Theos-Talk Archives (October 1995 Message tl00276)

Liesel:

>Dear Jerry,
>
>A moot question.
>If you think so little of CWLeadbeater, why do you maintain
>membership in Wheaton/Adyar?
>
>Liesel

I can't speak for Jerry, but can add a few comments of my own.
The T.S. Adyar has the widest range of beliefs of the different
theosophical groups. This is both a strength and a weakness. There
is not a requirement to believe in Leadbeater, even in its associated
E.S. (I was a member for about three years, from age 17 to 20, but
quit just before the end of my third year. The pledge that I was
shown to sign, in order to join, which I was allowed to see as a
non-member and is presumably itself not confidential, allowed one
to accept one of two alternate views. One could accept a succession
that included Besant and Leadbeater as Outer Heads, or one could
simply accept the current head of the E.S. as Outer Head. (That is,
even here one did not have to accept Leadbeater.)

Given the openness, Jerry, Rich, JRC, you, and I could coexist in
membership, if not in agreement on every idea. We can each have our
respective study groups and decry the lack of insight of others that
disagree with us. <grin>

-- Eldon