Theos-Talk Archives (January 1998 Message tl00151)

At 04:11 PM 1/24/1998 EST, you wrote:
>About 15 years ago, I tried to join the ES but was rejected because I was a
>Sai Baba devotee. The ES warden, who did the rejecting and who is now
>deceased, said I couldn't join and at the same time be a member of another
>"arcane school". I asked her if  Sai Baba was an "arcane school" and she said
>yes. I then asked, "If I were a Hindu and had a guru, like Ramana Maharshi,
>Ramakrishna or Sri Aurobindo, would that be considered being a member of an
>arcane school?". Again, she said yes. I could see the conversation was going
>nowhere so I had to return the application form and some other things that
she
>requested.
>
>I had some ES supporters in my attempt to join and they were somewhat
>chagrined and upset about what happened and they apologized to me. This was
>unnecessary, however. I held no animosity towards this woman. She was an
>80-year old, old-line theosophist whose spiritual parameters were limited
to a
>theosophical hierarchy of approved Masters and Adepts. So I just left it at
>that.
>
>I've always found that a Lodge with an ES chapter was always very vibrant and
>faithful to the spread broadcast of theosophical teachings. An ES chapter
>always seems to add a change in vibration for the better.
>
>Lmhem111

I am very shocked to hear this. This is the first time I hear someone being
asked about their present beliefs and if you are not willing to give up one
of them up, then you cannot be admitted to ES. This is what all the
(exclusive) religions want and demand -- except perhaps Buddhism. Did this
incident happen in the US or in what part of the World?.

To the best of my knowledge, Sai Baba does not have a Arcane School.
Correct me  if I am wrong. Giving reasons backed by verifiable factual
information.

I have several friends who are followers of Sai Baba and are doing
wonderful work for Humanity.  As a matter of fact when we had a local
situation wherein the County was cutting off access to health care to the
indigent and uninsured poor, I took on the local Hospital District and the
County Court single handed, the only person who responded to come with me
and speak up for the indigent and poor was a Sai Baba devotee and not a
single member of TS showed any interest. Of course each one has their own
(valid) reasons why someone may act or may not act. I am just stating the
simple facts. Also, the Sai Baba devotee had no axes to grind and is
financially affluent and I can depend on to call for any help at any time
for any purpose. As recently some weeks ago I helped some of the devotees
to start a project to support funding rural health care for the poor in
India and one devotee has notified in his wedding invitation that instead
of gifts, contribution may be sent for this humanitarian project.

In India, everyone may have one or several Gurus or other holy men/women to
whom a person may relate to. I have never heard anyone mentioning in India
that you cannot join ES if you are a follower of X, Y, or Z. I suppose
either the 80 year old women was wrong or the rules have changed.

The only way to verify is to send a letter to the International President
requesting clarification. I would really be surprised anyone else on these
lists coming up with an authoritative answer. If anyone in authority can
answer here, that is most welcome and will clear the air. Not clearing the
air will only leave a cloud over the situation and that would not help.

In the context of the above, I am attaching the famous 1900 letter in which
the Master is very very clear as to what He feels:

=================
THE E.S.T. MUST BE REFORMED SO AS TO BE AS UNSECTARIAN AND CREEDLESS AS THE
T.S. THE RULES MUST BE FEW AND SIMPLE AND ACCEPTABLE TO ALL. No one has the
right to claim authority over a pupil or his conscience. Ask him not what
he believes. ALL WHO ARE SINCERE AND PURE MINDED MUST HAVE ADMITTANCE.

=============================================================

Ramadoss

THE 1900 LETTER

A psychic and a pranayamist who has got confused by the vagaries of the
members. The T.S. and its members are slowly manufacturing a creed. Says a
Thibetan proverb "credulity breeds credulity and ends in hypocrisy." How
few are they who can know anything about us. Are we to be propitiated and
made idols of. IS THE WORSHIP OF A NEW TRINITY MADE UP OF THE BLESSED M.,
UPASIKA AND YOURSELF TO TAKE THE PLACE OF EXPLODED CREEDS. WE ASK NOT FOR
THE WORSHIP OF OURSELVES. THE DISCIPLE SHOULD IN NO WAY BE FETTERED. BEWARE
OF AN ESOTERIC POPERY. The intense desire to see Upasika reincarnate at
once has raised a misleading Mayavic ideation. Upasika has useful work to
do on higher planes and cannot come again so soon. The T.S. must safely be
ushered into the new century. YOU HAVE FOR SOME TIME BEEN UNDER DELUDING
INFLUENCES. SHUN PRIDE, VANITY AND LOVE OF POWER. BE NOT GUIDED BY EMOTION
BUT LEARN TO STAND ALONE. BE ACCURATE AND CRITICAL RATHER THAN CREDULOUS.
THE MISTAKE OF THE PAST IN THE OLD RELIGIONS MUST NOT BE GLOSSED OVER WITH
IMAGINARY EXPLANATIONS. THE E.S.T. MUST BE REFORMED SO AS TO BE AS
UNSECTARIAN AND CREEDLESS AS THE T.S. THE RULES MUST BE FEW AND SIMPLE AND
ACCEPTABLE TO ALL. No one has the right to claim authority over a pupil or
his conscience. Ask him not what he believes. ALL WHO ARE SINCERE AND PURE
MINDED MUST HAVE ADMITTANCE. The crest wave of intellectual advancement
must be taken hold of and guided into spirituality. It cannot be forced
into beliefs and emotional worship. The essence of the higher thoughts of
the members in their collectivity must guide all action in the T.S. and
E.S. We never try to subject to ourselves the will of another. At
favourable times we let loose elevating influences which strike various
persons in various ways. It is the collective aspect of many such thoughts
that can give the correct note of action. We show no favours. The best
corrective of error is an honest and open-minded examination of all facts
subjective and objective. MISLEADING SECRECY HAS GIVEN THE DEATH BLOW TO
NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS. The cant about "Masters" must be silently but
firmly put down. Let the devotion and service be to that Supreme Spirit
alone of which one is a part. Namelessly and silently we work and the
continual references to ourselves and the repetition of our names raises up
a confused aura that hinders our work. YOU WILL HAVE TO LEAVE A GOOD DEAL
OF YOUR EMOTIONS AND CREDULITY BEFORE YOU BECOME A SAFE GUIDE AMONG THE
INFLUENCES THAT WILL COMMENCE TO WORK IN THE NEW CYCLE. The T.S. was meant
to be the corner-stone of the future religions of humanity. To accomplish
this object those who lead must leave aside their weak predilections for
the forms and ceremonies of any particular creed and show themselves to be
true Theosophists both in inner thoughts and outward observance. The
greatest of your trials is yet to come. We watch over you but you must put
forth all your strength.

                             K.H.
PS:
    In 1900 a B. W. Mantri of India, wrote a letter to Annie Besant, then
in England, dated August 22. When A.B. opened it she found on its back some
lines in the well-known blue pencilling of the MASTER K. H. In the volume
published in 1919 by the Theosophical Publishing House of Adyar this letter
and the blue penciled lines are reproduced and are included in all
subsequent reprintings. (Letter 46, p.99. Letters from the Masters of
Wisdom, first series, 4th, 5th, 6th edition.) In the 1948 printing Mr. C.
Jinarajadasa adds some historical comments and includes also some letters
newly found and never before printed from K.H. to Laura Holloway. H.P.B.,
and Olcott.

    The penciled lines from K.H. To Mrs. Besant in the 1900 letter,
however, were never published in completeness, as ellipses dots indicate,
the editors omitting certain lines they considered too private for public
reading.

    The following now is the complete Letter, earlier omissions being
indicated in bold letters. The earnest student will study these omissions
which in context reveal the Master's fuller and clear advise. The time
indeed may be propitious for their disclosure. The first sentence evidently
has reference to Mr. B. K. Mantri.
--Ed.
[Excerpted from The Eclectic Theosophist, No. 101, September/October 1987]