Theos-Talk Archives (July 2006 Message tt00277)

Dear Steve and other friends,

Thanks for the several feedbacks to my message on the ultimate 
insignificance of attacking and defending HPB.  While most respondents 
appeared able to grasp the idea that I was intuitionally referencing the 
timeless theosophy and not intellecualizing about HPB's 19th century 
"resurgence",  most responses still tended toward justifying a 
self-defense of HPB's  19th century theosophy out of "gratitude" or 
"respect", while at the same time maintaining that any attack upon HPB's 
19th century theosophy is untheosophical. No matter that some adhere to 
the axiom that "the best defense is a good offense" and so attack the 
perceived enemies of HPB in a particularly nasty manner.



>
> Dear Bill,
>
> In truth, I think you have forgotten one thing. Without HPB we
> would not have this era's resurgance of The Wisdom religion, known as
> Theosophy. Yes, we can agree with what you say about Theosophy,
> being like the Universe, it's nature therefore being unassailable.
>
> But, none the less, you nor I would have access to it without HPB's
> work.
>

I do not find this to be a true statement.  While it is true that none 
of us would have access to HPB's 19th century theosophy without HPB's 
work (this seems so self-evident as to not need saying) it is not true 
that without HPB's work, we would not have access to the wisdom 
religion.  The timeless theosophy that I refer to is as available as the 
stars in the night sky.

> It is therefore an act of intellectual oddity to seperate them
> to such an extent as to be able to say:
>
> "Attack or defend HPB all you wish. It is an intellectual exercise
> largely unrelated to theosophy".

Of course this is an intellectual oddity.  That is the whole point.  
Theosophy is so much more than the intellect alone can grasp. In fact 
the intellect fears theosophy.  If one reads my originial post from a 
purely intellectual point of view, one may feel confused and 
uncomfortable with the apparent contradictions and seeming ingratitude.  
It is an opportunity to watch how one's intellect deals with this 
discomfort and moves quickly to regain control of the self.  Not 
everyone is capable of such self observation yet, and so the tendency 
toward intellectual fight or flight will often prevail.  It is difficult 
to silence the intellect and just observe what happens within, but the 
effort is often illuminating.
>
> This is similar to saying the same thing regarding the Mahatmas'
> relationship to Theosophy.
>
> Frankly the chain of beings is as unbroken as Theosophy is.
>
> It leads from the Mineral Monad and all of its
> representation, through all of the kingdoms through Man and
> ultimately through its self chosen representatives, like HPB, to the
> Mahatmas on up and through to the Great Heirarches. This is one
> obviously, from the below to the above, approach. Its return is
> unbroken in the other direction; from above to below. This Hermetic
> teaching was presented through the Mahatmas to HPB and on to us.
>

There is another approach where theosophy is more like an ocean that 
buoys us all equally without chains.


> The mind needs "slaying", as HPB says in The Voice of the
> Silence, and this can only be done by that which is the "Parent" of
> it; OURSELF. Otherwise we are able to come up with all kinds of
> nonsense, even to the extent of convincing ourselves of that which is
> essential as being not neccesary. Gratitude is essential here. Not as
> a tool but as that which compells us from within that SELF. And that
> SELF, we are taught, is contiguous with the Mahatmas.
>

One of the first tricks the intellectual mind employs is to "play 
possum."  Often our intellect convinces us to think we have slain our 
mind, but then we make judgements about the  sense and nonsense of 
others and we realize that the intellect is still sitting in the seat 
of  judgement.  Gratitude is not what compels us from within the SELF.  
Compassion is.

> Without HPB bothering to present this, how would it be known. Sure, this
> awareness can be arrived at by one who is able, without a Teacher
> (But not without connection to the Higher Self, which connects one to
> Teachers)), but she presented as complete a doctrinal approach to the
> Wisdom Religion as she was able.

You have answered your own question and that is theosophy at its finest.

peace within,

bill
>