Theos-Talk Archives (June 2012 Message tt00062)

Arya Samaj and The TS -2At this point we shall pause
and look into the beginnings of the Theosophical Society and the Arya Samaj;
their formation as organizations, aims, purposes and objects of such formation.



 Formation of the
Theosophical Society:

The Society was formed in
1875 at New York
with the sole object of:

 To collect and diffuse a knowledge of the laws which
govern the universe.

The plans are described to
be as follows:(as formulated in 1879)

(a) To keep alive in man his
spiritual intuitions.

(b) To oppose and counteract -
after due investigation and proof of its irrational nature - bigotry in every
form, whether as an intolerable religious sectarianism or belief in miracles or
anything supernatural.

(c) To promote a feeling of
brotherhood among nations; and assist in the international exchange of useful
arts and products, by advice, information, and cooperation with all worthy
individuals and associations; provided, however, that no benefit or percentage
shall be taken by the Society for this corporate services.

(d) To seek to obtain knowledge
of all the laws of Nature, and aid in diffusing it, and especially to encourage
the study of those laws least understood by modern people, and so termed the
Occult Sciences. Popular superstition
and folklore, however fantastical, when sifted, may lead to the discovery of
long-lost but important secrets of Nature.
The Society, therefore, aims to pursue this line of inquiry in the hope
to widen the field of scientific and philosophical observation.

(e) To gather to the Society's
library and put into written forms correct information upon the various ancient
philosophies, traditions and legends, and, as the Council shall decide it
permissible, disseminate the same in such practicable ways as the translation
and publication of original works of value, and extracts from and commentaries
upon the same, or the oral instructions of persons learned in their respective
departments.

(f) To promote in every
practicable way, in countries where needed, the spread of non-sectarian
education.

(g) Finally, and chiefly, to
encourage and assist individual Fellows in self-improvement, intellectual,
moral, and spiritual. But no Fellow
shall put to his selfish use any knowledge communicated to him by any member of
the First Section; violation of this rule being punished by expulsion. And before any such knowledge can be imparted,
the person shall bind himself by a solemn oath not to use it to selfish
purposes, nor to reveal it, except with the permission of the teacher.

The declared objects of the
Society as revised and formulated in 1896 are as below and since then they are
not further altered or amended but are elucidated by explanations of various
leaders and members variously:

1. To form a nucleus of the
universal brotherhood of humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex,
caste or colour.

2. To encourage the study of
comparative religion, philosophy and science.

3. To investigate unexplained
laws of Nature and the powers latent in man.

The Founders did not conceal
the fact that the support, guidance and blessings of the Masters of the Wisdom
are available in formulating the organization and its philosophy. The following
statements appearing in the communications of the Masters of the Wisdom coming
are worth noting here: 

The chief object of the
Theosophical Society is not so much to gratify individual aspirations as to
serve our fellow men. (1880) 

Universal
Brotherhood is the only secure foundation for Universal morality. If it be a dream it is at least a noble one
for mankind; and it is the aspiration of the true adept. (1880)

Methods of
Occultism have yet to conform to altered times and circumstances. --- The only
object to be striven for is the amelioration of the condition of Man by the
spread of truth suited to the various stages of his development and that of the
country he inhabits and belongs to. --- In our brotherhood, all personalities
sink into one idea --- abstract right and abstract practical justice to all.
--- Each branch, often members of the same branch, study Esoteric philosophy
each his own way, yet always knitting together brotherly hands for the
furtherance of the common objects of the Society. (1883)

The Declared Objects are in
a broad frame as already suggested:

 1.To form a nucleus 2.To encourage study3.To
investigate latent powers.

All the three go together,
not one after the other, hand in hand and concurrent.



Madame Blavatsky, the chief
founder of the Theosophical Society and an early expounder of its philosophy
has further elucidated thus:

Theosophy has to
inculcate ethics; it has to purify the soul, if it would relieve the physical
body, whose ailments, save cases of accidents, are all hereditary.

It is not by
studying Occultism for selfish ends, for the gratification of one's personal
ambition, pride or vanity, that one can ever reach the true goal: that of
helping suffering mankind. Not is it by studying one single branch of the
esoteric philosophy that a man becomes an occultist, but by studying, if not
mastering them all. (Key to Theosophy, 1888)

The Theosophical Society
continues to exist to day, after one century and quarter, carrying on the
activities outlines severally and uniquely. It is an international body with
branches spread over 70 nations of the world.



Dr N C Ramanujachary




















Literature is for Portrayal of Philosophic Ideas.







Dr N C Ramanujachary(Srivirinchi)

Besant Gardens, The Theosophical Society, Adyar, Chennai 600 020 

Phone: 044/24913584, Mobile: 9444963584


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