Greetings, I thought I would give a little more of an introduction. I was born in LA county. Was raised in Arcadia, right next door to Pasadena. I was involved in all the happening of that era, and traveled to SF in '67 and then to Sonoma. During this time I remember a few adventures. From sitting in a Mexico City hotel room (throwing Tarot cards); to hitching to Big Sur, with a bedroll, a pot, and a bag of rice. After a while by myself I meet my own Mara, which turned out to be not a pleasant experience. After escaping SS, I moved to Canada and ended up on the skids of Vancouver. Then began my Xtrian education. Salvation Army, Pentecostal ( kicked out of their college for a term paper on Origen :o ), British Israelites, High Calvinism (supra or infralapsianism), anabaptist, Anglican, and finely Catholic. During this time I keep coming back to the East, and trying to reconcile Xtianity with the East though Bede Griffiths, William Johnston....
When I saw the logic of the Historical Jesus, I had some barren ground to seed. The problem was what should I call myself, as all roads seemed to dead end. I was reading 'Forbidden Faith' by Richard Smoley, I came across Blavatsky; to which he seems not that complementary. However, I had never studied her. When I began to look at Theosophy, it was like a door opened. Truth above religion.
At this present time, I live with my wife on a First Nation Reserve. My wife was born here and has had quite a life. The area is (was) a ranching community, so there was not as strong a segregation, as in other areas. All the races sweat-ed together in the fields.
We operated a Nursery, specialising in Native plants, for riparian and reclamation projects. Although we cannot shovel as hard as we use to.
I ordered a number of Theological books, especially de Purucker, which a perused. However, before diving into these, I wanted to read the S.D., and then...
I like that this Forum, as it seems civil to the divisions of Theosophy.
Enough for now, Jim b.

Jim,

My, my, it seems your path of searching has had many twists and turns. Mine has also had its share of twists and turns — I was even a Baha'i for a while. I suppose the benefit of all this jumping around is that we will not be satisfied until we find exactly what we are looking for. I think it teaches discrimination, and that is a good thing. (It also teaches perseverence!) I remember hearing several Buddhist say it does not matter which tradition we belong to, just pick one and go with it — I could not disagree more. I think the most important thing in Theosophy is for us to develop critical-thinking skills, and throw out dumb religious ideas — I do not know of any other philosophy which teaches such an ideal.

You got kicked out of a Pentecostal college, huh? Good for you!

"During this time I keep coming back to the East, and trying to reconcile Xtianity with the East though Bede Griffiths, William Johnston...."

--> I think a lot of people try to reconcile the East with Christianity. There are a number of Theosophists who are Christian. I am also reminded of the works of Bailey and Steiner — I feel these two traditions are basically trying to bring Christianity into Theosophy. It seems to me there basically two kinds of people in this world: people who think like Christians, and people who think like Buddhists. Trying to bring the two groups together is one of the main trusts of Theosophy, and it is a very difficult job indeed.

"The problem was what should I call myself, as all roads seemed to dead end."

--> For many years I called myself an Is-ist — I am not sure what happens to us when we die, but whatever it is, that is what I believe in.

"I came across Blavatsky; to which he seems not that complementary."

--> As you know, there has been a lot of bad blood between Blavatsky and Christians over the years.

"However, before diving into these, I wanted to read the S.D., and then..."

--> I am still waiting for any questions you may have on the Stanzas of Dzyan.

"I like ... this Forum, as it seems civil to the divisions of Theosophy."

--> As a matter of fact, this Forum is dedicated to the idea of bringing together all the various traditions within Theosophy. I am reminded of a joke Jim Colbert told at a Theosophical conference: For many years Theosophists practiced brotherhood towards all people, except towards those Theosophists who belonged to a different form of Theosophy!