Theos-Talk Archives (June 2000 Message tt00109)

Thanks Bart,

I understand what you are saying now.  I would put it a little differently
to yourself.  I agree with you that Theosophy does state Universal
Brotherhood is a fact in Nature.  I also have a sense that the First Object
of the TS was for members to *work towards* making that underlying fact a
'reality' in our dealings with one another and the world at large. This
seems consistent with HPB's words about the original programme being:

"to form the nucleus of a regular Society whose objects were broadly stated
as follows:
1.Universal Brotherhood; 2. [etc] 3. [etc]"

HPB could have formed "the nucleus a regular society" for any number of
reasons, yet she makes the point of stating in many places that: "Our
fundamental object is UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD, kind feelings and moral help
profered to all and every Brother, whatever his creed and views."...  and
... "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 "  and she
adds "on that day only will Theosophy become any higher than any nominal
brotherhood of man."

Putting it in different words, HPB wrote that the TS was "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..."

In another place HPB writes of the practical application of this First
Object in the form of "Practical Altruism". (see preveious post) This
practical application of Universal Brotherhood comes before the other two
objects namely the exploration of the Eastern Wisdom and the underlying
mysteries of nature.  The Master KH writes something that bears directly in
this:

"It is he alone who has the love of humanity at heart, who is capable of
grasping thoroughly the idea of a regenerating practical Brotherhood who is
entitled to the possession of our secrets. He alone, such a man -- will
never misuse his powers, as there will be no fear that he should turn them
to selfish ends. A man who places not the good of mankind above his own good
is not worthy of becoming our chela -- he is not worthy of becoming higher
in knowledge than his neighbour."
(Mahatma Letters No. 38)

That students of Theosophy did not (and no doubt we still do not) do enough
to realise this aim of "regenerating practical Brotherhood" was the cause of
HPB's expressed disappointment when writing about the first Object of
"Universal Brotherhood":

 "In spite of all our efforts, this object has been almost constantly
ignored, or become a dead letter..." (Collected Writings XI: 125)


...Peter



> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-theos-talk@theosophy.com
> [mailto:owner-theos-talk@theosophy.com]On Behalf Of Bart Lidofsky
> Sent: 08 June 2000 04:10
> To: theos-talk@theosophy.com
> Subject: Re: Theos-World HPB's comments on Universal Brotherhood and
> First Objects of the TS.


> The 1st Object is that the Theosophical Society form a
> NUCLEUS of the
> Brotherhood of Humanity; that such a Brotherhood exists is assumed
> (which is about the only dogma the TS has; Annie Besant once said that
> the only belief that is required of a TS member is that s/he believes in
> a Brotherhood of Humanity, although we must remember, she also said,
> that even those who don't believe in a Brotherhood of Humanity are still
> our Brothers). We cannot form the Brotherhood of Humanity; it exists
> regardless of what we do. What we can do (if one looks at all the
> Objects together) is demonstrate on an objective basis that the
> Brotherhood of Humanity is a physical fact, and not just wishful
> thinking.
>
> 	Bart Lidofsky
>
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