RE: Theos-World Causes for failure
Mar 01, 2006 06:03 AM
by W.Dallas TenBroeck
3/1/2006 4:57 AM
Friends:
In my esteem this quote shows some ignorance of "occultism." But this could
be said of a number of surveys.
Let us review the primary basics:
THEOSOPHY FUNDAMENTALS
" Logic flows from the fundamental assumptions of a particular perspective.
Changing the perspective changes the logic flow. If one chooses as "default
perspective" linearity, analysis and selfishness as separative forces, then
such a "default" logic flow will be linear as well. However true
philosophical logic is always global -- as it includes all aspects of Karma
(in and out of manifestation, and in or out of many kinds of embodiments,
further, Time (as we know it in our present embodied condition) is not of
consequence. THEOSOPHY considers every Monad to be an IMMORTAL pursuing
both its individual and conjoined progress, diligently and simultaneously
The "One" who uses "logic" or any other honestly responsive process has to
employ a wider perspective than any selected or analytical process.
Who or what is THAT ? I mean the Chooser or the Selector - the "ONE?"
A few questions are asked: How are the process we call: "logic" ( as
mental honesty and consecutiveness ), "mathematics" ( as numerical,
measurement, spatial, dimensional, spatial, abstract, concrete, etc... ) and
"imagination' (the image building process, from empiricism and selection to
conclusions based on (desire, wish, inclination, rigid exactitude, etc...)
-- make you own selection -- to be considered and used ?
Do they enter into this search ?
"Creation" and "Parabrahm" are mentioned -- which are basics and
fundamentals if we agree on their universality and impersonality.
But how do we arrive with surety to such ultimates? Those notes may help
us, but, let us observe a fact:
HPB's "Teachers" are not confined to Tibet. They are shown to be at work
all over the world, and are aware of all events that had spiritual
significance everywhere, as well as of particular individuals; and, They
speak of Their wide ranging travels -- as can be traced from Their recorded
letters and accounts.
A review of "The OCEAN OF THEOSOPHY" shows that it covers
====================
1 MAN'S PURPOSE -- Acquirement & Practise of WISDOM -- "THE
PATH"
1 Morals of Immortality [ S D I 36fn, 225, 276, 634, 637-9,
II 110, 272-3, 423 ]
2 Brotherhood [ S D : I 272-3, 574; II 616-17, 636-7;
I U II 100; ]
2 MAN'S "EXAMPLES" -- superior Men (MASTERS OF WISDOM) exist.
1 Names
2 Teachings
3 Example
4 Agents & assistants
3 MONADS -- Universal And IMMORTAL Potentials Of Force. [S D I 610
- 633]
1 Monadic Essence & the endless, countless MONADS [S D I
176-9, 289]
2 Degrees and levels of Experience [ S D I 619, 632; II
33-4]
"(Question: And for how long? Does this state of spiritual beatitude endure
for years? for decades? for centuries? )
Answer: "For years, decades, centuries and millenniums, of ten
times multiplied by something more. It all depends upon the duration of
Karma...Every effect must be proportionate to the cause. And, as man's
terms of incarnate existence bear but a small proportion to his periods of
inter-natal existence in the manvantaric cycle, so the good thoughts, words,
and deeds of any one of these "lives" on a globe are causative of effects,
the working out of which requires far more time than the evolution of the
causes occupied..."Between the Kama-Loka and the Rupa-Loka there is a
locality, the dwelling of 'Mara' (Death)...(lokas are not heavens but
localities or abodes)...Devas into two classes--and called them the
"Rupa-devas" and the "Arupa-devas" (the "form"--or objective, and the
"formless" or subjective Dhyan Chohans;...the same for his class of
"men,"...All these are:
1. "Rupa-devas" -- Dhyan Chohans, having forms;
2. "Arupa-Devas" " " having no forms; Ex-men.
3. "Pisachas" -- (two principled) ghosts. (see M L p. 110 described)
4. "Mara-rupas" -- Doomed to death (3 principled).
5. Asuras - Elementals -- having human form
6. Beasts-- " 2nd class -- animal Elemental Future men.
7. Rakshasas (Demons) Souls or Astral Forms of sorcerers; men who
have reached the apex of knowledge in the forbidden art. Dead or alive they
have, so to say cheated nature; but it is only temporary--until our planet
goes into obscuration, after which they have nolens volens to be
annihilated.
It is these seven groups that form the principal divisions of the Dwellers
of the subjective world around us." M L p. 107
3 Sevenfold Nature and Sevenfold Man [ S D I 157-8,
572-5; II 596 ]
Seven-fold Man and His Vehicles in STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS SD I p
157]
=========================================================================
Classification in Vedantic
Classification in
"Esoteric Buddhism" Classification
Taraka Raja Yoga
=========================================================================
1 STHULA SARIRA ANNAMAYA KOSA +
[Food made |
body] |
STHULOPADHI
+ | [
Jagrat ]
2 PRANA (Life) . | | [
awake in the body ]
| PRANAMAYA KOSA |
+ [Sutratma] +
3 Vehicle of Prana |
LINGA SARIRA or |
Astral body +
4 KAMA RUPA . +
|
|
|
+ Volitions and| MANOMAYA KOSA +
| FEELINGS | Mind sheath] |
SUKSHMOPADHI
| + |
[Swapna]
5 MIND | | [
the dream
| |
state ]
| VIGNANAM VIGNANAMAYA |
+ [Knowledge] KOSA +
6 Spiritual Soul . ANANDAMAYA KOSA KARANOPADHI
BUDDHI [Contemplative, [ Sushupti]
[blissful state]
[ deep sleep ]
7 ATMA . . . ATMA . . . ATMA
[
Turiya ] [Upeksha]
=====================================================================
CORRESPONDENCE : 7 COSMIC & 7 HUMAN "PRINCIPLES." : SD II p. 96]
================================================================
HUMAN aspects or COSMIC aspects or
Principles Principles
================================================================
1. Universal Spirit (Atma) The Unmanifested Logos
2. Spiritual Soul {Buddhi) Universal (latent) Ideation
3 Human Soul, Mind (Manas) Universal (or Cosmic) active
Intelligence
4. Animal Soul (Kama-Rupa) Cosmic Chaotic energy
5. Astral Body (Linga-Sarira) Astral Ideation, reflecting
terrestrial things.
6. Life Essence (Prana) Life Essence or Energy
7. Body (Sthula Sarira) The Earth.
==========================================================================
HUMAN PRINCIPLES KEY TO THEOSOPHY, pp. 91-92
================================================================
Sanskrit Exoteric Explanatory
Terms Meaning
================================================================
LOWER QUATERNARY
a) Rupa or Physical Is the vehicle of all the other
Sthula-Sarira body "principles" during life.
b) Prana Life or Necessary only to a) c) d), and
Vital the functions of the lower
Manas,
principle which embrace all those limited to
the (physical) brain.
c) Linga- Astral body The Double, the phantom body.
Sharira
d) Kama rupa The seat of This is the center of the animal
animal - man, where lies the line of
desires and demarcation which separates the
passions. mortal man from the immortal
entity.
---------------------------------------------------------------
UPPER IMPERISHABLE TRIAD
e) Manas --a Mind. Intelligence The future state and the Karmic
dual prin- : destiny of man depend on
whether
ciple in its which is the Manas gravitates more
downward to
function higher human Kama-rupa, the seat of animal
mind, whose passions, or upwards to Buddhi,
light, or rad- the Spiritual Ego. In the latter
iation links case, the higher consciousness of
the MONAD, for the individual spiritual aspir-
the lifetime ations of mind (Manas), assimil-
to the mortal ating Buddhi, are absorbed by it
man. and form the Ego, which goes into
Devachanic bliss.
f) Buddhi The Spiritual The vehicle of pure universal Spirit
Soul
g) Atma Spirit One with the Absolute as its
radiation.
[From: Key to Theosophy pp 91-2]
================================================================
4 The Gift of Mind & Responsibility [ S D II 94, 255fn,
412, 421]
5 Un-dying Race & Self-Sacrifice [ S D I 207 -210, 619; II
275fn, 281]
6 Immortality in Eternity -- always at constructive work
[ S D I 225, 276 ; II 110, 241 ]
4 MAN and Universal Evolution [S D I 181 ]
1 Spiritual
2 Intellectual and Emotional
3 Physical and Astral
5 EARTH'S EVOLUTION -- A School for Immortals
1 Cycles of Time -- Manvantara / Pralaya [ S D II
596 ]
2 Rounds, Globes and Races [ S D I 200 ]
3 Reincarnation -- Rebirth of Mind-Monads
4 After Death States
1 Kama-Loka
2 Devachan
6 UNIVERSAL LAW -- KARMA
1 Cause and Effect
2 Harmony of Diversities
3 Reincarnation
4 Freedom is always self-governed
5 Service by the Wise to all (end of Voice.)
6 Retardation & Obscuration
7 Vortical, Reciprocal, Circular, Vibratory MOTION in Space
and Time
7 ASTRAL AND PSYCHIC NATURE
1 Evidence and Purpose
2 Phenomena and Danger
3 Akasic Records -- History
========================================
ANCIENT WISDOM knew - and continues to know - deep and vast knowledge about
ourselves, our purpose in life, nature, the universe, the highest god-like
principles, and man's long pre-history on this earth.
Theosophy is the portion of that ancient knowledge brought to us by H. P.
Blavatsky toward the end of the 19th century, as taught to her by her
Teachers .
Some of its principles are:
........Everything in the universe originates from one boundless, eternal,
unknowable source. After a period of manifested existence the universe
returns to that source and has in addition. all the experience gained.
........The universe itself is an organic whole, alive, intelligent,
conscious, and divine.
........The laws of nature are the result of intelligent forces.
........The law of karma holds throughout the universe. It operates at all
levels, ensuring justice, harmony, and balance.
........We reincarnate into successive lives. Once we have reached the human
level we do not regress back into animal forms.
........The law of karma acts over our successive lives to ensure justice.
(We don't get away with it.) We are the cause of every joy and pain in our
own life.
........A law of cycles provides fundamental structure at all levels. Two
examples are our pattern of reincarnation, and the continuing "lives" of the
universe as it appears, then returns to its source.
........Analogy and correspondence provide fundamental structure for the
universe. This is a broad statement of the Hermetic axiom - "As above, so
below".
........Evolution applies on a grand scale to all of life.
........Soul (intelligence) is involved in this world of matter. It
experiences and learns. Soul then works its way back in a long pilgrimage to
its primal source. This again follows a cyclic pattern.
........This evolution achieves experience, self-awareness, and ever
increasing perfection. Evolution occurs on the physical, mental, and
spiritual planes.
........"Survival of the fittest" along with gradual accumulation of small
beneficial changes does not explain the "origin of the species". The origin
of the species is due to intelligent design.
........Humanity has experienced significant evolution in long periods on
the continents (not islands) of Atlantis and Lemuria.
........There is a seven fold constitution of man ranging from the physical
plane to the purely spiritual plane.
........Thoughts are tangible objects on higher planes. Every thought and
action has its effect on us and on our surroundings and has a karmic
consequence.
........The three higher planes of this constitution form the "higher self"
and that is what reincarnates from life to life and accumulates the
experience, the lessons, the virtues. The lower planes form the "lower self"
and are the vehicle used by the higher self while it is living in this
active testing ground of incarnate
life.
........At the moment of death we have a review of our life just past - as
we cast off this physical frame. After a short period, that varies
greatly between individuals, we cast off other lower aspects of our
constitution and the reincarnating self begins a long period of merciful,
earned, rest before the next birth.
........Often during this life, our spiritual nature is obscured in our
self-centered daily lives as we cater to our immediate needs and desires.
But the spiritual self is always there to guide us if we seek it with strong
earnest desire.
........We can strive to reach our Higher Self [ATMA] by:
........Listening to the still small voice of our conscience.
........Noting the dreams from the Higher Self.
........Developing our intuition.
........Meditating.
........Studying principles of the Wisdom Religion.
........Aligning ourselves with Nature.
........Engaging in action for the greater good of all beings.
........Carefully reading the events of our daily life.
........Brotherhood is a fact in nature. We are ONE at the highest spiritual
component of our nature. We are sparks from one flame. We are the fingers on
one hand. We are ONE at other levels as well.
We should:
........Understand we are not separate from humanity or the world.
........Emphasize brotherhood, altruism, and compassion in our daily lives.
........Strive to know our higher self.
........As a guiding rule - act for and as the Self of All.
........The religions of the world are branches on the tree whose trunk is
the one ancient - once universal - wisdom religion. The religions are the
tributaries of one great river. (But they borrow from each other to make the
actual details much more complex.)
........Mythology often transmits some of this knowledge in symbolic form.
........Periodically, great teachers come amongst us to help us in this
evolutionary path. They may create another branch on the tree.
........Humanity's potential is infinite and every being has a contribution
to make toward a grander world. We are all in it together. We are one.
Is HPB or THEOSOPHY vague? Here are some ideas she placed on record. HPB
said:
Come to the S.D. without any hope of getting the final Truth of existence
from it, or with any idea other than seeing how far it may lead TOWARDS the
Truth.
See in study a means of exercising and developing the mind never touched by
other studies.
Observe the following rules:
1. No matter what one may study in the S.D. let the mind hold fast, as the
basis of its ideation to the following ideas
(a) The FUNDAMENTAL UNITY OF ALL EXISTENCE.
This unity is a thing altogether different from the common notion of unity
-- as when we say that a nation or an army is united; or that this planet is
united to that by lines of magnetic force or the like. The teaching is not
that. It is that existence is ONE THING, not any collection of things linked
together.
Fundamentally there is ONE BEING.
This Being has two aspects, positive and negative.
The positive is Spirit, or CONSCIOUSNESS.
The negative is SUBSTANCE, the subject of consciousness.
This Being is the Absolute in its primary manifestation.
Being absolute there is nothing outside it. It is All-Being. It is
indivisible, else it would not be absolute. If a portion could be separated,
that remaining could not be absolute, because there would at once arise the
question of COMPARISON between it and the separated part. Comparison is
incompatible with any idea of absoluteness. Therefore it is clear that this
fundamental One Existence, or Absolute Being must be the Reality in every
form there is.
I said that though this was clear to me I did not think that many in the
Lodges would grasp it.
"Theosophy," she said, "is for those who can think, or for those who can
drive themselves to think, not mental sluggards." H.P.B. has grown very mild
of late.
The Atom, the Man, the God (she says) are each separately, as well as all
collectively, Absolute Being in their last analysis, that is their REAL
INDIVIDUALITY. It is this idea which must be held always in the background
of the mind to form the basis for every conception that arises from study of
the S.D. The moment one lets it go (and it is most easy to do so when
engaged in any of the many intricate aspects of the Esoteric Philosophy) the
idea of SEPARATION supervenes, and the study loses its value.
The second idea to hold fast to is that THERE IS NO DEAD MATTER. Every last
atom is alive. It cannot be otherwise since every atom is itself
fundamentally Absolute Being. Therefore there is no such thing as "spaces"
of Ether, or Akasha, or call it what you like, in which angels and
elementals disport themselves like trout in water. That's the common idea.
The true idea shows every atom of substance no matter of what plane to be in
itself a LIFE.
The third basic idea to be held is that Man is the MICROCOSM. As he is so,
then all the Hierarchies of the Heavens exist within him. But in truth there
is neither Macrocosm nor Microcosm but ONE EXISTENCE. Great and small are
such only as viewed by a limited consciousness.
(d) Fourth and last basic idea to be held is that expressed in the Great
Hermetic Axiom. It really sums up and synthesises all the others:
As is the Inner, so is the Outer;
as is the Great so is the Small;
as it is above, so it is below;
there is but One Life and Law;
and he that worketh it is ONE.
Nothing is Inner, nothing is Outer;
nothing is Great, nothing is Small;
nothing is High, nothing is Low, in the Divine Economy.
No matter what one takes as study in the S.D. one must correlate it with
those basic ideas.
I suggested that this is a kind of mental exercise which must be excessively
fatiguing. H.P.B. smiled and nodded. One must not be a fool (she said) and
drive oneself into the madhouse by attempting too much at first. The brain
is the instrument of waking consciousness, and every conscious mental
picture formed means change and destruction of the atoms of the brain.
Ordinary intellectual activity moves on well beaten paths in the brain, and
does not compel sudden adjustments and destructions in its substance. But
this new kind of mental effort calls for something very different -- the
carving out of new "brain paths," the ranking in different order of the
little brain lives. If forced injudiciously it may do serious physical harm
to the brain.
[from notes made at an interview with HPB by Cmdr. Bowen]
CAN THEOSOPHY EVOLVE ?
I would agree with: "It is possible that Theosophy, as a teaching,
adapts itself to the socio-cultural reality of the age to which it is
presented."
The description in MAHATMA LETTERS of the process of occult education and
chelaship trials seems very real to me -- as I can sense that a careful
student would observe similar or analogous events occurring within his
purview as he lives.
As I have observed, we need to learn to distinguish virtue from vice, and
without any relenting, apply virtue to our lives, especially in private as
carefully as we do in public. Is there any better way to live that makes
living worthwhile ?
IMMORTAL PILGRIMS
Add to this, we need to embrace and apply the knowledge that we are
"immortal Pilgrims," [ATMA-BUDDHI-MANAS ], and we only incarnate in
material forms for the benefit of the many "monads" who have less experience
than we do. [see S D II 167 ]
Our fight is to live spiritual lives in an environment that is quite
"hellish" -- where vice masquerades at every moment -- and we are pulled
(by our "garments" of passions and isolation, -- all irresponsible desires)
to believe that this one life is the "only" life -- a quite pointless and
illogical position it is, when we consider there is so much to learn and to
do in our world that is good and useful. How to do this deliberately and
with sound planning?
MEDITATION
Meditation ought to be along lines that help us to determine for sure what
we truly are (IMMORTALS) incarnated to serve the unlearned children (monads)
of our fancies and desires -- and change them into honest and valuable
THINKERS -- and teach them and our lower nature where we can go if we wish
to. What is the difference between spirit and matter? Between purpose and
Law, and immoderate, pointless folly and stupefying 'entertainment' and
'excitement.' ?
RELIGIOUS HEREDITY
The passage of teaching, say from Krishna to Buddha, to Lao Tse and
Confucius, to Zoroaster and Shankaracharya, to the Jain Tirthankaras, to
Jesus, to Pythagoras and Apollonius, and latest, to HPB -- shows (to me)
the changes in language but there is no change in basic teachings -- or do
you see any? Both ISIS UNVEILED and the SECRET DOCTRINE give us all the
necessary historical clues if we will only read and note them. Is that too
difficult?
So to answer: I would say as before
It depends on what you think THEOSOPHY is, doesn't it?
To me it {THEOSOPHY} is a statement of LAWS and FACTS.
They don't evolve, but concepts about them change.
Also the phrasing and examples used alter -- but not the FUNDAMENTALS. Are
we afraid of TRUTH? If so, Why? What part of us welcomes it? What seeks
to avoid it? How does that happen?
We as human mind beings, are said to be immortals and to have reincarnated
thousands of times, and yet, in our brain-minds that are changed every
incarnation, we have no active tangible, locatable memory of those events --
other than our characters and abilities (or their lack) to show for all that
work and time we have incarnating. Are we actually spiritual "teachers
surrounded by hordes of pupils (little-lives, monads) and why are we
ignorant of the actual condition, its urgency, and our responsibilities?
Who or what is holding us back?
And of course that may not be acceptable as evidence. And my ideas may be
too vague and impractical? If so, what shall I do with them? Had I best
stay quiet?
Dallas
-----Original Message-----
From: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:theos-talk@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Vladimir
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2006 11:33 AM
To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Theos-World Causes for failure
The text given below was apparently scanned from a printed book and
thereby contains a few typos, but not beyond readability. I deem it
being quite pertinent to the recent debate on HPB's heirs.
===================================================================
SOME OF THE CHIEF CAUSES FOR FAILURE
IN THE DOMAIN OF OCCULTISM
That there has been a failure so far as the successful establishment
of a vast organized body is concerned, is beyond controversy ; that
is, such a body as was planned by the Initiates of the White Lodge
when they sent their representative to the Western world. These causes
were, first abnormal development of the quality of egotism unsupported
by knowledge, among the early investigators of the Wisdom Religion ;
second, great increase in the number of imitators of the phenomena
produced by true Initiates, and the natural reaction which followed
the exposure of fradulent methods of producing phenomena ; third,
false claims to personal guidance of the unfaithfulness to vows of
discipleship, and consequent contempt for such weakness in the minds
of those who had previously considered such solemnly pledged disciples
as examples for others to follow ; fifth, false teaching along the
fine of sex ; lest, but by no means least, an army of braggarts who
have constantly poured forth accounts of personal contact with the
Masters, accounts in which the wisdom and worth of the braggart was
duly extolled and the lack of spiritual perception in the case of
their followers greatly deplored. The final result in such instances
has been the arousing of suspicion and the direction of adverse
currents of force against the true disciples of the Masters, which has
stultified their efforts to interpret and give forth the valuable
teachings of the Wisdom Religion to a world in travail.
What should have been the greatest, most far reaching organized effort
for good in the world, by this time, has become a heterogeneous
mixture of small cults, each one under the direction of some
pseudo-occultist who is incapable of fulfilling his or her promises to
followers. Only here and there among these groups may be found a
genuine chela of the Masters who is endeavoring to leaven the lump of
fraudulent or unwise teaching presented to their number. Of all the
enemies by whom these chelas are beset there are none capable of
inflicting so much injury to the cause of occultism as the before
mentioned braggarts, who by their claims of superior development and
of the constant supervision of their "personal Master" arouse strong
feelings of envy or of discouragement on account of the seeming
difference between the claimant and his whilom student, who finally
sinks into a state of despair or of disgust at everything bearing the
name of occultism. Such an one is unable to recover from the shock to
his inner nature throughout his whole life. The evident ignorance of
the causes back of the desertion of erstwhile followers is the most
hopeless feature of the failure of such self-deceived braggarts.
There are false prophets, deceivers and liars in every religious
movement, but there are not always the opportunities for braggadocio
in those others that there are in a body of students of occultism.
Eventually the truth will prevail in the case of the first mentioned
movements and the deceived one will be rehabilitated in his own
estimation, but in the case of the utterly disheartened and
discouraged student of occultism it is difficult for him to recover
his former state of security, for the claims of the braggart will
present themselves repeatedly to his mentality, and he knows just
enough of some of the facts of psychic development to understand that
such claims might possibly be justified in the case of the braggart,
while at the same time his Higher Self is trying to convince him of
the worthlessness of those claims, consequently there is a continuous
state of confusion in his mind and he never feels sure of either side
of the argument.
But for the fact that there are the few who have remained faithful to
the teachings of the Masters who gave the truths of the Wisdom
Religion to the Western world, those Masters might well despair. But
while there has been the failure I have mentioned, in many instances,
and despite the injury inflicted on numerous groups of people by the
ignorant and selfish, the force of the main tenets of the Wisdom
Religion - Karma, Reincarnation, and the Seven Principles of life -
has permeated the thought currents of the world, as is evidenced in
changes which have occurred in science, art, literature and religion ;
and it is because of that fact that there will be sufficient
antagonism opposed to the present day revival of orthodox philosophy
to prevent its reaching the same low level of cruelty, inhumanity and
pure diabolism which a similar wave reached in the 17th century when
the notable Blue Laws enforced the burning of suspected witches, the
jailing of the Sabbath breaker and the inhuman treatment of women
accused of breaking the Seventh Commandment, as well as countless
other crimes against humanity; and if only so much good has been
accomplished the work of the Initiates of the White Lodge has not
failed, in the true sense of the word failure.
The return of the spokes of the cosmic wheel to a similar point of the
world spiral is accountable for the present antagonistic wave against
materialism and occultism. The course the wave is taking was to be
expected. It will do its appointed work and make way for the return
wave of the Wisdom Religion. Nevertheless, the has sustained a great
temporary loss by the failure of so many students of occultism to rise
to the heights presented to them, and their failure has made it so
much more difficult for the faithful to accomplish the task given them
to perform.
======================================================================
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