Inner and Outer Work

Review

1. The existence of an ageless universal wisdom

Common at the core of all religions

2. Main principles of the wisdom

Starting with unity, law of cycles

3. Planes of nature Seven planes; basis of knowledge

4. Principles in human being Dual nature; etheric double; kirlian photography; astral projection; equivalents in the great religions; spiritual vs. psychical; personal vs. impersonal

5. Death and after Dying process; ghosts; kamaloka; devachan; premature deaths; mayavi rupa apparitions

6. Reincarnation Evidences; compatibility with religions including Christianity;

7. Law of Karma Three kinds of karma; importance of present karma; inner causes more powerful; Lipikas; causes of destiny; group karma

8. Human Perfectibility Taught in all religions; existence of Adepts or perfected individuals;

9. The Path Found in all religions; difference between mystical and esoteric; stages of mystical life; intuition; enlightenment

10. Rise and Fall of Civilizations

Existence of Atlantis and earlier civilizations; Root races; rounds and chains

11. Unity of religions Rooted in mystical or spiritual experience, as well as esoteric teachings

12. Unity of Life Universal life at the core of all our beings

13. Inner Transformation: Basis of Outer Transformation

Change in society must start from change from within

14. Life Planning Our destiny will now depend upon our highest understanding of what life is and where it should lead to

15. Principles of Service Work

The foundation of true service

16. Meditation Purpose; Methods; Results

Knowledge & Insight

The Art and Science of Living

Physical

1. Health

• Diet – avoid animal food; high fat

• Exercise – choose one that involves deep abdominal breathing

• No harmful vices

2. Habits – mastery of physical habits; habits are self-determined

Sickness; low energy; pain; disability

Health; energy; active and healthy old age

Etheric

• Self-awareness Scanning

• Deep abdominal breathing

Chronic tension and stress; chronic fatigue or tiredness

Calmness and relaxation

Emotional

• Dissipation of automatic emotional reactions (part of samskaras or seeds of karma) through self-awareness processing

Distressful emotions: Hurts, fears, anger, resentment, depression, aversion

Wholesome emotions: cheerfulness, benevolence, empathy,

Social

People are our primary sources of distress. Hence we need to learn life skills that will make our relationships effective:

• Effective Listening

• Effective Communication (Assertiveness)

• Communication of love through the five languages

Disharmony, conflict, ill-will, quarrel, hatred, uncooperativeness

Harmony, cooperation, friendliness, caring attitude

Life Work, Career, Vocation

1. Clarity of values; setting of priorities2. Development of right work attitudes and habits3. Development of appropriate skills

Unclear direction; lack of determination; easily discouraged; unwholesome livelihood

Clear goals and direction; right livelihood; has drive and sense of commitment

Duties

1. Duty to family

2. Duty to voluntarily entered relationships (e.g., marriage, friendship)

3. Duty to work and accepted responsibilities

4. Duty to society and humanity

Avoids responsibility; feeling ineffective; feeling guilty

Cheerfully accepts duty; effectively fulfills it

Mental

1. Capacity for sustained attention or one-pointedness

2. Awareness of thought-reaction patterns and modifying them as needed

3. Conscious choice of contents of thoughts

4. Selective reading (food for mind)

No mental discipline; cannot focus; scattered attention; mixes mental/emotional

Has mentalmastery and awareness; good logical faculties; distinguishes emotional/mental

Higher Mental

1. Capacity for sustained abstract thinking

2. Impersonality

3. Practice of meditation

Difficulty in understanding concepts or subtle ideas

Can appreciate abstract ideas or concepts; can see beyond personal preferences and needs

Spiritual

1. Awareness of ego-centeredness

2. Selfless service to others

3. Non-attachment

4. Nurturing of intuitive perception

Ego-centered; personality oriented

Non-self-centered; aware; transcendent; service oriented

Principles of Service Work

1.Go deeper into the roots of problems, not the symptoms

2.Should be founded on universal values, not current social but fleeting values

3.Done without thought of reward for self

Start with the people nearest us• Spouse

• Children

• Parents

• Siblings

• Relatives

• Friends

Then serve the community and society

• Life is just a short period of 80 or 100 years. What are the best things that we can do before we leave this body which will make this world a better place, which will make people happier and more fulfilled?

The Spheres of Influence

World

Nation

Community

Organization

Family

Self

The true root of change is Self-Change. It is from there that we can help create a change in society.

The Work of the Theosophical Society

1. Without being dogmatic, let people know that there exists an Ageless Wisdom

2. Provide guidelines for the inner life and worldly life, and to awaken the intuition in people

3. Help bring about understanding among religions, peoples and races to arrive at harmony

• Theosophy

• Perennial Philosophy

• Comparative religion

• Zen

• Yoga

• Krishnamurti

• Vedanta

• Christian Spirituality

• Mystical Consciousness or Cosmic Consciousness

•Self-Development (Covey, Carnegie, N. Hill, etc.)

•Autobiographies/Biographies (HPB, Gandhi, Yogananda)

• Parapsychology and psychical research

• Transpersonal psychology (Maslow, Ken Wilber, Assagioli)

Suggested Reading Areas