Theos-Talk Archives (April 2010 Message tt00022)

How often have I said that being at a Theosophical lecture was a near-death 
 experience because you never knew when someone there was going to die of 
old age  on the spot?
 
Chuck the Heretic
 
_www.charlescosimano.com  

 
In a message dated 4/9/2010 11:05:37 A.M. Central Daylight Time,  
mkr777@gmail.com writes:

 
 
 
That reminds me of a story about boredom. Years ago, in one of the  lodges
filled with old folks, the most popular lecture which was  frequently
repeated was Life after Death. No wonder when young visitors  showed up, we
never saw them again.

Some decades ago, in the local  lodge we used to participate in local events
such as the Earth Day, giving  some exposure to the public and I wish we see
more of participation in  local events, without which we are isolated and
unknown. Many confuse  theosophical with theological and it is very sad.

On Fri, Apr 9, 2010  at 9:21 AM, <




_ (http://www.charlescosimano.com/) _Drpsionic@aol.Drp_ 
(mailto:Drpsionic@aol.com) > wrote:

>
>
>  Well, bandwagon or not, it is better than dying of boredom during  
another
> talk on the Secret Doctrine.
>
> I have a rather  funny book in my collection, a bound volume of The
> Missionary Herald  from 1888. It is a wonderful photograph of the time but
> it
>  also has a lot of administrative trivia. And among that is the record  of
> the
> proceedings of the association' proceedings of the association'<WBR>s annu
> ceremonies thereof one of the speakers  dropped dead on the platform,
> proving
> that it is possible for  someone to actually bore himself to death.
>
> And whenever I read  that I really wish that a Theosophical gathering 
could
> be so graced,  not out of malice, but out of mercy being extended to at
> least one of  our number being so released from the tendacious tediousness
>  of
> Theosophical lecturing. And it would have given me a chance to  say
> something
> witty like, "See, even the Masters couldn't  stand her any more."
>
> Chuck the Heretic
>
>  _www.charlescosiman _ 
>
> In a message dated 4/9/2010  9:00:41 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
> _ (http://www.charlescosimano.com/) _mkr777@gmail.mkr_ 
(mailto:mkr777@gmail.com) _ <mkr777%40gmail.mkr>  writes:
>
> Are theosophical organizations in the West trying to  jump on the 
bandwagon
> of meditation? If so does it further the advance  of basic object of
> theosophy and Theosophical Society? Those in  non-English speaking world 
may
> want to look up the phrase âjump on the  bandwagonâ at the URL:
>
> <
>
> _ (_ (http://www.charlescosimano.com/) _http://www.charleschttp://www.c_ 
(http://www.charlescosimano.com/) _)
> __ (http://www.charlescosimano.com/) 
_http://en.wikipediahttp://en.http://en.http://_ (http://en.wikipediahttp//en.http://en.http:/_) _ (
> _ (http://www.charlescosimano.com/) 
_http://en.wikipediahttp://en.http://en.http:/_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandwagon_effect) ) >
>
>
> If you  look around, there are several organizations in the West, mostly
>  having their origin in India, which try to teach meditation and  
breathing
> exercises. They are marketed under different names, and  different 
marketing
> techniques. One basic theme which underlies all of  them is the promise of
> making one feel better, efficient and sometimes  even claiming they help
> reduce stress and other health  issues.
>
> Many of these operations are very successful  financially. Typically, you
> are
> invited to a one hour free  session at which a sales pitch is made. Many
> fall
> for it. The  followup programs can be very expensive.
>
> There is a general  belief in the public in the West, that more pricey,
> better the program  is. The attendees are required to promise secrecy with
> regard to what  is taught in the program and that is why you rarely see 
much
> of  discussion.
>
> The financial success of these programs can be  phenomenal. There is an
> outfit headed by a middle aged âswamiâ from  India which has a very
> successful operation in LA. As an adjunct,  there is also a Hindu Temple
> which helps recruit followers and brings  in a lot of money. To give you 
an
> idea of the financial success, this  group recently acquired 140 acres of
> land in a large mid-west city to  build a temple and facilities to operate
> these  programs.
>
> One seems to see attempts by some TS sections/lodges  trying to jump on 
the
> bandwagon of meditation in the hope of offering  what the public wants. A
> good marketing approach. But the fundamental  object of TS, which was
> clearly
> discussed again and again by  the Founders in the early days of TS does 
not
> include the bandwagon of  meditation.
>
> TS was looking for unselfish and altruistic  members who are sold on the
> idea
> of Universal Brotherhood and  what it can do for the welfare of our fellow
> beings. While the  Founders are fully knowledgeable in the art and
> techniques
> of  meditation and allied practices, they were not seen as a tool to
>  further
> the interests of Humanity.
>
> The reason why I  thought of bringing the above topic is the sad trend in
> the
>  dissemination of theosophy in the West. One of the key measures is the
>  membership. What we see is either the membership is shrinking or frozen  
and
> when we see lodge charters getting cancelled and property sold  does not
> help
> furthering either theosophy or the public  perception of TS.
>
> Also, furthering theosophy was not helped by  what we all have seen
> happening
> in the TS since the start of  2008 election and the subsequent events at 
the
> top level, especially  the failed ultra secret attempt to disenfranchise 
all
> members in the  world. It is all the more sad that the ultra secret
> disenfranchisement  attempt originated in the United States which is
> supposed
> to  be the leader of democracy.
>
> It is time to reevaluate which  bandwagon we want to be on? I hope this is
> one of the topics discussed  at the next World Congress. I hope we get on
> the
> corr_ect  bandwagon quickly, even though we may be the only passengers in 
it,
>  because theosophists are convinced that they are in th_e forefront of  
the
>
> movement for the welfare of the Humanity.
>
>  MKR
>
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>
> _ (_ (http://www.charlescosimano.com/) _http://www.charleschttp://www.c_ 
(http://www.charlescosimano.com/) _)
>
> [Non-text portions of  this message have been removed]
>
> 
>

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_ (http://www.charlescosimano.com/) 



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