Enthusiasm is the light that makes the Sun shine on achievement. Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity. Life is not a destination; it is a journey. It is not a series of goals; it is a series of steps, of events unfolding as you make your way. The Theosophic teaching that the master takes on the karma of his pupil is often misunderstood. So many students think that the master hesitates to accept a pupil because of the heavy liability of accepting one’s karma. The measure of truth in this belief is that the master does have some moral responsibility for the self-injuring mistakes committed by the pupil as a direct consequence of special knowledge entrusted to one or for society-injuring misuse of special powers transferred to one or around into activity within one because of special instructions given by the teacher—in either case before one was sufficiently strong morally and pure in motive. However, the general karma of the pupil is not accepted nor can it be accepted by any master. That is the pupil’s making and one must work it out. If the student thinks the teacher ever laces obstacles or temptations in anyone’s way, one is mistaken. #RandolphHarris 1 of 19

The teacher does not have to place obstacles in your life; it is done by life itself, or, more precisely, by the karma arising from the individual character and its special needs. The teacher may not them and act accordingly, but one does not create them. In the end, the student creates one’s own obstacles and one’s own temptations by one’s thinking, by one’s character, and by one’s karma. One is not only an in instructor but is too often called upon to play the role of mentor, to be a wise counselor at all times and a trusted friend in difficult times, to solve personal problems and guide personal decisions. This ideal person is yet to be found, alas! However, the wish for one is strong enough to clothe lesser being in imagined perfection. Those who regard one as an unreliable visionary are not less victims of prejudice than those who regard one as an omniscient prophet. Even the person who talks from God’s inspiration can convince only those other people who are ready. Not all are sensitive to one’s spell. They equate human’s powers with God’s powers, blandly refusing to see that one can create nothing but can only provide the conditions which makes some creations possible. They exaggerate what is true, that one possessed, potentially, certain Godlike attributes, into what is untrue, that one can do what God does. #RandolphHarris 2 of 19

It is a self-deception to believe that the master can interfere in all sorts of miraculous ways in the disciple’s Worldly life or intervene in all sorts of arbitrary ways in one’s spiritual life. The master’s true function, the most important role one can play in the disciple’s career, is to assist the latter’s efforts to withdraw into one’s inner self, to guide, strengthen, and protect one’s endeavour to practise deep and meaningful prayer. There is a common belief in the Old World—picked up by and transferred to some in the New World—that without submission to a leader, master, guru whose guidance is to lead them and whose power is to life them int Heaven, they can never win access to this goal. When it refers to authentically enlightened people, it is an exaggerated belief, and a false one when it refers to all others. Blind acceptance of it has precipitated a case of neurosis in some cases, and much feeling of morbid frustration in most cases where seekers have failed to find a guru or, finding, have become disappointed or disillusioned afterwards. There is no celestial witch-doctor, no angelic magician coming to change their characters overnight. Those who do not understand that true development is self-development will look for, even demand, a guru’s “magic,” as they believe it to be. #RandolphHarris 3 of 19

When people demand supernatural abilities from a master, this will lead them to frequent one’s vicinity or even live in it permanently, in order to be more or less constantly under one’s mesmeric influence. Thus they come to depend increasingly on an outside source—another person—and remain ungrown. The disciples exert so much pressure and encouragement on the guru to do what one cannot do for them that they go on believing their own desires in the matter, that is, their ego, rather than one. They think one can give them total protection against risks, perils, and falls on the spiritual path. That is impossible. The guru is not omniscient and not almighty. One is still a limited human being. Why force one into accepting a false position? The idea of a master as being some sort of free perfect and infallible counsellor in all the domestic personal and professional perplexities of life is an appealing one. If it were true where there would be many more disciples. However, it is only a romantic piece of wishful thinking. Many academics in recent years have become aware of the objectionable nature of using the supposedly generic male forms of nouns and pronouns. As feminist scholars have demonstrated, these words have most often not been used, throughout history and the history of philosophy in particular, with the intent to include women. #RandolphHarris 4 of 19

There is always some agency to deny the memories and significance of others, like the unreal news media, to rewrite the past. It has become a commonplace in 2020 for some people are paid more than most of the rest of us to debase history, trivialize truth, and annihilate the past on a daily basis. Those who do not learn from history used to have to relive it, but only until those in power could find a way to convince everybody, including themselves, that history never happened, or happened in a way best serving their own purposes—or best of all that it does not matter anyway, expect as some dumbed-down TV documentary cobbled together for an hour’s entertainment. People can make you say anything and they can make you believe anything because that is just what they do—they get inside, they steal space in your head and make you question your soul, of what we believe to be an inviolable inner core of the self, into harsh and terminal doubt. You have to live—do live, from habit that becomes instinct. This is a World where every sound one makes is overheard, there are video cameras on every corner, on cars, on houses, on people, in hotel rooms, and, except in darkness, and maybe even then, every movement is scrutinized. #RandolphHarris 5 of 19

Some people discriminate against women because they dislike them. They know the reason. It is because they are considered to be delicate, beautiful, loving and clean-minded, and they mange to carry themselves in that manner. There are individuals who dislike all women, and especially the successful, young, and pretty ones. Women strike some people as dangerous and just a glance at a woman gives them a moment filled with morbid terror. The idea may even cross their mind that there is something divine about these woman, and that makes them feel a peculiar uneasiness, which has fear mixed up in it as well as hostility whenever a woman is anywhere near them. These individuals hate women because they are young and pretty and not overtly interested in pleasures of the flesh, because they want to go to bed with these women, and the women are out of their league. Therefore women, are a threat to some because they are an aggressive symbol of chastity. This makes some people want to remove women from the registers, gives them the desire to wipe out every record of everything a woman has done. They want to deny the existence of women, so they are forgotten. Totally abolish them, annihilate them, vaporize them from the face of the plant. #RandolphHarris 6 of 19

However, man is a selfish create and knows that he must procreate in order to survive and rubbing musty elbows with other men in the elevator does not endure survival. So, some live in shame and fear and pretend to be heterosexual, but have clandestine love affairs with other men and pray on boys in hopes no one finds out about their true desires. But men can never replace woman. That is why God blessed the with the miracle of child birth, to ensure the prosperity of the human race. Man, mankind, and he are going out of style as universal representations, though they have by no means disappeared. However, the gender-neutral alternative that most contemporary theorist employ are often even more misleading than the blatantly sexist use of male terms of reference. For they serve to disguise the real and continuing failure of theorists to confront the fact that there are some socially relevant physical differences between women and men, and the even more important fact that the genders have had very difference histories, very different assigned social roles and “nature,” and very different degrees of access to power and opportunity in all human societies up to and including the present. #RandolphHarris 7 of 19

False gender neutrality is not a new phenomenon. Aristotle, for example, used Anthropos—“human being”—in discussions of “the human good” that turn out not only to exclude women but to depend on their subordination. Kant even wrote of “all rational beings as such” in making arguments that he did not mean to apply to women. However, it was more readily apparent that such arguments or conceptions of the good were not about all of us, but only about the male heads of families. For their authors usually gave at some point an explanation, no matter how inadequate, of why what they were saying did not apply to women and of the different characteristics and virtues, rights, and responsibilities they thought women ought to have. Nevertheless, their theories have often been read as though they pertain (or can easily be applied) to all of us. Feminist interpretations of the last fifteen years or so have revealed the falsity of the “add women and stir” method of reading the history of political thought. The falseness of the Gender-neutral language of contemporary political theorists is less readily apparent. Most, though not all, contemporary moral and political philosophers use “men and women,” “he or she,” “persons,” or the increasingly ubiquitous “self.” #RandolphHarris 8 of 19

Sometimes they even get their computers to distribute masculine and feminine terms of reference randomly. Since they do not explicitly exclude or differentiate women, as most theorists in the past did, we may be tempted to read their theories as inclusive of all of us. However, we cannot. Their merely terminological responses to feminist challenges, in spite of giving a superficial impression of tolerance and inclusiveness, often strained credulity and sometimes results in nonsense. They do this in two ways: by ignoring the irreducible biological differences between the genders, and/or by ignoring their different assigned social roles and consequent power differentials, and the ideologies that have supported them. Thus gender-neutral terms frequently obscure the fact that so much of the real experience of “persons,” so long as they live in gender-structured societies, does in fact depend on what gender they are. False gender neutrality is by no means confined to the realm of theory. Its harmful effects can be seen in public policies that have directly affected large numbers of women adversely. It was used, for example, in the Supreme Court’s 1976 decision that the exclusion of pregnancy-related disabilities from employers’ disability insurance plans was “not a gender-based discrimination at all.” #RandolphHarris 9 of 19

In a now infamous phrase of its majority opinion, the Court explained that such plans did not discriminate against women because the distinction drawn by such plans was between pregnant women and “non-pregnant persons.” Examples of false gender neutrality in contemporary political theory will more frequently in our discussions. Ackermans’ Social Justice in the Liberal State is a book containing scrupulously gender-neutral language. He breaks with this neutrality only, it seems, to defy existing gender roles; he refers to the “Commander,” who plays the lead role in the theory, as “she.” However, the argument of the book does not address the existing inequality or role differentiation between the genders, though it has the potential for doing so. The full impact of Ackerman’s gender-neutral language without attention to gender is revealed in his section on abortion: a two-page discussion written, wit the exception of a single “she,” in the completely gender-neutral language of fetuses and their “parents.” The impression given is that there is no relevant respect in which the relationship of the two parents to the fetuses would be so slight as to reasonably play only a minor role in the discussion of abortion. #RandolphHarris 10 of 19

However, this would have to be a society without gender—one in which sexual differences carried no social significance, the genders were equal in power and interdependence, and “mothering” and “fathering” a child meant the same thing, so that parenting and earning responsibilities were equally shared. We certainly do not live in such a society. Neither is there any discussion of one in Ackerman’s theory, in which the division of labour between the genders is not considered a matter of social (in) justice. In such a context, a “gender-neutral” discussion of abortion is almost as misleading as the Supreme Court’s “gender-neutral” discussion of pregnancy. A second illustration of false gender neutrality comes from Derek Phillip’s Toward a Just Social Order. Largely because of the extent of his concern—rare among theorists of justice—with how we are to achieve and maintain a just social order, Phillips pays an usual amount of attention to the family. He writes about the family as the locus for the development of a sense of justice and self-esteem, of an appreciation of the meanings of reciprocity, of the ability to exercise unforced choice, and of an awareness of alternative ways of life. #RandolphHarris 11 of 19

The problem with this otherwise admirable discussion is that, apart from a couple of brief exceptions, the family itself is presented in gender-neutral terms that bear little resemblance to actual, gender-structured life. It is because of “parental affection,” “parental nurturance,” and “child rearing” that children in Phillips’s families become the autonomous moral agents that his just society requires its citizens to be. The child’s development of a sense of identity is very much dependent upon being raised by “parental figures who themselves have coherent and well-integrated personal identities,” and we are told that such a coherent identity is “ideally one built around commitments to work and love.” This all sounds very plausible. However, it does not take into account the multiple inequalities of gender. In gender-structure societies—in which the child rearers are women, “parental nurturance” is largely mothering, and those who do what society regards as “meaningful work” are assumed not to be primary parents—women in even the best of circumstances face considerable conflicts between love (a fulfilling family life) and “meaningful work.” Women in less fortunate circumstances face even greater conflicts between love (even basic care of their children) and any kind of paid work at all. #RandolphHarris 12 of 19

It follows from Phillips’s own premises that these conflicts are very likely to affect the strength and coherence in women of that sense of identity and self-esteem, coming from love and meaningful work, that he regards as essential for being an autonomous moral agent. In turn, if they are mothers, it is also likely to affect their daughters’ and sons’ developing sense of their identity. Gender is clearly a major obstacle to attainment of a social order remotely comparable to the just one Philips aspires to—but his false gender-neutral language allows him to ignore this fact. Although he is clearly aware of how distant in some other respects this vision of a just social order is from contemporary societies, his use of falsely gender-neutral language leaves him quite unaware of the distance between the type of family that might be able to socialize just citizens and typical families. The combined effect of the omission of the family and the falsely gender-neutral language in recent political thought is that most theorists are continuing to ignore the highly political issues of gender. The language they use makes little difference to what they actually do, which is to write about men and about only those women who manage, in spite of the gendered structures and practices of the society in which they live, to adopt patterns f life that have been developed to suit the needs of men. #RandolphHarris 13 of 19

The fact that human beings are born as helpless infants—not as the purportedly autonomous actor who populate political theories—is obscured by the implicit assumption of gendered families, operating outside the range of theories. To a large extent, contemporary theories of justice, like those of the past, are about men with wives at home. For three major reasons, this state of affairs is unacceptable. The first is the obvious point that women must be fully included in any satisfactory theory of justice. The second is that equality of opportunity, not only for women but for children of both genders, is seriously undermined by the current gender injustices of our society. And the third reason is that, as has already been suggested, the family—currently the linchpin of the gender structure—must be just if we are to have a just society, since it is within the family that we first come to have that sense of ourselves and our relations with others that is at the root of moral development. In one of His prayer parables, the Lord dramatized what He wants from all believers. Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. #RandolpHarris 14 of 19

He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about people. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ For sometime he refused. However, finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she will not eventually wear me out with her coming!’” (Luke 18-1-5) The cultivation of persistence was a recurring motif in Jesus’ teaching on prayer. In Gethsemane Jesus challenged His disciples when they failed to persevere by saying, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak,” reports Mark 14.38. In the Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi, chapter 20 The Lord reveals His purposes to Israel—Israel has been chosen in the furnace of affliction and is to go forth from Babylon—Compare Isaiah 48. About 588-570 Before Christ. “Hearken and hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, or out of the waters of baptism, who swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, yet they swear not in truth nor in righteousness. Nevertheless, they call themselves of the holy city, but they do not stay themselves upon the God of Israel, who is the Lord of Hosts; yea, the Lord of Hosts is his name. #RandolphHarris 15 of 19

“Behold, I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them. I did show them suddenly. And I did it because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is iron sinew, and thy brow brass; and I have even from the beginning declared to thee; before it came to pass I showed them thee; and I showed them for fear lest thou shouldst say—Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image hath commanded them. Thou hast seen and heard all this; and will ye not declare them? And that I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them. They are created now, and not from the beginning, even before the day when thou heardest them not they were declared unto thee, lest thou shouldst say—Behold I knew them. Yes, and thou heardest not; yes, thou knewest not; yet, from that time thine ear was not opened; for I knew that thou wouldst deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb. Nevertheless, for my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain from thee, that I cut thee not off. For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, yes, for mine own sake will I do this, for I will not suffer my name to be polluted, and I will not give my glory unto another. #RandolphHarris 16 of 19

“Hearken unto me, O Jacob, and Israel my called, for I am he; I am the first, and I am also the last. Mine hand hath also laid the foundation of the Earth, and my right hand hath spanned the Heavens. I call unto them and they stand up together. All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; who among them hath declared these things unto them? The Lord hath loved him; yes, and he will fulfil His word which he hath declared by them; and He will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall come upon the Chaldeans. Also, saith the Lord; I the Lord, yea, I have spoken; yea, I have called him to declare, I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous. Come ye near unto me; I have not spoken in secret; from the beginning, from the time that it was declared have I spoken; and the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me. And thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I have sent him, the Lord thy God who teacheth thee to profit, who leadeth thee by the way thou shouldst go, hath done it. O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments—then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea. Thy seed also had been as the sand; the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed before me. #RandolphHarris 17 of 19

“Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter to the end of the Earth; say ye: The Lord hath redeemed his servant Jacob. And they thirsted not; he led them through the deserts; he caused the water to flow out of the rock for them; he clave the rock also and the waters gushed out. And notwithstanding he hath done all this, and greater also, there is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked,” 1 Nephi 20.1-22. Almighty and everlasting God, the Maker of all creation, mercifully hear our prayers, and grant many and happy years to Thy servants in Detroit, Michigan, and the state of Mississippi, and the people of Chattanooga, Tennessee for not only has COVID-19 hit them hard and is about to leave them without homes, but the people in Chattanooga lost their homes to a natural disaster and their entire town was destroyed. Dear, God, we thank you for all the blessings we have been afforded, and you didst cause us to come forth from our mother’s wombs into this life, that we may spend all our lives so as to please Thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. O Love beyond compare, Thou art good when Thou givest, when Thou takest away, when the Sun shines upon me, when night gathers over me. #RandolphHarris 18 of 19

Thou hast loved me before the foundation of the World, and in love didst redeem by soul; Thou dost love me still, in spite of my hard heart, ingratitude, distrust. Thy goodness has been with me during another year, leading me though a twisting wilderness, in retreat helping me to advance, when beaten back making sure headway. Thy goodness will be with me in the year ahead; I hoist sail and draw up anchor, with Thee as blessed pilot of my future as of my past. I bless Thee that Thou hast veiled my eyes to the waters ahead. If thou hast appointed storms of tribulation, Thou wilt be with me in them; if I have to pass through tempests of persecution and temptation, I shall not drown; if I am to die, I shall see Thy face the sooner; if a painful end is to be my lot, grant me grace that my faith fail not; if I am to be cast aside from the service I love, I can make no stipulation; only glorify Thyself in me whether in comfort or trial, as a chosen vessel meet always for Thy use. O God, the Life of the faithful, the Saviour and Guardian of those that fear Thee, Who, after the expiration of a year, hast been pleased to bring Thy servants to our natural birthday; increasing in us the grace of the Protector of life, and multiply their days with many years; that having, by Thy favour, been carried through a happy life, they may be enabled to attain the height of Heavenly joys; through Jesus Christ our Lord. #RandolphHarris 19 of 19

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Rancho Cordova, CA |

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