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The TS in Canberra Newsletter No. 66 (October —December 2012) 1

THE THEOSOPHICAL

SOCIETY

IN CANBERRA

Newsletter No. 66

October — December 2012

www.austheos.org.au and www.austheos.org.au/canberra/

e mail: [email protected] (Sydney) email: [email protected] (Canberra)

President: Peter Fokker (02) 6236 3170 Secretary/Treasurer: Tony Fearnside (02) 6288 7656

A word from the president 1 Notes 2

Library—Concerning the Spiritual 3 Historical chit chat—Walter Burley Griffin 4 School of Theosophy 2013 4 The Madonelle 5

Saturday discussion group 6 New venue for Saturday discussion group 7 AGM 7 Symbolique of Ancient Egypt Pt 2 8 Library news 11 About TS 12 TOS 13 Programme 14

The Theosophical Society in Canberra is not responsible for any statement in this newsletter. Views expressed are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Society or the Editor.

A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT

Ageing

I remember - a long time ago - walking with Grandpa. He walked so slowly that I thought he must be very very old. Now, although I am far past the age that he was then, I think that I am not so old, even although walking is a bit slower than it was a while ago. Some believe we have been on this earth for about 6,500 years while others measure world periods in terms of days and nights as 'Age of Brahma'. A day of Brahma is measured as 4,320,000,000 years with the same duration for the night. This is twice the age of the earth, which is believed to be 4 billion years by present day science. Accordingly, a year of Brahma is even greater as indicated by Hindu cosmology! In between these figures is the life span of organisms. These come into life, have an existence and then die. The same happens for people - the process of ageing can be seen in the birth of the physical body, the development of the baby and the state of dependence which transforms slowly into independent adult existence to again having a dependency on others until they pass away to be recycled or reincarnate. Biological ageing or senescence is part of human existence. It starts at birth and finishes when the person dies. Around 100,000 persons per day die of age-related causes in the world. Genes, the template for body building sometimes get it wrong and cause defective cells, resulting in cellular senescence. These cells form part of an organ that might not be doing its job. The body is also ageing and consequently is not so strong or able to withstand stress. Not all cell death is detrimental, for instance the cells forming channels for conducting water in trees have to die and as a result the tree is able to water its leaves from water obtained by the roots.

There are cells considered to be immortal, called cancer cells. The body does not like them, but has to put up with them and as a result may die, as these cells are very selfish. The body cells are geared up to form a strong body which will be able to produce the next generation, thereafter the cells are on their own and repair can be more haphazard. Some genes may have a beneficial effect but later on this becomes more detrimental. For instance one gene makes calcium precipitate in the bones of young people, thus strengthening the bones. The same gene can cause precipitation of calcium in the arteries making these hard and causing all sorts of diseases, which are sometimes fatal. Chemicals can also damage an organ and accelerate ageing – for example, asbestos dust, or 'Devil’s Dust' can kill people prematurely.

(see page 3)

2 The TS in Canberra Newsletter No. 66 (October — December 2012)

NEW MEDIA LIBARARY

ON TS WEBSITE

AUSTRALIAN TS WEBSITE

Check out the new Media Library – there is a greater choice than ever before for you to borrow DVDs of very interesting material. Many talks which were available on video previously are now on DVD and much easier to access.

Radha Burnier, Ravi Ravindra, John Algeo, Stephen Hoeller – these are only a few of the speakers. Find diverse subject matters such as Death and Immortal-ity; Spiritual Practice, Harry Potter, Adept tradition in Europe.

Two items can be borrowed for thirty days. The entire list is on the National TS website - http://www.austheos.org.au/Media%20Library%20for%20Members.pdf

SCHOOL OF THEOSOPHY 2013

SPRINGBROOK

(FOR MEMBERS)

________

A HIGHLIGHT

SCHOOL OF THEOSOPHY, SPRINGBROOK, QUEENSLAND

Monday 15—Sunday 21 April 2013 (see page 4)

Presenter: Dr Pablo Sender

Theme: The Secret Doctrine—esoteric insights and spiritual practice

Cost $230: inclusive of accommodation, meals and tuition. Registration—Soonest and not later than 22 March 2013 (subject to availability of places).

CANYONLIEGH CENTRE

17-19 MAY 2013

BOLITHO HOUSE—CANYONLEIGH

Friday 17 May—Sunday 19 May 2013 Presenter: Dr Dara Tatray

Theme: What is nature: And what is a human being?

Registration forms will be available soon on the TS national website.

LIBRARY CATALOGUE UPDATED

Librarian, Henny Fokker, has updated the library catalogue. To receive this by email contact Henny on [email protected]. (See page 9 for a list of new acquisitions.)

BOOK BY CANBERRA

ART HISTORIAN

JENNY MCFARLANE

We have received a copy of Jenny’s book for our library: Concerning the spiritual – the influence of the Theosophical Society on Australian Artists 1890-1934(see page 3 for details).

Notes for members and friends


Ageing is an important part of all human societies. Besides biological changes it also reflects cultural and societal conventions. There has long been a yearning to cancel ageing and to become immortal. One example of this is the Chinese emperor who built palaces and armies in the ground with mercury ponds imitating water. However, he too, died.

Some researchers are now considering ageing as a disease which until now has been treated unsuc-cessfully.

Ageing is a result of a genetic program. It is not an unavoidable property of life. Some life forms show negligible senescence, such as the bristlecone pine, which manifests very few signs of ageing. But still it ages.

Life is often divided into various age ranges—juvenile, early, middle and late adulthood, with the last being 60 plus. Most legal systems define a specific age at which an individual is allowed to participate in activities, for instance, driving a car requires you to be on average 17 years (in Australia), but keep-ing a driver’s licence after 75 normally requires a medical examination. Taking part in rituals may decline in old age although it reflects an important aspect of life.

Ageing describes the life span of an organism, but not what happens after life. It could be the end of everything, or the departure to other realms and then possible reincarnation. Could ageing be a part of reincarnation, passing the divide between the living and the dead? Another point to consider is that the average span between lives is said to be between 1,000 to 1,500 years. Is that also ageing?

We have been told that some reincarnate straight away after death while we have heard of those high initiates who forgo the normal processes after death - those who choose to incarnate in order to help the world. These, however, are beliefs which cannot be tested in our daily ageing world.

Happy 2013 and welcome to our summer newsletter to mark the end of 2012. Peter Fokker

President REFERENCES: Theosophical Encyclopedia, Philip Harris, Theosophical Publishing House, Quezon City, Philippines 2006 Age of Brahma p 15 Reincarnations, Duration of p 534 Ageing- Wikipedia Senescense- Wikipedia

TS Headquarters have sent us a copy of Jenny McFarlane’s recent book: Concerning the spiritual – the influence of the Theosophical Society on Australian Artists 1890 - 1934. This is a definite “must read” book if you are at all interested in the Australian arts scene or the history of the Theosophical Society. Published a few months ago, Jenny’s book was reviewed in the September 2012 edition of Theosophy in Australia and most members will

be familiar with the content. It mainly considers the work of a selection of artists around the beginning of the last century and studies their connection with the Theosophical Society. A most interesting feature is the influence which CW Leadbeater had on the work of, in particular, three artists of the time.

Jenny is a Canberra-based art historian, which makes it all doubly interesting. She will also be one of the main speakers at the TS Convention in Melbourne in January 2013.

FOR THE LIBRARY—CONCERNING THE SPIRITUAL

New acquisition to the Canberra TS library


A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY … ONGOING

From the Hindustan Times September 2012: – “Australia’s capital Canberra and Lucknow’s Tagore library, in Lucknow University, have one thing in common — architectural design. Walter Burley Griffin, along with his wife Marion Mahony designed Canberra (after winning Can-berra’s international design competition) and the Tagore Library. He moved to Lucknow in 1935 and in February 1937, succumbed to peritonitis and was buried at Nishatganj cemetery. The Griffins’ Canberra-Lucknow contribution will be commemorated this month and it is expected that this commemoration ceremony would give this talented couple a rightful place in the history of these two magnificent capital cities. The Griffins set up an architectural firm in Lucknow and pro-duced more than 50 projects between November 1935 and February 1937 ranging from private dwellings, gardens and public edifices to housing projects and suburban communities”.

The Canberra Times on 29 September 2012 follows with “In an overgrown, ‘cobra-infested’ cemetery in northern India, water from Lake Bur-ley Griffin was this week sprinkled over the grave of Canberra's designer, Walter Burley Griffin, in what was described as an emotional ceremony.”

Candles were lit around the gravesite and readings from letters were conducted by the delegation which had travelled from Canberra to hold the ceremony in Lucknow and which was attended by Hindus, Christians and Moslems.

Tribute was paid to Walter Burley Griffin at his now-marked grave as part of an international tour promoting next year's centenary of Canberra’s founding.

Picture from Lucknow Christian Cemetery (India) – Internet site

An article written by Christopher Vernon in The Canberra Times, 6 October 2012, gives still more background information to this intriguing story. In 1935, Griffin was put in contact with Ronald Craig, an Australian journalist living in Lucknow and writing for The Pioneer. Apparently it was through Mr Craig that Griffin had won the com-mission to design the library for the University of Lucknow. He met Griffin from the ship and escorted him to Lucknow. They became close friends and Craig wrote “Never before have I had the opportunity of personal friendship with a genius”. When Craig tragically died from small-pox very soon afterwards, his Hindu widow is reported to have commissioned Griffin to create a memorial garden grave for her “Theosophist husband”. And so we learn that Ronald Craig was a theosophist!

HISTORICAL CHIT CHAT

{{ The guest presenter for the 2013 School of Theosophy will be Dr Pablo Sender from the USA, who will be visiting this Section for the first time. The theme of the School will be The Secret Doctrine: Esoteric Insights and Spiritual Practice and theory will be combined with practice in the classes. This school will be a highlight. This will be a very popular event and interested persons are advised to register soonest. Registration form is on the TS website http://www.austheos.org.au/2013-school-of-theosophy-regform.pdf ..

SCHOOL OF THEOSOPHY, SPRINGBROOK, QUEENSLAND 15—21 April 2013

Dr Pablo Sender


In these days of instant communication, by Facebook, Twitter etc and with unsolicited adver-tisements appearing incessantly on our PCs, it is a pleasant experience to dwell on a more gentle kind of communication – which was a part of seeking of divine blessing in the day to day living within the local environment.

Walking through the central streets in Rome, Italy, you will notice on the façades of old build-ings and palaces - holy pictures in fading colours, or small statues in marble, sometimes in terracotta, and often on the corner of where two streets meet. These are the edicole sacre to give them their official name or the Madonelle as they are popularly known by the Romans. The little madonnas. The edicole have their origin in the ancient Roman aediculae – the

household shrines.

THE ‘MADONELLE’

A shrine taken with my camera

There are reputedly about five hundred of these small shrines within the city.

Apparently, in 1853, a total of 2,739 were listed. Those we see today originated in the days when there was no street lighting, so the oil lamps which adorned the Madonelle

also had the practical function of lighting the dark streets, and were a point of safe refer-ence in the night.

Votive offerings were left by local worshippers in gratitude. The Madonelle were, and to an extent still are, the subject of popular devotion.

Photoroma site online—mosaic

[

From Quest Magazine—and we could relate it to the Madonelle — is a short précis of meditating on the icon.

“—After you have learned to enter into dialogue and identify with the icon, letting it be reflected in your body, centring you and transmitting its state of consciousness, you may learn to meditate upon the icon by contemplating it from the vantage point of the energy structures within your body. For example, if you imagine your physical eyes within your heart chakra and gaze out from that point (opening your physical eyes too, of course), you will notice the subtle energies of the icon—its aura and radiant energies. You may attempt to "relocate" your eyes to the various chakras or energetic centres within the body and contemplate the icon from each one of them, even examining it from the space behind your back. These more sophisticated techniques will allow you to perceive the invisible and subtle energy content of these mysterious condensates of grace.” From Icons: Windows to the Divine Originally printed in March-April 2000 issue of Quest magazine. Citation: Olga Luchakova, and Kenneth Johnson, "Icons: Windows to the Divine."

Photoroma site online


Our Saturday afternoon discussion group went walkabout in October - meeting at the huge Bunya pine which was planted on the corner of King’s Avenue during the visit of the Duke of York (later King George VI) and Duchess of York for the opening of Parliament House in 1927. This is today an enormous specimen, very dark in colour and it is possible to walk under its lowest outward sweeping branches which bow in great shady arches until they touch the ground. Those who ventured into the cavernous-like entry to the living space of the tree, said that it was not forbidding or unwelcoming.

Our “mandate” for the day was to expand our perception of trees. There were varied reactions to listening to the trees which populate the small park area adjacent to the majestic Bunya. By walking round any particular tree we could feel the difference in energy from one side to another. Two participants produced pendulums and examined energies by moving the pendulum farther from the tree trunk to different locations around it.

Our next stop was the garden of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture. The Centre is not far from a main road, but with a hidden garden which would defy any detection without prior knowl-edge of its location. Set out in the shape of the Menorah, it is open to the public, although apart from our small group, no-one else was visiting on that day. After a brief search, we found the labyrinth. In the Middle Ages, pilgrims used them to aid meditation and prayer. This labyrinth is laid out, not in stone, but with small shrubs and grasses and at its centre, the focal point was a 2.7 billion year old rock from the Hamersely Ranges in WA. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

The wise men …a star.....and expansion of consciousness

Peter and the bunya pine—showing its size

Experimenting with a pendulum

SATURDAY DISCUSSION GROUP

C W Leadbeater states that the story of wise men being guided to the birthplace by a star is sym-bolic of an event in the expansion of consciousness called the First Initiation, when humans begin to develop their inherent spiritual powers. It is said that a star appears in the psychic realm over the initiate's head at that time.

The Magi may represent either the acknowledgment of the new initiate by other initiates or, considering the traditional gifts of the Magi, the purifica-tion of the vehicles of the initiate's per-sonal consciousness: myrrh for physical, frankincense for emotional, gold for mental. Many people experience Christ-mas as a greater feeling of brotherhood, peace, and love (Leadbeater, Inner Side).

James Tissot— Magi journeying


NEW VENUE FOR OUR SATURDAY DISCUSSION GROUP Our August and September Saturday afternoon discussion groups had a new venue! The meeting room of the Emeritus Faculty, ANU, is a perfect setting for an afternoon meeting in quiet surround-ings and is centrally located for almost everyone.

Margot Herbert’s workshop on chakras was our first occasion to use this venue in August. After Margot’s explanation on chakras and healing, we tested our own energy capabilities.

On 22 September Michael Grafton-Green, assisted by Colleen, conducted a discussion on The Holy Ghost and Spiritual Communication. As the Executive Committee Meeting of 8 October 2012 has now passed a motion to hold further Saturday afternoon meetings here, we hope you will join us at the Emeritus Faculty during 2013.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IN CANBERRA The AGM was held on Monday, 12 November 2012 , at which nine members and two observers attended. All reports were received and positions declared vacant. Committee members for 2012-2013 are:

Peter Fokker President Colleen Grafton-Green Vice-President Tony Fearnside Secretary/Treasurer Grahame Crookham Committee member Henny Fokker Committee member/library Barbara Harrod Committee member Stephen Hasslauer Committee member Janice Scarabottolo Committee member/newsletter Programming committee: Tony Fearnside, Grahame Crookham, Michael Grafton-Green

Since the AGM last year we have four new members, although during this time we farewelled Harald Jacobsen, who was a long-time and loyal friend of the Theosophical Society in Canberra, and who passed on in June this year. Thanks to all who attended the AGM. The Canberra Branch of the Theosophical Society wishes all members and friends a peaceful and happy end of year and an invigorating and fulfilling 2013.


GRAHAME CROOKHAM – SYMBOLIQUE OF ANCIENT EGYPT – PART 2

RENÉ SCHWALLER DE LUBICZ AND THE TEMPLE OF LUXOR

In his presentation in June 2012, Grahame focussed on the achievements of Ancient Egypt and its art, sculpture and medicine and suggested that Egyptian technology and culture was at a peak from its beginning, and might be an Atlantean related culture. In his presentation on 5 November, he focussed on the Temple of Luxor.

René Adolphe Schwaller (1887–1961) author of the voluminous The Temple of Man was initially a pharmaceutical chemist, having studied in Paris then developing an interest in alchemy and painting. The title ‘De Lubicz’ was given to him by the Lithuanian, Oscar Vladislas de Lubicz Milos, for his contributions to the liberation of Lithuania from both the Russians and the Germans at the end of World War I. Schwaller de Lubicz, as he was then known, was the founder in 1919, together with other members of the Theosophical Society, of the esoteric right-wing French group - Affranchis. His interest in alchemy took him to France, Spain and then to Egypt in 1936 where he remained for 15 years studying the art, architecture and sacred geometry of Luxor Temple. His great opus, The Temple of Man provides a complete, coherent doctrine fusing art, science, philosophy and religion into a single body of wisdom and amounts to nothing less than “a unified field theory” of the philosophy and science of ancient Egypt. His interpretation of Egypt provides us with the only coherent, consistent and structurally complete picture of a civilisation in action and was able to demonstrate that the Golden Section was applied at Luxor and with a complexity and sophistication never achieved by the Greeks. Author John Anthony West regards Schwaller’s contribution “as the most important single work of scholarship of this century; the most fundamental breakthrough in our understanding of ancient Egypt since the discovery of the Rosetta Stone”.

Luxor is the cathedral of “The Great Teaching” and incorporates the totality of Egyptian wisdom; science, mathematics, geodesy, geography, medicine, astronomy, astrology, magic, myth, art and symbolism. The teaching as a whole is that of the genesis of the world, and cosmic harmony.

In stone, the Temple tells, within its proportions and harmonies, through its art and sculpture, the story of the creation of man and his relation to the universe; it signals his development, stage by stage, and it recreates in artistic form man’s relationship to the universe. It presents a complete architectural grammar, represented by the shape of the stones: their joints, overlap-pings, “transparencies” and “transpositions” in the walls. The simple plan combined with its volume “speaks” to us, without the intervention of reason. It addresses itself to the feelings.

Temple of Luxor Temple of Luxor


Temple Plan / Layout

The layout of the temple represents a prototype of the great Gothic cathedrals (double pylon (2x 7=14), a transept, a choir, an altar, an apse with secret sanctuaries). (See comparisons in the table below.)

Plan of Notre Dame, Paris, superimposed on the plan of the Hypostyle Hall

The monument is constructed on several axes; each axis having a meaning. For the architecture of the temple, the axis is the spinal column, filled with living marrow and carrying sheaths of nerves. The axes are but channels for influences that play their animating role in this living architecture. The axis of stability (of Amun), is the vital or occult axis; which passes through the ear and ends in the sole of the foot.

Temple of Luxor

Gothic Cathedrals

Courtyard of Nectanabo Parvis

Double pylon 2 towers

Ramesses court Narthex Symbolic meaning:Here, those who have known how to knock at the door are initially taught.

Great colonnade 2 by 7 with procession of the barques

Nave with 7 windows and stations of the cross Symbolic meaning The place of prayer that is a call, the way of the 7 double stages of the Pas-sion

Peristyle, forming a cross Symbolic meaning: The disciple must ensure the wilderness of the light; he must feed him-self from within. He must now be the light. Having learned to be, instead of thinking, he will receive the baptism of the Fire in the heart.

Transept

Hypostyle room (haty) Entrance to sanctuary

Covered temple Symbolic meaning: The head of Cosmic Man is the holy place where the neters – the principles - reign

Choir and ambulatory

Naos with sacred barque High altar

Sacred sanctuaries of Amun, Mut and Khonsu Sanctuary

One of the great Pharaonic lessons is that the whole is always contained in the part.

The human body, its skeleton, the location of its vital centres, and all the essential points of the temple of Luxor correspond to the harmonic decomposition in such a way that man and the temple can be superimposed upon each other, which demonstrates the law of harmony as a universal unifying law.


Man is made in the image of heaven. This life is the expression of consciousness. The heart beats the rhythm of time, the lungs breathe and link intangible substance to living matter; the organism digests, separating the pure from the impure. His face is his life’s utterance, his mouth expresses his thought; his eyes reveal his consciousness. Each gesture of man speaks.

The Organs The Temple of Luxor represents an architectural figuration of man, and includes such esoteric knowledge as the location of the ductless glands, of the energy chakras, and the acupuncture points. Stages of Growth / Construction We should conceive of the pharaonic temple as a seed in the process of bearing its fruit.

Man as represented in the Temple is man being born and growing. The temple grew in discrete stages; symbolically, it grew from a ‘seed’. Harmonic proportions determine the location of the vital centres (chakras), and Phi (Golden Ratio) and root 2 govern growth. The temple has four stages of construction, corresponding to human measurements at birth, and to the essential stages of growth. There are four periods of rapid growth, governed by the function Phi (Golden Ratio) and root 2.

Symbolism / Symbolique

Egypt’s symbolism was sacred, and it was a science. The purpose of the prodigious artistic and architectural efforts of Egypt was magical. Their symbolism was the method of transcribing the thought of the Ancient Egyptians. The symbol is alive, vital and dynamic and the various symbolic devices were designed to evoke understanding by revelation, by instant vision, rather than by conveying information. It is characteristic of Pharaonic thinking always to summarize in a single, symbolic image all the aspects of an entire subject - the superimposition in a single image of several points of view in a moment of time. In the hovering falcon several moments of flight are seen together. In the vulture, one wing is shown from the inside and the other from the outside, the body is in profile and the tail is shown in plan. This is just a small summary of Grahame’s talk—to receive his full presentation by email, please send your email address, name and affiliation. References Schwaller de Lubicz: “The Temple of Man Vol 1 & 2” Schwaller de Lubicz: “The Temple in Man; Sacred Architecture and the Perfect Man” Schwaller de Lubicz: “Sacred Science; The King of Pharaonic Theocracy” Schwaller de Lubicz: “The Egyptian Miracle; An Introduction to the Wisdom of the Temple” Schwaller de Lubicz: “Temple of Karnak” Lucy Lamy “Egyptian Mysteries; New light on ancient knowledge” Isha Schwaller de Lubicz “Her-Bak; The Living Face of Ancient Egypt” and Isha Schwaller de Lubicz “Her-Bak; Egyptian Initiate” John Anthony West; “Serpent in the Sky; The High Wisdom of Ancient Egypt”

Luxor Temple—The Temple of Man

Simultaneity: the superimposition in a single image of several points of view in a moment of time


LIBRARY NEWS

A list of new library acquisitions—please see librarian, Henny Fokker (p = pamphlet)

BESANT, Annie - The Theosophic Life. 12 p. BES 140 p

CODD, Clara M. - Meditation: its practice and results. 82 p. COD 5

GOMES, Michael, transcribed and annotated - H.P. Blavatsky: The Secret Doctrine: Commentaries. The unpublished 1889 instructions. 687 p. GOM 3

JACOBSEN, Harald - The destine of mankind: Essentials from the Urantia Book. 74 p JACO 1

ALCYONE (KRISHNAMURTI) – At the Feet of the Master. 46 p. KRI 3 p

LEADBEATER, C.W. – The power and use of thought. 26 p. LEA 40 p

MCFARLANE, Jenny – Concerning the spiritual: The influence of the Theosophical Society on Australian Artists 1890-1934. 205 p. MCF 1

MEHER BABA – Who is Meher Baba?: Questions and answers on Avatar Meher Baba. 50 p. MEHE 1 p

MISTRY, Jamshed B. & J. Flagg Kris, eds. Meher Baba calling. 4th rev.and enl. ed. 1982. 98 p. MIST 1

OLIVEIRA, Pedro - N. Sri Ram: A life of beneficence and wisdom. 223 p. OLI 1

PAVITRANANDA, Swami - A short life of the Holy Mother. 92 p. PAVI 1

RAM, N. Sri - Thoughts for aspirants. First series. 164 p. RAM.S 2

SAMAREL, Nelda - Helping the dying: A guide for families and friends assisting those in transition. 2 copies. 43 p. SAMA 1 p

SKOLIMOWSKI, Henryk – The world of Eco-Mandalas: How was Eco-Philosophy developed? 24 p. SKO 2 p

SKOLIMOWSKI, Henryk - Eco-ethics and world ethics. 32 p. SKO 3 p

SKOLIMOWSKI, Henryk - On the significance of eco-philosophy. 15 p. SKO 4 p

SZEKELY, Edmond Bordeaux - The teachings of the Essenes from Enoch to the Dead Sea scrolls. 93 p. SZE 2

SZEKELY, Edmond Bordeaux - The Essene gospel of peace: The unknown books of the Essenes. Book two. 129 p. SZE 3

TEILHARD de Chardin, Pierre - On love. 93 p. TEI 2

THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY: An introduction to the objects and ideals of the Theosophical Society. 28 p. THEO 4 p

WOOD, Ernest - Clairvoyant investigations by C.W. Leadbeater and The lives of Alcyone by J. Krishnamurti. Some facts described by Ernest Wood. With notes by C. Jinarajadasa. 39 p. WOO 16 p


THREE OBJECTS

Today’s spiritual environment provides many choices – and with a plethora of options avail-able, the enquirer sometimes has a difficult choice to make on the pursuit of his or her particular path.

We feel it opportune to remind readers,

particularly those who may at some point consider joining the TS, and are undecided, or have some doubts about what is expected, that the TS welcomes all seekers belonging to any religion or to none, who are in sympathy with its Three Objects.

These are:

To form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or colour.

To encourage the study of comparative religion, philosophy and science.

To investigate the unexplained laws of nature and the powers latent in the human being.

ABOUT THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

As The Theosophical Society has spread far and wide over the world, and as members of all religions have become members of it without surrendering the special dogmas, teachings and beliefs of their respective faiths, it is thought desirable to emphasise the fact that there is no doctrine, no opinion, by whomsoever taught or held, that is in any way binding on any member of the Society, none which any member is not free to accept or reject. Approval of its three Objects is the sole condition of membership.

No teacher, or writer, from H.P. Blavatsky onwards, has any authority to impose his or her teachings or opinions on members.

Every member has an equal right to follow any school of thought, but has no right to force the choice on any other.

Neither a candidate for any office nor any voter can be rendered ineligible to stand or to vote, because of any opinion held, or because of membership in any school of thought. Opinions or beliefs neither bestow privileges nor inflict penalties.

The Members of the General Council earnestly request every member of The Theosophical Society to maintain, defend and act upon these fundamental principles of the Society, and also fearlessly to exercise the right of liberty of thought and of expression thereof, within the limits of courtesy and consideration for others.

(Resolution passed by the General Council of The Theosophical Society, 1924)

FREEDOM OF THOUGHT

The Resolution of the General Council of The Theosophical Society in 1924 explains below.

Quotations by H P Blavatsky Theosophy is the shoreless ocean of universal truth, love and wisdom, reflecting its

radiance on the earth, while the Theosophical Society [founded Nov. 17, 1875] is only a visible bubble on that reflection. Theosophy is divine nature, visible and in-visible, and its Society human nature trying to ascend to its divine parent. The Key to Theosophy, Page 39

To feel “compassion” without an adequate practical result ensuing from it is not to show oneself an “Altruist”, but the reverse. Real self-development on the esoteric lines is action. Lucifer, October, 1889


The Theosophical Order of Service

Representing theosophy in action on a daily basis.

The TOS was founded by Annie Besant in February 1908

Eating for Want – Once again we organised a social get-together and met at a local Chinese Restaurant for Sunday lunch. A banquet had been negotiated with the restaurant beforehand and, from the price we each paid, $5 went towards TOS. This gave us a tidy little sum to donate to the Pakistan Home Schools project.

This Pakistan project was started in 1997 to enable children and young girls who have no opportunity to pursue basic education, to attend classes. Reading, writing and arithmetic are taught by a teacher who holds classes at her own house which is in the same locality as the students.

Two tables of participants/diners at our Sunday lunch

One of the Home Schools in Pakistan

KNITTING FOR WANT

Wrap with Love is still going strong. This knitting project, to which we have donated numer-ous bags of knitted squared over the years, distributes colourful warm blankets to troubled ar-eas around the world. Many people contribute to this, including children and Scouts groups. So, to start knitting a few squares, the instructions are:

Instructions for Knitted squares: Each square should measure 25xm x 25cm. To knit a 25 x 25 cm square use no. 8 (4 mm) needles, 8 ply yarn and cast on between 50 to 55 stitches, according to your knitting tension. Knit each row plain—garter stitch. No knots, please! Each start each ball of yarn at the beginning of a row.

If you would like to contribute a few colourful squares of your handiwork, to help Wrap with Love you can bring them along to our public meetings and hand them on to me. Thank you!

Barbara has been knitting scarves for Mission without Border. The pattern for this is also very easy in 3 sizes (child, woman, man—or small, medium, large). Please give scarves to Barbara.

Instructions for Knitted scarves: Use 100g – 200 g of 8 ply yarn and 1 pair 4.5mm needles. Cast on 35 (45, 55) stitches according to the size of scarf. Knit each row plain (in garter stitch) until work measures 100 (140, 150)cm. Cast off loosely. Add a fringe if desired. Hint: To keep edges neat slip the first stitch of every row.

At the end of 2012, Canberra TOS wishes to thank you all for making that little bit of difference to many lives. Janice


FMH = Friends’ Meeting House ; ANU = Emeritus Faculty, ANU ; TBA = To be advised

Public meetings will generally be on the first Monday of each month and will start at 7.30 pm at:

[

Friends’ Meeting House Corner of Bent and Condamine Streets Turner ACT 2612.

Some Saturday discussion groups meetings are scheduled at the Emeritus Faculty, ANU, 24 Balmain Crescent—please check the programme.

The meetings on the first Mondays are open to the public, and any who are interested in the subject are welcome at the discussion group meetings.

Annual fees for the Theosophical Society in Canberra:

Single: $50, Couple: $90, student/pensioner*: $40 Joining fee: $5, Associate member: $10, Friends donation: (suggested) $20 Library: no charge for members; $10 for non members (reimbursed on return of book). * Number of concession card required: as per National Executive Committee minutes of July 2004

www.austheos.org.au/Canberra/

C/o PO Box 7418 Fisher ACT 2611; Email: [email protected] phone 62887656/ 6236 3170 Newsletter: Janice Scarabottolo

THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IN CANBERRA

PROGRAMME 2013

Day Date Speaker Talk

MONDAY 7.30pm FMH

4 February Dr Geo Canberra’s Angelology

SATURDAY 2.00pm ANU

16 February Various Highlights of the 2013 TS Convention

MONDAY 7.30pm FMH

4 March TBA TBA

SATURDAY 2.00pm

16 March Fr Greg Connolly The Liberal Catholic Church (meet at LCC, Chinner Crescent, Melba)

MONDAY 7.30pm FMH

8 April Gordon Herbert Canberra's Astrological Soul— The esoteric astrological natal chart

SATURDAY 2.00PM ANU

20 April Discussion on Golf and the Kingdom

See pp 2 and 4

15-21 April Dr Pablo Sender, USA

Springbrook Centre, Qld—2013 School of Theosophy—The Secret Doctrine

See p 2 17-19 May Dr Dara Tatray Canyonleigh Centre— What is Nature? And what is a Human Being?

october — december 2012 the theosophical 66 for web.pdf · the ts in canberra newsletter no. 66...

Documents