Barbara Hebert -- USA
What a wonderful shot, Barbara and her "most recent" grandchild Jackson
Thank you for allowing me to share a personal reflection regarding he 12th World Congress of the Theosophical Society held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in July 2025. The World Congress also celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Theosophical Society and the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Association. With almost 400 attendees from across the world, the Congress allowed us to visit with old friends, to meet new friends who quickly felt like old friends, and to contemplate the thoughts and ideas shared with us by fabulous speakers. We were able to come face to face with others that we had only seen and known online in various classes and programs. It was a wonderful opportunity to come together in a beautiful setting while celebrating the longevity of our organization, an organization which has had a significant impact on the world.
On the first day of the Congress as I walked up to the registration table, one of the first people that I met was Jacques Mahnich from France. Jacques and I hugged, and he gestured to all those standing in the area and said “The whole family is here!” No one could have said it better. As theosophists, we are, in many ways, a family. We don’t always agree with one another, and we each have our own paths to travel; yet, we have a connection that reaches to the depths of our being.
I was reminded of the words of Ed Abdill who wrote:
The Theosophical Society was meant to be an organization of people from every culture who have some sense of the underlying unity of all. It was meant to be an organization of people who work together to help others realize their underlying unity with humanity as a whole. Far as we may be from it, that is our ultimate goal….From an awareness of underlying unity comes an altruistic way of life that is compassionate, wise, and practical. That is the sacred mission of the Theosophical Society made clear by KH when he wrote, “The chief object of the T.S. is not so much to gratify individual aspirations as to serve our fellow men.” (Letter #2, Barker edition)
The World Congress brought this sacred mission of the Theosophical Society to the forefront of my awareness. As I looked across the broad expanse of the meeting room, I was almost brought to tears by the obvious connection among those in attendance. Surrounded by the variety of languages and accents, I watched as seemingly disparate individuals sat together in group discussions, at meals, and in casual conversations, deepening connections and experiencing the joy of the ever-growing camaraderie.
So often, as theosophists we find ourselves living in almost isolated circumstances with few, if any, like-minded individuals with whom we can talk openly and freely. We see the dysfunction in our world; we see the suffering of humanity; we see the inhumanity inflicted upon others. We can feel as if we are alone in the sacred work of helping “…others realize their underlying unity with humanity as a whole…”. We can become overwhelmed, especially when we see the distance that must still be traveled before reaching the goal. It is even possible that thoughts creep in, telling us that it is useless to believe that one day humanity may achieve unity. We may even consider giving up the work to which we are committed.
These thoughts exacerbate feelings of hopelessness as we perceive ourselves alone in the quest for unity. And in this way, the kama-manas takes control! We are caught up in the maelstrom of the kama-manasic tornado of thoughts and feelings that only contribute to the dysfunction seen across the globe. How quickly the personality takes over! Yet, we know that part of our work is to calm this tornado and focus on the work at hand which Mabel Collins describes in Light on the Path. She tells us “Shrink not from [those who are in darkness], but try to lift a little of the heavy karma of the world; give your aid to the few strong hands that hold back the powers of darkness from obtaining complete victory.” In her statement, she reminds us that ours are not the only hands trying to hold back the darkness. She reminds us that we are part of the nucleus of unity as indicated in the first object of the Theosophical Society.
John Algeo suggests we look at this nucleus as being composed of a “band of servers.” According to Algeo, this group of individuals have come together under the aegis of the Theosophical Society and have made a commitment to help the Great Ones in their work. Their work, at least to the best of our understanding at this point, is to help humanity on its evolutionary journey toward enlightenment. Algeo describes the “band of servers” as the humble co-workers…comparable to the teaching and research assistants who do some of the grunt work for a research professor at a university. The work they do is not romantic, but it is necessary, and it frees the elders for the sort of work that only the elders can do.
He goes on to say:
Theosophists can be thought of as those who have accepted the call to become part of the band of servers. That band is the nucleus spoken of in the first Object, understood in an inner sense. It is not an exclusive body, but one whose membership is available to all who are willing to dedicate themselves to it.
Algeo reminds us that we are not alone; rather, we are members of this band of servers. We have committed to partnering with “the few strong hands that hold back the powers of darkness” as stated by Collins. We are a family, spread across the globe, connected at the deepest level of being. Together with other seekers, we make up the nucleus of the unity of humanity. We are the band of servers and their partners whose strong hands are holding back the darkness that threatens humanity.
Returning to more personal thoughts and feelings brought about by experiences at the World Congress, I was struck by the number of dedicated and committed individuals—a small portion of the band of servers—present in the meeting room. As I pondered these thoughts, a sense of joy and peace pervaded my being as I imagined each individual in the room as a candle, creating a brilliant light of love, connection, and unity. Then, I imagined all of us returning to our own geographic locations across the world, each as a shining candle of light, pushing back the selfishness and inhumanity in the world.
Moving even further, I realized that there are thousands more around the world who belong to the band of servers and who are also shining the light of love, connection and unity. At that point, it was easy to visualize points of light in all across the globe. The peace and joy that I experienced was a recognition that the light of unity surrounds the world, supported and strengthened by the work of theosophists and seekers for Truth.
Within this light, there is no separation or isolation. There is only unity and a bond that surpasses any other: the bond of the underlying unity of humanity and the bond of those servers who seek to share it. My realization: I am not alone in this work. You are not alone in this work. We are a family who comes together, sometimes geographically, but always metaphysically, to bring light to the world.
SOURCES
Abdill, Edward. The Universal Brotherhood of Humanity. Quest 96, no. 5 (Sept.-Oct. 2008): 177–79, 191.
Algeo, John. “The Objects and Their Relevance to the Theosophical Life.” The Theosophist, Volume 118, Nov. 1996. Retrieved from https://www.theosophical.org/files/resources/articles/Objects.pdf on September 15, 2022
Collins, Mabel. Light on the Path. Note to #20, p. 7.