Theos-Talk Archives (September 2008 Message tt00037)

Katinka:

I do agree that lodges are fundamental to the mission of TS and I have seen
it demonstrated in the growth and strength of TS in India. Active support
from the National level (not interference and subtle attempts to control) is
very helpful for a vibrancy of lodges. One of the ways this can be done is
by sending speakers and by the leaders themselves visiting lodges on a
frequent basis. In today's world where travel is easy, this can be
accomplished very easily. I have personally seen the effect of good speakers
visiting lodges and these visits energized the members and also brought in
new members.

The importance of national leaders visiting and having personal connection
with the lodges, cannot be underestimated. The classic example of the
founder of the largest departmental and grocery store ? Walmart ? had a
philosophy. When he was alive, he will visit each store at least once time a
year so that he can for himself see what is going on and see how things can
be improved. This is in spite of having very able managers in stores and
Walmart has the best information system in the world only next to the
Pentagon (US Military HQ in Washington DC). Walmart's computer center is
largest next to that of Pentagon. This shows that personal hand-on
involvement is no substitute to use of modern information technology.

On the issue of TOS, again the enormous success of TS during Annie Besant's
time in India, is to a large extent due to the involvement of herself and
many members around the country is many of the social issues ? Independence,
education, emancipation of women etc. If Lodges can come up with innovative
ideas to get involved in local and national social issues to help our fellow
humans and other living creatures. This connection will definitely help to
bring the Brotherhood issue into focus.

In my humble opinion, the cornerstone of success of the TS mission is still
the lodges, in spite of the modern tools of communication.

MKR



On Sat, Sep 13, 2008 at 9:35 AM, Katinka Hesselink <
mail@katinkahesselink.net> wrote:

>   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/<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 <theos-talk%40yahoogroups.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
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>  
>


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