Theos-Talk Archives (June 1997 Message tl00066)

At 05:30 PM 6/2/97 -0400, Gerald Schueler wrote:
>>There was a mention that HPB herself knew
>>that the work of TS was to prepare the coming of a new Messenger from
>>the the Great White Lodge -- she did mention about it in her writings --
>>and if the Messenger did come, then is it possible that the work of the
>>TS is over. Just a speculation that may shock some traditionalists.
>
>Doss, why do you think only "one" messenger is coming?  It seems
>to me that several have already come, that several are here now, and
>that more will follow.  Most prefer the background to the limelight, thus
>come and go unnoticed.

You have a point. When I made the comment, I had in my mind what HPB stated
in the last chapter of Key to Theosophy dealing with the Future of TS. I am
quoting the entire chapter at the bottom of this msg.

As regards the messengers, I feel some of them work in the background and
some don't. We have the classic cases of those in the limelight are Buddha
and Christ. Also no one can tell whether one or 10 or 100 or 1000 or 10000
messengers have come (some stayed and some gone) since HPB left this world.
All we can do is speculate. So no one can be right, because we do not have
first hand knowledge. So I leave it to the readers to draw their own
conclusions in the matter.

..........doss

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THE FUTURE OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

ENQUIRER. Tell me, what do you expect for Theosophy in the future?

THEOSOPHIST. If you speak of THEOSOPHY, I answer that, as it has existed
eternally throughout the endless cycles upon cycles of the Past, so it will
ever exist throughout the infinitudes of the Future, because Theosophy is
synonymous with EVERLASTING TRUTH.

ENQUIRER. Pardon me; I meant to ask you rather about the prospects of the
Theosophical Society.

THEOSOPHIST. Its future will depend almost entirely upon the degree of
selflessness, earnestness, devotion, and last, but not least, on the amount
of knowledge and wisdom possessed by those members, on whom it will fall to
carry on the work, and to direct the Society after the death of the Founders.

ENQUIRER. I quite see the importance of their being selfless and devoted,
but I do not quite grasp how their knowledge can be as vital a factor in the
question as these other qualities. Surely the literature which already
exists, and to which constant additions are still being made, ought to be
sufficient?

THEOSOPHIST. I do not refer to technical knowledge of the esoteric doctrine,
though that is most important; I spoke rather of the great need which our
successors in the guidance of the Society will have of unbiassed and clear
judgment. Every such attempt as the Theosophical Society has hitherto ended
in failure, because, sooner or later, it has degenerated into a sect, set up
hard-and-fast dogmas of its own, and so lost by imperceptible degrees that
vitality which living truth alone can impart. You must remember that all our
members have been bred and born in some creed or religion, that all are more
or less of their generation both physically and mentally, and consequently
that their judgment is but too likely to be warped and unconsciously biassed
by some or all of these influences. If, then, they cannot be freed from such
inherent bias, or at least taught to recognise it instantly and so avoid
being led away by it, the result can only be that the Society will drift off
on to some sandbank of thought or another, and there remain a stranded
carcass to moulder and die.

ENQUIRER. But if this danger be averted?

THEOSOPHIST. Then the Society will live on into and through the twentieth
century. It will gradually leaven and permeate the great mass of thinking
and intelligent people with its large-minded and noble ideas of Religion,
Duty, and Philanthropy. Slowly but surely it will burst asunder the iron
fetters of creeds and dogmas, of social and caste prejudices; it will break
down racial and national antipathies and barriers, and will open the way to
the practical realisation of the Brotherhood of all men. Through its
teaching, through the philosophy which it has rendered accessible and
intelligible to the modern mind, the West will learn to understand and
appreciate the East at its true value. Further, the development of the
psychic powers and faculties, the premonitory symptoms of which are already
visible in America, will proceed healthily and normally. Mankind will be
saved from the terrible dangers, both mental and bodily, which are
inevitable when that unfolding takes place, as it threatens to do, in a
hot-bed of selfishness and all evil passions. Man's mental and psychic
growth will proceed in harmony with his moral improvement, while his
material surroundings will reflect the peace and fraternal good-will which
will reign in his mind, instead of the discord and strife which is
everywhere apparent around us to-day.

ENQUIRER. A truly delightful picture! But tell me, do you really expect all
this to be accomplished in one short century?

THEOSOPHIST. Scarcely. But I must tell you that during the last quarter of
every hundred years an attempt is made by those "Masters," of whom I have
spoken, to help on the spiritual progress of Humanity in a marked and
definite way. Towards the close of each century you will invariably find
that an outpouring or upheaval of spirituality -- or call it mysticism if
you prefer -- has taken place. Some one or more persons have appeared in the
world as their agents, and a greater or less amount of occult knowledge and
teaching has been given out. If you care to do so, you can trace these
movements back, century by century, as far as our detailed historical
records extend.

ENQUIRER. But how does this bear on the future of the Theosophical Society?

THEOSOPHIST. If the present attempt, in the form of our Society, succeeds
better than its predecessors have done, then it will be in existence as an
organized, living and healthy body when the time comes for the effort of the
XXth century. The general condition of men's minds and hearts will have been
improved and purified by the spread of its teachings, and, as I have said,
their prejudices and dogmatic illusions will have been, to some extent at
least, removed. Not only so, but besides a large and accessible literature
ready to men's hands, the next impulse will find a numerous and united body
of people ready to welcome the new torch-bearer of Truth. He will find the
minds of men prepared for his message, a language ready for him in which to
clothe the new truths he brings, an organization awaiting his arrival, which
will remove the merely mechanical, material obstacles and difficulties from
his path. Think how much one, to whom such an opportunity is given, could
accomplish. Measure it by comparison with what the Theosophical Society
actually has achieved in the last fourteen years, without any of these
advantages and surrounded by hosts of hindrances which would not hamper the
new leader. Consider all this, and then tell me whether I am too sanguine
when I say that if the Theosophical Society survives and lives true to its
mission, to its original impulses through the next hundred years -- tell me,
I say, if I go too far in asserting that earth will be a heaven in the
twenty-first century in comparison with what it is now!