Theos-Talk Archives (March 2005 Message tt00063)

Dear Dallas
I totaly agree with you
I not trying to defend afilliations
quite the contrary
I believe, like you, that the individual should make his own efforts
and quite often, organizations, societies and stuff mislead the 
individual, get him struck on the ideias this society gives, and 
only... 
I guess when one searches his own interests, without having to follow 
only what the X organization accepts he can 'let his soul flow' more 
easily and in its own way, and maybe learn more, and deeper... it 
depends on the person... and you go for what you want and feel is 
better to 'your soul'...


--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "W.Dallas TenBroeck" 
<dalval14@e...> wrote:
> Mar 4 2005
> 
> Dear Alaya:
> 
> How can membership in any "society or organization" help anyone? 
> 
> We are all involved in the THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT and this includes
> individuals affiliated or non-affiliated.
> 
> As I see it the only value to "membership" is that we may enjoy the 
company
> of sympathizers and we may share with the our problems and 
questions, for
> mutual assistance -- I mean who may help us in our individual 
study. 
> 
> Look at one of our basic books by HPB: The KEY TO THEOSOPHY 
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
> 
> Page	The KEY TO THEOSOPHY 
> 
> 4	The Policy of the Theosophical Society 	
> 
> 5 fn	"...We can show the line of descent of every Christian 
religion, as
> of every, even the smallest, sect. The latter are the minor twigs 
or shoots
> grown on the larger branches; but shoots and branches spring from 
the same
> trunk ¯the WISDOM-RELIGION. ..."
> 	
> "...not only the philosophers of Greece, but also all those of the 
different
> barbarian nations, were perfectly in unison with each other with 
regard to
> every essential point, he made it his business so to expound the 
thousand
> tenets of all these various sects as to show they had all 
originated from
> one and the same source, and tended all to one and the same end." 
> 
> "He adopted the doctrines which were received in Egypt (the 
esoteric were
> those of India) concerning the Universe and the Deity, considered as
> constituting one great whole; concerning the eternity of the 
world . . . and
> established a system of moral discipline which allowed the people 
in general
> to live according to the laws of their country and the dictates of 
nature,
> but required the wise to exalt their mind by contemplation."
> 
> 6	"...the whole Christ had in view was to reinstate and restore 
to its
> primitive integrity THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS; to reduce within 
bounds the
> universally-prevailing dominion of superstition; and in part to 
correct, and
> in part to exterminate the various errors that had found their way 
into the
> different popular religions....the purpose of Jesus was to restore 
the great
> doctrine of wisdom in its primitive integrity." 
> 
> 7 - 8	"...The WISDOM-RELIGION was ever one, and being the last word 
of
> possible human knowledge, was, therefore, carefully preserved. It 
preceded
> by long ages the Alexandrian Theosophists, reached the modern, and 
will
> survive every other religion and philosophy."
> 
> 10 - 11	"Real ecstasy was defined ... as "the 
liberation of the mind
> from its finite consciousness, becoming one and identified with the
> infinite." ... It is, indeed, identical with that state which is 
known in
> India as Samadhi. The latter is practised by the Yogis, who 
facilitate it
> physically by the greatest abstinence in food and drink, and 
mentally by an
> incessant endeavour to purify and elevate the mind.
> 
> Meditation is silent and unuttered prayer, or, as Plato expressed 
it, "the
> ardent turning of the soul toward the divine; not to ask any 
particular good
> (as in the common meaning of prayer), but for good itself ¯for the 
universal
> Supreme Good" of which we are a part on earth, and out of the 
essence of
> which we have all emerged. Therefore, adds Plato, "remain silent in 
the
> presence of the divine ones, till they remove the clouds from thy 
eyes and
> enable thee to see by the light which issues from themselves, not 
what
> appears as good to thee, but what is intrinsically good." 
> 
> 11 fn	"Real Theosophy is, for the mystics, that state which 
Apollonius of
> Tyana was made to describe thus: "I can see the present and the 
future as in
> a clear mirror. The sage need not wait for the vapours of the earth 
and the
> corruption of the air to foresee events. . . . The theoi, or gods, 
see the
> future; common men the present; sages that which is about to take 
place."
> "The Theosophy of the Sages" he speaks of is well expressed in the
> assertion, "The Kingdom of God is within us."
> 
> 12	"...Theosophy has ever been kept secret. ...
> 
> The causes for it were: 
> 
> Firstly, the perversity of average human nature and its 
selfishness, always
> tending to the gratification of personal desires to the detriment of
> neighbours and next of kin. Such people could never be entrusted 
with divine
> secrets. 
> 
> Secondly, their unreliability to keep the sacred and divine 
knowledge from
> desecration. It is the latter that led to the perversion of the 
most sublime
> truths and symbols, and to the gradual transformation of things 
spiritual
> into anthropomorphic, concrete, and gross imagery¯ in other words, 
to the
> dwarfing of the god-idea and to idolatry. "
> 
> 247 -248	"ENQUIRER. Then is all this metaphysics and mysticism 
with
> which you occupy yourself so much, of no importance? 
>  
> THEOSOPHIST. To the masses, who need only practical guidance and 
support,
> they are not of much consequence; but for the educated, the natural 
leaders
> of the masses, those whose modes of thought and action will sooner 
or later
> be adopted by those masses, they are of the greatest importance. 
> 
> It is only by means of the philosophy that an intelligent and 
educated man
> can avoid the intellectual suicide of believing on blind faith; and 
it is
> only by assimilating the strict continuity and logical coherence of 
the
> Eastern, if not esoteric, doctrines, that he can realize their 
truth. 
> 
> Conviction breeds enthusiasm, and "Enthusiasm," says Bulwer 
Lytton, "is the
> genius of sincerity, and truth accomplishes no victories without 
it"; while
> Emerson most truly remarks that "every great and commanding 
movement in the
> annals of the world is the triumph of enthusiasm." 
> 
> And what is more calculated to produce such a feeling than a 
philosophy so
> grand, so consistent, so logical, and so all-embracing as our 
Eastern
> Doctrines? 
>  
> ENQUIRER. And yet its enemies are very numerous, and every day 
Theosophy
> acquires new opponents. 
>  
> THEOSOPHIST. And this is precisely that which proves its intrinsic 
> excellence and value. People hate only the things they fear, and no 
one goes
> out of his way to overthrow that which neither threatens nor rises 
beyond
> mediocrity. 
>  
> ENQUIRER. Do you hope to impart this enthusiasm, one day, to the 
masses? 
>  
> THEOSOPHIST. Why not? since history tells us that the masses adopted
> Buddhism with enthusiasm, while, as said before, the practical 
effect upon
> them of this philosophy of ethics is still shown by the smallness 
of the
> percentage of crime amongst Buddhist populations as compared with 
every
> other religion. 
> 
> The chief point is, to uproot that most fertile source of all crime 
and
> immorality -- the belief that it is possible for them to escape the
> consequences of their own actions. 
> 
> Once teach them that greatest of all laws, Karma and Re-
incarnation, and
> besides feeling in themselves the true dignity of human nature, 
they will
> turn from evil and eschew it as they would a physical danger. "
> 
> 248 -9	"ENQUIRER. How do you expect the Fellows of 
your Society to
> help in the work? 
>  
> THEOSOPHIST. 
> 
> First by studying and comprehending the theosophical doctrines, so 
that they
> may teach others, especially the young people. 
> 
> Secondly, by taking every opportunity of talking to others and 
explaining to
> them what Theosophy is, and what it is not; by removing 
misconceptions and
> spreading an interest in the subject. 
> 
> Thirdly, by assisting in circulating our literature, by buying 
books when
> they have the means, by lending and giving them and by inducing 
their
> friends to do so. 
> 
> Fourthly, by defending the Society from the unjust aspersions cast 
upon it,
> by every legitimate device in their power. 
> 
> Fifth, and most important of all, by the example of their own 
lives. 
> 
> 	
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
--
> 
> Page	FIVE MESSAGES FROM HPB TO AMERICAN THEOSOPHISTS
> 
> 
> 2 - 3	"Theosophy has lately taken a new start in America which 
marks the
> commencement of a new Cycle in the affairs of the Society in the 
West. And
> the policy you are now following is admirably adapted to give scope 
for the
> widest expansion of the movement, and to establish on a firm basis 
an
> organization which, while promoting feelings of fraternal sympathy, 
social
> unity, and solidarity, will leave ample room for individual freedom 
and
> exertion in the common cause- that of helping mankind.
> 
> The multiplication of local centres should be a foremost 
consideration in
> your minds, and each man should strive to be a centre of work in 
himself. 
> 
> When his inner development has reached a certain point, he will 
naturally
> draw those with whom he is in contact under the same influence; a 
nucleus
> will he formed, round which other people will gather, forming a 
centre from
> which information and spiritual influence radiate, and towards 
which higher
> influences are directed.
> 
> But let no man set up a popery instead of Theosophy, as this would 
be
> suicidal and has ever ended most fatally. We are all fellow-
students, more
> or less advanced; but no one belonging to the Theosophical Society 
ought to
> count himself as more than, at best, a pupil-teacher -one who has 
no right
> to dogmatize."
> 
> 4 - 6	"The Theosophical Society led the van of this 
movement; but,
> although Theosophical ideas have entered into every development or 
form
> which awakening spirituality has assumed, yet Theosophy pure and 
simple has
> still a severe battle to fight for recognition... The faint-hearted 
have
> asked in all ages for signs and wonders, and when these failed to be
> granted, they refused to believe.
> 
> Such are not those who will ever comprehend Theosophy pure and 
simple. 
> 
> But there are others among us who realize intuitionally that the 
recognition
> of pure Theosophy -the philosophy of the rational explanation of 
things and
> not the tenets -is of the most vital importance in the Society, 
inasmuch as
> it alone can furnish the beacon-light needed to guide humanity on 
its true
> path.
> 
> This should never be forgotten, nor should the following fact be 
overlooked.
> On the day when Theosophy will have accomplished its most holy and 
most
> important mission-namely to unite firmly a body of men of all 
nations in
> brotherly love and bent on a pure altruistic work, not on a labor 
with
> selfish motives -on that day only will Theosophy become higher than 
any
> nominal brotherhood of man. This will be a wonder and a miracle 
truly, for
> the realization of which Humanity is vainly waiting for the last 
eighteen
> centuries, and which every association has hitherto failed to 
accomplish.
> 
> Orthodoxy in Theosophy is a thing neither possible nor desirable. 
> 
> It is diversity of opinion, within certain limits that keeps the
> Theosophical Society a living and a healthy body... Were it not, 
also, for
> the existence of a large amount of uncertainty in the minds of 
students of
> Theosophy, such healthy divergencies would be impossible, and the 
Society
> would degenerate into a sect, in which a narrow and stereotyped 
creed would
> take the place of the living and breathing spirit of Truth and an 
ever
> growing Knowledge.
> 
> According as people are prepared to receive it, so will new 
Theosophical
> teachings be given. But no more will be given than the world, on 
its present
> level of spirituality, can profit by. It depends on the spread of 
Theosophy
> -the assimilation of what has been already given -how much more 
will be
> revealed and how soon.
> 
> It must be remembered that the Society was not founded as a nursery 
for
> forcing a supply of Occultists-as a factory for the manufactory of 
Adepts.
> It was intended to stem the current of materialism, and also that of
> spiritualistic phenomenalism and the worship of the Dead. 
> 
> It had to guide the spiritual awakening that has now begun, and not 
to
> pander to psychic cravings which are but another form of 
materialism. For by
> "materialism" is meant not only an anti-philosophical negation of 
pure
> spirit, and, even more, materialism in conduct and action-brutality,
> hypocrisy. and, above all, selfishness,-but also the fruits of a 
disbelief
> in all but material things, a disbelief which has increased 
enormously
> during the last century, and which has led many, after a denial of 
all
> existence other than that in matter, into a blind belief in the
> materialization of Spirit.
> 
> The tendency of modern civilization is a reaction towards 
animalism, towards
> a development of those qualities which conduce to the success in 
life of man
> as an animal in the struggle for animal existence. 
> 
> Theosophy seeks to develop the human nature in man in addition to 
the
> animal, and at the sacrifice of the superfluous animality which 
modern life
> and materialistic teachings have developed to a degree which is 
abnormal for
> the human being at this stage of his progress.
> 
> Men cannot all be Occultists, but they can all be Theosophists. 
> 
> Many who have never heard of the Society are Theosophists without 
knowing it
> them selves; for the essence of Theosophy is the perfect 
harmonizing of the
> divine with the human in man, the adjustment of his god-like 
qualities and
> aspirations. and their sway over the terrestrial or animal passions 
in him. 
> 
> Kindness, absence of every ill feeling or selfishness, charity, 
good-will to
> all beings, and perfect justice to others as to one's self, are its 
chief
> features. He who teaches Theosophy preaches the gospel of good-
will; and the
> converse of this is true also,-he who preaches the gospel of good-
will,
> teaches Theosophy.
> 
> 
> 11	" ...the Ethics of Theosophy are even more necessary to 
mankind than
> the scientific aspects of the psychic facts of nature and man.
> 
> 
> 14	"...that cure is "ALTRUISM." And this is the keynote of 
Theosophy
> and the cure for all ills; this it is which the real Founders of the
> Theosophical Society promote as its first object-UNIVERSAL 
BROTHERHOOD.
> 
> Thus even if only in name a body of Altruists, the Theosophical 
Society has
> to fight all who under its cover seek to obtain magical powers to 
use for
> their own selfish ends and to the hurt of others. Many are those 
who joined
> our Society for no other purpose than curiosity. Psychological 
phenomena
> were what they sought, and they were unwilling to yield one iota of 
their
> own pleasures and habits to obtain them. These very quickly went 
away
> empty-handed."
> 
> 
> 15	"But to work properly in our Great Cause it is necessary to 
forget
> all personal differences of opinion as to how the work is to be 
carried on.
> Let each of us work in his own way and not endeavor to force our 
ideas of
> work upon our neighbors."
> 
> 
> 16	"But Karma will reconcile all our differences of opinion. A 
strict
> account of our actual work will be taken, and the "wages" earned 
will be
> recorded to our credit. 
> 
> But as strict an account will be taken of the work which any one, by
> indulging in personal grievances, may have hindered his neighbors 
from
> doing. Think you it is a light thing to hinder the force of the 
Theosophical
> Society, as represented in the person of any of its leaders, from 
doing its
> appointed work? 
> 
> So surely as there is a Karmic power behind the Society will that 
power
> exact the account for its hindrance, and he is a rash and ignorant 
man who
> opposes his puny self to it in the execution of its appointed task."
> 
> 
> 18 - 19	"My words may and will pass and be forgotten, 
but certain
> sentences from letters written by the Masters will never pass, 
because they
> are the embodiment of the highest practical Theosophy. I must 
translate them
> for you :- 
> 
> "* * * Let not the fruit of good Karma be your motive; for your 
Karma, good
> or bad, being one and the common property of all mankind, nothing 
good or
> bad can happen to you that is not shared by many others. Hence your 
motive,
> being selfish, can only generate a double effect, good and bad, and 
will
> either nullify your good action, or turn it to another man's 
profit." *
> 
> * "There is no happiness for one who is ever thinking of Self and
> forgetting all other Selves."
> 
> "The Universe groans under the weight of such action (Karma), 
and none
> other than self-sacrificial Karma relieves it. 
> 
> * How many of you have helped humanity to carry its smallest 
burden, that
> you should all regard yourselves as Theosophists. Oh, men of the 
West, who
> would play at being the Saviours of mankind before they even spare 
the life
> of a mosquito whose sting threatens them!, would you be partakers 
of Divine
> Wisdom or true Theosophists? Then do as the gods when incarnated 
do. 
> 
> Feel yourselves the vehicles of the whole humanity, mankind as part 
of
> yourselves, and act accordingly. * * * * *"
> 
> These are golden words; may you assimilate them! 
> 
> This is the hope of one who signs herself most sincerely the 
devoted sister
> and servant of every true follower of the Masters of Theosophy..
> Yours 
fraternally,
>  
> H. P. BLAVATSKY. . . .
> 
> 
> =================================
> 
> I think this gives a good idea of the basic answers that can be 
offered.
> 
> You asked: (1) "is everyone here a member of the T.S???"
> 
> I would say not everyone.
> 
> (2) "...anyone who isn't? why not? "
> 
> Individuals do. Others do not. And none have to "belong," as 
members, to the
> THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.
> 
> Anyone can benefit from a study of THEOSOPHY, as HPB makes clear 
above. 
> 
> But the practise is always a matter of individual decision.  
Nothing can be
> enforced. 
> 
> I would say (from personal observation and by reading what is 
offered by
> members) that in some cases, some of the THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETIES no 
longer
> teach or closely advocate the practise of that which is to be found 
taught
> by HPB in The KEY TO THEOSOPHY.  
> 
> Their members don't know it very well any more. In some cases it 
(the "Key,"
> and other original texts) has been reissued in a mutilated (edited) 
form --
> to suit the current desires and views of the "management."  
> 
> A review of the recent history of the THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT reveals 
this
> clearly. 
> 
> The "Original Texts" (both 'on line' and as books) are available 
and anyone
> can verify these changes by proof-reading the new versions against 
the
> originals. 
> 
> HPB was (and is) the real "founder" of the modern THEOSOPHICAL 
MOVEMENT --
> following her, a number of writers have tried to interpret her 
writings,
> claiming they made them more easy to understand. In so doing her 
original
> teachings have been changed and altered.  
> 
> To realize this one has to be familiar with The KEY TO THEOSOPHY, 
The VOICE
> OF THE SILENCE and the SECRET DOCTRINE and ISIS UNVEILED, and, of 
course,
> her many articles. There are no "short-cuts." 
> 
> Best wishes.
> 
> 
> Dallas
>  
> ====================================\
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Alaya 
> Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 9:36 AM
> To: 
> Subject: is every one a member?
> 
> 
> is everyone here a member of the T.S???
> anyone who isn't? why not?