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BLAVATSKY LODGE: 7 - French Bridge, Mumbai 400007 Tel: 23685026 (M): 9821459504 (M): 9819334333
DAY----------
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TIME-----------
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DETAILS--------------------------------------------------
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Fri 5
|
6.00
pm
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‘Autobiography
of a Yogi’ by Parmahans Yogananda’ - conducted by Bro. Arni Narendran
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Sun 7
|
10.00
am
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Bharat
SamajPooja
|
Fri 12
|
6.00
pm
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Study
of CWL’s book ‘Inner Life’ conducted by Sis. Aban Patel
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Fri 19
|
6.00
pm
|
Mystic Star Ritual
|
Fri 26
|
4.30
pm
6.00
pm
|
Blavatsky
Lodge MC Meeting
Study
of CWL’s book ‘Inner Life’ conducted by Sis. Aban Patel
|
Sun 28
|
11.45
am
|
Maitreya
Round Table
|
Tues
2, 9,16,23, 30
|
5.45 pm
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‘Autobiography
of a Yogi’ by ParmahansYogananda’ - conducted by Bro. ArniNarendran
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THE
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF
THE BOMBAY THEOSOPHICAL FEDERATION
Volume
88
|
—
|
No.7
|
–
|
April
2019
|
RUKMINI DEVI
There is nothing greater in life than inspiration.
If you can inspire people you are
really fulfilling life,
And the fulfilling of life is our
goal.
MISSION OF TS
To serve humanity by cultivating an ever deepening
understanding and realization of the Ageless Wisdom,
spiritual self-transformation and the unity of all life
|
CONTENTS
Quote – Rukmini Devi
|
Cover
|
News & Notes
|
2 - 3
|
Experience of the School of Wisdom
at Adyar by Sis. Aban Patel, Sis. Aban Amroliwalla and Sis. Kashmira
Khambatta
|
3 - 11
|
BTF& Lodge Programmes April
2019
|
11 - 12
|
NEWS & NOTES
ADYAR DAYCELEBRATION
Jointly by BTF &
Blavatsky Lodge on 17th February 2019
The
meeting was opened with the Prayers of All Religions and the Universal prayer. BTF
President Bro. Vinayak Pandya in the opening address said that on Adyar
Day, minds & hearts of all TS members are centered on Adyar. It is the day
to think with reverence of the Founders & Stalwarts and of all Brethren who
have dedicated their lives to Theosophy. Late Mugdhaben Hora’s Gujarati Song
‘Adyar’ was sung. Power Point on’At Adayr for the School of Wisdom’ November
19-30, 2018 was shown by Sis. Kashmira Khambatta. It covered pictures of Adyar
including renovated Blavatsky Bungalow, JK’s Bench from where he spoke to
people, offerings at Parsee Agiyari and Director Pablo Sender conducting
sessions on ‘Evolution of the Higher Consciousness’.
Sis. Kashmira Khambatta, Sis. Aban Amroliwalla and Sis. Aban Patel shared
*******************************************************************
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.
their
experiences of learning under great teacher Pablo Sender, which are printed
separately in this Bulletin. Bro. Berthram Redwood spoke about J.
Krishnamurthy. Sis. Ruby Khan spoke about significance of Adayr Day and C. W.
Leadbeater. Bro. Navin Kumar concluded by speaking about the Sixth Root Race
and wished that at that time we all incarnate together and meet again. Adyar
Day Collection at the meeting was Rs.3,700/-. Adding Rs.500/- of Shanti Lodge
and Rs.800/- of BTF, Rs.5,000/- will be sent to Adyar.
THE THEOSOPHICAL WORKERS’
TRAINING CAMP will be at Adyar 12th to 26th May 2019 directed by Dr. N. C.
Ramanajuchari. Indian Section Federations are
requested to depute 2 or 3 members, who will be given travel cost by second
class sleeper train and free stay & meals at Adyar. Forms are to be
submitted before 15th April 2019. Books recommended for Study are: The Key to
Theosophy, Text Book of Theosophy, To Form a Nucleus and Theosophical Work. Interested members of BTF please contact
President Bro. Vinayak Pandya or Secretary Sis. Mahazaver Dalal for
Registration Forms.
OBITUARY: Bro.
Sam Nadodwalla, Life Member of Blavatsky Lodge with
membership of 36 years passed away on 9th March 2019. He helped many
with his knowledge of Alternative Medicine. In TS & Masonry he served
wherever he could. With his ornate handwriting he has written Dani Competition
Certificates. He was also a dedicated Co-Mason. May his soul be blessed with
peace.
Mumbai
Brethren’s Experience of Learning at
THE SCHOOL OF THE WISDOM,
ADYAR
Blavatsky Lodge President Sis. Kashmira
Khambatta, Sis. Aban Amroliwalla and Sis. Aban Patel had a very enriching
experience at the School of the Wisdom
from 19th to 30th November 2018 under Director Bro. Pablo
Sander of Crotona. Three Guajarati Books of Gujarat Theosophical
Federation were released. Dr. A.
Kannan’s two books
entitled A Student's Guide to the Masters' Teachings on an Institute of Theosophy in Ojai, California, USA. The Trio shares their learning experience with BTF Bulletin readers.
SIS. ABAN PATEL –
‘MEDITATION AND AWARENESS’
It
was my great desire to visit our International Headquarters at Adyar. During
November 2018, when I attended the School of Wisdom at Aadyar, my long- felt
desire was fulfilled. To live in such a beautiful place, with strong positive
vibrations and peaceful environ, in midst of all the greenery, was a real
treat. Added to this, our Instructor, teacher, guide, whatever we may call
him-Mr. Pablo Sender was amazing. He made the most difficult subject-“Evolution
of the Higher Consciousness”, easily understandable, through his lucid
talks, diagrams, and discussion, to all those who attended the School from all
over the world. His wife Mitchell assisted him all throughout with her
knowledge.
I will try to say a few
words on the subject: ‘Meditation and Awareness’, which was the second part of
our course.
In
our modern culture, we have developed enormous amount of knowledge about the
external world. We know existence of small sub-atomic particles, as well as
unthinkably huge galaxies, billions of light years away from our planet. Yet,
we have not been able to create equality where basic needs of one and all are
met nor we have been able to stop wars and create bonhomie amongst ourselves,
nations and continents. The reason is that we have spent most of our time and
energy paying attention to the External World – materialistic world, rather
than Internal World, inner dimensions, that is our emotions, feelings,
thoughts, and consciousness.
Since
the outer world is shaped by the inner, both from a psychological and a
metaphysical point of view, a fundamental change can only be brought about by
gaining knowledge and mastery of the inner world. From
the time when the Delphic oracle said to the enquirer, “Man, know thyself”, no
greater or more important truth was ever taught. Man has to know himself, i.e. acquire the inner perceptions
which never deceive, before he can master any absolute truth.
When
mind is illumined by the light of Buddhi or spiritual soul or enlightened soul,
we consider the virtues as important to us, not because of morality, fear, or
conformity with society, but because they are the Truth. Budhhi cannot reflect in
stressful mind. So we have to train ourselves to be quiet, so that the
divine light penetrates into our minds.
When
we turn our consciousness inwards, our mind starts looking inwards and Manas
i.e. human soul, and Buddhi i.e. spiritual soul come together. Remember, mind
cannot perceive itself, like eyes can see all, but itself.
An
important factor in attaining a higher perception is purification of the body
and more importantly, the emotions and thoughts. To activate the inner vision
we must purify our whole nature, moral, mental and physical. It is only by
supplementing study and meditation with the practice of virtues like love,
patience, generosity, peace and unselfishness that we can attain wisdom.
Following
is a proposed practice on the lines just described. We can take a virtue per
week or per month and do the following:
- Daily, preferably in the morning, meditate for a few minutes as follows:
a)
Begin by pondering over the essential quality of the chosen virtue
(love, patience, peace, generosity any one)
b)
Then bring to mind the fact that, if all obstacles were removed, you
would spontaneously show this virtue, because it is part of your nature.
Examine the lower self under the light of
this virtue. Recall situations in which the personality needed to express the
virtue. If it was not able to do so, try to see why. Get fully acquainted with the
feelings, thoughts, or circumstances that stood in the way.
c)
Recreate in imagination this or similar situations and visualize
yourself responding in the ideal way.
d)
In finishing the meditation, resolve to do your best to act more in
tune with this virtue.
- During your day, pay special attention to how the personality behaves in this respect. Make a gradual effort to act in ways that are more in tune with the virtue, starting with situations which are less challenging.
- In the evening, before retiring to sleep, quickly review the activities of the day and journal how you related to situations that involved the chosen virtue. This will serve as seeds for your meditation next morning.
By
successfully practicing the meditation daily, one experiences the state of
silent awareness, a “refuge”, a safe place in which the aspirant can retire and
remain untouched, unaffected by the lower nature. In H.P. Blavatsky’s words: “In his hours of silent meditation the
student will find that there is one space of silence within him where he can
find refuge from thoughts and desires, from the turmoil of the senses and the
delusion of the mind…..”
SIS. ABAN AMROLIWALLA ON
‘MY TRIP TO ADYAR FOR LEARNING’
As many of you know, I live part of the
year in Canada where my son and his family reside. However my heart and soul
reside in India and more so since I joined the T.S.
In 2012, I had, with some of our
members, visited Adyar for a School of Wisdom program conducted by Prof. C.S. Shinde.
That experience stayed with me and since the last three years I’ve been trying
to repeat that visit which for one reason or another somehow did not happen.
When I came back from Canada, last
September, I casually looked through the Bulletin and found a number of
interesting programs to be held at Adyar in November, December and January. In
consultation with my friends Kashmira Khambatta – our President, and Mrs. Aban
Patel, we decided to go for the School of Wisdom program conducted by Pablo
Sender on “Higher Consciousness – Its Nature and Awakening”. And what a
wonderful experience we had!
We flew into Chennai a day before the
program was to start and settled into our room at the Leadbeater Chambers and
had the first shock of the day – the kitchen in front of the LBC was demolished
and we were told that all meals would have to be taken at the Bhojansala which
was a 7 – 10 minute walk. Well! That helped to digest all meals quickly and
efficiently.
The next morning, another tiny shock –
Blavatsky Bungalow where Prof. Shinde had conducted his classes in 2012 was
being restored, so all classes were to be held in the classroom on the ground
floor of the Library – more walking!
Let’s now come to our teacher Pablo and
his wife Michelle – a couple so in sync with each other that one knew what the
other was about to say.
The first part of the course focused on
the Metaphysics and Philosophy of the subject, while the second part explored
the practical application of the teachings in our daily life including
exercises that lead to self-knowledge through awareness and meditation.
Meditation formed a good part of the
studies – half an hour in the morning before classes and again half an hour of
guided meditation in the afternoon before closing.
At the end of the first week, we were
given an assignment as homework which was taken up at the end of the second
week.
SIS. KASHMIRA KHAMBATTA ON
‘EVOLUTION OF
CONSCIOUSNESS’
Firstly,
I would like to share something about being in Adyar. This was my fourth visit
to Adyar for a School Of Wisdom. To be in Adyar is a learning process and a
unique opportunity. It is Good Fortune to be in Adyar. The whole campus is a
School of Wisdom and we learn from it. If we go with the right spirit we grow.
Each School has a particular atmosphere. We must have a mind which is open to
learning and grow from within. Wisdom is a non-ending process. Our teacher for
this SOW Bro. Pablo Sender was excellent.
His way of teaching was very different and he made this subject very
interesting. He lives in Crotona. He has written many magazines and books and
has been giving lectures all over the world.
Bro.
Pablo has taught or rather explained in this SOW questions like “Who are we?
What is the purpose of life? How do we actualize our potential?? This session
of our SOW presented a comprehensive study of the teachings of H.P. Blavatsky
and her Adept Teachers on the nature of our spiritual essence, its evolutionary
unfoldment and what can be done in daily life to consciously participate in
this cosmic process.
THEOSOPHICAL
VIEW OF EVOLUTION: (Chapter 1)
The
word ‘Man’ is taken from the Sanskrit language – Manu, Manas. Man means a
thinking entity that has a different kind of intelligence. We are all men in this
form of consciousness. A person is a temporary expression of Manu.
Vegetable
Kingdom and Animal Kingdom have group souls. The whole species of plant share
the same soul. Birds too have similar experiences. The souls begin to
individualize as they gain more experiences when in a group. In animals,
individualization of a group soul becomes a human being.
Consciousness is different in the different Kingdoms of Nature and
so is the ability to respond to the environment.
Mineral Kingdom: A rock is simple. It can only respond
to heat, chemicals etc. The consciousness is different. It cannot think like a man.
Vegetable Kingdom: Plants have more developed
consciousness and response is a bit wider and their organism is more complex.
They do not have an emotional body and so they do not respond like animals. A
scientist looks from the outside but research by occultists show that plants do
not experience pain.
Animal Kingdom: Animal Kingdom is very wide. They have
a complex nervous system and therefore the feeling of pain. Some animals are
close to man like monkey, elephant & horse and hence closer to evolution.
Madame
Blavatsky mentions that sacrifice of matter helps evolution and hence we have
to choose to eat that which has the least pain (suffering). She further
mentions that we are in the wheel of Evolution generated by our Karma which is
generated by our past actions.
In
1876, soon after founding the Theosophical Society, H. P. Blavatsky took
Darwin’s theory (of Evolution) a step further, postulating the existence of a
“double evolution of spirit and matter.” She argued: “if, satisfied with the
osseous (composed of bone) fragments of a Hellenized or Latinized skeleton, we
admit that there is a physical evolution, by what logic we can refuse to credit
the possibility of an evolution of spirit?”
A
man according to the Theosophical teachings is a 7 fold being. The Spirit or
the True Self belongs to the highest region of the Universe and is Universal.
The True Self is clothed in garments each of which belong to a definite region
of the Universe, and enabling the self to come into contact with that region,
gain knowledge of it and work in it.
Thus gaining experience and all its latent potentialities are gradually
drawn out into active powers. These garments are distinguishable from each
other. If man be looked clairvoyantly he is a 7 fold evolving being.
It
is important to keep in mind that all these Principles are not separate “objects”.
They are different aspects of one single nature – our real self. As Blavatsky
said “We divide Man into seven Principles, but this does not mean that he has,
as it were, seven skins, or entities, or souls. These Principles are all
aspects of one Principle, and even this Principle is but temporary and
periodical ray of the one eternal and infinite Flame or Fire.
PHYSICAL
BODY: The
dense physical body of a man is called the first of his seven principles. The
death of the physical body is an aspect of life and the destruction of one
physical form.
ETHERIC
DBOUBLE: The Linga Sharira, the
Astral Body, the Etheric double is the second Principle in Man’s constitution.
It is formed of matter rarer or more subtle than that which is perceptible to
our five senses, but still belonging to the physical plane, to which it is
confined. It oozes out from the Body when the death hour comes.
PRANA: Prana is the animating Principle in human bodies. Of this life the
etheric double is the vehicle, acting as means of Communication, as a bridge
between Prana and the Dead body.
KAMA: The desire body. It belongs to in Constitution and functions on the
second or Astral plane. It includes the
whole body of emotions, feelings and may be described as our passional or
emotional nature. It binds us to the
earthly life, united to the lower part of Manas, the mind as Kama Manas. After death, the higher part of man dwells
for a while in the desire body, there is little to energize the desire body and
it will quickly disintegrate and dissolve away.
MANAS: The thinker. Sanskrit word for Man. Someone who thinks, an
individual, an entity. The immortal individual the Real ‘I’ that clothes itself
over and over again in transient personalities and itself endures forever. The lower Manas is engulfed in quaternary and
may be regarded as clasping Kama. Its nature is often demonstrated by the
presence of Karmic elements in it, of passion, arrogance, vanity. The Higher
Manas rarely manifests itself at this stage of evolution. The Quaternary as a whole is the personality,
the shadow and the lower Manas gives an individualizing touch making
personality recognize itself as ‘I’. Any
work as “mine” and not another’s the Manas is tainted with Kama. The Higher
Manas is the immortal thinker, permanent reincarnating individuality.
BUDDHI: Is the Principle in man which gives to him Spiritual Consciousness
and is the highest part of Man – the Atman.
Buddhi is the faculty in man which manifests as understanding, judgment,
discrimination, etc. and it is an inseparable garment of the Atman.
ATMAN: The inner self. The Principle, the true self of an individual
beyond identification with phenomena, the essence of the individual.
The School of Wisdom also had outdoor
trips to the Museum, Archives, The Library, The Blavatsky Bungalow, The Garden
of Remembrance, and Temples within the complex of the huge Adyar Theosophical
Society etc. The best was the fully furnished residences of Krishnamurthy,
Madame Helena Blavatsky and Dr. Annie Besant.
We made new friends with the
students from different parts of the world. On the whole it was a beautiful
Spiritual trip never to be forgotten.
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BTF
& LODGE PROGRAMMES APRIL 2019
ANANDA LODGE: Theosophical Colony, Juhu, Mumbai 400049. Contact
Ananda Lodge Secretary Sis. Zenobia Khodaiji (M): 9820308163 for Meeting of April 2019
2. BLAVATSKY LODGE: 7 - French Bridge, Mumbai 400007 Tel: 23685026 (M): 9821459504 (M): 9819334333
DAY
|
TIME
|
DETAILS
|
Fri 5
|
6.00
pm
|
‘Autobiography
of a Yogi’ by Parmahans Yogananda’ - conducted by Bro. Arni Narendran
|
Sun 7
|
10.00
am
|
Bharat
SamajPooja
|
Fri 12
|
6.00
pm
|
Study
of CWL’s book ‘Inner Life’ conducted by Sis. Aban Patel
|
Fri 19
|
6.00
pm
|
Mystic Star Ritual
|
Fri 26
|
4.30
pm
6.00
pm
|
Blavatsky
Lodge MC Meeting
Study
of CWL’s book ‘Inner Life’ conducted by Sis. Aban Patel
|
Sun 28
|
11.45
am
|
Maitreya
Round Table
|
Tues
2, 9,16,23, 30
|
5.45 pm
|
‘Autobiography
of a Yogi’ by ParmahansYogananda’ - conducted by Bro. ArniNarendran
|
3. CENTENARY LODGE:
Please contact
Sis. NajmaDewan (M): 9987204038 for meetings
4. JYOTI LODGE: Contact Bro. TaralMunshi, 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 Time:
6.15 p.m.
Thurs
4
|
Study of ‘Thought Power’ by Dr. Annie
Besant
|
Thurs 11
|
Study of ‘Thought Power’ by Dr. Annie
Besant
|
Thurs 18
|
Study of ‘Thought Power’ by Dr. Annie
Besant
|
Thurs 25
|
Study of ‘Thought Power’ by Dr. Annie
Besant
|
6. UNITY YOUTH LODGE: Sis.
SoonooVesuna (M): 9619339787
Wed 24
|
5.30 pm
|
Theosophical
readings guided by Sis. SoonooVesuna at her residence Vijay Niwas, 4th Floor,
Sleater Road
|
7 & 8 VASANTA LODGE & GANESH LODGE:C/O Mrs. Gita S. Parikh, GokulAnand
Building, 4th Floor, Dattatraya Cross Road (M):9920384140
Wednesday 3, 10, 17 (Bank Holiday – Lodge
closed) & 24 Meetings at 6.30 pm.
9. VIMADALAL BILIA LODGE:
Family House, Parsi
Colony, Dadar, Mumbai 400014 5.45 pm. Healing Rituals.
Thurs 4
|
5.45
|
Healing Ritual
and study of
‘Thought Forms’
|
Thurs 11
|
6.00
|
Lodge Members’
Meeting
|
Thurs
18
|
6.00
|
Study of ‘Thought Forms’
|
Thurs
25
|
6.00
|
Lodge Members’ Meeting
|
**********************************************************************
Price: Rs. 1/-
Annual Subscription: Rs. 10/-
*******************************************************************
JOY UNTO YE,
O MEN OF EARTH.
A PILGRIM HATH RETURNED BACK “FROM THE OTHER SHORE.
A SAVIOUR OF MANKIND IS BORN
(VS .Frag.)
*******************************************************************
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.
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MINUTES OF MANAGING COMMITTEE MEETING OF APRIL
Blavatsky Lodge T.S.
7, French Bridge, Rangnekar Road,
Chowpatty, Mumbai-400 007
__________________________________
Minutes of the Managing Committee meeting held at 4:30 pm on Friday, 26th April, 2019 at Blavatsky Lodge, Mumbai.
The meeting chaired by the President Sis. Kashmira Khambatta began with the Universal Prayer.
Members Present: , Sis. Jasmine Cawasji, Bro. Arni Narendran, Sis. Ruby Khan, Bro. Shailendra Godbole, Sis. Aban Patel, Sis. Navaz Dhalla, Bro. Rustom Cooper,
Leave of Absence: Bro.Rustom Dalal, Bro. Navin Kumar, Sis. Freny Pagdiwalla, and Bro. Khosrav Pavri.
The deliberations of the Meeting were as under:
1. Confirmation of Minutes:
Minutes of the Managing Committee Meeting, held on Friday 29th March, was distributed in advance to facilitate reading, was confirmed by the members present.
2. Matters arising out of minutes:
The following points were apprised to the Members:
a) Out of the four contractors for the plastering work at Blavatsky Lodge premises, Mr. Shambhu Dayal Kumhar was given the contract. The work is now almost completed.
b) We appreciate the efforts of Contractor Shambhu Dayal for undertaking the patch work in the Besant Hall gratis.
c) The Committee recorded its gratitude to Bro. Rustom Dalal and Sis. Mahazaver for facilitating donations towards the repair expenses of Blavatsky Lodge. The lodge has already received Rs.1.0 Lakh towards the above repairs.
2.Treasurer’s Report
The Treasurer’s Report for the month of March, 2019 read by Sis. Ruby Khan was approved by all members present.
There being no other business, the Meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair.
Hon. Secretary President
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