Theos-Talk Archives (July 2007 Message tt00266)

Ah, Ok... Yes, I agree with you, completely.

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "M K Ramadoss" <mkr777@...> wrote:
>
> 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@...> 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]
> > >
> >
> > 
> >
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>