Theos-Talk Archives (November 2006 Message tt00251)

In a message dated 11/4/2006 8:12:39 AM Central Standard Time,  
carlosaveline@terra.com.br writes:

The  theosophical movement is not ritualistic and this is for strong reasons. 
 



No, nor should it be.  But there are individual Theosophists who, for  
whatever reason known only to the Lords of Karma, are drawn to ritual practice  and 
thus it would be inevitable that the two would get mixed in some why.   And if 
those people find some comfort or purpose in that there is no reason to  deny 
them.
 
Personally I find ritual to be on a scale running from boring to  repulsive.  
I object to Leadbeater not so much because of his behavior  because that is 
long past and nothing can be done about it so much as that is  ideas are just 
plain nuts.  But I cannot find in my heart to condemn those  who do like it and 
find meaning in what to me seems to be utter nonsense though  I certainly 
have had fun at their expense.
 
I don't think that there is any question that if HPB had lived longer she  
would have sat on Leadbeater.  I'm sure she would have sat on me but I run  real 
fast and no doubt had I lived in her day and been another  wordy Victorian 
(and how they could write those volumes by hand with a  steel pen is a mystery 
that I hope to never have a reason to solve) she and I  would have had a 
literary duel that you folks would still be arguing  about.  
 
But in the end Theosophy is about tolerating our differences and  disagreeing 
without condemnation.  
 
The First Object does not contain a clause saying, "except for those who  
study things we do not thing are conducive to the purity of the cause."   
Otherwise we might as well abandon the project and put towels on our heads and  go 
out and blow up the unbelievers like everyone else in the world seems bent on  
doing.
 
Chuck the Heretic


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