Theos-Talk Archives (June 1996 Message tt00016)

>Nicholas Weeks:
>>I would like to read what
>>Jerry & the rest of list think are the keynotes of the TM today.
>>How different are they from a century ago? What does the
>>Brotherhood wish we aspiring helpers would do to foster the
>>Theosophical Movement?

>JHE
>[...]
>Today, we are living in very insidious times. The trend is to no
>longer view ethics as a standard connected to spiritual roots.
>When standards are established, they are more often than not
>based upon the expediency of the situation. I raise ethics here,
>because in spite of repeated objections from others on theos-l, I
>still believe that ethics are at the very heart of the TM and
>sounds the unchanging and undying keynote.
>
>Therefore, I think today, as in the past, any activity that
>inspires people to act unselfishly for the betterment of humanity
>serves the TM. But since we live in a postmodern world that
>denies authority; the notion of an absolute truth; and a code of
>ethics based in the spiritual, we have to find new ways of doing
>this.

The keynotes of the Theosophical Movement as still the same
today, but the priority of those of lesser importance may have
changed. Some of the chief aims are:

1) "those which are likely to lead to the relief of human
suffering under any or every form, moral as well as physical.
And we believe the former to be far more important than the
latter. Theosophy has to inculcate ethics; it has to purify the
soul, if it would relieve the physical body..." [~Key to
Theosophy~ 24]

2) Replacement of the theological God idea with a non-theistic
Principle.

3) Teach "virtue for its own sake."

4) Promote spiritual self-reliance, not reliance on a
"theological crutch". [See Mahatma Letter 10]

Ethics & Virtue are still at the top of the list, but I do not
see any particular need to reinvent the wheel in teaching them.
True, many youngsters (both chronological & emotional ones) have
trouble with the perception and the fact of authority, whether
religious, secular or personal. But that is a reflection of the
conceit & selfish esteem promoted by schools, media & some
parents. Rather than adjust downwards the standards, I try to
suggest they get rid of their prejudice & hangups with
"authority". Yes, there are Papal figures & dogmatic teachings
in all spiritual fields. But for every hitleresque "leader" or
dogma (or wannabee) there are 10 immature, prideful students.
Also ethics may be one of the least academic areas of thought.
Unlike geometry, sociology or economics, ethics has always and
will always, be taught at mother's knee in a family setting. It
is also conveyed through whatever religion the child is exposed
to, outside the home. So while the teaching of ethics in schools
does occur it is (and again, always will be) the least
influential source, compared to home & temple. In short,
whatever "postmodern" thought means, I do not think it
encompasses the world -- the Western academic world perhaps --
but not the world.

Best,

Nicholas