Theos-Talk Archives (May 1996 Message tl00482)

Around 1907 Katherine Tingley wrote the following, as part of her
preface to the series of ~Theosophical Manuals~.
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Theosophy strikes unfamiliar ground in modern civilization, because
it does not come under any particular one of the familiar heads of
Religion, Science, Philosophy, etc., into which our age has divided
its speculative activities. It date back to a period in the history
of mankind when such distinctions did not exist, but there was one
Gnosis or Knowledge embracing all. Religion and Science, as we have
them today, are but imperfect growths springing from the remnants
of that great ancient system, the Wisdom-Religion, which included
all that we all know as religion and science, and much more. Hence
Theosophy will not appeal to the same motives as religion and
science. It will not offer any cheap and easy salvation or put a
premium upon mental inactivity and spiritual selfishness. Neither
can it accommodate itself to the rules laid down by various schools
of modern thought as to what constitutes proof and what does not.
But it can and does appeal to the Reason. The truth of doctrines
such as Theosophy maintains, can only be estimated by their ability
to solve problems and by their harmony with other truths which we
know to be true. But in addition to this we have the testimony of
the ages, which has been too long neglected by modern scholarship,
but which is now being revealed...

It may perhaps be as well also to remind those who would criticize,
that the state of modern opinion is scarcely such as to warrant
anybody in assuming the attitude of a judge. It would be quite
proper for a Theosophist, instead of answering questions or
attempting to give proofs, to demand that his questioners should
first state their own case, and to be himself the questioner. The
result would certainly show that Theosophy, to say the very least,
stands on an equal footing with any other view, since there is no
certain knowledge, no satisfying explanation, to be found
anywhere...

Until, therefore, religious teachers have something definite,
consistent, and satisfactory to offer, and until science can give
us something better than mere confessions of nescience or impudent
denials with regard to everything beyond its own domain, Theosophy
can afford to assume the role of questioner rather than that of
questioned, and does not *owe* anybody any explanations whatever.
It is sufficient to state its tenets and let them vindicate
themselves by their greater reasonableness; and any further
explanation that may be offered is offered from goodwill than from
any obligation...

An earnest student of Theosophy will be wise enough to hold many of
his difficulties in reserve, until, by further investigation, he
has gained better acquaintance with his subject. In the case of
those who are not willing to adopt these wise and patient methods
of study, it may be reasonably questioned whether they are the more
anxious to learn or to disprove...

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--
Nicholas <> am455@lafn.org <> Los Angeles
"Morality is water that cleanses stains of wrongdoing; it is moonlight
cooling hot passions. As a snowy peak in the midst of men, its noble
presence peacefully unites all beings."  Je Tsongkhapa (1357-1419)