Theos-Talk Archives (April 1995 Message tl00053)

Lewis L:

In comparing `theos-l' to a study class, you ask the question
"How do we draw out the quiet people?" I would suggest that what
we have is the opposite situation.  The impersonal setting of an
email discussion list allows people to be more aggressive than
they would tend to be in person.  Consider what happens to a shy,
quiet person behind the wheel of a car on the freeway: pent up
aggression and anger, hidden under the surface shyness, emerges,
and we have a demon on wheels! I would suggest that we may have
seen this happen to us, as we become new participants on
`theos-l', until we adapt to the new setting.

You mention that it would be confusing to someone to study under
multiple teachers, when those teachers hold conflicting views.  I
would agree, but wonder if people new to Theosophy experience
this on our list? I would suspect that each of us has his
favorite authors or books to study, and picks and chooses things
of personal value out of the varied assortment of postings we
find.

Nicholas:

Regarding "The Elder Brother," I believe that it was dropped by
the original publisher, but the remaining stock was purchased by
Point Loma Publications, which continues to sell it.

Jerry S:

Regarding "auric filters," I would put things differently.
We have sense perception corresponding to each of our seven
principles, on each plane on which we are active. That
perception is based upon those beings or places before us,
or with which we are actively engaged in some activity. With
the physical plane, every being with a form gives off
sensory output. When we interact with others physically, we
take that in as sensory input. The term "filter" implies
keeping out all but what you perceive. A better term might
be "directed perception", which implies not keeping out
anything, but rather actively taking in what you have
entered into active relationship with, in a dynamic sense,
at the current moment of time. It's like the question: "Is
the cup half empty, or is it half full?"  I would say "Half
full", and say that "fullness" is a direct, conscious,
living link with others (e.g., the buddhic principle).

Keith:

When you mention the seven rays, you bring up a
controversial tenant of Theosophy. The idea, as I see it,
originated with Subba Row, and was picked up and expanded by
E. Wood, CWL, and Alice Bailey. It is not part of the
original teachings of HPB, and considered incorrect by the
various theosophical groups, except for the pro-CWL Adyar
folk.

There are two situations where we might consider there being
seven rays. First, when we talk of a Logos breaking into
seven minor Logoi, each a unique child of the parent. The
second is when we consider the "seven humanities" spoken of
in "The Secret Doctrine." Each of us belongs to one of these
humanities, and what distinguishes them is that each one
finds one of the Seven Sacred Planets as its home. How are
we connected with our "home"? This has to do with the Outer
Rounds. (See the writings of Purucker, or "The Divine Plan"
by Geoffrey Barborka for more information on the Outer
Rounds.)

How do these differences show up in us? They do not. At
least, I would say, the differences would not be noticeable
in us in any way that we, as ordinary people, could detect.
The differences lie in a deeper part of ourselves that the
human Ego, which we know ourselves as, and are not
apparent from its vantage point.

When we try to categorize people into one ray or another,
and try to associate rays with certain personal
characteristics and roles in life, I would say we are
mistaken. We are not, as humans, separated out by rays,
working under the rulership or guidance of some Mahatma or
Chohan ruling over our ray. We are all in the same boat, and
have complete freedom to grow and become anything that we
will, according to our innate characteristics, our Swabhava.
The seven rays only deal with our long-term destiny, going
beyond anything that we currently experience. I would avoid
using the term "seven rays" myself, because it can be
misleading, because of the connotations that come with it.