THEOSOPHY
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A FREE INTRO TO THEOSOPHY
An Outline of Theosophy
By
Charles Webster Leadbeater
What Theosophy Does For Us
It must
already be obvious to the careful reader how utterly these Theosophical
conceptions change the man’s entire view of life when he once becomes fully
convinced of them ; and the direction of
many of these changes, and the reasons on which they are based, will have been
seen from what has already been written.
We gain from
Theosophy a rationalcomprehension of that life which
was before for so many of us a mere unsolved problem – a riddle without an
answer. From it we know why we are here, what we are expected to do, and how we
ought to set to work to do it. We see that, however little life may seem worth
living for the sake of any pleasures or profits belonging exclusively to the
physical plane, it is very emphatically worth living when regarded merely as a
school to prepare us for the indescribable glories and the infinite
possibilities of the higher planes.
In the light
of the information which we acquire, we see not only how to evolve ourselves,
but also how to help others to evolve – how by thought and action to make
ourselves most useful, first of all to the small circle of those most closely
associated with us or those whom we especially love, and then gradually by
degrees, as our power increases, to the entire human race.
By feelings
and thoughts such as these we find ourselves lifted altogether to a higher
platform, and we see how narrow and despicable is the petty and personal thought
which has so often occupied us in the past.
We inevitably begin to regard everything not merely as it affects our
infinitesimal selves, but from the wider standpoint of its influence upon
humanity as a whole.
The various
troubles and sorrows which come to us are so often seen out of all proportion
because they are so near to us; they seem to obscure the whole horizon, as a
plate held near the eyes will shut out the sun, so that we often forget that
“the heart of being is celestial rest.”
But Theosophical teachings brings all these things into due perspective,
and enables us to rise above these clouds, to look down and see things as they
are, and not merely as they appear when
looked at from below by very limited vision.
We learn to
sink altogether the lower personality, with its mass of delusions and
prejudices and its inability to see anything truly; we learn to rise to an
impersonal and unselfish standpoint, where to do right for right’s sake seems
to us the only rule of life, and to help our fellowman the greatest of joys.
For it is a
life of joy that now opens before us. As the man evolves, his sympathy and
compassion increase, so that he becomes more and more sensitive to the sin and sorrow and suffering of the
world.
Yet at the
same time he sees more and more clearly the cause of that suffering, and
understands ever more and more fully that, in spite of it all, all things are
working together for the final good of all.
And so there comes to him not only the deep content and absolute security
which is born of the certainty that all is well, but also the definite and
radiant joy derived from the
contemplation of the magnificent plan of the Logos, and of the steady and
unfailing success with which that mighty scheme moves to its appointed end.
He learns
that God means us to be happy, and that it is definitely our duty to be so, in
order that we may spread around us vibrations of happiness upon others, since
that is one of the methods by which we may lighten the sorrow of the world. In
ordinary life a great part of the annoyance which men feel in connection with
their various troubles is often caused by a feeling that they come to them
unjustly. A man will say: “Why should all this come to me? There is my neighbour, who is in no way a better man than I, yet he
does not suffer from sickness, from loss of friends, or loss of wealth? ; why
then should I?”
Theosophy
saves its students from this mistake, since it makes it absolutely clear to them
that no undeserved suffering can ever come to any man. Whatever trouble we may
encounter is simply of the nature of a debt that we have incurred; since it has
to be paid, the sooner it is cleared off the better. Nor is this all; for every
trouble is an opportunity for development. If we bear it
patiently and
bravely, not allowing it to crush us, but meeting it and making the best of it,
we thereby evolve within ourselves the valuable qualities of courage,
perseverance, determination; and so out of the result of our sins of long ago
we bring good instead of evil.
As has before
been stated, all fear of death is entirely removed for the Theosophical
student, because he understands fully what death is. He no longer mourns for
those who have gone before, because they are still present with him, and he
knows that to give way to selfish grief would be to cause sadness and
depression to them. Since they are very near to him, and since the sympathy
between them
and himself is closer than ever before, he is well aware that uncontrolled
grief in him will assuredly reflect itself upon them.
Not that
Theosophy counsels him to forget the dead; on the contrary, it encourages him
to remember them as often as possible, but never with selfish sorrow, never
with a longing to bring them back to earth, never with thought of his apparent
loss, but only of their great gain. It
assures him that a strong loving thought will be a potent factor in their
evolution, and that if he will but think rightly and reasonably about them he
may render them the greatest assistance in their upward progress.
A careful
study of the life of man in the period between his incarnations shows how small
a proportion this physical life bears to the whole. In the case of the average
educated and cultured man, the period of one life – that is to say of one day
in the real life – would average about fifteen hundred years. Of this period
perhaps seventy or eighty years would be spent in physical life, some fifteen
or twenty upon the astral plane, and all the rest in the heaven-world, which is
therefore by very far the most important part of man’s existence.
Naturally
these proportions vary considerably for different types of men, and when we
come to consider the younger souls, born without opportunity or with
disadvantage, we find that these proportions are entirely changed, for the
astral life is likely to be much longer and the heaven-life much shorter. In
the case of the completely undeveloped there is scarcely any heaven-life at
all, because he has not yet developed within himself the qualities which alone
enable the man to attain that life.
The knowledge
of all these facts gives a clearness and certainty to our anticipations of the
future which is a welcome relief from the vagueness and indecision of ordinary
thought on these subjects. It would be impossible for a Theosophist to have any
fears about his “salvation”, for he knows that there is nothing for man to be
saved from except his own ignorance, and he would consider it the grossest
blasphemy to doubt that the will of the Logos
will assuredly be fulfilled in the case of every one of his children.
No vague
“eternal hope” is his, but utter certainty, born of his knowledge of the
eternal law. He cannot fear the future, because he knows the future; so his
only anxiety
is to make himself worthy to bear his part in the mighty work of evolution. It
may well be that there is very little that he can do as yet; yet
there is none
but can do something, just where he stands, in the circle around him, however
lowly it may be.
Every man has
his opportunities, for every connection is an opportunity . Every one with whom
we are brought into contact is a soul who may be helped – whether it be a child
born into the family, a friend who comes into our circle, a servant who joins
our household – everyone gives in some way or other an opportunity. It is not
for a moment suggested that we should make ourselves nuisances by thrusting our
opinions and ideas upon every one with whom we come in contact, as the more ignorant and tactless of our religious
friends sometimes do; but we should be in an attitude of continual readiness to
help.
Indeed, we
should ever be eagerly watching for an opportunity to help, either with
material aid, so far as that may be within our power, or with the benefit of
our advice or our knowledge, whenever those may be asked for. Often cases arise
in which help by word or deed is impossible for us; but there can never be a
case in which friendly and helpful thought cannot be poured forth, and none who
understands the power of thought will doubt as to its result, even though it
may not be immediately visible upon the physical plane.
The student
of Theosophy should be distinguishable from the rest of the world by his
perennial cheerfulness, his undaunted courage under difficulties, and his ready
sympathy and helpfulness. Assuredly, in spite of his cheerfulness he will be
one who takes life seriously – one who realises that
there is much for each to do in the world, and no time to waste. He will see the
necessity for gaining perfect control of himself and his various vehicles,
because only in that way can he be thoroughly fitted to help others when the
opportunity comes to him.
He will range
himself ever on the side of the higher rather than the lower thought, the
nobler rather than the baser;
his toleration will be perfect, because he sees the good in all.
He will deliberately take the optimistic rather than the pessimistic view of
everything, the hopeful rather than the cynical, because he knows that to be
always fundamentally the true view – the evil in everything being necessarily
the impermanent part, since in the end only the good can endure.
Thus he will
look ever for the good in everything, that he may endeavour
to strengthen it; he will watch for the working of the great law of evolution,
in order that he may range himself on its side, and contribute to its energy
his tiny stream of force. In this way,
by striving always to help, and never to
hinder, he will become, in his small sphere of influence, one of the beneficent
powers of Nature; in however lowly a manner, at however unthinkable a distance,
he is yet a fellow worker together with God – and that is the highest honour
and the greatest privilege that can ever fall to the lot of man.
For more info on Theosophy
Try these
Cardiff Theosophical Society meetings
are informal
and there’s always a
cup of tea afterwards
The
Cardiff Theosophical Society Website
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This is for
everybody not just people in Wales
Theosophy
Cardiff’s Instant Guide to Theosophy General pages
about Wales, Welsh History and The History of
Theosophy in Wales Teosofia en Cardiff (Página en Español) National
Wales Centre for Theosophy One Liners & Quick Explanations The Most Basic Theosophy Website in the Universe If you run a Theosophy Study
Group you can use this as an introductory handout The preparation of this Website Article
describing Tekels Park and its much cherished wildlife by
Theosophist and long term Tekels Park
Resident Madeleine Leslie Smith The Spiritual Home of Urban Theosophy The Earth Base for Evolutionary Theosophy _____________________ Camberley, Surrey, England GU15 – 2LF Tekels Park to be Sold to a Developer Concerns are raised about the fate of the wildlife as
The Spiritual Retreat, Tekels Park in Camberley, Surrey, England is to be sold to a developer Many feel that the sale of a sanctuary for wildlife to a developer can only mean disaster Confusion as the Theoversity moves out of Tekels Park to Southampton, Glastonbury & Chorley in Lancashire while the leadership claim that the Theosophical Society will carry on using Tekels Park despite its sale to a developer Theosophy
talks of a compassionate attitude to
animals and the sale of the Tekels Park sanctuary
for wildlife to a developer has Future
of Tekels Park Badgers in Doubt Tekels Park & the Loch
Ness Monster A Satirical view of the
sale of Tekels Park in Camberley, Surrey to a
developer The Toff’s Guide to the Sale of Tekels Park What
the men in top hats have to
say
about the sale of
Tekels Park
to
a developer. It doesn’t require a
Diploma in Finance or indeed a Diploma
in Anything to realize that this is a bad
time economically to sell Tekels Park Party On! Tekels
Park Theosophy NOT St Francis Church at Tekels Park ____________________ Classic
Introductory Theosophy Text A
Text Book of Theosophy By C What Theosophy Is From the Absolute to Man The Formation of a Solar System The Evolution of Life The Constitution of Man After Death Reincarnation The Purpose of Life The Planetary Chains The Result of Theosophical Study An Outstanding
Introduction to Theosophy By a student of
Katherine Tingley Elementary Theosophy Who is the Man? Body and Soul Body, Soul and Spirit Reincarnation Karma Preface to the American Edition Introduction Occultism and its Adepts The Theosophical Society First Occult Experiences Teachings of Occult Philosophy Later Occult Phenomena Appendix Preface
Theosophy and the Masters General Principles The Earth Chain Body and Astral Body Kama – Desire Manas Of
Reincarnation Reincarnation Continued Karma Kama Loka
Devachan
Cycles Arguments Supporting Reincarnation Differentiation Of Species Missing Links Psychic Laws, Forces, and Phenomena Psychic Phenomena and Spiritualism Karma Fundamental Principles Laws: Natural and Man-Made The Law of Laws The Eternal Now
Succession
Causation The Laws of Nature A Lesson of The Law Karma Does Not Crush Apply This Law
Man in The Three Worlds Understand The Truth Man and His Surroundings The Three Fates The Pair of Triplets Thought, The Builder Practical Meditation Will and Desire
The Mastery of Desire Two Other Points The Third Thread Perfect Justice
Our Environment
Our Kith and Kin Our Nation The Light for a Good Man Knowledge of Law The Opposing Schools The More Modern View Self-Examination Out of the Past Old Friendships
We Grow By Giving Collective Karma Family Karma National Karma
India’s Karma
National Disasters Try
these if you are looking for a local
Theosophy Group or Centre UK Listing of Theosophical Groups Please tell us about your UK Theosophy Group Worldwide Directory of Theosophical Links General pages
about Wales, Welsh History and The History of
Theosophy in Wales The hut circles of the ancient
settlement in Porthdafarch, which is believed to
date back 4000 years Porth Dafarch is on the coast road between Treaddur Bay and Holyhead. Holyhead is on Holy Island
off the north west of the Island of Anglesey
which is off the North
Wales Coast Off Holy Island about 3 miles from
Holyhead Wales is a
Principality within the United Kingdom and has an eastern
border with England. The land area is just over 8,000
square miles. Snowdon in North Wales is the
highest mountain at 3,650 feet. The coastline is almost
750 miles long. The population of Wales as at the
2001 census is 2,946,200. __________________________________________ into categories and
presented according to relevance of website. The
South of Heaven Guide to
Theosophy and Devachan
