Lucifer7, August 2007

Contents

New on Katinka Hesselink Net
Short Quotes
Editorial - Harry Potter
Must Find Real Causes

New on Katinka Hesselink Net

Short Quotes

Mabel Collins, Light on the Path.

Life is after all the great teacher. We return to study it, after we have acquired power over it, just as the master in chemistry learns more in the laboratory than his pupil does. There are persons so near the door of knowledge that life itself prepares them for it, and no individual hand has to invoke the hideous guardian of the entrance. These must naturally be keen and powerful organizations, capable of the most vivid pleasure; then pain comes and fills its great duty. The most intense forms of suffering fall on such a nature, till at last it arouses from its stupor of consciousness, and by the force of its internal vitality steps over the threshold into a place of peace.

Adi Granth

"Thou art in the tree, Thou art in its leaves.
Thou art space, Thou art time,
Thou art fasting, Thou art wisdom,
Thou alone art, Thou alone art."

Mr. D.S. Sarma, The Gita and Spiritual Life 

"The technical yoga-sastra clearly tells us that the so-called siddhi are obstacles, rather than helps, in the way of a yogin, and that true samadhi or realization is only for him who brushes aside the supernormal powers, and marches onward.  It is to be observed that a decadent yogin, who possesses, or pretends he possesses, these powers, is generally characterized by spiritual vanity and an intolerable self-importance.  He thinks that by his renunciation of the world he is entitled to the respect of the world . . . . The truly holy man is he who has surrendered not only his belongings, but also the longings of his self.  Every religion recognizes that spiritual pride is the deadliest of sins.  And yet it is the trap into which many a religious man falls.  It seems to be the tragedy of religion everywhere that those who profess to be religious and have the holy name of God on their lips are often less humane, less unselfish and less charitable than those who are indifferent to religion and never think of God."

Revelation, ii. 23. Moffatt translation.

"I am the searcher of the inmost heart;  I will requite each of you according to what you have done."

Mr. D.S. Sarma, The Gita and Spiritual Life 

"The technical yoga-sastra clearly tells us that the so-called siddhi are obstacles, rather than helps, in the way of a yogin, and that true samadhi or realization is only for him who brushes aside the supernormal powers, and marches onward.  It is to be observed that a decadent yogin, who possesses, or pretends he possesses, these powers, is generally characterized by spiritual vanity and an intolerable self-importance.  He thinks that by his renunciation of the world he is entitled to the respect of the world . . . . The truly holy man is he who has surrendered not only his belongings, but also the longings of his self.  Every religion recognizes that spiritual pride is the deadliest of sins.  And yet it is the trap into which many a religious man falls.  It seems to be the tragedy of religion everywhere that those who profess to be religious and have the holy name of God on their lips are often less humane, less unselfish and less charitable than those who are indifferent to religion and never think of God."

Editorial - Harry Potter

Like millions of others worldwide I've read the latest Harry Potter: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" and am glad to report that the power of love is stressed in numerous ways in this book. The three objects of the Theosophical Society include first and foremost a brotherhood in which caste, background, gender and colour are disregarded. This book shows in highly dramatic fashion just how powerful such working together can be.

Must Find Real Causes

Canadian Theosophist, April 15th, 1926

Investigation that will redirect educational processes was urged on the Religious Education Association at the convention held in Toronto in mid-March by Dr. Goodwin B. Watson, of Columbia University.  He told the final session of the convention bluntly that much of the present talk and planning was futile until research had discovered the real causes of desirable and undesirable attitudes towards other races and creeds.

From his experience as instructor in educational psychology at Teachers' College, New York, Dr. Watson said that character and good-will did not produce, but rather were effects of attitudes.  World-mindedness was not traceable to inborn intelligence and only partially to right information.  The causes of deeper attitudes were obscure, and attitudes, he said, were extremely difficult to alter, hence a pressing need for investigation before the force of religious education were loosed too far in any one direction.

Reporting on the confessions of 500 college students as to the experiences which seemed responsible for their attitudes towards other peoples and nationalities, Dr. Watson listed school experiences, reading material, personal encounters and home attitudes as vital factors in determining attitudes of persons and groups.

"Bright people may be more or less prejudiced than dull people," said the speaker, disposing of the contention that brains make for breadth of sympathy and understanding.

"People who are honest are not necessarily considerate," he said. "People prejudiced about religion may not he prejudiced about the War."

Knowledge, he admitted, did affect feeling, but it had to be well-balanced or antagonism might follow. To learn good about foreigners from a disliked person might have unanticipated effects.

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