Mini-Interviews J. Dayanand

The Society MI 06 Dayanand

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

My name is J. Dayanand and I am from Tamilnadu, India, at present living in Pondicherry. In my professional life, I am retired now, I was an expert on flora and fauna and recognized as such by the government of India. I studied reclamation of soil at Oxford University in the UK, and among many other activities I was Director of the Food Cooperation of India, in New Delhi. I am a Life Member of the TS-Adyar.

Editorial – Am I in the Wrong Movie?

Am I in the Wrong Movie?

[… and some thoughts about internet trolls]

Jan Nicolaas Kind – Brazil

The Society Editorial 2 revised

If we consider carefully the options put before us / So much wisdom so much love so much waiting for us / And if we look ahead there's the sun and the seasons / Another day another age of reason” – from John Farnham’s “Age of Reasons”

For this impressive song, click here

By the end of a year, I tend to turn somewhat sentimental.

Another twelve months went by, offering many opportunities; I realize that perhaps only a handful came to realization. Yes, we are told never to look at what one doesn’t have, but to cherish that what you have in your hands, so I want to make use of this opportunity to thank all those wonderful and hardworking volunteers who have been loyal to Theosophy Forward, making this unique publication possible. Thanks to all, spread out over the planet: The United States (California, Kentucky, and Wheaton-Illinois), Brazil, Costa Rica, Slovenia, Italy, Portugal (Madeira Island), Spain, France, Holland, and India.

When I started off way back in 2009 with this e-magazine, I had no idea where the story would take me. We are five years on the road now and soon the sixth year will commence and there are great plans, quite sensational I must say, but at this stage I cannot reveal more than just that it will be another Theosophical leap forward!

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER

[In November 2014, Theosophy Forward published a number of quotes by Radha Burnier on its homepage. These quotes were very well received. To facilitate our readers we hereby reprint them.]

The Society Radha Burnier THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER 2 Radha Burnier 1

 

Mini-Interviews Renee Sell

  1. The Society MI 14 Renee Sell
  2. 1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?

My name is Renee Sell, I live in New Zealand. I was originally brought up in Australia but have lived my adult life in New Zealand. I have been a member of the TS now for 17 years.

Mini-Interviews Robert Pullen

  1. The Society MI 12 Robert Pullen
  2. 1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?

My name is Robert Pullen. I am from Holland, the town of Breda, and I am not a member The Theosophical Society Adyar, Point Loma or Pasadena. I am the chairman of the Theosophical Centre “Post Nubila Lux” in Breda, Holland.

Mini-Interviews Ingrid Eberhard – Evans

The Society MI 10 Ingrid Evans

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

My name is Ingrid Eberhard – Evans, I joined the Theosophical Society 1984 in London and soon after moved to Wales transferring my membership to the Welsh Association.

Mini-Interviews Alice Bouwland

  1. The Society MI 8 Alice Bouwland
  2. 1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?

Alice Bouwland is my name. I live in Zwolle, a beautiful mediaeval Hanze-town in the middle of Holland. I am working as an executive coach and trainer in communication skills at the architecture department of a university of applied sciences. In 1982 I became a member of the Theosophical Society.

Mini-Interviews Jon Knebel

 

JON 2

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

My label and my story? My name is Jon Knebel and I currently live in the western suburbs of Chicago. I have been a member of the TSA for maybe fifteen years.

2. Are you active in your Lodge/Section and if so, what do you do?

I am active in the TSA at Wheaton, facilitating classes and groups, lecturing and leading workshops nationally. I led a class reading The Mahatma Letters at Wheaton that continued for 2 ½ years. The extensive preparation for these classes eventually led to my recent appointment as chairman of the TSA committee charged with compiling, editing and publishing the personal letters of H. P. Blavatsky.

This project is a continuation of the Collected Writings series begun by Boris de Zirkoff in 1924. The personal letters portion of this series was begun by Dr. John Algeo in 1999, and he published the first volume of this series in 2003. Three or four additional volumes are expected.

I also serve on the boards of directors of the TOS-USA, and of the International Theosophical Conferences, Inc.

3. How did you first learn about Theosophy or come in contact with the Society?

I first began exploring Western and Eastern traditions when I was in high school. During that time I learned of Theosophy, but found it difficult and unappealing. I went on studying physics, religion, philosophy, ancient history and anthropology. I also poked around the New Age stuff in the 60’s and 70’s. When I revisited Theosophy in my 40’s, I found that it formed a wonderful platform onto which my ideas from other teachings and traditions fit nicely.

4. What does Theosophy mean to you?

As my study deepened, I found myself compelled to serve, both in the world and within the Theosophical movement. Theosophy is now becoming a living power in my life. I am learning how to respect all life, all persons, no matter what their beliefs, regardless of their behaviours.

5. What is your favorite Theosophical book and why?

The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett. This book contains the Theosophical teachings as they were first presented, and is itself a wonderful history of the early Theosophical Society.

6. What in your opinion is the biggest challenge the TS is facing at the moment?

The biggest challenge today for all branches of the Theosophical movement is making the teachings accessible and attractive to the general population, young and old, without destroying their potency. Seeing this happen is my greatest wish.

7. Is there anything you would wish for the future of the Theosophical Movement?

My wish for the future is as described above,  in question 6.

From the editor:

Opinions and ideas expressed in the mini-interviews are exclusively of those who are being interviewed. They don’t necessarily represent the ideas and opinions of the compilers of Theosophy Forward. The responses of the interviewees are not edited for content. Some contributors give short answers to the questions while others touch upon the subject more elaborately.

Mini-Interviews Halldor Haraldsson

  1. The Society MI 4 Halldor
  2. 1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?

Mr. Halldór Haraldsson, born in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1937. I have been a member of the TS since 1960.

Mini-Interviews Gloria Arévalo de Gauggel

  1. The Society MI 2 Gloria Gauggel
  2. 1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?

Gloria Arévalo de Gauggel, I am from Colombia, but I live in Honduras now for 17 years.

The Piano Revisited

Jan Nicolaas Kind – Brazil

[Editor’s note: This article was published in April 2009, during Theosophy Forward’s very first year on the Internet. Time flies, but it is available for all to read in TF’s archives. While I was going over some of the earlier issues of the magazine, this piece caught my attention again because of its relevance. I have rewritten some parts and updated it for a 2014 publication].

To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe.”Marilyn vos Savant an American magazine columnist, author, lecturer, and playwright who rose to fame through her former listing in the Guinness Book of World Records under “Highest IQ.”

Playing the piano with three fingers.

The Piano Revisited 2 

Editorial -TheosTalk and M. K. Ramadoss

Jan Nicolaas Kind – Brazil

The so-called moderator of the blog/website TheosTalk, once a wonderful source of information, now has gone fully over the top. Impartial participants on this site are no longer welcome as it seems, and the person who calls himself MKR, is primarily occupied with slandering and insulting the current administration in Adyar.

The Society Editorial b Eldon Tucker
Eldon Tucker

Once upon a time, the website TheosTalk (TT, a service provided to the Theosophical community by Theosophy Network Inc., a tax exempt 501(c) 3 nonprofit corporation), founded in 2000 by Eldon Tucker, was an inspiring meeting place, a sort of global square where Theosophists and others would meet, respectfully exchanging a large range of views and ideas directly or indirectly related to Theosophy. In those early pioneering years, with the internet rapidly developing, TT fulfilled a unique spearhead function. Interesting vivid dialogues and debates would occur and frequently subscribers would hook up with the site, contributing and enthusiastically participating in all that went on there. Although never a participant myself on any social networking site, as that’s not my thing, it was fun and really fascinating to go there and read what others had to share.