Theos-Talk Archives (December 2006 Message tt00715)

Friends, 

An article in the ULT magazine "TTM" (India)  examines up to what 
point we are really independent, or are carried away by external 
influences: 

"From the hour of birth to the dying day, we come under outside 
influence. It is helpful to examine the factors that influence us 
and to see what aspect of our nature is influenced.Organized 
religions try to appeal to a certain portion of our nature and to 
stir it into action. But, if we ask the priests, 'What is the 
constitution and character of that portion of my nature that you are 
appealing to?', there is seldom a convincing answer. Orthodox 
religion does not appeal to our reason, for religion and reason do 
not go together."

Many influences present themselves as "liberating from coditioning', 
but are they? 

"Then there are the teachers of the youth, those who impart 
knowledge in schools and universities. Science and modern learning 
make an appeal to a certain portion of our nature, namely, our 
reason. But how much do the modern scientists, philosophers, 
psychologists and men of learning know of that part of our nature to 
which they appeal, and what its relation is to the whole man? 
In the same way, what we read in newspapers and books, and what we 
see or hear in popular entertainments or advertisements, influences 
us, but when we probe further and ask to know something about that 
portion of our nature which is influenced, we have no satisfactory 
answer."

See more about this key issue at 

http://www.teosofia.com/Mumbai/7308governed.html


Best regards,  Carlos.