Theos-Talk Archives (October 2008 Message tt00752)

Hi, John

Let me add. You are right. Lawyers were at the fore front of key social
advancements in the modern times. Gandhi was a lawyer. So was Nehru and
others who fought for Indian freedom. Also many do not know that Mikhail
Gorbochev who dismantled USSR was also a lawyer. I think that they have an
intuition of what is good for the welfare of the masses and worked hard for
the changes. Let us hope some good comes out of all that is happening now in
the TS.

Regards

Ramadoss

On 10/22/08, Augoeides-222@comcast.net <Augoeides-222@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Duane,
>   Personal thanks for you valued post and input. My perception is your
> right on the mark and decidedly not off your horse sir! We should not be
> oblivious the the Mahatma's managed to surround Madame Blavatsky with
> competent Barristers who also were the Leaders of the Theosophical Societies
> early  years. William Quan Judge, A. P. Sinnett, Henry Steel Olcutt were all
> Lawyers who understood the same things you spoke of and were challenged to
> preserve the integrity and independence where needed. In many cases
> throughout recent times a careful diagnosis will find Lawyers at the root
> and branch of notable Organizations. It is a "Success Formula" that works
> most of the time.
> Regards,
> John
>
> -------------- Original message --------------
> From: Duane Carpenter <monad_monad_monad@yahoo.com>
>
> > Dear Theos -talk
> > I have been intermittently following some of the dialog presented on this
> forum
> > on the Theosophical society's election rules and regulations. I am moved
> by the
> > seemingly impossible situation that the regular members may have found
> > themselves in as we see changes and attempted changes of the bylaws at
> the
> > highest levels of the society
> > Some years ago when when I was the Theosophical President of the Boston
> Lodge
> > one of my first duties when elected was to fend off Nationals (Wheaten)
> > aggressive move to seize the assets of the local lodge. It seemed that
> national
> > felt any of the asset of its charted lodges were a part of their
> portfolio.
> > National's legal action failed after a long and protracted law suit and
> the
> > Theosophical Lodge in Boston was finally restored to its original
> integrity.
> > Interesting the original board of directors and trustees before I took
> office
> > were in a process of changing the bylaws and rules so that more power
> would be
> > focused into the hands of fewer and few people.
> > One of the many arguments that those who proposed changing the bylaws to
> > exclude the rank and file membership from direct interaction and control
> of
> > many aspects of the Lodge was that the regular members were not not as
> > committed nor as knowledgeable as they. Therefore why should they share
> in the
> > immense responsibility of electing the governing body at its highest
> levels? It
> > only seemed logical to them that those at the head of the organization
> should
> > make policy to keep the Lodge alive, active and vibrant.
> > It would be good for those who are interested in this ongoing controversy
> to
> > understand this position however untrue or biased it may seem. For it may
> have
> > much to do with the present situation from the elected official's point
> of view.
> > I understand that this rational or insight that I am now sharing may be
> nothing
> > new in the ongoing controversy but should be clearly understood by all
> those who
> > seek to understand the motivation at the highest levels of the
> Theosophical
> > Society and any possible long term solution.
> > When you factor in the Esoteric Section of the Theosophical society this
> even
> > exaggerates their position more fully. Many who post here on Theos- talk
> may
> > see these changes that are attempting to take place at the highest levels
> of the
> > society as an injection of a religious sect (Esoteric Section), trying to
> unduly
> > influence the society. The members of the Esoteric Section do not see
> themselves
> > as a "religious sect" but see their work as "true theosophy "in its
> deeper
> > aspects and what many other rank and file members do as peripheral and
> not of
> > any depth.
> > I understand that we can argue what is theosophy? And who are the real
> > theosophist till eternity freezes over and may never come up with a
> tangible and
> > satisfactory answer but this is the mind set you will have to deal with.
> >
> > There are a number of important consideration here to consider one of
> which is
> > if you become a chartered lodge through the Theosophical Society from
> Wheaten
> > can they have any claim on this chartered lodges assets?
> > Do you have or have you ever had a Quest bookstore in your lodge. Was it
> ever
> > funded by grants or gifts by National? If so the liability to the local
> lodge's
> > assets may be greater.
> > The Boston Lodge was able to maintain its integrity from national and
> keep its
> > own assets because it dug in and fought for its life. It was able to do
> this
> > because of the contributions of some legal minds and attorneys trained in
> the
> > art.
> > The suggestion by one of Theo-talk participants that we need a couple of
> good
> > lawyers at this point is an important consideration.
> > Instead of sitting around wringing our hands over the injustice of the
> situation
> > members need to get more involved. Somewhere out there in Theo- land that
> are a
> > couple of good attorneys who when there conscious finally catches up to
> their
> > legal training will research these grievances by-law by bylaw line by
> line and
> > see what real course of action can be taken.
> > Many readers may feel this suggestion on my part is very un-
> theosophical. To
> > the contrary the actions exhibited by some of the leaders of this
> organization
> > are not only not theosophical but outright illegal. I hope the reader
> will not
> > be fooled or lulled into a false sense of complacency. Any rule or bylaw
> can be
> > changed by a good attorney skilled in the art in a number of different
> ways,
> > particularly if people sit around and debate endlessly and do nothing.
> > One last footnote to this letter.
> >
> > Another rational for this attempted corporate takeover of the Boston
> lodge by
> > national was national's charge that "true theosophy" was not being taught
> at
> > this lodge. In addition to teaching the works of HPB, which I personally
> > sponsored and supervised there were many who studied the additional works
> of
> > Alice Bailey, Rudolph Steiner and many others. I find it of some interest
> that
> > if the works of Alice Bailey are even mentioned on this forum that many
> who
> > subscribe to it immediately go into a frenzy of criticism and hostility
> as if
> > the devil itself were mentioned. How ironical I find this for in a
> somewhat
> > oblique and indirect way the same mindset is now being applied to many of
> those
> > who post here and may feel that they are being treated unfairly. And what
> is my
> > point? Simply that one group of so called theosophist trying to control
> and
> > dictate to another group what they may study or explore or believe may
> not be
> > Theosophy.
> > When all is said and done Theosophy may be superficial by one person's
> standards
> > or it may be deep by another. To me who has had the privilege of serving
> > Theosophy for my entire adult life I simply ask the question at the end
> of the
> > day does it help the student understands themselves or the universe in
> which
> > they live. Does it open their Heart to tolerance and goodwill? Memorizing
> > endless tidbits of occult jargon and technical minutiae may not in the
> final
> > analysis be as important as simply rolling up your sleeve's and getting
> involved
> > in many simple or practical ways.
> > Another irony that may never be explained in this lifetime is that it was
> many
> > of the Alice Bailey students, who I might add, also studied HPB
> extensively, who
> > led the charge and gave there last nickel to fend off National illegal
> takeover
> > of the Theosophical lodge in Boston. I am curious how many so called
> committed
> > Theosophists now reading this email would do the same in return?
> > Each generation of Theosophist defines themselves by what they can
> contribute
> > not only to their own growth but to the growth of a wider and more
> universal
> > understanding of Theosophy and its principals.
> >
> > In closing this letter I am reminded of a quotation that summarizes my
> thoughts
> > of this subject under discussion.
> > "All that is required for evil to flourish is for one good man to do
> nothing"
> > Blessings to you, may the Masters guide you in your work and Life
> > Duane Carpenter
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: Anton Rozman
> > To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 2:45:11 AM
> > Subject: Theos-World Journeys with the Crystal Skull
> >
> >
> > Hi John and all,
> >
> > I am quite sure that this will be an interesting story for you.
> >
> > Journeys with the Crystal Skull
> > http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=udjyznJckbk
> >
> > Bill Homann and the Mitchell-Hedges Crystal Skull
> > http://www.projectc amelot.org/ crystal_skull. html
> >
> > Warmest regards,
> > Anton
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


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