Hi Everybody, I’m Harvey, the latest newbie. I live in open countryside near the South Downs in England with my wife, Sue, not far away from our son Ben. I came across theosophy by chance (is there such a thing?) when I was in my teens. I read indiscriminately, from popular authors like Micky Spillane, Isaac Asimov, Dennis Wheatley, Robert Heinlein, to obscure books such as The Tibetan Book of the Dead and The Egyptian Book of the Dead. The abridged version of The Secret Doctrine blew my mind. I probably didn’t understand much of it at the time, although easy-to-read books by Lobsang Rampa helped. Then came the hard years of earning a living, raising a family, paying the mortgage, and I didn’t have much time for reading, but it gradually dawned on me that I had taken on board the philosophy of HPB.

Years later I read the full version of the SD and tried Isis Unveiled. I was attracted to Buddhism and joined two meditation groups, one Tibetan and one Theravadan. Eventually I became a member of the Theosophical Society in England.

I’m retired now but for the last seven years I worked (mostly in a voluntary capacity) with community wind farms. I reckon that was theosophy in action: people working together in harmony with nature to make the world a better place. What do you think? Is it enough that we read, study and meditate, or should we bring theosophy into our outer lives? Any more examples of theosophy in action?

It’s good to find an active forum on theosophy and I look forward to following some of the threads.

Best wishes from England,
Lanoo Harvey

Welcome Harvey. I grew up in the San Francisco bay area and then lived around Wash. D.C. for a long time. I was just reading about a man named Alcibiades and somehow the Democrats came to the fore-front of my mind. Trying to figure that one out.

I've read books from three of the four author's you mentioned. I don't think I've read anything from Spillane. I remember Farnhums Freehold very well, even though its been over twenty years.

I've read a version of the Tibetan Book of the Dead, The Luminous Emptiness by Elizabeth Freemantle. I hope I got her name correct, its been awhile.

We are not only agents of our own destiny but also of Kosmic Destiny. With this in mind, I'm trying to be selfless and especially in regard to anger, not express selfish emotions. For my part, this is an extremely difficult challenge.

So far, Theosophy has shown me that I've a lot of work to do on manas-kama. I also feel that you are a very welcome addition to this site.

edit; it is "LUMINOUS EMPTINESS Understanding the Tibetan Book of the Dead." by Francesca Fremantle.

Happy Summer Solstice to you and your family.

Peace be with you Harvey,

I used to read Heinlein and Asimov, but now besides a few art books (ancient - early modern art history, some comics) I am just into topics which are under theosophy: philosophy, religion, science. My parents have a Lobsang Rampa book, maybe from my dad's uncle, but I forgot if my parents read it; a psychologist I know suggest I not read Rampa, but I liked The Third Eye anyway.

I have been involved in Ch'an and Tibetan meditation and am interested in Shingon but am not any TS member yet.

I am surprised you ask if it is enough we meditate (and contemplate!,) etc. unless you have not read The Voice of The Silence, which implies we should bring Theosophy into our outer lives. Maybe how much it should be brought into outer life is debatable.

There is a new translation of Tibetan Book of The Dead--a complete translation!

Thanks for the welcome. I used to visit San Francisco on business in the1980’s, lots of happy memories. Hey, I’m not recommending those books I read way back. Especially Spillane! If you still have a lot of work to do, join the club!

Yes, I have read The Voice of the Silence, it’s a wonderful book. It’s one of the last books HPB wrote (or was it the last?) so I reckon she must have thought we need it. It really takes us back to basics, how to live our lives, but it doesn’t seem to figure high on everybody’s list. Which is why I asked the question. I have met quite a few theosophists who seem to spend all their spare time pouring over the Mahatma Letters rather than taking philosophy into the wider world. Like everything else, it’s all a matter of getting the balance right, and it’s going to be different for everybody.

Hey, I’m not recommending those books I read way back. Especially Spillane!

I know that. Like DavidC, I don't read fiction books anymore. But I did when I was young, tons of 'em. Mickey Spillane's "Mike Hammer" tv series was excellent.

I have The Voice of the Silence but I find I have to read it after a person has interpreted it for me. There is a thread on this site by Nick the Pilot that does fine for me. I've looked briefly at the "Mahatma Letters" and they do look like something I would enjoy a bit more. However, what takes up most of my attention is Purucker. I've been doing lessons on two of his volumes for about two years now, and I'm barely through the first volume.

After reading DavidC and his spacial dimensional discourse, I feel like I'm wrapped up like a pretzel, lacking only the mustard and salt. :D

I’d like to pick up on two strands in this thread.

Lobsang Rampa claimed to be a Tibetan Lama and wrote about his early life in Tibet. Scattered throughout his books are a lot of spiritual truths wrapped up in easy-to-read stories that helped me as I struggled to understand Buddhism and theosophy. The media declared he was a fraud, that he was born in England and never visited Tibet. Although he explains this apparent anomaly in one of his books, he fell out of favour. Whatever the truth of the matter, I found his books immensely helpful, and when I visited Lhasa 30 years later I recognised places from his descriptions.

I gave a talk to the Theosophical Society in London a few years ago on HPB’s life, but drawing in particular from The Voice of the Silence. If anyone is interested you can read my notes at:
http://www.olanoo.com/ol_bg_lone_voice.html

Finally, Mensagitat, where do we send the mustard and salt?

Harvey,

You said,

"...Lobsang Rampa...."

--> I also read the Lobsang Rampa books. I read all of his books — I believe he wrote 13 books in all. I then came across the idea that Lobsang was a fake, and that is what I now believe. However, like you, I was very much inspired by the books he wrote.

"Scattered throughout his books are a lot of spiritual truths wrapped up in easy-to-read stories that helped me as I struggled to understand Buddhism and theosophy...."

--> Yes! I received a great deal of inspiration from his books.

"...it gradually dawned on me that I had taken on board the philosophy of HPB."

--> I had a similar experience. I was a Theosophist back in my teenage years. But for some reason, I left it in search of other things. (I was even a Baha'i for a while.) However, eventually I came back to Theosophy. I find that it is the philosophy that works best for me.

"I reckon that was theosophy in action:...."

--> The best Theosophist-in-action we have is Jon — he volunteers regularly at a local homeless shelter. He wrote a thread on his experiences, so I hope you get a chance to read that thread.

"What do you think? Is it enough that we read, study and meditate, or should we bring theosophy into our outer lives?"

--> HPB made it clear that all true Theosophists must do some type of volunteer work or social work. Reading, studying, and meditating is not enough. I remember one Theosophical writer who said we will be required to show a record of volunteer work or social work when we apply for Enlightenment. It sounds like you have found a great way to give back to the community.

"It’s good to find an active forum on theosophy and I look forward to following some of the threads."

--> Feel free to jump in anywhere. For example, please contribute to our "Which Theosophical book have you read recently?" thread.

"I have met quite a few theosophists who seem to spend all their spare time pouring over the Mahatma Letters rather than taking philosophy into the wider world."

--> I remember a poem written about Christians that says something like; I was starving, and you formed a prayer group to pray for my good health, etc. Does anyone have a copy of that poem?

<blush>

Please understand that I do not report my activities here because I am proud of myself, or so that others might be proud of me, but that perhaps someone might take my example, or be inspired to serve in their own way. There is need everywhere you look.

Let me also add:

I am not doing anything that I don't NEED to do. It is my dharma. It is our dharma.

Jon,

Thank you for allowing us to be inspired by your example. There is no better example of Theosophical work than to do volunteer work for the homeless.

Nick is right, Jon, your unsung work is an inspiration. I sometimes think we keep too quiet about selfless work that might inspire others. I had been a TS member for a few years before I heard about the Theosophical Order of Service, founded by Annie Besant in 1908: ‘A Union of Those who Love in the Service of All that Suffers’.

It would be nice if a few more members could blush and tell. We can all gain strength from knowing that we are not working alone.

Welcome Harvey. I had to welcome our new member before I took off for a few days. I think you will find us all a friendly bunch, everyone here is extremely helpful and kind.

Thanks, Sara, I'm enjoying the experience so far!

Lanoo Harvey