VOL. 135 NO. 1 OCTOBER 2013
CONTENTS
Why Study The Secret Doctrine? 3 Radha Burnier Annie Besant, the Diamond Soul 6 C. Jinarajadasa-- Theosophy and the Crowding World 13 Tim Boyd The Beauty of Service 18 Berezanska Natalia Heaven sent Madness 21 Wayne Gatfield The Best Human Life Promotes Evolution 26 Eneida E. Carbonell Fragments of the Ageless Wisdom 32 The Light of Buddhist Thoughts 33 Binay Krishna Books of Interest 36 International Directory 38
Editor: Mrs Radha Burnier
NOTE: Articles for publication in The Theosophist should be sent to the Editorial Office. Cover: H. S. Olcott, Annie Besant and C. W. Leadbeater.
Official organ of the President, founded by H. P. Blavatsky, 1879. The Theosophical Society is responsible only for official notices appearing in this magazine.
1 THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY Founded 17 November 1875 President: Mrs Radha Burnier Vice-President: Mr M. P. Singhal Secretary: Mr Chittaranjan Satapathy Treasurer: Mr T. S. Jambunathan Headquarters: ADYAR, CHENNAI (MADRAS) 600 020, INDIA Secretary: [email protected] Treasury: [email protected] Adyar Library and Research Centre: [email protected] Theosophical Publishing House: [email protected] & [email protected] Fax: (+91-44) 2490-1399 Editorial Office: [email protected] Website: http://www.ts-adyar.org The Theosophical Society is composed of students, belonging to any religion in the world or to none, who are united by their approval of the Society’s Objects, by their wish to remove religious antagonisms and to draw together men of goodwill, whatsoever their religious opinions, and by their desire to study religious truths and to share the results of their studies with others. Their bond of union is not the profession of a common belief, but a common search and aspiration for Truth. They hold that Truth should be sought by study, by reflection, by purity of life, by devotion to high ideals, and they regard Truth as a prize to be striven for, not as a dogma to be imposed by authority. They consider that belief should be the result of individual study or intuition, and not its antecedent, and should rest on knowledge, not on assertion. They extend tolerance to all, even to the intolerant, not as a privilege they bestow but as a duty they perform, and they seek to remove ignorance, not punish it. They see every religion as an expression of the Divine Wisdom and prefer its study to its condemnation, and its practice to proselytism. Peace is their watchword, as Truth is their aim. Theosophy is the body of truths which forms the basis of all religions, and which cannot be claimed as the exclusive possession of any. It offers a philosophy which renders life intelligible, and which demonstrates the justice and the love which guide its evolution. It puts death in its rightful place, as a recurring incident in an endless life, opening the gateway to a fuller and more radiant existence. It restores to the world the Science of the Spirit, teaching man to know the Spirit as himself and the mind and body as his servants. It illuminates the scriptures and doctrines of religions by unveiling their hidden meanings, and thus justifying them at the bar of intelligence, as they are ever justified in the eyes of intuition. Members of the Theosophical Society study these truths, and theosophists endeavour to live them. Everyone willing to study, to be tolerant, to aim high, and to work perseveringly, is welcomed as a member, and it rests with the member to become a true theosophist.
2 Why Study The Secret Doctrine? Why Study The Secret Doctrine?
RADHA BURNIER
THE Secret Doctrine of H. P. Blavatsky force’, but the reason for withholding has a series of reprints. Here we may see purely philosophical information such as evidence of the inroad being made by the the evolution of the planetary chains. But principles and doctrines of the esoteric she pointed out: philosophy into the human consciousness, The danger was that such doctrines as even though proof of their effects upon the Planetary Chain, or the seven Races, human relationship is not too visible in the at once give a clue. . . to the sevenfold present strife-torn, cruel world. occult forces, those of the higher planes HPB made it clear that she was being of tremendous power. So that any presenting to the world only a part of what septenary division at once gives a clue to she herself had been taught. However, her tremendous occult powers, the abuse of occultist contemporary, T. Subba Row, which cause incalculable evil to humanity; seems to have held that she revealed too a clue which is, perhaps, no clue to much. He was to be her partner in the the present generation — especially to production of The Secret Doctrine, but Westerns, protected as they are by their withdrew because of differences of opinion very blindness and ignorant materialistic on various matters. She herself wrote: disbelief in the occult. . . (loc. cit.) There were portions of The Secret Doctrine For the reason stated above, The Secret that for incalculable ages had to remain Doctrine does not contain the secret lore concealed from the profane gaze. But this of the ages (guptavidyâ) in its entirety but was because to the unprepared multitude only ‘a select number of fragments of its secrets of such tremendous importance fundamental tenets’. Even to understand was equivalent to giving a child a lighted fully what she was allowed to transmit candle in a powder magazine. (introd. To involves such self-purification and training S. D.). that none but the hardy few would like to She went on to say that people undertake it. ‘The mysteries have ever been understand the need to conceal ‘such made a discipline and stimulus to virtue’. secrets as the Vril, or the rock- destroying Even when purity and virtue are achieved
The year 2013 marks the 125th year of The Secret Doctrine.
October 2013 3 The Theosophist the fact remains that the deepest truths have been handled, enough has given in cannot be put into words; they have to this cosmogonic portion of the work, to be experienced. show the archaic teachings to be on their Although HPB has given some very face more scientific (in the modern information about the septenary nature of sense of the word) than any other ancient the universe and perhaps other clues of scriptures left to be judged on their exoteric that kind, fortunately they have not been aspect. (I. 321, 6 vol. ed.) recognized as clues by the ‘present She adds that: generation of Sadducees’. Hence, despite the aggressive pursuit of power and ‘scientists’ and ‘sciolists’ ought alone to success, which is a dominant feature of bear the responsibility for the many modern society, the danger of which illogical theories offered to the world. In HPB made mention is not immediate. The its great ignorance, the public, while Secret Doctrine is intended to be a key to blindly accepting everything that emanates further knowledge, but to the fullest from ‘authorities’ and feeling it to be its extent, each one must equip himself with duty to regard every dictum coming from another key — a purified mind open to a man of science as a proven fact — the intuitive perception. public, we say, is taught to scoff at any- HPB tapped a vast range of sources to thing brought forward from ‘heathen’ make it self-evident to the reader that ‘the sources. (I. 321). nations the world over’. The doubting Alas, this tendency continues. But the mind is offered no loophole to escape esotericist is the forerunner and guide of from the fact that there is but one primeval, the scientist as well as the man of religion universal wisdom, which is not the and philosophy. It is interesting to read in possession of any particular religious The Secret Doctrine the following: group or chosen set of people. The power of her intellect and pen have also made it Science teaches us the living as well as clear as daylight that esoteric philosophy the dead organisms of both man and animal reconciles all religions, but it ‘strips every are swarming with bacteria. . . But science one outward human garment’. has never yet gone so far as to assert with Even as the source, history and the occult doctrine, that our bodies as well significance of religious knowledge are as those of animals, plants and stones, are illumined by The Secret Doctrine, so also themselves altogether built up of such science in general and the scientific beings; . . . chemicals science may well theories of the day in particular are put say that there is no difference between the in their proper perspective in many a matter which composes the ox, and that passage. HPB referred to this by saying: which forms man. But the Occult doctrine is far more explicit. It says: The writer hopes that, however superficially the comments on the Seven Stanzas may Not only the chemical compounds are the
4 Vol. 135.1 Why Study The Secret Doctrine?
same, but the same infinitesimal invisible. (The one truth is taught by sages in many Lives compose the atoms of the bodies of ways). Aspects of The Secret Doctrine will the mountain and the daisy, of man and be revealed from other sources at other the ant, of the elephant and of the tree which times. The transmitters of the wisdom are shelters it from the sun. Each particle — all worthy of reverence, but none must be whether you call it organic or inorganic or set up as the ‘last prophet’ and the one — is a life. (I. 304-5). and only authority. The great river of vivifying knowledge will flow on. HPB Science seems to be beginning to would have been the last one to erect a discover this truth as for instance, barrage and stem the flow or claim final indicated by Lewis Thomas in his popular infallible authority. essays. Writing of ‘Organelles as Organisms’ he says: No true Theosophist, from the most ignorant up to the most learned, ought to My mitochondria comprise a very large claim infallibility for anything he may say proportion of me. . . Looked at in this way, or write upon Occult matters. . . . those of I could be taken for a very large, motile us who pretend to teach others more colony of respiring bacteria, operating a ignorant than ourselves — are all liable to complex system of nuclei, microtubules err . . . This cannot be helped . . . so long and neurons for the pleasure and sustenance as the artist is imperfect, how can his work of their families, and running, at the be perfect? ‘Endless is the search for moment, a typewriter. (The Lives of a Cell, Truth’. Let us love it and aspire to it for Bantam Books, 1975, p. 85). its own sake, and not for the glory or The Archaic Wisdom which has existed benefit a minute portion of its revelation through the ages will continue to exist in may confer on us. For who of us can the future also, irrespective of the ups and presume to have the whole truth at his downs of civilization on earth. As the Veda fingers’ bends, even upon one minor declares, ekam sat viprâ bahudhâ vadanti teaching of Occultism? (IV. 211). ²
To imagine that a human brain can conceive of anything that was never conceived of before by the ‘universal brain’ is a fallacy and a conceited presumption. At best, the former can catch, now and then, stray glimpses of the ‘Eternal Thought’ after this has assumed some objective form, either in the world of the invisible or visible universe. H. P. Blavatsky Quotation Book
October 2013 5 The Theosophist Annie Besant, the Diamond Soul
C. JINARAJADASA
IT is rarely that there appears among did not tally. This seemed strange to her, as mankind a soul of the quality of Dr Annie the Gospels were supposed to be inspired Besant, a quality I want to describe with by the Holy Ghost and to represent the the simile of a diamond. A diamond is the true Gospel, the only revelation of God, hardest mineral that we have; it can be cut which the Christian was bound to accept. only with diamond-edged tools and ground From that time began her phase of doubt, with dust of its own substance. Another which resulted in her finally leaving the characteristic of a diamond is that it has Christian faith. She became an Atheist, for many facets, and a polished diamond she could not believe that there was God. gives out colour after colour as it is turned to the light, for the colours of the solar Her denunciation of oppression spectrum are reflected through its many But an outstanding characteristic of hers facets. In the same way, a ‘diamond soul’ shone out from those days onward, is unbreakable, has the quality of namely, her passionate denunciation of incredible resistance, and therefore a very oppression. She became the champion of great capacity for work in many aspects all the oppressed individuals and causes of activity. It is this last quality I wish to she came across, in any part of the world. bring out — the many-faceted aspects of Thus we see her in 1888 taking up the Dr Besant’s life and work. cause of the match-girls in one of the factories in London (Bryant and May’s). We find her first as a devout Christian, They were underpaid and many suffered accepting the truths of Christianity blindly from phosphorous poisoning in the jaws. without doubt or enquiry. Then came the Dr Besant in her small journal, The Link, awakening. She had difficulty in under- published the facts; legal action was standing the story of Christ as narrated in threatened against her for defamation and the Gospels, she therefore made four the girls were bullied to find out who gave columns and entered side by side passages her the information. The girls were pressed from the four Gospels which described the to sign a statement denying the facts incidents in the life, and found that they revealed, and then they all came out on
From Besant Centenary Issue of The Theosophist, October 1947.
6 Vol. 135.1 Annie Besant, the Diamond Soul strike. Dr Besant and others stirred up But she did not only study Science, public opinion, appealed to members of she did something much more directly Parliament, and worked hard till the whole important. She began teaching science, for problem was brought before the minds of science to her was the gospel of truth. We the public, and such pressure was brought find her issuing manual after manual on to bear upon the management of the fac- Science, each quite small, as the result of tory that they gave way. The match-girls certain classes for the masses which she won their demands. It was after that that conducted. They are like small textbooks the Match-Makers’ Union was established, and worth reprinting now, with of course of which Dr Besant was the Secretary for changes. At this time, then, she tried to some years. make science the gospel of life for all. We find her again in the year 1878, from far away taking up the cause of The Knowlton Pamphlet Afghanistan and India in a pamphlet This period was soon followed by that entitled England, India and Afghanistan. of the famous Knowlton pamphlet. A The next phase in her life is marked certain Knowlton had published in USA by her conviction that since religion gave a pamphlet on birth-control, which had no help and no opportunity to mankind been reprinted in England in 1833, and for advancement, the only possible solution no one had made any objection. Then seemed to be in science, so she took up a man in Bristol reprinted it in 1884, but scientific study. Her plan was to take the he added some pornographic illustrations degree of Bachelor of Science in the not in the original. The publisher was University of London and later that of a prosecuted by the police for publishing Bachelor of Medicine. She passed the immoral literature. Mr Charles Bradlaugh Matriculation examination of London and Dr Besant saw in this action of the University, and then the Intermediate police a point of danger for freedom of examination with honours in all subjects thought. What did they do? They printed required. We see therefore that she had a a new edition of the original pamphlet, very good scientific brain. But why did without the objectionable illustrations, she not go on to the examination of they planned to open a small shop, and B.Sc.? She has explained. There was one notified the police that on a certain day examiner in the University who told her they would sell the pamphlet to the public, beforehand that however brilliantly she and so faced prosecution. They were might do the papers which were set, he prosecuted, and for the first time Dr Besant would not pass her, because he had a appeared in court to plead her own case. strong antipathy against her Atheism and The case was lost, but later she and Mr to certain of her activities for the masses, Bradlaugh won on an appeal to a higher which he considered immoral; so she had court on a technical legal point. The police to give up studying for the degree. prosecution was not resumed, and the
October 2013 7 The Theosophist moment the case for freedom of thought Love that closes dying eyes, was won they withdrew the pamphlet. Wakes them too, in glad surprise, In this phase of her life as an Atheist, Love that makes forever wise. Dr Besant delivered some brilliant lectures Soul-whilst murmuring, ‘There’s on Atheism. She did not believe in God; she believed that it was only through no soul ’ — science that there could be any kind of Shall upspring like flame from coal, happiness for mankind. At this time an Death is not life’s final goal. English poet, Gerald Massey, saw that she, Bruno lives! Such spirits come, though an Atheist, was ever championing Swords immortal, tempered from the cause of the oppressed, and he wrote Fire and Forge of Martyrdom. a poem which is the more striking because You have soul enough for seven; he had never met her; he only knew about her. But in this poem he gave as Life enough the earth to leaven; brilliant a description of her as has ever Love enough to create Heaven! been given. One of God’s own faithful few, Whilst unknowing it are you, ANNIE BESANT (1879) Annie Besant, bravely true. A Greeting by Gerald Massey It is interesting to note that in it Annie Besant, brave and dear, Massey mentions Giordano Bruno, who May some message uttered here also had battled for freedom of thought Reach you, ringing golden clear. and expression. Though we stand not side by side It was at this time that Dr Besant was In the front of battle wide, fascinated by India and wrote a very Oft I think of you with pride. striking series of tale’s for children, ‘Young Folks Library’, published in 1885. In Fellow-soldier in the fight! the first story, ‘Ganga and the River Oft I see you flash by night Maid’, she gives a description of India, Fiery-hearted for the Right! this even before she saw India. Also she You for others sow the grain; wrote stories about Hypatia and Bruno Yours the tears of ripening rain; (she knew nothing at the time of the Theirs the smiling harvest gain! mystery behind those two martyrs, that they were her own past incarnations), Fellow-workers we shall be, two characters who have left an unforget- Workers for eternity; able message to humanity. I wish to Such my faith. And you shall see mention also that she wrote one pamphlet Life’s no bubble blown of breath called The Natural History of the Christian To delude the sight till death, Devil. She could be very charming in Whatsoe’er the unseeing saith. her satire of the Christian traditions;
8 Vol. 135.1 Annie Besant, the Diamond Soul this facet of the diamond is something the House of Commons refused him very attractive. permission to take his seat, since he would Constitutional methods not take the necessary oath, and the House In the next facet she is among a group declared his seat vacant. So another of Fabians of the famous Fabian Society, election had to take place. But Bradlaugh of which original band three are still living was re-elected. Once again he came to the [this was written in 1947-Ed.] George House and the English procedure in Par- Bernard Shaw, and Lord and Lady liament as to the oath was challenged by Pethick-Lawrence. Dr Besant took part him. Once again the House of Commons in all the discussions and wrote two or would not permit him to sit and declared three pamphlets for the Fabians. The era that his seat was vacant. For the third time of Socialism had started, the Fabians an election took place and for the third enquired into the conditions in various time he came back to Parliament, with industries in England, hours, wages etc., hundreds of people following him and and suggested immediately necessary insisting on the rights of the people. Again improvements. The gospel of the Fabians he was not allowed to ‘affirm’, that is, was to create economic changes not by without the Bible, and to take the oath in strikes and revolution, but by methods of his own way. Mr. Gladstone, the Prime constitutional procedure, bringing about Minister, a devout Christian, was perplexed results aimed at by passing new laws to and did not know what to do. Finally the change bad laws. House decided that though Mr Bradlaugh I must here mention an interesting event had been duly elected as a member, he which occurred about this time. For it is had violated the law of Parliament, and during her work with Mr Bradlaugh that therefore he had to be punished; so they she learnt from him the constitutional sent him to be imprisoned in the Clock method of agitation. Mr Bradlaugh was an Tower of the House of Commons, while Atheist, but he has become famous in the they considered his case. Meantime tens annals of Constitutional Law for that of thousands were protesting throughout reason. He was elected a member of the country. Bradlaugh was a prisoner Parliament from Northampton, but as an for only thirty-six hours; the law was Atheist he refused in the House of later changed; a modification was made Commons to take the oath of allegiance allowing people, not only members of with the Bible in his hand, and say ‘So Parliament, to make an affirmation, and help me God’, as was required of every not obliging them to take the oath on member. He said he would take the oath, the Bible. Thus Mr Bradlaugh came into but not on the Bible, in other words that Parliament and took his seat legally. he would affirm, and give his word of Dr Besant was by his side throughout honour, and he claimed his seat in all this turmoil, and learnt from him Parliament as a duly elected member. But how to agitate to change bad laws by
October 2013 9 The Theosophist constitutional procedure without resort a definite presentation of it from some one to violence. angle which she selects, as a painter does when painting a landscape. While she Comes into Theosophy gives Wisdom, she gives it in an exquisite It is at this time that Dr Besant came setting. Of her many books, perhaps the into Theosophy. She has narrated all that one that will last longest is that most in her Autobiography. At that time there fascinating book, A Study in Consciousness, were only a few books of Theosophical for in it there is a depth of philosophical literature, Isis Unveiled, The Occult World, presentation that will fascinate many a Esoteric Buddhism and The Secret generation to come. Doctrine. After Dr Besant became a One brilliant contribution of Dr Besant Theosophist, she did something which was her History of the Great French nobody else could have done. She took Revolution up to the death of Robespierre. the truths of Theosophy from these books There are many histories of the French and presented them in public addresses, Revolution, but this work is written by her full of idealism and beauty. That is the from the standpoint of the people. Usually remarkable gift which she had; she gave historians denounce the bloodthirstiness beautiful settings for all these wonderful of the Terror, but they do not sufficiently Truths. We find her always giving to our stress the terrible sufferings of the masses Theosophical work an aspect which never which made this Revolution inevitable, for existed before. I think particularly of one it was a Revolution of Hunger. (It was this lecture of hers, which I did not hear she feared in India, and so when the time because I was in America at that time. It was ready she entered Indian politics as was a lecture on ‘The Spiritual Life for a leader.) the Man of the World’, given at the City Dr Besant said once to me that Temple; it is exquisite in form, there could Robespierre is one of the great pathetic not be a more artistic presentation of a great figures in history, for he saw an ideal to topic. One can take that lecture, analyse it accomplish but had not the strength to do section by section, and see how the whole it. Instead of the Terror being of his subject is presented with a perfect making, to her the Terror grew to be what symmetry. She also gave a set of lectures it became because his guiding hand was entitled In the Outer Court, and then later withdrawn. Certainly the last pages of the The Changing World. All these have an chapter of hers on Robespierre describing artistic structure, and the second work his end, leave a profound impression on plans for an ideal united world. the reader’s mind. I think Dr Besant can be described more as an artist than as a lecturer of the Clairvoyant investigations professorial type, because she does not I pass on to another facet of her work, survey any subject in its entirety, but gives and that is the contribution which she has
10 Vol. 135.1 Annie Besant, the Diamond Soul given when she developed the powers of Before she landed in 1893, she already clairvoyance. Here I can speak with some spoke of India as her ‘Motherland’. That personal knowledge. It is interesting to phrase is in a letter she wrote in 1892. I note that while Bishop Leadbeater had to will mention one particular book which it develop his powers slowly, step by step, will be very useful for all Youth Lodges Dr Besant developed them all almost to study, her Lectures on Political Science, overnight, This happened in 1895. The for they give a clear presentation of what first of the great investigations made by a student of politics should know. them jointly was into the conditions of the Heaven World. This resulted in the manual ‘Watched’ by her Master The Devachanic Plane, written by C. W. From early life she was ‘watched’ by Leadbeater, who had already written The her Master and heard His voice. As a young Astral Plane. Next came a series of woman she was once in despair and investigations into the early Rounds of the considered committing suicide because of Earth Chain, the notes of which are all in the utter wretchedness of her married life. my handwriting as they were taken down As she held the bottle of chloroform in her by me during the investigations. In 1895 hand she heard a voice saying: ‘Coward, the first ‘Occult Chemistry’ investigations coward, who dreams of martyrdom and took place into the structure of hydrogen, yet cannot stand a few years of pain.’ This nitrogen and oxygen, and a new unknown brought out the warrior spirit in her and gas later labelled Occultum of atomic she threw the bottle of chloroform out of weight 3. In 1907 seventy-one chemical the window. Later, during her phase of elements were mapped out by their joint Socialism and Fabianism, one evening in investigations, ‘broken up’ and followed her office in Fleet Street, when she was in into the sub-planes. The two investigators much despair as Truth seemed unattain- saw the various forces in the atom whirling able, she heard the same voice speak: ‘Are at incredible speed, and Dr Besant selected you willing to sacrifice everything to find as her part of the work that of following Truth?’ and she answered: ‘Yes, Lord.’ up the breaking-up of the groups from Then the voice continued: ‘You will find sub-plane to sub-plane. it soon.’ A few weeks afterwards her friend Now we come to another facet, the William T. Stead, Editor of The Review Regeneration of India. The moment Dr of Reviews, sent the two volumes of The Besant landed in India in 1893, she set Secret Doctrine of H. P. Blavatsky for her the work before herself. She lectured on to review. She read them; saw where the best that is in Hinduism, she preached Truth lay, and asked Mr Stead for an a new type of education, and she urged introduction to HPB. Theosophical Lodges to start new Thus she found Truth, but it meant schools, and to keep the keynote of Indian for her a heartrending sacrifice, for it meant ideals when teaching Hindu boys and girls. parting company from Mr Bradlaugh
October 2013 11 The Theosophist and all her many Secularist fellow- To the end of her life she gave her workers. When Dr Besant became a testimony to the existence of the Masters, Theosophist, many of her old friends not for she had found her Master. only shook their heads but prophesied This is a rapid description of this that Theosophy was only a stage to diamond soul flashing out brilliant something further. The general forecast colours. May we all some day acquire was that she would finally become a something of that diamond soul quality Roman Catholic. This of course could not of brilliance and resistance which was the happen, for she had come at last to Truth. very nature of Dr Annie Besant. ²
PRAYER
Who pants and struggles to be free, Who strives for others’ liberty, Who, failing, still works patiently, He truly prays.
Who, loving all, dare none despise, But with the worst can sympathize, Who for a truth a martyr dies, He truly prays.
Who, when a truth to him is known, Embraces it through smile or frown; Who dares to hold it though alone, He truly prays.
In musing, strength must come to dare, Petitions are but empty air, Brave action is the only prayer, Thus learn to pray. Mrs Besant
12 Vol. 135.1 Theosophy and the Crowding World Theosophy and the Crowding World
TIM BOYD
IT is not often that one can point to an in rural environments. Worldwide, urban event and identify it as something that has concentration is accelerating at breakneck never occurred before in human history. speed with estimates of 80% of the global Many people can remember when the first population crowding into cities within the man landed on the moon, or the first lifetime of most of us. As a condition of satellite in space, or even the first public contemporary living this is a demanding awareness of nuclear fission. Very recently state of affairs. For us as theosophists it is such a momentous event transpired. even more challenging. The simple fact Largely unnoticed in the popular media, is that barring some unknown global it has entered our world and proceeded to catastrophe, the future of the spreading take root. This new state of affairs is urban landscape is guaranteed. influencing every aspect of life on earth The early literature and teachings of the in both subtle and in very blatant ways. Theosophical Society make little reference While it offers great promise it also assures to this aspect of our current reality. The massive problems and disruptions in its fact that it was not commented on does wake. It is something which should hold not mean that it was not anticipated by special interest for those who feel that the inner founders of the Theosophical Theosophy has meaningful application to Society. In a letter to Colonel Olcott, the problems in the world. Master K.H. describes the Mahachohan To describe the event is simple. as one ‘to whose insight the future lies like Throughout known history the vast major- an open page’. Given the perceptive ity of human population has been rural. powers of those founders it would be safe In the late 1800’s, around the time that the to assume that not only was the underlying Theosophical Society was founded, in the pattern which has led to our present United States, 5% of its people lived in situation foreseen, but that one of the cities. In 2008 for the first time in known reasons for the founding of the TS was to human history the planet’s population address it. It was not accidental that the became predominantly urban. More people TS was founded in New York City, one of now live in cities around the world than the world’s largest urban centres in 1875.
Mr Tim Boyd is President of the American Section, The Theosophical Society.
October 2013 13 The Theosophist One might say that perhaps it goes the population density which characterizes unmentioned because it has no real cities is ‘crowding’. The best and the worst bearing on the inner life; that the potentials of human potentials become concentrated of the human spirit transcend outer con- in the crowded urban environment. ditions. On a certain level this is true, but Historically the development of the city perhaps we should explore more deeply. began with the experience that ‘there is Sophocles once said that, ‘nothing safety in numbers’. In dangerous times the great comes into the world without a walled enclave became a refuge from curse’. The history of human development marauders. The concentration of people demonstrates the truth of his insight. led to a concentration of resources which Examples abound. Atomic energy and fuelled the development and spread of electricity have been used to better the ideas, the growth of higher education and human condition, but their misuse has also the creation of wealth. been an intentional cause of intense The list of the numerous ills associated suffering. The ideal of individual freedom with cities is also well known. Crime rates and democracy has ushered in an era are highest in cities, lower in suburbs, and of expanded opportunity and shared lowest in rural areas. The same pattern is responsibility in governance, but has also true for human fertility. Close contact with been the source of bloody revolution and large numbers of people has been at the entrenched corruption. It has been said root of the spread of disease. Every that in Atlantis even psychic forces were modern epidemic, from bubonic plague to used as a means of waging war. Even the seasonal flu has depended on crowded en- appearance in the world of avatars and vironments for its spread. Viruses, germs, great spiritual teachers has been a source bacteria, parasites thrive in crowded places. of significant turmoil. Some words of One severe consequence of crowding is Jesus speak to this pattern, ‘Do not think that people become cut off from the natural that I have come to bring peace. I have world. In the city the normal rhythms and come to bring the sword...to turn a man cycles of nature are suppressed. Even the against his father, a daughter against her most basic cycle of the alteration of night mother . . .’ War, destruction, and social and day is manipulated in ways that have upheaval as well as profound spiritual created a whole class of illnesses classified revelation were part of the lives of Krishna, as ‘circadian rhythm disorders’. Rama, and Muhammad. Even Buddha’s In the same way that physical diseases formulation of the sangha was socially spread through populations, the modern disruptive because its egalitarian nature city with its easy access to information and violated the caste or varna system. In these technology has spawned a variety of times the growth of the urban world is one mental contagions fuelled by ideas moving of those ‘great’ things. from mind to mind in close proximity. For sociologists the term that is used for Both the global outpouring of compassion
14 Vol. 135.1 Theosophy and the Crowding World following the 9/11 attack in the USA, and Anyone who is growing in their awareness the vicious backlash of what has come to and expression of compassion necessarily be named ‘Islamaphobia’ are examples. feels more intensely. An experience of The social ills of urban slums, poverty, Annie Besant on travelling to Chicago the creation of an underclass of unskilled, illustrates the point. At the time she was unhealthy, and uneducated groups are the travelling Chicago was known as the persistent hallmark of cities around the ‘Slaughterhouse for the World’ because world. Then there is the massive collateral one of its prominent industries was meat. damage to the natural world resulting from ‘No one who is the least sensitive, far the excessive demand which rapidly less anyone who by training has had some expanding urban centres are placing on of these inner senses awakened, can pass the earth’s resources — deforestation, mass not only into Chicago, but within miles of extinctions, and pollution. Chicago, without being conscious of a These are some of the outer effects of profound sense of depression that comes the current cycle of crowding. Dire as down upon him . . . which at first is not these may be, for the Theosophist the clearly recognized nor is its source at once inner effects are at least as challenging. seen . . . when I went to Chicago, I was The mental atmosphere in the cities of the reading, as I am in the habit of doing in world bears a close resemblance to the phy- the train, and I did not even know that I sical. Scattered throughout the Mahatma was coming within a considerable distance Letters and the writings of Blavatsky are of the town . . . I was conscious suddenly, numerous references to the stifling as I sat there in the train, of this sense of influence of crowding on the unfoldment oppression that came upon me; I did not of our inherent spiritual qualities. In one recognize it at first, my thoughts were of the letters to A. P. Sinnett, Mahatma anywhere but in the city; but it made itself KH comments about his experience of so strongly felt that I began to look and to entering the city of Amritsar, India. He try to sense what it was that was causing says: ‘I determined to emerge from the this result; . . . then I remembered that I seclusion of many years and spend some was coming into the great slaughter-house time with her [HPB, who was then in of the United States. It was as though one Amritsar]. I had come for a few days, but came within a physical pall of blackness now find that I myself cannot endure for and of misery — this psychic or astral result any length of time the stifling magnetism being, as it were, the covering that over- even of my own countrymen . . . I turn spread that mighty town . . . this continual my face homeward tomorrow.’ throwing down of these magnetic influ- One of the problems for today’s urban ences of fear, of horror, and of anger, and spiritual practitioner is that, to a greater or passion, and revenge, works on the people lesser degree, one of the results of genuine amongst whom they play, and tends to practice is a heightened sensitivity. coarsen, tends to degrade, tends to pollute.’
October 2013 15 The Theosophist Although Annie Besant’s example key to an ennobled future. In our efforts specifically addresses the psychic to understand the present nature of life in atmosphere created by the slaughterhouse, the city we can examine a host of factors. the principle it expresses is universal — What are the demographics for the thoughts are things and affect the population? What are the educational consciousness of living beings. opportunities? Health, sanitation, housing, In the first letter from the Mahatmas to industry all could be considered. All A.O. Hume the comment is made: ‘Earth of these can be seen as symptoms of is the battle ground of moral no less than something more central. A more fruitful of physical forces; and the boisterousness approach might be to ask the question, of animal passions under the stimulus of ‘what are the thoughts of my neighbours the rude energies of the lower group of and fellow city dwellers’?, and even more etheric agents, always tends to quench important, ‘what are my own thoughts’? spirituality.’ In that same letter a profound From this path of inquiry we can form clue is given to the workings and the some conclusions. effects of thought. The ‘struggle for life’ which was such ‘Because every thought of man upon a focus in the Mahachohan’s letter has not being evolved passes into the inner world diminished. One might even say that in and becomes an active entity by associating present conditions it has increased. All of itself — coalescing, we might term it — the worry and stress related to ‘making a with an elemental; that is to say with one living’ dominate the thought life of many. of the semi-intelligent forces of the king- A constant stream of worry, distress, and doms. It survives as an active intelligence, craving is the populating agent for a creature of the mind’s begetting, for a countless people’s ‘current in space’. In longer or shorter period proportionate with the Mahachohan’s letter the point is made the original intensity of the cerebral action that the ‘intellectual classes . . . degrade which generated it. Thus, a good thought and morally ruin those they ought to is perpetuated as an active beneficent protect and guide.’ Today the cultivation power; an evil one as a maleficent demon. of values of consumption and distraction And so man is continually peopling his has become a profession, influencing current in space with a world of his own, millions worldwide. Hollywood, Bolly- crowded with the offsprings of his fancies, wood, Television, sports, surfing the web, desires, impulses, and passions, a current celebrity news have become a daily refuge which reacts upon any sensitive or and ner- for countless tired individuals looking for vous organization which comes in contact some momentary rest. with it in proportion to its dynamic intensity.’ Any person living in any of the cities The activity of ‘peopling one’s current of the world finds himself continually in space’ defines both the current con- affected by the thought atmosphere ditions of crowded living and holds the surrounding him. Like fish in water, for
16 Vol. 135.1 Theosophy and the Crowding World most the effect is largely unconscious, What is the situation for today’s subliminal. However, those who find spiritual practitioner, for the person who themselves growing in awareness sense is drawn into a deepening relationship with not only the quality of the thought their higher nature? Except for a few, currents, but the possibilities for shifting retreating to the cave or forest is no longer them. As much as global living conditions the option, or need of this particular have changed in recent times, the essential moment. Our ability to apply the insights human problem has not changed. In The of Theosophy to the creation of Voice of the Silence HPB names this energetically wholesome islands in the problem ‘the heresy of separateness’ — midst of the roiling currents of modern city the idea that a person’s perception of reality living is what is called for — whether that places him or her apart from others. island finds its location in a home, a meeting There is a story of a woman who was place, in an internet virtual community, shown a vision of hell and heaven. In the or within the growing expanse of our own vision of hell many people were sitting at consciousness. The work for us is not a dining table piled high with wonderful merely to form these centres of influence, food. Every imaginable delicacy was but to connect them with others, those available before them. The problem for the kindred spirits whose teachings and people in hell was that their arms were long practices have been made possible by the and could not bend. As they took the food reintroduction of Theosophy to the world they could never reach their mouths. So, scene. It is the karmic responsibility of even in the presence of the finest food they today’s urban populations to participate were emaciated and continually tortured in the ongoing process of both creation by hunger and longing. The vision of and destruction that the modern city heaven was exactly the same — the same imposes on the planet. For the conscious table, the same food, the same long unbend- individual this is a time of great opportunity. ing arms on the people around the table, In the words of Annie Besant, ‘Let us yet at this table the people were smiling judge our spirituality by our effect on the and well fed. The difference in the heaven world, and let us be careful that the world world was that the people there used their may grow purer, better, happier, because long unbending arms to feed each other. we are living in it.’ ²
Only a very few people achieve spiritual evolution, for it demands a persistent effort of the will . . . But all can set out on this path which, though it must be followed through clouds, leads to the radiance of the heights. Dr Alexis Carrel
October 2013 17 The Theosophist The Beauty of Service
BEREZANSKA NATALIA
THE SIGN of Aquarius is the sign of a useful, kind and true, he expands on the servant, a man with a jug of water on his colleagues and requires from them the shoulders, so full that it is abundantly same devotion and love. poured outside. A jug on the shoulders can We often consider as service, our help be considered as characteristic of service. to poor people, sufferers, invalids, to those Serving is not an easy thing as it involves who seem to be unhappy, although giving energy and time, to sacrifice one’s actually it simply is uncomfortable for us own interests, to work a lot and all the to be near such people, and we act in order time. Certain qualities are needed for to restore our calmness, deliver ourselves service: self-oblivion, tolerance, wisdom, from suffering. directed efforts, ability to work without Often benefaction appears as the result attachment, stability and persistence. of self-confidence, ambitions, a desire to The beginning of the Aquarius era is excel or confirm, become noticeable, to characterized by the display of the quality be looked upon as the ideal, but not as of service everywhere. We see the forma- the result of spontaneous compassion to tion of more new public organizations and needy people. funds, different associations in which Also charity can be the manifestation people are often far from the esoteric, of a deeply secret desire for spiritual from the philosophical understanding of perfection by those who know that one of service, but they unite to help others, just the attributes of discipleship is service. We to make their country, our world, our may add also that the reason for service planet better. can be fashion, conformity or tradition; In our present time man is only an anxiety about others delivers us from beginning to study service. Therefore, we loneliness, helps us to find new friends and can see how in our real life this service often gives a servant more than he gives. acquires sometimes distorted forms. For In all of the examples listed above, a example, there is an attempt of a servant likeness of service is really present, but to bring the people around to his point of its veritable essence, its true intention, is view. All that, such a servant considers absent. True service is the spontaneous
Ms Berezanska Natalia is Vice-President of Ankh Lodge, Kiev, Ukraine.
18 Vol. 135.1 The Beauty of Service radiation of a loving heart. The Law realization of the Divine Plan, when he of Service is an expression of the Great consciously submits to the Law of Life which flows through our Higher Sacrifice. True internal knowledge is Self and is realized through our lower sharpened and converted into wisdom only vehicles. Service is not making the default through service for others. of certain actions; it is not activity to which Humanity does not head a casual one needs to aim, and not the means to unmarked course — there is the Plan. rescue an individual or the world. Service Humanity sets itself, on its own, the speed is a natural quality of our true Self, our of the evolution and execution of its Higher Nature; it is the same engine fate, in obedience to this Plan. Success of its evolution, as is aspiring to self- depends on the loving conscious collabor- preservation or reproducing is for our ation of all human beings who undertake animal soul. Compassion, sympathy in need, the responsibility for their own fate, joined an unselfish action in the name of the by the intention of creating the new, the higher good is a specific and inalienable best world. The ideals of Brotherhood and feature of the heartfelt opening. It is a Freedom are everywhere acknowledged characteristic feature of our Divine nature, and provide an indissoluble unity of as desire is a characteristic feature of purpose in the infinite variety of human our personality. aspirations and beliefs. Service is the effective method of self- Today, more and more people appear disclosure and self-perfection, because ex- to respond to the call of their Higher actly through an action there is verified Nature; therefore we can see a consid- the degree of our maturity, the truth of our erable growth of charity and philanthropy, world-perception, the purity of our inten- but frequently they demonstrate the deep tion. Through perfecting and developing imprint of personality. Thus the idea of of the forms of our service, we harmonize service is perverted into and looks like the world around us, at first in our imme- business; it is replaced with ambitious diate surrounding, then in wider ranges, attempts to compel others to serve in and, finally, we become the explorer of obedience to our pictures of blessing, and Divine Will, which in one of our lives the love to people is replaced with the love begins to pour out to our nation, our to power and lays obstacles to real service. country, the whole world. Service is a living stream of love, It is therefore impossible to teach spontaneous giving, a demonstration of service or stick it to a man, if this intention light and beauty, creation and joy. The does not come from within, and is based time will come when it will not be only on the theory of service. Neither a necessary to call a man for service, when theory nor imitation makes a man a real conviction and criticism will disappear, servant. He becomes a real servant only when nobody will interfere with another when Higher Will conduces him to the to serve his own consideration, when
October 2013 19 The Theosophist everybody will simply pour out active the world, who got through crucibles, but creative service from the jug of his Soul, carried the ideas of Theosophy, maintained forgetting about his little self, and finding clemency and compassion for humanity, the best possible direction of action in the because they were led by their Soul. sphere of his service. Each of us possesses in oneself this Today, during the 135th anniversary wonderful ideal and knows the concrete of the Theosophical Society, we can examples of selfless and sincere servants. say with complete confidence that the The beauty of their service gives Society’s history abounds with examples us strength to work and move farther, of true service. We are reminded of the overcoming doubts and failures, to gain disinterestedness of Mme H. P. Blavatsky, understanding and experience, and to get Col. H. S. Olcott, Dr Annie Besant and to know at once that real service is the many others in the different countries of state of true joy and love. ²
He who does not practise altruism, he who is not prepared to share his last morsel with a weaker or poorer than himself, he who neglects to help his brother man, of whatever race, nation, or creed, wherever and whenever he meets suffering, and who turns a deaf ear to the cry of human misery; he who hears an innocent person slandered, and does not undertake his defence as he would undertake his own, is no Theosophist. H. P. Blavatsky
20 Vol. 135.1 Heaven sent Madness Heaven sent Madness
WAYNE GATFIELD
Heaven sent madness is preferable to man made sanity (Plato)
IT is a truism that in this materially lower emotions and thoughts rather than orientated society to follow any path that the Divine nature. Much of this has to do does not have the accumulation of money with the fact that we are becoming more or goods as its goal is regarded as foolish and more divorced from nature. John in the least and madness in the extreme. Ruskin, the art critic, has said that: As HP Blavatsky writes, in her article No man ever did or ever will work well, ‘Civilization the Death of Art and Beauty’: but either from actual sight or sight of faith The unconsciously prophetic fin de siécle, We live in a man made world, many in short, is the long ago foreseen fin de children grow up hardly aware of the cycle; when according to Manjunâtha beauties of nature. Even schools teach Sutra, Justice will have died, leaving as biology in a rather dry manner. The same its successor blind Law, and as its Guru can be said of religious education. There and guide — Selfishness; when wicked is no curriculum that can inspire a love of things and deeds will have to be regarded nature or the Divine in an individual. as meritorious, and holy actions as Spontaneity is mainly regarded as a form madness. Beliefs are dying out, divine life of madness and people are encouraged to is mocked at; art and genius, truth and live within the very narrow precincts of justice are daily sacrificed to the insatiable societies understanding of life. When that mammon of the age — money grubbing. view is expanded, due to meditation and Sanity is very much ‘man made’ and the study of genuine spiritual subjects, there are definite modes of thought and then the student tears asunder the chains action established in society based upon that bind and acts in an inspired way, which a materialistic outlook. Arts and sciences to most will be regarded as insane. are no longer pursued for the Spiritual Indeed in some cases it may be a boon edification of humanity but for a speedy to be regarded as ‘mad’ as it may mean profit, and inspiration is derived from the that we are not acting in ways that are
Mr Wayne Gatfield is President of Bolton Lodge, in the English Section of the Theosophical Society.
October 2013 21 The Theosophist normally accepted by Society, but are disintegrates and only Oneness remains. living by a different Light. So we must ‘fall in love’ with that Divinity The truth is that the individuals are and therefore love all things that share it. beginning to function under the aegis of It is this awakening to the Spiritual nature their Higher Self, which takes them to a in everything that may be regarded as realm little understood by the average insanity by modern society. Certainly person. The Sufis and the Bhakti Yogi-s under the ‘influence’ of the Spirit we would inspired by a love of ‘God’ or the Divine act in ways that are alien to most. often poetically describe their experience Life has a beauty that transcends the as a form of ‘madness’. Rumi in his poem attempts of society to create a world of ‘The Lovers’ states: ugliness internally and externally. Very little in our modern towns and cities is The Lovers designed to lead the mind towards a more will drink wine night and day. enlightened understanding of what life is They will drink until they can all about. Goverments are concerned tear away the veils of intellect and merely with the financial status of the coun- melt away the layers of shame and try and are swallowed up by materialistic modesty. considerations. Nor are compassion and When in Love, love encouraged, but rather an ‘eye for body, mind, heart and soul don’t an eye’ policy. All of this, of course, is even exist. regarded as sanity. Leo Tolstoy in his Become this, book ‘The Law of Love and the Law of fall in Love, Violence’ stated that if the Christian and you will not be separated again. societies of the West truly followed the Wine here refers to Spiritual Know- words of their leader, as in the New ledge and tearing down the veils of shame Testament, then there would be no need and modesty means transcending the for police forces, armies or courts of law. limits of man made morals and laws which However if one suggested that we should often constrict and prevent the emergence ‘love our enemies, bless those that curse of the spontaneity needed to follow the us and pray for those that despitefully use dictates of the Higher Self. When in love us’ or that we should forgive ‘not seven nothing exists for a while but the object but seventy times’ and turn the other cheek of one’s adoration and so when that love we would be told that such actions were is for the Divine body, mind, heart and impractical. This is because they are the even soul or forgotten as concepts and one complete opposite of the laws upon which only ‘sees’ or senses what lies beyond all society is presently founded. This basis powers of formulation. is a kind of madness which accrues when If one becomes aware of the Divinity civilization loses touch with its Higher in all things then one’s sense of separateness Nature. When the rind is preferred to
22 Vol. 135.1 Heaven sent Madness the fruit, when lust for possessions magazine Lucifer October 1887 (page 96): takes the place of love for Truth. As Will is the exclusive possession of man H. P. Blavatsky states in the above quote on this our plane of consciousness. It many things that in the light of the Spirit divides him from the brute in whom would be regarded as ‘wicked’ are now instinctive desire only is active. regarded as normal. For instance it is Desire, in its widest application, is the one thought to be acceptable to trample on creative force in the Universe. In this sense others on the road to material success and it is indistinguishable from Will; but we even lying is a common practice if it helps men never know desire under this form the individual to get on in the world in a while we remain only men. Therefore Will self-centred manner. and Desire are here considered as opposed. The reason for all this is that we are Thus Will is the offspring of the Divine, often ruled by our lower animalistic the God in man; Desire the motive power desires. These are needed to a certain of the animal life. extent to survive during our short stay in Most of men live in and by desire, this particular body, but when they start mistaking it for will. But he who would to dominate and become the basis of our achieve must separate will from desire, lives and also the inspiration for our artistic and make his will the ruler; for desire is and scientific outputs then we realize that unstable and ever changing, while will is we have created our own obstacles on the steady and constant. already rocky road to enlightenment. Both will and desire are absolute creators, What we need is to develop our Spiritual forming the man himself and his Will and develop as children of the Light. surroundings. But will creates intelligently There is a trend amongst younger people — desire blindly and unconsciously. The mainly on Social Networking sites to man, therefore, makes himself in the image promote what they call YOLO (You only of his desires, unless he creates himself live once). This is based on the idea that in the likeness of the Divine, through his as there is only one life anything goes as will, the child of the light. regards sensual experience on this planet. His task is twofold: to awaken the will, There is, of course, no understanding or to strengthen it by use and conquest, to even awareness of the workings of karma make it absolute ruler within his body; and, or reincarnation. In the West to most parallel with this, to purify desire. people the mention of these twin laws may Knowledge and will are the tools for the result in the purveyor of the information accomplishment of this purification. being regarded as slightly ‘unhinged’. On an optimistic note, they are creeping more We need to cultivate our ‘Heaven Sent and more into the collective consciousness, Madness’ to recover our true sanity. We hopefully with positive results in the are all Spiritual Beings in reality. It is the long run. H. P. Blavatsky writes in the birthright of every living being to claim
October 2013 23 The Theosophist their Divinity by cultivating the kind of forming concepts. Words are pointers or Will H. P. Blavatsky is writing about in signposts. If we do not develop the this extract. The fractious lives we lead intuitive knowledge that will enable us to throw us into confusion, there is a loss of extract the essence from the written word clarity. In still waters the moon is reflected then we fall victim to the ‘dead letter’. We perfectly, but toss a stone into them and need to go through the words and ever there is just a bewildering mass of moving onwards, not become bogged down in images. So is life a seeming chaos at times materialized understanding which gratifies as our mind is pulled here and there by our lower mind, but only creates the ‘mind our desires and the needs of our physical forged manacles’ that William Blake nature. This is a kind of madness that is mentioned in his poem ‘London’. Just as regarded as sanity in the modern world. Zen Koans cannot be fathomed by the It is important that we centre ourselves on limited intellect and need the assistance that which is stable and unchanging, that of something more profound, so it is with helps us to think with clarity and calmness. many Theosophical and Spiritual writings. We need to find that oasis within us where The Secret Doctrine by H. P. Blavatsky we can go in order to escape the clamour may seem confusing to the intellect but and din that surrounds us and also something much deeper is conveyed to the permeates our thoughts and emotions. intuition and these insights increase as the Dwelling in the world of the lower mind intuition is developed by true study, medi- this state seems somehow cold and distant tation and the living of the life as taught and we feel that we need the stimulus of in many of the world’s Spiritual scriptures. our emotions and the adrenalin rush of life One of the first things we need to do in the ‘fast lane’. Master KH stated that is to determine to extract our minds from we need a calm and serene mind to be the ‘insanity’ of the world we live in. To able to receive impressions from the step back and to consider what is truly Spiritual. Calmness and serenity are not sane in the light of genuine Spirituality. popular in today’s society. People feel a H. P. Blavatsky gives us some advice in need to shut out anything that will lead this direction from Lucifer October 1887 towards a reflection on the deeper (page 89): meaning of life. However cold and distant The first necessity for obtaining self- this reflection may appear it is actually the knowledge is to become profoundly gateway to an increased awareness that conscious of ignorance; to feel with every will begin to work the alchemy that will fibre of the heart that one is ceaselessly transform us into truly Human Beings. self-deceived. The Knowledge that H. P. Blavatsky The second requisite is the still deeper mentions in the above quote is of course conviction that such knowledge — such true Spiritual Knowledge, which has little intuitive and certain knowledge — can be to do with merely remembering words or obtained by effort.
24 Vol. 135.1 Heaven sent Madness The third and most important is an man.’ Then we will not see through a ‘glass indomitable determination to obtain and darkly’ any more, but will become aware face that knowledge. of realities that words only veil and we Self-knowledge of this kind is unattainable will comprehend that all words and images by what men usually call ‘self-analysis.’ were clouds in front of the sun masking It is not reached by reasoning or any brain something that only the intuitive side of process; for it is the awakening to our nature can reveal. When our mind consciousness of the Divine nature of man. becomes illumined by the intuition then To obtain this knowledge is a greater the alchemical process is complete and our achievement than to command the elements leaden perceptions of life and our distorted or to know the future.’ views of sanity will be transformed and There is nothing more guaranteed to our ‘Heaven sent Madness’ will enfold recover our sanity than ‘awakening to and uplift us to realms beyond con- consciousness of the Divine nature of ditioned understanding. ²
We are continually clinging to the impermanent: the impermanent in the form of ideas, of attachments, in the form of organizations and systems, in a number of different forms. One of the Upanishads says that the Eternal can never be found through grasping at perishable things. But that is what we are seeking to do. We are all the time concerned with the things which will pass away. Radha Burnier
October 2013 25 The Theosophist The Best Human Life Promotes Evolution
ENEIDA E. CARBONELL
THE Ancient Wisdom entails a positive Fortunately, we have an immense or optimistic philosophy based on laws wealth of knowledge about these laws in which govern the universe. This optimism the works of H. P. Blavatsky, mainly in is not based on a fleeting, artificial satis- The Secret Doctrine, where she made sure faction, nor is it provoked with a certain not to leave out any of the philosophies, intention; it is optimism upheld by facts, religions, or science of her time, dealing by true-life stories, and has been studied with their study, in addition to those under careful and profound observation obtained from the Ancient Wisdom, since immemorial times. provided by the Masters of the Wisdom. All these laws work unanimously to In general, HPB said that the Law of maintain a perfect universal equilibrium Perfect Harmony is the one which main- or balance which is full of beauty, har- tains the functioning of the other laws — mony, truth, and eternal joy. Their study of cycles, evolution, analogy, karma and offers us a complete outlook of the mech- reincarnation, attraction, the esoteric law, anism and linkages of the universal and and so on — presenting Unity as the basis particular process, because the latter is for all, not as a group of elements, but as contained in the former. These laws have the origin of everything; and the three been presented by different philoso- primary powers — of creation, conser- phical schools, religions, and science vation, and transformation; plus the legion under a variety of names, but underlying of forces, subtle elements, or tattva-s, and them all, the meaning is analogous. Further, secondary powers which cooperate with some philosophical schools and science the three primary ones. do not bother to study all these universal As we can see, the study of Unity, its laws, but they study emphasizing only laws, forces, and powers, is wide-ranging one or two of them, depending on whether and fascinating, but the topic of this article they have made a narrower or more- is mainly about the law of evolution. Since encompassing observation. all these laws are interrelated, by studying Mrs Eneida E. Carbonell is a long-standing member of the American Section of the TS. Article based on a talk given at the Federation Congress, Costa Rica, 2011.
26 Vol. 135.1 The Best Human Life Promotes Evolution one of them one can approach all the Truth immerse themselves. And since this others. And that is what happened with benefit is offered equally to all, modern the law of evolution, which attracted most science has learned to dip itself in the same attention when, in the nineteenth century, waters that HPB offered us. They started the British naturalist, Charles Darwin, after in Darwin’s time by taking the law of travelling extensively around the world evolution as a pillar to close the doors to making numerous observations about spiritual avenues, to Divinity, or God. But the variability of the species, presented today, in the light of their own obser- to the world the doctrine of evolution, vations and deep study, their theory of also known as Darwinism, in his On The evolution has become an ally of religious Origin of Species by Means of Natural sentiments and certain philosophies. It [the Selection (1859). theory of evolution?] is the friend of those Years later, HPB clarified that when who go deeply into creative activities with you leave Nature alone, the process of spiritual significance in our nature and the evolution is slower, although certain. In potential development of human culture. the specific case of human beings, when As a result, modern science recon- they reach a certain stage, it is necessary sidered Darwin’s own words when he to accelerate their evolution, and thus said: ‘God lives in the depths of an elu- the solar pitri-s (the ancestors, or creators sive, but always hopeful future.’ These of inner mankind) intervene. At those same words inspired Catholic theologian, moments, some men knew how to cor- John Haught, to write Making Sense of rectly utilize this help and started taking Evolution. Bernard Heisch also wrote The their place at the vanguard of the human Purpose-Guided Universe in which he race, offering their services today to the uses Darwin, Einstein, and God to recon- Great White Brotherhood. And this is also cile atheists and theists, offering them a the work that awaits that portion of general view of quantum physics, cosmo- humanity which is consciously awaken- logy, and non-dualistic spirituality based ing, and about which HPB wrote in the on a series of scientific and philosophical way that she did, so that when we apply justifications, laying the foundation for the ourselves to understand it, the best in our purpose of the evolutionary process. This faculties will be activated, enabling us is all studied and understood in what we to act wisely, discovering the harmony know as the Divine Plan. It is interesting in living. to note that in the search outward, towards And surely, if we are receptive, we will only what is objective and concrete, note that if we give sufficient consider- modern science opened up a magnificent ation to what has been stated above about inward world, due to (1) the interrela- universal laws, the results are astounding, tionship (the one which is certain to those because we are bathing ourselves in the who adequately understand Unity) with waters into which the genuine seekers of the law of analogy, as well as (2) to its
October 2013 27 The Theosophist corroboration of the complementarity of expression or similitude. It is beyond opposites. the range and reach of thought — in Nowadays, modern science has a cos- the words of Mândukya Upanishad, mogony based on eleven powers of the ‘unthinkable and unspeakable’. Universe which it has been discovering. It should be noted here that the power These are identical to those primary and which scientists are talking about does not secondary powers, to the universal laws, coincide with HPB’s definition of her and to the underlying Unity presented by fundamental proposition, but they are HPB. Although so far scientists take into related as it pertains to their source. That consideration only eleven powers, these is, the power of the scientists shows are sufficient to enable them to under- qualities that are implicit in HPB’s stand, or to catch a glimpse with more definition. certainty, of the Ancient Wisdom (if they They call the second power are interested in it). It would take a long ‘centralization’ (Centration) and it is time to describe these eleven powers in backed up by the study carried out of the detail, but following we briefly present a energy or power of action transmitted for bird’s-eye view. giving life, passing from one centre to the Scientists call the first power other. Solar energy is transmitted to the ‘Nothingness’ or ‘the power of continuity’ Earth, which gives us her fruits and it (Seamlessness). They establish that its becomes part of us through the foods we description may be adequate in a cer- eat, but the sun takes its energy from tain way and inadequate in another, hydrogen atoms, which in turn take it from because if we call it ‘nothingness’, it the energy which gives birth to the uni- must be because it has no objects, and if verse, and this energy also becomes part ‘continuity’ because it is full of subtle of us. This reminds us of the power of connections. It is the primordial region of fohat (the essence of cosmic electricity), the elementary physical particles, studied which transmits intelligent life, and the as a quantum vacuum, first presented as a laya points (of equilibrium), given that hypothesis in 1920 and verified in 1940. fohat is described as if drawing spiral lines, This power helps scientists accept the because this power lies in the evolution common origin of all existence, which was of the principles of man as well as those enunciated by HPB in The Secret Doctrine of Nature. It is the messenger or vehicle, (SD) as one of the three fundamental the electric power of affinity and sym- propositions, the first one being: pathy, the tie of unity at superior levels An Omnipresent, Eternal, Boundless, and between the spirit and its own breath, Immutable PRINCIPLE, on which all which will originate the manifestation we speculation is impossible, since it tran- find ourselves in. The SD explains that its scends the power of human conception and wheels or circles cover the six directions could only be dwarfed by any human plus the central wheel, which would be
28 Vol. 135.1 The Best Human Life Promotes Evolution the primary laya point in our manifestation. The fourth power is that of The third power is called that of ‘Emergence’ and it postulates that the ‘attraction’, and modern scientists base it Universe is not a place but a history, a on their experiments with the so-called history of irreversible sequences of law of gravity and electromagnetism, as emerging events, a sequence of creativity. well as their extensive observations of Scientists base this on their constant the behaviour of galaxies, planets, stars, observations of the appearance of new atoms, molecules, and subatomic par- planets, stars, and galaxies. They consider ticles. We also call it the law of attraction, that science has accomplished a great and saw its origin in the electric power of discovery when realizing that the uni- affinity described in the previous para- verse in its totality and within each being graph, but what has not yet been clearly contained in it, is permeated by this expounded is how the law of attraction power. And they have certainly taken a on our planes, upon giving rise to great step, as they are speaking of the electricity and magnetism, brings forth a primary power of ‘Creation’ (Brahmâ, the series of events which do not appear to first person of the Hindu Trimurti). be related to the law from which they Moreover, they are admitting the idea of originated. This time we find that in the creative hierarchies. Isis Unveiled, HPB mentions a general They call the fifth power ‘maintaining called Pleasonton, an experimenter a bit the structure’ (Homeostasis). This one also more successful in the manner that he corresponds to the primary power of focused on these matters. And, in a ‘Conservation’ (Vishnu, second person of nutshell, he expounded that there is an the Hindu Trimurti). It is supported by astral light, or transmitting medium, in observations realized with the great the space between the Sun and the Earth. accomplishments of Nature and how The enormous friction created by light as they are maintained by her. They have it goes through this medium, necessarily observed it in the functioning of the creates electricity, which transmuted into atmosphere, the biosphere, and the sphere, magnetism engenders the natural forces as well as in the species of the different whose actions determine the variations of kingdoms. This power of conservation planetary life. Based on this, he concludes cooperates intimately with evolution and with theories that have not yet been is precisely what is being expounded in accepted, but HPB says that if Pleasonton the title of this article: ‘The best human had backed up his hypotheses, future life promotes evolution’, because, as we generations would not be able to make see, it is preserved selectively, that is, fun of the sidereal light of Paracelsus, nor preserving the best of what is realized, so of his doctrines about the magnetic that evolution may be a fact. influences exerted by the stars on animals, The sixth power is ‘Cataclysm’ and it vegetables, minerals, and so on. also corresponds to the primordial power
October 2013 29 The Theosophist of ‘transformation’ (ªiva, the third person billions of years. This is according to of the Hindu Trimurti). This power is very quantum physics, and relates to biology; fitly placed as the one which enables the this associative collaboration can offer creative process to take place. Some strategies that turn out to be successful declare that cataclysms happen to allow a in life’s drama. That is, the power of new creation to occur (or a springing synergy shows the ontological power of forth), as they call it. relations, and it is precisely the foundation ªiva is venerated, especially in India, of the first Object of the TS — to form a as a powerful being or divine force. It was nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of named ‘The Destroyer’, to later call it ‘The Humanity with the purpose of assisting Transformer’, because it destroys to bring humanity. Many theosophical thinkers about a change for the better in evolution. have already told us about the important HPB spoke very enigmatically about work that the TS is realizing on having metempsychosis, knowing that it could not been organized as a ‘nucleus’ of the be understood in her time, but she left Universal Brotherhood, that is, serving the physical plane saying that it was a sub- the role of broadcasting station for the lime concept. And observing the function beneficent influences of unity towards the of ªiva, we see how when we reach the rest of humanity. culmination of an evolutionary stage, the The eighth power is called necessary change takes place on the ‘Transmutation’, and it is based on the progress scale, and many times the change observation of the manner in which the is so drastic that it does not look at all like Universe sometimes persists in bringing its previous state. This was also the reason about the manifestation of something new, why she said that the scientists of her time approaching the idea that the Universe would never find the missing link. seems not to be completely satisfied and Currently, we can imagine these drastic remains in constant self-transmutation, as changes if we stop to think what scientific a necessity. theory has to say about ‘the quantum leap’. We know that the archetypal world The seventh power, called ‘Synergy’ waits until its full self-consummation is or association, is the one which brings achieved. Thus the so-called power of about achievement in a common goal. transmutation is the one which allows the The synergistic relationships give birth constant approach to its consummation, to factors which would otherwise not and which is precisely impelled by the law exist in the universe. This cosmologic of evolution. law has been observed in the behaviour The ninth power is the one of ‘Trans- of neutrons that, if left alone, would formation’ and it is related to transmutation. disintegrate in a few minutes, but if the It is the way in which changes take place same neutron is placed in relationship with in a society or community, that is, when one or more protons, it can exist for several transmutations, collectively have
30 Vol. 135.1 The Best Human Life Promotes Evolution repercussions on a transformation, thus the power which we just cited, except that this entire system advances. As can be seen, time the interrelationship has been this power is also directly related to the observed in even subtler worlds. law of evolution. All this scientific knowledge is The tenth power is called extremely limited compared to the one ‘Interrelatedness’ and is also named the offered by the Ancient Wisdom. Further, power of integrity and of connecting; in even with what has been expounded about addition it may be called the one of these matters by HPB and the Masters of ‘totality’, and is supported by the manner the Wisdom themselves in their letters, in which each being in the Universe they clarified that they were offering only depends on other beings. Our own fragments of the ultimate realities, simply existence depends as much on the minis- because our evolution is gradual, and cule organisms that live in the Pacific we are not yet qualified or prepared to Ocean as well as on the activity of protons receive the totality of this fascinating in the sun. Seen externally, this power is knowledge. This is because we are still in the one dealing with relationships or the fifth race, which has only developed interrelationship, but internally it is the five senses. When the fifth race reaches power of compassion or care and shared the point when each human being can be help. Seen from either perspective, this a free agent and totally responsible, the power allows us to understand quite karma of this barely adult fifth race will rightly, the unity underlying all things and slowly reach the necessary point to obtain its intimate connection of interrelationship more of this knowledge, which is only and thus the subsequent awakening of love possible when the sixth sense begins to and compassion. These are the qualities emerge. In the words of Master KH: ‘. . . that make possible the realization of it is illogical to enjoy the legitimate everything beautiful, perfect, and real. development of evolution and of the gifts Modern scientists have named the of future races, with only the help of our last cosmological power of radiation as current limited senses’. ‘Radiance’, based on the second thermo- Then neither we as seekers of truth, nor dynamic law which briefly says that each the so-called scientists who carry out work energetic being disperses its energy. along egalitarian lines, will be able to Radiating energy is a law of the Universe. obtain this full knowledge if we do not This fact has been observed even in the prepare the necessary conditions within coldest group of tiny hydrogen atoms in ourselves so that in perfect harmony with the darkest night of intergalactic space. divine laws, we will transform ourselves This fact is described and studied under into their conscious agents. When this is the subject of Auras in theosophical realized, human life will have progressed, literature and is also supported in the tenth promoting evolution. ²
October 2013 31 Fragments of the Ageless Wisdom
IN the shadow of the temple my friend and I saw a blind man sitting alone. And my friend said, ‘Behold the wisest man of our land.’
Then I left my friend and approached the blind man and greeted him. And we conversed.
After a while I said, ‘Forgive my question; but since when hast thou been blind?’
‘From my birth’, he answered.
Said I, ‘And what path of wisdom followest thou?’
Said he, ‘I am an astronomer.’
Then he placed his hand upon his breast saying, ‘I watch all these suns and moons and stars.’ Kahlil Gibran, The Astronomer
32 Vol. 135.1 Human Psychology in the Light of Buddhist Thoughts The Light of Buddhist Thoughts
BINAY KRISHNA
THIS is an exploratory article on It may be advisable to explore some Buddha’s teachings. These teachings of broad aspect of western psychological Buddha ªâkyamuni is an important experiments. Pavlov in the course of his heritage of mankind, serving human needs. experiments on his dog found that after When we examine the spiritual traditions the process of ringing the bell while feeding extant in the world, all agree on the the dog with its favourite biscuit the dog importance of ethical practice. Even the salivated. The process was repeated ancient Indian Charvaka — nihilist who several times. Later he found that even denied any kind of after life — stated then if the biscuit was not given and the bell that since this is our only life, it is vital to was rung, the dog salivated. He called it lead it morally by disciplining our mind. ‘conditioned reflex’. An inner psycho- The famous scientist Erwin Schroedinger, logical manifestation takes place from who was the originator of wave mechanics purely physical conditions. (which later led to Quantum Mechanics) Freud through his psychoanalysis con- made an interesting statement, ‘I consider nected all behaviour with sex libido which science an interesting part of human was a little deeper than the ‘conditioned endeavour to understand the one great reflex’ theory of Pavlov. It may be inter- philosophical question which embraces all esting to note that Carl Jung, the famous others: WHO ARE WE?’ clinical psychologist, found that in the Nature functions according to the laws course of his practice persons engaged in the scientists have discovered from their philanthropic activities did not have any observations and experiments and their psychological problems. Self-centred reasoning. Unfortunately science has persons had psychological problems who become disconnected from the philosophic came for his aid. Western psychology has and religious quest of man and is often not much to say of the causes of mental regarded as being antagonistic to it. Con- afflictions in human beings. siderable importance is given to understand The first cardinal truth of Buddha is the external world around us, but there is that the world is full of suffering. Having total neglect of man’s consciousness diagnosed the disease, Tathagata shows and functions. a way out based upon his own knowledge Mr Binay Krishna is a member of the Indian Section, living in Patna.
October 2013 33 The Theosophist and insight of true human psychology. It is with desire that we are connected When civilization comes to a time of with our cognizing apparatus: we want an trouble such as we are in, thoughtful organism and we want to use it. Lord individuals turn from the outer world of Buddha says that the most essential political and social chaos to the inner components, or attributes and my true self world of psyche. Let some of the basic are in no way touched by all these and principles be examined from insight hence beyond cognition. into a new way of life through which The question is how is it that we civilization may find renewal. It calls for come to possess that which we desire by a different spiritual dimension. grasping. We repeat this process from The basic problem which confronts a time immemorial and we will repeat this thoughtful man is not what the world is, perpetually. We swim in an ‘immense sea but ‘who am I’. I see with my eyes forms, of impermanence.’ At the moment of hear sound through the ear, objects we death when I am compelled to relinquish touch with our organs and so on. But my cognizing apparatus, I grasp new even with the destruction of these organs germs which are in harmony with my we remain. Who is this ‘self’? Who am innermost tanhâ. ‘I’?. The five organs of the senses conveys Whatever we experience continually this that it has nothing to do with the true changes to something else is the other ‘Self’. Thinking may be added as the sixth attribute of the sea of impermanence; there sense activity which is affected by the five is no sensation of joy which does not outer senses and their casual relationship become sensation of sorrow. Tanhâ, to one another resulting in the phenom- craving for sense pleasure reigns in us. enon of the external world. The organ of Not to obtain what we long for is suffering. thought has for its object infinite space. All desire within us is aimed at sense We recognize space by mere thinking pleasure but they are impermanent. when the five outer senses are at rest. The other aspect of worldly sense- It is possible however, to eliminate space pleasure is that suffering arises from from our thinking in deep concentration impeded tanhâ, craving. Suffering ceases upon the thought. This leads to the direct with the giving up of tanhâ. Being realization that space has no objective desireless, boundless peace descends upon reality and has nothing to do with my true us as craving no longer disturbs us. He ‘Self’. Even if the space is reduced to the also sees that anxiety is another cause of size of the thumb the ‘Self’ remains. suffering. Utmost richness can be obtained It is not difficult to see that our corporeal or achieved temporarily. organism is the apparatus by which we see, Think of a boy put in an enchanted hear, smell, touch and think or cognize the palace. The boy will marvel at the beauty external world. To say ‘I see’, ‘I hear’ or ‘I of the palace without seeing through the think’ is as erroneous as a driver on a steam illusions. He will like the world as it engine to say that ‘I am discharging steam.’ presents itself to him at the first glance.
34 Vol. 135.1 Human Psychology in the Light of Buddhist Thoughts Tanhâ or thirst will arise which further not facing death for millions of years. But seals his fate. On the breakdown of the this too is not the pinnacle. That too is cognizing apparatus in death, he will put impermanent therefore sorrow-bringing. himself into the world’s hand an Buddha calls an adept (Accomplished incalculable number of times. One) a totally extinguished one. He gave In the beginning even meditating in a the simile that one is extinguished at death secluded place becomes impossible, being as a lamp is extinguished. Burning and disturbed by alien thoughts stirring within extinguishing are mere processes which us. But to overcome this distraction, it is concern the attribute of the lamp namely important that we repeat the attempt and oil, wick, and the greed with which the not yield to them. We come to realize flame grasps the oil. What underlies under gradually as the cognizing activity becomes the manifestation of five senses is an purer, the thought is freer and more ‘unfathomable X’ in which arise Tanhâ, independent until one remains for hours thirst for grasping the fuel. Buddha clearly in peaceful contemplation. teaches what becomes extinct in us is the For this we must become upright men, flame of greed, hatred and delusion. He that is men who do not yield to gross says: ‘What I see as originating and manifestation of ‘thirst’. One has first to perishing is something different from me. achieve moral purity. The second step is If this was the same, I could have also distracting oneself to worldly things for ceased to be. All the components of the moral striving. This may not result in outer personality cannot be my true Self. poverty: it is a question of the inner one. Schoenhaur says: ‘In fact the uncognizable He gradually uses resources and his essence is the most sublime and majestic: faculty not for his own interest but for his in it there is no arising or passing away.’ fellow beings: he is a brahmin, an ascetic, a monk (Dha. X 142). Buddha calls this From this standpoint, it is not He who is condition, the state of deliverance of the extinct, but the world. To us the process mind. He declares that those men, while is just the reverse. It is a state in which still on earth live in voluntary detachment there is freedom from any motion, and in total purity, together with unlimited profound silence, great stillness, absolute friendliness towards all living creatures, tranquillity; in short the great PEACE. live ‘a heavenly life on earth’. Absolute harmony reigns in this sphere of The wayfarer on the path of life Nibbâna and unlimited benevolence. through pure cognizing activity, totally OM, AMITÂYA! measure not with words, deaf and blind to the external world Th’ Immeasurable; nor sink the string of culminating in deep contemplation may thought enjoy exclusive perception of infinite void Into the fathomless. Who asks doth err, space. After his death he will be reborn in who answers, errs. Say naught! a sphere in which he enjoys the majestic supra-mundane peace of the void and The Light of Asia
October 2013 35 The Theosophist Books of Interest
NICHOLAS ROERICH: A Quest & a But the coverage here is mostly Legacy, edited Manju Kak, Nyogi Books, sympathetic to writings received from the New Delhi, 2013, pp. 258. ‘Master Morya’, recognizing in Roerich’s Amongst these essays by twenty-two art the luminosity of the artist’s mind and contributors there are chapters devoted to liberation from worldly bondage and all the phases in Roerich’s varied life — suffering. This being an Indian publication, the Russian archaeological and ‘theatrical’ emphasis is often given to what he felt period, the Central Asian Expedition, the about India, where he dwelt for much of Roerich Peace Pact and Banner of Peace his life and which, alongside Asia, failed for the protection of cultural treasures, to live up to the family’s idealized Agni Yoga (or Living Ethics), the search expectations. The chapter on ‘Diamond for Shambhala, the crossing of the Gobi of Consciousness’ is particularly valuable Desert and the work at Urusvati, the for theosophists in the quest for self- Himalayan Research Institute he founded realization and finding one’s place in the in 1929. universe whilst transcending the world of Roerich’s art and literary work after Mâyâ, and the many references to the 1915 are seen by some contributors as an spiritual centre Shambhala show it to have expression of his Agni Yoga practice, alternative meanings with links to the transcendental visions attempting to Vajrayâna school of Buddhism — a realign humankind with some higher truth necessary practice, according to the present in the expansion of human consciousness, Dalai Lama, for those aspiring to reach a sacred art within the Eastern tradition this haven of peace without obstacles. and fostering utopian hopes. Mention is This is a book to be approached and made of the Roerich family’s ‘closest studied many times, particularly, as one collaboration with the Cosmic Hierarch’ writer observes, when we learn to cultivate with reference to three canvases, but we an internal attitude of attention to the subtle are made aware (not usually the case with and invisible aspects and meanings of books on Roerich) of their Russian everything that happens on the physical detractors, some of whom projected him level, in a commitment towards the as a pitiful political adventurer trying to building of a new world in obedience to create an independent state in Central the Higher Laws. With regard to Roerich’s Asia, whilst Helena Roerich’s Living 7,000 paintings (where sometimes not the Ethics was described by some critics as best examples have been selected) one ‘mediocre esoteric writing’. writer states: ‘The paintings . . . are
36 Vol. 135.1 Books of Interest mystical in the sense that they lead us from quotations, especially from diaries during the seen to the unseen . . . (a) tremendous the mountain expeditions. One wonders civilizing influence against dogmas, if the last word has been said on Roerich; absolutism and consequent violence . . . It yet, with so many paintings in collections is a spiritual journey from the world of space all over the world, there is scope for further and time to the timeless omniprescence analysis of little-known or unknown of cosmic consciousness.’ An intriguing works. Neverthelesss it is difficult to see book, then, which explores Roerich’s this work being superseded. multi-faceted personality, with many ALAN SENIOR
In the human kingdom also each one of us is a tree of life. This human Tree of Life which merely experiences things, which merely reacts to stimuli and puts out its branches in different directions, must be transformed into a Tree of Knowledge. It is only in the case of a human being that we can look for such a transformation. Man knows many things at many different levels; his knowledge reaches out in innumerable directions into the very heart of Nature. He is then capable of being transformed into a Tree of Wisdom. N. Sri Ram
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609 Calle Miramar PR Hoare, San Juan, PR 00936, USA
Sims Avenue Sims Avenue
08197 - Valldoreix(Spain) 08197 -
Maththegoda
Genève
Casilla de Correos 1553, Montevideo
Anglesey, LL61 6NX UK Anglesey,
olsraat 154, 1074 VM AmsterdamVM olsraat 154, 1074 …
4-1-3 Sumiyoshichyou, Nishitokyo-shi
Mexicana, Mexico, D.F. 06030 Mexicana, Mexico, D.F.
N-6873-Marifjora Jamshed Memorial Hall, M. A. Jinnah Road, …
Kunaverjeva 1 SLO-1000 Ljubljana …
Chairman:
Ms Ligia B. Montiel L., Calle 38, Av. 12 y 14, casa 1276, sabana sureste, San José, Costa Rica. Email: Av. Ms Ligia B. Montiel L., Calle 38,
Mr Jack Hartmann, 9 Ronean, 38 Princess Avenue, Windsor E 2194, South Africa. Email: E 2194, South Windsor Avenue, Mr Jack Hartmann, 9 Ronean, 38 Princess
Mr John Vorstermans, 60B Riro Street, Point Chevalier, Auckland 1022, New Zealand. Email: Point Chevalier, 60B Riro Street, Vorstermans, Mr John
Regional Association
*
Noshie …
President:
President:
Chairman:
Antonio Girardi … Quintino Sella, 83/E, Viale …
Rosel Doval-Santos … Florentino and Iba Streets, Corner P. …
Pertti Spets … Henriksdalsringen 23, SE - 131 32 Nacka …
Carlos GuerraCarlos … Rua Passos Manoel no. 20 cave …
Tim Boyd … PO Box
Mrs Lissette Arroyo Jiménez …Tabacalera Col. 126, Mariscal Ignacio
Mrs Breda Zagar … Mrs Angeles Torra Mrs Angeles BuronTorra … d’or, 85-87Vall Av. …
…OronAbraham Mr … PO Box 4014, Ramat-Gan, Israel 52140 …
… Touma Mrs Yukiko …
… Mr Chong Sanne … No 540 03-04Avenue, Sims …
… Mrs Svitlana Gavrylenko … Office 3, 7-A Zhylianska St., Kiev 01033 …
S
S
S
S
ales *ales …CunninghamJulie Mrs … Bryn Adda, Brynsiencyn, Llanfairpwll, …
ogo * … Mr Kouma Dakey …Adeta 76, BP A.R.T.T., S.O.,
Israel Italy … Mr
Ivory Coast *Coast Ivory …KouahohPierre-Magloire Mr … 23 Rue Princesse Yopougon, …
Japan
Mexico …
Netherlands, The … Ms Els Rijneker … T New ZealandNew … Ms Sandy Ravelli … 18, Belvedere Street, Epsom, Auckland 1051 … Norway * …Saleh Dr Pakistan † … …
Peru † …PomarGerardo Julio Mr … Jr. Republica de Portugal 152, Breña, Lima 5 … Philippines, The … Mr
Portugal … Mr
Puerto Rico † … Mrs Magaly Polanco …36-1766Box P.O. …
Scotland * …KidgellGary Mr … 28 Great King Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6QH … Singapore
Slovenia * … Spain …
Sri Lanka † … Mr M. B. Dassanayake … 2-C/60, Maththegoda Housing Scheme, …
Sweden … Mr Switzerland † … Mrs Eliane Gaillard … 17 Chemin de la Côte, CH -1282 Dardagny, …
Ukraine
Uruguay * … Mrs Dolores Gago … Javier Barrios Amorín 1085,
1954 1902
1997
1971
1919
1897 1896 1913 1948
1924 1933
1921
1925
1910 1889
1992 1921
1926
1895 1910
1997 T 2007 1886 USA … Mr 1925
1922 W
Dateto refers the date of formation
The Council of the European Federation of National Societies: Inter-American Theosophical Inter-American Federation: Indo-Pacific Theosophical Federation: Pan-African Theosophical Federation:
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40 Coinciding with the Annie Besant’s Anniversary falling on 1st October 2013 we suggest the following books to read and to gift.
TITLES BY ANNIE BESANT
Annie Besant, An Autobiography
Sri Ramachandra, The Ideal King — Some Lessons from the Ramayana
Esoteric Christianity — Or the Lesser Mysteries
In the Outer Court
The Riddle of Life — And How Thesosophy Answers It
Meditations on the Path and Its Qualifications — from the Works of Annie Besant (Compiled by E. G. Cooper)
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