The ITC (International Theosophy Conferences) is an international theosophical event in which various theosophical organizations (societies) participate. One would think, that this would be a normal thing in the movement of the "Brotherhood of Humanity", but the opposite is the case. In fact, this is perhaps the only relevant (int.) event, in which such collaboration takes place (officially or organizationally between three different societies Point Loma, ULT, Adyar; the fourth "Main-Stream", Pasadena, does not play a role, as is often the case).
Current events (Adyar)
Jan Nicolaas Kind, who was member of the ITC-Board and served also as Vice President (means one of the leading minds), published a very long article (International Theosophy Conferences … ALAS ….) Theosophy Forward, an online magazine, which is close to Adyar (supportet by TS in America (from what you can read), so probably less independent than proclaimed) and runs by him.
After an excursion into ITC history, he gets to the point relatively quickly. He complains (in sometimes undiplomatic words,which, however, is sometimes nothing unusual according to the past) that the ITC was completely taken over by the TS Point Loma, which moreover converted the ITC at the latest since 2014 to a pure event for Blavatsky-followers, which distinguishes between true and false Theosophy, whereby the true doctrine (similar to the ULT) considers only the Theosophists of the 1st generation and of the own interpretation of it.
This, according to the author, completely contradicts the original intention of the ITC, the Freedom of Thought of the Adyar Society and also Theosophy itself. Therefore, although not the original intention of an inter-societal cooperation, but the ITC is dead for him, despite his many years of remarkable effort for this event.
This open letter is not written as if one would still talk to each other. Especially since even more authors have their say in the context of this "campaign", e.g. Jacques Mahnich in his article ALAS and after- International Theosophical Conferences - the Rise and Fall and Ananya Sri Ram Rajan in her article ALAS and after - Liminality and Theosophy and as we can read there "In the coming period more authors will elaborate on the same subject".
Past events (ULT)
ULT has already more or less separated from this event in 2015, although no ULT member (same in Adyar) can be forbidden to participate in the ITC (there is still one ITC-board member from ULT). Here was proceeded with similar means, you can read in the much noticed article International Theosophy Conferences – A Hidden Agenda? from the website blavatskytheosophy.com, an ULT-related site.
Besides a hot and readable discussion in the comments, in which Mr. Kind also participated (at that time still in his function as an ITC-Member) but also a "past Director of the ITC, London", we can read:
Ironically, the annual International Theosophy Conference began originally as an annual ULT event, designed to bring together associates and friends of the ULT from around the world. Before long, however, members of the Adyar Society managed to gain a foothold and, in company with Point Loma, succeeded in gradually altering the nature, tone, and content of the event, so that it eventually ended up as what it is today.
To put it briefly, the ULT sees the problems in its assumption, that the ITC-unity invoked, should be one, under the leadership of Point Loma alone (following the Purucker model) and, on the other hand, it is intolerable for the ULT that theosophical views should be tolerated which do not correspond to the view of the ULT (according to ULT original Theosophy, but more accurate their interpretation of it).
Opinion
First we should not forget, in classifying what happened, that Point Loma has not commented all of this this so far as I know, so we do not have the whole view. With that, it seems at least to me, Adyar has withdrawn loudly from the circle of the ITC (even if two board-members are still Adyar-related), and it will be interesting to see, what happens next with the ITC -- when a supporter as great as Adyar leaves the ship -- even if ITC has apparently already been organized more or less by Point Loma alone.
Perhaps -- and this is a speculation -- the ITC-takeover by Adyar, that ULT suspected, failed and Mr. Kind has to fulfill other important tasks in the future? Be that as it may, bringing these matters into the public in this way will indeed noticeably damage the ITC, at least among many Adyar supporters, while also warning them to stay involved there, as ULT did in 2015.
The talk about the "wisdom of the masters" and the "truth of the message", even if delivered by a chosen one, completely forgets, that we live in a dark age and in the Western system, which is not by chance the way it is, but for karmic reasons. So what will happen to a message of truth? Exactly what you can clearly see in HBP's writings (she was a human being like us, full of mistakes, not to mention the interpretation of the given by their followers), from which you can derive many different views.
In fact, under these circumstances, the separation between I'm right, you 're wrong in matters of faith (instead of everyone can having their own truth and therefore not being condemned, as Buddha and others preached) seems to be a mistake that makes those who think so walk on the path of the Holy Roman Church.
And while fighting against the false, an endless undertaking in these times, what has one done for the good? Nothing! Except to generate hatred, in those whom one fights, in one's own followers towards those whom one fights and often enough in oneself. Who lives from hate, what destroys it and what are the fruits of all these efforts?
In most cases only a confession of failure of tolerance and brotherhood.
Was it not made clear enough to us, it is not about the teaching itself, but about what the teaching should bring about in people. We should take care that more people become true theosophists, that is, become (more) reasonable and virtuous, no matter how they define their faith. It is for sure not our task to destroy the faith of other people, with our own faith-truths (a kind of an oxymoron, isn't it).
And that such a common dialogue of different views seems to be impossible in theosophy only confirms me in the view I already put forward here, of which a theosophical spirit is not the cause.
And let me be understood correctly. I'm a "1st generation Theosophist" and I believe in truth, which may be discussed by the masters among themselves, but we here, "on the other side" have only belief systems (confused from karma) and those who do not understand this, please study the basics of philosophy and epistemology. In faith we all walk on the path of (our own) truth, but only the true Theosophists (a.k.a. the one who fights for his purity of soul) will be able to reach the land of truth (permanently).
ITNL reported about ITC (review)
We have been reporting on the (ITC) continuously since 2014. The declaration of Naarden was topic of the quarter in 3rd quarter issue of 2014, 2015 on the insinuations of a hidden ITC-agenda and of, again, as a topic of the quarter. 2016 there were even some articles in the run-up to the event to push the topic, e.g. here (Theosophy Forward) or here (Theosophy Watch) and again as a Topic of the quarter within the 3rd quarter-issue. In 2017 it was quieter and we had only a news with video-references. By the way, check out the YoutTube Channel of the ITC with a lot of content.
2018 then with more publicity, especially driven by Theosophy Forward (Concentric Circles: Why I Support ITC, Philadelphia Declaration, Message to the participants of ITC 2018, Impressions of ITC 2018 ). We reported within News from Theosophical Societies in the 3rd Quarter 2018 issue. You can read here about The Harvest of ITC 2019, in 2020, the event was first cancelled due to the "Corona"-pandemic and then it took place online after all, as well as the 2021 event that took place recently online, see the news about it in this issue.
Steven's coverage, as usual,…