Dear friends of Theosophy,
much has happened in the last quarter, f.e. the 141st International Convention of TS Adyar (all of the videos are online!), also the Celebration of the Foundation Day of the TS, that all gets much publicitiy in social media and the press, the 13th Triennial Conference of the Indo-Pacific Federation tooks place, many lectures were held f.e. in The Hague, as you can see in the Section News from Theosophical Societies.
In the Press Review of non-theosophical sites you learn that David Hume turned vegetarian and decided to stop killing and collecting birds as he get interested in Theosophy, about a biography of Madame Blavatsky, that was never published and not at least, what the new Hollywood Superhero-Movie "Doctor Strange" has to do with Theosophy.
The Theme of the Quarter in this issue are new insights in TS Adyar, from the occasion that the former General Secretary of East and Central Africa, Navin Shah pubished an open letter to Tim Boyd, president of TS Adyar.
There was/is a Raffle, I want to give away some issues of Theosophical History, were a letter of HPB was first time published, but people that won, don't react on my mails, so, if you want such an issue (1 printed and 2 digital still available), send me an e-mail.
And for those who doubt on the authenticity of the letter, I have the following statement from Mr. Santucci (Editor in Chief of Theosophical History) on that question:
Dear Mr. Otto,
I don't have details on how the letter came to be included in the Andover-Harvard Library, except that it came from members within the Skinner family, but from my examination of all the letters, there can be no doubt that the letter is in HPB's handwriting. Also much of the material appears in the Secret Doctrine.
Also Buck was aware of the letter, Skinner mentioned it, and from the investigations of Anita Atkins (this part of the story will appear in 2017), there is no doubt again that it is legitimate.
If I cannot convince you, the best approach is to send me a formal message and I will turn this into an article involving some others who are familiar with the letter and who most likely will be specifics.
The same problem appears with the Spy Letter of HPB, which was questioned. After 20 years, it appears that there is definite proof that it is authentic. The results will appear sometime in 2017.
Regards, Jim
Professor James Santucci, Department of Comparative Religion, California State University
By the way, Mr. James Santucci, well known in the theosophical movement for his effort in the name of Theosophy, was congratulated for 45 years of service by some officials of his universtity, as the Website of Fullerton reported in the article Service Milestones Recognized. Congratulations and many thanks for this great work!
And of course I recommend also a look into the many magazines and articles published on theosophical Websites.
I wish you an interesting reading and a peaceful winter.
With kind regards from Germany
Steven Otto
Editor of Theosophy World News
You will find the following sections below:
Topic of the quarter | Upcoming (int. or nationwide) events | News from Theosophical Societies | Articles from Theosophical sites | Theosophical Magazines | Press about Theosophy | Twitter | Facebook | Videos | New Books | Letter to the editor | Comments
That some remarkable things going on inside TS Adyar, that we often get to know from Theos Talk is evident. This Newsletter reported in some of its issues about the many allegations, f.e. here and here.
Beside the Member Revocations that is still a topic, the newest development is now an open letter from Navin Shah, former General Secretary of East and Central Africa of TS Adyar has sent an open letter to Tim Boyd, International President of TS communicating his concerns of the current TS affairs, read the full letter here
Thereupon M. K. Ramadoss send an open letter to Ketharaju Narasimha Rao, International Treasurer of TS, with some questions, based on the former letter.
Here just my unimportent 2 cent on the whole scene:
There were really a lot of accusations made (again, f.e. here and here) and not even one official statement from the TS is given, not even to it's own members.
And even if the critical voices may eventually be silenced, all of this is of course discussed within the members and lodges worldwide (weakens the loyalty) and become doubtless also part of the TS's history.
Shall the next book, written about the History of Theosophical Movement, contain in the chapter about TS Adyar all these reproaches, unanswered? How does someone appear, that is confronted wich serious allegations and who is silent? There is a certain point, in which silence cause more harm, than it is useful.
H.P.B. opinion in such a case is quite clear, she answered to the questions, how can someone help the Society:
Fourthly, by defending the Society from the unjust aspersions cast upon it, by every legitimate device in their power. ("The Key to Theosophy" by H. P. Blavatsky, Section 12)
I for myself welcome critique from others, if it is factual and constructive, because only based on such criticism (whether from inside or outside) an improvement is possible (provided you think you are not infallible). And yes, we as humans, we all make mistakes now and then and therefore also human societies, so far no problem, but only if we realize the mistakes and learn from it.
From The New Indian Express and its article The search for truth with Boyd's theosophy we get to know, that the Theosophical Society Adyar has worldwide 28,000 members in 70 countries and that 40 per cent of the membership comes from India.
Unfortunately no single word, that there are other Theosophical Societies in the world.
Earlier this Newspaper reported about the founding-festivities of the TS Adyar in the article Unique for its ideology and ambiance.
The Assam Tribune published some news about the annual general meeting of the Assam Theosophical Federation (Adyar) in the article Theosophical body meet stresses brotherhood among nations.
Theosophy
On the Website littleatoms.com a triubut to Benjamin Creme was publised, named Waiting for Maitreya, because Benjamin Creme died in London in October 2016, at the age of 93, a trip to the weird world of "New Age".
A short summary of HPB'S life was published in the JStor Daily in the article Spiritualism, Science, and the Mysterious Madame Blavatsky.
You can find smome relations to the Theosophical Society in Hyderabad within this article at merinews.com: Global order: Ideologies, Religions, Sufism and Sindh-Balochistan - V
Art
In The Wall Street Journal Theosophy is mentioned in relation with Piet Mondrian in the article A Starry Christmas (costs). Mondrian (and Theosophy) was also a topic in the Kansas City InfoZine in relation to an Exhibition in Spring 2017 at the the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, read more in this article: Nelson-Atkins Celebrates Henry Block with New Acquisition.
Hyperallergic.com writes about the abstract painter Agnes Martin (1912-2004) and that she was in his early days theosophy-inspirated, see here: Agnes Martin's Contemporary Sublime.
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra lights up Scriabin’s bold “Prometheus: Poem of Fire” with pianist Elizabeth Pridgen and therfore also Theosophy was mentioned. Scriabin and Theosophy is also a topic of the article National Capital Orchestra features Canberra composer Sally Greenaway on program of the Canberra Times.
Even in a review of the a new Hollywood Superhero-Movie "Doctor Strange" Theosopy is mentiod, because one main topic in this film is an idea similar to the Astral-Plane, but in the film called the Astra Plane, also The Huffington Post wrote about in the article A Brief History of Doctor Strange and His Relationship with Tibet, Occultism, and Buddhism in which Blavatsky is named.
In The Weekend Australian we can get a short introduction into the history of abstract painting, and so Theosophy must not absence, see here: John Olsen’s instinct and intuition on show at Melbourne’s NGV.
And in an article on alibi.com about the artist Allison Pharmakis we can read, that she is studying Theosophy.
Other
The ranch of a satanic cult in Canada, founded by Edward Arthur Wilson (aka Brother XII) of which is said, that he was a Canadian Theosophist, is for sale, as
In HAARETZ a short summary of the life of Francis Israel Regudy who was in contact with Theosophy but better known as se secratary of the black magican Allister Crowley in the article 'Master of Darkness': The Esoteric Life of a Jewish Occultist Called Israel.
The Hindu published an article named Beginning of birding in India about Robert Prys-Jones that traces the interesting life of A.O.Hume, the father of Indian Ornithology. Hume turned vegetarian and decided to stop killing and collecting birds as he was in his 50s and interest in theosophy.
Daily News asks Reincarnation: is it possible? and trace belief in the Western World back back to "Father Leadbeater and Madam Helena Blavatsky".
In The Sydney Morning Herald we read in the article Madeleine St John's masterpiece The Women in Black more optimistic than its author about the author Madeleine St John and get to know, that "she worked privately on her own writing, obsessively researching a biography of Madame Blavatsky, founder of the Theosophical Society, that didn't find a publisher".
In The Island we can read in the article Jews who left their footprint in Ceylon that "Mrs. Musaeus, ... was greatly impressed with the charismatic duo of Colonel Henry Steele Olcott and Madame Blavatsky. She followed in their footsteps to the British Colony of Ceylon."
Malicious
it's tried to connect theosophy to the cruel cult of Anne Hamilton-Byrne in this article Growing up with The Family: inside Anne Hamilton-Byrne’s sinister cult in The Guardian, although it comes more clear in this article Inside the cult known as 'The Family', that she "cobbled together a hodgepodge of Indian/Eastern beliefs, quasi-religions like Blavatsky's theosophy, a dab of Christianity and a lot of wishy-washy 'New Age'" both book reviews of the book from Chris Johnston & Rosie Jones with the same name.
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.
TS Adyar - German Section
EFTS - European Federation of the TS Adyar
TS (Adyar)
TS (Adyar) Australia
The Applications for the Introductory Diploma Course in Theosophy are now being taken with the course beginning in March 2017. The course is now available to those living outside the UK – but only ‘on-line’. Diploma application form and prospectus here.
Have a look at the last two president diary entrys of Tim Boyd, President of TS Adyar and its American Section which is worth of watching, the October and the November Issue of 2016.
Watch the video recording of the English lecture in the Blavatsky House, The Hague on October 9th: The Mystery of Consciousness: Heart and Mind or about Compassion: beyond meditation and mindfulness. Other published Videos of TS Point Loma - Blavatskyhouse The Hague are Portuguese lectures and Karma and Reincarnation - Life’s questions. Read also the digital issue of Lucifer No. 1/2016 based on the international Symposium Universal Rights of the Reincarnating Man held in May 2016 in The Hague.
The Tropical cyclone Vardah hits Chennai and Adyar in December, see the Newsletter of the TS Adyar with this topic. Also the 141st International Convention of TS Adyar tooks place, for all information, photos and videos click this link. TS Adyar celebrated the Foundation Day of TS on 17 November 1875 in New York City, there was earlier in the year a Cleaning the TS Adyar River banks of Chennai Campus.
the TS Adyar Philippines Section charterd three new Lodges. The Singapore Lodge of TS Aydar published the Chairman’s Address at the 2016 AGM.
The Indo-Pacific Federation of of the TS Adyar published a report of the 13th Triennial Conference of the Indo- Pacific Federation that tooks place in Auckland in December, with a additional Message from incoming IPF President Gerard Brennan.
TS Adyar in New Zealand published a lecutre held from International President Tim Boyd in Auckland, New Zealand on 23 October 2016 with the Topic The Solution to All Problems.
TOS published an article about the Visit of Eastern Europe of the International Secretary of TOS
We have also exclusive News from Blavatsky Lodge in Mumbai send to me from Arni Narendran-Hon (Treasurer):
At the outset New Year greetings to you and all readers of Theosophy News worldwide. The Blavatsky Lodge celebrated the support convention for three days, coinciding with the Adyar convention. The Highlight was a cultural evening of song and dance open to the public and performed by members from 8 to 80 years. Video recordings from the convention was also screened. The Ananda lodge at Juhu Theosophical colony on the city coastline and most expensive piece of land in the island city has been revived. Thanks to the effort of Bro Navin Kumar and Sr Zenobia whose grandparents were the Donors.Dr. Annie Besant described it as a part of the Triad in the subcontinent - Adyar- Varnasi and Ananda -Mumbai.
The TS (Pasadena) in Australia published its Theosophy Downunder December-Issue and the The TS (Adyar) in Australia published its Theosophy in Australia Magazine November Issue
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.
TheAquarianTheosophist.com
The TS Adyar Indian Section
United Lodge of Theosophists (ULT)
The TS (Pasadena) Australasian Section
The TS (Adyar) in Australia
Alexandria West
Theosophy Restoration Project
Sons of Fire
Book of Dzyan Research
Blavatsky Theosophy UK
Theosophy Forward
Theosophy Watch
Watch the video recording of the English lecture in the Blavatsky House, The Hague on October 9th: The Mystery of Consciousness: Heart and Mind or about Compassion: beyond meditation and mindfulness. Other published Videos of TS Point Loma - Blavatskyhouse The Hague are Portuguese lectures and Karma and Reincarnation - Life’s questions.
Also all the videos of the 141st International Convention of TS Adyar are published, follow this link
See additional this issue Theme of the Quarter for all lectures, that were held on the ITC 2016.
But also our "admires" are very active particular on youtube, because there you get the youth, with videos, where Theosophy is described asa kind of satanic cult, what is quite the opposite of what it is in reality, have a look what was published on youtube within the last month about Theosophy.
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.
