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Theos-World Re: Why Adyar was chosen

Dec 09, 2008 03:11 AM
by christinaleestemaker


That is true , we need transformation from our conditioned minds . 

And don't need to be conditioned over and over.As HPB wrote pick up 
what you need.

Christina







--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Morten Nymann Olesen" <global-
theosophy@...> wrote:
>
> "His speeches and videos and books are very
> widely read by a large number of people and his key message is
> transformation of the individual."
> 
> 
> A lot of persons still read the Christian Bible, but that is no 
reason why we should believe it.
> 
> 
> M. Sufilight
> 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: MKR 
>   To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com 
>   Sent: Monday, December 08, 2008 2:53 PM
>   Subject: Re: Theos-World Re: Why Adyar was chosen
> 
> 
>   In the recent past, Madras now called Chennai, has become a key 
business hub
>   in India. Major International corporations have operations there 
and the
>   facilities that are available in the city is comparable to any 
major city in
>   the world. Airline access to the city is unsurpassed. People who 
visit
>   Adyar, do not go there looking for five-star facilities; they are 
there for
>   something that is different. Anyone who has read the early 
history of TS, is
>   sure to have a sense for what went on in the early days.
>   No one who was a participant in helping the purchase of Adyar 
could have
>   foreseen the growth of Madras/Chennai of today. Looking at Adyar 
simply as
>   an administrative locale is to miss the real importance of the 
place. Anyone
>   who wants to get a first hand feel, should take the trouble to 
travel to
>   Adyar and see for themselves and can make up their own mind.
> 
>   Let us also remember the fact that it was Adyar beaches that Jiddu
>   Krishnamuri was discovered. His speeches and videos and books are 
very
>   widely read by a large number of people and his key message is
>   transformation of the individual.
> 
>   mkr
> 
>   On Mon, Dec 8, 2008 at 5:53 AM, christinaleestemaker <
>   christinaleestemaker@...> wrote:
> 
>   > That is well said!!!
>   > Spiritual regeneration, all over this world from the heart and 
head
>   > of Adyar.
>   > Christina
>   >
>   > -- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com <theos-talk
%40yahoogroups.com>, "Pedro
>   > Oliveira" <prmoliveira@>
>   > wrote:
>   > >
>   > > [Below is the text of an article written by me and published 
in The
>   > > Theosophist, May 2004]
>   > >
>   > >
>   > > Why Adyar Was Chosen
>   > >
>   > > The Founders of the Theosophical Society did not have a 
personal
>   > > agenda. Their critics kept (and still keep) saying that they 
were
>   > > either spies, cultural saboteurs, frauds and even agents of 
the
>   > > devil! But the lives of Col. Olcott and Madame Blavatsky, 
their
>   > > legacy and the uplifting influence they had on many who met 
them,
>   > > speak for themselves.
>   > >
>   > > Although the TS was founded in New York in 1875, HSO and HPB 
sailed
>   > > to India on 17 December 1878, arriving in Bombay on 16 
February
>   > > 1879, where they eventually established their headquarters at
>   > `Crows
>   > > Nest', in Breach Candy. Neither Olcott nor Blavatsky made a 
secret
>   > > of being both dedicated to serve those great souls who are 
referred
>   > > to as Mahatmas in the East. There is ample independent 
evidence
>   > from
>   > > that time that at least two Mahatmas occasionally visited and 
had
>   > > conversations with both of the Founders during their life of 
work
>   > > for the Society. Sometimes such visits would come at crucial
>   > > moments, either when HPB was at death's door or when the 
pressure
>   > on
>   > > Col. Olcott was at breaking point. In such visits the Mahatmas
>   > > offered healing, guidance and reassurance to the Founders 
about
>   > > their work for the TS, without taking upon themselves the 
heavy
>   > > responsibilities the Founders had voluntarily accepted to 
undertake.
>   > >
>   > > Writing in The Theosophist, July1882, in an editorial comment
>   > > entitled "Coming Events Foretold", which preceded a statement 
by a
>   > > chela of Ramalinga Pillay who, much before the Founders had 
arrived
>   > > in India, had preached the principle of Universal Brotherhood 
and
>   > > the existence of the Mahatmas, HPB remarked:
>   > >
>   > > "When, in answer to a direct challenge, the author of The 
Occult
>   > > World wrote to the Bombay Gazette (April 4, 1882), he began 
his
>   > > letter with the following profession of faith: "I was already 
sure,
>   > > when I wrote The Occult World, that the Theosophical Society 
was
>   > > connected, through Madame Blavatsky, with the great 
Brotherhood of
>   > > Adepts I described. I now know this to be the case, which much
>   > > greater amplitude of knowledge." Little did our loyal friend 
fancy,
>   > > when he was penning these lines, that his assertion would one 
day
>   > be
>   > > capable of corroboration by the testimony of thousands. But 
such is
>   > > now the state of the case. Skeptics and prejudiced or 
interested
>   > > witnesses in general may scoff as they like, the fact cannot 
be
>   > > gainsaid. ...
>   > >
>   > > While at Madras [May,1882], we were told that a well-known 
Tamil
>   > > scholar, a Pandit in the Presidency College, desired to have a
>   > > private conversation with us. The interview occurred in the
>   > presence
>   > > of Mr Singaravelu, President of the Krishna Theosophical 
Society,
>   > > and another trustworthy Theosophist, Mr C. Aravamudu Ayangar, 
a
>   > > Sanskritist, of Nellore. We are no more at liberty to repeat 
here
>   > > all the questions put to us by the interviewer than we are to
>   > > divulge certain other facts, which would still more strongly
>   > > corroborate our repeated assertions that (1) our Society was
>   > founded
>   > > at the direct suggestion of Indian and Tibetan Adepts; and 
(2) that
>   > > in coming to this country we but obeyed their wishes. But we 
shall
>   > > leave our friends to draw their own inferences from all the
>   > facts."
>   > >
>   > > Although the Society quickly expanded with the arrival of the
>   > > Founders in India, they were searching for a suitable 
Headquarters.
>   > > In Old Diary Leaves (Second Series), Col. Olcott explains:
>   > >
>   > > "In my travels over India and Ceylon I had been observing 
places,
>   > > people, and climates, with a view to selecting the best place 
for a
>   > > permanent Headquarters for the Society. Liberal offers of 
houses,
>   > > free of rent, had been made us in Ceylon, and, certainly, the
>   > Island
>   > > presented a most charming appearance to one seeking an Asian 
home;
>   > > but several considerations, such as its isolation from India, 
the
>   > > cost of postage ... overweighted its loveliness and led us to
>   > choose
>   > > India in preference. Up to the present time, however, no good
>   > > property had been offered us, and we had made no definite 
plans. On
>   > > 31st May [1882], however, we two were begged by Judge 
Muttuswamy's
>   > > sons to go and look at a property that was to be had cheap. 
We were
>   > > driven to Adyar, and at the first glance knew that our future 
home
>   > > was found.
>   > >
>   > > People glibly speak of Madras as "the Benighted Presidency" 
and as
>   > > being insufferably hot. The fact is, however, that as regards
>   > > climate I prefer it above the others, and as to Sanskrit 
Literature
>   > > and Aryan Philosophy, it is the most enlightened of the Indian
>   > > Presidencies; there are more learned Pandits in the villages, 
and
>   > > the educated class, as a whole, have been less spoilt by 
Western
>   > > education. In Bengal and Bombay there are more litterateurs 
of the
>   > > class of Telang and Bhandarkar, but I cannot recall one equal 
to T.
>   > > Subba Row, of Madras, in bright genius for grasping the 
spirit of
>   > > the Ancient Wisdom. And his being at Madras was one of the 
causes
>   > of
>   > > our fixing upon that Presidency town for our official 
residence.
>   > > Although he is dead and gone, yet we have never regretted our
>   > > choice, for Adyar is a sort of paradise."
>   > >
>   > > To fully appreciate Col. Olcott's reference to Subba Row it 
may be
>   > > helpful to mention the following passages from The Mahatma 
Letters
>   > > to A. P. Sinnett:
>   > >
>   > > "This Subba Row will help you [Sinnett] to learn, though his 
terms
>   > â?"
>   > > he being an initiated Brahmin and holding to the Brahmanical
>   > > esoteric teaching â?" will be different from those of the 
"Arhat
>   > > Buddhist" terminology". (Letter 60, chronological.)
>   > >
>   > > "Upasika (Madam B.) and Subba Row, though pupils of the same
>   > Master,
>   > > have not followed the same philosophy â?" the one is Buddhist 
and the
>   > > other an Adwaitee." (Letter 120, chronological.)
>   > >
>   > > The presence of this initiated Chela in Madras was therefore 
of
>   > > paramount importance in the Founders' decision to establish 
the TS
>   > > Headquarters there. And it also made clear the character of 
Adyar
>   > as
>   > > a centre for the Masters' work.
>   > >
>   > > HPB, in a letter to her aunt Nadyezhda A. de Fadeyev 
(published in
>   > > The Path, September 1895), described the beautiful quiet that 
is
>   > one
>   > > of the enduring aspects of Adyar as a spiritual centre:
>   > >
>   > > "It is simply delightful. What air we have here; what nights! 
And
>   > > what marvellous quiet! No more city noises and street yells. 
I am
>   > > sitting quietly writing, and now and then gaze over the ocean
>   > > sparkling all over as if a living thing â?" really. I am 
often under
>   > > the impression that the sea breathes, or that it is angry, 
roaring
>   > > and hurling itself about in wrath... But when it is quiet and
>   > > caressing, there can be nothing in the world as fascinating 
as its
>   > > beauty, especially on a moonlight night. The moon here 
against the
>   > > deep dark-blue sky seems twice as big and ten times brighter 
than
>   > > your European little mother-of-pearl ball."
>   > >
>   > > Such were the momentous beginnings of Adyar as the home of the
>   > > Theosophical Society. It was not only the home of the 
Founders; it
>   > > was and it remains the heart of the worldwide theosophical 
work
>   > > which was spearheaded by them. During Annie Besant's 
presidency the
>   > > state was expanded into the beautiful campus it is today. Many
>   > > generations of devoted workers have served there and their
>   > > dedication, devotion and profound altruistic commitment to
>   > Theosophy
>   > > has definitely contributed in making Adyar the `Flaming 
Centre' it
>   > > is.
>   > >
>   > > The beauty of Adyar is indeed incomparable and it exerts a 
profound
>   > > influence on the consciousness of those who visit or stay 
there,
>   > > sometimes even of those who just visit for a very short while.
>   > While
>   > > working there the writer had the occasion of meeting rather 
briefly
>   > > an overseas businessman on a short visit to Madras. He came to
>   > Adyar
>   > > and his experience there led him to say: "It is a pity I that 
I
>   > have
>   > > to go away so soon. This is a remarkable place. There is 
something
>   > > sacred here." This was, of course, the experience of many, 
many
>   > > others. Perhaps it is not difficult to understand that 121 
years of
>   > > continuous theosophical work for the spiritual regeneration of
>   > > humanity have created at Adyar a very special and profound
>   > > atmosphere. Annie Besant expressed this realization 
beautifully
>   > when
>   > > she wrote: "Work for Adyar, the Masters' Home". In this way 
Adyar
>   > is
>   > > the very heart of the Theosophical Society, radiating those
>   > powerful
>   > > and uplifting influences to every theosophical centre in the 
world
>   > > as well as to the entire planet.
>   > >
>   > > Therefore those who, from time to time, say or imply that the
>   > > International Headquarters of the TS should be elsewhere do 
not
>   > > have, obviously, an informed opinion about the subject. 
Sometimes
>   > > one of the reasons given for such a change is the perceived 
lack of
>   > > security and efficiency in India. Let us examine this point. 
The
>   > > attacks on New York on 11 September 2001 have made clear that
>   > > absolute security is a myth, for if terrorists could strike 
at the
>   > > heart of the nation with the mightiest military power on 
earth, as
>   > > they did, they could do so anywhere else in the world. Also, 
the
>   > > Theosophical Society is not a business corporation seeking to
>   > > dominate any given market. It is not, and it has never been, 
guided
>   > > by worldly values or sagacity. The peace, quiet, harmony and
>   > > indescribable beauty of Adyar are, in themselves, an enormous
>   > > contribution to the world, for through them the Great Ones 
pour out
>   > > constantly their regenerating blessings. As for efficiency, 
the
>   > > example at Adyar is given by our International President 
herself,
>   > > for she works seven days a week, travels incessantly to visit 
and
>   > > speak to centres of the TS worldwide, deals with an inhumane 
amount
>   > > of correspondence and is responsible for the overall 
activities at
>   > > that Centre. Also, Adyar has kept apace with the new 
technologies
>   > > and all the major offices are provided with electronic
>   > > communications, the Centre has an informative web site and the
>   > > Theosophical Publishing House has an online catalogue and its 
books
>   > > are in constant demand.
>   > >
>   > > For the individual member who has the unique privilege of 
working
>   > > and serving at Adyar, there is a very special opportunity. 
Unlike
>   > > many in the world today believe, a real spiritual centre is 
not
>   > > meant for people to have `a good time', receive `messages from
>   > > gurus', develop `powers', nor any of the like. The power of a 
true
>   > > spiritual centre, when one is sincere, helps to accelerate in 
the
>   > > individual the process of self-confrontation, bringing to the
>   > > surface of the conscious mind every hitherto hidden content,
>   > > tendencies, deceptions and vices, as well as spiritual 
aspiration,
>   > > goodness and any other moral quality which were laying dormant
>   > > within him or her. This results in a very efficient and 
lasting
>   > > educational process, helping the person to lay strong 
foundations
>   > on
>   > > the path of self-knowledge, for unless one is self-aware one 
cannot
>   > > really help the forces of wisdom and compassion in their work 
to
>   > > liberate human consciousness from the illusion of 
separateness.
>   > >
>   > > It is a very great privilege and honour to have Adyar has the 
head
>   > > and the heart of the Theosophical Society. And the fact that 
many,
>   > > many members, all over the world, remember Adyar and support 
it in
>   > > every way they can is an eloquent testimony of Adyar's living 
and
>   > > strong spiritual heritage. May Adyar grow always stronger and 
may
>   > > those TS members who are ready offer themselves to go there 
and
>   > > devote the best years of their lives to what Adyar stands 
for: the
>   > > spiritual regeneration of humanity.
>   > >
>   >
>   > 
>   >
> 
>   [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 
> 
> 
>    
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>





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