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Re: theos-talk Some reasons why there is decline in membership of Theosophical Society

Jun 15, 2011 01:17 PM
by MKR


The experience I had with ULT lodge in India several years ago was not any
different when I visited them couple of times. Of course if I am visiting
now, the reception may be different because there are several on this list
who know me at least by name.

It looks like there is some kind of fundamental pervasive problem which is
causing this kind of reception.

MKR

On Wed, Jun 15, 2011 at 1:57 PM, M. Sufilight
<global-theosophy@_um9c5YEOh6Qe9_7OE6EPN11DgVjxaQmllALENMFLDIwPPLMn-6R2r9pPHdtIDEOkXEIc9JgsdthO4YJAblPq9TS.yahoo.invalid>wrote:

>
>
> Dear MKR and readers
>
> My views are:
>
> Interesting to read that.
> Now you got me going a bit...
> A few months ago I read an online article from one of the well-known local
> lecturers and authors here in Denmark, - a chair of one of the
> Theosophically related groups - though it is mainly an Alice A. Bailey
> group. He went to TS Adyar in I think 2008 or so, to visit some of the
> oficials - with the attempt to maybe if possible to affiliate his group with
> TS Adyar - or - at least to coordinate and exchange views in the name of
> compassion. I will throw his name, because I think he do not mind. He is
> called Soeren Hauge, and have authored a number of books on the Theosophical
> Society and Lucis Trust (the last was called "Living Wisdom" or in Danish
> "Levende Visdom", about 700 pages on theosophy, Blavatsky and Alice A.
> Bailey etc. etc. - mainly about Alice A. Bailey teachings) and also one on
> the Rosicrucians (the Sir Bacon - Shakespeare connection), - that is here in
> Denmark. (Well, I do not agree with his Alice A. Bailey leanings, a teaching
> which I find problematic and secterian in nature - even when Lucis Trust on
> their website --- astonishingly call themselves non-secterian....But I know
> the fellow and have meet him several times when I was into the Alice A.
> Bailey groups (well before Dan Caldwell told me that there was something
> else to look for, smile)...Well, Soeren was and is always ready with a
> smile, friendly fellow.) So I was surprised when I read his article.
>
> He expressed a quite similar experience when he arrived as teh one given by
> Beatrice Wood.
> His experience is in fact almost a copy of the below version. I find this
> to be interesting.
>
> Maybe TS Adyar and TS as such aught to create - a group named Theosophical
> Order of Service for New Members?
> And then lighten up a little....Well?
>
> -----------
>
> Any ordinary group always welcome new members. Even large coorporations or
> small companies do something like this. Also the local "weaving" club or
> what ever people use their spare time on. But maybe there is something
> special happening, when one become a real non-secterian member? (smile.)
>
> M. Sufilight
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: MKR
> To: theos-talk
> Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 8:58 PM
> Subject: theos-talk Some reasons why there is decline in membership of
> Theosophical Society
>
> We have discussed the hot potato issue of declining membership in the TS
> outside India. No one has examined this issue and pinpointed the
> fundamental
> problems that is reflected in the declining membership. It looks like one
> of
> the key issues may be the kind of treatment that visitors to TS get. Here
> is
> an account recited in Joseph Rossâ recent book - Krotona, Theosophy and
> Krishnamurti.
>
> Beatrice Wood writes her experience for the Messenger, October
> 1927, that the first time she attended a theosophical lodge room
> meeting, no one welcomed her at the door, no one bothered where
> she sat, no one smiled, no one seemed conscious of the thrilling
> excitement of coming into contact with members of the Society for
> the first time. She sank into a seat by an empty row of chairs, while
> others avoided the places beside her; they had friends they preferred
> to sit by. After the lecture was over she did not leave immediately,
> but stood in the middle of the room, hoping that one or two people
> might talk to her. However, the members were too busy discussing
> occult progress, and their self-interest in comparing notes. There was
> nothing left for the woman to do but to walk home, more lonely
> than when she had come. Beatrice states that this is a true story.
> She felt that the Masters would not allow one hungry soul to pass
> unwelcomed, if They did, they were failing in their sacred duty.
>
> [Wood, Beatrice, ïOur Attitude to New Members', 1he Messenger, Oct., 1927,
> Vol.xv, n5, p.109 ..
> 40]
>
> I am sure there are many who may have had similar experiences. This kind of
> experience is not limited to the USA. When I first formally joined a lodge
> in India, the man in charge of the lodge activities, while being polite was
> very aloof as if I am some kind of stranger not to be befriended with. He
> was an older man, probably a long time member and was also a member of the
> ES; but never took any interest to do anything to encourage a new member.
> It
> did not matter to me since I was exposed to theosophy for a long time.
>
> A second experience I had several years later was with a long time member
> who was active in the esoteric section as well as Co-masonry and had
> resided
> in Adyar for several years. Yet when I tried to meet him personally on an
> issue in which I thought he may be helpful, he avoided me, only for reasons
> known to him.
>
> It is these kind of episodes that is harming the growth of TS. I think all
> officers in lodges need to be trained in some of the basic interpersonal
> skills so that they can practice Brotherhood before they launch on
> meditation and other exercises meant for spiritual growth.
>
> MKR
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>  
>


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