The Society

Jan Nicolaas Kind – Brazil

[This editorial is condensed from a talk given during the openings procedures of ITC 2017 held in Philadelphia from August 10 -13]

One of the three main founders of the TS, William Quan Judge, at one point in time referring to a discussion he had with HPB in London, remembered what she in her own candid way had told him regarding the nucleus:

“You were not directed to found and realize a Universal Brotherhood, but to form the nucleus for one  ; for it is only when the nucleus is formed that the accumulations can begin that will end in future years, however far, in the formation of that body which we have in view.” [From: Yours till Death and after, HPB - Reprinted in Sunrise magazine, August/September 1985].

Many wise women and men have written at length about Brotherhood and its Nucleus, so, what is there still to add?

Theosophists from the various traditions currently meet regularly on the platform of International Theosophy Conferences. Obviously their backgrounds are diverse, Theosophically speaking even very diverse, and although we consider ourselves Theosophists, over the past, let’s say 122 years we’ve gone out of our way to act in a manner among ourselves you wouldn’t expect from folks who are supposed to be tolerant freethinkers, claiming to strive for Brotherhood.

Although it is a bumpy ride at times, we can all agree that Brotherhood exists, being a fact in nature, and in that sense it has always existed and it will always remain. But if we are talking about the realization of brotherhood it is a different question. In this context Adyar-icon Joy Mills often mentioned, that we went astray, we had left our “home”, and that it is time to return to it, but in order to do so we need to heal and have a serious look at ourselves.

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

Rozi Ulics. I grew up in a little rural town called Mantua, Ohio in the USA. I’ve been a member since 2009.

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

My name is David Bruce. I was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA) and I have been a member of the Theosophical Society since 1985.

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

Armand, Alexey Davidovich. Moscow, Russia, member of the Theosophical Society since 2000.

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

My name is Jo Schneider. I am from Minnesota. I have been a member of the TS since 2000, I believe.

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

My name is Kathy Gann. I am originally from a small town in South Dakota (USA), but moved to Denver, Colorado, in 1980. I love it here and have never regretted the move. I joined the TS in 1996 after studying theosophy on my own for about 1.5 years.

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

Jason Marable, I live in Tulsa, Oklahoma (recently moved from Shreveport, LA), and I am proud and honored to say that I have been a member of the Theosophical Society in America for one year in September 2017.

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

My name is Lalibel and I am from The Hague, the Netherlands. I am connected to the Theosophical Society Point Loma for 2 years now and became a member of this society in September 2017.

Jan Nicolaas Kind – Brazil

Jan in his home-office in Brasilia, Brazil

In the March 2017 issue of the Dutch periodical Theosofia (Jaargang 118.Nr.1) an article entitled “Consideration” (in Dutch “Overdenking”), appeared in which the author, Saskia Campert, wonders if indeed Theosophists are obliged to be friendly, loving, or compassionate at all times. In the first paragraph of her piece Saskia describes a dialogue she had with a fellow Theosophist who apparently encounters difficulties with simply being nice 24/7 and experiences, especially in the work place, it to be quite burdening to apply what religious and philosophical systems, including Theosophy always seem to emphasize: kindness, tolerance, non-violence, patience and letting go of the ego. She further elaborates on the subject, mentioning that Zen masters are not always that loving but tough and unkind with their students, quotes a few Theosophists and at the end concludes that, if it is needed, Theosophists may certainly stand their ground, providing certain behavior patterns are considered.

I am particularly interested in the question Saskia raises about having to be nice and affectionate all the time and have often asked myself if, during the years that I have been active in Theosophical circles, I was able to be a shining example of affectionate tolerance and loving kindness or not. Much to my regret I must admit that I probably did not pass all the crucial tests that challenged my behavior.

From INSIGHT, the February 2017 issue Volume 52, Number 5

1. There are lots of Theosophical journals in the different languages. What led you and your team to start a new one?

Actually, there aren’t that many journals. At present there are only about 5 ‘public’ Theosophical printed magazines such as Sofia (Brazil), Theosophical Digest (Philippines & India), Esoterica (UK), and Quest (USA).

In early 2009 I started with Theosophy Forward as a typical e-magazine, i.e. an electronic magazine available for all through the internet, because I had noticed that there was a lot of pain and confusion in the TS-Adyar. Between 2008 and 2009, there had been a rather tumultuous and divisive election for the position of international president. Was saddened to see that old friendships were torn apart and that some seemingly had completely forgotten what brotherhood, as so clearly specified in our first object, is all about. Felt strongly that a different and positive approach was needed. Now, in 2017, the magazine has readers in around 98 countries and each day the site is visited by hundreds of unique visitors, who not only can read the articles, but also download and print them or share them with friends. I am based both in Brasilia, Brazil and Miami, Florida; the magazine officially operates from the US.

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

My name is Otavio Ernesto Marchesini. I am from Curitiba, a city in the South of Brazil. I have been a member of the Theosophical Society since 2003. 

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

My name’s Tim Wyatt and I ve in God’s own county which is otherwise known as Yorkshire, England’s largest and most spectacular geographical region. However, over-riding this identity is the fact that first and foremost I’m a child of the universe and a citizen of the world. Although I’ve only been a member of the TS for about ten years I’ve been studying the Ageless Wisdom and all sorts of associated topics since I was a teenager, which to my great surprise and dismay is 50 years ago.