wil, InLove, others,
I wanted to offer something here, because I feel that the
spirit of this thread comes from the very heart and soul of
CR ... so beautifully put into form with your help, wil, and your nurturance, InLove.
On a personal note, in a few months a
close college friend of mine, who is finishing his 2-year contract with the US Army after 1.5 years in Iraq (I thank God for his safe passage back stateside), will be coming to room with me till year's end.
Zach is pursuing an IT certification with the local University, and his presence will be quite welcomed, since I have only seen him once (last month) since well before his Army contract began. Zach's has the same BA in philosophy from UNC Asheville as myself, and what's more,
Zach has been a Baha'i since even prior to his college days. So there are a number of blessings in this.
I have had more than a few conversations with Zach over the years, both about the Baha'i Faith, and Theosophy, as well as
numerous points in between ... but often about things only peripherally related, or of course, not at all! {When are the aliens coming, will they have 3 fingers or 6, do they have good coffee on their home planet,
that sort of thing.} 
What I especially welcome is the closer presence in my personal life of a friend who
shares most of the same values, while yet preserving certain philosophical differences - and I would say spiritual
distinctions (a
positive relationship, this) - as to particulars. This is all I wanted to share at the moment along these lines, though I'm hoping that if Zach ends up rooming here, I can talk him into a visit or two to the CR site, as I am certain he would have much to offer, as well as much to gain, from the experience.
On a related note, I hope you won't mind, wil, InLove, and others, if I shared something from the website of the
Theosophical Society in America. I don't know how often I'll be posting on CR in days ahead, and wil, your thread seems to invite
full disclosure, honesty and frank, candid discussion -
if ever a thread at CR did so!
That said, my point - beforehand - is that sometimes, especially if a
spiritual viewpoint, or
philosophical mindset is in the minority, we can be faced with a tremendous challenge, as well as a great opportunity. On the one hand, we have before us a chance to introduce something of that
Spiritual Path or Faith Tradition which has meant
so much to us, to one or two others, maybe to several dozen, or conceivably even to hundreds, thousands & more!
This is wonderful, a true privilege and one we don't always come across every day! Yet there is also a challenge, and even a grave Responsibility that comes with this privilege. To my own, great personal embarrassment, I have found -
and remembered far too late - that if we aren't very, very careful, the first, and subsequent impressions that we make ...
may not go quite as we had hoped, or intended.
True, the fault is not entirely our own; for certain, we all wear a set of
colored or tinted glasses through which we perceive reality, even including other people and their cherised philosophies, religious ideas & ideals. We might want to deny it, or scramble to
remove these preconceptions and
well-worn opinions, once we see that we've been wearing them. Yet they always seem to be there, even when we're
sure we've removed them!
Perhaps this also indicates that it's possible to
over-compensate, as if we should be
apologetic - even from the outset - regarding our spiritual path, or religious beliefs. I find myself saying,
hold on a second ... I'm afraid to share with others,
in a format, location and forum which was created for this Purpose to begin with -
the very values, principles, beliefs and ideals which have meant the most to me, in my personal search for Truth, or Quest for meaning ... and attempt to Honor the Sacred (inasmuch as I believe I have had some contact with it)?
Ever there is the question of
proselytism, and however comfortable we are with our
own beliefs and approach, I have long been convinced that those who seek
most passionately to make converts of others, are the ones
least secure regarding their own faith, beliefs and spiritual path! I may catch much flak for this, but I am speaking as much from my
own experience (and struggles), as from an analysis of
other people, or previous attempts I've survived to
be converted, saved, or enlightened to
some other way of seeing things.
So back to my real point. We have an opportunity, but also a
Sacred Responsibility ...
I don't even care if, 10 weeks from now - or 10 years - we look back and say,
`O-Wa Tagu Siam!' (It's a wonderful mantra; it works best if you begun to say it outloud,
very slowly and intentionally, and only gradually, very gradually, repeat it slightly faster!)
It may be, that in retrospect, we find that
all we cherished and believed is revealed to have been in error, short-sighted, or as having
"missed the mark," at least in some significant way or another. I know that most of us probably imagine that such a finding, or revelation, would be
devastating! Personally, I can't fathom where this would leave me, and so
I certainly hope that it doesn't happen!
But if it does, or did, then sooner or later (unless I truly am a purely self-centered and
selfish individual) ... I'm going to ask myself,
What about all those people - even just one or two, let alone hundreds, thousands - who I preached so much & so often to, or whom I assured, that such & such was the case, and that x, y or z is how things really are?
Even the simplest of my assumptions, and beliefs, may be revealed to have been incorrect -
and then, I may find myself
overwhelmed by a burden of guilt, and of remorse, for having
misinformed, or (even unintentionally)
misled, wrongly guided, my fellow man.
...
In my own, long-winded way, I think I am trying to make a point, on the one hand, but also
apologize, on the other, for a part that I have perhaps often had, at CR, in a terrible
misrepresentation ... such that, even though I know it hasn't been intentional, I still find myself facing, squarely in the face, a rather ugly (or ugly enough) creation which I am forced to own as
"the result of how poorly I've represented, qualified and charactized the Joy, the Beauty, the Truth, the Love and the Light, as I have had the good fortune to have experienced them!"
I must leave it for anyone who has had the patience to bear with me thus far, to try and understand what I'm suggesting (either at CR, in 2+ years, or even in this one post on your thread,
wil and InLove). I am verbose and not always clear, yet I hope you can either sense,
or take me at my word, for once,
in this particular case. I can only sum up, by saying this:
Whatever else I have perhaps said elsewhere, on another forum or post regarding
Theosophy and the
Theosophical Society, as I look back on my 35 years, I know that my life would have been
much less pleasant, less meaningful, less full of Joy and Wonder, without the 18+ years in which I have known of Theosophy, studied various teachings, met others on this path, traveled to Theosophical gatherings, belonged to Theosophical and related societies, meditation & study groups, and
pondered the verities as they are discussed, explored & revealed via Theosophy and Theosophists.
That said, even if I never post again at CR, all that I ask is that anyone truly interested in
Interfaith studies, comparative religion, or even
man's search for meaning (ty, Mr. Frankl) ... please treat with as much Respect, and as much simple, human
decency, anyone (including myself,
regardless of my shortcomings!) who identifies him or herself as
a Theosophist, or an esotericist in the
Theosophical tradition. Any less, and I begin to wonder what we're doing here
anway.
From the Theosophical Society in America webpage:
(About Us) The Theosophical Society in America is a branch of a world fellowship and membership organization dedicated to promoting the unity of humanity and encouraging the study of religion, philosophy and science so that we may better understand ourselves and our relationships within this multidimensional universe. The Society stands for complete freedom of individual search and belief. (all emphasis mine)
And again:
How do Theosophists regard churches and religions?
Theosophy holds that all religions are expressions of humanity's effort to relate to one another, to the universe around us, and to the ultimate ground of being. Particular religions differ from one another because they are expressions of that effort adapted to particular times, places, cultures, and needs. Theosophy is not itself a religion, although it is religious, in being concerned with humanity's effort to relate to ultimate values. Individual Theosophists profess various of the world's religions—Christian, Jewish, Moslem, Zoroastrian, Hindu, Buddhist. Some have no religious affiliation. The Society itself is an expression of the belief that human beings, however diverse their backgrounds, can communicate and cooperate. (again, emphasis mine)
Especial apologies for the lengthiness of my post. I am hoping that I have been able to offer something by way of a personal note,
and also an apology - for having at times been far too assertive of my own thoughts & beliefs (it is important to distinguish these from what might or might not have anything to do! - with Theosophy).
I am also hoping that I might continue to share at CR, which I regard as a
true, virtual {Inter-}Faith Community, and not just a comparative religion forum, although CR is the also best such forum I think I have ever visited!
If I identify myself at times
as having Theosophical beliefs, or background, please feel free either to ask me about that (as you have often done, InLove, and you as well, wil) ... or to seek clarification on
what such affiliation might have to do - with the issue at hand. In this particular case, given the spirit of this thread and the postings so far, I hope my lengthiness can for once be excused ...
and that some of this might fit into perspective.
~~~ - ~~~
I look forward to learning more about
Interfaith (and ecumenism) both regarding Baha'is and Christians, and certainly many others. Theosophists have been interested in, and contributing to Interfaith, for 125+ years (having a prominent presence at the
first Parliament of World's Religions, as well as the second).
Please let me know if I can add anything by way of clarity ... even including (of course), the issue of
just how much interfaith is really being sought, vs.
seeking one's own personal (religion's) agendas, under the interfaith banner. [The former] was part of my motivation in posting the links from the TSA website, and I hope that is seen as an
invitation (and contribution) to dialogue ....
cheers ...
Namaskar - Love and Light,
~zagreus/taijasi (Andrew)
