Hi All

Well I was reading the Secret Doctrine and Maybe Isis Unveiled and some other stuff but it seems to be on hold. Since I am currently studying the teachings of the Ancient One Guatama Buddha from Ancient India who was the founder of Buddhism and Passed his teachings Orally in the begining. I am currently reading info from http://www.buddhanet.net/ and downloaded the PDFs and reading with an open mind of what the Buddhist believe. Currently reading the "The Four Noble Truths" by Ven Ajahn Sumedho. Basically it is about comming face to face and acknowledging the fact that we or all are suffering is the result of are desires or cravings for things in life which seem innocent at first but due to the fact that are desires are so addictive they causes a sensory overload to our senses and mainly causes us a lot of Pain and Suffering since we want more and more and can not get a enough due to are constant craving for things in life (I want more money , I hope I will win the lottery and be rich, I want a better job, I want more pleasure then pain, I want to be happy or liked, I want more excitment in my life, I want to be constantly entertained nomally what you get from worshiping your TV and ad infinitum and it never ends with the end result of never finding a lasting happiness or real peace in this present life) to make us Happy but they never do make us Happy. :( Out of Ignorance we respond incorrectly by desiring more and more which results in constant problems of suffering in life as well as creating problems for others and creates a buddhist version of Kamma or same as the sanskrit word Karma. I remember somewhere I believe the Mahatmas say that we need to kill all desire. The Practioners of Buddism use various types of meditations to Reflect , Analyse their thoughts like Insight Meditation. Basically they want to kill all defilements or wrong thinking that either debase them or cause them to return in the next life for more suffering. They rather go to Nibbana similar as Nirvana. The Buddhist are just as Human as me but through their acknowledging that we all are suffering and by facing it in their lives they can through their deep meditations and relections of their inner selfs can kill these desires eventually and really start living or look forward to Nibbana. I don't think I can do justice by trying to explain it. So if anybody is interested in the subject you will just have to read it for your self. I think in regard to me it is related to my study of Theosophy more in the practical direction rather then simply Head Knowledge only. The Buddhist have some interesting concepts in beliefs that has me thinking deeply about and to even apply in my own life not that I am going to shave my Head and become a monk. :D No not that kind of Heavy commitment. But as a Lay person in their eyes.

Doug.

Sovereign,

You will find that Theosophy is very, very similar to Buddhism. (There are differences, however.) I believe that all of the concepts you mentioned are the same in Theosophy and Buddhsim, even in the "practical direction rather then simply Head Knowledge" area.

You said,

"The Buddhist have some interesting concepts in beliefs that has me thinking deeply...."

--> I think you have already mentioned several of those. Feel free to mention more, as you start to think about them.

"...and to even apply in my own life...."

--> This is a big part of Theosophy. A lot of Theosophy is about getting on, and making progress along the Path. Hopefully, both Theosophy and Buddhism will help you get on, or make progress along, the Path. To me, this is the most important part of Theosophy.

"... not that I am going to shave my Head and become a monk."

--> That would only be for someone who is well along the Path. In addition, I believe that there are many people well along the Path who do not shave their head.

Maybe you can plan to shave your head in some future incarnation. In the meantime, keep looking at the Path (as described in either Buddhism or Theosophy) and see if it is something you want to aim for.

sovereign:

As you may know, Blavatsky, Olcott and several other early theosophists formally became lay Buddhists. One of the names HPB was called by the Masters was Upasika - meaning a lay female Buddhist.

You cannot improve upon the Path of the Buddhas & Bodhisattvas. If you, after your studies of the buddhadharma, find a real, strong, clear attraction for that noble Path, then take refuge in the Triple Jewel. You will find much help spiritually from a sincere embrace of Buddhism.

As Master Morya wrote Franz Hartmann (who took refuge the day after HPB):

Hi Nick and Nicholas

Thanks for both of you sharing what you know about Buddhism and your Knowledge , Insight and Suggestions in relation to Theosophy and some of the founders such as HPB's experiance with it.

I am not an expert so don't anybody accept what I say as the final truth in the matter they are just my first impressions. Their has to be balance in this somewhere in relation to the Unadulterated Doctrine of what Buddha taught and what the Mahatmas are teaching in HPB's days in regard to the Secret Doctrine. I know Buddhism seems different then Hinduism in their concepts of Esoteric Knowledge it seems.

Just a little clarification from Author Ven. Ajahn Sumedho from the PDF book "The Four Noble Truths" on desire since you can get it wrong and go to the extreme with this stuff but their needs to be balance in all subjects that you read and a lot of quite moments of thought after reading certain subjects since it will take time and a lot of Wisdom to be able to think clearly and not go to the extreme.

Doug

Sovereign,

I think there is a good deal of balance between Theosophy and Buddhism. What examples of unbalance do you see?

There are differences between Theosophy and Buddhism. I will be curious to hear your reactions to these differences.

You said,

"...it will take time and a lot of Wisdom to be able to think clearly and not go to the extreme."

--> Buddha taught the Middle Way in all things. (There is such a thing as being too good.) Theosophy agrees with this 100%.