This is Rudy's Page

Why I am leaving the Theosophical Society

I recently returned from India where I met with ULT fellow theosophists from the cities of Chennai, Mumbai and Bangalore. I also spent a few days at the Adyar headquarters of the Theosophical Society.

The day I left Adyar, November 19, 2000, I left with the conviction that I was leaving the Theosophical Society for good. It is my view that the Theosophical Society is not the spiritual organization that many members in that Society believe it is, but an organization primarily concerned with its own preservation and survival, just like any other organization run by bureaucrats.

In the Society's hierarchical structure, independent thinking, search for truth, and commitment to the Ancient Wisdom are not encouraged, but instead members are expected to follow the "party line of thought." A creed has been forming for quite some time, making the Society at best a sect, something that the original Founders wanted to avoid and warned us about. Anyone can see how much religious practices (particularly Christian) have been able to creep into Society's activities. We can all witness this trend during public events, like during the Annual Convention. Besides all this, the "cult of personalities" flourishes in the organization without any obvious effort by its officials to stop it.

What ever happened to theosophy in the Theosophical Society?

Is the Theosophical Society now just a soul-less corpse run by bureaucrats? Let us look at some quotes:

Theosophy:

Or Theosophia (Gr.). Wisdom-religion, or "Divine Wisdom." The substratum and basis of all the world-religions and philosophies, taught and practiced by a few elect ever since man became a thinking being. In its practical bearing, Theosophy is purely divine ethics; the definitions in dictionaries are pure nonsense, based on religious prejudice and ignorance of the true spirit of the early Rosicrucians and mediæval philosophers who called themselves Theosophists.

H.P. Blavatsky, Theosophical Glossary.

Theosophist:

All original thinkers and investigators of the hidden side of nature whether materialists -- those who find in matter "the promise and potency of all terrestrial life," or spiritualists -- that is, those who discover in spirit the source of all energy and of matter as well, were and are, properly Theosophists. For to be one, one need not necessarily recognize the existence of any special God or a deity. One need but worship the spirit of living nature and try to identify oneself with it. To revere that Presence, the invisible Cause, which is yet ever manifesting itself in its incessant results; the intangible, omnipotent, and omnipresent Proteus: indivisible in its Essence, and eluding form, yet appearing under all and every form; who is here and there and everywhere and nowhere; is ALL, and NOTHING: ubiquitous yet one; the Essence filling, binding, bounding, containing everything, contained in all. It will, we think, be seen now, that whether classed as Theist, Pantheists or Atheists, such men are all near kinsmen to the rest. Be what he may, once that a student abandons the old trodden highway of routine, and enters upon the solitary path of independent thought -- Godward -- he is a Theosophist, an original thinker, a seeker after the eternal truth, with "an inspiration of his own" to solve the universal problems.

H.P. Blavatsky, The Omnipresent Proteus.

Theosophical Society:

It is pure nonsense to say that "H.P.B.... is loyal to the Theosophical Society and to Adyar" (!?). H.P.B. is loyal to death to the Theosophical CAUSE, and those great Teachers whose philosophy can alone bind the whole of Humanity into one Brotherhood. Together with Col. Olcott, she is the chief Founder and Builder of the Society which was and is meant to represent that CAUSE; and if she is so loyal to H. S. Olcott, it is not at all because of his being its "President," but, firstly, because there is no man living who has worked harder for that Society, or been more devoted to it than the Colonel, and, secondly, because she regards him as a loyal friend and co-worker. Therefore the degree of her sympathies with the "Theosophical Society and Adyar" depends upon the degree of the loyalty of that Society to the CAUSE. Let it break away from the original lines and show disloyalty in its policy to the CAUSE and the original programme of the Society, and H.P.B., calling the T. S. disloyal, will shake it off like dust from her feet.

H.P. Blavatsky, Lucifer, August 1889.

One of the prerequisites for being a theosophist is that he or she must be free, free in every sense. Free from conditioning, free to search for truth without any reservations of any kind. That is why the question of "authority" must be resolved before any authentic search for truth is possible. Once the theosophist is ready to start his own search he will have at his disposal the necessary tools to assist him. He will be able to use "right discrimination;" he won't be intimidated by pseudo-authorities holding important positions in any organization, because he will know that the only real authority in spiritual matters resides in the Self.

I would like to mention that in all my years of being a member of the Theosophical Society I developed valuable friendships that I hold very dear. Even though most of those friends have already passed I still feel that the important things that we shared, like commitment to the CAUSE are still as valid now as they were when we were in physical contact. Of my newer friends, those whom I have encountered in the last few years, I feel fortunate that I am still able to enjoy their company and wisdom. All these links that we share are as real today as they were when we first met. They are eternal. In other words: They can never be broken. I mention this so we can keep things in perspective. My resignation from the Theosophical Society is just that. I am resigning from the organization. My commitment to theosophy remains and will always remain the same.

Rodolfo Don

What is Theosophy? Theosophy, Evolution, and the Perfection of Man Death, a Gateway to New Life Man: the Maker of his Destiny Selected Theosophical Writings Reflections Yoga According to the Gita The Three Greats in H.P. Blavatsky's Mysticism The Alchemy of Sharing The Razor-Edged Path of Progress The One and the Many The Secret of Regeneration The Omnipresent Proteus Four Messages of H. P. Blavatsky Knowledge and Wisdom Happiness Here and Now Landmarks of the Esoteric Tradition The Mystic Vision and Human Transformation Why the Theosophical Society? The Middle Way Signposts on the Path of Theosophy What does Theosophy say on Relationship with the Downtrodden? H.P. Blavatsky on the Mission of Theosophy Gifts are for Giving Krishnamurti as I Knew Him Presidential Address to the 1996 Convention of the Theosophical Society, Adyar Wisdom is to the Pure Adyar Day The Secret Doctrine, Krishnamurti, and Transformation Nature's Secrets The Theosophical Movement 1875-1998 What is Theosophy? What are the Theosophists? Is Theosophy a Religion? Let Every Man Prove his Own Work Transformation: Vital Essence of HPB's Secret Doctrine (Part 1) Transformation: Vital Essence of HPB's Secret Doctrine (Part 2) "The Dual Aspect of Wisdom," by A. Trevor Barker Theosophy's Shadow The Founding of the Theosophical Society Theosophy and Buddhism Truth is a Pathless Land

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