Theos-Talk Archives (July 1997 Message tt00000)

> In response to Gail Stevenson's plea for united efforts, would
> not one method be to pool our resources and avoid needless
> duplication? There are probably many out-of-print articles from
> various organizations worth sharing.  For example, B.P.  Wadia's
> from U.L.T.'s archives, or H.T.  Edge from the articles of the
> ~Theosophical Forum~ and early journals of the T.S.  in England.
>
> Dara Eklund

Gail and Dara touch on a subject that is as old as the first
'split' in the ranks.  There has been a century of discussuion
about it.  UNITY IN THE TS!

I do not have a solution but the following analysis might clarify
the nature of the problem.  We begin by making positive
statements:-

1.  All persons in positions of authority or influence need to
fervently desire unity.

2.  All those persons need to embrace the principle of openess
and absolute tolerance of everyone's views.

3.  There needs to be a genuine ability to forget old antipathies
such as the Leadbeater/Besant criticisms; the Krishnamurti
dissensions; the Judge/Besant hiatus; the notion that Blavatsky
was the only 'giver of wisdom'--and so on.

4.  Unity can only be the unity of hearts and minds, not
organisations.

5.  A spontaneous urge to spring to the defence of anyone
unjustly attacked.

6.  A willingness to give everyone a fair hearing.

7.  No officer clinging to office in a way that impedes the unity
that so many rank and file members of all the differing groups
may want.

I think anyone deserving of the title 'Theosophist' ought to be
able to meet those desiderata.  I do know a lady like that and it
has been a joy to knopw her and work with her.  In any contact I
have with her I feel encouraged to carry on.

Best wishes to you all!