Theos-Talk Archives (July 2007 Message tt00263)

Thanks for your feedback.

I take a much wider view. To me, on a daily basis,  I deal with a lot of
people in various walks of life and in various activities wherein I use what
i have learnt by studying theosophical literature. Study by itself does no
good. It is the practical application that helps one to have a better
understanding of the principles we read about. So what we do with the people
we come into contact is more important than all the book learning.

I have been around several branches for several decades and so I am fully
aware of the branch (lodge) side of it, even though i have not had first
hand experience of living and working at Adyar.

As for Internet it is here to stay. Since current generation is growing up
in the Internet world, their approach is going to be strongly influenced by
it. Internet is a tool to transcend the differences we all have. It is going
to help in furthering universal brotherhood(sisterhood) around the world.

I would like to cite a personal experience. In a major city in India, there
are two branches within a mile distance between them. One is a branch of
Adyar and the other a branch of ULT. You walk into either of them and you
will find pictures of HPB. you walk into their libraries, you will find
copies of Secret Doctrine.They both celebrate White lotus day. But, I have
not seen members of either visiting the other. I as new member of Adyar had
on a couple of occasions visited the ULT branch to see their activities.

On the other hand, on this maillist, you will see (broad minded) members of
Adyar, ULT, and other groups participate, which is very heartening to many
of us because our interest is in theosophy and not to any particular
personality or philosophy. I would like to see this spirit grow and
theosophy become
truly Universal. I also truly believe that Internet will be a key tool
in making the universality a reality.

mkr



On 7/21/07, Pablo Sender <pasender@yahoo.com.ar> wrote:
>
> Dear mkr
>
> I cannot agree with your point. To me, Internet cannot replace the
> TS. It seems to me that your point of view arises mainly by
> considering theosophy as a matter of study. If it were like that,
> Internet is alright. But to me theosophy is something much more deep,
> and for that the TS is needed.
> I really believe the TS is a training to a different way of
> relationsihp (you may call it "six-root race like"). In a Lodge (at
> least in Adyar TS), you study with all kind of people, intellectual,
> religious, practical, etc. You have also to work with them organizing
> public activities, administrating the TS, etc. But if you take it
> seriously, you cannot have "mundane" a relationship with them. You
> have to avoid gossip and harshness, you have to avoid dictatorship
> attitudes, you have to bear in mind the welfare and preferences of
> everyone and not only yours, and tried to find out the ways to help
> the growth of all the group. That, in the midst of different people
> who may like study or not, who may like HPB, or Leadbeater, or
> Krishnamurti, etc.
> All that develope certain skill and deep understanding that cannot be
> learn through a book, internet, etc. But most of all, you learn (in
> practice, not in theory) what to me is the "key to theosophy" (as a
> state of consciousness): to let your personal likes and dislikes
> vanishes for the common good. Of course, you have also to develop a
> real, practical viveka (spiritual discrimination) to perceive what is
> the correct.
> Before entering in the TS I was a lonely student. Today also most of
> the tima I get a deeper understanding of the teachings by lonely
> study, but what I've learn and realized working in the TS, and the
> maturation I've underwent in that, could never be provided by books.
> I sincerely think the TS (I can only speak of Adyar TS, it's what I
> know) is today a wonderful space to hasten the spiritual growing of
> individuals. I've seen this process in many members, I had the
> opportunity to help in that to quite a lot of people, and I'm really
> happy with it.
> Kind regards
>
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com <theos-talk%40yahoogroups.com>, "M K
> Ramadoss" <mkr777@...> wrote:
> >
> > For past some years I have maintained that the TS model with
> branches,
> > federations, national setup etc was the only way to organize and
> disseminate
> > theosophy in 1875 onwards. But today, communication, especially
> Internet has
> > changed the landscape. Today Theosophy can be more effectively
> disseminated
> > using Internet
> > -- all you need to do is to look at this maillist. We have
> individuals
> > who are associated with one organization or the other and meet on a
> > level without any geographical boundaries and we discuss
> theosophical
> > subjects 7/24. As the current generation is growing up in the
> internet
> > culture, the old setup will fade into the background and will
> continue
> > to survive due to the properties they own and they are likely to
> > inherit as bequeathal from old theosophists. It would continue to
> act
> > as a clearing house to hold copyrights and publish books and other
> > material, which is going to be a very mechanical operation. Internet
> > culture is also going to bring in a lot of people who are interested
> > in theosophy and not necessarily a traditional organization. The
> pity
> > is existing organizations are going to have a tough time to react to
> > the changing landscape and IMHO do not know how to respond. All we
> see
> > is to take an osterich approach so far.
> >
> > mkr
> >
> > On 7/20/07, Cass Silva <silva_cass@...> wrote:
> > Regardless of what Ms Burnier does, Theosophy will survive, HPB's
> message
> > will survive, it will reach those that are "ready" whether or not a
> > Theosophical Society exists or not.
> >
> > _._,___
> > >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
> 
>


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