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.
2. Are you active in your Lodge/Section and if so, what do you do?
I am a member of the Perth Branch of the Theosophical Society and I have run reading groups as well as lectured on theosophical topics over the period of my membership.
3. How did you first learn about Theosophy or come in contact with the Society?
I first heard about Theosophy after a discussion with a friend of mine about the poet W.B. Yeats. At the time, I was investigating eastern metaphysics and so hearing about Yeats’ involvement with the theosophical society prompted me to investigate further.
4. What does Theosophy mean to you?
On the one hand, Theosophy simply means divine wisdom and is beyond dogmatic or narrow definitions it is also contained within all the religions and spiritual traditions of the world.
It is also a body of profound teachings given out to the world via the writings of H.P Blavatsky as given to her from her adept teachers.
5. What is your favorite Theosophical book and why?
The Voice of the Silence, because it is the Path of the Heart.
6. What in your opinion is the biggest challenge the TS is facing at the moment?
Making sure, the teachings are kept alive and easily accessible to all, this to me is the prime dharma of the Theosophical Movement. H.P.B. said in The Key to Theosophy the T.S. “was formed to assist in showing to men that such a thing as Theosophy exists and to help them to ascend towards it by studying and assimilating its eternal verities.”
She also said, “What is meant by the Society having no tenets or doctrines of its own is, that no special doctrines or beliefs are obligatory on its members” understanding what she meant by this has been a challenge the T.S. has always wrestled with.
7. Is there anything you would wish for the future of the Theosophical Movement?
Continued fraternization between all the theosophical groups, we may have our differences of opinion on certain things, but we must focus on what unites us, we can all work together in the theosophical work.
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.