolve these differences back into simplicity.

So while participating in this discussion list, carry these ideas
in your mind, read the books I suggest, they are "on line"
through "blavatsky.net."  And ask all the pertinent question you
want to.

Best wishes

Dallas

-----Original Message-----
> Date: Thursday, December 02, 1999 7:15 AM
> From: Maureen T Fitzgerald [mailto:Maureen.Fitzgerald@hartfordlife.com]
> Subject: Re: theos-l digest: December 01, 1999-to all

Good morning,

Could anyone help me to determine if I joined this list in error?
A short while
 ago I came across the list and initially thought it would be a
much needed
 roadmap to developing personal knowledge of some universal
truths, common
factors inherent in a multitude of a varying body of beliefs.
Brought up in
a Catholic, and homogenous, environment, I could never seem to
make myself take
the "acceptable" path of "buying into" the catholic faith without
question.  It always seemed to me that most religions were based
on the same
basic beliefs, with variations on a theme, and differing rituals.
Despite the
fact that this was not popular within family confines I could not
force myself
to feel any differently.  I had hoped "the list" focused on the
following
definitions/descriptions I found on the net:

What is Theosophy?

The word theosophy is derived from the Greek theo-sophia, which
literally means
"divine wisdom." Non-political and non-sectarian, the
Theosophical
Society is dedicated to universal brotherhood, independent
spiritual search, and
 study of the religious, scientific and philosophical thought of
humanity,
ancient and modern. It is part of a universal spiritual,
intellectual, and
ethical movement which has been active in all ages. This movement
is based on
the fact
that spiritual oneness is a reality, and is of the very essence
of being.

    "Think of theosophy not so much as a body of philosophic or
other teaching,
but as the highest law of conduct, which is the enacted
expression of
    divine love or compassion." -- Katherine Tingley

THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

The Theosophical Society was founded in New York in 1875 by H. P.
Blavatsky, H.
S. Olcott, W. Q. Judge, and others. It is part of a spiritual
movement as
old as thinking humanity, and its philosophy is a contemporary
presentation of
the ancient wisdom underlying the world's religions, sciences,
and
philosophies.

The principles of theosophy were restated by Helena Blavatsky to
draw the
attention of the industrialized West to the sublime spiritual
ideas of the
perennial
philosophy, and to re-awaken the Orient to its ancient spiritual
heritage.

The teachings of theosophy represent in outline the workings of
the universe. By
 individual effort and study, these concepts can become living
forces in our
lives, where we may realize in ever increasing measure the
universal realities
they depict. THE SOCIETY'S OBJECTIVES ARE:

    to diffuse among mankind a knowledge of the laws inherent in
the universe;
    to promulgate the knowledge of the essential unity of all
that is, and to
demonstrate that this unity is fundamental in nature;
    to form an active brotherhood among humanity;
    to study ancient and modern religion, science, and
philosophy; and
    to investigate the powers innate in human beings.
**** END OF NET MATERIAL *******

OK, now my dilemna....  Subsequent postings are leading me to
believe the list
may perhaps be more a forum for ego bashing than for exploring
higher ideals.
I am not saying this to be unkind;  perhaps recent contributions
are an
aberration and the current focus on personal attack is not the
usual thing.  I
don't have
the benefit of a long history with the list.  My wish is to
nurture my own
theosophical leanings, and my hope was that I had found a group
sharing the same
intent.  We all have our own learning curve, and our own routes
to our ultimate
destination.  It bothers me that it might be expected that
everyone maintain
some strict timetable on what should be our own individual path.
How could it
possibly matter at all if someone gets their academic degree at
35??  Should I
feel inferior because it took me 5 years instead of 4?  I am
totally overwhelmed
 at the concentration on the superficial, and again would welcome
the news
that the focus is purely a temporary thing.  If someone would be
kind enough to
suggest another forum to explore, I would welcome it.  If I am
clearly out of
my element here, you are also welcome to invite me to unsubscibe.

Thank you for taking the time to listen.

Maureen

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