Theos-Talk Archives (May 2005 Message tt00310)

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Perry Coles" <perrycoles@y...> 
wrote:
> Hi Nigel,
> It's a difficult question and as you know one that can be viewed in 
> different ways.
> 
> For me at this stage in my reasoning the Society is going to 
attract 
> people into its doors who are on a search for knowledge of a more 
> expansive and hopefully mind opening kind.
> 
> The TS libraries and book shops tend to cover the A - Z of occult 
and 
> esoteric material, from the most perhaps naïve and even fraudulent 
> channeled information to the other end of the spectrum with very 
deep 
> and profound writings from various different traditions.
> 
> TS lodges hold lectures on various esoteric subjects some of which 
to 
> me is not suitable or relevant to a theosophical lodge, none the 
less 
> most of the subjects are related to the 3 objects in some way.
> 
> Most of the members I've come across in the TS seem to me to be 
> genuine truth seekers and support freedom of speech and the concept 
> of brotherhood.
> 
> While I do not support Leadbeater or his pronouncements, I do 
support 
> members rights to study these works in a TS branch if they so 
choose 
> to do so.
> 
> I personally believe Leadbeater teachings needs to be seriously 
> compared, challenged and critiqued by students and hope this 
happens 
> more and more as time goes by and I hope that this will happen at 
> some point in the official publications.( this maybe a "forlorn 
hope")
> 
> These are some reasons why I have now come to think the Society is 
> still worth supporting even with all its problems.
> 
> Best wishes 
> 
> Perry

Dear Perry
"Difficult question" indeed, as we have ourselves discovered over the 
last few years of discussion.
It raises issues of relativism, absolutism and pragmatism, to say 
nothing of dogmatism!
When you write "of a more expansive and hopefully mind opening kind" 
does this mean expanding and opening up to anything and everything as 
actually occurs? Were Theosophical centres really intended to be 
clearing houses for all manner of subjects? Were they to be places 
where "perhaps naïve and even fraudulent channeled information" were 
to be promoted through libraries and lectures? And were they to be 
places merely of relativism and political pragmatism?
Given the Mahatmas', Chohan's and HPB's oft repeated statements this 
was certainly not the intention behind their efforts. Not that they 
were necessarily the final and absolute word on Truth but they were 
the real founders of the "modern" Theosophical movement and they did 
adopt the motto as their desired and directional ethic.
For me Theosophy is a body of profound teachings intended to help 
explain a moral imperative which might hopefully assist humanity as a 
whole towards a more considerate, selfless and harmonious way of life 
in an atmosphere of complete freedom of thought.
Too often for me this ideal of "freedom" has been misinterpreted and 
has been used as an excuse to turn Theosophical centres into 
playgrounds for the current new age flavour of the month, stimulating 
kama/manas in its innumerable self-gratifying guises. 
Moreover, from my perspective, it has been used to permit 
circumstances and "teachings" to go unchallenged to the extent that 
the Adyar TS now finds itself in a political minefield, forced to 
defend the indefensible and unable to extricate itself, even if it so 
chose, for fear of offending and losing thousands of "true believers."
 
>From my perspective, were the Adyar TS to rename itself as "The 
Eclectic Spiritual Development Society" it would fulfil that mandate 
to perfection. There are many well intentioned and compassionate 
members in the various Lodges and Branches throughout the world who 
work tirelessly for the good of all beings. But there are many other 
organisations whose role it is to do just this. 

For me the TS was entrusted with a different dharma which might 
indeed one day lead its members and all humanity towards supporting 
these other organisations, without losing its original raison d'etre, 
that of building "a new continent of thought" based in mindful, 
conscious awareness of the great mysteries of life.
Very best wishes
Nigel