Theos-Talk Archives (May 2005 Message tt00309)

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, Jerry Hejka-Ekins <jjhe@c...> 
wrote:
> Nigel writes:
> 
> >Moreover, where the "politics" are sufficiently dishonourable, how 
> >does one in good conscience continue to support an organisation 
which 
> >continues to support such hypocrisy, whose motto is "There is no 
> >religion higher than Truth. And would one really wish to attract 
> >people to such an organisation in the name of Theosophy?
> >Best wishes
> >
> We wrestled with that one too. The solution we found was to 
organize 
> our own study groups, classes and conferences independently of the 
> Organizations. We just study Theosophy without politics. Last 
year, a 
> couple of our members got curious and looked up Theosophy on the 
> Internet. They learned about the organizations and camps and 
decided 
> that they were going to go to Far Horizons Theosophical Camp in the 
> Sierras. We said "great! You'll love it there." They sent for a 
> schedule. To their disappointment, they saw nothing on the 
schedule 
> which they considered "Theosophy." Lots of new age stuff, but they 
> didn't care about that. So they ended up not going to the camp. 
> 
> Are we as an independent group competing against the Theosophical 
> Organizations? Not in my mind. We just do what I believe TSA 
should 
> have been doing all along, and did not want us to do in their 
> organization. So, we do it on our own. Those who like what we are 
dong 
> come to us. Those who like what TSA is doing, goes to them. 
> 
> Jerry

Dear Jerry
Thank you for your comments.
A number of us did the same as yourselves three years ago. We called 
ourselves the Theosophical Academy (Australia)and have five (until 
recently six)study groups meeting weekly and fortnightly. We have no 
leaders, members or rules, therefore no politics. We simply meet to 
study Theosophy. Our semester fees pay for hall hire and public 
liability insurance and we aim for revenue neutral at year's end.
What has surprised me and others is the level of commitment and the 
retention rate of participants. Whilst facilitating similar groups in 
the Adyar Society for more than ten years, retention rate was fifty 
percent at best. And there was no charge to attend. In the Academy, 
participants pay good money every semester for the abovementioned 
requirements and yet retention rate is over ninety percent.
It is my belief, which could be entirely wrong, that politics and the 
allowance of almost anything and everything in the name of Theosophy 
in the Adyar Lodges which causes a dramatic dilution of our precious 
heritage. This is understandable given their "freedom of thought" 
statement but is for me a tragedy for those who wish for actual 
study. 
Moreover the level of harmony and generosity of spirit among our 
participants was something only to be dreamed of in our TS Lodge.
Whether yours and our model is one among many answers to our concern 
for the perpetuation of Theosophy, only time will tell.
In the meantime, best wishes in your endeavours.
Kind regards
Nigel