Theos-Talk Archives (July 2002 Message tt00124)

In a message dated 07/13/02 10:35:44 AM, bartl@sprynet.com writes:

>dalval14@earthlink.net wrote:
>> There are no "caps" ever placed on discussion and
>> consideration of any subjects in Theosophy or at the U L Ts.
>> How can there be? The DECLARATION of U L T encourages only
>> that free aspect of study that volunteers alone generate.
>> Those are the terms of BROTHERHOOD.
>
> Then the ULT in New York City is in violation; I have heard many people
>claim that they were thrown out of meetings for asking questions that
>were not part of some official list.

Please let us know how many and who are such people that have made such 
claims? And, what were the questions asked? 

I once voluntarily helped to throw a troublemaker out of a Lodge meeting who 
asked questions that implied theosophists practiced Satanism, and that sexual 
orgies were held in the building after the meetings -- which he insisted on 
attending. That was our individual decision. What would you have done under 
the circumstances -- especially, if your or your friend's children were in 
the audience? 

As for as an "official" list of permissible questions, I never heard of such 
a thing during my family's 40 odd years of attending teachers meetings, 
lectures, and study classes. (And, one of our family's self determined 
decisions, was to never sign up for formal membership in any organization, 
including ULT -- although their membership card gives one no obligation other 
than that which is self determined.) Even though we had been studying and 
teaching there for so many years, no one has ever asked us to sign up, pay 
dues, show our credentials, or leave. That's true freedom and brotherhood. 
That's why we decided to attend ULT for our theosophical study in the first 
place. Our voluntary contributions have, as everyone else's, always been 
both unasked for and anonymous -- (except to those that accepted them).

Can't remember how many times, I argued with a lecturer that they answered a 
theosophical question wrong, offered a contradictory answer reinterpreting 
HPB, and didn't get thrown out.:- ) I still claim that most theosophists 
(even some of the old timer teachers) do not understand reincarnation or 
karma (seeing it as a linear process like climbing a single ladder) -- since 
they have no idea of the nonlinear, multidimensional "entanglement" of 
zero-point emanations or their accompanying radiation's. (Such 
simplification, however, being necessary for some, for fear of being 
misunderstood, I suppose, in open lecture halls where minds of all caliber's 
are in the same audience.) But, in my view, there's nothing wrong with 
teaching the whole esoteric truths, even if it goes over most people's heads. 
The few students who get it, will then come to talk about it after the 
meetings -- which is all well and good. 

> If a pipe breaks at a ULT Lodge, and the local laws require that it be
>fixed, who does the legal notice to fix it go to?

Whoever has volunteered to take care of the building maintenance. If it 
needs hands on work, there's always a plumber member around to take care of 
it (or someone to volunteer to pay for it). Please note that everything in 
ULT is handled solely by voluntary contribution. As Lao Tse said, 
"Everything that needs to get done will get done." Is it any wonder, then, 
why ULT has one of the most comfortable and pleasant meeting places and 
extensive library in a luxurious upper East Side town house neighborhood -- 
without any officers, dues or collections?

LHM