Theos-Talk Archives (September 2008 Message tt00027)

MKR,

I don't know. What I do know is that for me the brotherhood issue is
tightly interwoven with the lodges. How can we practice brotherhood if
we don't meet face to face? Although obviously there's a place for
online work as well :)

It's one (and only one) of the reasons I blogged about lodgework
recently. After all - the season is starting again.

Back to school -> back to the lodges
<http://theosophicalsociety.wordpress.com/2008/09/06/lodgewor/>

and

So what do YOU love about theosophical groups?
<http://theosophicalsociety.wordpress.com/2008/09/07/so-what-do-you-love\
-about-theosophical-groups/>

On the other hand - the fact that the TOS 
<http://www.katinkahesselink.net/links-tos.html>  has grown in recent
years does show that you are probably right: the work 'we' do that is
actually selfless does prosper.

BTW, here's the complete letter of the Chohan
<http://www.katinkahesselink.net/chohan.htm>

Katinka Hesselink
http://www.katinkahesselink.net/ <http://www.katinkahesselink.net/>
http://www.allconsidering.com/ <http://www.allconsidering.com/>

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, mkr777@... wrote:
>
> I have been thinking about the tepid response TS has been getting
around the
> world, as demonstrated by the poor growth of membership, especially
outside
> India. While some may argue about the quantity vs quality issue, we
have no
> objective means to measure the quality of membership.
>
> I went back and re-read the famous Maha Chohan letter which is
considered as
> the roadmap for the TS. I am quoting some of the paragraphs below and
at the
> end, some of my thoughts which I hope will make other members think
about
> the issues involved.
>
> *********.
>
> "In view of the ever_increasing triumph, and at the same time the
misuse, of
> free thought and liberty (the universal reign of Satan, Eliphas Levi
would
> have called it), how is the combative natural instinct of man to be
> restrained from inflicting hitherto unheard_of cruelty and enormous
tyranny,
> injustice, etc., if not through the soothing influence of brotherhood,
and
> of the practical application of Buddha's esoteric doctrines?"
>
> "Never! perish rather the Theosophical Society with both its hapless
> Founders, than that we should permit it to become no better than an
academy
> of magic, and a hall of occultism! That we, the devoted followers of
that
> spirit incarnate of absolute self_sacrifice, of philanthropy, divine
> kindness, as of all the highest virtues attainable on this earth of
sorrow,
> the man of men, Gautama Buddha, should ever allow the Theosophical
Society
> to represent the embodiment of selfishness, the refuge of the few with
no
> thought in them for the many, is a strange idea, my brothers!"
>
> "And it is we, the humble disciples of these perfect Lamas, who are
expected
> to allow the Theosophical Society to drop its noblest title, that of
the
> Brotherhood of Humanity, to become a simple school of philosophy! No,
no,
> good brothers, you have been labouring under the mistake too long
already.
> Let us understand each other. He who does not feel competent to grasp
the
> noble idea sufficiently to work for it, need not undertake a task too
heavy
> for him. But there is hardly a Theosophist in the whole Society unable
to
> effectually help it by correcting erroneous impressions of outsiders,
by
> himself actually propagating this idea. Oh! for noble and unselfish
men to
> help us effectually in that divine task! All our knowledge, past and
> present, would not be sufficient to repay him."
>
> **********
>
> What is significant in the above paragraphs is the repeated emphasis
on
> Brotherhood. There is no talk about occultism, techniques of
> self-development and all the nitty gritty details about constitution
and
> evolution of man and the universe which many times obscure the main
> objective of the launch of modern theosophical movement.
>
> When I look around, it seems with the current general interest in
techniques
> such as concentration, meditation, post mortem states, reincarnation,
near
> death experiences, auras, etc., leads many new members to be attracted
to
> the TS and theosophy and then soon they lose patience and interest and
drop
> out. It appears that while new members are coming in, droves are
leaving.
> (Some one with access to statistical info can enlighten us, even
though the
> picture many not be pretty.).
>
> Is it possible that in the recent decades, especially in the West, 
more
> emphasis is being placed on intellectual activities at the expense of
not
> trying to propagate the key message of Brotherhood and its practical
> implications for the welfare of everyone, that we see the lack luster
> increase in membership.
>
> Let us think and exchange our views, so that we can improve the
current
> membership situation world-over.
>
> MKR
>
>
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>



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