THEOSOPHY
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Theosophy has no dogma, no priesthood
or diploma elite and recognizes no
spiritual head
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for consideration
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An
Outline of Theosophy
By
Charles
Webster Leadbeater
What
Theosophy Does For Us
It must already be obvious to the careful reader how
utterly these Theosophical conceptions change the man’s entire view of life
when he once becomes fully convinced of them ;
and the direction of many of these changes, and the reasons on which
they are based, will have been seen from what has already been written.
We gain from Theosophy a rationalcomprehension of that
life which was before for so many of us a mere unsolved problem – a riddle without
an answer. From it we know why we are here, what we are expected to do, and how
we ought to set to work to do it. We see that, however little life may seem
worth living for the sake of any pleasures or profits belonging exclusively to
the physical plane, it is very emphatically worth living when regarded merely
as a school to prepare us for the indescribable glories and the infinite
possibilities of the higher planes.
In the light of the information which we acquire, we
see not only how to evolve ourselves, but also how to help others to evolve –
how by thought and action to make ourselves most useful, first of all to the
small circle of those most closely associated with us or those whom we
especially love, and then gradually by degrees, as our power increases, to the
entire human race.
By feelings and thoughts such as these we find
ourselves lifted altogether to a higher platform, and we see how narrow and
despicable is the petty and personal thought which has so often occupied us in
the past. We inevitably begin to regard
everything not merely as it affects our infinitesimal selves, but from the
wider standpoint of its influence upon humanity as a whole.
The various troubles and sorrows which come to us are
so often seen out of all proportion because they are so near to us; they seem
to obscure the whole horizon, as a plate held near the eyes will shut out the
sun, so that we often forget that “the heart of being is celestial rest.” But Theosophical teachings brings all these
things into due perspective, and enables us to rise above these clouds, to look
down and see things as they are, and not
merely as they appear when looked at from below by very limited vision.
We learn to sink altogether the lower personality,
with its mass of delusions and prejudices and its inability to see anything
truly; we learn to rise to an impersonal and unselfish standpoint, where to do
right for right’s sake seems to us the only rule of life, and to help our
fellowman the greatest of joys.
For it is a life of joy that now opens before us. As
the man evolves, his sympathy and compassion increase, so that he becomes more
and more sensitive to the sin and sorrow
and suffering of the world.
Yet at the same time he sees more and more clearly the
cause of that suffering, and understands ever more and more fully that, in
spite of it all, all things are working together for the final good of
all. And so there comes to him not only
the deep content and absolute security which is born of the certainty that all
is well, but also the definite and radiant joy derived from the contemplation of the magnificent
plan of the Logos, and of the steady and unfailing success with which that
mighty scheme moves to its appointed end.
He learns that God means us to be happy, and that it
is definitely our duty to be so, in order that we may spread around us
vibrations of happiness upon others, since that is one of the methods by which
we may lighten the sorrow of the world. In ordinary life a great part of the
annoyance which men feel in connection with their various troubles is often
caused by a feeling that they come to them unjustly. A man will say: “Why
should all this come to me? There is my neighbour, who is in no way a better
man than I, yet he does not suffer from sickness, from loss of friends, or loss
of wealth? ; why then should I?”
Theosophy saves its students from this mistake, since
it makes it absolutely clear to them that no undeserved suffering can ever come
to any man. Whatever trouble we may encounter is simply of the nature of a debt
that we have incurred; since it has to be paid, the sooner it is cleared off
the better. Nor is this all; for every trouble is an opportunity for
development. If we bear it
patiently and bravely, not allowing it to crush us,
but meeting it and making the best of it, we thereby evolve within ourselves
the valuable qualities of courage, perseverance, determination; and so out of
the result of our sins of long ago we bring good instead of evil.
As has before been stated, all fear of death is entirely
removed for the Theosophical student, because he understands fully what death
is. He no longer mourns for those who have gone before, because they are still
present with him, and he knows that to give way to selfish grief would be to
cause sadness and depression to them. Since they are very near to him, and
since the sympathy
between them and himself is closer than ever before,
he is well aware that uncontrolled grief in him will assuredly reflect itself
upon them.
Not that Theosophy counsels him to forget the dead; on
the contrary, it encourages him to remember them as often as possible, but
never with selfish sorrow, never with a longing to bring them back to earth,
never with thought of his apparent loss, but only of their great gain. It assures him that a strong loving thought
will be a potent factor in their evolution, and that if he will but think
rightly and reasonably about them he may render them the greatest assistance in
their upward progress.
A careful study of the life of man in the period
between his incarnations shows how small a proportion this physical life bears
to the whole. In the case of the average educated and cultured man, the period
of one life – that is to say of one day in the real life – would average about
fifteen hundred years. Of this period perhaps seventy or eighty years would be
spent in physical life, some fifteen or twenty upon the astral plane, and all
the rest in the heaven-world, which is therefore by very far the most important
part of man’s existence.
Naturally these proportions vary considerably for
different types of men, and when we come to consider the younger souls, born
without opportunity or with disadvantage, we find that these proportions are
entirely changed, for the astral life is likely to be much longer and the
heaven-life much shorter. In the case of the completely undeveloped there is
scarcely any heaven-life at all, because he has not yet developed within
himself the qualities which alone enable the man to attain that life.
The knowledge of all these facts gives a clearness and
certainty to our anticipations of the future which is a welcome relief from the
vagueness and indecision of ordinary thought on these subjects. It would be
impossible for a Theosophist to have any fears about his “salvation”, for he
knows that there is nothing for man to be saved from except his own ignorance,
and he would consider it the grossest blasphemy to doubt that the will of the
Logos will assuredly be fulfilled in the
case of every one of his children.
No vague “eternal hope” is his, but utter certainty,
born of his knowledge of the eternal law. He cannot fear the future, because he
knows the future; so his
only anxiety is to make himself worthy to bear his
part in the mighty work of evolution. It may well be that there is very little
that he can do as yet; yet
there is none but can do something, just where he
stands, in the circle around him, however lowly it may be.
Every man has his opportunities, for every connection
is an opportunity . Every one with whom we are brought into contact is a soul
who may be helped – whether it be a child born into the family, a friend who
comes into our circle, a servant who joins our household – everyone gives in
some way or other an opportunity. It is not for a moment suggested that we
should make ourselves nuisances by thrusting our opinions and ideas upon every
one with whom we come in contact, as the more
ignorant and tactless of our religious friends sometimes do; but we should
be in an attitude of continual readiness to help.
Indeed, we should ever be eagerly watching for an
opportunity to help, either with material aid, so far as that may be within our
power, or with the benefit of our advice or our knowledge, whenever those may
be asked for. Often cases arise in which help by word or deed is impossible for
us; but there can never be a case in which friendly and helpful thought cannot
be poured forth, and none who understands the power of thought will doubt as to
its result, even though it may not be immediately visible upon the physical
plane.
The student of Theosophy should be distinguishable
from the rest of the world by his perennial cheerfulness, his undaunted courage
under difficulties, and his ready sympathy and helpfulness. Assuredly, in spite
of his cheerfulness he will be one who takes life seriously – one who realises
that there is much for each to do in the world, and no time to waste. He will
see the necessity for gaining perfect control of himself and his various
vehicles, because only in that way can he be thoroughly fitted to help others
when the opportunity comes to him.
He will range himself ever on the side of the higher
rather than the lower thought, the nobler rather than the baser; his toleration will be perfect, because he
sees the good in all. He will deliberately take the optimistic rather than the
pessimistic view of everything, the hopeful rather than the cynical, because he
knows that to be always fundamentally the true view – the evil in everything
being necessarily the impermanent part, since in the end only the good can
endure.
Thus he will look ever for the good in everything,
that he may endeavour to strengthen it; he will watch for the working of the
great law of evolution, in order that he may range himself on its side, and
contribute to its energy his tiny stream of force. In this way, by striving always to help, and
never to hinder, he will become, in his
small sphere of influence, one of the beneficent powers of Nature; in however
lowly a manner, at however unthinkable a distance, he is yet a fellow worker
together with God – and that is the highest honour and the greatest privilege
that can ever fall to the lot of man.
For more info on Theosophy
Try these
Cardiff
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This is for everybody not just people in Wales
Theosophy
Cardiff’s Instant Guide to Theosophy
General pages
about Wales, Welsh History
and The History
of Theosophy in Wales
Teosofia en Cardiff (Página en Español)
National Wales Centre for Theosophy
One Liners & Quick Explanations
The Most Basic Theosophy Website in the Universe
If you run a Theosophy Study Group you can use
this as an introductory handout
No Aardvarks were
harmed in the
Includes stuff
about Marlon Brando, Old cars,
Odeon Cinema
Burnley, Heavy Metal, Wales,
Cups of Tea, Mrs
Trellis of North Wales.
The Welsh Goddess
of Spring and Flowers
Article
describing Tekels Park and its much
cherished
wildlife by Theosophist and long
term Tekels Park Resident Madeleine Leslie Smith
The Spiritual Home of Urban Theosophy
The Earth Base for Evolutionary Theosophy
_____________________
Camberley,
Surrey, England GU15 – 2LF
Tekels
Park to be Sold to a Developer
Concerns
are raised about the fate of the wildlife as
The
Spiritual Retreat, Tekels Park in Camberley,
Surrey,
England is to be sold to a developer
Many
feel that the sale of a sanctuary for
wildlife
to a developer
can only mean disaster
Confusion
as the Theoversity moves out of
Tekels
Park to Southampton, Glastonbury &
Chorley
in Lancashire while the leadership claim
that
the Theosophical Society will carry on using
Tekels Park despite its sale to a developer
Theosophy talks of a compassionate attitude
to
animals and the sale of the Tekels Park
sanctuary
for wildlife to a developer has
Future
of Tekels Park Badgers in Doubt
Tekels Park & the Loch
Ness Monster
A Satirical view of the
sale of Tekels Park
in Camberley, Surrey to
a developer
The Toff’s Guide to the Sale of Tekels Park
What the men in top hats have to say about the
sale of Tekels Park to a developer. It doesn’t
require a Diploma in Finance or indeed a
Diploma in Anything to realize that this is a
bad time economically to sell Tekels Park
Party On! Tekels Park Theosophy NOT
St Francis Church at Tekels Park
____________________
Classic Introductory Theosophy Text
A Text Book of Theosophy By C
What Theosophy Is From the Absolute to Man
The Formation of a Solar System The Evolution of Life
The Constitution of Man After Death Reincarnation
The Purpose of Life The Planetary Chains
The Result of Theosophical Study
An Outstanding
Introduction to Theosophy
By a student of
Katherine Tingley
Elementary Theosophy Who is the Man? Body and Soul
Body, Soul and Spirit Reincarnation Karma
Preface to the American Edition Introduction
Occultism and its Adepts The Theosophical Society
First Occult Experiences Teachings of Occult Philosophy
Later Occult Phenomena Appendix
Preface
Theosophy and the Masters General Principles
The Earth Chain Body and Astral Body Kama – Desire
Manas Of Reincarnation Reincarnation Continued
Karma Kama Loka
Devachan
Cycles
Arguments Supporting Reincarnation
Differentiation Of Species Missing Links
Psychic Laws, Forces, and Phenomena
Psychic Phenomena and Spiritualism
Quick Explanations
with Links to More Detailed Info
What is Theosophy ? Theosophy Defined (More Detail)
Three Fundamental Propositions Key Concepts of Theosophy
Cosmogenesis Anthropogenesis Root Races
Ascended Masters After Death States
The Seven Principles of Man Karma
Reincarnation Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
Colonel Henry Steel Olcott William Quan Judge
The Start of the Theosophical
Society
History of the Theosophical
Society
Theosophical Society Presidents
History of the Theosophical
Society in Wales
The Three Objectives of the
Theosophical Society
Explanation of the Theosophical
Society Emblem
The Theosophical Order of
Service (TOS)
Glossaries of Theosophical Terms
by
Annie
Besant
THE BUDDHIC AND NIRVANIC PLANES
______________________
Annie Besant Visits Cardiff 1924
Karma Fundamental Principles Laws: Natural and Man-Made The Law of Laws
The Eternal Now
Succession
Causation The Laws of Nature A Lesson of The Law
Karma Does Not Crush Apply This Law
Man in The Three Worlds Understand The Truth
Man and His Surroundings The Three Fates
The Pair of Triplets Thought, The Builder
Practical Meditation Will and Desire
The Mastery of Desire Two Other Points
The Third Thread Perfect Justice
Our Environment
Our Kith and Kin Our Nation
The Light for a Good Man Knowledge of Law The Opposing Schools
The More Modern View Self-Examination Out of the Past
Old Friendships
We Grow By Giving Collective Karma Family Karma
National Karma
India’s Karma
National Disasters
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General pages
about Wales, Welsh History
and The History
of Theosophy in Wales
The hut circles of
the ancient settlement in Porthdafarch,
which is believed to date back 4000 years
Porth Dafarch is on the coast road between Treaddur Bay and Holyhead.
Holyhead is on Holy
Island off the north west of the Island of Anglesey
which is off the
North Wales Coast
Off Holy Island
about 3 miles from Holyhead
Wales is a
Principality within the United Kingdom
and has an eastern border
with England. The land
area is just over
8,000 square miles. Snowdon in
North Wales is the
highest mountain at 3,650 feet.
The coastline is
almost 750 miles long. The population
of Wales as at the
2001 census is 2,946,200.
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