Hi everybody!

Here are some questions from someone identified as DFG.

"What is Reality?"

--> The only reality is the One Reality, which is the Absolute. All the rest, including this physical world, is just an illusion, a temporary set of experiences.

"Is there a beginning to samsara? If there was a beginning to samsara, then what was the beginning [before that]?"

--> This is a case of the finite mind trying understand the infinite. It cannot be done. But let's try.

Samsara [the physical world, astral world, etc.] definitely has a beginning and an end. Scientists say the universe began with the Big Bang, and that idea fits Theosophical teachings nicely.

Theosophy teaches this universe is only one of many. When did this string of universes being? When will it end? For these questions, Theosophy has no answer. Theosophy can only deal with the beginning and end of this universe.

"If there is no beginning to samsara, then where do beings come from?"

--> Within this universe, there is a constant flow of consciousness. It would be more correct to say that there are innumerable flows of consciousness, and we are part of one particular flow. Our flow is really a cycle, down from sprit into matter, and then back up again towards spirit.

Our particular flow (actually a downward and upward arc of a full cycle) began with pure spirit attaching itself to matter for the purpose of having experiences. The resulting objects, called Monads, continued to wrap itself in more and more veils of denser and denser matter, until the bottom of the arc was reached. At that time, matter began the upward part of the cycle, the return to spirit.

At the bottom of the arc, our Monads ensouled physical objects for the first time. Our Monads have begun the upard arc of the cycle, and begun moving upwards by ensouling minerals, plants, animals, and now human bodies. When we are ready, we will move up to the next level in the cycle.

"Beings just can't appear out of nothing, right?"

--> Correct. It is a process of guided evolution, taking billions and trillions of years.

"I am talking about the very first being or beings. Where did they come from?"

--> Monads appeared at the first moment of the new universe, but they were pure points of consciousness without any frame of reference. The first being that can be said to have consciousnes (the phenomina of "I am") first happened when spirit ensouled mineral.

"How can there be no beginning to existence?"

--> Existence began with the first moment of the universe. The period between universe is referred to as non-existence, which is a state of being we can only guess at.

"...does Buddhism say or imply to you that's there's more to it?"

--> In a way, Buddhism takes the same position as Theosophy. We just cannot conceptualize of what it is like being between universes, in non-existence. There is a difference between Buddhism and Theosophy on this point. Modern Buddhism says do not worry about it, just concentrate on getting ourselves to the next level. Theosophy takes it a little further, discussing in detail the beginnings of our universe. But the goal of Buddhism and Theosophy is the same — our main goal is to only get ourselves to the next level. It is fun to try to conceptualize all facets of our flow of consciousness — all the levels that consciousness inhabits, how many levels there are, where the first level came from, when the first level started — but we must not let this distract us from the important work at hand; merely getting to the next level in our flow of consciousness.

"And science's creation theory only looks at a part of the universe, not the whole universe, right, or am I wrong?"

--> You are correct.

"Is the universe, Life, infinite in space or does it have a border?"

--> We humans perceive of reality as a set of borders. I am separate from you and you are separate from me. I can never truly understand what it means to be you, and vice versa, while we are in this physical world.

This is where Theosophical theory comes in. This separateness is artificial, contrived, and will disappear when it is only longer necessary. It has been said we will someday rise to the level where all separateness disappears — I will merge with you, your neighbor down the street, and every other being in the universe. At the same time, however, you and I will maintain our individual identities.

" If there is a border, what is on the other side of the border? Just space?"

--> Once this artificial separateness is removed, there will be no more borders to look across.

"...the Buddha did not say there was no beginning, but just one not evident? What is the truth about life?"

--> Buddha never answered such questions by saying No, he merely left them unanswered. There is a big difference between the two.

By the way, Theosophy essentially agrees with Buddha¡¦s teachings, and also provides key interpretations that have been lost and changed over the centuries.

"What is life? How can I have a happy life?"

--> Happiness is not about being rich. Happiness is about moving through the human stage quickly, and moving on to the next stage after that. It is ironic that this means taking on as much bad karma as we can (and suffering through it). Taking on such "happiness", then, can be quite painful. Whenever I go through a piece of bad karma (which seems to happen often...), I always remind myself that I have just burned off another piece of bad karma, and I am now just that much closer to moving on to the next level — which does bring me a type of happiness. When a person finally understands how the system works, burning off a piece of piece of bad karma brings more happiness than being rich.

"Can anyone lead me to enlightenment, right now?"

--> Theosophy teaches that certain minimum requirements are required in order to achieve Enlightenment. As soon as you achieve those requirements, you can achieve Enlightenment immediately. Theosophy provides detailed instructions on how to move towards Enlightenment in the most efficient way.

"What are the secrets of life -- if there are any secrets?"

--> Speed up your progress towards Enlightenment.

I read what you posted. Thanks, but maybe some things I questioned/said -- I could be incorrect, though, because I don't want to go back to my original questions at http://lioncity.net/buddhism to check them. ... -- you rearranged in your own way, not the way I wrote them, so that what you posted was not the order of how those statements were in my original post(s) -- therfore would be lying by you -- then which you answered.

I don't put Theosophy before Buddhism. Maybe Theosophy is fake, or not.

and, from your post:

Theosophy teaches this universe is only one of many. When did this string of universes being? When will it end? For these questions, Theosophy has no answer. Theosophy can only deal with the beginning and end of this universe.

signed,
dfg3425theravada

But thank you for all your writings/answers, and the quote by Madame Blavatsky:

“The aim of [Theosophy] may be thus stated: to show that Nature is not a ‘fortuitous concurrence of atoms,’ and to assign to man his righful place in the scheme of the Universe; to rescue from degradation the archaic truths which are the basis of all religions; and to uncover, to some extent, the fundamental unity from which they all spring; finally, to show that the occult side of Nature has never been approached by the Science of modern civilization.”
— Madame Blavatsky

I hope I have given you a few new ideas that fit into your belief system.

Most people do not take responsibility for their belief system. You do, and I congratulate you on your effort.

"I don't put Theosophy before Buddhism."

--> Theosophy does not ask us to quit our religion. (Actually, Theosophy wants us to remain in our original religion.) Rather, Theosophy asks us to look at Buddhism in a new light.

This may cause you to bump heads with dogmatic, closed-minded Buddhists. That is a danger an open-minded person must always take, when following their beliefs to their ultimate conclusion.