Theos-Talk Archives (March 2007 Message tt00130)

Hello Anton, 
This is interesting especially when taken in context of the time 
(1933) which was not long after the disbanding of the Order of the 
Star. 

Cheers

Perry

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Anton Rozman" <anton_rozman@...> 
wrote:
>
> On Criticism 
> 
> I can recall no criticism of myself which, even though 
substantially 
> true, took into account those extenuating circumstances ever 
> following in the wake of all mistakes, those saving graces bearing 
> witness to the sunshine however thickly enveloped by the darkness 
of 
> intervening clouds. I can recall no criticism of myself which, even 
> though in a measure erring on the side of leniency, envisaged the 
> whole of the cause as it sought to demonstrate the effect. I can 
> recall no criticism of myself, in other words, which was not 
partial. 
> I am no less sure that any criticism I may make of others must 
> equally be no less partial, no less oblivious of extenuating 
> circumstances. No less unmindful of the sunshine while intent upon 
> the clouds. I am not saying that criticism is never expedient, 
never 
> justifiable. I do not say that criticism may not be on occasion a 
> matter of duty. But I do say that criticism is a dangerous 
> occupation, for almost without exception it is composed of untruth 
as 
> well as of truth. I also say that ninety-nine criticisms out of a 
> hundred are both unnecessary and inexpedient, and that in the 
> majority of the ninety-nine there is more of untruth than of truth. 
> 
> I therefore say that we should all be infinitely chary of 
criticism, 
> infinitely chary, holding ourselves back from criticism at all 
times, 
> save most emergently, and then observing two rules of criticism: 
(1) 
> making the criticism to the individual who is the subject of the 
> criticism, (2) making the criticism to the individual whose duty we 
> conceive it to be to know it for the sake of the work. 
> 
> Casual criticism is intolerable. Criticism which is not certain to 
> reach the individual criticized is intolerable. Complaint against 
an 
> individual which we have no intention of making to his face is 
> intolerable. 
> 
> Can we not minimize criticism (1) by indulging in it most sparingly 
> ourselves, and not communicating it to a third party save as we 
also 
> communicate it to the party himself, (2) by refusing to listen to 
it 
> from others, save as a matter of urgent duty? And in all cases 
might 
> we not, as a matter of noblesse oblige, always declare with our 
> criticism that we are well aware, and would wish taken into 
> consideration, that our criticism must at the most be partial and 
> neglectful of circumstances which may go far to justify the matter 
of 
> the criticism, or at least to make it intelligible and not 
unnatural? 
> We know this is true in our own case. We know we are so often the 
> subject of misunderstanding. Let us have the grace to recognize 
that 
> in our own criticisms of others this ingredient of misunderstanding 
> is likely to be present to no small degree. 
> All this means a minimum of criticism, practically none at all; a 
> maximum of understanding and appreciation; understanding in place 
of 
> misunderstanding. It also means that most criticism is 
> misunderstanding in greater or in smaller measure; that when on the 
> verge of criticism we stop, we look, we listen, and then refrain. 
> Who is there strong enough to remember to stop when on the verge, 
> when on the edge, or the precipice of criticism? The tongue is a 
> rebellious member of the body, and so often runs away with all 
other 
> members. Who will keep a rein on the tongue at all times, maintain 
it 
> in servitude and restrain it from its habitual tyranny? Who will 
call 
> attention to the sunshine instead of to the clouds? Who will 
restrain 
> the ear, another unruly member of the body, from hearing that which 
> it is hurtful to others to utter? Who has the courage and the 
> brotherhood for this? 
> 
> G. S. Arundale
> Condensed from The Theosophist, April 1933.
> 
> I will not judge my brother until I have walked two weeks in his 
> moccasins.
> Sioux Indian Saying 
> 
> Scanned from the Theosophical Digest, 1st Quarter, 1992.
>