Document1 12/7/2009. A Spiritual Resource & Good Neighbor In Central Florida Since 1935

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1 UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD--FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE----Wisdom Is Knowing That We Are All One----Love Is What It Feels Like----Compassion Is What It Acts Like---A Spiritual Resource and Good Neighbor in Central Florida Since Forwarded message From: (THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY) To: Date: Sat, 28 Nov :19: Subject: Theosophy Today #42 ~~~ THEOSOPHY TODAY ~~~ The Theosophical Society In Orlando, School of Theosophy, Orlando. A Spiritual Resource & Good Neighbor In Central Florida Since Celebrating 75 Years of Continuous Activity In The Central Florida Community Entering Our Diamond Jubilee Season == 75 == 2009/10 We are pleased to announce that since its launch June, 27, 2008 our main website has had...18,363 visitors to date. If you haven't been there yet, we invite you to visit ~ INTERNET NEWSLETTER ~ December --January -- February Send all comments and literary contributions to: Editor: Theosophy Today Theosophist@webtv.net == == ~~STUDY~~MEDITATION~~SERVICE~~ == == THEOSOPHICAL MEETINGS The Public is Cordially Welcome. Theosophical Meetings are held on the 1st & 3rd Friday each month 8:00 to 9:30 P.M. The Theosophy Healing Circle meets on the 4th Friday each month 8:00 P.M. December th,...Meditation On Life, by N.Sri Ram Commentary & Discussion. 1

2 18th...Annual Lodge Yuletide Celebration & Party January 15...Meditation, A Practical Study, by Adelaide Gardner, Chapter Theosophy Healing Circle Learn the Art & Practice of Spiritual Healing. February 5th...Meditation On Life, by N.Sri Ram Commentary & Discussion Meditation, A Practical Study by Adelaide Gardner, Chapter Theosophy Healing Circle Learn the Art & Practice of Spiritual Healing LODGE OF THE AIR Home Study Program While nothing can replace the value of personal interaction, discussion & dialogue experienced at a Theosophical Meeting we realize that sometimes circumstances prevent one from being physically present with us. In these cases you can still derive a benefit of Theosophical Study with us by participating in our Lodge Of The Air Program. If you would like to participate in this seasons study and cannot attend our meetings, all that is required is that you send us your name and address so that we can include you in our thoughts. As a participant in the Lodge Of The Air Program you can send us your questions and discussion ideas to share with the meetings. After registering as a participant, we will send you an e-link to the text of this seasons study. Send Registration Request to: LODGE OF THE AIR Theosophist@webtv.net ~ A MEDITATION FOR THE LODGE ~ Grant, O Loving Kindness within us all, that those who work and study in the Lodge may never mistake numbers, praise, or publicity for success; may never strive for position when all service is valued and all are equal; may never seek for self; may preserve a kindly humor and go their way content to serve. May such a Spirit of Fellowship abide as to silence all gossip and destructive criticism, so that all who enter find enduring peace, true 2

3 kindliness and understanding. So May It Be! ============================= ============================= ============================= ~ ORLANDO LODGE ~ Orlando Lodge is an intentional community of Theosophical Students serving the objectives of the Theosophical Society, and is dedicated to the creation and maintainance of a Spiritual Center where the Theosophical Philosophy, the Ancient Wisdom, may be studied and lived, and lives of Authenticity, Integrity and Compassion encouraged. PATIENCE -- THE SPIRITUAL ASPECT Let us imagine a person who has been blind since birth; not only does he miss seeing many ordinary things which are necessary to make life easier but also the beauty of the earth, the colors of the sky, the birds, plants and animals, and of course, the faces of human beings. But the blind person still perceives, tastes, smells,hears, thinks, etc. He is able to experience the world in a different way from those who see things. Similarly, we can imagine how various other creatures like animals and birds know and live in their own world, because reasoning power, and the experience of reasoning which affects human life, do not have any meaning for them. We have a realization of animals through affection, but they cannot understand this human experience, just as they cannot understand what reasoning does, for they live by instinct and understand things in a different way. By analogy we can understand that there are people who lead a life which is very different from ours. What is essential and vital to them is not important to us, and what is important to us has no relevance to the world in which they live. Time is very important in the human world, and more so to modern man than to people in the ancient world. Organizarions and institutions function to time, as do most human beings. If unaware of time passing,most organizations would collapse. This is only one level at which time works. The illusion of time makes the human being face the world in a way which is psychologically different from those for whom time has no value. The first rule in Light On The Path says "Kill out Ambition." Ambition exists only under control of time. It is the desire for achievement, to get something accomplished within a certain time. Ambition has therefore much to do with time as we know it. Everything in Nature exists, grows and dies according to its dictates. When a child is born, we do not have to do much about its growth. 3

4 Similarly, when a seed is planted, if the condition is right, it sprouts and becomes a seedling, and then becomes a tree bearing flowers and fruits. This happens by itself, and all this happens, not merely in the form of growth physically, but also by changes in the faculties every human has. Every human being has extraordinary faculties, not only the faculty of reasoning, but others which awaken the sense of beauty, create aawareness of peace, and so on. These faculties have grown into the present state by themselves, but strangely enough, we do not accept the growth, that expansion, which comes through Nature. Because of our sense of time we feel that within a particular lifetime we must reach somewhere, and obtain some things. Time is an illusion; it passes differently if one is happy and in another way if one is affected by distress. Standing is a queue could pass very slowly, but if we stand at the top of the queue, then time does not go slowly. If we think about this we can see that the way time goes depends on our desire. If we are at the back of the queue and we want badly to be in front, time proceeds slowly, but if we are at the head of the queue it does not seem to move the same way. Perhaps this is one of the things to be kept in mind when Krishnamurti made such statements as "Desire is time". Ambition is a kind of desire -- an intense desire -- and produces many difficulties in relationships. Wars that take place and cause misery for vast numbers of people are the products of ambition. Ambition makes people want more and more things. We may be ambitious about small things or great things, about spiritual satisfaction or only intellectual or sensory satisfaction. It is all the same thing -- desire for achievement in this lifetime, or in a small way. Animals do not have ambition, because they have no time sense unlike human beings. They do not recognize that others have gone ahead, etc., and so they are freer. The ambitious human being wants the whole world to know that he is the one who has done better. This is part of the satisfaction that ambition gives, comparing oneself with others, saying "I have run faster than everyone else". The animal runs very fast unconsciously without trying to impress anybody else. Competition in the world is the source of enormous evil, as Madame Blavatsky wrote in her little booklet"practical Occultism". It is part of the world in which the illusion of time is strong. Ambition, desire, achievement, all these are only expressions of the mind's illusions. The one who is free is one who does not feel the sense of time oppressing him, for he wants things to grow and move, according to the flow of Nature. Why is the small plant not a big tree? If we are not feeling anxious in terms of time, we will just be watching the plant growing into a tree; we will see that the man we call a bad man will become a good man, without forcing him and modelling him in order to make him change. We do all the things that the average human being wants to do, but those who know, the Masters of Wisdom, do not do such things. They act with patience. The quality of patience is a great quality which floods the world with light. BEING FREE OF "KNOWLEDGE" The knowledge that we have--mental knowledge--can be an illusion. We think, we see and we know, but what we know is really not worth knowing. 4

5 Except for a small part of physical existence, for which it might have value, it has none from the spiritual point of view. We know some "facts" which may not be really facts at all. For example, when we say we know such and such a person, it is possible that we know some facts about that person. But there is most often the illusion of knowing the person, even when we do not know all the facts about that person. Meaning of a certain kind, which we cannot describe, is the heart of knowledge. In the beginning of "The Voice of The Silence" there is the phrase "Having become indifferent to the objects of perception..." This is meaningful. The objects of perception will not disapppear, for they exist, at least for the time being. But what happens to the average human being is that he or she becomes involved, and then entangled, in those objects. As soon as we say " I like this, I don't like that, this is nice, that is not", the judgement we make is a form of involvement, a psychological entanglement. Though the object of perception is still in existence, and the mind is observing, it can remain unpolluted, by not formulating opinions, getting attracted or repelled. It remains, in a way, indifferent. But when the personal mind is not assessing, and formulating an opinion, neither attracted or repelled, by the observation or attention it comes to know what is within, not merely what the object looks like outside. This applies not only to a particular object of perception but to all the world, that is to everything that we experience. The Middle Way taught by the Buddha is to experience no reaction, neither attraction nor repulsion. The mind is then only a witness. This is true renunciation (vairagya), a spirit of non-movment, which is true knowledge. In a letter from a Mahatma, he says that they have only to turn their attention to something to obtain an instantaneous comprehension of what they are looking at. From their point of view, all our knowledge is trivial and we spend much time in the effort to accumulate knowledge which is trivial. We may even regard ourselves as experts but apart from the practical use, if it has any, it has no value at all. Is a person who is knowledgeable about airplanes or anything of that kind, more generous because of it, more compassionate, more capable of being free of unhappiness and misery? I do not think so. Ordinary knowledge does not make any difference except in one's own imagination, and that is the case of all other people who are in the same predicament. According to certain spiritual ideas, real knowledge is not the same as what we call knowledge. It ia a perception of the truth of divinity everywhere. It is awareness of the One Reality being immanent in every atom. This perception is the source of awareness, of beauty, and love in relationship. It is an insght into the hidden nature of things. The world of Light is different because of awareness, not the superficial knowledge which we at present appreciate so much. There is in that knowledge neither the illusion of time or knowledge of any particular kind. The Theosophist is not just a member of the Theosophical Society, he has a special role -- to discover real knowledge. THE PROMOTION OF THE WORK 5

6 The evolution which has taken place up to now has been very instructive. Some of the scientific views confirm what certain Theosophists have been saying, that the future evolution on this earth will be a continuation of the present known process. The so called non-living things, and then little creatures, vegetable life, and animal life have brought evolution to the present human stage; further steps will be taken when the human being improves. Of course, all these parts of evolution take immense time, but Nature has nothing to do with time invented by human beings. The future will take the human being beyond the stage of humanness to the level of Rishi, who knows many things of which he cannot speak to the average human being yet. But in this mysterous evolutionary process, he will learn what we mentioned earlier, that is, the nature of beauty, of love, and the perception which is awareness of the inside as well as the outside of things. It will be a new phase towards which we are moving. There are signs of the movement already in the statements of certain scientists, and of course, the people who know. The insight or awareness of what will happen in the future is of great importance to all of humanity. We know that human beings who are mentally clever are not necessairly the people who will be leading figures in advancing into the future. It will be rather those whose intuition leads them to higher levels, and for that preparation is necessary. If intuition is to work, it must not be mixed up with confused thinking about one's own capacities. On the other hand, it calls for a pure mind; those who have learned to keep their minds untouched by animalistic impulses, fears, and the kind of feelings that go with the stages of growing. Therefore our judgement on various things will be based not on what we know as worldly considerations, but on factors which are necessary for the new stage. This new stage was touched upon very much in the earlier epochs of the Theosophical Society, but has now faded into the background. The idea for example, that we must produce literature which will appeal to those who are intellectually advanced may not be very valid. We have to make an appeal to those who can see ahead into a way of life which will be extremely different. This way of life can only come about when the iniquities of present day thinking and action do not enter the picture. It remains for the new mind to replace the old kind of thinking. We are in the process of beginning a new life, and cannot afford to encourage ourselves in appearing clever from the ordinary competetive point of view. There must be a radical change in our approach in which purity, love, a sense of what is right, and truth can exist. All these things matter. If in the Theosophical Society there are even a few people who can exemplify in their life these qualities, they will begin to take effect. The danger is that as time goes on we will forget the original purpose. -- Radha Burnier Radha Burnier is the International President of the Theosophical Society (Adyar). 6

7 =========================== New Book THE WORLD AROUND US M. S. Swaminathan launched the book 'The World Around Us' by The Theosophical Society president Radha Burnier in Chennai on Sunday. The first copy was received by S. Ramu. Hunger and poverty alleviation programmes are bound to fail if they are based on charity and a poor feeding approach, M. S. Swaminathan, chairman, M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation said on Sunday. Dr. Swaminathan, who launched the book "The World Around Us", a compilation of articles by Radha Burnier, President of Theosophical Society, said hunger persisted in India because the multitude of alleviation schemes failed to empower people to "earn bread with human dignity." Noting that according to latest statistics, an estimated 200 million persons, including children, went to bed hungry in India, he said programmes to eliminate hunger and deprivation should be born out of compassion rather than adopt a "do-gooder" approach. An espousal of compassion to the less privileged and an intuitive understanding of human affairs were the hallmarks of Ms. Burnier's writings, Dr. Swaminathan said. Pointing out that information evolved into knowledge when added with value, and knowledge with the weight of experience became wisdom, he said the author's works reflected her intellectual and spiritual evolution. Dr. Swaminathan handed over the first copy to S. Ramu, manager, Theosophical Publishing House. Ms. Burnier said the Theosophical Society had an increasingly relevant role to play in awakening humanity." C. A. Shinde, librarian, introduced the author. Pedro Oliveira, head of the Editorial Board of the Theosophical Society who also spoke. You may order from Adyar Books ========================= Special Feature: There Are Many Different Avenues To The Spiritual Quest..Sri Ramana Maharishi Recommended the Direct Path What is...the DIRECT PATH? 7

8 ============================ LOVE AND NOT-LOVE by Marie Poutz For a number of years I had been sorely puzzled over the problem of right and wrong. Questions which I could not silence had been repeatedly forcing their way into my consciousness: Was there really anything like right and wrong? Had morality a place in the plan of the Logos for the universe? The agony of the questioning was all the greater because it came when my thought turned to Those who had transcended humanity, for They seemed to condone what the Commandments given by some among Themselves forbid men to do; it seemed even in some cases as if those whom They chose to admit into their ranks earned that privilege by apparent mistakes and wrong-doing. And we read of the Christ blessing Mary the sinner and rebuking Martha whose faithful work made it possible for Mary to sit at the feet of the Lord. Are then moral laws given to men solely for the purpose of keeping the little ones quiet? As my landmarks grew dim in the darkness, an overwhelming pity for the little ones filled my heart, and a grim determination to sacrifice all to help them, even my conscience, if necessary. But one day, in meditation, Light came. I heard within myself these words: " When confronted by moral problems, men still centered in the little ego ask: Is it Right? Those who have transcended the little ego, and view things from the Greater Spirit ask: Is it Love?" As the meaning of these words began to unfold, I saw how the Higher Vision no longer deals with moral problems in terms of right or wrong, but in terms of Love and Not-Love. The human moral code makes a horizontal division: the clean above, the unclean below; but the Divine moral code makes a vertical division: the clean and the unclean on the Love side, and the clean and the unclean on the Not-Love side. On the Love side, not only the beautiful spiritualized emotions that grace evolved humanity, but also the primitive and untransmuted stages of those emotions, debauchery, profligacy, theft, the love of the drunkard for his liquor -- all, in short, that has in itself the element of love for something or someone, the yearning of union with the self without. On the Not-Love side, we find not only pride, anger, hatred, condemnation, self-love, murder, but also spotless purity, too white to suffer the proximity of mud, and perchance deeds of heroic 8

9 self-sacrifice, unwarmed by love, done because it was right. Further than that the Not-Love may not go, and those who have reached that stage, have to be swept into the current of Love which is the fulfilling of the Law; but who dare say how many ages it may take, and how many lives of suffering and agony? Hence those who are already on the Love side, however soiled their manifestation of that Love may be, are on the more direct road to the Highest, their possibilities of rapid transmutation are greater, and Those who Know how quickly the sinner may become the saint, have always blessed and absolved the Magdalen and the publican. In Their sight, the immoral man who lives a life of kindness toward his fellowmen is greater than the man of irreproachable conduct who looks down upon his brother with the cold eye of criticism and contempt --- not because They condone immorality, but because They Know what flower of great price will soon grow out of the mud and send forth the fragrance of God's very Love. And people whom I knew began to classify themselves. Men and women whom I had condemned were on the side of Love; others whom I had admired, were on the other side in spite of their splendid achievements, because of their lack of sympathy and understanding. Now I understand the parable of Mary nad Martha and I am at peace, for I believe that I have caught a glimpse of the measuring standard of Those more than men ( the Holy Saints & Spiritual Masters). And when confronted by the moral problems of daily life, I am humbly learning to ask: IS IT LOVE? Special Feature: Come Sit With Us Awhile An Have... A CUP OF CHRISTMAS TEA ============================== THE PATH OF GOODNESS By Erica L. Georgiades A few days ago I arrived from Greece, where there was much tension. We lived through many days of savage vandalism in Athens, where hundreds of shops, cars and properties were burned and destroyed. India, which is mourning the victims of the terrorist attack in Mumbai, is filled with tension trying to find ways to prevent future terrorist attacks. These situations show the chaos which is growing all over the world, and remind one of the prophecy in the Vishnu-purana about the Kalki Avatara which, among other things, says: "There will be rulers reigning over the Earth who think of themselves as modern and superior; they shall rule through leaders of nations, and these leaders shall be men of vulgar, corrupt disposition, having a violent temper, and even addicted to falsehood and evil. They will inflict death on women, children and animals...the people of various 9

10 countries, influenced by the propaganda of their leaders, will followthe example of their leaders and the barbarians of materialism...in all nations, wealth and spirituality will decrease day by day until the entire world will be corrupt, crooked and depraved." We are witnessing day by day the prophecy of the Vishnu-purana becomming true. We know we are only in the beginning of Kali Yuga, and all things will get worse. The winter into which humanity is entering promises to be a dark and very cold one. But we Theosophists have a mission, which we must try to carry on from generation to generation, and this is to try to keep the Spiritual Truths alive. To stand against materialism, to stand against barbarism, to stand against violence is part of our work. But how can we do this? The promotion of our Three Objects is a step in this direction, but not the major one. The major one is to make Theosophy a living force in our everyday life. There is nothing that can cause more impact in the world than becomming a living example of the force of Theosophy. We Theosophists should work towards this. This implies an inner committment, which is to begin treading a certain Path--The Path of Goodness. Here we may ask: what is the nature of goodness and how can we express it in our everyday life? How can we become a living and inspiring example of the force of Theosophy? In order to reply to this question we must first have a look at the definition of the Hellenic word "theosophy". It has two compounds: Theos (God-Divine) and Sophia ( Wisdom). In ancient Greece Sophia was one of Plato's four cardinal virtues. According to Plato, Wisdom was an inner condition which is an expression of the energy of the soul. When we talk about Theosophy, we refer to the energy of the soul. Consequently, we refer to something that can be known only from within. Theosophy is truth, and there are no words in any language to express the great truth of Theosophy, which is Divine Wisdom. You may learn by heart all the systems presented in the works of Blavatsky and in the works of others; you may write, debate, teach and affirm this knowledge is Theosophy, but you will still be trapped by intellect, and consequently unable to know what Theosophy is. In order to become a living example of Theosophy we must look not only at books and to those things that are outside us, but to that which is closest to us, our inner self. Our search for truth is the search for our real nature, our divine nature. It is the longing for a conscious union with the divine. The divine that we long for is in fact so close to us, so acessable to us, that we cannot see it. We keep searching for it in everyone else, except where we have to look. Plato once said there is nothing closer to us than our soul, and if we do not know that which is so close, what is the meaning of knowing things that are far? The one who truly focuses on knowing his own self and truly comprehends it, it the one who will have the ability to tread the Path of Goodness. He, and only he, is a real Theosophos. A question still remains open: what is the nature of goodness? We may say good actions are the result of actions without attachment, actions without attachment to ideas, to things, to the Great Heresy which is the attachment to our illusory and transitory personality. The major lesson taught in Hellenic mythology is that The Temple of Virtue Is Within Us. The virtues we express depend on the virtues we have cultivated within 10

11 us, for we know the mind is to be found where we have sent it. Pythagoras taught this to his disciples when he advised them to reflect upon the virtues they wanted to acquire. Because when reflecting upon the virtues that one aspires to acquire, such virtues will gradually become a reality in the life of the aspirant. What better definition of virtue than the one Lao Tzu gave us: " I am good to people who are good, I am also good to people who are not good, because Virtue is goodness." Virtue is goodness. And the nature of goodness is selfless action, without attachment. The Path of Goodness is not a lethargic path, but a path of action. To act with goodness we need to act without attachment; only the fruit of such actions can bring great goodness to humanity. In the Bhagavadgita (III.25) we read the following: "As the ignorant act from attachment to action, so should the wise act without attachment desiring the welfare of the world." There is nothing that justifies suffering except our own ignorance. Attachment is born out of ignorance. By performing actions without attachment we reach the Divine as Lord Krishna said in the Bhagavadgita: Therefore without attachment, always perform action which should be done; for by performing action without attachment, man reaches the Supreme (III.19). We must also remember that even if the opportunities for great deeds should never come our way, opportunities for good deeds can be renewed day by day. The thing for us to long for is goodness, not glory. There is a saying that goes: Yesterday is history, tommorow is mystery and today is a gift. Let us realize that today's "gift" is a Divine Gift. Let us keep in mind that we are united here today, in the Theosophical Society, for we have a common interest, the good of mankind, to maintain the Spiritual Truths alive, to stand against materialism, violence, barbarism and fanaticism. And what is the better way to do it? What is the noblest way to do it? It is by transforming our everyday life into an example of goodness. In this process, we discover the real nature of Theosophy. Voltaire once said:" Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do". Let us not be guilty of the good we did not do Mrs. Erica L. Georgiades is a member of the Theosophical Society in Greece. This was a talk presented at the Adyar International Convention ========================== Special Feature: Eating For Spiritual Health And Social Harmony... We Invite You To Learn About: THE WORLD PEACE DIET 11

12 ========================== SHOPPING CART VIRTUE According to a story in the book Hugs for Dad by John William Smith, a father asked his son after grocery shopping to return their cart to the retrieval area. Although it would have taken only a minute, the son protested. "C'mon, Dad," he said, "there are carts all over the lot. None of those people returned theirs. No one expects them to." Then Mom chimed in. "For heaven's sake, they pay people to collect the carts. Returning one more won't change the history of the world. Let's just go." Dad was about to surrender when he saw an elderly couple walking together to return their cart. After a moment, he said to his wife and son, "We're not responsible for what other people do, but we are responsible for what we do. There are two kinds of people: those who put their carts away and those who don't. We put our carts away because that's the kind of people we are." This story isn't just about grocery carts. It's about putting principles above convenience and doing the right thing in a world that seems to promote rationalizations and excuses that demean or trivialize simple acts of virtue. There are two kinds of people: those who find the strength to do what they ought to and those who find excuses not to. People of character do the right thing even if no one else does, not because they think it will change the world but because they refuse to be changed by the world. This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts. ============================== Special Feature: Embrace - Compare - Explore You Are Invited To Join The Discussion With Hundreds of Theosophists From Around The World Visit and Join: THE THEOSOPHCAL NETWORK ========================== WE MUST HEAL TOGETHER A PROJECT OF HEALING 12

13 1. Set aside 10 minutes a day wherever you are,at whatever time or place that is convenient for you. 2. Take a few minutes to "Center," "Enter The Silence." however best you do it. Going to that place deep within you where Truth abides in Fullness. It is from this center that You Will KNOW The Truth of things. 3. You may want to visualize the T.S. Seal. Quietly recite to yourself The Invocation To Unity. The Invocation To Unity O Hidden Life, Vibrant In Every Atom; O Hidden Light, Shining In Every Creature; O Hidden Love, Embracing All In Oneness; May Each Who Feels Himself As One With Thee; Know He Is Therefore One With Every Other. Ponder these Truths awhile in The Silence. When your time is up See a Golden Rose Brilliant Light spreading out and enveloping ALL Theosophists all over the world. KNOW that you have set Powerful Healing Forces to work for the Good. 5. Resume your normal daily activities. ==================== TRADITIONAL YULETIDE LORE & LINKS Yuletide & Winter Solstice html The Evolution of Christmas More Yuletide Links Yule-Tide in Many Lands, Mary_P_Pringle_and_Clara_A_Urann/18570-h.htm = THE BUDDHAS' UNDERSTANDING 13

14 When the Buddha left all to reach for enlightment, He knew without understanding the Cosmic Plan, He would not be able to do just 1 thing about the ignorance of Humanity. By ignoring all in His mind, He was able to fully open His heart and have Love take over his life. Sure that wasn't easy as Vipasana meditation ( the last type of mental activity He mastered ) is all about opening to the Wholeness. His conciousness had evolved to a state Humanity will reach when It is almost perfect. He therefore became One with the Creatures, Who created this planet. But since He was just human and His task was done as a human, He had to find a way to still be part of Humanity, without losing Himself into the next step of spiritual evolution. So He evolved into a Being Who stood between Humanity and Angels and from there He is still able to inspire humans like you and me just by being still and compassionate. However as I have pointed out in so many words before: as a Human, being a Buddha is the end of the line, after that we choose to evolve or to stay and wait for our fellow humans to arrive there where Bliss is the way of communication. But we have a different kind of evolution on this planet as well: reversed evolution, evolution which leads to total destruction of human beings. Those humans sit at the other end, living on the energy of human ignorance. They are doomed but yet necessairy to profile the righteousness in Humanity. To understand the Middle Way between extremes, one needs to understand the extremes; not by living them, but by observing them. Because a Buddha can't reincarnate, there must be a way to still be able to help Humanity in the physical world and therefore there is a third evolution, that of the Avatara's although a Buddha can overshadow righteous humans as well. Usually those Avatara's appear in a world full of turmoil and injustice, like the world we live in now. Be assured therefore we are not helpless or at the brink of a worldend. Sure that will happen as well, however only then when the last Lights of Love have been obscured by the darkness of Matter, just like a very thick band of clouds, creating storm and thunder. ---Martin Vandertak ============================= Special Feature: Film Review: 14

15 HYPATIA -- AGORA ============================ COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS "Getting used to our blessings is one of the most important nonevil generators of human evil, tragedy and suffering." ~ Abraham Maslow from Motivation and Personality Einstein said: "A human being is part of the whole, called by us a Universe"; a part limited in time and space. "He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison." While Marcus Aurelius, the 2nd Century Roman Stoic Philosopher and Roman Emperor, said: "Think often of the bond that unites all things in the universe, and their dependence on one another." ============================ Special Feature: THE RESONANCE PROJECT The Resonance Project is dedicated to the unification of all sciences and philosophies emerging from a complete and applied view of the physics underlying the wheelworks of nature. Learn More: ============================ A Beautiful New Website of Theosophical Inspiration... A I K Y A A Gift From The T.S. In Greece = THE STUDY CORNER We Invite You To Discover.."Theosophy." 15

16 Fundamentals of Theosophy Basic Ideas of Theosophy ~~ Studying Theosophy Theosophical Manuals By Katherine Tingley Introductory Studies in Theosophy by Adelaide Gardner Some Basic Concepts Eunice & Felix Layton Exploring Theosophy with David Pratt TO LIGHT A THOUSAND LAMPS A Theosophic Vision By Grace Knoche (Click Link) Theosophy...Dr.Rudolf Steiner

17 THE CAMPBELL THEOSOPHICAL RESEARCH LIBRARY THE CAMPBELL LIBRARY LINKS TO ONLINE TEXTS CLASSIC THEOSOPHICAL BOOKS ONLINE WORKS ON VEDIC CULTURE & LITERATURE ARCHIVE OF ARTICLES ON THEOSOPHY AN INTRODUCTION TO H.P. BLAVATSKY & THEOSOPHY A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF RECOMMENDED BOOKS: Deity, Cosmos and Man by Geoffrey Farthing THE BLAVATSKY FREE STATE Worldwide Links For Study & Research urces.htm 17

18 ============================== The Theosophical Publishing House, Chennai Invites You To Visit... ADYAR BOOKS ============================== The Ponderings Of A Dutch Theosophist: Introducing...Katinka Hesselink ALL CONSIDERING ( click link) ============================== THE HARMLESS DIET Christian Vegetarian Movement Vegetarian recipes for the Small Household Delicious Vegetarian Recipes from Around the World TryVeg.com - Table of Contents Ethical & Religious Vegetarians The Vegetarian Channel Vegetarian Recipes & Resources = = THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA ( Orlando Lodge) The Theosophical Society In Orlando was chartered in January 1935 and has been active in the Central Florida community since that time. Theosophical Meetings are held on the first and third Fridays at 8:00 P.M. September thru May. The Society maintains a Lending Library, Nature Sanctuary, and Meditation Room open weekly to the public, September thru May. The School of Theosophy,Orlando presents classes in Basic Theosophy and Meditation twice a year, in the Spring and Fall Semesters. A school catalog and class syllabus are available upon request. 18

19 Theosophy is the Perennial Wisdom which lies at the root of all religion, yet is the exclusive possession of none. Members of the Society seek to promote a sense of tolerance, understanding, and universal brotherhood among all people. The aims and objectives of the Society are purely altruistic in the highest sense. The Society does not involve itself in sectarian or political causes whatever. Theosophy is non-dogmatic and does not promote any creed or specific belief. Rather, through Study, Meditation, and Service members attempt to gain a greater understanding of themselves and their purpose in the universe. The Society is not authoritarian and has no clergy or leaders, other than democratically elected officers. It promotes complete individual freedom of thought and conscience, and refers the individual back to his own conscience as the only ultimate authority in regard to spiritual and moral decisions. The Theosophical Society In Orlando is a local branch of a international organization with headquarters in Chennai, India. We invite your interest and participation in our programs. ORLANDO FLORIDA LODGE Theosophical Society In Orlando 1606 New York Ave. Orlando, Florida, Theosophist@webtv.net Website: ~~ THE SCHOOL OF THEOSOPHY, ORLANDO We Invite You To Visit & Join Our Online Discussion Groups T_S_THEOSOPHIST And on Google too: THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY Google Groups (click Link) THE INTERFAITH MESSENGER The School Of Theosophy,Orlando, also publishes a quarterly E-Zine, THE INTERFAITH MESSENGER, addressing Interfaith Affairs, It is seen each quarter by over 3,525 of Florida's Top Faith,Cultural & Business Leaders, 19

20 For your free subscription send request to: Also visit and join the INTERFAITH COMMUNITY message board. And/or on Google: THE INTERFAITH COMMUNITY Google Groups ============================== THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY ( Adyar) Further Detailed Information about Theosophy, and/or The Theosophical Society... International Headquarters, Adyar, Chennai, (Madras) India ============================ ============================ UNTIL NEXT TIME... We hope that you have enjoyed this issue of Theosophy Today and always invite your inquiries, comments and suggestions. And We THANK YOU for helping to Light The Candle of Theosophy by forwarding Theosophy Today to your online friends. Due to your generous participation our quarterly worldwide circulation is now up to 1,265, and growing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Address all corrospondence to: Editor, THEOSOPHY TODAY Theosophist@webtv.net Postal: The Theosophical Society In Orlando 1606 New York Ave. Orlando, Florida, U.S.A

21 Phone Locate us: Use Mapquest zip code ~~ THEOSOPHY TODAY ~~ UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD--FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE----Wisdom Is Knowing That We Are All One----Love Is What It Feels Like----Compassion Is What It Acts Like---A Spiritual Resource and Good Neighbor in Central Florida Since