Friday, April 22, 2016

Programme for May 2016


MAY 2016 PROGRAMME ( BTF BULLETIN IS BELOW THE PROGRAMME)

BLAVATSKY LODGE: 7 French Bridge, Mumbai 400007.

DAY
TIME
DETAILS
Sun    1
10.00 am
Bharat Samaj Pooja
Fri     6
 6.00 pm


Members’ Meeting – Study of AB & CWL’s Book “MAN.. Whence, How and Whither” conducted by Sis Aban Patel
Sun    8
10.30 am
White Lotus Day Meeting with BTF at Juhu
Fri    13
  6.00 pm
Members’ Meeting - Talk on ‘Demystifying Pathanjali’ by Bro. Arni Narendran
Fri    20
  6.00 pm
Wesak Purnima Meeting
Sun   22
11.45 am
Maitreya Round Table Annual Meeting with ‘Vaishak Ceremony’ followed by Lunch [Please give your names to Sis. Rashna Jehani (M): 9819995230]    
Fri    27
4.30 pm

6.00 pm
Blavatsky Lodge Managing Committee Meeting
 Members’ Meeting – Study of AB & CWL’s Book “MAN.. Whence, How and Whither” conducted by Sis Aban Patel
Tues 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31
 4.15 pm

 5.30 pm
Yoga Session conducted by Shernaz Vatchha
SS Meeting
Members’ Meetings to read & discuss ‘Lives of Alcyone’  





























THE BOMBAY THEOSOPHICAL BULLETIN

THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF

 THE BOMBAY THEOSOPHICAL FEDERATION



Volume 85
No.8
   
       May  2016 







EVERY year on what is called White Lotus Day, May 8th, theosophists all over the world celebrate the anniversary of the passing of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky,
Founder of the Theosophical Society.









Description: http://www.readthespirit.com/explore/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2013/03/wpid-0114_Madame_HP_Helena_Blavatsky_1877.jpg









“That which men call death is but a change of location for the Ego, a mere transformation, a forsaking for a time of the mortal frame,” wrote her friend and colleague William Q. Judge 











CONTENTS

 White Lotus Day- Quote by W.Q. Judge
  Cover  
News & Notes
    2 - 4
‘What is Yoga?’ by Sis. Villoo Adajania
    5 - 8
‘Appo Deepo Bhava’ by Mulla Comp. Student
    8 - 10
BTF & Lodge Programmes May 2016
   11 - 12



NEWS & NOTES

  

WHITE LOTUS DAY MEETING, jointly by BTF & Blavatsky Lodge, will be held on Sunday 8th May 2016 at 11.00 a.m. at Ananda Lodge, Juhu Theosophical Colony. There will be readings from The Light of Asia, Bhagvad Geeta and The Voice of Silence. There will be talks on ‘HPB and Significance of The White Lotus Day’. The meeting will end with offering of floral homage to HPB.



BTF & Ananda Lodge will welcome Brethren with Breakfast at 10.30 a.m. at Juhu Theosophical Colony. Blavatsky Lodge has arranged the Bus Service. Please give your names to Blavatsky Lodge Assistant Sis. Asha latest  by 5th May 2016.



Bus Service for Juhu on 8th May pick-up timings & stops:  

8-30 a.m.       Colaba - Cusrow Baug

8-40 a.m.       Dhobi Talao – Metro Cinema         

8-50 a.m.       Opera House – Blavatsky Lodge

9-00 a.m.       Tardeo – Ganga-Jamuna Theatre

9-10 a.m.       Byculla – Ismalia Co-op. Hsg. Society



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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.





9-15 a.m.       Byculla – Palace Cinema

9-25 a.m.       Dadar – Damodardas Mithaiwala

9-35 a.m.       Mahim – Paramount Restaurant

9-45 a.m.       Bandra – Lucky Restaurant

Note: Members may have time to go to Juhu Beach before Breakfast at 10.30 a.m.



BTF BULLETIN ON LODGE PROGRAMME BLOG

from April 2016: Bro. Navin Kumar from month of April 2016 has put the entire BTF Bulletin  below the Programme Table. This can be searched on the net by typing ‘Blavatsky Lodge TS Mumbai’. The link for the blog is as under:






For the benefit of other members and interested friends in India & Abroad BTF Bulletin Editor Bro. Rustom Dalal will continue to send BTF Bulletins by E-mail.



CELEBRATION OF SPRING FESTIVAL JAMSHEDI NAVROZE AT SHANTI LODGE on 24th March 2016.



Guest Speaker Mrs. Meher Contractor gave a talk on ‘Sarosh Yezad’. She said: Sarosh is Obediance to the Will of God. He instils divine obediance in children at their Navjote Ceremony. He is a revealer of the Religion to Zoroaster. He is Intuition, inspires us to be honest and gives courage. His Celestial co-worker is Asha Vahishta and in mortal world a Rooster. He is in charge of both Spiritual and Material Worlds. He is the protector of Soul by day & nigtht and in life and after life. On death Sarosh Yezad is invoked to help the soul during his transition of 3 days from mortal to spiritual world. His strongest weapon is Prayer ‘Ahunavariya’. He presides over the Judgement with Meher Daver, Rashne Rast and Ashisvangh. There are specific prayers to invoke his grace for living and for departed. Pray to ask for wisdom and not just knowledge.











The Meeting was graced by Mr U.S. Pandey, Secretary of Uttar Pradesh Theosophical Federation. All partook refreshments as blessings of Mother Nature.



AT BLAVATSKY LODGE on 1st April 2016 BRO.U.S. PANDEY, Secretary of UP Theosophical Federation speaking on ‘Glimpses of Chinese Religions’ said: Chinese philosophy is the root of life of Chinese people which has evolved over four teachings – (1) I-ching [Yi-King] (2) Tao (3) Confucius & (4) Buddhism.



I-ching conveys that there is a continuous change. There were Mystic Emperors and the Books of Wisdom & Oratory.



Lao-Tze taught men the Tao. Tao has two horizons Yin & Yang. It depicts that Light comes from Darkness and till one reaches Perfection there is darkness. Tao has other two explanations also: {A} (1) Heaven [Head / Mind] (2) Man [Body] (3) Earth [Legs connected with Earth indicating communication with other Kingdoms] {B}(1) Forehead [Intellect] (2) Up to Nose [Emotions] (3) Around Lips [Earth- Worldly Man]



Confucius: If Tao is Spirit, Confucius’ Teachings are Body of Behaviour with ‘Way of Virtue’. Universal Values & Society’s Values are taught to realize Order & Harmony of Heaven, Earth & Man. There is a rule for Non-Action, however fruitfulness has to be there. Humour is important as it sharpens the mind and makes environment vibrant & soothing. There should be harmony starting with Mind of Man to Family, to Society & to Humanity. Life should not be wasted.



OBITUARY: Sis. Roshan Adajania Life Member of Blavatsky Lodge for 35 years passed away on 22-2-2015. We learnt about her demise late when BTF Bulletin of April 2016 was returned marked ‘Deceased’. She used to be very particular to receive her copy of BTF Bulletin. May her Soul rest in Peace.













WHAT IS YOGA?



Extracts taken from ‘Yoga and Ecology’

by Nitin Abhyankar



Compiled by Sis. Viloo H. Adajania of Shanti Lodge



Yoga is a Sanskrit word.  There is no equivalent word in English.  People translate yoga in a variety of ways like, ‘union’, ‘merger’, ‘unity’, ‘fusion’, etc. The dictionary meaning of the word yoga is, “Yoga is a system of Hindu philosophy showing the means of emancipation of the soul from further migrations.”



Yoga is a deep spiritual experience. It describes the path to enlightenment. Yoga does not mean ‘asanas’ (postures) or ‘pranayama’ (breath-control). For an ordinary person, yoga usually means ‘Ashtanga Yoga” – Eightfold Path of Yoga. ‘Asanas’ and ‘pranayama’ are only two limbs of this eightfold path. Yoga is concerned with body, mind and ‘atma’(soul). But it is least concerned with body, more with mind and most with ‘atma’.  



If we observe the practice of yoga in society, we find that for majority of people, yoga means ‘asanas’ and ‘pranayama’, that is, exercises mainly related to maintenance of physical body.  Few people practice ‘yama’ (morality) and ‘niyama’ (discipline, abstinence). Such people are trying to follow the path of righteousness. They do not lie, steal, and observe non-violence and celibacy. Some others try to observe purity, ‘santosh’ (contentment), ‘tapas’ (dedication to God) and ‘swadhaya’ (self-study). Even such people do not experience true yoga; they do not taste the nectar of yoga.



The true state of yoga is an experience and in this experience, you are one with everything and every being. You lose your separate identity, you lose sense of ego; ‘I-ness’ ceases to be.







There is no duality. A yogi transcends all dualities, all opposites like good-bad, saint-sinner, human-divine, man-woman, birth-death, etc. He knows that reality and truth lie beyond duality. In yoga all sense of separateness is uprooted and all become one, composite, and a homogeneous whole. 



Such fusion is not limited to human beings but includes all kingdoms, whole biosphere. Here we can have a glimpse how ecology is linked with yoga. Ecology is nothing but ‘Saha-Yoga’ – a symbiosis of various forms of life. The dictionary meaning of the term Ecology is, ‘a branch of biology that deals with the relation of living things to their surroundings’.



In the current scenario we observe and experience that the world has become a small place but distance between people psychologically has substantially increased. Such contradiction is because of lack of yoga in our lives. Propaganda of yoga has immensely increased but real yoga has almost disappeared. There is no yoga – ‘unity’ between husband-wife, between black-white, between employer-employee, between ruler-ruled, between nations and so on. 



Let us understand yoga in some more detail so that it might be put in practice.



Out of the steps of the eightfold path of yoga, the 7th step, that is, ‘dhyana’ or meditation is the true foundation of yoga. Inner transformation occurs by meditation. Other aspects of yoga may make men moral but not necessarily spiritual. 





The first 6 steps are the preparation done for meditation. They are ‘Yama’ (morality), ‘Niyama’ (discipline in life), ‘Asana’ (physical exercises), ‘Pranayama’ (controlling the vital force and directing it to various parts of the body) and ‘Pratyahara’ (withdrawal of mind from sensual impulses). These 5 steps have the effect of establishing a state of clarity and calmness in the mind, which, in turn, leads to the ending of ambition, greed and desire for pleasure and the attachment and emotions allied with these. Only then are we able to meditate properly, which, they say consists of ‘Dharana’ and then ‘Dhyana’ (meditation).



The word ‘Dharana’ conveys much more than simple ‘concentration’. It literally means ‘holding’, perhaps the holding of energy since during its practice, there is no leakage of energy through extraneous thoughts. As our desires fade away, there is less loss of this energy, and consequently focusing of the mind, that is, ‘Dhyana’. also becomes possible.



‘Dhyana’ is necessary before attaining the final state of ‘Samadhi’. ‘Dhyana’ is a seed of tree of yoga which has fruits of ‘Yama’, ‘Niyama’, ‘Pratyahara’ and ‘Dharana’. By ‘Dhyana’ we can spiritualize everything. In fact, in India yoga is seen as a means to both physiological and spiritual mastery. 



There are branches of yoga which are well known. In India yoga has been classified as Karma Yoga – attaining enlightenment through good work; Jnana Yoga – attaining enlightenment through wisdom; Bhakti Yoga – attaining enlightenment through devotion; and Raja Yoga – attaining enlightenment through a balanced spiritual life that has meditation as its hub. Outside India, yoga has become primarily associated with Hatha Yoga (that has mastery in ‘asanas’ and breath control). But Raja Yoga has been popularized in the West by Paramahansa Yogananda.



In short, the eightfold path of yoga is not the effort of ‘becoming’ but is the discovery of ‘being’. Hence, a ‘Sadhaka’ of yoga must do introspection of his life. Socrates has rightly said, “An unexamined life is not worth living”. The ‘Sadhaka’ must examine his daily life, its each and every minute event and must decide whether he is following ‘Yama’, ‘Niyama’, etc. This is very crucial and important part of yoga education. He must put his life to searching questions and try to give honest answers.  Then only can he proceed up to the stage of ‘Dhyana’ or meditation.

In initial stages meditation requires efforts to achieve. But it is only a phase and ultimately meditation must be an effortless occurrence. When ‘Dhyana’ happens, new vistas of awareness start to unfold before you. You begin to feel a sense of ‘union’ with everything and every being, which is what yoga aims at. One such profound aspect of which you become aware is the sense of ecology – of ‘Saha Yoga’. You begin to realize that life on earth can be sustained only by not disturbing the harmony of Nature. But man is currently behaving exactly opposite.


QUOTE

Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers,

But to be fearless in facing them.

- Rabindranath Tagore

____________________________________________________



APPO DEEPO BHAVA

Be A Light Unto Yourself



Shared by a Minoo Mulla Competition participating College Student







This is a very famous quote from the Mahapaninibbana Sutta, which chronicles the events and teaching at the very end of Buddha’s life. “APPO DEEPO BHAVA” were the last words of Buddha before leaving this world. Anand was crying, weeping because Buddha was dying and he said to Buddha: “You are leaving and I have not become enlightened. What about me? What will happen to me? The world will be absolutely dark for me. You were the light and now you are going”. Buddha opened his eyes and said-“APPO DEEPO BHAVA- Anand, nobody can be the light for you but yourself”

There are a lot of religions throughout the world and thousands of different Gods. Most of the religions are based on fear. People worship supernatural beings, pagan Gods/deities, etc., because they are afraid. Since people cannot predict their future about life and death, they feel helpless. They feel the need of protection. Buddha throws light on the deepest core on which religions are based. Buddha’s religion is based on an inner benediction, an inner blessing. It has nothing to do with fear.   



Anything that is based on fear can never be beautiful. That is why Buddha says that the first step is to drop all beliefs. By doing so, you become aware of your fears and that is good because you will become aware of your death. You will become aware of the whole infinite cosmos of nowhere to go, no one to guide, no where to find any security, and in that awareness of fear, there will be only one place to start and that is from within yourself.



The Inner Journey starts when you have dropped all your beliefs and you become aware of your fears and death. Once you are in, you will realize that the fears are disappearing because within your deepest core there has never been any death and there never will be. Your innermost core is non-self. A self can die but a non-self cannot. Buddha says that there is nothing inside you. You are a pure nothing and this nothing cannot be destroyed. Once you have understood this that nothingness is beautiful in itself, there will be no need to go on stuffing it with money, power, prestige or fame.



It is the individual’s responsibility to find out the inner self. Anand did not get enlightened, even though he was with Buddha for so long is probably because when Buddha was teaching and explaining Anand and making him understand, he was not paying attention. Buddha might have repeated the same thing over and over and Anand might have thought he knows it all. Up until, when Buddha was dying, he was shocked and became alert. So he listened and realized that the light is within him. He pondered about it. That could be the reason why he was enlightened twenty four hours after Buddha’s passing away.



The quote does not just imply spirituality but also practicality. We should take full responsibility for our lives, work hard and be independent. Nobody is going to spoon feed us all our life, if there is a wall ahead of you that is stopping you from progress, you have to break it. Do not wait for others to come and make way for you. Only you can make your path out and walk on it. “Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others”.



The source of luminosity is within all of us. It is not outside, around or in an object nearby. If you seek the light outside you seek in vain. It is like a mirror hidden behind many dark curtains. When you unveil the curtains of illusion, you will realize that it was you all along. You are the guiding lamp unto yourself.          



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Statement of Ownership and other Particulars

FORM IV



Place of Publication                            Mumbai

Periodicity of Publication                    Monthly

Printer’s Name                                    Vijay Copy Centre

Whether citizen of India                      Yes

Address                                               48/A, Saidunnisa Building,  Sleater Rd.                                          

                                                            Opp. Grant Road Station (West)

                                                               Mumbai 400007

Publishers Name                                 Rustom R. Dalal, The Editor of

                                                               The Bombay Theosophical Federation

Whether Citizen of India                     Yes

Address                                                 7, French Bridge, Chowpatty

                                                              Mumbai 400 007

 Editor’s Name                                      Rustom R. Dalal           

Whether Citizen of India                    Yes

Address                                              C/o. Bombay Theosophical Federation

                                                           7, French Bridge, Mumbai  400 007



Name & Address of individuals who own the newspaper and Partners of

shareholders holding more than 1% total capital        N.A.



I, Rustom R. Dalal, the Editor of The Bombay Theosophical Bulletin,  hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge & belief.      



Dated 27-3-2015                                            Sd. R. R. Dalal ( Publisher )



BTF & LODGE PROGRAMMES MAY 2016



WHITE LOTUS DAY MEETING jointly by BTF & Blavatsky Lodge on Sunday 8th May 2016 at 11.00 a.m. at Juhu Theosophical Colony (See News & Notes for Bus Service)

1.      ANANDA LODGE: Theosophical Colony, Juhu, Mumbai 400049. Sunday 15th May 2016 at 12.00 noon. Contact Dr. Smruti Hora Tel: 26151060 for details



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

DAY
TIME
DETAILS
Sun    1
10.00 am
Bharat Samaj Pooja
Fri     6
 6.00 pm


Members’ Meeting – Study of AB & CWL’s Book “MAN.. Whence, How and Whither” conducted by Sis Aban Patel
Sun    8
10.30 am
White Lotus Day Meeting with BTF at Juhu
Fri    13
  6.00 pm
Members’ Meeting - Talk on ‘Demystifying Pathanjali’ by Bro. Arni Narendran
Fri    20
  6.00 pm
Wesak Purnima Meeting
Sun   22
11.45 am
Maitreya Round Table Annual Meeting with ‘Vaishak Ceremony’ followed by Lunch [Please give your names to Sis. Rashna Jehani (M): 9819995230]    
Fri    27
4.30 pm

6.00 pm
Blavatsky Lodge Managing Committee Meeting
 Members’ Meeting – Study of AB & CWL’s Book “MAN.. Whence, How and Whither” conducted by Sis Aban Patel
Tues 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31
 4.15 pm

 5.30 pm
Yoga Session conducted by Shernaz Vatchha
SS Meeting
Members’ Meetings to read & discuss ‘Lives of Alcyone’  

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.

   5
Study of C. W. Leadbeater’s book ‘Man Visible & Invisible’
Talk by Dr. Darius H. Umrigar (at Blavatsky Lodge)
 12
Study of C. W. Leadbeater’s book ‘Man Visible & Invisible’
 19
Talk by Sis. Bana Mehta
 26
Study of C. W. Leadbeater’s book ‘Man Visible & Invisible’



6. UNITY YOUTH LODGE: C/o Blavatsky Lodge

Wed  18
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  4, 11, 18 & 25 Meetings at 6.30 pm.



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

Thurs    5
6.00
Commemoration of White Lotus Day (May 8) with Readings from Voice of Silence, Light of Asia and Bhagwad Gita
Thurs  12
6.00
Talk by Bro. Keki Palkhiwalla
Thurs  19
6.00
Commemoration of Vaishakh Purnima (May 22, o2.44 a.m. IST)
Thurs  26
6.00
Lodge Meeting by Sis. Armaity Tirandaz



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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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