To continue a thread that should belong more appropriately here, I would like to add some thoughts. In Hans Jonas's book "The Gnostics," (I may have the title wrong, but the author is correct), he deals with Gnosticism as an existentialist philosophy, particularly in the back of the book. Similarly, in the "Nag Hammadi Library" edited by Robinson, Richard Smith has an "Afterword" where he compares Gnosticism with existentialism and other similar ideas. To Jonas, the Gnostics, which we deal with extensively in Theosophy, were the first existentialists. This is a dynamic connection with Theosophy. "Phenomenology" is a special school of existentialism (to hearken back to Alpheus's essay in my other thread). Apparently others have found this link since several authors wrote books comparing Krishnamurti and existentialist ideas. If anyone has more information on this subject, I would be most interested in hearing from them. I feel that this thread is well worth pursuing, since we are dealing with the very nature of mankind and his/her existence.

In the other thread you said,

"The critical thing is how to become an 'authentic' human being."

--> I believe Theosophy does that.

"That means being an individual, a 'singularity' so to speak, rather than following the crowd."

--> That fits with Theosophy.

" 'Existence precedes essence' means, more or less, that we are the totality of our decisions in life."

--> That fits with Theosophy.

"...the 'knight of faith' ... follows something singularly spiritually deep inside (God?) rather than worry about what others say."

--> That fits with Theosophy.

"I would hope that someone can direct me to a URL where Theosophy and existentialism are compared/contrasted."

--> I do not know of one, but perhaps one of our readers does.

"...we are dealing with the very nature of mankind and his/her existence."

--> In your opinion, what makes man different from plants, animals, and cosmic Beings?

I agree with you on all points. I'm just looking for ever deeper waters into the "Ocean of Theosophy." I'm at a somewhat dry period in my spiritual life, but that is only a personal problem to be resolved in time, I'm sure.

"--> In your opinion, what makes man different from plants, animals, and cosmic Beings?"

Self-consciousness ("cosmic consciousness"). The aim of all existence, in my understanding.

As a matter of fact, I was just reading this quote today.

"...none of [the super-human] Beings, high or low, have either individuality or personality as separate Entities, i.e., they have no individuality in the sense in which a man says, "I am myself and no one else;" in other words, they are conscious of no such distinct separateness as men and things have on earth."
(SD vol 1 p 275)

--> This means that all beings at the Nirvanic level and above have removed the sensation of separateness that is the painful reality of this physical world.

Now, for a quote from an advanced textbook.

"...neither a sense of individuality nor a sense of personality is present in ... the Mineral, Plant and Animal Kingdoms. For the sense of Egoism, or the 'I-making faculty,' equivalent to Ahamkara, is brought about by means of the Kama-principle [animal desires], excluding Buddhi [cosmic consciousness]. The Manas-principle [intellectual activity] did not commence to function in the Human Kingdom until the latter portion of the Third Race [the Lemurian civilization] during the Fourth Round [Earth]." (Geoffrey Barborka, The Divine Mind, p 75)

--> This means plants and animals (and minerals too) have a sense of desire, but no real intellect to go along with it. Humanity is the first group to appear with both desires and intellect. (It will be mostly the removal of animal desires that allows humanity to move up to the next level, cosmic consciousness.)

Theosophy, therefore see all of consciousness existing in one long flow in the universe. Here is a quick synopsis.

* Spirit first embodies matter in the Mineral Kingdom. It is the first experience of consciousness in a physical "body".

* When ready, the spiritual essence of a mineral moves up the ladder, and ensouls a plant for the first time. This is its first attempt to manipulate a metabolism. (The ability to be conscious is now firmly established.)

* When ready, the spiritual essence of a plant moves up the ladder, and ensouls an animal for the first time. This is its first attempt to experience and satisfy desires. (The ability to manipulate a metabolism is now firmly established.)

* When ready, the spiritual essence of an animal moves up the ladder, and ensouls a human being for the first time. This is its first attempt to use true intelligence. (The ability to experience and satisfy desires is now firmly established.)

* When ready, a human moves up the ladder, and enters what only can be described as "cosmic consciousness". (The ability to use true intelligence -- and to make it the instrument of higher forces -- is now firmly established.)

(It needs to be pointed out that minerals, plants, and animals are conscious, but not self-conscious.)

Here, then, is the Theosophical answer to what makes man different from plants, animals, and cosmic Beings.

Thanks for the in-depth information. I think (I may be wrong) that you arrived at the same conclusion as I had voiced. Anyway, I have found a great new, and heretofore unknown site (to me), that might interest some in the area of Theosophical philosophy:

http://www.alpheus.org/