Theos-Talk Archives (May 2005 Message tt00371)

First of all I'd like to start out by welcoming back Pedro and Paul !

I've been reflecting some more lately on what the mandate of the 
theosophical society actually is and what it was that the founders 
wanted it to be used for.

It strikes me as interesting that know where is it laid down that 
the Society was only meant to be a place where the writings of H.P 
Blavatsky where to be studied exclusively.

If this was the case it would have been stated clearly and plainly.
Rather the lines where simply stated as being 3 objects.

The first one being `to form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood 
without distinction of race, creed, caste or colour'.

This is the prime directive so to speak and I'd say it was hoped 
that by implementing the second and third objects this would help 
humanity to realise the first.

On reflection then it seems to me that the outcome is achieved by 
motive rather than method.
The writings of Blavatsky struck the tone and it is up to us to 
study meditate and serve in whichever way we feel helps to realise 
the first object.
She constantly referred and quote from numerous different sources as 
an example of what type of approach to take not relying on one or 
two sources for our information be that information `revealed' or 
otherwise.

I think this is why there is no closed list of books or texts that 
are the only ones to be studied in the society that was given out by 
H P Blavatsky or the Mahatma's.

That does not mean there is not a tradition to which H P Blavatsky's 
teachers belonged or a `doctrine' they offered partially through the 
writings of H P Blavatsky.

By deepening the awareness of the interconnectedness and underlying 
unity of all things and by finding the hidden wisdom in the various 
philosophical, religious and scientific approaches we come to an 
inner awareness of Brotherhood and Interconnectedness.

This journey takes different modalities and approaches and sometimes 
it involves critical thinking much along the lines of the Socratic 
method.

HPB used criticism to break down superstition and blind following of 
empowered authorities, such as the church or suppressive priesthoods 
or dogmatic science.

The lack of any specific directive as to what works to study in the 
society it seems to me was in order to stop any writings becoming 
sacrosanct.
As Blavatsky said the `Secret Doctrine' is written in Nature and we 
need to develop the awareness to `see' it.
So the mindset and motive is really to me what is key rather than 
what books are studied.

Having said that however I think it would be a massive disrespect to 
her and her teachers if these writings she laboured so hard and 
sacrificed so much to give the world are treated with what amounts 
to just about contempt by some and then simply ignored.

The freedom given in this way by the founders has meant ironically 
that the ride is a bumpy one, rather than a smooth sail.

Freedom means allowing many differences to exist and express 
themselves together so the society is in effect a microcosm of all 
the issues and dilemmas we have in our world.

Religion philosophy and science are the key areas that shape the 
mindsets we manifest, free investigation and comparison of these 
helps us to understand each other and hopefully live in harmony and 
celebrate what unites us rather than what divides us.
In other words to realise the truth of Brotherhood.

The "pearls" the Mahatmas spoke of in the quote Nigel posted surely 
are the sometimes deeply hidden and perhaps to us sometimes obscure 
points of interconnection that the Adept is said to Know and are 
only Realised though extreme self sacrifice and the constant letting 
go of preconceived notions and sense of self seperateness.
(gulp)
The reality of this `exploration' is so touchingly and beautifully 
expressed in that passage I think it.

Cheers

Perry