FROM JULY 26 – 29 ALL ROADS LEAD TO BERLIN
THE 2018 ITC CONFERENCE IS ENTITLED:
What is a Life Worth Living?
This year, from July 26-29, the conference will be held in beautiful Berlin, a very symbolic and dynamic location for the focus and theme of our conference.
The venue: Seminaris Campushotel
PHILADELPHIA DECLARATION: THEOSOPHY IN ACTION
During ITC 2017 in Philadelphia, USA, the City of Brotherly Love, conference participants expressed their wish to “undertake action.” In other words: awakening Theosophical wisdom and shaping it into a tangible form, applying it through practical deeds, instead of simply sharing it philosophically or intellectually amongst themselves.
As a result, The ITC Philadelphia Declaration evolved from the suggestions of all participants present:
We commit ourselves to facilitate the creation of working conferences harnessing the unique genius of the various theosophical streams, by:
1. identifying suffering/hot topics that need a solution from Theosophical perspective
2. studying and contemplating the theosophical teachings and selecting the relevant principles
3. translating these into modern language/ putting these into context
4. developing pure and simple applications (products)
5. inspire, encourage or facilitate Theosophical branches or organizations to enter the arena, to offer these solutions
Quote by Thomas Paine:
We have it in our power to begin the world over again
In brief, the primarily aim of this declaration is to identify global topics of major human concerns and suffering (Hot Topics), study these topics, but further also reflect on them in the light of Theosophical core principles and solutions.
Secondarily, the intent is to develop means for the expression and application of Theosophical solutions for the world at large, as possible suggestions and offerings.
An additional and important phase of this includes the translation of these solutions into modern language, that would reach people in today’s world for practical implementation. Ultimately these “solutions” will be offered to, and shared with all who are interested, including Lodges, to be used as best seen fit in the various global regions of need, obviously modified to suit cultures and peoples.
HOT TOPICS
As a result of the participants’ wish, the membership has contributed identifying three Hot Topics in need of Theosophical solutions. These topics are:
• Religious Intolerance
• Depression
• End of life issues
Each topic embraces concerns from the mundane to the spiritual. As causes for suffering, they awaken life challenges and changes that can bring souls respectively to the brink of hatred, hopelessness, and thoughts of self-destruction. They can be felt as devastating to family and loved ones. But naturally many questions concerning the how’s, why’s, and meaning of life will be raised. How can we as Theosophists connect to, and be in communion with those who are asking, so that these questions can be the start for new perspectives, overcoming the many forms of suffering.
STRUCTURE OF ITC 2018
To address these concerns, the overall conference structure of ITC 2018 involves the forming of small circles (i.e. groups) focused on these Hot Topics. Those assembled in the circles will clarify current world views concerning the topics, while exploring and developing solutions in light of Theosophical principles, doctrines and articles which are to be reviewed prior to the conference, in order to be properly prepared.
The circles will share their findings in larger plenary sessions for full participants’ feedback and modifications as needed.
This phase will be followed by the development of Theosophical solutions, concerning our Hot Topics, in writing, along with the means for their application, expressed in contemporary terminology, in the light of modern day potentials and technology.
This is our hope and wish for ITC 2018 and its conclusion. Of course, any organically developed outcome can only be offered as a submission, something to be shared as a possible way of relieving the suffering in the world to a certain extent, using both a Theosophical approach and Theosophical Wisdom.
IMPORTANT: REGISTER NOW
We look forward to your presence and most welcome contributions.
For registrations click here
INVITATION TO SUGGEST READINGS RELATED TO THE HOT TOPICS
To help participants prepare for ITC 2018, reading suggestions are going to be published on ITC’s website, consequently these suggestions are therefore also accessible for those who want to study theosophical views related to this year’s Hot Topics. Over the past two years members, participants and interested Theosophists recommended theosophical readings related to the subjects of the conferences. If you won’t be able to attend the conference this year, you are invited to contribute by submitting reading suggestions and/or studying the Hot Topics and submit your findings to us.
Please submit your selection of readings, including a complete source reference, i.e.: author, title, edition, publisher, year, page numbers. We highly appreciate your submissions, which are to be presented by using solely this email address:
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