Good day.

You are, without a doubt, very welcome, and I, for one, look forward to seeing your Posts. I've been going on about "Higgs bosons" and "Fohat" in another thread. Feel free to jump in!

Hi, Dr. von Lähr, and welcome to the Forum.

You said,

"I ... have had the pleasure of reading a great many of the books on the subject. It is for this reason I was seeking forums of discussion on the subject...."

--> I am looking forward to hearing about the books you have read, and the ideas in them that have become part of your belief system.

"...and the opportunity to meet other persons with similar appreciations."

--> Do you ever attend the Southern California conventions?

"I appreciate the Blavatsky, Leadbeater and other authors of that re-establishment of theosophical philosophy."

--> I am also a student of the Besant/Leadbeater traditions. Several other people here are followers of Mr. Judge.

"...and understand the ancient wisdom to precede that recent movement, allowing for some theistic concepts...."

--> I am not sure what you mean. I look forward to hearing more about this.

"I have had a very long career pioneering computer science and information systems, and remain a consulting expert in that area."

--> It is good to hear from another computer tech. I am Microsoft-certified, and I do a lot of webpage design.

"...setting aside the limitations of a notions-based belief system."

--> I am not sure what you mean. I look forward to hearing more about this.

"I have a tendency in those groups to drop some of the theosophical insight I have gained...."

--> I also enjoy using Theosophical concepts to answer people's questions, even when I do not name these ideas as Theosophical ideas. I found the same thing to be true with Buddhist ideas.

"My draw there was due to some psychic and Mediumship, and claircognizant abilities that are natural to me, and benefit my life. I do practice professionally in this area."

--> You are a professional medium? Great. I wish I was psychic, as I feel there is a lot of information available from higher levels that would benefit all of us.

"I am also an author, and have recently written two books on Nature People."

--> Are they in print? Availabe online as e-books?

"It concerns me that those outside our direct congregations and memberships still find the theosophical insight too rigid, hierarchal and complex."

--> I just wrote in another thread how Blavatsky predicted that Theosohy would not be popular. I grapple daily with how to make Theosophy interesting to the average person.

We only have to look at the recent popularity of "mega churches" to see that the trend is to simplicity and convenience in religion.

"... I think there is validity in the nature of this information..."

--> I love Theosophy because it gives us answers that we cannot get anywhee else.

"I have a personal interest in trying to form some simpler means of conveying it."

--> Have you put together a webpage?

"It would be tragic that this philosophical form, which at the least has accounted for “most things” through its exploration of the ancient wisdom, is lost to the current generations, who tend toward simple answers, bliss and anthropomorphic tendencies of belief and thought."

--> ...which is why I put together this Forum.

Feel free to jump in to any of the ongoing discussions. Perhaps you could write about any Theosophical books you are reading at the moment.

Christian,

I wanted to repsond to your post, but I suddenly got sick Sunday night (food poisoning at a restaurant). Give me a couple of days and I will respond.

Christian,

What is the "Letter"? Does that refer to the Mahatma Letters?

You said,

"I have practical experience with Spirit, the Astral Plane...."

--> I would be interested in hearing your experiences there. The rest of us do not have any direct knowledge of that place.

"Involution and evolution are very meaningful to me."

--> Annie Besant went into a lot of detail about Involution, although I have not found this information in the Blavatsky writitngs. It might be interesting to hear your take on the subject.

" I tend to push for a distinction between elementals and Nature People, as there is considerable difference."

--> Leadbeater goes into great detail about Elementals, but, again, Blavatsky does not.

It is important to note that followers of Mr. Judge do not accept many of Leadbeater's writings. However, I am a student of the Leadbeater writings, so I am always interested in hearing how you agree or disagree with what Leadbeater wrote. It would be especially interesting to hear how Leadbeater and Besant disagreed.

Since the followers of Mr. Judge do not study Besant and Leadbeater, it would be best if we had these discussions in the Adyar Section of this Forum. This would be best for everyone involved.

"Blavatsky re-coined the term Theosophy. There were other theosophical minded persons of note in preceding centuries. They, however, held somewhat different views of divinity."

--> Blavatsky definitely played down the idea of worshipping a personal God. (Leadbeater, on the other hand, was very much a Theist.) Do you think Blavatsky got it wrong when she told us not to worship a personal God?

"...the New Age Movement [tends to] scrape the butter off and leave the cream in their thinking...."

--> I have noticed this even in Buddhism. (I was a Buddhist for many years, but I no longer call myself a Buddhist.) It seems people take what they want, and let the rest fall aside.

"... it is possible to reach the higher levels, or Higher Self to use a more New Age term."

--> Blavatsky encouraged us to meditate, and Besant really encouraged us to meditate. Does meditation help us to reach these higher levels? Is there a partiular type of meditation that is most effective?

"I would like to do some theosophical writing in the future."

--> Feel free to use this Forum as a sounding-board for book ideas. We will be interested in what you come up with.

Christian,

You said,

"Please admonish when necessary where proper dress is preferred."

--> I didn't know what "Letter" referred to, so that is why I asked. It was not an admonishment. My philosophy is, when in doubt -- ask.

"If you start a forum on "the Exploration of Consciousness¨ perhaps, it may be a better mechanism to share with you and others."

--> If you wish to post in a Consciousness Forum, I would recommend

http://www.cosmeta.com/

Is that what you are talking about? It is a very New-Age forum, and I am sure the Administrator would love to have your posts.

I even got a little bit of Theosophical discussion going on that Forum, but it soon lost interest. (I eventually went on to start the Theosophy Forum.)

Anyway, I am interested in what you have to post regarding Higher Consciousness.

"If you provide a forum I will provide some techniques I deliver in seminars and my books, and almost always in person when people come to me for readings."

--> The best way here at this Forum is to start a particular thread. If it really cathes on, we can expand it into its own Sub-Forum.

"Mediums connect with consciousness."

--> Are you a medium or a psychic? I thought there was a difference. I thought a medium channeled communications from a particular person on the "other side." Is that what you do?

"Leadbeater did a book on [seeing auras], although, it is somewhat primitive and very much a self-experience he is describing."

--> I know there is a great deal of interest in psychic phenomina such as seeing auras. However, I am not sure that it is the stuff that most Theosophists are experienced with. Perhaps you will be a pioneer and bring such discussions into Theosophy. Certainly, however, such discussions are not a part of today's Theosophy. The best way to approach this, I feel, would be to relate your experiences to quotes from Theosophical writers. That would give credibility to your ideas. At the same time, it would help to explain what the original writers were trying to say.

However, this does bring up the issue of Theosophists who oppose New-Age topics such as seeing the aura. I do not know how such topics will be received by rank-and-file Theosophists. As a matter of fact, in the past, I have sensed these topics on the minds of people at Theosophical discussions, yet there seemed to be a feeling that these topics were not to be openly discussed in Theosophical discussions. I feel this is due to (1) most Theosphists are not psychic and (2) the classic Theosophical literature does not concern itself with psychic phenomena, but with accelerating our progress along the Path. Again, you may become a Theosophical pioneer in showing how developing psychic abilities accelerates our progress along the Path.

"Most mediums only connect at the Astral Plane level. Well, that's why Blavatsky tried to dissuade everyone."

--> The more you can help us to understand what Blavatsky meant to say, the better.

"It is to better prepare yourself for the time you pass and enter the Astral yourself."

--> All of Theosophy is written to prepare us for the day we no longer have physical bodies.

"We can gain consciousness sooner in the Astral and begin our work of cleaning up after our sojourn into the physical."

--> What effect does such work have on our gaining the Sotapanna, etc., Initiations? The bottom-line in Theosophy is to quicken our progress through the five Initiations. Your work in showing the similarity between the two tasks may be very beneficial.

"We have endless "desires¨ to get over. Only then can we (by natural course in accordance to our light, or energy, or consciousness if you will) give up that astral body and move into our Mental Bodies solely.'

--> This sounds like something Blavatsky would have agreed with.

"However, I do not feel Blavatsky "fully¨ explored it, she could not have. She allowed herself to dwell too much on the semi-conscious elemental, and did not fully realize the more conscious Nature People."

--> You are definitely getting into information we are not familiar with. Feel free to share more.

"Judge was obsessed with this interest, was he not?"

--> I am not a follower of Mr. Judge, so I do not know. Perhaps Nicholas can help us with this one.

"If I had to only follow the Judge school of thought, or even Leadbeater solely, I would probably not participate."

--> Yes, there should be only one Theosophy. Both traditions have their value. However, I have found resistence in each camp regarding literature from the other camp. That is the reality of today's Schism.

I, for one, will not let any Schism stop me in the spread of Theosophy. There are ways to work around this problem. So far, the best thing I have found is to talk about Leabeater in the Adyar Section and talk about Judge in the Pasadena Section. This seems to work best. Or, as you suggest, you can let the Schism prevent you from getting the full message out.

"I have a particular appreciation for Leadbeater because he put so much earnest effort in trying to help others understand Theosophy; those that were not already immersed in its teachings."

--> For me, the greatest thing about Leadbeater's teachings is that he gives explanations I cannot find anywhere else.

"I think [Blavatsky's] view was that the "personal God" of most peoples design was something much [too] insignificant. That what we are relating to in a personal God is something less then the truer, Universal source. "

--> I agree. Blavatsky said that God exists, but that God only appears periodically, and that God is only a manifestation of the Absolute.

"That is why I am hoping all the traditions can be freely expressed."

--> They can. This Forum is dedicated to the bringing together of ALL Theosophists -- especially those separated by the Schism. By posting Judge-stuff in the Pasadena Section, and posting Leadbeater-stuff in the Adyar Section, you will give members of each side an opportunity to access information that they have not had access to before. The more each side reads the other side's stuff, the better. We just have to give them the opportunity, and that is why this Forum exists in the first place.

~~~

Regarding your changing of font and adding special characters, it my be only a matter of practice. Somehow you activiated the Bold funtion, but I do not know how you did that.

You are also typing things like ¡§experience¡¨ What is the exact keystroke order you are using to cause this to appear?

Nick is the Admin & founder of this site so he can run how he wishes. But I thought the sections for "Pasadena" etc. were for strictly organizational posts; history, events, people etc.

We are now mixing lineages whenever Nick & I post in the same thread - Adyar & Pasadena - sometimes we agree, sometimes not - big deal - such is life. As long as we do not indulge in flaming or personal insults I see no reason to compartmentalize our thinking - and therefore posts.

Christian, kindly drop the giant blue font, it is really harder to read, than just bold in the same point size. Also note this quote function I used at the beginning - it is useful for Q & A.

Christian,

Hopefully you can get some good threads going here on this Forum. Here are some ideas.

Blavatsky and the Higher Self

Blavatsky and Psychic Powers

Leadbeater vs. Besant on Evolution

I think you said you will start re-reading The Secret Doctrine. I am starting a study of the Stanzas, line by line. It will be interestining to hear your feedback.