Theos-Talk Archives (February 2005 Message tt00245)

Feb 10 2005

Dear Doss:

I may have been in India (1927-1969) when you were there.  

I know the Bombay and Bangalore work well as also the Lodge in New Delhi.

Perhaps the reason for non-interaction between UNITED LODGE OF THEOSOPHISTS
and THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY in India is probably because U L T emphasized
the study of HPB's writings and the T S did not.
  
After Mr Wadia resigned from Adyar T S (1922) and put his efforts into
sustaining the U L T work (back to Blavatsky) -- he was "non grata." 

That is of course a general observation, and my opinion.

In my opinion the philosophy and the teachings of THEOSOPHY unite us all.

The organizations tend to divide.  

Which outlasts ? I think the organizations arise and then fade unless
sustained by careful culture of the ORIGINAL PROGRAM , and this includes the
assiduous study of the "original teachings." 

Students, associates, members -- have to shoulder that work. Not for
themselves, but for those who may come near and profit from that never
ending stream of wisdom.

The "organizations" ought to mirror that freedom which unites, because it is
of the common HEART.  

To over emphasize the recent history of errors and resulting divisions
serves little purpose. Such differences can be easily resolved by referring
to the original DOCUMENTS which are well preserved and widely available now.


There are three good books that offer them, based on documents, and, in an
unprejudiced open manner:

The THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT (1875-1925)

H P B The EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND WORK OF HELENA BLAVATSKY	-- Sylvia
CRANSTON (revised 8th Edn. 2002), Tarcher, N Y 

THE JUDGE CASE -- E. PELLETIER (2004), T S Edmonton, Canada.
	

Best wishes,

Dal

 

-----Original Message-----

From: MKR 
Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2005 7:22 PM
To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Theos-World Cooperation between different TS Branches in S. India


During the many decades I spent in Southern India, there was rarely any 
interaction between members belonging to different theosophical 
organizations. 

While the branches of ULT are but a few in India, there was 
one in Bangalore where I used to live. 

While the branches belonging to 
TS(Adyar) and ULT were in the same area and were within a mile of each 
other, rarely I saw any interaction whatsoever between the members. To what 
extent this was due to subtle influence from the organizational leaders, I 
do not know, but cannot be ruled out. I had the opportunity of visiting the 
ULT a couple of times, I did not take the initiative in meeting active 
individuals in the ULT branch. I visited it out of curiosity to see the 
kind of program they had, nor did at that time I had any historical 
background of ULT. 

I was also unaware of the role played by Wadia while he was in THEOSOPHICAL
SOCIETY (Adyar) and later in the ULT. By the way, Wadia died in Bangalore
and I think city named a street after him. 

---------------------------------

DTB That is correct. and the INDIAN INSTITUTE OF WORLD CULTURE which he
also started, is located there, in Basavangudi. 

----------------------------------------------------------

I am not aware of any efforts in other parts of India of any interaction
between various theosophical organizations. At that time I did not give much
thought to it. 

Only after being a subscriber to theosophical maillists, did I learnt some
of the 
historical background as to how different groups got spawned. But I am glad 
that now with Internet those belonging to one or other organization or none 
is able to participate in our daily discussions on theosophical matters. 


With the growth in the Internet connectivity around the world - especially 
in the third world countries - we can expect much wider growth of interest 
on theosophical matters in the days to come.

mkr