There Are Beings
In All Walks of Life
Who Are Actively
Trying to Help Humanity
The Theosophical
Movement
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A 2017 Editorial Note:
The following
article is reproduced from
the June 2001
edition of “The Theosophical
Movement”
magazine, Mumbai, India. We thank
the editors of
the magazine for the authorization to
reproduce it.
Two footnotes have been added by us.
(CCA)
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Modern society is
very much one of information. We seem to be obsessed with filling our heads
with trivial facts. Now we have the Internet which gives us access to almost
unlimited information on a wide range of topics. This is said to be a great
leap forward for humanity in that we can acquire a great deal of knowledge with
relative ease. It is a step forward, however, only for the lower aspects of the
mind, which accumulates facts but shuts out the true light of the Higher Mind.
Human nature in general has not changed much over the
last few thousand years. It has still not learned how to rely upon the Inner
Self in contradistinction to the outer. We have built a civilization that is
reliant upon externals, upon machines and devices. In England recently there
was a fuel shortage, due to a strike by the suppliers. In a few days the whole
country was brought to a virtual standstill; even food supplies dwindled to
practically nothing because of “panic buying”, i.e., people selfishly thinking of themselves and their own
families and ignoring the plight of others. Lack of fuel had meant that
deliveries to shops had ceased, but if people had thought in a communal sense,
the situation would not have escalated to the level that it did. It is also
true that if there were a breakdown in the computer system, due to a virus for
example, much chaos would result.
It is true to say that there are some benefits to all
of this from the perspective of education, but the technological society is in
danger of controlling instead of being controlled. All the great scriptures of
the world point to man being capable of achieving “wonders”, by the development
of his own spiritual nature, by disciplining his own mind. Sadly nowadays we
chase after externals, mere will-o’-the wisps that will lead us nowhere in the
end, except a divorce from the Light of the Soul and deeper into despair and
doubt. This society is an extremely cynical one in which people gain pleasure
from gossip and denouncing their neighbour and from repeating the Old Testament
adage, “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”, which Jesus refuted in the
New Testament, telling us instead to love our enemies and forgive them. But
nowadays it is a case of “revenge is sweet” and people revelling in the fact
that they made another human being suffer “deservedly”. Elderly people who seek
only peace in their later years are preyed upon by violent criminals and
confidence-tricksters, weak and miserable examples of manhood who exemplify the
worst in a material Society.
Even “serial killers” are lauded. A recent film, “Hannibal”,
tells of the exploits of a cannibalistic murderer, and pictures of the
character “grace” the covers of countless magazines worldwide. What is more,
the film broke all box-office records in its first few days of release. This
kind of salacious material will certainly pollute the collective imagination of
humanity and incite weak, mediumistic natures to commit the most abysmal
crimes. But even the strong-willed cannot be free from the taint of such degrading
material, whether it takes the form of films, television, books or music.
H.P.B. says in one of her articles that dwelling on gruesome murders can help
to cultivate the “evil eye” in certain individuals and that the deadly magnetic
influence will be passed on to others by merely gazing at them. This is a chilling
thought, given society’s obsession with murder and “horror” in films and books.
H.P.B. also tells us that we must never despair of
humanity if we are to be true Theosophists, therefore we need to find positive
solutions to the world’s plight. It is obvious that it is the preponderance of
materiality that has caused this sad state. There is no longer any appreciation
of true beauty, the beauty that arises from a respect for all things spiritual.
The Tao Te Ching says:
“By not exalting the talented
You will cause the people to cease from rivalry and
contention.
By not prizing goods hard to get
You will cause the people to cease from robbing and
stealing.
By not displaying what is desirable
You will cause the people’s hearts to remain
undisturbed.”
Yet the whole of society is based upon the exact
opposite of these wise maxims. We put a great deal of effort into making
material goods seem, not just desirable, but essential.
Therefore, according to this reasoning, we are not
leading life to the full unless we possess all the latest material gadgets! We
are prepared to go to any extent to obtain these goods, because, if we have exalted
technological “wonders” we have at the same time degraded the concept of
humanity. The Theosophical Movement in general was the latest attempt to try to
reveal to the world the true nature of humanity and its place in the unfoldment
of consciousness. It also reveals to us the value of human life, which is not
truly understood by the majority of people.
Low “self-esteem” is a common problem for which people
consult psychiatrists and counsellors nowadays. Depression follows in the wake
of this. The following verse from The
Voice of the Silence is very appropriate here:
“Alas, alas, that all men should possess Alaya, be one
with the Great Soul, and that possessing it, Alaya should so little avail them!”
[1]
We have so much potential and yet squander it at every
moment of our lives. It seems that we try to cultivate the negative side of our
nature, almost consciously. Lust, anger, greed, jealousy and hatred are looked upon
as normal and regarded as “human” emotions by the light of modern values.
Ancient texts predicted a time when values would be reversed and acts of kindness,
compassion and gentleness would be regarded as impractical and the reverse
accepted as necessary. Sadly, that time is upon us. It is now considered
important to be self-centred both in business transactions and ordinary life.
Those of us who try to cultivate the more sensitive side of our natures are
regarded as “soft” and of no account in modern society. This animalistic “survival
of the fittest” attitude ignores all the finer human feelings that are
described in all the sacred texts. It is true that the world needs more tender
loving care and it is good that we have the example of many men and women who
have shown this in their lives and teachings. H.P.B., who herself was a prime
example, mentions two instances from the Roman-Catholic faith - Father Damien
and Sister Gertrude, who lived and died to help the lepers on the Island of
Molokai. In the Buddhist faith there are countless holy men who exemplify the
words of the Master K.H.:
“The greatest consolation in and the foremost duty of
life is not to give pain, and avoid causing suffering to man or beast.”
This is also true in all other traditions, no matter
how much they may have been tainted by dogmas and rituals, etc. There are
always those who transcend tradition and see beyond the dead letter. Writing of
the above-mentioned Sister Gertrude in her article “The Last Song of the Swan”,
H.P.B. says that which can be applied to all those beings who “sweeter make the
Ocean’s bitter waves - that mighty sea formed of the tears of men”:
“She is the rare manifestation of a ‘Higher Ego’, free
from the trammels of all the elements of its Lower one; influenced by these
elements only so far as the errors of her terrestrial sense perceptions - with
regard to religious form - seem to bear a true witness to that which is still
human in her Personality - namely, her reasoning powers. Thence the ceaseless
and untiring self-sacrifice of such natures to what appears religious duty, but which in sober truth
is the very essence and esse of the
dormant Individuality - ‘divine compassion’, which is ‘no attribute’ but verily
‘the law of laws, eternal Harmony, Alaya’s SELF’.” [2]
In this seemingly cruel and heartless society, it is
heartening to think that there are beings in all walks of life and at all
levels who are actively trying to help humanity despite its numerous failings.
These beings form part of what is known as the “Guardian Wall” and work on
different levels.
At the lowest level there may be no knowledge of the
import of the task. Some people have a natural desire to help others, even
though they may have no religious or spiritual inclinations. More enlightened
beings are able to continue this work with full consciousness of what they are
doing and there are countless degrees in between these extremes. It is
therefore essential that we realize that there are constant endeavours to
prevent civilization from slipping deeper into the mire of its own making and
that we should always have faith in the TRUE human nature, not the failings of
the transitory personality. From our studies and meditations we should find
methods to promote spirituality and to help to awaken humanity to the TRUTH.
We are all different. Some of us are intuitional, some
poetic, others scientific and logical. There are ways that each of these types
can contribute something to the welfare of the world. This is Theosophical work
pure and simple. All these viewpoints are represented in the works of H.P.B.
and the Masters, as well as in other genuine spiritual writings. It is up to
each one of us individually and collectively to make Theosophy a living reality
in our daily lives.
NOTES:
[1] “The Voice of the Silence”, translated and annotated
by H. P. Blavatsky, Theosophy Co., Los Angeles, 110 pp., 1987, p. 26. (CCA)
[2] “The Last Song of the Swan”, in “Theosophical
Articles”, by H.P. Blavatsky, Theosophy Co., Los Angeles, Vol. I, 511 pp., p.
417. (CCA)
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See also the
article “The Karma of Literature and the
Media” by Carlos Cardoso Aveline, in our associated websites.
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