Theosophy News Worldwide 4th Quarter 2023

This issue was published on 2024-01-20 or 2 years 5 months ago.

Editorial

Dear friends of Theosophy,

may you have noticed, the last issue (the 39th) was cancelled. Apologies for this.

Didn't master KH write (to Sinnett), that the masters major goal is to teach humanity to love virtue for its own sake and didn't he also says, if you summarise the mystics of past times, it boils down to saying that immortality is conditional? And wasn't it once, that the Society teaches and expects its fellows to personally exemplify the highest morality and religious aspiration as one of its most important goals (source)?

Whoever understands this "secret" and takes it seriously, will start to become more reasonable and will begin to fight for it (as if there were no next life, no reward without struggle), in the spirit of W.Q. Judge, when he said, that in some circumstances the protection of the soul demands every (possible) minute of the day from us. Then, fighting (for the spiritual development of Mother Nature), you realise, how imperfect we are and how powerful karma is and that -- indeed, like W.Q. Judge taught us -- that it is this (individual inner) struggle (or "battle"), that has been so epically metaphorised in so many ways (for good reason).

And so (spiritual) humanity is struggling, as the spiritual eastern idea in the western hemisphere and it helps to understand, why Theosophy is, where it is today and why it has been misunderstood in some important points from the beginning. The idea will be realised successively (as taught) and we must not be annoyed if a master's step is further than ours and if a moment there, is a life here.

But that's just my humble opinion and be that, as it may, here is the 40th Issue of Theosophy World News (10 years anniversary), back again.

I asked in the last newsletter about the incident of the sale of the TS Adyar England headquarter, what's the main reason for the sale? The readers voted as follows: They no longer need it, as indicated 36%, Continuous high costs, but little revenue 36%, Misappropriation of funds by former National Secretary 18% and Someone wants to make a good deal 9%, maybe the truth is a little bit of everything.

Today the Topic of the Quarter deals with a question of ownership of large swath of Adyar property, that has been disputed by an individual, read more in the topic of the quarter.

And as usual, this newsletter is full of theosophical information gathered from all corners of the world, so I wish you an informative read and a peaceful winter (or summer, as the case may be).

With kind regards from Germany

Steven Otto
Editor of Theosophy World News

PS: Feedback is welcome and please recommend the website Theosophy.news -- the must read quarterly -- according to your possibilities (A link from your website to this page would be helpful). Thank You for supporting this independent theosophical non-profit project.

You will find the following sections below:

Topic of the quarter

Lawsuit claiming ownership of 81.25 acres of Adyar property

From Theosophy (Formerly theos-talk):

An individual has filed a lawsuit claiming ownership of 81.25 acres of Adyar property. Courts ordered TS to produced title documents to the Government Officials proving the purchase of land 1908. TS has not produced documents to prove its purchase. Instead, TS filed a writ petition in Chennai High Court questioning the legality of the lower court order. High court has just dismissed the writ and the matter is now in the hands of Government Officials who will investigate and report to the court. Potentially, TS can lose entire 81.25 acres.

Here is the background from The Hindu -

A century ago, theosophist Annie Besant appeared before the Madras High Court to argue two famous cases — one related to the custody of two children and the other to the freedom of the press. Now, the international headquarters of the Theosophical Society at Adyar in Chennai has been fighting a legal battle before the same court in connection with 256 acres of serene land in the heart of the city.

According to the Theosophical Society, it got incorporated in 1905 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Its objective was to nurture universal brotherhood, encourage comparative study of all religions, and explore unexplained laws of nature as well as powers latent in man. The Society has branches in 70 countries and its international headquarters is at Adyar in Chennai.

Of the total extent of 256 acres in its possession, 81.25 acres originally belonged to a woman named Mary Anne Longhurst, who sold it to Ghulam Mohamed Ali Khan Bahadur, the Prince of Arcot, in 1906. According to the Society, two of its members B. Subbiah Chetty and B. Ranga Reddy, who resided on the Society campus, purchased the land from the prince in 1908 for ₹40,000. Source

Press outside the movement about Theosophy

THEOSOPHY

_TheHindu.com

Paywall: When the Theosophical Society in Chennai ran into a major controversy

Founder Helena Petrovna Blavatsky was believed to have psychic powers, including her ability to communicate through letters on an astral plane with the ‘Mahatmas’, who inspired the founding of the society. However, it was the allegations over the dubious nature of these powers that resulted in a row in 1884 read more

_{InsideCroydon.com}

Annie Besant: ‘I will speak for all the despairing silent ones’

Last month, the Phoenix Retirement Association in Crystal Palace hosted one of its regular talks, this time about the Victorian radical Annie Besant, a woman who led the matchgirls’ strike, popularised the cause of birth control, was courted by George Bernard Shaw, admired by Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle, and visited by Gandhi, and who played an important part in Indian independence. read more

_{ExplorersWeb.com}

Exploration Mysteries: Shambhala

This is where a couple named Nicholas and Helena Roerich play a major role. They were theosophists and believed in Blavatsky’s movement, which merged Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, and Hindu beliefs. They embarked on an expedition to Tibet in the 1920s, passing over 30 mountain passes. read more

_{Doms2cents.com}

Alice Bailey Cause of Death: The Mysterious End of a New Age Pioneer

Alice found solace in Theosophy, a spiritual movement founded by Helena Blavatsky that blended Eastern and Western mysticism. She joined the Theosophical Society in 1917, and moved to its headquarters in Krotona, California. read more

ART

_{TheConversation.com}

Kandinsky at the Art Gallery of New South Wales: a precious gem of a show celebrating the transformative power of art

Building on the heritage of spiritualism inherent in Russian Orthodox icons and the inventive whimsical narratives in Russian folk art, Kandinsky also explored the spiritual realm and colour auras integral to theosophy. read more

_{CaliforniaDesertArt.com}

Edgewalker: Columba Krebs’ Search for Cosmic Community

Columba (1902-1998) invites comparison to Paulina Peavy (1901-1999), a recently rediscovered artist who was also a UFO contactee. She shares traits with Agnes Pelton, who was painting in Cathedral City at the time Columba was showing her art at Giant Rock. Both found liberation in the desert and in metaphysics. Both studied Theosophy and the cosmos. Pelton once said she listened for “intimations from outer space.” read more

_{HhyperAllergic.com}

New Hilma af Klint VR Experience Comes to NYC

Af Klint was a student of Steiners Rosicrucian theosophy, established in 1904 within the Theosophical movement founded by Russian-American immigrant Helena Blavatsky in the second half of the 20th century. read more

_ArtNews.com

Women’s History Is at the Forefront of Judy Chicago’s Retrospective at the New Museum in New York

The association between women and spirituality, for instance, goes back to von Bingen in the Middle Ages. Think Teresa of Ávila, Madame Blavatsky, Annie Besant—they all fit into a huge tradition that has been marginalized. read more

Shawn F. Higgins @ Patheos.com

Swedish Theosophist In America

A look at three Swedish-American immigrants who belonged to the Theosophical Society, and their influence on their adopted-home. read more

Before The Atma Awakes

Immediately after the Notice of the formation of the Esoteric Section in Lucifer, Blavatsky sent out a formal communication to all applicants, marked “strictly private and confidential.” read more

The General Idea Underlying The Opera

“It is sometimes appalling to remember the millions of people in America alone, in comparison with the few Theosophists and Theosophical branches,” Judge told Blavatsky. “What hope was there of our making a change in National character in any land?” read more

Professor Hiram Butler’s Solar Sex Cult

This, no doubt, inspired Judge to pursue the creation of an “Esoteric Section” within the Theosophical Society, for in May 1888, he wrote to Blavatsky for advice regarding the creation of such a body. read more

Old Shep

Curtis begged his fellow Theosophists, Madame Blavatsky, Col. Olcott, and W.Q. Judge to investigate. “The police were all agog,” said Curtis. “The inspector of that district has made all preparations to have it seized tonight.” read more

Anagarika Dharmapala, a Missionary for Buddhism

Here’s a quick recap: Olcott and his spiritual partner Helena Petrovna Blavatsky founded the Theosophical Society in New York in 1875, and in 1879 they established the Society’s headquarters in Adyar, India. read more

The One Who Thinks He Knows

“The Master never deceives me, Mr. Yeats,” said Blavatsky, coolly looking at the poet through the barrel of her cigarette. “That’s a queer place, Judge—that Ireland,” Blavatsky continued. “It is packed full of a singular class of elementals,” she said, now looking at Judge read more

The Decay Of Lying

Willie Yeats joined the Esoteric Section of the Theosophical Society just before Christmas 1888. He took no exception to the pledge, save for two clauses, which he explained to Blavatsky. read more

Where Vishnu Slumbers In His Sea-Girt Shrine

The guests, the Theosophists would soon learn, was none other than Victor and Margaret Child-Villiers (Lord and Lady of Jersey) whom they met on board the Arcadia. read more

MISCELLANEOUS

_{Wall Street Journal}

‘The Egyptian Book of the Dead’ Review: An Ancient Guide to the Afterlife

The collection has also taken on an almost cultic importance (and was embraced for esoteric wisdom in 19th-century England by Helena Blavatsky's). read more

_{WeAreSouthdevon.com}

The Haunting of Torquay’s Castel-a-Mare

We know most about Castel-a-Mare from the memoirs of author, poet, and committed Spiritualist Violet Tweedale (1862-1936). Claiming to be psychic from a young age, Violet (pictured above) became involved in Spiritualism and Theosophy, and was a close associate of the occultist Helena Blavatsky. read more

_HimalMag.com

Buddhism’s long fight against brahminism and caste

The Theosophical Society of Adyar in Madras, established by Henry Steel Olcott and the mystic Madame Blavatsky, functioned as an agency for legitimising these brahminical claims across the Subcontinent. read more

_{MountainTimes.info}

‘Second Sight,’ a play about the Eddy Brother’s mystique, is coming to Middlebury’s Tond Hall Theater

It’s interesting to know that the global Theosophical Society was formed in Chittenden after Henry Olcott met Helena Blavatsky, while both were visiting the Eddy farm. Chittenden is known as the spirit capital of the universe. read more

FALSE ALLEGATIONS

_stream.org

Ukrainians Deserve Better Than a Choice Among Satanists. Speak Up for Peace NOW

From a Christian point of view, there’s no mistaking the spiritual and moral undercurrent of Russia’s actions. And Dugin couldn’t deny it: he has openly credited Satanists like Aleister Crowley and Madame Blavatsky as his influences. read more

_stream.org

The Art of Syncretism: Conspiratorial Vision-Healing Beliefs

The concept of the Akashic Records derives from the Theosophical religious tradition and closely related Anthroposophical spiritual movement. As part of the broader phenomenon of western esotericism, scholars have argued that both traditions played significant roles in the development of Nazi ideology. read more

_{FirstThings.com}

Book: The Religious Revolution: The Birth of Modern Spirituality, 1848–98

His focus is on North America rather than Europe, and the Far East rather than the Middle East. The connections between the earlier romantic individualists—Emerson, Ruskin, Whitman, and Thoreau—and the later charlatans and occultists who founded modern Theosophy and brought together East and West certainly make for interesting reading. read more

Nevertheless, personal immortality is conditional...

H. P. Blavatsky, Secret Doctrine Vol. III, p. 510, On Exoteric "Blinds" and "The Death of the Soul"

Upcoming events

_ITC

International Theosophy Conference

July 18-21, 2024, Online
more information

_EuST

European School of Theosophy 2024

11th to the 16th of November, Ascona, Switzerland
more information

_{TS Adyar}

12th World Congress of The Theosophical Society (Adyar)

23 – 29 July 2025, Vancouver, Canada
more information

News from Theosophical Societies

National President of TS Adyar Australian Section (Stephen McDonald) was reelected for a further three years. In the current Issue of Theosophy in Australia Quarterly also the Annual Report is a major topic, also the TOS Australia National Report, more in the magazine section.

Videos of the 148th International Convention (Exploring and Understanding Universal Intelligence) of TS Adyar Chennai HQ were published, have a look here. News can also be found in Adyar Newsletter, see the magazine section (also for new Theosophist-Issues) and a lot of videos were published in its YouTube Channel

TS Adyar in North-America published some articles from Quest Magazine Winter 2023 and also new videos on its YouTube Channel and there were personnel changes at TSA, a new President Douglas Keene replaced the former president Barbara Hebert. There is a special video-message from new TSA President Doug Keene.

The Theosophical Society Point Loma published a new Lucifer-Issue, TS Adyar Indien Section published new issues of The Indian Theosophist, the ULT England new issues of The Theosophical Movement magazine, all this an more in the magazine section

TS Adyar England published some videos in its YouTube Channel

TOS (Adyar) USA announced the TOS Meditative Action Network

The Parliament of the World's Religions took place in Chicago, see f.e. here

The European School of Theosophy 2024 will be taking place in the picturesque town of Ascona, Switzerland, from the 11th to the 16th of November organised by TS Switzerland. And the European School of Theosophy will be holding a two-day conference in London. The aim of the London Theosophical Conferences is to bring together distinguished theosophists, esotericists and other interested parties for the exchange of ideas and insights. You can read about in this Newsletter, also with the article Digital Detox by Erica Georgiades.

To be true, religion and philosophy must offer the solution of every problem. That the world is in such a bad condition morally is a conclusive evidence that none of its religions and philosophies--those of the civilized races less than any other--have ever possessed the TRUTH. The right and logical explanations on the subject of the problems of the great dual principles, right and wrong, good and evil, liberty and despotism, pain and pleasure, egotism and altruism, are as impossible to them now as they were 1880 years ago. They are as far from the solution as they ever were, but. . . . "To these there must be somewhere a consistent solution, and if our doctrines will show their competence to offer it, then the world will be the first one to confess, that ours must be the true philosophy, the true religion, the true light, which gives truth and nothing but the TRUTH. . . .

From the article "The Theosophical Society: Its Mission and Its Future" by H. P. Blavatsky, published in Lucifer, August 1888 and especially this paragraph HPB has quoted from the so-called "Maha Cohan Letter".

Theosophical Magazines

_{The TS Point Loma Blavatskyhouse}

Lucifer

Periodical magazine for seekers of truth
publisher, Lucifer No. 4 - 2023

_{The TS (Pasadena) Australasian Section}

Theosophy Downunder

Newsletter of the Theosophical Society (Pasadena) Australasian Section
publisher, currently only per Mail via theosophydownunder@hotmail.com

_{TS (Adyar) in Australia}

Theosophy in Australia Quarterly

Newsletter/Quarterly of the TS (Adyar) in Australia
publisher, November 2023 (pdf)

_{The Aquarian Theosophist}

The Aquarian Theosophist

publisher, December 2023 (pdf), November 2023 (pdf), October 2023 (pdf)

_{United Lodge of Theosophists (ULT)}

The Theosophical Movement Magazine

publisher, December 2023 (pdf), November 2023 (pdf), October 2023 (pdf)

_{The TS Adyar Indian Section}

The Indian Theosophist

publisher, Indian Theosophist November 2023, October 2023, December 2023, Bombay Federation Bulletin – December 2023 (pdf)

_{The TS Adyar HQ}

The Theosophist / Adyar Newsletter

publisher, Theosophist October 2023 (pdf), December 2023 (pdf), Adyar Newsletter Quarterly Q4-2023 (pdf)

_{The TS Pasadena American Section}

The Spiral Path

publisher, Winter Solstice 2023(pdf)

New books

_{hyperallergic.com}

Book-Review: Religion’s Understated Influence on Modern Art

Theosophy was a 19th-century movement begun by Helena Blavatsky, which appropriated some ideas from Hinduism and Buddhism, and eclectically mixed them in with the preexisting Western occult traditions of alchemy, hermeticism, and Neoplatonism. read more

_{ahotcupofjoe.net}

Book-Review: The Original My Friend Churchey and His Sunken Island of Mu

Hoopes elegantly weaves Churchward’s Mu into the pseudoarchaeological milieu as it originated with figures like Helena Blavatsky (1831-1891) of the Theosophical Society and Ignatius Donnelly (1831-1901) through to Graham Hancock and cable television’s Ancient Aliens, both of modern times. read more

Articles from Theosophical sites

Book of Dzyan Research-Blog

Theosophy Forward

BLAVATSKY NEWS

TheoScience.org

Black Holes Closer to Earth

KrotonaArchive.com

He who does not practice altruism...is no Theosophist.

from the book "Practical Occultism" (partly) by H. P. Blavatsky

✴✴✴ The End ✴✴✴

Share your thoughts and comment

A few inaccuracies in this…

A few inaccuracies in this article on AABs death. Letters on Occult Meditation was the first book received and some things were changed - how do I know this? I have the original MS in my collection and it started in 1918 not 1919. IHS might have been published before but it was not the first one to be written.

Thanks for the correction…

Thanks for the correction Steven, it may be better to add it directly to the publisher page