Theos-Talk Archives (September 2012 Message tt00031)

An address by Annie Besant.

Annie Besant was involved in many public issues and understood clearly the
long term goal of the launching of the Theosophical Society. The Maha
Chohan letter of 1880 lays it down very clearly. Even though Besant also
headed the Esoteric Section when she was President of TS, she was fully
aware of the importance of the building of Universal Brotherhood of
Humanity. I am quoting below a short excerpt of an address by her in 1932.
I think what she said at that time is timely even today. This appeared in
the Joseph Rossâ Krotona Vol 6 recently published.

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And the Great Plan laid down in 1880 by the then Mahachohan, when He said
that the work of the Theosophical Society was not only to give occult
information but to build a Universal Brotherhood of Humanity. The work of
each one of us surely faces us all the time. It is to diminish the
suffering of the world in all practical ways that our throbbing hearts feel
are necessary. Who wants guidance from above in this practical work? Look
around, open your eyes and see the misery of the world, the oppression, the
suppression, the degradation; sometimes those sufferings never show in any
sign on the face, but you can sense them if you look into a person's eyes.
Our work is with the world.

We have the Wisdom to guide us, and the help of the great Elder Brothers
always with us. They are always ready; They are looking through our eyes,
if we will allow them, and They will suggest what to do. It is not always
certain that any piece of work will succeed; They are always experimenting,
but They are not dashed in courage if Their schemes fail, for They are the
channel for the Will of the Logos. They have become one with that Will, and
They know that there is no greater outpouring of Life than to work for Him
above who is also Him here below.

To work to minimise suffering is one part; the other is to spread the
Wisdom. That we have done, for fifty seven years now We have given to the
world a Wisdom which inspires men to feel that there is a light which
guides wanderers in the dark, which floods the heart with illumination; it
is that Wisdom that is Theosophy. In a thousand and one ways we must create
new modes of giving the Wisdom. This work-to teach Theosophical truths-is
needed for the building. You and I are supremely blessed that we have
become, each in his measure, a guardian of the Wisdom.
As we go and do our work we shall not impose our knowledge on others; we
have not done it in the past. We must speak forcefully and from conviction,
but we offer it to others for examination. But remember this mystery: if
you have discovered Theosophy for yourself, then, even though your lips do
not speak, you will rouse the flame of Theosophy in others. I have said: if
you know for yourself. Do not think of "yourself" as only this little
brain; your consciousness in the brain on the physical plane is not
necessarily all of "yourself" One way of knowing is through this brain, but
another is through the purified heart. There are things which you can know
with the intuition which are far more the truth for you than anything which
anyone can ever say. You can know certain things for yourself. Do not
think: "I have only heard, I do not know." If that is all you have made of
your opportunities, you have accomplished but a small part.

You are in this School to discover for yourself, and if you have not
discovered, gather now your energies, purify your character, so that the
Godhead within you will flash out His intuitions, and you will know for
yourselves. That is what Krishnaji is wanting the whole world to do-to
flame in intuition. That is what the Masters ever want. Do you think that
when They speak, They want us merely to believe? They appeal to our
ordinary judgment. If we go to Them for advice, not a single one of Them
ever impose His judgment. The Master meets our troubles as one who has had
troubles himself He sympathises with us, even though He cannot lessen the
pressure of our Karma; He reverences the Divinity in us, and causes our own
wisdom to shine forth. Krishnaji said long ago that when in the presence of
the Master you feel you can achieve all things. In the presence ofthe
Master all seems clear, because it is your own Light which for the time He
is evoking, and so you see for yourself.

If you have worked for the Society, in your Lodge, in any way of
consecration which you have chosen, you will know that all the great truths
are true; and as you speak about them, people also will know, they will see
for themselves. You will not be merely quoting others, you will be speaking
out of the recesses of your heart, and you will carry conviction to some
one person at least. If you have lessened the burden of one brother-man who
is suffering, be glad.

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MKR


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