Proper Knowledge
of Karmic
Law Will Lead
Mankind to Bliss
Carlos Cardoso Aveline
Carlos Cardoso Aveline
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000
The following text reproduces Chapter
Twenty Four
of the book “The Fire and Light of Theosophical
Literature”,
by Carlos Cardoso Aveline, The
Aquarian Theosophist, Portugal, 255
pp., 2013.
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
“If we are correct in our interpretation of the
inner nature of fire, we can well understand the
sanctity in which it was held by the Rosicrucians.
The Magi, worshipping the sacred flame, held it
to be typical of the Creative mind and doubtless
the mystery which they attached to Fire partook
of all the meaning we attach to psychic force.”
(Thos. Williams in
his article “Psychic Fire”,
“Lucifer”
magazine, London, October 1889, p. 133)
Equilibrium based on philosophical knowledge
brings about the fire - and the light - of universal wisdom. In order to obtain
that, one must adopt a long-term worldview while trying to act in a correct way
at each new moment.
To learn from one’s mistakes is of decisive
importance. The Law of Karma presides over every flame of life and constitutes
the key and the code leading from suffering to happiness: its knowledge gives
efficient tools for the truth-seeker to liberate himself.
There is nothing “pessimistic” about esoteric
philosophy, therefore, and twentieth century thinker Robert Crosbie wrote:
“…Truly Theosophy
does not over-emphasize ‘the cheerless side’ of life at all. It supplies a
logical common-sense explanation of existing things; and once a man understands
what life is for and what it truly means, together with its great
possibilities, he can no longer dwell on the ‘cheerless side’ but feels the
greatest confidence, hope and cheerfulness - and has a true basis for the
feeling.”
And Crosbie added:
“The fact that Law
rules in everything and every circumstance (Karma) is evidence that exact
justice is the rule of life. As soon as one sees that there is no ‘God’ to
condemn or punish him and that he can only get that which belongs to him, and
will surely get everything that does
belong to him in a Universe of Law, then he has no reason for being
‘cheerless’, but feels satisfied, responsible, and confident.” [1]
The Dhammapada on Happiness
Pessimism is therefore a form of naiveté. It
is often childish. It can be cured by the search for truth. Mohini M.
Chatterjee wrote about Theosophy as the path to happiness. [2] The Buddhist “Dhammapada” carefully examines the way to
happiness through detachment. In a style which includes a degree of mantramic repetition, that classical
book says:
“Let us, then, free from hate, live happily
among those who hate; among men who hate let us dwell free from hate.”
“Let us, then, free from the disease of
longing, live happily among those who suffer that disease; among men with
disease of longing let us dwell free from that disease.”
“Let us, then, free from anxiety, live
happily among those who are careworn; among the anxious, let us dwell free from
anxiety.”
“Let us, then, live happily, we who possess
nothing. Let us live like the Shining Ones nourished on joy.” [3]
It is a fact that the first noble truth of
Buddhism is Dukkha, a word usually translated as Suffering. Yet
the other three noble truths of Buddhism teach the way to Nirvana or Happiness.
Right thinking and a balanced view of the
world lead humans to gradually understand that Wisdom is Happiness, and that a
true, unconditional satisfaction emerges from a correct life.
Three Truths About Human Future
Human future is safe. There is no danger
about that. Nothing is separate or
isolated in the universe. Mutual help is the law. In the novel “The Idyll of
the White Lotus”, by Mabel Collins, one sees some fundamental statements about
the future of mankind’s evolution:
“There are three truths which are absolute,
and which cannot be lost, but yet may remain silent for lack of speech. The
soul of man is immortal, and its future is the future of a thing whose growth
and splendor have no limit. The principle which gives life dwells in us and
without us, is undying and eternally beneficent, is not heard or seen or smelt,
but is perceived by the man who desires perception. Each man is his own
absolute lawgiver, the dispenser of glory or gloom to himself; the decreer of
his life, his reward, his punishment. These truths, which are as great as life
itself, are as simple as the simplest mind of man. Feed the hungry with them.” [4]
Happiness dwells in altruism. Proper knowledge
of the Law of Karma will lead mankind to bliss. In opening their own way to a
lasting happiness, students of philosophy inevitably clear the way to others as
well. Life is always symmetric, and by helping other beings one receives better
help oneself. As we saw in Chapter 1, a Master wrote:
“… Look
to the future (…). If your eyes were opened, you might see such a vista of
potential blessings to yourselves and
mankind (…) as would fire with joy and zeal your souls!” [5]
NOTES:
[1] “The Friendly Philosopher”, Robert Crosbie,
Theosophy Co., Los Angeles, 1945, 415 pp., see p. 197.
[2] “Theosophy as the Path to
Happiness”, an article by Mohini M. Chatterjee, available in
our websites.
[3] “The Dhammapada”, With
Explanatory Notes and a Short Essay on Buddha’s Thought; The Theosophy Company,
Los Angeles, 1955, 140 pp. See Chapter 15, on Happiness, p. 47.
[4] “The Idyll of the White
Lotus”, A Mystical Novel, Mabel Collins, Quest Books, Wheaton, Illinois, USA,
1952/1974, 142 pp., see p. 114. The book was first published in the 19th
century.
[5] “Letters From the Masters
of the Wisdom”, edited by C. Jinarajadasa, TPH, India, 1973, First Series,
Letter 20, pp. 51-52.
000
In September 2016, after a careful analysis of the state of the
esoteric movement worldwide, a group of students decided to form the Independent Lodge of Theosophists,
whose priorities include the building of a better future in the different
dimensions of life.
000
