Currently I have been reviewing a book which I helped proofread in manuscript form, when its title was "Altruism". Although it seemed at the time like a syllabus, now the compiler has so modified the text as to become a beautiful sourcebook for quotes from both Eastern and Western Literature on Compassion. A thread runs through it which draws upon the author's background both as a Theosophist and as a medical doctor who knows Greek and Latin epics, poetry and essays in their original sources. Dr. Bartzokas is a Greek physician, residing in Wales, who was a good friend of Geoffrey Farthing in England. Enquiries about the book may be sent to
philaletheians@yahoo.co.ukMy review may appear in
Theosophy World, the online journal.
Is the title still "Altruism"? (I have not heard of the book, but it sounds interesting, with its quotes on compassion.
Let us know if and when your review appears in the Theosophy World:
http://www.theos-world.com/archives/text.html | QUOTE (Nick @ Oct 16 2005, 04:26 PM) |
| Is the title still "Altruism"? |
No, the title is given in the topic title.
OK, I got it: Compassion: The Truth at the Heart of our Universe. I did not see it in that bright blue band at the top of the thread....
I'd publish a review in my newsletter
Lucifer7 as well.
kh7,
It sounds like Dara has a review already written. Would you like to ask her for the review, and post it on your site?
| QUOTE (kh7 @ Oct 17 2005, 12:22 AM) |
| I'd publish a review in my newsletter Lucifer7 as well. |
Katinka,
I emailed Dara's review to you this morning.
Yes, Thanks :D It will be published in the issue for November.
Katinka
I wrote to the e-mail address above. Here is the response I got:
~~~
May 2005
Announcing the publication of an anthology on
Divine compassion and sacrifice, or the Law of the laws.
Title Compassion: The truth at the heart of our universe
Subtitle Compassion, Sacrifice, and Higher Ethics in the Bhagavad
Gita, Narada’s Bhakti-Sutras, Voice of the Silence, and other
mystical texts, viewed through the prism of Theosophy
Series Integrative Theosophical Studies
Compiled & edited by Dr CA Bartzokas, MD
ISBN 0 9550400 0 0 hardback
Pages, size & weight 356 pp | 297 x 210 mm (A4 portrait format) | 1645 gm
Published & distributed by The Philaletheians
Ty Ucha
Hafod Road
Gwernymynydd
Mold CH7 5JS
United Kingdom
++ 44 (0) 1352 755 195
philaletheians@yahoo.co.uk
Price £20 (EUR 32 | USD 38)
UK postage Special next day delivery £8 | Standard parcel service £6
European postage Air mail £10 (EUR 16)
Worldwide postage Air mail £20 (USD 38) | Surface £10 (USD 19)
Payments Sterling cheques drawn on a UK-based bank account only,
payable to ‘CA Bartzokas.’ IBAN for electronic credit available
upon request.
ISBN 0 9550400 1 9 e-Book
Will be available upon request November 2005.
Price Free of charge. A 2.5 MB version in PDF can be emailed as
attachment or sent by post.
~~~
About the author
Christos A Bartzokas was born in Athens, Greece, 13th November 1947. He was educated at a state Gymnasium and the Medical School, University of Athens.
Following postgraduate training in Liverpool, England, he was appointed Senior Lecturer and NHS Consultant in Clinical Microbiology & Infection Prevention at Liverpool University and Royal Liverpool Hospital (1978); Clatterbridge Hospital (1986). He has published numerous research articles, chapters, and books.
He has always been interested in the fundamental principles of life. As an undergraduate, he became acquainted with Masonry and Theosophy. In his thirties, he studied comparative religion and philosophy. In his forties, his earlier attraction to Theosophy was rekindled. With mind applied to the works of HP Blavatsky and WQ Judge, he elected to retire from medicine (1998) in order to pursue these, as well as his long-standing interests in higher ethics and the welfare of humanity, full-time. He has since developed advanced courses for theosophists and independent thinkers on the Secret Doctrine, Mysticism, and Moral Excellence (2001). He travels extensively giving lectures and seminars to various philosophical groups.
In 2005, he founded the Philaletheians, a company of kindred souls who seek to reaffirm the eternal verities in today’s world.
He is associated with several humanistic organisations and supports individuals in their studies in the UK and abroad.
~~~
About the book
Two generations after HP Blavatsky integrated the world’s sciences, religions and philosophies, eclectic thinkers are still in the process of assimilating her voluminous output. Altruism, however, the intelligent application of universal truths in everyday life, is not instantly recognisable in The Secret Doctrine, which is the epitome of Theosophy itself. And conversely, its metaphysical basis is explained neither in devotional texts like the Bhagavad Gita and Narada Bhakti-Sutras, nor in esoteric instruction manuals like The Voice of the Silence and Light on the Path. By bringing together ethics and metaphysics from innermost streams of higher knowledge, this study aims to demonstrate that the assertion in its title is not a mere figure of speech: Compassion is the Truth at the heart of our universe.
Two broad areas of uncertainty have prompted a closer look at the deeper meanings of Compassion, Sacrifice, and Higher Ethics:
1 Although Universal Brotherhood is ontologically implied within the all-embracing
concepts of the first proposition of The Secret Doctrine, its ethical implications are not immediately apparent. And even though in The Voice of the Silence Compassion is referred to as “the Law of Laws,” this pivotal notion has not been linked with Law in the second proposition either. In Chapter 4, the unravelling of two enigmatic sutras in the Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavata-Puraõa, will demonstrate that (a) hidden between the cosmogenesis of the first and the anthropogenesis of the third, Compassion governs Universe and Man; and that (b ) yuga-cycles, the theme of the second proposition of The Secret Doctrine, is one of three facets of Deity or Law—the other two being karma action and yajña-compassion / sacrifice.
2 As the Upanishads, Gautama Buddha, and Saükaracharya are said to be the Lights of Eastern Wisdom, so The Voice of the Silence, Bhagavad Gita, and Light on the Path are its jewels. Having perceived that a common thread runs through the latter triplet, intuitive students often wonder how exactly these texts relate to each other and to the teachings of HP Blavatsky. Are they complementary variations of the same theme, or are they mere elaborations of different aspects of esoteric philosophy? Is there an underlying concordance linking them with the premises of Theosophy? Though unselfish action is the dominant theme in the Bhagavad Gita, its philosophical basis is alluded to here and there but not adequately explained. It is only when Lord Kçishõa’s precepts are matched with The Secret Doctrine’s eternal verities (Chapter 2), that they all come into being. Further, when Narada’s aphorisms on divine love were compared with those advocated in the Gita (Chapter 5), a remarkable concordance emerged. And, finally, when the “still small voices” of The Voice of the Silence and Light on the Path were compared (Chapter 7), these priceless little books, too, seem to speak with one Voice, the VOICE OF THE GREAT SACRIFICE.
Compassion is first and foremost an anthology of excerpts and quotations from the world’s greatest works and teachers, viewed through the prism of Occultism. Its objectives are twofold:
To bring forth the innermost essence of Compassion and Sacrifice so that their primacy, and that of Altruism, is appreciated—both in esoteric and in practical, everyday, terms.
To demonstrate that, like the sutratman of the Vedanta philosophy, true philanthropy is the connecting thread between Mysticism, Occultism, and the Heart of Being.
Although not aimed at Buddhists, Hindus or secular students of Oriental philosophy, who may not be acquainted with the Esoteric Science, they, too, may derive benefit and inspiration. But devotees to the Cause of Theosophy and to the Founders of the modern Theosophical Movement are likely to appreciate this effort most.
For those who may not be thoroughly acquainted with specialist terms, preparatory
compilations have been provided on:
• Five keywords, i.e., Christos, Desire, Duty, God, Love, Man (Preface).
• Four key metaphysical concepts, i.e., Parabrahman, Mulaprakçiti, Logos, Fohat (Chapter
1).
• A correlation of the Bhagavad Gita’s metaphysical allusions with the fundamental
propositions of The Secret Doctrine (Chapter 2).
• Arguments that “Deity is Law and vice versa” (Chapter 3), preparatory to Chapter 4.
• Excerpts on Avatars, “Our Watchers and Guardians” (Chapter 6), preparatory to Chapter
7.
The book also features Tips for Pilgrims (Chapter 8), being compilations on Illusion, Faith, Experience, Imagination and Devotion, followed by eight essays on personal development.
There are 11 Appendices; 1341 annotations and references.
totally off-topic:
Nicholas - Do you look like G. de purucker - or is your avatar a tribute to him? ;)
While I'm off-topic I might as well do a suggestion I've caried around for a few weeks: most good e-mail forums deteriorate because informal comments and jokes start interfering with the serious conversation.
On a forum of this type this is very easily solved by creating an informal sub-forum. These usually have joke names - I'd suggest theosophical cafe or Helen's Bar or something like that...
Katinka: "Nicholas - Do you look like G. de purucker - or is your avatar a tribute to him?"
The latter.
Re: your suggestion to reduce degeneration - considering this group is so sleepy as to presently lack generation, no need to worry yet about too much levity.
But that is up to Nick, our Admin.
Katinka,
We have a section called "Chit-Chat and Miscellaneous". Is that what you are looking for?