Theos-Talk Archives (January 1998 Message tt00315)

There seems to be quite a bit of controversy arising over
Ramadoss' example of a E.S. member that wouldn't stay after E.S.
meetings to attend and support the T.S. meeting that followed. The
assumption is that the person involved considered himself too
important to stay for the lowly theosophical meeting.

I don't think that it's fair to someone to assume their motives
and pass judgement based upon surface appearances, upon
circumstantial evidence.

>From age 17 through age 20, I was an E.S. member. Upon joining the
new member could either accept a succession of Teachers including
Annie Besant and C.W. Leadbeater, or simply accept the current
head of the E.S., who at that time was N. Sri Ram. There were
simple rules of conduct including vegetarianism, being sexually
faithful to one's spouse, daily meditation, and an attempt to
improve one's life.

Members were expected to support the local theosophical lodge, to
assist in the work of the Theosophical Society. During my three
years, there was never mention as to how to vote, how to conduct
theosophical affairs, nor any directives. Someone's being an E.S.
member or not played no role in nominations nor elections at the
local theosophical branch.

Since my philosophical leanings took me in a different direction,
and I was no longer comfortable with Leadbeater's writings, I left
the E.S. I don't think that my not being a member has any affect
upon my ability to work within theosophical organizations.

Is it possible for someone to be interested in being an E.S.
member but not interested in attending and supporting the local
theosophical branch? I'd say yes. There may be phases of life for
any of us where reading and study are beneficial, and others where
we're primarily drawn to spiritual groups. The spiritual groups may
vary -- one may choose an E.S. to join, another may attend a
close-knit group of fellow channelers, a third may have attend a
private group of esotericists. Being interested in the spiritual
group doesn't mean that one is also drawn to support theosophical
study classes.

An important aspect of deep spiritual work is secrecy. Things in
an embryonic state, in a chrysalis, need containment, and to be
protected from the harsh scrutiny of an unsympathetic and
misunderstanding public eye. This not only applies to the
Mysteries, but to lesser groups, groups that any of us might join
or even help originate. There is no elitism with this, no egotism,
no "I'm greater than thou!" Such thoughts immediately disqualify
one from the work.

There are stages in personal work, and in group work and group
dynamics, where silence is necessary, where not talking about
things to the uninitiated public is necessary. We may never belong
to actual groups associated with the Mysteries, but we all, I
believe, have experiences in life where we've gone through these
deep, quiet, special, silent periods of growth, not articulating
them, not putting into words what we're going through, lest the
words and communication break the spell, pulling down our
superstructure of consciousness into the ordinary everyday mind.


If someone feels that the Adyar T.S.'s E.S. -- really the E.S.T.,
or Esoteric School of Theosophy -- is best for them, and if
they're happy with the philosophy and exercises that they're
given, I'd say, so much the better for them. Let everyone find a
particular approach that works for them and get serious about
inner growth (and the necessary companion effort of applied
compassion, the Bodhisattva Vow).

My approach takes me in a different direction, but each person has
to find their own way. My goal in life is to clear a path along
the way that I take, to make yet another way for others to follow,
another easier way "to the other shore".

-- Eldon