Theos-Talk Archives (January 2005 Message tt00383)

Hey,

Most of the discussion about Masters lately strikes me as like a dog 
chasing its tail. That is, what really inspires the pursuit of this 
ideal is something *within us* -- a potential for transcendence-- 
which we then imagine to exist outside of ourselves, project onto 
some real or imaginary characters (historical in the case of 
Theosophists, living in the case of Radhasoami for example) and 
madly/vainly chase after.

Another example, closer to home for Theosophists because a 
Theosophist wrote it, is Dorothy and her companions making a long 
journey to a fabled wizard, only to find that he was an ordinary man 
and what they sought was within themselves-- and that the journey to 
the distant wizard was all a dream.

For example, Pedro starts off stating as a "fact" that Leadbeater 
got an approving letter from K.H. The only objective fact is that 
he got a letter signed K.H. The "fact" that it was actually written 
by such an entity is an article of faith for dogmatic Theosophists. 
To dogmatic skeptics with an interest in the subject, it is equally 
a "fact" (aka article of faith) that HPB wrote it and K.H. did not 
exist. Both of these are interpretations, not facts. Yet people 
are off and running, trying to explain how a perfect Master could 
have failed to recognize CWL's character flaws and future 
destructive action. Wait-- back up-- examine your assumptions.

Lately I have been thinking, not about perfected men or women but 
about whether and where higher intelligence or bodhisattvas or 
whatever can be seen in today's world. So I will throw out the 
question-- who now living and playing a public role in the world 
strikes you as being in the evolutionary vanguard, having a powerful 
enlightening influence?

My three answers: Bishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela both 
radiate a kind of serenity and benevolence that reminds me that holy 
and wise men may play a transforming role in world events. South 
Africa had the potential for horrendous civil war, and it was 
averted thanks to the positive influence of such men as these. But 
my third answer is more immediately relevant to me and will probably 
appear ridiculous to many of you.

But I will nonetheless suggest that Jon Stewart, author of the #1 
nonfiction bestseller in the USA and host of The Daily Show (Comedy 
Channel) is doing more good in this country right now than any 
political or religious figure, or any "serious" author. In an era 
when the "news media" have become so incompetent, biased and 
subservient to power that they have lost the trust of huge segments 
of the American public, one man speaks truth to power every day. 
And he does it in a way that hits home very strongly to large masses 
of people. By making us laugh in the midst of the horrors of the 
Bush era, he also provides a sense of hope and relief that sanity 
does still prevail at least in a small corner of the world.

For the non-USAns here who have not heard of Stewart, here is a link 
to his program, with info on his book: 
http://www.comedycentral.com/tv_shows/thedailyshowwithjonstewart/

Paul