Theos-Talk Archives (February 2005 Message tt00385)

Adelaise,

One thing I have always deeply regretted was not seeking out and 
contacting the Temple of the People for the original conference in 1984. 
Within a year or so after the conference, My wife and I did find the 
community and spent a day with Mr. Forgostein, then Guardian-in-Chief 
and Ms. Shumway. We took lots of pictures and published a feature (with 
pictures) on this Theosophical Center in the Southern California 
Newsletter, which went out to about a thousand people at the time. For 
many TSA members, that article was the first they heard of the Temple of 
the People. Since then, we have managed, one way or another to keep 
contact--though it seems to be only one in four to five years they we 
are able to get to that part of the state. 

>I remember very vividly mention of the coming "paradigm shift," and 
>mention as well of networking on the internet. The latter has 
>certainly come to pass, and seems to me to be a very powerful tool in 
>the dissemination of teachings. If I may, could we talk a bit about 
>the paradigm shift? Is this perhaps a way of considering how 
>theosophy can help serious people understand how to become effective 
>participants in the tremendous changes occurring in this cycle? 
>

Thomas Kuhn in his work The Structure of Scientific Revolutions is 
credited with coining the term "paradigm shift." Basically he describes 
how science goes through four stages to show how science will go along 
for centuries then suddenly change. Examples are Darwin's Origin of 
Species, which replaced Biblical creation with evolution. Copernicus 
and Galileo who replaced an earth centered universe with a sun centered 
universe. Einstein who replaced a Newtonian-Euclidian universe with one 
of relativity etc. 

1. Normal science: There is an overall world view from which data is 
viewed. This is called the dominant paradigm.

2. Anomalies: Data accumulates which does not fit into the normal view.

3. Resistance: Leaders of the dominant paradigm rise up to protect it.

4. The new paradigm become the norm.


This same pattern works not only in science, but in any institutional 
system, whether it be science, a school of philosophy, a religious 
denomination, or even a business corporation. Some examples are the 
Protestant revolution in Church history; The philosophical abandonment 
of metaphysics in the eighteenth century; the shift from theory X to 
theory Y in the 1970s for the corporate management of labor. 

Unfortunately, to bring about a paradigm shift requires a great deal of 
pain, and often martyrs--which occurs in the third stage. There are not 
many people in any organization who are willing to make that kind of 
self-sacrifice, and when they do, they do not always succeed. My first 
observance of stage three of a paradigm shift in progress was in TSA in 
1965. The National President at that time, Dr. Henry Smith was trying 
to make changes in the TSA on several levels. He was trying to:

1. Normalize relationships between the Canadian Section and TSA.
2. Have Judge acknowledged in TSA as one of the three primary founders 
of the TS.
3. Network and cooperatively work with knowledgeable Theosophists in 
other Theosophical Organizations.
4. Limit the influence of the ES upon the TS.

While he was effectively (but not officially) removed from office at the 
1965 National Convention, some changes did come about. Most notably I 
would credit Smith's efforts in making possible, a portrait of Judge 
eventually being hung along side Blavatsky's and Olcott's in the 
headquarters' building. Though not everybody accepted Judge as a 
co-founder, over a long period of time, it is becoming the new paradigm 
among members--most of whom had no ideas that it ever way any other way. 
I particularly remember Eunice Layton, even towards the end of her life, 
opening meetings at Krotona, saying "the Theosophical Society was 
founded by H.P. Blavatsky and H.S. Olcott." Eventually a compromise 
was reached and I would often hear: "The Theosophical Society was 
founded by H.P. Blavatsky, H.S. Olcott, and others." 

So, Smith started the ball rolling and suffered greatly for it. There 
have been other efforts, and other martyrs, and changes have slowly come 
about. Future Theosophical historians may someday recognize the work 
done by those who brought about those changes. But not enough times has 
yet passed for that to happen.

I might add here, that sometimes the charges take a long time to occur. 
HPB played a very important role in creating a paradigm shift that did 
not really occur until the 1960s. 

Once the change occurs, then it is safe for people to become a 
participant in the normalization of that change. These are the ones who 
seek compromises--like adding "and others" to the acknowledgment of the 
founders at the opening of a Theosophical meeting. That is a much safer 
role.

You mention the internet. The internet is a tool which helped to bring 
about paradigm changes, but it is not responsible for it. An example in 
history would be the Protestant revolution. Luther was the one most 
responsible from bringing that about when he posted his 95 thesis. But 
that act alone would have only guaranteed his execution. It was the 
invention of the printing press at that time which made possible for the 
distribution of those 95 thesis all over Germany. The Church was at 
this point, no longer able to bury the issues. 

Will the internet be a tool for future paradigm shifts? No doubt. But 
any tool cuts both ways. The internet may also be used to assure the 
preservation of the current paradigm. 

I hope this clarifies a little, and perhaps will generate more 
discussion on paradigm shifts in organizations, and what part we might 
play in them. 

--j










adelasie wrote:

>Bart, Jerry, et al...
>
>I just want to stick my oar in for a moment:
> 
>
>> Well, I hope to be a friend of yours, even if we don't agree on
>> everything.
>> 
>>
>
>This seems to me to be a most valuable statement. It resonates with 
>the most basic foundation of the ancient wisdom, the Unity of all 
>Life. I attended the 1994 Krotona Conference, part of a delegation 
>from a tiny theosophical organization from Central California, The 
>Temple of the People, and I chiefly remember the awe and delight I 
>felt at finding such a wealth of interesting, intelligent and devoted 
>theosophists. I hadn't known previously that such organizations 
>existed, and it seemed suddenly that our little bunch was a part of a 
>huge family. What a delight to find that the work we feel to be so 
>important to the future of the human race has so many more dedicated 
>people to do it than we had known.
>
>I remember very vividly mention of the coming "paradigm shift," and 
>mention as well of networking on the internet. The latter has 
>certainly come to pass, and seems to me to be a very powerful tool in 
>the dissemination of teachings. If I may, could we talk a bit about 
>the paradigm shift? Is this perhaps a way of considering how 
>theosophy can help serious people understand how to become effective 
>participants in the tremendous changes occurring in this cycle? 
>
>Fraternally,
>Adelasie
>
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>Yahoo! Groups Links
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