Theos-Talk Archives (July 2001 Message tt00077)

Frank,

Like Wes, I'm also somewhat "puzzled" about your thoughts concerning Robert
Crosbie. Why? Because, unless I'm mistaken, back in the early days of the 20th
Century, when the "original" Teachings were not much in use any more, nor were
the main original teachers, HPB and WQJ, featured, he was heavily involved, was
possibly even the main and guiding influence, with starting both the United
Lodge of Theosophists and The Theosophy Company. I think the general idea was
known as going "back to Blavatsky", or "back to basics", or something like
that. Wasn't ULT begun to get students back to basics, to the study of the
"original" teachings, and without all of the formal workings of heavy
organization and conflicting leaderships? Wasn't it the case that is was THE
THEOSOPHY COMPANY which was solely responsible for bringing "The Secret
Doctrine", "Isis Unveiled", "The Key to Theosophy", and so on wherever it may
be the case, back on the scene in the middle of all that was going on back
then?

If the above things are more or less correct, how does your picture of Robert
Crosbie fit with the above view of the situation? If I'm somewhat wrong or even
way off base, hopefully you and others can repaint the picture correctly.

Fraternally,

John DeSantis
(Compiler)
-------

Wes Amerman wrote:

> Frank answers:
> That is exactly the problem with the ULT and why the founder Robert Crosbie
> was kicked out - the unfitness und unreadyness to recognize the duties and
> the wide spread of such poisonal, twisted thinking over the decades is one
> of the main reasons why the structure und organization of the whole theos.
> movement - whether ULT, Adyar, Pasadena - today is nothing else that a dead
> body, a parody of the original TS.
>
> How can this wrong thinking of a single individual and his unfitness to
> follow the clear instructions of the Masters and their messengers be a good
> thing or even an example which we should follow. We should learn from the
> past and not be proud about the mistakes of some unlucky individuals. If
> there is no one who cares for organization then there will be chaos.
>
> Dear Frank,
>
> I'm really puzzled by your comments.
>
> What is there about students getting together without formal organizational
> ties that bothers you? It seems to me that this openness is the very spirit
> of Theos-Talk, and why we are able to discuss things here without
> interference, in a forum of open and free inquiry. How is this approach
> "poisonal, twisted thinking?"
>
> How is "the problem with the ULT" the cause of trouble in the "whole
> theosophical movement?" What part of the "clear instructions of the
> Masters" did Crosbie fail to follow, and what duties does his approach
> avoid?
>
> It seems to me that the "organization" problems of the movement that you
> refer to are often precisely because of an over-emphasis on politics,
> structure, who-gets-to-be-leader disputes, etc. Has your experience with
> "chaos" been such that you value "organization" so very highly? How would
> you suggest that we "care for organization" to be able to learn from the
> past and avoid "the mistakes of some unlucky individuals?"
>
> For what it may be worth, I for one have been critical of the
> mis-applications made of these ideals by ULT Associates. But I see it as a
> failure in practice, not a failure of principle. As Eldon once said, "we
> tend to judge ourselves by our best motives, and to judge others by their
> most recent, worst mistakes."
>
> Anticipating your reply,
>
> With Best Regards,
> Wes
>
>
>
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