1. What’s your name, where are you from and how long have you been a member of the TS?
My name is Minor Lile. I was born in Seattle, WA, USA, and have lived most of my life in this region, which is known as the Pacific Northwest. I currently live on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands on the Salish Sea in the NW corner of the United States. I joined the Theosophical Society in 1989 in Seattle.
2. Are you active in your Lodge/Section and if so, what do you do?
I am the Executive Director of the Orcas Island Foundation, a non-profit organization that oversees the activities of Indralaya (www.indralaya.org), which is a Theosophical retreat center that offers programs and communal activities that are open to all who are interested. My wife (Leonie Van Gelder) and I have lived and worked at Indralaya as its managers since 1995. I have also served on the national board of the Theosophical Society in America.
3. How did you first learn about Theosophy or come in contact with the Society?
I first learned of the Theosophical Society while reading a book published by the Theosophical Publishing House. The book was Stephan Hoeller’s The Gnostic Jung and the Seven Sermons to the Dead, and it included a short afterword about the Theosophical Society. I was inspired to look up the organization in the Seattle telephone directory and, much to my surprise, learned that the TS in Seattle was located just a few blocks from where I was living at the time.
4. What does Theosophy mean to you?
Theosophy provides a meaningful framework for understanding and being in relationship with the world around us. The teachings of the tradition have provided me with continual inspiration and insight. As a global organization, the Theosophical Society has provided the amazing opportunity to connect with a community of like-minded free-thinking people from around the world.
5. What is your favourite Theosophical book and why?
The book I return to over and over again is H. P Blavatsky’s TheKey to Theosophy (Joy Mills, ed.) I like its structure and accessible presentation of Theosophical concepts and ideas. Other favorites are Geoffrey Barborka’s TheDivine Plan for its often insightful and occasionally poetic exploration of Blavatsky’s TheSecret Doctrine and G. de Purucker’s Occult Glossary.
6. What in your opinion is the biggest challenge the TS is facing at the moment?
I believe that the biggest challenge we face is having the confidence to present the ideas and concepts of Theosophy to the world in ways that are compelling and have a beneficial influence on day to day life.
7. Is there anything you would wish for the future of the Theosophical Movement?
May its brightest days lie ahead!
From the editor:
Opinions and ideas expressed in the mini-interviews are exclusively of those who are being interviewed. They don’t necessarily represent the ideas and opinions of the compilers of Theosophy Forward. The responses of the interviewees are not edited for content. Some contributors give short answers to the questions while others touch upon the subject more elaborately.