Theos-Talk Archives (July 2003 Message tt00281)

Friday, July 25, 2003

Dear Friends:

We have here a most interesting series of questions. Allow me to
insert some points and answers as they occur to me in the text
below.

Best wishes,

Dallas

===============================

-----Original Message-----
From: L. R. A.
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2003 4:58 PM
To: study@blavatsky.net
Subject: [bn-study] the "mirror"

Dear Friends,


Forgive my ignorance and oversimplification, but I have a
question:


If the Absolute in wishing to know itself, "mirrors" itself, why
does the "mirror image" (the apparently mad world of humankind
with its apparent lovelessness, selfishness, materialism, greed,
wars, crime, etc.,) appear to be so "wrong?"

============================

DTB The “Absolute” IS NOT TO BE MATERIALIZED.

If we do so, we lose the sweep of the LIFE MOVEMENT through
DURATION -- (an aspect of KARMA ) of the great past and its
multiple manvantaras and pralayas each succeeding the other in
the continuous process of evolution. [ S D I 88 ]

It is admittedly most difficult to give such a vision, as H P B
explains, as our language, and what we have received in the West
of a view of the past through the “Bible,” was foreshortened by
theologians and translators, and also, we are not accustomed to
metaphysical subtleties.

Karma, Reincarnation and an eternity of Time, within which an
enormous “host” of immortal Monads evolve, are three concepts
Theosophy offers which have to be kept in mind

In S D II 176, top, we read a verse that uses as an ANALOGY the
ancient Rig Veda.

It relates to KAMADEVA the “King” of the Apsaras (DESIRE
AIDENS) -- they, taken together, are a PERSONIFICATION of that
“feeling that leads and propels to creation.” “He [Kamadeva]
was the first movement that stirred the ONE, after its
manifestation from the PURELY ABSTRACT PRINCIPLE, to create.”
[see S D I 273, 350; II 240fn, 728 ]

Note : that the manifestation (manvantara) had already begun.
Karma demanded this return to conscious working existence -- so
that evolution might develop on the next step. Kama now
developed to its full had to be united with the more universal
and “spiritual” Manas -- thus in our Manvantara, on our Earth
forming “Kama-Manas.”

Also used is the phrase: “The Absolute, wishing to know itself…”
This is obviously “poetic license,” and is philosophically and
metaphysically absurd, as the ABSOLUTE is ALL. [ S D I 54,
214, 295, 420; II 34, ] IT IS PERFECTION. But to make it
clearer to our minds (Kama-Manas) this has been employed as a
KIND OF STEPPING STONE. [ S D I 50fn; II 78-9fn.]

To reconcile PERFECTION with the imperfection and the vices of
our present, let us remember that H P B in the 1st Vol.. of The
SECRET DOCTRINE [ pp. 152 - 160, 168 - 191 ] gives us details
about the transfer of living energies from the “Moon Chain” of
the old Manvantara to the EARTH CHAIN of our present one. This
is a lot to study to get a better picture.

Briefly: The Monads that graduated from the “Moon-Chain” to our
“Earth Chain,” and whose “minds” were “lighted up” about 18
million years ago, are ourselves immortal Monads, now undergoing
the learning and trials of mind-control and emotion control.

On the “moon chain” they had acquired the highest development of
the Kamic principle. In this Manvantara on this Earth of ours,
it is the Kama principle of desires, passions and emotions, now
conjoined to Manas (mind) that is to be studied, lived in and
mastered.

The Kama principle in ourselves, is the one that causes the
confusion we see around us, because of its intense selfishness
and isolationism. Mind is impersonal and universally
compassionate and benevolent. Hence the conflict.

======================================


To put it another way, a friend today sent me a "daily
motivator" in the form of a slide show with beautiful pictures of
natural scenes which encourage us to actually feel the majesty
and wonder of life, the very life which is manifest in each one
of us.

But a walk down any modern city or town's "main drag" these days
appears to reveal the very negation of that natural majesty and
power. I refer of course to the polluted, noisy streets,
overcrowded with motor vehicles of every description that can run
one over in the bliking of an eye, if one stays off one's guard.
The other day I was walking down one such street and the "music"
emanating from a car was a horrible noise full of foul language.

Then there is the silliness of the world: the favorite topic of
conversation is so often the weather, or who won the baseball or
football game, etc., etc., ad nauseum. For me this state of
affairs produces great loneliness, and sometimes I feel I hate
this world of unpleasant illusion.

So could the "mirror" of the Absolute be its very antithesis, a
reverse and therefore totally erroneous image? We cannot hate the
unpleasantness of this world knowing that being here is our
karma. So it would appear, then, that we have to transcend it all
and practice focusing on that divine natural beauty until its
power completely overshadows the baseball caps turned backwards,
"rap," souless music, etc.

It has been said that correct sistematic and consistent
meditation is the key. But which technique? There seem to be so
many, and some do not appear true and sincere. How does one find
a true teacher, or does he or she just appear when one is ready?


=============================================

DTB You are right there is so much that is shocking to the
spiritual Man [Buddhi-Manas] within each of us. Some hide it and
seek to deaden its “still small voice.” Other respond and seek
to enhance its leading virtues and put them into practice.

How to proceed.

I would recommend getting a thorough grasp of the nature of Man
as given by H P B in the KEY TO THEOSOPHY.

You already hint at the method to be used for self-improvement.
It is a process of analysing the nature of the great virtues.
This is done by intense thinking about them.

This intense concentration is MEDITATION. We need to devote a
regular time for this daily. And we need to record our progress.

I would say that before any true [Buddhi-Manasic] meditation, the
steps PATANJALI outlines have to be understood, verified, and we
have to become practised in the kind of LOWER-MIND control and
discipline that only the higher Mind [BUDDHI-MANAS] can outline
for its FREE consideration, and use as a lower-self-improvement.
In other words the “virtues” (Paramitas, Rules, Observances) have
to be shown to be logical and superior to the selfish outlook
that would turn them into vices, if used selfishly.

This imposition is not regimentation, but merely consists in
identifying the applicable UNIVERSAL LAWS and RULES of a
consistent UNIVERSE (engaged in the education and improvement of
all its components), and, as a logical consequence, the practice
of brotherhood in all aspects of our living (of feeling, thought,
desire, action and words).

The student, chela, is free at all times to stop and change or
terminate (for a long or a short time) the period of instruction
and practice by him.

Ideally, nothing should be undertaken until well grasped. But
this is not always possible and the trust reposed in the
“teacher” may spur the chela to adopt disciplines we sense
(intuition, Buddhi-Manas
?) are true and harmless ultimately to himself, his personality,
and the universe at large.

What are we to base this BROTHERHOOD on -- see S D I p. 289 --
towards the bottom of the “commentary” “There is not one finger’
s breadth (angula) of void Space, in the whole Universe…” [see
also S D I 619, 632]

What fills “SPACE ?” The innumerable “Monads -- skandhas --
points of LIFE -- “life-atoms” and :life-molecules”, etc… [see S
D I p. 289]. They are of various grades and functions, but
they are all IMMORTALS. Their present location demonstrates the
level to which they have risen through aeons of experiences. Our
“human” Monads are, for instance, at the point and level of
self-consciousness -- awareness of the SELF within. The next
step is to freely find out how and why we can raise our level of
awareness (through mediation) to UNIVERSAL SELF CONSCIOUSNESS --
or the level where we are able, while retaining our
“individuality” we can perceive the UNIVERSAL FACTS, LAWS AND
ANSWERS to any question or situation.

If we can agree to this, then we may see that we are splitting
our ability to think into two portions: One is stable
(Ourselves), and the other seeks, constructs, imagines, and works
with Kama-desire, to fabricate for consideration a number of
possible “futures.”

One of the hurdles we encounter in such thinking is the one that
says:

Am I being supported in my individual and personal life?
Are there any universal Laws I should know of? If so, how and
when do they operate?
Why should others be involved in my existence?
Is my “body” provided for me? (I did not construct it in the
womb or as a child under tuition.)
How and why am I here? What am I expected to do? Am I
responsible to, or for others?
Do I depend on them, and do they depend on me to be their true
brother?
Is the Universe cooperative and multi-dependent?
Can I truly entirely separate myself from IT ?
Can I assist without expecting a payment or a “return favor?”

The BHAGAVAD GITA is found to contain continued reference to this
point, as Sri Krishna says again and again, “Do thy duty without
expectation of reward, simply because your Karma has caused it to
lie in front of you.”

He asks Arjuna repeatedly to examine the logic of “duty,” and of
“free” and “unexpecting” assistance, as Karma provides the
opportunities.

See if this can be of assistance.

Best wishes, Dallas Friday, July 25, 2003

=====================================




Thanks, friends for letting me share these comments with you. I
hope they don't sound too stupid.

Best wishes to all,

Louis
_____

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