“Ksatriya”
“That Kshattriya, O Keshava, is said to be acquainted with his duty who slays in battle his very preceptors, if they happen to be sinful and covetous and disregardful of restraints and vows.” — Grandsire Bhisma (taken from the lecture “Dharma” by Annie Besant)
Monster Logo: “Kill The Rest.”
“The ksatriyas should always be very strong to be able to give protection to the weak. They should not pose themselves as non-violent. If violence is required, they must exhibit it.” — Commentary from His Divine Grace A.C. Bhakti-vedanta Swami Prabhupada, taken from “Bhagavad-Gita As It Is,” Chapter 16, Verse 3.
This world, this reality we find ourselves trapped in, has not occurred by any accident. It is indeed the effect of a cause from long long ago. The “Mahabharata War.” also known as “Kurukshetra,” was a civil war between “ksatriyas.” This war also marked the end of an Age of Man and the beginning of another. This war caused the material extinction (in form only, never in spirit) of the “ksatriya” varna. Without ksatryiyas to protect society, of course… eventually it all fell into ruin. Evidenced obviously by the nature of the world you readily see around you. Dishonesty, fraud, all forms of vice and a general lack of Godly virtue best describe this new age we live in called “Kali Yuga.”
On the evening of the ninth day of Kurukshetra, the day that the “Kali Yuga” was born, Lord Krishna addressed a despairing King Yudhishtira:
“But a kshatriya must die to pity and kindness before he can find perfection; and perfection is a hard thing to find. It isn’t that Arjuna is not archer enough to kill Bheeshma, but his heart is soft; not that he cannot kill his Pitama (grandfather), but he will not. He cannot find the detachment within himself, the pure spirit of vairagya.” — Source
As always, I have included the source from this quote. I suggest you give the chapter a read, I find it very touching to the warrior spirit. Alas, that is what this project of mine is about…returning to myself, to you, to us this ‘warrior spirit,’ whose return is inevitable.
Wait a minute…Is This a Cult?
“Have a Nice Day”
Original Commission by Andre Pinheiro
Are you the type of person that must have every new iteration of Apple’s iPhone…obsessed are we? Guess what…you my friend are part of a cult. Are you the kind of person that is a die-hard fanatic about, let us say the ‘Los Angles Lakers’? Well, you too ‘my guy’ are in a cult. In fact any gathering of minds of like values, goals or ideologies is basically & fundamentally a cult.
Mind you, that the root word of culture is the word ‘cult.’ Cult’s have a gotten a bad wrap…there have been more than a few bad seeds. Take anyone of the major religions and trace it backward…I bet you find…guess what…a cult.
So is the cult? Of course it is! Like minds, like goal, like values…yes sir indeed. That there is a bonafide cult. Am I the cult leader? I would have to say ‘No.’ I believe in de-centralized leadership supplanted by emphatically strong beliefs & pragmatic intelligence of its members. All of this centralized leadership is part of the problem.
The picture above, “Have A Nice Day,” was the first commission of art I had made by Andre Pinheiro. He designed for me about ten years ago. The inspiration was ‘customer service.’ Some customers, well they suck…and sometimes you say to them “Have a Nice Day,” when you really mean “Go Fuck Yourself.” As an ex-bartender, I had a lot of those experiences.
Earlier in my career as an aspiring, revolutionary, marketing entrepreneur I had a sit down with a fairly large local screen printing company. I had a co-worker who had just been hired by them and said they were “really cool.” From our brief meeting, I found them to be not cool…or phrased another way…”whack.” Allow me to elaborate for you.
First, in all sense of fairness, my dialogue was NOT WITH THE OWNER but with a sales associate. Overall their production facility was fantastic! They were very nice people. Everything was copasetic until we began to discuss content & my goals with it. I’m not retelling this story to trash anyone but to point out the differences in ideals between entities from an actual event; value differences between service providers (screen printers) & content creators (artist).
When the associate and I sat down to discuss content, I whipped it out…hahahaha. I showed her “Have A Nice Day.” I explained that I was interested in having it printed on the back of a shirt. I explained to her that I was looking for some guidance on how to prepare the art for production, maximum print dimensions and what not.
The first thing she said was, ‘Oooooohh, is there anyway you can edit this. There are nipples showing. The owner is really religious.”
It was like time slowed down for me, for about 30 seconds. A lot of scenarios played in my head in that brief time. I quietly gathered my materials, stood up, shook her hand, thanked her for everything and left. That was about eight years ago.
Now, I respect the owners rights to his beliefs, but this is business. Content creators (artist) pay service providers (screen printers) to provide a service. We do not pay them to censor us. I now have service partners who are in alignment with that understanding. That day caused me to invest my time and money in learning more about the trade. Here I am today, I owe them many thanks for catalyzing my desire to succeed.
So this cult, starts with the artist who are not going to be censored by anyone thinking they authority to do such. By the nature of this ideal, it extends outward to other individuals who may not be artist, but are consumers that feel the same way.
Providing artist with a way to produce their ideas on clothing became a definite chief aim for what I wanted this company to be. I remember looking at “Occupy Wall Street” on television and thinking to myself, “I want to make clothing for those people.” Here I am today.
The word “Zeitgeist,” means the ‘spirit of the age.’ It has become my goal to utilize what I have built to reflect and promote this new “Spirit of the Age.” The People are fed up with The System…because the system is broken.
One of my favorite men, Napoleon Hill, once wrote, “A problem discovered, is a problem half solved.”
Why The Criminal Element? (Part 2)
“There is no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced or objectively interpreted—and you create a nation of law breakers—and then you cash in on guilt.”
— via Dr. Ferris in “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand
A “realist,” is “a person who tends to view or represent things as they really are.”
I will tell you a personal story from my youth about civil disobedience. Quite a few people think that I was in the military and/or should have joined the military. I come from 'military family,’ my grandfather served in WWII, most of my uncles served, my two brothers served. It would seem that fate had set me up to join as well…if it weren’t for some choice words regarding such my own grandfather, a purple heart recipient.
After coming home from Europe at the end of WWII, my grandfather came back home from fighting for ‘his country.’ Fighting for ideals that he thought were shared across this nation. One day he took it upon himself to attend a baseball game of his favorite team, The Saint Louis Cardinals. Well, unfortunately black veterans, or blacks in general were not welcomed by the crowd. Eventually left, not because the game had ended…but because he was tired of being spit upon…literally.
His narrative changed my opinion about the military and the nation.
Now fast-forward to my junior year in high school. The Pledge of Allegiance, is said in ‘home room’ every morning, of every school day, in every school. There came a point in my freshmen year when I just didn’t feel right about making such an oath I did not believe in…which is my Constitutional right. I never stood or said the pledge again…ever.
One day we had a substitute teacher, he was a Vietnam veteran…a white man. As the ‘pledge’ began he saw me sitting in my alphabetically assigned seat, which was third from the front…and right in front of the teachers desk. Oh…it infuriated him so much. As soon as the pledge was over, he began to berate me and said, “I needed to stand for the pledge, because that’s what American do!”
Then I said, “Well not this American…I have a constitutional right to choose.”
He did not like my answer at all. He then went on a mad tirade in front of the class, angrily lecturing us on how he fought for this country in Vietnam and some other shit I forgot. Finally he finished by saying to me, “They should put you in a box (kill me) and ship you back to where you came from!”
My only reply was, “…and where exactly do you believe I came from?”
Check Mate! I wish you could have seen his face. The point that he realized that he had made a mistake. One that could end his career as a substitute teacher. Adults who threaten children behind a veil of patriotism have no place in public schools. He was silent after that. He never questioned me again…knowing fully well that I could end his career at anytime I chose…but I did not.
You see, I respect the fact that he served. I also understand that he may feel belittled, the misery he endured disregarded, when others do not acknowledge or appreciate ‘your flag.’ Hopefully, that situation enlightened him…the choice to serve does not entitle you to appreciation.
That substitute was / is representative of a culture, and a tribe that still exist to this day…my assessment has not changed for the better.
You see freedom is a very fragile thing, and it must be upheld as an absolute in this nation…or there will be no nation. I’m in no way condemning any person but instead a frame of mind. Beware, a police state is fertile ground for the rise of criminal culture…and technology can not defeat it. People all across this globe are very, very angry…and all this powder keg will need is a wee bit of awareness, and a common belief…but a disbelief will work just the same.
Worry not though, all thing in the universe are cyclical, events such as the one’s unfolding in our society have happened before and will happen again and again…that is until the lesson is learned. Not just by the individuals, but more importantly by the collective.
If all thing and events are cyclical in their nature, then I suppose…another
Why The Criminal Element? (Part 1)
“That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” — “The Declaration of Independence” of The United States of America
Hmmmmmm? Do you feel both Safe & Happy in America? No, I know you don’t…because only a select few are ‘allowed’ to be happy, and absolutely no one is safe anymore. This should be becoming painfully obvious to all. Ahhhhh…I love it! The playing field is finally becoming level…no more advantages for anyone…karmas, national & individual are coming full circle. “You reap that which you sow,” is fairly common belief in most minds.
If you look backwards in American history, you will come to realize that this nation was founded on ‘criminality.’ The Boston Tea Party is considered the de facto beginning of American Independence. The incident involved the willful destruction of 342 Chest of Tea, belonging to the British East India Company…a corporation. The willful destruction of property, private or public, is indeed a crime. I won’t even venture into later history regarding the treatment of Native Americans, slavery, violence against organized labor, Asian interment camps, or currently, the weaponization of politics against minorities and other under represented groups. When will the populations of these nations get tired of this oppressive bull shit, and do the things they really feel compelled to do…do what is truly in their nature…and fully embrace their moral force…their dharma.
I should also state plainly here I am in no way encouraging people to commit crimes, but it you feel the need to do that, if that’s part of your dharma…then do you fam! I am here to help ‘the people’ come face to face with their own emotional state. I offer a unique way for people to express themselves, whether it be state of mind, religious or political belief…nothing is sacred to me. My allegiance is to Anger, my political affiliation is Frustration.
So let me go ahead and put this out there “on the record.” Fuck Jesus, Moses, David, & Mohammed. Fuck your prophets, psychological mind fuckery, and covert elitism. Fuck Democrats & Republicans, and for sure Fuck MAGA. Fuck Nations. Fuck your program, your labels and your regulations. Fuck Hell & Fuck Heaven too. Fuck Punishment & Reward. I think I covered a good many constructs that deserve a long overdue demolition, a complete & total rejection of the system. You see I’m not anti-(insert here)…I’m practically anti-everything…but I am most certainly & definitely pro-mercenary. I do shit for money…just like you…for survival. You know who else is mercenary & ‘anti-everything’…you guessed it…criminals. That’s why I make gear for that coming pervasive mental attitude. If you think I am alone in this outlook…better think again & wise up.
I bet this guy gushes praise to Jesus every Sunday…in the front row…singing hymns the loudest...just smiling away.
Slap! A Karen Today. That’s how they learn. People have been too nice with this type of behavior.
East Coast Avengers (2011)
“Politics is all tricks, like David Blaine”
Somewhere buried in all of the Theosophical Manuals (See Bookshelf) there was a quote from around the late 1800’s (an estimate) predicting that America specifically would fall into ‘tribal anarchy.’ Find below a few randomly selected modern day article coming to the same conclusion:
“The Troubling Obsession With Political ‘Tribalism’”
(The New Republic)
“The Political Divide in America Goes Beyond Polarization and Tribalism”
(KelloggInsight)
(National Review)
Only the foolish ignore the realties confronting them. Only the disillusioned contend that the truth is indeed false. Only the vested drown with a sinking ship. The writing is on the wall. Tribalism is the America of the future...the wise accept this now. The most powerful tribe is always a unified people...but the question arise, "what can unify these people?"
A common need, or a shared vision for the future can quite easily bring like minds together, but only a belief in a common deity can fuse people together…nothing else. So while I reject modern religion & government for no other reason than they are rampant with corruption, I accept that you may still believe in such. To formulate their own opinions is the right of every person, what is not their right is to force their opinions and ideologies on others…that is a very dangerous path to tread down which eventually gives rise to revolt. It appears that America will not be an exception.
What if I told you, that all that is happening now was predicted thousands of years ago? Most religions will contend that society will sink into a period of anarchy. This is a core belief of Theosophy. Since all things are a matter of vibrations, undulations, sine waves if you like…what goes up must come down. This universal law we believe in applies to everything. “A man that takes birth is certain to die. A man that dies is certain to be reborn”. The human life can be seen as such, it has a start, and apex and an end. So just as people experience rebirth…so do civilizations.
I have been an ardent student of Theosophy for a couple of decades now. I tried in this life to be no one. I tried to turn my away from my own character cultivated by several past lives enriched with a lust for violence…something I don’t wish to embrace anymore. In order to understand & craft your future, you must first recognize your past & make a fair assessment of your present. My job & mission here is not to change your minds…no one can do that. I can merely give you enough information to formulate an educated opinion for yourself…only you are allowed to change your own mind. That’s a theosophical belief as well.
If man is a constantly evolving creature (at a fairly slow rate), then it is reasonable to believe that his civilization will be a constantly evolving thing as well since it is a product of the thoughts & ideals of men & women. If you look around the world, you will see a quite a bit of rejection of both religion & government…what does that suggest about or civilization? Well, I would contend that an evolution is occurring, lines are being drawn. Conflict is a necessary pre-cursor to societal evolutions…and we are due up one soon.
“Illinformed” (2023)
“Fuck Life, Die Now…Rest After!”
So now, you know a bit more about ‘what I’m about’ and what this project is about…it’s time for a shameless plug from a mercenary.
We offer four tiers of apparel depending solely on your monetary discretion. I don’t want anyone to be priced out of participation…are like minded peoples are welcome here…and so it you money (hehe).
Here you will find items that are widely available. Items here will be either made directly by us, or outsourced to a screen printing partner for greater scale. Items here are not considered unique or exclusive, but they are going to be our most affordable options. No matter what you pay, your selection will be a quality item, and it will always be Piff!
Want to bump it up a notch, and create your own rare to unique item? This is the area for you my G! These items are completely customizable! Pick your garment, and then make your positional selections (front, back, sleeves). All the combinations we make available make it highly unlikely you will encounter some one with the same gear as you…unless your friends OR haters see you ‘drip’ and bite your style!
Are you a baller? Do you happen to possess racks on racks on racks?
Ocean Wisdom ft. Remus (2016)
“Free my brother, got him locked down, shit’s hostile! If you can’t hack, better Opt Out!”
So finally, why the criminal element?
If black people, all minorities, the underprivileged, and under represented can not be made satisfied & content in this land of wealth and corruption…no other option has been afforded to them. Therefore it is an unfortunate, yet necessary transitional state towards a more peaceful & harmonious society. Do you think these people are going to be oppressed forever without consequence?
Struggles
Nothing can gather families back together better than weddings and funerals. Recently my cousin was married, it was a beautiful Christian wedding. I was honored to gather with them and witness the bride and groom profess their love first for their God, and then for each other…the way it should be. It was good experience for me as well, as I witnessed first hand that the “Church” is the people, not the building, nor the pastors, nor the dogma…but the community. While I am not a Christian, as a Theosophist I have the capacity to assemble with any group of people in worship of their God…because it is all the same to us. Since we believe in a Universal Deity, that God is beyond all attributes, all material labels that Men can concoct. All we Theosophist can say concerning God, is “It Is.” The first and all important attribute would be, “The Most Merciful.” Theosophy does not challenge the faith of others, it is a philosophy meant to enhance it actually; because Theosophy concentrates most with ethics & truth, it leaves faith in the hands of religion.
When families gather, stories get told of the past. You will often hear stories about your parents and grandparents, and sometimes…just sometimes you might just a hear a meaningful story about yourself. The morning of the wedding, my uncle told a story about me. He said, “Do you remember when you were around five years old at grandma’s house and I asked you if you had any hobbies? Do you remember that?”
I replied, “No I can’t say I do.”
He let a hearty laugh and said, “You know what you said? You said drinking.”
Now I want to clarify here, he meant drinking alcohol. Now one might brush that story off and say “Oh how cute, I was such a silly little kid…saying the darndest things!”
Not me! You see I don’t believe in coincidence. Let me tell you of another brief episode my estranged & absentee father told me. This story happened when I was even younger, probably two and half, no older than three years old. My Dad was a blue collar worker. He was a blacksmith (iron worker) for the railroad. After a hard day at work it was customary for him to drink a few cold beers…a pretty common thing. He was sitting on the couch and had just settled down to watch some T.V. with his freshly opened beer. I was running around in the living room full of little kid energy. He took a swig from the beer and put it on the coffee table. Apparently I ran up to the coffee table, grabbed the beer with both hands and started giggling.
My Dad said, “Well what are you going to do with that?”
I said with confidence, “I’m going to drink it!”
He said, “Well go ahead then.”
Now my Dad thought, like any parent, that a three year would not like the taste of beer. He was wrong, I turned that beer up and drank the whole rest of it (75% full)! Now that’s two different incidence about me recanted from two different sources. Would you find it surprising that later in life I also suffered from a drink problem…coming dangerously close to full blown alcoholic? Would you find it surprising that alcoholism runs rampant in that side of my family?
So remember what I said about reincarnation? A physical life will be given that will challenge you…based on your inner nature (dharma) and desires (kama). If a person lives a life as an indulgent person and has an intense desire for one thing or another (call it drinking) and has not exhausted that impulse in that specific life…it will haunt him again in his next life.
Prana 101
So, over the course of this blog, you have been introduced to “Prakriti” or “Material Nature”. If you have bothered to listen to, or dare I say perhaps even study, the material in Bhagavad Gita; you would come to understand that all forms (material beings or matter based things) are “entangled” in Material Nature. Material Nature you could say is a product of the interactions of Prana & Kama (Prana X Kama = Prakriti, in a very, very, very simple mathematical analogy). There is a direct correlation between Prana & Kama, as you will learn here today. We already established that Kama is the “Desire” principle or impulse, but what is Prana? Let’s us review and examine the “Septenary” concept to get a better understanding.
Below, you will find a few diagrams to better understand the relationships of the parts to the whole, concerning the Septenary Principles. Please remember that ANY diagram or model is in NO WAY definitive! They are merely tools to help the concepts and relationships materialize in the thoughts of the students. In reality, all principle interpenetrate each other. The Six Heterogenous Principles (Buddhi, Mana, Prana, Kama, Linga Sarira, Sthula Sarira) are specializations of the One Homogenous Principle (Atma).
Star of David & Swastika Image
Perhaps you have seen this symbols before. Some peoples refer to it as the “Star of David.” It’s not the Star of Anyone, as geometric shapes do not belong to anyone. This is symbol seen throughout antiquity, and Judaism is the most recent religion to make use of it. Quite ironically the Swastika, popularized by the Nazi Party of Germany, is also another ancient symbol again borrowed & misallocated by some cultural production of men. Also, that symbol does not belong to the Nazi’s, as it existed long before they were even an thought. There is much power hidden in symbols, especially the ones considered “Divine.” The only thing that can truly unify Mankind is a common belief in Deity. Now think about the two above symbols, did there usage serve the purpose of unify a specific people? Indeed they did, and still do.
What Good is Repression?
We are ALL fucked up…All of us, but that’s okay, because we are growing towards something. Growing towards some definite & tangible end.
“Even Wise People Act According to their natures, for all living beings are propelled by their natural tendencies. What will one gain by repression?”
When the seed of this company was first planted in my head…I was a Godless man...NO…an abysmal creature. In fact I hated God, and all of Creation, including you. Inimical that’s what I was, dark, heavy and malevolent. I remember one summer in my early twenties, drinking alcohol & doing drugs at the pool, I said to God, “ Sooner or later, I’m going to march on Heaven, tear down the gates, and piss on your head before I end you.” I was in a bad place…eventually everyone makes it there…eventually…everyone.
In the above snippet, Wyatt Earp & Doc Holiday are discussing the nature of one of the principal villains of the movie…the duelist, Johnny Ringo. To quote Doc Holiday from the movie, “A man like Ringo got a great empty hole right through the middle of him.”
This is very true, men like Ringo and my “former self” do indeed have a great empty hole running through the middle of them. Their anger and violence are the mere effects of unresolved sorrows. Those sorrows, being repressed, comes out in the actions of the man by way of anger, violence, and a general “outlaw” type of mentality.
I know this all to well, because I am an Enneagram Type Eight. I believe Type Eight, Level Seven should appropriately describes Johnny Ringo’s disposition:
“Defying any attempt to control them, become completely ruthless, dictatorial, “might makes right.” The criminal and outlaw, renegade, and con-artist. Hard-hearted, immoral and potentially violent.”
But I am not exactly like Johnny Ringo, I have a strong sense of duty. This was my ‘saving grace.’ Where he was comfortably embedded in, and embraced with his outlaw mentality, I was conflicted and torn. I was in the midst of a spiritual trial, a tribulation. Do you perhaps believe in reincarnation? By that I mean the immortality of the soul, and temporary nature of these material physical bodies? Regardless of your answer, I definitely do. A reincarnated soul will be placed inside a material body, to live a certain life designed to impel its growth, to challenge it…it’s inner nature…to fail or succeed. Well, this time, I did not fail, I succeeded, I persevere. I took the test, we shall call it “The Black.” I took this body, along with the karma, and the drama, that I had generated in previous lives, and I tamed it. The plan is to help you to do the same. Perhaps you should understand the nature of a healthy version of me, Type Eight, Level One:
“(At Their Best): Become self-restrained and magnanimous, merciful and forbearing, mastering self through their self-surrender to a higher authority. Courageous, willing to put self in serious jeopardy to achieve their vision and have a lasting influence. May achieve true heroism and historical greatness.”
I can’t tell any of you how to fix yourself, I can only tell you how I did it. How I am changing my direction, how I am redeeming myself. That’s the whole purpose of this blog. I can only share with you some of the books I have read, and recapitulate to you a few of my own life experiences. Real talk, real shit. I am a student of a spiritual science known as Theosophy, it has played a profound part in altering my “mental processes” and ultimately led to a change in my “mental program.”
I would love to say that the old part of me is gone, but that would be a lie. Lying is something for children and cowards. We can never rid ourselves of our darker, more animalistic self. We can only conquer it. It is much a part of us as our own shadow. For our purposes, I will refer to this part of us that we struggle with as a “rector,” but technically speaking it is called an elemental…specifically a human elemental. Over the course of this blog, I will reveal to you things I have learned about this Nature of Ours.
The products I produce are indeed the effects of my darker self’s causes and energies. I like most people tried to repress it; however, realization is the key. Now I have it under my control and I make use of its energies like a electric motor…its the stator and this company is the rotor. I allow it to express itself in the form of products…shirts, hats, you know other shit. It’s almost always…criminal…mere reflections of my environment, here in America. Instead of repressing it, I mastered it, and utilize it for my ends. Welcome!
Bhagavad Gita
A Brief Summation
At this point, we have discussed enough key topics of Theosophy to give you a better understanding of some concepts addressed inside “Bhagavad Gita.” We have discussed “The Absolute” (Atma) and it’s polar nature of Spirit & Matter. We have also discussed Kama, The Principle of Desire. You have been introduced to concepts such as Dharma (Duty) and it’s relationship with Kama (Desire) & Karma (Fruitive Actions or The Field of Action).
“Bhagavad Gita” is a story within a much larger narration known as “Mahabharata.” Both of which you can find on “The Book Shelf.” Inside “Mahabharata” lies an account of the Mahabharat War, a most destructive war between blood relatives of a royal empire. The principle character (of Bhagavad Gita), Arjuna, is distressed at the thought of annihilating his friends, cousins, nephews, uncles, and grandfathers. Though many of them are indeed wicked, some are obligated by duty, such as “Grandsire” Bhishma. The grief stricken Arjuna seeks council from another blood relative Sri Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, The Apex of All Intelligence, and thus becomes his disciple.
Sri Krishna explains to Arjuna the Nature of Existence, not only for the sake of Arjuna, but for the sake & benefit of all future men & women. All the events that unfolded at Kurukshetra (the name of the battlefield) were by the will of Krishna alone, material sacrifices made for the spiritual benefit of Mankind, particularly for those existing within the yuga known as Kali…which is now.
Background of the situation
The quarrel at the base of the war concerns the true lineage of royal succession to the throne of Hastinapura. King Vichitravirya, who died without producing heirs, had three heirs produced by a niyoga relationship. The purpose of which was to produce heirs for the continuation of the family lineage. The surrogate father of Vichitravirya’s heirs was his half brother Vyasa, the very same person responsible for narrating “The Mahabharata.”
Of the three heirs produced, only two are of true consequence with regard to the Bhagavad Gita, Dhritarashtra & Pandu. Now take into consideration that neither of these heirs is a true descendant of Vichitravirya. That is one of the greatest & most bitter ironies of the story. No one laying claim to the throne has an actual blood right to it, so the war is actually fought for nothing when examined from a strictly material sense. That is one of the underlying points of Bhagavad Gita.
Dhritarashtra was the older of the two; however, he was born blind. After being advised by sages & elders, he vacated his claim to the throne due to his blindness. His younger brother Pandu was hence crowned. Dhritarashtra would later produced 100 sons, the first of which was named Duryodhana. It is to be understood then, Dhritarashtra was materially rich having been blessed with so many son. Dhritarashtra was not just physically blind, but spiritually blind as well, this would be the cause of his subsequent woes.
King Pandu (in another tale) had a curse placed upon him by a sage known as Kindama. The curse prevented Pandu from producing heirs with his wife, the queen, Kunti. Earlier in her life, Kunti was given a blessing by a visionary sage, Durvasa. This blessing gave her the right to have children by any Deva, or “Heavenly Being” she chose. Kunti gave birth herself to three sons, Yudhishthira (by “Dharmaraja”/Justice), Bhima (by “Vayu”/Wind) and Arjuna (by “Indra”/The Heavenly King). Kunti also invoked two more sons for Pandu by way of his second wife, Madri. Madri bore to Pandu two more sons, Nakula and Sahadeva, by way of the Ashvins.
Forgetting the curse laid upon him by Kindama, King Pandu attempted to make love to his second wife Madri, and he died (as this was the nature of the curse.) Madri in her sadness subsequently committed suicide, leaving Kunti with the five young boys.
Since none of Pandu’s son, known as “Pandavas,” were old enough to ascend the throne, Dhritarashtra took the throne until they came of age. Duryodhana, being the eldest son of the new king, felt that royal ascension belonged rightfully & solely to him. This is where the quarrel truly begins, where Kama, Dharma & Karma come into play. This is the situation which divided the whole family into two sides, Kauravas & Pandavas…each believing their respective claim and efforts to be righteous.
The Kauravas claimed that the Pandavas were not true descendant of Pandu, as they were sired by celestial entities. Remember though, neither Dhritarashtra nor Pandu were the true sons of Vichitravirya. If the Pandavas had no claim, then neither did the Kauravas. Do you see the irony?
On the other hand, the proponents of the Pandavas argued that since the boys were born of celestial lineage, there was no question as to who the true heirs were. They believed that the nature of the births removed any question of legitimacy.
The Structure of the Text
Bhagavad Gita is primarily written in a dialogue format. The primary dialogue is between Sri Krishna & Arjuna on the battlefield at Kurukshetra. This dialogue between Sri Krishna & Aruna is being witnessed by the sage & seer, Sanjaya. Sanjaya is the spiritual advisor to King Dhritarashtra. He is relaying what he is seeing and hearing (remotely) at Kurukshetra while the two of them, Dhritarashtra & Sanjaya, are within the safety the capital fortress.
Desire, A Brief Essay on Kama: Part Two
The evolution of Dharma (Inner Nature) happens in a progression of stages. Those stages are called Varnas and their number is four. We will not be examining The Varnas from the aspect of social status, but from the stand point of spiritual growth & development. I do not believe in a caste system of social hierarchy. These are without doubt, man-made constructs of elitism and thus have no place in Theosophical Philosophy as it goes against the doctrine of Universal Fraternity. The four Varnas (classes) are as follows and they should be viewed the same as the progression through high school or college (i.e. Freshman, Sophmore, Junior & Senior).
Shudra (Tamas / Inertia)
Attribute of Growth: Discipline (through obedience)
Vaishya (Tamas & Rajas / Inertia & Passion)
Attribute of Growth: Justice (through fair dealing)
Kshatriya (Rajas / Passion)
Attribute of Growth: Selflessness (through sacrifice & leadership)
Brahmana ( Sattva/ Purity & Equilibrium)
Attribute of Growth: Unity (through universal compassion & dispelling of illusion to achieve wisdom & release from misery )
This narration will consist of three characters, myself being one of them. Try to place each character in the proper Varna, based upon the information presented.
Alex was first brought to my attention by a fellow bartender, as these incidences took place within a restaurant. The bartender that introduced us, we shall call him George. George was in the same age range as Alex. I was the lead bartender, and I trained George as a bartender to assist me. George had a crush on Alex, as she was an attractive woman. Alex had a boyfriend...and a sugar daddy to boot. This seems to be common practice with women today. It has been called "Alpha Fucks & Beta Bucks."
The first thing I began to notice about Alex, was that she constantly referred to everyone as her 'best friend.' I do mean everyone. She was one of those 'social butterflies,' a perpetual attention seeker.
One day, I yelled at her about something, and made her cry...which was fairly constant. She asked me, "Why don't I like her? Everyone likes her except me." She further accused me of hating her.
Now I am pretty exacting in conversation, and I explained to her, "I don't hate anyone, but I do think you are a fake person." I explained my rationale around her 'best friend' behavior.
So the way my brain work is I keep a mental dossier on everyone within my relational proximity...intuitive, thinking, & judging. So in her file I added: Fake & Emotionally Manipulative.
Some time later she bought herself a new car, a Mercedes of some sort. She was so happy about it. I asked her "Why did you get such an expensive car?"
She replied confidently, and with no hesitation, "Because I am an expensive girl."
That made me smile and laugh, I replied "Its good that you know that." Add into her dossier “Impractical, Expensive & High Maintenance.
There came a situation where I helped her and another girl out with an apartment they were trying to rent. They came to see me as a hero of sorts...that gave assistance where no one else would...call it compassion.
At some later point Alex was "on break" from her boyfriend. George asked me what I thought about her ‘dating wise.’ I said, "You should stay away from her...she is too much woman for you to handle. An attention seeking woman is the worst type of woman you can get emotionally involved with."
About a month later Alex made George tell me they were dating. She later asked my opinion about the two of them. I initially refused to answer. After much pestering, I got tired of her bothering me about it, and I said flatly, "It's not going to work." Pulling punches is not my thing. I am ‘straight shooter’ so to speak.
A bit flustered by my response, she asked “Why?”
I reminded her about the car she bought. How she said, "I am an expensive girl."
I further asked, "Is George a rich man? He will never be able to give you the life you want, and thus you will never be truly happy with him. It is a waste of time. You are probably the prettiest girl George has ever slept with, and you are just using him. He is basically a throw away dick for you, and you are just playing with him because you can."
She replied, "I told him not to fall in love with me."
I then said, "Well that's twice he was warned."
She asked surprisingly, "What do you mean?"
I returned, "I told him your not girlfriend material."
This cycle would go on for her, because it is her nature.
Much later after George had left our work place, I flat out told her, "You need to stop fucking people in restaurants if you want to be a trophy wife...that type of man does not work in a restaurant. Your dating value diminishes with every nothing relationship you involve yourself in."
Now that is pretty solid advice, given her situation. Did she listen...of course not.
I had to stop being her friend, put some distance between us, whatever you want to call it. As an empathic person, emotionally connected to a friend, I was on her emotional roller coaster with her…she never took that into consideration. Finally I had enough of the drama, and realized she wasn't going to change because she couldn't change. That's who she is. That’s what Dharma is essentially about. Kama fundamentally can be viewed as Instinct…it is not Rational whatsoever. Kama is a Force that plays upon Dharma or “Inner Nature”.
The two younger people in this narration could be classified as Shudra or Vaishya but not above.
George, in my opinion leans toward Shudra because of his simplicity…his ignorance to warning, his lack of obedience to wise council. Both Alex and I warned against his desire but he failed to listen…naive. Kama compelled him to make an irrational decision, after being twice warned. As the saying goes, “The heart wants what the heart wants.” The heart is not very wise, that’s why we have a brain…and coincidentally it rests higher in the human form than the heart.
Alex on the other hand leans more toward Vaishya. She exhibits ignorance & passion, but she was in charge, the most powerful one in their brief relationship. She knew this very well as most women do. She knew also that he was smitten by her, as she was accustomed to. She knew what I said about them was true. Her dealings with George were not fair because she manipulated him and used him. A Vaishya who has unfair dealings with others is known in the modern day as con-man…a thief, a criminal. Kama compelled her to use George in order to make herself feel better…an escape from being lonely. Loneliness is absolute hell for an attention craving person. Don’t ever forget that gentlemen and ladies. Certain attributes you will find, tend to associate in groups. A person lacking integrity, is most certainly a liar & a coward.
Now we come to me. I exhibit the attributes of Kshatriya & Brahmana, but I am Kshatriya evolving toward Brahmana. I can not be a Brahmana proper because Alex’s behavior affected me…this does not happen for a Brahmana. A Brahmana allows nothing to affect his equilibrium; therefore, I must rest still in Kshatriya. While I do exercise wisdom, one of the fundamental functions of this varna is protection. By telling both Alex and George the truth, I was trying to protect them. The fact that I was also trying to teach them about their own nature demonstrates attributes of Brahmana, which is a teacher. Kama compelled me to advise, help and teach those lacking in wisdom.
I hope this little recollection of my memory has helped to clarify the relationship between Dharma & Kama. In summary you could put it all together with Karma (Fruitive Action) in this way:
Kama (A Force) + Dharma (A Nature) = Karma (Fruitive Action)
Desire plays upon Inner Nature to produce Fruitive Actions.
“To get rid of Kama, you must crush out all your material instincts––’crush out matter.’ But at the same time you must remember that Kama, while having as part of it bad passions and emotions, animal instincts, yet helps you to evolve, by giving also the desire and impulse necessary for rising. For in Kama-Prana are the physical elements which impel to growth both physically and psychically, and without these energetic and turbulent elements progress could not be made. . . . Hence the student must learn to dominate and purify Kama, until only its energy is left as a motor power, and that energy directed wholly by the Manasic Will.”
Theosophy Wiki (On The Purification of Kama)
In closing, remember that Kama is neither good nor bad, it is merely a force. How Dharma utilizes Kama is what determines good or bad action…this field of action is called Karma. Moksha is liberation or release from “Material Nature,” or “Prakriti.” Moksha is the end goal of the four stage Varna Model. Only a Brahmana is eligible for Moksha. Divorce from Fruitive Action or Karma is the only way to achieve Moksha.
Desire, A Brief Essay on Kama: Part One
The video below, though old, will give you a fair idea of what Kama is, and the role it has in are spiritual growth. Please use this video as a comparative reference for the narration I will present later.
I once knew a young woman, we will call her Alex. I worked with Alex and we became friends through our work relationship. This relationship was purely platonic or “non-sexual.” Over time & begrudgingly, I came to view her as a ‘little sister.” Alex is 20-25 years younger than I am, and thus she has less world experience than myself. This narration is meant to serve as mere observation and not intended to be judgmental in anyway. I will relay my observations through specific incidences in order to demonstrate the workings of Kama in everyday life.
Before I begin, allow me to explain some characteristics of my own nature. I am quite observant, this is no doubt due to my distrust of the human nature, at least as it currently is. People will lie for one reason or another. I find that people lie most about who they are. I also believe that people show you who they are by their actions, something we previously discussed as “Dharma,” or “Inner Nature.” So as the saying goes, “Actions speak louder than Words.”
I am a compassionate person. The study of Theosophy will inherently increase a person’s capacity for empathy. Students in this philosophy, sooner or later, will become what people refer to as “Empaths.” This is a natural progression along the path of spiritual evolution.
Empaths tend to feel with a certain intensity. When they love, they love deeply, and the same goes for all other emotions human being share and exchange. I tend to keep people, particularly women, at a very safe distance.
I am a handsome man, I am indeed aware of this. I am observational, suspicious of others, and emphatic. Given those characteristics, you might see how emotional relationships tend to pose challenges for me...as well as present certain dangers. Women are very much attracted to me, and I am very much distrusting of them. My inner nature (dharma) requires that I control my passion (rajas). Awareness of Kama, or The Desire Principle, is foundational to that achievement. The progression of my inner nature requires the expression of compassion to all things and distrust presents a barrier to that progression.
I have an INTJ (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking Judging) Personality type. The following quote from 16 Personalities sums up my approach to most relationships in general:
“INTJs value depth, intelligence, and unmitigated honesty. For them, a relationship that isn’t founded on these values simply isn’t worth pursuing. They would much rather stay single than force a false connection just for the sake of being with someone.”
Hahahaha…that’s me! We all struggle with something within ourselves…myself, Alex and you. “Man, know thyself” is a most profound philosophical statement. I encourage each of you to begin to study your own behaviors & desires. Learn about who you really are. Now, I shall begin my narration, proceed to “Part Two,” find the navigation a bit further down this page.
The Five Sheathes of Human Form
Three Part Formation
Spirit/Causal Body
Mind/Subtle Body
Body/Physical Body
Five Part Formation
Spirit/Causal Body
Mind/Subtle Body
Desire/Passion/Kamaic Body
Body/Physical Body
Life Force/Prana/Etheric Body
Seven Part Formation
The following two are considered arupa (without form) as they are viewed as being universal to all things conceivable. Together they are referred to as “The Monad.”
Atma/Self/Unity
Buddhi/Intelligence/Wisdom
The following five are considered rupa (with form) as they are viewed as being individual to a particular human being. These form also exist in everything but to a varying degree based upon spiritual evolution
Spirit/Causal Body
Mind/Subtle Body
Desire/Passion/Kamaic Body
Body/Physical Body
Life Force/Prana/Etheric Body
Dharma, The Inner Nature
So what exactly is “Dharma?” An easy way of understanding it from the human perspective would be “morality specific to the individual.” No two people are going to approach the same moral dilemma in the exact same fashion. Dharma could be considered as “the virtues collected” by an individual reincarnating entity.
Let’s imagine an armored car is abandoned and the back doors are wide open, and there sits an abundance of money for the taking. Three different personalities walk past this spectacle. We have a homeless teenager, a new struggling lawyer, and a devout Catholic priest. Let us further assume that there will be no repercussion for taking ‘just a little bit’ of the money. It will go unpunished by the laws of men…but NOT by the law of Karma.
Despite the outer labels & attributes, it is impossible to tell who would, or would not take the money. Lets examine each individual personality’s circumstances though.
Let us start with the priest. Since he is trained in religious practice, and he is devout in his worship, he indeed knows that stealing is wrong and a sinful act. His personal dharma is to walk away. His religious training alone is enough to guide him. To take the money for him would be considered ‘adharma,’ or against dharma. He leaves the scene without taking the money and thus incurs no sin, or negative karma.
The lawyer, as I said, is new to his profession, and thus he is still struggling to establish himself. This person most likely faces the greatest dilemma of all three. Having been trained in the law, he also knows that taking the money is still considered theft. He really could use some of that money to pay down some of his school debt. He takes the money. His decision is ‘adharma,’ because he KNOWS that it is a crime.
Last, we have the poor homeless teenager who has not been schooled by legal or religious institutions. As a homeless person, she has little comfort or security in life, and is probably operating on ‘survival instincts’ alone. She takes the money without thought or hesitation. Was her act in accordance with dharma, or was it adharma? She acted in accordance to her dharma, her act was not adharma. You see foreknowledge and experience is necessary in the application of dharma. In her case, this experience was a necessary step towards building her moral compass. An inner conflict is a must when considering dharma.
Let’s say later on her situation changes for the better and she gains a little bit more experience in the world. She comes to regret that she took the money. Her conscious is thus developing. Another like situation arises, and she acts in the same way…now she has acted ‘adharma.’ She too now knows by the very expression of remorse & regret.
“It is better to do one’s own dharma, even though imperfectly, than to do another’s dharma, even though perfectly. By doing one’s innate duties, a person does not incur sin.”
Removing from the equation, social morality, conditioned morality, the question then arises “what happens when no one is watching?” The inner compass or dharma then comes into play.
This little narration doesn’t even begin to unravel the complex nature of personal dharma. I hardly do it justice. Annie Bessant does a much better job explaining it in one of her lectures:
“Dharma”
by Annie Besant
You can find a link to it on the book shelf
Are you aiming to know more about yourself? Find some insight from the questionnaires found at the links below. You don’t know until you know…and hey man or woman, remember this:
We’re All fucked up. Only a select few admit it.
What are my primary gunas?
Knowing more about your gunas can help to achieve equilibrium in your life. My results were 66% Sattva & 34% Rajas. You might say, “Whoa, that’s great!” In reality, I need to increase my tamas. Tamas adds stability in our lives, so I need to perform actions that increase that particular guna. Equilibrium is the key to properly utilizing the three gunas.
What is My Ennegram Type?
This is a fairly long set of questions, but incredibly insightful! The enneagram test will give you insight into your biggest fears. Fear is pivotal to our decision making processes. The results of this test will give some insight into your fears, how you react to them, and what may trigger your fear into action. This particular one has been very helpful in my personal growth. My enneagram is “Type 8.” This basically means that I am independent to the core, and I will always be troubled by ‘struggles over power.’ Type 8’s are afraid to love and be loved as this poses a threat to their independence.
What is My Personality Type?
This test will give you a Jungian Personality Type. This is a fairly quick version. I took it and, it specified my given type: INTJ (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging.) Basically, I am a huge nerd…a book worm. I am a person who rates high on logic & rationality, and rates low on sensitivity and emotionality. Knowing what you are can help you with finding like people to associate with as well as improve relationships with others around you. Emotions scare me!
“A problem discovered, Is a problem Half Solved.”
Prakriti, The Material Nature
I believe this would be an appropriate starting point for the introduction of neophytes or “newbies.” Here we will be a brief introduction to Prakriti, or Material Nature. The following text is meant to lay a fundamental foundation in which to build upon.
Every religion seeks to answer the question of life after death, or after life. It is generally accepted that Man & Woman can be considered to have a constitution of at least three different parts. The three basic parts of the uniform model are: Spirit, Mind & Body. Allow me to explain each in succession, starting from the top down.
Spirit is often misconstrued for Soul, where in reality Soul is more associated with Mind. To actually be more precise the Mind belongs to the Soul, not the other way around. Spirit is a universal thing…the Universe is Spirit and thus everything in it is Spirit or Consciousness. The characteristic trait of Spirit is Infinite Intelligence.
One of our fundamental truths is: “Where there is pattern, there must be intelligence directing such.
Scientist have long well understood that matter is composed of atoms, which behave in a particular pattern. Atoms attract and repulse (like or dislike)…which demonstrates a preference.
The planets of our solar system revolve around the sun on a very predictable schedule, something that you might consider as being “habitual.”
Mankind lies in between the fields of atomic & planetary motion. The human organism is filled with likes & dislikes and it is most definitely a creature of habit…doing what it likes and avoiding what it dislikes. The point I am making here is intelligence is everywhere abound in the Universe…the uniform source for all this varying intelligence we call Spirit or Consciousness. In the Theosophical Nomenclature, that Spirit/Consciousness we call “Atma,” and the Intelligence we call that “Buddhi.”
The Atma is beyond all attributes, but yet it is the cause of all attributes. Buddhi is said to be the reflection (or some prefer projection) of Atma, and is considered Absolute Wisdom. Both of these principle are quite abstract in general thus they are termed as “arupa,” or without form. Everything resides inside of Atma and is permeated by Atma. Buddhi is the intelligent action of Atma. The intelligent actions of the Universe if phrased another way. The two are generally also viewed as inseparable as far as we humans are concerned, together they form what we refer to as “The Monad.” This Monad as you should now see constitutes The Spirit (formless) in the “Spirit, Mind, Body” Triad.
Now remembering that Spirit is universal and thus formless or “arupa” in principle; lets move on to form or “rupa.” The Soul or Living Entity is the first form to evolve from Spirit. It’s chief attribute is heterogenous (different) as opposed to Spirit which is homogenous (same). The Soul represents the individual, a spark from the Eternal Flame of Spirit. In Theosophy we refer to The Soul as the Causal Body, as it is the Cause of all other bodies appropriated to form & matter.
No object of matter can be without attributes, these attribute are what differentiate objects. If everything is the same or uniform, there can be nothing to compare because there is no differentiation. So heterogeneity thus brings with it individuality. If you follow this course of reasoning you can infer that The Soul must considered itself some how different, not separate though, from the Universe/Reality in which it is immersed.
Now, “Mind” or the Mental Body, is next after The Soul. This is a complex subject, but allow me to say two important things about “The Mind” or “Manas.” First, it is has two components, a “Higher Mind”, and a “Lower Mind.” The Higher Mind belongs with the Causal Body and The Lower Mind belong with the Physical Body. Second, this dual nature of Minds serves as a bridge between Spirit (Consciousness) & Matter (Form). The Higher Mind is that which reincarnate, remembering everything over all lives. The Lower Mind functions in the material world and is somewhat different in each life. The Higher Mind is often referred to as “The Individuality,” while the Lower Mind is referred to as “The Personality.”
Now that I have given you a brief description of Spirit & Mind, we can now understand Prakriti (Material Nature) a little bit better.
The Physical Body is considered to be the lowest, most dense and temporary of all bodies…and it is subject to Material Nature because it is indeed “the most complex” form made of material…there is no comparison.
The physical body is an instrument, a vehicle for interacting within a material universe and is subject to three principle called “Gunas,” or “Modes of Nature.” The Three Gunas are as follows:
Sattva (Purity)
Rajas (Passion)
Tamas (Ignorance)
It is widely held in Vedanta that these three “Modes of Nature” are responsible for ALL DUALITIES in Nature.
Since we have been talking about the Universe, enjoy the following video about Time & Cosmogony according to Vedanta.
Theosophy? What is it?
“Theosophy is wisdom about God... and wisdom about nature. Embracing both the scientific and the religious, Theosophy is a scientific religion and a religious science.”
“There is no manual to life.” Have you ever heard that saying before? I have countless times, and said it just as many myself. I used to believe it, but now my perspective has changed, you might say I have evolved some, I have grown yet a little bit wiser. Just a little though.
Theosophy has been called “The Wisdom Religion.” Which is a bit of a misnomer as it should be referred to properly as “The Wisdom Philosophy.” What’s the difference you might ask between Philosophy and Religion? First off, they are not antithetical. In fact, they go together like “peanut butter & jelly.”
Philosophy or as I prefer to call it ‘speculative analysis,’ can be considered the observation and the acceptance of universal truths in the quest for understanding, knowledge and wisdom. Philosophy is always personal to the individual.
Religion on the other hand is a set of beliefs and actions shared by a group of individuals, a community, thus religion is a tool to unify shared philosophy. Take me for example, I believe in dharma, reincarnation and karma. Speculative analysis has allowed me to come to certain conclusions. A belief in karma, means one must take responsibility for their own action and or salvation/liberation through thought, speech and action.
In my Christian upbringing, which was brief, I was taught that I was a sinner, and I could only be saved by accepting the messiah, Jesus Christ, as my lord and savior. And there lies my personal dilemma. I already stated that the belief in karma requires that a person takes responsibility for their own liberation, their own salvation. How can I be responsible for my salvation, and Jesus be responsible for it as well? You can easily see how confusion would arise.
Confusion gives rise to disharmony. Where there is disharmony there can be no peace. Without peace, unfortunately there can be no happiness. My philosophy and my religion were not in harmony, and thus I was unhappy. I assume this is the case for quite a few people.
If this sounds something like you, then you have arrived at the right place my friends. Theosophy can best be summarized by our “Three Chief Objectives,” which are as follows:
One
To impress the “Brotherhood of Man”, without distinction of race, color, religion, social position or sexual proclivity*…otherwise stated as “the fraternity of ALL human beings.”
Two
The serious study of the ancient world-religions for purposes of comparison and the selection therefrom of universal ethics.
Three
The study and development of the latent divine powers in man.
*I added this to number one. I thought it relevant to matters of this age we live in. There is an erroneous tendency in many religions to exclude people from God’s Love for this or that reason, hence many people are turning away from religion…at least those religions.
“I am the gambling of the cheats and the splendor of the splendid. I am the victory of the victorious, the resolve of the resolute, and the virtue of the virtuous”
Here in the above quoted verse, The Most Merciful Lord, Sri Krishna informs Arjuna that he is the cause of both virtue and vice…because he is the cause of all causes. What thought or action can Man have that God didn’t have before Man. Just as the body evolves and grows, so does the constitution of the soul. Each human being must learn for itself. As a child stumbles while learning to walk, so also does the reincarnating soul stumble while learning to become perfect.
If you believe in reincarnation there must be some purpose, some end goal. Yes? The goal of Theosophy is to bring this ancient eternal wisdom into the modern age. A great portion of our knowledge base can be accredited to Vedanta. Vedanta (Philosophy) often referred to as Hinduism (Religion) is widely considered to be the world’s oldest religion still in existence.
This Universe we find ourselves in is filled with an infinite array of material forms & instruments, the most advance of which is the human being…the ultimate culmination of Spirit & Matter. If you happen to be a fan of Star Wars, as you read along you may intuit some parallels with our philosophy. Please refer to Chief Objective #3 above. What you know as “The Force,” we commonly refer to as “Fohat”
Finally, Theosophy is a form of Vedantic philosophy that caters more to a modern day mentality. It is not concerned with condemning anyone to hell, or promising eternal paradise to a select few in exchange for submission & obedience. It is the science of the soul. It is the story of our evolution. It is knowledge of Nature & Self. Theosophy is Universal Ethics.
"Monster"
Every person is in some way searching for God whether they wish to admit it or not. I was born into a Baptist family…I never really had much enthusiasm for that specific religion...Christianity. Maybe because it was boring as hell to me. Maybe because I got tired of hearing that old “fire & brimstone” bit. Maybe it was all the fake Christians, the ones that can quote endlessly from the Bible, yet fail to act in accordance.
You know what they say…”the people that go to church are the ones who need to be there the most.” I don’t necessarily believe that one completely; however, many snakes do indeed enter into churches in order to perfect their disguises.
Eventually I arrived at the “messiah construct,” then inevitably the messiah ultimatum. That is, accept Christ as you savior, or your going to suffer in hell for ALL eternity. Yeah…right…it kind of seems like hell down here already…and that flimsy threat tends to lose some effect over time. Also why does an all powerful God need to coerce Man into anything? That doesn’t seem omnipotent to me, it tends to ventures into absurdity though.
If it is in a person’s nature to be a warrior / fighter / soldier…then logically he would be unable to accept “The Prince of Peace,” as the two aren’t exactly in harmonious alignment. He would be unable to “turn the other cheek”…no, no he would react quite differently I assure you. Is he wrong for his decision? Is he wrong for acting out his own nature?
If Jesus was so magnificent…why didn’t he just kill all his enemies, and then spread the gospel of love. I mean really, spectacularly wipe the proverbial floor with their asses! FUBAR’d 4 Realz…Jesus style! But, he did not…because that was not in his nature. The inner nature of a being plays a tremendous part in not just their actions, but also in their sense of morality and behavior.
After becoming a Theosophist, I became fascinated with the comparative study of religion & philosophy, as it is one of our standards or requirements. Eventually I came upon the Bhagavad Gita, and through it I was introduced to a Deity that I can get down with. Sri Krishna is his name, and he has more than anyone would care to count. My personal favorite name of his is “Govinda,” which means “pleasing to the senses of cows.” In his adolescence, Govinda / Krishna was a cowherd boy, or a shepherd of cows. I would like to share a story about his youth. I found this on Wikipedia under the term “Aghasura.” under the “Legend” heading.
“King Kamsa made many attempts on the life of Krishna, all of them failing. Then he sent Aghasura to kill Krishna, who did so willingly knowing that his younger siblings Putana and Bakasura were killed by Krishna. He assumed the form of the 8-mile-long serpent, disguising his open mouth against a mountain. All the cowherd boys entered the mouth of the demon, mistaking it to be a cavern. When the serpent closed his mouth, the victims generally suffocated to death.
Krishna entered the serpent upon his arrival and then increased the size of his own body. In response the demon too extended his own body size, but started suffocating as Krishna was expanding more faster than him, causing his eyes to pop out. The demon’s life force, however, could not pass through any outlet, and therefore burst out through a hole in the top of Aghasura’s head, meeting his end in Krishna’s hand.”
“Daaaammmmmmnnnnnn! You got Served!!!”
Do you see the mouth of Aghasura in our logo? And that smiling face…that’s Krishna. Don’t let other people push or force their idealogies upon you. Read, expand your horizon…”Deity” is personal to each person…and this is their right. Jesus works for a great many, decent & authentic Christian people and that’s why I say “Jesus…he’s Aight,” but I prefer:
GO! Go! Govinda!!!
Now, wherever you see our logo, KNOW that Krishna is due to return as “Kalki, The White Horse.” REMEMBER the fate of “Agh, The Asura.” If you enjoyed that little story, you can read a slightly more detailed version here.
Welcome to the “Rebirth of Ksatriya”… welcome to
“The Warrior Religion”
Introduction
I am a theosophist. Philosophical, tenacious & pragmatic, theosophist have existed since the ‘dawn of man’; though not always under that specific label. For lack of better words...most Western (Hemisphere) minds would call us 'mystics.' These mystics then are the true students of mystery.
There are some mysterious things about life itself...such as death. What is it? Why do men fear it so? Why are we compelled to sleep and what is its true purpose? What is a ghost, and are they real? What are dreams, and why do we have them. A few religions may dance around these topics but, Theosophy alone is compelled to dive into, and learn from these so called mysteries…ignorance in reality. I don’t know everything, only a fool would claim such. I am certain though, I know a great deal more than most of you.
I could attempt to describe these thing to you in my own words…and in certain instances I will have to. My god, my guide, my ally has compelled me share that which has been revealed to me. I have studied these materials for a very long time in this life, and the ones preceding it as well. While I would never accept or seek the label ‘expert;’ I do accept the term ‘student’. WE ARE ALL STUDENTS TOGETHER. I am merely further progressed upon the path than my lesser illumed brethren.
The materials presented herein could quite reasonably be described by your generation as “fucking boring” (some parts) by some OR as “extra” (i see that) by others. It is not an easy subject to understand…but only in the beginning. We theosophist believe that any exposure to the Theosophical Doctrine will ultimately provide some benefit to the minds imbibing it. We can only lead you to the water…we can not make you drink…nor can we drink for you.
Theosophy has three chief objective or mission parameters:
One
Brotherhood of man, without distinction of race, color, religion, or social position.
Two
The serious study of the ancient world-religions for purposes of comparison and the selection therefrom of universal ethic.
Three
The study and development of the latent divine powers in man.
While all those three objectives are important, my focal point is number three.
I am not a Jew. I am not a Muslim. I am not a Christian. I am not Black. I am not White. I can only say that I am. You will notice the labels I have just mentioned and shunned are particularly close to the root cause of personal & societal problems…which if I had to choose a single word…then Elitism…or the “I am better than you” mentality would be my answer. Take a moment & think about it.
As this blog is about education of a spiritual sense…its time we get on with it. I will choose a selection of books that (in my opinion) cover the most material, are easy to read and understand, and are widely available for everyone to download for free. I will put forth a massive amount of effort, all I ask is that you (the reader) put forth just a little. I hope you will join me in the next post…I think you may enjoy the first book I have chosen for you.
I deleted my previous blog series as it was not in alignment with my directives nor was my tone appropriate for the material or task at hand. In fact this is my fourth attempt at this literary endeavor. The only portion that escaped deletion was the blog post describing and pointing to the glossary of terms I am preparing for your consumption. That post precedes this one but can also be found here : “The Glossary.”
The Glossary
The scope of this blog will be to introduce for discussion certain aspects of mysticism, as well a method of education for some of the more ‘unfortunate’ of our human collective. As some of this material may be foreign to many of you (as it was to myself some years ago), I thought it best to create a glossary of terms from which we can establish a basis of esoteric knowledge for use within our segment of philosophy; a common working syntax. If everything goes well, I see this particular literary investment of mine becoming something quite different, potentially more receptive and further in reach. You may find access to the glossary directly, only from the link below.
Realities and perceptions change as knowledge increases. The glossary, and this blog volume should both be considered living documents. As knowledge and consensus change, the documents within will be updated to reflect an “agreed upon” consensus.
Many of the topics in the glossary will warrant their own blog post; as they may be a bit more complicated, and thus require a bit more elucidation. Glossary entries will have external links to sources relating to that specific topic for the sole purpose of validation. Every thesis paper or scientific journal, must include sources if it is to be taken seriously, and these are serious time in which we find ourselves engaged.
Some people would ask of me, “What is this all about” or “Why are you going through all this trouble, so much effort?" The answer is short and simple. First, to validate certain circumstances and characteristics of my own being. Second, because it is my duty, my dharma. I do this because it is time, and for you my friends…the dawning mental revolution begins here with you. For a strong nation, a sturdy & well informed citizenry is an absolute prerequisite. What I see around me is very, very far from that.
Inner Knowledge, Inner Silence or Intuition are all various names and labels for the same idea. I personally prefer the word “Intuition,” but they all describe any information that is found to be true, but not assimilated from the normal vectors or pathways of human sensation. You would know it best as a sixth sense. A certain science fiction movie collection can be accredited with introducing a good many of you, and myself as well to some of the topics we shall discuss in later post.
I hope this introductory blog helps to familiarize you with my style of educating. I typically use a “modus operandi” (method of operating) that one might think of a “Source & Analogy.” Whenever I introduce an idea that may seem novel or foreign, I corroborate with links to outside sources, and then I will further explain through analogy (likeness or similarity).
I thank all of you for your interest. My only hope is that the information here in will reach individual who are in need of it. Perhaps with time, may it help them to make better decisions for themselves when they need it most…as it did for me.
Sometimes in “Life,” people will have experiences that are distinctly alien from the common routine or ‘program’ that everyone shares in. When these people reach out to others for validation, and they are shunned…this leads to sadness…a sense of being isolated. Anger is an aggressive response to unresolved sadness. Trust me, I know. This blog hopefully will serve as a much needed catalyst to begin discussion of some of these fore-mentioned experiences.
As other useful documents are found (regarding terms) they will listed here below:
“We will honor no agreements in which we had no participation”
Book Shelf
Please find below, a list of books I have read or I am in the process of reading. Each suggested text will increase one’s knowledge base of Theosophical Principles. I have tried to minimize the amount of downloading to your devices; however, some books I am only able to locate in a PDF Format (denoted as such). All other entries are available to read online. E-Book Reader is a “adequate” PDF viewer available for Apple or Android devices. At least one reference site in this program was ‘sus.’ I therefore recommend using “Brave” browser as you explore this list.
I have organized the book shelf as a fairly linear program. I believe that the earlier entries are short, and easily digested by those unfamiliar with the common syntax used. The earlier entries will also address certain key principles such as Dharma, Karma & Reincarnation. This book shelf is designed with the neophyte in mind, starting with the fundamental principles, leaving independent query up to each individual afterwards. At the very bottom, please find links to “Word Search” tools for when you encounter a unfamiliar term.
(Online)
C.W. Leadbeater
I have set this literary text as first because it is fairly short, highly informative, and full of reading suggestions by other authors of the time in regards to the respective subjects discussed. I suggest starting here and branching outward toward the subject matters that appeal most to your interest and intellect. As an instructed guide I will refer to the next program in this format “[guide: text title]”.
[guide: the ocean of theosophy]
(Online)
Lecture by Annie Besant
Here in this brief lecture, Mrs. Besant gives a thorough examination of the concept of Dharma. She provide a concise definition in the broadest since of the term. She also details how it applies to each individual entity or person.
Dharma (Inner Nature) is one of the most important, complicated & mysterious topics of this philosophy. I try to do it justice in my own blog post, but I must admit this topic still challenges my intellect, and reasoning. Generally speaking, Dharma is often associated with the force (actions) of one’s duties (obligation or responsibilities.) Dharma is always personal to the entity to which it belongs.
The dharma of The Sun is to anchor the planets in orbit and provide it’s life giving radiance to our Universe. If it failed to perform it’s dharma, the planets would fly out of orbit, light would not exist in our Universe, and Life itself would not be possible. The Moon has it’s own dharma, regulating certain forces on the Earth, also responsible for it’s contributions supporting Life. Equally so, the Earth also has it’s dharma. So then like wise, every living entity has its obligation to the whole, and of course this also includes human beings. Annie Besant does an excellent job describing human dharma in this lecture.
(Online)
Lecture by Annie Besant
For this literary brief, I prefer to give a quick quote from within by the author herself:
“But the one thing that a beginner needs to grasp is that, at a certain stage of evolution, there entered into, incarnated in men, certain self-conscious intelligent entities, with a long past of intellectual evolution behind them, who found in physical man the instrument ready, and fitted, for their further evolution.”
This was the very first theosophical book I read. Mr. Judge does an excellent job in exposing the true threat to mankind & civilization, at least according to our beliefs. It includes a description of the “Seven Fold Constitution,” otherwise known as “The Septanate,” or “Septenary.” They are all inter-changeable.
If you are following my guide. You see I have included some reference material to what you have learned from the previous and this text. Read this text first and then explore the material on the pages provided.
[guide: the key to theosophy]
(Online)
by William Judge
This little book is a dialogue between “a theosophist’ and “an inquirer.” It puts forth a good many question that a student may ask, and here the teacher offers analysis. If you are following the guide, after finishing this text you will have a pretty good understanding of the constitution of man, the universe and his place in it. Here is a good time to take a break from the technical stuff. Next is something more poetic. Having read the three previous books, you are now significantly ready to understand “Mahabharata.”
I will be redirecting you to an abridge version, stylized for English speakers, but no less profound. The path to the hosting site of this material tried to hi-jack my phone. I would have some anti ad-ware installed before clicking the link. It is a good source; therefore, I include it with that fore-warning. I personally use “Brave” browser because it automatically blocks malware & they are pro-privacy for consumers.
[guide: mahabharata (english abridged)]
(Online)
by H.P. Blavatsky
The following part of the bookshelf is dedicated to materials concerning Vedantic philosophies.
Mahabharata (English Abridged)
The location of the file above tried to hi-jack my phone, so I would have some anti ad-ware installed before clicking the link! I personally use “Brave” browser because it automatically blocks malware & they are pro-privacy for consumers.
The link I have above, is from the “Bheeshma Parva.” It is the final day before the War at Kurukshetra, at the royal and public court of Hastinapura. Here Krishna (Atma/Buddhi) confronts Duryodhana (Prana/Kama), they have discourse, and the inevitability of the war finalized. This would be the short place to start, but the very beginning and table of contents are here:
The next text to read will be Bhagavad Gita. Since we now know what the war was about, next will concentrate on what Krishna imparted to Arjuna as his convictions to carry out the war began to waiver.
(Online)
of Vyasa
The Song of God
(Online)
of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
Bhagavad Gita or “The Song of God,” is a mere segment of The Mahabharata. The telling of this epic was an oral tradition, and was composed as a poem meant to be sang. The above link includes the full composition of Bhagavad Gita along with commentary from Swami Mukundananda, as well the singing of verses in the ancient tradition. I personally have a copy of “Bhagavad Gita: As It Is,” I utilize as a reference.
The following part of the book shelf is dedicated to other brilliant minds, most respected for their contributions to the realm of science & societal well being. Each of the authors listed here, I would classify as a theosophical type of mind…if not indeed true theosophist.
“More Important than ‘seeing’ itself is what ‘seers’ do with what they ‘see’.”