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Re: Theos-World Re:Annie Besant was real founder of the TS

May 03, 2005 11:41 AM
by M. Sufilight



Yeah..
Perhaps we all need to widen our historical horizon a tiny bit.
I just read this one...
http://theosophy.org/tlodocs/hpb/NotesOnSomeAryan-ArhatEsotericTenets.htm

"
II.

The Vedas, Brâhmanism, and along with these Sanskrit, were importations into what we now regard as India. They were never indigenous to its soil. There was a time when the ancient nations of the West included under the generic name of India many of the countries of Asia now classified under other names. There was an Upper, a Lower, and a Western India, even during the comparatively late period of Alexander; and Persia, Iran, is called Western India in some ancient classics, and the countries now named Tibet, Mongolia, and Great Tartary were considered as forming part of India. When we say, therefore, that India has civilized the world and was the Alma Mater of the civilizations, arts and sciences of all other nations (Babylonia, and perhaps even Egypt, included), we mean archaic, prehistoric India, India of the time when the great Gobi was a sea, and the lost Atlantis formed part of an unbroken continent which began at the Himâlayas and ran down over Southern India, Ceylon, Java, to far-away Tasmania.


III.

To ascertain such disputed questions [as to whether or not the Tibetan adepts are acquainted with the "esoteric doctrine taught by the residents of the sacred Island"], we have to look into and study well the Chinese sacred and historical records a people whose era begins nearly 4,600 years back (2697 B.C.). A people so accurate by whom some of the most important '-inventions" of modern Europe and its so much boasted modern science (such as the compass, gunpowder, porcelain, paper, printing, etc.), were anticipated, known, and practised thousands of years before these were rediscovered by the Europeans ought to receive some trust for their records.

From Lao-tze down to Hiouen-Thsang their literature is filled with
allusions and references to that Island and the wisdom of the Himâlayan adepts. In the Catena of Buddhist Scriptures from the Chinese, by the Rev. Samuel Beal, there is a chapter "On the Tian-Ta'i School of Buddhism " (pp. 244-258), which our opponents ought to read. Translating the rules of that most celebrated and holy school and sect in China founded by Chin-che-chay, called the wise one, in the year 575 of our era, on coming to the sentence, "That which relates to the one garment (seamless) worn by the Great Teachers of the Snowy Mountains, the school of the Haimavatas" (p. 256), the European translator places after it a sign of interrogation, as well he may. The statistics of the school of the Haimavatas or of our Himâlayan Brotherhood, are not to be found in the General Census Records of India. Further, Mr. Beal translates a rule relating to "the great professors of the higher order who live in mountain depths remote from men," the Âranyakas, or hermits.

So, with respect to the traditions concerning this Island, and apart from the (to them) historical records of it preserved in the Chinese and Tibetan Sacred Books, the legend is alive to this day among the people of Tibet. The fair Island is no more, but the country where it once bloomed remains there still, and the spot is well known to some of the "great teachers of the snowy mountains," however much convulsed and changed its topography may have been by the awful cataclysm. Every seventh year these teachers are believed to assemble in Scham-bha-la, the "happy land." According to the general belief it is situated in the north-west of Tibet. Some place it within the unexplored central regions, inaccessible even to the fearless nomadic tribes; others hem it in between the range of the Gangdisri Mountains and the northern edge of the Gobi Desert, south and north, and the more populated regions of Khoondooz and Kashmir, of the Gya-Pheling (British India) and China, west and east, which affords to the curious mind a pretty large latitude to locate it in. Others still place it between Namur Nur and the Kuen-Lun Mountains but one and all firmly believe in Scham-bha-la, and speak of it as a fertile, fairy-like land, once an island, now an oasis of incomparable beauty, the place of meeting of the inheritors of the esoteric wisdom of the god-like inhabitants of the legendary Island."


These continous exchanges in the below and elsewhere of who was first - "The chicken or the egg?" -
reminds me of the Seekers who are mistaking the content for being the container.
And who like a good dispute more than they do good wisdom.
<:-)
(Me and my egg-head. Smile.)

Wise theosophical Teaching has to be performed according to time place, people and circumstances.
If a teacher who has passed away was a non-vegtarian and a smoker,
there could be a social reason for that.
If a teacher was a vegetarian and a non-smoker, who all in all promoted
an emotional almost non-AtmaVidya-like doctrine, there could be reasons for that as well.

What teaching, which would be proper to promote today might be something quite different - it depends upon
the audience - and yes - time, even timesequences, place, people and circumstances - and so on.

And when we just keep retelling the same story - by quoting dead authors -
the Seekers know, that they get a second best, - and that this is not
as real as a first hand account.
The fruits yielded are because of that somewhat small in size.
We will have to face these facts.



from
M. Sufilight


----- Original Message ----- From: "Anand Gholap" <AnandGholap@AnandGholap.org>
To: <theos-talk@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2005 1:36 PM
Subject: Theos-World Re:Annie Besant was real founder of the TS


Olcott and Blavatsky were technically founders of the TS. However when
they were in-charge there was not much acceptance of Theosophy nor was
it internationally recognized organization. Blavatsky was told not to
look into administration. She wrote some 3-4 books. Compare it with
Annie Besant's work. Besant wrote some 300 books, she was incharge of
ES and administration of the Theosophical Society. Under her
leadership
Theosophical Society became truly international organization with
recognition in many countries. Vast high quality literature was
written
when she was leader which was appreciated around the world. Blavatsky
became famous not because of her writing but because Annie Besant made
TS internationally reputed organization and Blavatsky was technically
founder of it. So little fame which Blavatsky has is to much extent
due
to work of Annie Besant.
So although Annie Besant did not sign papers when TS was incorporated,
practically Annie Besant was founder of the Theosophical Society.
Anand Gholap









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