BLAVATSKY LODGE: 7 - French Bridge, Mumbai 400007
Tel: 23685026 (M): 9821459504 (M): 9819334333
DAY
|
TIME
|
DETAILS
|
Fri 4
|
6.00 pm
|
Members’ Meeting – Study of AB & CWL’s Book “MAN.. Whence, How and Whither” conducted by Sis Aban Patel
|
Sun 6
|
10.00 am
10.30 am
|
Bharat Samaj Pooja
BTF Council Meeting
|
Fri 11
|
6.00 pm
|
Mystic Star Ritual
|
Tues 15
|
--
|
Independence Day (Lodge Closed)
|
Fri 18
|
6.00 pm
|
Members’ Meeting – Study of AB & CWL’s Book “MAN.. Whence, How and Whither” conducted by Sis Aban Patel
|
Fri 25
|
--
|
Ganesh Chaturthi (Lodge Closed)
|
Sun 27
|
11.30 pm
|
Special Round Table Ceremony. “Invocation to Lord Zarathushtra” followed by Lunch. (Please intimate in advance if joining for lunch).
|
Tues 1,8,22, 29
|
5.45 pm
|
Study class – ‘The Masters & The Path’ by C.W. Leadbeater.
|
THE BOMBAY THEOSOPHICAL BULLETIN
THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE BOMBAY
THEOSOPHICAL FEDERATION
Volume
86
|
—
|
No.11
|
–
|
August 2017
|
CONTENTS
Quote of Zarathushtra
|
Cover
|
News & Notes
|
2
|
Theosophical
Education by Bro.Chittaranjan Satapathy
|
3 - 6
|
Life we lead – A
Poem by Behram R.Tirandaz
|
7
|
Asala Poornima by Bro. Zinoo Master
|
8 - 10
|
BTF & Lodge Programmes August
2017
|
11 - 12
|
NEWS AND NOTES
THANK YOU “AMMU DADA” OF USA FOR THINKING OF GANPAT JADHAV: Sis. Deepa Kapoor daughter of Sis.
Manjula Kanabar, e-mailed from Dar-e-salam conveyed shri Amubhai Raval’s wish
to send ex-gratia help for Ganpat. In
her e-mail Deepa adds Shri Amubhai Raval fondly known as “Amu Dada” is a
pioneer of Theosophy in East to Central Africa.
He had inspired her mother Manjulaben Kanabar to join TS 60 years ago.
Ammu Dada at young age of 98 years now is based in USA. His heart lies in
Theosophy.
ORBITUARY: Sis. Vasantika Bodaji
of Blavatsky Lodge with membership of above four decades passed away on 27th June 2017. She was presented
BTF Memento and certificate for 40 years membership by late International
President Radha Burnier.
************************************************************
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.
Theosophical Education
Chittaranjan Satapathy International
Imm. Past Vice President
(Chief Guest BTF ANNUAL SESSION OF
2016)
Courtesy The Theosophist May 2017.
From the early days of the modern theosophical
movement, which started with the establishment of the Theosophical Society (TS)
in 1875, the pioneers have taken great interest in education per se and the
right kind of education in particular. In a way, a theosophist’s approach to
education was greatly influenced by two underlying considerations that Madame H. P. Blavatsky voiced in The Key to Theosophy:
1. When asked what she considered as due to
humanity at large, she said, “Full Recognition of equal rights and privileges
for all and without distinction of race, color, social position, or birth”.
2. To a query whether it is the duty of every
member [of the TS] to teach others and preach Theosophy, she affirmed: “No
fellow has a right to remain idle on the excuse that he knows too little to
teach; for he may always be sure that he will find others who know still less
than himself. And also it is not until a man begins to try to teach others that
he discovers his own ignorance and tries to remove it”.
The founders of the Theosophical Society, Madame
Blavatsky and Colonel H.S.Olcott,
on their arrival in Sri Lanka in the 1880s did a great amount of work to
restore traditional teaching by establishing Buddhist Theosophical Schools
which within a few years grew to a hundred in number. This was of great
significance to the revival of Buddhist culture and tradition there.
Col. Olcott’s pioneering work for educating the poor children from marginalized
section of society is well known. The concept that through education the
underprivileged and disadvantaged can be enabled to stand on their own feet and
fight for what is due to them was formulated and given a practical shape by him
much before similar work was done by Mahatma
Gandhi and Dr. Ambedkar. Several
Olcott Panchama Schools were started in and around old Madras. The first one
that was started in 1894 by Col. Olcott, using his own meager financial
resources, continues today and has since been upgraded recently as Olcott
Memorial Higher Secondary School. It was started as a free school with 45
students including 9 girls. Till today no fees are charged from any of the
students who go through a life-transforming experience at the school.
Theosophists alone rose above caste considerations to be the first lot of
volunteer teachers at the school.
One of the lesser known
aspects of Col. Olcott’s work for
reviving and opening several Sanskrit schools needs to be mentioned here. This
was in line with emphasis that the founders of TS gave to traditional education
and the learning of Sanskrit, a language in which many ancient books of divine
wisdom were written. Equally important was Col. Olcott’s great foresight in
establishing the Adyar Library and Research Centre, and collecting over 18,000
palm-leaf and other manuscripts and 45,000 books. It was for the first time
that this library published the complete set of Upanishads with original texts
and commentaries in Sanskrit and an English translation.
The work of Dr. Annie Besant, Col. Olcott’s able
successor, in the field of education would require several pages to be
adequately recounted. A number of schools and colleges bearing her name stand
testimony to her work in the field of education. The founding of Benares Hindu
University would not have been possible but for her willingly surrendering the
Central Hindu College in 1913 (which had been earlier established by her in
1898) along with the land and all other assets. Her work for advancing the
cause of women’s education in the country and bringing the Scouts and Guides
movement to India are well known. In 1913 she established the Theosophical
Education Trust. Among other things she emphasized that education should make
young Indians more religious, for she believed a nation must have spirituality.
She was clear that education must foster national unity, discipline,
perseverance and a sense that all work is honorable and must prepare students
for public life.
Dr. Besant elucidates her views further in Education
in the Light of Theosophy (Adyar Pamphlet No. 16). She says that the
fundamental teachings of Theosophy have altered our views of children. They
cannot be considered as souls fresh from the hands of God, but as immortal
individuals taking birth amongst us after gathering experience from many such
births earlier. Dr. Besant says that
to the Theosophist, each child is a study and instead of imposing his own will
on the child, he tries to discover through the young body the features of the
in-dwelling owner, who may be wiser than his elders. What Dr. Besant says in
this book was put into practice when she and other Theosophists educated the
young J. Krishnamurti, who later
went on to become a World Teacher, apart from establishing many schools seeking
to provide a different kind of education for children.
Maria Montessori, the
renowned educator, lived in and worked from the TS campus in Adyar. Four of her
books, The Absorbent Mind, Reconstruction
in Education, Peace and Education and The Child have been published by the
Theosophical Publishing House, Adyar. She recognizes that children have their
personalities and carry within them the beauty and dignity of the creative
spirit. She is of the view that the school should not be a prison for children,
ignoring the experiences of their spirit and soul. The emphasis should shift
from forcing them to fit society’s molds, ignoring their actual needs.
Back in July 1940, the then
President of TS, George Arundale,
published “A Statement of Principles of
Education” regarding what he considered to be the fundamental principle of
the Theosophical education. In that statement he talked of coordinating
existing theosophical educational activities in various parts of the world,
outlining the following principles of the theosophical education:
(1). True education must
seek to help to encourage the growth of vital energizing forces of will, wisdom
and love in each student.
(2). Students must be
acquainted with the basic truth of unity and brotherhood of all life.
(3).
Students must realize that nothing grows alone and that there is nothing
external which is not related to them.
(4). Perfect justice and therefore perfect love rules the he world.
(5).
There is a great brotherhood of religions.
(6).
There is a great brotherhood of nations and all humanity, and all of us are the
children of one life.
(7). Theosophical education
should include study and exercises,
whether physical , emotional, mental, or spiritual, designed to help the
student tread the way of service, to be of a sharing and helpful nature.
If these principles have to
be applied in our schools and I have no doubt they should be, first of all we
must have teachers who understand these principles and who are happy to imbibe
and follow them.
Another issue needing our
attention is what Krishnamurti
writes in Education as Service: It is
sad that in modern days the office of a teacher has not been regarded as on a
level with other learned professions…..But really the office of the teacher is
the most sacred and the most important to the nation, because it builds the
characters of the boys and girls who will be its future citizens.
[Note: Readers may like to know about
Theosophical Educational Activities in
Mumbai. Bombay Theosophical Federation has – (i) Jamubhai & Suryabenn Dani
Note-Books project for needy school children. (ii) Jamubhai & Suryaben Dani
Essay & Elocution Competitions & (iii) Minoo Mullan Essay &
Elocution Competitions.
Blavatsky Lodge sends annual
donation to Olcott Memorial School Adyar and Late Mehra Dhalla Memorials
Educational Aid for school children. Mystic Star Ritual and Maitreya Round
Table at Blavatsky Lodge inculcates Theosophical Values. Juhu Theosophical
Society has Besant Montessori School. TS Mumbai, India gives educational
scholarships. Quite a few of TS Members of BTF are Teachers in varied fields
and also in imparting Theosophy to Brethren and interested inquirers. –
Editor.]
uiewea.
-
LIFE WE LEAD
When we look at any man,
We pass all judgments as best we
can
We just look at a person’s face
And pass comments on their mind
and race
We see to criticize all of man,
And do not react with kindness at
hand
We think that life’s just a race
And shove another or bash his
face,
Thus showing no kindness to the race.
We fight and push another around
Trying to get on more ground.
I, Me, My is all we say
Becoming more selfish day by day
This is the type of life we lead,
I am so sad, to say
The fault lies in the mind
And it lies not in mankind
The way we act and think our
thoughts,
Is the cause of all our plights
and fights.
Sometimes, I wonder at all I see,
Is this as real as it seems to be?
So the only way to help mankind,
Is to help him purify his MIND.
Behram R.
Tirandaz.
Behram's poem was
written as a teenager. He was multifaceted with interests varying from
Theosophy, Astronomy (He was keen on becoming an Astrophysicist), Ham Radio,
Electronics (He assembled quite a few gadgets at home after buying the various
parts).He even experimented with Kirlian photography at home! A
truly God's gift to our family
and from whom we learnt a lot .May he progress and advance in the measure that
he deserves.
Son of Sis. Armaity Rustom Tirandaz (President of
Vimadalal Bilia Lodge T.S.)
ASALA POORNIMA
CELEBRATION
BY BRO. ZINOO
MASTER
Sunday 9th July
at 10.15 am, the beautiful bronze statue of Gautama
Buddha was adorned with flowers in the Green Room of The Blavatsky Lodge T S.
The table near the statue was decorated with an oil diva and tea lights, with
beautiful colored flowers, incense sticks and a crystal bowl with water. Bro.
Zinoo Master commenced his talk on the Festival of Asala Poornima with the
recitation of “Buddham Sharanam Gachhami” and the members present joined him.
On
this full moon day in the month of Asala, the Members of the Great White
Brotherhood meet at the private house of the Lord Maitreya, situated on the
southern slopes of the Himalayas.
This
is the Anniversary of the first sermon preached by the Lord Buddha to his five
disciples. He begins the sermon with a proclamation that the Middle Path is the
safest and true Path. On that occasion as in the original preaching, the
Pentecostal miracle repeats itself. The Lord speaks in the original sonorous
Pali, but every one present hears him “in his own tongue wherein he was born”.
The Lord Buddha explained that the first step
towards the leading of such a life is to understand its conditions; and laid
down for us in what he has called the Four
Noble Truths:
- Sorrow or Suffering
- The Cause of Sorrow
- The Ceasing of Sorrow (or the Escape from Sorrow)
- The Way which leads to the Escape from Sorrow.
- Sorrow or Suffering: All manifested life is sorrow, unless man knows how to live it. To the Monad, who is the true Spirit of man, all manifested life is a sorrow, because it is a limitation, which we on the physical plane cannot understand as we have no idea of the higher life. In the other sense in which life is a sorrow, but that can be avoided. While leading an ordinary life, man often faces anxiety, due to various desires for lower things. We must try to rise above the average man and give a helping hand. The only way to gain peace is to get rid of all the sorrows.
- The Cause of Sorrow: The cause of sorrow is attachment, desire. If a man has no desires, he remains unruffled and serene because he does not care. Because he is human, he will of course wish for this or that, but always mildly and gently, not allowing himself to be disturbed. The best way is to forget self, and let all selfish desires cease, turning the thought outward to help others according to one’s capability.
- The Ceasing of Sorrow: Always keep good thought on the highest things. We live in the world full of sorrow. We are in it, but must not be of it – we must do our duty and help others to remove their troubles but first remove our own and remain calm and contented. We must not think such attitude is unattainable, for otherwise, the Lord Buddha would not have prescribed it for us.
- The Way to Escape Sorrow: This is given to us in the Noble Eight fold Path – a wonderful tabulation, a beautiful statement, which can be taken at all levels, by an uneducated man as well as a highest philosopher.
i)
Right Belief –to understand the Divine Scheme, Law of Cause and Effect. We need
not have blind faith. Only by leading a life of purity and righteousness can we
make progress. God is just. Be convinced that everything happens in justice.
ii)
Right Thought – to think rightly. It
means two separate things. Do not have wrong thoughts and emotions. Have right
thoughts, correct thoughts. Do not think untruly of the Master or about others.
Always have the Master’s thoughts at the
back of your mind, so when there is a moment’s respite from worldly action, at
once the thought of Him comes forward and occupies the mind.
iii)
Right Speech – It has two divisions.
Always speak of good things. It is not our business to speak evil of others. Do
not believe stories about other people, they may not be true. Incorrect speech,
foul language, loose talk and exaggeration should never be practiced. It is
quoted in the Bible that every word uttered is accountable. Speech must be kindly; and it must be direct
and forceful, not silly. If thought be
right, action too will be right.
iv)
Right Action – prompt and well
considered, just; not for reward. If our thought and speech are good, then the
action which follows will also be good. Action must be prompt and yet well
considered.
v)
Right Means of
Livelihood – the means of earning should be
harmless. That would rule out such trades as those of a butcher or a fisherman.
The seller of liquor lives on the harm done on people. It also includes
Merchants, Doctors and lawyers who cheat their customers, patients and clients.
vi)
Right Exertion – Not absence of evil but positive good.
When the Lord Buddha made that wonderful short statement of his doctrine in a
single verse, he began by saying: “Cease to do evil” but the next line runs:
“Learn to do good”. It is not enough to be passively good. Putting our work
into useful lines and not wasting it.
vii)
Right Memory – means self-recollectedness, who we are and our work.
What is our duty. Right memory means the exercise of a reasonable choice of
what we should remember. To remember good things and let the evil die. Mistakes
made should not be repeated but otherwise, to brood over them and regret with
sorrow for the same is not Right Memory.
viii)
Right Meditation – higher things always present in the
background of our mind.
BTF & LODGE PROGRAMMES AUGUST 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 Meeting of August 2017
2. BLAVATSKY LODGE: 7 - French Bridge, Mumbai 400007
Tel: 23685026 (M): 9821459504 (M): 9819334333
DAY
|
TIME
|
DETAILS
|
Fri 4
|
6.00 pm
|
Members’
Meeting – Study of AB & CWL’s Book “MAN.. Whence, How and Whither”
conducted by Sis Aban Patel
|
Sun 6
|
10.00 am
10.30 am
|
Bharat Samaj Pooja
BTF
Council Meeting
|
Fri
11
|
6.00
pm
|
Mystic
Star Ritual
|
Tues
15
|
--
|
Independence
Day (Lodge Closed)
|
Fri 18
|
6.00 pm
|
Members’
Meeting – Study of AB & CWL’s Book “MAN.. Whence, How and Whither”
conducted by Sis Aban Patel
|
Fri 25
|
--
|
Ganesh Chaturthi (Lodge Closed)
|
Sun 27
|
11.30 pm
|
Special Round Table Ceremony. “Invocation to Lord Zarathushtra”
followed by Lunch. (Please intimate in advance if joining for lunch).
|
Tues 1,8,22, 29
|
5.45 pm
|
Study
class – ‘The Masters & The Path’ by C.W. Leadbeater.
|
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 (M): 9833131216
3
|
Study of P. Pavri’s Book ‘The Living Wisdom’
|
10
|
Study of P. Pavri’s Book ‘The Living Wisdom’
|
24
|
Study of P. Pavri’s Book ‘The Living Wisdom’
|
31
|
Study of P. Pavri’s Book ‘The Living Wisdom’
|
6. UNITY YOUTH LODGE: Sis. Soonoo Vesuna (M): 9619339787
Wed 16
|
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 Mrs. Gita S. Parikh, Gokul Anand
Building, 4th Floor, Dattatraya Cross Road
(M):9920384140
Wednesday 2,9,16,23 &30.Meetings
at 6.30 pm.
9. VIMADALAL BILIA LODGE:
Family House, Parsi
Colony, Dadar, Mumbai 400014. Tel:
24185510
5.45 pm. Healing Rituals.
Thurs
3
|
6.00
|
Theosophical Readings
|
Thurs
10
|
6.00
|
Theosophical Readings by
Bro.Zinoo Master
|
Thurs
17
|
6.00
|
Lodge Closed
|
Thurs
24
|
6.00
|
Theosophical Readings
|
Thurs 31
|
6.00
|
Sis.Meher Contractor.-
In memory of Departed Souls. Satum No Kardo
|
********************************************************
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)
( THE MINUTES BELOW PERTAIN TO THE AUGUST MEETING OF MC HELD ON 1ST SEPT)
( THE MINUTES BELOW PERTAIN TO THE AUGUST MEETING OF MC HELD ON 1ST SEPT)
Blavatsky Lodge
THE
THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
7, French Bridge, Rangnekar Road, Chowpatty, Mumbai-400 007
Minutes of the
Managing Committee meeting held at 4.30 pm on Friday, the 1st
September, 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, Bro.Arni
Narendran, Rustom Cooper, Sis. Aban
Patel, Sis. Ruby Khan, Bro Noor Baig.
Leave of Absence: Bro. Rustom Dalal, Sis.
Freny Pagdiwalla, Bro. Roy Mathews.
The President
welcomed the members and explained that this meeting was in fact the meeting
pertaining to August 2017 which could not be held in August due to Ganpati
Festival and heavy rains in Mumbai.
The deliberations
of the Meeting were as under:
1. Confirmation
of Minutes:
Minutes of the MC
meeting held on 28th July, 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 July, 2017 was read by Sis. Ruby
Khan and approved by the Managing Committee Members present.
3. Matters Arising
From the Minutes:
Bro Navin Kumar
informed that the Termite Control treatment of the entire building of Blavatsky
Lodge has been done through Pest Control India under the supervision of Sis
Navaz Dhalla. The expenses incurred are of the order of Rs 71000/-.
Members have
donated generously for this work and a sum of about 45000/- has already come to
the Lodge by way of donations.
4. Wrap Up Session
for “MAN” and “LIVES”.
It was felt that
this one day session may be kept between 5th November and 30th
November.
5. Contributory
Dinner in the Honour of Bro Govil,
It was decided that
on 13 or 14 October we may invite Bro Govil for dinner. Attending members would
be requested to contribute Rs 500/- each. The balance would be given by
Blavatsky Lodge.
6. Brother Janardan’s
Visit to our Lodge
It was decided to
invite Bro Janardan, to address the Lodge Members on 19th
Setember,2017.
7. Creation of
Co-Mesonic Fund
Bro Navin Kumar
informed that the second floor of the Blavatsky Lodge is being used by the
Mesonic Committee which governs the Mesonic Lodge and that Bro Zinoo Master and
Sister Mahazaver have donated Rs 25000/- and Rs 30000/- respectively for the
creation of a “Comesonic Fund” the interest of which could be used every year
for reimbursing to the Blavatsky Lodge its share of property tax which is paid
to BMC and for other expenses. After discussion the following resolution was
proposed by Bro Navin, Seconded by Bro Arni and carried unanimously:
“Resolved that a
Fund called the “Mesonic Fund” be created with the Blavatsky Lodge to receive
donations for the use of Mesonic Lodge. The annual interest on the minimum
balance on this fund be credited to “Mesonic Fund Interest Account”. This
interest amount would be used primarily to be used for payment of property tax
to BMC or other expenses of the Mesonic Lodge”
8. New Fee
Structure for Membership.
The circular of the
Indian Section applying new rates of fees for Indian Section and Federations
was considered and the following fee structure was jointly proposed by Bro
Navin Kumar and Bro Arni Narendran and approved unanimously.
Amounts mentioned in Rupees
|
S.
No.
|
Category
of
Membership
|
|
Membership
fee now approved wef 1-10-2018
|
Blavatsky
Lodge share
|
BTF
Share
|
India
Section Share
|
Indian
Theosophist
|
|
1
|
Admission
Fee
|
|
110.00
|
10.00
|
40.00
|
60.00
|
|
|
2
|
Members
|
|
300.00
|
120.00
|
64.00
|
86.00
|
30.00
|
|
3
|
Couple
Members
|
|
400.00
|
145.00
|
96.00
|
129.00
|
30.00
|
|
4
|
Members
Below 25 Yrs
|
|
150.00
|
45.00
|
32.00
|
43.00
|
30.00
|
|
5
|
Life
Membership
|
|
4000.00
|
700.00
|
|
3000.00
|
300.00
|
|
6
|
Associate
Member
|
|
80.00
|
80.00
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
AssociateMemberCouple
|
|
120.00
|
120.00
|
|
|
|
|
8
|
Associate
Member below 25
|
|
30.00
|
30.00
|
|
|
|
|
9
|
Associate
life Membership
|
|
600.00
|
600.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.
Letter of Engagement from Sister Rashida our Auditor for 2017-18
The letter of engagement which stated the Audit Fee as Rs 11550/-, Income
Tax Return filing fee as Rs 3850/- was unanimously accepted. These charges are
the same as approved last year.
10. New Members
Approval was given to the membership of the following two sons of Bro Ram
Kalra
1. Anubhav R
Kalra
2. Aakarshan R
Kalra
There being no other business, the Meeting ended with a vote of thanks to
the chair.
Secretary
President
(JasmineCawasji)
(Kashmira Khambatta)
