|
A letter from Moscow Keepers of the Flame to Keepers in Russia and the world 1. Letter of October 4, 2003 |
|
From: "Tatiana Dergunova" [tatiana_der@mail.ru] To: areichardt@cox.net Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2003 1:43 PM Subject: A letter from Moscow KOF A letter from Moscow Keepers of the Flame Beloved Keepers of the Flame! You are probably aware of the happenings that have taken place in the Moscow Study Group recently and of the attempt to remove the Moscow Study Group board members from their positions. We understand that these happenings will affect your group and every Keeper of the Flame will have to make a choice. We want to tell you that we are alive and are actively continuing our spiritual work! The majority of the Moscow Study Group made a decision to support the old board of the Group and not to support the appointed interim board. We simply cannot be silent regarding what the Leadership of CUT/SL has tried to do with the leaders of our group and we raise our voices to defend Ketino Lutidze, Margarita Djakina, Nina Korneeva, Stuart Montgomerie and Sergey Starikov. We elected our board in January, 2003. The election was held according to the SL regulations. Each Keeper of the Flame had an opportunity to make his choice. The process of the election was open and fair. There was a small amount of people in our group that were dissatisfied with what most of the board members were doing and this small group caused criticism and discontent in the Moscow Study Group. These Keepers who formed an opposition to the majority, contacted Montana and had the opportunity to spread their criticism there. Most of the Moscow Keepers of the Flame chose not to support their sentiments. We think that these happenings have brought a serious test to each one of us. On one side there are people who have done their best for the group since 1996. Some of the board had started practicing the Science of the Spoken Word in Russia in the early 90 s and others joined later. Thanks to them, we have many books and other materials translated, which keep the high vibrations of the original release as much as possible. These people are trying to uphold high standards of honor. And how much love and support many of us have received by these people! On the other side, there is the Church Leadership whom we love and whom we believe should be an example for us. And together with them is the small group of people who were the opposition to the Moscow Study Group. We know from the Teachings, that we need to learn to live under the Hierarchy, to have respect for Hierarchy members, to realize our own position in Hierarchy. We all have tests to be obedient and we believe that this situation has been given to us as an initiation of Christ-discrimination and of true vision; as a test to be obedient, above all to our own Holy Christ Self, rather than mechanical obedience to the outer hierarchy. And this is a most important goal of the Teachings. The members of the outer hierarchy are unascended people and therefore can make a mistake. We also know that Mother rebuked her staff who had mechanically followed the instructions of their department heads and had not followed the promptings of their Holy Christ Selves to take another course of action. It was a test for those people to prefer obedience to their own Holy Christ Selves, rather than obedience to the outer hierarchy. We believe that ministers and leaders of the Church are people who can make mistakes. We know that the Ascended Masters want to have a strong core of lightbearers in their groups. People who have been elected by us to serve on the board were and are, in the vanguard of the group. We saw their deeds. We communicated with them. We saw the fruits of their work. You also, have had the same opportunity to appreciate their work remember the classes that have been held and the materials of the Teachings that have been made available. It is a great labor with tremendous skills needed to organize not only their personal work in an appropriate way, but also the work of other people! Currently, there is an opinion that the board of the Moscow Study Group must give the group's assets to other people and that it is a power test. We think that the same situation can be considered as a power test for one chela and as quite a different test for another person. Beloved El Morya tells us: Hold fast to what thou hath received! Are you ready to defend and stand up for what you have? This question was raised in the Moscow Study Group. Why and to whom must we give all that we have gained, for all of these years, all that we have been graciously given by God and the Masters? Why should we give everything to the minority of the Group, those, whose actions have been sometimes destructive? There appears to be a real threat, that the Teachings in Russia may not be preserved in their purity. We go to the heart of the matter and take into consideration not only what is happening on the physical plane, but the battle for Light that is taking place at inner levels. Our board and all of us have no other choice but to fight and to hold fast to what has been given, even amidst the attack of unfair hunger for power and sometimes lies. Are you, Russians, ready to defend and stand up for what you have in your groups? We also wish to inform you of certain facts that have been distorted and are now spreading amongst the regional groups: On August 29, 2003 in Moscow, the Leadership of CUT/SL met with the Moscow Study Group Board, which had already been made aware of their immanent dismissal. Ketino, the president of the group, was accused of anger and uncontrolled rage and the other members of the board were accused of supporting her. We have communicated with these people for years and know that this behavior is not typical of them. We have seen their behavior at classes, conferences and other events and despite sometimes being engaged in very hard work, these members of the board showed balance, self-control and patience. We are not familiar with anger and rage in them. We believe that what was perceived as anger, was actually the sternness of Durga: courage and fortitude, the striving of a mother to defend her children and home, which she had helped build from the very first foundations and which she had spared no efforts to be erected! And in Russia this was the very case. These people had to do almost everything on their own. We believe that if the ascended masters had been in the same situation as Ketino and the members of the board, they would not have been less firm and determined than our board, in defending the right cause. At the moment, one of the main accusations towards Ketino is that she has created a cult of personality and that she has brought the group under her control, and as a result, the group cannot develop itself independently of her. We witness that it is not so. Those who wanted to help the group and to work for the group were and are doing it. In our community, everybody can find work to do: working with audio equipment at services; leading decree sessions; selling books, audio/video materials, ascended masters pictures; administrative work; organizing events at Lanello s room - where not only beginners but other people of the group gather to watch video-materials, discuss certain points of teachings and communicate in a comfortable atmosphere. There is a great deal of work where help and participation of the group members is required. These accusations originate from people who have not wanted to, or been unable to find their place in the group, and have instead, given way to criticism and judgment. It is impossible to understand why the other board members have been dismissed? Can it be only for supporting Ketino s behavior and the opinion that is different from the Church Leadership s? There were no other accusations. Can it be that the Messengers would treat people, who do their best serve to God and the group, in such a way? It hurts us that there were people in our group who have told lies about Ketino and the board and that these lies have been repeated by the Church leaders. Statements have appeared and are appearing that concern unsubstantiated claims of the misuse of group money by Ketino and the board members for their own needs. Yes, we raise our voices to defend these pure souls and affirm that these accusations are lies! We affirm this, because we know for sure this is true. We are aware of the conditions they live under and we have a trust in our board. The way that our Teachings survive in Russia is like being on the razor s edge and to move forward, one must hold fast to God s hand. Many of us have often witnessed to what these people (who are not paid for their service as board members) have placed on the Altar of God. Their surrender to God is truly great. We Keepers of the Flame, as none other, do understand that we have a responsibility, for every action that we take, including the false accusation of other people. We all will have to stand before God, face to face, and give an account of what we have done. We cannot understand how it is possible that a person, who attended services so seldom that many group members simply do not know her, has been appointed as President of the interim Board. How much can this person and this board, contribute to spreading the Ascended Masters teachings in Russia according to the high standards that have been kept up until now? It will take much more time than one day to resolve the problems of what is going on now. The work must continue! Many Keepers of the Flame in Russia and abroad express their support and understanding of our striving to defend and not let go of what we have already been given by God and the Masters. Now our large group (about 70 people are attending our Saint Germain services every week), that has supported the old board, is continuing to serve, by God s grace. We have 3 services a week. We try not to be involved in the vibrations of judgment and condemnation. We gave rituals of Forgiveness. We have our doors open to everyone and strive to maintain love for all involved in this situation. What is going on now is a severe trial to our group members. And we can suppose that you also, are experiencing difficult times. But, it seems that the time has come when we are ready to face such tests of the Path. We address this letter to Keepers of the Flame all over the world and also, we send a note of protest to the Church Presidents, the Board of Directors and the Council of Elders of SL/CUT. El Morya says in the book Community, The Teacher can send a helping ray, but He will not engage in combat if the given sword be turned against the friends of the community. The sword will then turn into a lightning scourge. We all do believe and understand that we have made a right choice and we are ready to defend and stand up for what we have been given by God, including those elected to the board of our group those people who served you and are serving us and who received no money for it. The Light always triumphs but often we have to fight for it! October 4, 2003 With love and Always Victory! 1 Astafurov Oleg |