On the Need to Face Uncompleted
Actions and Unlearned Lessons of the Past
John Garrigues
John Garrigues
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A 2011 Editorial Note
Before
closing his incarnation, theosophist Dallas
TenBroeck
(1922-2006) distributed as a gift a number of
files
to some of his friends around the world. These contained
fruits
of his lifelong study of Theosophy. Valuable in many
ways,
the Dallas Files also contain two letters written by Mr.
John
Garrigues (1868-1944) to his companions
in the
theosophical
movement. One of these letters is reproduced below.
John
Garrigues was among the founders of the United Lodge
of
Theosophists, ULT, in February 1909. In spite of the fact
that
he worked anonymously, he is seen by some researchers as
one
of the most influential theosophists since the foundation of the
theosophical
movement in 1875. He certainly played a key role in the
preservation
of the original theosophy. In the following letter, we have
suppressed
the first name of the person to whom the message was sent.
We
leave but the initial. At the first sentence
of the second paragraph,
we
added one letter, “w”, in
brackets, so as to complete the word “was”.
(Carlos
Cardoso Aveline)
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Dear K.,
You
may be sure I was mighty glad to have your letter of the 26th with its news in
regard to your own well-being, but sorry to learn that the Oceanside people are
having both outer and inner difficulties.
I
have always felt that Max Heindel [w]as a sincere and earnest student. However he may have been mistaken in some
respects, under Karma, at least he was a worker along those lines which to him
seemed major duties. And again, I have
felt a respect for the devotion of Mrs. Heindel, who has “carried on” despite
all obstacles and limitations.
As I
study and endeavor to apply the great teachings of Theosophy it is more and
more brought home to me that difficult as it is to burst the bonds of one’s
embodied Skandhas, otherwise called the personality, it is a thousandfold
greater task to try to rise above the Skandhas of the race. The whole western world is almost
overpoweringly affected by those collective Skandhas that we call religion,
science and philosophy. The moment any
man endeavors, after his first awakening, to follow and hold fast to the “small
old Path,” he begins to face on another plane the Skandhas of the class of
reincarnating Egos to which he belongs.
It is here that all too many sincere Souls are led into side paths. The Skandhas really represent the “unfinished
business,” so to say, that is, the uncompleted actions and unlearned lessons of
the past.
With
so many Theosophists the remnants of the personal god idea, and one or another
form of “healing” practices, carry them off on the reverse arc. H.P.B., Mr. Judge and Mr. Crosbie well
recognized these dangers, and so had every charity and sympathy for their
fellow men in whom the psychic nature was misunderstood and, therefore,
misdirected.
I do
not quite understand how anything at U.L.T. should cause, or promote, internal
dissensions amongst the Oceanside Rosicrucians.
Certainly they have both the right and the duty to follow Truth as they
may perceive it. Our only desire is to
serve, whenever and wherever possible, all those interested in any way in the
Three Objects of the Theosophical Movement.
I wish that more of the earnest ones there could come in contact with The Friendly Philosopher.[1]
You have a copy, haven’t you?
Anyway, you should be able to be of good and ameliorating influence
because of your own nature and understanding.
My
best wishes to you,
Yours
sincerely,
John
Garrigues. (December 30, 1941)
NOTE:
[1] “The Friendly Philosopher”, a book by Robert Crosbie,
Theosophy Co., Los Angeles. (CCA)
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