Good News

Message received from Barend Voorham, the Netherlands.

Participants enjoying beautiful Lisbon, from the left to the right: Rita and Paulo Baptista, Barend Voorham, Bruno Carlucci and Alaide Voorham

This very noteworthy news item comes from Zeeland!

Message received from Saskia and Maurits Campert who both are active Theosophists in their region.

Zeeland is a Dutch province in the southwest of Holland (i.e. another name for the Netherlands), bordering Belgium. Before the Romans came, there apparently was a Celtic influence. Originally there were six islands that now have become peninsulas, as a result of the disastrous North-See flood in January 1953, after which a beginning was made with the comprehensive Delta Works, an example of the phenomenal craftsmanship of Dutch engineers. The picturesque cities of Middelburg, Veere and Zierikzee are well-known all over the world.

Part of the Delta Works from the air

About the European School of Theosophy:

The European School of Theosophy was launched in England in October 1982 by Geoffrey Farthing, Ianthe Hoskins and Adam Warcup. Its activities are characterized by a five-day programme of intensive study. The main focus of the School is the research and investigation of the early literature giving rise to the contemporary Theosophical Movement such as HPB’s writings, The Mahatma Letters and more, as well as current developments within the field of humanities and science. Subjects related to Western Esotericism, religions, Eastern and Western philosophies are also often blended into the programme. Opportunity for research projects may be given to bona fide fellows presenting a comprehensive proposal and justification of their aims. The language of the School is necessarily English, its location varies each year but always places that facilitate opportunities to commune with nature, physical activities as well as contemplation and meditation. Since its inauguration in England, the School has met in Austria, Germany, Holland, Spain, Greece, Italy, Hungary, Belgium, Holland, Israel, Scotland and Wales. The School is autonomous and is not part of any organization, Theosophical or otherwise.

The School organizes from October 12 – 17

MEMENTO MORI
Worldviews on Death and Dying

Message received from Jacques Mahnich – France

Jacques Mahnich

At the invitation of Svitlana Gravylenko, President of the Ukraine Regional Association of Theosophists, my wife and I discovered a truly beautiful country where Theosophy is burgeoning again and well-alive. We met with the local Lodge members in Kiev and we participated in the White Lotus Day ceremony (5-6 May) in a public place where lectures on Theosophy-Science were given.

Grow as the Flower Grows

Nancy Secrest – Adyar

Nancy in her office at Adyar

Have you ever watched a flower grow? We can see that it has grown. We can see the differences in it as it turns its face to the sun throughout the day, and closes up at night, but we can’t actually see it doing so. We can see the change in its height or the length of a vine in a day or a week or a season, but we never actually see the stem growing or the vine moving. I have often marveled about this process and our inability to watch it. Sometimes photographers have used film that is speeded up to show us the action of the flower or the vine. Many of us have probably seen this on TV or in a documentary. Then we can see the flower bursting into bloom and the strength and aggressiveness with which the vine works its way out of the soil or even pushes its way through concrete to reach the sunlight. It’s amazing! A seed is planted, watered and placed in the sunlight. Somehow it knows to split open under the ground, from that a little stem is formed that reaches down to form roots and up, forming leaves and continuing to grow to a full-sized plant or even a 100-foot-tall tree. All of this is happening all around us all of the time, but we can’t see it as it happens, not with our physical eyes, because our brains cannot comprehend this extremely slow movement. Does this mean it isn’t happening? Of course not, we see the results, so we know that the plant is growing. We just can’t see the process while it is taking place. Conversely, I remember going to a seminar where we were to “get in touch with” trees. Several of the participants reported that they got the impression that the trees were aware of us only as extremely fast-moving objects that were perhaps a little bothersome, like gnats might be to us. Otherwise our worlds did not interact from their point of view.

Michele and Pablo present: FOHAT PRODUCTIONS

Sharing the Living Power of Theosophy

Pablo speaks

Michele and Pablo Sender are workers for Theosophy and currently live at Krotona, California, USA. Pablo has traveled the world round and lectured on various Theosophical subjects in many countries, accompanied by his wife Michele who conducts meditation sessions and speaks about the application of Theosophy in daily life. They’re truly wonderful and always active folks, so read about this fascinating project of theirs.

132nd Summer National Convention

The 11th World Congress will be held in Singapore, 4 - 9 August 2018
Theme:
Consciousness, Contemplation, Commitment:

The enue will be at Ramada Hotel in its Congress Hall and related meeting rooms
Accommodation at Ramada & Days Hotel

About the European School of Theosophy:

The European School of Theosophy was launched in England in October 1982 by Geoffrey Farthing, Ianthe Hoskins and Adam Warcup. Its activities are characterized by a five-day programme of intensive study. The main focus of the School is the research and investigation of the early literature giving rise to the contemporary Theosophical Movement such as HPB’s writings, The Mahatma Letters and more, as well as current developments within the field of humanities and science. Subjects related to Western Esotericism, religions, Eastern and Western philosophies are also often blended into the programme. Opportunity for research projects may be given to bona fide fellows presenting a comprehensive proposal and justification of their aims. The language of the School is necessarily English, its location varies each year but always places that facilitate opportunities to commune with nature, physical activities as well as contemplation and meditation. Since its inauguration in England, the School has met in Austria, Germany, Holland, Spain, Greece, Italy, Hungary, Belgium, Holland, Israel, Scotland and Wales. The School is autonomous and is not part of any organization, Theosophical or otherwise.

Poster © Elisa Chigueco

A noteworthy exhibition, covering the life and work of H. P. Blavatsky will be organized by José Manuel Anacleto in Lisbon, from May 8 -May 16, 2018. Your editor would describe José as a formidable Theosophical activist. In order to get to know more about him, read his mini interview with Theosophy Forward here

TOS at the Golden Link Colleges, a short write up previously published in the AUSTRALIAN TOS LINK, November 2017, issue. Written by Gayle Thomas

The author (middle) with students

HPB states in the, The Key to Theosophy, ‘that members can best help the movement of theosophy by living it by practicing altruism’. The Golden Link College (GLC) in the Philippines provided a perfect venue for me to volunteer to teach English as a second language. GLC is based in Caloocan city, a very poor area of Metro Manila.

The building

GLC was established by the Theosophical Society and the Theosophical Order of Service. Vicente Hao Chin (2016) wrote the curriculum, ‘On Education’. Based on the philosophy and vision of the school, the curriculum’s aim is, “to promote a kind of education that is free of the many harmful elements of standard education, such as ranking, competition, use of fear and anger in teaching, over focus on grades and examinations etc.” (Hao Chin 2016)

Young students in silence.

The curriculum, believes firmly in the importance of total human development rather than simple academic preparation. It gives opportunities to all students to rise and be the best that they can. Having just completed an Education Masters subject on Testing and Assessment, I can attest to the controversy the NAPLAN testing is having on our Australian curriculum. Schools are focused on achieving high NAPLAN results which concentrates on numeracy and literacy. This often comes at the expense of other subjects such as the arts, physical education and other vital developmental subjects. At GLC, quoting Vic (2007) again, ‘the core curriculum must enable the student to have the needed foundation for the essential aspects of living’.

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.

The 11th World Congress will be held in Singapore, 4 - 9 August 2018
Theme:

Consciousness, Contemplation, Commitment:
The Future is Now

The venue will be at Ramada Hotel in its Congress Hall and related meeting rooms

Accommodation at Ramada & Days Hotel

Days Hotel (***)

SGD$1,165 for twin-sharing
SGD$1,589 for single occupancy

Ramada (****)

SGD$1,306 for twin-sharing
SGD$1,801 for single occupancy

The package rates are for accommodation from 3rd until 9th (check out).

Includes conference fee, breakfast, lunch and dinner from 4th to 8th August 2018, and breakfast on 9th.
Hotels give smartphones with unlimited 4G and IDD calls to selected countries.
(IDD = international direct dialing)

Spanish edition of Lucifer, the Light-bringer.

Now the Seven Jewels of Wisdom also available in Spanish. This is truly GOOD NEWS. The English text, originally published through the TS Point Loma in The Hague, the Netherlands, was translated into Spanish by members of the TS Adyar in Costa Rica. This is cross pollination, two Theosophical groups helping each other. Progress is made!

The TS Study Centre in Bradenton, FL, has enjoyed holding their meetings at the Mitreya Center, an interfaith meeting place. A few members of the TS, however, saw an unmet need at the Mitreya Center – its library needed some TLC. Five members of the Bradenton TS/TOS group decided to take on the massive project of reorganizing the Center's library, so it would be more accessible to the center’s many visitors. The group is creating a library catalogue, which will be available to the greater Bradenton community, as well.

From left: Judith Snow, Donna Lobdell and Ann Willig

TOS Liaison, Alec Grae, who has been volunteering in libraries since the 4th grade, explains: “TS materials are interspersed with other topics of interest, because of the other groups that also meet here. But the vast majority of items are of interest to the TS as well.”

The 11th World Congress will be held in Singapore, 4 - 9 August 2018

The venue will be at Ramada Hotel in its Congress Hall and related meeting rooms

Accommodation at Ramada & Days Hotel

Days Hotel (***)
SGD$1,165 for twin-sharing
SGD$1,589 for single occupancy

Ramada (****)
SGD$1,306 for twin-sharing
SGD$1,801 for single occupancy

The package rates are for accommodation from 3rd until 9th (check out).

Includes conference fee, breakfast, lunch and dinner from 4th to 8th August 2018, and breakfast on 9th.
Hotels give smartphones with unlimited 4G and IDD calls to selected countries.
(IDD = international direct dialing)