Theos-Talk Archives (November 2008 Message tt00165)

Hi Anand and all,

>Annie Besant suggests in this second point that ES head should show 
high level of morality and refrain from abusing power which ES 
headship confers.<

Annie Besant at least showed openness to discuss the problem. We now 
face the denial of the problem what is in itself unethical and 
immoral and suggests that there is an interest present to keep the 
problem and its dimensions hidden. 

>But whether ES head uses or abuses his power depends on his own 
conscience.<

Probably we all agree that the fate of the Theosophical Society can 
not depend on the conscience of one individual.

>It appears that so far there are no constitutional provisions which 
can stop ES head from abusing power.<

Actually they do exist as they treat the Theosophical Society as 
wholly independent organization. This was confirmed and additionally 
stated in the Declarations on Freedom of the Society and Freedom of 
Thought.

>It is like saying "If brain has a problem, just remove the brain".

Modern medicine does not remove the brain but tries to cure the 
pathology. 

>I have not found any satisfactory solution so far, so I did not talk 
about it.<

The solution is self-evident if we strictly apply the Constitution 
and mentioned Declarations. 

The Theosophical Society, while cooperating with all other bodies 
whose aims and activities make such cooperation possible, is and must 
remain an organization entirely independent of them, not committed to 
any objects save its own, and intent on developing its own work on 
the broadest and most inclusive lines, so as to move towards its own 
goal as indicated in and by the pursuit of those objects and that 
Divine Wisdom which in the abstract is implicit in the title The 
Theosophical Society.

Every member has an equal right to attach himself to any teacher or 
to any school of thought which he may choose, but has no right to 
force his choice on any other. Neither a candidate for any office, 
nor any voter, can be rendered ineligible to stand or to vote, 
because of any opinion he may hold, or because of membership in any 
school of thought to which he may belong. Opinions or beliefs neither 
bestow privileges nor inflict penalties. The Members of the General 
Council earnestly request every member of the Theosophical Society to 
maintain, defend and act upon these fundamental principles of the 
Society, and also fearlessly to exercise his own right of liberty of 
thought and of expression thereof, within the limits of courtesy and  
consideration for others.

So, the Esoteric Section has to find his own place under the sun and 
step out of the shadow of the Theosophical Society and stop to force 
its choice on members of the Theosophical Society and its members 
will continue to enjoy all rights as members of the Theosophical 
Society. 

On the other hand members of the General Council of the Theosophical 
Society have to "earnestly request every member of the Theosophical 
Society to maintain, defend and act upon these fundamental principles 
of the Society" and address the problem if the Theosophical Society 
can maintain its independence and work efficiently if its officials 
are at the same time officials of any other organization. 

Warmest regards,
Anton



--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Anand" <AnandGholap@...> wrote:
>
> 
> > Let's have a look at Mrs. Besant's remarks in The Theosophist of 
> > October 1907: 
> > 
> > "In the T.S. we have a curious mixture. The Exoteric Society is 
> > purely democratic - it is only fair to admit this fully. On the 
other 
> > side we have an Esoteric body which is practically autocratic in 
its 
> > constitution ... The existence of a secret body to rule the outer 
> > Society made the constitution of the T.S. a mere farce, for it 
was at 
> > the mercy of the inner � All the differences that arose between 
the 
> > Colonel and myself were on this point; he could not believe that 
I 
> > was serious in saying that I would not use the E.S. against him, 
but 
> > slowly he came to understand it ... The greatest power will 
always be 
> > in the hands of the E.S., and not in the head of the Society ... 
I 
> > know that I exercise a quite unwarrantable power. This is what 
makes 
> > some people say there should not be an E.S.T. � We must 
recognize the 
> > danger and try to neutralize it. At any time during the last 
fifteen 
> > years I could have checkmated the Colonel on any point if I had 
> > chosen ..." 
> 
> Last many days I had been thinking about this conflict of
> principles-democracy in TS and autocracy in ES interfering in each
> other. But I have not found any satisfactory solution so far, so I 
did
> not talk about it. I think ES is important and necessary, but it 
also
> defeats to some extent democracy expected in TS. Annie Besant has
> described it quite eloquently and boldly.
> There are two points that need to be noted in above passages of 
Annie
> Besant.
> 1) It is possible for ES head to checkmate TS President.
> 2) "We must recognize the danger (as given in point 1) and try to
> neutralize it." Annie Besant suggests in this second point that ES
> head should show high level of morality and refrain from abusing 
power
> which ES headship confers. But whether ES head uses or abuses his
> power depends on his own conscience. It appears that so far there 
are
> no constitutional provisions which can stop ES head from abusing
> power, and only thing that can stop it is his own conscience and
> desire to be morally right.
> If Annie Besant could not find constitutional provisions to avoid
> these dangers, it obviously is difficult to find constitutional
> solution to avoid this problem. 
> I read messages from some shallow minded members, who said that ES
> should be closed to solve this problem. It is like saying "If brain
> has a problem, just remove the brain"
> I was told that earlier ES head and TS President were different
> individuals. And I also heard that during the Presidency of Radha
> Burnier, rules were changed giving ES headship to elected President 
of
> the TS, who was Radha Burnier herself. Perhaps this focusing of ES
> power in TS President further makes TS autocratic. 
> Some people might have knowledge about this rule change which gave 
ES
> headship to TS President. This requires more information and 
analysis.
> 
> Best
> Anand Gholap
>