Theos-Talk Archives (May 2009 Message tt00559)

Dear Anand,

>Personal characteristics and behavior of individuals are very important. Often it is good idea of one individual that makes a lot of difference to vast number of members. Ideas and efforts of even one individual or leader can be of great use to thousands of others.<

You addressed Mrs. Radha Burnier and Mrs. Betty Bland as Presidents of their respective organizations. Holding these offices it is their first duty to protect and promote the Constitution and Declarations of the Theosophical Society in the spirit of Brotherhood and to possibly apply all modern standards in regard to the management of public affairs. Being directly elected by members it is their duty to protect and promote rights of every single member, of the last joined and of the longstanding, equally, and maybe especially those of most bitter critics. This is the measure for the estimation of public officers. If they can additionally perform outstanding qualities of personal character then this is an upgrade, so to speak, which can enormously enforce credibility of their public position. But without strict performance of their constitutional role these qualities mean little; they can have private impact but not the public one. HPB was probably not a model of humility, abstinence, indulgence and so on, but it is in my view generally recognized as a model fighter for intellectual and spiritual freedom of each individual human being.

It is written in the "Through the Gates of Gold" that "On the mental steps of a million men Buddha passed through the Gates of Gold ?" We are product of countless relationships in past and present lives and a piece of unified consciousness. Our individual ideas and efforts are actually expressions of countless efforts in certain directions which happened to have been materialized through our specific strivings. We are just in the right place and in the right time and possibly opened for these ideas and efforts. There would not be the Theosophy in Slovenia web site without numerous past and present teachers and collaborators. And there would not be Anand Gholap web site in the present form without several teachers and anonymous contributors to its content. It is just and fair to diminish our personal role and to recognize that we are just using the opportunity to represent a product of unified efforts in certain direction. 

Warmest regards,
Anton


--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Anand" <AnandGholap@...> wrote:
>
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Anton Rozman" <anton_rozman@> wrote:
> >
> > Dear Anand and all,
> > 
> > >Members have right to analyze actions and policies of leaders. Just as mistakes can be discussed, it is just and fair to appreciate good qualities and right actions of any individuals.<
> > 
> > In past months we were discussing about the need for more transparency of and membership involvement in the work of the Theosophical Society. Somewhere behind the discussions there was always present an alleged antagonism between the Theosophical Society in America and its leaders (and sympathetic individuals and organizations) and the Headquarters of the international Theosophical Society and its President (and sympathetic individuals and 
> > organizations). 
> >
> ---------------
> My purpose was always to help people, irrespective of groups they belonged to. I was not interested in election politics. I belong to people, I did not belong to any group formed for election purpose.
> ------------------------
> 
> Therefore, I tried to check which steps did these two organizations made in past months in the direction demanded in our discussions and find that related to the Theosophical Society of America there were launched the following initiatives:
> > 
> > A Vision for Our Future
> > http://www.theosophical.org/about/VisioningProject.php
> > The Theosophical Community
> > http://theosophical.ning.com/
> > Olcott Library
> > http://theosophical.ning.com/profile/OlcottLibrary
> > The Theosophist Blog
> > http://theosophist.wordpress.com/
> > Theosophy Forward
> > http://www.theosophyforward.com/
> > Quest Books Blog
> > http://questbooks.wordpress.com/
> > Quest Books Facebook
> > http://www.facebook.com/pages/Quest-Books/68881133167
> > 
> ----------------
> It is good that TS in America is trying to improve things. I am glad.
> ------------------
> 
> > while in connection with the TS Headquarters at Adyar I found that only new online bookstore was established:
> > 
> > Adyarbooks
> > http://www.adyarbooks.com/
> -------------
> I think Adyar HQ will also use new techniques to help Theosophical cause. 
> ---------------------
> 
> > 
> > On the other hand I think that individual leader's (or better officer's) personal characteristics and behavior should be much less relevant in regard to the benefit of the Theosophical Society.
> > 
> 
> Personal characteristics and behavior of individuals are very important. Often it is good idea of one individual that makes a lot of difference to vast number of members. Ideas and efforts of even one individual or leader can be of great use to thousands of others. 
> 
> Best
> Anand Gholap
>