Theos-Talk Archives (June 1996 Message tl00954)

At 09:01 AM 6/27/96 -0400, you wrote:
>Dear Alexis
>
>The Esoteric Section in England is a bit of a joke -
>apart from the fact that they have considerable assets.

Michael:

The "Esoteric Sections" are more than a bit of a joke, but they are also
ringing the death knell of the society. They differ only as the national
character of the countries they're in differ. But, they all do have
considerable assets, as do the national sections. I, for one, am slowly
coming to believe that under the direction of the Adyar E.S. they are
attempting to "get rid" of all non-E.S. members. Their actions would
indicate this clearly, but I, for one, can really ascertain no motivation,
though my domestic partner thinks they may be acting under the guidance of
some malevolent non-physical entity ( or perhaps the hallucination of such).
>
>Recently we had a new "Secretary" for the esoteric section
>who discovered that a good many of the names on her list were
>of people who were actually dead!  Still, perhaps being in the
>esoteric section means they can communicate with the dead!
>She is now conducting a recruiting drive - would you believe -
>as they existing membership appears to have an average age of
>eighty.

Here too, the only problem is one wonders if some of them are aware they
passed over?
>
>Mind you, the same can be said of the TS itself, here in England,
>particularly the administration - where two members on the
>Executive Council of 15 are over eighty.  It is the administration
>here in England which is rigid and concerned with political
>shenanigans, stifling the spiritual growth of the society.

Here too.
>
>The same is not true of many of the lodges, scattered throughout
>the country.  Some of them are very lively indeed and have a
>much younger membership.  Many of them are talking about becoming
>independent groups rather than part of the whole TS in England.
>This may be just talk, and it may change when a new General
>Secretary is elected next year - depends who it is.

Well, if they study Alice Bailey or Zen they may find themselves actually
independent because Adyar has ejected several Lodges for "Un-theosophical
behaviour".
>
>That is, if there is a TS in England next year.  The present
>administration have almost bankrupted the TS with their
>incompetence. The trouble is most of them have no knowledge of
>business or finance and they have continually made the wrong
>decisions with their investments.  The other problem they have
>inherited - not their fault - is an unwieldy headquarters building
>which is expensive to run, and difficult to sell, and costs them
>far more than they collect in membership dues each year.
>They also have a white elephant of a country estate, dearly loved by
>the elderly members who live there, but making a steady loss
>every year.  At the moment this is covered by the investments
>but the question is for how long?

The TSA hasn't got those problems it's really over-funded! It's also
dreadfully mean (in the British sense of the word) with it's monies.
>
>I know this is not confidential information.  It is available to
>all members over here if they wish to look for it.  However, I
>had first had experience of all this because for two years I was
>National Treasurer.  I got out because of the political in-fighting
>and the lust for power.  I now run an independent group here in
>York.
>
>I still care about theosphy (with a small "t") and spend a
>considerable amount of my time lecturing to lodges and groups
>throughout Britain.
>
Michael: A lot of us care very deeply about small "t" theosophy, but we are
subjected to the same kind of persecution by super-annuated Theosophists who
are unused to any kind of disagreement. They'd much rather sit around
discussing Devachan, and Nirmanakaya Buddhas, etc. but any questions as to
what theosophy actually is, or where it's going, are seen as divisive,
disruptive, rude, and un-brotherly. But, we "little "T" folks are not going
to go away.

>As for the magazines - I already have from the States, Gnosis, Quest,
>and publications from Pasadena and Point Loma.  If you know of any
>others I would be grateful for names and addresses.
>In England I have Kindred Spirit, Prediction etc.
>
>Best wishes - Michael
>
>MICHAEL RAINGER BOOKS
>22 Prices Lane
>York YO2 1AL
>England
>
>Tel:01904 670203
>E-Mail: rainger@Delphi.com
>
Michael:

I am a hopeless bibliophile, if you have a catalog I'd love to receive it!
snail mail address:Alexis Dolgorukii   Tel: 415 - 861 - 1936
                   16-A Henry Street
                   San Francisco, Ca.
                   94114-1215