BLAVATSKY LODGE: 7 - French Bridge, Mumbai 400007
Bombay Theosophical Bulletin MAY 2017
On 9th March 2017 Dr. Firdaus Shroff Spoke on “Kindle the Spark Within”. He gave various tips on being happy such as “Don’t be Owner of Love, but be Donor of Love”.
On 23rd and 30th March 2017 Bro Rustom Chothia read out extracts from the translations of Ahunavad and Ushtavad Gathas.
Tel: 23685026 (M): 9821459504 (M): 9819334333
DAY
|
TIME
|
DETAILS
|
Fri 5 and 19
|
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
|
Bharat Samaj Pooja
|
Mon 8
|
6.15 pm
|
White Lotus Day Meeting for S. Mumbai Lodges
|
Wed 10
|
6.00 pm
|
Wesak Purnima Meeting
|
Fri 12
|
6.00 pm
6.15 pm
|
Members’ Meeting for Readings & Discussion
Talk by Dr. Darius H. Umrigar (In Lobby)
|
Fri 26
|
4.30 pm
6.00 pm
|
Blavatsky Lodge Managing Committee Meeting
Members’ Meeting for Readings & Discussion
|
Sun 28
|
10.45 am
|
Maitreya Round Table (Please note Annual Round Table Meeting will be in August 2017 with ceremony ‘Invocation to Zarathushtra’)
|
Tues 2, 16,23 & 30
|
5.45 pm
|
Reading and discussion on Lives of Alcyone by AB and CWL presented by Sis Navaz Dhalla
(Please note no meeting on Tuesday 9th April)
|
Bombay Theosophical Bulletin MAY 2017
CONTENTS
Quote
|
Cover
|
News & Notes
|
2 - 4
|
Evolution of
Consciousness by Viloo Adajania
|
4 - 7
|
8 - 10
|
|
BTF & Lodge Programmes May 2017
|
11 - 12
|
NEWS
& NOTES
IMPORTANT NOTE
It is observed that all the Lodges do not give
their Program for the following month before the 15th of the month. This leads
to a waste of time for the Editorial Committee in telephoning the Secretaries. We
would like Lodges like Vasanta & Ganesh and now Ananda to announce their programs also
It may be noted that if the regular date is changed for the coming month to
suit the members, the Editor should be informed well in time to print in the
Bulletin.
BRETHREN BLOCK THE
DATES FOR THE BTF 86TH ANNUAL SESSION to be held on 13th, 14th & 15th
October 2017: The Chief Guest will be Mr. Pradeep H. Gohil, the new General
Secretary, Indian Section Theosophical Society. The Opening of the Annual Session on Friday
13th Oct. and Second day session on Saturday 14th Oct. will be in the evenings
at Blavatsky Lodge TS. On Sunday 15th Oct. there will be a Full Day Session at
Juhu Theosophical Colony. The detailed programme of the Annual Session
will be announced in BTF Bulletin of September 2017.
*************************************************************
Editor – Bro.
Rustom R. Dalal Cover Page By: Sis. Kashmira Khambatta
Editorial
Committee – Sis. Mahazaver Dalal (Reporter in charge of Mailing
List), Sis. Kashmira Khambatta, Sis.
Aban Patel and Ex-Officio: President
Bro. Vinayak Pandya. 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.
BRETHREN, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL RESPONSE TO AN APPEAL FOR EX-GRATIA HELP TO GANPAT printed in BTF Bulletins of March & April
2017 to send donations to Blavatsky Lodge TS. The septuagenarian
loyal worker Ganpat Jadhav has retired
after serving at Blavatsky Lodge for over 50 years. The BTF has also given Ex Gratia to Ganpat for his services to BTF. We express sincere thanks to Brethren and
Sympathizers, who have given their kind donations after printing of BTF
Bulletin April 2017:
Brethren: Maharukh
Shroff, Meherangiz Baria, Vinayak Pandya, Sheila Ganatra, Vijaya Nair, Veera
Mehta, Aban Wadia, Noor Baig, Baldev Chawala, Khurshed Sanjana, Freny Jabulee.
Blavatsky Lodge,
out of the Ex Gratia help received for Shri Ganpat Jadhav from Brethren and
Sympathizers, has given Rs. 62,000/- to Ganpat on 14th April 2017. As donations
get collected, further help will be given to Ganpat.
VIMADALAL BILIA LODGE MEETINGS Synopsis by
Sis. Firoza Master:
On
23rd February 2017 Sis. Meher Contractor in her talk on ‘Khorshed
and Meher Nyayeshs’ said Nyaeshes
are a litany or praise to a particular Yazad.
Yazads are beloved, adorable, Divine Beings. They have got the Light from
Amesha Spentas [Planetary Logoi] and Dadar Ahura Mazda [God]. They have Unity, Unified
Thinking with God. Their function is to take care of His Creations.
Khorsed Nyayesh [KN] is a Litany in praise of
Sun. Meher
Yazad represents the rays of the Sun, Justice etc. KN is prayed in the
presence of the Sun during the day. The rays of the Sun cannot come down
directly. Meher Yazad dilutes the
rays before they reach Earth. The intense rays of the Sun activate our brain
cells.
The first para of KN is in Arabic composed by Aderbad
Mahrespand. The next para is Patet
Pashemani [prayer of repentance] which is recited in all Nyayeshes. Then we ask Vohu
Mano [Good Mind] of Power and Righteousness to give strength to our
body. Meher Yazad is the first Yazad to bow down and welcome the Sun’s Rays. When Light is there,
there is Purification and Perfection. Meher
Yazad is the Leader of all Yazads
with multifarious activities. He is the Harbinger of the Sun. He is a Judge on
the final day of death. He is in charge of Love, Friendship and Peace. He helps
in war and takes charge of Righteous people. HE is the keeper of seven regions
[Dakhyus] of the world.
We invoke Him for help in
various ways to make our Consciousness pure. Then we shall purify our minds and
reach Perfection. Adar Burzin Meher is the Fire which Lord Zarthushtra brought when He got Enlightenment. It is
a self-Igniting Fire which
burns forever.
On 9th March 2017 Dr. Firdaus Shroff Spoke on “Kindle the Spark Within”. He gave various tips on being happy such as “Don’t be Owner of Love, but be Donor of Love”.
On 23rd and 30th March 2017 Bro Rustom Chothia read out extracts from the translations of Ahunavad and Ushtavad Gathas.
On
other Thursdays there are readings and discussions on articles from The
Theosophist or The Indian Theosophist.
ANANDA LODGE MEETINGS: Ananda Lodge has started organizing their monthly meetings at a day & time convenient to members & interested inquirers. At their meetings members speak about life & greatness of HPB.
ANANDA LODGE MEETINGS: Ananda Lodge has started organizing their monthly meetings at a day & time convenient to members & interested inquirers. At their meetings members speak about life & greatness of HPB.
HINDI POEM BY BRO. NAVIN KUMAR
आज ध्यान में बैठा,तो मन में कौंधे कुछ सुविचार
जीवन संचालन हो चार उपलब्धियों के अनुसार।
जीवन संचालन हो चार उपलब्धियों के अनुसार।
"विवेक"," वैराग्य" , "सदाचार" व "मुमुक्षत्व "
यही वास्तविकता में आत्म ज्ञान के सच्चे तत्त्व।
यही वास्तविकता में आत्म ज्ञान के सच्चे तत्त्व।
"विवेक" सत्य असत्य,उचित अनुचित का भेद
"वैराग्य"अपनाना होगा करकभौतिकता से खेद।
"वैराग्य"अपनाना होगा करकभौतिकता से खेद।
"सदाचार" के भाग, कर्म योग व मन अधिकार ,
ईश्वर कृपा पर विश्वास , एकाग्रता का आधार।
ईश्वर कृपा पर विश्वास , एकाग्रता का आधार।
यह सब होकर यदि "मुमुक्षत्व" का न हो अंतर्भाव
तब होंगीपहलीतीन उपलब्धियां बहुतांशी निष्प्रभाव।
तब होंगीपहलीतीन उपलब्धियां बहुतांशी निष्प्रभाव।
"मुमुक्षत्व" दैनिक जीवन में माना जाता है स्नेह व् प्रेम
इसकेअंग तीन-अहिंसा, सेवा व मानव कुशल क्षेम।
इसकेअंग तीन-अहिंसा, सेवा व मानव कुशल क्षेम।
प्रेम देगा अवसर ईश्वरीय नियोजन में सेवक बनने हेतु
जगत जननी चरणों में जीवन समर्पित करने हेतु।
जगत जननी चरणों में जीवन समर्पित करने हेतु।
गुरुजनों से चर्चा की ,उन्होंने विस्मय पूर्वक बतलाया
यह"प्रयत्न"शंकराचार्य का "साधन चतुष्टय" कहलाया।
यह"प्रयत्न"शंकराचार्य का "साधन चतुष्टय" कहलाया।
THUS SPAKE HPB
Extracts from: “The First Message 1888 to William Q.
Judge”
Courtesy: Five Messages from H. P. Blavatsky. Printed by The Theosophy Company (India)
Ltd, Mumbai.
This
should never be forgotten, nor should the following fact be overlooked. On the day
when Theosophy will have accomplished its most holy and most important mission
– namely to unite firmly a body of men of all nations in brotherly love and
bent on a pure altruistic work, not on a labour with selfish motives- on that
day only will Theosophy become higher than any nominal brotherhood of man. This
will be a wonder and a miracle truly, for the realization of which Humanity is
vainly waiting for the last eighteen centuries, and which every association has
hitherto failed to accomplish.
Orthodoxy
in Theosophy is a thing neither possible nor desirable. It is diversity of
opinion, within certain limits, that keeps the Theosophical Society a living
and healthy body, its many other ugly features notwithstanding. Were it not,
also, for the existence of a large amount of uncertainty in the minds of
students of Theosophy, such healthy divergences would be possible, and the
Society would degenerate into a sect, in which a narrow and stereotyped creed
would take the place of the living and breathing spirit of Truth and an ever
growing knowledge.
According
as people are prepared to receive it, so will new Theosophical teachings be
given. But no more will be given than the world, on its present level of
spirituality, can profit by. It depends on the spread of Theosophy – the
assimilation of what has been already given – how much more will be revealed
and how soon.
It must
be remembered that the Society was not founded as a nursery for forcing supply
of Occultists – as a factory for the manufactory of Adepts. It was intended to
stem the current of materialism, and also that of spiritualistic phenomenalism,
and the worship of the Dead. It had to guide the spiritual awakening that has
now begun, and not to pander the psychic cravings which are but another form of
materialism. For by “materialism” is meant not only anti-philosophical negation
of pure spirit, and, even more, materialism in conduct and action – brutality,
hypocrisy, and, above all, selfishness, - but also the fruits of a disbelief in
all but material things, a disbelief which has increased enormously during the
last century, and which has led many, after a denial of all existence other
than that in matter, into a blind belief in the materialization of Spirit.
The
tendency of modern civilization is a reaction towards animalism, towards a
development of those qualities which conduce to the success in life of man as
an animal in the struggle for animal existence. Theosophy seeks to develop the
human nature in man in addition to the animal, and at the sacrifice of the
superfluous animality which modern life and materialistic teachings have
developed to a degree which is abnormal for the human being at this stage of
his progress.
Men
cannot all be Occultists, but they can all be Theosophists. Many who have never
heard of the Society are Theosophists without knowing it themselves; for the
essence of Theosophy is the perfect harmonizing of the divine with the human in
man, the adjustment of his God-like qualities and aspirations, and their sway
over the terrestrial or animal passions in him. Kindness, absence of every ill
feeling or selfishness, charity, good-will to all beings, and perfect justice
to others as to one’s self, are its chief features. He who teaches Theosophy
preaches the gospel of good-will; and the converse of this is true also - he
who preaches the gospel of good-will, teaches Theosophy.
EVOLUTION OF CONSCIOUSNESS
When
the soul of an animal enters the human kingdom it is the first great step on
the Path of Evolution of Consciousness, writes
VILOO
H. ADAJANIA
We all know that
the real man is not his physical self; he is more truly an embodiment of
consciousness. Consciousness is the ‘chaitanya’ that enters the physical matter
and enlivens it. Not only man, everything in the cosmos is blessed with a spark
of the Divine Light of the Supreme Being, and hence everything pulsates with
energy. It is an energy in which there is inherent consciousness and
intelligence, and hence there is highest intelligence imbued in the Divine Laws
of Nature which govern all Creation. The whole creation works according to
these Laws in perfect order and relentlessly maintains equilibrium.
Even Quantum
Physics has now declared, as revealed by Shikhar Agnihotri, National Lecturer
and Secretary, Lucknow Theosophical Lodge, that “there is a substratum of
energy (which we may call consciousness) behind everything in this universe.”
Dr. Annie Besant has also very truly said that it is the “Hidden Life vibrant
in every atom, the Hidden Light shining in every creature.” The consciousness
can manifest only in the garb of matter. Matter is dense whereas consciousness
is subtle.
Inherent in the
spark that a man is gifted with, is also the essence of His divine qualities.
The Vedas have declared that it is the ‘Brahman’, the Divinity within, which we
understand as a spiritual constituent of man. It is also understood as the
Guiding Force which, if heeded to, has the power to change our lives. ‘It is
our point of contact with our Source.’
Each of these little
sparks of consciousness, as they descend, goes through the mineral, vegetable
and animal kingdoms before entering the human kingdom to which we now belong. his
descent, in Theosophical terms, is called ‘the Descent of Consciousness’ to
dense matter.
In the early
stages, millions of years ago, the little sparks were not so much separated
from one another as they now are in the human kingdom; they were not
‘self-conscious’ or alive to the world around them. In the mineral kingdom
these little sparks were hardly awake at all. In the vegetable kingdom,
however, they were somewhat less sleepy, while in the animal kingdom they
really began to stir about, but lived only by instinct and sensory impulses.
Instinct works for limited ends, but within those limits it is almost
infallible.
In the vegetable
kingdom we have not a soul for one plant, but one group-soul for an enormous
number of plants, mostly for the whole species. In the animal kingdom also
there are group-souls but compared to plant kingdom smaller number of physical
forms are the expression of one group-soul.
You have perhaps
noticed that while most animals of a particular species have many peculiarities
in common, some of them like domestic animals, which have come in contact with
humanity, have developed very distinct individualities of their own. This is
the beginning of the road which is leading them direct to the human kingdom.
Then comes a time in the case of each such animal when it begins to live so
definite a life of its own that the spark inhabiting it finally breaks off from
fellow-sparks and, to use a theosophical phrase, ‘becomes individualized’, that is, it enters the human kingdom. This
individualization is the first great step made by the Divine spark on the Path
of Evolution.
The second great
step is when a human being begins to develop a definite sense of knowing what
is right and what is wrong, and to realize however faintly, that the wrong must
not be done, while the right must be followed. This may be called the dawning of consciousness, aroused
through ages of experience, that happiness follows the less selfish action
while pain follows the more selfish action.
He begins to take
definite steps towards divinity. He learns to realize that while
self-preservation might be necessary at a certain stage, self-sacrifice rather than self-seeking, is the only true way for the
progress of the soul. Gradually he becomes aware, guided by the divine
force within, that his deeds must not be just those driven by his personal
needs, but should rise to the level of good deeds, that is, those deeds which
fulfill the divine task entrusted to him by his Creator.
At last, after
several incarnations of pain, suffering and sorrow, his consciousness rises. In
his earlier lives, his consciousness was self-centered, always turning
‘outward’ into things of desire. Much later, this same refined and progressed man having realized the truth turns
his consciousness ‘within’ that is towards his Higher Self, the Soul.
This is the most
remarkable step leading to expansion of consciousness at the Higher Mental
level when the man unfolds from within the latent spiritual and intellectual
powers. This stage marks the beginning of the Return Journey of the Soul and
that in Theosophy is called ‘the Ascent of Consciousness’ to higher planes.
The divine spirit in man cannot fall back again, but rises ever onward and
upward towards the Divinity from whom it came.
The Divine Plan of
Evolution is to bring about a change, a transformation in the consciousness of
man, to help him lift the consciousness from the mind or the Mental Plane to
the ‘Buddhic’
Plane where the Oneness of Life in every separate form is realized. There
is no division, no separation. It begins with us imagining ourselves as one
with all. Love, compassion, empathy, humility, devotion, wisdom are the
expressions of consciousness workings at the ‘Buddhic’ level.But the world in which we are living is in crisis,
a crisis created by the inadequate unfoldment of our consciousness.
Technological knowledge has not solved the fundamental problems of man: how to
find happiness, live at peace and discover those things whose value will never
fade. For this wisdom is required.
Wisdom comes with
adequate expansion of our consciousness.
The
Government of the Creator works relentlessly in its own mysterious ways to
bring the Divine Plan of Evolution to fruition, to enable us to
do well & to help redeem our souls to salvation. But how much good we do,
how much we contribute towards the fulfillment of the Divine Plan, rests
entirely in our hands.
BTF
& LODGE PROGRAMMES MAY 2017
1. ANANDA
LODGE: Theosophical
Colony, Juhu, Mumbai 400049. Contact
Ananda Lodge Secretary Sis. Zenobia Khodaiji (M): 9820308163 or Ananda Lodge
Representative to BTF Sis. Anjoo Narain (M): 9820132473 for morning timings of White Lotus Day Meeting with North Mumbai Lodges
on Sunday 7th May 2017
2. BLAVATSKY LODGE: 7 - French Bridge, Mumbai 400007
Tel: 23685026 (M): 9821459504 (M): 9819334333
DAY
|
TIME
|
DETAILS
|
Fri 5 and 19
|
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
|
Bharat
Samaj Pooja
|
Mon 8
|
6.15 pm
|
White
Lotus Day Meeting for S. Mumbai Lodges
|
Wed
10
|
6.00 pm
|
Wesak
Purnima Meeting
|
Fri 12
|
6.00
pm
6.15 pm
|
Members’
Meeting for Readings & Discussion
Talk
by Dr. Darius H. Umrigar (In
Lobby)
|
Fri 26
|
4.30 pm
6.00 pm
|
Blavatsky
Lodge Managing Committee Meeting
Members’
Meeting for Readings & Discussion
|
Sun 28
|
10.45 am
|
Maitreya
Round Table (Please
note Annual Round Table Meeting
will be in August 2017 with ceremony ‘Invocation to Zarathushtra’)
|
Tues 2, 16,23
& 30
|
5.45 pm
|
Reading
and discussion on Lives of Alcyone by AB and CWL presented by Sis Navaz
Dhalla
(Please note no meeting on
Tuesday 9th April)
|
3. CENTENARY LODGE:
Please contact Sis. Najma Dewan (M):
9987204038
4. JYOTI LODGE: C/o Bro. Taral Munshi,
C/101, Building No.19, New Mhada, Garden Hill C.H.S., New Mhada Colony, Behind
N.P.A., Goregaon (East), Mumbai 400065 (M): 9820187317
5. SHANTI LODGE: C/o Bro. Rustom Dalal,
Vijay Niwas, 2nd Floor, Plot 5,
Sleater Road, Mumbai 400007 Tel:
23800422
Thursdays at 6.15 p.m. (M): 9833131216
4
|
Study of P. Pavri’s Book ‘The Living Wisdom’
|
11
|
Study of P. Pavri’s Book ‘The Living Wisdom’
|
18
|
Talk by Dr. Darius H.
Umrigar (at Blavatsky Lodge)
|
25
|
Study of P. Pavri’s Book ‘The Living Wisdom’
|
6. UNITY YOUTH LODGE: Sis. Soonoo Vesuna (M): 9619339787
Wed 17
|
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: C/O Dr. Ajay Hora, Kamla
Sadan 1st Floor, Pherozsha Mehta Rd., Santa Cruz West, Mumbai 400054. (M):
9820302371 (M): 9892147659
Wednesday 3, 10 (Wesak
Purnima), 17,24 & 31 Meetings at 6.30 pm.
9. VIMADALAL BILIA LODGE:
Family
House, Parsi Colony, Dadar, Mumbai 400014.
Tel: 24185510
Thurs 4
|
6.00
|
Celebration of White
Lotus Day – 8th May
|
Thurs 11
|
6.00
|
Vaishakha Purnima
Meeting
(Time of Purnima 11th
May 3.12 a.m.)
|
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)
========================================================================================
MCM MINUTES FOR MAY 2017
Minutes of the Managing Committee meeting held at 5.00 pm on Friday, the 26th of May, 2017 at Blavatsky Lodge, Mumbai.
The meeting chaired by the President Sis. Kashmira Khambatta began with the Universal Prayer.
Members Present: Bro. Navin Kumar, Sis. Nawaz Dhalla, Sis Jasmine Cawasji, Sis. Aban Patel, Bro.Arni Narendran, Ruby Khan, Rustom Cooper
Leave of Absence: Bro. Noor Baig, Bro. Rustom Dalal, Sis. Freny Pagdiwalla, Bro. Roy Mathews.
The deliberations of the Meeting were as under:
1. Confirmation of Minutes:
Minutes of the MC meeting held on 26th May, 2017, which were distributed to members in advance to facilitate careful reading beforehand, were considered and confirmed.
2. Hon. Treasurer’s Report:
The Treasurer’s Report for the month of April, 2017 was read by Sis. Ruby Khan and approved by the Managing Committee Members present.
3. Miscellaneous:
a) It was decided to appoint PCI to undertake pest control treatment in the lodge for a period of five years. . Sis. Navaz Dhalla to get estimate from PCI..
b) It was decided to get the cleaning of the Mathai Room done.
c) Quotation for outer wall from painter to be taken via Bro. Dalal.
d) Tentative AGM date Sunday 3rd September 2017.
There being no other matters, the meeting ended with thanks to the chair and the universal prayer in Sanskrit.
Secretary President
(Jasmine Cawasji) (Kashmira Khambatta)
========================================================================================
MCM MINUTES FOR MAY 2017
Blavatsky Lodge
THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
7, French Bridge, Rangnekar Road, Chowpatty, Mumbai-400 007
The meeting chaired by the President Sis. Kashmira Khambatta began with the Universal Prayer.
Members Present: Bro. Navin Kumar, Sis. Nawaz Dhalla, Sis Jasmine Cawasji, Sis. Aban Patel, Bro.Arni Narendran, Ruby Khan, Rustom Cooper
Leave of Absence: Bro. Noor Baig, Bro. Rustom Dalal, Sis. Freny Pagdiwalla, Bro. Roy Mathews.
The deliberations of the Meeting were as under:
1. Confirmation of Minutes:
Minutes of the MC meeting held on 26th May, 2017, which were distributed to members in advance to facilitate careful reading beforehand, were considered and confirmed.
2. Hon. Treasurer’s Report:
The Treasurer’s Report for the month of April, 2017 was read by Sis. Ruby Khan and approved by the Managing Committee Members present.
3. Miscellaneous:
a) It was decided to appoint PCI to undertake pest control treatment in the lodge for a period of five years. . Sis. Navaz Dhalla to get estimate from PCI..
b) It was decided to get the cleaning of the Mathai Room done.
c) Quotation for outer wall from painter to be taken via Bro. Dalal.
d) Tentative AGM date Sunday 3rd September 2017.
There being no other matters, the meeting ended with thanks to the chair and the universal prayer in Sanskrit.
Secretary President
(Jasmine Cawasji) (Kashmira Khambatta)
