In Australia

IN AUSTRALIA 3 ISSN No. 1038-1 139 Septe mber 2018 volume 82, number 3 INSIDE Implementing the Ageless Wisdom - General Council Report Theosophy and Apollonius of Tyana The Trouble With Truth ... Images of the 2018 World Congress Theosophy in Australia, September 2018 INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS: The Theosophical Society has its International Headquarters at Adyar, Chennai, India. International President: Tim Boyd International Vice-President: Deepa Padhi International Secretary: Marja Artamaa International Treasurer: Nancy Secrest NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS: State Representatives: Level 2, 162 Goulburn Street, Surry Hills Gaynor Fraser - SA/NT NSW 2010 email: [email protected] Phone: +61 02 9264 7056 position vacant - NSW/ACT Fax: +61 02 9264 5857 Franco Guazzelli - WA www.austheos.org.au email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Helen Steven - TAS National President: Linda Oliveira email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Phillipa Rooke - QLD National Vice-President: email: [email protected] Helen Steven Kari Torgerson - VIC email: [email protected] email:[email protected] National Secretary: Dara Tatray email: [email protected] National Treasurer: Beatrice Malka Education Coordinator: Pedro Oliveira email: [email protected] Editor: Linda Oliveira email: [email protected] Editorial Committee: Janice Scarabottolo, Olga Gostin, Patricia Ossenberg, Ruth Holt Subscriptions: non-members $25 p.a. within Australia, $30 p.a. overseas We invite articles or other items of no more than 2,300 words email: [email protected] Cover photo: Shutterstock - Cootamundra wattle Photos in this issue by: Dr Helen Lambert, Pedro Oliveira, George Wester. Photos also sourced from Wikimedia Commons, Unsplash, theosophy.world and Art Explosion 600,000 with the authority of Nova Development Corporation, USA. Printer: Kwik Kopy, 320 Pitt St, Sydney. Recycled paper. The Society is not responsible for any statement in this magazine unless made in an official notice. Published quarterly by: The Theosophical Society in Australia. Theosophy in Australia, September 2018 73 IN A September 2018 CONTENTS Volume 82 no. 3 From the International President: The Theosophical Society wel- 74 comes students or seekers from Implementing the Ageless Wisdom all walks of life, belonging to any religion or to none and who are 80 From the National President in sympathy with its Objects. It was formed to assist in showing to 81 Theosophy and Apollonius of Tyana people that Theosophy exists, and ‘to ascend towards it by studying 87 The Trouble with Truth ... and assimilating its eternal verities’. Wisdom is known by a mind that is 94 Know Thyself completely open. Therefore freedom of thought and open enquiry are 96 A Non-Dogmatic Society given special emphasis in the Society. Theosophy essentially refers to 98 Education ‘Divine Wisdom’, Sacred Know- National Calendar of Events ledge, which is a transcendent state of 99 consciousness. In a secondary sense, Images of the 2018 TS World Congress Theosophy is an ancient yet distinct 100 stream of enquiry, exploring and Review interpreting the truths of existence in 103 terms suited to particular ages, e.g. in Remembering TS Friends the teachings of ancient India, ancient 104 China, Platonism, Neoplatonism, and, 105 News and Notes since 1875, through the contribution of the TS. At the core of Theosophy 107 Section Directory is the principle of indivisible Unity underlying the diversity of forms. Mission Statement of the Theosophical Society To serve humanity by cultivating an ever-deepening understanding and realisation of the Ageless Wisdom, spiritual Self-transformation, and the Unity of all Life. 74 Theosophy in Australia, September 2018 From the International President Tim Boyd Implementing the Ageless Wisdom A Summary of the General Council Planning Meeting ITC Naarden, the Netherlands, July 2018 Mission Statement To serve humanity by cultivating an ever-deepening understanding and realisation of the Ageless Wisdom, spiritual Self-transformation, and the Unity of all Life. Since its founding in 1875 the of us than mere repetition of past Theosophical Society (TS) has grown formulas or insistence upon ‘staying into an organisation with membership, the course’ in maintaining the forms branches, and sections in more than of previous activities. With all of its 70 countries worldwide. The scope uncertainty, this is a powerful moment of TS activities has similarly grown in which we are living. It is a time that and changed over the years, with cries out for the depth of understanding publishing, education, programmes, and potential for harmonious living lectures, TS centres, communication, that the Ageless Wisdom can provide. and meetings assuming new forms The question for the TS now, as in the to suit ever-changing times. One of past, is ‘How can we communicate this the recognised features of our time wisdom to the world in a usable way?’ is the rapid nature of change. Unlike the recent past, no nation, culture, or Historically, the General Council (GC) geographical location is unaffected by of the TS has met for a few hours the currents of change sweeping the once each year – on the day before the planet. This condition places strong opening of the annual International demands on all of us. More is required Convention at Adyar. This approach Theosophy in Australia, September 2018 75 has placed severe limitations on the Netherlands, England, Belgium, India, ability for heads of national Sections the USA, Kenya, Finland, Sweden, to share necessary information, and New Zealand, the Philippines, Spain, allowed little or no time for meaningful Germany, Italy, Brazil, and Argentina. dialogue on long range plans for the It is the intention to formalise these international organisation. In an effort extended meetings as an additional to provide an opportunity for more annual meeting of the GC. The report extended planning, in 2015 a second which follows is a summary of this meeting specifically devoted to strategic year’s gathering. planning was added immediately following the close of convention. At 1. The Policy Paper includes the Mission Statement of the TS the GC meeting in December 2016 it was determined that a 5-day planning The policy paper discusses the meeting would be held in March of direction of the work of the TS, and will 2017 at the International Theosophical frequently be updated. All policies are, Centre in Naarden, the Netherlands. of course, subject to approval of the GC. That meeting was primarily focussed A major feature is the mission statement on brainstorming – allowing the space included above, which emphasises for all manner of ideas to come to light the TS role in and for the world, the and be considered. Mere ideas were reason why it exists. It is extremely not enough, and each of the more than important, as it clarifies the task or role 40 projects proposed at that meeting of the TS in the world, not only for TS had people assigned to make them real. members, but also for people at large. It also refers to the three Objects of During the course of the year the the TS. For internal use it may have progress and difficulties of the various a strong impact, with a greater focus projects were monitored by a small on our work, on what members and coordinating team, charged with both people can/should expect, such as our reporting and helping to keep the work Lodge work. It clarifies that we are not on track. Special attention was given to to please the spiritual ambitions of our 11 priority projects. In the beginning of members, nor are we a New Age style July this year we met again at the ITC of organisation. As a statement, it can in Naarden, this time as an official GC be considered ‘the other side of the coin’ meeting. In all, 30 members (20 GC of our Freedom of Thought statement, members and 10 invited participants) being the practical implication of our attended from a variety of countries: The three Objects. Sections are requested 76 Theosophy in Australia, September 2018 to include the mission statement in all 3. Make TS Publishing Houses TS publications, while TS writers are Future-Proof encouraged to write articles, giving The publishing world has been their view on the statement. undergoing very rapid changes due to the popularisation of e-books and the rising cost of printing and distribution. 2. Introductory Books - Lowering The different theosophical publishing Threshold for People at Large houses are also undergoing difficulties Many of the introductory books we in sustaining their operations. It continue to reprint are over 100 years has been deemed desirable that old. While pearls of wisdom in these publishers explore areas where they books are timeless, communication has can cooperate with each other, adapt changed considerably since, as has our to new approaches in publishing and approach to Theosophy. Many recently distribution, and seek ways to increase published books are for ‘seasoned’ the reach of theosophical literature in TS members, whereas some of the the world. The team on this project introductory books deal more with has proposed that there be one global the interest of the writer, rather than e-bookstore for all theosophical the reader. The public at large spends books, taking advantage of the present little time reading complex books to capability of Quest Books USA to sell meet with initial interest. The plan is to e-books on their site. This is now being publish a range of contemporary low- explored. cost introductory publications (books, 4. Meditation Course for brochures, and other communication a Broader Public channels) with special emphasis on the One of the services that the TS can offer spiritual life of the beginning reader, is a meditation course for the general where possible making links with public – those seeking inner peace or practical daily life.

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