Theos-Talk Archives (March 2007 Message tt00218)

Hi Perry,

You wrote:

>What I personally would like to see developed in the TS is more 
scholarly freedom within the publications for all the reasons I have 
discussed here at theos talk.

Perhaps a journal that allows more penetrating examination of 
different theosophical ideas much along the lines of Lucifer.

This is not everyone's cup of tea I realize however there is a 
definite need for it in my opinion.<

Then go ahead and start to materialize your idea. It will not be for 
sure an easy job, but I can offer you some of my time, and there will 
be possibly others, more skilled and experienced, who will join the 
effort.

Warmest regards,
Anton


--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "plcoles1" <plcoles1@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Anton,
> You wrote :
> "I believe that the Theosophical Society was founded with the 
purpose
> to spread the knowledge of Theosophy in the world and that the
> Objects of the Society are the necessary means to accomplish that
> purpose. In other words, that the "inner" work of the lodge
> (individual study, lodge meetings and so on) is the preparation for
> its "outer" work, for the interaction with the community."
> 
> I agree and I think that really most of the structures are there 
> within the society to help fulfill those goals.
> For example the Theosophical Order of Service (TOS) in an avenue 
with 
> which people can help promote active altruism, or they can join 
> institutions already established exclusively along those lines.
> 
> Amnesty International is one I was involved with for a short period.
> 
> As each person will have a different approach to theosophy everyone 
> will resonate more strongly in one area than another.
> Some are more predisposed to meditation for example; some are more 
> intellectual in their approach, some more artistic ?.
> 
> What I personally would like to see developed in the TS is more 
> scholarly freedom within the publications for all the reasons I 
have 
> discussed here at theos talk.
> 
> Perhaps a journal that allows more penetrating examination of 
> different theosophical ideas much along the lines of Lucifer.
> 
> This is not everyone's cup of tea I realize however there is a 
> definite need for it in my opinion.
> 
> People should not feel that they are `heretics' because they hold 
to 
> certain views either about past teachers (be that HPB, CWL or 
> whomever), the teachings, historical issues or because of a 
personal 
> opinion of what they may feel is wrong with the society as it is, 
> this surely is something no member should feel threatened by in a 
> theosophical society.
> 
> You wrote :
> "Nicholas Roerich said something like this: With the creative 
process
> there comes the quality of tolerance we need so much. If we include
> the tolerance only conventionally and superficially we create
> hypocrisy. Only with the noble creative process, with constant
> realization, comes that wonderful guest: the tolerance."
> 
> Great quotation and very apt.
> 
> Best Wishes
> 
> Perry
> 
> 
> 
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Anton Rozman" <anton_rozman@> 
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Perry,
> > 
> > Thank you for your thoughts. Let me address the problem you 
defined 
> > as the conflict between expansiveness and traditionalism from 
> another 
> > perspective.
> > 
> > I believe that the Theosophical Society was founded with the 
> purpose 
> > to spread the knowledge of Theosophy in the world and that the 
> > Objects of the Society are the necessary means to accomplish that 
> > purpose. In other words, that the "inner" work of the lodge 
> > (individual study, lodge meetings and so on) is the preparation 
for 
> > its "outer" work, for the interaction with the community. If the 
> > lodge limits itself to the "inner" work then the mentioned 
problems 
> > becomes immanent. If instead it opens itself to the community it 
> > necessarily involves itself in some creative process which 
absorbs 
> > and directs all the energies towards the ends which transcends 
> > personal interests of its members.
> > 
> > Nicholas Roerich said something like this: With the creative 
> process 
> > there comes the quality of tolerance we need so much. If we 
include 
> > the tolerance only conventionally and superficially we create 
> > hypocrisy. Only with the noble creative process, with constant 
> > realization, comes that wonderful guest: the tolerance.
> > 
> > Warmest regards,
> > Anton
> > 
> > 
> > --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "plcoles1" <plcoles1@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Thanks Anton, I know that the ES is a point of contention for 
> some 
> > > within the TS.
> > > 
> > > I personally have not felt that the problems in the TS come 
> > > specifically from the ES.
> > > However there is I am sure much I don't know about it.
> > > 
> > > I'll try and briefly explain where I feel some of the conflicts 
> > come 
> > > from, leaving aside the Leadbeater issue.
> > > 
> > > One of the problems I think that continues to play itself is 
that 
> > > when some new people join the society they feel it is a kind of 
> > > platform for anything and everything.
> > > 
> > > When the TS doesn't live up to their expectations of what they 
> > think 
> > > it should be they can cause quite a bit of turbulence within 
the 
> > > branch especially if they have joined with a preexisting 
agenda, 
> > like 
> > > promoting some particular hobbyhorse they may be on at the time.
> > > 
> > > Then you get those who have been involved with the society for 
> some 
> > > years, read a lot of the traditional literature of the 
> > society?.they 
> > > may appear to newcomers as being stuck in the past or not 
> > > progressive. 
> > > 
> > > On the one side there maybe what seems to be a force of 
> > expansiveness 
> > > and on the other traditionalism.
> > > 
> > > Expansiveness and traditionalism have this constant grappling 
> with 
> > > each other.
> > > 
> > > I would suggest both have a place, however both need to use 
> wisdom, 
> > > otherwise what you get is either lack of direction and purpose 
on 
> > the 
> > > one hand or stagnation and mindless rigidity on the other.
> > > 
> > > Sometimes we need to drop some aspects that may no longer be 
> > > appropriate.
> > > 
> > > For example in our branch the speaker used to stand on a stage 
> > > towering above the audience and the president used to sit in a 
> big 
> > > chair on the stage like a king on a throne.
> > > 
> > > This thankfully was changed so that the president sat with 
> everyone 
> > > else and the speaker stood on the level with rest of the 
audience.
> > > 
> > > This was a break from the old hierarchical mindset of 
superiority 
> > and 
> > > a movement towards equality and brotherhood at least in 
symbolic 
> > > terms as to how the lodge was setup.
> > > 
> > > Also the invocation was changed to a more gender sensitive and 
> > > inclusive form, once again a symbol of inclusiveness and 
equality.
> > > 
> > > The other side of the coin is when people want to overturn 
> > everything 
> > > simply because its old.
> > > 
> > > When we are at a theosophical society set up to study the 
ANCIENT 
> > > Wisdom this could be problematic however.
> > > 
> > > Theosophy does speak of a spiritual path although I know 
> > Krishnamurti 
> > > spoke very eloquently about moving beyond rigid and 
superstitious 
> > > ideas about it.
> > > Just a few thoughts 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Cheers
> > > 
> > > Perry
> >
>