Theos-Talk Archives (April 1996 Message tl00097)

Alexis said
>> And, as far as I see it, most
>>of what folks argue about here and elsewhere has nothing at all to do with
>>that. People are afraid they're going to die, and guess what? They are!
>>Theosophy could help with that, but it doesn't. Shamanism does actually help
>>with that,but it's far too obscure at present to help many people. Theosphy
>>is far too much like the Shakers. How to prevent the same thing from
>>happening? Theosophy as it is represented by the intellectual sterility that
>>regularly appears on this list and in theosophical publications, is not
>>going to do anything but drive young folk away! Discussions on "devachan"
>>and Manvantaras, and Nirmanakaya Buddhas, may be fun for elderly
>>Theosophists but the young say "So What?" and go their merry way. If they
>>all say "so What?" and go their merry way, theosophy is a very dead duck.
>
>Actually, I think the young just say "What?" when they hear these jargon
>(to them) words.  The technical "theosophical" terms mean nothing when
>the are simply produced like rabbits out of a hat as "explanations."
>
>Tell people there is "somewhere" you go to when you die, and they will
>be interested to at least ask "Where?" - and we *then* have a chance to
>be of service.
>>
>
>>
>Alan
>---------
>THEOSOPHY INTERNATIONAL:
>Ancient Wisdom for a New Age
>TI@nellie2.demon.co.uk
>
As required, I will speak from personal experience. My need to know what is
life, what is death and what happens after etc, has lead me to study
theosophy very seriously, until some light has been shed on the subject. My
attitude to death has changed a great deal because of this. I cannot accept
something unless I understand it and it fits some where in my mental
framework or I understand that I have to change part of the framework to
accommodate new ideas. I have been with a life-line organization for the
past 4 years and have had to deal with suicidal people, depressed people and
people attached to our psychiatric institution. My understanding of
devachan, monads, life-atoms, manvantaras etc have helped a great deal with
how I deal with each new situation that arises. It has to be ingrained so to
be genuine reactions when I am phoned in the dead of night, fast asleep, to
deal with a distraught person. My world view has grown large enough to see
that in the end, it is maya but not for the people I deal with. I can
discuss death with them in a reasonable manner because of my understanding
of reincarnation, karma etc. I do not discuss theosophical concepts with
these people but what I do discuss is coloured by my involvement with
theosophy. The directors know that I am president of the local lodge but
they don't seem to worry as long as I don't bring theosophical terms into my
conversations. I make not secret of my involvement and dedication the
theosophy (at this period of my life) but I do not use the involved
terminology when talking about it. I hopefully have understood enough to put
it into my own words and discuss death in a way that is different to the
current mode without scaring people off.
All these theosophical terms have a meaning to me now that is perhaps more
real than if I was to think about them in current English terms where I
already have meanings attached to them that are not exactly what the
theosophical terms mean. To me, anyway, it avoids confusion when I am
thinking theosophically. Somewhere in my mind I understand what I am
thinking about but the problem occurs when I want to apply understandable
words to what I have thought about. So unless I try to really understand
what I am thinking about, I cannot bring it into ordinary life where I
believe it belongs. I personally do not find the terminology sterile, in
fact, with a grasp of the meanings some of it takes on a poetical tone that
makes for enjoyable thinking. Manvantara, to me, now has special vastness
and scope within it as a concept and so with many of the other words.
OK back to the 'real' world of paint brushes and new lodge buildings that
need elbow grease.
You all have a nice day.  >
Bee Brown
Member TSNZ,Wanganui Branch.
Theos Int & L