Re: Theos-World Re: Forget HPB & her writing, consider Besant as founder & move on
Dec 18, 2005 11:37 AM
by Jerry Hejka-Ekins
Dear Anand,
Anand Gholap wrote:
Yes, that is a big problem. By efforts, they can inspire more people
to pay annual dues and so remain members. Important thing is people
should study Theosophy from RIGHT books, understand it and positive
change inside should reflect in their behaviour and speech. Creating
more Blavatsky-fundamentalists is not good.
I am afraid that you might be misinformed about Quest Magazine. While
it is not about Besant and Leadbeater, it is also not about Blavatsky.
While TSA does publish books by Blavatsky, Besant and Leadbeater, most
of their books are by more current authors on other subjects--such as
Buddhism, mysticism, mythology, Feng Shui etc. What I am saying is that
TSA does not promote Blavatsky any more than Besant and Leadbeater. And
they promote books on many other subjects besides.
If restructuring was and is being done, it should produce positive
results. But facts you told say that this restructuring proved
disastrous.
They achieved their objectives. That is, to centralize power and
minimize autonomy. Traditionally, Theosophy was promulgated through
independent lodges where members gathered and studied, and discussed the
teachings in Theosophical books. Through restructuring, most of the
Lodges have disappeared and members have to rely upon their own
resources, or join the "National Lodge" which becomes the sole voice.
Best
Jerry
Anand Gholap wrote:
Dear Jerry,
I am interested in knowing what causes you have in mind
that "should
revive Theosophy in many countries."
At present I won't write about these causes as that will hinder
progress of Theosophical movement. In future I might speak about it.
As for TSA: I only mentioned that membership is increasing,
apparently
as a result of their efforts to attract new members. What this
means is
that more people will be paying in membership dues and receiving
the
Quest magazine, the content of which has little if anything to do
with
the kind of Theosophy you would like to see revised.
Yes, that is a big problem. By efforts, they can inspire more people
to pay annual dues and so remain members. Important thing is people
should study Theosophy from RIGHT books, understand it and positive
change inside should reflect in their behaviour and speech. Creating
more Blavatsky-fundamentalists is not good.
At this point, in
their membership campaign, TSA has only about 50% of the
membership it
had during the 1980s under Dora Kunz. Since that time TSA has
been in a
process of restructuring itself so that the percentage of members
attached to a Lodge is decreasing and the percentage of unattached
members is increasing. The overall decease in membership occurred
during this restructuring period.
If restructuring was and is being done, it should produce positive
results. But facts you told say that this restructuring proved
disastrous.
Actually, I share your optimism that Theosophy will continue, and
will
have many revivals and declines over the centuries. However, I am
not
certain whether those revivals of Theosophy will be occurring in
the
Theosophical organizations, though I'm sure the organizations
themselves
will continue their own cycles of growth and decline for a very
long
time. I am also not sure whether this movement will in the
distant
future be called Theosophy, or even be associated with Blavatsky,
Besant, Leadbeater etc.
At present Theosophical movement is in bad condition. But Masters
might do something to improve condition. Also Leadbeater, with his
clairvoyance told many correct things about future. And he has
written that after 600 years also TS will exist and that time it
will be in very healthy condition. I think he is correct. But there
will always be ups and downs.
Anand Gholap
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