Blavatsky Lodge T S Mumbai: Programme for September 2015

BLAVATSKY LODGE: 7 French Bridge, Mumbai 400007.

DAY	TIME	DETAILS
Fri 4	6.00 pm	Members’ Meeting
Sun 6	10.15 am 11.30 am	BTF Council Meeting Blavatsky Lodge 135th Annual General Meeting Followed by Lunch – Please give your names to Lodge Assistant Sis. Asha (Tel: 23685026) or to Sis. Kashmira Khambatta (M: 9821459504)
Fri 11	6.00 pm 6.15 pm	Members’ Meeting Talk by Dr. Darius H. Umrigar (in Lobby)
Sun 13	10.30 am 11.00 am	To gather for preparation for the Ritual Mystic Star Ritual
Fri 18	6.00 pm	Members’ Meeting
Fri 25	4.30 pm 6.00 pm	Blavatsky Lodge Managing Committee Meeting Members’ Meeting
Sun 27	10.45 am	Maitreya Round Table
Tues 1 Tues 8 Tues 15 Tues 22 Tues 29	5.00 pm 5.00 pm 5.00 pm 5.00 pm 5.00 pm	SS Meeting SS Meeting SS Meeting SS Meeting SS Meeting

THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF

THE BOMBAY THEOSOPHICAL FEDERATION

Volume 84

—

No.12

–

September 2015

THE PRESENT MOMENT

Let us live, not in the yesterday that is past,

not in the tomorrow that is yet to come,

but let us live today and this very moment;

for it is in the ‘now’ that Reality is to be found,

for all the past and all the future is concentrated in this moment.

JOHN B.S. COATS

CONTENTS

Quote of John B S Coats	Cover
News & Notes	2
‘Art of Living’ by Sis. Villoo Adajania	3 - 6
BTF & Lodge Programmes September 2015	7 - 8

NEWS & NOTES

THE 84TH ANNUAL SESSION OF BTF graced by International President Tim Boyd: Please book the dates:

Friday 30th Oct. 2015 Opening at Blavatsky Lodge at 6.00 p.m.

Saturday 31st Oct. 2015 Talk at Blavatsky Lodge at 6.15 p.m.

Sunday 1st Nov. 2015 Full Day at Juhu Theosophical Colony

Register your names with Sis. Asha for Juhu Session & Bus Service for Juhu. The detailed program will be in BTF Bulletin of October 2015.

ASALA PURNIMA MEETING on 31st July 2015: Members gathered in Green Room of Blavatsky Lodge. Sis. Kashmira Khambatta had prepared a table near Lord Buddha’s statue. Bro. Keki Palkhiwalla in his talk said: One should live Theosophy with Inner & Outer Life. The atomic structure of all human vehicles should be pure. There should be a centre of gravity within so that joy & sorrow of outer life cannot topple one. A person has to be awakened to lose one’s outer-self to find Inner-self united with the ultimate Reality. He explained the Asala Ceremony, Four Noble Truths and the Eighth Fold Path. He urged that one should realize what one is, to start the journey towards Divinity with ‘Abhyas’ and ‘Vairagya’. The meeting had ended with the Buddhist praye

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Editor – Bro. Rustom R. Dalal Cover Page By: Sis. Kashmira Khambatta

Editorial Committee – Sis. Mahazaver Dalal (in charge of Mailing List), Sis. KashmiraKhambatta, Sis. Aban Patel and Ex-Officio: President Dr. Ajay Hora, Secretary Sis. Aban Amroliwalla. Note: News, Notes and Programmes to be printed in the Bulletin,be forwarded by e-mail to: rrpdalal@hotmail.com or kashmirakhambatta@yahoo.com latest by 16^th each month.

ART OF LIVING

Learning to live completely, harmoniously and creatively

is the best of art to cultivate. It is the finest expression

of beauty, writes VILOO H. ADAJANIA

The greatest art is the art of living, greater than all things that human beings have created by mind or by hand. The art of living cannot be found in books, no ‘guru’ can give it to you. And yet we have never spent perhaps a day or two, or a month, to find out what is the art of living. The fact is that there is an art of living.

Building good and affectionate relationship is the art of living. “In any enduring relationship, what we say and how we express ourselves is important. The words, the tone, the pitch, the punctuation and specific emphasis together can convey meanings that are either inspiring or resentful.” It is easy to judge them because we are sensitive enough in our relationship. Learning to build good and true relationship is the best of art to cultivate. Yes, for this we need to have respect and understanding for all beings, good feelings and right attitude towards all things so that we live without conflict.

The art of living is to have complete freedom - freedom from all compulsions and freedom from all lower bondages of material nature. This in turn implies being free of the ‘I-ness’ which means having an open mind, not being egoistic and the practice of true mindfulness.

Unless my mind is open, I will believe that I am not egoistic when I am, or in a particular situation if my ego thrusts itself forward, I am unaware of it, because I do not practice true mindfulness. The prison house of ego is what we have made for ourselves; it is entirely constructed by our thought. As long as we choose to

remain in it, we are not free to move on. It obstructs one in every way.

Do we ever stop gathering? For practical things in life one has to gather, but to see where gathering is not necessary, that is where lies the art of living.

The art of living also encompasses the art of dying. Man is frightened of life and man is frightened of death, of the known and the unknown. And that fear is born of the fact that man has not attempted to die of his past during his life. To live intensely is to die to everything of yesterday – all the pleasures, the daunting memories, the opinions, the judgments, the stupid little achievements – to die to all that.

Make an effort to remove all labels on yourself as they serve to negate you. Your past history and all your hurts are no longer here in your physical reality. Do not allow them to be here in your mind, muddying your present moment. Likewise, do not harbour ill-feelings for anybody regardless of what he has done to you. Become free to immerse yourself in this moment – the ‘now’ that’s called the ‘present’, to open, relish, nurture, play with and enjoy and explore. Stop and take notice of all that’s in your immediate space. Stay in the present by meditating and getting closer to the eternal now. That is the art of living.

Recognition of the Unity of all Life, Unity in Diversity, is the art of living.

Life is essentially One Universal Harmony; Life is Order; Life is Movement; Life is Rhythm. Just as no instrument is without a purpose in an orchestra, just as every instrument adds to and gives special effect to the music, to the symphony that is created, likewise, every manifestation in this universe is there with a purpose, a special unique purpose; it is a special note to add to the Harmony, though individually different. Every human being, nay, every being that comes into this world, comes with a significant purpose. One has a significant role to play, each a different role to play and that role one has to play well to accomplish the purpose, to bring it to fruition, to harmonize the whole. Respect this fact and accept it in its right spirit. You cannot expect everybody to be the way you would like him to be. Diverse views, diverse disposition, diverse inclinations and diverse aspirations are always there to restore a sense of balance in Nature.

One has to seek his purpose in life by himself. It has to be explored, discovered and understood by the individual himself. If one delves deep within one’s own self, one may find out what one’s inner inclinations are, one may know one’s spontaneous bent of mind. If one is sensitive and intuitive, one can also hear one’s inner voice, voice of one’s heart and soul saying in whispers what it wants, what it waits for, what it longs for. The ‘creative faculties’ are inherent in every human being. They just have to be awakened and nurtured and they are sure to do wonders.

The beautiful instrument, this ‘Sharira-Veena’ we are born, endowed and blessed with, we merely carry about, spending any amount of money over it, never realizing that it is given to fulfill a definite purpose in Nature.

Life without sensitivity, without creativity and without a sense of purpose, is hardly worth living. It is called incomplete living, for then, you lack the driving force, the energy, the ‘shakti’ that needs to be tapped and employed for a noble cause. As long as this energy remains locked up, dormant and unawakened, as long as you are living but bound only to sensual gratification, it is then indeed, a sheer existence. One then does not live life but carries the burden of existence.

J. Krishnamurti says, living skillfully in the whole field of life is the greatest art, and I quote:

“Who is the person that you call an artist? A man who is momentarily creative? To me he is not an artist. The man who merely at rare moments has creative impulse and expresses that creativeness through perfection of technique? Surely, you would not call him an artist. To me, the true artist is one who lives completely, harmoniously, who does not divide his art from living, whose very life is that expression, whether it is a picture, music or his behaviour; who has not divorced his expression on a canvas or in music or in stone, from his daily conduct and daily living. That demands the highest intelligence, highest harmony. To me, the true artist is the man who has that harmony. He may express it on canvas, or he may talk, or he may paint, or he may not express it at all, he may feel it. But all this demands that exquisite poise, that intensity of awareness; and therefore his expression is not divorced from the daily continuity of living” (unquote).

So, learning to live completely, harmoniously and creatively is the best of art to cultivate. It is the finest expression of beauty. It has its roots in the world of values, insight, love, intuition and consciousness. If each of us strives to perfect the art of self-discipline and self-control (that is, the ability to behave in accordance with the highest dictates of one’s conscience), we can refashion and transform human society into humane society at large. Of course, we are all mere learners in the art of living which potentially contains within itself the solution of most of our problems.

QUOTES:

Keep your own ideals lofty,

while you keep your

judgment of others charitable.

* * *

We must welcome differences of thought,

and give free play to their expression,

so that our windows may be kept open to all new light.

- Dr. Annie Besant

BTF & LODGE PROGRAMMES SEPTEMBER 2015

1. ANANDA LODGE: Theosophical Colony, Juhu, Mumbai 400049. Sunday 20th September 2015 at 12.00 noon. Contact Dr. Smruti Hora Tel: 26151060 for details

2. BLAVATSKY LODGE: 7 French Bridge, Mumbai 400007.

DAY	TIME	DETAILS
Fri 4	6.00 pm	Members’ Meeting
Sun 6	10.15 am 11.30 am	BTF Council Meeting Blavatsky Lodge 135th Annual General Meeting Followed by Lunch – Please give your names to Lodge Assistant Sis. Asha (Tel: 23685026) or to Sis. Kashmira Khambatta (M: 9821459504)
Fri 11	6.00 pm 6.15 pm	Members’ Meeting Talk by Dr. Darius H. Umrigar (in Lobby)
Sun 13	10.30 am 11.00 am	To gather for preparation for the Ritual Mystic Star Ritual
Fri 18	6.00 pm	Members’ Meeting
Fri 25	4.30 pm 6.00 pm	Blavatsky Lodge Managing Committee Meeting Members’ Meeting
Sun 27	10.45 am	Maitreya Round Table
Tues 1 Tues 8 Tues 15 Tues 22 Tues 29	5.00 pm 5.00 pm 5.00 pm 5.00 pm 5.00 pm	SS Meeting SS Meeting SS Meeting SS Meeting SS Meeting

3. CENTENARY LODGE:

Will inform when they are able to hold meeting.

4. JYOTI LODGE:

Contact Bro. Taral Munshi, c/o Dr. Ajay Hora, B-7, Juhu Theosophical Colony, Mumbai 400049 Tel 26151060

5. SHANTI LODGE:

C/o Bro. Rustom Dalal, Vijay Niwas, 2nd Floor, Plot 5, Sleater Road, Mumbai 400007

Thursdays at 6.15 p.m.

3	Study of C. W. Leadbeater’s book ‘Man Visible & Invisible’
10	Study of C. W. Leadbeater’s book ‘Man Visible & Invisible’
17	Bank Holiday – Lodge closed
24	Bank Holiday – Lodge closed

6. UNITY YOUTH LODGE: C/o Blavatsky Lodge

Wed 16

5.30 pm

Theosophical readings guided by Sis. Soonoo Vesuna at her residence Vijay Niwas, 4th Floor, Sleater Road

7 & 8 VASANTA LODGE & GANESH LODGE:

Please note NEW ADDRESS: C/O Dr. Ajay Hora, Kamla Sadan 1st Floor, Pherozsha Mehta Rd., Santa Cruz West, Mumbai 400054.

Thursday 3, 10 at 6.30 pm

17 & 24 (both Bank Holiday, Lodge closed)

9. VIMADALAL BILIA LODGE: Family House, Parsi Colony, Dadar, Mumbai 400014.

Thurs 3	6.00	Study - C. Jinarajadasa’s ‘First Principles of Theosophy’ by Bro. Zinoo Master
Thurs 10	6.00	Talk by Bro. Keki Palkhiwalla
Thurs 17	6.00	Bank Holiday – Lodge closed
Thurs 24	6.00	Lodge Meeting for Members by Sis Armaity Tirandaz

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If you have sense of caring for others,

you will manifest inner strength

in spite of your own difficult

situations and problems.

By going beyond your own problems

and taking care of others,

you gain inner strength, self-confidence,

courage and a greater sense of calm.

-His Holiness Dalai Lama

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Price: Rs. 1/- Annual Subscription: Rs. 10/-

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Edited & Published by Editor Shri. Rustom R. Dalal, The Bombay Theosophical Federation, c/o Blavatsky Lodge, 7 – French Bridge, Chowpatty, Mumbai – 400 007. (Tel: 23685026) and Printed at Vijay Copy Centre, 48/A, Saidunnisa Building, Sleater Road, Opposite Grant Road Station (West), Mumbai - 400 007 (Tel:23865137)

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ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2014-15

BLAVATSKY LODGE

The Theosophical Society

[Registered under B.P.T. Act, 1950 - No.F/344(B)] ▪ [Founded in 1879]

7, French Bridge, Chowpatty

Mumbai 400007 ▪ Tel: 2368 5026

ANNUAL REPORT

2014-15

BLAVATSKY LODGE

The Theosophical Society

7, French Bridge, Chowpatty, Mumbai 400007. Tel: 2368 5026

notice

Date: 30^thJuly 2015

Dear Sister/Brother,

The 135th Annual General Meeting of the Blavatsky Lodge T.S. will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, the 6th September 2015 in the Blavatsky Lodge premises when your presence is earnestly solicited.

Yours fraternally,

K.B. Khambatta

HON. SECRETARY

AGENDA

1. To read the circular convening the Meeting.

2. To read and confirm the minutes of the last Annual General Meeting held on 20^th July 2014.

3. To receive and adopt the Managing Committee's Annual Report for the year ended 31st March 2015.

4. To receive and pass the audited Statement of Accounts of the Lodge and Book Depot, as on 31st March 2015.

5. To elect Honorary Auditors for the year 2015-16 and fix their honorarium.

6. To invite suggestions and views of members to spread Theosophy, increase membership of TS and make the Blavatsky Lodge, more vibrant and active.

7. Any other matter with the permission of the Chair.

PS:
The General Body meeting will be followed by lunch for members. Senior Members of age 75 years or above will be reimbursed taxi fare upto Rs.100/-. All members are requested to confirm participation to the Lodge Assistant, Sister Asha (Phone 022 2368 5026) or the Hon. Secretary, Sis Kashmira B. Khambatta (Phone 9821459504) as soon as possible to facilitate lunch arrangements.

ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2015

We pay our homage to the Masters and the Great White Brotherhood for their invisible guidance and assistance.

MEMBERSHIP:

We invite new members to attend our Rituals of Mystic Star, and the Matreya Round Table as also the meetings held on Tuesdays and Fridays.

MEMBERSHIP DETAILS	Regular	Associate	Total
LIFE MEMBERS
As on 1-4-2014	53	2	55
Transfer from Ordinary Members	2		2
Expired	1	1	2
As on 31-3-2015	54	1	55

ORDINARY MEMBERS	--
As on 1-4-2014 (Including Associate Members)	84	6	90
New Members	5		5
Renewal of Membership	-	-	-
Expired	-	-	-
Resigned	1	-	1
Lapsed	2	-	2
Transfer to Life Membership	2	-	2
Transfer from other lodges	-	-	-
As on 31-3-2015	84	6	90

TOTAL MEMBERS (as on 1-4-2015)	138	7	145

Obituary:

Bro. Jal Sanjana, Life Member and Bro Swarajkumar Mittal, passed to peace during the year under report.

There was a Commemorative Meeting for Bro Sanjana who actively served and propagated Theosophy over 70 years.

Managing Committee: At the Annual General Body meeting held on 20th July 2014, the following members were elected unanimously as Office-Bearers and Members for the years 2014-16:

President Bro. Navin Kumar

Vice-President Sis. Freny Pagdiwalla

Hon. Treasurer Sis Aban P Amroliwalla

Hon. Jt. Treasurer Sis. Ruby Khan

Hon. Secretary Sis. Kashmira Khambatta

MEMBERS Bro Rustom Dalal
Sis. Aban Patel
Sis. Ketayun Irani
Sis. Jasmine Cawasji
Sis. Navaz Dhalla
Bro. Noor Baig

Bro. Princey Mehta

Following Sub-Committees were formed:

Library Sub-Committee:

Sis Kashmira Khambatta (Hon. Librarian), Sis. Aban Amroliwalla
(Asst. Librarian) Sis Jasmine Cawasji (member)

Book Depot Sub-Committee:

Sis Freny Paghdiwalla (Book Depot Manager), Sis Nawaz Dhalla
& Sis Bana Mehta.

Housekeeping Sub-Committee:

Sis Nawaz Dhalla, Sis. Ketayun Irani, & Sis. Jasmine Cawasji.

Building Supervision Sub-Committee:

Bro. Rustom Dalal, Sis Nawaz Dhalla & Aban Amroliwalla.

Programmes Sub-Committee:

Sis Aban Patel, Sis. Jasmine Cawasji & Bro Princey Mehta.

The President and the Hon. Secretary are ex-officio members of all the Sub-Committees.

Managing Committee Meetings: The details about members’ attendance at the meetings are as under:

No. of meetings attended by the Managing Committee Members
(July 2014 to June 2015)

[Out of 12 meetings]

PRESIDENT: Bro. Navin Kumar 10

VICE PRESIDENT : Sis.Freny Pagdiwalla 4

HON. TREASURER Sis Aban P Amroliwalla 8

Hon. Secretary: Sis. Kashmira Khambatta 10

Jt. Hon Treasurer: Sis. Ruby Khan 6

MEMBERS : Bro Rustom Dalal 6

Sis. Aban Patel 8

Sis. Ketayun Irani 8

Sis. Jasmine Cawasji 12

Sis. Navaz Dhalla 9

Bro. Noor Baig 2

Bro Princey Mehta 2

LODGE MEMBERS’ MEETINGS, THEOSOPHICAL TALKS & DISCUSSIONS which took place during the year, included:

Members’ Meetings:

· Members’ meeting were held on Fridays. Dhammapada study which had started in the previous year under the guidance of Bro H K Saran was continued and completed in the month of June with a one day wrap up session on Sunday the 15^th June 2014.

· The study of “Text Book of Theosophy” by CWL under the guidance of Bros Rustom Dalal, Navin Kumar, Arni Narendra and Roy Mathew, Sis. Aban Patel, Navaz Dhalla Aban Amroliwalla, and “Clairvoyance” by CWL under the guidance of Sis Aban Patel was taken up in Members Meetings after June 2014 onwards.

· Sis Kashmira Khambatta gave a power point presentation on ‘The Result of Theosophical Study’, Chapter 10 From the Book “Clairvoyance” by C.W. Leadbeater, on 24^th April 2015.

· A full-day Special Members’ Meeting was held at Aarey Colony guest house to wrap up the study of “Clairvoyance” under the guidance of Sis Aban Patel on 21^st December 2014.

· From the month of January 2015 onwards Bro Dhananjay Singh is conducting talks cum discussion on Episodes from Mahabharata.

· Sis Maharukh Shroff and Sis Meher Contractor give several talks on different aspects of Zoroastrianism.

· “Gandhi” movie directed by Lord Attenbourough was screened at the Lodge on Sunday the 6^th April 2015.

· A special meeting was held at the Lodge on 23^rd November, 2015. The members walked from Lodge to Manibhavan to take darshan of Gandhiji’s photographs and rooms where he used to stay while in Mumbai. After returning to the Lodge and lunch there was a symposium on “The Life of Mahatma Gandhi”. Each participant was given a copy of Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography.

· Bro Zafar Iqbal, a former member of the IAS, gave two talks on “Islam”. Sis Meher Aria also gave a talk on “ Beauties of Islam “

The 83^rd Annual Session of Bombay Theosophical Federation was held from 10^th to 12^th October 2014 with Chief guests Bro Sundaram and Sis Manju Sundaram of the Indian Section.

Allied Activities:

· Bharat Samaj Pooja on 1^st Sundays of every month.

· Mystic Star Ritual on 2^nd Sundays of every month.

· Maitreya Round Table on 4^th Sundays of every month.

Red Letter Days were celebrated jointly with B.T.F. through talks, readings and audio visuals as under:

1. White Lotus Day meeting of BTF was jointly celebrated by Anand Lodge and Blavatsky Lodge at Juhu Theosophical Colony on 8^th May 2014 at 6.30 pm.

2. Dr. Annie Besant’s Birth Anniversary on 1^st October 2014 was celebrated jointly by BTF and Blavatsky Lodge in Besant Hall.

3. Foundation Day Meeting on 17^th November 2014 at Blavatsky Lodge.

4. Adyar Day on 17^th February 2015.

Special Ceremonies which took place included the following:

WESAK BLESSINGS OF LORD BUDDHA conducted on 14th May 2014 by Bro. Keki Palkhiwalla.

o CELEBRATIONS OF THE MAITREYA ROUND TABLE held on 18^th May 2014 with performance of the Wesak Ceremony.

o ASALA POORNIMA MEETING was conducted on 12^th July 2014 by Bro. Keki Palkhiwalla.

PUBLIC TALKS AND OTHER PROGRAMS held were:

LORD BUDDHA’S MOVIE AT BLAVATSKY LODGE: As the study of Dhammapada, conducted by Bro. H. K. Sharan over a year for the benefits of Brethren of Mumbai, was coming to an end, it was decided to show an animated movie on the life of Lord Buddha. This is an initiative of Blavatsky Lodge’s President Bro. Navin Kumar. This movie is of 4 hours, so it was shown in four parts over 4 Friday Meetings in May & June 2014. This artistic inspiring movie has been an opportunity to know Lord Buddha’s Life and to learn about His teachings.

DR. DARIUS H. UMRIGAR’S FULL DAY WORKSHOP ON ‘GOOD HEALTH WITHOUT MEDICINE’ at Blavatsky Lodge on Saturday 7th June 2014: was sponsored by Gustad Mehenti & Hormuzd Chinoy Trust. He gave useful guidelines on ‘Let Food be your Medicine and Your Medicine be your Food’.

MAITREYA ROUND TABLE WITH VAISHAKH CEREMONY on Sunday 18th May 2014: It was an Annual Gathering with Past Chief Knights of India Bro. Russi Toddywalla & Bro. Mahdeo Desai and other Senior Knights gracing the ceremony.

IMPRESSIONS OF THE 139TH INTERNATIONAL TS CONVENTION BY BTF BRETHREN:

Video clips of the opening session and the Presidential address were shown on 4^th January 2015 at the Blavatsky Lodge at 6 pm. This was followed by the narration of the impressions of the convention by Dr Ajay Hora, Sis Urvi Hora, Bro Vinayak Pandya and Bro Noor Baig who had attended the Convention.

SUPPORT CONVENTION DECEMBER 2014

In Christmas Spirit, we welcomed Brethren for the Support Convention at Blavatsky Lodge with colourful decorations and inspiring charts by Sis. Navaz Dhalla.

Opening of the Support Convention on Thursday 26th December 2014: Prayers of All Religions followed by the Universal Prayer were led by Blavatsky Lodge President Bro. Navin Kumar. Bro Keki Palkiwalla delivered a talk on ‘Invocation, Introspection and Self Realisation.

On 27th December 2014 there was a Cultural Evening which was decicated to the “Women of India”. National Anthem sung by women celebrities was screened. Members gave musical/instrumental items. An interview of Malal Yusufzai was screened in the end.

On 28th December 2014 morning Mystic Star Ritual was performed in the memory of Bro Jal Sanjana.

On 30th December 2014 The complete Presidential Address at the Adyar Convention was screened.

GRATITUDE:

The Blavatsky Lodge TS acknowledges with sincere thanks kind donations from:

(1) Executors of Estate of Late MS Sillo M Gandhi Rs 250000/-

(2) Sis Jasmine Cawasji Rs 10,000/-

(3) Sis Aban Patel Rs 5,000/-

(4) Sis Meher Minoo Contractor Rs 5,000/-

(5) Sis Kashmira Pastakia Rs 3000/-

(6) Sis Pervin C Pastakia Rs 3000/-

(7) Bro Cyrus J Pastakia Rs3000/-

(8) Sis Renu Toola Rs 1000/-

(9) Sis Shernaz Vachha 1000/-

(10) Bro Minocher N Sahukar Rs 900/- (for Library

Fund.

BOOK-DEPOT:

During the financial year 2014-15 books worth Rs.27507/- were purchased. Sales amounted to Rs.32170/-. At the end of the year closing stock at cost price was Rs.35778/-. We thank TPH, Adyar for their cooperation. The Book-Depot displayed books at their sales counter during workshops held at the lodge and BTF session at Juhu.

LIBRARY:

Books	Balance as on 1-4-2014	Purchased (+)	Donated (+)	Discarded (-)	Balance as on 31-3-2015
English	8349	--	103	--	8452
Gujarati	370	--	--	--	370
Marathi	264	--	--	--	264
Hindi	529	--	--	--	529
Sanskrit	44	--	--	--	44
TOTAL	9556	--	103	--	9659

2. Library Membership:

Nos.

Membership as on 31-3-2014 44

Add: New Members 3 -----

Less: Lapsed/Expired/Transferred, etc. 21

------

Membership as on 31-03-2015 26

====

We thank our donors Centenary Lodge – Bandra and other donors for their contribution of good books.

We would greatly appreciate the services of our members and sympathisers in our project of rearranging the Lodge Library and for manning the Book Depot. Interested persons may contact Bro. Navin Kumar for volunteering their services.

We also request our members and sympathizers to devote some of their valuable time towards attending our study classes, programs & allied activities and assisting in programs, library, book depot, housekeeping and building maintenance. Interested persons may contact the Secretary or other Committee members.

AUDITED ACCOUNTS:

The Audited Income and Expenditure Account for 2014-15 shows an excess of Income over Expenditure of Rs.312558.74/- for the Lodge & surplus of Rs.1613/- for the Book Depot. Audited Accounts Statements are given hereinafter for the perusal of members.

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AGM MINUTES 2015

BLAVATSKY LODGE T.S.

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE BLAVATSKY

LODGE T.S. HELD ON 6^TH SEPTEMBER AT BESANT HALL OF THE LODGE.

The 135^th Annual General Body Meeting of the Blavatsky Lodge T.S held in the Besant Hall of the Lodge was commenced with recital of Prayers of all Religions and the Universal Prayer by Members present. A total of 37 members were present for the AGM against the required quorum of 18.

The President Bro. Navin Kumar welcomed the Members present for the meeting and also thanked them for making it to the AGM.

Thereafter the Members rose and observed silence for a minute in remembrance of the Members who expired during the year under report and in recognition of their dedication and services to the Blavatsky Lodge.

Thereafter, the agenda items were taken up and the deliberations were as under:

1. To read the circular convening the Meeting:

The circular dated 20^th July 2014 convening the AGM which was circulated to members earlier, was reckoned as read.

2. To Read and confirm the Minutes of the last Annual General Body Meeting held on 20^th July 2014:

The Minutes of Annual General Body Meeting held on 20^th July 2014, copies of which were circulated to the Members, were read by Hon. Secretary, Sis. Kashmira Khambatta and the same were confirmed the following resolution proposed by Sis Navaz Dhalla , seconded by Sis Aban Patel and carried unanimously.

“Resolved that the minutes of the AGM held on July 20, 2014 are hereby confirmed.”

3. To receive and adopt the Managing Committee’s Annual Report for the year ended 31^st March 2015:

The President placed before the members the salient features of Annual Report which were as follows:

a. Total Members of Blavatsky Lodge are 145.

b. Sister Jasmine attended all the 12 meetings of the Managing Committee during the year under report. (she was honored by a general applause by all members)

c. Sister Kashmira khambatta gave a power point presentation on The Result of Theosophical Study on 24^th April 2014.

d. A four hour movie on the life of Buddha was screened in four parts during four members meetings in May and June 2014.

e. The study of the book “Clairvoyance” by Leadbeater was completed under the guidance of Sis Aban Patel. The wrap up session was held at the Aarey Clony Guest House on21st December 2014.

f. Screening of the Gandhi Movie in the Lodge and a visit to Mani Bhavan on 23^rd November 2014 followed by a symposium of Gandhi’s Life.

g. Completion of the Study of the Book “Text Book of Theosophy in members meetings.

h. Two talks on Islam were delivered by Bro Zafar Iqbal during members meetings.

i. Sis Maharukh Shroff and Sis Meher Contractor gave several talks on different aspects of Zoroastrianism.

j. The Red Letter days viz The White Lotus Day, Annie Besant’s Birth Day, Foundation Day and the Adyar Day were celebrated joyfully as usual.

k. Similarly the Bharat Samaj Puja, The Mystic Star Ritual and the Maitreya Round Table were performed every month.

The following resolution was proposed by Sister Jasmine Cawasji , seconded by Bro Khusrav and carried unanimously:

“Resolved that the Annual Report of the Blavatsky Lodge for the year 2014-15 be approved unanimously”.

4. Satement of accounts of the lodge and the Book Depot, as on 31^st March 2015:

The Hon Joint Treasurer, Sister Ruby Khan highlighted the income and expenditure figures of the year and expressed the satisfaction that the financials of the lodge are in order to carry out its objects. The following resolution was proposed by Sis Ruby Khan , seconded by Sis Ketayun and carried unanimously.

“Resolved that the Annual Accounts for the Year 2014-15 annexed to the annual report be approved.”

5. To elect honorary auditors for the year 2015-2016 and fix their honorarium:

The President mentioned that the current auditors, R.T.Kapasi and Associates, Mumbai, are doing satisfactory Audit Work of the Lodge. He expressed that the Managing Committee is of the view to reappoint them for 2015-16 at a Total audit fees of Rs.10,500/-, E-filing of Income Tax Returns Rs.3,500/- and TDS Return filing (if any) Rs,1,000/- per Return.

The proposal of the Managing Committee was accepted unanimously by the Genenral Body and the following resolution proposed by Bro Arnie Narendran, seconded by Sis Navaz Dhalla and carried unanimously:

“Resolved that R.T. Kapasi & Associates, Mumbai, be and is hereby appointed as the statutory auditors of the Blavatsky Lodge T.S. for the financial year 2015-16 at a total audit fees of Rs.10,500/-, E-filing of Income Tax Returns Rs.3,500/- and TDS Return filing (if any) Rs.1,000/- per Return.”

6. To invite suggestions and views of Members to spread Theosophy, increase membership of T.S. and make the Blavatsky Lodge more vibrant and active:

Sis. Navaz Dhalla expressed happiness at the response of many members who are coming to the Lodge for attending to various tasks at the Lodge. She stated that now in addition to the members meeting the SS meeting of workers is regularly taking place on every Tuesday. She appealed to all members to come to the lodge in these meetings as often as possible for them. She also thanked the present workers and servers who come regularly on Tuesdays.

7. Any other matter with the permission of the chair:

Distribution of T.S. Diploma Certificates.

Sis. Rajam Pillai received her Diploma Certificate at the hands of Bro. Keki Palkhiwalla to the accompaniment of a general applause by all members.

8. Vote of Thanks

Sis. Mahazaver Dalal extended the Vote of Thanks on behalf of Vice President Sis. Freny Pagdiwala. She thanked the President Bro. Navin Kumar, all the Managing Committee Members and all the Members present for coming to the AGM and for their efforts to make the Blavatsky Lodge a more vibrant centre of Theosophy.

HON. SECRETARY PRESIDENT

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AUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR 2014-15