Theos-Talk Archives (March 2003 Message tt00290)

Dear Erika

Thank you for the very insightful additions to the comments made in my answer 
to Mauri's response to my previous post. Unfortunately, to set the record 
straight, you attributed my comments to him. (So, for those readers who want 
to comprehend this dialogue, please substitute my name for his..:-) 

I will answer some of the questions you posed under your comments below, 
along with further comments.  

In a message dated 03/12/03 7:52:34 AM, eletzerich@yahoo.com writes:

>Dear Mauri
>
>I would like to add some comments to your comments,
>along with some subjective and objective questions :)
>
>Mauri: “Intuition has nothing to do with speculation. 
>To intuit is to know the actual reality of what any
>group of words mean. That is, having a direct
>comprehension of a fundamental truth. Or, as the
>dictionary defines it, "The act or faculty of knowing
>or sensing without the use of rational processes; 
>immediate cognition."  
>
>Erica: Intuition is not to know the actual reality of
>any group of words, it’s is as you well mention having
>a direct glimpse of a fundamental truth, not
>necessarily followed by comprehension, which seems to
>be another stage. Actually immediate cognition seems
>to be the first step into the process of breaking the
>veils of Maya. 

[Leon] Actually, intuition which includes immediate cognition, also means 
"knowing" since we define "cognition" as; "1. The mental process or faculty 
of knowing, including aspects such as awareness, perception, reasoning, and 
judgment. 2. That which comes to be known, as through perception, reasoning, 
or intuition; knowledge." (Amer. Heritage Dict.) 
 
>“He who would hear the voice of Nada (2), "the
>Soundless Sound," and comprehend it...” H.P.B. Voice
>of the Silence

[Leon] this implies that cognition and comprehension or "knowing" are 
synonymous when one's intuition is awakened to Nada after the merging the 
seven sounds. Its' like seeing the pure white as the sum of all the colors 
of the rainbow. HPB might as well have entitled the book "The Picture of the 
Colorless" or "The Reality of the Emptiness". :-)

>Erica: We could name this “immediate cognition” as the
>soundless sound or the pathless path? But, if not
>followed by comprehension seems to be dangerous. 

I don't know what you mean by dangerous. If one has "immediate cognition"  
through intuition -- that is the "pathless path" as well as full 
comprehension of the ultimate reality of the Spirit within oneself. That 
intuitive grasp of the reality of Spirit is the only way one can experience 
the "soundless sound" or the "colorless color". The experience of that state 
is also the awakening of oneself to the realization or consciousness of the 
higher Self. At which state one can commune directly with the source of all 
knowledge and wisdom. But the sounds, themselves, are only symbols of the 
seven states of consciousnes that one steps through to arrive at that final 
end.  

>Many persons with bipolarity have got this “immediate
>cognition” and many having not the ability to
>comprehend it, go into a self annihilated process,
>suicide or get into deep depression falling into a
>process of self-destruction etc, because even the
>brain can’t stand the immediate cognition without
>comprehension. 

But, the VOS and the SD were written for those who are ready to comprehend 
the immediate cognition of their intuition. Those you speak of who's brains 
are defective, are that way as a result of their own karma, and therefore, 
are not yet "ready" to assimilate the higher knowledge. HPB spoke only to 
the intuition of initiated chelas who's karma gave them the brains to 
comprehend what they could intuit through her writing. No bipolar ar 
attention deficit individual could possibly be capable of following the path 
laid down in the Voice, or the metaphysics taught in the SD.   

>To open the inner gates that conduces to the depths of
>human soul, is the first and maybe the most difficult
>step to overtake. To comprehend the soundless sound
>which of course is referred to the inner depths of the
>soul. 

Yes, but that's why so many are called and so few chosen. My comments, 
following directly on those made by HPB on this subject, speak only to those 
capable of using their intuition to directly comprehend the inner depths of 
their souls.

>But the question is when arises the comprehension?
>Only when ignorance is removed? So it seems a journey
>which every step taken open an abyss behind, and
>thousands paths in front to follow, the point is to
>make the right choice, which seems to be very limited.

That comprehension arises the moment of intuition -- which is the "direct 
perception of ideas." But, yes, the journey is long and arduous -- since one 
must overcome the limitations of each level of one's inner fields of 
consciousness, step by step. The patthless pass is to make each s  
>
>
>Mauri: “Thus, "esoteric" refers to the fundamental
>"occult" truths of theosophy -- not to their literal
>interpretation, nor to reasonable or unreasonable
>speculations about them.”  
>
>Erica: Yes, and the basic fundamental truth of
>theosophy we could say is:”Man know thyself and you
>will be able to unveil the secrets of "God" and of the
>universe” The fundamental truth, of theosophy is the
>inner path.
>
>Mauri: No amount of words can explain that esoteric,
>and completely subjective experience. Each time one
>does so, however, is another "initiation" on the path
>to one's individual enlightenment. Thus, our inner
>knowledge – which we can't talk about -- comes as a
>series of plateaus... Each, an awakening at a higher
>level... Until full enlightenment is achieved.
>
>Erica: Here I would like to add to your statement the
>three halls that Blavatsky mentions in the Voice of
>the Silence:
>
> “Three Halls, O weary pilgrim, lead to the end of
>toils. Three Halls, O conqueror of Mara, will bring
>thee through three states (14) into the fourth (15)
>and thence into the seven worlds (16), the worlds of
>Rest Eternal.”
>
>“The name of the first Hall is IGNORANCE -- Avidya.”
>
>“The name of Hall the second is the Hall of Learning.*
>In it thy Soul will find the blossoms of life, but
>under every flower a serpent coiled (18).”
>
>“The name of the third Hall is Wisdom, beyond which
>stretch the shoreless waters of AKSHARA, the
>indestructible Fount of Omniscience (19).”
>
>Mauri: “Unfortunately, many students reach the first
>or second plateau, think they have comprehended it
>all, and stop their searching to start preaching 
>or teaching what they know… sometimes reach no higher
>than the lower self that is caught up in the astral or
>the lower mental planes.”
>
>Erica: Unfortunately many people don’t even cross the
>first Hall, which is ignorance. First the peregrine
>has to have heard the voice of the silence, or the
>soundless sound and have to comprehend it!
>
>Many can’t develop the process of comprehension which
>is straight connected to remove ignorance. This is
>hard, one has to kill the self to get free of it. As
>there is no real learning and understanding without
>real comprehension, there is no comprehension while
>there is ignorance.
>
>The three halls mentioned in the Voice of the silence
>are inner stages into the path of enlightenment. The
>first hall the peregrine has to pass is “Avidya” or
>ignorance, the second hall Learning and the third hall
>Wisdom. 
>
>Mauri: “It's easy to form a group of lesser
>knowledgeable people around such a self 
>professed guru. But, the possibility of arriving at
>any sort of higher wisdom, realization of self and
>enlightenment, or effectiveness in helping and
>teaching others, is pretty remote.”
>
>Erica: A friend of mine use to joke saying: People
>they want to know the truth and they start meditating,
>practicing Yoga, making intensive prayers, and one day
>“God” appears and says stop you bother me. Them they
>say: “God” spoke to me. They return to the world and
>they start preaching.”
>
>Mauri: Only after one reaches the highest level, can
>they turn around and speak directly using the proper
>words to answer anyone's questions at any level of 
>their understanding.  
>That's why, the entire Secret Doctrine takes so many
>millions of words on thousands of pages to explain to
>everyone at every level. And, why so "many are called
>but so few are chosen."
>
>Erica: Few are those that can start the most hard
>path, and still fewer are those that are on the path
>and can stand it... 
>
>Weeping he wondered through unknown lands.
>Crossing the terrific gates of human egoism, he saw
>the secrets of the dark land
>It was a land of grief and fear, nourished by tears
>>From where love was banished and a smile never was
>seen 
>
>He felt the breath of the devil into his skin,
>Beside his own grave plot he was
>Quite he observed the shadows of death trying to get
>roots into his soul
>He tried to contemplate heaven and do not listen the
>voices of the grave
>Those voices were in agony crying out human
>ignorance...
>
>He said:
>
>'O heaven I charge thee to tell me...
>Where can I rest?
>Is there any peaceful valley?
>Where can I feel the perfume of the spring flowers?
>Where may I lay my eyes in the glittering stars?'
>
>Thunders were crossing the sky
>The wind was carrying on his wings, black storm coming
>out of chaos
>To his lamentations there was silence...
>His sorrow crossed nature to the utmost pole... 
>
>Mauri: Therefore, unless one has already been on the
>path in previous lifetimes, and one's karma warrants
>it -- to get all the way through to the top is very
>tough going, and requires deep concentrated study and
>practice, for a long, long time. So, wherever you
>are, keep on plugging. 
>(snip)... 
>The only way we can understand those esoteric aspects
>of reality, is to examine them in the light of a
>correct scientifically sound) model of fundamental 
>reality.
>
>
>Erica: The only problem is that, there is no
>fundamental reality! Only models that are turned a
>part during an inner journey.
>It seems without this comprehension every try is going
>to be without success. There is a point into the human
>quest that words would not be enough to express what
>might be to give an infant step on those virgin lands
>of the inner self. 
>
>
>Erica Letzerich