The Society

Concentric Circles: Why I Support ITC (International Theosophy Conferences)

Details: Published: Thursday, 28 June 2018 12:34

Jonathan Colbert – USA

The Society JC 2 KADINSKY Squares With Concentric Rings

Kadinsky’s Concentric Circles

We see in our world so many bitter, apparently intractable, Cain and Abel style disputes, between, not just, say, the Israelis and the Palestinians, but also between India and Pakistan, between the two Koreas, the two Sudan’s, the two Irelands, the Protestants and the Catholics, the Shiites and the Sunnis, the Left and the Right. By contrast, this unique, pioneering, forward looking Theosophical Movement of ours, is the first to organize around abstract, universal principles – high above such differences as caste, gender, creed, race or nationality. Focusing instead on unconditional solidarity amongst members of the human race as a whole, this movement might just be humanity’s last, best hope to sweeten the bitterness, to heal our world’s deep wounds. Equally, we acknowledge as Theosophists, that it is incumbent on ourselves to pull together, to get along with each other. We embrace a special responsibility to support all Theosophists, regardless of seeming tribal separations. Just in even knowing about the sacred ideal of Universal Brotherhood, it is our job, we feel, to exemplify it.

When Theosophists, especially from different organizations, commit to work together, there will inevitably arise strong forces bent on disruption and making mischief. Because of the laser-like, quantum breakthroughs possible when supposed differences are set aside in favor of drawing a larger circle; because of the potential that can be made kinetic by the magnification of a current created by the convergence of tributaries – the forces of inertia will be made all the more apparent. Moreover, the very degree to which the motives for such cooperation are pure and unselfish, and the desire to serve humanity indeed strong – is precisely the degree to which will be awakened the rude forces of detraction, destabilization and doubt. Brotherhood in actu, being essentially revolutionary, directly challenges the comfort zone of the status quo ante. If the Theosophical organizations are going to be able to work together, individuals within each of them will have to call on equally revolutionary faculties within themselves: the powers of unconditional magnanimity; the powers of the creative imagination and that power which real servants of humanity covet, the power to appear as nothing in the eyes of others.

Mini-Interviews Ria Pati

Details: Published: Wednesday, 27 June 2018 14:57

The Society MI 10 Ria Pati

1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?

My name is Ria Pati and I am from India. I have been a member of TS since February 2017.

Mini-Interviews Gastón Santana

Details: Published: Wednesday, 27 June 2018 14:57

The Society MI 8 Gaston Santana

1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?

My first connection with the TS was three years ago, but it took me one year to start going to the center in my home town, Buenos Aires, Argentina. People there call me Gastón, my last name is Santana.

Mini–interviews Andrea Biasca-Caroni

Details: Published: Wednesday, 27 June 2018 14:57

The Society MI 6 Andrea Biasca Caroni

1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?

My name is Andrea Biasca-Caroni, from Ascona, Switzerland. I’m a member since 1999.

Mini–interviews Birgitta Skärbo

Details: Published: Wednesday, 27 June 2018 14:57

The Society MI 4 Birgitta Skarbo

1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?

My name is Birgitta Skärbo and I’m from Sweden. I have been a member since 1992.

Mini–interviews John O. Boakye

Details: Published: Wednesday, 27 June 2018 14:57

The Society MI 2 John Boakey

1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?

My name is John O. Boakye, from Ghana West Africa. I have been a member of the TS since 1968 in my youthful days.

TO MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL

Details: Published: Friday, 27 April 2018 20:38

April 26, 2018

Dear fellow GC member,

In response to some of the low-quality information about Adyar and the TS that has been recently circulated, a number of us felt that some response should be made. As members of the TS's general council, we have all received numerous mailings from one common source. Many of us have read them, many have chosen not to. It has not been and cannot become the habit of the GC to use valuable time sorting through the half-truths, total untruths, distortions of fact, and personal conjecture that fill each of these mailings. What has been done in the attached text is to address each and every assertion of “fact” presented in these recent mailings. Most of what is written is already fully known to GC members, particularly to those who have attended recent meetings, as it has been discussed in meetings, included in minutes, and elaborated at the request of GC members. Matters related to ordinary management issues at Adyar, which were included in the recent mailing, are also addressed.

One of the features of the operation at Adyar has been the degree of transparency that has been instituted. Like most things, it is something of a double-edged sword with a few ill willed operators seizing upon and distorting information that is readily available to the GC, and to our membership through us. While it is not our belief that GC members are confused or uncertain about the state of things at Adyar, we feel that it is necessary to address the insubstantial basis for these numerous mailings.

Specific Issues Raised by Ramadoss

Details: Published: Thursday, 26 April 2018 20:39

1. President's term of office. In a recent mailing Ramadoss states that “We now know that District Registrar has ruled that the (TS) President's Term is limited to three years. Of course, The Theosophical Society has challenged this decision in the High Court of Madras.”

On April 12, 2018 the High Court of Madras suspended the order of the Registrar, ruling that the President's term will remain as 7 years, as stated in TS Bye Law 9. The language of the court's ruling is as follows:

4. A perusal of bye-law 9 of the Rules and regulations for the management of the petitioner society (TS) would clearly show that the terms of office of the President shall be seven years from the date of assuming office. It is useful to extract bye-law 9 of the Rules and regulations which reads as under:
“Bye law 9. President's term of office The terms of office of the President shall be seven years from the date of assuming office.”
5.considering the submission made by the learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioner (TS), this Court is inclined to pass the following order:
The respondents are directed to allow the petitioner to continue by virtue of bye-law 9 which is extracted as above.

Editorial

Details: Published: Wednesday, 11 April 2018 05:51

Jan Nicolaas Kind – Brazil

The Society Editorial 2

River Bungalow “down-stairs” where your editor was staying in December of last year and January of this year (2018) with his buddy MICHIEL HAAS as his neighbor

This part of the editorial is dedicated to all those women and men who are working hard, day in day out, to keep our International Headquarters in ADYAR, and the TS world-wide running, which is not an easy task.

Volunteering: It is a calling.

Had not been in Adyar for ten years, so it was about time to renew my acquaintance with that wondrous place in faraway India, a kind of oasis in the craziness of the Chennai traffic and the hustle and bustle one encounters in any growing metropolitan city nowadays. With a population of around five million people, Chennai, as capital of the state Tamil Nadu, and as is the case in many other Indian cities, is confronted with substantial pollution and other logistical and socio-economic problems.

Each time when one arrives there and undertakes the, at times scary, but also breathtaking ride from the airport to Adyar, it becomes evident that you can actually smell India. Am not talking about the pollution here, but that rare mixture of spices, herbs and food in preparation. Oh, how I do love that smell, so familiar still, even after an absence of one decade.

Have always had the tendency not to idealize or to romanticize Adyar, as our International Headquarters. The home of the Masters …? Don’t get me wrong, I do understand what is meant by that phrase, and yes there is that historical and spiritual tie, but I happen to believe also that the Masters’ home can be in any place, providing thoughts are pure, the energy is elevating, and hearts are filled with compassion. Yet, when it comes to romance, I met my wife Terezinha there for the first time, on the stairs of Leadbeater Chambers, we fell in love on the banks of Adyar river, so who is talking? I owe Adyar so much.

Next to the fact that I visited many International Conventions and took part in sessions of the School of the Wisdom, I also worked for one year non-stop on the estate, from 2001 until 2002. I had the great opportunity to get the “taste” of Adyar, to know and feel what it is like to be a part of that group of volunteers, who are there, day in and day out, doing their utmost. Yes, people come and go in the Adyar workforce. Some remain there for many years; others are there just for a short time, but the essence is always the same: dedication, sacrifice, humility, the willingness to learn; being a part of the nucleus.

Working at Adyar requires courage and perseverance. It is not some vague adventure one gets engaged in. It certainly demands much from the volunteer. Coming to the International Headquarters based in Adyar, a region in a very crowded and noisy Chennai, to work and spend some time there, to work for the Cause, offers a unique chance for inner growth. But it doesn’t come easy, that is certain. The energy at Adyar is substantial. Visitors to the conventions notice this, but the impact of that energy becomes much stronger when one spends more time there.

Volunteers, workers, are vital assets for the success of any non-profit; so, also for the TS-Adyar, they are invaluable. The move to Adyar, getting accustomed to the Indian way of doing things and living in a highly spiritual environment – can be demanding and stressful in the beginning.

Mini-Interviews Patrizia Conte

Details: Published: Tuesday, 10 April 2018 05:51

The Society MI 2 Patrizia Conte

1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?

I'm Patrizia Conte, I live in Italy and I'm a TS member since February 2013

Mini-Interviews James Walkowiak

Details: Published: Monday, 09 April 2018 05:50

The Society MI 4 James Walkowiak

1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?

I am James from Canada. I have been a member for one year.

Mini-Interviews Jaikumar Kannan

Details: Published: Sunday, 08 April 2018 05:49

The Society MI 8 Jaikumar

1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?

My name is Jaikumar Kannan and I am from the TS Headquarters at Adyar. I have been a member of the TS since 1985.