The exoteric teachings of every religion are presumably the simplest presentation, but at the same time, they should embody all the essential and important principles that the religion teaches.

It is a Theosophical principle that after the true teachings have been revealed by God's divine messengers, eventually, the teachings become subject to misinterpretations, corruptions and distortions through the subsequent actions of lesser followers and misguided students. We in Theosophy have focused on the esoteric and developed on the more complex and hidden aspects. But perhaps, in our complexity, we may have inadvertently lost a true appreciation of the simple truths. I feel that we should try and agree on the basics, first, to get on the same page, before we build on them and increase the areas of our disagreements.

Therefore, I am posting my thoughts in regard to some of the main religions. And I invite everyone to share his own personal insights relating to them so that we may together come to a clearer understanding of the divine message revealed through the different world religions.

Especially, I would like to learn from you:

1. How do our own teachings in Theosophy differ from the simple truths taught to ordinary laymen and simple believers? Especially, please cite those teachings that you consider to be important and relevant to all of us in our present situation, with emphasis on those that we can and should do something about, here and now.

2. What do you find to be mistaken or missed in this presentation and why? How can they be better interpreted and explained?

Hinduism
http://theosophy-forum.com/index.php?showt...=667&st=0&#last

Buddhism
http://theosophy-forum.com/index.php?showtopic=681


Understanding Islam

Archangel Gabriel Visits Muhammad

Despite the growth of Judaism and Christianity in some Arabian communities in the 600s, much of Arabia lay steeped in ignorance, superstition and idol-worship. The tribes being constantly at war with one another, any real peace and unity could only be achieved if everyone could come to agree on a common ideal, a faith perhaps especially formulated and adapted to the Arab psyche, according to their then level of evolvement.

At this time, Gabriel, the Archangel, visited a Godly man named Muhammad, who is believed by many to be a descendant of Abraham and Ishmael, and told him that God had chosen him to preach and spread Islam, which means, submission to the will of Allah.

The Archangel being highly regarded by both Christians and Jews alike, Muhammad could not but be tolerant and accepting also of these earlier faiths, in fact recognizing his kinship with them. It is recounted that before tackling the last phase of his mission, he was taken up to heaven by the Archangel to meet with Jesus and the Old Testament prophets and God, Himself, to receive his final instructions.

The messages from God delivered by Archangel Gabriel to Muhammad were later written down by Muhammad’s followers and subsequently incorporated into the Qur'an, the Holy Scriptures of Islam.

The Spread of the Faith

The first convert of this new faith was Muhammad’s wife, Khadija, and with her encouragement, Muhammad began to win other followers. He preached against idols in favor of the One God. And this preaching brought him many enemies from among those who worshipped such idols.

Eventually, Muhammad and his followers were so persecuted that they were forced to flee to Medina. However, this flight, called "Hegira," became the turning point of his career. After having pacified all the warring tribes there, he was acclaimed the new ruler and military commander of the city. And, encouraged by this success, he moved on Mecca and conquered it, as well. He then proceeded to destroy the idols and built the ancient Kaaba shrine, the Sanctuary of Allah.

In victory, Muhammad was generous and merciful, offering friendship to all including Christians and Jews regarding them as his brothers. However, just as the Jews rejected Christ, the Christians and the Jews in general rejected Muhammad as God's latest messenger and prophet. Muhammad realizing the futility of winning them to Islam concentrated his efforts rather more on his own people and their needs. And from then on, tribe after tribe voluntarily submitted to his leadership, until at Muhammad’s death, all of Arabia stood united under Islam.

The Five Pillars

The doctrine of Islam is based on the Qur'an and the Sunna or traditions. The Sunna recounts the sayings and deeds of Muhammad. The Five Duties of a believer or the Five Pillars of Islam are:

1. Recital of the Creed. In its shortest form, the creed is: "I testify that there is no God but Allah, and that Muhammad is His prophet." Acceptance of the creed implies belief in God, the angels, the inspired books, the prophets, the Day of Judgment, and God’s predestination of good and evil. The latter is the basis of the fatalistic attitude of the Muslim. Even in the face of life’s many hardships and tragedies, he willingly submits to the wisdom of God, and in faith, he declares: "It is the will of Allah."

2. Prayer. The Muslim worships five times a day facing Mecca, the birthplace of Muhammad. Phrases of his prayers and the postures of his body are all prescribed. Worship is preceded by ceremonial bathing. And on Friday, the Muslim holy day, prayers and a short sermon are held in the mosque under the leadership of the Imam.

3. Fasting. All throughout the month of Ramadhan when the Qur'an was revealed, the faithful fast. They do not eat or drink between dawn and sunset.

4. Almsgiving. All believers are expected to give alms to assist needy fellow-Muslims.

5. The Pilgrimage to Mecca. All Muslims who are physically and financially able are expected to make a pilgrimage to the Holy City at least once in their lifetime.
Basic Beliefs

A believer is bound in the principle of mutual help and entrusted with the furtherance of good and the repression of evil. Emphasis is placed on equality and brotherhood. Muslims believe that man stands alone in direct relationship with his God, surrendering himself to His mercy. Hence, there are no organized churches, no priests and no sacraments. Impelled by circumstances as a result of the wars, the Arabs were encouraged to take in the widows of comrades killed in battle as their wives to help them and provide for their needs. Polygamy then came to be widely practiced and was adopted into the faith. However, Muhammad limited the number of wives to four or less, depending on the capacity of the men to provide for their needs. Women were granted rights to possess or inherit property and could even divorce their husbands under certain conditions. Slavery was condemned. Eating pork was forbidden and drinking wine, prohibited.

The concept of Jihad against infidels was from the very beginning limited to the self-preservation of the faith and never was intended to include aggression against non-combatants, women and children. As soon as the threatened annihilation of Islam was neutralized and the cause of justice was served, Muhammad forgave his enemies and worked to win the peace. Then he clarified the concept. Jihad in the greater spiritual sense is the struggle against the Muslim's evil or worldly desires and the overcoming of his human limitations. The terrorists' view of Jihad is contrary to the true teachings of Islam.

Christians, Jews and Muslims are true brothers inspite of the present religious conflicts.

Major Sects

There are two major sects of Islam; The Sunnites, who believe in the Sunna and who form the majority; and the Shiites, who reject the Sunna simply because certain other caliphs participated in the formation of the Sunna. These latter are followers of Ali, Muhammad’s blood relative, who hold that Ali, alone, is the rightful successor to Muhammad.

Thank you for the post. However, note the '5 pillars' are mostly from the Hadith, which is not necessarily canon. The pillars may be implied in the Quran, but some Sufis might not think so, or they might think they are slightly different such as recital vs thought of the creed, how one prays, and perhaps fasting or pilgrimage if one is partly a member of another religion and would do it differently. How about an article on Bahá’í, which came from Islam?

Your comments are appreciated and noted. The Sufis are presumably the more advanced branch of this religion.

From: http://innerquest1.blogspot.com/2007/04/pr...ng-of-lord.html

The prophet Muhammad under the guidance of the Archangel Gabriel taught that in the face of their trials, the Arabs should submit to the will of Allah. Believers were primarily entasked with the furtherance of good and the repression of all evil. He advocated that all Muslims should help one another. Emphasis was placed on equality and brotherhood of all, including those belonging to other faiths. The more mystical aspects of the Islamic teachings were entrusted to the Sufis.

In 1852, a Persian nobleman imprisoned in a dungeon in Tehran received an enlightenment from God. Over the next 40 years, Bahaulla who is claimed to be the latest divine messenger from God in the continuing tradition of the old prophets including Rama, Krishna, Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad came to found a new religion. Bahaulla teaches a more liberal and universal doctrine that emphasizes the unity of all religions and reinterprets the age-old truths for the modern man. Its adherents now numbering some 6 million faithful, Bahai would appear to be the much-awaited and much-needed reform movement that will upgrade the teachings of the religion of Islam. But only time will tell.

Sufis call themselves mystics or even esoterists, but of course they are sometimes mixed with Sunnite or Shiite philosophies; there is even a sect that is all 3. I am no expert on Islam or Sufism, but I have read the Quran a few years ago and would like to learn Sufism. One of the 1st important things in that process is to get past what might be dogma based on things not provable, sort of like the Nicene creed in Christianity which was made up by later followers who were not completely educated. Maybe I will try the pillars except for the pilgrimage for a time anyway.

Bahá’í also suggests a time of fasting... also perhaps I should have said it came from the Sikh religion because both include Dharma.

For those who want to learn more about Sufism and Bahai, you might want to check out the Websites below:

http://www.wisdomarticles.com/

http://www.bahai.org/

The first paragraph of the Introduction within The Esoteric Tradition vol. i. by G de Purucker, is important for a start.

"TRUTH may be defined as that which is Reality; and present human intelligence can make but approximate advances or approaches to this Cosmic REAL, which is measureless in its profundity and in its infinite reaches, and therefore never fully comprehensible by any finite intellect. It was a wise declaration, in one way, that Pontius Pilate made, as alleged, when Jesus, the great Syrian Initiate, was brought before him: "What is Truth!"; for a man who knows Truth in fulness would have an active intelligence commensurate with the Universe: and whose intelligence is universe-wide?"

To be concise, don't believe ANYONE that claims to be the sole possessor of Truth, or the only path to Truth.

In math, you have to illustrate how you arrived at solution. This is not for the teachers benefit but the student who understands how he arrived at solution.

The avenue from ignorance to a relatively nearer proximity to absolutes, is best done by perceiving countless relativities; not by dogma. More and more people are simply refusing to believe a thing because they are told to believe it. I think this is the key; believing things that you don't understand should be kept to a bare minimum. The avenue to any understanding should be as real as it can be.

I've read that the last thing the Buddha said was: Brothers, all that is, is composite and transitory. Therefore work out your own salvation.

I see that as meaning guidance by teachers and fellows is nurturing, but ultimately it is up to the individual to know.

There are many and all kinds of truths. But in the quest for Truth, we are referring to certain particular spiritual subjects and divine principles.

Since time immemorial, man has sought for answers to the mysteries of life. Who am I? What is the meaning of life? What is the purpose of life on Earth? Is there really life after death? What are the conditions of that life? And how do we secure it for ourselves?

Why is there so much suffering in the world? Why poverty, injustice, famine, war, disease and death? Why me? Where is the love of God? Every thinking man comes to ask himself these questions.

In answer, God has sent His messengers to us through all the different schools and religions in all the times and ages. Even now. According to our own levels and capacities, He has revealed the answers to all these questions and more; but because many are not ready, the Message is largely misunderstood and misinterpreted.

Many search by way of accumulating knowledge, others by observing rituals and ceremonies. But although the knowledge can be given and learned, the realization continues to elude. Enlightenment cannot be given. It must be earned.

Our continuous application of the divine principles is required. Those who know, do. Those who don't only prove to everyone that they don't really know.

We can only know relative truth. There is also only relative proof. The higher a being one becomes, through information, knowledge, and understanding, the higher degree of intuitively knowing 'this is true, that is false' is attained.

I think people use the word Truth casually, in that our ability to possess it is limited. Agreement upon principle's seems a better goal to strive after among people.

Buddha-Gautama regarded as the Great Heresy, the wholly illusory and false idea that any entity or being whatsoever is different from or in any wise irresponsible to the Whole.

I agree.

Our continuous application of the divine principles is required. Those who know, do. Those who don't only prove to everyone that they don't really know.

I'm simply a student, I have many infirmities, in fact, if I'm to exalt anything, they should be the focus.

The quoted text below gives interesting insight.

Now then, first, has it ever occurred to us to consider, to ask, why the doctrines which we have been studying for the past months have always been held so secret? There are three general reasons for this, two rather, the third being a corollary of the second. The first is that these teachings have from time immemorial been considered the noble reward, the sublime reward, for those who give themselves heart and soul and irretrievably to the Teachers and to the terrestrial-celestial body that they represent. That is the less reason for the silence. The greater is the following, that these doctrines from their very nature being so abstruse, so subtil that our poor minds of matter find difficulty in comprehending them, would almost of necessity be misunderstood without a preliminary training and education. It requires literally years of study and training to bring the mind into such a state that it can receive these glorious teachings, these sublime doctrines that we have been studying, with some modicum at least of intelligent comprehension. If they were given out to the world indiscriminately, what would be the consequence? Intuitive but otherwise untrained minds would worship the Teachers, Masters, as gods; or the stupid heads in the multitudes would persecute them and try to do them to death as "devils," were they to appear publicly and openly live among men. And a third party of the public, the skeptics, would deride, would mock, not only the Teachers themselves but their holy message.

We are all students subject to error. No one is perfect. Provided our hearts are right and our intention is for good, we should do as we will and teach others the same not just by our words but by our examples.

We are today entering into a New Age of Enlightenment. We are coming of age. We can begin to understand even the mysteries of life. Some but not all are ready. The time for secrecy is over. The Truth is to be made known to all the people. And everyone will be able to comprehend as much as he has deserved.

Please feel free to interject your views and opinions.

Progressive Revelations

People everywhere have grown to be disbelieving and critical of all religions. They argue that the old dogmatic teachings just don't make sense and instead of being a good influence, they have even become a force for evil because of the fanaticism and religious wars that they propagate. Nevertheless, before we swing over to the other extreme that is reverse fanaticism, perhaps we should rather first be open to new concepts and teachings, more rational and lucid explanations.

Going back to those early Scriptural times, we will find that the people were so much more ignorant compared to the people of today. To bring them forward, the wise men of old formulated only the simplest possible explanations and teachings. They were all that the people could comprehend, then. Lacking the ability to reason, they were told to accept God's divine instructions given through prophets and priests without question. More, they were compelled to blindly follow the teachings of the church under the threat of excommunication or eternal hell.

However, the situation today is so very much different. Today, the old simplistic explanations no longer satisfy. So today, for those who are ready, New Teachings are made available.

As in our earthly schools, don't we begin our education by taking on the basics first? That learned, then only can we begin to take up more advanced studies -- ABCs before complete sentences, simple arithmetic before higher math. So too in regard to the Divine Teachings -- parables and Scripture stories of before, but now, the Divine Principles are clarified and made plain.

Hinduism and Buddhism

Hinduism, the oldest surviving major religion, provides us with the foundational bases of our beliefs. We owe to Hinduism much of our knowledge of the True Self and the True Spiritual Reality. However, more and Higher Teachings would follow.

Buddhism taught us how we could more efficiently attain to Nirvana and freedom from the rounds of rebirth, old age, disease and death. Gautama Buddha enjoins us to follow the Middle Way of life between the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification through our recognition of the Four Noble Truths and our commitment to the Noble Eightfold Path.

And further on in continuation of our spiritual education, another Buddha, Maitreya, will be coming in God's appointed time.

Judaism, Christianity and Islam


Abraham broke away from Brahmanism, the forerunner of Hinduism, to re-emphasize the concept of the One God. Through Moses, the first laws were made known to the Hebrews. Jesus later refuted most all of the objectionable teachings and man-made laws of the Hebrews and upgraded our divine instruction. He revealed and clarified the Truth. He taught that love and service to our fellowmen was the only Way to God, and showed us how by his example. Through his illustrations and descriptions relating to the Kingdom of the Father, he enabled us to deepen our knowledge concerning the Real Life to Come.

The prophet Muhammad under the guidance of the Archangel Gabriel taught that in the face of their trials, the Arabs should submit to the will of Allah. Believers were primarily entasked with the furtherance of good and the repression of all evil. He advocated that all Muslims should help one another. Emphasis was placed on equality and brotherhood of all, including those belonging to other faiths. The more mystical aspects of the Islamic teachings were entrusted to the Sufis.

In 1852, a Persian nobleman imprisoned in a dungeon in Tehran received an enlightenment from God. Over the next 40 years, Bahaulla who is claimed to be the latest divine messenger from God in the continuing tradition of the old prophets including Rama, Krishna, Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad came to found a new religion. Bahaulla teaches a more liberal and universal doctrine that emphasizes the unity of all religions and reinterprets the age-old truths for the modern man. Its adherents now numbering some 6 million faithful, Bahai would appear to be the much-awaited and much-needed reform movement that will upgrade the teachings of the religion of Islam. But only time will tell.

The New Age Movement

The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ by Levi declares that: "At first of every age, Christ comes to light the way." Many expect his imminent return in our time, according to his promise.

In preparation for this New Age of Enlightenment, the Wisdom Teachings of Theosophy was introduced. God's Plan of Evolution for all His creatures was revealed and made available for serious study by advanced students or "chelas" of the Masters. Lobsang Rampa recounted his own personal experiences so that we may better learn and understand even the more complex concepts and teachings once regarded as Occult.

The crass materialism prevalent in the 1850s reversed and turned to a fascination with the Occult on the growing popularity of psychic occurrences. The survival of the spirit was strongly suggested in the phenomena of Spiritualism, while for the more rational freethinkers, the New Teachings of the New Age were introduced through the study of Spiritism, Guidance by the Holy Spirits. This was in fulfillment of Christ's promise, "I will send you the Holy Spirits to guide you to all truth."

The revelations continued in the life readings of Edgar Cayce and the spirit messages given through many other channelers, mediums and ordinary psychics. Especially, Cayce's readings clearly explained the interconnectivity and karmic impact of our past lives on our present situations, empowering us to more effectively address them.

Everywhere, great changes are inevitable. Everyone will be called to embrace the New Teachings and strive to upgrade to a higher level of enlightenment. Therefore, decide wisely. Prepare the way for the coming of the Lord!

Abdu'l-Bahá, the son of Bahá'u'lláh and his successor, wrote vegetarianism will be the the diet of the future. That agrees with Theosophy and would reform of much of Western religion except most Bahá'ís do not follow it because it is something for 'the future.'