Morality and Humility: From Theosophy’s Sacred Teachings in “The Key to Theosophy,” Part 2 of 2

“[…] No Theosophist should be silent when he hears evil reports or slanders spread about the Society, or innocent persons, whether they be his colleagues or outsiders.” The Enquirer asked further: “But suppose what one hears is the truth, or may be true without one knowing it?” The Theosophist replied: “Then you must demand good proofs of the assertion, and hear both sides impartially before you permit the accusation to go uncontradicted. You have no right to believe in evil, until you get undeniable proof of the correctness of the statement.”

The Enquirer questioned: “And what should you do then?” The Theosophist clarified: “Pity and forbearance, charity and long-suffering, ought to be always there to prompt us to excuse our sinning brethren, and to pass the gentlest sentence possible upon those who err. A Theosophist ought never to forget what is due to the shortcomings and infirmities of human nature.”

“Justice consists in doing no injury to any living being; but justice commands us also never to allow injury to be done to the many, or even to one innocent person, by allowing the guilty one to go unchecked.”

The Enquirer questioned: “Is it the duty of every member to teach others and preach Theosophy?” The Theosophist answered: “It is indeed. No fellow has a right to remain idle, on the excuse that he knows too little to teach. For he may always be sure that he will find others who know still less than himself. And also it is not until a man begins to try to teach others, that he discovers his own ignorance and tries to remove it. But this is a minor clause.”

The Enquirer questioned: “What do you consider, then, to be the chief of these negative Theosophical duties?” The Theosophist explained: “To be ever prepared to recognize and confess one’s faults. To rather sin through exaggerated praise than through too little appreciation of one’s neighbour’s efforts. Never to back-bite or slander another person. Always to say openly and direct to his face anything you have against him. Never to make yourself the echo of anything you may hear against another, nor harbor revenge against those who happen to injure you. […] Leave them to their Karma. Because one person does evil that is no reason for others to do so.”