Theos-Talk Archives (September 1997 Message tt00020)

In a message dated 9/10/97 8:29:51 AM, Dallas quotes R. Crosbie:

> What is the opposite and corrective of Personality? Nothing less
> than Impersonality which seeks nothing for itself and everything
> for the Cause of Theosophy pure and simple.

There is no worldly fame, glory or profit in such a course, yet
it, and it alone, removes every obstacle that might intervne
between the Message of Theosophy and those who desire to study
and apply it on its own merits.

For that reason, and that reason alone, are the magazine
"Theosophy" and the "United Lodge of Theosophists" conducted
anonymously.

The mind of the race is still obsessed by the idea that it is
important and essential to know who the active agents are,
whereas the important thing is the merit of the thing done.">>

The funny thing about this quote is that NO ONE I know of on this
board would disagree. No one is arguing for a lot of
personality. The history of the Theosophical Movement is quite
well known, the disasters and egos and misdirected energy.

The argument is NOT the same as 80+ years ago when Crosbie wrote.
He was trying to recover the pure message of Theosophy from
infighting and glamor battles. I think he succeeded because he
was resourceful. He saw the problem at hand and devised means to
overcome it by precept and example. However we should not
mistake his METHOD for his PRINCIPLE. This is a key distinction
that I feel is often overlooked, in ULT as elsewhere.

The argument today is whether TOTAL ANONYMITY in all of our
publications, all of our platform work, all of our public
outreach -- is working. Is it the best METHOD to put into
practice our joint belief in anonymity?

I say no. The overriding problem I see is disunity and division
based on petty differences. The goal is as much brotherly union
in effort as humanly possible. What (perhaps temporary) method
will work best to achieve this goal?

Is there a compelling reason why we must not go on a first-name
basis for most endeavors? This is not drawing attention to the
personality but allowing friendliness and a comfortable, relaxed
approach to discussion. This Theosophy World list was started
principally by Eldon Tucker, and he seems to have gained no new
notoreity from it -- or personal following, or ego problems.
Having his name attached seems to me to have facilitated the
launch, and now we hardly hear from Eldon at all on a daily
basis.

The rest of us on this list almost universally use our first
names. Is this causing massive personality wars or schisms,
distractions or demagogery? I think not. Rather I agree with
recent comments from Paul Johnson, Nicholas and Daniel that and
overdose of anonymity can backfire, leading to mistrust,
irresponsibility in what one writes and the reinforcement of
subconscious power dynamics.

"Rich"

(which is merely a label for a conglomeration of elementals,
skandhas, ideas, prejudices, memories, personal desires and
Higher energies)