Official Social Network of The Theosophical Society in America
Account of expulsion of two TS Dutch members
Go to
http://members.lycos.nl/adyarman/Engels/indexeng.htm
and click on the link Expulsion in Holland on the left side of the screen.
"A conflict arose between the council of the Dutch section and a committee which was appointed by the general assembly of may 12th 2007 for the purpose of assessing the possibilities for reviving the Dutch section of the TS. This assessment would include affiliated foundations and organizations and it would also include an investigation into the members’ views on the ‘theosophical landscape’ and the way the participating organizations serve the theosophical cause. After four months, on September 8th 2007, there was a meeting of this committee and several members of the council, which was called for by the president of the Dutch section, in order to abolish the committee. I understand that harsh words were spoken and angry emotions erupted. The next day the council decided unanimously that two members of this committee, Mr. LS and Mr. ND, behaved in such a way that they should be expulsed from the Theosophical Society and acted accordingly.
"Of course some individual members and several lodges demanded an explanation from the council and called for a meeting of the general assembly in order to consider the expulsions. This meeting took place November 10th 2007. Mr. LS and Mr. ND were present and were able to give their views, but were denied an opportunity to react to other participants.
"I never witnessed (in more than 20 years) a meeting of the general assembly which after hours of deliberation came no further than the second item on the agenda (the agenda had 8 items).
"I was astonished to see how the council provided a list of incidents to show the unacceptability of the behavior of LS and ND, without being able to link any incident to any rule concerning reasons that may lead to their expulsion.
"I witnessed how, three hours into the meeting, at least five of those present voiced their opinion that the council could not explain how the rules and regulations of my section justify expulsion in the case of the behaviors brought forward by it. None of the prerequisites which are mentioned in the rules that may lead to expulsion, apply.
"I was astonished to witness that upon finding that the council had expelled members of the Theosophical Society, using arguments that find no justification in the rules, in the aftermath of a conflict that the council itself had caused, the general assembly voted not to vote on a motion that called for its resignation. This procedure of voting on voting on this type of motion, is unruly.
"Both expelled members have appealed to Ms. Burnier, the international president. After a long silence (not even a confirmation that the appeal of LS or ND was received) she issued a brief statement that she investigated the cases en therefore decided not to reinstate the membership.
"In a continuation of the meeting the president of the Dutch section stated that she had prepared the expulsion well in advance and that this was not an emotional ill advised step following the September 8th meeting. This shed an even more peculiar light on the events. A motion that called for disapproval also was voted down in the same unruly way."
http://members.lycos.nl/adyarman/Engels/indexeng.htm
and click on the link Expulsion in Holland on the left side of the screen.
"A conflict arose between the council of the Dutch section and a committee which was appointed by the general assembly of may 12th 2007 for the purpose of assessing the possibilities for reviving the Dutch section of the TS. This assessment would include affiliated foundations and organizations and it would also include an investigation into the members’ views on the ‘theosophical landscape’ and the way the participating organizations serve the theosophical cause. After four months, on September 8th 2007, there was a meeting of this committee and several members of the council, which was called for by the president of the Dutch section, in order to abolish the committee. I understand that harsh words were spoken and angry emotions erupted. The next day the council decided unanimously that two members of this committee, Mr. LS and Mr. ND, behaved in such a way that they should be expulsed from the Theosophical Society and acted accordingly.
"Of course some individual members and several lodges demanded an explanation from the council and called for a meeting of the general assembly in order to consider the expulsions. This meeting took place November 10th 2007. Mr. LS and Mr. ND were present and were able to give their views, but were denied an opportunity to react to other participants.
"I never witnessed (in more than 20 years) a meeting of the general assembly which after hours of deliberation came no further than the second item on the agenda (the agenda had 8 items).
"I was astonished to see how the council provided a list of incidents to show the unacceptability of the behavior of LS and ND, without being able to link any incident to any rule concerning reasons that may lead to their expulsion.
"I witnessed how, three hours into the meeting, at least five of those present voiced their opinion that the council could not explain how the rules and regulations of my section justify expulsion in the case of the behaviors brought forward by it. None of the prerequisites which are mentioned in the rules that may lead to expulsion, apply.
"I was astonished to witness that upon finding that the council had expelled members of the Theosophical Society, using arguments that find no justification in the rules, in the aftermath of a conflict that the council itself had caused, the general assembly voted not to vote on a motion that called for its resignation. This procedure of voting on voting on this type of motion, is unruly.
"Both expelled members have appealed to Ms. Burnier, the international president. After a long silence (not even a confirmation that the appeal of LS or ND was received) she issued a brief statement that she investigated the cases en therefore decided not to reinstate the membership.
"In a continuation of the meeting the president of the Dutch section stated that she had prepared the expulsion well in advance and that this was not an emotional ill advised step following the September 8th meeting. This shed an even more peculiar light on the events. A motion that called for disapproval also was voted down in the same unruly way."
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Katinka Hesselink on -
No, I'm not.
In fact, more closely the opposite. The Dutch magazine is pretty boring, though the content is high level. The US magazine is much more modern, a bit more superficial, but also more in touch with the world - and that includes more interfaith articles. The Theosophist is least in touch with the world and what's going on, other than Radha's own interpretation of the news: which is good.
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Permalink Reply by Janeth on -
►".. a bit more superficial.."<---In the interest of TC visitors, around the globe, let's please make our best effort to clarify the following:
a) When you say "a bit more superficial", are we to infer that some of Quest's articles are plain and simple to understand, thus superficial, for long-term diligent/studious students of theosophy but quite appropriate for newcomers to Theosophy?
►".. The Theosophist is least in touch with the world and what's going on, other than Radha's own interpretation of the news: which is good."<---When you say this, are we to infer Mrs. Burnier's "own interpretation of the news" is good because...
b) The "news" are Theosophical and up to date with the times?
c) The "news" are Theosophical but out of touch with present times; therefore, she is being proactive and promoting appropriate changes?
d) Mrs. Burnier's interpretation of the news is good because she is the only one interpreting the news?
e) What kind of ‘news’ are we talking about?
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Permalink Reply by Luc Sala on
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I have just read the various comments and remarks by Katinka. She is clearly going for some kind of war, as what she puts out is ridiculous. like claiming things about my education, while looking at Wkjipedia.nl would inform her that my academic titles are from Delft university and Rotterdam School of Economics, plus I have some 12 books and 12.000 articles to my name. Anybody who would google me or look at youtube would see that I have been involved in "the alterntive" and the spirital/ unseen for many years. But apart from that, how can anybody who has barely seen me or spoken to me, come up with all this nonsense. Anyway, we are very happy to have our own "Villa" and conference center not in Naarden but in Breyell, see www.myster.nl so we can follow at a distance what passes for theosophical insights, but feel like personal frustration.
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Permalink Reply by Katinka Hesselink on
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I don't know you. True. I only know what you told me personally and the style of your writings in a theosophical context.
I do agree with everybody who told me here that I went overboard. I've deleted all personal comments I made in this thread. Excepting Luc, who came here personally, I do want it noted that I did not name any names.
I'm sorry about it all.
I do wonder though - how can one possibly defend the Dutch section without getting specific about the people they quarreled with? And don't we owe them gratitude and loyalty for the very fact that they were (and in most cases are) working their asses off keeping the TS afloat?
And doesn't that also mean that they have a right to a defense? To answer Janeth at least partly: that is part of my definition of brotherhood.
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Permalink Reply by Katinka Hesselink on
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I apologize to everybody about how I've conducted myself here. My full apology here: http://theosophical.ning.com/profiles/blogs/time-for-excuses
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