Dear Friends
As we come to the season of Easter – named after Ostara, the Scandinavian goddess of spring or rebirth of the Solar forces in us and Nature – we follow up last month’s theme on the vitality of the theosophical movement, why it’s waning and what may have caused this.
It is said that unless the study of both HPB and WQJ are restored the movement will remain divided and weak. They are analogous to Buddhi, the “potentiality of intelligence”, and Manas, the active power of the mind: to effect a change both must be brought together into close union.
The lead article is in support of the annual call for “Justice to Judge” – see also “Documents that would clear WQJ’s name” on p 3, which investigates the evidence that would put an end to this long running injustice.
You can also read about the marvellous work of the associates at the Jacmel Lodge in Haiti. They lost their building in the earthquake on January 12th but managed to open a new one in time for W.Q.Judge Day on 21st March. They were thankful for assistance from fellow theosophists locally and from Paris, Philadelphia, New York, London and elsewhere. These few extracts from their emails gives a brief, moving insight to conditions there.
- “News from Haiti” on p.7 and “Jacmel: a Preliminary Report” on p.8.
It’s said if we believe in something, do it wholeheartedly, if not stay well away from it. We commend this issue to you and leave the rest to the good Law!
The Editors
Justice to Judge
Letters to Adyar – the Fifth Year
For the fifth time since April 2006, independent students from various countries will be sending on 13 April 2010 a number of open letters to Ms. Radha Burnier, President of the Adyar Theosophical Society.
They will be asking Ms. Burnier to think of stopping a century old, on-going injustice by re-examining the Adyar “Case” against Mr. William Q. Judge.
Such a decision would be a demonstration that the Adyar Society actually cares about Ethics and Truth. It would give a large portion of the theosophical movement a better chance to benefit from the practical example of Judge’s altruistic life, and from the theosophical wisdom present in his books.
The open letters campaign has no expectations of great short term results. Karma may take time, although it always produces results – often by invisible ways. As any social institution, the Adyar T.S. is accountable for what it does or doesn’t do. Just like the executive officers of any private corporation or government officers around the world, Adyar leaders must be willing to accept the truth and to admit the mistakes of their organization in a public way, especially if such mistakes create a public, long term illusion.
The 19th century process of persecution against Judge within the Adyar Theosophical Society is extensively documented in the book The Judge Case, by Ernest Pelletier (published by the Edmonton Theosophical Society, Canada, in June 2004) and in other books.
click to download PDF of magazine
The accusations were based on a campaign of rumours. They seem to have been used as a tool by those who aimed at attaining political power within the organization. No actual, valid proofs were ever presented against Judge. The Judicial Committee appointed to examine the matter declared it could not decide on the issue (on the basis that there was little evidence against WQJ, AQ Eds). Yet Judge was never declared innocent by Annie Besant’s Society. It is felt by some that the 21st century may be a nice occasion for truth to be restored.
Although 2010 is only the fifth year since the yearly letters began, organizers say that there has been growing sympathy for the cause among members of the Adyar Theosophical Society, in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. According to the organizers, it is easy to see that the Adyar Society has only to gain from accepting the truth, in this and in other matters as well.
Every letter in defence of William Q. Judge has been and should be open. It should also be as widely circulated as possible among one’s friends and co-students, or in publications in one’s local language, so that the vindication of Judge takes place at the grass-roots level, as long as the international leaders of the Adyar Society are unable or unwilling to act. These letters are also a way of celebrating Mr. Judge’s life and work for the cause of humanity. They stimulate the movement’s ability to learn from its own mistakes. They help people realize not only that the Founders deserve Respect, but also that it is a duty and a privilege for anyone to actively defend them every time they are unjustly attacked, whether from within or from without the theosophical movement.
Each in his or her own way, style and words, students will suggest for the fifth time next April 13th that Adyar should publicly admit that Judge was innocent of any wrongdoing – or else open the Adyar Archives and show any existing proofs of his mistakes.
The letter-effort is also a celebration: April 13th has been chosen for it is Judge’s birthday.
E-mail messages and phone calls to Adyar are good ideas as additional means of expression; but it is felt that the efficiency of an air mail letter is greater.
Envelopes must be addressed to
Mrs. Radha Burnier, President, The Theosophical Society, Adyar, Chennai 600 020, India.
Whenever possible, signed copies of the letters to Adyar should be sent to the air mail address indicated below. Mrs. Radha Burnier – the president of the Adyar Society since 1980 – has sent kind answers to some of the letters, and the correspondence to Adyar has been discussed in previous editions of “The Aquarian Theosophist” and other theosophical magazines.
More information on the subject – including the first reactions from Mrs. Burnier to the Letters – will be found at
Those interested in taking part of the chain of letters may also write to lutbr@terra.com.br
… or by air mail to: C.C.Aveline, Caixa Postal 5111, Ag. Brazlândia,
CEP 72.701-970, Brasília, DF, Brazil
Pingback: W.Q. Judge and Annie Besant – an uncomfortable heritage | Modern Theosophy
Congratulations to the Aquarian Theosophist, for supporting the 2010 Justice to William Judge – Letters to Adyar action. The growth of this movement in the last years reflects an arising consciousness, among theosophists, that present, past and future are definitely connected.
According to the Mahatma’s teachings on letter X, in the Mahatmas Letters to A.P. Sinnet (TUP edition, page 52), it is said of the Master’s philosophy that “It is preeminently the science of effects by their causes and of causes by their effects,(…)”[1]. This implies that past events influence the present, as present actions will influence the future. To leave unresolved issues behind, justifying that they belong to the past, can be comfortable from a superficial point of view, but may not be the wisest thing to do.
When one analyzes HPB’s work, a considerable part of it includes clarifying past events, from centuries or millennia ago. Also, we read on “Aphorisms on Karma”, aphorism (6) that “Karma is not subject to time, and therefore he who knows what is the ultimate division of time in this Universe knows Karma.”[2] These are only a few examples that show how important it is, in theosophy, that causes and consequences be encompassed in a broad, comprehensive approach, including long time spans. The schism that hit the theosophical movement more than a century ago was not, evidently, caused by any modern theosophist, but it still exists today, draining part of the movement’s precious vitality.
As students of eternal wisdom, it is time for us to realize that the theosophical movement has much to win by re-examining the facts concerning the Judge case, in a most impersonal, just and truthful basis.
Fraternally
MV
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[1]http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/mahatma/ml-10.htm
[2] “Aphorisms on Karma”, by W.Q.Judge, at: http://www.phx-ult-lodge.org/Karma.htm#APHORISMS%20%20ON%20%20KARMA
I want to thank the “Aquarian Theosophist” to bring us thsi excelent edition with more information about the movement “Justice To Judge”.
There is a clear relationship between the vitality of the Theosophical Movement and the ability to maintain an open and frank criticism on poorly understood aspects of its history.
The “Judge Case” remains an open wound in the Theosophical Movement and his complete clarification will help the healing process.
This is not an “age old controversy”, this is a matter of the present. If we don´t want to fall into ethical relativism, where, under the cloack of freedom of thought, rumors and falsehoods have the same value than the facts and truth, then we need not fear the truth, even if it can be painful. As it said, “the truth shall make you free” (John, 8, 31-36).
Namaste,
Joaquim Soares
Portugal
Dear Linda
Thanks for your link to the account of Apollonius’ unmasking of the vampire – a succubus – that was fattening up the innocent Menippus before feasting on him.
As we reflect on the current trials of the RC Church at this time this ‘unmasking’ has possibly begun?
The Editors
====================
2010/04/24 at 10:22 pm, from lidiabravo@ig.com.br
Dear friends,
Helena P. Blavatsky – the main founder of the modern theosophical movement – made an interesting prophecy with regard to the Catholic Church. The prophecy was also a wish, a hope – perhaps a vow.
Read more in:
How a Tale From The Life of Apollonius of Tyana May Illustrate the Destiny of the Vatican
http://www.esoteric-philosophy.com/
Friendly yours,
Lídia Bravo
Les messages que ce site nous offre sont particulierement edifiants surtout pour nous les theosophes de Jacmel HAITI. Nous y trouvons de idees pour nos etudes et une inspiration qui nous porte a considerer le chemin parcourus par les pionniers et aines (elders). Nous relisons toujours ensemble ces messages et nous y decouvrons des idees puissantes.
Pelages
Translation
“The messages that this site offers are particularly instructive for us especially the theosophists of Jacmel HAITI. We find the ideas for our studies and inspiration that leads us to consider the path traveled by the pioneers and seniors (elders). We always re-read all these messages and we discover powerful ideas.”
Ces messages qui sont sur ces pages nous sont vraiment utiles. Surtout apres nos reunions, nous venons rechercher des themes et ils font l’objet de nos reflections pour les reunions suivantes. Cela nous porte a comporendre la route parcourus par les aines (elders) et nous comprenons que nous devons faire des eforts continus pour soigner cette heritage (legacy).
Pelages, thanks for your appreciative words.
The Editors
Translation
“The messages that are on these pages are really useful. Especially after our meetings, we just look for themes and they are the subject of our reflections for the next meeting. This leads us to the road traveled by elders and we understand that we need to make continuous EFFORT treat this legacy.”