* * *
Bro. Betty Bland
President, Theosophical Society in America
Wheaton, IL
Dear Bro. Bland:
It is with a sense of deep sorrow that I am writing this message and as you read
the message, it would become clear why.
As the duly elected leaders of TSA, TS members look to you and the members of
Board of Directors to protect and defend not only the interests of TS and Theosophy,
but more importantly, that of dues paying members.
Recently it has come to my knowledge that you have submitted a proposal to the
General Council of TS, that would disenfranchise all members in directly exercising
our votes in the election of the International President and transferring the
power to elect the International President to a small group of General Council
members. If this is approved by the General Council in its next meeting which
I hear will take place in December 2008, it would be fait accompli and it would
be too late and we all would have lost one of the basic democratic voting rights
in the TS, which we all had since the foundation of TS and we would lose it for
ever.
Members have a right to know of such drastic curtailment of democratic right
in a democratic organization. No one has been told of the proposal and no world-wide
discussion has taken place. Such a move reminds me of the normal mode of action
of dictatorship and we, theosophists are expected to be open and deliberative
and participatory, since the growth and future of TS in the world depends on
active unselfish, motivated altruistic members as it has been in the past.
Your proposal brings into focus, another very important issue about which I have
frequently commented in theosophical forums. It is the transparency of the General
Council. In the early days of TS, there was total transparency with each lodge
having a representative who was in contact with GC and lodges were kept up-to-date
on the actions of GC in spite of slow methods of communication. During the several
decades I have been around TS, members know nothing of the going on in the GS.
They do not know when it meets, its agenda and decisions. So there is total opaqueness
in its activities. There is no reason to carry out its function in secrecy since
in this country, even large elected public bodies are able to carry on deliberations
in the open as there are methods and procedures in place to keep details of confidential
issues such as contracts, personnel evaluation, litigation advise etc. to be
dealt with in executive session.
Lack of transparency, provides a great opportunity for a handful of people, however
highly regarded they may be, take decisions which are detrimental to the membership,
TS and Theosophy. One such case is the current plan to disenfranchise the members
in the International President election. Transparency is the built-in safeguard
to prevent a small group of individuals from making decisions to further their
self-interests and hurting the interest of TS and theosophy.
Having said the above, I am wondering what other issues that the General Council
is currently scheduled to consider and act on, some of which, while apparently
well-intentioned, but really detrimental or disastrous to TS and Theosophy. Here
I like to recall the comment made by Master K.H. in his 1900 letter to Annie
Besant that "Misleading secrecy has given the death blow to numerous organizations" and
I hope TS does join the list.
In the interests of theosophy, members of TS and Theosophical Society, I request
you to:
1. Immediately withdraw all your proposals before the General Council and
2. Make the General Council agenda and decisions transparent.
Thanking you ,
Yours fraternally,
M K Ramadoss, Member TS, San Antonio, Texas
Copy to:
TSA Board Members.
Brothers and Sisters of TS.
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Last update: January 2009 |