PROGRAMME FOR JUNE 2019

BLAVATSKY LODGE: 7 - French Bridge, Mumbai 400007     Tel: 23685026   (M): 9821459504   (M): 9819334333

DAY---------------	TIME------------	DETAILS---------------------------------------------------
Sun    2	10.00 am	Bharat Samaj Pooja
Fri     7	6.00 pm	‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ by Parmahans Yogananda’ - conducted by Bro. Arni Narendran
Fri    14	6.00 pm	Study of CWL’s book ‘Inner Life’ conducted by Sis. Aban Patel
Sun    16	10.45 am	Maitreya Round Table
Sun   23	10.00 am	TS Workers’ Full Day Training Camp by Prof. C. A. Shinde, International Lecturer
Mon  24	6.00 pm	Talk on ‘Light on the Path’ Part 1 by Prof. C. A. Shinde, International Lecturer
Tues  25	6.00 pm	Talk on ‘Light on the Path’ Part 1 by Prof. C. A. Shinde, International Lecturer
Fri    28	4.30 pm 6.00 pm	Blavatsky Lodge MC Meeting Study of CWL’s book ‘Inner Life’ conducted by Sis. Aban Patel
Tues 4, 11, 18	5.45 pm	‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ by Parmahans Yogananda’ - conducted by Bro. Arni Narendran

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MCM OF JUNE 2019

THE BTF BULLETIN ------JUNE 2019

CONTENTS

Quote – Gautama Buddha	Cover
International Lecturer Prof. C.A. Shinde’s Mumbai Visit Programme with Workers’ Training Camp & Talks on ‘Light on the Path’	2 - 3
News & Notes	3 - 6
Adyar Theosophical Academy	7
Talks on Buddha Purnima at Blavatsky Lodge	7 - 11
BTF& Lodge Programmes June 2019	11 - 12

 INTERNATIONAL LECTURER PROF. C. A. SHINDE’S

MUMBAI PROGRAMME

Sunday 23rd June 2019 Full Day at Blavatsky Lodge:

Prof. C. A. Shinde will conduct “TS Workers’ Training Session”

 10.00 am   Registration

 10.30 am   Tea with snacks

 11.00 am   TS Workers’ Training - Session 1

   1.00 pm   Lunch

   2.30 pm   TS Workers’ Training - Session 2

   4.30 pm   Open Forum & Feed Back

   5.00 pm   Vote of Thanks and Closing of Training Session

   5.15 pm   Tea with Biscuits

Registration Fees: Rs.50/- towards Morning & Evening Tea, Lunch

                                and Letter-Pad & Pen

Registration Due Date: 20th June 2019

Register with: Blavatsky Lodge Assistant  Sis. Asha Tel:23685026

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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. VinayakPandya.  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. Readers’ Views are invited.

Monday 24th June 2019 at Blavatsky Lodge

5.30 pm  Tea with Snacks

6.00 pm  The Universal Prayer

6.05 pm   Prof. C.A. Shinde’s Talk “Light on the Path” – Part 1

7.00 pm   Q&A

7.30 pm   Closing with the Sanskrit Prayer

Tuesday 25th June 2019 at Blavatsky Lodge

5.30 pm  Tea with Snacks

6.00 pm   The Universal Prayer

6.05 pm   Prof. C.A. Shinde’s Talk “Light on the Path” – Part 2

7.00 pm   Q&A

7.30 pm   Closing with the Sanskrit Prayer

Brethren, do not miss this opportunity. We have not been able to attend The Workers’ Training Camps held by Indian Section at Varanasi and TS International at Adyar. Prof. C. A. Shinde has kindly consented to hold One Day Camp for us in Mumbai. His talks on ‘Light on the Path’ will help us to understand one of the Three Gems of TS.

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NEWS & NOTES

WHITE LOTUS DAY MEETINGS

BLAVATSKY  LODGE  MEETING on 8th May 2019:

The Meeting started with the Prayers of all Religions. Sis. Kashmira Khambatta, President of the Blavatsky Lodge spoke in brief on meaning of White Lotus Day and importance of Lotus Flower from the point of Theosophical teachings. She also informed that as per the wishes of Madam Blavatsky our members will read a passage from the three important books viz:  Gita, Voice of Silence and Light of Asia.

Bro. Godbole read out one chapter from the book The Light of Asia. Sis. Deepa Kapoor read from the Bhagwad Gita the 6th Discourse on Yoga on self subdual to calm down restless mind.

Bro. Rustom Cooper read from the book written by HPB-The Voice of Silence - paragraphs 255 to 281.

Sis. Zeena Rastomjee then gave a short introduction of Madam Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. The travels H.P.Blavatsky had undertaken first from Russia to the USA. How she co-founded the Theosophical Society in 1875. Then her visit to the Oriental cities of Tibet and India. The books HPB had written, the first being “Isis Unveiled”.

Sis. Navaz  Dhalla and Sis. Meheringiz Baria read a poem on White Lotus Day, written by Late Sis. Bana Mehta from her book “Saraswati Vandana”.

Bro. Berthram Redwood too said a few words on HPB and compared the flower lotus with the actual life of HPB, which is the life of purity like white lotus flower.    

Sis. Navaz Dhalla had decorated a table with Madam Blavatsky’s photo with flowers and candle lights all around. All members paid their respect by bowing their heads to the Great Theosophist and the Founder of the Theosophical Society.

AT VASATA-GANESH LODGES MEETING on 8th May 2018:

In the Meeting they had Readings from (1) The Bhagvad Gita in Gujarati by Sis. Urvi Hora (2) Light of Asia – in Hindi from ‘Asia ki Jyoti’ by Sis. Kalpana Jani and (3) The Voice of the Silence in English by Dr. Ajay Hora. Bro. Chandulal Pandya, Past President of Gujarat TF spoke on the occasion.

AT VIMADALAL BILIA LODGE MEETING on 2nd May 2019:

The Readings from the sacred books were by Bro. Beji Manjra, Sis. Armaity Tirandaz and Bro. Zinoo Master, who also spoke about the significance of White Lotus Day.

WESAK BLESSINGS MEETING

AT BLAVATSKY LODGE on 18th May 2019

Brethren gathered in Green Room of Blavatsky Lodge where an Alter like table near the statue of Lord Buddha was prepared by President Sis. Kashmira Khambatta. She had done a Rangoli underneath the table depicting Enlightenment of Lord Buddha under the Boddhi Tree. There was a good response to her artistic invitation for Wesak Blessings meeting on Buddha Poornima Day. Meeting was opened with The Universal Prayer. Sis. Jasmine Cawasji recited the Buddhist Prayer. Bro. Arni Narendran spoke on life of Lord Buddha and ‘Esoteric Significance of Buddha Purnima’. Sis. Kashmira with Power Point Presentation created the atmosphere of being at Wesak Valley. Members recited ‘The Greatest Blessings’. Bro. Arni conducted Group Meditation for World Peace. In the end all par took Holy Water served by Sis. Deepa Kapoor, who, sharing her feelings, said, ‘Each and everyone present felt transformed to the Valley and very good vibrations!’

VIMADALAL BILIA LODGE PROGRAMMES

Vimadalal Bilia Lodge during their weekly meetings celebrated White Lotus Day on 2nd May and Vaishak Purnima on 16th May 2019. Zoroastrian Scholar Bro. Rustom Chothia in month of April 2019 sping on “The beneficial and medicinal effects of the King of Spices – Turmeric’ said that its active ingredient Curcumin cures over 600 diseases/ailments including cancer. On 9th May Bro. Rustom Chothia spoke on ‘The coming of the Saviors in Various Religions’.

TS NET-WORK OF MUMBAI

TS MUMBAI Group on WatsApp: BTF President Bro. Vinayak Pandya daily gives inspiring ‘Rose Message’ with contemplative thought for the day. Bro. Navin Kumar invites TS Brethren & interested inquirers to Blavatsky Lodge meetings of Tuesdays & Fridays and for special events. Bro. Vinayak Pandya extends invitation for Wednesday Joint Meetings of Vasanta & Ganesh Lodges. TS Mumbai Brethren share their thoughts on Theosophical & Spiritual Teachings.

‘SYNERGY’ ISSUE of April-June 2019

With Theme ‘Voyage & Travel’

It is published by Dr. Rajam Pillai of Blavatsky Lodge. The coverpage has painting ‘Guests from Overseas’ painted in 1901 by Nicholas Roerich – Russian Painter, Archaeologist and Theosophist. He is the Artist of famous painting in TS Adyar – ‘The Messenger’. The Issue has Travel Articles on Havana, Cuba by Bro. Navin Kumar and on ‘A Journey to British Isles’ by Bro. Arni Narendran. Bro. Arni in his travel covers his visits TS Lodges in Ireland, Scotland and England and exhilarating experience of holding in hand & reading original ‘Mahatama Letters to A. P. Sinnet’ at British Museum Library Archives.  Sis. Kashmira Khambatta writes on her experience and learning at School of Wisdom conducted by Bro. Pablo Sender on ‘Higher Consciousness’. There are articles and poems by Students and Teachers.

Copies of this Issue are given to all Lodges. Please share it with your members. Copies were sent to Indian Section Library Varanasi, Adyar Library and to the Presidents of all Federations. BTF plans to appreciate the Non-TS Writers with presentation of Theosophical Books. 

DID YOU KNOW?: Mahatma Gandhi was a regular visitor to the London Theosophical Society as well as the one in Johannesburg, in South Africa. It was his association with the Theosophical Society which ignited his interest in Hindu Philosophy and Theosophy became bedrock of Gandhian Philosophy like Ahimsa, Vegetarianism, and the bane of Untouchability.’ – Writes Bro. Arni Narendran in his Article of ‘Synergy’ of April-June 2019.

OBITUARY: Sis. Usha Ahwin Shroff, Life Member of Vasanta Lodge with TS Membership of 27 years passed away to Light Eternal on 29-4-2019. A dynamic Lady with a smile, whose contribution in corporate sector to Excel Industries Ltd. led by her husband Ashwin and in Theosophical Society to Vasanta Theosophical Co-operative Housing Society, is praiseworthy. She used to attend BTF Annual Sessions. May her soul be blessed with peace.

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It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.

                                                        - BUDDHA

             ADYAR THEOSOPHICAL ACADEMY

The Poster reads:

2019 Admission Open

Pre-School, LKG, UKG, Grade 1 &2

Nestled in nature

A School to love, learn and grow

This very first Theosophical Academy is started in Adyar to inculcate Theosophical & Ethical Values in children to groom them into beings who work for betterment of humanity. Mrs. Sonal Murali has been entrusted with setting up the Adyar Theosophical Academy slated to open in June 2019. She is a TS member for 40 years. A Post Graduate in English she has explored alternative education based on Krishnamurti’s educational philosophy. She says, “Respect and reverence for the world around us brings about the sense of self-awareness, the first step towards self-mastery, and in turn will result in self-culture, which will have respect and empathy build into it.” She further quotes Rabindranath Tagore, ‘The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but brings our life in harmony with all existence’. (Courtesy: The Theosophist of May 2019)

Adyar Theosophical Academy needs funds and so Donations are most welcome through direct transfer as under:

Name :   The Theosophical Education Society

Bank  :   Indian Bank

Branch: 41-42 First Main Road, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar 

               Chennai - 600020

Bank Account No : 6751008070

IFSC Code             : IDIB000A002   (0 STANDS FOR ZERO)

BIC/SWIFT Code: IDIBINBBADR

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TALKS ON BUDDHA PURNIMA

AT BLAVATSKY LODGE ON 18-5-2019

Sis. Kashmira Khambatta’s artistic colorful Power Point Presentation on ‘Miracle of Wesak Poornima’ transforming Brethren to Wesak Valley experience covered: Slide-show with explanation started with a pictures of the beautiful small plateau surrounded by low hills, which lies on the northern side of the Himalayas, not far from the frontier of Nepal, and about 400 miles west of the city of Lhasa. The slide showed the centre of the southern half of the plain, an altar like block, twelve feet in length by six feet wide, and standing about three feet out of the ground. People from the surrounding villages gather, taking care to leave a considerable space before the altar. She explained about the astral visitors arriving and among them the members of the Brotherhood too are present, materializing themselves as to be seen by the pilgrims, and received with genuflections and prostrations.

The great altar stone is covered with the most beautiful flowers and great garlands of the sacred lotus. In the centre is placed a magnificently chased golden bowl full of water. The slides also showed the diagram and stages of the seven arrangements of the White Brotherhood with Lord Maitreya holding the Rod of Power (diagram was explained). All the Adepts and Initiates bow gravely towards Lord Maitreya and some verses from Buddhist scriptures are chanted. When the seventh and final stage is reached the chanting ceases and after a few moments’ solemn silence the Lord Maitreya, again taking the Rod of Power into His hands and raising it above His head, utters in a few sonorous words of Pali: “ALL IS READY, MASTER, COME!” At the exact moment of the full moon, the Lord Buddha appears as a gigantic figure floating in the air just above the southern hills. The members of the Brotherhood bow with joined hands, and the multitude behind Them fall on their faces and remain prostrate, while others sing Three Verses taught by Lord Buddha to school boy Chatta. All sing ‘Mahamangala Sutta’ – ‘The Greatest Blessings’. In the end members of Brotherhood come up to Lord Maitreya to sip water from the Golden Bowl.

Bro. Arni Narendran speaking on ‘The Esoteric Significance of Buddha Purnima’ said:

As Theosophists we are trained to look at the Esoteric and Occult side of Life, Esoteric meaning, abstract and arcane and Occult meaning Hidden from its Latin source. At the very basis of Buddha’s Being is the concept of the Seven Rays a principle to denote the manifestation of the Universe through seven primordial beings that appear in the highest hierarchy of the Universal architecture, very broadly explained in the Secret Doctrine by Madam Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. Just as Business corporations require a Head to steer the entity, the Universe too is aided by a world Teacher, who assists the maker of all things in the Universe. In the Wisdom of the Triangles chapter in the Book –Masters and the Path, C.W. Leadbeater mentions that these Teachers are born in different times of the planet and at different locations. As the sage Vyasa in India, Hermes in Egypt, as the first Zoraster in Persia and Orpheus in Greece. The present World teacher of the present root race is the Lord Maitreya. Gottfried De Purucker in his Book ‘Fountain source of Occultism’ explains further that the Seven Rays in Hindu philosophy is represented by the Saptha Rishis and in Christian Gnostic works as seven angels of the presence, thereby establishing a common thread of thinking that connects all religions. In Buddhist literature the seven Buddhas appear in succession during the world period. Lord Gautama Buddha whose Birthday we are celebrating today, succeeded Lord Kashyapa as Head of the Second Ray.

One interesting Book I came across was by the Boston based orientalist Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy entitled- ‘Buddha and the Gospel of Buddhism’ published in 1916 by Putnam and Co in New Jersey. A rare treasure it covers artistic drawings of Buddha paintings and print plates of stupas across Asia. Coomaraswamy was probably the first to introduce Buddhism to America although Allan Watts and others popularized the religion much later. He joined the Theosophical Society in 1907 and has written over 1000 Books on Hindu, Buddhist and Christian philosophies and Art, in the true vein of a Theosophist. He narrates the story of how Buddha’s mother Maya the Queen of Kapilavastu in modern day Nepal, dreamt of a white Elephant descending from the skies carrying a white Lotus in its tusk and gently tapping the lotus on Maya’s right arm enters the womb  and the next moment a Baby is born and placed on a Golden net. The king worried about the dream calls eight astrologers to interpret the dream and seven of them prophecy the Baby growing to be a monarch of the world, while the eighth, who later becomes Buddha’s disciple prophecies the Birth of a Spiritual Master. It was subsequently that Buddha was born, but Maya dies after seven days. Buddha is brought up by his step mother Gautami, well-guarded against any spiritual distraction but trained in virtues of a ruling monarch, such as archery, horse riding and in the atmosphere of worldly pleasure. Buddha is married to Yasodhara and delivers a baby boy- Rahul, but neither his family nor kingdom binds him. He sets himself free to become a ascetic and wanders in search of ultimate Truth. His life is no more a Bed of Roses, and the Buddhists refer to him as the Mahabhinishkramana or the Maha Tyagi (sacrifice) for he lived a life so harsh and Spartan that his five close disciples abandon him and disappear into a Deer forest. The unshaken Sidhartha goes under a Bodhi Tree and surviving with a few grains of rice and sesame seeds starves himself to a skeleton, when on a full moon day of Wesak he obtains Enlightenment- earning him the title of Tathaghata- the one who has arrived on the other shore. Enlightenment doesn’t come easy as we have seen in the life of Madam Blavatsky how she had to traverse the world all alone across continents, risking her life and at times struggling for a living until at last she meets her Tibetan Masters-Master Morya and Master KH.

The Paramitas or the Exalted Eight fold Path are the mandatory requirement of a Buddhist Chela (votary)  lucidly explained by Madam Blavatsky in the Book “Voice of the Silence”. She refers to Dhaana(charity) Sila (the key to Harmony) Kshanthi (Patience and Forbearance), Viragya (Detachment and indifferenc to pleasure), Virya (the ceaseless effort to finding Truth), Dhyana (meditation) and Prajna (intuitive wisdom ). We other Masters may we make a fervent oath of picking one key element of Buddhist teaching and imbibe this into our lives- namely COMPASSION. It is the foremost quality and bedrock of Buddha’s spiritual Path. This the key quality practiced by the Bodhisattva, a preliminary stage before one embarks towards Buddhahood. From this quality emanates Love and Light- the very essence of this evening’s gathering.

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The Real Theosophical Society is an indivisible unit, animated by an individual life! Its soul is the love of truth, its vital principle is kindness, and it dwells in a world above the material, where no enemy can touch it. It depends for its manifestation on earth upon an appropriate vehicle, and the first condition necessary in that vehicle is that it shall be a united whole.

     - Applied Theosophy and other Essays – H.S.Olcott

BTF & LODGE PROGRAMMES JUNE 2019

ANANDA LODGE: Theosophical Colony, Juhu, Mumbai 400049. Contact Ananda Lodge Secretary Sis. Zenobia Khodaiji (M): 9820308163 for Meeting of June 2019

2. BLAVATSKY LODGE: 7 - French Bridge, Mumbai 400007     Tel: 23685026   (M): 9821459504   (M): 9819334333

DAY	TIME	DETAILS
Sun    2	10.00 am	Bharat Samaj Pooja
Fri     7	6.00 pm	‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ by Parmahans Yogananda’ - conducted by Bro. Arni Narendran
Fri    14	6.00 pm	Study of CWL’s book ‘Inner Life’ conducted by Sis. Aban Patel
Sun    16	10.45 am	Maitreya Round Table
Sun   23	10.00 am	TS Workers’ Full Day Training Camp by Prof. C. A. Shinde, International Lecturer
Mon  24	6.00 pm	Talk on ‘Light on the Path’ Part 1 by Prof. C. A. Shinde, International Lecturer
Tues  25	6.00 pm	Talk on ‘Light on the Path’ Part 1 by Prof. C. A. Shinde, International Lecturer
Fri    28	4.30 pm 6.00 pm	Blavatsky Lodge MC Meeting Study of CWL’s book ‘Inner Life’ conducted by Sis. Aban Patel
Tues 4, 11, 18	5.45 pm	‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ by Parmahans Yogananda’ - conducted by Bro. Arni Narendran

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    6	Study of CWL’s book ‘The Power and Use of Thought’
Thurs  13	Study of CWL’s book ‘The Power and Use of Thought’
Thurs  20	Study of CWL’s book ‘The Power and Use of Thought’
Thurs  27	Study of CWL’s book ‘The Power and Use of Thought’

6. UNITY YOUTH LODGE: Sis.  SoonooVesuna (M): 9619339787

Wed  19

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 5 (Bank Holiday - Lodge Closed), 12, 19 & 26 Meetings at 6.30 pm.

9. VIMADALAL BILIA LODGE: Family House, Parsi Colony, Dadar, Mumbai 400014

Thurs     6	5.45	Healing Ritual
Thurs   13	6.00	Talk by Bro. Rustom Chothia
Thurs   20	6.00	Talk by Sis. Meher Contractor
Thurs   27	6.00	Lodge Members’ Meeting

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·       “A man is not called wise because he talks and talks again; but if he is peaceful, loving and fearless then he is in truth called wise.”

·       “No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.”

·        “You only lose what you cling to.”

·       “Radiate boundless love towards the entire world.”

                                                                                          -              BUDDHA

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Price: Rs. 1/-                                               Annual Subscription: Rs. 10/-

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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