Theos-Talk Archives (August 2012 Message tt00029)

I might be able to help you out...They should be online here also with a PDF...

The philosophy of the Bhagavad-Gita (1921)
http://archive.org/details/philosophyofbhag00subbiala
http://archive.org/stream/philosophyofbhag00subbiala#page/n5/mode/2up

Your quote is given the same place in the below link:
http://archive.org/stream/philosophyofbhag00subbiala#page/126/mode/2up



M. Sufilight

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: MKR 
  To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2012 5:57 PM
  Subject: Re: theos-talk Re: Some Comments by T Subba Rao


    
  Thanks. I am in the process of getting hold of a pdf copy of the lectures
  which were published. Will post a message when it is available.

  MKR

  On Sat, Aug 18, 2012 at 10:29 AM, don ridgway <scribe@JGwx58ck039_1b6xxgkmiGTGrL2XL9HoOOkhp_AKZaexMxTRg6Xk1gODqrUC9kco1l81vU5K.yahoo.invalid> wrote:

  > **
  >
  >
  > Thank you for posting this.
  > Don
  >
  > --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, MKR <mkr777@...> wrote:
  > >
  > > T Subba Rao, a very well known theosophist and contemporary of HPB
  > > delivered four lectures on Gita at the International Convention at Adyar
  > in
  > > 1886. He made some comments at the end of the last lecture which are very
  > > significant to any theosophical student. He said:
  > >
  > > ++++
  > > We have merely commenced the study of Bhagavad GitÃÂ in these lectures.
  > Try
  > > to examine, by the light of the statements found in our own books, and in
  > > modern books on Psychology and Science, whether the theory I have placed
  > > before you is at all tenable or not -- decide for yourselves -- whether
  > > that is the theory supported by the Bhagavad GitÃÂ itself. Do not rely
  > on a
  > > host of commentaries which will only confuse you, but try to interpret
  > the
  > > text for yourselves as far as your intelligence will allow; and if you
  > > think this is really a correct theory, try to follow it up and think out
  > > the whole philosophy for yourselves. I have found that a good deal more
  > is
  > > to be gained by concentration of thought and meditation, than by reading
  > > any number of books or hearing any number of lectures. Lectures are
  > utterly
  > > useless, unless you think out for yourself what they treat of. The
  > Society
  > > cannot provide you with philosophical food already digested, as though
  > you
  > > were in the ideal state of passivity aimed at by the advocates of the
  > > Sankhyan philosophy; but every one of you is expected to read and study
  > the
  > > subject for himself. Read and gain knowledge, and then use what you have
  > > gained for the benefit of your own countrymen.
  > >
  > > The philosophy contained in our old books is valuable, but it has been
  > > turned into superstition. We have lost almost all our knowledge. What we
  > > call religion is but the shell of a religion that once existed as a
  > living
  > > faith. The sublime philosophy of Sankaracharya has assumed quite a
  > hideous
  > > form at the present day. The philosophy of a good many Adwaitis does not
  > > lead to practical conduct. They have examined all their books, and they
  > > think with the Southern Buddhists of Ceylon, that Nirvana is the Nirvana
  > > promised by the SÃÂnkhya philosophers, and instead of following out their
  > > own philosophy to its legitimate conclusion, they have introduced by
  > their
  > > Panchayatanapuja and other observances what seems to be a foolish and
  > > unnecessary compromise between the different views of the various sects
  > > that have existed in India. Visishthadwaita philosophy has degenerated,
  > and
  > > is now little more than temple worship, and has not produced any good
  > > impression on men's minds. Madhwa philosophy has degenerated in the same
  > > manner, and has perhaps become more fanatical. For instance,
  > Sankaracharya
  > > is represented in their Manimanjari as a Rakshasa of former times. In
  > > Northern India people generally recite Saptashati and many have adopted
  > > Shakti worship. Kali is worshipped in Calcutta more perhaps than any
  > other
  > > deity. If you examine these customs by the light of Krshna's teachings,
  > it
  > > must appear to you that, instead of having Hinduism, we have assimilated
  > a
  > > whole collection of superstitious beliefs and practices which do not by
  > any
  > > means tend to promote the welfare of the Hindu nation, but demoralise it
  > > and sap its spiritual strength, and have led to the present state of
  > > things, which, I believe, is not entirely due to political degeneration.
  > >
  > > Our Society stands upon an altogether unsectarian basis; we sympathise
  > with
  > > every religion, but not with every abuse that exists under the guise of
  > > religion; and while sympathising with every religion and making the best
  > > efforts we can for the purpose of recovering the common foundations that
  > > underlie all religious beliefs, it ought to be the duty of every one of
  > us
  > > to try to enlighten our own countrymen on the philosophy of religion, and
  > > endeavour to lead them back to a purer faith -- a faith which, no doubt,
  > > did exist in former times, but which now lives but in name or in the
  > pages
  > > of forgotten books.
  > >
  > > +++++
  > >
  > > His emphasis on the need for each one of us to do our own thinking and
  > not
  > > to expect the TS to provide philosophical food already digested is worth
  > > noting.
  > >
  > > MKR
  > >
  > >
  > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  > >
  >
  > 
  >

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