tktt: The Working System Of The T.S. – The Objects Of The Society

“Enq:  What are the objects of the “Theosophical Society”?

 
Theo:  They are three, and have been so from the beginning. (1) To form the nucleus of a Universal Brotherhood of Humanity without distinction of race, colour,or creed. (2) To promote the study of Aryan and other Scriptures, of the World’s religion and sciences, and to vindicate the importance of old Asiatic literature, namely, of the Brahmanical, Buddhist, and Zoroastrian philosophies. (3) To investigate the hidden mysteries of Nature under every aspect possible, and the psychic and spiritual powers latent in man especially.  These are, broadly stated, the three chief objects of the Theosophical Society.

 
Enq:  Can you give me some more detailed information upon these?

 
Theo:  We may divide each of the three objects into as many explanatory clauses as may be found necessary.

 
Enq:  Then let us begin with the first. What means would you resort to, in order to promote such a feeling of brotherhood among races that are known to be of the most diversified religions, customs, beliefs, and modes of thought?

 
Theo:  Allow me to add that which you seem unwilling to express. Of course we know that with the exception of two remnants of races – the Parsees and the Jews – every nation is divided, not merely against all other nations, but even against itself. This is found most prominently among the so-called civilized Christian nations. Hence your wonder, and the reason why our first object appears to you a Utopia. Is it not so?

 
Enq:  Well, yes; but what have you to say against it?

 
Theo:  Nothing against the fact; but much about the necessity of removing the causes which make Universal Brotherhood a Utopia at present.

 
Enq:  What are, in your view, these causes?

 
Theo:  First and foremost, the natural selfishness of human nature. This selfishness, instead of being eradicated, is daily strengthened and stimulated into a ferocious and irresistible feeling by the present religious education, which tends not only to encourage, but positively to justify it. People’s ideas about right and wrong have been entirely perverted by the liberal acceptance of the Jewish Bible.

 
All the unselfishness of the altruistic teachings of Jesus has become merely a theoretical subject for pulpit oratory; while the precepts of practical selfishness taught in the Mosaic Bible, against which Christ so vainly preached, have become ingrained into the innermost life of the Western nations. “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” has come to be the first maxim of your law.

 
Now, I state openly and fearlessly, that the perversity of this doctrine and of so many others Theosophy alone can eradicate.”

 
H. P. Blavatsky