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

[Janeth]

>"Maybe to open the nomination process to all"<===Dear Anton, I think this is a valid suggestion.

May I ask you, please...

How do you propose "all" can have access to important information about candidates when "all’s access to it is quite limited?

Let's take for example the election of TS VP. I do not know anything about her. Do you know anything about her?

What are her qualifications for her to have been chosen as TS VP?

Is reading about those qualifications on paper the best way to assess her? NO!!

It would be nice to be able to have a nomination hearing, --USA Senate hearings on USA's President nomination of a Supreme Court Judge nomination comes to mind-- for us to have an opportunity to assess a TS candidate to office...., but are we given that opportunity? NO. Will we see that happening some time in the near future? I doubt it.

So, how are "all" suppose to nominate TS candidates? Based on what?

[William Vollrath]

Perhaps any member of the GC should be allowed a nomination right that must be seconded, and which includes a one page nominee bio that all GC members can read and then reference during a majority vote for nominee approval. Perhaps up to three nominees per position should be allowed. There are thousands of good organizations that already have democratic by-laws in place they would be happy to share with us...

[Janeth]

>"Reply by William Vollrath 12 hours ago - Perhaps any member of the GC should be allowed..."<---Amen to this. One would have thought this is already in place...I would just add, we, TS members, should be allowed to read the CV (Curriculum Vitae = Résumé) of each appointee, most particularly those applying for TS office.

>"Perhaps up to three nominees per position should be allowed."<---I would say...As many valid nominations there might be. It should not be limited to three max. After proper prior scrutiny, of course.

Another idea.., there should be a psychological survey those accepting nominations should undergo before being accepted as nominees. With today’s technology this is simple to do. Companies have been doing this for quite some time as part of the process of accepting applicants. To accept the nomination of a candidate without due diligence, just because he/she is the son/father/mother/sister/brother or second/third TS generation is a mistake. There are young souls occupying old physical bodies; there are old souls occupying young physical bodies!!☺

[William Vollrath]

The best psychological screen is a democratic nomination process, not a test...

[Janeth]

I respectfully disagree with you, William. Few human beings are able to see beyond appearances, how are we to know about the ins-and-outs of people we do not get to meet?
How are we to nominate some one if we know little about he/she? GC members do get to know!! Are we listening to our GC members with an open mind and heart? What we experience last year showed us, unfortunately, the answer is NO!
How many of us have seen or know anything about new TS VP? Obviously her goal is to become TS president.
Did the people who voted for her did so based on facts as to her qualifications? Or they did so because it was what TS president wanted. I believe the latter is the answer.
Had some of the ideas on the "Draft", if not all of them, been in place long time ago, much injustice and irrational behavior, little by little we are becoming aware of, would have been prevented!!
Does new VP have the inner strength, integrity, honesty, will, knowledge, wisdom and determination to do the right thing at all costs?
How many of us know about her capacity to remain calm, just, fair and compassionate under fire?
Has anyone seen her in action under fire?
What are her qualifications to have been chosen at TS VP?
A test as the one I suggested could give GC members a window of opportunity to see a bit beyond the veil of appearances of individuals/candidates/nominees.
Could current TS autocratic regime have been prevented? I believe it could have, if more attention to procedures had been given due attention and diligence. I am sure others saw the signs of weakness and under qualifications among some in upper management and for X or Y reason did nothing about it. What do we have know? Lots of challenges to overcome, to say the least.
Technology, psychology, and sciences such as astrology, numerology, physiognomy, among others, are available to anyone with an open mind and a good heart to give it proper use. I suggest we use them!!

[William Vollrath]

We agree that too little is known about why the current VP was chosen. We clearly disagree on the value of psychological tests for screening TS officers...

[Janeth]

To new TC members and other interested parties, please allow me to cite the following from what TS biggest "Lioness", Madam H.P. Blavatsky, one of the founders of the Society said, in her book "The Key to Theosophy," to all spiritual seekers of Divine Wisdom-

THEO. ...We hold to no religion, as to no philosophy in particular: we cull the good we find in each. But here, again, it must be stated that, like all other ancient systems, Theosophy is divided into Exoteric and Esoteric Sections.

ENQ. What is the difference?

THEO. The members of the Theosophical Society at large are free to profess whatever religion or philosophy they like, or none if they so prefer, provided they are in sympathy with, and ready to carry out one or more of the three objects of the Association. The Society is a philanthropic and scientific body for the propagation of the idea of brotherhood on practical instead of theoretical lines. The Fellows may be Christians or Mussulmen, Jews or Parsees, Buddhists or Brahmins, Spiritualists or Materialists, it does not matter; but every member must be either a philanthropist, or a scholar, a searcher into Aryan and other old literature, or a psychic student. In short, he has to help, if he can, in the carrying out of at least one of the objects of the programme. Otherwise he has no reason for becoming a "Fellow." Such are the majority of the exoteric Society, composed of "attached" and "unattached' members.* These may, or may not, become Theosophists de facto. (Members they are, by virtue of their having joined the Society; but the latter cannot make a Theosophist of one who has no sense of the divine fitness of things, or of him who understands Theosophy in his own--if the expression may be used--sectarian and egotistic way. "Handsome is, as handsome does” could be paraphrased in this case and be made to run: "Theosophist is, who Theosophy does."

* An "attached member" means one who has joined some particular branch of the T.S. An "unattached," one who belongs to the Society at large, has his diploma, from the Headquarters (Adyar, Madras), but is connected with no branch or lodge. --"The Key to Theosophy" by H.P. Blavatsky - A photographic reproduction of the original edition, as first issued at London, England: 1889. Pages 19-20 - The Theosophy Company, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. 1930

[William Vollrath]

What part of: ES is the 'back bone' of TS do you not understand?

Janeth, what part of We wish to create and belong to a democratic TS, not an oligarchic ES do you not understand?

[Janeth]

William,

First, my questions were specifically directed to Anand and Anton.

Second, what part of 'getting rid of TS-ES is not the most practical way to accomplish that which you say you want to accomplish do you not understand?

Third, I suggest you read carefully what I said! I was not talking about your not wishing to create a democratic TS. It is obvious to me, and I am sure it is the same for any intelligent and altruistic, and above all humble, TS member around the world, who truly cares and is loyal to Theosophy and TS, that is what they wish too!!☺

Best to you.

PS. I await Anand's and Anton's reply to the comment that was specifically directed to them!!

[Janeth]

By the way, William,

Where are your relevant and intelligent, practical and feasible, clear and succinct suggestions on how best help bring TS into the 21rst Century?

[William Vollrath]

If you tell me where I can find the by-laws that govern the administrative workings of TS, I will offer specific suggestions for increasing democracy and checks & balances, but suspect most should be obvious. However, if by-laws are frequently just ignored, why should I or anyone bother to suggest changes????????????????

[Janeth]

>"However, if by-laws are frequently just ignored, why should I or anyone bother to suggest changes????????????????"<---I do not know about by-laws being 'frequently', as you put it, ignored. Some TS members have until now, some how --that how is what TS Section leaders need to work on-- gotten away with it, but now that it has been brought up in the open, I am confident TS Section leaders will pay attention to it and do everything in their power to prevent future abuse or privileges from those who should know most.

I think that if your suggestions are valid TS Section leaders will welcome them.

As to "where I can find the by-laws that govern the administrative workings of TS", I believe Anton and/or Anand can help you with this. The two of them have been working very diligently in studying the by-laws. I am pressed for time and can't help you with this, but I am sure they can help you faster than I could. They might have them right them available to them and just with a lick of a bottom they most probably would be able to send you an e-mail on it.