Programme for August 2016
BLAVATSKY LODGE: 7 French Bridge, Mumbai 400007.
BLAVATSKY LODGE: 7 French Bridge, Mumbai 400007.
DAY
|
TIME
|
DETAILS
|
Fri 5
|
6.00 pm
|
Members’ Meeting – Study of AB & CWL’s Book “MAN.. Whence, How and Whither” conducted by Sis Aban Patel
|
Sun 7
|
10.00 am
10.30 am
11.30 am
|
Bharat Samaj Pooja
BTF Council Meeting
Blavatsky Lodge AGM (followed by Pooled Lunch)
|
Fri 12
|
6.00 pm
|
Discussions on the talks of Sis. Shivani (Brahma Kumari)
|
Fri 19
|
6.00 pm
|
Members’ Meeting – Study of AB & CWL’s Book “MAN.. Whence, How and Whither” conducted by Sis Aban Patel
|
Fri 26
|
4.30 pm
6.00 pm
|
Blavatsky Lodge Managing Committee Meeting
Members’ Meeting - Talk on ‘Demystifying Pathanjali’ by Bro. Arni Narendran
|
Sun 28
|
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 Meetings to read & discuss ‘Lives of Alcyone’ authored by A. Besant & C.W. Leadbeater conducted by Sis. Navaz Dalal
|
Volume
85
|
—
|
No.11
|
–
|
Aug 2016
|
To the righteous man shall come Divine
Power,
On him Asha and Vohu Mano their
blessings shall shower.
His inner self shall reach to ever
increasing height,
Strengthened by the warmth of Armaiti’s
Light.
To them will he belong, as indeed to
Thee,
By success in his Trials, his soul set
free
(Gatha Ahunavaiti Yasna 30.7)
(From
“The Gathas of Asho Zarathushtra” in English Verse by Jimmy Nadershaw Sidhva)
CONTENTS
Quote from: “The Gathas of Asho Zarathushtra” in English Verse by
Jimmy Nadershaw Sidhva
|
Cover
|
News
& Notes
|
2 - 4
|
Comparison
of Wesak & Asala Festivals & Quote
|
4 - 7
|
BTF & Lodge Programmes August 2016
|
7 - 8
|
NEWS & NOTES
ASALA PURNIMA FESTIVAL
Meeting was held at Blavatsky Lodge on Friday 15th July 2016 evening in Green
Room. Sis. Navaz Dhalla had prepared a traditional table with Diva near Lord
Buddha’s statue. The Meeting was opened with the
Universal Prayer. Bro. Zinoo Master
Conducted the meeting starting with recitation of the Buddhist Prayer. He
expounded on Lord Buddha’s Teachings of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold
Path. The gist of his talk will be printed in the next Bulletin. This Bulletin
has his article on ‘Comparison of Wesak & Asala Festivals’. It was an
inspiring and uplifting Meeting ending with partaking of water from a bowl kept
on the Asala Festival Table.
THE 14TH TRIENNIAL
CONFERENCE OF THE INDO-PACIFIC FEDERATION 14 to 19 October 2016 at Auckland,
New Zealand graced by Int. President Tim
Boyd and Lily Boyd on Theme ‘The Why of the Theosophical Society’
Conference Venue &
Accommodation: Rose Park Hotel
Registration Fees (Approximately in US$):
Registration
& Twin sharing Accommodation for full conference US$400/-
*****************************************************
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.
Registration
& Single Accommodation for full Conference US$625/-
For Tours Visit:
Scenic Pacific:http://www.scenicpacific.co.nz/Auckland-2-3-day-tours.htm
OBITUARY: Sis Bana D. Mehta,
Life member and past President of Blavatsky Lodge and a Council Member of
Bombay Theosophical Federation having served TS for 52 years passed away to
Light Eternal on 11th July 2016. It was her smiling
face with a Bindi on forehead and gentle eyes, which for years without fail
every evening had greeted Brethren and welcomed inquirers to Blavatsky Lodge.
Even neighbourhood ladies, of whom some were her Lotus Class students, used to
sit in Blavatsky Lodge awaiting her arrival. A Teacher at Heart, she had shared
Theosophical Teachings as a Federation Lecturer with members of Centenary Lodge
(Bandra), Radiance Lodge (Byculla), Vimadalal Bilia Lodge (Dadar), Besant Lodge
(Princess Street),and Jamshed Lodge (Colaba). With Late Sis. Khorshed D. Avari
she had addressed even TS Lodges of Gujarat. Shanti Lodge was her Mother Lodge.
She had taken keen interest in Shanti Lodge activities. Lately she had joined
Shanti Ladge with her sister Vira Mehta as Associate Member and had shared her
collection of Talks of Radhaji & Sis. Mehra Dhalla and articles in
Gujarati. She had served as Blavatsky Lodge Book Depot manager for a long time.
She was a Volunteer year after year at TS International Conventions at Adyar
& Varanasi. In last 5 years many Delegates have missed Sis Bana Mehta at
Adyar Registration Counter. She was an active participant of Bharat Samaj
Pooja, Mystic Star Ritual & Round Table and a Co-Freemason of High Degree.
She used to participate in TOS activities also. At Adyar Conventions for Mystic
Star Rituals, when Radhaji used to bethe Power, she used to have Sis Bana only
acting opposite to her as the Judge. Individually or with Late Sisters Khorshed
Aavari & Dhun Bottlewalla she used to sing Bhajans & Devotional Songs
at TS programmes. On Red Letter Days programmes would not be complete without
her songs for the day, of which some were even composed by her. May the very
gentle, dedicated, caring soul of Dear Sis. Bana Mehta be blessed with Eternal
Peace and opportunities to carry on work on Higher Planes.
Commemoration Meeting for Late Sis. Bana Mehta was held jointly by
BTF, Blavatsky Lodge & Shanti Lodge on Friday 29th July 2016 at 6.00 p.m.
at Blavatsky Lodge.
*************************************************************
Comparison of Wesak and Asala Festivals
by Bro. Zinoo
Master on Asala Purnima 2016
Vaisakh Festival was celebrated in May and Asala Festival will be celebrated in
July at the time of Full Moon on Wednesday 20/7/2016 at 04.26 am.
It is interesting to make a comparison between
the Wesak Festival (WF) and the Asala Festival (AF) as described in the book
“The Masters and the Path” by C. W. Leadbeater. The similarities are that both
the ceremonies are held on the full moon day - of Wesak (Vaishakh – May) and
Asala (Ashadha – July) and in both cases the Ceremonies are conducted by Lord
Maitreya.
However the similarity ends here and the
differences may be grouped under the following heads:
Occasion: WF is the anniversary of all the momentous occurrences
of Lord Gautama’s last earthly life – birth, attainment of Buddhahood and
departure from the physical body. AF is the anniversary of the delivery by Lord
Buddha of his first announcement of the great discovery – the sermon which he
preached to his five disciples, commonly known as Dhammachakkappavattana
Sutta, “The Turning of the Wheel of the Law”
Objective: WF is one of the two Supplementary Acts performed
after Lord Gautama attained Buddhahood – “The first was the sending by
the Lord of the World, the Great King, the One Initiator,of one of his three
Pupils, who are all Lords of the Flame from Venus, to take earthly incarnation
immediately after the attainment of Buddhahood by the Lord Gautama , in order
that by a very short life spent in traveling over India he might establish
certain centres of religion called ‘mathas’. His name in that incarnation was
Shankaracharya….” The second was undertaken by Lord Gautama
himself. He undertook to remain sufficiently in touch with his world to be
reached by the invocation of his successor when necessary. “He
also undertook to return to the world once in each year, on the anniversary of
his death, and shed upon it a flood of blessing”. In the case
of AF “In his love for his great predecessor, the
Lord Maitreya has ordained that whenever the anniversary of that first
preaching comes round, the same sermon shall be recited in the presence of the
assembled Brotherhood”.
Location: WF is held on “a small plateau surrounded
by low hills, which lies on the northern side of the
Himalayas, not far from the frontier of Nepal, and perhaps four hundred
miles west of the city of Lhasa”. AF is held in the garden in
front of Lord Maitreya’s house on the southern slopes of the
Himalayas.
Timing: For WF the astral visitors arrive about an hour before
the moment when the moon is full and the actual ceremony commences about half
an hour before the moment of the full moon. After the appearance of
Lord Buddha at the moment of the full moon, the congregation sings the three
verses – Buddham / Dhammam/ Sangham Sharanam Gachchhami; and the
Brotherhood chants the Mahamangala Sutta – the eleven
blessings. A while later Lord Buddha showers his blessings on the congregation
who disperse after sipping the water blessed by the Lord. In AF the recitation
of the sermon commences at the moment of the full moon and the
reading and Lord Maitreya’s address are usually over in about half an hour.
Attendance: For the WF all the members of the Great White
Brotherhood, except the King and his three disciples, usually attend this
ceremony. Earnest Theosophical members can also attend it in their astral
bodies. Pilgrims from Central and Northern Asia are also present. During the AF
“no pilgrims on the physical plane are present, but all astral visitors who
know of the celebrations are welcome to attend it”
Other Ceremonial details: The figure of Lord Buddha floats over the
crowd during Wesak Festival only. For the Wesak Fectival Lord Maitreya brings
the Rod of Power which is usually in the custody of the Lord of the World and
this is the only occasion when it leaves his care. The Pentecostal miracle is
performed only during the Asala Festival.
Source and all quotes from: “The
Masters and the Path“ by C. W. Leadbeater.
***************************************************
India can never become a nation until Hindus, Zoroastrians, Christians and Muslims understand each other.
Shall we not all put aside theological hatreds and feel as brothers? Shall we
not learn to respect each other’s faith and reverence each other’s worship?
There is no need for conversion from one religion to another; each is a Ray of
the Sun of Truth.
We
must return to the home whence we came, and we may well live with our minds at
peace in the land in which we must physically dwell side by side. None need
give up aught that is dear to him, that has been handed down by generations of
his ancestors that is the centre round which cluster the sanctities of home.
Each should not only love his faith, but also live it, and realize that his
neighbor’s faith is as precious to his neighbor as his own is precious to
himself. Let us learn from our neighbors instead of quarrelling with them, love
them instead of hating, and respect them instead of scorning. It is written:
“All shall return to God” .It is written: “All shall perish save his Face”.
Call Him Allah, call Him Jehovah, call Him Ahura Mazda, call Him Isvara – names
are many, but He is One. We see the Sun from different places, but he stands
the same unchanging Light in heaven, shining on all alike. We are all children
of one Father; why should we quarrel on the journey home?
- Dr. Annie Besant
Courtesy: ‘The Theosophist’ July 2016
BTF & LODGE PROGRAMMES AUGUST 2016
1. ANANDA LODGE: Theosophical
Colony, Juhu, Mumbai 400049. Sunday
21st August 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 5
|
6.00 pm
|
Members’
Meeting – Study of AB & CWL’s Book “MAN.. Whence, How and Whither”
conducted by Sis Aban Patel
|
Sun 7
|
10.00
am
10.30
am
11.30
am
|
Bharat
Samaj Pooja
BTF
Council Meeting
Blavatsky
Lodge AGM (followed by
Pooled Lunch)
|
Fri 12
|
6.00 pm
|
Discussions
on the talks of Sis. Shivani (Brahma Kumari)
|
Fri 19
|
6.00 pm
|
Members’
Meeting – Study of AB & CWL’s Book “MAN.. Whence, How and Whither”
conducted by Sis Aban Patel
|
Fri 26
|
4.30 pm
6.00 pm
|
Blavatsky Lodge Managing
Committee Meeting
Members’
Meeting - Talk on ‘Demystifying Pathanjali’ by Bro. Arni Narendran
|
Sun 28
|
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 Meetings to read &
discuss ‘Lives of Alcyone’ authored by A. Besant
& C.W. Leadbeater conducted by Sis. Navaz Dalal
|
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.
4
|
Study of C. W. Leadbeater’s book ‘Man
Visible & Invisible’
|
11
|
Study of C. W. Leadbeater’s book ‘Man
Visible & Invisible’
|
18
|
Navroze Celebration with Mr. Rustom
Chothia’s talk on ‘Do Ashofarohar remember us?’ followed by contributory
Refreshments.
|
25
|
Study of C. W. Leadbeater’s book ‘Man
Visible & Invisible’
|
6. UNITY YOUTH LODGE: C/o Blavatsky Lodge
Wed 24
|
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 3, 8, 15, 22 & 29 Meetings at
6.30 pm.
9. VIMADALAL BILIA LODGE:
Family House, Parsi
Colony, Dadar, Mumbai 400014.
Thurs 4
|
6.00
|
Talk by Bro. Rudtom Chothia on “Do the Dead Remember Us?”
|
Thurs 11
|
6.00
|
Lodge Meeting by Sis. Armaity Tirandaz
|
Thurs 18
|
6.00
|
Lodge Meeting by Sis. Armaity Tirandaz
|
Thurs 25
|
6.00
|
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)
BLAVATSKY LODGE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
7, French Bridge,
Rangnekar Marg, Chowpatty, Mumbai-400 007
Minutes
of the Managing Committee Meeting held on Monday, 29th August, 2016
at 4.30 p.m. at Blavatsky Lodge, Mumbai.
The meeting chaired by Vice President,
Bro. Navin Kumar, began with the Universal Prayer.
Members
Present: Jasmine Cawasji, Sis.Navaz Dhalla, Sis.
Ruby Khan, Sis. Aban Patel, Bro. Arnie Narendran, Bro. Roy Mathews, Bro. Rustom
Cooper.
Leave
of Absence: Bro, RustomDalal, Sis. FrenyPagdiwalla, Sis.Kashmira
Khambatta, Bro. Noor Baig
The
deliberations of the meeting were as under:
1 .Confirmation of the Minutes:
Minutes of the MC Meeting and Co-option
Committee Meeting held on 07th August, 2016 were read and approved.
2. Matters arising from the Minutes:
The Vice
President welcomed the new members to the Managing Committee for the period
2016 to 2018.
3. Hon. Treasurer’s Report:
The
Treasurer’s Report of Income & Expenditure for the month of July 2016, read out by Sis. Ruby Khan was approved.
The
Committee expressed its gratitude for the donations received from the members
of the Lodge as under:
1. Sis.
Jasmine Cawasji Rs.10000/-
2. Sis.
Kashmira Khambatta Rs. 7000/-
3. Sis.
Aban Patel Rs.5000/-
4. Bro.
Khosrav Pavri Rs.1000/-
4.Miscellaneous :
a) Sis. Navaz Dhalla submitted the bills amounting
to Rs.6256/-for the new locks fitted on the side door of the Lodge, which was
approved by the Committee.
b) It was decided to go in for automatic
locking arrangement, along with door closer, for the front door of the
Blavatsky Lodge. Approximate expenses for the same would be Rs.13000/- which
was approved by the Committee in principle.
5. Application for Membership of Blavatsky
Lodge:
Approval for the
following applications was given unanimously by the Committee:
1. Mr.
Baji A. Khambatta
2. Mr.
Sameer Mutatkar
3. Mrs.
Richa Kumar
4. Mrs.
Dowlat R. Dhalla
There
being no other business, the Meeting was adjourned with a vote of thanks to the
Chair.
Hon
Secretary President
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