Theos-Talk Archives (March 2010 Message tt00086)

Dear friends and MKR


My views are:

Thanks MKR.

I found the following passage very interesting...

THE BYLAWS OF
THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
IN AMERICA
Revised as authorized by Referendum, November 1999
"(b) The net earnings of the Theosophical Society in __________ are devoted exclusively to religious, charitable, scientific, literary, and educational purposes. No part of the net earnings of the Theosophical Society in __________ shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the Theosophical Society in _________ may pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and make payments and distributions in furtherance of its purposes set forth herein. No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation and the corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office except as authorized under the Internal Revenue Code. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code."
http://www.theosophical.org/local_groups/Bylaws_for%20voting.pdf

Full Text Of The International Rules And Regulations; june 2009, 
"1. The name of the Association is The Theosophical Society.
2. The objects for which the Society is established are:
I. To form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race,         creed, sex, caste or colour.
II. To encourage the study of Comparative Religion, Philosophy and Science.
III. To investigate unexplained laws of Nature and the powers latent in man.
(a) The holding and management of all funds raised for the above objects.
(b) The purchase or acquisition on lease or in exchange or on hire or by gift or otherwise of any        real or personal property, and any rights or privileges necessary or convenient for the purposes of the Society.
(c) The sale, improvement, management and development of all or any part of the property of the Society.
(d) The doing of all such things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects or any of them, including the founding and maintenance of a library or libraries.
3. The names, addresses and occupations of the persons who are members of, and form the first General Council which is the governing body of the Society, are as follows:

GENERAL COUNCIL"...
http://joomla.theosophyforward.com/category/general-council/



- - - - - - - 

WHEN H. P. BLAVATSKY LIVED THINGS WERE VERY DIFFERENT
The above can be compared with the Constitution and Rules for January 1891, when HPB still was alive.
And we wonder why no member in the TS ever has explained why the changes was made, so that political views suddenly became allowed and empahsis on Eastern and Aryan litteraturewas removed. 

>The AIMS of the Theosophical Society has been CHANGED and SIMPLIFIED without explaining why!<


"ARTICLE I
Constitution

1. The title of this Society, which was formed at New York, United States of America, on the 17th of November 1875, is the "Theosophical Society."

2. The Theosophical Society is an International Body.

3. The objects of the Theosophical Society are:
       First. - To form the nucleus of a Universal Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or colour.
       Second. - To promote the study of Aryan and other Eastern literatures, religions, philosophies and sciences, and to demonstrate their importance to Humanity.
       Third. - To investigate unexplained laws of Nature and the psychic powers latent in man.

4. The Theosophical Society is absolutely unsectarian, and no assent to any formula of belief, faith or creed shall be required as a qualification of membership; but every applicant and member must lie in sympathy with the effort to create the nucleus of an Universal Brotherhood of Humanity.

5. The Society does not interfere with caste rules, nor other social observances, nor with politics, and any such interference in its name is a breach of the constitution. The Society is not responsible for the personal opinions of its Fellows. "
. . . . . 

"ARTICLE XIII
Offences

1. Any Fellow who shall in any way attempt to involve the Society In political disputes shall be immediately expelled."
http://lebendige-ethik.net/engl/4-Constitution_TS.engl.html


I continues to baffle me that no leading members of the Theosophical Society are willing to respond and explain why this change has occured and why such a change can be defended. I ask: Why are political activity (called low-ethics by H. P. Blavatsky) being down-watered as being of no importance in the passage of the Constitution in the Section about its AIMS?

And why have the emphasis on Eastern and Aryan litterature been removed?
These doctrines are central to ending the strifes between the worlds religions and the creation of a Universal Brotherhood of Humanity.

I find it to be crucial, that the Theosophical Society is not running the risk of being used for any political ends what so ever, not even those promoted by Annie Besant in her time, when she operated as a politician and supporter of the clearly political party National Congress of Indian and used the Theosophical Publishing House to publish political papers, phamplets and even books with.

If the members at the Theosophical Society continue to promote such a relaxed and blurred view upon political activities, it is no wonder that the Masters of Wisdom keep their distance to its headquarters and major Lodges.

Silence is also an answer.




M. Sufilight


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: MKR 
  To: M K Ramadoss 
  Sent: Thursday, April 01, 2010 6:48 AM
  Subject: Theos-World Serious Potential problems with TSA Bylaws


    
  Serious Potential problems with TSA Bylaws

  TSA BYLAWS

  Theosophists do not believe in miracles. When I visited the TSA website, I
  was surprised to find the TSA Bylaws on it and prominently mentioned. I
  could not believe my eyes and and now I am now a believer in âmiraclesâ even
  within TS/TSA. The man or woman responsible to decide to put it on the
  website should be congratulated.

  What caught my eye was the clause dealing with disposition of assets, which
  is quoted below:

  âDisposition of Assets. In the event of the cancellation of the charter of
  the Theosophical Society in America under Rule 36 of the Rules of the
  international Theosophical Society, or on the dissolution of the
  Theosophical Society in America as a corporate entity, the Charter granted
  by the international President of the Theosophical Society shall become
  forfeited or lapsed, and all its assets, all property, movable and
  immovable, including charters, diplomas (certificates), seal, records, and
  other papers belonging to or in its custody shall be distributed to the
  Theosophical Investment Trust, an Illinois trust having its principal
  offices at 1926 North Main Street, Wheaton, Illinois; provided, however,
  that if, at the time of dissolution of the Theosophical Society in America,
  the Theosophical Investment Trust is not qualified as exempt under Section
  501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or the
  corresponding section of any future federal tax code), is not in existence,
  or is unwilling to accept the assets of the Theosophical Society in America
  described above, then such assets shall be distributed to the Theosophical
  Society, incorporated at Madras, India, on April 3, 1905, and having its
  international headquarters at Adyar, Madras (Chennai), India; provided
  further, however, that if, at the time of dissolution of the Theosophical
  Society in America, the Theosophical Society, incorporated at Madras, India,
  on April 3, 1905, and having its international headquarters at Adyar, Madras
  (Chennai), India, is not qualified as exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the
  Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or the corresponding section of
  any future federal tax code), is not in existence, or is unwilling to accept
  the assets of the Theosophical Society in America described above, then such
  assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the
  meaning of Section 501(c)(3), or shall be distributed to a federal, state,
  or local government for a public purpose. â

  There are several issues regarding the above, that needs immediate
  attention, to protect the multi-million dollar assets in the bank and the
  very valuable real estate owned by TSA from potentially going to entities of
  a which are not in the business of propagating theosophy.

  CURRENT CONDITIONS IN THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY:

  We all witnessed the electioneering in the last international elections,
  with unfounded allegations on the election going as far back as 1960, and
  unsubstantiated allegations about the Indian Section voting procedure in the
  current election, failed ultra secret attempt to disenfranchise all members
  in the election of the International President and some GC members seizing
  control of the presidency, and the still unresolved cleavage between GC
  members. Many of the above, originated from the United States. There was
  even some speculation in cyberspace that the current disunity may lead to
  split up of the TS as well.

  WHAT HAPPENS OF TSA CHARTER IS FORFEITED OR LAPSED

  The above bylaw states that all the assets will go to the Theosophical
  Investment Trust. None of the members know about the constitution and bylaws
  of operation of the Trust as well as how the Trustees are appointed, their
  term of office and what kind of control TSA has on the Trust. All this seems
  to be kept as another ultra secret matter, since almost a decade ago when I
  tried to find out the details, it was met with silence from the previous TSA
  administration. I do not know if any member has seen any of the details,
  even though the Trust is entrusted with millions of dollars of the money
  belonging to TSA. This should trouble any member. When money is involved,
  transparency is needed to protect it.

  While the trust is 501(c)3 tax exempt, it is technically known as a
  'supporting organization' and in the recent years, US congress has tightened
  the requirements to be met by supporting organizations. So, as a supporting
  organization meant to exclusively to support TSA another 501(c)3
  organization, if the charter of TSA is forfeited or lapsed, the sole
  beneficiary is gone and the trustâs function disappears and trust does not
  have an independent standing and hence cannot receive the assets. We do not
  know if this point has been examined in depth by attorneys and accountants
  familiar with the law governing tax exempt 'supporting organizations.'

  WHAT HAPPENS IF THE TRUST CANNOT RECEIVE THE ASSETS OF TSA?

  All the assets go to the Theosophical Society, Adyar, Chennai/Madras.
  However, for the Theosophical Society, Adyar to receive the assets, there is
  a critical condition to be met. For this to happen, Theosophical Society,
  Adyar, has to be a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization under the laws of the
  United States of America at that future time.

  TAX EXEMPT STATUS OF THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, ADYAR, CHENNAI.

  Internal Revenue Service in the USA publishes/provides a list of current tax
  exempt organizations. Several years ago, TS Adyar was on that list. Now, a
  visit to the IRS website does not have TS Adyar as a tax exempt organization
  in the USA. So as of now, TS Adyar is NOT a tax exempt organization in the
  USA and it is not known why and when it was dropped from the official list.

  We also do not know if anyone is monitoring this fact from either Adyar or
  Wheaton. The bottom line is: if the TSA charter is forfeited or lapsed
  tomorrow, the assets will not go to TS Adyar, instead a local Judge will
  distribute them to any charitable purpose.

  WHY MEMBERS SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH THE ABOVE?

  The assets of TSA were accumulated over the years from small and big
  donations and bequests from dedicated members who wanted to support the
  mission of the TS and wanted theosophy to benefit humanity. Much of the
  donated money is very hard earned and members have a duty to be watchful and
  alert. This is all the more so due to the lack of transparency in the TS. At
  a time of declining membership and cancellation of charters of lodges and
  the disunity displayed at the GC meeting, the main protection comes from
  ordinary members like you and me who can talk about these kinds of issues on
  the Internet without any control from the organizations.

  As long time members here know, Internet has played a critical role and
  protected the TS during the election and its aftermath, I am sure bringing
  attention to the above topic is going to help TS and avoid the kinds of
  problems TS ran into in Europe when the charter was forfeited or lapsed
  years ago.

  M K Ramadoss

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



  

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