Theos-Talk Archives (May 2005 Message tt00459)

May 17 2005

Dear friends, K and M.


Take your time.


Define for yourself what you mean by both these areas:

1	"Esotericism," and 

2	"Occultism."


Then consider if the investigation you are conducting into them is possible.
What are the needed and acceptable lines? 
What are the "givens ?" 

I have some ideas which I would be glad to send for you to consider if you
want. 

-----------------------------------------------

2

You also wrote separately:

M
"Theosophy promotes a person's ability to think for themselves, if applied
properly. 


DTB	This is what all true philosophy promotes: TRUTH which is ONE for
all


M
Sometimes with future predictions such as those it's hard to use common
sense to filter out all the erroneous information.


DTB	Look for those "laws" which are "common sense" for all. TRUTH has
to be common sense at all times, places, times and to all persons. We never
"loose" anything by being honest and fair in all we choose to do.


M
It passes right over our heads and we end up writing it in stone, so to
speak. 
The task handed down to us is to ignore everything that seems incredulous,
and find more solid truths. 


DTB	First accumulate, then sift for "common sense and veracity."


M
We'll get it sooner or later -- and it will lead us into a more mature
spiritual age."


DTB	Important, and now define to yourself what "a more mature spiritual
age" implies ! Does it not mean that the highest and most altruistic of our
impulses are carried forward from this to the next incarnation as character
and capacity -- and so on life after life ? 


-------------------------------------------

DTB
If we could say that Nature got here first, it has everything organized down
to the smallest detail, and we are an integral and integrated part of it. 

Then, "predictions," "common sense," and the "future" ought to be definable
to some extent in terms we have already some cognisance of. 

To be true and useful, everyone ought to be able to agree to these.

How could those be outlined? 

1 Known --   
2 Unknown --  
3 FIND OUT --  
4 Prejudices (discover how and why they arise in us and their value -- do
they help us or hinder our freedom to think? can we learn to be impersonal
and universal in mental outlook? How do we do this for our and our world's
future?)

We have hints that others have traveled on those paths, can we assemble some
idea of how and where? I mean generalities, and also particulars.

It is my consideration that THEOSOPHY has already outlined some or many of
those areas, and, as are we now, could be able to draw these together ?

In General:

1	What does the UNIVERSE mean and include ?

2	What are its components and basic materials ?

3	What are its and their common properties ?

Are they: 1	immortal ["life-atoms" or "Monads" ? ]
2	SPIRIT / MATTER conjoined to Mind ?
3 what is the limit of their independence ?	
4	Is cooperation expected -- if so, why ?
5	What is "success" for any individual ?
6	Is there a Lodge or Brotherhood of Adepts?
7	What are their duties and responsibilities?


4	Does LAW, and do laws, satisfy the need for cooperative inter-action
and the interactive life of diversities, to form a harmony?

5	If "Man" may be considered an immortal "Monad" that has developed
the "power to think," -- what does thinking imply ? [memory, choice,
freedom, responsibility, independence, cooperation, searching for TRUTH ? ]

6	If the Universe is (7) seven-fold, then the "plane of thought" is
to be found mid-way (the 4th level) -- so presumably we have 3 to rise to.
[see tables in S D I 157-8, 181; II 596]

7	The next level of advance in knowledge and power would be
"all-knowingness" ? [Wisdom about everything -- is this desirable ? Can it
be abused ? ] 

8	How is such a power to be made harmless and avoid such selfish
impulses as might be destructive to the basic universal harmony ?

9	What would "brotherhood" imply ?

10	There must be Monads that are in advance of ourselves? Are they the
"Adepts," or the "Masters of Wisdom ?" -- what are their qualities? 

--------------------------------

DTB	Franz H. speaks of "the awakening".  

He indicates that the "Lower Manas" (which is our mind in its every-day
environment) becomes aware of WISDOM which is universal truth and hence
available to all. (no secrets).

We realize that there is a superior Mind that is able to impersonally
consider our selfish and isolationist "lower Mind." [ Mind is actually
three-fold. -- HPB explains this in the Key. ] 

We begin to understand the law of fairness and unity -- Karma and, the
actuality of reincarnation, and the progress of all Mind-Monads as brothers
and sisters. 

This, for us students, is the next program of testing that involves our
duties and responsibilities as immortals -- can we pass from selfishness and
isolation into a true brotherhood of fairness and generosity to all ? 

Best wishes

Dallas

===================================
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Hamilton Jr.
Sent: Monday, May 16, 2005 2:34 PM
To: 
Subject: Re: suggestion to Mark


I will take a look at it, I've just been a bit tired from work lately.

I have been writing in a leather-bound journal of my experiences with
occultism and things I've experienced. If I do ever get through my
initiation successfully, I'll be sure to make it available to future
aspiring adepts.

Thanks for the heads up,

-Mark H.

==================================

On 5/14/05, krishtar < wrote:

> Hi Mark
> 
> I was wandering around many old theos-sites in some old email lists and
found out a special number of Online Journal High Country Theosophist in
which there is a brief autobio of Franz Hartmann, in which I gess he
explains a little of his mystical path and I gess it is always worth of
reading because many common points may happen between our path and those who
started first.

> I read just the beginning of this article and I wonder if if itīs of any
good info. for you, in the awakening.

> Tell me what you think if you can read it., itīll be welcome,
> 
> Regards

> Your friend Krishtar