Theos-Talk Archives (May 1996 Message tl00301)

Sy:

On any and all questions you have raised, the one and only person who can
respond is Mrs. Radha Burnier. It may not be a bad idea to write to her
direct; just a suggestion because by doing so there is a great likelyhood
of getting some response.

Any official response from ES is very very rare indeed. The one I say was
a response from N. Sri Ram which was published in the Canadian
Theosophist years ago.

Has any one has any ideas?

	...doss


On Sun, 5 May 1996, Sy Ginsburg wrote:

> Alexis writes:
>
> " I think that, in the future,
> when I feel impelled by anger or resentment to write things that will
> continue this exchange, I'm just going to remain silent and stay nothing and
> hope others may see fit to respond in my place. I will respond only in cases
> in which I can be of service to someone."
>
> Alexis, I am one of majority of TI members and Theos-L subscribers who are
> lurkers.  Part of it is that some of us just do not have the time to read, let
> alone respond, to all the messages.  But the Theos bulletin boards and TI are an
> invaluable means for theosophists to keep in touch with one another.  Without
> it, we would only have our personal friendships around the country/world and the
> missives coming from the various umbrella headquarters organizations which are
> intended, more often than not, to ignore or stifle debate on significant issues.
>
> Alexis, many of your postings are thoughtful and incisive.  As I am involved in
> TSA politics as a Lodge president and national director candidate, I am for now
> especially interested in views about the TS itself.  I am mindful of your
> posting of May 2, 1996 "Re: Everyone is Excluded" to which I had not yet
> responded because I have been giving a great deal of thought to what you wrote.
> I refer to your comments about the Esoteric School (E.S.) which you characterize
> as the "Eminence gris" of the T.S.  Although not an E.S. member myself, not
> having felt the need for it in my own spiritual discipline, I have in general
> had the greatest respect for theosophists who wish to dedicate themselves to
> service to the T.S.  It was my understanding that it is just this that is, or
> should be, the motivating factor for E.S. membership, and not some misguided
> personality driven need to have a connection to the Masters (Illuminati) through
> such membership.
>
> I am beginning to wonder if you may not be correct about your current
> characterization of the E.S. and perhaps its leadership.  It appears to me that
> E.S. leaders may be abusing their standing to manipulate good and loyal people,
> through threat of expulsion and with it some nonsense about being abandoned by
> the Masters, if they do not toe the line as set down by the E.S. leaders.  I
> find it difficult to otherwise explain the nonsensical rationalization put out
> to justify the retroactive disencfrachisement of TSA members from voting in the
> current national election, as well as the earlier illegal attempt to abrogate
> the autonomy of TSA Lodges through flawed bylaw changes.
>
> As President of a Lodge with 120 members, 3 of whom are E.S. members, I have a
> responsibility for all our members including those who choose to also
> participate in the E.S. I know the current thinking of the E.S. members who are
> in our Lodge.  We could undoubtedly have more E.S. enrollees from amongst our
> membership, but we need to know wny. We need to know the agenda of the E.S.  I
> would very much like to hear from other E.S. members about the role of the E.S.
> in its relationship to T.S.A. or for that matter any other theosophical umbrella
> groups if you are inolved in any others.  Here are some questions about the E.S.
>
> Do you seek to and effectively control the T.S.(Adyar) and the T.S.A. both of
> whom are headed, coincidentally or not, by E.S. members?
> Are you truly dedicated to service to the T.S.?
> If so, what does that service mean?
> Do you see yourself as a kind of elite within the T.S.?
> Do you see other T.S. members who are not also E.S. members as less than equal?
> Are you unflinchingly loyal to an E.S. hierarchy?
> Are you willing to abrogate the 2nd & 3rd declared objects of the T.S., to
> protect the E.S.?
> For example, would you expel a T.S. Lodge for studying the Alice Bailey or Sai
> Baba teachings?
>
> I would appreciate a thoughtful dialogue on the role of the E.S., especially
> from those who participate in it. In my one on one questions to members and
> officers of the E.S., I feel that I have largely gotten obfuscated
> answers.
>
> Sy Ginsburg, President
> The Theosophical Society in Miami & South Florida
>
>