Theos-Talk Archives (December 2008 Message tt00068)

If a charismatic leader appeared in the TS, the old folks would have  nothing 
to do with him and everyone else would be aiming pies in his  direction.
 
Chuck the Heretic
 
 
In a message dated 12/5/2008 1:07:18 A.M. Central Standard Time,  
mkr777@gmail.com writes:

 
 
 
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@anton_roz_ 
(mailto: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@yahoogrotheos-t_ (mailto:theos-talk@yahoogroups.com)   
<theos-talk%theos-talk%<WBthe>, "Pedro
> Oliveira"  <prmoliveira@prm>
> 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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