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
|
-Swami Chinmayananda
[ The year-long, world-wide, Birth Centenary
Celebration of Swami Chinmayananda, was
concluded with a grand finale on 8-5-2016.]
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 125th 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.
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
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
19th 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)
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