1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?
My name is Ralph Hannon. I was familiar with Theosophy back in the 1960s, but became a card carrying member in 1976. Shortly after that, I became a life member.
1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?
Hello, my name is Chong Sanne from Singapore. I am a relatively new member. I came across the TS in 1992 but only joined as a member in 1994.
Jan Nicolaas Kind – Brazil
Many are enthusiastic and encouraged because of the initiatives of ITC. (International Theosophy Conferences Inc.)
Obviously this relatively young organization still has a long way to go and perhaps not all are equally inspired; those active in ITC (its board, executive committee and its members) are certainly aware of that. In a way, Theosophists who might oppose ITC, or don’t understand or simply question its purposes, keep ITC alert. The organization ought to be thankful for that.
Some continue to repeat the trite mantra of “we are right and all others are wrong,” referring to those Theosophists who not only study Judge and H.P.B. but also find their way in the oeuvre of such authors as G. de Purucker, Geoffrey Barborka, Annie Besant, Katherine Tingley, Sri Krishna Prem, Sri Madhava Ashish, I. K. Taimni, and other Theosophical writers. Some still but erroneously maintain that many Theosophists have deliberately been kept ignorant of the fabulous works of William Quan Judge. This fiction has been around for many decades and has convinced many that it is factual. Once an idea, no matter how wrong, has been rooted so deeply, it is hard and painstaking to prove the opposite.
John Algeo – USA
Introduction:
Jan Nicolaas Kind – Brazil
John and I come a long way. I first met him and his wife Adele in Naarden at the International Theosophical Centre, in the mid-1990s when he was in the Netherlands to conduct a seminar on Senzar. At the time I volunteered as floor-manager during events, doing the sound and recordings, and in this capacity I worked with John. To be quite honest, I found that it wasn’t that easy to work with him. He was demanding, at times difficult to approach and it really took me a while to get used to the “Algeo-way” of doing things. Later, it must have been in 1998, my wife Terezinha and I participated in a gathering at Olcott in Wheaton of the Inter-American Theosophical Federation where I delivered a talk. John was the Federation’s vice-president and national president of the TSA. After my talk John immediately came up to congratulate me, but also made use of the occasion to make me aware of a couple pronunciation errors I had made along the way. I was shocked at first by his blunt and direct style, but thanked him nevertheless. I certainly had learned something. Through the years that followed, my bond with him was a bit uncertain. I never really knew what to think or how to properly deal with him.
It was not until 2007 that I got to know him better and discovered that my uncertainty towards him had a lot to do with myself. John was, and still is a perfectionist, and would expect the same from others working with him. The years 2007 and 2008 were rather turbulent for the TS-Adyar, and it was during that time that the apparent ice between us broke for good.
I discovered that John was actually a rather shy, sincere, and humble man with a profound knowledge of the teachings, always defending what he believed in, and his greatest capacity of all capacities was the gift of admitting a mistake! Throughout their marriage his wife Adele was his beacon, and it was touching to see how much he cared for her and looked after her after she had fallen seriously ill. We know that a difficult phase started for John after Adele had passed away, but it is clear that also on his own, in the autumn of his life, he tries hard to he make the best of things, ever active and always on the vanguard for what he believes in and stands for.
I owe John a lot and have learned much from him over the years. Occasionally when we correspond and Adele is mentioned he says: “Yes, of course I miss her, but I often talk with her in my dreams.”
1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?
I’m Leslie Price, from London, England, and I first joined the T.S in 1980.
1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?
My name is Lyn Trotman. I was born and raised in New York City (Borough of Queens) and continue to live there to this day. I have been a Theosophical member since 1993.
1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?
My name is John W. Sameluk. I am now living in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. I was born in Ontario, Canada, but emigrated at age ten to the west coast of the USA. I have been a member of the TSA-Adyar for about forty years.
1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?
My name is Sharon Ormerod and I am from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?
My name is Chittaranjan Satapathy. I am from India. I have been a member of the TS for about 32 years.
1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?
I am Priya from Adyar. I joined the TS in 1977. I was part of a group of many youngsters actively involved in the activities of the Vasanta Youth Lodge (VYL).
1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?
My name is Joanne Richter; I am from Parma, outside of Cleveland, Ohio. I have been an artist and active member of The Besant Branch for 40 years. Dora Kunz signed my membership certificate, and I am very grateful for meeting her and working with her, during that time frame, and also many other Leaders in the Theosophical Society during these past years.
Jan Nicolaas Kind – Brazil
Introduction:
Bill Gates
Microsoft’s icon Bill Gates, when asked about his view regarding the developments on our planet earth in the year 2014, in connection with the world’s overall health situation said: “Of course, we can’t ignore the fact that it’s been a turbulent year, in the United States and many other countries. But it’s worth taking a moment to celebrate some of the good news too. More children are surviving than ever before. We’re making progress against some of the world’s deadliest diseases. These are some of the most fundamental ways to measure the world’s progress — and by that measure, 2014 was definitely another good year.”
In spite of the horrific news that reaches us daily from many parts in the world, the Middle-East, Africa, Eastern-Europe, Afghanistan and Pakistan in particular, if we would look more intensively and dig a little deeper, we notice that a culture of peace is emerging in all fields of human endeavor, although when one watches the new bulletins this conclusion might seem paradoxal.
I have a special “link” with the number seven, so let’s just take a quick look at seven pieces of good news I came across after some “digging”: