Theos-Talk Archives (March 1998 Message tl00124)

Karat:
>I guess my question is, what is the higher manas to
>everyone.  Is it that which bestows upon us moral values?  Or perhaps
>the ability to observe moral values?  I guess my question is, how does
>the migher manas manifest itself within us?  How do we express it?
>How would the cat express it?

Glad to see you back on the list!  You can't have delicious carrot cake
without the carrot.

Stanza VII of our beloved Secret Doctrine I gives us a clue.  The
"three-fold" refers to the Universal Principles of Father, Mother and Son.
The human Monad reflects these three principles.  The Father reflects our
will and drive, the Mother reflects our psyche, our intuition and inner
wisdom, and the Son reflects our ability to relate these experiences.  From
those come the four lower principles.

"The thread" refers to the connection of all of our life cores. Thus, there
is actually no real separation between us.  Even in reincarnation (if it
exists), there is no static substance that reincarnates.  The concentration
of our experience is the individuating factor, and not the experience
itself.  For example, note Einstein's theory of relativity.  Although,
according to Einstein, there is no such thing as simultaneity and each
experience is relative to each other, the experience is basically
universal.  Your time my be painfully slower than mine in my reality, but
in all reality, time goes at a regular pace according to each
consciousness.  Thus, we are all one, and only the focus is individual.

"Who forms Manu (the Man) and who forms his body?..."  The Seven Lives and
the One Life.  The Seven Lives are the stages of man's evolution and the
One Life is the force of all life.  This formation of us humans allows us
to make choices that go beyond our animal instinctive habits.  It allows us
to communicate with each other in complex ways.  We are, at varying levels,
aware of our choices, ethical choices, e.g..  We are also aware of the
impact of our choices.  Basically, we are fully self-aware.  Thus, Adam and
Eve have to cover themselves up in shame.  Our ego gives us a structure
within which we can work with.  Our comprehension allows us to understand,
make choices, and relate.  Our desire pushes us to move forward.

How it compares humans to animals, I think we have to each do our thinking
for ourselves.  I heard on the news about physically handicapped children
being brought into contact with dolphins as part of their therapy.  The
dolphins knew which part of the body was injured and interacted with the
injured part.

All this talk about Manas, connection, etc., brings me to something that's
been bothering me.  It is the duality of to "live and let live" and the
controlling factor of "shoulds."  If we truly have love and compassion for
others, we should be able to see them as part of us.  That means we accept
them as they are.  If you look into the mirror and see yourself, would it
not be more loving to say "I'm alright" than to say "I need a nose job?"
As students of theosophy, would it not be better to say that everyone has
an equal right to spiritual knowledge, that everyone is okay where they
are, and for us to have patience with each other as we grow.  Should there
be guilt about vegetarianism, sex, or frivolous talk?  Yes, the reactive
thing to do would be to impose rules.  However, could there have been other
ways of helping guide a student of theosophy, more loving ways of relating
to each other?  Isn't any exclusion (from a group, e.g.) be against the
purpose of theosophy to go beyond the framework of known organized religion
and its weaknesses?  Also, to be dogmatic to any one point of view without
considering others, would be against theosophy's purpose of ultimately
looking at the Divine wisdom within ourselves.  Theosophy began with the
idea of Truth being universal, for everyone, to be discovered everywhere,
to be discovered intelligently, without falling into the trap of shutting
one's eyes once a source of comfort is found, and without the laziness of
letting others do the thinking for you. As with preoccupation with
anything, even spirituality, we are so determined in our search that we
shun others as being frivolous and as being of the lower level.  As the
teacher would say, "Go wash your bowl."  The lesson is right in front of
you, in that humble dishwashing chore.

Thoa :o)