Theos-Talk Archives (October 2008 Message tt00181)

I've never been much for taking leaders seriously, probably because I've  
known too many of them.  Maybe the whole idea of leadership needs to be  
ashcanned in favor of a more open and free-wheeling model, with the officers  
basically only doing administrative work, mowing the lawn, shoveling the  snow, 
keeping the beggars away from the tourists, that sort of thing.   In other words, 
ratifying what is now pretty much the standard in the US section  anyway.
 
The irony of all this is that it was John Algeo who said that no president  
of the American section ever had to worry about being considered a spiritual  
leader.
 
Chuck the Heretic
 
 
 
In a message dated 10/7/2008 7:19:16 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  
mkr777@gmail.com writes:

We  should all welcome Warwick taking the trouble to share this with us  which
in total contrast to what we are used to. May be this is the first  sign of
change and let us hope other section leaders join us here (I know  many of
them are secretly lurking and reading the posts here) and share  their
thoughts on the problems and their relative priorities and the  suggested
solutions. Leaders need to get the members behind them to  successfully
implement changes. Old time ways of hoping members blindly  following the
leaders is not working. Let us keep tuned and when time  permits I will share
my views as well.

mkr


On 10/7/08,  Warwick Keys <keyteach@xtra.co.nz> wrote:
>
>    This is a copy of an e-mail sent to TS Sections. It will be of
>  interest to some site subscribers.
>
> Dear  Friends
>
> I am attaching some comments on the future of TS from  my perspective.
> They are taken directly out of my annual report which  I am finalising
> at the moment for our national convention in New  Zealand.
>
> The comments refer to the New Zealand Section and  also to the
> International Society. These comments reflect a majority  thinking
> here in New Zealand. A new 'Fire in The Spirit' is igniting  within a
> number of members here who are able to objectively view the  present
> situation and clearly see a positive and uncluttered road  ahead if
> the TS is prepared to step out boldly into the future. The  Founders
> stepped out boldly and well outside their comfort zone. Our  present
> comfort zones are a major hindrance to positive  progress.
>
> With fraternal greetings
>
> Warwick  Keys
> National President
> Theosophical Society in New  Zealand
>
> The Future:
> We live in exciting â turbulent â  challenging times. The way forward
> in almost every aspect of life is  testing. We are offered multiple
> choices and we cannot always see  where they lead. The decisions we
> make as a race, as communities, as  groups and as individuals about
> our future direction have never been  more important than they are at
> this time. I am sure that we are all  aware of this on both a personal
> level and at a group level.
>  As individuals and as institutions and established groups we are at a
>  crucial point in our history. The Theosophical Society both in New
>  Zealand and internationally are not exempt from the gathering winds
> of  change. We are facing rapidly changing and challenging conditions.
> In  my talks with branches this last year I have said that we are
> barely  treading water, nationally and internationally, and are in
> fact slowly  sinking. I make no apology for saying this so starkly.
> It is time for  the Society to start swimming.
> Change is not comfortable, particularly  to those who are contented
> with the "way things have been done for  many years." However, to bury
> our heads in the sand is not an option,  particularly when the sand is
> shifting and reforming as the wind  blows.
> I am very aware that some members oppose the signals for change  that
> the National Council is working with. At an International level  the
> resistance to change is even more evident and entrenched.  However,
> the status quo is no longer an option. It is a one-way ticket  to
> extinction. If that sounds harsh it is meant to.
> At least  in the Theosophical Society in New Zealand we have a
> democratic and  participatory system of governance and administration.
> This is  completely lacking at the international level and is the root
> cause of  the present unrest in many Sections of the society
> worldwide. This and  the determined resistance to change from those
> entrenched in the  present system.
> As I have said so often around the country a key word  for the Society
> at this time is `attachment.' We need to be able to  step away from
> attachment to things, to structures and to  methodologies that bind. I
> repeat yet again the words of the great  Christian reformer Martin
> Luther long ago, "What ever your heart  clings to and relies on is
> your god." He is talking about attachment  to things, to places, to
> ideas, and to ways of doing things that cling  to the past.
> Martin Luther's clear recognition of the `god' of  attachment changed
> the course of Christian and Western history. The TS  Founders were
> free from attachment. The `Fire in the Spirit' â the  `Fiery Heart' â
> guided them and they knew and trusted in the process.  A key question
> is â Can the Theosophical Society in the twenty-first  century as an
> organisation, nationally and Internationally, view  itself with
> objective discernment and recognise the "god" of  attachment for what
> it is?
> Can we put aside attachments to the  past and move into the future
> with confidence, and with trust? The  Founders did so.
> Are we willing to become spiritual citizens of the  twenty-first
> century, once again leading the way at the cutting edge  of the new
> spiritual revolution now gathering form and momentum and  ready to
> burst upon the world galvanising new visions of society,  of
> spirituality, of personal self realisation and empowerment, and a  new
> revelation of the Old Truths, the Ancient  Wisdom?
>
>
> Warwick Keys
>
>  
>


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