Theos-Talk Archives (June 2000 Message tt00024)

I need truth but I can only decide what is good and truth for me.
D.Caldwell/M.Graye wrote:
> 
> One's sincerity does not guarantee the truthfulness of one's beliefs
> 
> Over the past few years on all the various internet
> discussion groups, I have seen comments made by
> various theosophical students stating directly or
> indirectly that a person's sincerity is somehow
> relevant to the validity or truthfulness of one's views
> or belief system.
> 
> But if you do a little thinking on the subject, you
> will see the fallacy on that type of thinking.
> 
> Even in a communication from the Master Morya,
> a telling phrase is used:
> 
> "erroneous and sincere beliefs"
> 
> http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/mahatma/ml-134.htm
> 
> In other words, a sincere belief may yet be erroneous!
> 
> For example, there are millions of sincere Christians
> who believe in the orthodox heaven and hell and believe
> that Jesus Christ alone can give human beings salvation.
> The sincerity and goodness of these people do not
> really have any bearing on the truthfulness or falsity of
> their beliefs on these matters.
> 
> There are thousands of humanists who believe a human
> is only a physical being and there is no life after death.
> But the sincerity with which that belief is held is really
> irrelevant as to the truthfulness or not of that view.
> 
> I could multiply the examples by the dozens.
> 
> Let us turn our attention to a similar way of thinking about
> the truthfulness of visionary experiences.  I have heard
> a number of Alice Bailey students imply that Mrs. Bailey
> was a sincere, good person and therefore that these
> qualities somehow validate her claims and teachings.
> 
> But the fallacy in this kind of thinking can be shown by
> again referring to the words of Master Morya.  In describing
> a mystic in India, the Master wrote:
> 
> "Suby Ram -- a truly good man -- yet a devotee of another error. Not his
> guru's voice -- his own. The voice of a pure, unselfish, earnest soul,
> absorbed in misguided, misdirected mysticism. Add to it a chronic disorder
> in that portion of the brain which responds to clear vision and the secret
> is soon told: that disorder was developed by forced visions; by hatha yog
> and prolonged asceticism. S. Ram is the chief medium and at same time the
> principal magnetic factor, who spreads his disease by infection --
> unconsciously to himself; who innoculates with his vision all the other
> disciples. There is one general law of vision (physical and mental or
> spiritual) but there is a qualifying special law proving that all vision
> must be determined by the quality or grade of man's spirit and soul, and
> also by the ability to translate divers qualities of waves of astral light
> into consciousness. There is but one general law of life, but innumerable
> laws qualify and determine the myriads of forms perceived and of sounds
> heard. There are those who are willingly and others who are unwillingly --
> blind. Mediums belong to the former, sensitives to the latter. Unless
> regularly initiated and trained -- concerning the spiritual insight of
> things and the supposed revelations made unto man in all ages from Socrates
> down to Swedenborg and "Fern" -- no self-tutored seer or clairaudient ever
> saw or heard quite correctly."
> 
> http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/mahatma/ml-40.htm
> 
> Notice that Suby Ram is described by the Master as "a
> truly good man" and  as "a pure, unselfish, earnest soul."  But all
> those good qualities didn't keep the man from being a victim of
> "misguided, misdirected mysticism" and having a psychic "disorder"
> and "infection".
> 
> Master Morya goes on to make comments about Suby Ram's deceased
> guru:
> 
> "You are right: they say and affirm that the one and only God of the
> Universe was
> incarnated in their guru, and were such an individual to exist he would
> certainly be higher than any "planetary." But they are idolators, my friend.
> Their guru was no initiate only a man of extraordinary purity of life and
> powers of endurance. He had never consented to give up his notions of a
> personal god and even gods though offered more than once. He was born an
> orthodox Hindu and died a self-reformed Hindu, something like Kechub-Ch-Sen
> but higher purer and with no ambition to taint his bright soul. Many of us
> have regretted his self-delusion but he was too good to be forcibly
> interfered with. Join them and learn -- but remember your sacred promise to
> K.H. Two months more and he will be with us. I think of sending her to you.
> I believe you could persuade her for I do not wish to use my authority in
> this case."
> 
> http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/mahatma/ml-40.htm
> 
> Suby Ram's deceased guru turns out to be Siva Dayal Saheb, the founder of
> the Radha Soami Satsang, a well-known religious movement in India.  See
> the ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA:
> http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/7/0,5716,69797+1+68032,00.html
> 
> http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/4/0,5716,63974+1+62394,00.html
> 
> Dayal Saheb is revered by several million followers as the founder of the
> Radha
> Soami religion.  Down through the decades his followers have done much good
> social work such as setting up soup kitchens to feed the hungry,
> establishing schools,
> hospitals, etc.
> 
> Even Master Morya described Dayal as "a man of extraordinary purity of life"
> and
> as "a self-reformed Hindu . . . with no ambition to taint his bright soul."
> Yet the Master M. told A.P. Sinnett that Dayal was "no initiate" and
> furthermore
> was a victim of "self-delusion" and held "sincere and erroneous" notions
> "of a personal god and even gods."
> 
> There are many more examples that could be culled from the Mahatma Letters
> and HPB's writings.
> 
> Unfortunately, our sincerity and good qualities do not guarantee that the
> beliefs
> and views that we hold are true, correct and accurate.  Our sincerity and
> good qualities do not necessarily validate the truthfulness of our inner
> "visions" and
> "intuitions."
> 
> -- THEOSOPHY WORLD -- Theosophical Talk -- theos-talk@theosophy.com
> 
> Letters to the Editor, and discussion of theosophical ideas and
> teachings. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message consisting of
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-- THEOSOPHY WORLD -- Theosophical Talk -- theos-talk@theosophy.com

Letters to the Editor, and discussion of theosophical ideas and
teachings. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message consisting of
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