Theos-Talk Archives (May 2005 Message tt00312)

Dear friends,

Let me add a word or two to this discussion.

I believe that theosophists (and people in general) have 
individually grown enough to become active participants in 
theosophical activities and not just mere observers and listeners; 
that in general they don't accept anymore a role of ignorant pupils 
behind the school-bench without any responsibility and without any 
sense of being actively involved in some process. And some positive 
experiences you are talking about prove that the response is 
positive when the activities are organized in a way that anyone 
involved feels that he/she is active part of the group; that he/she 
can make a difference.

And I also believe that internet is wonderful media which 
facilitates the possibility to create various theosophical 
activities, to start various theosophical projects and to establish 
fruitful collaboration and not being limited only to a place for 
discussion and learning. These latter are good and necessary but, in 
my opinion, they should be viewed as necessary tools in 
accomplishment of some sort of promulgation of the knowledge of 
Theosophy.

What is needed, are some creative theosophical projects which will 
offer the opportunities for the theosophical work to independent, 
responsible and now disappointed theosophists.

Thanks and kind regards,
Anton




--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "nhcareyta" <nhcareyta@y...> 
wrote:
> --- 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