Theos-Talk Archives (May 2005 Message tt00792)

At 10:23 AM 05/29/05 +0200, M. Sufilight wrote:
> "Revelation or Realization:The Conflict in Theosophy" by J.J. van der 
> Leeuw, LL.D.
> http://www.tphta.ws/JJL_RRCT.HTM
>
> An excerpt or two:
> "A system of revelation is only possible when there is one oracle, or 
> channel of revelation, the authority of which is not to be questioned. A 
> plurality of oracles is death to revelation. When in 1925 it was announced 
> that the World Teacher would have twelve apostles as before in Palestine 
> and when Krishnamurti himself denied having any apostles or disciples at 
> all it was inevitable that members should begin to ask whether this 
> revelation as well as previous ones was to be trusted or not.
MKR Comments:

In hindsight after 80 years we can see that after Krishnamurti came on 
board and started lecturing, there was no competition from theosophical 
leaders. All we had was leaders who kept in the maintenance mode and 
continues to be so even today. Also to be noted is that most growth 
organizations have young or middle aged leadership. If you look at the age 
of the leadership since 1925, you will find most are old men and women who 
should be leading a retired life rather than try to lead an organization. 
While age and experience may be good for managing the day to day business 
affairs, in matters spiritual, history tells that every leader has been 
young or middle aged not a retired person trying taking on a second career.

> Previously the ceremonial movements had gained their adherents largely 
> because they were announced as a preparation of the work of the coming 
> teacher. In his name and on his authority were they launched forth and 
> those who took part in them felt they were doing the teacher's work. When 
> he began his teaching and denied the value of ceremonial, calling it an 
> obstacle to liberation, there were again many who asked themselves how 
> this contradiction could be explained. Many and ingenious were the 
> explanations put forward, but the fact remained that the faith in 
> revelation had been shaken forever. The consequence of this has been that 
> the work and self-sacrifice of members in so far as these were based on 
> such faith in revelations, has fallen off considerably. In the hearts of 
> many doubt and despair have taken the place of unquestioning belief. The 
> inevitable result is a process of disintegration, in which many of the 
> most serious members leave a movement in which they no longer have confidence."
MKR Comments:

Looks like many were looking for someone to lead them so that like a bunch 
of sheep, they can all follow with blind faith. When one is told that in 
spiritual matters a lot of self-growth and self-reliance is needed and when 
K told the world that Truth is a Pathless Land, one did not know how to 
navigate a Pathless Land.

> ....and...from the same...
>
> "It is my intention in this lecture to seek out the causes of this 
> disintegration and, if possible, to find a cure. I shall therefore 
> criticize quite frankly. Now criticism has always been exceedingly 
> unpopular in the Theosophical Society. In theory our platform is free, but 
> in practice one who thinks differently from the rest, though perfectly 
> free to do so, will find no platform to express his thoughts. There has 
> always been fear of any idea that might disturb the harmony among the 
> members. Criticism, however kindly expressed, was immediately branded as 
> "cruel and unjust attacks," as "unbrotherly" and in the last resort as 
> being under the influence of the Dark Powers. It is the mediaeval attitude 
> of mind where the sulphur smell of satanic activity is detected whenever 
> an opinion is expressed different from its own."
MKR Comments:

Every organization wants control of the masses. It is done either by 
physicial or spritualfear or hear after or fear of expulsion. So the above 
statement should not come as surprise to any one. Anyone who is an 
independent thinker is difficult to control and so reaction of 
organizations is to be expected. Organizations tend to embrace people who 
conform and who help them either financially or otherwise even though there 
may be many skeletons in the closet of the person. By tradition each 
organization/society tend to develop its own lingo of code words, and again 
this should not surprise anyone.

For anyone exposed to theosophy, the bottom line should not be 
organizations and personalities. We all tend to like some and dislike some 
for varied reason. It is the philosophy presented by theosophy that should 
be focus since in the ultimate analysis unless it is of help in a better 
understanding of ourselves and the universe around us, it is of no value to 
ourselves.


mkr


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