Pentateuch Wisdom

[AndrewX]

bananabrain,

A few, choice quotes about Theosophists and Esotericists (in the tradition of Alice Bailey, Helena Roerich, Lucille Cedercrans, et al) ... not just for your benefit, but for anyone who wants to know something about this path, and about the character of those who tread it.

As a note, I would not be so bold as to consider myself among their number - without careful hesitation - and thus I sometimes mention that I am an aspiring esotericist, nothing more.

From William Q. Judge's article, `Musings on the True Theosophist's Path' (The Path, May 1886, pp. 57-8):

Giving thought to self will most truly prevent and overthrow your aims and objects, particularly when directed toward the occult.

Again there arises the thought "I am a student, a holder of a portion of the mystic lore." Insidiously there steals in the thought "Behold I am a little more than other men, who have not penetrated so far." Know then, oh man, that you are not as great even as they. He who thinks he is wise is the most ignorant of men, and he who begins to believe he is wise is in greater danger than any other man who lives.

You think, oh man, that because you have obtained a portion of occult knowledge, that it entitles you to withdraw from contact with the rest of mankind. It is not so. If you have obtained true knowledge it forces you to meet all men not only half way, but more than that to seek them. It urges you not to retire but, seeking contact, to plunge into the misery and sorrow of the world, and with your cheering word, if you have no more (the Mystic has little else) strive to lighten the burden for some struggling soul.

It has been written that he who lives the Life shall know the doctrine. Few there be who realize the significance of The Life.

It is not by intellectually philosophizing upon it, until reason ceases to solve the problem, nor by listening in ecstatic delight to the ravings of an Elemental clothed -- whose hallucinations are but the offspring of the Astral -- that the life is realized. Nor will it be realized by the accounts of the experiences of other students. For there be some who will not realize Divine Truth itself, when written, unless it be properly punctuated or expressed in flowery flowing words.

Remember this: that as you live your life each day with an uplifted purpose and unselfish desire, each and every event will bear for you a deep significance -- an occult meaning -- and as you learn their import, so do you fit yourself for higher work.

There are no rose-gardens upon the way in which to loiter about, nor fawning slaves to fan one with golden rods of ostrich plumes. The Ineffable Light will not stream out upon you every time you may think you have turned up the wick, nor will you find yourself sailing about in an astral body, to the delight of yourself and the astonishment of the rest of the world, simply because you are making the effort to find wisdom.

He who is bound in any way -- he who is narrow in his thoughts -- finds it doubly difficult to pass onward. You may equally as well gain wisdom and light in a church as by sitting upon a post while your nails grow through your hands. It is not by going to extremes or growing fanatical in any direction that the life will be realized.

Be temperate in all things, most of all in the condemnation of other men. It is unwise to be intemperate or drunken with wine. It is equally unwise to be drunken with temperance. Men would gain the powers; or the way of working wonders. Do you know, O man, what the powers of the Mystic are? Do you know that for each gift of this kind he gives a part of himself? That it is only with mental anguish, earthly sorrow, and almost his heart's blood, these gifts are gained? Is it true, think you, my brother, that he who truly possesses them desires to sell them at a dollar a peep, or any other price? He who would trade upon these things finds himself farther from his goal than when he was born.

There are gifts and powers. Nor just such as you have created in your imagination, perhaps. Harken to one of these powers: He who has passed onward to a certain point, finds that the hearts of men lie spread before him as open book, and from there onward the motives of men are clear. In other words he can read the hearts of men. But not selfishly; should he but once use this knowledge selfishly, the book is closed -- and he reads no more. Think you, my brothers, he would permit himself to sell a page out of this book?

Time -- that which does not exist outside the inner circle of this little world -- seems of vast importance to the physical man. There comes to him at times, the thought that he is not making any progress, and that he is receiving nothing from some Mystic source. From the fact that he has the thought that no progress is being made the evidence is gained that he is working onward. Only the dead in living bodies need fear. That which men would receive from Mystic sources is frequently often repeated, and in such a quiet, unobtrusive voice, that he who is waiting to hear it shouted in his ear, is apt to pass on unheeding.

Urge no man to see as yourself, as it is quite possible you may see differently when you awake in the morning. It is wiser to let the matter rest without argument. No man is absolutely convinced by that. It is but blowing your breath against the whirlwind.

It was at one time written over the door: "Abandon Hope, all ye who enter here." It has taken hundreds of years for a few to come to the realization that the wise men had not the slightest desire for the company of a lot of hopeless incurables in the mysteries. There is to be abandoned hope for the gratification of our passions, our curiosities, our ambition or desire for gain. There is also another Hope -- the true; and he is a wise man who comes to the knowledge of it. Sister to Patience, they together are the Godmothers of Right Living, and two of the Ten who assist the Teacher.

And from `A Key to Theosophy,' (Section 4) by H.P. Blavatsky, in an example conversation between an enquirer and a (true) Theosophist:

ENQUIRER. Is moral elevation, then, the principal thing insisted upon in your Society?

THEOSOPHIST. Undoubtedly! He who would be a true Theosophist must bring himself to live as one.

ENQUIRER. If so, then, as I remarked before, the behaviour of some members strangely belies this fundamental rule.

THEOSOPHIST. Indeed it does. But this cannot be helped among us, any more than amongst those who call themselves Christians and act like fiends. This is no fault of our statutes and rules, but that of human nature. Even in some exoteric public branches, the members pledge themselves on their "Higher Self" to live the life prescribed by Theosophy. They have to bring their Divine Self to guide their every thought and action, every day and at every moment of their lives. A true Theosophist ought "to deal justly and walk humbly." [Note, along these lines, St. Paul, who says, "The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Should a Theosophist be judged by any different standards, when it comes to the pledge made to the Inner God?]

ENQUIRER. What do you mean by this?

THEOSOPHIST. Simply this: the one self has to forget itself for the many selves. Let me answer you in the words of a true Philaletheian, an F. T. S., who has beautifully expressed it in the Theosophist: "What every man needs first is to find himself, and then take an honest inventory of his subjective possessions, and, bad or bankrupt as it may be, it is not beyond redemption if we set about it in earnest." But how many do? All are willing to work for their own development and progress; very few for those of others. To quote the same writer again: "Men have been deceived and deluded long enough; they must break their idols, put away their shams, and go to work for themselves -- nay, there is one little word too much or too many, for he who works for himself had better not work at all; rather let him work himself for others, for all. For every flower of love and charity he plants in his neighbour's garden, a loathsome weed will disappear from his own, and so this garden of the gods -- Humanity -- shall blossom as a rose. In all Bibles, all religions, this is plainly set forth -- but designing men have at first misinterpreted and finally emasculated, materialised, besotted them. It does not require a new revelation. Let every man be a revelation unto himself. Let once man's immortal spirit take possession of the temple of his body, drive out the money-changers and every unclean thing, and his own divine humanity will redeem him, for when he is thus at one with himself he will know the 'builder of the Temple.'"

Here, then, are some proscriptions ... just a small selection from many volumes worth in Theosphical and other recent esoteric writings.

Whether you judge me according to your own religion's moral components, or even in terms of internal criticism according to Theosophy or more recent teachings, you will find that I fall short. But is it so hard to see - for anyone who is willing to speak openly and plainly - that there is but one Sun that shines alike on Jew, Christian, Muslim and agnostic? That this same Sun does not deny its warmth, its light and its life-giving Rays ... even to hypocrites, or to imperfect men?

Quite true it is that a wise man will climb to higher ground and sit himself upon a rock, in order to more directly receive what the Sun has to offer, while only a fool will seat himself in the shade and expect to receive the full benefits. But what if the need of the hour calls the wise man down from his rock ... would he still be wise if he chose not to respond? Wouldn't the fool in the shade be less foolish, if he acted, while the "wise man" still sat there, sunning himself?


HPB has also said, "Inaction in a deed of mercy becomes an action in a deadly sin." And from one of the world's most ancient scriptures (`The Voice of the Silence,' Fragment I) dating to Atlantean times, no matter what the disbeliever may assert), we read:

Let thy Soul lend its ear to every cry of pain like as the lotus bares its heart to drink the morning sun.

Let not the fierce Sun dry one tear of pain before thyself hast wiped it from the sufferer's eye.

But let each burning human tear drop on thy heart and there remain, nor ever brush it off, until the pain that caused it is removed.

These tears, O thou of heart most merciful, these are the streams that irrigate the fields of charity immortal. 'Tis on such soil that grows the midnight blossom of Buddha more difficult to find, more rare to view than is the flower of the Vogay tree.

[Nick the Pilot]

Andrew,

You said,

"...I am ignorant about much within Judaism..."

--> The funny thing is, Theosophy teaches a lot about Judiasm.

You quoted Blavatsky,

"He who would be a true Theosophist must bring himself to live as one."

--> How true! And to me, the most important part of that is, we need to model the type of behavior we want everyone else to have. We teach by example, first and foremost.

We must remind ourselves that we are Theosophists only because of good karma. We must not do evil in the name of Theosophy, for we may lose this privilege in our next life. We cannot allow ourselves to come down to the levels we see in people of other religions and philosophies. Not only it is not allowed, it only leads us down the path of not knowing Theosophy in our next life. Do not squander this great privilege.

"Whether you judge me according to your own religion's moral components, or even in terms of internal criticism according to Theosophy or more recent teachings, you will find that I fall short."

--> You must learn to ignore judgemental comments from other people. Only respond to questions and observations about the Ancient Wisdom. Just because the person next to you is creating bad karma, you do not have to create bad karma at the same time. Remember, karma never forgets. The day will come when we will be held responsible for every bad thing we do. Many times I have stopped myself from doing a bad thing just by realizing it is just another piece of bad karma I will have to burn off somewhere down the road.

"...there is but one Sun that shines alike on Jew, Christian, Muslim and agnostic?"

--> This is the very center of Theosophical teaching, and also the very thing non-Theosophical exclusive-ists are trying to deny.

"That this same Sun does not deny its warmth, its light and its life-giving Rays ... even to hypocrites, or to imperfect men?"

--> There is no need to point this out. They are earning their bad karma and they will eventually have to burn it off — I guarantee it.

You quoted Blavatsy,

"Inaction in a deed of mercy becomes an action in a deadly sin."

--> I believe this can only be fully understood by someone who understands karma.

You quoted from "The Voice of the Silence". It reminded me of the Golden stairs which you yourself have quoted before.

"A clean life, an open mind, a pure heart, an eager intellect, an unveiled spiritual perception, a brotherliness for one’s co-disciple, a readiness to give and receive advice and instruction; a loyal sense of duty to the Teacher, a willing obedience to the behests of Truth, once we have placed our confidence in and believe that Teacher to be in possession of it; a courageous endurance of personal injustice, a brave declaration of principles, a valiant defence of those who are unjustly attacked, and a constant eye to the ideal of human progression and perfection which the Secret Science depicts -- these are the golden stairs up the steps of which the learner may climb to the Temple of Divine Wisdom."

- H. P. Blavatsky

[AndrewX]

Thank you, Nick ... I am taking all of this to heart, even in ways I hadn't before been open to (! ) ... and finally I think I am becoming truly grateful for the wonderful opportunities that have been provided for me here (and elsewhere) - especially by bananabrain, Thomas, and others.

This spiral has many, many levels ... and not a single arm, or turn, or level is without its lessons!

Namaskar,

andrew

[bananabrain]

Originally Posted by AndrewX

I admitted freely - and gladly - that I am ignorant about much within Judaism

oh, i understand that, andrew and i appreciate your humility, but what is bothering me is that the people you consider as your spiritual authorities don't appear to be terribly educated about it either, at least not more than the knowledge of kabbalah i would expect from any C19th occultist that had read mcgregor mathers or other "golden dawn" literature. you and nick rely on them, which means you end up with incorrect ideas about judaism. that is my only point.

I'm focusing more on Torah before diving headlong into Kabbalah.

there is an idea that kabbalah can be studied as the "esoteric wisdom" in isolation from Torah as its "mere exoteric shell". this idea is, to those of us who have any knowledge of both, unsustainable.

Anyway, I would be more than interested to hear about the things you've mentioned ... but quite honestly, words like "ma'aseh bereishit" and "menekot" mean absolutely nothing to me!

menachot is a tractate of the babylonian talmud (hence the BT - it's standard nomenclature) - the story referred to can be found here: Tales of the Tzaddikim just under halfway down the page. ma'aseh bereishit is the term used for the sections of genesis dealing with the creation of the cosmos/universe/earth/space-time and the garden of eden narrative - the development of humanity as we understand it. if you search on the term here at CR you will find me discussing it elsewhere.

Originally Posted by Nick the Pilot

The funny thing is, Theosophy teaches a lot about Judaism.

and that's what bothers me, in that it presumes to do so without demonstrating any real understanding of it.

"...there is but one Sun that shines alike on Jew, Christian, Muslim and agnostic?"

--> This is the very center of Theosophical teaching, and also the very thing non-Theosophical exclusive-ists are trying to deny.

firstly, i am not an exclusivist, as i have already tried to make clear. i am a particularist as regards the parts of judaism that are intended for jews and i am a universalist as regards the Torah wisdom that is accessible to and intended for a wider audience and for the betterment of humanity and so forth. the two are neither mutually exclusive nor contradictory. i can't put it any clearer than that.

b'shalom

bananabrain

[AndrewX]

Originally Posted by bananabrain

menachot is a tractate of the babylonian talmud (hence the BT - it's standard nomenclature) - the story referred to can be found here: Tales of the Tzaddikim just under halfway down the page. ma'aseh bereishit is the term used for the sections of genesis dealing with the creation of the cosmos/universe/earth/space-time and the garden of eden narrative - the development of humanity as we understand it. if you search on the term here at CR you will find me discussing it elsewhere.

Thanks for the refs, and information, bananabrain.

Regarding the following ...

Originally Posted by bananabrain

what is bothering me is that the people you consider as your spiritual authorities don't appear to be terribly educated about it either, at least not more than the knowledge of kabbalah i would expect from any C19th occultist that had read mcgregor mathers or other "golden dawn" literature. you and nick rely on them, which means you end up with incorrect ideas about judaism. that is my only point.

I have but two things to say.

First off, HPB as an authority really should not be called into question. Sure, Nick and I may consider it a bit like tilting at windmills (I certainly do!) ... but really there's a better reason. You see, of the many, many charges leveled against HPB, one of the most easily contended is the accusation of lack of academic rigor - which you and Thomas have repeatedly mentioned.


For starters, one can visit an online article entitled,

`Some Reflections on the Note, by Grigor V. Ananikian, about
"The Blavatsky/Tibet and Stanzas of Dzyan Connection."'

One can find Ananikian's original Note here.

But I will go on to add, by way of short testimony, that the study of esoteric teachings, since Blavatsky's day and perhaps earlier ... is best combined with the additional discipline of meditation (including Concentration, Meditation & Contemplation, treated in great detail in Eastern teachings), plus an active life of altruistic, selfless Service. If any one of these components is missing or too lacking, then a student cannot progress properly, and safely, upon the Path.

All I will say further, is what I have already asserted. Sufficient meditation and service to Humanity, once combined with earlier study, will - at some point - conclusively demonstrate, for any student seeking serious answers (and not just a casual inquiry, or the fulfilling of an idle curiosity), both the reality, and the authority, of HPB and of the Eastern (and Western) Mahatmas. [Note, however, the CONTEXT of this authority! See below ...]

It will also become clear, at some point, that although HPB was not a/the "perfect" disciple (and none are, until the Higher Initiations), not even error-free in all of her writings, she was nonetheless the one chosen by her Adept Teachers ... meaning that she was the "best available at the time," given Humanity's own karma, and other unique factors of the world situation in the mid-nineteenth century. The conclusion will arise with the student intent on finding correct understanding ... that both HPB, and the Masters, are "the real McCoy" or legitimate, although for most of us this will but open the door to more questions, and invite a deeper exploration of any number of (related) subjects!

Nick and I would both invite you to such exploration, along whatever lines are of interest to you!

One further point may be noted, as pointed out recently by Nick on another thread -->

HPB represented one Branch only of the Spiritual Brotherhood of our planet, sometimes called `The Hierarchy,' in Alice Bailey's teachings. On Nick's other thread, although the title of that thread is the Theosophical Hierarchy, the `Lodge of Masters,' or the Elder Brothers, as they are sometimes called, really only occupy a small role ... while from the perspective of Humanity, they represent the SOUL Principle of the entire planet.

Anyway, the point I would make is that HPB never intended to represent ALL of the Hierarchy, in terms of the various other Branches ... nor did the Eastern Masters presume to speak for these other Branches, or give out Teachings in their name. BY DEFAULT, anything concerning the Kabbalah or a Middle Eastern esotericism, would fall under a different Branch of the Greater Lodge.

~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~

Blavatsky only spoke for the Trans-Himalayan Branch ... there is also a Southern Indian Branch, branches concerned with a prior cycle of human evolution (the Atlantean), a School of the Occident that is in the process of forming ... and additional branches in Lebanon, Egypt, South America, etc.

I really, honestly, do not have the complete picture, or even much more than an elementary understanding ... because I have chosen to focus in my studies on how all of this affects Humanity now, and more so in the West ... so that much of what I have learned about these other lodges, while interesting, is somewhat incidental.

Perhaps some speculations ... are best left to a time when there is a more widespread understanding of the Schools of Esotericism.

Namaskar

[Nick the Pilot]

Andrew,

Regarding the beginning of the Theosophical Society, only two Mahatmas were involved. As a matter of fact, some of the other Mahatmas were opposed to the idea of releasing such information -- the idea was that mankind was not ready for such information. (I believe we have proved them wrong.)

Indeed, in the beginning (and through all the years that Blavatsky was alive), the two Mahatmas were quite on their own.

One more point needs to be made. Although the two Mahatmas in question were only a small number of the total Mahatmas on Earth, the sacred scriptures they quoted from were the same sacred scriptures all Mahatmas use.

Also, if you wish to invite BB into further discussions, it would be best to invite him to discuss how the ideas of Theosophy agree/disagree with Judiasm. Do not let him sidetrack the discussion into who spoke which words. The words and ideas matter, not who spoke them. His criticisms of Blavatsky only go in one of my ears and out the other. A comparison of the Sephiroth to the Theosophical teachings of our Round, on the other hand...







...would get my attention.

(The above picture, by the way, is a good example of the commonality of all religions. It shows a perfect relationship between the Hindu Gupta Vidya and the Chaldean Kabbalah -- The Jews got the Kabbalah from the Chaldeans.)

[AndrewX]

Nick, et al,

See what you think about Lecture VII from Rudolf Steiner's `Foundations of Esotericism,' regarding Humanity's prior and future cycles of evolution! I never realized how closely my own understanding dovetails with Steiner's Anthroposophy ... at least on some subjects, as this:

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, in the Secret Doctrine, called Jehovah a Moon God. There is a deep reason underlying this. In order to understand it we must be clear about the further development of man. In man as he is today, his higher forces are intermingled. His further development depends on the emergence of his higher self from the sheath of the lower forces and organs.

The beings whom we meet with on the Old Moon had not as yet incorporated their power of thinking in a physical brain. The power of thinking in the case of the Moon-Nirmana-kayas, Bodhisattvas, Pitris and pure human beings did not yet work in a physical brain but in the ether masses surrounding them. On the Old Moon the environment consisted not only of air, but also of ether filled with wisdom. On the Old Moon thoughts were not in the individual beings but they flew hither and thither in the ether. In occultism therefore the Old Moon is also called the Cosmos of Wisdom.

The Old Moon was surrounded by Warmth Ether and other forms of ether. In these ethers lived intelligence and reason, as they now live in the human brain. Underlying this however there was development. At the beginning of the Moon evolution wisdom still impressed itself into beautiful forms. The beings who only possessed the lower human members, physical body, etheric body and astral body, were directed by these streams of wisdom. In the course of further development the three lower bodies descended more deeply. When the Old Moon evolution came to an end the beings who were wise, but did not possess wisdom in a brain, had progressed so far that they could completely relinquish these lower bodies. These beings who had now become Pitris and who no longer needed to enter into such physical, etheric and astral bodies, were the hosts of the Elohim in different stages.

The lowest rank of these Elohim is the Jehovah stage. Jehovah therefore is an actual Moon divinity, who on the Old Moon passed through physical development. Nevertheless on the Moon he was never able to work on the physical surroundings, using a brain as the vehicle of thought. Only his physical, etheric and astral bodies had worked on the physical environment. This however he did through pictures. Thinking hovered above.

The name Jehovah does not designate a single being, but a rank in the order of the hierarchies. Many beings can take on the Jehovah rank, or assume it for a purpose. Eliphas Levi repeatedly emphasised that with the designations Jehovah, Archangeloi, Angeloi, we have to do with ordered ranks of beings.

The first human beings to receive teaching on the Earth received it from Jehovah in pictures. That is why Genesis is a sum of great pictures, pictures which Jehovah had experienced on the Old Moon.

What took place in the pre-Lemurian Age is a preparation. The human body is so worked upon that Atma, Buddhi and Manas can sink into it. These principles enveloped themselves with Kama-substance. Let us now imagine a jelly-like being which had freed itself from what had come over from the Old Moon. This provides a physical foundation. In addition to this there are Atma, Buddhi and Manas, and an astral body which these principles organise around themselves. They work on the jelly-like masses from outside until they are able to take possession of them from within. Finally the spiritual penetrates the physical. Now two kinds of beings have amalgamated. The moment the brain is formed they interpenetrate one another. Through this, birth and death entered into Earth-evolution. Previously human beings had themselves built up the physical body; in the future this will be so again. But because two beings are united who are only partially suited to one another we have birth and death, and every period of time between birth and death is a continual attempt to make these two beings fit together better — a swinging to and fro of the pendulum until eventually a rhythmical condition is brought about.

Up to the middle of the Sixth Root-Race (epoch) this will continue, until this rhythmical condition is attained and the one being has become completely adapted to the other. And Karma is nothing else than the measure of balance which the human being has already brought about. In each single incarnation one attains a certain degree of adaptation. After each incarnation man must ascend again to Devachan in order to survey what has still to be done. Only when the balance is achieved is Karma overcome and the human being can take up something new, the true Wisdom, Buddhi, which until that time must be fostered and cherished.

Much more is said, and I'm gonna hafta look into Steiner, now that I've come across this lecture. I could as easily have posted this to the `Theosophical Hierarchies' thread, but it really does focus on Humanity's early stages of evolution in this manvantara, and on the prior (Moon) Chain ... plus elucidate how Theosophists (and Anthroposophists) understand `Jehovah.' By no means is Jehovah intended to represented `Highest God,' as I think Nick has already pointed out.

This may not be the position of Jewish orthodoxy, or even of certain mystical understandings. Perhaps these various positions are not as exclusive as we might like to maintain. Nor should it be assumed that anyone has set out to "correct another person's errors," or enlighten his fellow man regarding (that man's own) faith. As a Theosophist, or one inclined to this way of understanding, I have no intention of doing this for my Jewish Brother ...

... nor am I the least bit interested in anyone telling me that, "my Theosophical understandings" are incorrect, or ill-founded, or full of poppycock, and so on - unless this be offered in a positive light, and in the Spirit of Service. In such case, it doesn't matter to me whether it's a Theosophist, a Jew, or the fella down here at the gas station who has the advice. I'm quite open to it ...

... while, as I say, Jehovah/YhVh means something definite for me, and for many an esotericist, essentially male-female and concerning the previous, hermaphroditic or androgynous phase of Human evolution here on planet Earth. Steiner sheds light on a much, much earlier cycle, taking place on the planet now decaying before us, as the "moon" ... yet HPB also taught us all this in The Secret Doctrine.

From Purucker's Glossary:

Blavatsky writes that the rendering Ja-ho-vah is "a perversion of the Holy Name": that the majority of the Jews themselves were ignorant of the true pronunciation. "Alone, out of all their nation the high priests had it in their possession, and respectively passed it to their successors," before their death. "Once a year only, on the day of atonement, the high priest was allowed to pronounce it in a whisper" (IU 2:398-9).

The Hebrews were not the only ones who knew of and revered a divinity whose name when written was conveyed by vowels mainly, as for instance the Gnostic Iao, Ieuo, or Iaou. All these ancient peoples by these vowel-words desired to express the fluid life-giving energy of the globe, of the moon, and of the planetary source -- in this case, Saturn.

The early Christian Fathers connected the moon and its functions with Jehovah -- as the proximate but not causal "giver of life and death." Moreover "With the Israelites, the chief function of Jehovah was child-giving, and the esotericism of the Bible, interpreted Kabalistically, shows undeniably the Holy of Holies in the temple to be only the symbol of the womb. . . . This idea must certainly have been borrowed by the Jews from the Egyptians and Indians . . ." (SD 1:264). Jehovah is likewise identified with the serpent or dragon that tempted Eve, the dragon often standing for the primordial principle.

In the Qabbalah, Jehovah is regarded as hermaphrodite and connected with the female Sephirah Binah. The Qabbalists show the word to be "composed of the two-fold name of the first androgyne -- Adam and Eve, Jod (or Yodh), Vau and He-Va -- the female serpent as a symbol of Divine Intelligence proceeding from the One-Generative or Creative Spirit" (IU 2:398).
From the standpoint of the Jews, Jehovah was their patron deity, the regent of the planet Saturn.

And, as Theosophists, not as Jews, do some esoteric students maintain this ... while likewise, Adonai-Elohim has another, and a different connotation, referring as it does - LIKE `Jehovah/YhVh' - to a class of Spirits (Angels) ... and not to a single being at all.

Again, from Purucker (Blavatsky):

Adon 'adon (Hebrew) plural 'adonim [from 'adan to fix, determine] Commander, lord, master, ruler; "The Adonim and Adonai . . . which the Jews applied to their Jehovah and angels . . . were simply the first spiritual and ethereal sons of the earth; and the god Adonis, who in his many variations stood for the 'First Lord' " (SD 2:452). Used by Blavatsky also to signify the celestial or angelic hierarchy of the Codex Narazaeus (IU 1:301).
Applied by the ancient Hebrews and Phoenicians not only to gods or divinities, but to kings and priests. See also ADONAI


Adonai 'adonai (Hebrew) [from 'adon lord] My Lords; through usage, Lord, a plural of excellence. Originally a sort of appeal or prayer to the hierarchical spiritual powers of the earth planetary chain, and more particularly of the planetary spirit of the earth itself; later it became a mere substitute for the unutterable name of God, usually for Tetragrammaton (YHVH).

"As the inner nature of YHVH is hidden; therefore He (YHVH) is only named with the Name of the Shekhinah, Adonai, i.e., Lord; therefore the Rabbins say (of the name YHVH); Not as I am written (i.e., YHVH) am I read. In this world My Name is written YHVH and read Adonai, but in the world to come, the same will be read as it is written, so that Mercy (represented by YHVH) shall be from all sides" (Zohar iii 320a). Adonai is rendered Lord in the Bible, although it means "my Lords"; whereas 'elohim is translated God in the English Authorized Version.
In the Sephirothal scheme, the Divine Name of the Sephirah of Malchuth was 'Adonai. The Gnostics taught that Iurbo and Adonai were names of Iao-Jehovah, who is an emanation of Ilda Baoth. According to Origen the Gnostics considered Adonai the genius of the sun. Blavatsky writes: "Both Aidoneus and Dionysius [Dionysus] are the bases of Adonai, or 'Jurbo Adonai,' as Jehovah is called in Codex Nazaraeus. . . . Baal-Adonis of the sods or Mysteries of the pre-Babylonian Jews became the Adonai by the Massorah, the later-vowelled Jehovah" (SD 1:463).

It should not be expected that the Theosophical and esoteric understanding of all this conform itself to an orthodox, or even necessarily a popular Kabbalistic one ... for then there would be no Theosophy, and what we would have is Judaism (or Kabbalah), plain and simple.

~andrew

[AndrewX]

Thanks, Nick, all good points ...

My unfamiliarity with the Sephirothal Tree will handicap my understanding, but I am familiar with the chart you posted ... and I am quite aware of the parallels - they exist, after all, with every tradition!

I think I know even less about Kabbalah than esoteric astrology, but then, these are all related disciplines in the esoteric sciences, and the pieces begin to fit after a certain amount of pondering ...

Speaking of pondering, here's one for you:

Somewhere, in some writing about HPB's travels into Tibet, I am somehow sure I recall seeing a mention of her meeting a young Tibetan student of the Master KH. It's entirely possible that the meeting occurred in the subtle world, yet I thought it was physical (perhaps unlikely, I'd have to find the reference). At any rate, it is made plain - that the young chela was the Arhat, now Master, DK!

Leadbeater, of course, speaks much of Master DK, and Alice Bailey confirms in several places that he is one of the most recent Masters to take Initiation, become Asekha Adept in 1875 (and also a true `Master,' taking on many of the students of other Masters to help free Them for other obligations).

Anyway, we find out later, at least according to AAB, that Master DK was quite involved in the authorship of The SD, for in Alice's first book, Initiation Human and Solar (dictated by `The Tibetan Master'), DK writes of himself in the 3rd person saying:

He it was Who dictated a large part of that momentous book The Secret Doctrine, and Who showed to H. P. Blavatsky many of the pictures, and gave her much of the data that is to be found in that book.

Master DK didn't intend for his identity to become immediately known to the public; hence the reason for writing in 3rd person. Only through an oversight was his identity even revealed, and he made a statement regarding this mistake of Alice's, essentially exhonerating her, but mostly pointing out that it was of no matter ...

Interestingly, students have long speculated that DK's former incarnations include Kleinias, the closest diciple of Master KH's as Pythagoras ... as well as Arya Asanga, Gaspar of the Three Magi, Dharmajyoti (meaning `Light of Truth') - a disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha, and even Benjamin, figuring so prominently in Hebrew Pentateuch Wisdom!

Amazing, then, to me ... that we see so much doubt, so many disparaging comments, slandering and vilification - and I am reminded of the words, "Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do." How well they seem to fit ...

~+~+~+~+~+~

Masters M. and KH, both Senior Masters, or very high Initiates, are of course usually identified as `Theosophical Mahatmas,' or HPB's Adepts ... yet as you know from the Mahatma Letters, we also see contributions from the Egyptian Brothers Serapis and Tuitit Bey, the "Greek" (Cretan) Master Hilarion, and the Maha Chohan at the time (possibly another Great One than Master R.).

Some movements, as the "I AM," become rather enmeshed, or glamoured, in a sort of deification, or master-worship ... turning these into "Ascended Masters" rather than accepting them as Great Beings, Nietzsche's `Supermen.' I can recall reading a few of E. Clare Prophet's "channelings," and being quite caught up in it all ... but gradually the true Light eclipsed these lesser twinklings.

Alice Bailey presents a view of Earth's Spiritual Hierarchy as containing, essentially, 63 Masters, including the Christ/Bodhisattva, Manu and Maha Chohan. She does speak of Seven Ray Masters, or `Chohans,' heading up the Seven Rays, or Ray Ashrams. Masters M and KH are listed for Rays 1 & 2, respectively. Other Ray Chohans may include `Paul the Venetian' (once Paolo Veronese), Master Serapis, Master Hilarion, Master Jesus, and Master Rakoczy. Master R. is also mentioned (by DK) as gradually assuming some of the responsibilities of Maha Chohan.

Master Jupiter (one of the most senior) - the Rishi of the Nilgiri Hills and HPB's `Old Gentleman' - comes up in writings by David Anrias, the latter being trained in esoteric astrology by Master Jupiter, who is the Lodge's expert in that area (Master DK is also well versed).

Master Polidorus Isurenus (formerly Philo Judaeus) was Geoffrey Hodson's own Teacher, as we learn from Geoffrey's Diary, Light of the Sanctuary. Cyril Scott learned from `JMH,' or Justin Moreward Haig, yet we know that this is a pseudonym. I never did figure out whether this was a British, or an American, Master. But DK speaks of "two English Masters," as well as American, Russian, and yet other Masters, of various nationalities.

It might be worth considering, also, that Master DK began dictation via AAB in 1919, and MUCH changed with the World War(s). So, while early on, the 5th Initiation (`Asekha Adept') is provided as being Humanity's Spiritual `Goal' (Individually speaking) ... this requirement gets bumped up by the time DK's later books come out (1949 was the last date) - to 6th, or Chohan, Initiation!

On the `Moon,' we were supposedly charged with attaining Arhatship (4th Degree) ... and that shows how seldom these things shift, and how rare such changes really are. Yet the Door of Initiation is swinging open to the entire Race (Planet, to ALL of Humanity) ... and DK mentions that "word came from above" to stiffen the requirements. This speaks volumes, I think, about `Divine Efficiency,' and it also shows that the Spiritual Hierarchy(ies) is not inflexible!!!

Of course, the list of 63 Masters mentioned in AAB's books is never provided in full, for Master DK clarifies that most of Them need to preserve anonymity for the nature and success of Their Work. Only a handful even take students, this being the difference between `an Adept' and `a Master' in the esoteric sense. There are Seven Ray Ashrams, each already "headed," yet there are also an additional 42 - or 49 (?) - subsidiary Ashrams, found upon the sub-rays of these primary Seven. Each of these, in time, will have its own Master and complement of disciples and Initiates, yet not all are already actively functioning ...

Every now and then, I do try to ponder, the notion that we know about 63 Adepts or Masters ... and that we can also estimate the number of Initiates of the 1st and 2nd Degrees (`Stream-entrants' and `Once-returners' according to Buddhism) as being in the many millions (those within whom the esoteric Christ principle, or Buddha-nature has been born, and those whose lower nature has been esoterically Baptised).

In-between, the number of 3rd Degree Initiates, those who are Entered Apprentice on the Great Lodge of Sirius, and HAMSA, or `Swans' of the ancient Hindu teachings ... must also be fairly large. Perhaps there are not as yet hundreds or thousands or Arhats (arhans, lohans, rahats, etc.), 4th Degree Initiates, and we know how rare is such a Flower upon our planet!

Yet if Shakyamuni had ~900, and Maitreya is supposed to lead ~9,000 (often referred to as 10,000) to Liberation ... then maybe things here on Planet Earth aren't so bad, after all!

It's easy to get discouraged sometimes, even over the smallest of things ... siimply by losing perspective. Never a bad idea to pause, and ponder - what things must be like, for the Great Ones, the Teachers and Masters ... and the students around the world of every degree ... who are keeping the Seasons, the Festivals, the Traditions, and the Divine Tempo.

I like the beat of their drum. I want to learn that dance.

NAMASKAR

[Francis king]

well, as u have now offended me, I will "beat my drum", as you say...

HPB's "secret masters" did not exist. She had travelled around a bit and had come across various religions and then wrote volumes and volumes of gumf about them. If you want to believe that fairytale kingdoms like Atlantis (were the clever white psychic ppl came from) and Lemuria (were all the stupid black ppl came from) are anything more hijacking the prevailing "racial superiority" , and if u want to deliberately insinuate yourselves within a heirarchy which is based on a compendium of lies then more fool you... And, if these masters did not exist, then where did she get her information from? From watching other ppl do their holy thing and by reading a few books... just like the rest of us do...

okay, HPB was not the only one to do this...the golden dawn, the Rosicrucian society, everyone was doing it, and they did it because it made them all look good. No doubt within the bunch there were a few decent ppl who really did want to attempt to find God, but in the main all they wanted to do was make themselves look all clever and holy and make a bit of money at the same time...

Crowley was expelled from the golden dawn because he had revealed the big secrets... really, he had revealed that the cipher manuscripts did not exist, in much the same way as most of HPB's wisdom which she received from holy beings on the astral did not exist either.

lokas, mantavaras, akasha, yeah, great. But its all there in the upanisads. I do not need HPB to tell me the way it is already written is wrong, and I feel that banana is saying the same thing... if u really want to critique hinduism or buddhism or judaism then investigate those things first, and then read the secret doctrine...

if you do, what u will see is... a lot of ideas which are already contained within other religions and faiths and cultures but which, in the 19th century, seemed like esoterica to the middle classes who dived on them like it was manna from heaven.

It is preposterous to me that supposedly intelligent beings can so readily buy into this bilge, but then, you may not be as intelligent as u present urself to be, and u might just be copying things wily nily out of books which weren't particularly accurate 100 years ago... of course, this is your choice, much it is my choice to see the theosophical society as "dusprayukta dharma", badly arranged or badly composed teachings...

I am happy to know that I am not the only person who considers this "shambalic poobahs" to be a waste of time...

and, btw, thomas, just thought I'd mention it- it's

sat-cit-ananda

being/mind(consciousness)/bliss...

if u speak it though, it goes- sat-chit-ananda...

cheerio

[Nick the Pilot]

Andrew,

You said,

"Some movements, as the "I AM," become rather enmeshed, or glamoured, in a sort of deification, or master-worship ... turning these into "Ascended Masters" rather than accepting them as Great Beings...."

--> The "I AM" movement of the early 20th century is not considered to be part of Theosophy, although both have some similar teachings. (I would also characterize Alice Bailey as post-Theosophical, as she broke away from Theosophy and started her own organization — similar to Rudolph Steiner, who started his own "Anthroposophy".)

"...Master Jesus..."

--> I would not say the idea of a Master Jesus is a Theosophical teaching, although I am sure there are some Christian Theosophists who believe in such an ideal. Personally, I prefer Leadbeater's idea that Jesus was merely an incarnation of Maitreya. I do remember, however, one quote in Leadbeater's writings about a Master Jesus.

"...we can also estimate the number of Initiates of the 1st and 2nd Degrees (`Stream-entrants' and `Once-returners' according to Buddhism) as being in the many millions..."

--> That sounds right to me.

For anyone interested in more on the steps along the Path to Nirvana, here are two good books.


Annie Besant, The Path of Discipleship (online)
Theosophy : Path of Discipleship by Annie Besant : AnandGholap.net

Annie Besant, The Path of Discipleship (hardcopy).
Quest Books


Krishnamurti (Alcyone), Jiddu, At the Feet of the Master (Online)
Modern Theosophy: At The Feet of the Master, Alcyone

Krishnamurti (Alcyone), Jiddu, At the Feet of the Master (Hardcopy)
Quest Books

[AndrewX]

Lol ... one more "expert opinion" ... tossed in for good measure

woohoo!

naturally, I have my own opinions as to which is the "bunk" - and I didn't arrive at this understanding without meeting a Francis or two in my day, a bananabrain, a Thomas, many a Nick (thank Goodness!), and so on.

Life's like a spiral, and we repeat most lessons until we have mastered them (gee, why are they called `Masters' again???)

I think it becomes evident, sometimes, just how poorly some of us have "mastered" certain lessons - and thus we can thank each other, for being so willing to help each other out.

Thanks Francis, bananabrain, Thomas - I love you guys!

It's all about opportunities for learning & growth ...

~andrew

[Nick the Pilot]

Andrew,

You have mentioned the Steps along the Path to Nirvana. I have started a thread on this topic.

Preparation for the Path to Nirvana

[AndrewX]

Excerpting from an article entitled, "The Rubbish of the Ages " (THEOSOPHY Magazine, Vol. 13, No. 12, October, 1925), I find the following a fitting response to Francis' (and bananabrain's) assertions:

IN closing the first two volumes of her "Secret Doctrine," H.P.B. said that they constituted only a "commencement," a "prelude" for the assistance of the "True Theosophists" to whom her great work is dedicated. "Until," she wrote, "the rubbish of the ages is cleared away from the minds of the Theosophists, it is impossible that the more practical teaching should be understood."

The extent to which any student of "Isis" and "The Secret Doctrine" has accomplished for himself the clearance from his mind of this "rubbish of the ages" is undeniably evident within and without. To what extent have

"science, theology, everyhuman hypothesis and conception born of imperfect knowledge, lost forever their authoritative character in his sight"

as they had in hers and in her Masters? To what extent have the principles, the teachings, the examples and the applications of Theosophy cleared away from the minds of Theosophists the "superstition, prejudice, and conceited ignorance" inherent in human nature -- the mental and moral fruitage of reliance on and obedience to false fundamental views of Life and duty?

Totally differing from any other Philanthropist since the days of Krishna, of Buddha, and of Christ, H.P.B. did precisely as those great Predecessors and Teachers did -- she swept aside the "law and the prophets" -- the Authorities and the false Fundamental views -- of all the sectarians, and redirected the mind of the race to the Eternal Verities. [And though her image still suffers for it to this day ... her true character, her Heart and Soul, are only magnified with every false utterance of her accusers!]

Necessarily her work was both destructive and creative, and such must be the work of the Theosophist in clearing his own mind. There is that in the nature of man which cannot tolerate Falsehood, once it is seen to be falsehood; which reveres as an ideal and emulates in conduct what it esteems to be Truth. It is not too much to affirm that no man can deliberately adopt as a canon of faith, a criterion of morals, a code of ethics, a fundamental basis for thought and action, what he sees and knows to be fundamentally imperfect; or abstain from efforts to clear his mind of rubbish, his nature from bias, once he sees these in himself for what they are.

Masters know what "rubbish of the ages" affects us all, overlays, blinds, stupefies, the inner man, and prevents the God Within from accomplishing his undying task, his immortal destiny through no matter what eons of suffering and defeats. They have become what They are byclearing Their own minds of this rubbish. They know there is no compromise possible between the human and the divine views of the Eternal Verities; They know that "the self of matter and the Self of spirit can never meet. One of the twain must disappear; there is no place for both" in the mind and heart of the True Theosophist.

The Christians thought H.P.B.'s quarrel was with religion. The Scientists thought that her quarrel was with Science. The Spiritualists thought that her quarrel was with their Communications. Not so. She taught true Religion, true Science, true Psychology in one -- Theosophy -- and exemplified all three in her own Person and Work.

Theosophists think they can compromise, in themselves and in their work, by adopting and applying the methods of modern religion, modern science, modern spiritualism, in their Theosophical study and work. They can, and do in all too many instances. This is but to gild and harden the "rubbish of the ages" in themselves and in others -- is but to repeat history, as other Students of other Teachers have done, till human nature prevailed and divine nature was lost to sight.

[AndrewX]

Nick,

I wanted to respond to couple of items from your post the other day, and answer your question about how to "quote" at CR.

Last part first --> In order to quote, first go under User CP on the menu above (in the tab above this one, where Code of Conduct, Members List, etc. are displayed). Click that, and choose Edit Options beneath, then scroll down to the very bottom and make sure that Message Editor Interface is set to: <Enhanced Interface: Full WYSIWYG Editing>. Save changes, and then you should be set.

From now on, you can copy a part from anyone's post, as I'm about to do here in just a sec, and use the `Wrap Quote tags around selected text' button, which will appear in the editing window (above), per message. Or, if you're responding to someone else's post, by hitting Quote instead of Reply, the entire message is Quoted by default. You can slice it up by inserting additional quote tags as desired ...

Originally P