Theos-Talk Archives (December 2008 Message tt00315)

I wanted to say "Current General Council DOES NOT represent ordinary
members, in true sense".

Anand Gholap

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Anand" <AnandGholap@...> wrote:
>
> Disenfranchisement proposal was meant to give the General Council
> authority to choose the President of the TS. By using your logic, one
> can question the wisdom of General Council also. 
> In the election, Presidential candidates are nominated by the General
> Council members. In last election, GC nominated two candidates, both
> of whom are old. Ordinary members can not choose the president they
> want. Ordinary members can elect only from the candidates which are
> nominated by GC members. By nominating two old candidates, GC did not
> allow members to choose younger candidate. You can't blame ordinary
> members for electing old president, because both the candidates were
old. 
> Out of two candidates, the defeated candidate sent proposal to
> disenfranchise members, soon after his defeat. So many members are
> questioning ethical development of this candidate, who was nominated
> by the General Council. So, members can doubt the wisdom of General
> Council also.
> Current General Council represents ordinary members. It is because in
> current GC, there is one representative from India, with 13000
> membership under him. And many smaller countries with 300 membership
> also have one representative in the GC. Because of this enormous
> anomaly, current GC does not represent members in just manner.
> 
> I am myself disappointed because TS has not created younger
> leadership. Nobody knows who is fit for the Presidentship of TS, when
> current candidate has to leave the world due to old age. 
> Best
> Anand Gholap
> 
> 
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "t_s_theosophist" <THEOSOPHIST@>
> wrote:
> >
> > 
> > --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, Concerned Member
> <amusedwiththis@> wrote:
> > >
> > > MK
> > > 
> > > Change is never easy. No one seems to like new things to come down
> the pike. I wish you would quit asserting that all is well and good
> with Radha. The fact is, she is not well, she is not traveling as is
> apparent in her canceled engagements at Krotona and the Inter American
> Federation. There is a legitimate concern among some that those
> pretend servers, who are entrenched at Adyar, and have been for years,
> have their own agenda's and vested interest's are wanting to keep the
> status quo, because it is in their favor, and not in the favor of the
> Society. Would you have Radha become the Puppet Queen of the TS to do
> the bidding of others because she is not fully present in this world?
> You proclaim that you are a champion of Theosophy. Why not let the
> General Council make decisions that they are more well informed on
> than yourself. From my point of view you are misleading people, and
> the watchers miss nothing. Better to tell a funny joke to the
amusement of
> > >  others than to spread half truths and little understood thoughts
> that you attribute to others. You my friend are one who looks at the
> glass as being half empty, I on the other hand like to think that it
> is half full. Who is right?
> > > The real test for Radha and the world will be at the General
> Council Meeting. Will she be present, or will her proxies be present.
> If she is present, will she be all there as in years past? Or will she
> be the rapidly dissolving shell of her former self? 
> > > 
> > > CM
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > ________________________________
> > > From: MKR <mkr777@>
> > > To: MKR777@
> > > Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 6:05:19 PM
> > > Subject: Theos-World A letter to TS General Council Members
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Dear Brothers & Sisters:
> > > 
> > > The upcoming meeting of the TS General Council, will be a very
> important one
> > > due to the critical situation arising out of the events since last
> December.
> > > The attached letter to the Members of the General Council was sent
> > > yesterday. The letter speaks for itself. I am sending it to you
> since it may
> > > interest you as a committed member. You may want to call your
National
> > > Secretary/President and communicate your views and suggestions.
> > > 
> > > A dissentious organization led by leaders who do not command a
> high level of
> > > trust of the members does not bode well to the future of TS. Let
> us hope GC
> > > will make wise decisions in the best interests of the TS.
> > > 
> > > Thanking you
> > > 
> > > Fraternally yours,
> > > 
> > > M K Ramadoss
> > > 
> > > ============ ======
> > > December 15, 2008
> > > 
> > > To: All General Council Members
> > > 
> > > Dear Brothers and Sisters:
> > > 
> > > PREAMBLE:
> > > 
> > > As an ordinary member, looking at the events since last December,
> I am very
> > > saddened and sometimes I wonder what is in store for the TS and
> theosophy in
> > > the near future. Now TS is certainly at a very critical juncture
> like of
> > > which I have not seen in my lifetime.
> > > 
> > > I am just an ordinary member and do not hold any positions,
elected or
> > > appointed. I also do not aspire for any positions in the future. I
> am trying
> > > to present to you all, for your consideration, my view of the
> events which
> > > will be that of thousands of ordinary members who are in my
> situation. This,
> > > I hope will provide the GC members a totally different perspective
> than seen
> > > from the viewpoint of GC members who are too close to day to day
> > > administrative involvement with the TS.
> > > 
> > > Since the upcoming meeting of the GC will be one of the most
> important ones
> > > in our lifetime and thought I should share my views, in the hope
> that they
> > > would help the GC members take decisions which are in the real best
> > > interests of TS and theosophy. Wrong decisions may cause serious
> damage to
> > > TS and hurt the spread of theosophy and revival would take a long
> time and
> > > would be very difficult.
> > > 
> > > BACKGROUND TO CURRENT CRISIS:
> > > 
> > > The first inkling of the election issue came to many members when we
> > > received a letter from our GS informing us that Radha Burnier is
> mentally
> > > and physically sick and hence we should vote for her opponent.
> Members hold
> > > their GSs in very high regard and have a high level of trust in
> them. After
> > > all the keynote of TS is "Brotherhood" and the motto is THERE IS
> NO RELIGION
> > > HIGHER THAN TRUTH.
> > > 
> > > Lo and behold, shortly thereafter, thanks to the Internet, we
> learnt that
> > > two well-known and highly reputed physicians who had examined
Radhaji,
> > > certified her to be fit, both mentally and physically. This was
> followed by
> > > a third physician from Europe (who also happened to be a General
> Secretary)
> > > independently came to the conclusion that Radhaji is fit,
mentally and
> > > physically. We place high confidence in the professional
evaluation of
> > > physicians when health matters are concerned. This new information
> > > certifying Radhaji's fitness was known only to those who have
> access to
> > > Internet. Those who did not have access to Internet were under the
> mistaken
> > > view that Radhaji is sick. So, we expected that the GSs would
take the
> > > trouble to inform all the members about this new professional
> information.
> > > We expect theosophists, above all, the leaders to be up-front and
> have a
> > > duty to provide accurate, timely and full information to members
> so that
> > > members can make up their own minds and decide whom they want to
> vote for.
> > > Also brotherhood and justice demands that all actions be
> evenhanded and also
> > > seen to be evenhanded. This did not happen and the GS's did not
> pass on the
> > > physicians' certification information to the members, thus
tilting the
> > > election process. Is this brotherhood in action? The consequence
> of this
> > > (in)action to inform members, is that when members found out what
> the GS's
> > > have done, they lost trust in their leaders. No leader can lead an
> > > organization whose members have a very low level of trust in their
> leaders.
> > > 
> > > POST ELECTION EVENTS:
> > > 
> > > In spite of the above attempts by some GC members to defeat
> Radhaji, members
> > > worldwide elected her with overwhelming majority. Members thought
> that the
> > > matter was settled and we expected everyone to move forward to
address
> > > various problems facing the TS.
> > > 
> > > But members were in for a surprise and shock. The same group of GC
> members
> > > who sought to defeat Radhaji sent to GC, a clever and shocking
plan to
> > > disenfranchise members worldwide and seize the presidency and
make the
> > > president a puppet. No one was told about the disenfranchisement
> and rule
> > > change to seize control of the presidency. The plan was super
> secret, known
> > > only to the GC members. The hardworking members at Adyar and
> Olcott woke up
> > > one day and found out about it not from the leaders, but from
> Internet. A
> > > few brave souls who saw the secret plan, and its far-reaching
> consequences,
> > > had the wisdom and courage to let the members know what is going on.
> > > 
> > > The intent of the plan was to be taken up speedily by the GC at
> its December
> > > meeting and get it approved. It would have been a done deal, but for
> > > Internet. General membership around the world would have been
> surprised and
> > > shocked by the coup.
> > > 
> > > If this was a done deal, the only recourse for members is to take
> legal
> > > action against TS by filing a lawsuit. Litigation is very
> expensive and time
> > > consuming and members do not have resources to do it. TS will it
> fight it
> > > out using the money in the Treasury.
> > > 
> > > TS was very lucky because Internet helped to break the story and
> make it
> > > known worldwide and members are discussing it. Moreover, this
> surreptitious
> > > move by some GC members further damaged the trust members had in
their
> > > leaders. The trust level in the leaders is lowest many of us have
> seen in
> > > our lifetime.
> > > 
> > > MEMBERSHIP GROWTH AND RETENTION
> > > 
> > > Theosophy is for everybody, not for a privileged few. All the
leaders,
> > > starting with the Founders, HSO & HPB, worked very hard to spread
> theosophy
> > > worldwide by opening new branches and thus increasing the
> membership. Let us
> > > look at the current situation.
> > > 
> > > The membership around the world presents a dismal and shocking
> picture.
> > > Except in India, the numbers have been going down for years. For
> example, in
> > > the USA, which has the largest membership next to India, the
> recent Annual
> > > Report states:
> > > 
> > > "In spite of our many efforts on behalf of building membership,
it has
> > > remained more or less the same as the last several years,
> currently, 3,899,
> > > a disconcerting drop of 172. Lest we get discouraged, it is
> helpful to look
> > > at past statistics. At the end of 1933, the TS in America reported
> 4,544
> > > members. Since then, membership has generally ranged from 4,000 to
> 6,000,
> > > with a great deal of turnover." This statement needs to be viewed
> from the
> > > angle of the growth of population in the USA. The population in
> 1933 was
> > > 125,578,763 and in 2008 it is estimated to be 305,800,376. So in
> 75 years,
> > > the population has grown by 244%. If TSA has kept up with the
> population
> > > growth, we would have 11,087 members today. In the past, members
> have raised
> > > this issue with the leadership. In 1998, a member asked: the TSA
> > > President/NS, "From 8000 members in 1980 when I joined, to less
> than 4000
> > > today, how could you let this happen?" There was no response till
> today.
> > > 
> > > There is also the shocking revelation that in the Dutch Section,
not a
> > > single new lodge has been chartered in 50 years, setting a new
> world record.
> > > It has also been reported that in most sections outside India, the
> retention
> > > rate is very low. Members come in and stay for a year or two and
> leave.
> > > 
> > > From the above, it is very clear that decline in membership is the
> most
> > > urgent and critical issue for the future survival of the TS.
> > > 
> > > TRANSPARENCY:
> > > 
> > > Much of the present problems in the GC, while caused by the Karma
> of the
> > > members - how else can we explain all this - could have been
> avoided if
> > > there is transparency of the activities of the GC.
> > > 
> > > In the early days of TS, there was full transparency of the
> activities of
> > > the General Council. But in the last several decades, everything
> related to
> > > the GC and its activities are shrouded in greatest secrecy.
> Members know
> > > nothing about the issues considered and decisions taken. Also,
> members have
> > > no way of knowing why decisions are made and who are the
> proponents so that
> > > the real and stated reasons can be seen by the membership.
> > > 
> > > For example, it is reported that in 2006 some changes were made to
> the rules
> > > and members do not know what they are and why and who are behind
> them. Many
> > > members feel that the current crisis has its roots in the lack of
> > > transparency of the GC and its decisions. Even if we are able to
> solve the
> > > current crisis, the lack of transparency only increases the
> likelihood of
> > > more serious crisis showing up in the future. All of us have a
> > > responsibility to prevent such an eventuality, because a future
> crisis may
> > > deal a deathblow to the TS.
> > > 
> > > Master KH, in his 1900 letter stated:
> > > 
> > > "MISLEADING SECRECY HAS GIVEN THE DEATH BLOW TO NUMEROUS
> ORGANIZATIONS. "
> > > 
> > > I do not see why TS should be an exception. So it behooves on all
> of us to
> > > heed to the advice and act on it before it is too late.
> > > 
> > > As a start, the agenda and details of the proposals in all stages
> should be
> > > made public. Details of items that deal with contract,
> legal/litigation or
> > > employee evaluation can be part of the executive session. When
> matters of
> > > importance are discussed in open forum and members can know who
> presented
> > > what and who were for and who were against will have a salutary
effect
> > > because it is then the GC member will have stand up openly and be
> counted.
> > > This may hurt their public images when they take stands injurious
> to the
> > > members and beneficial to themselves and this fear of having to
> stand up
> > > openly will make them think what the repercussions would be on
unwise
> > > stands. It will also give members a clearer picture of any
> manipulation
> > > going on. It is also one of the reasons why all democratic
debates and
> > > voting are done not behind closed doors, but in open sessions. I
> am yet to
> > > see a single GC member coming out and call for transparency of the
> > > proceedings of GC. Why? It looks like for GC members,
non-transparency
> > > allows them to play all political games behind the scenes while
> presenting a
> > > saintly, public face to its members hiding all their behind the
scenes
> > > maneuverings and the votings on the issues that comes before the GC.
> > > Continued secrecy also allows the GC to possibly mislead the
> members of
> > > their behind the scenes activities.
> > > 
> > > CHANGING THE RULES:
> > > 
> > > On the heels of the election, some GC members have attempted to
> make the
> > > governance issue a priority and important one and the need to
> quickly and
> > > urgently and secretly change the rules. It is a simple fallacy
> because rule
> > > changes would do nothing to help the membership increase and
> membership
> > > retention, because of the autonomous setup of the TS at the
> section and
> > > lodge levels. Due to the timing, personalities and the great secrecy
> > > involved, many ordinary members who have followed the events
> preceding and
> > > following the election see this issue as a tactic by some of the
> GC members
> > > disgruntled by the defeat of their candidate. Also, ordinary
> members see
> > > this as an audacious attempt by a few GC members to seize control
> of the
> > > presidency and make the president a puppet. I am sure that this is
> obvious
> > > to many GC members as well.
> > > 
> > > INFLUENCE OF DUGPAS AND SHAMMARS:
> > > 
> > > This is a very sensitive subject with many traditional
> theosophists and no
> > > one wants to talk about it. TS is facing a serious crisis not seen
> during
> > > last several decades. After considerable thought, I decided to
> address it. A
> > > comprehensive understanding of the current situation is needed
> before a
> > > right future course can be charted by the GC.
> > > 
> > > C Jinarajadasa, the 4th International President wrote:
> > > 
> > > "We know from the letters of the two Masters, M. and K. H., that
their
> > > action in initiating the Theosophical Movement was challenged by
> those "dark
> > > powers", called Dugpas in Tibet, who are ever on the watch to
> hinder the
> > > progress of Humanity. The true originators of the Madras attack
on the
> > > Society were not the Coulombs or the Madras missionaries, but
> these dark
> > > powers who used them (of course unknown to themselves) as
> cat's-paws and
> > > agents."
> > > 
> > > What we have today is the most serious crisis TS has seen in the
> recent
> > > decades. How Coulombs and Missionaries were used as cat's paws and
> agents
> > > (unknown to themselves) gives some idea of how the dark powers
> operate.
> > > Since they operate on principles opposed to Truth, Honesty, moral
> courage,
> > > transparency etc. you can see their using deception, misinformation,
> > > secrecy, "end justifies the means" principle, and above all
> cunningness and
> > > cleverness. They stay behind the scene and let their unsuspecting
> agents to
> > > do their destructive job. They also use multiple levels of agents
> just as
> > > they did in Coulomb Crisis.
> > > 
> > > Looking at the current crisis, in my opinion, one sees the hand of
> Dugpas
> > > and Shammars. We need to act taking this important factor into
> account.
> > > 
> > > MOST CRITICAL ISSUE - MEMBERSHIP:
> > > 
> > > As discussed earlier, decline in membership and low retention rate
> outside
> > > India seems to be the most important and urgent issue key to the
> growth and
> > > survival of TS. "No members and No TS." TS is organized on the
> basis of full
> > > autonomy at Section and Lodge levels. The President gets involved
> when there
> > > is a serious problem between Sections or within a Section. Hence the
> > > membership issue is a local issue. Membership recruitment and
> retention
> > > cannot happen without the dedicated and hard workers at the lodge
> level. No
> > > amount of tinkering with the rules is going to bring-in new
members or
> > > retain existing members. So we all need to address it and try to
find
> > > solutions to it before all other issues.
> > > 
> > > I have also addressed the transparency issue and it is one of the
> easiest to
> > > address and fix. All democratic institutions have found ways to
> have all
> > > their important decisions deliberated and taken in open forums and
> the few
> > > issues that need to be addressed in executive session are done so.
> > > Transparency acts as a firewall against preventing backdoor moves
> and horse
> > > trading to the detriment of the members and the TS and the TS
> movement.
> > > 
> > > It is hoped that wisdom will dawn on the GC members to see the
> criticality
> > > of membership growth and retention for the long-term survival and
> growth of
> > > TS and spread of theosophy and will try to address it in the next
> meeting.
> > > Tinkering with the rules is not going to help membership issue.
> > > 
> > > Fraternally yours,
> > > 
> > > M. K. Ramadoss, Member, TS, San Antonio, Texas, USA
> > > 
> > > THERE IS NO RELIGION HIGHER THAN TRUTH
> > > 
> > > Copy to: Brothers & Sisters
> > > 
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > 
> > >     
> > > 
> > > 
> > >       
> > > 
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > A REPLY TO "CONCERNED MEMBERS" COMMENTS.....
> > 
> > 
> > Dear Concerned member; 
> > 
> > 
> > Thank You for you feedback, it is always good to engage in
> RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE. 
> > 
> > 
> > Although we may dis-agree on certain points, it is more productive
> to keep the discussions at a rational  Non-Emotional level. This is my
> challenge to you. 
> > 
> > 
> > Has it occurred to you that the reason Radha is not appearing at the
> conferences in Krotona or the Inter-American Federation because of the
> current Non-Harmonious climate there?  That she does not want to
> become polarized in the 
> > hostile political atmosphere?  
> > 
> > 
> > Please refrain from jumping to conclusions about her health, when
> you have no solid documented evidence for such assumptions. 
> > 
> > 
> > Yes, we agree a lot will come to light at the General Convention,
> lets' wait to see what happens, and THEN we have solid evidence 
> > 
> > 
> > It is our only intention to keep the members fully informed of what
> is actually happening. IF the membes have FULL & Unbiased information
> then they will be in a position to make intelligent choices.  
> > 
> > 
> > You cannot make intelligent choices if you are not FULLY informed
> with correct information. 
> > 
> > Would You rather that everyone be kept in the dark and fed political
> propaganda to the advantage of some special interests? 
> > 
> > 
> > Looking forward to remaining in Respectful Dialogue with You. 
> > 
> > 
> > Cordially & Fraternally; 
> > 
> > William Delahunt 
> > Orlando, Florida 
> > Theosophist@ 
> > 
> > 
> > ========================  =======================
> >
>