There are some attempts being made today to reunite "Theosophists." This raises certain fundamental questions: What makes for unity? Who are the Theosophists? What separated them?
Real unity is impossible if its basis is sought in this world where forms limit. It is in the world of ideas and ideals, of mind and of heart, that unity is to be sought. So, let us look for unity of Ideal and unity of Teaching.
Ideals relate to moral life, to our mind (thought, memory and anticipation), and emotions (affections and dislikes, sensibilities and sentiments). No one except the individual himself knows what these are. But there are certain great ideas which reflect universal truths and which need to be made living realities:
- Unity of our Spiritual Origin, arising from the concept of One Impersonal God, should produce tolerance and Brotherhood.
- One Body of Wisdom (or Knowledge) implies a common source of Truth from which all can derive help and guidance.
- One Law of the Universe—"It knows not wrath nor pardon; utter-true/Its measures mete, its faultless balance weighs;/Times are as nought, tomorrow it will judge,/Or after many days"—ought to lead to non-acquisitiveness, generosity, harmony and concord.
The concept that the universe evolves as a whole, and that the progress of each depends on the general progress of all, produces non-violence, contentment with one's lot and a willingness to allow others their rightful place in the recognized scheme of things. This leads to the perception that the perfectibility of man is a possibility for each one of us and has become an actuality for some who have worked for it in the past. The Lodge of Masters can envisaged as an actual fact.
Who is a Theosophist? A person who appreciates the three objects of the Theosophical Movement as formulated in 1875 cannot in reality devote himself to one and pay scant attention to the other two. To the extent that he does so, he become lopsided. The designation "Theosophist," in fact, may be applied not merely to a member or associate of one group or another, but to all practitioners of the Theosophical life, of divine Ethics, of the one universal Philosophy, the one Wisdom-Religion. The true student of Theosophy becomes, or is, an occultist.
What has separated organizations of Theosophists? There are many reasons for this, and a recapitulation or analysis of these should serve only one purpose—avoidance of a repetition of errors. If unity on the physical plane is desired, then it must be preceded by unity on the inner planes of mind and heart, and by the redefinition of one's own aims and objects, which should be in line with the original Impulse.
Where to find the Lines laid down by the great founders of the Theosophical Movement? In the writings and teachings of H.P.B., the Masters' Messenger for our era—where else? Do those so-called "Theosophists" who have accepted others as their teachers and who disregard or underrate H.P.B. and her teachings know Theosophy? How many accept the false as the true without verifying things for themselves! This indifference leads to biased attitudes and false claims, and gives rise to disunity.
Unity has to be sought in matters of principle, and the external particulars will take care of themselves. If each one pays attention to his own work, his own virtues, and tries hard to reduce his real faults, unity will automatically result.
We do not need large numbers of people who call themselves "Theosophists" and pretend externally to be "united." We need an inner harmony and a unity of aim, purpose and teaching, achieved through individual study, discernment, discipline and sacrifice.
Those in this world who have the courage to try and solve in their own lives new problems of life are the ones who raise society to greatness. Those who merely live according to rule do not advance society, they only carry it along.
—M. K. Gandhi