Theos-Talk Archives (December 2008 Message tt00061)

Let me add something that I know of Annie Besant.

When she was in India, she kept her theosophical activities separate from
her political and social projects. Prior to going to India, she paid her
dues in her societal activities activities in London and it helped her a
lot.  The problem TS faced after her time, TS has been in a maintenance mode
and no one had the charismatic stature she had. The only person of
charismatic and influential personality who has been around 'theosophy" was
Jiddu Krishnamurti. After he started lecturing, there was no competitor to
him.

For years, I have posted messages on this and other maillists about the
total lack of charismatic personality after her and also no one on the
horizon.

India has transformed itself significantly since Independence in 1947. The
standard of living of the common man and woman has significantly improved. I
hope we will find a charismatic young real "leader" to lead the TS in its
future activities. I have not seen anyone so far.

mkr

On Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 11:56 PM, Anton Rozman <anton_rozman@yahoo.com>wrote:

>   Dear Pedro,
>
> I am glad to hear that you and other students from around the world
> are attending School of Wisdom. Unfortunately I have never had that
> privilege. In times I could afford it, it was denied to me because of
> my disloyalty to the officers. But I have learned from a co-member
> who has been and it is now at Adyar that children in one school there
> have had to sleep on the floor and that they didn't have exercise-
> books and pencils, so that she ran to the store to buy them. On the
> other hand I have heard from the distinguished TS officer that she
> was flying around the world only with the most secure aviation
> company, while the difference in price for just one flight would
> probably cover those children needs for one year.
>
> It is no doubt that the TS has made great job giving employment to
> generations of workers coming from the impoverished surroundings, but
> don't you think that it would be even greater achievement if the TS
> would help to organize the Adyar Estate in a way that it would become
> modern self-sustainable spiritual and cultural center managed by
> local people, while the TS would prevalently dedicate itself to call
> public attention upon great social differences in Indian society
> which are only increasing and to propose solutions for their
> diminution. What you think would have Annie Besant done in this
> situation? She would certainly not limit herself to the philosophical
> speculations and the projection of all negative aspects of our
> Society towards her western colleagues.
>
> Warmest regards,
> Anton
>
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com <theos-talk%40yahoogroups.com>, "Pedro
> Oliveira" <prmoliveira@...>
> wrote:
> >
> > When the plane landed at Chennai last Friday, Mumbai was still
> under
> > a terrorist siege. The terrorists struck at the very touristic
> heart
> > of that city, near the famous Gateway of India. On Saturday
> morning,
> > when commandos of the National Security Guard finally cleared the
> > last hotel in which hostages were being kept, the total death toll
> > was over 170, with more than 300 people injured. There was
> widespread
> > shock and disbelief in India. But India always recovers from such
> > events.
> >
> > Students from Slovenia, Finland, Canada, Australia, Hungary and
> India
> > are attending classes at the School of the Wisdom. The theme
> is "The
> > Mahatmas on Theosophy and the TS". There is half an hour of silent
> > meditation before the morning talk begins.
> >
> > The different departments at Adyar are gearing up for the
> Convention
> > at the end of the month. There were strong rains and winds in the
> > last fortnight and some trees were uprooted.
> >
> > I met the President briefly the day after my arrival. She was
> > preparing to go to a meeting at the Government House (Rashtrapati
> > Bhavan). She was invited by the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh to
> give
> > a speech during a book launch. She goes to the office both in the
> > mornings and afternoons.
> >
> > The quiet and natural beauty at Adyar are refreshing. In one
> evening
> > I decided to go for a walk after dinner and took with me a small
> > torch. Near the coconut grove I met one of the many natural
> residents
> > at Adyar: a black scorpion. He (or she) was the sort of creature
> that
> > makes you pay careful attention. We had this silent meeting and I
> > then decided to part company with the illustrious resident when I
> > finally realized he was not going anywhere!
> >
> > Some of the workers I had met in 1992 are still here and they
> > apparently remember me. The TS at Adyar has given employment to
> > generations of workers coming from the impoverished surroundings.
> > Many of their children have studied in the Olcott Memorial High
> > School.
> >
> > One of the passages we examined recently at the School of the
> Wisdom
> > was:
> >
> > "Shall we devote our selves to teaching a few Europeans fed on the
> > fat of the land, many of them loaded with the gifts of blind
> fortune,
> > the rationale of bell ringing, cup growing, of the spiritual
> > telephone and astral body formation, and leave the teeming millions
> > of the ignorant, of the poor and despised, the lowly and the
> > oppressed, to take care of themselves and of their hereafter the
> best
> > they know how. Never. Rather perish the Theosophical Society with
> > both its hapless founders than that we should permit it to become
> no
> > better than an academy of magic and a hall of occultism. That we,
> the
> > devoted followers of that spirit incarnate of absolute self
> > sacrifice, of philanthropy, divine kindness, as of all the highest
> > virtues attainable on this earth of sorrow, the man of men, Gautama
> > Buddha, should ever allow the Theosophical Society to represent the
> > embodiment of selfishness, the refuge of the few with no thought in
> > them for the many, is a strange idea, my brothers." (The
> Mahachohan's
> > Letter)
> >
> > Walking around Adyar and its encircling neighbourhood helps us to
> > understand the words of that great Adept. There cannot be Theosophy
> > without a genuine sense of compassion towards those who are poor
> and
> > despised.
> >
> > The rains have stopped, the work continues, the crows are
> everywhere
> > and Adyar continues to be pervaded by a sense of uncreated vastness
> > and peace. I miss my litlle black scorpion friend. Perhaps we shall
> > meet again. He has taught me to remain mindful. And he also goes to
> > sleep in the magic quiet of Adyar nights.
> >
> >
> > Pedro
> >
>
>  
>


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