THE THEOSOPHIST VOL. 133 NO. 3 DECEMBER 2011 CONTENTS On the Watch-Tower 3 Surendra Narayan Buddhi 6 I. K. Taimni Freedom of Thought: Is It Essential? 8 Linda Oliveira Indian Systems of Philosophy — Samkhya Darsana 15 Bhupendra R. Vora A Word to the Student 21 N. Sri Ram A Philosophic Look at the Organization 23 N. C. Ramanujachary Tread the Path — the Theosophical Way 25 R. Revathy Fragments of the Ageless Wisdom 30 To Service the Whole Universe is Yoked 31 T. K. Nair Convention Programme 36 International Directory 38 Editor: Mrs Radha Burnier NOTE: Articles for publication in The Theosophist should be sent to the Editorial Office. Cover Picture: Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor), Adyar — Dr T. P. Alaganantham Official organ of the President, founded by H. P. Blavatsky, 1879. The Theosophical Society is responsible only for official notices appearing in this magazine. 1 THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY Founded 17 November 1875 President: Mrs Radha Burnier Vice-President: Mrs Linda Oliveira Secretary: Mrs Kusum Satapathy Treasurer: Miss Keshwar Dastur Headquarters: ADYAR, CHENNAI (MADRAS) 600 020, INDIA Secretary: [email protected] Treasury: [email protected] Adyar Library and Research Centre: [email protected] Theosophical Publishing House: [email protected] & [email protected] Fax: (+91-44) 2490-1399 Editorial Office: [email protected] Website: http://www.ts-adyar.org The Theosophical Society is composed of students, belonging to any religion in the world or to none, who are united by their approval of the Society’s Objects, by their wish to remove religious antagonisms and to draw together men of goodwill, whatsoever their religious opinions, and by their desire to study religious truths and to share the results of their studies with others. Their bond of union is not the profession of a common belief, but a common search and aspiration for Truth. They hold that Truth should be sought by study, by reflection, by purity of life, by devotion to high ideals, and they regard Truth as a prize to be striven for, not as a dogma to be imposed by authority. They consider that belief should be the result of individual study or intuition, and not its antecedent, and should rest on knowledge, not on assertion. They extend tolerance to all, even to the intolerant, not as a privilege they bestow but as a duty they perform, and they seek to remove ignorance, not punish it. They see every religion as an expression of the Divine Wisdom and prefer its study to its condemnation, and its practice to proselytism. Peace is their watchword, as Truth is their aim. Theosophy is the body of truths which forms the basis of all religions, and which cannot be claimed as the exclusive possession of any. It offers a philosophy which renders life intelligible, and which demonstrates the justice and the love which guide its evolution. It puts death in its rightful place, as a recurring incident in an endless life, opening the gateway to a fuller and more radiant existence. It restores to the world the Science of the Spirit, teaching man to know the Spirit as himself and the mind and body as his servants. It illuminates the scriptures and doctrines of religions by unveiling their hidden meanings, and thus justifying them at the bar of intelligence, as they are ever justified in the eyes of intuition. Members of the Theosophical Society study these truths, and theosophists endeavour to live them. Everyone willing to study, to be tolerant, to aim high, and to work perseveringly, is welcomed as a member, and it rests with the member to become a true theosophist. 2 On the Watch-Tower On the Watch-Tower SURENDRA NARAYAN Evolution and Life as a Human Being this evolutionary process, the stage of life — Some Reflections as a human being is very important, in fact At the Feet of the Master has the fol- absolutely necessary. H. P. Blavatsky has lowing statement at its beginning: ‘In this mentioned that nobody can rise to the world there are only two kinds of people higher levels of spiritual consciousness — those who know and those who do not without passing through human life. It has know; and this knowledge is the thing been said that the world is like a crucible which matters — the knowledge of God’s in which gold is purified. Eckhart also plan for evolution.’ It would be relevant stated that ‘if the soul could have known to quote here a statement by the famous God without the world, the world would Sufi sage, Jalaluddin Rumi, about never have been created’. evolution: In saint Tulsidâsa’s epic Ramacharit- mânas once again one finds the same I died from mineral and became a plant, statement in Râma’s teaching to a gather- I died from plant and reappeared in an ing of serious-minded persons of his animal, capital. He said that it is great good fortune I died from animal and became a man. to be born as a human being, for it is the Whenceforth then should I fear? abode for spiritual endeavour and conse- Where did I grow less by dying? quently for reaching the gate to liberation Next time I shall die from man, or salvation. Elucidating it further, he That I may grow the wings of an angel. added that the human form is like a ship Once more shall I wing my way above for crossing the ocean of this material the angels; world and that evolved Teachers are there I shall become that which entereth not the to propel that ship; dull-witted is the imagination, person who does not avail of this Then let me become naught, naught, opportunity. For the harp-string crieth unto me; Annie Besant in her book, The Laws ‘verily unto Him shall we return’ of the Higher Life, explains that spiritual It is important to mention here that in consciousness, referred to earlier, is that Mr Surendra Narayan was for many years international Vice-President of the Theosophical Society, and prior to that held an important government position in finance. December 2011 3 The Theosophist which recognizes unity, which sees one this world. This world is so beautiful. It is Self in everything and everything in the our world, our earth to live upon, but we Self, and that spiritual life is the life which, do not live, we are narrow, we are looking into the infinite number of pheno- separate, we are anxious, we have no mena, pierces through the veil of Mâyâ relationship, we are isolated, despairing and sees the One and Eternal within each human beings; we do not know what it changing form. means to live in an ecstatic, blissful sense. With an emerging perception of the I say one can live that way only when one oneness of all life, boundless love and knows how to be free from all the compassion for all wells up naturally stupidities of one’s life. To be free from and spontaneously from within. One them is only possible in being aware of moves from self-centredness to Self- one’s relationships, not only with human centredness. Not that the self should be beings, but with ideas, with nature, with totally done away with, but that it should everything. be placed in its proper place as an in- In the Bhagavadgitâ, ªri K·shna strument for work at the lower level of mentions: As the ignorant act from at- consciousness. tachment to action, so should the wise act, At the Feet of the Master mentions that without attachment, desiring the welfare the body is your animal — the horse upon of the world. which you ride. Therefore, you must treat The Buddha advised: practise living it well and take good care of it . for in awareness, children, and you will without a perfectly clean and healthy deepen your understanding. You will be body, you cannot do the arduous work of able to understand yourselves, other preparation, you cannot bear its ceaseless people and all things. And you will have strain. But it must always be you who hearts of love. That is the wonderful path control that body, not it that controls you. I have discovered. Saint Mark puts it beautifully thus: ‘For One may add that awareness implies the Son of man is as a man taking a far viewing things from a deeper, purer level journey, who left his house, and gave of consciousness. It is the light within us. authority to his servants, and to every man It needs to be unravelled by removing the his work, and commanded the porter to cover of the ‘self’. watch. Watch ye, therefore, for ye know Thich Nhat Hanh mentions that when not when the master of the house cometh; the light of awareness (within us) shines, lest coming suddenly he finds you the nature of thoughts and feelings is sleeping.’ transformed. They tend to become chan- Some of the guidance given to us by nels of love, joy and peace. the wise ones in the context of our lives A mystic poet wrote: As a child, I was in this world may be referred to here. told and believed that there was treasure J. Krishnamurti advised: Sir, live, live in buried beneath every rainbow. I believed 4 Vol. 133.3 On the Watch-Tower it so much that I have been unsuccessfully The Buddha: So must you look at yourself, chasing rainbows most of my life. I look and look at yourself. wonder why no one ever told me that the What are you thinking? rainbow and the treasure were both within What are you speaking? me! What are you doing? In Letters from the Masters of the So shall you gradually rise to be a good Wisdom, the Master in his letter to human being.