A VIEW OF THEOSOPHY 

- ON FORMING AN ASSOCIATION

_____________________

[This reply was made in answer to a question in an email forum on what it means 

to join the ULT as Associate.  It was written by a long time student of the philosophy.]

Dear Friends:

As far as I can see the signing of a form has a meaning only to the
individual who signs.  No "membership" list is kept.

In this case, after studying the implications of the "DECLARATION OF THE
ULT" one may, or may not, offer to sign such an "associate" card.  The
decision means no more than that which the individual intends in his own
"Heart" to support and sustain.  So there is no room for false promises. All
signers determine for themselves what they will do. The commitment is to
Theosophy, to one's own HIGHER SELF,  and to no outside individual or
"form."
 
The ULT  will continue to offer its help and facilities to all-comers.

 
No questions asked of anyone.

Freedom and independence...
 
"Fearlessness, sincerity, assiduity in devotion, generosity, self-restraint, piety, 

and alms-givings, study, mortification, and rectitude; harmlessness, veracity, 

and freedom from anger, resignation, equanimity, and not speaking of the faults 

of others, universal compassion, modesty, and mildness; patience, power, fortitude, 

and purity, discretion, dignity, unrevengefulness, and freedom from conceit ― these 

are the marks of him whose virtues are of a "godlike" character."

                                                                        [Ch. 16, BHAGAVAD  GITA]
 
Some ask "What is THEOSOPHY?"  And they point to some of the predecessors
of H.P.Blavatsky.
 
Some say that if we adopt for ourselves and for others rigid ideas of
Theosophy we will fail to see the value of others' sayings and teachings.
 
If we have grasped the eclecticism of Theosophy, we need not fear that mere
words will grade or separate individuals.  That is not the concept of
Brotherhood. There is a vast spiritual Unity in the Universe.  WE ARE ALL ONE.
 
It is a brotherhood of ideas and, like all sciences and philosophies, it has
a few basic concepts - since it is the most ancient wisdom, those concepts
are universal, basic and apply to all who profess to speak for Theosophy, in
whatever language and in time or clime.  They give the same scope to all,
and limit no one.
  
ANCIENT WISDOM knew - and continues to know - deep and vast knowledge about
ourselves, our purpose in life, nature, the universe, the highest god-like principles,

and man's long history on this earth.
 
Theosophy is the portion of that ancient knowledge brought to us by H.P.Blavatsky

toward the end of the 19th century, as taught to her by her Teachers.
 
Some of its principles are listed here.

   
A note on membership: here are no members of the ULT as such, only associates for those who choose; see the Associate form.  Web-ed.