Theos-Talk Archives (April 1996 Message tl00872)

Let me but in with a response to some of the points raised.

1. The founders of Theosophical Society were not vegetarians. But later
leaders are. As Alan mentioned there is more vegetarians in the TS per capita.

2. Theosophy - Theo-sophia - Divine Wisdom itself is not defined and does
not even appear in the three objects of the Society. So no belief in any of
the theories is required.

3. Each member is given the widest lattitude to believe what one wants. The
requirement for membership is being in sympathy with the first object of the
society viz universal brotherhood.

4. The members of the Theosophical Society all over the world have been very
active in Vegetarian movement and other related areas such as animal rights,
vivisection etc.

As one msg mentioned, please hang around and you will find an organization
unlike any you may have run into.

        ...doss


At 08:50 AM 4/21/96 -0400, you wrote:
>Why would a professing theosophist NOT be a vegetarian?
>
>Seems to me that what "theosophy" is today
>(if I can extrapolate rationally) is (by OPERATIVE definition
>rather than conceptual definition) the sum total of what
>is done by those who choose this as a primary identification,
>and therefore changes with history.
>
>IF the early theosophists were all vegetarians, and many
>today just want a little more cognitive latitude, then what
>we are seening is PEOPLE who want cognitive latitude
>and chance upon theosophical societies and therefore
>opt to stay around, calling themselves theosophists
>according to their own understanding.
>
>The questions I would have are:
>        How much are such people "in dialogue with" the
>        earliest founders of the theosophical movement, and
>        how is nonvegetarianism justified in a context in which
>        recognition of the personal status of each jiva is
>        crucial to the meanings theosophists espouse?
>        (Or is this meaning lost, and the movement is
>        perhaps rapidly becoming a place to read
>        the books about esoteric theories about the
>        supposed intentions of the practitioners of
>        rituals and concepts?)
>
>Tell me if this seems true to your observations and experience?
>
>                        - Maynard S. Clark
>
>At 01:44 AM 4/21/96 -0400, you wrote:
>>At 03:43 PM 4/20/96 -0400, you wrote:
>>>Are theosophists vegetarians?
>>>
>>>I always thought so.
>>>If that has changed, I'm on the wrong list.
>>>
>>>Please RSVP with a positive response.
>>>(My reflection is that negative responses would be wrong.)
>>>
>>>- Maynard S. Clark
>>>
>>>Mr. Clark:
>>
>>Some Theosophists are vegetarians, and some are not. Theosophists have no
>>"required status".
>>
>>alexis dolgorukii
>>
>>
>>
>
>