Theos-Talk Archives (February 2006 Message tt00513)

			AUTHORITY

We have received the following from California:

In the July PATH is an article entitled - "Shall We Know Our Friends in
Heaven?" I would like to ask if the Swedish Seer Swedenborg, has not
answered that question to the satisfaction of theosophists. If he is
accepted as an authority I should think his answer complete and
satisfactory. 

Yours, 

E.W.F.

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Inasmuch as theosophists are of all shades of belief, and as Swedenborg was
of one sort in regard to the matter referred to, his answer cannot be
satisfactory to all theosophists, nor can it be authoritative. 

The Society, as such, has no authorities. It was founded with the object of
breaking down that reliance upon "authority" which has been the bane of man
for ages, and it would be strange now if we could admit authority for
theosophists. It is true that sometimes the impression has been conveyed by
individuals, that the final arbiters in matters of belief are the Mahatmas,
but at no time has any Mahatma given out such an idea. 

We are engaged in trying to develop a truer appreciation of the Light of
Life which is hidden in every man, and so the "final authority" is the man
himself.

It makes very little difference whether Swedenborg or Mr. Chas. Johnston is
right as to the question of meeting our friends in heaven; their beliefs
will not alter the fact whatever it may turn out to be; but even if it is
not a matter of highest importance, we cannot even in that permit any
"theosophical authority."

Each of us is the master of his own destiny; each one can read Swedenborg or
Luther as to these matters; but from all such thinkers it can be gathered
that the ancient Bhagavad-Gita is true where it says, that "whatever nature
a man thinks on when he abandons the body at last, to that only does he go,
having been always conformed to that nature," and such is the doctrine of
Swedenborg.

	Path, November, 1887
 
	Best wishes to all,  

Dallas

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-----Original Message-----
From: M K Ramadoss
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 10:35 AM
To: 
Subject: Re: My membership application with Adyar TS

I think the mindset of submission to authority is a result of interminable
preaching of hierarchical order of things in the universe and nature and its
application everywhere. This leads to a logic that people higher up are more
"wise" and knowledgeable and hence should not be questioned.

And those who have spent all their life in such an environment is stuck in
it and are not capable of dealing with questioning minds. (Independent
thinkers are most difficult to deal with in any case).

Information flow is usually controlled in the hierarchical setup in the
traditional setup with the control of medium of dissemination of info.
Internet has upset this format in an irreversible manner and Internet is
here to stay.

Another traditional way to control questioners is to provide incentives to
make them keep quite. It could be indirect or direct favors (either now or
in the future in this life or a future life) one can expect either with
titles (spiritual or temporal) or such other "favors" as being allowed to
speak/lecture to groups by being anointed as "official" (approved)
"speakers/lecturers". In rare cases if one is employed by the organization,
then one's livelihood is at stake and makes one think twice before
questioning and losing one's livelihood.

So in the current changed environment, it is a challenge as to foster real
unity while at the same time questioning whether submission to authority is
necessary in spiritual matters while it may be necessary in the business and
worldly matters. This is a question that is faced in most organizations and
it would be interesting to watch how this issue evolves.

mkr