Theos-Talk Archives (January 2008 Message tt00226)

Hi Cass,

Yes isn't it interesting when you seem to experience an innate 
knowingness of a subject or philosophy of which you have 
just come in to contact with. It doesn't feel like the first time 
you've heard this stuff!  Like you, I had this experience with 
original Theosophy when I first attended a Theosophical 
Introductory course .   And again with Plato's work since then. 
I'm sure this has plenty to do with our skandhas and what we 
have been up to in previous incarnations.

Kind regards,
Nigel H

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, Cass Silva <silva_cass@...> wrote:
>
> I agree with you Nigel.  I left school at 14 with only a basic education but was prompted 
at 25 to return to complete a BA.  Long story short, I took, philosophy, as a minor.  I went 
in knowing nada about philosophy or philosophers but immediately upon reading Plato, I 
felt a sense of, this guy has been saying what I have been quitely suspecting.  Whether it 
was that, he agreed with me, (haha) but I sensed a sense of comfort knowing that I shared 
an understanding with the greatest philosopher of all times.  I read Aristotle prior to Plato 
and felt no sense of affinity, admiration, but no affinity.
>    
>   So I agree, when a teacher, reaches your heart, it is an instant knowing that there is 
truth for the reader, in what he/she is saying.  Felt exactly the same way about HPB even 
after commencing my earliest studies with Besant and Leadbeater.  
>    
>   Cheers
>   Cass
> nigel_healy <nigelhealy@...> wrote:
>           Hi Perry,
> I hope you are keeping well. I thought my previous telepathic posting 
> may have only reached those few sensitive enough - so I'll stick to 
> good old fashioned words this time!
> 
> I agree with your point about needing to "read different teachings on 
> their own and make my own judgement" so as not to get stuck in a 
> blind belief / follower mindset. This is integral to the Theosophic 
> approach. I would say that this is the crux of Mme. Blavatskys teachings 
> infact, far from needing "the little Blavatsky tick of approval" - simply a 
> profound body of esoteric teachings put forward for our consideration. 
> 
> Sri Madhana Ashish said: 
> "The key to true recognition lies in the heart, for when we turn our search 
> inwards, seeking the root of certainty within ourselves, then, even before 
> we begin to find, we discover an ability to recognize in another the true 
> actualization of what we are seeking .... the ability to recognize a Master 
> of the Secret Wisdom depends not on any particular quality of his but on 
> what we are in ourselves."
> (taken from S.S. Varma "Teachings on Discipleship")
> 
> I am interested to know, however, who some of these other seers may be, 
> who you are suggesting have knowledge and information or an approach to 
> the Spiritual Path, comparable with the Theosophical writings such as :
> The Secret Doctrine, The Voice of the Silence, Isis Unveiled, Esoteric 
> Instructions and the complete Collected Writings etc. and not to forget the 
> very obviously (to anyone with an esoteric particle in their body - and 
> considering the enormous amount of historical documentation concerning 
> the manifestation (precipitation) and nature of these letters, e.g. Franz 
> Hartmann discovering a letter in his pincer drawer, containing the answers 
> to difficult questions he had posed less than four minutes earlier!) profound 
> Ancient Wisdom contained in the Mahatma Letters.
> 
> I wonder if perhaps you are overcompensating for this blind belief mental 
> structure we humans are so prone towards. After all Truth is Truth, whether 
> coming from "one writer" or one hundred writers. Yes there are many different 
> teachings, different versions and systems but most of them share a common 
> denominator, which is to let go of the self. One of my favourite passages from 
> the Voice is: "And now thy Self is lost in SELF, thyself unto THYSELF, merged in 
> THAT SELF from which thou first didst radiate." This is, as I said, a common 
> theme in many traditions but seldom put quite so poetically and as stirring as it 
> is in the original Theosophical writings - and not a hint of fear or 'Thou Shalt' to 
> be found!
> 
> With regards to your comments about the "alleged Mahatmas" there is much that 
> could be said, but I will quote a well known portion of The Key To Theosophy:
> 
> "To say that she has invented the Masters comes to this: She must have invented 
> every bit of philosophy that has ever been given out in Theosophical literature. 
> She must be the author of the letters from which "Esoteric Buddhism" was written; 
> the sole inventor of every tenet found in the "Secret Doctrine," which, if the world 
> were just, would be recognised as supplying many of the missing links of science, 
> as will be discovered a hundred years hence. By saying what they do, they are also 
> giving her the credit of being far cleverer than the hundreds of men, (many very 
> clever and not a few scientific men,) who believe in what she says - inasmuch as 
> she must have fooled them all! If they speak the truth, then she must be several 
> Mahatmas rolled into one like a nest of Chinese boxes"
> 
> The 'proof' of the Mahatmas, to me, lies in their profound writings - the question 
> of the existence of such beings can be approached a priori, in an objective but 
> critical manner.
> 
> Take care,
> 
> Nigel H
> 
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "plcoles1" <plcoles1@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Nigel,
> > It makes sense that visions and revelations must be taken with a 
> > pinch of salt as each person's predispositions colour what is seen.
> > 
> > The assessments here quoted are all taken from one source however, 
> > that being Blavatsky and the alleged Mahatmas (I say alleged as in my 
> > opinion it is an act of faith to believe they exist if we have never 
> > met them and then also have personally confirmed for ourselves the 
> > accurateness of their visions)
> > 
> > It seems to me that while the visions of those mentioned may not have 
> > been 100% accurate, we therefore cannot conclude that Blavatsky or 
> > her Mahatmas observations are any more accurate or reliable and 
> > simply discard the other teachings as being pure nonsense and 
> > delusion.
> > 
> > Until we can have our own experience direct we can only speculate on 
> > who may be or may not be closer to the reality.
> > 
> > Blavatsky's teachings maybe equally as off the mark as the others or 
> > indeed the others may have come closer to the reality than she did.
> > 
> > Regards,
> > Perry
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "nhcareyta" <nhcareyta@> wrote:
> > >
> > > http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/psychicversusinitiate.htm
> > >
> >
> 
> 
> 
>                          
> 
>        
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