Theos-Talk Archives (July 2003 Message tt00122)

Hi Bill,

I think we could extend the idea behind my statement beyond the 
personal.
My response was directed to Adelasie's comments: "A good
> index for a theosophist to use when determining the rightness of an
> action is, "How would I feel if someone did this to me?" An honest
> answer will often make things very clear."
> 
> Adelasie's comments might be translated: "If everyone else were an
> honest
> theosophist (like me?), then everyone else would also often know the
> right thing to do."

We live in a very complex and sometimes confusing culture, worldwide. 
The diversity is extensive and sometimes it is very difficult to 
figure out how to understand any particular issue. If everyone, or 
anyone, were able to figure out everything, what a different world it 
would be. But in the meantime, we do have the need to see some sort 
of order in the apparent chaos. Beyond politics, beyond all dispute, 
in the face of increasing catastrophe on all fronts, don't we want to 
find a reason for hope?

Theosophy offers us lots of tools. One of the most useful IMHO is the 
well-worn and pervasive Golden Rule. By an act of imagination and 
empathy we can put ourselves in the place of another, and instantly 
we will know whether we would like to be in his/her reality. How 
would I feel if the most powerful nation on earth was raining down 
bombs on my impoverished country, on me and my family, blowing off 
the limbs of my children, destroying the fragile national 
infrastructure that only marginally functions already? Not hard to 
figure out. 

I would suggest also that it is a good idea to keep an open mind. We 
all have opinions about current events, what is true and what is not. 
But we live in a cycle of intense change. Everything material is, 
from one point of view, illusion. The picture shifts and shape-
changes every day. Don't we need something more "solid" to stand on, 
something like eternal truth that transcends appearance and seeming? 
Where do we find such a vantage point? In the ancient wisdom, in very 
simple concepts, which are in reality intelligent entities. Things 
like love, will, wisdom, knowledge, faith, hope, truth, justice, 
loyalty, honesty, service, obedience. We don't really need to 
evaluate others' behavior, nor do we serve any useful purpose by 
doing so. But we do contribute mightily to the general welfare of 
humanity by measuring ourselves against such guidelines, trying to 
live up to our ideals, and never giving up.

Adelaise