Theos-Talk Archives (September 1999 Message tl00013)

Aug 31st 1999

Dear Friend Clint Mccrae:

Some brief answers are offered, attached below your questions.  These
are based on Theosophical statements made by HPB.  If there is
additional information or references wanted, please ask specifically.

Dallas
dalval@nwc.net

==============================================

-----Original Message-----
> On Behalf Of clint mccray
> Date: Monday, August 30, 1999 11:13 PM
> To: all is one
> Subject:  Some Questions...

YOUR QUESTIONS:

	My answers are in CAPS (Dallas).

What exactly are the entities of darkness (evil)?

	THEY ARE PERVERSE HUMAN BEINGS WHO DELIBERATELY AND KNOWING BETTER,
CHOOSE DELIBERATELY TO ACT AGAINST THE LAWS OF NATURE AND BECOME
TYRANTS.  THEY ARE ALL AROUND US EITHER IN INCARNATION OR IN THE
ASTRAL LIGHT.

THEY EITHER ACT TO OBSTRUCT OR INFLICT PAIN ON OTHERS,  OR THEY WORK
THROUGH "INFLUENCE," AND CAN FULLY OR PARTIALLY "OBSESS" OR "TAKE
POSSESSION" OF WEAKER HUMAN BEINGS WHO HAVE NOT DEVELOPED A STRONG AND
RESISTANT INDIVIDUAL WILL. IN SUCH HORRIBLE CASES THEY CAUSE MURDERS,
SUICIDES, GENOCIDES AND TYRANNIES OF GREATER OR SMALLER MAGNITUDES.

Where did they come from?

	FROM AMONG US.  THEY ARE HUMAN MIND-SOULS WHO DECIDE TO BREAK THE
LAWS OF COOPERATION WHICH PERVADE THE UNIVERSE AND OUR WORLD.

ANY TIME THAT WE DO LESS THAN WHAT IS ALTRUISTIC AND NOBLE, W ADD TO
OUR OWN TENDENCY TO BECOME SUCH AN EVIL BEING.  WE ARE ALL CONFRONTED
WITH THE SAME PROBLEM:  FREE WILL.

FREE WILL IS INNATE TO US AS MIND-BEINGS.  THE CHOICE IS TO EITHER
COOPERATE WITH NATURE OR STRIVE TO BE SELFISH AND BREAK HER LAW OF
BROTHERHOOD.

Do they have free-will, and therefore the ability to turn toward the
divine?

	THEY DO.  WE DO.  WE ARE ALL CAPABLE OF DOING EITHER GOOD OR EVIL.
ALL OF US KNOW WHAT THE GOOD LAW IS --  INNATELY IN OUR SPIRITUAL
SELVES.  IN OUR SPIRITUAL NATURE WE ARE THE LAW.  THE HANDS THAT SMITE
US ARE OUR OWN.  WE ALONE MAKE OUR FUTURE PAIN OR PLEASURE.

What is it, in me or anyone else, that opted to turn my life from bad
to good?

	EVERY HUMAN IS A SEVENFOLD BEING.  THE HIGHEST ASPECT IS THE ONE
SPIRIT.  TO MANIFEST, SPIRIT PROJECTS A "LOWER" ASPECT OF ITSELF,
WHICH TEMPORARILY ASSUMES THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LIMITATION, FORM, OR
"MATTER."  THIS IS HIGHLY METAPHYSICAL.

THE INDIVIDUAL CONJUNCTION OF THE MANIFESTED "SPIRIT/MATTER" IS NAMED
A "MONAD."  WITH EACH MONAD IS ASSOCIATED AN ASPECT OF UNIVERSAL MIND.
THIS ENABLES IT (AS AN EMBODIED MIND) AT EVERY LEVEL OF ITS
PILGRIMAGE, TO PERCEIVE (AT THAT LEVEL) THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAW AND
NOT-LAW.

EACH HUMAN BEING REPRESENTS THE EVOLUTION OF A MONAD THAT HAS ACQUIRED
MIND, AND IS THEREFORE MENTALLY FREE-WILLED.  EACH IS THE GENERATOR OF
HIS OWN KARMA AND HAS TO SETTLE HIS DEBTS ALONE.

IT IS YOUR AND MY MIND THAT MAKES CHOICES.  WE CHOOSE BECAUSE AT THAT
POINT WE ALWAYS KNOW WHAT IS EITHER BETTER OR WORST.  HENCE THE
APHORISM:  "IF IN DOUBT, ABSTAIN."

What is the will?

	A POWER THAT LINKS IDEAS AND THOUGHTS TO ACTIONS.  IT OPERATES
EVERYWHERE.  IN THEOSOPHY IT IS NAMED "FOHAT."  TRACE THE REFERENCES
TO THIS IN THE SECRET DOCTRINE.  IT IS CALLED THE MYSTERIOUS LINK
BETWEEN THOUGHT AND ACTION.  WHAT MAKES ANYONE OF YOUR MUSCLES MOVE
WHEN YOU DESIRE IT TO DO SO?  IS IT NOT DESIRE?  THEN DESIRE MOVES THE
MIND AND AN IDEA OF FUTURE ACTION IS FRAMED.  THEN THE MIND SENDS
ORDERS TO THE MUSCLES, AND YOU OR I ACT. [ SD II 167 top of page ]

Is it bad to undergo past-life regression hypnotherapy?

	IT IS USELESS SINCE THE ESSENTIAL LIFE POWERS ARE WITH US RIGHT NOW
AS INHERENT IN OUR MIND AND SPIRITUAL SELF.
REGRESSION IS CURIOSITY SEEKING.  DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA HOW TO USE IT?

REGRESSION MAY OR MAY NOT OPEN SOME CORRIDORS OF MEMORY THAT ARE
RELATED TO THE PAST PERSONAL LIFE.  THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME DOUBT
ABOUT THIS SINCE IT IS POSSIBLE IN SUCH TRANCE OR HYPNOTIC CONDITIONS
TO BE A WITNESS TO THE EVENTS OF ANOTHER'S LIFE -- IMPACTED IN THE
ASTRAL LIGHT.

IN TRANCE WE ARE NOT POSITIVE AND HAVE NO FULL SELF-CONTROL.  WE ARE
SUBJECT TO THE CONTROL OF THE OPERATOR, AND WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HIS
MOTIVES OR INTERESTS ARE.  IT IS A "LEAP IN THE DARK" AND IS
DISCOURAGED AS DANGEROUS.

Is sex outside of lifelong commitment wrong?

	EACH IS TO ANSWER THAT FOR THEMSELVES.

THEOSOPHY OBSERVES:  SEX EXPERIENCE ENTAILS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
TAKING CARE OF SUCH CHILDREN AS MAY ENSUE.  IF WE ARE SEXUALLY ACTIVE
BECAUSE WE ENJOY THE SENSATION, IT IS NOT VERY ELEVATING TO SPIRITUAL
PROGRESS, IS IT?

ALSO, WHO TAKES RESPONSIBILITY?  DO WE THINK IT FAIR FOR THE OTHER
PARTNER TO BE SADDLED WITH OUR CHOICES AND ACTIONS?  DO WE "WASH OUR
HANDS" OF THE RESULTS?  IS THIS NOT EMINENTLY SELFISH AND CARELESS?
IF SO WOULD YOU  NOT CLASSIFY IT WITH "EVIL?"

Love (human) has its joys and sorrows, the Love of the Adept seems to
be objectional and painless.  Is the first to be embraced or shunned?
The general love for someone else, without personal attachment, is
this
the closest I have come to the love of the Adept?  If not, then give
me
a real life, laymen incarnation example of something similair.

	THE LOVE OF A MOTHER FOR HER CHILDREN.  THE LOVE AND PROTECTIVE
FEELING OF EVERY TRUE MAN FOR HIS WIFE AND FAMILY.  THE LOVE OF A TRUE
PATRIOT FOR HIS COUNTRY.  ALL THESE ARE EXAMPLES OF NATURAL AND
GENEROUS LOVE OFFERED AS A DUTY AND A SACRIFICE ON THE ALTAR OF A VOW,
OF A COMMITMENT OF INDEFINITE AND CONTINUING RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHERS.
THESE ARE IDEALS, AND IN PRACTICE THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF DEGREES OF
FAILURE TO OBSERVE THE IDEAL RECTITUDE THAT IS IMPLICIT IN MARRIAGE,
PARENTHOOD, CITIZENSHIP.

SINCE WE ALL REINCARNATE AND MAY BE IN SUCCESSIVE LIVES MEN OR WOMEN,
CITIZENS OF MANY COUNTRIES IN SUCCESSION, OUR MOST IMPERSONAL CONCEPT
OF LOVE OUGHT TO EMBRACE THE WHOLE OF HUMANITY.  EVERY WOMAN IS EITHER
OUR MOTHER, OUR DAUGHTER, OR OUR WIFE -- AND OUGHT TO BE INSTINCTIVELY
TREATED WITH THE RESPECT DESERVED AND OWED TO SUCH A RELATIONSHIP.

ALL COUNTRIES , AND ALL RELIGIONS, HAVE OR WILL BE OUR COUNTRIES  AND
OUR RELIGIONS -- OUR PATRIOTISM IS THEREFORE BEST DIRECTED AT THE
WHOLE WORLD AND THE FAMILY OF MAN.

RELIGION DIVIDES INSTEAD OF UNITING, BUT IF WE INVESTIGATE THE CORE
AND ORIGIN OF EVERY RELIGION WE WILL FIND THAT IT REPRESENTS A CODE OF
UNIVERSAL ETHICS.  THEOLOGIANS DO NOT INVITE SUCH SEARCH AS THEIR
"AUTHORITY" WOULD VANISH AND EACH MAN WOULD DISCOVER THAT HE IS "A
PRIEST UNTO HIMSELF."  THE BEST RELIGION IS HONESTY AND DOING GOOD.

THOMAS PAINE, WASHINGTON'S FRIEND AND COUNCILOR  SAID:  "THE WORLD IS
MY COUNTRY, AND TO DO GOOD IS MY RELIGION."

I THINK THAT SAYS IT ALL.

If the universe gives us knowledge only when we are ready for it, then
why even try to understand?  The information and processing will take
place when it's time.

	THAT IS THE LAZY MAN'S HOPE.  THE WORLD DOES NOT RUN INTO IMMOBILITY
AND INERTIA.  IT IS A DYNAMIC HARMONY.  WE ARE PART OF THAT.
LAZINESS, THE CONCEPT OF ESCAPISM, OF OBLIVION, OF SOME NIRVANA OF
NOTHINGNESS IS THE PATHWAY TO BECOMING AN EVIL BEING BECAUSE WE TRY TO
SUBVERT (FOR OUR OWN SELFISH PLEASURE) THE POWER OF TOTAL PROGRESS.

CARRIED TO A LOGICAL CONCLUSION THIS RESULTS IN THE "PRATYEKHA
BUDDHA" -- THE BUDDHA OF SELFISHNESS OF WHICH THE "VOICE OF THE
SILENCE" SPEAKS AT THE VERY END OF THE SECTION NAMED: "The Two
Paths." - p. 47.

Does anyone feel like they almost have a grasp of what's happening,
like you are just barely able to look over the wall of the secret
garden, and you've even seen some little peeks, but not the whole
thing
at once?

	YES THANKS TO OUR EVERY PRESENT SPIRITUAL PERCEPTION AND THAT IS DUE
TO THE MONAD -- SPIRIT, MATTER AND MIND -- WORKING AS A UNIT.  THAT IS
THE ESSENTIAL WE.

Are any of you actually helping anyone in this life?

	I, YOU, EVERYONE TRIES TO AT SOME TIME, SOME MORE THAN OTHERS.

Do you do your best to only think good thoughts?

	AGAIN EACH HAS TO ANSWER FOR THEMSELVES.  SEARCH YOUR OWN MEMORIES.
EVALUATE YOUR OWN MOTIVES.  CONSULT YOUR FUND OF KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM,
HOPES, AND SEE IF THERE IS SOME POINT OF OBSERVATION THAT REQUIRES ANY
EVIL TO BE DONE BY YOU ?

WHAT IS IT IN US THAT INSTIGATES "EVIL?"  TO MAKE ANY REAL CHANGE THIS
HAS TO BE LEARNED.

HAVE YOU READ Edwin Arnold's THE LIGHT OF ASIA ?  IT IS THE LIFE OF
BUDDHA.  THERE YOU WILL FIND LUCIDLY DESCRIBED THE TRIALS THAT
CONFRONTED HIM, AND WHICH ALSO CONFRONT US.

WE ARE ALL POTENTIAL BUDDHAS.  DARE WE MAKE OURSELVES INTO SUCH?  THE
CHALLENGE FACES US ALL.

Are you real with yourself, or is this just another thing you do to
try
and prove meaning and position in a mixed-up world?

	IF BY "REAL" YOU MEAN HONEST, THEN WE HAVE TO TRY TO BE SO.  IT MAY
NOT BE EASY BECAUSE OUR EMBODIED MIND HAS LEARNED HOW TO BE SELFISH
AND ENJOYS THAT CONDITION OF TEMPORARY FREEDOM.  IT TRIES VERY HARD TO
GUARD AND MAINTAIN THAT.  THIS IS WHAT MAKES YOU QUESTION, AND ALSO
DESCRIBES THE STRUGGLE THAT CONFRONTS ALL OF US LL THE TIME AS HUMAN
BEINGS.

How many of us are wealthy?

	WEALTH IS A STATE OF MIND AND NOT OF POSSESSIONS.  SOME WHO ARE
MONEY-RICH ARE VERY POOR IN SPIRIT AND MOTIVATION AND USUALLY ARE
INTENSELY SELFISH.

THEOSOPHY ADVOCATES AS A PRACTICAL IDEAL TRUSTEESHIP.

Do you spend more time with your computer than with actual people
(outside of work)?

	YES AND NO -- FOR SOME THE COMPUTER ALLOWS THE GATHERING OF
INFORMATION THAT ONE CAN DRAW ON IN THE FUTURE.  FOR SOME IT IS A
CONTACT WITH PEOPLE - e-mail, INTERNET, ETC...

Do you have mood swings, and have you ever been a religious zealot,
and
what does that mean about you?

	EVERYONE HAS EXPERIENCED "MOOD SWINGS" AS THE EMBODIED DESIRE NATURE
INSTIGATES THEM.  THE FACT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DETECT THEM SHOWS THAT
THE EXPERIENCE OF A "MOOD" IS ONLY A PASSING PHASE AND THAT THE "REAL
MAN" INSIDE IS ABLE TO CONSIDER THOSE AS SUCH.

A "RELIGIOUS ZEALOT" IS A CLOSE MINDED FANATIC THAT HUGS HIS IGNORANCE
AND IS AFRAID TO EXPAND HIS MIND IN THINKING OF ALTERNATIVES.  HOW
ELSE WOULD YOU DESCRIBE ANY KIND OF ZEALOTRY  A TYRANT IS A ZEALOT.
WHO WANTS A NARROW AND CIRCUMSCRIBED MIND WHEN THE WHOLE WORLD IS OUR
PLAYGROUND?

Do you really know anything?

	YES I KNOW THREE THINGS;

1.  I  EXIST.

2.  YOU AND THE REST OF THE UNIVERSE EXISTS.

3.  THERE IS AN ONGOING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MYSELF AND YOU AND ALL
THE REST.

THESE THINGS ARE OBVIOUS.  HAD YOU SOME OTHER  MEANING ?

Some of these questions are for yourself to answer, some I would like
the answers posted.  My answers to these questions were not so good,
I'm not pointing fingers, just some things to think about.

	UNDERSTOOD -- LIKEWISE WITH THESE ANSWERS.

EVERY ONE OF US HAS TO TEST THESE THINGS OUT FOR THEMSELVES.

THIS IS WHAT THEOSOPHY AND ITS STUDY ENCOURAGES.

IT IS BASED ON THE CONCEPT THAT THE SPIRIT IS ONE AND IT RESIDES IN
THE CORE OF OUR OWN BEING, AS IT DOES IN EVERY OTHER.  THE FORMS THAT
YOU AND I OBSERVE ALL AROUND US ARE EXAMPLES OF THE EVOLUTION OF THE
UNDERSTANDING ASPECT OF PROGRESSION.

THE ONE SPIRIT SEES NOTHING AND DOES NOTHING.

THE SPIRIT WHEN DIVIDED INTO 2 SIMPLY IS DIVERGENCE -- THAT ALSO DOES
NOTHING EXCEPT ACT.

THE MIND ASPECT OF THE UNIVERSE FRAMES THE FIRST GEOMETRICAL STRAIGHT
LINE SURFACE -- IT THEN ALTERS BY THE ADDITION OF 3 MORE LINES INTO
THE FIRST SPACE AND THAT IS A TRIANGULAR PYRAMID.

THE SPHERE IS ALSO A LIMITATION, BUT IT REPRESENTS EITHER CONTINUITY
OR A MULTITUDE OF DISCONTINUITIES ALL FIRMLY UNITED INTO ONE.  FROM
THAT POINT OF VIEW IT IS A VALUABLE SYMBOL.  IT IS BOTH CENTER AND
CIRCUMFERENCE AT THE SAME TIME -- DIMENSIONLESS.

THE STRAIGHT LINE HAS A BEGINNING AND AN END -- HENCE YOU HAVE THE
PERCEPTION OF LINEAR AND SPHERICAL LIMITS IN DURATION AND THAT IS
"TIME."

ALL THIS IS EVIDENCE OF EXISTENCE, PERCEPTION AND PURPOSE -- AND EACH
OF US HAS THIS IN OPERATION.  WE ARE EACH OF US A REPRESENTATIVE OF
THE DIVINE, SEEKING THROUGH ALL KINDS OF EXPERIENCES TO PROVE ITS
EXISTENCE AND THUS TO MAKE OURSELVES TOTALLY INTELLIGENT AND
PURPOSEFUL AS BEINGS WITH A UNIVERSAL SPACE IN WHICH TO LIVE AND ACT
WITH ALL THE REST -- EVERYONE ELSE HAS THE SAME LIMITS AND PURVIEW --
HENCE, THE GREAT SHARING OF BROTHERHOOD.

Best wishes to you,

Dallas