Tim Boyd – USA, Inda
Recent photo of Tim Boyd, International President of the Theosophical Society Adyar
At the outset of H. P. Blavatsky’s (HPB) Diagram of Meditation she mentions two essentials required in order to engage in the process of meditation. First, she talks about the necessity to “conceive of Unity”, and then she talks about the twin aspects involved in such an effort.
Catalina Isaza-Cantor – Colombia, India
The author resides and works at Adyar
[Note from the editor: this article is based on Catalina’s talk “The Language of the Future”, which she gave during a Zoom meeting organized by the United Lodge of Theosophists in San Diego on September 9, 2023.]
When I started to prepare my presentation, my first step was to do some introspection and try to visualize what or how the language of the future might be. While this question can be answered from many perspectives, I feel that the fact that we are in a theosophical circle, where the common goal is the creation of a nucleus of universal brotherhood/kinship, the approach from unity, fraternity, is fundamental when thinking about a language of the future or for the future.
Esther Pockrandt – Australia
[Part 1: Collective Consciousness]
What is collective consciousness? Aristotle first argued that the whole is something greater than the sum of its parts. For good? or for bad?
If thought is vibration, then surely it must, like air or water, pure or polluted, touch and swirl around all of us, collectively and individually, and have an effect. When many come together united in one vision, how powerful this would potentially be also. It certainly would not hurt to experiment with intent, and see if and how our own inner thought ‘clean-up’ would affect the quality of our own relationships, lives and health, to start with. Some even advise, to be discerning with what type of group energy, or what kind of company one keeps, or exposes oneself to, if one wants, for example, to break habits of addiction or other. The power of One, must not be underestimated!
Jan Nicolaas Kind – Brazil
Next Step?
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].
Do saints commit sin if they consume meat? We hear that consuming rajasic/tamasic foods such as, junk food and meat, alcohol can not only harm one’s health but also hinder moksha or liberation. If consuming meat can have such serious consequences, then how some highly realized sages consumed meat? It is important to understand that spiritually realized people or Jeevan Mukta have risen beyond three gunas or qualities and hence what they eat does not affect their spiritual state or mind. In some cases, such beings smoked or consumed meat to take on bad karma or sins of certain devotees under exceptional conditions. Also, they intended to liberate the animals. The Gita (XVIII, 17) says that the one who is devoid of ego and free from any worldly desires and acts selflessly for the betterment of humanity, is not bound by karmic reactions of deeds that may look sinful. However, till such time that one reaches the state of spiritually realized sages, eating meat will result in sin and one’s downfall. One who kills animals for meat is unable to attain heaven or liberation. From the butcher, seller of meat, cook and the one who consumes is committing a sin.
Marja Artamaa – India, Finland
Marja in action
When someone joins the Theosophical Society (TS), they are not requested to accept the existence of the perfected individuals — the Masters of the Wisdom behind the founding of the TS in 1875. The only requirement is that they accept universal brotherhood. There is however a deeper realization, not only of the value of unity, but also the principle of harmlessness and the possibility of practicing it to the maximum extent. This reflects in the way we live — being harmless to animals, Nature as a whole, and people, including their physical, astral, and mental natures.
Boris de Zirkoff – USA
[Original cover]
The restlessness and confusion of men's minds in the present-day world is the direct result of a shattered and crumbling view of life.
The complacency of an outmoded religion, the false security of a selfish social order based upon political slogans empty of spiritual content, and the banality of quasi-ethical concepts rooted primarily in convenience and the alleged superiority of might over right, these and other familiar landmarks of a dying era are collapsing before our very eyes, and in every part of the habitable world.
Barbara Hebert – USA
Theosophy is available in today’s world in order to help humanity. In fact, this statement is made very clearly by HPB, her teachers, and others. For instance, we can look to the Maha Chohan letter that was written in late 1881 or early 1882 by the Mahatma KH regarding a conversation held with the Maha Chohan about the teachings shared by the Theosophical Society. We read
For our doctrines to practically re-act on the so-called moral code or the ideas of truthfulness, purity, self-denial, charity, etc., we have to preach and popularise a knowledge of Theosophy. It is not the individual and determined purpose of attaining [for] oneself Nirvana (the culmination of all knowledge and absolute wisdom) which is, after all only an exalted and glorious selfishness, but the self-sacrificing pursuit of the best means to lead on the right path our neighbour, to cause as many of our fellow creatures as we possibly can to benefit by it, which constitutes the true Theosophist.
Antti Savinainen – Finland
Introduction
Although reincarnation is a basic tenet of Theosophy, Hinduism, and Buddhism, teachings about this doctrine differ in these traditions. In Hinduism and Theosophy, for instance, an atman or higher self is behind subsequent incarnations, but this is not the case in mainstream Buddhism. Moreover, both Hinduism and Buddhism maintain that it is possible for a human being to reincarnate as an animal, whereas according to Theosophy, it is impossible.
Envy is the bile on which we choke when we want something that belongs to someone else. It generally stems from competitiveness, emotional insecurity and situational dissatisfaction. Envy is corrosive, particularly because we deny being envious, and instead, try to expose unfairness and punish those who we think were unduly rewarded at our expense. We withhold support, sincere admiration and sometimes, even friendship, and damage another’s reputation in order to enhance our own. We become critics instead of becoming fans. However, the poison of envy can sometimes transform itself into something halfway constructive. At personal level, some people may be able to perform the mental magic of transforming envy into aspiration: “If she can do it, write it, sell it, dammit, I can, too!” writes Judith Sills, a Philadelphia-based clinical psychologist. (Psychology Today, September-October 2008)
A, Trevor Barker
[Note from the editor: Alfred Trevor Barker (b. October 10, 1893- d. July 17, 1941) was a Theosophist, writer, and lecturer. He is well-known in the Theosophical world for his transcription, compilation and publication of the The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett and The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett. For this vital work, he was awarded the Subba Row Medal posthumously in December, 2020. As editor I have, in a way, “rediscovered” his articles for which he was lesser known, but are of high quality. If you want to know more about him follow this link: https://theosophy.wiki/en/A._Trevor_Barker JNK]
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John Algeo – USA
John Algeo speaking at Olcott in Wheaton
Theosophy is a contemporary expression of the timeless Wisdom of humanity, a Wisdom originally derived from teachers greater than us in knowledge and insight.
Boris de Zirkoff – USA
[Original cover photo of Theosophia, the magazine in which this article was publshed]
When the historian of the future appraises the era we live in today, it is more than likely that he will set down its main characteristics to have been a widespread downfall of ethics, emotional instability, and a loss of reliable ethical standards, resulting in mental and emotional confusion.
James Colbert – USA
Jim, the family man, here with great-granddaughter, Persephone Bebo, at Christmas of 2018, 6 weeks before he passed away
Theosophy offers fundamental principles that enable us to approach an understanding of the universe and ourselves. These principles open an inclusive connection and unity with life; they reveal a harmony of physical and moral law and affirm meaning; they give recognition to the continuous journey of each being through greater levels of awareness.
Tim Boyd – USA, India
The author
During the question-and-answer period at a recent meeting in Europe, I was asked, “Are we pacifists?” The question was prompted by two things. Although it was not my subject, during the course of talking to the group I had made some general mention of war. Another motivation for the question, which I discovered later, was that the outbreak of armed conflict in Ukraine had caused a division of opinions among the local Theosophical Society (TS) group, and the imprimatur of the International President was being sought. At the meeting I shared my initial thoughts, but the question stuck in my mind.
Annie Besant
As the more delicate and finer sequences of sounds are produced in music, the subtle body is affected in its finer grades of matter, and similarly more massive harmonics affect the coarser grades. Hence, when this is thoroughly understood, as by a trained occultist, the vibrations can be chosen with reference to the results they produce, and we have the science of mantras, while people of lesser knowledge can produce lesser results. Emotions of any grade can thus be initiated or stimulated, and as the music is made to express finer and finer emotions, especially those of self-sacrificing love and self-surrendering devotion, responsive, sympathetic thrilling may be set up in the buddhic body — the ânanda-maya-kosha — and, lifted on the wings of the vibrations that are music, a man may reach the threshold of the spiritual world. Thus, music subserves religion both in eastern and western lands. In the West, the greatest musicians have strained their powers to express in sequences of sounds the highest emotions of man [and even animals and plants], and if you have ever the opportunity of listening to one of the Masses written by the noblest Western masters of the divine art, you will find that, though you may be ignorant of Latin and unaccustomed to the use of chords, the charm of the music will gradually steal over you, you will feel soothed and quieted, apt for meditation, and perhaps your eyes will fill with tears. . . .
Gossip is defined by some as “Any talk about people who are not present.” It appears that not all gossip is bad, though we may have been taught from childhood that “If you do not have anything nice to say, do not say anything.” It can be positive, neutral or negative and we should try to quash the mean-spirited gossip. For some of us hearing and telling scandalous stories might mean guilty pleasure but “gossip is by no means a black-and-white affair. We have a natural need for human connection, and gossip feeds that, for good and ill. Much depends upon the motivation of the gossiper: are they aiming to warn people about a bad actor, or are they enjoying the malicious pleasure of spreading a harmful story?” writes Katherine Ashenburg.
Bernard S. Parsons - Australia
Aboriginal elder
Australian Aboriginal peoples have the world’s oldest continuous culture stretching back into the mists of time at least 40,000 years on the archaeological record, and, according to Theosophy, very much longer. Unlike the modern world with its many conflicting religions, the Australian Aboriginal peoples in traditional times did not have any ‘religion’ separate from everyday life. There were no ‘churches’ or ‘temples’ outside of sacred natural places. Their whole life was geared to their understanding of Nature as a living being and therefore every daily routine was ‘religious’ observance in this highest sense.
Annie Besant
iHarmony is a science, and a difficult science, and a man who is a master of it has to know every note in relation to other notes, and to blend the notes in such a way and in such a sequence that the ear is utterly satisfied and content with the whole complicated mass of sounds. If a discord is introduced, as it often is, to make the chord yet richer, then it must ever be resolved, so that the momentary shock to the ear is followed by a yet more exquisite delight. Two notes that, apart from all others, would cause you to stop your ears if struck together, scientifically dealt with, yield a keener pleasure. The discord must never be left a discord, it must not close the phrase; it must be resolved into a harmonious chord, and add a new joy.
Edi Bilimoria – England
Music is not mere entertainment or just a pleasurable distraction when we have finished with the more serious side of life. Nor are opera, dance, and ballet just the elitist pursuit of the social dilettante. Music expresses the deepest core meaning of living and learning. For example, Handel, whose tremendous oratorio The Messiah has uplifted the consciousness of humanity for centuries, is supposed to have declared that his purpose was to make people better, not just to entertain them. As the first notes of the triumphant Hallelujah Chorus rang out at the London premier of The Messiah, King George II rose to his feet and remained standing until the end of the chorus. To this day, audiences spontaneously revere this Chorus by standing up.
Handel
Of course, music like any of the arts, may hinder the seeker. Sensual or nerve-jarring cacophony, such as that at a disco, is a hindrance and arguably even a physical and moral danger to a sensitive person. But as elevating feeling by music is a yoga path to a perfect connection between the divine and the human, music is not only a form of expression but a means of lifting thought and feeling to the higher realm of illumination.
Bach
In rare cases, traumatic head injuries give rise to remarkable creative talents in victims. There are several examples of the same. There is the case of a person who asked his friend to toss him the football while he was standing above the shallow end of the swimming pool. When he tried to catch the ball, he splashed through the water and his head slammed into the pool’s concrete floor. The doctors diagnosed a severe concussion. He suffered severe hearing loss in one ear, memory loss and headaches. A few days later when he visited his friend he spotted a piano in his house, and began to play. He had never played a piano before, nor had he the slightest inclination to, and yet his fingers seemed to find the keys by instinct. How was this possible? When he consulted Dr. Darold Treffert, an expert on savant syndrome, now retired from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, he diagnosed him with acquired savant syndrome, a condition in which individuals who are typically mentally impaired demonstrate remarkable skills.
Annie Besant
To be a master in music, both in its theory and its execution, demands the whole devotion of a life, and my life has been given to other aims, dedicated to other objects. Music is verily an expression of the Divine Beauty, and is a worthy object for the study of a lifetime; but by me, who am only a worshipper of the Beautiful, and not one of its consecrated Priesthood, no exposition of it as an art or as a science can be made. I must consider it from the standpoint of the Occultist, not from that of the Artist. . .