The Society

Svitlana Gavrylenko – Ukraine

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.

Jan Nicolaas Kind – Brazil  

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.

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,

Jan Nicolaas Kind -- Brazil 

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)

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. 

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.

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.

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.

 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.

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.

Tim Wyatt – England

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.

 \ 

My name is Jérémie, I am 28 years old and I live in Lausanne, in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. I have been a member of the TS for less than a year, I formally joined at the beginning of 2023.