The Betrayal Of The First Object
The Betrayal Of The First Object:
Here we are, many years since the founding of the Theosophical Society in New York in 1875.
We started out with three objects:
[1] To form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste/status or colour.
[2] To encourage the study of Comparative Religion, Philosophy and Science.
[3] To investigate unexplained laws of Nature and the powers latent in man.
This first Object: [1] To form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste/status or colour: Has become enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the UN Charter and is fundamental to the EU Charter. These freedom provisions once thought to be the very bleeding edge of idealist radicalism are now considered commonplace and taken for granted in all advanced societies. But what are these freedom provisions really for?
Multiculturalism is taken for granted in all advanced societies, and the large urban centres in Europe and the Americas present a mosaic of the peoples from all over the World. In order to make Multiculturalism work, these societies hold ‘tolerance’ as a very high value.
Human rights are constantly at issue as ‘tolerance’ must be constantly enforced and ‘freedom provisions’ allowed in the sense that society is seen as the site for the free pursuit of individual desires, and ‘lifestyle choices’.
Secular societies avoid the appearance of either advocating or suppressing any form of religion or spirituality. In order to advance ‘tolerance’ and ‘freedom provisions’ secular society simply ignores, religion and spirituality as a legitimate aspect of human nature. We can call this cultural and legalistic apparatus ‘ideological left liberalism’. All values are relative, spirituality is a purely subjective affair, and can play no real role in public life. The secular state arbitrates all ethics and values.
With the Globalization of trade and multicultural interaction has come what is known as “capitalist consumerism”. In this economic model the primary activity of any advanced society is the production and consumption of products and services. Products created cheaply in the third world and Asia are consumed in the advanced economies of the West.
Almost all culture now involves the acquisition of electronic devices. Culture is consumed as a product. Every person can be alone within an atmosphere of ‘tolerance’ with their Computer, Laptop, iPod and Smart-phone. Cultural products mediated by technology have supplanted the living engaged and thriving culture upon which the psychic and psychological health of the nation depends.
There is a crisis of meaning amongst the young, who in many cases have come to refer to themselves as the “lost generation”. Apathy is taken for granted. People are living essentially passive lives mediated by technology.An agressive materialistic Atheism, broadcast far and wide within secular society, attacks all religions and spirituality equally. The cancer of Nihilism eats into the souls of the young.
It is clearly evident that this state of cultural and spiritual affairs is not what the First Object had in mind at all.
In Theosophical terms the level of consciousness that is being spoken to in the First Object is the Fourth level in the Sevenfold spiritual nature of the human being:
[4] [Personal-self: Lower Mind] “I Think Therefore I Am” Desire Mind: Mental Conditioning and Reactivity: Beliefs: Educational Skills: Self in “the world”. Public Image: Alienation: Loneliness:
The spiritual purpose of the First Object was to release the human being from the thralldom and polarized subjectivity of the Fourth Principle in order to free the human being up in such a way as to make comprehension of the higher spiritual principles possible.
It is clear to see that the Fourth Principle is highly vulnerable to personal desires and can be easily seduced into thinking that the purpose of life is the fulfilment of these personal desires and that the purpose of society is to organize the production and availability of the objects of these desires: in short the ideal context for the enclosed and degenerated Fourth Principle is “capitalist consumerism” couched in ‘ideological left liberalism’.
Historically Liberalism has always been associated with a very high measure of personal liberty and freedom to follow ones individual conscience, and enlightened self interest. This Liberalism becomes ‘ideological left liberalism’ when a secular state becomes the arbiter of all human behaviour and cultural values. Cultural ‘ideological left liberalism’ has become combined with economic capitalist consumerism, in all multicultural societies.
The goal of: “To form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity” has been expropriated and subverted. The multicultural notion that inter-ethnic tolerance and capitalist consumerism as a context for the pursuit of personal desires is all that is needed to keep society running smoothly is failing.
Multiculturalism as an answer to a tolerant and cohesive society is in crisis all over the Western World and is being rejected, simply because ethical and cultural relativism leads to fragmentation and chaos. Consumerism leads the individual into unsupportable financial debt and a sense of inner emptiness.
The New Age Movement was hailed as an answer to the spiritual needs of a post religious secular society, where each individual could pick and choose spiritual beliefs and practices according to self perceived longings and needs. These pursuits being purely subjective lack any universalizing potential. In the absence of a wide public consensus about the nature and reality of the sacred, no culturally potent and productive spiritual movement can emerge.
Obviously the First Object cannot be attained by ordinary means. Where all secular multicultural societies fail is in the fact that it is impossible to legislate improvements in the spiritual nature of human beings. If this were possible all we need do is pass a law that all people will now be better human beings and solve the worlds problems that way.
Lets keep this First Object before us as we proceed, it says:
[1] To form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste/status or colour.
This First Object was not intended to be taken in isolation, and it cannot be if it is to be actually made real and fulfilled. “To form a nucleus” is intended to overcome the natural alienation that attends the early stages of individuation found in the Fourth Principle. The means to bring about the First Object is contained in Objects [2] and [3].
The mission and spiritual goal of cultural Theosophy is to unite all humanity in a common spiritual vision. A trans-cultural spiritual community tolerant of differences to be sure, but also engaged and mutually dedicated to the recognition of all human beings as spiritual beings.
Certainly the First Object demands a response from a humanity who are serious about life: [2] To encourage the study of Comparative Religion, Philosophy and Science. A mindful humanity composed of individuals who are so serious about religion that they are engaged in the study and understanding of all religions.
Individuals who wish to think deeply and seriously about universal theology and philosophy in order to learn the meaning of life and what it means to think deeply and clearly about the central concerns of a spiritually emancipated humanity. This same humanity will concern itself with Science and the pursuit of what can be gained through Science, namely objective and provable knowledge of man and the universe.
This is a call to a spiritual science that can open the way towards a healing of the fractured world where science and religion must remain ever incompatible. Multiculturalism couched in consumerism and deadening inter-ethnic secular ‘tolerance’ falls badly short of the First Object.
The First Object is not trying to bring a materialistic secular society into being quite the contrary it calls for a universal spiritual society grounded in a thoughtful philosophical mindset confirmed by scientific research. This is reemphasized in the Third Object: [3] To investigate unexplained laws of Nature and the powers latent in man]. These latent powers are spiritual abilities and talents as yet un-manifested potentials hidden within the spiritual depths of all truly human beings.
The means to bring about the First Object is Theosophy itself. We can see with the inclusion of natural overlap that:
The First Object: [1] To form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste/status or colour.] Refers to Body and Soul.
The Second Object: [2] To encourage the study of Comparative Religion, Philosophy and Science.] Refers to Soul and Mind.
The Third Object:[3] To investigate unexplained laws of Nature and the powers latent in man.] Refers to Mind and Spirit.
Only through the practice of living Theosophy itself can the First Object be realized.
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