Theos-Talk Archives (April 2004 Message tt00280)

Is Denuntiation a Duty

"I PLEDGE MYSELF NEVER TO LISTEN WITHOUT PROTEST TO ANY EVIL THING 
SPOKEN OF A BROTHER THEOSOPHIST, AND TO ABSTAIN FROM CONDEMNING 
OTHERS. 

To practise this golden rule seems quite easy. To listen without 
protest to evil said of any one is an action which has been despised 
ever since the remotest days of Paganism. 
To hear an open
slander is a curse,
But not to find an answer is a worse, . . .

says Ovid. For one thing, perhaps, as pointedly remarked by Juvenal, 
because: 
Slander, that worst of
poisons, ever finds
An easy entrance to ignoble minds . . .

--and because in antiquity, few liked to pass for such--minds. But 
now! . . . 

In fact, the duty of defending a fellow-man stung by a poisonous 
tongue during his absence, and to abstain, in general, "from 
condemning others" is the very life and soul of practical theosophy, 
for such action is the handmaiden who conducts one into the narrow 
Path of the "higher life," that life which leads to the goal we all 
crave to attain. Mercy, Charity and Hope are the three goddesses who 
preside over that "life." To "abstain" from condemning our fellow 
beings is the tacit assertion of the presence in us of the three 
divine Sisters; to condemn on "hearsay" shows their absence. "Listen 
not to a tale bearer or slanderer," says Socrates. "For, as he 
discovereth of the secrets of others, so he will thine in turn." Nor 
is it difficult to avoid slandermongers. Where there is no demand, 
supply will very soon cease. "When people refrain from evil-hearing, 
then evil speakers will refrain from evil-talking," says a proverb. 
To condemn is to glorify oneself over the man one condemns. 
Pharisees of every nation have been constantly doing it since the 
evolution of intolerant religions. Shall we do as they?" H.P.B




> 
> 
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "christinaleestemaker" 
> <christinaleestemaker@y...> wrote:
> > 
> > Hallo Daniel,
> > Here you make a great point clear!!!!!!!!!!
> > The Charlatan and 
> > The False "masters".
> > The moneymakers; bookwriters with a little essence and a total 
on 
> > MAYA.
> > The young-ones needs to warn;
> > but we know better...
> > 
> > HPB warned; 2000 years ago Jezus warned the people for the 
> Pharisees 
> > and so on.
> > Why even now the people cannot distinguish ? Need torches for 
> light!
> > Oke more and more will see; but still the selfish ones makes 
profit
> > at the cost of others.
> > 
> > Christina
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Daniel H. Caldwell" 
> > <danielhcaldwell@y...> wrote:
> > > Pedro, you wrote:
> > > 
> > > ---------------------------------------------
> > > Probably this is the reason why when I became aware of
> > > the controvesies surrounding "Theosophy and
> > > Neo-Theosophy" I didn't give them much attention,
> > > although I am familiar with the main arguments. And
> > > that is still my point of view. Theosophical
> > > historians may argue any way they want to try to prove
> > > that Besant and Leadbeater "betrayed" HPB, that they
> > > distorted the her teachings. That left me and leaves
> > > me perfectly cold, for I know, from my earliest
> > > association with theosophical studies, that the
> > > essence of their contribution to theosophical
> > > literature is a message of altruism and selfless
> > > service. And this is the essence of Theosophy
> > > according to HPB.
> > > -----------------------------------------------
> > > 
> > > Pedro, you write that according to HPB "the essence
> > > of Theosophy" is "a message of altruism and selfless service"
> > > or IS "altruism and selfless service."
> > > 
> > > And you believe that Besant's and Leadbeater's contribution
> > > to Theosophical literature is THAT "message of altruism and
> > > selfless service."
> > > 
> > > Therefore in light of that, you don't pay much attention to
> > > the controversies and "the main arguments" surrounding 
> > > "Theosophy and Neo-Theosophy."
> > > 
> > > You apparently say that the contention that Besant and 
> Leadbeater 
> > > "betrayed" HPB by "distorting"her teachings leaves you "cold."
> > > 
> > > But though you may be left "perfectly cold" by these arguments 
> and 
> > contentions,
> > > it would appear that both Madame Blavatsky and the Master Koot 
> Hoomi
> > > were VERY MUCH concerned about the distorting and disfiguring 
of 
> the
> > > Theosophical teachings.
> > > 
> > > In HPB's great work, in the preface, we find the following 
> > statement:
> > > 
> > > "The publication of many of the facts herein stated has been 
> > rendered 
> > > NECESSARY by the wild and fanciful speculations in which many 
> > Theosophists 
> > > and students of mysticism have indulged, during the last few 
> > years. . . . 
> > > THE SECRET DOCTRINE, Vol. 1, Page viii. caps added.
> > > 
> > > Notice HPB's adjectives: WILD .....FANCIFUL.
> > > 
> > > And Master Koot Hoomi told Colonel Olcott about the forthcoming
> > > SECRET DOCTRINE:
> > > 
> > > "Every mistake or erroneous notion, corrected and explained by 
> her 
> > [HPB] from 
> > > the works of other theosophists was corrected by me, or under 
my 
> > instruction." 
> > > Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom, Series I, p. 47 
> > > 
> > > Here KH was not inattentive or "perfectly cold" to such 
> distortions 
> > but took an
> > > active part in being sure that CORRECTIONS would be made.
> > > 
> > > Again notice KH's words: MISTAKE....ERRONEOUS 
> notion....CORRECTED
> > > 
> > > And in THE MAHATMA LETTERS, Master KH writes:
> > > 
> > > "I dread the appearance in print of our philosophy as 
expounded 
> by 
> > > Mr. H[ume]. I read his three essays or chapters on God (?) 
> > cosmogony 
> > > and glimpses of the origin of things in general, and had to 
> cross 
> > out 
> > > nearly all. . . . if he publishes what I read, I will have 
> H.P.B. 
> > or 
> > > Djual Khool deny the whole thing; as I cannot permit our 
sacred 
> > philosophy 
> > > to be so disfigured. He says that people will not accept the 
> whole 
> > truth. . .
> > > In such a case the less such idiots hear of our doctrines the 
> > better 
> > > for both. If they do not want the whole truth and nothing but 
> the 
> > truth, 
> > > they are welcome. But never will they find us -- (at any 
rate) --
> 
> > compromising 
> > > with, and pandering to public prejudices." 2nd ed., Letter 54
> > > 
> > > Notice KH's words: "I cannot permit our sacred philosophy to 
be 
> so 
> > DISFIGURED...."
> > > caps added
> > > 
> > > Pedro, though you may be inclined not to give "much attention" 
> to 
> > the possible
> > > disfiguring of Theosophy, here we find the Mahatma quite 
> concerned 
> > and ready to
> > > take action if necessary so that the public would not be 
> > misinformed and mislead.
> > > 
> > > Also in the opening pages of HPB's first instruction to her 
> > esoteric students,
> > > she gives the following WARNING:
> > > 
> > > ". . . A new and rapidly growing danger. . . is 
> threatening . . . 
> > > the spread of the pure Esoteric Philosophy and 
> knowledge. . . . 
> > > I allude to those charlatanesque imitations of Occultism and 
> > > Theosophy. . . . By pandering to the prejudices of people, and 
> > > especially by adopting the false ideas of a personal God and a 
> > > personal, carnalized Saviour, as the groundwork of their 
> teaching, 
> > > the leaders of this 'swindle' (for such it is) are endeavoring 
> to 
> > > draw men to them and in particular to turn Theosophists from 
the 
> > true path."
> > > 
> > > ". . . A close examination will assuredly reveal. . . 
materials 
> > > largely stolen . . . from Theosophical writings. . . [and] 
> > distorted 
> > > and falsified so as to be palmed off on the unwary as 
> revelations 
> > of 
> > > new and undreamed of truths. But many will neither have the 
> time 
> > nor 
> > > the opportunity for such a thorough investigation; and before 
> they 
> > > become aware of the imposture they may be led far from the 
> > Truth. . . . 
> > > Nothing is more dangerous to Esoteric Truth than the garbled 
and 
> > > distorted versions disfigured to suit the prejudices and 
tastes 
> of 
> > > men in general." 
> > > 
> > > Notice HPB's key words: DANGER ....CHARLATANESQUE 
> > IMITATIONS....FALSE IDEAS...DISTORTED AND FALSIFIED....
> > > 
> > > She warns her students that such imitations, such false ideas, 
> such
> > > distorted and falsified teachings may TURN THEOSOPHISTS FROM 
THE 
> > TRUE
> > > PATH....THEY MAY BE LED FAR FROM THE TRUTH.
> > > 
> > > And HPB's last sentence in her quote bears repetition:
> > > 
> > > "Nothing is more dangerous to Esoteric Truth than the garbled 
> and 
> > > distorted versions disfigured to suit the prejudices and 
tastes 
> of 
> > > men in general."
> > > 
> > > NOTHING IS MORE DANGEROUS.....garbled and distorted 
> > versions...disfigured
> > > versions of Esoteric Truth or Theosophy.
> > > 
> > > If anything, HPB was WARNING her students to be ON THE LOOKOUT 
> FOR 
> > and to 
> > > pay ATTENTION for such "garbled and distorted versions" of 
> > Theosophy.
> > > 
> > > I could quote numerous other statements from HPB and KH which 
> show 
> > that
> > > THEY at least were NOT "cold" to such issues.
> > > 
> > > Daniel
> > > http://hpb.cc
> > > http://theosophy.info
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]