1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?
Steve Schweizer, Fort Wayne, IN, USA. I’ve been a member of the Society for 48 years.
2.How long have you been a member of your Section’s Board?
I am now in my second consecutive term as an Eastern District Director for the TSA. Before Doug Keene, I served my first term under Barbara Hebert, and our Board meetings were held exclusively via Zoom for that period due to the Covid Pandemic. We were able to meet in person again after Doug became president.
3. How did you first learn about Theosophy or come in contact with the Society?
My friend Greg and I were college friends and we were both looking at Yoga and Eastern philosophies. Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda was an early book that both Greg and I had read and talked about. At one point Greg happened upon a strange little building with a beautifully calligraphed sign hanging out front that read Theosophical Society. The lights were on, he walked in, he heard and saw, told me about it, and the rest is history. That was the Fort Wayne Lodge that he had happened upon, a vibrant group at the time where we attended meetings for the next few years.
4. What does Theosophy mean to you?
Well everything really. It has encompassed the sum total of my adult life since I was 20 years of age. I first started attending Lodge meetings in 1976. I became a member the following year and began my career with National in 1980. Willamay Pym, who was national secretary at that time hired me under Dora Kunz’s presidency. I’ve worked continuously for the Society since 1984 helping to produce the Society’s video programs. We now post them online on YouTube and elsewhere and reach far greater numbers of people than ever before. The Theosophical worldview has come to me through the many presenters and teachers I’ve met and worked with over the years. Theosophy is an essential part of who I am. How lucky I am and what an honor it has been.
5. This year, 2025, the Theosophical Society celebrates its 150th anniversary. What in your opinion is the biggest challenge the TS is facing and what is to be done in order to maintain the Society’s relevance in the years to come?
I think if we as individuals can just be a shining light of the wisdom tradition to those around us, we will be fine. Let’s support and help one another in our own unique ways. It isn’t just one thing. If we can do this, then we should be able to adapt to the challenges before us.
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.