Theosophy News Worldwide 3rd Quarter 2021

This issue was published on 2021-10-31 or 2 years 11 months ago.

Editorial

Steven Otto

Dear friends of Theosophy,

since 8 years this independent newsletter every 3 months summarizes the most important theosophical events and publications (in English language). If you are interested in Theosophy in all its variations and want to know quick and comprehensive, what the movement moves, then, this is the place for you.

Browse through the 20 (!) theosophical magazines, which were published in the last quarter with it's many interesting news, insights and articles, e.g., if you want to know what a master of wisdom had to say about climate change even back then -- within the August-issue of The Aquarian Theosophist -- you'll find an answer.

You can figure out (beside other news) the references to the International Theosophical History Conference (ITHC) and the International Theosophy Conferences (ITC) which took place and (e.g.) the link to an unique, worth seeing HPB Online Exhibition, cause of the 190th anniversary of HPB's birth (via Adyar Newsletter) within the News from Theosophical Societies-Section.

Did you know, that HPB's notebooks/diaries (a.k.a. scrapbooks) are being digitized resp. made available online? Some are already available, what a wonderful contribution to the (digital) Theosophical Movement. You can find more about this in the section Articles from Theosophical Websites (via Theos Talk).

Aside from the event- and books-section, an important part of this newsletter is a press review, so what do non-Theosophical publications write about Theosophy? Here you get the idea, e.g. about Lilavati Ramanathan and the forgotten legacy of this Theosophist or articles about Annie Besant’s death anniversary. Hilma af Klint was a major topic with many articles last quarter and also the Buddhist revival in Sri Lanka, which is inseparably connected with Anagarika Dharmapala (later Sri Devamitta Dharmapala) but also Henry Steel Olcott and Helena Blavatsky.

And as if all that isn't already exceedingly helpful, here's also an -- albeit small -- snippet of what happened on social media (Twitter, Facebook ) flanked by a few, interesting YouTube-videos from different theosophical organisations (I counted, on the top 7 channels this quarter, nearly 110 videos !).

All of this in seconds, free of charge and just a click away? If not yet, then join and support ♥ this non-profit project now, by subscribing to the newsletter and sharing the link to it in your network: https://theosophy.news

In the last Topic of the quarter I asked you, esteemed readers, is the theosophical movement falling far short of its potential? And 82 % (!) answered YES. So at least there is no doubt and the cause of this I've tried to explain. But in this issue, we turn to the ITC, there seems to be irritation, but read for yourself in the Topic of the quarter.

I wish you an informative read and a peaceful autumn.

With kind regards from Germany

Steven Otto
Editor of Theosophy World News

PS: Feedback is welcome and please spread Theosophy.news -- the must read quarterly -- with your theosophical friends. Thank You for supporting this independent theosophical non-profit project.

Topic of the quarter

ITC: inter-societal cooperation on the brink of extinction?

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.

Press outside the movement about Theosophy


Theosophy


roar.media

Lilavati Ramanathan: The Forgotten Legacy Of A Theosophist And Disciple

As capitalism undermined old moral and spiritual certainties, the Russian countess, traveller and occultist Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and US Army Civil War veteran and lawyer Colonel Henry Steel Olcott founded the Theosophical Society in New York in 1875
read more

 

timesnownews.com

Annie Besant’s death anniversary: Remembering British socialist who supported Indian independence movement

Annie’s hunger for some kind of all-embracing truth appears to not have satiated with social and political reforms. She developed an interest in Theosophy, a religious movement established in 1875. Hindu ideas of reincarnation and karma were the basis of the Theosophical movement. Annie, as a member and later the president of the Theosophical Society, spread Theosophical beliefs in India and other parts of the world.
read more

 

telegraphindia.com

Philosopher’s stone: Friedrich Nietzsche and Co. remain the patron saints of embattled print journalists

Annie Besant — she died in September 1933 — is venerated, globally, as one of the leading proponents of Theosophy. The Theosophical Society was founded in 1875 with the objective of disseminating the wisdom of the Theosophists — thinkers whose roots go back to the Neo-Platonic philosophical tradition — who propounded the ideal of universal brotherhood through the fusion of diverse philosophical thoughts, including Vedanta, Buddhism and Sufism.
read more

 


Art


mutualart.com

Hilma Af Klint: Initiate of a Long Lineage of Cosmic Prophets
Af Klint’s paintings were intimately tied to her religious thought — she was a devotee of Theosophy, the religion founded in America by the Ukrainian immigrant Helena Blavatsky, which propounded a neo-Platonic pantheism heavily influenced by Western occultism. Blavatsky had described her ideas in a series of books, among them Isis Unveiled, which described the transmission of ancient wisdom through mediums, the doctrine of reincarnation, and psychic communication.
read more Other articles about Hilma af Klint here,here, here and here

 

harlemworldmagazine.com

The Trailblazing Nicholas Roerich Harlem Painter, Philosopher, Public Figure And More 1874 – 1947

Nicholas Roerich, October 9, 1874 – December 13, 1947, known also as Nikolai Konstantinovich Rerikh – was a Russian-born Harlem painter, writer, archaeologist, theosophist, philosopher, and public figure.
read more

 

mutualart.com

A Study in Occultism: The Art of Jean Delville
In the early stages of his artistic career, Delville was influenced by the writings and teachings of such renowned esotericists and occultists as Éliphas Lévi and Saint-Yves d'Alveydre, and later by Theosophists such as Helena Blavatsky and Annie Besant.
read more

 


Other


island.lk

Remembering the Pānadurā Wādaya
Impressed with the content of the debate, along with Olcott, several others such as C W Leadbeater, Helena Blavatsky et al arrived in Sri Lanka in 1880, and converted to Buddhism at the Wijayananda Viharaya in Galle.
read more

 

sundayobserver.lk

Anagarika Dharmapala’s ‘United Buddhist World’ the unfinished history of a Buddhist cultural geographic imagination

Beyond localised forms of nationalisms, he also had to face the challenges posed by other universalising projects, which ranged from British imperialism, Theosophy, Christianity and Western civilisation, all of which were countering his ideas of ‘the united Buddhist world.’
read more

 

dailynews.lk

Anagarika Dharmapala: Symbol of Buddhist revival in Sri Lanka

Soon afterwards Colonel Henry Steel Olcott and Madame Blavatsky, founders of the Theosophical Society in New York, arrived in Sri Lanka and filed suit on behalf of the Buddhists who were injured in the attack.
read more

 

island.lk

Christianity, Buddhism and Common Morality

He said to call Sri Lankan monks as ‘brothers of intellect’, by some Europeans animated by an ill judged but insignificant controversy in a sleepy town by the name of Panadura, was damaging Christianity. This doubtless was a reference to Henry Olcott, Founder of the Theosophical Society and Madame Blavatsky whose booklets had been sent to Migettuvatte prior to the Panadura event.
read more

 

scroll.in

When playwright August Strindberg introduced a Swedish audience to Advaita Vedanta Hinduism in 1907

At the turn of the 19th to 20th century, Russian philosopher and author Helena Blavatsky’s writings gained a large following across Europe, especially among the continent’s intellectual elite. It is probably after coming across her work that Strindberg developed an interest in Hindu and Buddhist thought.
read more

 

news18.com

Your Thoughts Create Your Reality: Manifestation Lifestyle Thrives In Digital Space

If you sift through the pages of the 2006 published self-help book written by Rhonda Byrne, The Secret, you will come across a term which is widely used in the chapters – The Law of Attraction. First appearing in a book by a Russian author, Helena Blavatsky
read more

 

deccanherald.com

A shimmer of clarity

It is not surprising to read about the poem touching spiritual leaders like Swamy Vivekananda or Madame Blavatsky, but Light Of Asia’s appeal was far-reaching to the extent that it captured the imagination of political leaders like Mahatma Gandhi
read more

 


False Allegations


thesmartset.com

What Yeats Has To Do With It

Blavatsky was partly a huckster who pushed gibberish onto the vulnerable young man, but she had enough intellectual heft to tempt Yeats into her systems-think.
read more

 

denofgeek.com

Evil Season 2: Is the Evil Gene Part of Kristen’s DNA?

The bumping of the tables, and all the other seeming phenomena are old tricks in the spiritual trade going back to Helena Blavatsky of the Theosophical Society. There’s a reason most ads for psychics say “for entertainment purposes only.” Spiritualists have been rigging conjuring rooms long before clap-on lights.
read more

 

denofgeek.com

St John, scourge of the phoney spiritualists

St John’s Gospel is the remedy for this pernicious stuff. No theory will do for St John. We cannot escape this world into the higher world of abstract ideals – that Gandhiesque, Tolstoyan, Hampstead-Buddhist, Madame Blavatsky, diets and Inner Light fantasy of pure spirituality which urges you to get in touch with your true self.
read more

 

If the ʺspirit,ʺ or the divine portion of the soul, is preëxistent as a distinct being from all eternity, as Origen, Synesius and other Christian fathers and philosophers taught, and if it is the same, and nothing more than the metaphysically‐objective soul, how can it be otherwise than eternal? And what matters it in such a case, whether man leads an animal or a pure life, if, do what he may, he can never lose his individuality? This doctrine is as pernicious in its consequences as that of vicarious atonement. Had the latter dogma, in company with the false idea that we are all immortal, been demonstrated to the world in its true light, humanity would have been bettered by its propagation.

H.P.B in "Isis Unveiled", p. 283.

Upcoming events

TS Adyar Australia

C A N C E L D: National Convention
January 2022 Perth, Australia
more information

 

TS Adyar HQ

146th International Convention
Living in the Now: Challenges of the Inner Life, 27 – 30 December 2021 A four-day online event
more information

 

ITC-Board (ULT, TSPL, Adyar)

International Theosophy Conference 2022
no theme so far, July 20 – July 24, 2022 online event
more information

 

News from Theosophical Societies

The International Theosophical History Conference took place online from 08 to 10th of October with the theme: THE THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT AND GLOBALISM INTERCONNECTIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND COMPARISONS but so far no online content was published about it.

TS Adyar Australia pulbishes a new issue of it's Theosophy in Australia (TinA) Quarterly (PDF). Also a new book os offered: "Where Modern Science and Theosophy Meet and Where they Diverge: A Critical Enquiry". More information about it here. And the National Convention, initially postponed from July 2021 to January 2022, was finally canceled, read more about it here.

TS Pasadena Australasian Section published a new issue of its newsletter, which you can read here (PDF). Also some articles were published in the library, f.e. HANUMAN: THE HINDU MONKEY GOD, BODHISATTVA ATTITUDE, GUARDIAN ANGELS: DO THEY EXIST? THE CUSTOM OF SAYING ‘GRACE’ and THOUGHTS ON A QUOTE FROM TOLSTOY’S: WAR AND PEACE.

The Indian Section pof TS Adyar published a couple of magazine, see the magazine section (The Indian Theosophist, Bombay Federation Bulletin) for all of it, an overview of the Work of the TS Members (PDF) and also some articles, f.e. Videos of Guru Purnima, Choiceless Awareness and Theosophy VS JK’s Teachings.

TS Adyar HQ published The Theosophist August 2021 and September (PDF). The hint was given in one of the Adyar newsletters to an ONLINE EXHIBITION cause of the 190th anniversary of HPB's birth on August 12, which you can visit here. And an annoucment was made that Erica Georgiades has been appointed as Director of the School of the Wisdom more information about that here. The current programm of the School of Wisdom you can reach about this links: October 2021, November 2021, January 2022. Find also all information about the 146th International Convention - Living in the Now: Challenges of the Inner Life from 27 – 30 December 2021 which is held as a four-day online event. By video you can participate in the celebrations for A. Besant's birthday from October.

The TS Adyar American Section published it's 007 Autumnal Equinox 2021-issue.

TS Adyar in North-America published some articles from it's current Quest Magazine, readable here and the Youtube Channel is full of new lectures and other stuff, have a look here

TS PL Blavatsky House Starting September 2021: combined lectures and studies and Offer: ‘H.P. Blavatsky’s The Secret Doctrine Commentaries’ from € 59 for € 10 also as free download here. And the Lucifer 2/21-issue was published. And also this TS is very busy on YouTube, as you can see on it's YouTube-channel

The ITC took place as an online-event and so you can watch all the lectures on Youtube.

TOS USA gave us an update on the Golden Link College

Devachan is the idealized continuation of the terrestrial life just left behind, a period of retributive adjustment, and a reward for unmerited wrongs and sufferings undergone in that special life.

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, The Key to Theosophy (London: Theosophical Publishing Society, 1893), p. 90.

Theosophical Magazines

theoscience.org

Research relevant to Theosophy
publisher, 3rd quarter 2021 (pdf)

 

The TS Point Loma Blavatskyhouse

Lucifer
Periodical magazine for seekers of truth
publisher, 02 / 2021 (pdf)

 

The TS (Pasadena) Australasian Section

Theosophy Downunder
Newsletter of the Theosophical Society (Pasadena) Australasian Section
publisher, September 2021 (pdf)

 

TS (Adyar) in Australia

Theosophy in Australia Quarterly
Newsletter/Quarterly of the TS (Adyar) in Australia
publisher, September 2021 (pdf)

 

The Aquarian Theosophist

The Aquarian Theosophist
publisher, October 2021 (pdf), September 2021 (pdf), August 2021 (pdf)

 

United Lodge of Theosophists (ULT)

The Theosophical Movement Magazine
publisher, July 2021 (pdf), August 2021 (pdf), September 2021 (pdf)

 

The TS Adyar Indian Section

The Indian Theosophist
publisher, July 2021 (pdf), August 2021 (pdf), September 2021 (pdf)

 

The TS Adyar Indian Section

Bombay Federation Bulletin
publisher, September 2021 (pdf), August 2021 (pdf) , July 2021 (pdf)

 

The TS Adyar in North-America

The Quest Magazine
publisher, Winter 2021 (pdf)

 

The TS Adyar HQ

The Theosophist
publisher, August 2021 and September 2021 (pdf)

 

The TS Pasadena Amnerican Section

The Spiral Path
publisher, Autumnal Issue / 007 (pdf)

 

New books

TS Adyar Australia

Where Modern Science and Theosophy Meet and Where they Diverge: A Critical Enquiry
read more

TS Point Loma Blavatskyhouse

Offer: ‘H.P. Blavatsky’s The Secret Doctrine Commentaries’ from € 59 for € 10
read more

Articles from Theosophical sites


Theos Talk



Montreal Theosophy Project



Theosophy Watch



Theosophy Forward



Blavatsky News



Book of Dzyan Blog



TheoScience.org


Videos

How Theosophy and a “WholeWorld-View” Can Empower Our Conscious Evolution

BMAD - New Outpatient Unit's inauguration 2021 July 20

Annie Besant Birthday Celebration 2021

2021 10-03 Theosophy - KARMA

Dr. Annie Besant and Practical Brotherhood: Bro. C.A. Shinde

J. Krishnamurti with Dr. Annie Besant in 1926

Stanza III Cosmogenesis – Dr Eugene Jennings

ITC2021-EN-03: The sub-divisions of manas

A New Scientific Paradigm to Accommodate Matter, Mind, and Spirit | Bernard Carr, Ph.D.

Pablo Sender: The Third Eye and Spiritual Intuition

Interview with Jan Nicolaas Kind

TS Adyar Campus renewals 2019-2021

The function of Theosophists is to open men's hearts and understandings to charity, justice, and generosity, attributes which belong specifically to the human kingdom and are natural to man when he has developed the qualities of a human being. Theosophy teaches the animal-man to be a human-man; and when people have learnt to think and feel as truly human beings should feel and think, they will act humanely, and works of charity, justice, and generosity will be done spontaneously by all.

H. P. Blavatsky to the American Conventions, letter 1

✴✴✴ The End  ✴✴✴

Share your thoughts and comment

Permalink

Steven's coverage, as usual, is comprehensive and his comments make it easy to follow key issues of the Quarter. One point that I would like to high light is that all Websites and Social Media pages receive money and other resources from theosophical organizations  even though they may claim to be "independent". The old saying - He who pays calls the tune should be kept in mind since there will be bias due to taking money from organizations. Facebook and Twitter pages - Theosophy News, Theosophy Nework and Theosophy.Net sponsored by Theosophy Network International, a tax exempt USA Organization, do not take any funding directly or indirectly from any theosophical organization or Trust and hence is able to keep their independence. Every theosophical site or social media page contributes to the students of theosophy and they have to use their common sense to identify biases when they see what is published, especially when undiplomatic statements are made. Peace M K Ramadoss Digital Reporter Theosophy News [USA]

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