Theos-Talk Archives (September 2009 Message tt00089)

Shakespeare wrote:

Beauty is bought by judgement of the eye.

This could be appropriately applied to the statement of  Mary Anderson as
well.

When untruth of untrue information is revealed publicly, it is misperceived
as tirade of hate.

I will let the readers imagine what would be the fate of TS today, if we did
not have theos-talk Internet mailing list to shine bright light on the
happenings starting with last year's election nomination.

We should all welcome if Mary would be forthcoming and tell us all about
what was her involvement in the planning and execution of the strategy to
defeat Radha Burnier. Non response or silence would only deepen the mystery
and questions would be around for a very long time.

MKR



On Wed, Sep 16, 2009 at 11:24 AM, Morten Nymann Olesen <
global-theosophy@stofanet.dk> wrote:

>
>
> 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
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>  
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]