Theos-Talk Archives (November 1997 Message tt00449)

At 03:03 PM 11/30/97 -0800, Martin Leiderman wrote:
>More on Organization
>
>Dear MKR, I do not understand your replay about organizations.
>Even though =93every person is unique,=94 they naturally tend to organize=
 by
>interest and not by differences. Let say musicians may form a group, may
>join a society for the preservation of classical music or whatever, they
>may go to a school of music to perfect the art of playing music. The
>physical, psychical, and spiritual experience of playing music is
>personal. And it cannot be theoretical (in most cases). But I have seen
>how music teachers, friends, and others, help to improve ways and
>techniques so a musician may advance. They truly help/guide, transfer
>knowledge in a spiritually and mystically way. They encourage the person
>to try it out what they just have learned.
>This is one of the millions of reasons why organizations, groups,
>societies are important and a must.
>The same it can be said for mystical, religious, philosophical, esoteric
>nature of an individual. He or she may join a group that may resonate
>with the intrinsic needs for sharing, and perfecting the way of
>accomplishing that experience.
>
>I do not relate to our MKR=92s views that =93organizations are a hindrance
>simply because each individual is very unique.=94 I think that validates
>the need of organization: in sharing that uniqueness we enrich our
>experience and get tools, ideas, other ways to enhance our
>understanding in this life which is the only Path to the Truth. Outside
>the One Life (One Truth) there is only mental chaos.
>
>Dear MKR just because a lot of organizations have mislead people (and
>will mislead) it does not mean that organizations are bad/evil. They are
>the natural way for individuals to learn, to participate, to share. As
>we are doing now with the well organized internet. But everything is
>possible where there are people. Marcus Aurelius, the roman Emperor
>understood it well (Meditations). There is no need to be negative
>about something that is natural for humans in this round.
>
>We may ask our brother Allan Bain in forming the Theosophy International
>TI), our youngest theosophical organization, if when he welcomes a new
>members he is welcoming him/her in the =93bunch of sheep=94 as you put it
>(not in the TI context).
>
>You wrote: =93all organizations have the natural tendency to protect their
>territory . . .=94 Well what do you expect. If people organized around a
>charter they just want to do that. Imagine that you belong to a TS study
>group formed for the purpose of studying theosophy. An individual joins
>it and reads very loudly his/her books on microelectronics what would
>you do? Would you try to tell that confused person that is in the wrong
>study group? May be microelectronics is the way to enlightenment. I do
>not have the answer but I know what I wanted to study when =CE joined the
>study group.
>
>We may look in the Mahatma Letters for the purpose of asking HPB to
>form the TS as organization.
>
>There are a lot of risk in not belonging to a spiritual, religious,
>philosophical, psychological organization. One example: that person may
>turn out to be a monster, like our famous uni-bomber (I hope I spelled
>it right), thinking the =93ends justifies the means.=94 Not fully aware of
>the suffering and pain he was causing. A few pages of the Voice of the
>Silence would have clarified the mess in his confused mind. Like him
>there others very confused in their pathless land.
>
>My friend I do not want to argue with you about =93bad=94 organizations. I
>only want to state my opinion about the importance of organizing, which
>for me is a natural way of being among individuals.
>
>Martin Leiderman

Dear Martin:

No amount of any arguments are going to settle any of differing opinions.
Also we need to recognize that organizations have a place in life. Where
you draw the line is the simple question.

Finally each one of us have to determine what is appropriate for each one
of us and be willing to change when change is appropriate.

Thanks again for your response.

mkr