The Society

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

My name is Enrico Sempi, and I live in Novara, Italy. In 1981 I joined the Italian Theosophical Society, and on 3^rd June 2016 I became an honorary member.

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

I’m Silvia Caprari and I live in Milan, Italy but I’m originally from Pisa and I lived for several years in Genoa. I have been a TS member for 5 years.

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

I am Uma Bhattacharyya from Varanasi, India. Though I formally became member of The Theosophical Society in 2007, I was associated with it since my childhood as I studied in the school and college situated within the TS campus built by the great visionary & theosophist Dr. Annie Besant.

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

My name is Kayla Upton and I’m from New Plymouth which is a coastal town on the west side of New Zealand. I’ve been a member of the Theosophical Society for 3 years however I would say that I had a very Theosophical upbringing.

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

My name is Marina De Grandis, I am from Italy, was born in Venice and am a member of the TS since 1999.

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

My name is Mark Becking from the Netherlands. I‘ve been a member for three years (2016).

Jan Nicolaas Kind – Brazil

The author

Generally speaking, openness refers to the willingness to hear and consider different ideas and to try new things. Open individuals usually accept others' values and beliefs; an open mind doesn't quickly reject oppositional opinions as wrong. People are sufficiently open-minded if they are receptive to strong arguments against their committed beliefs.

Jeremy E. Sherman - Social Science Researcher

Theosophists, no matter what tradition or stream they belong to, are supposed to be freethinkers. According to most dictionaries a freethinker is a person who rejects accepted opinions, especially those concerning religious beliefs.

Freedom of Thought is embedded into the DNA of Theosophy. As Theosophists, we think of ourselves as having open minds and the ability to think for ourselves. In some cases that’s more aspirational than actual. We have as many closed-minded people as any other organization – and according to some, even more. (1)

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

My name is Jaap (Jacob) Trouw. I live in The Hague in the Netherlands with my wife Marijke. We are both members of the TS and of The Hague Lodge since 2011.

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

My name is Janne Vuononvirta. I was born in 1986 in Northern Finland, where I spent my childhood. During the past 10 years I have moved quite a lot and lived in different parts of Finland: Lapland, Southwest… and now for 6 months in Helsinki metropolitan area. I joined TS in 2007.

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

My name is José van der Loop, I am from the Netherlands and I have been a member of TS Adyar since 2014.

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

My name is Fernando Mansur and I’ve been a member of the TS since 1985.

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

My name is Shyam Singh Gautam. I live in the city Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh state in India. I have been a member of Theosophical Society since 1975.