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Established in 1879, Theosophy
is more of a philosophy of religion than a religion per se.
The word theosophy comes from the Greek words theos "god"
and sophia "wisdom". Literally, theosophy means "divine
wisdom." The roots of this philosophy can be traced back to
ancient Gnosticism, with borrowings from Greek philosophy and
medieval mysticism. Modern theosophy also draws heavily on
Hinduism.
For a long time the importance of Theosophy seemed to be hidden behind a
lot of complexities. A bit like Hinduism it seemed just too
complicated for most Westerners. Thanks to brilliant teachers Pablo Sender and a few others, a sort of renaissance is taking place in a
timely fashion that seems related to complications brought about by
declining western religions.
The
concept of soul is generally central to religions and play's an important role
concerning one's fate in this world and what is to come after it. The
soul and immortality and the belief in life after death, which is
maintained by each of the Abrahamic religions, raises the
metaphysical question of how the human person is to be defined. Some
form of mind-body dualism, whether Platonic or Cartesian, in which
the mind or soul survives the death of the body, has been favored by
many theologians.
For thousands of years matters of the
soul were relegated to the church. And the hunger in the human heart
for transcendence and pursuit the depth the mystical dimensions was
mostly just an emotional accounting for the difference between humans and
animals. Because of ignorance of the complexities of the mind and
body, superstitions appeared across the world. The misunderstanding of
science or causality fostered a belief in fate, or magic, or fear of
that which is unknown.
Throughout human history, charms,
rites and rituals have been used to attempt to retake control of
life, particularly in times of distress and uncertainty. Those who
claimed to have certain knowledge or superior evidence for their own
beliefs often claimed divine revelations. And nonbelievers were often
punished or killed as infidels, atheists,, miscreants,
heathens, idolaters. The European religious wars were brutal, with
the combined death toll ranging from 5.5 million to 18.5 million.
Some areas of Europe had more than 30 percent of their population
wiped out.
This was a monolithic structure that divided the human psyche into a
good and a worthless portion, which Joseph Campbell referred to as lots
of rules and very little forgiveness. As the old structure crumbles and
fades away it is in a way being more or less replaced by the internet,
which has been sort of a free for all where genius and rabble both vie
for attention in the same way yellow
journalism uses lurid features and sensationalized news in
newspaper publishing to attract readers and increase circulation."Mind blowing and terrifying" adjectives come to mind.
People seem to be more than
ready for a more intellectual and philosophical approach. The New Thought
started in the 1830s, with roots in the United States and England. As
a spiritual movement with roots in metaphysical beliefs, such as
"mind
over matter."
Rather than focusing on just
one religion, Theosophy is open to the wisdom of all religious
traditions. Finding a way to reconcile religion
and science has had Western mystics
redefining evolution as a multistage spiritual quest for perfection
with the One instead of the mechanistic system many believed it to
be. But these western mystics are so far not organized into coherent
cyber locations. However there a few budding exceptions.
Helena
Blavatsky
(August 12, 1831 - May 8, 1891) or Madam Blavatsky as she was also
referred to, was a leading occultist during the 18th century. Her works
spanned many religious beliefs, spiritual encounters and higher realms
of consciousness to create a comprehensive syntheses. In 1875
Blavatsky, along with Henry Steel Olcott started a publishing firm
known as the Philosophical Society, with books such as Isis Unveiled a best-seller and favourite amongst forward thinkers including Albert Einstein.
She co-founded the Theosophical
Society. She
was the first person to introduce the concept of the Mahatmas (also
called adepts or Masters) to the West. She claimed personal contact
with certain Adepts, Masters and Mahatmas
living in Tibet, Ladakh, India, Sri Lanka and elsewhere. She is said to
have been asked by them to bring certain teachings to the west, having
to do with universal brotherhood and aspiritual knowledge which was
unknown ordinary humanity. And apparently she devoted the rest of her
life to that commitment,
Persons who testified to having seen the Mahatmas: Annie Besant, Henry
Olcott, Damodar Mavalankar, Isabel Cooper-Oakley, William Brown,
Nadyezhda Fadeyev, S.R. Ramaswamier, Justine Glinka and Vsevolod
Solovyov.
Blavatsky, was instrumental in bringing
the spiritual wisdom of the East and that of the ancient western
mysteries to the modern West, where they were virtually unknown. And her influence extends to contemporary culture today, and she will most likely remain the most memorable
and innovative esotericist
of the 19th century. She had a great influence outside of her
organization. She popularized of many of the ideas and terms
related to the New Age Movement. The Theosophical Society,
which she co-founded, has been the major advocate of occult philosophy
in the West, and the single most important avenue of Eastern teaching
to the West.
She was among the most original and
perceptive minds of her time and demonstrated psychic powers of a
startling nature, and also claimed personal contact with highly developed
Masters living in Tibet and India. A well-versed student of
metaphysical and esoteric lore, she promoted a greater western
knowledge of esoteric religions, philosophies and mythologies.
Theosophy teaches that all
religions contain elements of the “Ancient Wisdom” and that some wise
men throughout history have held the secret of spiritual power. And those
who have been enlightened by the divine wisdom can access a
transcendent spiritual reality through mystical experience. Theosophists
also place their trust in the Mahatmas (literally, “Great Souls”),
also referred to as the Great Masters or the Adepts—those who have
reached an exalted state of existence and who possess the
world’s accumulated knowledge.
And increasingly there are YouTube presenters on the Theosophical channel who are intelligent and interestingly innovative. But to find
them requires sifting through some academic ideas about the tenants of Theosophy itself.
Here are links to help sift out some of the more innovative minds:
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