Theos-Talk Archives (September 2009 Message tt00086)

Dear friends

My views are:

A quote from the below e-mail:
"many tirades of hate have appeared on the internet. "


My views:
I wonder if this actually is the truth, or whether most of the "tirades" instead are expressions on seeking to help various TS leaders towards the view, that something could be improved within the TS leadership, administratively, as well as on how TS are prepared to promulgate the theosophical teachings, if at all?

When a dog comes along and expresses sounds, which clearly shows that it needs food, I think it would be a impolite not to offer it something to eat, if one have an abundance of food available. That is unless it needs something else first. 

One of my own problems, as an outsider so to speak, is that quite a number of TS websites, are today not clearly enough expressing that each lodge or center has its own policies and preferences on how to promulgate theosophy or on how it seek to fullfill the three aims of The Theosophical Society. And there is as I view it, today, no longer, a clear and wellformulated line of demarcation on what is accepted and what not within a lodge. If this could be expressed much more clearly, a lot of unfortunate misunderstadnings might be avoided. But I might have overlooked something there.

It might be well to remember, that The Theosophical Society after all still is an International organisation. Well, is it not? 

It would be very Important: If the leadership in the TS much more clearly would reject autority roles (or "popery"), and express the limits which the TS operates through, it could be quite helpful to Seekers inside the TS as well as non-members still standing out side it. I am saying this taking the two below excerpts into account.


Now read the following two excerpts very carefully, tell me if TS still is operating in accordance with the original lines?
Can it do so without claiming to be in contact with the Masters of Himalaya or similar elsewhere?


1.
H. P. Blavatsky said in 1888:
"The multiplication of local centres should be a foremost consideration in your minds, and each man should strive to be a centre of work in himself. When his inner development has reached a certain point, he will naturally draw those with whom he is in contact under the same influence; a nucleus will be formed, round which other people will gather, forming a centre from which information and spiritual influence radiate, and towards which higher influences are directed.
But let no man set up a popery instead of Theosophy, as this would be suicidal and has ever ended most fatally. We are all fellow-students, more or less advanced; but no one belonging to the Theosophical Society ought to count himself as more than, at best, a pupil-teacherâone who has no right to dogmatize. 
Since the Society was founded, a distinct change has come over the spirit of the age. Those who gave us commission to found the Society foresaw this, now rapidly growing, wave of transcendental influence following that other wave of mere phenomenalism. Even the journals of Spiritualism are gradually eliminating the phenomena and wonders, to replace them with philosophy. The Theosophical Society led the van of this movement; but, although Theosophical ideas have entered into every development or form which awakening spirituality has assumed, yet Theosophy pure and simple has still a severe battle to fight for recognition. The days of old are gone to return no more, and many are the Theosophists who, taught by bitter experience, have pledged themselves to make of the Society a âmiracle clubâ no longer. The faint-hearted have asked in all ages for signs and wonders, and when these failed to be granted, they refused to believe. Such are not those who will ever comprehend Theosophy pure and simple. But there are others among us who realize intuitionally that the recognition of pure Theosophyâthe philosophy of the rational explanation of things and not the tenetsâis of the most vital importance in the Society, inasmuch as it alone can furnish the beacon-light needed to guide humanity on its true path." (HPB's Collected Writings, vol. 9, p. 242)
http://www.katinkahesselink.net/blavatsky/articles/v9/y1888_035.htm

2.
Mahatma Letter from KH to A. P. Sinnett, 1882:
"The Parent S. has never interfered in the slightest degree with the British T.S., nor indeed with any other Branch, whether religious or philosophical. Having formed, or caused to be formed a new branch, the Parent S. charters it (which it cannot now do without our Sanction and signatures), and then usually retires behind the scenes, as you would say. Its further connection with the subject branches is limited to receiving quarterly accounts of their doings and lists of the new Fellows, ratifying expulsions -- only when specially called upon as an arbitrator to interfere on account of the Founders' direct connection with us -- etc., etc.; it never meddles otherwise in their affairs except when appealed to as a sort of appelate court. And the latter depending on you, what is there to prevent your Society from remaining virtually independent? We are, even more generous than you British are to us. We will not force upon, nor even ask you to sanction a Hindu "Resident" in your Society, to watch the interests of the Parent Paramount Power when we have once declared you independent; but will implicitly trust to your loyalty and word of honour. But if you now so dislike the idea of a purely nominal executive supervision by Col. Olcott -- an American of your own race -- you would surely rebel against dictation from a Hindu, whose habits and methods are those of his own people, and whose race, despite your natural benevolence, you have not yet learnt to tolerate, let alone to love or respect."
http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/mahatma/ml-4.htm


These were just som views of mine. I am not throwing any tirade here, I am simply out of compassion seeking to be helpful.
Allright?



M. Sufilight


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: MKR 
  To: theos-talk 
  Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 2:45 AM
  Subject: Theos-World Interesting comments from Mary Anderson


    Interesting comments from Mary Anderson

  Mary Anderson, formerly the International Secretary during the election,
  recently commented:
  +++
  But at present there is the danger of a more serious dichotomy. Following
  the recent Presidential elections, which resulted in a large majority of
  votes in India for the Indian candidate and a large majority of votes in the
  rest of the world for the American candidate, many tirades of hate have
  appeared on the internet. The idea of two Theosophical Societies - East and
  West - has even been broached.
  +++

  I feel that the conclusion and reasoning behind the above observation is
  very faulty. Some may be day dreaming of two societies. This is not going
  to happen. Even if such a move is attempted, it is bound to end where
  similar attempts ended in the past.

  Let us look at what has been going on since the start of the election
  nomination.

  For an ordinary member, the events seem to point to a smart very well
  coordinated and planned effort (we are yet to know the role played by Mary
  behind the scenes) which did not pan out per expectations due to two key
  factors. First, the critical role played by Internet. Second, the untrue
  reason put forward to defeat the sitting president.

  This is the first election in which Independent Internet played a critical
  role. In the past, the TS leaders controlled the flow of information (and
  misinformation) to membership due to their control of the medium of
  communication. With Internet forums such as theos-talk, which is outside the
  control of any organization or leader, members around the world were
  provided instant information. This led to a lot of discussion among members
  from around the world. This provided bright light to shine on the
  information (and misinformation) fed to the members to defeat sitting
  president. Such bright light brought out the truth behind information put
  out to sway the membersâ votes and defeat sitting President.

  The election propaganda started on a wrong foot. To defeat Radha Burnier,
  there was an orchestrated allegation that she was sick, both mentally and
  physically and this was the lay menâs and womenâs opinion and was shot down
  by three well known physicians from two continents and one was a long-time
  theosophist and section leader. Members who saw thru this did not buy the
  allegation and understood what was going on.

  It is a very well known fact that Indian Section always was the largest in
  the world even in the days of Annie Besant. She, as a veteran leader, knew
  this fact and advised George Arundale to get to know the Indian Section
  members and win their hearts which was critical for anyone who leads TS.

  This fact is true today too. The Indian Section has been progressively
  growing while the membership outside India is either declining or not
  growing. In addition, the retention rate outside India is very poor. The
  membership trend outside India is in such a poor state that none of the
  leaders from the West want to discuss the hot potato.

  Past elections such as in the case of John Coats has proven that Indian
  membership is open minded and very fair in their support of the candidates
  with no bias. We should note that Coats defeated two well known candidates
  from India, Rukmini Arundale and Radha Burnier with support from Indian
  membership.

  Even looking beyond TS, Indian masses have demonstrated to the world of its
  open minded approach as compared to countries outside India. India had a
  very powerful woman Prime Minister for a long time, has a woman President
  now, had a Moslem President for a predominantly Hindu country and also had a
  president from the untouchable class. Western countries, including United
  States cannot claim such open mindedness. Neither US nor the TS in America
  yet had a Hispanic president for a country with a sizable growing Hispanic
  population.

  It is very telling about the TS leadership outside India. After failing to
  defeat the sitting President, unfounded allegations were made from the West
  about the handling of elections in India and when challenged by the Indian
  Section, there was no verifiable evidence to prove the allegations.

  Matters would have ended there, but for the shock and dismay members met
  with. A very secret move was made by a quartet of general council members
  from the West, which included the defeated candidate, to disenfranchise
  members around the world and seize control of the appointment of the
  President and make the president a puppet.

  Timely discovery of the ultra secret move and world-wide Internet
  dissemination shocked the members world-wide. Secret attempt to seize the
  power to appoint the President spoke for itself and many members could not
  even believe their leaders will even think of such a self-serving attempt.
  This resulted in many members to have a very low level of trust in their
  leaders. No leader can lead without a very high level of trust.

  Compared to other dissent ions during last century, we do not have leaders
  with charisma and a high level of trust. Also with the help of Internet,
  members are now better informed of the political landscape and members are
  intelligent enough to see what has happened and come to their own
  conclusions.

  Any attempt to try to form two Societies - East and West is bound to fall
  flat on its face and the reputations of many well known members is likely to
  be irreparably damaged.

  MKR

  There is no religion higher than Truth

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