Theos-Talk Archives (April 2008 Message tt00079)

Thanks for posting the msg.

When one looks at organizations, when you find spiritual organizations which
grow are usually led by individuals young or middle aged. Look at various
leaders in the past. Jesus did not take up a job when young and after
retirement took upon himself to start to preach. So was Buddha even though
he was born a Prince and his father thought he is going to succeed him. Look
at Shri Shankaracharya, he was a young man who did reform Hinduism and died
in early twenties. Jiddu Krishnamurti, started speaking when young. Both HPB
and HSO worked full time and gave prime of their life to Theosophy in
difficult circumstances with uncertain future -- all they had was the
conviction of the good Theosophy can do to the world.

If you look around many sections and lodges, you will find them all mostly
headed by grey haired leaders who may have the worldly experience (and
perhaps cunning needed to take smart worldly decisions) and when you look
back the progress of the membership growth as a percentage of world
population and opening up of the iron curtain, it presents a dismal figure.
It is actually going down  in percentage of population. Complicating matters
is the money and property that has been inherited by the organization. If
 you also look at the historical organizational steps taken over the years,
primarily to protect the property and money, it is almost impossible for any
young man or woman to move up the ladder of leadership unless he or she
starts a parallel organization. So while we all want and hope for a future
with expansion of the membership, if past is any indication, it is not going
to happen unless something like what Jiddu Krishnamurti did when he broke
thru organizational clutches and controls (most organizational leaders like
to control -- enjoy control -- and int he past it was easy because of the
control of the print media), five or ten years from
now, we may not see much of change other than couple of more statues
of Presidents in the National HQ; most like their names, like their
pictures printed in magazines at every opportunity.

So are we going to continue the maintenance mode led by tired old folks with
declining membership in %age? I am afraid that may be scenario that we are
facing.

Let us all hope and pray that some miracle may move the organization in a
expansion mode.

mkr


On 4/15/08, Jokela Petri <jokelap@dnainternet.net> wrote:
>
> Dear fellow Theosophist,
>
> I feel compelled to break the long standing prohibition against writing
> political letters during an election. Since Radha Burnier herself has
> now broken that tradition by sending out the letter given below to a
> number of our ranks, I do not have any qualms in feeling justified to
> respond to her blatant electioneering.
>
> I have always held Radha in great esteem and still honor her for her
> tireless and capable work for the Society. However, I have seen with my
> own eyes that her marvellous abilities are compromised to such an extent
> that I consider her not to be the best choice for the president and
> chief administrator of our organization. Her memory and clarity are
> inconsistent, sometimes right on, and sometimes far afield---as is the
> case for all of us
> when aging, especially by stroke, takes its toll. Because she has been
> such a wonderfully iron willed woman, she now apparently is mis-
> applying that iron will by trying to cling to an administrative roll
> that in my opinion is no longer best for the Society or best for her.
>
> I can see Radha maintaining a roll of leadership in the spiritual or
> inner side of things as a wise counsellor, functioning well without
> undue stress, but I view her continuation as the chief administrative
> officer for the Theosophical Society as counter productive. We need
> sharp clarity, consistency, and creative flexibility as we all work
> together to keep Theosophy alive and vital in the 21st century. We need
> strong leadership such as John Algeo could provide.
>
> As to her letter below, I will let it speak for itself, but I do have to
> say that I think the reference to age is ironic. Furthermore, it is
> presumptuous to indicate that John does not also have the capacity to
> bring in younger workers. And it is presumptuous to define his motives
> or to ascribe to him the intent to diminish the importance of Adyar as
> our international center, an action he has clearly stated he is against.
> If elected, John may not be able to spend all his time at Adyar, but I
> have experienced him as an able administrator and delegator, and feel
> assured that Adyar would flourish under his leadership.
>
> John has set up a web site http://www.jalgeo..com/ that you might want
> to see in order to help you decide for yourself.
> The upcoming election of international president of the Theosophical
> Society for the next 7 years is a critical one. Please consider carefully.
> With sincerity and all best wishes,
>
> Betty Bland, President
> The Theosophical Society in America
> 
>


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