Theos-Talk Archives (June 1998 Message tl00013)

While I do not like to blindly quote anyone, in the light of the various
discussions on Theosophy, here is something which seems to dispel any wrong
ideas.

	Men (and women and children) cannot all be Occultists but they can all be
Theosophists. Many who have never heard of the Society are Theosophists
without knowing it themselves; for the essence of Theosophy is the perfect
harmonizing of the divine with the human in man, the adjustment of his
god-like qualities and aspirations, and their sway over the terrestial and
animal passions in him. Kindness, absence of every ill feeling or
selfishness, charity, goodwill to all beings, and perfect justice to others
as to oneself, are its chief features. He who teaches Theosophy preaches
the gospel of goodwill; and the converse of this is true also -- he who
preaches the gospel of goodwill, teaches Theosophy.

                ---HPB - Address to the American Convention 4/22/1988

Excerpted from Fohat, Summer 1998

MKR Comments:

What is significant is the absence of any mention of the details of the
constitution of man and universe and all the "technical" and
"philosophical" material that she provided. So if there is anyone who has
does not meditate (using whatever technique or none), who has not read SD
or Voice of Silence or any other classic he/she can be a Theosophist in its
fullest term whether they know it or not. It is the total attention to the
the information contained in the classics in the absence of the above
"practical" deeds in many tend to mis-present Theosophy.

So Theosophy is not limited to the intellectuals only and is for the
masses, who may be unread and ignorant.