Comments - Blavatskycentrism: true/false and good/bad - Theosophy.Net2024-03-29T07:14:55Zhttps://theosophy.net/profiles/comment/feed?attachedTo=3055387%3ABlogPost%3A79167&xn_auth=noHere is the latest financial…tag:theosophy.net,2011-09-19:3055387:Comment:798342011-09-19T18:37:37.782ZK. Paul Johnsonhttps://theosophy.net/profile/KPaulJohnson
<p>Here is the latest financial <a href="http://www.edgarcayce.org/are/edgarcayce.aspx?id=3575" target="_blank">report from the ARE website</a>, which shows a membership of 29,000. It was 17,000 when I joined in 1977, skyrocketed to almost 100,000 in the late 1980s, then shrank down to 24,000 by 2002. Complicating the picture here is that the group has become more Cayce-centric, but less Jesus-centric, removing the cross from its logo in 2007. Fighting about Jesus got quite ugly around…</p>
<p>Here is the latest financial <a target="_blank" href="http://www.edgarcayce.org/are/edgarcayce.aspx?id=3575">report from the ARE website</a>, which shows a membership of 29,000. It was 17,000 when I joined in 1977, skyrocketed to almost 100,000 in the late 1980s, then shrank down to 24,000 by 2002. Complicating the picture here is that the group has become more Cayce-centric, but less Jesus-centric, removing the cross from its logo in 2007. Fighting about Jesus got quite ugly around 1998-2001, with the more committed Christians bullying the more universalistic members.</p>
<p>CofL has been growing slightly since the move to NM but I gather had been shrinking for decades in California-- have seen reports of current numbers but not past ones. </p> The one thing that is sure is…tag:theosophy.net,2011-09-19:3055387:Comment:800102011-09-19T07:17:27.183ZK. Paul Johnsonhttps://theosophy.net/profile/KPaulJohnson
The one thing that is sure is that change will come, in one direction or another. Two examples I know of that moved in opposite directions: the Association for Research and Enlightenment now labels itself "Edgar Cayce's ARE." Meaning, research and enlightenment are reduced to initials, and the name of the founder takes priority-- not a good sign IMO. On the other hand, the Church of Light is less focused on the founder, and more on the entire range of human spirituality, than it was in past…
The one thing that is sure is that change will come, in one direction or another. Two examples I know of that moved in opposite directions: the Association for Research and Enlightenment now labels itself "Edgar Cayce's ARE." Meaning, research and enlightenment are reduced to initials, and the name of the founder takes priority-- not a good sign IMO. On the other hand, the Church of Light is less focused on the founder, and more on the entire range of human spirituality, than it was in past decades. However the three objects evo…tag:theosophy.net,2011-09-19:3055387:Comment:798222011-09-19T04:33:39.246ZM K Ramadosshttps://theosophy.net/profile/MKR
<p>However the three objects evolved over a period of time, I think there is still a lot of vitality in them that can be used in the future.</p>
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<p>One lesson we can all learn from the activities of HPB is that she constantly engaged with the public on various spiritual topics and she had to use the publications and periodicals of the day to engage the public.</p>
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<p>What is now lacking is the public discussion of spiritual subjects by theosophical students with the use of…</p>
<p>However the three objects evolved over a period of time, I think there is still a lot of vitality in them that can be used in the future.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>One lesson we can all learn from the activities of HPB is that she constantly engaged with the public on various spiritual topics and she had to use the publications and periodicals of the day to engage the public.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>What is now lacking is the public discussion of spiritual subjects by theosophical students with the use of today's Internet technology. The future of theosophy is going to depend on independent dedicated and committed students and independent thinkers and not blind followers of writings of HPB and others however tempting and comfortable blind following appeals to those who are not ready to do independent thinking.</p> These questions are valid for…tag:theosophy.net,2011-09-17:3055387:Comment:794662011-09-17T13:53:03.367ZCapt. Anand Kumarhttps://theosophy.net/profile/CaptAnandKumar
<p>These questions are valid for any organization, not just the TS. But it takes courage to ask, and for that you must be commended.</p>
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<p>Indian thought thrived and survived many onslaughts through the ages due to its diversity. It allowed all sorts, Samkhya, Advaita, Vaishnav, Sanatana, Shaivism, Budhism, left path, right path, middle path, even Carvaka, to flourish and compete with each other. Sages and scholars ridiculed each other, yet were respected.</p>
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<p>History…</p>
<p>These questions are valid for any organization, not just the TS. But it takes courage to ask, and for that you must be commended.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Indian thought thrived and survived many onslaughts through the ages due to its diversity. It allowed all sorts, Samkhya, Advaita, Vaishnav, Sanatana, Shaivism, Budhism, left path, right path, middle path, even Carvaka, to flourish and compete with each other. Sages and scholars ridiculed each other, yet were respected.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>History teaches us that followers can not become leaders because they are followers. Once the leader is no more on the scene, followers inevitably turn a movement into a cult and then into religion. Had HPB or the Mahatmas been on the scene today, I am sure they would have allowed open questioning of themes they proposed and professed and would have answered adequately in a civil manner. Since the followers are not up to the mark, they must resort to fundamentalist view of the TS.</p>
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<p>David Reigle is a fine example. His life is that of search for the truth. There is no better defender of HPB or the Mahatmas than he. Yet whenever he finds an error in their writings, he places it before everyone and does not try to construct arguments to support that error. Alas, there are no others like him. And he is not with the TS.</p>
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<p>Thank you KPJ, for asking these questions openly.</p>