ITC 2015 – 2015 ITC International Theosopy Our world is in great need of Theosophy Theosophists from all four corners of the globe realize more and more that a Conferences, Inc. vibrant and committed Theosophical Movement is instrumental in bringing the ancient teachings, that were gathered and reintroduced to us by H.P. Blavatsky in the late nineteenth century, to the minds and hearts of our fellow human beings. H.P. Blavatsky Through Different Eyes With ONE Heart ONE With Eyes Different Through Blavatsky H.P. Ever since the foundation of the Theosophical Society in 1875, the modern Theosophical Movement was faced with many challenges. Nowadays and worldwide, a number of theosophical organizations do exist. Each one of these organizations, all by themselves, have developed and adopted typical ways of working for mankind. The raison d’être of each of these organizations lies profoundly in the living power of the theosophical teachings as they were presented by H.P. Blavatsky. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky Theosophists are aware of the challenges they are faced with, and the need for cooperation or cross-pollination among the mainstream organizations to fulfill their shared task in bringing Theosophy into the world. Through Different Eyes It is this weighty comprehension that has become the main motivation for the organizing of the yearly itc conferences. itc, i.e. International Theosophy Conferences, Inc. This yearly event is providing a platform whereby Theoso- phists inspire and support each other to become better workers for the cause of With ONE Heart Universal Brotherhood. Since 2010 all lectures and panel discussions of each one of the itc conferences have been broadcasted “live” via the internet; the publication of the itc 2015 conference however is going to be the very first one, being a printed reflection. The 2015 conference was entitled: “Helena Petrovna Blavatsky Through Different Eyes With one Heart” It was subtitled: What is our understanding of H. P. B.’s writings? How do they inspire all Theosophists, those affiliated with an organization or independent, to embody and transmit her timeless message to the modern world? During itc 2015 Theosophists from the mainstream organizations shared their views and values on what they consider to be the essence of H. P. B.’s message, the mission they see for their own particular organization and the Theosophical Movement as a whole, submitting means of keeping the teachings alive for future organizations. This publication assembles all these valued contributions. The result is a unique document that brings into practice of what was put forward in The Hague: an open and honest exchange, inspired by the collective desire to establish the practice of Universal Brotherhood. ISBN 978-90-70163-74-7 9 789070 163747 Who We Are, Our Mission and Where Do We Stand Now? ITC 2015 Helena Petrovna Blavatsky Through Different Eyes With ONE Heart ITC 2015 – Helena Petrovna Blavatsky Through Different Eyes With ONE Heart | 1 2 | ITC 2015 – Helena Petrovna Blavatsky Through Different Eyes With ONE Heart ITC 2015 Helena Petrovna Blavatsky Through Different Eyes With ONE Heart Contributions Given at the Annual International Theosophy Conference, The Hague, The Netherlands International Theosophy Conferences Inc. The Hague, The Netherlands 2016 ITC 2015 – Helena Petrovna Blavatsky Through Different Eyes With ONE Heart | 3 First edition 2016 Publisher International Theosophy Conferences Inc. (ITC) The Hague, The Netherlands www.theosconf.org Design and print I.S.I.S. Foundation International Study-centre for Independent Search for Truth Blavatsky House De Ruyterstraat 74 2518 AV The Hague, The Netherlands [email protected] www.blavatskyhouse.org Copyright © ITC 2016 All rights reserved ISBN 978-90-70163-74-7 International Theosophy Conferences Inc. is not responsible for any statement or opinion that is published in this book, unless an explicit reference is made. 4 | ITC 2015 – Helena Petrovna Blavatsky Through Different Eyes With ONE Heart Table of Contents About ITC 7 Introduction 9 1 - Who We Are, Our Mission and Where Do We Stand Now? - Contribution byWesley Amerman (United Lodge of Theosophists) 13 - Contribution byJan N. Kind (Theosophical Society Adyar) 21 - Contribution byHerman C. Vermeulen (Theosophical 29 Society Point Loma - Blavatskyhouse, The Hague) 2 - H.P. Blavatsky, H. P. B. and the Current Messianic Cycle - Contribution byJames Colbert (United Lodge of Theosophists) 43 - Contribution byBarend Voorham (Theosophical Society Point Loma - 55 Blavatskyhouse, The Hague) - Contribution byOlga Omlin (Theosophical Society Adyar) 65 3 - How to Grasp the Essence of H. P. B.’s Timeless Message? - Contribution byJacques Mahnich (Theosophical Society Adyar) 75 - Contribution byErwin Bomas (Theosophical Society Point 89 Loma - Blavatskyhouse, The Hague) - Contribution byEugene Jennings (United Lodge of Theosophists) 101 Lifelong Study in The Secret Doctrine - Interview with Joy Mills (Krotona Institute of Theosophy) 111 4 - How to Keep H. P. B.’s Message Alive for Future Generations? - Contribution bySabine Van Osta (Theosophical Society Adyar) 117 - Contribution byJoop Smits (Theosophical Society Point 125 Loma - Blavatskyhouse, The Hague) - Contribution byCarolyn Dorrance (United Lodge of Theosophists) 139 ITC 2015 – Helena Petrovna Blavatsky Through Different Eyes With ONE Heart | 5 6 | ITC 2015 – Helena Petrovna Blavatsky Through Different Eyes With ONE Heart About ITC International Theosophy Conferences Inc. is a platform where Theo- sophical organizations and all other earnest students of Theosophy meet. This infers that ITC won’t typically function as another Theosophical vehi- cle, in spreading Theosophy itself. Instead ITC is committed to connect all Theosophists, supporting them in their common cause in the light of the purposes of ITC, which are: 1. To maintain the principles of the Modern Theosophical Movement presented by H. P. B. as a living power in the minds and hearts of Humanity, encouraging explorations in the light of her teachings. 2. To foster mutual meaningful intercommunication, understand- ing and respect among the Theosophical mainstreams, stimulating thereby continuous spiritual Unity. 3. To be a platform, supporting and sponsoring the annual interna- tional Conference of Theosophical Organizations. 4. To unite people in sharing the Philosophy of Theosophy, study- ing and further exploring Religion, Philosophy and Science from a Theosophical Perspective. Group photo taken outside the ITC location in The Hague. ITC 2015 – Helena Petrovna Blavatsky Through Different Eyes With ONE Heart | 7 8 | ITC 2015 – Helena Petrovna Blavatsky Through Different Eyes With ONE Heart Introduction In August 2015 the 17th annual gathering of International Theosophy Conferences (ITC) took place in The Hague, The Netherlands. The title of this conference was: Helena Petrovna Blavatsky Through Different Eyes With ONE Heart And was subtitled: What is our understanding of H. P. B.’s writings? How do they inspire all Theoso- phists, those affiliated with an organization or independent, to embody and transmit her timeless message to the modern world? The focus of the 2015 Conference was the result of the outcome of the ITC 2014 Conference where with joint efforts the “2014 Naarden Decla- ration” was drafted. Key elements of the declaration are: We commit ourselves through learning, training and cross-pollination to popularize and keep the teachings alive for future generations. Our shared and most important objective is to keep the spirit of ITC 2014 alive. The Declaration makes clear that Theosophists are aware of the chal- lenge they face, and the need for cooperation and cross-pollination between the mainstream organizations to fulfill their common task of bringing Theosophy into the world. In the true spirit of brotherhood they can do this through sharing, collaborating and by being open minded. The subsequent step in this process of cross-pollination and keeping the teachings alive is to learn more from each other. This requires that we be able to talk openly about our backgrounds. If we can talk about our differences, we will make it capable to learn from each other. It was the purpose of the 2015 ITC Conference to learn about how the different branches of the theosophical tree look at and interpret the theo- sophical teachings. To learn what their theosophical stance is in today’s world, and how Theosophists classify their undertakings in keeping the teachings alive for future generations. ITC 2015 – Helena Petrovna Blavatsky Through Different Eyes With ONE Heart | 9 Who We Are, Our Mission and Where Do We Stand Now? Four main questions were addressed in The Hague: 1 - Who we are, our mission and where do we stand now? 2 - H.P. Blavatsky, H. P. B. and the current Messianic Cycle 3 - How to grasp the essence of H. P. B.’s timeless message? 4 - How to keep H. P. B.’s message alive for future generations? Speakers from the Theosophical Society Adyar, the Theosophical Society Point Loma - Blavatskyhouse, The Hague and the United Lodge of Theosophists presented their views on these questions. The questions were further elaborated on in small working groups that consisted of Theo- sophists from different organizations, after which the outcomes were shared in plenary sessions. In this publication we have collected the presentations that were given, hoping that you will draw inspiration from it, learning from the different theosophical branches and that you can share these views and insights with your study groups and lodges at home. Then a next step has been taken in this joint effort to help and support each other in our task to make and keep Theosophy a living power in the world. Tell one who had never seen water, that there is an ocean of water, and he must accept it on faith or reject it altogether. But let one drop fall upon his hand, and he then has the fact from which all the rest may be inferred. After that he could by degrees understand that a boundless and fathomless ocean of water existed. Blind faith would no longer be necessary; he would have sup- (1) planted it with KNOWLEDGE.