THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IN CANBERRA. A word from the President. Newsletter No. 76

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1 THE THEOSOPHICAL Newsletter No. 76 The TS in Canberra Newsletter No. 76 ( April June 2015) 1 April June 2015 SOCIETY IN CANBERRA and e mail: tshq@austheos.org.au (Sydney) janton@netspeed.com.au (Canberra) President: Peter Fokker Secretary/Treasurer: Tony Fearnside A word from the President 1 Notes 2 ABC interview 3 Linda Oliveira The Wheels of Change 4 On Death and Dying 6 Theosophy and art 7 Discussion group 7 On Change Radha Burnier 8 On Change Joy Mills 9 On Change Tim Boyd 10 Barry Bowden s visit 10 Gordon Herbert The Era of the Gods Return 11 New Study Course 12 TOS 13 Programme 14 The Theosophical Society in Canberra is not responsible for any statement in this newsletter. Views expressed are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Society or the Editor. A word from the President Theosophy The white cockatoos and pink galahs are quietly grazing on the park lawns in large flocks. Daylight is short and the weather is quite cold and frosty. It can be a time for contemplation. An article in the June issue of Time informed us that meditation made people more resilient. During meditation the brain changes and stays changed after the exercise has finished. In a recent TV program we were reminded that transcendental meditation (TM) as practised by the Beatles, became popular and some of those TM teachers are now in their old age and still teaching. Theosophy encourages analysis of the universe and humanity and the reciprocal effect we all have on one another. The aim is to discover deeper meanings in the natural or divine worlds. Theosophy has a long history and tries to show how spiritual fulfilment can be acquired. Phil Harris wrote a course appropriate for either individuals or groups in 47 exercises, based on yoga and meditation it aims at being of help in becoming a Theosophist. It is a practical system to achieve harmony of mind and emotions leading to all-day spiritual awareness. Desire, anger and ignorance are negative factors. Faith, intelligence and wisdom are positive factors. Meditation is an exercise which reduces the negative factors and brings the positive factors out in the open, resulting in proper mind management. To be able to achieve this the body has to be healthy through good diet, exercise and right breathing; the aim is harmless living. Behaviour has to be controlled in order to discipline the brain. What follows is mind control. The knowledge that is acquired through meditation is believed to change the person. Modern theosophy is usually linked to the non-proselytizing, non sectarian Society that was formed in 1875 with HP Blavatsky (HPB), Henry Olcott and W Q Judge as the three most prominent members (our Canberra Branch is part of this Society). It was formed against the background of spiritualism with interpretations by mediums which was then prevalent in America and Western Europe. HPB was able to draw attention to the ageless wisdom, particularly in two large books Isis Unveiled and The Secret Doctrine published in 1877 and 1888 respectively. It was also a time when the west was becoming increasingly aware of eastern religion and philosophy. (continued on page 3)

2 Ne A Monday evenings 2 The TS in Canberra Newsletter No. 76 (April June 2015) Notes for members and friends 2016 Convention In Perth Note: TS Convention in 2016 will be at University Hall, University of Western Australia, Perth Saturday 16 to Saturday 23 January 2016 Keynote speaker: Tim Boyd International President of the TS This is an extraordinary chance to welcome the TS International President to Australia. and to participate in a Convention which promises to be quite significant. Updated information on the convention will be circulated by TS Headquarters in due course. Meantime think about making plans for Perth! No Monday evening meetings June, July, August Meet at Emeritus Faculty see programme for details Canyonleigh event Reminder - no Monday meetings in winter. During June, July and August, there will be no Monday evening meetings/presentations. Due to the cold Canberra winter, attendance has in the past been quite meagre during these months. The evening meetings in June/July/August will be substituted by afternoon meetings at 2.00pm on the first Saturday of those months, at the Emeritus Faculty, ANU, 24 Balmain Crescent, NOT the Friends Meeting House. This is separate from the discussion group which meets at the Emeritus Faculty on the third Saturday of each month throughout the year. (See programme on p 14.)) 1st Saturday = meetings (June, July, August) 3rd Saturday = discussion group Self-Transformation seminars at the Canyonleigh Centre Vic Hao Chin, from the Philippines, will be presenting Self-Transformation seminars at the Canyonleigh Centre from August. More news on this later! Vic is high ranking in the TS Philippines with an illustrious reputation as a presenter.

3 The TS in Canberra Newsletter No. 76 ( April June 2015) 3 (continued from page 1) Other organisations loosely based on Theosophical texts and doctrines are Agni Yoga, the Ascended Master Teachings, the I Am Activity, The Bridge to Freedom and The Church Universal and Triumphant. The Liberal Catholic Church was strongly influenced by Theosophy as is Co-Freemasonry. Theosophy has given rise to, or influenced, the development of mystical, philosophical and religious movements. It has also had a strong influence in art, music and literature. Theosophy was often used synonymously with theology as early as the 3rd century. During the Renaissance the term diverged to refer to gnostic knowledge that offers the individual enlightenment and salvation. In the 16 th century the term theosophy was used in its present meaning. Christian theosophy arose in Germany at that time, although there were followers also in Holland, England and France. The word got the generally accepted meaning of divine metaphysics at this time. Outside the winter sun is in a blue sky shining a warm light over the blue flowering winter iris. A promise of what winter will bring in the coming days. We welcome you to our Canberra Theosophical winter newsletter. Peter Fokker, President References: - Bounce Back by Mandy Oaklander, Time, June Wikipedia: Theosophy - The Spiritual Path to Complete Fulfilment by Philip Harris, Hill of Content, Melbourne The Theosophical Encyclopedia, by Philip Harris et al, 2006 The Three Objects of The Theosophical Society 1. To form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or colour. 2. To encourage the study of comparative religion, philosophy and science. 3. To investigate the unexplained laws of nature and the powers latent in the human being. An interview on ABC Radio National on Sunday 10 May reported the newly published novel by Emma Ashmere, The Floating Garden by Spinifex Press. Set in the 1920s in the area around the Sydney Harbour Bridge at its time of construction, one of the main characters in the story meets a fictional member (or perhaps members) of the Theosophical Society. In the interview the author says the protagonist was caught up with the dodgy end of theosophy although she then went on to explain that she was not denigrating theosophy, informing listeners that they once had their own radio station and interesting bookshops and that some of their ideas had been taken up by mainstream society. You will have to read this book for yourself to find the author s impressions. If anyone has read it, it will be interesting for your thoughts to be passed on. Please share them with us. is the weblink for the interview. The cover of the book shows Dorrit Black s The Bridge - the beautiful painting of the two separate halves of the bridge coming together.

4 4 The TS in Canberra Newsletter No. 76 (April June 2015) Linda Oiveira - The Wheels of Change Transitioning from the Wordly to the Sacred. Linda Oliveira, President of the Theosophical Society in Australia, visited Canberra on 2 March. At a welcoming brunch we introduced Linda to the National Arboretum - the first time that she had visited the arboretum site. However, Linda is no stranger to Canberra, having lived here for many years in her youth. Her father, David Wilson, was the first President of TS in Canberra and received its Charter in July At that time Linda was a Junior Member of the TS in Canberra. Her talk on Monday evening was titled The Wheels of Change: Transitioning from the Wordly to the Sacred. It focused first on the worldly, transitioning towards the sacred and finally to the sacred itself. Kéramos Turn, turn, my wheel! All things must change To something new, to something strange; Nothing that is can pause or stay; The moon will wax, the moon will wane, The mist and cloud will turn to rain, The rain to mist and cloud again, Tomorrow be today. (HW Longfellow) The poem by Longfellow illustrates that all things change, and nothing in the physical world stays the same. Some changes may be familiar to us and we embrace them such as the transition from night to dawn, the changes of the seasons, or perhaps watching the nascent buds grow into plants through our care. Linda Oliveira at the National Arboretum with the Margaret Whitlam Pavilion in the background. But the something new in the poem then changes to something strange exemplifying the more difficult and less comfortable aspects of the changing world; which can elicit in us a fear of the unknown. Theosophy, the wisdom tradition, suggests that there is a transformation or change which is inevitable for the human being. This should not be associated with the ubiquitous personal development courses which proliferate around the world. It goes much further than the growth of the personalized self and is related to the emergence of a new kind of consciousness the ultimate renewal of the human being. Focusing on the worldly, Linda quoted some of the writings of Hugh McKay, author and social researcher who conjectures that a degree of contemporary society is suffering from the Utopia Complex. With so many affordable commodities easily available, some individuals feel they are living in a golden age and have become hooked on the ideal of happiness as being a natural entitlement that just beyond the perfect coveted object, there is another, which is even more perfect. In contrast, she compared this to the poetic Vedanta story illustrating the pursuit of all that the material world has to offer being driven by the great tiger named manas the Manas mind. The transition which at some point takes place along the human spiritual journey is fundamentally the same regardless of differences in culture, ethnicity or religion.

5 The TS in Canberra Newsletter No. 76 ( April June 2015) 5 In the Bagavad Gita we read of the The Asvattha Tree, with its roots above and branches below; the leaves of which are hymns. He who knoweth it is a Veda knower. However when we are emeshed in the world the roots grow downwards, towards the earth. We lose connection with our heavenly roots and perhaps ignore the sacred part of our nature this sacredness is there but is not necessarily realised. Perhaps we have lost the compass which helps orient us towards the deeper aspects of our nature. In a similar vein, David Tacey mentions in his writings that it is the lack of connection to our invisible life-sustaining roots which exhausts us today. He talks about an addictive society, obsessed with playing it again or just doing what we already know - which will provide us certain comfort or nostalgia; it is easier to reproduce something than to make something new as this, of course, takes effort. According to Tacey, the making of ourselves into something new (transformation) calls for a profound connection with the deep roots of creativity taking us back to the something strange in Longfellow s poem. The Ashvattha Tree, with its roots above and leaves below. Annie Besant wrote about the pritimati and the naita, - which in Hindu tradition are the path of forthcoming of the soul from the source, and the path of return. From the source from which we emanate, we have an outgoing, then after a point of transition, we return to that source. She also indicated that reaching the turning point might be quite painful. In contrast to the incredible emphasis being put on the individual in today s world, David Tacey has described how The Sacred is the font of human creation and is the core of the natural world. It may be discovered within ourselves through quiet introspection but once contacted it also brings an imperative to go outside ourselves and to give to the life around us. From the Vivekachudamani, we find the observation that divine aspiration becomes manifest when external desire is washed away. This may seem difficult but if we let go a little by the use of meditation or prayer, desires recede, and there is a space for the sacredness to enter into our lives. Annie Besant in her small book The Laws of Higher Life wrote about the life of the spirit which consists in giving, not in taking, in pouring itself out, and not in grasping, in self-surrender and not in self-appropriation. She, herself, gave sacrifice not as pain, but as joy, not as sorrow but as delight. In the moments when we focus our consciousness inwards the sacred has space to manifest itself in our lives. Sacred is in fact a word describing a state which is in many ways a mystery, unknown and strange. Imagination is a strong tool: the Vivekachudamani says Realise that thou art that. We define ourselves in many ways often in terms of accomplishments or possessions. Is it possible to let go of some of these definitions and simply visualize us as that alone? During Linda s talk, we ventured from the worldly, to transitioning towards the sacred, considered the Ashvata tree with the roots going down to the earth and considered that we are like that, instead of having our roots in heaven. The source of our exhaustion has disconnected us from the sacred. And the path of return to the source is a long term project involving a succession of lifetimes. Lessening some of our worldly attachments will not happen instantly.

6 6 The TS in Canberra Newsletter No. 76 (April June 2015) On Death and Dying - Panel discussion The general opinion was that the participants were brave to tackle a topic which is largely avoided in society. But here is something to ponder why do we celebrate a good life and not a good death? Why, indeed? With Tony Fearnside opening and facilitating the panel discussion, Birthe Ross continued, talking about her experience as a pastoral carer and Rev Greg Connolly followed, describing teachings from the Catholic and Liberal Catholic perspectives. Gordon Herbert was a resource person, providing facts to enhance the discussion. God bless this tiny little boat And me who travels in it. It stays afloat for years and years And sinks within a minute. And so the soul in which we sail, Unknown by years of thinking, Is deeply felt and understood The minute that it's sinking Michael Leunig acknowledged with thanks Tibetan Buddhism tells us that since death is inevitable and its timing is unpredictable, it is advisable to prepare in good time. Pastoral care was previously delivered by religious leaders; now anyone can study clinical pastoral education and assist in the process. There may initially be denial, eventually leading to realisation and sometimes questions and often anger. Why me? Why now? And acceptance. The dying person can feel powerless; but listening, on the part of the pastoral carer, is important. Birthe gave examples of how to mirror some statements that are made by the dying person. Skilful, compassionate care is important to prepare for a peaceful passing into death. Most interestingly, Birthe, whose mother language is Danish, said in that language, palliative care is known as soul care. In her experience the dying process can start with periods of unconsciousness when the dying person may appear to be holding conversations with people who have passed on. She also affirmed that in her experience, appropriate medication, skilfully given, can in fact assist the approaching passing which was surprising for some of us as we had previously thought otherwise. Greg briefly described the traditional Catholic view of the moment of death when it was supposed the person would go to either Heaven, Limbo, Purgatory or Hell. Limbo was explained as being the place where those incarnate on earth before the time of Jesus went, and infants who died before baptism. The Roman Catholic Church is moving away from this strict interpretation of Limbo. Many people in the Liberal Catholic Church (LCC), which was inspired by Theosophy, consider it more likely that only two of these after-death states, namely Heaven and Purgatory, exist. Souls in Purgatory get another chance in their next incarnation. In its Act of Faith, the LCC states that all souls shall one day reach the feet of God however far they stray, implying that souls are not condemned to Hell to suffer forever. What happens after we die? St Paul, in his Epistles, tells us that our resurrection body will be a spiritual body that is different from our physical bodies; he writes of many different states in the afterlife, allows for out-of-body experiences and implies that there are at least three levels of heaven. Prior to the session, Tony had circulated a brief information sheet giving traditional theosophical views. Also recommended is A E Powell s book The Astral Body and other Astral Phenomena and Helping the Dying A guide for families and friends assisting those in transition by Nelda Samarel - a Theosophical Order of Service publication.

7 The TS in Canberra Newsletter No. 76 ( April June 2015) 7 Theosophy and art Clarice Beckett at the NGA Under New Acquisitions the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, announces on its website that in 2014 it purchased Silent Approach painted by Clarice Beckett in c A quick read of the appropriate chapter in Jenny McFarlane s book Concerning the Spiritual The Influence of the Theosophical Society on Australian Artists reminds us that Clarice Beckett, a student of Max Meldrum, had many connections to the TS. Her biographer, Rosalind Hollinrake said that Beckett became interested in the TS in Bendigo and then in Melbourne where she attended meetings with Beatrice Colquhoun, wife of artist Alexander Colqhoun. Jenny MacFarlane writes: Although Clarice Beckett never formally joined The Theosophical Society, her early interest in Theosophical spirituality was sustained and would impact significantly on her work. In fact it would seem that Beckett came to Meldrum s school through Beatrice Colquhoun and The Theosophical Society. Discussion group meetings Did you miss our Saturday discussions? They are held on the third Saturday of the month at the Emeritus Faculty, ANU (barring forces majeures). And so far they have been quite varied this year. At the first meeting in February, How can we best help transmit the Divine Energies? we listened to a CD of the magnificent plain song by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, 16 th century Italian composer. The effect on us, the listeners, was almost as varied as the number of participants. Some were undoubtedly affected by their experience of - and reaction to - this wonderful music. Even those who were not so tangibly moved felt the uplifting effects of the remarkable piece of sacred music. In March, the topic was What are the powers latent in the human being? How do we best investigate them? This elicited a variety of contributions from attendees. After the April discussion on What is current and new in the esoteric world, an was circulated, giving brief notes from the discussion and listing useful websites and authors of interest. In May Messages via some current mediums the discussion offered personal experiences of intuitiveness and some quite esoteric incidents. The discussion group meetings continue throughout the year. At the next one in June you are invited to present an inspiring thought or suggestion which will be of practical help on our journey. They are discussion groups it is where you can definitely question, comment, say, and share with theosophical friends. Reminder: During June, July and August, the public meetings which are normally held on Monday evenings at the Friends Meeting House will also be held at the Emeritus Faculty on the first Saturday afternoon of each of these months. See the programme on p 14 for details.

8 8 The TS in Canberra Newsletter No. 76 (April June 2015) On Change Radha Burnier The topic of Linda Oliveira s talk was Change as we know, change is inevitable, but sometimes it comes slowly. What have two prominent theosophists said about transformation, and the way along the path? Two grand ladies of the TS - Radha Burnier, immediate past International President, and Joy Mills, a doyenne of the TS in USA and a former President in Australia have written prolifically and you may be tempted to dig more deeply into their literary wealth. The current International President, Tm Boyd, also gave his views on the process of change recently. Radha Burnier: There is no one in whom change is not taking place slowly, in the course of long ages, through many incarnations but a time comes when a person at last understands and says, I shall not wait for the change. He takes himself in hand when his awareness is clear enough for him to see the contradictions in his life and that body consciousness is pulling him in every direction but the one in which he wants to go. This is the beginning of self-understanding. Even before entering the Path, there must be a certain understanding of life. If there is no discernment about what is worth while and what is not, and if one is running after things which are useless, engaged in pursuits which are for one life only as At the Feet of the Master says, one is not ready for the Path. The word Path, however, gives a wrong picture, as if one were going somewhere outside oneself; but it is meant to indicate an inner change and nothing else. Before that change can take place consciously, there must have been not only some discrimination but also a little detachment, a certain self-restraint, implied in the six points of conduct spoken about in Vedanta, parallels for which exist in other traditions. Further, there must be the urge to change the feeling that there must be a right-about turn in life. The most difficult stage of one s life is this turning point. Previously, while one moved outwards to gain experience and obtain stimulation, there was no problem. The man who wants worldly things goes after them. After entering the Path proper, there is no problem either. One who has definitely entered the stream knows in what direction his is going. The time between, where perhaps most seekers are, when they are neither quite worldly nor definitely unfolding their spiritual nature, is a stage of doubt and struggle. People claim to want enlightenment, yet cling to the pleasures and attachments of the world. Light on the Path states that though the ordinary man asks perpetually, his voice is not heard. It also says Those that ask shall have. The difficulty is that the voice of the mind is heard only on that plane on which the mind acts. Those who want the enlightenment of liberation must not ask only with the mind that is, conceptually they must learn to ask at a deeper level, without wanting wisdom together with the pleasures and objects of the world. There must be a radical change of direction. When the direction becomes absolutely clear, the Path proper begins. Radha Burnier an excerpt from Stages of the Path published in The Theosophist in October 1982.

9 The TS in Canberra Newsletter No. 76 ( April June 2015) 9 On Change Joy Mills Joy Mills: We are told that every aspect of our nature, the good and the bad alike, is required for the task ahead. As with the redirection of energy, so all the enemies within us must be transformed. Both vices and virtues, we are informed, are steps [that] make up the ladder by which we ascend to the highest. As the commentary states, The whole nature of man must be used wisely by the one who desires to enter the way. Such a comment should help us to realize that we are not to repress or to supress any aspect of our nature that may seem undesirable. Rather we are to bring our entire nature, including the psychophysical complex, the personality, into a certain condition. We cannot neglect any aspect of ourselves without in some manner injuring the whole. It is the entire nature that is to be used, and used wisely for the purpose we have in view. Repression of those aspects, particularly of thoughts and feelings we do not want to acknowledge as belonging to us, can only result in festering sores in the kamamanasic, or mental, emotional or psycho-dynamic realms We have to ask ourselves how can we use each aspect of ourselves in pursuing the way? We have called it the way to enlightenment, to Self-realization, to liberation from the round of birth and death but even to define the way, which we are enjoined to seek out, could indicate some vestige of self-interest, a tinge of selfishness in our quest. Excerpt from Entering on the Sacred Way Joy Mills Joy Mills news Joy Mills: There comes a time when we are aware of something more something beyond the stimulus-response patterns of the biological nature and beyond also the psychological reactions in the life-field we have created about us in the cultural mould of our habitual existence. That something more may come first, as a small voice, often a dissident voice, which may at times erode and even ultimately destroy vast rigid blocks of cultural tradition. It is the kind of voice that spoke through Jesus the Christ and Gautama the Buddha, as well as through every great world teacher, and which has always quite literally revolutionized the cultural milieu of the time. Such a voice comes first as a creative thrust towards understanding, a creative thrust inwards which calls forth a response from a new level, a level of our being previously untouched and hence unexperienced, but which, once experienced, becomes the new centre of action, so that we are no longer caught in the reactionary field of the personality and its limited psychological patterns, but are free to act from that point of decision which is the Immortal Self. As a result of a new thrust inwards, which is really the only direction left open to us today, we are able to open up a new channel of creative energy, discovering new potentials, which enable us to act directly upon the world since we are no longer subject to the reactionary patterns of the past, which have bound us to the karmic wheel of action and reaction. This is, quite literally, a movement in a new direction. The essence of this way of thinking is that the human nature of the future cannot then be predicted by a sheer extension of the trends of the present. Excerpt from The One true Adventure - Theosophy and the Quest for Meaning page 254 Joy Mills

10 10 The TS in Canberra Newsletter No. 76 (April June 2015) On Change Tim Boyd The current International President of the TS also mentioned the process of change in his recent Presidential Address: Tim Boyd: The idea that there is the possibility of some static condition in life is the product of superficial thinking and the source of needless suffering. For us students of the Ageless Wisdom and members of the Theosophical Society, it is not uncommon to fall into a similar trap. Too many sincere spiritual seekers find themselves searching for peace, enlightenment, and liberation on their own terms. These words are familiar to all of us, but the reality behind them goes beyond terminology. What is peace? What is enlightenment? Too often the conventional view of these states of consciousness is negative in the sense that peace, for example, is regarded as a void, an absence of strife, conflict, worry, personal difficulties, and so on. In essence the imagined fruit of the state of being at peace is static and unchanging. This is more of an expression of a personal desire for comfort than a description of reality. So many things in the spiritual life can become coloured by the projection of our personal wants. Until we become grounded in the experience of a higher life, we are necessarily subject to such projections... One of the beauties of a genuine embrace of the Theosophical worldview and its teachings is that it holds the potential for transformation for an utterly new way of seeing. There is no formula or roadmap for this type of profound change, but within us there is a certainty of two things, 1) transformation is possible; 2) at the deepest levels of our being, it is our need. Whenever we reach a point in our unfoldment where we find meaning in something like Theosophy, it is because we are approaching a more expansive plane of International President, Tim Boyd consciousness. Facing the pressing needs in the world today, we must ask ourselves what we can do to hasten this unfoldment, and turn our faces towards a world in need. Excerpt from the Presidential Address to the 139th Annual Convention of the Theosophical Society Adyar, 26 December 2014 The National President has informed Canberra Branch that National Lecturer Barry Bowden will visit us on Saturday 21 November. Up to date information on this will be given later. Meantime, we have 21 November in our diary. Barry has been the Coordinator of the Toowoomba Group for a number of years and is currently a National Lecturer for The Theosophical Society in Australia. He has an interest in classical Theosophy - how it relates in a practical way to daily life and also illuminates the path before humanity as a whole and part. Barry likes to discuss with people what they like about Wisdom, no matter what the source. He is also interested in how understanding evolution gives deep meaning to life in all things.

11 The TS in Canberra Newsletter No. 76 ( April June 2015) 11 Monday 4 May was the last of the Monday evening meetings until the end of winter. The evening meetings which are not popular in winter months will be substituted by Saturday afternoon (the first Saturday of each month) at the Emeritus Faculty. They are in addition to the Saturday discussion groups on the third Saturdays. Gordon has summarized below his talk on the externalization of the Hierarchy of Masters (EHM) or the Gods of old. The Era of the Gods Return The myths and legends of antiquity speak of divine beings, Gods, that came to Earth to help infant humanity to develop. They stayed until we were able to learn from our own experiences, and then left. We are now receiving their messages that their return is imminent, and that we have matured sufficiently (but not totally) as a human race to be able to work cooperatively with them. The Gods are in fact the currently discarnate Masters, ETs, angels and other high beings that presently guide humanity psychically. They plan to incarnate in a gradual process to be decided in the year They will implement, with our help, a divine plan for the advancement of humanity and our integration with the broader purpose of our Planetary Logos. There are three stages in this Externalization (incarnation) of the Hierarchy of Masters (EHM), the Gods of old. The first is now active until the year 2025 and is preparing the way. A vanguard of advanced humanity, the Cultural Creatives, is destroying the older, inadequate ways, and visioning the new in education, governance, democracy, values and better relations. Edgar Cayce says that Archangel Michael is now very active as he is an agent of change and a guide of the Way to higher consciousness. He is now preparing for the appearance of the Christ 1. Cayce said that the Christ Consciousness would be the ruling human force by Gordon Herbert The Era of the Gods Return Depicting the relationship between the higher kingdoms and humanity. the year Dolores Cannon found three waves of volunteers from beyond Earth, now tens of thousands, who have tipped the balance of consciousness towards a positive future. The second stage of the EHM will occur after year 2025 as the masters gradually incarnate to assume leadership in all areas of life, creating a new world order and preparing for the incarnation of the Christ. In the third stage the incarnate Christ will inaugurate a totally new world civilization. He will be overshadowed by the cosmic Spirit of Peace to bring harmony, goodwill and peace on Earth. The cosmic Avatar of Synthesis, working through Shamballa 2 will also work with the Christ to create at-onement, unification and fusion of all seven kingdoms on Earth. The Buddha will work with these to enhance spiritual light for all beings. Human invocation is needed to ensure cooperative success. The incoming energies of the Aquarian Age, which is ruled by Uranus and Ray Seven, will assist the EHM. Uranus helps develop will, focus and leadership, and Ray Seven aids the development of a new world order based upon spiritual drive, freedom and organization.

12 12 The TS in Canberra Newsletter No. 76 (April June 2015) (Contd from page 11) They complement Ray One in manifesting the spiritual ideal, synthesizing spirit and matter. In the future Shamballa will have a greater influence on humanity in coordinating the will and purpose of God, and in integrating Earth purpose with cosmic purpose. Cannon says that a hierarchy of councils creates rules for life in the universe and that they have given Earth its Life Charter. ETs and spirit beings began life on the planet and provided teachers and culture bringers, though they cannot now interfere with our free will unless we were to endanger the planetary Life. She also predicted end times in the year 2050, as the end of the old way of thinking and doing, and as the time of return of Isis to bring harmony, peace, understanding and light. Ken Carey s source said that we are now in a 1000 year period of Planetary Awakening, and that our light bodies would be completed by year It will be the birth of a new organism, abandoning old ideas and concepts. Vera Stanley Alder s master explained that humans are cells in the mind of the Planetary Logos and that we must increase in our frequency so that planetary initiation becomes possible. Djwhal Khul says that the coming change involves the aims and energies of the Solar Logos and our galaxy, and that our Planetary Logos is currently undergoing the 4 th initiation. This planetary initiation requires the further evolution and integration of all the seven kingdoms on Earth until we become a sacred planet. It requires human cooperation through alignment and greater enlightenment, and the EHM will help with this needed transformation. The Aquarian Age will see the ascension of the whole, and is providing an opportunity for those willing to take advantage of the new energies to progress further along the Way of At-one-ment. 1 2 The Christ is an office that is Head of the Hierarchy, and is also known as Maitreya, Bodhisattva, etc. Shamballa is the highest kingdom on Earth, the home of the Planetary Logos, Lord of the World, and is the centre of divine Will and Purpose on Earth. It is of Ray One (Shiva) quality. Sources: Djwhal Khul, Ken Carey, Dolores Cannon, Edgar Cayce, Vera Stanley Alder. Gordon s entire paper is on his website 20Return.pdf or can be ed on request. New study course Understanding the psychic world - views on Psychic Phenomena, Magic, Mediumship and Clairvoyance New Study Course The Education Coordinator, Pedro Oliveira, has produced a study course: Understanding the Psychic World, Views on Psychic Phenomena, Magic, Mediumship and Clairvoyance. (57 pages). The list of contents: Theosophical Views on the Human Constitution; The Field of Psychic Phenomena; H. P. Blavatsky on the Nature of Magic; Understanding Mediumship; Clairvoyance What It Is; On Kundalinī Energy; From Psychism to Spirituality Cost: $10.00 (includes postage) Order from edcoord@austheos.org.au org or The Theosophical Society in Australia, Level 2, 162 Goulburn Street, Surry Hills, NSW 20 Tel: (02)

13 The TS in Canberra Newsletter No. 76 ( April June 2015) 13 The Theosophical Order of Service Representing theosophy in action on a daily basis. The TOS was founded by Annie Besant in February 1908 We have a new recipient for our used stamps! During the past years we have donated all our used postage stamps to the Red Cross, but they no longer make use of them. We have found that Guide Dogs Tasmania will sell all donated stamps to collectors and make a small amount of funds which help them continue with their valuable services with Guide Dogs. So, please, keep collecting all your stamps and we ll send them on. If you are reading this from an interstate group and wish to send your stamps directly to Guide Dogs the address is: Guide Dogs Tasmania And corresponding by PO Box 82 The address for enquiries is North Hobart TAS 7002 admin@guidedogstas.com.au Our donations As a result of a brunch on 2 May at the café at the National Museum the one with the great views across the lake, and where the food is really good too, we were fortunate to receive $125 in donations from our brunchers. This sum has been divided between the Lumen School in a remote farming district in the Philippines and the Women s Social Welfare Group in Adyar. But that s not all! We also sent $150 for the yearly sponsorship of the young student in Pakistan and donated some funds to the Pakistan Home School project and the Olcott Memorial School in Adyar. This is all possible due to the generosity of you all whether it is by dropping some coins into the small wicker collecting basket at TS meeting, or supporting the brunches or by giving a separate donation. Above: Lumen School, Philippines (with Vic Hao Chin on the left) Our thanks go to everyone who has contributed to TOS. Above: Olcott School, Adyar Left: Pakistan Home School sponsored by Australia, nation-wide Janice (on behalf of the Canberra team)

14 14 The TS in Canberra Newsletter No. 76 (April June 2015) THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IN CANBERRA Day Date Speaker Topic SATURDAY 2.00pm ANU SATURDAY 2.00pm ANU SATURDAY 2.00pm ANU 6 June DVD A DVD will be shown on The Journey Beyond Death 20 June Group activity Facilitated by Stephen Hasslauer 4 July Hilda Hepburn Sacred Geometry Presenting an aspiring thought or suggestion which is of practical help on our journey. SATURDAY 2.00pm ANU SATURDAY 2.00pm ANU SATURDAY 2.00pm ANU MONDAY 7.30pm FMH SATURDAY 2.00pm ANU 18 July Group activity Visit to the Bahá í Centre 18 Hickey Court, Weston meet at the Centre at 1.50pm 1 August Peter Friedlander Rebirth in Buddhism, Hinduism and Western perspectives 15 August Group activity Present a favourite piece of music 7 September Please note venue Gordon Herbert, Grahame Crookham 19 September Discussion: Margot Herbert Grahame Crookham The Divine Plan (as given by the Master Djwal Khul and others More on meditation. Why meditate? FMH = Friends Meeting House ; ANU = Emeritus Faculty, ANU ; TBA = To be advised NOTE: During the winter months it has been decided NOT to hold the Monday evening meetings in June, July and August. These will be substituted by afternoon meetings at 2.00pm on the first Saturday of June, July, August at the Emeritus Faculty, ANU, 24 Balmain Crescent, NOT the Friends Meeting House. See the programme above for details or at the website. We will return to the Monday evening schedule on 7 September, 7.30pm at the Friends Meeting House, Corner of Bent and Condamine Streets, Turner. Saturday discussion group meetings are also normally scheduled at the Emeritus Faculty, 24 Balmain Crescent on the third Saturday of each month. See programme for details.. Annual fees for the Theosophical Society in Canberra: Ordinary member: $75 with printed T in A / $55 with electronic T in A Student/pensioner*: $70 with printed T in A / $50 with electronic T in A Joining fee: $5 Friends : by donation Library: no charge for members; $10 for non members (reimbursed on return of book). * Number of concession card required: as per National Executive Committee minutes of July janton@netspeed.com.au Newsletter: Janice Scarabottolo