Theos-Talk Archives (October 1997 Message tt00108)

According to Nicholas Weeks:

> > or attack anyone who poses fundamental, challenging questions
> > about HPB and the Masters.
>
> There is that possibility.  PJ does not seem to countenance the
> other possibility that his theory is completely wrong.

The suggestion that there are only two possibilities, mutually
exclusive ones at that, is symptomatic of the kind of thinking
I'm talking about.  Completely wrong theories are propounded
every day without provoking the levels of hostility and
resistance from *some* Theosophists that TMR did.  Surely,
therefore, the reactions were due to predispositions to get nasty
about *this particular subject*, one of *hundreds* discussed in
the Theosophical literature, more than the flaws of the
particular theory proposed.  Funny thing is, it's a subject that
HPB, Olcott, and the Masters insisted should *never* become a
source of dogmatism and sectarian narrowmindedness in the
Theosophical movement.

Nicholas, I knew before opening my cybermouth that you would say
something ugly and personal in response, based on past
experience.  But opened it anyhow, thinking that two years of
avoiding discussion of this issue is enough, and I should speak
up despite the inevitable scornful hostility you would show (and
others here will perhaps echo just as proudly.) If anyone has the
stripes to discuss Theosophical fundamentalism, I do.

But the subject isn't reactions just to my own work.  What about
Tillett? I suspect you consider his theory far from completely
wrong.  Would you deny that "ignore or attack" was the reaction
of the Adyar TS to him? If you accept that in fact it was, and
that his correct theory and my "completely wrong" one met the
same reaction, how do you explain the reaction to my own as based
solely on its wrongness? (I can assure you that Tillett would not
accept your line of argument here.) By the way, calling it
"completely wrong" is quite symptomatic of the failure/refusal to
discuss these matters in a moderate, objective, balanced way.  I
doubt, if you defined "my theory" which you say is completely
wrong, that I would recognize it as being at all what the book
was saying.  It certainly was not in the case of Algeo's attacks.

> "New ideas" are not true because they are new;

Of course not, and we all know that.

> nor are organizational mindsets mistaken because a group, over
> time, has such a firm conviction.

A firm conviction about the Masters is something that they
themselves and HPB *repeatedly* said the original TS was
*absolutely never supposed to have as a body.* Rather, they
insisted that the subject be open to respectful exploration of
different views.  (Remember Anna K.?) But it's not, due to people
like you-- a small minority of the Theosophists I've known but
tonesetters nonetheless.  You have been hostile and personal
every time the subject of my work has come up on the net, enough
(with some similar reactions from those who share your feelings
and views on the matter) to shut me up for years.  Why? Firm
convictions are one thing.  Feeling justified in personally
attacking people who don't share them is something else.

> Just a reminder to readers of this list that PJ's belief in his
> martyrdom is not the only explanation for opposition to his
> alleged "new ideas."

Martyrdom? Hmmm.  A successful book, quite favorably received by
most reviewers within and outside the Theosophical movement.
Unchanging positive relations with the local Theosophists and no
lost friendships as a result of the book and its sequel.  BUT
such a relentlessly hostile reaction by a handful of
self-perceived Theosophical thought police that I felt hounded
out of any participation in the movement above the local level.
Yes, I've gone into exile rather than be a punching bag for
people like you.  But is that martyrdom, or the best thing that
ever happened to me? It led to a vastly more fulfilling spiritual
affiliation and a new book that was a joy to write and promises
to stir up the kind of healthy discussion which didn't occur with
the others.  This is martyrdom? If so, it's not all it's cracked
up to be.  My temporarily ruined life is far better now than
before all this happened.  The permanently ruined intellectual
atmosphere in the Theosophical movement is the real tragedy in
this story, but that's your (plural) problem, not mine anymore.

Sincere good wishes for resolving it.

> Best,

No, I don't agree.  You can do better than this.  I've seen/read
you in other modes, and have never seen you treat anyone else in
this scornful way.