Why Theosophical Lodges Must
Be Born Again From Time to Time
Carlos Cardoso
Aveline
Constant change and adaptation in form is a
law of life, and a law in the theosophical endeavor
Everything that lives must obey the
law of cycles.
Starting in 1931 and during 80 years, every 25th
of June the United Lodge of Theosophists sent a message to its associates and
friends around the world. [1]
John Garrigues was the main editor of these ULT Day letters, up to his death
in 1944. After him, the letters went on. They ceased to circulate in 2011, due
to circumstances related to the law of cycles. The international magazine “Theosophy”, founded by
Robert Crosbie and John Garrigues in 1912 and published in Los Angeles, had
ceased to circulate in 2008-2009.
The causes of such facts deserve examination.
In the ULT letter for June 2001 one can read a
subtle invitation to observe the changing vitality of the theosophical movement
during its cycles. The Letter says:
“The United Lodge of Theosophists began as a
radical idea. It sought to provide a basis for students and inquirers to gather
together to study and promulgate Theosophy, without having to worry about
organization and structure, or elections and officers - the ‘personality’ of
the world. It was an idea both simple and profound, as it left the initiative
for work squarely in the hands of the students themselves. The term ‘member’
was dropped, and ‘associate’ substituted to indicate those who shared the
vision of what this kind of relationship could mean. The ULT idea had merit,
and the number of associates and Lodges gradually grew, several magazines were
started and the original Theosophical literature brought back into print.
Supplements are issued on an occasional basis when the formal issue exceeds its
size limit, and/or some special need arises.”
The document continues:
“However, the natural growth of ULT slowed at about the mid-point of the Twentieth Century, and while the work and magazines were continued by capable and devoted people, fewer new associates became involved. This pattern was not unique to ULT, and has been reflected in the experience of other Theosophical groups; recognition of it provides an opportunity to re-examine methods of work useful at this time.” [2]
Such an honest evaluation is helpful in the 21st century process of building a better future for the theosophical movement.
“However, the natural growth of ULT slowed at about the mid-point of the Twentieth Century, and while the work and magazines were continued by capable and devoted people, fewer new associates became involved. This pattern was not unique to ULT, and has been reflected in the experience of other Theosophical groups; recognition of it provides an opportunity to re-examine methods of work useful at this time.” [2]
Such an honest evaluation is helpful in the 21st century process of building a better future for the theosophical movement.
The ULT is the least bureaucratic among the larger schools
of theosophical thought. It is a natural
source of seeds for renewal. Its 1909 Declaration
expresses a clear commitment to the free flow of life, once it is safe to think
that one’s goal is noble and there is discernment and common sense:
“The policy of this Lodge is independent devotion to
the cause of Theosophy, without professing attachment to any Theosophical
organization. (….) It holds that the unassailable basis for union among
Theosophists, wherever and however situated, is ‘similarity of aim, purpose and
teaching’, and therefore has neither Constitution, By-Laws nor Officers, the
sole bond between its Associates being that basis. And it aims to disseminate
this idea among Theosophists in the furtherance of Unity.” [3]
The common ground among theosophists is the original
teaching, and no bureaucratic sense of membership to this or that association can
replace it. Associations come and go: the teaching remains.
The Independent
Lodge
Following the steps of its founders, the theosophical movement must
constantly renew itself. Change and adaptation in form is a law of life, and a
law in the theosophical endeavor.
Attachment to routine, on the other hand, is the
mother of inactivity and constitutes an impediment to the flow of theosophical
consciousness. Rigidity of form and of habit creates blackouts of discernment.
It produces ethical implosions, usually followed by political breakdowns and
gradual paralysis. It is not enough to be a sincere idealist, which almost
every member of the esoteric movement is. The effort to help mankind has to be
reborn every day while theosophists keep an enduring loyalty to both the spirit and the writings of classical teachings.
Blind faith must be avoided, and everyone’s independence
has to be preserved.
It was in this spirit that the associates of the
Brazilian-Portuguese lodge of the ULT decided in 2016 to emerge from that
larger Lodge and form the Independent Lodge of Theosophists.
The independent association thus got free to conduct active
researches regarding the present and future of mankind, the search for lay
discipleship and how best to conduct a theosophical life in the 21st century.
There is no need for its associates to adhere to the dead letter of the
original teachings: they are invited to follow the spirit of the teachings instead. Helena Blavatsky wrote that the
theosophical movement, as a body -
“Has no creed, as creeds are but the shells around
spiritual knowledge; and Theosophy in its fruition is spiritual knowledge
itself - the very essence of philosophical and theistic enquiry.”
Referring to the movement, she said:
“Visible representative
of Universal Theosophy, it can be no more sectarian than a Geographical
Society, which represents universal geographical exploration without caring
whether the explorers be of one creed or another. The religion of the Society [or Movement] is an algebraical equation,
in which so long as the sign = of
equality is not omitted, each member is allowed to substitute quantities of his
own, which better accord with climatic and other exigencies of his native land,
with the idiosyncrasies of his people, or even with his own.”
The Pedagogy of the true
movement is clear, and HPB clarified:
“Having no accepted
creed, our Society is very ready to give and take, to learn and teach, by
practical experimentation, as opposed to mere passive and credulous acceptance
of enforced dogma. It is willing to accept every result claimed by any of the
foregoing schools or systems, that can be logically and experimentally
demonstrated. Conversely, it can take nothing on mere faith, no matter by whom
the demand may be made.” [4]
According to the Independent
Lodge, research is more important than belief. Honest doubt leads to study and
deserves respect.
From the point of view of
the self-responsible student, the theosophical movement is not a federation of
believers. It is a community of truth-seekers who share the on-going results of
their search, as they learn to improve themselves and understand the
universe.
NOTES:
[1] See in our associated websites the
30-year facsimile compilation “The ULT
Day Letters, 1931-1960”.
[2] “The U.L.T. Letter - 2001” is available at our associated
websites.
[3] The full text of “The ULT Declaration” can be found in
our associated websites.
[4] “What are the Theosophists?”, an article published in volume II of
the “Collected Writings” of Helena Blavatsky, TPH, USA, pp. 100-101.
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An initial version of the above
article was first published with no indication as to the name of the author at
the August 2014 edition of “The Aquarian
Theosophist”. Its title was “On the
Vitality of the ULT and the Theosophical Movement”. The text was updated in
September 2016.
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