Theos-Talk Archives (September 2004 Message tt00834)

Why do you think the Mahatmas were contacting Sinnet and also so 
interested in Hume? Because of Sinnet's spiritual potencies? Or 
because Sinnet was the editor of one important newspaper and could 
influence positive the cause, causing a stronger impact in the 
society at the period? Is this not political strategies? The Mahatma 
KH and M. were also involved in politics, and this can be traced in 
their letters.
So dont focus on Annie Besant only, because a carefull study of the 
history of the T.S. will point out that many were involved in 
politics and during a period of time also Blavatsky, or why she 
would have been in a war with Garibaldi?

Erica

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Morten N. Olesen" <global-
theosophy@a...> wrote:
> 
> Hallo Erica and all,
> 
> My views are:
> 
> My views are in the below using ***.
> 
> 
> M. Sufilight with peace and love...
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Erica Letzerich" <eletzerich@y...>
> To: <theos-talk@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 2:35 PM
> Subject: Re: Theos-World Re: CORRECTION: Can theos-talk look at 
the world?
> 
> 
> 
> Hi Morten,
> 
> So you tell me is the T.S Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, Christian etc 
because
> some members may make comparative studies of the above religions 
and many
> others? Comparative studies also related to politics would not 
create a
> label in the T.S. as much the studies of religion and philosophy 
did not
> create a label.
> Blavatsky mentions something that did not change, the T.S. would 
not ever
> get involved with politics. But it is an individual right to get 
involved
> with politics and that was aplied for Besant too.
> ***
> Yes agreed, if one doesn't damage the theosophical cause. (Think 
about it.)
> That was why I agrred upon fighting "corruption in government".
> If this happens, one should be held accountable for doing so.
> I said in the previous email, that Annie Besant damaged the 
theosophical
> cause - although I am sure she did it unintentionally.
> Blavatsky quite interestingly states in her book the Key to 
Theosophy
> (Section 12 ):
> "Moreover, political action must necessarily vary with the 
circumstances of
> the time and with the
> idiosyncracies of individuals. "
> ...and few lines later...
> "As a society they can
> only act together in matters which are common to all -- that is, in
> Theosophy itself; as individuals, each is left perfectly free to 
follow out
> his or her particular line of political thought and action, so 
long as this
> does not conflict with Theosophical principles or hurt the 
Theosophical
> Society."
> 
> That is why I think Annie Besant went too far.
> Do I need to repeat it one more time?
> ***
> 
> 
> Freedom of The Society
> 
> 'The Theosophical Society, while cooperating with all other bodies 
whose
> aims and activities make such cooperation possible, is and must 
remain an
> organisation entirely independent of them, not committed to any 
objects save
> its own, and intent on developing its own work on the broadest and 
most
> inclusive lines, so as to move towards its own goal as indicated 
in and by
> the pursuit of those objects and that Divine Wisdom which in the 
abstract is
> implicit in the title, The Theosophical Society.
> 
> Since Universal Brotherhood and the Wisdom are undefined and 
unlimited, and
> since there is complete freedom for each and every member of the 
Society in
> thought and action, the Society seeks ever to maintain its own 
distinctive
> and unique character by remaining free of affiliation or 
identification with
> any other organisation. '
> 
> - Resolution passed by the General Council of The Theosophical 
Society,
> 1949
> 
> ***
> Quoting an excerpt from the above:
> "Society seeks ever to maintain its own distinctive and unique 
character by
> remaining free of affiliation or identification with any other
> organisation."
> 
> Erica, You, just tell that to all those who find Annie Besant to 
be the
> Mother of India.
> 
> -------
> M. Sufilight with peace and love...
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ****
> 
> "Morten N. Olesen" <global-theosophy@a...> wrote:
> 
> Hello Erica and all,
> 
> The below are how TS related to Politics before Besant came and 
changed it
> all.
> 
> Letter I -- 1888 - Second Annual Convention -- April 22-23, by H. 
P.
> Blavatsky:
> 
> "I am confident that, when the real nature of Theosophy is 
understood, the
> prejudice against it, now so unfortunately prevalent, will die out.
> Theosophists are of necessity the friends of all movements in the 
world,
> whether intellectual or simply practical, for the amelioration of 
the
> condition of mankind. We are the friends of all those who fight 
against
> drunkenness, against cruelty to animals, against injustice to 
women, against
> corruption in society or in government, although we do not meddle 
in
> politics. We are the friends of those who exercise practical 
charity, who
> seek to lift a little of the tremendous weight of misery that is 
crushing
> down the poor. But, in our quality of Theosophists, we cannot 
engage in any
> one of these great works in particular. As individuals we may do 
so, but as
> Theosophists we have a larger, more important, and much more 
difficult work
> to do. "
> 
> M. Sufilights comment:
> So how can we do a comparative study of politics while we not 
meddle with
> politics ? I would really like to know that.
> As I see it, we can only do so when we fight corruption in 
government. And
> while we relate to the below remarks on politics,
> which Blavatsky formulated in The Key to Theosophy.
> She says: "as a society it takes absolutely no part in any 
national or party
> politics".
> So how to make comparative studies in our present informations 
society while
> NOT taking "part in any national or party politics" ???
> I find this to be an important question to answer. I think it can 
only be
> done while fighting corruption in government.
> And how do we define the word corruption? And how did Blavatsky 
define it?
> 
> 
> -------
> "The Key to Theosophy" written by Blavatsky (Section )
> 
> POLITICS AND SOCIAL REFORM
> 
> 
> "Unconcerned about politics; hostile to the insane dreams of 
Socialism and
> Communism, which it abhors--as both are but disguised conspiracies 
of brutal
> force and sluggishness against honest labor the Society cares but 
little
> about the outward human management of the material world." HPB
> --"What are the Theosophists ?" Theost. Oct 1879, p. 7
> 
> 
> "...Work, therefore, to bring about the moral regeneration of the 
cultured
> but far more immoral classes before you attempt to do the same for 
our
> ignorant younger Brethren. The latter was undertaken years ago, 
and is
> carried on to this day, yet with no perceptible good results. It 
is not
> evident that the reason for this lies in the fact that [except] 
for a few
> earnest, sincere and all-sacrificing workers in that field, the 
great
> majority of the volunteers consists of those same frivolous, ultra-
selfish
> classes, who 'play at charity' and whose ideas of the amelioration 
of the
> physical and moral status of the poor are confined to the hobby 
that money
> and the Bible alone can do it."
> HPB -- "The Tidal Wave" Lucifer, Nov. 1889
> 
> 
> 
> THE RELATIONS OF THE T. S. TO POLITICAL REFORMS.
> 
> 
> ENQUIRER. The Theosophical Society is not, then, a political 
organization?
> 
> THEOSOPHIST. Certainly not. It is international in the highest 
sense in that
> its members comprise men and women of all races, creeds, and forms 
of
> thought, who work together for one object, the improvement of 
humanity; but
> as a society it takes absolutely no part in any national or party 
politics.
> 
> ENQUIRER. Why is this?
> 
> THEOSOPHIST. Just for the reasons I have mentioned. Moreover, 
political
> action must necessarily vary with the circumstances of the time 
and with the
> idiosyncracies of individuals. While from the very nature of their 
position
> as Theosophists the members of the T. S. are agreed on the 
principles of
> Theosophy, or they would not belong to the society at all, it does 
not
> thereby follow that they agree on every other subject. As a 
society they can
> only act together in matters which are common to all -- that is, in
> Theosophy itself; as individuals, each is left perfectly free to 
follow out
> his or her particular line of political thought and action, so 
long as this
> does not conflict with Theosophical principles or hurt the 
Theosophical
> Society.
> 
> [ ...TRY TO READ THE ABOVE AGAIN...ERICA ]
> 
> 
> -------
> 
> So, when reading the above, I think that Blavatsky forwarded more 
than one
> view upon how Theosophists relates to politics.
> And this is interesting.
> But all in all when we view the writings of Blavatsky 
chronologically, then
> what I get from it is, that the closet we can come to discussing 
politics is
> that we "fight corruption in government" by relating this fight to
> theosophical principles.
> 
> Blavatsky also quite interestingly states:
> "Moreover, political action must necessarily vary with the 
circumstances of
> the time and with the
> idiosyncracies of individuals. "
> ...and few lines later...
> "As a society they can
> only act together in matters which are common to all -- that is, in
> Theosophy itself; as individuals, each is left perfectly free to 
follow out
> his or her particular line of political thought and action, so 
long as this
> does not conflict with Theosophical principles or hurt the 
Theosophical
> Society."
> 
> And that is why I think Annie Besant went to far.
> She did hurt - although for sure unintentionally - The 
Theosophical Society
> !
> 
> -------
> 
> So Erica, I conclude, that your emailed words has to take the 
above issues
> into careful consideration before any comparative study in politics
> are being released within the TS. That is if you are not denying 
the old
> woman Blavatsky her say. One who worked togehter with the Masters.
> 
> 
> from
> M. Sufilight with peace and love...
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Erica Letzerich"
> To:
> Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 9:35 AM
> Subject: Re: Theos-World Re: CORRECTION: Can theos-talk look at 
the world?
> 
> 
> > The second object of the T.S. is the comparative studies of 
religion,
> philosophy and science, politics are also a science, so any 
discussion
> related to politic systems are in perfect accordance with the 
objects of the
> T.S. Also the first object of the T.S. Universal Brotherhood is 
also close
> related to the society, so to discuss about social problems and 
politics
> under the light of the perennial philosophy it seems to me to be 
in perfect
> harmony with the objects of the T.S.
> >
> > Erica
> 
> 
> 
> 
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> 
> 
> Erica Letzerich .'.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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