Theos-Talk Archives (October 2008 Message tt00043)

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "danielhcaldwell"
<danielhcaldwell@...> wrote:
>
> Adyar Theosophical Society:
> HOW Does One Explain These Two Statements? 
> 
> HOW does one explain the two statements BELOW
> by the late John Coats, President of the
> Theosophical Society (Adyar) from 1973-1979?
> 
> What caused such a state of affairs?
> 
> Is this situation as described by Mr. Coats
> INDICATIVE of the Adyar T.S.
> organization and its "mindset"?
> 
> Are these statements still true in 2008?
> 
> Is such a state of affairs "good" or "bad" or
> it doesn't matter?
> 
> The two statements by Mr. Coats are as follows:
> 
> "The percentage of members, who have not as yet
> ever read any books by H.P. Blavatsky is
> regrettably high." The Theosophist, Feb., 1975
> 
> "There's a great need for the deepening of the
> individual member's understanding of theosophy.
> A lot of people skate superfically over the
> surface of theosophy without really going into
> it in depth." The Theosophist, Dec. 1975.
> 
> Daniel
> Blavatsky Study Center
> http://hpb.cc
>

Regardless of what those two quotes may indicate about Adyar's
"mindset" or approach to Theosophy, I would like to respond to them.

The first quote, if it is held to be true, illustrates an unfortunate
situation. Blavatsky was the mother of the TS, and it is only fitting
that members are familiar with her work--especially since, many feel,
her message has been distorted as it passed through other writers.

As for the second quote, I don't know if I think it's of the utmost
importance that all people delve deeply into Theosophy. Even
Theosophy's simplest and most basic of teachings have a great
potential to stimulate spiritual transformation, which contributes
directly to the fulfillment of the Society's Objects. In fact, I would
argue that it is the simplest of truths that are the most potent, and
most important. When the ideas of karma, of the unity of all life, and
even a sketchy understanding of the divine scheme of evolution enter
one's mind, they come together to build a worldview that is very
integral and powerful. That, in itself, is a huge step and will bring
much healing to the world. Is it more important that people have a
scholarly, intellectual understanding of a complex esoteric scheme, or
that one comprehends powerful spiritual truths, on an intuitional and
spiritual level, from the heart, and actively lives those truths?