Theos-Talk Archives (March 2002 Message tt00398)

Friday, March 22, 2002

Re: Learning Organization ?

Dear M S and Friends:


About organizations in general: They exist to serve as vehicles
for some thing to be conveyed. As from Wisdom to ignorance, as
from producer to user, as from traveller to destination, etc...
They have mostly been commercialized and their services and the
products they deal in, whether these be hard goods or ideas, are
bought and sold. Trade dominates most organizations with the
exception of those who offer free information, knowledge, and
assistance in case of need, and many of those who do not require
money or services in exchange, are government run, or run by
philanthropies.

Theosophy does not require any kind of an organization. It is a
voluntary grouping of similarly oriented minds, and inquirers
into our personal situations, the conditions of our world, and
the reason for our being here.

You call yourself "Sufi-light" Surely the old Sufis had the same
philanthropic view of living that the best philosophers in the
world ever had. All those who are of goodwill have the same
philosophy based on virtue. No one owns virtue -- it a gift made
by all to the rest without any hope of a "return." It is
something we are, not something we trade.

Theosophy is simply a knowledge of the way in which everything
works. It is as old as the World and there have been numerous
languages in which it has been described. It belongs to all
eras, and in fact, besides being a description of the way things
really work, it also conveys a history of our world and our
development as we are integral parts of it. We have also been
participants in its past.

Take mathematics: in a very simple way if we add one to one we
get 2. But if we start with 2 we may secure it as 3 - 1 = 2 or
1 1/2 + 1/2 = 2 and so on. Two is one + one everywhere. In
antiquity as well as today. The laws of combustion work whether
we know how and why, or are ignorant and only know that things
rubbed together grow hot through friction. Eventually if we are
able to confine that heat and build it up, some kindling (amadou)
if provided, will catch fire.

Water boils at a steady temperature. It also freezes at a steady
temperature. These are laws of nature and those laws which,
known or unknown, are the ever-present factors of living. Why
the wind blows or why it rains or shows are more complex things
and explanations are provided by study.

If we are able to extend the range of our observation of facts
that are already working in NATURE, we will find that Theosophy
covers the questions that relate to thought, character, emotion,
ignorance, immaturity, and anything we may desire to know. It is
already there. Nature already carries and involves everything,
simple, basic, as well as complex. But we have to make the
effort to uncover, to discover, and then to apply the knowledge
we have secured. It becomes apparent that nature has well
established laws that can be trusted to repeat. Also that the
realm of law extends from the smallest to the greatest, visibly
and invisibly. But all that remains to be proved.

All this means is, that there is an existing relationship
established and present, and the curious and inquisitive mind of
Man tries to discover: Why and How. Let us look together at
some vital and important, basic and fundamental questions:

How are things to be analyzed? What are the rules and laws of
behaviour? Why do we breathe? Does the blood circulate? What
are the intricacies of the digestive system? How does the body
heal itself when injured ? What are the building blocks of the
universe? Are they sub-atomic particles? Are they truly
immortal and perpetual motion machines -- as science says they
are ? If so, what part do they play? They are everywhere. Are,
or were we once "atoms?" Are we "atoms" that have become
conscious of ourselves? Do we draw together in communities to
provide more complex forms for the helter and use by higher
Intelligences? If so what are they? Harmful or helpful? Does
death of the form (body) terminate (for man) all effort, all
learning, all improvement ?

Where can we find the "Soul ?" What is Spirit? How is the
primordial matter, from which all else comes, to be found or
described? What, finally, will become of all this great
complexity? Is the effort to live productive, or is it fruitless
and aimless? Do the WISE exist? What is a "Buddha?" And what
is an "Adept?" Can we, as thinkers, evolve into such a
condition? What powers do we need to use and develop?

Gradually, as information and discovery proceed in all
directions, a framework is erected of information concerning the
intricate and vast cooperative field of living things we are a
part of. As a proof of this sudden flowering, the last 3 to 400
years has seen the diffusion of research cover the globe. In all
directions we seek to understand every aspect of our life and
development, and try to discern purpose and reason in our being.

Can we create a religion of work? What is a "religion" anyway ?
How does it help? Does it enlighten, or does it stultify our
inquiries and present bland platitudes insisting on the mental
inertia, the quiescence of "blind faith and belief." No. We
have passed beyond the realm of childish dependence and trust in
those who claim wisdom, but offer no explanations, nor reference
points from which we can also verify any and all claims with the
energy born of innate freedom and independence that is our
birthright.

Now this system of thought and study which we call nowadays
Theosophy, is not the property of any man, any class, or type of
work, or science, or any religion, or philosophy. Only when the
whole is taken as a functioning whole, do the many interactive
parts make a coherent, a self-reflecting and interacting whole --
a "Whole" that gives "sense," and shows how living is a
continuous exchange rather than a "take and grab" affair.

To illustrate the point: We all share water, air, food, fuel,
clothing and we need and seek shelter. We seek for the best way
in which to live comfortably, for our families and ourselves. We
sense that in the vast economy of Nature there is plenty for all,
and if there is any need, it has been artificially created. We
suspect greed when basics needed for living are scarce. We
develop concern for ourselves and for others whom we rely on, and
call that affection, duty, love, or antagonism, dislike, fear,
hate and many other things dealing with attitudes of mind and
emotion. Thus the study of psychology and the nature of man's
power to think and feel come under scrutiny.

We enter the vast field of observation and testing of what is
called loosely: sentiment, inclination, talent, genius and of
their lack. We speak of character -- vaguely -- and with some
diffidence, realizing that each of us has developed their own,
and are usually highly sensitive about that.

We know what we are interiorly, but hesitate to let others know
that inner Self very well. And there are times when our own
inner stability is violently altered by circumstances and events
that seem aimed from outside our field of observation, and then
jump at us -- and we feel ambushed by mental, psychological or
physical shocks.

But the inclusive science, philosophy and religion of Theosophy
still includes those all. It is only by combining all together
and harmonizing them that we secure a clearer picture of our
selves and our environment as well as the relations we constantly
meet with, and exchange with others.

This does not mean that Theosophy is a gradually constructed
affair. It means that there are human beings who long before our
awareness was awakened, became wise and knowledgeable in these
things and knew, and now know them very well. They stand to us as
our parent might, as those who "came before." Perhaps in the dim
path they were the "sons of god" who descended to illuminate our
first "call-rooms" and taught infant humanity to basic ways of
living and gave them the use of those tools that are needed for
individual and communal living. They are probably the great
Prophets who have come from time to time to rescue populations
from the degradation into which religions have slipped. We stand
as pupils, as learners in respect to them. They are the Deans,
the Professors, the "Doctors" of our race, and I do not, by using
those terms, mean to indicate the "Academicians" only, of our
Schools and Universities. I men those whose names have come down
to us as examples of integrity, wisdom and compassion.

The Lodge of the Adepts and the Masters of Wisdom antedate by far
the current institutions of knowledge we are familiar with, and
whose exponents we respect. In one way, we could express it and
say the difference is between a UNIVERSAL GENIUS, who can know
anything at a moment's notice, and those who have made themselves
specialists in some one or a few departments of knowledge. They
do not need to speculate about beginnings or evolution, they have
watched take place. They can speak of it as memory and as
"history."

Now, do we need an "organization?" I say no. We need however,
as individuals, to sharpen our own attention and improve our
capacity to learn. The learning process never ends. The
application is in the forum and field of our daily relations.

We need to make use of what we already have. But first we have
to recognize it.

Now this you might not fully agree to, as all of us know we are
not able to encompass everything. But the complexity of our own
physical vehicle, the human body, is proof of the on-going
evolutionary process that has proceeded up to now. Can we assist
or hinder that? To assist, we need to learn how to assist. To
learn that we have to study carefully what is already functioning
in place. This is what Theosophy opens our eye to. It also
says: that the mind is a faculty which is able to encompass
anything it aims itself at finding and understanding. It is a
Tool because the "Real Human" inside, is the one that directs and
aims it, and guides it in its work. This is something we can
assure ourselves of, by trying and using this simple test. Look
inward and discover who WE are.

We as thinkers, as emotional and acting, living beings are like
tenants living in a wonderfully complex body and in an equally
wonderful, and complex world. We have neighbours similar to
ourselves and living and working at their pace -- and we can
assist, or refuse to assist as we choose.

And therein, in the freedom of our "choice," lies the key to the
whole puzzle.

If, as Theosophy suggests, we take the position that our
Consciousness and Intelligence is an immortal and deathless
asset, then we use temporarily many bodies in the pursuit of
knowledge -- of ourselves and of the universe and world we live
in. If we are immortals, then we are spiritually and emotionally
brothers and sisters. No one is a stranger. And no one is
automatically, an "enemy."

We begin to realize that emphasis on differences ought to give
way to a carefully measured search for and appreciation of
similarities -- in goals and objectives, so that the realm of
harmony and cooperation can be actively restored, and maintained
by us. This gives purpose and control to us of our own lives.
We decide what we will do.

Getting back to the ideals of the trader and the businessman --
he provides a serve. He receives and then gives out again. On
this he makes an adequate living. It is a question of fairness
and not of greed. It is a question of love, affection, service,
friendship not of strife and enmity. Each man thus becomes a
cooperator and the entire band of cooperation extends
intelligently around the world.


Of course these are only a few of my ideas, and they may not
appeal to others, also they may be only partially expressed, and
can be improved on.

Best wishes,

Dallas

-----Original Message-----
From: M S
Sent: Friday, March 22, 2002 7:46 AM
To:
Subject: HI -- the learning organization...

Hi all of you,

First:


Thank you for making me a member of this list again.
I have been gone for about 3-4 weeks.

I am back to the list after moving to another - room. ....

The issue I like to put forward is this:


I remembered, that there was a debate a month ago about Theosophy
and its manner of being organized -


.... the following is a view:

My question is:


1. What about the newst ideas on organization theory, is it not
an issue of importance to Theosophy ??

The big companies of today are concerned with the organizational
structure called "The Learning

Organization" ....

CUT