Dear Readers
Welcome to the May-June issue of the AQ. It’s full of readers contributions and comment – our thanks to you for them.
This month the layout of the blog has been simplified so it’s not more than a click or two from downloading the PDF.
Inside you will find:
Setting apart a half an hour – on meditation and a “Happy 100th Birthday” to ULT, on p 1.
“Understanding the Human Element in Economic Crisis” is a review of the problem of work and reward, originally from ‘Manas’ 1948, p 2.
47 m Year Old Ancestor or Astral Shell? News and comment on an important fossil find, p 4
The Kogi & how their Shamans see us, native American Indian culture whose roots are perennial, p 5 and more inside.
Wishing you a happy read, the AQ editors
“Everything that comes for us to do contains a lesson for us. We should not forget that, ever. What comes at any time at any time contains in it the thing we need; so whether it seems hard, troublesome, or pleasant, there is something in it for us.”
from Robert Crosbie’s writings, founder of the ULT, 1909 d. 25th April 1919
Setting apart a half an hour
When we try to still the mind, we become aware of the disturbances. This is the best part.
This is where our work is, to discern the real from the unreal. If we have no obstacles in meditation, we have just put ourselves into a happy meadow, which will be more of a retreat from conditions rather than remembering SELF while in any and all conditions.
To be always aware of our seven fold natures, to be always ready to adjust when needed, to find causes, and attachments. To understand this lower nature and the personality as the unreal, yet “teachable”. To form it to be of service to the Self of all beings.
From the “Theosophical Movement” of Feb.17, 2009
“how can we suppose that with half-an-hour meditation and the remaining 23 and ½ hours spent the way we like would enable us to concentrate? Our whole day should be an exercise in concentration. We allow our energies to drain away by engaging in idle conversations, mental ramblings, re-living the past experiences or being anxious about this that have not yet happened. Every moment must be spent usefully.”
How do we make every moment count? The practice of Dhyana is the practice of unremitting concentration and contemplation.
“How are we going to arrange our life in a proper manner so that it will aid in our half-hour meditation?” page 125 of Feb. 2009 “Theosophical Movement”.
“Let us hit the mark, O friend! and that mark is the indestructible, the highest spiritual life we are at any time capable of.” William Q. Judge.
To apply this effort, “The Line of Life’s Meditation” says:
Columns at Karnak
“The one, who lives entirely on the plane of sense gratification, will draw from the higher planes the energies required for the fulfillment of his desires and aspirations on the lower plane…. On the other hand, in case of a person who has purer desires and who aspires higher, fixes the “centre of attraction” on the higher plane.
The energies on the lower plane are drawn there, resulting in increase of spirituality…. We create our “centre of attraction” on the higher plane, more markedly, when we take a vow, a pledge or a resolve. (see April 09 AQ article on Chelas on p 5)…
In that we focus our mind and heart on the higher plane and earnestly desire to purify our lower nature….Such a vow brings to the surface every latent quality in a person’s nature, leading to an all-round development.”
So it seems that to purify our lower nature, we must be aware of it and there is nothing like a good solid obstacle to bring this lower nature to our attention, so that we may begin that process.
Happy 100th Birthday
We wish the many students and associates of the ULT a happy 100th birthday this month, celebrating the 100 years of work for the Movement since Robert Crosbie started the ULT in Los Angeles in 1909.
The unusual character of the ULT – not being an organisation nor having any officials, but simply a group of free volunteers – has enabled it to prosper.
We hope you will join us in wishing it well in the 100 years to come.
The AQ Editors
2 responses so far ↓
Odin // June 29, 2009 at 5:00 am |
Awesome issue, thank you editors!
Roberto L. // July 1, 2009 at 1:44 am |
HPB uses this phrase: MUTATIS MUTANDIS-(the necessary changes having been made), throughout all her writings. And I think that moving in this direction, this same phrase, applies in helping students as well as inquirers of Theosophy in today’s world of new ways of communication.
Congratulations “Aquarian Theosophist”.