Theos-Talk Archives (May 2005 Message tt00186)

While your points on the 3 societies are on target, there is another angle 
from which one should look at the theosophical movement. From the time the 
theosophical society was launched, fundamental changes have taken place in 
information storage and communication technologies.

With the advent of Internet, the old model of branches where individuals 
periodically meet and discuss and listen to has been superceded. For some 
of us who years ago used to go to branch meetings once a week and listen to 
and discuss issues for an hour or more, today the "meeting" and discussion 
on the Internet is a round the clock activity and also the participants are 
no long localized geographically - it is world wide. All the 3 societies 
hold property and other assets and also are likely to receive bequests as 
older theosophists pass away. So there will be funds to keep them 
operating. They will continue to do work as a clearinghouse for 
publications and nothing more, IMHO. We also need to look at the current 
leadership generally. Most of them are old men and women -- many of them 
have second career after they are retired. If you look at upcoming growth 
organizations, they are all led by young to middle aged men and women. 
Jesus or Buddha did not have a career as a college professor and after 
retirement did not take on launching their spiritual work as a second 
career. HPB and Olcott and Judge were in their prime of life when they 
launched TS and TS did grow world-wide. So when you view the current state 
of affairs in the theosophical movement, it appears that in the current 
form the 3 societies will continue to operate until there are funds to keep 
them going. We also need to take note that the current generation is 
growing up in Internet communication environment and are likely not to be 
much attracted to formal organizations in their spiritual interest and 
quest. Also the Powers behind the spiritual advancement of the Humanity 
will definitely make the best use of the developing Internet communication 
environment to advance the self-discovery and betterment of Humanity. So 
in two or three generations we may see the total disappearance of the 
formal 3 societies. Great nations and civilizations have disappeared 
without a trace and no organization is immune to the cyclical law and will 
disappear when their time is up. Ancient Wisdom will continue to be spread 
using newer technologies - some of them none of us can even imagine today - 
and bring together men and women who have interest in it.

This is my take on the subject. May be worth 0.02.

MKR

At 01:34 AM 05/06/05 +0000, Perry Coles wrote:

> Hi All,
> Over the last few years of my discovering the different issues in the
> various different Theosophical societies my views have fluctuated.
>
> In the ULT and Pasadena societies the focus is more on the writings
> of Blavatsky and Judge albeit that Pasadena puts a lot of focus De
> Puruker and Tingley as well and ULT dosn't study the Mahatma letters.
> Adyar seems to have chosen to go more down the path of simply
> focusing on the 3 objects generally.
>
> All 3 organizations have there strengths and weaknesses as well as
> their histories that have shaped who and what they are.
>
> Of late I have come to feel that all 3 societies have a role and a
> place in the movement that offers something which very few spiritual
> organizations offer and that is the freedom to accept or reject what
> is presented in its writings and from its teachers.
> As well as having to offer the world some profound concepts and ideas.
>
> While there may be important issues that need to massaged and worked
> through I feel that all 3 offer something that is valuable and unique.
> Even if there is quite a lot of dis-function in some areas they all
> foster to a greater or lesser extent a spirit of inquiry and
> exploration into the ideal of Brotherhood.
>
> The issues in the Societies simply reflect the stage we as humans
> beings are at, at this point in time and maybe offers opportunities
> to try and work though these issues.
>
> Perry


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