Theos-Talk Archives (July 2004 Message tt00062)

Leon, or Leondardo, wrote: <<According 
to the Master (anonymous) teacher of 
theosophical methods of examining the 
true nature of reality; >>

Still, regardless of what anybody says, 
seems to me that some of us might want 
to asses things in keeping with our own 
preferences, for better or worse ... Not 
that you didn't know that, but in this 
case what's the point of saying 
"according to the Master," unless you 
think that you think accordingly, so why 
not just say something like "I think" or 
"I believe," eg (inasmuchasif you might 
think that "Masters" are "Masters" and 
you are you, and that since you can't 
speak in place of "Masterts" or other 
people all that much, to begin with ...) 
... unless you think that "according to 
the Master" carries some kind of special 
weight around here ... Well, not that it 
might not carry some weight for some 
people, but, to my way of thinking, 
speculating, it carries no weight 
whatever for me. Of course if your 
"according to the Master," in this 
instance, carries weight for you, as it 
would seem to since you seem to have 
written that down, what can I say ... 
But I thought some students of Theosophy 
might want to try to think for 
themselves to some extent, without 
leaning on "Masters" ... not that people 
generally don't "think for themselves" 
to some extent, as in your case, Leon, 
but ... I sometimes can't help wondering 
what form your "thinking for yourself" 
might take, especially as you seem to 
have brought out some form of "according 
to the Master" quite a few times on 
these lists.

<<"Tempering intuition with reason" 
means, to determine through rational 
thought -- using such techniques as 
hypothesis, synthesis, logical analysis 
by deduction and induction, etc. -- 
whether or not a
particular "intuition" is a fantasy, an 
illusion, a hallucination, a hypnotic 
suggestion, a telepathic projection, or 
a real direct perception of a truthful
ideation that is consistent with 
fundamental principles, and fits 
together like a jigsaw puzzle with all 
other occult or esoteric metaphysical 
truths one has discovered for oneself 
through serious, individually self 
devised and self determined study and 
effort. >>

Ah, now it's "serious, individual self 
devised and self determined study and 
effort," is it ... Sounds better, in a 
sense, if ... But one might wonder about 
that "according to the Master"... might 
not one, to some extent ... ^:-/ ...

<<To discuss the nature of the 
essentially esoteric insights resulting 
from these rationally examined intuitive 
determinations of absolute vs. relative
reality, is as futile as trying to 
explain the inner perception (qualia) or 
conscious experience one has that 
recognizes and separates the taste of 
honey from the color of a rose. The 
only help one can give to explain these 
insights exoterically to others, is 
through symbolic representations of such 
truths either graphically or as word 
pictures, mathematical equations, etc. >>

If ...

<<This is what HPB and the Masters have 
done in all their expositions of the 
esoteric truths of theosophy through 
their books and articles... The whole 
purpose behind them being to enable us 
to learn how to think for ourselves, >>

Okay, in a sense, but what about the 
"according to the Master"... What was 
that all about ... ^:-/ ...

<<and find our own path to self 
realization, enlightenment and ultimate 
wisdom -- so as to be better able to 
help and teach others the true basis and 
necessity of Universal Brotherhood... 
And, ultimately, through such altruistic 
action, save ourselves from ourselves, 
as well as restore the pristine purity 
of the world we live in... (And, 
thereby, eliminate the poisons that our 
previous selfish actions and mistaken 
materialism has surrounded us with.)>>

Sounds ... uh, "interesting," sort of 
... On the one hand ... On the other 
hand ... ^:-/ ...

<<As a waffling speculative thinker who 
likes to coin and play with words and 
their opposites, and with no definite 
theosophical ideas or metaphysical 
truths to promulgate with positive 
assurance -- that might help others 
better understand theosophy -- is it any 
wonder you are constantly scratching 
your head over all this? </:-)>
Best wishes,
Leonardo>>

Hmm ...

Speculatively,
Mauri