Theos-Talk Archives (August 1996 Message tl00189)

I was not going to respond, as I consider the positing of a personal
dialogue, without the permission of the originator, to be very
"Un-Theosophical", however this may develop into excellent difinitive
statement as to what a theosophist is, or rather should be.

Liesel writes: "Dear God Jungkans,

  > Please allow Bishop Dr. Alan Baines to be a Theosophist.

  > Amen.

  > Liesel"

If I were 'God', I would set my hand upon the lad, annoint him with oil, and
declare with a loud voice "THOU ART A THEOSOHIST" (perhaps even blow the
Shofir to honor of HIS 'God'.)  Unfortunatly, this is not be possible, as I
don't claim to be God, only someone with an opinion (and not always the most
favorable :(

I stated, in my post to Dr. Bain "read HPB's statements about what one [a
theosophist] is, and tell me where I am mistaken."  I will provide the
following so that future 'comments' may prove both illuminating and
beneficial for us all:

" Are they what they claim to be - students of natural law, of ancient and
modern philosophy, and even of exact science?  Are they Deists, Atheists,
Socialists, Materialists, or Idealists; or are they but a schism of modern
Spiritualism - mere visionaries?...The Society's members represent the most
varied nationalities and races, and were born and educated in the most
dissimilar creeds...Some believe in one thing, others in another.  Some
incline tward the ancient magic, or secret wisdom that was taught in the
sancuaries, which was the very opposite of supernaturalism or diabolism;
others in modern spiritualism [Spiritism], or intercourse with spirits of
the dead; still others in mesmerism [Magnetic/Pranic healing (i.e.
Therapeutic Touch, Rekei, and the like)] or animal magnetism, or only an
ocult dynamic force in nature.  A certain number have scarcely yet aquired
any difinitive belief, but are in a state of attentive expectancy; and there
are even those who call themselves materialists, in a certain sense.

"... Of Athiests and and bigoted sectarians of any religion [or philosophy],
there are none in the Society...for once they cannot free themselves from
the [their] conception of the abstract ideal of power, cause, necessity, and
effect, they can be considered as athiests only in respect to a personal
God, and not to the Universal Soul of the Pantheist.  On the other hand, the
bigoted sectarian, fenced in, as he is, with a creed upon every paling is
written the warning,

 >> "'No Thoroughfare,' can neither come out of
 >>[anyones] enclosure to join the Theosophical Society, nor, if he could, has
 >>[the Society] room for one whose very religion [or philosophy] forbids
 >>examination.  The very root idea of the Society is FREE and FEARLESS
 >>investigation."

"... It ties to act upon the wisdom of the old Buddhistic axiom, 'Honor
thine own faith, and do not slander that of others'...All have an equal
right to have the essential features of their religious belief [or
philosophy] laid before the tribunal of an impartial world..."

        [Source: "What are the Theosophists",
                  The Theosophist, Vol 1, No. 1, October 1879]

I stand before the tribunal of Theos-L.  I, having been brought here by a
Bishop (of what I must ask) to stand and answer for "seek[ing] to provoke
another such [theosophist] into engaging in a dialogue [on one's
philosophy]"  Of this, I am guilty.  However, HPB states that "all have an
equal right to have...their religous belief laid before the tribunal"  I am
therefore not guilty of a crime, but OF ACTING AS A THEOSOPHIST!  My
mannerisms may seem harsh at times, but I feel that my point and purpose has
always been theosophical in intent.  I might ask if Bishop Bain "could
perhaps show more "brotherly" feeling" himself before placing me in
judgement for my actions.  As he states that he "hope[s] to be of service,
and to share what we have in amity with other theosophical, occult, and
esoteric organizations", I would hope that he would find the time to do so,
rather than condemm another for the manner in which he feels something is said.

HPB once said "Men slander only those whom they hate - or fear."  I would
hope that Alan would listen to his own words when he writes "we also
recognise that family members do not always agree... What I personally hope
we shall be able to do is the celebrate our differences, to find joy in the
diversity"


                                In fellowship

                                James Scott Yungkans, F.T.S.