Theos-Talk Archives (December 2009 Message tt00067)

Revisiting the1900 KH Letter

MASTER KH STATED IN HIS 1900 LETTER TO ANNIE BESANT:

The essence of the higher thoughts of the members in their
collectivity must guide all action in the T.S. and E.S. We never try
to subject to ourselves the will of another. At favourable times we
let loose elevating influences which strike various persons in various
ways. It is the collective aspect of many such thoughts that can give
the correct note of action. We show no favours. The best corrective of
error is an honest and open-minded examination of all facts subjective
and objective. MISLEADING SECRECY HAS GIVEN THE DEATH BLOW TO NUMEROUS
ORGANIZATIONS.

REDACTIONS IN THE FIRST PUBLICATION

When the letter was first published in 1919 by CJ, several portions of
the letter was redacted. The reasoning of CJ behind the decision to
redact was that the redacted portions related to the matters   private
to the life of Annie Besant. No one knows what the private matter that
KH was referring to in his letter.

There is some thinking in some circles that the letterâs reference to
the question of misleading secrecy is to the ES and not the TS. While
the letter talked about ES, it also mentions TS as well. The success
of TS was the top priority of the Founders as well as many who have
toiled in the past and are toiling for the TS. ES exists for the
success of TS and hence there is every reason for the Adeptâs concern
about a deathblow to TS arising from misleading secrecy. What the
Adept seem to be talking about is a Natural Law and there is no reason
for TS excluded from its action.

The Adept may have foreseen the coming events that may affect the TS
in the years to come. After Besant succeeded Olcott, the proceedings
of the General Council were made highly secret. During Olcottâs time
there was direct communication between the General Council and the
Lodges world-wide. But this was done away with starting with Besantâs
leadership.

Such secrecy did not matter to the members world-wide starting with
Besantâs Presidency since the members had utmost faith and trust in
the leaders. The faith and trust was built by the leaders over a long
period of time by what they did for the furtherance of the objects of
the TS. Actions speak more loudly than words and the actions of the
leaders were truly altruistic and beyond reproach.

It looks like the Adept was looking far into the future, must have
seen the events of 2008 election. Starting with the attempt to defeat
the sitting president with untrue lay men/women allegation of her
being sick mentally and physically, even in the face of independent
reports from three highly regarded Physicians certifying her fit both
mentally and physically, followed by the allegation of problems with
the votes in Indian Section (which is the largest Section), and
topping with the ultra secret move to disenfranchise all members and
seize control of the appointment of the president by the members of
General Council and the subsequent display of cleavage in the General
Council membership.

The coup to seize control of the president, thus control of the TS
would have been a fait accompli  and surprised the members world-wide
but for the discovery of the ultra secret attempt and its  broadcast
world-wide with the help of Internet media outside the control of the
TS organization. The very clever attempt would have succeeded if it
had taken place 15 years ago when there was no Internet, the channel
of communication with members controlled by the organizational leaders
 and there was no other practical way to quickly broadcast the scheme
to the members.

CJâS JUDGEMENT IN REDACTION

CJ would not had the foresight to see the events that developed nearly
a century later. But it is really surprising that even some of the
wise minds which had access to the full letter, never took the Adeptâs
statement seriously and discussed the need for transparency.

Since the publication of the full text in its entirety in Sept. 1987
issue of the Eclectic Theosophist, the letter was available to anyone
interested. What is really surprising is that since that time we have
we not seen any TS leaders, scholars, professors, politicians, elders,
historians, discussing the implications of the misleading secrecy
warning and its relationship to transparency in TS at all levels?

TRANSPARENCY AND THE FUTURE

TS as we know it, is set up as a democratic organization and is not a
secret organization. Democracy and transparency are interlocked to
make democracy work for the good of the public or members. We have
seen democracy demands transparency and in the USA all elected public
bodies are required to transact business in the open and not behind
closed doors. The reason for this is simple. Human weakness may
exploit opaque decisions and actions which are detrimental to the
welfare of the public and/or members. Is TS exempt from such human
weaknesses? No is the simple answer. One of the Founding Adepts
mentioned that human weaknesses are the same everywhere. While we do
not talk about incidents of human weakness in the TS, any historian
will be able to find examples in the past.

Secrecy has helped the leaders to keep the members in the dark about
their deliberations and decisions. Secrecy helps leaders make
decisions, possibly self-serving, which they dare not do it in the
open. God forbid that in the misleading secret non transparent
environment, some decisions are not taken which deal a deathblow to
the TS. Let us not kid ourselves as if TS is exempt from the Natural
Law -  MISLEADING SECRECY HAS GIVEN THE DEATH BLOW TO NUMEROUS
ORGANIZATIONS.

Some members are fearful that the continued misleading secrecy will
lead to one result only - A death blow is certain; only the question
is when???

Let wise minds think over this, meditate on this and take quick steps
to bring transparency before it is too late.

MKR

There is no Religion Higher than Truth