Theos-Talk Archives (February 2009 Message tt00168)

Thanks.


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: univ7x7 
  To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 2:34 PM
  Subject: Theos-World Re: Some thoughts on NZ GS's feedback on Adyar visit



  You write: The real strength comes
  > from the members, and the vibrancy of the lodges, small and big. Not
  the
  > buildings or even the individual leaders.

  Isn't it championing Theosophy, the Theosophical CAUSE and the Masters
  that the Theosophist does, or at least aims to do? Is our loyalty to
  Adyar, the Theosophical Society, the International President, or to the
  CAUSE and the Masters? Adyar might now be the international
  headquarters through policy/rule or whatever changes after H.P.
  Blavatsky's passing, so it is interesting to see what HPB has to say in
  August 1889:

  "2nd. It is pure nonsense to say that "H.P.B. . . . is loyal to
  the Theosophical Society and to Adyar" (!?) . H.P.B. is loyal to
  death to the Theosophical CAUSE, and those great Teachers whose
  philosophy can alone bind the whole Humanity into one Brotherhood.
  Together with Col. Olcott, she is the chief Founder and Builder of the
  Society which was and is meant to represent that CAUSE; and if she is so
  loyal to H.S. Olcott, it is not at all because of his being its
  "President," but, firstly, because there is no man living who
  has worked harder for that Society, or been more devoted to it than the
  Colonel, and, secondly, because she regards him as a loyal friend and
  co-worker. Therefore the degree of her sympathies with the
  "Theosophical Society and Adyar" depends upon the degree of the
  loyalty of that Society to the CAUSE. Let it break away from the
  original lines and show disloyalty in its policy to the CAUSE and the
  original programme of the Society, and H.P.B. calling the T.S. disloyal,
  will shake it off like dust from her feet.

  "And what does "loyalty to Adyar" mean, in the name of all
  wonders? What is Adyar, apart from that CAUSE and the two (not one
  Founder, if you please) who represent it? Why not loyal to the compound
  or the bathroom of Adyar? Adyar is the present Headquarters of the
  Society, because these "Headquarters are wherever the President
  is," as stated in the rules. To be logical, the Fellows of the T.S.
  had to be loyal to Japan while Col. Olcott was there, and to London
  during his presence here. There is no longer a "Parent Society";
  it is abolished and replaced by an aggregate body of Theosophical
  Societies, all autonomous, as are the States of America, and all under
  one Head-President, who, together with H. P. Blavatsky, will champion
  the CAUSE against the whole world. Such is the real state of
  things." ("A Puzzle from Adyar": Lucifer vol. IV, no. 24; CW
  vol. XI, pages 380-81)

  Tony

  --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, MKR <mkr777@...> wrote:
  >
  > Some thoughts on NZ GS's feedback on Adyar visit
  >
  > We may recall the impressions that the NZ GS got when he visited Adyar
  in
  > December. On closer look at the impressions, there are several facts
  that
  > need to be taken account of.
  >
  > Firstly, his stay at Adyar was very short. Secondly, the conditions in
  India
  > is so different from the one from which he comes from. Thirdly, we do
  not
  > know what his expectations were when he landed in India.
  >
  > TS in India is very vibrant and healthy and growing as compared to the
  > decline in the membership in rest of the world. So, the underpinning
  of the
  > strength of TS in India is not in the buildings or the opinions of a
  few
  > people which may be colored by their own biases. The real strength
  comes
  > from the members, and the vibrancy of the lodges, small and big. Not
  the
  > buildings or even the individual leaders.
  >
  > To understand the conditions in India, one has to live and travel the
  > country for several months to get a good feel of what is really going
  on in
  > the TS lodges. One has to live and travel and experience like an
  average
  > local citizen. Ernest Wood of the Seven Rays fame, as a young man went
  to
  > India and lived like a native Indian and worked in India for several
  > decades. His first hand account in his book "Is This Theosophy?" is
  worth
  > reading for anyone interested in India. (One time this book was very
  rare
  > and now one can find it on-line.)
  >
  > In view of this, any criticisms based on a short stay in Adyar, need
  to be
  > taken with a big grain of salt. However, as regards the physical
  conditions
  > of the buildings at Adyar and the need for fixing them, it can be
  taken care
  > of with money. All we need is to raise some funds for this purpose and
  use
  > them for fixing the buildings. I suggest that we start fund raising
  for this
  > specific purpose and I will be the first one to make a donation within
  my
  > means.
  >
  > My 0.02.
  >
  > MKR
  >
  >
  > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  >

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