Theos-Talk Archives (August 1997 Message tl00507)

At 06:42 PM 8/22/97 -0400, you wrote:
>----------
>> From: Jerry Schueler <gschueler@netgsi.com>
>> Subject: Is Theosophy a Religion?
>> Date: Thursday, August 21, 1997 7:02 PM
>> 
>> >The message of Theosophy - on the practical side - is very similiar to
>> other
>> >philosophies/religions - and it is: to be kind, treat others as you would
>> >like to be treated, be compassionate, always recognize the divinity in all
>> >of us.
>> 
>> You may be right in what you say here, but I really can't see where
>> Theosophy as such comes into play with it.  This is exactly the
>> "message" of Christianity, Islam, and virtually every world religion.
>> So, what do we need Theosophy for, if its just another religion?
>> I see it as something very different. Its message, to me, is to go
>> out there are discover Truth yourself. You won't find it in books,
>> but you can find it within yourself, if you know how to look. 
><snip>
>
>I think it all gets lost in the power plays - who wants to be on top and
>who wants to wear the red hat.  Compassion goes the window and
>the recognition of divinity is lost in the shape of one's haircut.
>How many followers do we have?  How much money did we collect?
>How many buildings do we have?  How many women can we keep
>servile while we play boss?  How many pieces of land can we grab?
>I could go on, but it's all the same lies.
>
>A. Safron
>
>BTW, Bart, I'm talking to you again, for what it's worth and that
>ain't probably much.  I never thought it was a big deal not to 
>reply to you for a while.  I would think you would be glad. :-)
----------------------

MKR writes:

In the days of HPB, when much of the critical work was done, all these
problems were not there. In those days there was very little money and those
who worked did for love of the work and not the fame or money. Here is an
interesting quote from "Candles in the Sun" which is very interesting.

" Two very important recruits joined the T.S., that year (1911): Miss. Mary
Dodge, and Muriel, Countess De La Warr. Miss. Dodge was an immensely rich
American and, without exception, the most nobly generous woman I have ever
met. She was crippled with arthritis, and was in a wheel-chair all the time
I knew her. She had known my husband before I met her. He had gone on a
cruise with her in the Baltic in 1906. Soon after I joined the T.S., she
invited me to come and see her at Warwick House, St. James's, which she had
rented and shared with Lady De La Warr, her close friend. Miss. Dodge had
been interested in Spiritualism, and knew something of Theosophy. I gave her
a glowing account of what it meant to me, and soon afterwards she and Lady
De La Warr both became members. From that moment Miss. Dodge poured out her
fortune in the furtherance of Theosophy and in helping individual
Theosophists. There was no limit to her kindness and generosity, but I
regret to say that in my opinion her generosity was a great factor in the
degeneration of T.S. Until then, those who worked for the Society were
inspired by a spirit of self-sacrifice -- they worked for love -- but with
the advent of Miss Dodge's fortune a new spirit crept in. The wildest
schemes were financed by her and salaries were given to all who worked at
headquarters. When, later, another recent convert to Theosophy, who was also
an ardent Socialist, insisted on trade union rates of wages being paid to
all workers, there began a scramble among Theosophists for lucrative jobs.
This is not intended in any way as a slur on Miss. Dodge, but merely as an
example of how money can corrupt a spiritual organization."

I am sure there will be those who will argue how money is all important and
so on. They are entitled to their opinion.

YMDMV

.........mkr