The Society

Inner Experiences During the War and Flowers of Peace

Details: Published: Friday, 23 February 2024 16:51

[Note from the editor: In “Inner Experiences During the War and Flowers of Peace” you will find six personal and often touching accounts from our dear friends and fellow seekers in Ukraine. The short stories came to my desk in the English language. I decided to keep the editing to a minimum in order to stay as close as possible to what the writers tried to convey.]

peace 1

Lavender: Mesmerizing lavender which is the ultimate peace flower. These flowers tend to bring peace and accord. The pretty flowers also symbolize serenity and strength along with ease. Lavender is a perfect flower for peace

My Inner Experience During the War

Svitlana Gavrylenko - Ukraine

My inner experience of the first day of the war was and still is very important to me. Early in the morning, I received a phone call that informed me about the beginning of the war. I was still asleep, and thus my consciousness was still on the border of two states, sleep and wakefulness. And this, as is known, gives the opportunity to communicate with one's own unconscious. Well, I was not surprised. Somewhere on the far periphery of consciousness, there were thoughts like: "Isn't this a dream? How can this be?", but the conscious dominant thoughts were such as: "This is a natural consequence of decades and centuries of deliberately inciting a certain atmosphere of enmity. It is an abscess that has ripened and must now burst through so that healing can take place through exacerbation."

Beyond Suffering

Details: Published: Friday, 23 February 2024 12:54

Svitlana Gavrylenko – Ukraine

The Society BS 2 Svitlana photo

In the middle Svitlana, on her left Nancy Secrest and on her right Karolina Maria Kotkowsk (Hess). Photo was taken in Krakow, Poland during a trip to the birthplace of Nancy's grandparents. Karolina wrote dissertation about the history of TS in Poland

Dear Brothers and Sisters, it is a great privilege and honor for me to have this opportunity to address to you at the TOS Session of the 143 annual Convention.

First of all, I would like to point out that TOS efforts reflect the Theosophical Society's worldwide spiritual maturity and altruistic devotion, just like selfless devotion and service for the sake of common good is a measure of spiritual maturity and disciple qualification or efficacy of each individual aspirant, including each of the TS members.

SOME THOUGHTS 2 – Ukraine and the fine work that’s being done there

Details: Published: Tuesday, 26 December 2023 14:34

Jan Nicolaas Kind – Brazil

The Society UK 2 Thoughts

My wife Terezinha, who headed the Inter-American Theosophical Federation for some years, once returned from a talk given in Assunção. the capital of Paraguay, and was met by tanks, military vehicles and hundreds of soldiers. Apparently a military coup was underway, civilians were told to stay indoors, a curfew was ordered, so Terezinha’s driver hurried to the member’s house where she was staying. She and her host remained locked up inside for at least 48 hours, anxiously listening to the radio for the latest updates. Television stations were off the air, while very noisy fighter jets were constantly flying over and planned talks had to be cancelled. The coup ultimately failed but it was quite an unpleasant experience.

Mini-interviews Vibhuti Goel

Details: Published: Friday, 15 December 2023 08:14

The Society MI late B Vibhuti01

1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?

My name is Vibhuti Goel, I am from India, got to know about the TS in 2005. After attending some meetings in Shankar Lodge, New Delhi, I became a member in 2007. So, I have been involved with the TS for almost 16 years now,

SOME THOUGHTS 1

Details: Published: Tuesday, 21 November 2023 13:30

Jan Nicolaas Kind -- Brazil

The Society AO 2

Abraham Oron (photo) heads a small but active group of Theosophists in Israel. It is of the utmost importance that all those who are assembled in the TS worldwide and call themselves theosophists, are aware that many of our sisters and brothers work very hard for Theosophy in the well-known and war-torn regions of Ukraine and Israel for example, often under very difficult circumstances. I reached out to Abraham asking him to share some of his thoughts about the recent and tragic events. He wrote a short but important letter to me and I’ll share his note with all of you. As an introduction I have added a paragraph from Boris de Zirkoff’s sublime “On the Threshold of Tomorrow”, written in 1947. For the complete article, click HERE (jnk)

Mini-interviews Venkata Deepika Kotteda

Details: Published: Tuesday, 05 September 2023 15:07

The Society MI Venkata 2

1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?

My name is Venkata Deepika Kotteda. I am an employee in Kotak Mahindra Life as a Financial Advisor. Born and brought-up in a cultural and heritage town Rajamahendravaram, Andhra Pradesh, India. Presently, living in Hyderabad, Telangana State, India. I am a member of the Theosophical Society, Rajamahendravaram Lodge since 2020.

Mini-interviews Wei Ling

Details: Published: Saturday, 02 September 2023 14:22

The Society MI Wei Ling 2

1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?

I’m Wei Ling, based in Singapore. My journey with TS commenced in May 2019, prompted by my uncle’s wonderful encounter with the Singapore Theosophical Lodge. Following his suggestion, I became involved in the Lodge activities, driven by a desire to explore the depths of contemplative meditation.

Mini-interviews Bethan Vaughan

Details: Published: Thursday, 31 August 2023 11:53

The Society MI Bethan 2 Bethan Vaughan 1

1.What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?

My name is Bethan Vaughan, but most people call me Beth. My soul name – or rather the collective name for the beings who make up the human writing her answers in this interview – is Avina.

Mini-interviews Kritika Goel

Details: Published: Wednesday, 30 August 2023 12:23

The Society MI KR 2

1.What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?

My name is Kritika Goel. I am from India, and to be precise from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. I have been a member of the Theosophical Society since 2017.

Mini-interviews Sharayu Sunil Wagdeo

Details: Published: Saturday, 26 August 2023 10:36

The Society MI SSW 2

1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?

My name is Sharayu Sunil Wagdeo . I'm from Maharashtra [India]. I have been a member of TS for 18 years.

Mini-interviews Upasika Maithreya

Details: Published: Wednesday, 23 August 2023 11:28

1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?

I’m Upasika Maithreya. I live in Chennai. I have been a member of The Theosophical Society for 25 years now.

The Future Is Getting Closer All The Time

Details: Published: Monday, 21 August 2023 15:30

Tim Wyatt – England

The Society TW b

The author at work

In just a few short months the Theosophical Society will reach its 150^th anniversary, surely a coveted milestone for any organization and especially one beset by frequent challenges. Might it present an opportunity?

When the initial brotherhood was formed in New York on that autumn evening in 1875 even the most far-out prophecies of its wise founders couldn’t have remotely predicted our weird and unfathomable world of a century and a half in the future – the world we live in now where the human spirit itself seems to be under attack and in mortal danger.