Some
Factors Are Decisive in
the
Victory of a Humanitarian Effort
Carlos Cardoso Aveline
Carlos Cardoso Aveline
In
order to tread the Path to Wisdom, one must have access in the first place to a
teaching that can be verified as being authentic, true and universal. And although
this is a decisive point, it is not enough.
We need also to examine how we approach
the teaching, and this is the second item. The path must be seen at the same
time from different angles. The contemplative point of view has to be side by
side with the intellectual one, and the practical and existential viewpoints.
There is a third basic secret in the
effort, which is the conscious, respectful harmony among the souls and the actions
of those who decided to make the journey.
This factor happens to be so easy to
forget that the reason why it
has a decisive importance deserves careful analysis. How exactly does it constitute a secret
key to progress, individual and collective?
There is an unavoidable law in Theosophy,
which establishes that if one student makes a mistake, it is in part as if all his
companions had made that error; and whenever one individual develops a correct
action, is it up to a certain extent as if all his colleagues had done the same.
The pilgrims are part of the same magnetic field. The karma of their learning is therefore
largely collective. Competition deceives the ignorant: the substance of true
intelligence is altruistic and spiritual.
This is why one of the
mottos of the Independent Lodge of Theosophists is precisely “one for all, and
all for one”. The law of life is the law of mutual help, and this inexorable
reality is taught by the mahatmas. In “Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom”,
one of the teachers explains:
“A band of
students of the Esoteric Doctrines, who would reap any profits spiritually must
be in perfect harmony and unity of thought. Each one individually and
collectively has to be utterly unselfish, kind and full of goodwill towards
each other at least - leaving humanity out of the question; there must be no
party spirit among the band, no backbiting, no ill-will, or envy or jealousy,
contempt or anger. What hurts one ought to hurt the other - that which rejoices
A must fill with pleasure B.”[1]
Helena Blavatsky made a similar statement in
a letter to Alfred P. Sinnett.
She said:
“… A group or branch, however small, cannot be a theosophical Society - unless all the members in it are magnetically bound to each other, by the same way of thinking at least in some
one direction…”.[2]
From these explanations one can infer that
the theosophical character of a group is not defined by the fact that it
studies nominally theosophical texts. It is not enough.
The right atmosphere is only built when
its members are magnetically united by working for the same and noble goal. The
process corresponds to the criterion of
affinity, which is followed by the Independent Lodge. [3]
Besides defining the magnetism of the
group, the shared intention of developing altruistic actions creates a synergy
process through which external diversity and contrast produce inner unity and
communion. Probation prepares bliss.
Therefore, whenever a group of students of
Philosophy works with an authentic teaching, it is necessary to build a dynamic
bridge between the teachings and the daily life. The unfoldment of sincere
bonds of mutual help among its students entitles the group to make enduring
progress.
There will be then a pacific and
harmonious process of learning, whose foundations include firmness, frankness
and vigilance. In such a group the routine of organized ignorance can never
fully establish itself, and the art of living in a correct way finds the right
atmosphere wherein to flourish.
NOTES:
[1] “Letters From the Masters of the Wisdom”, compiled by
C. Jinarajadasa, First Series, TPH, India, 1973, Letter 3, Item III, pp. 13-14.
[2] “The
Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A.P. Sinnett”, Theosophical University Press,
Pasadena, 404 pp., 1973, p. 222. See below the facsimile of the manuscript by
Helena Blavatsky, with the quoted words.
[3] Read
in our associated websites the article “The Three Levels of Association”.
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Facsimile of the original manuscript by HPB with the words quoted in the
article “A Secret of the Theosophical
Work”. The image was obtained from
the British Library by “The Aquarian
Theosophist” and published in the book “The Fire and Light of Theosophical Literature” (on p. 191). Transcription:
“… a group or branch, however small, cannot be a theosophical Society - unless
all the members in it are magnetically bound to each other, by the same way of
thinking at least in some one direction…”.
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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.
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