Theos-Talk Archives (September 2008 Message tt00038)

I totally agree. Only point I'd like to make: the TOS is doing well
NOW (not just in AB's time), because of the hands on work done by
Diana Chapotin-Dunningham. She's phenomenal at the communication,
hands on inspiration and organizational stuff.

Katinka Hesselink

http://www.allconsidering.com/
http://theosophy.katinkahesselink.net/
--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, mkr777@... wrote:
>
> 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@...> 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]
> >
> >  
> >
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>