Theos-Talk Archives (July 1997 Message tl00293)

Alan responded to Doss' post:

> > [Doss] Probably if you believe in manvantaras, slow pace does not at all matter. We
> >have all the time in the world to deal with important and critical issues
> >and we can pick up in the next incarnation.
> 
>   [Alan]  What a wonderful justification for doing nothing at all!
> 
> Racism, sexism, injustice, hatred, bigotry - what do they matter on so
> vast a scale?  Let us leave them for a life or two, or maybe many lives
> or more.

Sometimes spiritual teachings do seem to discourage active working on
behalf of humanity.  The belief that humanity (per Theosophy and others)
moves from advanced to depraved can be disheartening.  Conversely,
science and humanism declare the opposite - that life begins as
rudimentary and progresses (according to fossil study).

If there is such a thing as manvantaras - where, at the end of one, all
is supposed to be wiped out by a flood, except for a few humans - just
to have it happen all over again - then "what's the point?" (We're
supposed to have anywhere up to or beyond another 400,000 years in Kali
Yuga, which is the cycle we’re supposed to be in now - I think  - I got
lost a long time ago in the jumble of vast and differing numbers).

If one really believes that humanity worsens - or individuals only reach
spiritual perfection in their own particular time - or that trying to
change someone’s opinion/action is hampering their development and, in
addition, getting you a extra heap of karma to have to deal with - why
bother?  Where do we go from here? Just work on ourselves?  Stay out of
politics, debates, conflicts, wars?  Trust that all is well and going
according to plan? Is it really not possible to hasten another person's
"progress?"  Is it really not possible to end the "cycles" for all
beings?  If so, then the suffering of beings - although different ones
at different times - is eternal.  So, then perhaps, hell does exist -
but it's not someplace we end up, just something we all have to pass
through - but why?  If "Being with God," or the "Primary Source," etc.,
is so grand - why did we ever disjoin in the first place?  What are we
supposed to do with all the "wisdom" we're gaining as we pass through
incarnations - just to end up back where we originated?  

The more I read, the more I end up chasing my tail.

Kym