The Society

Jan Nicolaas Kind – Brazil

Jan, April - 2019

In March and April of 2009 the first articles appeared in a brand new e-Magazine called Theosophy Forward. The start of the magazine was quite an amazing undertaking, because the initiators, including myself, didn’t have any experience in putting such a magazine on the rails. What counted most of all then, was the motivation and intention. All other more technical details were to be solved at a later stage. After a rather tumultuous period that the TS-Adyar had to endure (linked to an election for the International President), the inauguration of Theosophy Forward was a kind of “let’s show that there are also a lot of good things happening” initiative.

I was saddened in those times, because, due to much confusion and misinformation on the Internet – yes, also in 2008 and 2009 fake news was all over the spectrum – a number of Theosophists seemed to have unsurmountable issues with living up to the First Object. It was painful to see that old friendships had broken up, and that every “new” initiative, if not in line with the standards that certain individuals had desperately tried to hold to, was met with suspicion. The urge on the part of a few of us to shine a bright light in the apparent darkness, was most definitely heartfelt. Consequently, Theosophy Forward was born.

In those early days I was fortunate enough to have some very capable folks close to me who were willing to help out, wherever that was needed. For the technical part, my brother Hans provided the sever, situated in the Netherlands, while Gilson Moraes, a sergeant of the Brazilian army who had no connection with Theosophy whatsoever – became the webmaster. Gilson, after more than a decade, is still helping out installing articles! For the editing, writing and compiling, John Algeo became my mentor. Collaborating with him was quite a challenge and it was a bumpy ride at times. I would send articles I had written to him for a thorough check, and in spite of me having thought I had written my very best piece, they often were returned completely in red, with a simple message underneath the epistle saying: “Not good enough, start all over again.” As I said, that was challenging and tough, but in a short period of time I learned so much from him. And for that I will be always grateful.

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

Christopher Dixon. I’m from Wheaton, Illinois in the USA. I’ve been a member of the TSA since 1996.

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

Saskia Campert from The Netherlands (Northern Europe); since May 2005 member of The TS Adyar.

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

My name is Maurits Campert. I was born in 1947 in the small fisherman’s village of Scheveningen near The Hague although my father was born in Zeeland where my wife and I reside after our retirement. If I remember well, I joined the TS back in the nineties. Because in The Hague (where all spiritual currents are represented around the Peace Palace where vibrations seem to be special) all four TS ‘branches’ reside, I had the possibility to join one after the other in between our stays in France, Germany and again France. Being an independent searcher I found it very inspiring to make acquaintance with the different ‘views’. In France as off 1997 we did run a small Theosophical Information Centre in Siorac-in-Périgord for seven years.

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

I am Swathi, from: Bangalore (India) and I have been a members since December 2008 (But I have been associated with TS since 3 generations)

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

My Name is Dr. Varsha Patel. I am from India in the state of Gujarat and I live in Ahmedabad city. I joined T.S in 2004-5.

Jan Nicolaas Kind – Brazil

Thought – One

I vividly remember how my dear mother, in the early 1950’s when I was a child of 5 or 6, would hold and firmly squeeze my hand while walking across busy streets with traffic in the centre of Amsterdam. It was that sort of feeling you get as a child, that your mum wants to take care of you in a potentially dangerous situation. The squeezing I had instinctively taken for granted, but there was one particular street near the Royal Palace and Dam square, called the Raadhuisstraat (English: Town Hall street) where, if we went across there, the squeezing increased to an almost intolerable level. A few years later, I must have been around 7 or 8 years old, and after I had repeatedly asked my mother why the squeezing on that particular street always seemed to increase, she took the time – and had the courage – to tell me why.

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

My name is Perry Coles, I am from Perth Western Australia, and I joined the Theosophical Society in 1991.

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

My name is Shikhar Agnihotri. I live in Lucknow, India, a city which may be familiar to many members of the TS around the world due to Dr. I.K.Taimni, an eminent Theosophist, being from this city. I became a member of the TS in 2008.

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

My name is Smitapragyan Patro. I am from Utkal Theosophical Federation, India. I have been a member of TS since 2006.

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

My name is Robert Béland and I live in the province of Québec, Canada. I became a member of the Theosophical Society forty years ago.

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

Nancy Blott, Oklahoma City, became a member the TSA 1986; Life Member-2016.