Programme for June 2016

                          


PROGRAMME FOR JUNE 2016
BLAVATSKY LODGE: 7 French Bridge, Mumbai 400007.

DAY	TIME	DETAILS
Fri 3	6.00 pm	Members’ Meeting – Study of AB & CWL’s Book “MAN, Whence, How and Whither” conducted by Sis Aban Patel.
Sun 5	10.00 am 10.30 am	Bharat Samaj Pooja BTF Council Meeting
Fri 10	6.00 pm 6.30 pm	Members’ Meeting – Study of AB & CWL’s Book “MAN, Whence, How and Whither” conducted by Sis Aban Patel. Dr. Darius H. Umrigar’s Talk (In Lobby).
Sun   12	10.30 am 11.00 am	To gather for preparations. Mystic Star Ritual.
Fri    17	6.00 pm	Members’ Meeting - Talk on ‘Demystifying Pathanjali’ by Bro. Arni Narendran.
Fri    24	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.
Sun   26	10.45 am	Maitreya Round Table.
Tues 7, 14, 21, 28	4.15 pm 5.30 pm	Yoga Session conducted by Shernaz Vatchha. SS Meetings to read & discuss ‘Lives of Alcyone’

  THE BOMBAY THEOSOPICAN FEDERATION BULLETIN
                                                                       JUNE 2016

                                   THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE BOMBAY THEOSOPHICAL FEDERATION

Volume 85

—

No.9

–

June 2016

Today, our glorius heritage is buried under the debris of  matter and machines. But, it is not dead. Unearth it – silently, secretly, diligently, tirelessly. Discover the changeless substratum under the ever-changing. Come to realise that you are not this bit of flesh, this bundle of emotions, this confusion of thoughts. Find the highest in and through life... the Ultimate Goal is yours by right... Pursue the path not only by studying but by assimilating the ideas and coming to live them.               

-Swami Chinmayananda

[ The year-long, world-wide, Birth Centenary
Celebration of Swami Chinmayananda, was
concluded with a grand finale on 8-5-2016.]

CONTENTS

Quote of Swami Chinmayananda	Cover
News & Notes	2 - 3
‘Zoroastrianism and Reincarnation’  by Bro. Zinoo Master AND Thoughts  of Sis. Soonoo Vesuna	4 - 7
BTF & Lodge Programmes June 2016	7 - 8

NEWS & NOTES

WHITE LOTUS DAY MEETING on 8th May 2016 Sunday morning at Ananda Lodge, Juhu Thoesophical Colony: It was the 125^th Anniversary of HPB’s passing away on 8th May 1891. Ananda Lodge, Jyoti Lodge, Ganesh Lodge & Vasanta Lodge of North Mumbai welcomed all with refreshing Breakfast. Blavatsky Lodge fecilitated bus service for members of Blavatsky Lodge, Shanti Lodge, Unity Youth Lodge & Vimadalal Bilia Lodge of South Mumbai. With about 60 Brethren, quite a few of them had to sit outside on varandah of Ananda Lodge Room. The meeting opened with the Prayers of All Religions & the Universal Prayer. BTF President Dr. Ajay Hora welcomed all to this significant White Lotus Day Meeting.  Bro. Arnie Narendra (of Blavatsky Lodge) spoke about ‘The Significance of White Lotus Day’. Readings as per HPB’s wish were from ‘Light of Asia’ in Hindi by Bro. Taral Munshi (of Jyoti Lodge) and from ‘Bhagavad Gita’ in Gujarati by Sis. Urvi Hora (of Vasanta Lodge). There were Readings also from ‘The Voice of Silence’ by Sis. Navaz Dhalla (of Blavatsky Lodge). Sis. Thrity Dalal (of Shanti Lodge) shared HPB’s Last Poem and her inspiring quotations.

Sis. Bana Mehta’s song paying homage to HPB was recited. Blavatsky Lodge President Bro. Navin Kumar in closing words urged to learn from the life & Teachings of HPB. The meeting had ended with all paying Floral Tributes to HPB.

***********************************************************************

Editor – Bro. Rustom R. Dalal                                    Cover Page By: Bro. Janardana    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.

VIMADALAL BILIA LODGE PROGRAMMES:

On 28th April 2016 Sis. Meher Contractor spoke on ‘Atash Nyayesh”. She said that fire is revered in all religions such as Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and Judaism. According to Zoroastrianism fire was discovered by the Peshdadian King Hoshang. Fire is energy which is derived from the Sun and is very necessary for sustaining life. She mentioned that there are various types of fires, such as even in plants.

The litanies like Khorshed Nyayesh, Meher Nyayesh have been taken from the respective Yashts. Since there is no Aatash Yasht, Atash Nyayesh has been composed by taking extracts from Yasna. She explained the meaning of each and every Para. ‘OOS MOI UZARESHVA AHURA’ by which we request that our soul be enlightened and elevated and may we become pure. ‘Ahure Mazdao Puthra’ means Fire is the son of God.

We beseech Him to give us happiness, wisdom, strength and a child who will be wise, hardworking, fit to move about in Society (Anjuman), honourable strong and who will bring glory to my family, district, country and our faith (religion).

The sitting friend (Fire) looks at the hands of the moving friend (Devotee) to see what gifts have been brought .Whosoever brings dry wood (unselfish; i.e. not wetted by selfishness and with pure thoughts/ devotion) to the Fire, pleases Him and He bestows upon the Devotee blessings of wealth (cattle), pure mind and a clear conscience

(Compiled by Sis Firoza Master)

White Lotus Day was commemorated on 5th May 2016 and Vaishakh Purnima Meeting was held on 19th May 2016.

*****

ZOROASTRIANISM AND REINCARNATION
By Bro Zinoo Master of Blavatsky Lodge

Most Zoroastrians are led to believe that there is no such thing as Reincarnation in Zoroastrianism. Several arguments are put forth to support this belief. The following is an attempt to examine the validity or otherwise of these arguments.

The first argument is that it is NOT MENTIONED IN OUR SCRIPTURES, that is, it does not appear in the only ONE of the TWENTY ONE volumes that has survived the onslaughts of Alexander the Accursed and the Arab invasion. But what about the balance twenty volumes? Is it also not mentioned in anyone of the missing twenty volumes? THINK IT OVER.

The second argument is that the veiled references in the only surviving volume can be easily refuted. One such reference is that we have to come back to eat the food we have cooked. Would a religious scripture talk about cooking and eating or is there a deeper esoteric meaning to this? THINK IT OVER.

The third argument is that the people who remember their past lives are an exception; that is they are exceptions to GOD’s LAW that there is no such thing as reincarnation. But can there be exceptions to GOD’s LAW. In Chemistry, Common Salt 2NaCl plus Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4) always gives Hydrochloric Acid 2HCl plus Sodium Sulphate Na2SO4. Can we have an exception to this rule? God’s laws are inviolable and if there are apparent exceptions, these are governed by laws of which we are not aware.  Thus those who remember past lives are governed by the Law of Reincarnation which is THE LAW applicable to all souls and not just to a few.

Now let us look at some concepts that indicate that there is karma and reincarnation.

There are people who seek God. Some are in touch with GOD like Lords Zarthushtra, Buddha and Christ. Others have reached great heights in Spirituality like Dasturjis Nairyosang Dhaval, Meherjirana, Kookadaroo etc. Their achievements are not BY CHANCE or by the grace of God but they have toiled life after life to become aware of their HIGHER SELVES when others were tarrying in the playground of sensual pleasures. Some are so far away from GOD as to be murderers and suicide bombers. The souls of murderers and suicide bombers are bound to reach Buddhahood after several lives.

A father had four sons with differing abilities, occupations, etc. A person who knew only one son told the father “You must be proud to have a son like this.” The father replied “I am proud of all my sons.” This worldly father treats all his sons alike. Then why does the HEAVENLY FATHER discriminate amongst HIS children? Some are geniuses like Nani Palkhiwalla and some fail in SSC. Some are blind, some lame, some healthy, some weak, some intelligent, some dumb and so on. Some live upto ninety five years and suffer for the last few years of their lives craving death and some die at 32 or even at six months. THINK IT OVER.

In sports such as say Weight lifting, competitors are grouped by their body weights so that like people compete. And all for a trophy or a reward of a few thousand rupees. But in the race of life where the rewards are Heaven or Hell, some competitors are favoured with wealth, strength, intelligence, good character whereas others are punished with poverty, illnesses, stupidity, etc. Why did the HEAVENLY FATHER not give a level playing field to all souls?

Manmade laws can be broken. A person who jumps a traffic signal may be let off by the policeman if he apologizes, a murderer may not go to the gallows if he is defended by a clever advocate. Can we break God’s Law and get away with it?  As you sow so shall you reap. Happiness to him who gives happiness to others. But we find that those who give pain and misery to others by cheating or terrorism (suicide bombers) apparently don’t get their just dues here and now. We are told that the soul of such a person will meet him in the other world in the form of an ugly woman but should not that person restore in the physical world itself the BALANCE that he has upset here in the physical world by his acts?

If a person commits a civil offence or a crime he is tried in the jurisdiction of the place of offence or crime and has to undergo punishment at the same place. Only in a rare case can a person commit a crime in India and go to jail in USA. But those who oppose reincarnation state that one who commits a crime in the physical world will face punishment in the spiritual world. He need not come back to the physical world to restore the balance that he has upset.

Most of these questions can be answered satisfactorily if we look at the Theory of Re incarnation which says that we have to come life after life, obtain various experiences, get rid of all our shortfalls and failings, purify and refine our souls and thus expand our consciousness so that we can consciously reach the intuitive level and thereafter realize the true nature our SOUL which is a fragment and reflection of GOD HIMSELF.

“Atha jamyat Yatha afrinami.”

***********************************************************************

Thoughts of Sis. Soonoo Vesuna of Shanti Lodge

Sacrifice becomes enjoyable, when Realization of its existence is achieved. The process to reach it is hard as it is the ascent to the top of a mountain peak. Once Height is reached, one can breathe life-giving fresh air, have a wider vision and get nearer to -

All Pervading Power – ‘GOD’, who is so near yet so far.

H. W. Longfellow, the Great Poet described it in beautiful lines:

         The Heights by Great Men reached and kept,

         Were not attended by sudden flight;

         But they, while their companions slept

         Kept toiling upwards at night.

***********************************************************************

BTF & LODGE PROGRAMMES JUNE 2016

1. ANANDA LODGE:

Theosophical Colony, Juhu, Mumbai 400049. Sunday 19^th June 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 3	6.00 pm	Members’ Meeting – Study of AB & CWL’s Book “MAN, Whence, How and Whither” conducted by Sis Aban Patel.
Sun 5	10.00 am 10.30 am	Bharat Samaj Pooja BTF Council Meeting
Fri 10	6.00 pm 6.30 pm	Members’ Meeting – Study of AB & CWL’s Book “MAN, Whence, How and Whither” conducted by Sis Aban Patel. Dr. Darius H. Umrigar’s Talk (In Lobby).
Sun   12	10.30 am 11.00 am	To gather for preparations. Mystic Star Ritual.
Fri    17	6.00 pm	Members’ Meeting - Talk on ‘Demystifying Pathanjali’ by Bro. Arni Narendran.
Fri    24	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.
Sun   26	10.45 am	Maitreya Round Table.
Tues 7, 14, 21, 28	4.15 pm 5.30 pm	Yoga Session conducted by Shernaz Vatchha. SS 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 Fl., Plot 5, Sleater Road, Mumbai 400007   Thursdays at 6.15 p.m.

2	Study of C. W. Leadbeater’s book ‘Man Visible & Invisible’
9	Talk by Sis. Bana Mehta
16	Talk by Dr. Darius H. Umrigar (at Blavatsky Lodge)
23	Study of C. W. Leadbeater’s book ‘Man Visible & Invisible’
30	Study of C. W. Leadbeater’s book ‘Man Visible & Invisible’

6. UNITY YOUTH LODGE: C/o Blavatsky Lodge.

Wed  15

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 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 Meetings at 6.30 pm.

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

Thurs 2	6.00 pm	Talk by Bro. Zinoo Master
Thurs 9	6.00 pm	Lodge Meeting by Sis. Armaity Tirandaz
Thurs 16	6.00 pm	Lodge Meeting by Sis. Armaity Tirandaz
Thurs  23	6.00 pm	Lodge Meeting by Sis. Armaity Tirandaz
Thurs  30	6.00 pm	Lodge Meeting by Sis. Armaity Tirandaz

**********************************************************************************

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

**********************************************************************************

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)