Theos-Talk Archives (April 2008 Message tt00265)

Years ago, when I visited a distant city in India where there were couple of
members of TS I contacted them before the visit and when I was there, I was
invited for a dinner. I was surprised that all the members in town were
there to meet the unknown young theosophist and it was a great honor for me.

In one part of Southern India, they also have a special tradition. When
important guests and close family members are served food, it will be served
by the homemaker by hand. Serving by hand is to show the affection and
closeness.

One has to live with ordinary folks in India to get a feel for how they deal
with guests.

mkr

On Sun, Apr 27, 2008 at 8:28 AM, Jokela Petri <jokelap@dnainternet.net>
wrote:

>
> Thanx for bringing this point of view. You are very right.
> All asians do really respect gurus or people who brings blessing
> among them and have therefore given up a common life and its comfort.
> I experienced a great hospitality when I stayed few days within one
> indian family.
> They said that word Guest and God starts with same capital, so they
> treat Guests
> like they to treat God. They offered two full meal per day. They hardly
> let me bought
> anything from store, but instead paid the bills. Sure I didnt want
> anything speacial,
> just like ice-cream, food, DVD and so on. Anyway, that´ s something. I
> did want it,
> but there was no other option.
>
> PJ
>
> Morten Nymann Olesen kirjoitti:
>
> >
> > To all readers
> >
> > My views are:
> >
> > PJ said:
> > "People make some kind of lane which through Radha walked among us.
> > People were praising her. Seems
> > personality cult to me. I wondered where my friend vanished. Later I
> > heard him telling me that he hates personality cult
> > and couldnt stand it."
> >
> > M. Sufilight says:
> > I would add, that in India, this "personality cult" thing towards a
> > leader or a Guru is quite common culturally speaking. It is a showing
> > of of respect to a leader instead of contempt and disrespect, - so to
> > find out if the Guru or leader really have something to offer or not,
> > instead the opposite - a prejudiced reaction. In our western world we
> > have a quite different view upon the "Guru-thing". And that is why a
> > 14 year old Guru from India from time to time are able to fill an
> > astrodome with interested followers.
> >
> > There are plenty of guides and initiates on the planet today. The
> > problem for many would-be Seekers After Truth are that they are not
> > easily able to discern who is a fraud wellmeaning or otherwise - and
> > who is not.
> >
> > - - - - - -
> > >From Idries Shah's book "Learning how to Learn":
> > "Man has few alternatives in his search for truth. He may rely upon
> > his unaided intellect, and gamble that he is capable of perceiving
> > truth or even the way to truth. This is a poor, but an attractive,
> > gamble. Or he can gamble upon the claims of an individual or
> > institution which claims to have such a way. This gamble, too, is a
> > poor one. Aside from a very few, wo/men in general lack a sufficiently
> > developed perception to tell them:"
> >
> > Not to trust their own unaided mentation; Who or what to trust. "There
> > are, in consequence, two main schools of thought in this matter. Some
> > say 'Follow your own promptings'; the other says: 'Trust this or that
> > intuition'. Each is really useless to the ordinary wo/man. Each will
> > help him use up his time."
> >
> > "The bitter truth is that before man can know his own inadequacy, or
> > the competence of another man or institution, he must first learn
> > something which will enable him to perceive both. Note well that his
> > perception itself is a product of right study; not of instinct or
> > emotional attraction to the individual, nor yet of desiring to 'go it
> > alone'. This is 'Learning How To Learn.' "
> >
> > "All this means, of course, that we are postulating here the need for
> > preparatory study before school work takes place. We deny that a man
> > can study and properly benefit from school work until he is equipped
> > for it: any more than a person can study space-navigation unless he
> > has a grasp of mathematics."
> >
> > "This is not to say that a man (or a woman) cannot have a sensation of
> > truth. But the unorganized and fragmented mind which is most people's
> > heritage tends to distort the quality and quantity of this sensation,
> > leading to almost completely false conclusions about what can or
> > should be done."
> >
> > "This is not to say, either, that man cannot take part in studies and
> > activities which impinge upon that portion of him which is connected
> > with a higher life and cognition. But the mere application of special
> > techniques [often to everyone, regardless of their current state and
> > requirements] will not transform that man's consciousness. It will
> > only feed into, and disturb, more or less permanently, centers of
> > thought and feeling where it does not belong. Thus it is that
> > something which should be a blessing becomes a curse. Sugar, shall we
> > say, for a normal person is nutritionally useful. To a diabetic, it
> > can be poison."
> >
> > "Therefore, before the techniques of study and development are made
> > available to the student, he must be enabled to profit by them in the
> > direction in which they are supposed to lead, not in short-term
> > indulgence."
> >
> > "Thus our curriculum takes two parts: the first is in the providing of
> > materials of a preparatory nature, in order to equip the individual to
> > become a student. The second is the development itself."
> >
> > "If we, or anybody else, supply such study or preparatory material
> > prematurely, it will only operate on a lower level than it could. The
> > result will be harmless at best. At worst, it will condition, train,
> > the mind of the individual to think and behave in patterns which are
> > nothing less than automatic. In this latter way one can make what seem
> > to be converts, unwittingly play upon emotions, on lesser desires and
> > the conditioning propensity; train people to loyalty to individuals,
> > found and maintain institutions which seem more or less serious or
> > constructive. But no real progress towards knowledge of the human
> > being and the other dimension in which he partly lives will in fact be
> > made..."
> >
> > Is this what the different theosophical branches are doing today ?
> > If not, then why not ?
> >
> > It could be to your advantage to read the text more than one time.
> >
> > Well, that were a few of my views on the issue.
> >
> > - - - - - - - -
> >
> > M. Sufilight
> >
> > H. P. Blavatsky said:
> > "The Society founded to remedy the glaring evils of Christianity, to
> shun
> > bigotry and intolerance, cant and superstition and to cultivate real
> > universal love extending even to the dumb brute".
> > (The Collected Writings of H. P. Blavatsky, vol. 7, p.246)
> >
> > Master KH wrote in a Mahatma Letter:
> > For the opposition represents enormous vested interests, and they have
> > enthusiastic help from the Dugpas -- in Bhootan and the Vatican!
> > (Here is all of Mahtama Letter, No. 55. Dugpas are the same as selfish
> > Magicians.)
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Jokela Petri
> > To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com <theos-talk%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:
> theos-talk%40yahoogroups.com <theos-talk%2540yahoogroups.com>>
> > Sent: Saturday, April 26, 2008 10:41 PM
> > Subject: Re: Theos-World TS Election - Radha Burnier's Health
> >
> > Thanx for making it clearer.
> >
> > I have heard that some people have started to cry when they have asked
> > something about her after lecture - all that because of her attitude. In
> > Finland after
> > her talk someone asked totally something out of the subject of the
> > lecture,
> > she seemed to be pretty blunt on the video and ignored the question.
> > Yes, also some people complaine that at Adyar there is not friendly
> > athomsphere because of her.
> > That´s why so many wants to have someone new who brings something new
> > into the Society.
> > Someone told me that even indians want to have someone else, but I do
> > not know how many
> > of them has really said so.
> >
> > In 2006 I saw something amazing. I was standing there with an friend.
> > Radha was walking from
> > Headquarters to the gathering we had before convention where they offer
> > something sweet and so on.
> > People make some kind of lane which through Radha walked among us.
> > People were praising her. Seems
> > personality cult to me. I wondered where my friend vanished. Later I
> > heard him telling me that he hates personality cult
> > and couldnt stand it. I was also pretty amazed because of it though
> > tried to fit in following what people were doing, but thinking
> > in my mind what a heck is this about.
> >
> > Well, this is bad gossipping and she maye hear this as she always does
> > and maybe she will give me a slapp on my face. :-)
> >
> > Anyway, I have also been complained about being too straight in office.
> > People feel very hurt because of it sometimes.
> >
> > PJ
> >
> > Drpsionic@aol.com <Drpsionic%40aol.com> <mailto:Drpsionic%40aol.com<Drpsionic%2540aol.com>>
> kirjoitti:
> > >
> > > You did not hear her speak at Olcott right after she was elected. It
> > > was so bad that when an outsider asked who she was, he was told that
> > > it was just some woman from India staying there because no one wanted
> > > to admit that she was the society President.
> > >
> > > I had one of my best lines at her expense years ago at the US
> > > convention. They showed that dreadful movie that she was in and at
> > > one point in the dialogue, when her character is asked if she would
> > > marry an American, her character responded, "I don't understand
> > > them." At that point, possessed by mirth demons, I blurted out, "She
> > > still doesn't!" And everyone in the room roared with laughter.
> > >
> > > Chuck the Heretic
> > >
> > > http://www.geocities.com/c_cosimano
> > <http://www.geocities.com/c_cosimano>
> > <http://www.geocities.com/c_cosimano
> > <http://www.geocities.com/c_cosimano>>
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Jokela Petri <jokelap@dnainternet.net<jokelap%40dnainternet.net>
> > <mailto:jokelap%40dnainternet.net <jokelap%2540dnainternet.net>>
> > > <mailto:jokelap%40dnainternet.net <jokelap%2540dnainternet.net>>>
> > > To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com <theos-talk%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:
> theos-talk%40yahoogroups.com <theos-talk%2540yahoogroups.com>>
> > <mailto:theos-talk%40yahoogroups.com <theos-talk%2540yahoogroups.com>>
> > > Sent: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:21 am
> > > Subject: Re: Theos-World TS Election - Radha Burnier's Health
> > >
> > > That´s a pretty rude comment about her. I have heard her speaking so
> > > many times.
> > > She is one of the best international lecturers of TS. She has done her
> > > studies on theosophy very well.
> > > One can find that out in her talks. She has lived teachings in
> practice
> > > in the best way she has been able.
> > > She has always been very hard worker. Her memory what comes to names
> of
> > > members has been always amazing.
> > > I belive she has hold the candel for Theosophy and the Society.
> > > Sure I have heard her being tough and demanding boss for those who
> work
> > > at Adyar.
> > > But loving kindness attitude has increased on her within last few
> years.
> > > Toward me she has been very loving as well during bad as well during
> and
> > > good times.
> > >
> > > PJ
> > >
> > > Drpsionic@aol.com <Drpsionic%40aol.com> <mailto:Drpsionic%40aol.com<Drpsionic%2540aol.com>>
>
> > <mailto:Drpsionic%40aol.com <Drpsionic%2540aol.com>> kirjoitti:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > In the 30 years she has been president there have always been
> > > > questions about her mental health, usually from those who heard her
> > > > speak. :)
> > > >
> > > > Chuck the Heretic
> > > >
> > > > http://www.geocities.com/c_cosimano
> > <http://www.geocities.com/c_cosimano>
> > > <http://www.geocities.com/c_cosimano
> > <http://www.geocities.com/c_cosimano>>
> > > <http://www.geocities.com/c_cosimano
> > <http://www.geocities.com/c_cosimano>
> > > <http://www.geocities.com/c_cosimano
> > <http://www.geocities.com/c_cosimano>>>
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: MKR <mkr777@gmail.com <mkr777%40gmail.com> <mailto:
> mkr777%40gmail.com <mkr777%2540gmail.com>>
> > <mailto:mkr777%40gmail.com <mkr777%2540gmail.com>>
> > > <mailto:mkr777%40gmail.com <mkr777%2540gmail.com>>>
> > > > To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com <theos-talk%40yahoogroups.com>
> > <mailto:theos-talk%40yahoogroups.com <theos-talk%2540yahoogroups.com>>
> > <mailto:theos-talk%40yahoogroups.com <theos-talk%2540yahoogroups.com>>
> > > <mailto:theos-talk%40yahoogroups.com <theos-talk%2540yahoogroups.com>
> >;
> > > > theos-L@yahoogroups.com <theos-L%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:
> theos-L%40yahoogroups.com <theos-L%2540yahoogroups.com>>
> > <mailto:theos-L%40yahoogroups.com <theos-L%2540yahoogroups.com>>
> > > <mailto:theos-L%40yahoogroups.com <theos-L%2540yahoogroups.com>>
> > > > Sent: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:22 am
> > > > Subject: Theos-World TS Election - Radha Burnier's Health
> > > >
> > > > In the election of International President, the issue of Radha
> > Burnier's
> > > > health has become central. We have seen how her health was reported
> > > to be
> > > > good early last year and then in the end of last year doubts were
> > > cast by
> > > > some National Secretaries about her physical and mental health and
> her
> > > > fitness to carryon the duties of the President.
> > > >
> > > > To allay these doubts, early this month, two physicians declared
> Radha
> > > > Burnier fully fit, both mentally and physically. I discussed these
> > > on this
> > > > maillist. However, some readers wanted to see scanned copies of
> > > > originals to
> > > > convince themselves about the veracity of the certifications.
> > > >
> > > > Here is a very easy way to confirm the above facts. Anyone
> > > interested can
> > > > send e-mail to candidates, International Officers, and National
> > > > Secretaries(Presidents). The email addresses are available in the
> > Adyar
> > > > Website. Any responses received can be posted here for the benefit
> of
> > > > all of
> > > > us. Multiple source verification is the norm in the journalistic
> > field.
> > > > MKR
> > > >
> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > >
> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> > >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
>
>  
>


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