MAR 2015
A.O. Hume in The Hindu 2015 - This article is reprinted from the January 25, 2015 issue of The Hindu. Its author, S. Muthiah, writes about our very own A. O. Hume, calling him “The Father of the Congress,” and about other prominent theosophists of the day. The article highlights the connection between Indian independence and the Theosophical Society.
2013
DEC 2013
By way of definition – service as ‘Sacred Labour’ is the work of the sacred from within us to the sacred within another. We are part of the One Life – the living but hidden Reality that underlies our existence on earth. We are divine seeds, never been born, never will die, but experiencing a temporary time zone in which to grow.
SEP 2013
Service as Sacred Labour - by B.L. Bhattacharyya
When we work to benefit others simply because it is the right thing to do, when we give spontaneously, without premeditation, purely with the intention of relieving another’s suffering, then we are acting altruistically. We are engaging in sacred labour.
JUNE 2013
There is Wisdom in Action - Carolyn Harrod -
In this world of manifestation, we cannot avoid action. Every thought and feeling, every choice to speak or remain silent, to walk away or become involved, to meditate or try to influence political decisions, is an action. The question for ourselves is: Are they choices imbued by the attributes of our spiritual transformation into ‘knowers of wisdom’ and therefore choices that will benefit humanity and all life?...
MAR 2013
Finding a Different Way -
Part 3 - Pamela Zane Keys
"..Over this last year, I have made myself ready to die by silently reviewing my past in the wakeful night hours, by telling those I love how much I value them, and writing stories that have been in my head for years..."
NOV 2012
Finding a Different Way - Part 2 - Pamela Zane Keys
"... I tried to will myself back to feeling well. I gave ‘thanks for all things’, as St Paul advised, which often lifted my spirits but the sense that every day I was wading through treacle was getting stronger and meant I often felt like just staying in bed and giving up...."
AUG 2012
"While we may think of the latent powers referred to in the Third Object of the Theosophical Society as extraordinary and spectacular, I have recently realised that they may also be small and outwardly indiscernible yet inwardly life changing...."
Continuing a series of interviews with Theosophists about how they apply Theosophy in their jobs, we talk here with Linda Jo Pym, who for 36 years was a social worker in the state of Washington, USA...
In this article, Tim explores some of his thoughts on what it means to serve from an occult perspective, how service relates to who we are at the deepest level of being, and how, through the practice of self-culture, we can open up to our true nature – a limitless resource waiting to be discovered....
DEC 2011
The Theosophy of Service - by Dorothy Bell.
Across this planet, in the name of the Theosophical Order of Service, many different activities are taking place. These acts of kindness are not random but reflect a general attitude – an attitude generated by that original impulse upon which the Theosophical Society was built to stand for Life and Light, for Unity and Harmony and for Sister-Brotherhood....
OCT 2011
Theosophical education from kindergarten to university
at the Golden Link College
The news that the Golden Link School in the Philippines was extending its programme to tertiary level triggered interest amongst members of the TOS around the world. Some asked about the theosophical content of the curriculum. Vic Hao Chin, in consultation with Ms Rekha Nahar, administrator of the kindergarten, primary and secondary divisions, replied with an explanation of how the College provides a theosophical education.
(more.. )
AUG 2011
The Courage of Commitment - by Joy Mills
Custom and habit may lead us into patterns of thought and action which, by their very repetition, seem to be lacking in freshness and spontaneity. Precisely because the theosophical philosophy presents us with a panoramic view of life, with great ideas whose grandeur dwarfs our normal petty concerns, we may often feel inclined to retreat into the security of a philosophical cave of speculation rather than confront the actualities of existence in terms of a positive commitment to action. To what extent can we become committed? ...
JUN 2011
Theosophy in the workplace: A teacher’s perspective - If someone were to ask you how you apply Theosophy in your job, would you be stuck for an answer? Perhaps there is no direct application of its principles in your field. Yet, somehow, there is a level at which Theosophy has an influence on all you do, isn’t there? In this interview we ask Susan Skarsholt, a New Zealander who specialises in teaching deaf children aged three to six. ...
A Divine Lunacy by Joy Mills
The year 1995 marked the 50th anniversary of the United Nations. It was a year not only to commemorate a dream, but also to rejoice that in spite of its failures and weaknesses, there is still an organisation in existence that seeks to achieve a world without war. Appropriately, it would seem, in view of the tasks yet to be accomplished, 1995 was also designated the United Nations Year of Tolerance. For tolerance is needed, above all virtues, if we are to live together amicably on this beautiful small planet we call our home. ...
Peace
FEB 2011
As a principle, altruism expresses the true root meaning of the words theos and Brahma — the motion of expansion from within outwardly, which is also associated with the outbreathing of the Great Breath. It means giving unconditionally to the whole from within outwardly. It realizes the wholeness and unity of all. And every movement of that realization of wholeness is open and generous and all-embracing. It is compassion, love, gentleness, kindness, and the full expression of who we truly are. (more...)
Social welfare & justice
DEC 2010
Love and Service: Twin Stars of Brotherhood by S.Sundaram
It is a common observation that society in general is passing through a crisis resulting in confusion and disorder on several fronts. The individual is lost in the crowd, deprived of his sense of belongingness, with the result he feels no moral responsibility towards his fellow beings.
Social welfare & justice
Vladimir Loncar, of Wellington, New Zealand, long-time peace activist, shares with us his insights and asks our views.... If you were asked to bring about peace, how would you respond? What ideas could you come up with? ... Vladimir passed away shortly after writing this article. We wish him peace. (More...)
Peace
... I was deeply disturbed by this experience. I realised that I needed to learn how to tap resources within that would enable me to focus on bandaging limbs patiently and gently... I wanted to understand how it was that widespread poverty was tolerated in a rich world... (more...)
MAY 10
Compassion and
the Individual - by Tenzin Gyatso, The
Fourteenth Dalai Lama
...True compassion is not just an emotional response but a firm
commitment founded on reason. Therefore, a truly compassionate attitude
towards others does not change even if they behave negatively...
(more...)
MAR 10
Sensitive Dependence - By Betty Bland
...In this world of the infinite, where it seems that nothing can be
nailed down as absolute, we encounter an amazingly important principle:
sensitive dependence upon initial conditions. This means that an
infinitesimal difference somewhere earlier in an equation will make a
major change in the outcome... (more...)
JAN 10
Insight from the Heart - By Dorothy
Bell, TOS Mornington Peninsula Group, Australia. -
A few years ago I trained as a volunteer worker at a Support Centre for
men who had contracted the HIV/AIDS disease. It was a government-funded
project and indeed many people opposed this funding and any support
being given to people with this ‘self-imposed’ disease. My work was in
the area of Reiki.... (more...)
Therapeutic Touch:
Healing Based on Theosophy and Science - By
Nelda Samarel
Therapeutic Touch (TT) is quite familiar to many theosophists, and for
good reason. Developed in the early 1970s by two life-long
theosophists, TT is taught and practiced in Theosophical Society lodges
throughout the United States and the world.... (more... )
Can
the TS and TOS Help in Conflict Resolution? - Vic
Hao Chin
... the vast majority of us feel powerless to stop national leaders,
international bullies and multi-national corporations making economic
and political decisions that will lead sooner or later to war. The TOS
in the Philippines seems to have found ways for its members to
contribute constructively to the reduction of violence in society....
(more... )
Lobbying
from the Heart
Is it feasible these days to further the spiritual
evolution of humanity through national or local political involvement?
Do you feel you can engage in truly theosophical service through this
avenue? This article is an extract from an essay by Carolyn
Cottom, known in the USA for her work in the Nuclear Weapons Freeze
Campaign. ... ( more...)
The Spiritual Basis of Service - Dr Sunita Maithreya
“The true theosophist is the Philanthropist who — ‘not for himself, but
for the world he lives.’…” reads a message from a Master of The
Wisdom. Service without spirituality is like a mechanical form
without a soul, while spirituality divorced from service is like a soul
still seeking a form to express itself. Spirituality and service are
symbiotic. ... ( more...)
It is very sad that the widespread car-culture has stopped many people in the world benefiting from the deep lessons that can be learned in bus travel. A bus, like many other situations in life, can become a veritable theosophical classroom.... (more...)
A retired Professor of Technology at Benares Hindu University in Varanasi, Dr. C.V. Agarwal is undoubtedly one of the TOS’s most devoted animal rights activists in India. Through the Beauty Without Cruelty movement, Dr. Agarwal and his team have organised a great number of successful (and less successful) campaigns against the exploitation and abuse of our fellow creatures.... (more...)
Compassion:
The Basis for Peace and Understanding - Radha Burnier
... We will start by considering what compassion may mean. The word
itself suggests a passionate feeling for what one comes into contact
with. But what is meant by a passionate feeling? It surely refers to a
feeling that comes from the oneness that we speak about in
contemplating Theosophy.... ( more )
Saving
Nature: In Praise of Frugality - James L.
Bull
... According to Wendell Berry, frugality may be appropriately paired
with abundance. This notion may strike us as odd, in today's commercial
world—frugality and abundance? Properly considered, frugality
is simply the sensible management of limited resources. It is through
frugality that we can achieve sustainable abundance. All freedoms exist
within boundaries, and sensible abundance takes into account the
natural limits of resources. ( more )
What is Our
Role in Education? - Rekha Nahar, TOS Philippines
... Through the TOS, we have systematically undertaken projects to meet
needs in health and nutrition, to develop livelihood skills, and so
on. These projects help improve the material conditions of the
underprivileged. Something more is necessary, however, something
that addresses the selfishness and sense of separateness at the root of
social problems. ... ( more )
Education
...Even in these modern times it is clear that one's precious life is not safe. No former generation has had to experience so much bad news as we face today; this constant awareness of fear and tension should make any sensitive and compassionate person question seriously the progress of our modern world. ...
( more )
Wings
of a Dove - Deni Gross
If you had to list some great concerns you have for the planet today,
what would they be? The chances are that you would mention the lack of
global peace amongst them. Yet most often we feel powerless to do
anything about it, don’t we? So is there anything we can do to help
build a safer planet? ... ( more )
TOS
in Chennai
...The Olcott School, The H.P.B. Hostel, the Social Welfare Centre, the
Besant Memorial Animal Welfare Dispensary... The Chennai TOS’s biggest
challenge came when the tsunami hit on December 26, 2004...
( more )
Do
you care about animals? - Dr Geetha Jaikumar
The issue of animal welfare can be addressed from broadly
three fronts: As always, we can begin with ourselves... our diet,
our attire; our cosmetics… The second front is direct service...
The third front for personal action is the creation of awareness about
the widespread animal cruelty... ( more )