Theos-Talk Archives (November 1996 Message tl00019)

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Mark Asks:
How do you reconcile the value that you find in the contents of the
literature with the admitted facts of the early deceptions, hoaxes and
personal power struggles of the founders that were purported to
authenticate and validate them and their source in the "Brotherhood of
Masters"?
Sincerely,
Mark


Dear Mark
Einar here:
You seem to be confronted with an archaic problem, i.e. that of the =
colored glasses. And don=B4t think that you are the only one - We all =
are!=20
Hear what Buddha told:

	Believe nothing, o monks,
	merely because you have been told it ...
	or because it is traditional,
	or because you yourselves have imagined it.

	Do not believe what your teacher tells you
	merely out of respect for the teacher.

	But whatsoever, after due examination and analysis,
	you find to be conducive to the good,
	the benefit, the welfare of all beings -
	that doctrine believe and cling to,
	and take it as your guide.

        -Gautama Buddha

H.P.B. herself had a lot to say about the difficulty of discerning =
between our own colored views - on the teacher, and the teaching itself. =

Almost every teacher / writer / saint becomes the victim of "evil =
tongues", rightly or wrongly, living or post-mortem, usually by those =
that can't stand their fame.  Of those I revere, I can name =
Krishnamurti, Carlos Castaneda, Amrit Desai, and many others, not to =
mention C.W. Leadbeater, H.P. Blavatsky, A.A. Baily and even the Masters =
themselves. But there is always another side of the coin. Many people, =
(most people, actually) believe in the teaching on the ground of the =
reputation of the teacher, not being able to "discriminate" the =
teachings validity on its own merit. To my knowledge there is no =
reliable way to validate any teaching by any other means than given by =
the Buddha himself. Therefore I try not to listen to any "gossip" =
whatsoever concerning the authors or organizations that promote any =
teachings. This doesn't mean that I don't evaluate teachings or =
teachers. I only try to keep my opinions to myself and free from outside =
influences. And most importantly - I keep them loose, willing to =
reexamine every aspect in the most positive context available. I try to =
approach the truth, knowing that I'll never, ever get it all.
In my 25 years of intense study, meditation (and teaching) of the most =
different spiritual paths, I find them more and more approaching each =
other, mostly telling the same truth from a slightly different angels =
and with slightly different words. This has now become my PRIMARY =
reconciliation within the vast and profound flora of spiritual =
teachings. In fact I now have a "bell" ringing - not "true / false" - =
but "important / non-important" for most of what I read or hear.
Freedom of thought is based on an open mind, a positive skepticism, =
taking nothing for granted, but at the same time giving everthing a =
chance, and closing no doors - NOT on being able to choose what opinions =
one likes!

So; Don't listen to what others gossip or partake in it. Never defend =
your opinions or your favorite teaching / teacher. It, he, she, will =
stand for itself/himself/herself (bah!) if true and solid.=20
True Discrimination is based on Reconciliation, which is to Understand, =
deeply, profoundly, - and True Understanding is the ONLY key to True =
Love and Compassion.

This is how I try to do it, but YOU don't have to listen to that. ;-)

Einar, from Iceland.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let's change the world for the better,
by each of us changing ourselves,
TOGETHER!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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