Theos-Talk Archives (September 1999 Message tl00186)

Grigor wrote:

>Subject: The theosophy of potatoes
>Then maybe, according to theosophy, there isn't two ultimate
>destinations or final ends.  Some will become French Fries, some
>au gratin, some mashed, smashed, or hashed, some boiled,
>some baked, some dutch oven Holland potatoes, potato salad,
>chips, flour, bread, vodka (a true transformation - ah, Ketel One),
>and some, well, just rotten.....

I see. Talk to the people in their own language!  Gotcha!  Know one's
audience.

>Maybe the only thing statistics finds is more statistics.  Maybe its
marriage
>in modern world that isn' t what it used to be. In old country, it involves
>almost whole village as in-laws, cousins, and relatives of one degree or
>another.

Well, again, even in the "old days" marriage still proved an early death
for most women.  Spousal abuse is not a modern phenomenon - having one's
family around usually kept a women in her place, rather than serving as a
woman's advocate.

>But basically,
>such sayings mean you can't choose your life circumstances, so learn from
it,
>and that a single day out of your life reveals much about your life.

I understand; however, we can choose some of our life's circumstances -
today, unlike the past, both males and females in Western society can
freely choose to marry or not.  Women have yet to gain that right in some
Islamic countries.

Some people have no business being married or having children, no matter
what life lessons they may glean from them.  It is not ONLY the individual
that is involved, it is those who will enter into the circumstance with
them (husband, wife, children, dog, cat, bird).  If a man can learn
patience in a marriage, but it requires a woman (or a male partner if he is
gay) to endure abuse while the individual learns the lesson of patience,
well, to me, this avenue is the wrong one.  Just because some circumstance
of life will teach you something doesn't mean you should embark upon that
path - one must consider the pain that will be inflicted upon OTHERS.  I do
not agree that we must accept ALL of a person's "warts, lumps, and bumps" -
if society or we as individuals were to actually do that, what purpose
would there be for a person to advance themselves?  If we accepted people
and circumstances as they are, then the concept of "challenge and change"
would become obsolete.  I realize it is a very fine line between a person's
'right to be' and the 'needs of society' - but neither complete liberty nor
complete authoritarianism will work.  We, as a world, must somehow figure
out how to demand the "best" from everyone while still maintaining
individuality.

Now, specifically about my complaint about the quote (not you personally):
As a woman, I so tire of writings, be them political, spiritual, cultural,
theosophical, that tend to revolve around the perspectives of men.  Too
frequently the most accepted and often quoted statements do not really
apply to women's lives and their circumstances.  It continues to amaze me
that Theosophy, which was "founded" by a woman, managed to form itself into
a male-oriented and male-dominated philosophy - especially since the
existence of the Gigantic males of theosophy (the Mahatmas) hasn't been
proven.  The only "expert" we know of for sure in Theosophy is a female.  I
guess we, as a society, would rather place possible imaginary males in the
"highest" of positions then a real, poke-with-a-stick female.  Perhaps HPB
knew more about current human psychology than we give her credit for. . ..

Anyway, thanks for the advice on my "class" problem.

Kym

P.S. To Alan:  Give them "Kym's rendition?"  Ok, well, if anything
horrifying happens, I'll tell the authorities that I was only following
your command.  That will surely prove to be a "get out of jail free" card.
;-)