Theos-Talk Archives (October 2008 Message tt00115)

Hi Warwick,

It's great that you have joined the theos_talk! Welcome!

>This is a time for cool heads, clear thinking and attunement to true 
theosophical understandings. ? Objective discussion, free from low 
emotion, is surely the expected norm for discussion in the Society. 
It is not always easy to find at present. ? Let the discerning 
Theosophists make their voices heard and let us heed the wisdom of 
Sophia and of the Fathers of Democracy.<

It is my conviction that TS members in general have very little 
knowledge of the TS Rules and Regulations. TS Rules are not presented 
to them when they join the Society and are not discussed. Therefore, 
it is natural that they prevalently evaluate them on the basis of 
their personal impressions about the system and how it works for them 
and not by some objective measures. 

But, in my view, also debate on a general level can not bring much 
greater insight. What is probably needed is more detailed analysis of 
individual rules or sections, how they are implemented, what are 
their good and bad sides, which solutions would be better and why. 
But it would be difficult to have such particular approach on this e-
mail list alone as it can become vast and vague. Therefore I can 
create special web page on which basic information and commentaries 
can be exposed and then presented here for the discussion. Just a 
proposal!

Warmest regards,
Anton 


--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Warwick Keys" <keyteach@...> 
wrote:
>
> 
> Dear Theosophists
> 
> Beneath the surface of the present 'hooha' on the proposed changes 
to
> the TS international constitution of the Society is a basic 
principle, a
> principle which surely must be basic to modern theosophical 
thinking. It
> is the principle of democracy and democratic process.
> 
> An objective outside obsever who has any knowledge and experience of
> organisational structures and democratic process can immediately 
discern
> that the TS rules are seriously flawed and follow a hierarchial
> Victorian line that allows for the possiblity of manipulation and
> autocratic control. The constitution is seriously out of date and
> certainly out of time now in the twenty-first century.
> 
> Those members presently debating the pros and cons of the suggested
> changes are on the whole displaying an untheosophical lack of
> objectivity and discernment - both ways. Emotionally based tirades 
do
> nothing to further the progress of the Society or the advancement of
> theosophy - in fact they hinder the process.
> 
> This is a time for cool heads, clear thinking and attunement to true
> theosophical understandings. Few of the contributors to the current
> discussions display much knowledge and/or experince of democratic
> organisation and process.
> 
> I have around forty years such experience here in New Zealand - 
outside
> of the Theosophical Society. I have been involved in political 
activity
> at all levels from national politics to local governement at all 
levels.
> I also have been involved in the drawing up of constitutions for 
three
> or four incorporated societies.
> 
> The present constitution of the Inernational Theosophical Society is
> seriously flawed when viewed objectively and with discerning eyes. 
It
> allows for an organised group within the Society to dominate the 
Society
> by 'constitutional' means, whether knowingly or unwittingly 
(although I
> think the latter is unlikely).
> 
> If the Society is to make progess, and more importantly, if the
> promotion of the Theosophical teachings and the work of The 
Masters, is
> to move forward - instead of remaining stagnant, then one of the 
first
> moves has to be to free up the method of governance and bring the
> Society into line with progressive and positive modern 
organisational
> practice.
> 
> Objective discussion, free from low emotion, is surely the expected 
norm
> for discussion in the Society. It is not always easy to find at 
present.
> 
> Let the discerning Theosophists make their voices heard and let us 
heed
> the wisdom of Sophia and of the Fathers of Democracy.
> 
> Fraternal greetings
> 
> Warwick Keys
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>