RE: Theosophy Reborn
I feel, of some of the posts I have read, that Sol is simply thinking aloud and, sometimes perhaps, asking for the opinion of others along the same lines. Venetian too has interesting things to say and we can read them and see our own truth in them, or read them and discern that energy is not for us. Simple.
I know I am not alone in my feelings, as I have read - and felt - the posts of some others who appear to be on my wavelength. Fear, amongst other reactions, produces words of judgement and often the stance of superiority. Love, on the other hand, is tolerant and giving. I know there are those here who understand that to impose one's will on another is not acceptable and comes from a place of fear. To offer advice, when not requested, is - in my view - a form of imposition. Those who ask for advice are, perhaps, ready to receive, feel in their hearts if it is the correct advice for them and then accept or reject it. Those who have advice foisted on them may be affronted and withdraw. That would be a shame. Placing our thoughts in a post may bring lively discussion and different points of view, which is surely healthy.
I enjoy Sol's posts - I may not agree with every word, I may see a word or two of judgement and I also see that Sol is attempting to make sense of the reason why so many purport to be spiritually advanced and yet appear not to be moving forward. Sol seems to be consciously travelling up the mountain and is perhaps wondering where everyone else has gone and why they are not seeking as avidly as he. Well, the mountain is very big and some, on the same level, may be round the bend (ha ha ha - just realised the double meaning in that. Sorry) and out of sight for the time being. There are many on the same level, many above and many below and each is at the correct stage for them Sol's 'Eureka' moment (and I am pretty sure he has had many) will happen when it is meant to as it will for all of us. On my own personal journey, it is a joy when lights go popping on all over the place. The more I refrain from seeking outside of myself, the more the answers come to me and that is the way which feels right to me. For another, it may be very different and that is their choice. Someone (I can't remember who) once said there are no mistakes, only choices. I like that. (And KH says, as always, 'No Judgement'. I love his honesty and directness and he has come close whenever I read your posts, Sol)
The way forward for me, personally, is to watch myself every step of the way. My goal is to be totally responsible for my own thoughts, words and deeds and to stay in my heart centre at all times. When my heart sings I move forward, when my heart sinks, I step back from the energy which makes it sink because that is not to be my path. It once was. It no longer is. There is no judgement of others and their outlook as we are all sparks from the same Source, are we not? The Source is pure, unconditional love and therefore we are too - when we allow ourselves to be and stay out of the fear-based mindsets hammered into our minds throughout our life in a human body.
I'm reminded that all is not as it appears - perhaps the 'couch potato' who spends the whole day with the TV on in front of him/her, may well be working exceptionally hard on another dimension whilst his/her body lies prostrate on the sofa. Then again he/she may not. Unless it is for me to know, I won't be given that information and so it is none of my concern. I am also reminded that the extremely popular workshop leader who gathers crowds of thousands who believe him/her to be far more advanced than they are, may well be giving out teachings which appear to contain only light - and yet a thread of darkness and judgement runs through their words and may well be missed by those who are engrossed in the 'group', where to agree is to be accepted. It may not be easy to be in the crowd and yet stand back from the crowd and observe from a place where the overview can be seen, within the heart.
For me, Sol an
RE: Theosophy Reborn
To reply on my behalf to the idea expressed in more than one post above along the lines of 'Hey, Sol, why scurry hither and yon looking for truth outside yourself, when it's all to be found within?' I can't answer for Sol, but I'd say -
Insofar as the Masters (also called Mahatmas, or, more recently, Ascended Masters) are concerned, the main point in having a contact with them is that they are friends and assistants on that very Path of going within, the very Path of what needs to be done, worked on and changed in order that the 'Hidden Spendour' of our own true reality, our Higher Selves and our divine nature can shine forth to the extent that they have already achieved and proven. So it's not a Path or searching without, of being lost (!) or such at all, but indeed one of self-change (yet also of world service).
The very fact of the existence of the Masters should give us pause. Their reality turns on its head the whole limited and presently-prevailing view of what it means to be a man or woman. Curently most people believe that we are just mortal beings, and that people as they are right now is how they are meant to be or how they can only be - limited and mortal. Yet there's a huge body of evidence for the existence of these Masters even for those without personal conscious contact. They appear to have been (and still are) either omniscient or virtually so; they are the most amazingly wonderful personalities one could ever dream of knowing, full of Will, Wisdom and Love; they are possessed of powers or siddhis the outer world would call miraculous; and they do not die....
That short list is surely enough to turn a worldview of what life is about on its head? But the whole point about this is not what they are - it's rather the fact that we can become as they.
The existence of these men and women is written or spoken of in most of the religions and spiritual beliefs of humanity, globally and through different time periods. We find such accounts in the Bible, we certainly find them in the yogic traditions, such as in the "Resurrection" of Yogananda's Guru, Sri Yukteswar related in 'Autobiography of a Yogi. One Master, Le Comte de Saint Germain, is historically recorded as having been known to all or virtually all the royal families of Europe in the 1700s and 1800s as well as to the intelligensia. Voltaire called him, "The man who does not die, and who knows everything" - since for a period of more than a century Saint Germain never aged in appearance (and was never seen to eat). (Let the sceptics explain this "man who does not die".)
In Theosophy there are wonderful resources of accounts of people who have met the Masters either when they materialised, projecting themselves from afar, or when they were present in completely physical bodies. One is:
http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/mastersencounterswith.htm
That's a link to dozens of first-hand accounts of meetings with these real Adepts (i.e. they are not spirits, ghosts, or imaginary!).
Leadbeater, in one of his books, takes care to write at length on meetings with the Masters in order to demonstrate their authentic reality. His accounts are in the early portion of his this book, now online:
http://www.anandgholap.net/Masters_And_Path-CWL.htm
---------------------
On the subject of the attitude of Theosophy today toward the Masters, however, I have forwarded to me the notes I'd jotted down on my own experiences of this. To paste in:
Hi Sol and all.
I actually first heard of the existence of the Masters through the books of Theosophy. At a deep level, with a certain knowledge, I felt that I knew these Masters, and the whole path outlined of how they became such, and how others, the men and women of today, can become the same, was true and genuine. Yet as you say, in my local group there wasnt any application of this Path. I was only a couple of months away from an overland (hitching, walking, busses) trip to the Himalayas and India, so by the time I left my focus had changed and I went to seek o
RE: Theosophy Reborn
Hello One and All,
Well, well, well. Debate is healthy, dear ones.
Opinions come and opinions go, so to speak, however there be only one truth. Truth for some is truth, truth for others is untruth.
We see many opinions, dear ones, many. However we say to each and everyone to look deep within thy hearts, dear ones, for it is here where the truth lies.
It is not in the nature of man to be opposed, this we know. If his assertions are not in accordance with another there is war, dear ones, yes war. War of the mind, war of the battlefield, war of the business world, war, war, war. Indeed the earth is a battlefield of differing opinions.
This is necessary and good for how else will man progress? How else indeed.
We would ask that you take not upon yourself to judge the opinions of others. They be just opinions; a journey to truth.
When one offers another the condolences of the heart (and this we see some doing) we would ask that you not take offence; they are merely trying to assist. For now is the time of the heart. Yes my dear friends. Now is the time for the heart to balance the intellect in those who seek this comfort.
We would say to you, dear friends, take not offence; they who offer their heart felt understandings do so with every good intention. This is not always evident to the brain which likes to control and to be 'right'. No dear ones, the brain will not always like another's opinion or understanding. It likes its own company, dear ones, and does not like to be opposed.
We are writing this to you because now is the time for new understanding. Now is the time for the brain to learn its place; not the all knowing and wise one which it would like to believe, dear hearts, no. An instrument capable of perceiving that which is given to it by the senses, that is all, dear ones, an instrument given to you as a means to learn and grow. Used wisely, dear hearts, it has the capability of producing order. Given control it has the ability to govern. A hard task master is the brain. An instrument not to be confused with the healthy ego which arms an individual to do battle against injustice.
Yes, dear ones, we say to you enjoy the varying opinions expressed by the wider majority however filter all through the heart which knows.
For those whose hearts have not opened, they will, dear ones, they will. Our words will annoy those whose hearts be closed. This is unavoidable. To those whose hearts be open comes much deep love and concern for those who as yet do not know the tenderness, the ability of true laughter and much deep hidden knowing of joy. We say to you 'thank you for your continued work in bringing the balance of the heart into the discussions which we watch avidly on your computer screens. Our love to you, dear ones, we watch with great intent and pleasure the work which you perform. Many blessings, dear ones, many blessings'.
For those who have yet to taste the rewards of the heart, you will, dear one, you will; new understanding is coming for one and for all. Your debate is appreciated and necessary. With much love to one and all we say adieu and many blessings to all.
Just an experience, dear ones, just an experience.
Many blessings
Spirit Talk
RE: Theosophy Reborn
Dear AngelQuartz
Very wise words, extremely eloquently put.
I hope our members who are enjoying reading the posts and participating on this thread will take the time to read your post carefully and take heed.
Thank you for the lovely post...
Amber
RE: Theosophy Reborn
In our experience and understanding it is organisation itself that removes the authenticity from the interaction of humans and Spirit.
Individual understanding and revelation are just thatunique to the individual. When the experience that one has had is generalized to all, there is no way to support the very specific transformation that occurs when contact with spiritual beings is attained.
I can share with you my experiences, but short of you trying to either avoid or recreate them, there is no real purpose in doing so. Your interaction with Spirit will be totally unique to you, perhaps with some similarities to mine, but to set your expectations up to be compared to any other is to deny your uniqueness.
This is what organisations do. Those who establish an organisation do so with the expectation that their way, their experience, their knowing is above that of others. Beyond that generation and that persons influence there remains no focus upon the founding phenomena.
The specific organisations which last longer, historically, are the ones which are established upon the observations of others on the quality of life maintained by an individual. Observers seek to emulate that person and suppose that the guidelines that circumscribed the transformation of the one will translate to the masses.
Those who find the relationship they seek will do so individually. It may happen within an organisation but not because of the organisation. When guidelines are set down, expectations of uniformity are enforced, group thinking maintained, and direction imposed, the possibility of authenticity is directly affected. Otherwise each and every follower in each and every organisation would be successful in establishing the same degree of communion, and ultimately there would be no need for differing organisations. Those who seek for truth will find themselves isolated from common thinking and will discover their own way to breech the distance.
It is not like minds that transmute experience into development, but like soulsthose who support others in their own unique journey with confidence that the illumination arises from within and that differences are celebrated.