Theos-Talk Archives (January 1997 Message tl00859)

Ann:
>Eldon:
>> It's not the TS that needs salvation, it's orphan humanity that
>> has the big problem.

>This statement gives me the shivers because it smacks of
>arrogance.  And it also prevents TSA from honestly looking
>at itself and seeing where the problems really exist in it's
>own presentation to the public.

>Maybe you didn't intend to mean it that way, but I
>have heard it before in articles in TSA publications.  "All we have
>to do is sit tight another 100 years and humanity will FINALLY
>catch up to us in consciousness.  So let's just take a chair and have
>another cup of coffee till it happens."  One hundred years later
>you may find yourselves in a storefront and barely in business.
>Anyone in that orphan humanity, who are really your siblings, will
>sense that tone in TSA's approach and run like the blazes in
>the opposite direction.

>You can't sit in an ivory tower.  You have to REACH OUT TO
>PEOPLE WITH WARMTH AND FELLOWSHIP AND BE
>WILLING TO TAKE RISKS.

I've been reading with interest this topic.  Whatever the TS is doing,
obviously, it's not reaching the masses.  I could have gone on the rest of
my life not knowing what the word theosophy means, and still be happy.  I'm
educated, I'm knowledgeable of the creative field, and I'm no stranger to
philosophy.  I knew about Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, and their
disciplines, but until recently, I never knew of the Theosophical Society.
It wasn't until I borrowed a tape with the big topic COMPASSION by De
Purucker in front of it, and casually listened to it while driving, that I
started to be drawn to theosophical teachings.  His teaching was so loving,
clear and simple that I had to find that book on compassion and all the
other books by him.  I did a massive ordering from Point Loma of all the
titles by De Purucker.  If it hadn't been for that tape, I think I would
have never encountered theosophy.  Even that article in Times magazine
regarding religion on the internet never mentioned about theosophy.
Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Paganism, and even obscure out
of the world beliefs, but theosophy?  No.

I certainly did not see anything else that let me know the TS existed.  Who
knows?  Maybe we don't need the TS for "orphan humanity" to catch up.  With
my aura-meter on, my heart warms up to a friendly aura more than a superior
aura.  As someone who was briefly on this list said, "When you turn off one
channel, there are infinite numbers of channel to choose from."    Maybe
it's time for brother and sister theosophists to join in the Mardi Gras.  I
think the key is to respond to people with love and kindness instead of
arrogance.  That is all anyone wants, is to be treated kindly and
respectfully.  The ad for the Yellow Pages (?) got it right, "Reach out,
reach out and touch someone."

Speaking of ad, the TS could have an ad during the Super Bowl (BTW, gooooo
Packers!  I made $5.00).  The ad could start with a voice announcing, "The
Secret Doctrine in 3 minutes."  Then the motormouth guy from the FedEx
commercial could stand up from his chair, and read the Secret Doctrine at a
very high speed.  Then a fade out into the word The Theosophical Society,
with a priestess voice saying, "A spirit is a terrible thing to waste."

Thoa