Theos-Talk Archives (May 2001 Message tt00065)

Dear Dallas:

Well said!

Your observation of the 'informal group' made me think.

In formal organizations, you have leaders/officers (elected or appointed or 
inherited and all the attendant politics that comes about in which even the 
Theosophical Adept names are dragged into the picture). When money or other 
assets involved a formal organization is necessary to administer them.

Since all of us are primarily inquirers or fellow students and when we meet 
as friends with similar interests a forum such as this is perhaps what is 
more effective and efficient (we do not pay any dues to be here or at most 
of the other maillists and communication is almost immediate).

So the question that comes to my mind is - "are organizations necessary"? 
In 1875 when TS was launched, the only way to spread theosophy effectively 
was to setup up branches where people could meet and discuss and 
communicate. Today with Internet and other modes of communication, is a new 
model needed for 2001 and the old model of 1875 with formal organization 
has served its purpose and need to be discarded? (Is Jiddu Krishnamurti 
right when he made his "Truth is a Pathless Land" statement?)

We have seen over the years, the different organizations, while professing 
the three objects, have rarely communicated between themselves -- not 
unlike the various sects of Christianity -- all looking to Jesus.

What do we see here? All the "non-sheeps" from the various organizations, 
congregating on the Internet and communicating with each other crossing the 
organizational boundaries (may be to the disappointment of the leaders of 
organizations, who have, fortunately no power to control what is going on 
here) which has never happened in the non-Internet world. This may be order 
of the future and may be the salvation of theosophy.

My .02

___MKR___


At 06:13 AM 5/10/01 -0700, dalval14@earthlink.net wrote:
> Dear Alan:
>
>
> As you see we are an informal group here, and we exchange notes,
> comments, questions, etc., without too much formality. Our
> basis is one that is unusual: We look on ourselves as "old
> souls" in new bodies. The physiological age and learning of this
> incarnation is no index to the capacity of innate intelligence we
> all possess to some degree. So in effect we act as old friends
> that correspond in an easy and non-formal way. We are all
> "seekers for Truth." The search for, and then the service of
> Truth is about the widest and broadest of aspirations we all have
> in common. It is universal and it is impersonal.