From October 12 until October 17 – 2017, The European School of Theosophy organizes its annual meeting, this time at the International Theosophical Centre in Naarden, the Netherlands with as theme:
The Spiritual Path
Among the speakers are:
Pablo Sender
Michele Sender
Erica Georgiades
Noeline Hart
Gary Kidgell
Jon Knebel
Good News from India (Mumbai)
Demystifying Patanjali: lecture-series conducted by Arni Narendran 18th February 2017, Blavatsky Lodge outdoor interactive workshop.
Participants
Amidst the whistling woods of Arrey, the only surviving green space in this burgeoning metropolis of Mumbai, the members of the Blavatsky Lodge gathered in the Guest House perched up on a hillock for a wrap up session of the six-month long series of talks on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras delivered by Bro Arni Narendran. In the backdrop of the chirping birds and the whistling winds Sis Kashmira Khambatta, President of the Lodge, welcomed the gathering for an interactive session which was interspersed with Breakfast lunch and tea breaks not forgetting walks in the mountain slopes. The commissioner of the Arrey Dairy cooperative welcomed the Lodge Vice-President Bro Navin Kumar, who had served the organization decades ago. Bro Navin’s wife Sis Lata Navin’s artistic footprints still hang on the wall in the form of a large canvas giving a flowery ambience to the visitors Lounge, she was present and visitors were elated in meeting the artist behind the masterpiece.
Next August all roads lead to the beautiful FRIENDS CENTER in PHILADELPHIA, USA
Entrance of the Friends Center
For ITC 2017, from August 10 until August 13 in Philadelphia the theme is:
A Nucleus of Universal Brotherhood
– World’s Healing Force –
Bringing harmony to a divided humanity
by studying and working together
Note! This year the start and end time will differ from previous years. On Thursday August 10, the conference starts at 10:00 AM and the closure the conference is on Saturday August 12 in the evening.
The special Annual Membership Meeting all participants really should attend, will take place on Sunday, August 13 in the morning.
Read more: Good News from International Theosophy Conferences Inc.
Note from the editor: this message was distributed my Mr. Vic Hao Chin from The Philippines not so long ago. I find this initiative of his so special and significant, that I have decided to print the message in full.
Golden Link Opens Grade 11
In line with the government's implementation of Senior High School grades, Golden Link has opened Grade 11 class, with about 40 students in the class, mostly transferees from public schools. Due to the addition of Grade 11, there were no high school graduates in almost all schools, hence the GLC College Department did not open first year college for this year. Thus, our college students this year consists of 2nd, 3rd and 4th year students. Next year, Grade 12 class will be opened, thus no graduation again for high school.
Read more: Good News from the Golden Link College Foundation
Participants in superb surroundings
Report on the European School of Theosophy held from 6th – 11th October 2016 in Salzburg, Austria
This year the EST was organized at an excellent family hotel in Salzburg, Austria, the birthplace of the famous composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The hotel was situated at the outskirts of the town, so one could easily go for a little walk in nature between the sessions of the school program. The five-day program, which started with an evening devoted to classical Indian music, had ten lectures, seven study sessions and a movie of Mozart’s opera “The Magic Flute”.
The South Indian classical music from the Karaikudi tradition founded by Brhaddhvani was performed by a pupil of Dr. Subramaniam on a traditional string instrument, called the Vina.
The artist also gave a talk about how this instrument was played in ancient times, when the Brahmin priests and mystics were singing the Veda’s.
The 38th European Congress of the Theosophical Society in Europe
Congress will take place from 21 to 26 August, 2017, in Barcelona, Spain. The theme of the Congress:
Theosophy: A Way towards Universal Consciousness
Venue:
The 38th European Congress will take place at the Auditorium of the Academy of Medical and Health Science of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands (Carrer Major de Can Caralleu, 1-7, 08017, Barcelona, Spain).
Guest of Honor: Tim Boyd, International President of the Theosophical Society, Adyar
Read more: Good News from The Theosophical Society in Europe - Federation of National Societies
Uma Bhattacharya – India
The author
We all dream of a better life in a better society. However, it has become difficult to go through a complete day without becoming disillusioned, disappointed and drained by the selfishness surrounding us. So many people seem to be interested only in their personal gain. They have become rude and arrogant, critical, and insensitive. In a nutshell, we don’t find peace and harmony in the world. Most of us feel that there is nothing we can do to change this and we attribute the cause of our disappointment to the world. We believe that the world needs correction. From time immemorial, human efforts have been directed towards improving the world but so far these efforts have met with little success.
We do not realize that the solution lies in improving not the world but ourselves. We can find peace and harmony only by purifying our inner world. When we purify ourselves, the world is purified. This is a law of nature. The world is but a reflection of our thoughts. If our thoughts are good, the world is good. If our thoughts are bad, the world is bad. Therefore when we change the pattern of thoughts within us, the complexion of the entire world changes.
TOS Tanzania’s Youth Group Shines!
There is an old African proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child.” And when that village itself comprises a large number of youngsters, then voila! We see a vibrant TOS Youth Group led by youth president Chandni Mehta and bolstered by the participation and encouragement of long-time elder members of the Theosophical Society (TS) and Theosophical Order of Service (TOS), especially chairperson Sis. Lila Chohan and Assistant General Secretary Bro. Dubal. Please enjoy this report received from the Tanzanian TOS and centered around their exceedingly vibrant youth group.
5th Anniversary Celebration for TOS Youth Group
2016 marked five years of the Youth Group banding together, embarking on a journey of humanitarian work and setting milestones. Come mid-July and it was party time for these youngsters and the current president Chandni Mehta, who also welcomed the inaugural Youth Group president Malaika Kapur from Canada and vice-president Khyati Dubal from India. A beautiful cake by Veena Dubal, lights, music, dance, food and the distribution to the community of TOS T-shirts with the slogan “Say No to Plastic” completed the celebration!
Participants ITC 2016 in Santa Barbara, California - USA
Socratic Dialogue meets World Peace
Kate Blalack – USA
The author
I participated in the International Theosophical Conference held from August 11-14th, 2016 in Santa Barbara, California. The venue was the home of the Virgin Saint Mary (La Casa da Maria), some ancient and very wise-trees, and a very handsome slick-black cat. Our lodging was the very essence of picturesque architecture tucked away in the foliage, flowers and rolling mounds of the California vibe: a place for reflection, germination and cross-pollination of ideas, and an incubator for the soul. While I regrettably do not have space to comment on all the speakers here, I will point out some highlights of my experience.
A Krotonian’s look at ITC 2016
Olga Omlin – USA
The author
This year ITC was in a beautiful place surrounded by the giant oak trees and majestic mountains creating a contemplative atmosphere for all the participants. It was also my second conference. I had no expectations keeping my mind open, yet anticipating reconnecting with old friends fellow Theosophists. Casa de Maria is one of the most beautiful places in the suburbs of Santa Barbara that is known for its silent retreats, and which I believe was a good choice for the international theosophical gathering.
ITC 2016: Visions of a Far-Flung Future – A Moderator’s Impression
Jonathan Colbert – USA
The ITC 2016 moderator Jonathan Colbert and a tree
Like a dream of higher reminiscence, pages from a golden age tale, or visions foretelling a far-flung future, impressions and reflections of the conference well up in my mind’s eye. Twenty years ago, I would never have guessed that in my lifetime there would be a Theosophical conference with 108 people from various Theosophical traditions genuinely seeking together the heart of Theosophy and trying to learn about brotherhood by doing it. Yet the 2016 ITC Conference in Santa Barbara, California turned out to be a living example of its very theme, Theosophy and Social Responsibility.
Finding my way to the front of the room that Thursday afternoon in August, I passed by a woman intensely studying a document that offered instructions on how a wise combination of good deeds and deep knowledge were needed in the true service of humanity. It was H.P.B.’s article, “Let Every Man Prove His Own Work.” Even though the hall was clamorous with conversations and abuzz with anticipation, the woman poured over the article’s pages as if she were the only person in the room. Yes, I reflect now, this is how it will be in the future if we all keep working together! Thousands if not millions, just like her, will be intensely focused on the wisdom of H.P.B.
The labyrinth on the wonderful grounds of La Casa da Maria
A gong sounded, starting the proceedings. It reverberated through the happy hall, as people from three great Theosophical streams and many other non-affiliated Theosophists, found their chairs. As if in a dream, I took up my role as master of ceremonies, welcoming all to the conference. A remarkable harmony settled in, as if the Conference attendees were only re-convening and re-discovering a previous bond from previous lifetimes. After a moment of silence dedicated to the memory of the life, work and passing of Dara Eklund, the three presidents of ITC (from three continents), Jan Nicolaas Kind, Herman C. Vermeulen and Gene Jennings, inaugurated the conference, offering their thoughts and blessings. Carolyn Dorrance from Santa Barbara ULT then offered her cheery comments on the proceedings that would unfold.
Nancy visits Eastern Europe
Without a doubt, the International Secretary of the TOS is a busy bee indeed; just by looking at her itinerary one is out of breath!
In between washing windows at the Blavatsky museum in the Ukraine, visiting a salt mine in her grandfather’s village in Poland, meeting with gypsies with whom the TOS in Hungary works, climbing castle steps and attempting mountain trails in Slovenia, TOS International Secretary, Nancy Secrest, gave talks and TOS presentations and met with members of the Society and the TOS in eastern Europe in August, 2016.
Nancy Secrest and others arrives at the HPB Museum, Dnipropetrovsk (Dnipro) Ukraine
The visit was initiated by an invitation for Nancy to speak at a program in the Ukraine celebrating the 185th anniversary of HPB’s birth. The program, held 12-13 August, 2016 in the home of Blavatsky’s birth, now the Museum of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and her Family, in Dnipro, Ukraine featured a number of speakers including Antonio Girardi, General Secretary of the Italian Section and Svitlana Garylenko, Organizing Secretary of the TS in the Ukraine. Additional talks and meetings were held at the TS/TOS in Kiev.
Barend Voorham’s visit to the Theosophical Institute near Brasilia, or … cross-pollination in progress
Barend (left) and Marcos de Resende, National President of the Brazilian Section, having breakfast together
From July 20 until July 24 the 22nd the International School of Theosophy took place at the Theosophical Institute near Brasilia, Brazil.
The Dhyan Yoga, Naturopathy, and Ayurveda Clinic
Characteristic inner court of Bhojanasala
A brand-new mission for former restaurant Bhojanasala
General Manager Harihara Raghavan, far left, chanting during the opening ceremony of the clinic
This Ayurvedic clinic started functioning at Bhojanasala last August. Two doctors offer consultation and treatment services for Theosophical Society members, their family, and TS workers on Monday through Friday, from 3 to 6.30 pm. They also prescribe a vegetarian diet.
Consultation fees are nominal, but Ayurvedic medicines are an extra charge. During the international Convention the Clinic will be closed.
Lara Sell from New Zealand, is an 18-year-old university student, who is passionate about animal rights, human rights and particularly women’s rights. She has been a member of the Theosophical Society since she was ten and asked to join. Recently, Lara saved up for a trip to the Philippines where she spent three weeks as a volunteer in the Theosophy-based Golden Link College.
Her report gives a refreshing look at Theosophy in action.
Manilla 2016
Flying halfway across the world alone is a feeling I will never forget. The mix of nerves and excitement over the unknown was a huge part of the 16-hour journey from Auckland to Manila that consisted of airports, layovers and people-watching. Flying into the Philippines was breathtaking. The country consists of over 7,000 islands. Those I saw on our descent were mountainous and beautiful.
Stepping out of the air-conditioned airport was a shock to the system with the heat and humidity packing a decent punch to the face at 31 degrees in the early evening. Metro Manila consists of four districts so having arrived in Manila City, I needed to travel to the northern district city of Caloocan where Golden Link College (GLC) is situated. This drive was my first glimpse of the Philippines and of Asia. My first observation was the lack of order in the streets. Cars, bicycles, tricycles, motorbikes, buses, jeepneys (the country’s national public transport – a cross between a jeep and a minibus) and people were all weaving to the sounds of horns and shouts. People walked up the busy streets in flip flops, sold items in the middle of the hectic traffic and also sat or slept on the side of the road. This initial glimpse was vastly different from any other experience I have ever had, having lived in Auckland my whole life.
The School of the Wisdom aims at bringing each student to survey life ‘from the centre’, which is intuitive awareness. An intense sense of Life must always accompany every true student. There can be no Wisdom without an ever increasing sense of Wonder.
Essential in the progress towards Wisdom is a growing intimacy with all aspects of Nature. The message which each tree, flower, animal, meadow, sea, sky, and cloud has, must be listened to and understood.
21 November to 2 December 2016
The Neuroscience of meditation
Directors: Dr Bhaskar Vyas and Dr Rajni Vyas
The directors
The transforming power of yoga and meditation and their application in life is going to be explored with the help of Vedic texts, exposure to different meditative practices, and the latest medical imaging. This study will provide objective evidence for the neural and biological basis for meditation. It will establish meditation as the ground of creativity, happiness, and health, while the understanding of hypnosis will remove any bias against it.
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