Would this be an in-depth study of "The Voice of the Silence" and/or other Theosophical/religious classics? How would this differ from studying the Vedas, Upanishads, Tao Te Ching, etc., or would it include them?

Hi everybody!

I thought this was an interesting topic, so I gave it its own thread.

Bupanishad,

One of the key teachings in Theosophy is that all Paths lead to the same Goal. A devout Christian is making progress as well as a devout Buddhist, or a devout Hindu. We need to see how all of these different Paths are ways of making progress.

"The Voice of the Silence", Theosophical/religious classics, the Vedas, Upanishads, Tao Te Ching, etc., are all excellent sources, and we can benefit from seeing how they all lead us to faster progress along the Path. Which of these have you found beneficial?

My immediate impulse would be to say the "Thirteen Priciple Upanishads," but that's just a preference. I rely on the "Heart Sutra" and "Diamond (Cutter) Sutra" a lot, too.

Bupanishad,

Those are good sources. Would you be interested in an in-depth study of The Voice of the Silence?

That has real possibilities, I think! HPB epitomized a great deal of the other information into that small, but powerful, volume.

P.S. Might add that while I am an enthusiast, I am an INTJ and therefore, not a very good organizer. Too introverted. I would love to take part in the discussions, though.

Bupanishad,

The Key to Theosophy is a discussion between Blavatsky and a person asking questions. At times, it seems to turn into a discussion between Christianity and non-Christianity. Perhaps it was meant as a book to help explain Theosophy to Christians. Do you see it that way?

[I answered this, but it hung up on me!]
The "Key" gives Christianity a lot of latitude to question our beliefs (intuitions). I like, especially, HPB's Introduction to book two of "Isis." She understood the real nature of, for instance, Mormonism than any others did in her time. Her brilliance shines in all her works!

Isis Unveiled

PREFACE TO PART II

“WERE it possible, we would keep this work out of the hands of many Christians whom its perusal would not benefit, and for whom it was not written. We allude to those whose faith in their respective churches is pure and sincere, and those whose sinless lives reflect the glorious example of that Prophet of Nazareth, by whose mouth the spirit of truth spake loudly to humanity. Such there have been at all times. History preserves the names of many as heroes, philosophers, philanthropists, martyrs, and holy men and women; but how many more have lived and died, unknown but to their intimate acquaintance, unblessed but by their humble beneficiaries! These have ennobled Christianity, but would have shed the same lustre upon any other faith they might have professed -- for they were higher than their creed. The benevolence of Peter Cooper and Elizabeth Thompson, of America, who are not orthodox Christians, is no less Christ-like than that of the Baroness Angela Burdett-Coutts, of England, who is one. And yet, in comparison with the millions who have been accounted Christians, such have always formed a small minority. They are to be found at this day, in pulpit and pew, in palace and cottage; but the increasing materialism, worldliness and hypocrisy are fast diminishing their proportionate number. Their charity, and simple, child-like faith in the infallibility of their Bible, their dogmas, and their clergy, bring into full activity all the virtues that are implanted in our common nature. We have personally known such God-fearing priests and clergymen, and we have always avoided debate with them, lest we might be guilty of the cruelty of hurting their feelings; nor would we rob a single layman of his blind confidence, if it alone made possible for him holy living and serene dying.

“An analysis of religious beliefs in general, this volume is in particular directed against theological Christianity, the chief opponent of free thought. It contains not one word against the pure teachings of Jesus, but unsparingly denounces their debasement into pernicious ecclesiastical systems that are ruinous to man's faith in his immortality and his God, and subversive of all moral restraint.

“We cast our gauntlet at the dogmatic theologians who would enslave both history and science; and especially at the Vatican, whose despotic pretensions have become hateful to the greater portion of enlightened Christendom. The clergy apart, none but the logician, the investigator, the dauntless explorer should meddle with books like this. Such delvers after truth have the courage of their opinions.”

http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/isis/i...-c.htm#contents

Sorry, from Chapter 1:
"A man at Salt Lake City, with nineteen wives and more than one hundred children and grandchildren, is the supreme spiritual ruler over ninety thousand people, who believe that he is in frequent intercourse with the gods -- for the Mormons are Polytheists as well as Polygamists, and their chief god is represented as living in a planet they call Colob. "

In the service work that I do, I work with groups from several Christian Churches, and this passage describes them well. I am glad to serve with them. They are not your typical Sunday morning Christians.

Jon,

"History preserves the names of many as heroes, philosophers, philanthropists, martyrs, and holy men and women; but how many more have lived and died, unknown but to their intimate acquaintance, unblessed but by their humble beneficiaries! These have ennobled Christianity, but would have shed the same lustre upon any other faith they might have professed -- for they were higher than their creed." -- Isis Unveiled

"...this volume ... contains not one word against the pure teachings of Jesus, but unsparingly denounces their debasement into pernicious ecclesiastical systems that are ruinous to man's faith.... We cast our gauntlet at the dogmatic theologians who would enslave both history and science ... whose despotic pretensions have become hateful to the greater portion of enlightened Christendom." -- Isis Unveiled

--> Here we have the full spectrum of opinions on Christianity. Some Christians have been the most selfless of any religious group. And some Christian leaders have been downright disgusting.

Such a good-bad spectrum can be found in many of today's religions. We can only hope that Theosophy is hoping to show all religions a way to get in touch with what our Creators intended us to be.

Bupanishad,

I find the polytheism of Mormonism fascinating. (I didn't know they were polytheists.) Remember, our humanity was not created by a God, but by Gods.