The Theosophical Society in America
Provisional Las Vegas Study Group
What does the motto of the Theosophical Society mean to you?
In what respect is Theosophy religious but not a religion, scientific but not a science, philosophic but not a philosophy?
From the information in this chapter, what seem to you to be the most characteristic teachings of Theosophy?
How do the three objects of the Theosophical Society relate to Theosophy?
Suppose that a friend who knows nothing about Theosophy asks you what it is. How would you describe it?
Who were some of the chief figures in the history of the Theosophical Society, and what were their roles?
How is theosophy especially harmonious with modern thought and culture, as indicated by its influence on important figures and by activities of the society’s members?
In what ways is the Ancient Wisdom relevant to modern life?
Why is universal brotherhood said to be an inevitable corollary of God's immanence?
Explain the statement that an injury to one human being is an injury to the whole of humanity. Give illustrations.
Does the brotherhood of humanity mean sameness? Explain and illustrate.
What is the theosophical attitude toward the lower kingdoms of nature? What is the basis for that attitude?
What difference might the acceptance and practice of the principle of brotherhood make in our attitude toward business? Education? Political problems? Race relations? Labor problems? Substitute, if you wish, any other issue that interests you and apply to it the principle of universal brotherhood. What changes might the application of that principle bring about?
What is the purpose for having material forms?
What is the difference between the three perishable bodies and the fourth or permanent body?
Briefly describe the emotional and mental bodies.
What is the etheric double? What is its function? Why is it said not to be a true body?
What is the name given in theosophy to the permanent body? Why is it so called?
Explain the significance of color in thought and feeling, and indicate the meanings of some of the colors. How are such color meanings reflected in our ordinary use of language? For example, what is a "black mood"?
What kind of experience is worked into the causal body?
Explain why the bodies lead the consciousness to habitual thoughts, desires and actions.
What should be our attitude toward our bodies?
List reasons and evidence for belief in life after death that appeal to you.
Describe the theosophical understanding of the process of dying and the condition of the ordinary person immediately after death.
How does the emotional body rearrange itself in the after-death state?
How does theosophy explain our responsibility for our own condition after dying?
How does theosophy relate the level of our emotional life to our immediate experiences on the emotional plane with its various subplanes in the after-death state?
What should be the attitude of mind and emotions on the part of the living toward the so-called dead?
How do the two theosophical views of the after-death life differ from each other?
What determines the length of stay (a) in the emotional world, and (b) in the heaven world or Devachan?
What is the purpose of Devachan?
What follows Devachan?
What seem to you to be the most important reasons for and against the concept of reincarnation?
How can differences between the mental and moral faculties of individuals be explained by reincarnation?
Does the ego have a sexual identity? What type of lessons are learned in masculine and in feminine bodies?
What evidence is there that reincarnation is not a new teaching?
Why is it so difficult to remember details of past lives? Would it always be helpful or wise to remember past lives or to foresee what the future holds? Why?
In what ways do all of us remember past incarnations?
When and why will the soul cease to reincarnate?
What three principal factors operate to determine the place and events of a future life?
If knowledge of reincarnation were to become more widespread in the Western world, what difference might it make in the life and activities around us?
How does natural law differ in essence from human law?
What is the difference between karma and the popular concept of fate?
Why is karma greater than the working out of cause and effect at the personal level?
Why is it inevitable that the causes we generate must return to us as effects?
What are some of the common misunderstandings of karma? Explain why they are incorrect In what way can karma be modified?
Do we have any right to try to change our own karma? Explain.
Do we have the right to change the karma of others by trying to help them? Explain.
Give some examples of using natural laws to neutralize other laws.
Why is it important to know what we are doing when we seek to modify karma?
What is the best reason for striving to live mindful of the law of karma?
Based on what is said in this chapter as well as on other information you may have, what is your understanding of how thought vibrations act?
What is the best way to protect oneself against unwelcome thoughts?
What is the significance of the color, shape, definiteness, and persistence of thought forms?
Why is thought important? Have you had any personal experiences of its importance?
How can thought be used to build character? Why is habitual thought practice valuable?
How can we help others, both the living and dead, by means of thought?
What is the difference between the use of thought and silence in meditative practice?
Give your own example of something that is good at an earlier stage of evolution but becomes evil later.
What is the use of purpose of temptation and adversity?
What are the uses of pain? Illustrate from your personal experience, if possible.
What should be our attitude toward (a) evil in our conditions or surroundings, (b) evil in others, (c) evil in ourselves?
Do you think people ever deliberately do what they know to be wrong?
In what ways would living the principles of "The Golden Stairs" help one to cope with the existence of evil or imperfection in the world, in others, and in ourselves?
What is the purpose of life as postulated in theosophy? Do you see any other way of viewing the purpose?
In what two important respects does the theosophical teaching about evolution differ from that given in physical science?
Explain what is meant by the theosophical terms (a) involution and (b) evolution.
In what sense do life and form evolve in parallel with each other? What evidence is there to show that mind or consciousness evolves as well as matter and form?
What is meant by the three Life Waves (also called Outpourings or Breaths)? What does each contribute to evolution?
Do human beings develop from animals? Explain.
What are the theosophical views regarding (a) individualization and (b) the group soul?
Give an explanation of inherited instinct ---what we know without having been taught.
Can you see a plan for human evolution? If so, what is it like?
What is the practical value of these ideas in daily life?
Why are there no geological remains of the first and second root races?
Describe the qualities of the third root race, the Lemurian.
Describe the qualities and particularly the evolutionary path of the Atlanteans.
Why is it important to remember that the journey through the races has been made by all present-day human individuals?
Why is it theosophically important not to make generalizations about human characteristics on the basis of the present skin color of an individual?
Discuss human evolution based on the concepts given in this chapter.
What is the keynote of fifth root race development? Can you give examples other than those mentioned in this chapter?
What do the three objects of the Society imply about a theosophical lifestyle?
A Greek motto holds that "An unexamined life is not worth lifing." Why is self-examination an important activity?
Memorize Blavatsky's "There is a road." What meaning does it hold for you?
