Thursday, November 06, 2008

Theosophy

THEOSOPHY, n. An ancient faith having all the certitude of religion and all the mystery of science. The modern Theosophist holds, with the Buddhists, that we live an incalculable number of times on this earth, in as many several bodies, because one life is not long enough for our complete spiritual development; that is, a single lifetime does not suffice for us to become as wise and good as we choose to wish to become. To be absolutely wise and good — that is perfection; and the Theosophist is so keen-sighted as to have observed that everything desirous of improvement eventually attains perfection. Less competent observers are disposed to except cats, which seem neither wiser nor better than they were last year. The greatest and fattest of recent Theosophists was the late Madame Blavatsky, who had no cat.

2008 Update: A society founded to form the nucleus of a universal family joined by wisdom, consciousness and perfectibility rather than the folly, chance and corruption from which all other things derive kinship.

14 comments:

Indeterminacy said...

I don't want to be first. I never figured out what this word means!

Anonymous said...

THEOSOPHY is derived from words meaning "God knowledge".

Since, by definition, God is transcendent and therefore unknowable, one wonders from whence theosophists gain their knowledge. A clue arises from Judaeo-Christian Holy Writ: "In God's image God created [humans]."

Thus I proffer a guess as to the principal object of veneration in the theosophist sanctum sanctorum: the mirror.

The concepts of universal reincarnation and continual progress to perfection must come in handy. Screw-ups get shrugged off: "Oh well. Next life."

Anonymous said...

THEOSOPHY, n. Scientology, in an earlier, less perfect incarnation.

Anonymous said...

THEOSOPHY n. The study of God while sitting on a sofa?

Mutha said...

I must still be drunk from Tuesday night -- because that was all clicks and buzzes to me.

I might have to finally admit that this site is over my head.

On a lighter note, my word verification is CONZBON.

Sounds like a slightly naughty pastry

Al said...

Theosophy: How a Theologian Philospher answers the question, "so, what do you do for a living?" when he's drunk.

TLP said...

I give up. Never heard of it. I always knew you were far too smart for me.

Jim said...

Theosophy: I don't remember that term in my Apologetics class. I could look in my classnotes but I won't. :-)
..

Jamie Dawn said...

theosophy: God's counsel

I've never heard of this word.

Sorry I missed getting by here yesterday.
Nice poem.

:-)

Tom & Icy said...

You sure that word isn't just one of those word-verifications?

Doug The Una said...

Indy, it means the sooner you get here the wiser you'll be. More or less.

Amoeba, it seems to me universal perfectibility is certain without reincarnation and doubtful with. I agree regarding the scientology precedent. I had the same thought.

Quilly, the theosophical society has a big garden sanctuary near my office. If I ever drive in I'll look for a sofa.

It's not over your head, Mutha, it's just that, by and large, I've used up all the words on this site I might also use in a normal conversation.

Al, that's the only time I'd trust him.

TLP, I write the blog with Bierce's dictionary in front of me. That's a way to fake smart.

Fat people don't have 'em, Actonbell. At least, that was my take-away.

Jim, I'm gonna guess it wasn't in there, although there were Christian theosophists in a different era.

S'alright, JD. I didn't get around much yesterday either.

Icy, not sure at all. Maybe it was a 19th century verifier or something.

Hobbes said...

Cats, of course, are already perfected.

Anonymous said...

see Nov.05 or Nov.07--though to find perfection,see illusion....Peace.......verif=meekk

Cooper said...

Philosophy always gives me a headache.