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 | 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
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
THEOSOPHY
TheHindu.com
InsideCroydon.com
ExplorersWeb.com
Doms2cents.com
ART
TheConversation.com
CaliforniaDesertArt.com
HhyperAllergic.com
ArtNews.com
Shawn F. Higgins @ Patheos.com
A look at three Swedish-American immigrants who belonged to the Theosophical Society, and their influence on their adopted-home. read more
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
“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
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
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
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 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
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
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
WeAreSouthdevon.com
HimalMag.com
MountainTimes.info
FALSE ALLEGATIONS
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FirstThings.com
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.
EuST
TS Adyar
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.
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.
The TS Point Loma Blavatskyhouse
The TS (Pasadena) Australasian Section
TS (Adyar) in Australia
The Aquarian Theosophist
United Lodge of Theosophists (ULT)
The TS Adyar Indian Section
The TS Adyar HQ
hyperallergic.com
ahotcupofjoe.net
Book of Dzyan Research-Blog
Theosophy Forward
BLAVATSKY NEWS
TheoScience.org
KrotonaArchive.com
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.
A few inaccuracies in this…
Thanks for the correction…
Thanks for the correction Steven, it may be better to add it directly to the publisher page