Can Theosophy change the world?

[Nabil Naser]

I believe that it can

The first thing that need to happen is for everyone to stop lecturing and start listening.

We all have a piece of the puzzle
Some through history
others through science
many share with scripture knowledge

Some just know it within their heart

How can Theosophy change the world?

L&P

[Konstantin Zaitzev]

I think that it has already changed the world, though not as much as desired.

[Kerry James Goodhew]

Hello Nabil and All,
I feel that theosophy can change, or I prefer "benefit" the world to a greater degree but it is on the cliff edge of falling to insignificance or, alternatively, it can turn to face and engage the mountain of work one step at a time. Will theosophy be significant when the times call for it, or will it be as a mouse cowering in the corner at the time of humanty's great needs to come?

There is a rally call on here (this site, and the NZ thesophy ning site) by one Michael G Eaglemeare for theosophists to engage in a world-wide network to "do the work" . I hear very little support for Michael's appeal. I am amazed by this. Is this because generally theosopists are so "in their heads" that they cannot as a whole actually "do" the work or anything practically significant together to help the world?

Or, is the lack of significance of theosophy due to the many years of the primary status of administrators of theosophy garrotting its potential with the supreme manifestation (upper levels of earthly hierarchy) of theosophy today being "battles" within its self?

The way is clear for theosophy to become more siginificant if members would take up the rally call of Michael G Eaglemeare ...something truly proactive. ...but just reading about it and a whole lot of talk won't do it, "work" is required!

Regards
KJG

[Nabil Naser]

Kerry

You are right. I like this part in particular
"Is this because generally theosophists are so "in their heads" that they cannot as a whole actually "do" the work or anything practically significant together to help the world?"

It seems to me that theosophists today like to hear their own voices, more than to join in a chorus.

The subject of theosophy is so vast, that one person can understand it all. It is only through adding all the voices together, that a clearer voice will emerge.

[Suzanne Bentley]

Hi Nibal, it is changing the world, every person who shares with scripture knowledge or just know it in their hearts , Because of the interaction raises their vibration and it has a ripple affect.
Love
Suzanne

[Nabil Naser]

Hi Suzanne

Its Nabil by the way

Theosophy has the potential to change the world in a far more positive way than raising the vibrations of a small number of people.
Theosophy, for example, has the potential to unite the world's religions. This could bring peace to the world. It can do that by showing how different religions are similar as Madam Blavatsky showed in her books.
It can also connect science and religion, thus removing a great conflict the world has today.
Many, if not most, of the conflicts today are caused by religious disagreements over land or ways of behavior. If the various religions can be unified, a new perception can emerge, and the potential for a more peaceful world will increase.

[Suzanne Bentley]

Hi Nabil,sorry for the type O. lol
lots of love and kisses
suzanne

[Alex Patapenka]

Can Theosophy change the world? In my humble opinion the whole point of establishing the Society was to give the impulse, like putting an object into the body of water and it created a ripple in the water, so with time the ripple transforms into a wave and while sweeping the world with it's body of knowledge it's picking us up, or should I say we answer to its call and respond, hence change ourselves and pull ourselves out of the swamp by pulling our own hair, just like infamous Baron Münchhausen.

In the book " At the feet of the Master" it says that there are only two types of people in the world. Those who know and those who do not know. And this knowledge is the thing which matters. Can we honestly say that it is our duty as theosophists to make other people believe what we believe? IF we want to be of any help to humanity we should change ourselves first so that we could be of some use to the Masters and the whole Divine Hierarchy. I hear a lot of complains from other members who say we don't do anything to help the world. WE CANT pull the world by the hair out of the swamp of materiality. Even with the most noblest intent we would take a huge responsibility for others. But our own karmas are not worked out yet. And believe me there are a lot of things that happen in this world for a number of reasons. Those reasons might not look just to ourselves ( like wars and disasters ). But anyone who is familiar with the laws of karma would know why this is happening.

The impulse should come from within. WE cannot hurry it up.There should be a desire to change from within the person's heart. And when it does , people start searching for the LIGHT and who do they find? Depending on their spiritual constitution they might find a number of societies, mystic orders or organizations to join. But sometimes they find you and me and then it is our duty to help and direct the person towards the path. I think that our true duty lies right there, change ourselves first and than help others.
Lets practice the qualifications first :
* Discrimination
* Desirelessness
* Good conduct
* Love

and go from there.

Alex

[Nabil Naser]

I really liked your posting Alex. You see that no one can be convinced, and that the potential for understanding must be present first. In other words, a person chooses to be convinced.

I disagree with you on the qualifications that one has to have first before attempting to teach.
Desire is not only important, it is essential and fundamental to any understanding. To give up desire is to give up physical life.
We are learning and teaching everyday and in every way. There is no stopping the process of information exchange.

The difference would only be in the focus on the type of information being exchanged. By free will, one can focus on sharing particular ideas, thus focusing the mind.

[Kerry James Goodhew]

Hello Alex,
I grant you that by example is best, but, where is the clear and pure theosophy example? A method has been proposed here for theosophy to "do" this!
wrt, ...
I hear a lot of complaints from other members who say we don't do anything to help the world. WE CANT....

"...standing for good ...working for evolution..."

"those who wish to follow the Master have already decided to take the right at all costs."

"When there is work that must be done, the physical body wants to rest,...

"...you think of your own progress, instead of thinking of the Master's work and of helping others."

"At whatever apparent cost, that which is right you must do, that which is wrong you must not do..."

"To feed the poor is good and noble and useful work; yet to feed their souls is nobler and more useful..."

"If you know, it is your duty to help others to know."

These quotes are also from that "little book" in just the first 12 pages.
Theosophy has been around long enough! "Changing ourselves first and then help others" is for beginners and theosophy administrators, there are enough eductaed and wise theosophists in the world to GET ON WITH IT. How long does theosophy need to dither? The time is NOW, not later. Seems you are making excuses for theosophy to carry on doing nothing. Do we take another 100 years to change ourselves first before DOING THE WORK?.

HPB worked herself to death for theosophy! Is that what is missing in theosophy today, the spirit and passion to do significant work?

Unlike you saying "WE CAN'T", I say we can !

[Alex Patapenka]

Dear Nabil,

The qualifications I posted are not my own and you have a right to disagree with anything that anybody posts here. I quoted them from "the feet of the Master". These qualifications are a must for the pathway. They will help us to "clean the glass of our lamps" so that they ( lamps) could be of some use.What knowledge do we claim to have that gives us right to teach others, honestly?

Dear Kerry,

I admire your eagerness to help others. I agree with you on all the quotes from that beautiful book. Unfortunately nowhere in that book the Master tells us what is that we must do to help others. To feed the souls is noble. But what do you propose we do? Start witnessing on the streets? There is TOS for members who wants to help externally. When I joined the TS I was overwhelmed by the amount of knowledge and one of my first questions was , why is it that the TS doesn't do more to spread it? Why can't we just tell everybody? IF we believe this to be the truth, surely the others will see the light in as well. But the thing is , ever since the veils of secrecy were allowed to be lifted, this information is available for anyone who knocks. Even Chapters and Barnes & Nobles have books on Theosophy on their shelves.

Another point I'd like to bring up is that contrary to what you state that Theosophy carries on doing nothing for the last hundred years you are mistaken. It has done a lot. The publishing of the books, the membership. All of the invisible work. It brings out the best in people. People like yourself. Dear friend, sometimes when we are eager to jump in the pool and play the game, we are driven by the desire to see immediate results of our work. Have you ever stopped and pondered that what if, you don't see the results right away? You will be devastated, spent and angry that your effort has gone unnoticed? Will you then blame the TS, it's administration or the members that you think they might've not done enough in your eyes. Will you blame yourself?

Dear Kerry, I am not throwing daggers your way. I think your desire is genuine and free of selfish intent to see the results right away,but our help needs to be guided. The structure has been established and long shown. It is the Initiation, Probation, Chelaship, Adeptship and so on.
Not all of us are on the same level of understanding as well, that is why it is hard to interest people in Theosophy and far harder to have them involved in any work for the TS.

[Kerry James Goodhew]

Hi Alex,
its ok, anyone can throw daggers my way, doesn't really worry me! But, I might respond to have them removed from my back! ;-) However, you can lift the suggestions off me of being devastated if "my" work is "unnoticed" and "blaming" of others for not doing enough. I don't really think that way. I am an advocate of Aivanhov's 'disinteresteness', something like 'non-attachment'. If a thing is put out there and not taken up then so be it! A bit of gnashing of teeth for a little while is perfectly ok in my book, but one can learn and move on as quickly as possible to something else.

It was you that raised the suggestion that people say theosophy does not do enough, not me! I don't actually hear too much in the way of such 'complaints' from anyone at our branch. Don't know if that is good or bad! But I do say theosophy can do MUCH MORE, that is the impetus for 'evolution' spoken of in the little book.

I still feel from you an arguement to "not do" rather than "to do".

But what do you propose we do? Start witnessing on the streets?

Theosophists are supposed to be generally quite intelligent: Get together, Work it out!

I hear the fastest growing TS in the world is in the Phillippines (sp?), I don't think they will be "witnessing in the streets", they have obviously worked something out, why not just ask them how?

We have Vicente Hao Chin, their President coming here (Dunedin, NZ) in a couple of weeks!

Regards
KJG

[Jon Knebel]

Kerry, not only have the Philippines the fastest growing TS, but also one of the strongest TOS groups in the world. When you see Vic, ask him about the Golden Link School (now University!) and their other projects.

Jon