Theos-Talk Archives (July 2008 Message tt00139)

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, Cass Silva <silva_cass@...> wrote:
>
> Unfortunately Paul, the gods do not intervene with mans political 
machinations.  One has to have a certain amount of arrogance to 
believe that they are the best leader of any organization.  I met 
Radha Burnier in Melbourne some 15 years ago now.  I was 
unexpectedly invited by a senior member of the organization to attend 
an afternoon tea at a nearby Hotel arranged for Radha.  She never 
made one attempt to speak with me.

KPJ: Thanks, Cass, perhaps I was being too charitable as my 
experience in Adyar was very much the cold shoulder, no encounter 
with Radha other than across a room, and the look she gave didn't 
encourage closer approach.  OTOH the other westerners there didn't 
seem to find her cold or unwelcoming so I figured I was especially 
unwelcome because of the historical investigations I was pursuing.

This left the lasting impression on me that she is not interested in 
the rank and file.  I have no dilemma with her or Algeo leading the 
TS in the same way I couldn't care less which Pope got elected.  
This to me is a simple case of power.
> Cass

KPJ: Although the power of the Pasadena TS Leader was far more 
absolute over a much smaller kingdom, Grace Knoche had a personal 
warmth and really seemed to care about people.  She came across much 
more down to earth than Radha or John, approachable and encouraging.  
So power need not be wielded in ways that are as ruthless as Adyar 
leadership struggles tend to be, IMO.  On the other hand elections at 
least allow the possibility of taking power away from a leader, which 
the Pasadena organization makes impossible.
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: kpauljohnson <kpauljohnson@...>
> To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, 12 July, 2008 5:38:48 AM
> Subject: Re: Theos-World Dynasty subverting Democracy
> 
> 
> Chuck,
> 
> I've been thinking about this and decided Radha was as fated by 
> heredity to be in her position as any monarch, and that is not an 
> enviable hand to have been dealt in one's life. Yes, she could have 
> chosen not to run in 1980, but with Krishnamurti telling you to run 
> and if you're seriously worried about the direction Aunt Rukmini 
will 
> take the TS, what would you do?
> 
> It's unfair to talk about arrogance on Radha's part without having 
> met her and having heard people say she can be very pleasant 
> company. But there is an inherent arrogance about thinking you're 
in 
> a position for life because of tradition. Likewise, Charles Thomas 
> Cayce is a very nice and good man who got dragged into a role by 
> heredity that he didn't have a whole lot of choice about accepting. 
> But he managed to end the Cayce dynasty without dying, which is 
very 
> much to his credit. I hope he is enjoying his retirement.
> 
> Paul
> 
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogro ups.com, Drpsionic@ . wrote:
> >
> > Dynasties ultimately end because they die off.? The problem with 
> the TS is that because Theosophists live for so damned long it 
takes 
> a while for it to happen.
> > 
> > Chuck the Heretic
> > 
> > 
> > http://www.geocitie s.com/c_cosimano 
> > 
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: kpauljohnson <kpauljohnson@ ...>
> > To: theos-talk@yahoogro ups.com
> > Sent: Fri, 11 Jul 2008 6:42 am
> > Subject: Theos-World Dynasty subverting Democracy
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Hey,
> > 
> > One passage in Betty's article really strikes me as worth 
> discussing 
> > here. "Other longtime friends and supporters of Radha urged her 
to 
> > step down, but she expressed her wish to stay in office for life. 
> > Although lifetime service in the office of president has been in 
> our 
> > history, it is not necessarily a healthy practice, as it allows 
the 
> > possibility of an autocratic leadership instead of a transparent 
> > democracy."
> > 
> > The only edit I'd suggest is to replace "allows the possibility" 
> > to "ensures the inevitability" -- but then I can trash the entire 
> > leadership history of the TS with no qualms, whereas in Betty's 
> > position I can see a need for a certain evasiveness :) But at 
least 
> > she gestures in the general direction of the elephant in the room.
> > 
> > I started the primary season without any strong feelings 
> for/against 
> > any of the Democratic candidates, but almost daily had reason to 
> move 
> > towards an "anyone but Clinton" position. Why? Mainly because 
Bill 
> > Clinton constantly made it evident that he saw a Hillary 
nomination 
> > as a restoration of a dynasty-- while also giving people reason 
to 
> > dread such a development. Needless to add, hope I never live to 
see 
> > another Bush darken the doorway of the White House and the 
history 
> of 
> > the world. An idiot like Dubya would never have had a chance if 
his 
> > last name had been Smith. But India has had the same problem, an 
> > ostensible democracy where people repeatedly installed the 
> > Nehru/Gandhi dynasty because the popular imagination was still 
> stuck 
> > in the era of the maharajas. And the TS dynastic corruption of 
> > democracy is arguably worse than either of the above examples, as 
> for 
> > 50 the last 57 years the presidency is in hands of a father and 
> > daughter. I'd like to think the overwhelming Indian vote for 
Radha 
> > was about rejecting Algeo, but surely it is all about blindly 
> > supporting dynasty.
> > 
> > So now we know that Radha basically feels entitled by TS history 
to 
> a 
> > lifetime tenure regardless of her health or the effect on the 
> > Society. (Assuming the Betty is correct, and she said something 
> > along these lines the only time we had a personal conversation, 
in 
> > Maryland in 1999.) But what evidence is there that John Algeo is 
> any 
> > less arrogant or entitled-feeling, or wouldn't hang on to the age 
> of 
> > 110 if given the chance? None AFAIK.
> > 
> > BTW, the ARE finally moved away from dynasty, after leadership 
> > passing from Edgar to Hugh Lynn to Charles Thomas over a 70 year 
> > span. There is finally a non-Cayce in charge, and no Cayce heir 
> > apparent in sight looking for a restoration. Are there any young 
> > Shastrys or Algeos waiting in the wings to run the TS throughout 
> this 
> > century? I gather not, so perhaps the curse of dynastic 
corruption 
> > of [ALLEGED] TS democracy will be lifted within our lifetimes.
> > 
> > PJ 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> 
>  
> 
> 
>       Start at the new Yahoo!7 for a better online experience. 
www.yahoo7.com.au
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>