Theos-Talk Archives (February 2010 Message tt00117)

Dear friends

My views are:

The below words might be worthwhile to consider...
Some of you already know about them, - yet others do not.

"In the Supplement to The Theosophist for July 1883 can be found a very important pronouncement by Col. H. S. Olcott, the co-founder and President of the Theosophical Society, against mixing Theosophy and politics. This statement, which H.P.B. endorsed, reads:

  The tenacious observance by the Founders of our Society of the principle of absolute neutrality, on its behalf, in all questions which lie outside the limits of its declared "objects," ought to have obviated the necessity to say that there is a natural and perpetual divorce between Theosophy and Politics. Upon a hundred platforms I have announced this fact, and every other practicable way, public and private, it has been affirmed and reiterated. Before we came to India, the word Politics had never been pronounced in connection with our names; for the idea was too absurd to be even entertained, much less expressed. But in this country, affairs are in such an exceptional state, that every foreigner, of whatsoever nationality, comes under Police surveillance more or less; and it was natural that we should be looked after until the real purpose of our Society's movements had been thoroughly well shown by the developments of time. That end was reached in due course; and in the year 1880, the Government of India, after an examination of our papers and other evidence, became convinced of our political neutrality, and issued all the necessary orders to relieve us from further annoying surveillance. Since then, we have gone our ways without troubling ourselves more than any other law-abiding persons, about the existence of policemen or detective bureaux. I would not have reverted to so stale a topic if I had not been forced to do so by recent events. I am informed that in Upper India, some unwise members of the Society have been talking about the political questions of the hour, as though authorized to speak for our organization itself, or at least to give to this or that view of current agitations the imprimatur of its approval or disapproval. Again, it was but a fortnight or so ago that one of the most respectable and able of our Hindu fellows strongly importuned me to allow the Theosophical Society's influence-such as it may be-to be thrown in favour of Bills to promote religious instruction for Hindu children, and other "non-political" measures. That our members, and others whom it interests, may make no mistake as to the Society's attitude as regards Politics, I take this occasion to say that our Rules, and traditional policy alike, prohibit every officer and fellow of the Society, AS SUCH, to meddle with political questions in the slightest degree, and to compromise the Society by saying that it has, AS SUCH, any opinion upon those or any other questions. The Presidents of Branches, in all countries, will be good enough to read this protest to their members, and in every instance when initiating a candidate to give him to understand-as I invariably do-the fact of our corporate neutrality. So convinced am I that the perpetuity of our Society depends upon our keeping closely to our legitimate province, and leaving Politics "severely alone," I shall use the full power permitted to me as President-Founder to suspend or expel every member, or even discipline or discharter any Branch which shall, by offending in this respect, imperil the work now so prosperously going on in various parts of the world. "
  http://www.teosofia.com/Mumbai/7112politics.html

A question and a few words by M. Sufilight:
I find it to be a fact that the Theosophical Society today are muddling its stance on politics and clearly seem to be deviating from the above words as it stands today. 

It seems fair to ask the leaders of the Theosophical Society to come forward and clearly explain why its relation to the activities performed by Annie Besant are of such a kind as they consider her a great theosophist with reagard to her political activities? - And I will allow myself to ask this question on this forum. Will you the leaders or even members of the Theosophical Society clearly explain us all why?

And later offshoots of the Theosophical Society could be asked the same question on whether they have deviated from this original programe?
And will especially ask the so-called esoteric and openly masonic oriented Alice A. Bailey groups about the same?

- - -
Are there no members of the Theosophical Society at this forum?
Perhaps some members at this forum will ask some of the members of the Theosophical Society about this central issue?


M. Sufilight


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