Programme for March 2016

BLAVATSKY LODGE: 7 French Bridge, Mumbai 400007.

DAY	TIME	DETAILS
Fri     4	6.00 pm 6.15 pm	Members’ Meeting - Talk on ‘Demystifying Pathanjali’ by Bro. Arni Narendran Talk by Dr. Darius H. Umrigar (in Lobby)
Sun    6	10.00 am	Bharat samaj Pooja
Fri    11	6.00 PM	Members’ Meeting – ‘Life of Alcyone – Introduction’ by Sis. Kashmira Khambatta
Sun   13	10.30 am 10.30 am	To gather for preparation for the Ritual Mystic Star Ritual
Fri    18	6.00 pm	Members’ Meeting - Talk on ‘Demystifying Pathanjali’ by Bro. Arni Narendran
Fri    25	4.30 pm 6.00 pm	Blavatsky Lodge Managing Committee Meeting Members’ Meeting – ‘Life of Alcyone – Introduction’ by Sis. Kashmira Khambatta
Sun   27	10.45 am	Maitreya Round Table
Tues 1,8 15,22,29	4.15 pm  5.30 pm	Yoga Session conducted by Shernaz Vatchha SS Meeting

BTF Bulletin for March 2016

CONTENTS

Quote of Good Friday	Cover
Blavatsky Lodge invite for M.C. Nominations	2
News & Notes	2 - 4
Are you ready for the Journey?-by Villoo Adajania	4 - 6
BTF & Lodge Programmes March 2016	7 - 8

NEWS & NOTES

NOMINATION NOTICE BLAVATSKY LODGE MANAGING COMMITTEE INVITES NOMINATIONS for Election to the following positions for the Managing Committee of the Blavatsky Lodge, T.S., for the term of two years 2016-2018:           (1) President   (2) Vice-President (3) Treasurer and     (4) SEVEN members of the Managing Committee Nomination slips are available with Lodge Assistant Sis Asha Mhatre. These slips duly filled in and signed by the Nominee and the Proposer / Seconder (Blavatsky Lodge members) should be handed over to Election Officer Bro. Khosrav D Pavri latest by 22nd April 2016.

SHANTI LODGE Late Sis. Khorhsed D. Avari Art Competition Prize Distribution at Lady Engineer High School on 15th February 2016: Sis Bana Mehta, Sis. Villoo Adajania & Sis Mahazaver Dalal represented Shanti Lodge. There were 30 Individual Prizes and 4 Group Prizes for Theme Projects. From BTF ‘Short Biography of Annie Besant by C. Jinarajadasa’ was given to all prize winners. Principal Mr. Errick Elavia and Art Teacher Mr. Anand were presented Theosophical Books.

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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.  Kashmira Khambatta,  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 16th each month.

ADYAR DAY MEETING Jointly by BTF & Blavatsky Lodge on 17th February 2016 at Besant Hall: The meeting was opened with Prayers of All Religions, Universal Prayer and ‘Adyar Song’ by Sis Bana Mehta. BTF Vice-President Bro. Vinayak Pandya from the Chair spoke about the significance of Adyar Day and said, ‘Whenever I go to Adyar, I learn something new.’ Sis Aban Patel spoke about personal experiences of Col. H.S. Olcott and Sis. Ketayun Irani spoke about his life and his dedication to the Masters. Bro. Arnie Narendran paid tributes to Giordano Bruno, who was burnt alive for speaking the Truth. Sis Ruby Khan spoke about J. Krishnamuthi’s life and his Teachings. Sis Kashmira Khambatta paid homage to Bishop C.W. Leadbeater speaking about his life, dedication to Theosophy and books authored by him. Sis Jasmine Cawasji spoke about Adyar, the place selected by the Founders as guided by the Masters. Bro. Navin Kumar showed the video on Adyar’s beauty & buildings prepared by Int. President Tim Boyd. The video also showed structures of Adyar which need repairs and for which funds need to be raised. Brethren pouring out their gifts of Heart, Mind and Purse contributed towards Adyar Day Collection. At the Meeting Rs.3,500/- were collected. Shanti Lodge gave another contribution of Rs.500/-. BTF will send the collection to Adyar, which will be used for: (1) Adyar Library (2) The Olcott School & (3) Theosophical Society.

THANK YOU BRETHREN for your spontaneous donations to TOS, India for Adyar Flood Relief: Donations were through Blavatsky Lodge Rs.49,851/-, through Shanti Lodge Rs.5,000/- and directly by Individuals Rs.35,000/-.

TS SUPPORT FOR ADYAR WORKERS as reported in ‘Adyar Newsletter’ of November 2015: Though the residents of campus were not affected much by the Chennai devastating Floods, many of the TS workers living in outlying communities lost everything they possessed. To provide some relief to them, The TS management offered free lunch for three weeks at the Bhojanshala to around 130 workers.

Sis. Dhun Bottlewalla a senior member of the The Theosophical Society was unable to attend the 17^th February 2016 program held at Blavatsky Lodge. She very sweetly telephoned many other members who too were unable to attend and sang the beautiful Adyar Day Song.  She made these members very happy. Sis Bottlewalla has a beautiful voice and had always sung this beautiful song in the past years on this Red Letter Day.

MADHU-SMRUTI: A booklet of tributes in Gujarati with Bhajans & Songs which were liked by an ardent Theosophist late Sis. Madhuben Chandulal Pandya has been published in her memory by Bro. Chandulal Pandya and family. They have sent limited copies for Brethren of Bombay. Interested Brethren may contact Sis. Mahazaver Dalal. Madhuben lived a simple life according to Theosophical Teachings and was an epitome of Love & Care for all. May her soul be blessed with Eternal Peace.

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Are you ready for ‘THE JOURNEY’?

Life is a flow of becoming, and so the journey is the process of becoming. On this journey there is no goal, for the journey is the goal, writes VILOO H. ADAJANIA.

Man cannot live by bread alone. He always feels there is something missing because intrinsically from childhood, he is full of love, hopes, enthusiasm and aspirations. Until they are fulfilled, he feels some sort of void within him. So he asks himself, ‘Is that all there is and is that all there’s ever going to be?’ The soul of man is never satisfied in the long run with the so-called entertainment, attractions and glamour of life. It craves for something better, nobler, fulfilling, something which nourishes and enriches his soul and promotes its growth. When that time comes, the individual is ready to begin the fruitful ‘journey’ ahead.

Every human soul is a drop of consciousness in an infinite ocean of consciousness, a spark of fire from the Divine Essence. But the average man is oblivious of his divine nature because of the limitations of the human brain and because of the conditioning from the belief systems of the particular society in which he lives. He is assailed by doubts and uncertainties concerning life and haunted by the fear of death because he identifies himself with his physical body. The fears and uncertainties are suppressed with more and more gadgets and pastimes that keep him from discovering who he really is. He does not realize that the real self is something far more glorious and majestic than the bag of skin and bones he refers to as himself. Dr. Douglas Baker has aptly said : Man is an ‘imprisoned splendor’.

To, ‘know thy self’ means to know the real self, the transpersonal essence within us, not just the personality with its senses, feelings, thoughts and emotions. Yoga or union with the Divine Essence or Universal Consciousness gives us a momentary glimpse of ourselves, this imprisoned Splendor, which is our true nature. It is often referred to as ‘the mystical experience.’

So, it is time that we changed the direction and charted the course of the Journey towards the inner regions of our being, to get an insight not only into the nature of the self but also into the very vastness of this phenomenon that is life. We have to have keen vision because it is only by seeing the falseness of our values can we discover truth.

Whether we realize it or not, we are all on an evolutionary journey - a journey of becoming whole. We can take millions of years to make this journey of becoming a perfected man by treading the long and winding arduous path up the ‘mountain of illumination’, making only a little progress in each life. Or we can scale the cliff face in a few short lives by undertaking the disciplines of Yoga and short-circuiting the longer evolutionary process.

In esoteric language, this is referred to as the ‘Path of Discipleship’ or the ‘Way of the Disciple’. A disciple, by definition, is he who begins to discipline himself, one who begins to go into training. If you decide to undertake this training you will find that you are treading a narrow razor-edged path, for you must learn to function in two worlds, the outer objective world and the inner subjective world.

This inner world is as real as the outer world of your waking consciousness. That you mistakenly conceive of the latter as being the only reality, believing every subjective experience to be a figment of your imagination, is simply because you have been told that it must be so. What you must do is to link the two worlds together in your daily life reaching into the subjective worlds to contact your Higher Self or the transpersonal essence that transcends the ordinary personality, and then bringing that Higher Consciousness and inspiration into manifestation in your daily life.                   

However, on this journey there is no goal, for the journey itself is the goal. In other words, it is the process, the experiences you have, that bring about the psycho-spiritual growth with the resultant changes in consciousness and levels of being. It is well said, ‘Life is a flow of becoming, and so the journey is the process of becoming.’

You have to be prepared to undertake such an arduous journey which means you must be inwardly prepared firstly by shedding your selfish attitude, ego, envy etc. and secondly by learning to break your attachments in the worlds of illusion - attachment to the attractive and glamorous things of this world, for these are the main obstacles on the path of spiritual unfoldment.

Therefore, ask yourself what your aims are, your hopes, your dreams and your motives. Are you ready for the demands that will be placed upon you? Are you strong enough to undertake this journey, and is your strength sufficient for the whole journey? The way is infinitely long, rough, and you do not know whether it is possible to rest along the way nor where it is possible to rest. Of course, you will need a guide on this journey, and everyone dreams of a Master who will be his spiritual guide and teacher. But are you worthy of being guided? Are you ready to follow the way? One of the requirements of meeting such a guide is total commitment. Are you totally committed to the way of the Disciple? When you have answered these questions sincerely, in the affirmative, you can begin your ‘Journey’. 

BTF & LODGE PROGRAMMES MARCH 2016

   1. ANANDA LODGE: Theosophical Colony, Juhu, Mumbai 400049. Sunday 20th March 2016 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 6.15 pm	Members’ Meeting - Talk on ‘Demystifying Pathanjali’ by Bro. Arni Narendran Talk by Dr. Darius H. Umrigar (in Lobby)
Sun    6	10.00 am	Bharat samaj Pooja
Fri    11	6.00 PM	Members’ Meeting – ‘Life of Alcyone – Introduction’ by Sis. Kashmira Khambatta
Sun   13	10.30 am 10.30 am	To gather for preparation for the Ritual Mystic Star Ritual
Fri    18	6.00 pm	Members’ Meeting - Talk on ‘Demystifying Pathanjali’ by Bro. Arni Narendran
Fri    25	4.30 pm 6.00 pm	Blavatsky Lodge Managing Committee Meeting Members’ Meeting – ‘Life of Alcyone – Introduction’ by Sis. Kashmira Khambatta
Sun   27	10.45 am	Maitreya Round Table
Tues 1,8 15,22,29	4.15 pm  5.30 pm	Yoga Session conducted by Shernaz Vatchha 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’ Talk by Dr. Darius H. Umrigar (at Blavatsky Lodge)
17	Talk by Sis. Bana Mehta
24	Bank Holiday – Lodge closed
31	Jamshedi Navroze Celebration with Talk by Mrs. Meher Contractor followed by contributory Refreshment

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.

Wednesday  2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 Meetings at 6.30 pm.

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

Thurs    3	6.00	Talk by Bro. Zinoo Master
Thurs  10	6.00	Talk by Bro. Keki Palkhiwalla
Thurs  17	6.00	Lodge Meeting for Members by Sis Armaity Tirandaz
Thurs  24	6.00	Bank Holiday – Lodge closed
Thurs  31	6.00	Talk by Bro. Zinoo Master

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Efficiency is the capacity to bring proficiency into expression.

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A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him

                                           Golden Sayings – Swami Chinmayananda

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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)