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Post by generatics on Aug 12, 2009 7:45:17 GMT
I'm just checking it out lately and scraping the surface, enjoying some of what I'm finding. That said, most of what I'm enjoying are things I've already been introduced to elsewhere. Are there some major stand-out points that are unique to Theosophy that I should be hip to? Any must-read primers to recommend? Cheers.
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Post by leonardo on Aug 12, 2009 9:02:38 GMT
It is an interesting subject, Theosophy. I found a lot of information on this website: www.ts-adyar.org
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Post by magusmasonica on Aug 12, 2009 16:26:44 GMT
I enjoy Theosophy very much. My wife is very into it.
Theosophy is IMHO an excellent "think tank." Lots of really bright people who are not afraid to have differing opinions and points of view. In fact they tend to embrace that and I like that very much.
Theosophy is not a stand alone mystery tradition however. There isn't anything deeply unique about it. So, if that is what you are looking for Theosophy isn't it.
Love and Light,
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Post by lauderdale on Aug 12, 2009 16:54:51 GMT
Theosophy, Le Droit Humain and the Liberal Catholic Church do have quite a few people who are members of all three. The history of all three bodies has a great deal in common.
For my part I am a brother in LDH and a member of the LCC but not a Theosophist. I am put off of it by two matters. I like an alcoholic drink in moderation from time to time and I also could never be a vegetarian as I enjoy eating meat and do not like fruit or vegetables. One of my Craft Lodges meets at premises owned by the Theosophists. It is a lovely building set in a beautiful setting resolent with spiritual energy. However the consumption of alcoholic drinks and meat is forbidden therein which makes the Festive Board of the Lodge a very flat affair indeed for me, but I do respect the wishes of the owners of the premises in which it is held. As I cannot eat a great deal of what is provided I have a biscuit and a soft drink or a cup of coffee and then have a proper meal in a pub or restaurant thereafter with any Brethren who care to join me. Of course that meal will definitely contain meat, at least my choice will, and I will have a drink of wine or possibly lager or cider with same.
I have no antipathy to Theosophy but my religious and ethical beliefs are such that I consider that humanity can eat any of the products of the Earth, be that meat, poultry, fish, and can in moderation drink alcoholic beverages. That being the case any religion or philosophy which forbade me to eat any food or drink I wished to consume is out of the question as far as I am concerned and is thus a non-starter for me. My attitude to the prohibitions of others can be encapsulated in this little phrase, "I will happily show you the way to the local Mosque as soon as I have eaten my pork pie and drank my glass of wine".
My best regards to Theosophists but I do not think it is a path I would wish to follow.
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Post by leonardo on Aug 12, 2009 18:18:06 GMT
So, Bro. Steve, you'd hardly consider becoming a Theravada monk ;d
On a serious note. I too know many in Freemasonry, LDH and other branches of the Craft, who are extremely fond of their involvement in TS, in fact, I have given serious thought to getting more involved my self, and may well do in time. But at present I don't have the time. I am one of those people who won't get into anything unless I feel I have enough time to do so.
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Post by magusmasonica on Aug 12, 2009 18:46:34 GMT
Bro.Steve, Those things that you mentioned where also an intial turnoff to Theosophy for myself. What I have found in Theosophy however is that no single practice or point is a central dogma of Theosophy because Theosophy has no such things.
Theosophy is not a system. It has no "landmarks" or any real distinguishing features. It really is only a think tank.
Trust me when I tell you that I am very "European" when it comes to my views of consumption of adult beverages. I am also the biggest carnivore you have ever met. It brings me great joy to go to the meat market. My wife has no use for drink, but she eats meet. We are both Theosophical Society members.
Love and Light,
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Post by generatics on Aug 12, 2009 22:33:54 GMT
ha! hysterical. meat and booze were two of the very things that made me say "huh?". not that i enjoy either in excess, but don't come between me and a nice juicy steak with red wine.
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Post by maat on Aug 13, 2009 0:39:38 GMT
Generatics, let not a steak and a whole vat of red wine come between you and theosophy. I was a full fee paying member of theosophy for 30 years, dietary restrictions only come into it if you are invited to join the 'inner circle'. Although I was invited on many occasions to give lectures to members and the public, I never was invited to join the inner sanctum - I rather think that it was because I did come to some meetings smelling like a BBQ (damned smoke) and I used to joke about drinking too much red wine. The Theosophical library in my home city is one of the most fabulous and exciting places on earth ... I found so many precious keys in that place. Even though I no longer attend members meetings (they got a bit boring going round in circles) I still maintain my library membership. I do believe that there is an advantage to being vegetarian and alcohol free, I have gotten to the stage where I am really starting to empathise with the sentient beings that I am eating. That is still being counterbalanced with the long tradition/habit of meat eating at meal times. And when it all gets too hard I have another red I have a ways to go... but theosophical books and interests have given me a head start, and I shall always be grateful for their great influence on my life. Maat
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Post by generatics on Aug 13, 2009 5:56:11 GMT
haha nice! i'm exploring a bit further. starting with the Leadbeater writings, i always enjoy reading him. his personal behavior may be a matter of debate but as an esoteric thinker and writer he's one of my faves. working through An Outline of Theosophy right now. me likey.
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Post by magusmasonica on Aug 13, 2009 6:20:49 GMT
haha nice! i'm exploring a bit further. starting with the Leadbeater writings, i always enjoy reading him. his personal behavior may be a matter of debate but as an esoteric thinker and writer he's one of my faves. working through An Outline of Theosophy right now. me likey. I love Leadbeater to. ;D Have you dove into Blavatsky yet? Love and Light,
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Post by maat on Aug 13, 2009 6:56:36 GMT
I am very fond of Leadbeater myself. He helped establish some of the lodges/chapters of which I am a member and we are fortunate enough to have his thurible in our charge. I love using it.
Geoffrey Hodson was another very likeable and knowledgeable theosophist and mason. You may find some of his writings (freebies) by Googling. They are at the Liberal Catholic church site.
Maat
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Post by JulesTheBit on Aug 13, 2009 14:55:00 GMT
Architekt When you cut and pasted your post from another site you missed the last sentence of the item. Some might find interesting. "An active exponent of theosophy in Europe, America, and the East was Annie Besant Besant, Annie (bĕz`ant), 1847–1933, English social reformer and theosophist, b. Annie Wood." From encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/theosophyRegards, Jules
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Post by lauderdale on Aug 13, 2009 22:08:23 GMT
You don't like Annie Bessant do you Architekt? A pity as she did a lot of good for the poor and underprivileged such as the Match Girls who suffered from Phossie Jaw owing to their work. She would not be the first person either who came from a relatively comfortable and conventional background but who in the light of experience changed her viewpoint
Now let me think, I could in return mention ....edited out by the writer in the interest of Harmony.
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Post by maat on Aug 14, 2009 0:35:24 GMT
Not to mention that she was instrumental in introducing women to freemasonry. Long live Annie I say!! ! Anecdotally, I heard that she used to empty her bank account at the end of each year and give it all to the poor. If you are interested in theosophical writings... here, have a field day.... Freebies galore... whole books. Check out "Occult Chemistry"... I love it. That one was a Besant/Leadbeater collaboration, them both being clairvoyant. www.austheos.org.au/clibrary/bindex-besant.html Cheers Maat
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Post by generatics on Aug 14, 2009 1:25:27 GMT
Not to mention that she was instrumental in introducing women to freemasonry. Long live Annie I say!! ! Anecdotally, I heard that she used to empty her bank account at the end of each year and give it all to the poor. If you are interested in theosophical writings... here, have a field day.... Freebies galore... whole books. Check out "Occult Chemistry"... I love it. That one was a Besant/Leadbeater collaboration, them both being clairvoyant. www.austheos.org.au/clibrary/bindex-besant.html Cheers Maat oooh thanks lady! this is awesome. best part is they are readable on my iPhone, unlike the versions i have now which are PDFs of scanned pages from the originals. very clumsy. these are just great.
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Post by JulesTheBit on Aug 14, 2009 9:53:04 GMT
It is not correct that I do not like A B. I believe she had a difficult life and focused her energy on social reform to take her mind off personal matters..... An interesting analysis. Personally I prefer to think that hew own experiences highlighted the need for social reform and far from "taking her mind off it" she was driven by her own early experience. It was by reading Annie's history that I first became intererested in Theosophy myself. I wonder why you cut the last sentence off that article when you re-posted it. It's certainly relevant. Jules
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Post by JulesTheBit on Aug 14, 2009 15:41:52 GMT
Hmmmmm
Maybe you'd like to post a link to the source instead of pasting most of its contents without attribution. That way people can read the uneditted original and make up their own mind.
If you're going to edit entries from encyclopaedias you should say you have done so and explain why you did it.
The stuff you post about Annie B is hardly complimentary.
Jules
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Post by maximus on Aug 14, 2009 15:50:31 GMT
I wonder why you cut the last sentence off that article when you re-posted it. It's certainly relevant. Simply because most on this forum already know who A B is and her connection with the T S and Co-M. The original question was not about A B. Conversely, there are non-Masons reading these posts who likely would benefit from more information.
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Post by JulesTheBit on Aug 15, 2009 10:22:11 GMT
Theosophy in pop music:
From Blondie's (I'm always touched by your) Presence Dear - 1977/1978
We could navigate together,psychic frequencies. Coming into contact with outer entities. We could entertain each one with our theosophies.
Written by the band's original bass player just before he left, which explains why subsequent Blondie material went in a different direction. From the rest of their output Chris Stein doesn't appear to have much in the way of Theosophical interest.
Also notably recorded by Annie Lennox whose strong humanitarian views might touch on Theosophy.
S&F, Jules
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Post by JulesTheBit on Aug 15, 2009 10:47:50 GMT
There are lots of good Theosophy websites around. For a basic introduction try this one: www.tscardifflodge.12freeukisp.co.uk/ or www.davemarsland.care4free.netAs you will see, it's really very difficult to read about the history and development of Theosophy without considering the involvement and contributions of Annie Besant. S&F, Jules Watching Blondie's Old Grey Whistle Test performance of ....... Presence Dear - superb
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