Theos-Talk Archives (July 2009 Message tt00543)

(Sorry my previous empty post; it was an accident.)


I have to agree with Preethi. MKR and Jason Sriram, please be more fair. This constant mocking at Betty Bland, the American Section and other Sections (except never the Indian one, I notice) is unfair and one-sided, since there are problems at Adyar, too. I don't know about the "corruption" (it is a very strong word, btw.) at Adyar told by Preethi, and I don't like at all Preethi's too personal "revenge" project with all name-calling, but I can see that things in the International Headquarters are not working as well as they should.

I think Betty Bland has done wrong if she has not apologized the Indian Section for her word "machination". However, Bland has some good ideas for the development of the TS. And there is important discussion about the future of the TS on that Theosophy Forward blog where Bland writes, we should respect it. Unfortunately, we don't see new initiatives and a possibility of discussion coming into the world via the internet from the International Headquarters. Anton wrote about this earlier. I must say it feels like the International Headquarters is stagnated, opposing all new things and not even putting proposals on the agenda of the General Council meetings.

My point is that we must be balanced when we criticize. I agree with Anton that it is strange to see how Sections are mocked on this forum of not informing about the passing of International Secretary Dr. Agarwal. Instead, we should absolutely criticize the international Headquarters because it still has not informed the Sections about the passing of International Secretary! I thank for the participants of this forum Preethi and MKR, who have told us about his passing.

Mrs Bland is not making up all what she writes on opinions of the presidential election in 1980.

In 1980, Rukmini Devi Arundale (1904 -1986) was a candidate who represented old members, stability and Leadbeaterian theosophy. She had been in the inside circles of the Society already since 1920 when she had married Dr. Arundale. In 1980, many members thought that she was too old, but she was a safe choice and thus they voted for him. At that time Radha Burnier (b. 1923) represented new generation, energy and fresh Krishnamurtian theosophy, which nobody was sure what it would mean. It is now difficult to believe how radical she was in 1980.

I have been told that there was in Sections and Lodges normal discussion which is typical in every political election: that one candidate was the better one and other the worse one for the future of the Theosophical Society. In a way, due to these opinions, the TS Adyar membership mentally splitted for a moment. The election result was tight.

However, it is definitively true that the tension in the TS of 1980 was forgotten soon after the election and that it never became as serious as it was last year. And afterwards there were no remarkable complaints.

Sampsa




--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, MKR <mkr777@...> wrote:
>
> The comment about the 1980 election coming from the National President
> (General Secretary) of the American Section is very important for members
> world-wide. It is all the more so because I have never heard of even any
> rumors from anyone in all these years. If there are any facts substantiating
> the comments, it is but fair that everyone is informed.
> 
> As I have stated many times before, I am just an ordinary member of TS in
> America and everything I bring up is on my own initiative.
> 
> MKR
> 
> Visit theosophy.net
> 
> 
> 
> On Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 5:29 AM, preethi muthiah
> <seeker_preethi@...>wrote:
> 
> >
> >
> > MKR,
> >
> > This is just curiosity again, but why do I get the feeling that you are
> > purposefully taking attention away from the scenario at Adyar vis-a-vis the
> > corruption practised and endorsed by the President and her relatives to
> > things that happened much earlier than these revelations?
> >
> > Please do forgive me if I am wrong, but are you working for someone at
> > Adyar who ensures that you talk against those who opposed the President
> > during the recent elections, so that too much attention is NOT focused on
> > the corrupt goings-on at Adyar?
> >
> > I am just a curious member who observes certain things that the "messenger"
> > does...
> >
> > Preethi
> > --- On Fri, 31/7/09, MKR <mkr777@... <mkr777%40gmail.com>> wrote:
> >
> > From: MKR <mkr777@... <mkr777%40gmail.com>>
> > Subject: Theos-World Re: Betty Bland's Statement on 1980 Election
> > To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com <theos-talk%40yahoogroups.com>
> > Date: Friday, 31 July, 2009, 7:46 AM
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > In a statement put out several weeks ago on a quaint website, Betty Bland,
> >
> > National President of Theosophical Society in America stated:
> >
> > +++For example, the international presidential contest in 1980, when Radha
> >
> > Burnier won over Rukmini Devi, was also fraught with differences of
> >
> > opinion.+++
> >
> > No one has heard of any complaints regarding the 1980 election, either from
> >
> > Rukmini or her supporters inside TS or outside TS (there are many outside
> > TS
> >
> > due to her long time involvement in the revival of Indian Dance and her
> >
> > activities for Animal Welfare in India).
> >
> > So this was a great surprise to me and many members around the world
> > because
> >
> > we have never heard of this even in the gossip grape vine. Elected General
> >
> > Secretaries of National Sections hold important and prestigious positions
> > in
> >
> > TS. Normally members highly regard and trust them. So anything they say or
> >
> > put in writing is expected to be truthful and backed up with verifiable
> >
> > facts.
> >
> > Having made the statement, is it unreasonable for dues paying members to
> >
> > expect details behind the statement. I wrote to Betty on June 3 inquiring
> >
> > about it. To this day, there is no response.
> >
> > When a theosophical leader heading the second largest TS section, makes
> > such
> >
> > statements, keeping silent only affects the opinion members have in their
> >
> > leader and in turn reflects on TS. Since the motto of TS is There is no
> >
> > religion higher than Truth, it also negatively affects the TS.
> >
> > I hope we will hear from Betty soon. Continued silence cannot help her or
> >
> > TSA.
> >
> > MKR
> >
> > visit www.theosophy. net
> >
> > On Thu, Jul 30, 2009 at 6:31 PM, jasonsriram <jasonsriram@ yahoo.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > > MK
> >
> > >
> >
> > > Maybe it is just a case of "see it happened before". However, I agree
> > with
> >
> > > your assessment that there was no case of claims of either electioneering
> > or
> >
> > > false or misleading statements from either party as I recall in 1980. In
> >
> > > fact I was in Adyar in 1980 and have no recollection of rancour or
> > ongoing
> >
> > > spatting as is occurring now.
> >
> > >
> >
> > > In 1976 she (Rukmini) was nominated to be President of India, a post she
> >
> > > declined. I spoke with her in 1981 about it and she stated she declined
> >
> > > because she had "no interest in political life". So I really doubt that
> > it
> >
> > > was anything other that an unwanted result from a post she felt she was
> >
> > > qualified for.
> >
> > >
> >
> > > If Betty can disclose more on the source of her information I would be
> > very
> >
> > > interested to know more on this.
> >
> > >
> >
> > > Jason