Forum Answers by William Q Judge
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“The Theosophical Forum” was published by William Q Judge and contained many answers to interesting Theosophical questions from students. With his usual thoroughness his policy for the Forum was that it should become
a more definite and rigorous application of theosophical theories to the questions.
Readers will find the Answers deep and penetrating, the work of one with a revealing insight into man and nature and a profound understanding of the occult laws that underpin our reality.
As the modern sciences of physics, chemistry and biology are going deeper into the realm of determining causes – which were for them previously well-hidden – they are approaching the study of consciousness and mind and seeing how it is of primary importance.
Theosophical occult science is well-equipped to instruct on these subjects and in this book will be found many useful hints and guides on what the ancient wisdom gives on these questions which are so important for our society and well-being.
The subjects are wide ranging and treated with the typical philosophical rigour that William Judge brings to his writings, yet also making them accessible to the ordinary reader, truly a rare skill. His Answers encapsulate the high ideals of the sublime esoteric system he taught and treat on vital subjects of human interest and welfare, such as altruism, capital punishment, mesmerism and disease, evolution, music and yoga.
In general they shed light on:
- the nature of reality (suprisingly extraordinary and wonderful!),
- the aim of evolutionary life (deeply profound), and
- how we can better understand its laws (such as karma, which when understood, provides the best spur to intelligent and compassionate thought and man’s right living and true progress).
“Forum” Answers contains extracts from 1889-1896; this edition was collated and published by the ULT in 1982.
The index at the rear for easily finding references is included below.
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INDEX of subjects
(from the rear)
A
Absolute
symbolized 41-42
cannot be discovered or known, without attributes 55-56
potential in all things but not related 69-70
Adepts (Masters, Mahatmas)
Black and White, relation to Kali Yuga and preceding ages 3-5
work with cyclic law to benefit Humanity 7
help truth seekers but are known only to pledged 50, 75-76
could play piano without learning 57-58
evidence of existence of in history, traditions and logic 74-75
appear at important epochs 91
come and go by a secret path 93
act in world through agents 110
English language cannot clarify different terms for 119
may by wish become a Deva but must re-enter nature at elemental stage 120
have no Devachan 126-27
Altruism
is not by itself occultism 9-10
Alcohol
some effects are degrading and some are not 121
Antinomians
held themselves not subject to any law 83
Arnold, Sir Edwin
not a religious authority 119
Astral
contains pictures of acts which can influence some people 9
difference between soldier and criminal after death 21
Ego potentially involved in at conception 47
how hand can move physical object 59
phenomena in séances used as proof of 78
reincarnation of personal is not the rule 80
elemental communications from plane of 86-87, 98-99
cremation frees from physical 102
soul assumes form resembling real character 102-03
Astrology
and Karma 17-18
Atlanteans
present and past races were 97-98
Atom(s)
same used in numerous bodies by the same and other Egos 65-66
B
Blavatsky, H.P.
indifferent to male or female incarnation 66
and two Mahatmas produced Secret Doctrine 69
wide power because of great knowledge 110
writings not to be regarded as infallible oracles 124-25
Blind
concepts of objects not clairvoyance in the 33
Body
has meaning beyond visible 47
Ego does not enter 47
meaning of growing “old” 55
does not suffer, know, or feel 58
is provided by nature to suit its environment 64
can include atoms used in former lives 65-66
of man has varied, will vary in future and other worlds 112-1 3
Buddha
teaching regarding music and sensation 70-71
highest nature of man same as the Being of 71
said to have reincarnated as Sankara and Tsong-ka-pa 92-93
contradictions between early and present Buddhism 119
taught that thoughts were actual deeds 122
C
Capital Punishment
harmful to both the executed and the living 29-30, 49, 113-14
Caste
each has by birth a duty to perform 120-21
Chela(ship)
effect of desire to become a 8-9
brings up latent character and precipitates karma 9-10
Clairvoyance
in relation to blindness 33
Condemnation
of others results in anger and blindness to own faults 26-27
denunciation of criminal 54-55
Conscience
source is Higher Self, function limited by education 8, 8-89, 108
acts for betterment but clouded by education and attitudes 94
Consciousness
imagination and will necessary to direct inner vital force of 14-15
has the quality of motion 41-42
varieties of not ours as yet 49-50
obtains a vehicle for every state 58
the Self, functions in different planes of experience with appropriate instruments 62-63
Correspondence
meaning and usefulness 20-21
Cremation
not originally proposed by Theosophists 93
no effect on sheaths of deceased 102
Cycles
beginning and end of true not given 10
coincidence with eras cannot prove divinity of Saviors 10-11
of sun and atmospheric electricity 23
D
Death
difference between soldier and criminal 21
Karma of suicides and accidents when connected with mediums 24-25
penalty as punishment for crime 29-30, 49
states of suicides and victims of accidental 48-49
vision possible in life only to advanced egos 129
Degrees
within the T.S. 5-6
Desire
related to will 34-35
overcoming of 83
and passion objective on their own plane 84
cause of rebirth 85-86
meaning of ambition and killing out 98
Devachan
how memory survives in 25-26
lasts until reward exhausted 39
soul does not experience during sleep 48
is not delayed for all suicides and accidents until natural death 48
entered into by Swedenborg, some mediums and clairvoyants during life 54
why much longer than Earth life 56-57
man retained in by delusions and ignorance 58
all Egoic experience located within earth’s attractive limits 64-65
manasic experiences to draw Ego back to Earth Life 76-77
balances mental attitude held while living 78-79
offers reward for suffering believed unmerited in life 81-82
infants have no 102-03
characteristics of 126
Disease
causes are from imagination and physical karma 35-36
treatment of through physical and mental methods 36-38
Dreams
influence of Sushupti, how guidance may come through 7-8
of oppressive character show nature of hell 108
Duality
is universal, examples of 89-90
relative to manifestation but Spirit-Matter are one 104-05
Duty
contrasted with ambition as motive for action 98
and reason and intuition lead to the path 115
that which one is born to is to be per formed 120-21
E
Earth
factors affecting conditions of 23-24
globes and principles 30-31
number of monads is definite in relation to 60
fossils of tropical life in arctic areas 63-64
not hell per se 107-08
Ego(s)
sex determined by tendency rather than by mechanical alteration 43-45
informs but does not enter body 47
involved with body first through kama then through Manas at seven years 47
influence of mother on body and tendencies are karma of 47-48
deluded permit lower to rule therefore reincarnates and suffers 58
meet each other many times as friends and enemies 60-61
uses same atoms recombined in body 65-66
no longer entering human stage 105-06
karma may bring suffering before age of seven 106-07
is God within which evolves with Nature a universe and a body 108-09
needs experience in all kingdoms for evolution 125-26
in single life exhibits only part of karma 128-29
Electricity
atmospheric and the sun 23
Elementals
means by which Karma operates, connection between mind and matter 42-43
may be used by Adept and others to play piano without learning 57-58
communication with through the astral, most are harmful 86-87, 98-99
Environment
and human laws do not prevent study of self and Divine Wisdom 130-31
Evil
if chosen in Fifth Round soul will be annihilated 67
monsters of have rebirth through ordinary mothers 123
Evolution
“Fall” an allegory of two-fold evolution 13
of principles 19
seven differentiations occur within cosmos and man 55-56
Race will fully develop Manas in Fifth Round 67
the monad’s progress through Rounds 67-69
reason for a mystery and not a fall from divinity 104-05
no Egos from lower kingdoms will become men in this manvantara 105-06
proceeds through the Ego and Nature 108-09
form of man has varied and will vary in future 112-13
all experience necessary for 125-26
can be accomplished in any environment 130-31
Execution
capital punishment harmful to criminal and living 29-30, 49, 113-14
Experience
all necessary for evolution 125-26
F
Force
operating in phenomena explained in cited publications 75
Form
Soul assumes that which is commensurate with its character 102-03
for man is highly variable in this and other worlds 111-13
Future
there is no, all is now 46
G
God
cannot be the Absolute if given at tributes 55-56
fallacy of concept of 95 is the Absolute and ourselves 104-05
is the Ego, Spirit, that evolves with Nature a universe and a body 108-09
Gravity
operation of negative and positive poles 58-59
H
Happiness
true not dependent on anything out side 76
Health balanced mind and disposition conducive to 35-36
bodily ailments are derived from imagination and karma 35-37, 39-40
the right limit of metaphysical healing 35
disease originates in the mind 36
dangers of metaphysical treatment and yoga practices 36-38
Hell
and heaven before and after death are created by thoughts 107-08
Hindus
modern characterized 116
Humanity door to kingdom closed from middle of Fourth Round 60
meaning of “the great orphan” 94-96
Hypnotism
should be prohibited by law 25
indicates that we see only ideas which operator may inhibit or alter 130
I
Ideas
universe is only a vast ideation 82
every thought makes a picture in astral, a seed in mind 91-92
man sees only, may be inhibited in mesmerism 130
Imagination
necessary to direct the flow of force 14-15
powers of, prerequisite for occult arts 45-46, 52-53
Immortality
human ego reaches by uniting with immortal Spirit 12
India
storehouse of Aryan philosophy but modern superstitious
and spiritually degraded 115-16
Insanity
some explanation for 31-33
Inspiration
source of for poets, artists, inventors 9
Intuition
how it may be cultivated 114
J
Jivanmukta
the white adept, liberated state, not obliged to reincarnate or experience devachan 4, 16-17
Justice
and mercy are the same 88
K
Kama
before entanglement with body Ego is involved with 47
sometimes the source of sympathy 76
coalescence with astral body after death 83-85
Kama Loka
various grades, personalities of suicides, executed and accidents in 48-49, 79
state of torment or delay, seeming recognition of others in 51
quite physical 54
Swedenborg’s visions in 54
variations in range of awareness 79
some conditions are a hell 107-08
Karma
operation in nature and man, catastrophes 2-3
of races and cyclic law 6-7
precipitated by entering the path 10
and destiny, a balancing of causes 16
and astrology 18
interference with 28-29
crime and criminal law are products of 30
and insanity 32
and diseases 35-36
good and bad relative to balance of character and circumstances 40-41
elementals are means for operation of 42-43
male-female characteristics in reincarnation and 44-45
brings Ego to mother 47-48
and duty as related to criminals 54-55
racial means every man’s troubles due partly to ourselves 55
between Egos inactive until they meet 60-61
humans as agents of 71-73
meaning of “unmerited suffering” 78, 81-82
is merciful, not retaliative 88, 100
altruism, storing merit, good and bad 96-97
of suffering child under seven years of age 106-07
single life exhibits only part of 128-29
Knowledge
shows how to use virtue, leads to the Supreme 28
L
Law
Mahatmas aid Humanity under cyclic 6-7
occult aspect of gravity and polarity 59
infinite possibilities for form, function, power under one 112-13
Light on the Path
should be judged on intrinsic merits, dictated by an Adept 1
M
Magic(ian)
Black 3-5, 20
White cannot take pay 20
distinction between black and white 34
taking hold of an other’s mind is Black 35
can make a mental image visibly objective 85
speculation as to catastrophes not profitable 91
Magnetism
and mesmerism in treatment of disease 33-34
Man
enmity has the strongest hold on 60
highest nature of is same as Buddha 71
did not come from monkeys 105-06
form of highly variable in this and other worlds 112-13
Manvantara
man’s life is miniature of life of 67
endlessly succeed each other as logical resultants 90
Matter
includes heaven, worlds of devas and angels 2
“descent into” not a fall or degradation 104-05
Meditation
memory is greatest foe of 116-17
Medium(s)
effect on suicides and accidental deaths 24-25
affected by astral personage 49
use own astral senses and members without awareness 87
unaware of source or meaning of phenomena 101
not a blessing to be a 111
Memory
how it survives in Devachan 25-26
greatest foe of meditation 116-17
recollection is the collecting together of impressions 117
Mesmerism
and magnetism in treatment of disease 33-34
Metaphysical healing
practice of healing 34-36
healing can return disease to the mind 36-38
healers have stumbled upon a great law 50-51
mind-cure assumes that spirit only is 56
denial of facts blinds the mind to reason and cognition 38-39
Mind (Manas)
well balanced and centered is conducive to health 35
no one has right to take another’s 35
cures assume that only Spirit is 56
is necessary for consciousness to pass from one plane to another 63
of race will be fully evolved in Fifth Round, moment of choice 67
rules everywhere, is guide and standard, source of illusion on every plane 82
and spirit are only real realms 85
thoughts and desire make bonds of rebirth 86
thoughts have universal effects 91-92
fully developed will have corresponding element 112
memory greatest foe to concentration 116-17
terms to describe lower are vague 130
Monad(s)
number of is definite in this system 60
an unchangeable unit manifesting through various kingdoms 61-62, 67-69
Motion
Infinite Principle is absolute abstract 41-42
Mummification
by Egyptians 93-94
false ideas as to reasons for 123-24
Music
ability of Blind Tom and adepts 57-58
and Buddha’s teaching regarding sensation 70-71
N
Nature
has no intentions 13
man’s lower must be discovered, subdued and transformed 42-43
experience in kingdoms of necessary for evolution 125
Nirvana
can be gained by selflessness and unselfishness 73-74, 97
O
Obsession
insanity and other classes 31-33
Occult Arts
imagination and strong will prerequisite for 45-46, 52-53
knowledge of chemical, electrical, magnetic and mathematical laws requisite 53
how a book may be lifted by astral hand 58-59
Occultism
entrance on the path precipitates character and karma 9-10
demands intellect, memory and will, not goal of T.S. 22
P
Patanjali
Yoga Aphorisms contains direction for physical, intellectual and spiritual training 83
Path
entrance on brings out latent character and precipitates Karma 10
concern about and mechanical approaches to the 114-15
environment does not preclude work on the 130-31
Perfection
is goal of evolution for individual and to help others 11-12
Personality
vehicle for Ego is delusive and binding 58
Plane(s)
correspondences aid acquirement of knowledge of various 20-21
soldier and criminal on astral after death 21
difference between principle and 87-88
Pleasures
as they relate to the three qualities 1 22-23
Principle(s)
of man and their evolution 18-19
globes and earth-chain 30-31
difference between plane and 87-88
Psychic
ignoble to use senses for treasure search 15-16
powers of white magic should not be used for pay 20
meaning of and cautions in investigation of powers 101-02
no selfish use of powers, phenomena not profitable for Branch consideration 111
R
Reforms
Branches should study Theosophy rather than 127
must alter nature of man to be permanent 130-31
Reincarnation
immortality is object of 11-12
Jivanmukta not subject to 16-17
sex determined by egoic tendency rather than alternation 43-45
does not conflict with mother’s power to influence child 47-48
purposes of distinct from causes, infant deaths 53-54
Egos meet each other many times as friends and enemies 60-61
taught by HPB, including in Isis 79-80
of personal astral is exception 80-81
desire leads to 85-86
of avatars 92-93
of monsters of depravity through ordinary mothers 123
in one life exhibits only part of karma 128-29
Rounds
Manas of race fully evolved in Fifth 67
and monads in evolution 67-69
S
Sankara
said to be a reincarnation of Buddha 92-93
Secret Doctrine
all passages must be construed together 61
triple production of H.P.B. and two Mahatmas 68-69
Self, The
consciousness, Atma-Buddhi-Manas, Knower and Perceiver 63
Higher is same as the Being of Buddha 71
Selfishness
in working for Nirvana 73-74, 97
in seeking good karma 96-97
Serpent
nature and its powers is one of meanings of 12
Sex
determined by Egoic tendency 43-45
female character of concrete ness, male of abstraction 44-45
H.P.B.’s view of use of male or female body 66
Sense
intuition not the sixth 114
Soul
connecting bond between spirit and body, can be lost 51-52
is parent less, mankind an orphan 94-95
assumes form commensurate with its character in life and death 102-03
may suffer under karma before age of seven 106-07
no precise meaning of term 114
loss of treated slightly in Theosophical literature 119
great can be unrecognized 128-29
Sound
combination of all results in a harmonious tone 127-28
Spirit(ual)
not incarnated fully in existing race 2
selects soul as connecting bond which can be lost 51-52
has many meanings 70
Patanjali’s Yoga results in cultivation of 83
humanity commencing reascent to in this round 90
Spiritualism
materializations have intelligent actor behind them 77-78
phenomena proof of astral world and body 78
Sun
and atmospheric electricity 23
Swedenborg
entered Devachan during life, had visions in Kama Loca 54
Sympathy
sources of, should be exercised but with judgment 76
T
Tathagata
meaning of Being of 71
Tatwams
elements and forces of nature, in formation on confused 15
Teachers
Theosophical appear last quarter of each century 46-47, 109-10
many great probably among us now 128
Theosophical Movement
persons who have acted as messengers 109-10
Theosophical Society
degrees within 5-6
meant to give true views of life and nature 22
meaning of third object 101-02
if it defines Theosophy will mark its decay 124
branches should study Theosophy rather than social topics 127
should never take partisan and reformatory positions 130-31
Theosophist
an altruist 21-22
duty to teach ethics and philosophy not political reform 30
should study, clearly explain and promulgate Theosophy and brotherhood 117-118, 127
Theosophy
error in Ocean as to rebirth 100
seeming contradiction in regard to evolution 105-06
mode of presentation varies with conditions and messengers 110
middle class the great propagator and supporter of 117-18
treats subject of lost souls slightly 119
is not to be defined, no single criterion 124-25
should be understood and practiced, reforms will follow 127
Thought(s)
and desires make bonds of rebirth 86
are things with universal effect 91-92
heaven, hell and life made by 107-08
as culpable as deed, taught by all reformers 121-22
Tobacco
use of 22-23
Tsong-ka-pa
said to be reincarnation of Buddha 92
V
Vegetarianism
a mechanical approach to the path 115
pros and cons 129-30
W.Q.J. tried for nine years, found it injurious 129
Virtue
and wisdom 23, 28
Vision
knowledge found in death, possible for advanced Ego during life 129
W
Will
and imagination can direct inner vital force 14-15
as related to de sire and magic 34
dangers in use in mental healing 36-38
Wisdom
and virtue, how attained 23, 28
Y
Yoga
Patanjali’s philosophy results in spiritual cultivation 83