Symposium in the Westerkerk in Amsterdam Was a Great Success
The Westerkerk in the hearth of Amsterdam
On March 29, the Dutch section of Theosophical Society, Adyar, organized an important symposium. It was the fifth one in a series of symposiums initiated by the Lectorium Rosicrucianum. It took place in the famous Westerkerk, and was attended by approximately 350 visitors.
Waiting to get in
The Westerkerk, in English “Western Church”, a Dutch protestant sixteenth-century church where the famous Dutch painter Rembrandt lies buried, is a magnificent location for symposiums and other activities.
The world-famous and majestic organ
The programme consisted of eight lectures given by six members of various spiritual organizations, a professor of the Amsterdam University and an art historian. The theme of the symposium was “The Challenge of the Soul: Truth, Knowledge and Wisdom.”
Els Rijneker, General Secretary of the Dutch Section. TS-Adyar, introducing one of the speakers
The lecturers explored the subject of the symposium by envisioning the Lectorium Rosicrucianum, the Sufi Movement, the Amsterdam University, the Theosophical Society, the Rosicrucian Order AMORC, the Anthroposophical Society, and Co-Masonry of Le Droit Humain.
A packed church
The various participating spiritual organizations differed in their approaches but also discovered congruity in realizing the same objects, which are inner growth and making progress on the Path.
The art historical contribution consisted of a dissertation on Theosophical art, specifically paintings by Piet Mondrian and Theosophical architecture, such as buildings by Karel de Bazel, Mathieu Lauweriks, and Hendrik Berlage.
During the afternoon intermezzo, the visitors could attend a performance of old Indonesian sacred dances.
Sacred dances
It was an event to be remembered.