Theos-Talk Archives (April 1996 Message tl00258)

>In message <m0u7R10-000Jf7C@slip.net>, alexis dolgorukii
><alexei@slip.net> writes
>>Alan:
>>
>>I'm writing because I am wondering something. O.K. I am going to write a
>>letter to the people in Moscow who were rejected so cruelly by Radha. But,
>>other than commiserate with them, what am I to say? Is THEOSOPHY
>>INTERNATIONAL ready to replace Adyar in the eyes of those poor rejected
>>Russians?
>
>Reply: Only if we can offer a structure - perhaps along the lines of my
>recent suggestions.

We have to be very careful about *any* structure. We already have a very
efficient structure: the internet, that brings us all together and in
almost instant communication. I don't mind saying that I am a member of TI
in Gilroy, but I'm also more than that. I believe that we're lucky that we
don't have elections, power-structure, etc. TI is a giant lodge that is in
session all the time. We are free to say what we please, and I think that
we should all exercise that freedom responsibly. Particularly if more and
more people start watching what we do. I just wrote to Tran-Thi-Kim-Dieu,
Chairperson of the European Federation of the TS, she is in Krotona now,
and told her what we are doing at TI. Copied her the opening statement with
the Three Objects, with the rest of the document. I pointed out to her the
differences between us and the traditional TS. And invited her to see what
we do.

We at TI, are members of several theosophical groups. I see that as very
positive. Like John said in one of his postings, 'we are the city, and the
city contains many houses'. We shouldn't burn any of our houses, since some
of its occupants may be our brothers.

>
>> I think I need some really detailed "Introduction to Theosophy
>>International" to send them along with my letter.
>
>Reply: JRC was working on something at one time, but depending on
>response concerning my reply above, I could possibly put something
>together ...

If you can get something else that is better...great, but the statement
that we have is very theosophical...very inclusive rather exclusivist.

>
>> Also, we need to know, if
>>we're inviting them to join us, just what it is we are inviting them to
>>join. I mean these are Russians not Anglo-Saxons. How do you think they'll
>>react if we tell them that "We're an amorphous, very loosly organized group
>>af anarchically inclined extreme individualists, who support the "Three
>>Objects" (as re-defined), and on occasion morally support one another". Do
>>you think that will be enough for them?
>
>Reply: No.
>
>> We don't really know anything at all
>>about the Russian Theosophists other than that they've suffered. For
>>instance; how many of them are there? For instance; what is their exact
>>relationship with MMe Vigneron? For instance how did they actually become
>>Theosophists? Have they been so all along in secret? Or, conversely, is this
>>something they've jst found? Or, is it some combination of the two?
>>
>>The thing I don't want to do is send these pooor folks a nice, polite,
>>friendly, but meaningless letter. I have to offer them "something"..but
>>what?
>
>Reply:  See above! As some members, especially Alexis, JRC and myself
>hope to see TI grow into something larger and more pueposeful than a
>purely inward-looking internet chat-line, a structured but non-
>hierarchical "family" could welcome them.  It will be little use saying
>to them, "Welcome, we'd love to talk to you if you have computers and
>can write intelligently in English via the Internet, assuming you have
>modems, software, etc., etc., etc."

Hopefully there will be somebody with a PC in that group.

>
>> Most of the people who are presently members of Theosophy
>>International, havn't the vaguest idea what life may have been like inRussia
>>during 78 years of grinding, mindless oppression, and deadly foreign
>>invasion. I think a Russian who is a Theosophist is a heroic person. After
>>all in the West (and other places)Theosophists are viewed with some
>>amusement, but in the Soviet Union, being a Theosophist could eartn one, at
>>least, beatings, or The Gulag, or a Bullet to the back of the
>>head. Being a "secret" theosophist was, like being a "secret Jew" in the
>>Spain of the inquisition, an act of considerable bravery, and these folks
>>deserve something better than they've gotten.
>>
>>I'm sending this to you becuase you'rr the "chief instigator of
>>Theosophy International and I want your feedback. I also wouldn't mind
>>if you put this on the board so that other TI people can react to it.I
>>know this, in the letter I'm not going to say anything about being
>>Blavatsky's cousin. Most Russians learn about the Dolgorukii in school
>>(even under the Communists) as without the Rurickovitchii there is no
>>Russia. And so the only thing I think my name will do is show them a
>>welcoming Russian presence in the West.
>>
>>I await more input, the translating is in place.
>
>Reply: The input I would like to see is a positive response to my
>suggestions for a proposed structure.  TI members: will you go along
>with this without hair-splitting at this stage?  Can we set up the
>basics, even if a little imperfect at this early stage, and develop the
>refinements as they are seen to be needed when we start to *practice*
>what we are preaching (so to speak)?
>
>.. can Alexis say to the Russians - *or anyone else* - "I belong to TI
>in San Francisco (or wherever); Alan belongs to TI in Bristol, England,
>Rudy belongs to TI in Gilroy," and so on?
>
>.. can we set up or co-operate with existing publishing or book-
>providing organisations to offer them something more than just a
>friendly word?
>
>.. can we ask *them* to help *us* in spreading the TI ethos around the
>world?
>>
>>alexis , MTI, FTSA
>
>I have posted this to theos-l as the quickest way of replying to Alexis'
>questions, as it arrived in my theos-l mailbox.  The TI members agreed
>that I should co-ordinate our work, even (to quote one post) facilitate
>it.  Will you, If you are a TI member, agree to the revised statement
>*as is* for the time being, together with a structure along the lines
>suggested.?
>
>I propose, as there is a real need and a real opportunity to respond to
>it, to ask you all for a simple vote: YES or NO?
>
>Please reply ASAP to ti@nellie2.demon.co.uk with a simple reply:
>
>Revised statement and structure for TI: YES
>
>or
>
>Revised statement and structure for TI: NO

I need to know what type of structure we're proposing. To me this is very
critical.

>
>Okay, we may need to sort out some bugs as we go along, but the Russians
>- and maybe others we don't realise - need us *now.*  Whatever our
>discussions about the nature of freedom might be, their experience of
>one form of it is pretty d... immediate and deserving of a "brotherly"
>and "family" response - and soon.
>
>We have some fine words on a fine Web page - can we put them into
>*action.*?
>
>You tell me.
>>
>Alan
>---------
>THEOSOPHY INTERNATIONAL:
>Ancient Wisdom for a New Age
>TI@nellie2.demon.co.uk

THEOSOPHY INTERNATIONAL
<a matter of consciousness>

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