Theos-Talk Archives (June 2000 Message tt00088)

Bart,

In response to Leon, you wrote that Universal Brotherhood is NOT

> the 1st Object of the Theosophical Society (although it
> is mentioned in the 1st Object).

Would you share the reasoning behind your view and what you understand the
First Object to mean?

Below are a few of the many passages from HPB which show what she, as one of
the Founders, understood the First Object of the TS to be, despite
differences in wording from time to time.  The first passage is from the one
I have already offered which also shows what HPB's Master understood the
first Object to be and upon whose orders HPB was acting as Founder.

...Peter

"In order to leave no room for equivocation, the members of the T.S.  have
to be reminded of the origin of the Society in 1875.  Sent to the U.S. of
America in 1873 for the purpose of organising a group of workers on the
psychic plane, two years later the writer received orders from her Master
and Teacher to form the nucleus of a regular Society whose objects were
broadly stated as follows:
1.  Universal Brotherhood;
2.  [etc etc]
[from "The Original Programme", in Collected Writings, Vol VII, pp 145-171)

=======

"In spite of everything, from the very day of the formation of our Society
in the United States, fourteen years ago, our teachings have met with an
entirely unforseen reception.  The original program had to be enlarged...
This expansion was brought about by the ever increasing number of our
adherents... However, while our program was enlarged, it was not in the last
altered as far as its principle objects were concerned, except
unfortunately, in the case of the one which was closest to our heart,
namely, the first, ie Universal Brotherhood without distinction of race,
creed or colour.  In spite of all our efforts, this object has been almost
constantly ignored, or become a dead letter..."
(Collected Writings XI: 125)

=======

"It is only by the close brotherly union of men's inner SELVES, of soul
solidarity, of the growth and development of that feeling which makes one
suffer when one thinks of the suffering of others, that the reign of Justice
and equality for all can ever be inaugarated.  This is the first of the
three fundamental objects for which the Theosophical Society was
established, and called the 'Universal Brotherhood of Man' without
distinction of race, colour, or creed."
(Collected Writings X: 74)

=======

"It is well known that the first rule of the society is to carry out the
object of forming the nucleus of a universal brotherhood.  The practical
working of this rule was explained by those who laid it down, to the
following effect:

HE WHO DOES NOT PRACTICE ALTRUISM; HE WHO IS NOT PREPARED TO SHARE HIS LAST
MORSEL WITH A WEAKER OR POORER THAN HIMSELF; HE WHO NEGLECTS TO HELP HIS
BROTHER MAN, OF WHATEVER RACE, NATION OR CREED, WHENEVER AND WHEREVER HE
MEETS SUFFERING, AND WHO TURNS A DEAF EAR TO THE CRY OF HUMAN MISERY; HE WHO
HEARS AN INNOCENT ERSON SLANDERED, WHETHER A BROTHER THEOSPHIST OF NOT, AND
DOES NOT UNDERTAKE HIS DEFENCE AS HE WOULD UNDERTAKE HIS OWN - IS NO
THEOSOPHIST"
(Collected Writings VIII: 170-171,  capitalised words are done so in the
original)

=======

"Now our Society, as was explained even to the outside public repeatedly,
has one general, and several - if not minor, at least less prominent
aims....   As to the former - the chief aims of the Theosophical
Fraternity - it is hardly necessary to remind any Fellow of what it is.  Our
fundamental object is UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD, kind feelings and moral help
profered to all and every Brother, whatever his creed and views."
(CW VIII: 470)

=======

"This should never be forgotten, nor should the following fact be
overlooked.  On the day when Theosophy will have accomplished its most holy
and most important mission - namely, to unite firmly a body of men of all
nations in brotherly love and bent on a pure altuistic work, not on a labour
with selfish motives - on that day only will Theosophy become any higher
than any nominal brotherhood of man."
(CW IX 244)

=======

"For fouteen years our Theosophical Society has been before the public.
Born with the threefold object of infusing more mutual brotherly feeling in
mankind; of investigating the mysteries of nature from the Spiritual and
Psychic aspect; and, of doing a tardy justice to the civilizations and
Wisdom of Eastern pre-Christian nations and literature..."
(CW XI 53)

=======

"Is it because Mr. Bradlaugh is an Individualist... that he cannot
sympathise with such a lofty ideal as the Universal Brotherhood of Man?...
But if perchance he clings to his theories on the face of his practice, then
let us leave aside this, the first object of the T.S."
(CW XI 334)

=======

"...the three well known objects of the Society - 1. Brotherhood of man:
Study of Oriental philosophies; 3. Investigation of the hidden forces in
nature and man."
(CW XII 293)

=======

"The three officially declared objects of our society are:
1. To form the nucleus of a universal brotherhood of humanity, without
distinction of of race, creed, sex, caste, or color.
2. [etc]..
..When we postulate the idea of universal brotherhood, we wish it understood
that it is held in no Utopian sense, though we do not dream of realising it
at once on the ordinary plane of social and national relations.   Most
assuredly, if this view of the kinship of all mankind could gain universal
acceptance, the improved sense of moral responsibility it would engender
would cause most social evils and international asperities to disappear; for
true altruism, instead of the present egoism, would be the rule the world
over.  So we have written down as the first of our declared objects this
altuistic asservation..."
(CW XII 302-303)

=======

"You cannot have forgotten what I told you repeatedly at Simla and what the
Master K. H. wrote to you himself, namely, that the T.S. is first of all a
universal Brotherhood, not a Society for phenomena and occultism.
Yours to the end
H. P. Blavatsky."
(Mahatma Letters; No 138)

=======

"The term "Universal Brotherhood" is no idle phrase. Humanity in the mass
has a paramount claim upon us, as I try to explain in my letter to Mr. Hume,
which you had better ask the loan of. It is the only secure foundation for
universal morality. If it be a dream, it is at least a noble one for mankind
and it is the aspiration of the true adept.
Yours faithfully,
Koot' Hoomi Lal Singh."
(Mahatma Letter No.4)

===================================

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-theos-talk@theosophy.com
> [mailto:owner-theos-talk@theosophy.com]On Behalf Of Bart Lidofsky
> Sent: 07 June 2000 03:44
> To: theos-talk@theosophy.com
> Subject: Re: Theos-World Universal Brotherhood and Objects of the TS
>
>
>Leon wrote:
> > > > Please remember that the first Fundamental Proposition in
> Theosophy is
> > > > Universal Brotherhood.
> >
> > Bart replied:
> > >       No, it isn't. Nor, for that matter, is it the 1st Object of the
> > > Theosophical Society (although it is mentioned in the 1st Object).


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