Anton Rozman – Slovenia

Our title seems to imply that, if we are able actually to live Theosophy, we are on the way to make it a living force in our world. So, what kind of living is living Theosophy? Whether we understand Theosophy as a world view that gives meaning and purpose to life, as an Ageless or Ancient Wisdom about life, or as a way of life, we are dealing with life itself.

In her article "The Science of Life" (Collected Writings 8:243-9), HPB translates the following words of Count Leo Tolstoy: "The question inseparable from the idea of life is not whence life, but how one should live that life . . .  . But how do I cognize life in myself? . . . And when I speak of life, know that the idea of it is indissolubly connected in my conceptions with that of conscious life. No other life is known to me except conscious life, nor can it be known to anyone else." Further, "Our life, ever since we became conscious of it, is a pendulum-like motion between two limits. One limit is an absolute unconcern for the life of the infinite Universe, an energy directed only toward the gratification of one's own personality. The other limit is a complete renunciation of that personality, the greatest concern with the life of the infinite universe, in full accord with it, the transfer of all our desires and good will from one’s self, to that infinite universe and all the creatures outside of us.  The nearer to the first limit, the less life and bliss, the closer to the second, the more life and bliss. Therefore, man is ever moving from one end to the other . . . . THIS MOTION IS LIFE ITSELF. . . . A man who conceives life such as he finds it in his consciousness, knows neither misery, nor death: for all the good in life for him is in the subjection of his animal to the law of reason, to do which is not only in his power, but takes place unavoidably in him . . . . we know naught about the death of conscious mind, nor can we know anything of it, just because that conscious mind is the very life itself . . . . The life of man is an aspiration to bliss, and that which he aspires to is given to him. The light lit in the soul of man is bliss and life."

Warwick Keys – New Zealand

Theosophy – the Divine Wisdom teachings – offers real hope and a way through the troubled times we are now experiencing on planet Earth. The study and teaching of Theosophy is a prime motivation for many Theosophists and Theosophical groups. This is important work. However, it is only one part of the work.

People can learn about the Wisdom teachings, study and discuss them at length, as they often do, but it is the practice that counts and makes the difference. It is practising Theosophy – living Theosophy – that will change the world, not just studying the subject.

Madam Blavatsky emphasized three important aspects of Theosophy – study, meditation and service – with all three in balance. Most Theosophists enjoy the first aspect, study. In fact many focus almost entirely on it. The second aspect, meditation, gets less emphasis than it deserves. Meditation is the basis of the way to self-realization and more. In addition to personal meditation seeking inner silence, group meditation with a single united focus offers a way for Theosophists around the world to literally save the world in these tumultuous times. Such a meditation, focused on creating a better world, is now being actively promoted within the New Zealand section. It is an act of real service and is a practical aspect of living Theosophy.

The third aspect spoken of by HPB is service. This is where many of us do not measure up. Service is multifaceted. Service is the key to making Theosophy a living force in our world. True service means to live Theosophy, not just talk about it. We are all good at talking about such things, but how good are we at practicing what we preach?

To serve in this sense, i.e., to live Theosophy, is not an easy task. We need to transcend from where we are to another level of being to enable us to successfully accomplish this undertaking. To transcend in simple terms means ‘to go beyond.’ This means that we lift our consciousness and awareness to another level, a higher level. To transcend also means becoming objective rather than subjective. We see clearly when we are free from clouding emotion and personal desire or wishes. To accomplish this on a continuing basis allows us to truly serve and to truly live Theosophy.

MINUTES
of the
Meeting of the General Council of the Theosophical Society
held on Friday, 25 December 2009, at Adyar

PRESENT

Mrs Radha Burnier - President (in the chair) and proxy for Joy Mills,Ricardo Lindemann, East Africa and Mexico
Mrs Linda Oliveira - Vice-President
Miss Keshwar Dastur - Treasurer and proxy for Surendra Narayan
Mrs Kusum Satapathy - Secretary
Mrs DaraTatray - General Secretary, Australia and proxy for Greece and New Zealand
Mr Marcos L. B. Resende - General Secretary, Brazil and proxy for Argentina
Mr Jan Jelle Keppler - General Secretary, Belgium
Mr S. Sundaram - General Secretary, India
Mr Antonio Girardi - General Secretary, Italy
Mrs Helen Jamieson - Additional Member
Mr D. K. Govindaraj - Additional Member
Mr H. K. Sharan - Additional Member
Mr Sriram Panchu - Additional Member

Present as Observers by invitation:
Dr Dusan Zagar - Organizing Secretary, Slovenia
Mrs Agnes Gasemyr - Organizing Secretary, Norway
Mr Colin Price - England
Mr Aroon Parshottam - New Zealand
Mr Govert van der Wal - Netherlands
Maria Mengelt - Mexico
Patrizia Calvi - Italy

The list of proxies was read out as above.
The President welcomed those present.

Ali Ritsema – former General Secretary of the Dutch Section

It is often said that the best way to promote Theosophy is ‘to live Theosophy’. But do we know what it means ‘to live Theosophy’, and is it possible to do so? This short article is an enquiry into this subject.

Before we can ‘live Theosophy’, we need to understand what Theosophy is. In The Key to Theosophy (p.1), H. P. Blavatsky explains that the real meaning of the word Theosophy is ‘Wisdom such as that possessed by the gods’. It seems to me that when the ‘gods possess wisdom’, they obviously know how to live their wisdom. Who then are the ‘gods’ that possess wisdom?