Theos-Talk Archives (March 2006 Message tt01055)

Jerry-

Okay, I'll start there then.  'The Key to Theosophy'.  Thank you.

I've also been recently reading 'The Secret Gateway' by Edward 
Abdill who formerly led your New York branch.

Vince

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, Jerry Hejka-Ekins <jjhe@...> 
wrote:
>
> Dear Vincent,
> 
> >I'm just trying to understand what I can about Theosophy, insofar 
as 
> >it is new to me.  HPB's writings are so extensive in such large 
> >volumes that I'm honestly a little bit daunted as to where to 
begin, 
> >so I'm likely going to be relying on secondary abridgments for 
> >awhile. 
> >
> I would be careful of abridgment if I were you.  Some of them are 
not 
> very well done.  For a first book by Blavatsky, I would 
recommend "The 
> Key to Theosophy" in its unabridged version.  It is a great 
overview of 
> her teachings.  For new people, we always start with that book in 
our 
> study groups.
> 
> Best
> Jerry
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Vincent wrote:
> 
> >Steve-
> >
> >I'm just trying to understand what I can about Theosophy, insofar 
as 
> >it is new to me.  HPB's writings are so extensive in such large 
> >volumes that I'm honestly a little bit daunted as to where to 
begin, 
> >so I'm likely going to be relying on secondary abridgments for 
> >awhile.  In other words, someone's probably going to have to 
teach 
> >it to me in the form of abridged quotes, before I get into 
extensive 
> >reading of the core volumes.
> >
> >Christians claim that the Bible contains 'absolute truth', both 
> >inerrant and infallible.  But this then leaves those portions of 
> >universal truth concerning which we lack a firm and total grasp.  
> >Namely 'occult' truth, or anything which has not been declared to 
> >be 'absolute truth' by the Christian community.  Hence universal 
> >truth may potentially be subdivided into categories of 'absolute 
> >truth' and 'occult truth'.  Of course, I don't believe that any 
of 
> >us really has a firm grasp on 'absolute truth' in the first 
place, 
> >insofar as our minds are mortal, and we commonly have errors 
> >somewhere in every belief that we hold, whether small or great.  
> >Hence so many different biblical interpretations among Christians.
> >
> >--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, Steven Levey <sallev1@> wrote:
> >  
> >
> >>Vince-
> >>   
> >>      Your intution about the reason for the term "Secret" in 
The 
> >>    
> >>
> >Secret Doctrine is somewhat correct, but, it is also a bit to 
quick 
> >a judgement. I'm afraid you are going to have to study the thing, 
to 
> >get a really good idea about the use of her terms. However, in 
doing 
> >so, I found it wise to read HPB in a thorough way to begin to 
> >undestand her motivation. By this I mean, read The Key to 
Theosophy, 
> >and study The Voice of the Silence, as well, or something like 
that. 
> >Or, pick up one of her collected writtings of shorter articles, 
or 
> >the Panarion. Mostly all of these are available at the Public 
> >Library, but definately on-line or in Theosophy Lodges of 
different 
> >types.
> >  
> >
> >>   
> >>  Good Searching-Steve
> >>
> >>Vincent Blazina <vblaz2004@> wrote:
> >>  Perry:
> >>
> >>Thanks for the welcome. The Jehovah's Witnesses that you refer 
> >>    
> >>
> >also seem to have some narrow biblical interpretations, much like 
> >Christian fundamentalists. I'm curious about what some of the 
> >similarities and differences are between the Bible and the Secret 
> >Doctrine. Why is the Secret Doctrine considered to be secret? 
Does 
> >this simply mean that it is occult (meaning hidden) in nature? My 
> >own biblical interpretations go very deep for me, and are 
anything 
> >but dry, although I view Christian fundamentalists as often 
shallow 
> >in their own biblical interpretations much of the time.
> >  
> >
> >>Vince
> >>
> >>plcoles1 
> >>wrote:
> >>Hello Vince, 
> >>Welcome to theos-talk!
> >>My background was in the Jehovah's Witnesses and so as a result 
> >>    
> >>
> >had what amounted to at 
> >  
> >
> >>least 5 1/2 hours a week of meetings to attend, and NO 
questioning 
> >>    
> >>
> >what you were being 
> >  
> >
> >>told.
> >>
> >>The thing I've found with studying theosophy for someone who has 
> >>    
> >>
> >studied the Bible is 
> >  
> >
> >>that theosophy and in particular the Secret Doctrine opens up 
many 
> >>    
> >>
> >interesting and 
> >  
> >
> >>profound interpretations of passages in the Bible.
> >>
> >>An interesting article written by H.P Blavatsky is `The Esoteric 
> >>    
> >>
> >character of the Gospels'
> >  
> >
> >>http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/hpb-sio/sio-eso2.htm
> >>It's a good place to start as the Secret Doctrine can be a 
little 
> >>    
> >>
> >bit daunting to begin with.
> >  
> >
> >>After only hearing what was to me very empty and dry 
> >>    
> >>
> >interpretations of the Bible, 
> >  
> >
> >>theosophy can help you to begin to get some kind of 
understanding 
> >>    
> >>
> >as to the deeper 
> >  
> >
> >>meaning in the bible as well as what other great thinkers, sages 
> >>    
> >>
> >and philosophers from 
> >  
> >
> >>various traditions have taught on these subjects which may help 
> >>    
> >>
> >you have some context 
> >  
> >
> >>and reference point for your own experiences.
> >>Very Best Wishes on your Spiritual journey and once again 
Welcome 
> >>    
> >>
> >to the theos-talk!
> >  
> >
> >>Regards
> >>
> >>Perry
> >>
> >>--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "vblaz20042004" wrote:
> >>    
> >>
> >>>Hi there, I'm Vince and I am new to the group. I have recently 
> >>>      
> >>>
> >been 
> >  
> >
> >>>attending the Theosophical Society of Wheaton, Illinois for the 
> >>>      
> >>>
> >past 
> >  
> >
> >>>month, and have been enjoying the various teachings and 
> >>>      
> >>>
> >discussions 
> >  
> >
> >>>at that facility.
> >>>
> >>>My life has been rich with metaphysical experiences, but the 
> >>>Christian Fundamentalist churches that I had previously 
attended 
> >>>      
> >>>
> >for 
> >  
> >
> >>>twenty years got very judgmental towards me when I might 
venture 
> >>>      
> >>>
> >to 
> >  
> >
> >>>reference them. I also began finding many inconsistencies with 
> >>>      
> >>>
> >the 
> >  
> >
> >>>way that many Christians were representing the Bible, and my 
> >>>questions about Christianity were often deemed dangerous to 
> >>>      
> >>>
> >people's 
> >  
> >
> >>>religious faith.
> >>>
> >>>I am looking for a place in the Theosophical Society wherein I 
> >>>      
> >>>
> >may 
> >  
> >
> >>>potentially freely discuss metaphysical issues as they directly 
> >>>pertain to my life, with people who are more open to such 
> >>>discussions. I am very well read with the Bible, although my 
> >>>interpretations of it are more metaphysical versus orthodox.
> >>>
> >>>I look forward to constuctive discussion with the people here, 
> >>>      
> >>>
> >and 
> >  
> >
> >>>would like to learn more about the Theosophical Society and 
it's 
> >>>perspectives, insofar as many of them are brand new to me.
> >>>
> >>>Thank you,
> >>>
> >>>Vince
> >>>
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>Yahoo! Groups Links
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>Yahoo! Groups Links
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>		
> >>---------------------------------
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> >>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >>
> >>    
> >>
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> > 
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
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> > 
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