Nirvana, Cosmic Consciousness, and Adultery

Hi everybody!

There is a quote in The Mahatma Letters, where one of the Mahatmas talks about adultery. In the book, the Mahatma talks about how the adulterer experiences pleasure, yet never stops to imagine the pain he causes. I believe this relates directly to the idea of Nirvana as cosmic consciousness.

It has been said that Nirvana removes all separateness between ourselves and other people. Nirvana (so the theory goes) makes it possible for us to experience what it really means to be another person, to feel what they feel, to, think what they think, to be that other person. (Nirvana as cosmic consciousness).

Let's consider a Nirvanic person who is about to to commit adultery. He would immediately identify with the pain and suffering he is about to create.

There once was a married women who was showing an inkling of interest in a male Theosophist (true story). Adulterous thoughts did enter his head. Although he never got anywhere near committing adultery, the Mahatma's words helped convince him of the correctness of non-action.

Certainly the Theosophist was wise not to act on his desire, but, thoughts are things. A thought is our progeny, the birth of an elemental, one day to be a man. Thoughts are not insignificant things.

"Sow a thought, reap a habit, sow a habit, reap a character, sow a character, reap a destiny". de Purucker Golden Precepts
Even our own lives are built one thought at a time.

In the Christian Bible: "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart". Matt 5:28

I don't mean to thump my Bible here, I am just thinking, how difficult it is for us to walk the chela path. Not only our deeds, and our words, but our thoughts and motives must be pure.

It reminds me of the sign in front of a local church here in town that says "All Sinners Welcome." I know I cannot say that I am free from "sin". We must then be careful of judging others, or feeling proud of ourselves that we are Theosophists.

Jon,

I agree that our thoughts are as important as our actions. Also, Theosophy teaches that, when we become conscious at the Buddhic level or higher, we will not have a physical body, an astral body, nor a mental body any more. At that time, our "thoughts" will be the only "reality" we have. The more we practice having pure thoughts now, the more we will be successful at the Buddhic level or higher.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if a person who is about to commit an act that is wrong actually feels what the other will feel or is feeling. Perhaps this would stop the act from being done. It is the same in which Karma should be taught in all schools, it could stop children before they commit a wrong. I am happy to be back. I just got my computer yesterday after being held hostage for two months. Wasn't there a movie with Tom Cruise where they were able to see a crime that would be committed so they would be able to stop a wrong? The reason adultery is done is because they feel that tingling that animal feeling and to them it is Nirvana, no regrets except when they get caught. One day we will evolve enough that this is in the past but hopefully as we evolve there will be a scope of feeling so the deed will not be done.

Sara,

I am glad you got your computer back!

I must admit that, on a couple of occasions, the only thing that stopped me from doing something bad was the fear of creating bad karma, which would eventually come back to me as a result. Theosophy is helping us to realize such ideas, and improve us as persons, wouldn't you agree? I have watched people do really stupid things, and I know they would not have done these bad things if they knew they would be creating bad karma. Many parts of our society teach us that we are not responsible for what we do.

"Wouldn't it be wonderful if a person who is about to commit an act that is wrong actually feels what the other will feel or is feeling."

--> Theosophy's very mission is to create such feelings within us.

This is why it must be taught in schools. My parents for all of my life hit me with what you reap you sow. There were times I admit I pooh poohed the idea but as i got older it made more sense.

I've been considering some sort of 'theory of operation' in the form of turning the thought, transforming, transmutation.

I've seen it written that we don't always originate our own thoughts. I'm not sure what is at the bottom of that statement, or possibly I simply don't remember.

If the thought arises from the lower duad stemming from its attention to the lower triad, and then you have these sayings, "in order to understand a thing, you must become it," - Buddhists, and, "to understand a thing or problem, you must rise above it," - Albert Einstein. I don't think the latter is a precise quote. But I'm sure it is close. I suppose one can become it by being sure to acknowledge the existence of the thought. I never repress thoughts anymore. I don't have a place to store unexamined thoughts.

If I don't think it is a worthy thought, I bring myself to an understanding as to why this thought should not go anywhere, and the nature of it changed along with the addition of an appropriate context. They gradiently decrease in occurrence. I had to get a bit scientific about this subject because of urgency.

A man can literally put himself in hell while still alive. The underlying cause seems to be selfish in nature. Even when it is clearly perceived to be effects caused by another. It is still selfish to focus consciousness on these effects.