The Esoteric School Lobby

[Anand Gholap]

(Annie Besant was the head of the Esoteric School and Colonel Olcott was the President of TS.)
Mrs. Annie Besant wrote:
“In the T.S. we have a curious mixture. The Exoteric Society is purely democratic - it is only fair to admit this fully. On the other side we have an Esoteric body which is practically autocratic in its constitution ... The existence of a secret body to rule the outer Society made the constitution of the T.S. a mere farce, for it was at the mercy of the inner … All the differences that arose between the Colonel and myself were on this point; he could not believe that I was serious in saying that I would not use the E.S. against him, but slowly he came to understand it ... The greatest power will always be in the hands of the E.S., and not in the head of the Society ... I know that I exercise a quite unwarrantable power. This is what makes some people say there should not be an E.S.T. … We must recognize the danger and try to neutralize it. At any time during the last fifteen years I could have checkmated the Colonel on any point if I had chosen ...”

I could see frustration of some officers in TS regarding the results in Presidential elections. They were wondering how one person can get elected unopposed for around 30 years. It happened again and again in TS history. Different theories were offered to explain this phenomenon. I think all that mystery is solved by above passages of Annie Besant.
Best
Anand Gholap

[Anand Gholap]

Why is it not likely to happen?

[Janeth]

">"May be GC members should form a group like ning or yahoo, discuss online and send their votes by post."<---Dear Anand, I have heard that 90% of communication is non-verbal. GC members will be missing a lot by not being able to see each other in the flesh.

[William Vollrath]

This all, again, mostly seems to be about power politics vs enlightening spirituality, and the former needs to be de-emphazied!

[Dr.Himabind]

Past is past. No use in discussing. I think we should focus what we(TS) are doing now.

[William Vollrath]

Mr. Leadbeater has written that anybody involved in unselfish service of mankind is noticed by Masters and and guided. Unselfish service also can be done without being a member of ES. That means, to develop spiritually, it is not necessary to be a member of ES.
That is why ES is not absolutely necessary.

This observation by Anand may well hold the answer to at least part of the problem, although TS democratic by-laws must still be followed or the de-emphasis on ES does nothing. Karma is unfolding on this thread...

[William Vollrath]

It would appear that a totalitarian rule to prohibit certain outside organization members (e.g. ES members) from being TS officers, is not the path to a more democratic TS. However, as would be done in most US elections, relevant outside memberships should be fully disclosed, and if elections are democratically conducted, it will then be decided by the voting members if that membership is an issue. Such controversial memberships should be recognized to be a legitimate election issue that can be discussed and debated during an election. If concerns and interests of a less influential group of members (e.g. non-ES members) then continue to be abused, they will no doubt leave the organization and TS will become less relevant to the spiritual growth of humanity...

[Anton Rozman]

Dear William,

The “totalitarian rule to prohibit certain outside organization members (e.g. ES members) from being TS officers, is” certainly “not the path to a more democratic TS”. But we need the recognition that the TS can not be an independent organization if its officers are at the same time officers or members of other organization(s). We need a system in which non-ES (or some other organization) members will have at least equal opportunity to be elected. Maybe to open the nomination process to all, along with obligatory disclosure of outside membership, would be a step toward the realization of this goal.

Warmest regards,
Anton

[William Vollrath]

Yes, Anton, an open nomination process is essential...

[Janeth]

Dear Anton,

Are you aware that not all TS Section leaders, TS Study Center Leaders, Lodge's leaders are TS-ES?

[Janeth]

>"The “totalitarian rule to prohibit certain outside organization members (e.g. ES members) from being TS officers, is” certainly “not the path to a more democratic TS”.<---Dear Anton, kindly, will you please tell me where I can read about the rule you talk about?

[Janeth]

Dear Anton,

Just to make sure I understand you correctly, when you say: "But we need the recognition that the TS can not be an independent organization if its officers are at the same time officers or members of other organization(s)."<---By independent organization you mean TS-ES?

[Janeth]

Dear Anton,

When yo usay: "We need a system in which non-ES (or some other organization) members will have at least equal opportunity to be elected."<---Do you mean to say you would like to see individuals from "some other organization", non-TS and non-TS-ES individuals, appointed as TS officers?