What is Theosophy?

[Nabil Naser]

I invite everyone to answer the question

I see theosophy as our human attempt to reconcile science and religion.
Science is a great word that tries to explain reality, its origin, and evolution

What do you think?

Love and Peace
Nabil

[Nabil Naser]

Now, lets get back to the question, what is theosophy?

Theosophy is a new term
It is not THEOlogy although it discusses religion and scripture of many parts of the world.
It is not philoSOPHY either, because it discusses and considers ideas that do not always appear logical.

So, how can we define it?
Does it help any to do so?

L&P
NN

[Danelys Valcarcel Cuellar]

Dear brother,
The main object of my recent visit to Olcott on 4/11/09, was to attend to a class held by Pablo D. Sender on “What is Theosophy?”(this is part of the Theosophical Saturdays study group on Saturdays at Olcott Library). He also discussed a diagram about the Roots of Theosophy. I have shared these two studies with all of you in my past discussion “My visit to Olcott”. Who ever is interested in a serious and profound study of what “Theosophy” embrace, please go to my discussion and see the attached files for more information. I hope it enlighten you all as much as it did to me.

Nevertheless I would like to share a quotation, that some time ago our brother Anandji requested me to bring to a discussion, and I think this is a very appropriate
Time to do so:

“He who does not practice altruism; he who is not prepared to share his last morsel with a weaker or poorer than himself; he who neglects to help his brother man, of whatever race, nation, or creed, whenever and wherever he meets suffering, and who turns a deaf ear to the cry of human misery; he who hears and innocent person slandered, whether a brother theosophist or not, and does not undertake his defense as he would undertake his own- is no Theosophist.” H.P.B. Luc., Nov., 1887.

And here is another one:

“True Occultism or Theosophy is the “Great Renunciation of Self,” unconditionally and absolutely, in thought as in action. It is Altruism, and it throws him who practises it out of calculation of the ranks of the living altogether. “Not for himself, but for the world he lives,” as soon as he has pledge himself to the work… he has to become a mere beneficent force in Nature.” Pr. Occ., 36.

Let us meditate on the wisdom and beauty of these two quotations. Please visit:

http://pasender.tripod.com/

S.D.

[Nabil Naser]

While these are beautiful words, they define the theosophist and not theosophy. And there is a great difference.

[Danelys Valcarcel Cuellar]

It is very difficult to define Theosophy without Man not been involved. These two words Theosophy and Theosophist are directly related. You can’t talk about one without the existence of the other. I hope you get the opportunity of going through the links I have given in my discussion, which are very self explanatory. If I have brought this quotations about was for an extreme important reason. I think we have got to the very point in which these teachings have to be rescued and redirected towards their original and real object. There won’t be a truthful comprehension of this term unless until we are able to define it on our own, based upon our own Wisdom (Divine Wisdom) and spiritual growth, acquired through a “religious” and altruistic life, (service and sacrifice for Evolution are completely involved), which is what the immense majority of us are not able to perform since it implies enormous amount of pain and renunciation.
Some perhaps will be able to understand this partly through intellect but the journey is way beyond intellect as you well know.

Yours fraternally,

S.D.

[Jon Knebel]

In The Key to Theosophy HPB writes "Theosophist is who Theosophy does."

Namaste, Jon

[Nabil Naser]

That does not mean that theosophy and theosophist are one and the same. Theosophists come from all walks of life and with various background to study Theosophy. They are not theosophy. That should be obvious, I would think.

Nabil

[Danelys Valcarcel Cuellar]

Namaste,
S.D.

[Dr.Himabind]

What is ETHEISM? Etheism is the principle based, that there is no god! Exactly opposite to Etheism is THEISM. Theism is based on the principle God is there!
When you add a discussion of Philospohy (Theism + Philosophy) into Theism it is called THEOSOPHY.
Master Maitreya is the 1st Master who showed interest in forming Theosophical society. When Madam Blavatsky is in Tibet she found about Master Maitreya. In Tibet Boudhists feel/believe Buddha is a form
of Master Maitreya.
(Words taken from the writings of Master Sarvari from his book Invisible Worlds)
- Dr.Himabind

[Konstantin Zaitzev]

> Who is Master Sarvari?

And are his works available online?

[Dr.Himabind]

I think we should not add religion to Theosophy. Religion is created by Man. Religion is a very confusing subject. May be some extent it may help for the physical security, but not more than this. Every religion says their's religion is great. If we want to be spiritual we have to break the walls of religion. We are stopped at a certain point in the religion. Its just like locked in between the four walls.
How does science believes in Theosophy? In Theosphy we do our work in the astral world. Does science believe this? For example the Doctors treat a diseased person on the physical body. But, in Theosophy we treat the diseased on the astral body. It is said any disease first notices in the astral body, at which in the next 6 monts it transforms to the physical body! How can we give the proof for the science about this!
I think science is science and Theosophy is Theosophy.

[Carmen]

i think the same religion is created by man for man ..

[Nick the Pilot]

Hi everybody!

Here are my rambling and disorganized notes from Dr. David Roef's presentation at the Petaluma, California 2007 ULT Summer Conference.

WHERE'S THE PROOF? A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF SCIENCE AND OCCULT SCIENCE

"Outside of Initiation, no knowledge of esotericism is possible, and all is speculation" — HPB

"One cannot be a professor of Theosophy. one can only be a student of Theosophy, because Theosophy is life, and we cannot study life, we can only live life."

"There is no conflict between true occultism and true science" — SD

"Science cannot reveal the truth of the nature of the universe" — HPB

"Science is our greatest ally" — Mahatma Letters

"Science theorizes about phenomena, occultism deals with metaphysical data."

"We must change our consciousness as well as our senses."

"Integral wholeness must include science."

"Science cannot tell us the why of phenomena." — HPB They cannot. We should demand such a thing. Something must change first.

Our differences are: Science develops through the intellect and instruments, occultism asks us to use the real Ego.

A stupid, arrogant person who develops psychic powers is still stupid and arrogant.

Science is to think about it. Philosophy is to feel about about it. Religion is to know about it. The understand is to transcend all three. Theosophy is the synthesis of all three.

Definition of esoteric and exoteric science: There are different approaches to different levels of reality. For example, meta-archeology focuses on an esoteric topic -- it deals with another reality. (How many realities are there...?)

Reality is graded into Planes. The higher transcends the lower, but is not separate. Atman expresses itself in Buddhi. Buddhi expresses itself in Manas. As aspect of it embodies itself into a body. We learn we have a physical body by first-hand experience. 1+1=2 is not a physical truth, it is a mathematical truth, it is an empirical truth. We have to think about whether 1+1=2 is true. We do not think about whether it is raining outside: we just go out and see it.

Higher is not the effect of, but the source of the lower. (This is downward not upward reality.) Therefore, the soul-mind is the source of the physical body, not vice-verse. A part of the higher "emanates" into the lower. The higher is the noumenum or cause of the lower. The higher transcends and includes the lower.

Is our consciousness in our bodies, or our bodies in our consciousness? Most people say the first, yet Theosophy says the second. The soul envelopes the body, and is present within it.

Evolution is to give birth to things already present in a body. Each thing emanates from something higher. Is a mineral the sum of a vegetable? No. What else does a vegetable have?

Lower Manas must die, to give birth to higher Manas.

Spirit"
- Atma
- Buddhi
- Manas

Soul
- Lower Manas
- Kama (desire)

Body
- energetic
- astral
- physical

Vidya (Knowledge) = Spirit
- Atma-vidya: knowledge of life
- Gupta-vidya: secret wisdom = theosophic = gnosis

Soul + Body = Avidya: ignorance

Psychologists with only the physical senses are only behaviorists. Gurus in caves know nothing of science. They will say something like, "The Earth is resting on the back of a turtle." We must respect each level. But are these spiritual facts?

Adepts use the various vidyas to examine things in various ways.

* Reductionism = Nothing-but-ism. All has collapsed to one level, the material level. Y is reducible to X: Only X is real. For example, Mental is reducible to the brain: Only the brain is real (is what scientists say).

* What is real? Science says only that which is spacial and temporal is real. But aren't thoughts real? Isn't suffering real? Isn't joy real?

A mind only has thoughts, feelings, fears, etc. A mind cannot see objective objects.

* The Scientific Method. It brought rationality into the world. Reason triumphed over superstition. But the first victory was empiricism not rationality. Using pure logic: An object that is twice as heavy will fall twice as fast. Logical truth was a rationalized argument. The rationally argued there is a God. Does a heavier object fall faster? It makes sense, but let's prove it. Science goes beyond logic. Science has delivered us from empiricism.

Galileo told the church leaders to look through his telescope, and they said no. The idea that the Earth went around the Sun didn't make sense.

* What is proof? Do not confuse different levels. Do not use biology to explain spirituality. Each level has its only proof. You can only use geometry to discuss Pythagorean's Theory.

* Scientific: (1) Try it. (2) I see it. (3) I can confirm it by sharing it with others and see if they agree.

* What is Theosophy? An uninterrupted story of experiences over the centuries handed down. All is investigated and confirmed. No vision of an Adept was accepted until confirmed.

There are different realities. One cannot explain another. Reductionism will continue. Anything of the higher appears as a footprint in the lower. One day we will see the beast which has left its footprints.

Theosophy is not an ~ism. Man originated with true knowledge. Religion, philosophy, and science are one with Theosophy.