Theosophy News Worldwide 3rd Quarter 2017

This issue was published on 2017-10-21 or 6 years 2 months ago.

Editorial

Steven Otto

Dear friends of Theosophy,

I want to say thank you to all, that reply by reason of my last newsletter and the question "To be or not to be". It helped me a lot to understand some important points. It is as I said, more than 80% of Theosophists today think, that they as the are a priori immortal spiritual beeings. It's not my view, but a view, that all of the different Traditions united.

This issue has again a section with news about Theosophy from outside the Movement, sometimes good news, but sometimes not. So the topic of the quarter deals more with the latter, because ones more a new "campaign" was started against Theosophy, with horrible lies an with a not to underrate impact, see below.

And now I wish you an interesting reading and a peaceful autumn.

With kind regards from Germany

Steven Otto
Editor of Theosophy World News

Topic of the quarter

SCHOCKING NEW CAMPAIGN AGAINST THEOSOPHY?

The New York Times spread Fake-News (see the fourth paragraph "The Nazis’ Occult Obsession") in an article that stated, that the "racial ideology" of hitler grew up from "astrology, theosophy, parapsychology and other border science", a big lie, that even in serious historical science became meanwhile an obsolet mistake, or at least, should be. Its all about a new book from Eric Kurlander ("accidentally" he got a Wiki-Entry a few month ago, there titled as an "expert", expert of fake news?) named Hitler’s Monsters: A Supernatural History of the Third Reich and you can read other articles, with the same false allegations regarding to this book in RawStory, Slate, The Catholic Herald and The National Review etc.

For example in the last article we can read:

Joerg Lanz von Liebenfels and Guido von List [both raccists, founder/supporter of a crude world view named Ariosophy] led Blavatsky’s Theosophical Society in Germany [verry wrong, never they lead this], where Lanz published Hitler’s favorite magazine “Ostara,” [also wrong, Hitler contemned an "occult" worldview and particular the world view of both] and later (with List) the Theosophical magazine “Lucifer”. [also verry wrong, a big lie, never they published this magazine]. Lanz was “The Man Who Gave Hitler His Ideas” (according to Austrian psychologist Wilfried Daim in his 1957 book of that title) and flew a swastika flag above his castle in Bavaria in 1907, a dozen years before the Nazi Party was even founded [may also with no evidence, verry wrong and terrible].

This is a Professor of History? Unbelievable! We all should not forget, that the Third Reich was a catholic and not an occult state (all "occult" societies were forbidden in the Third Reich) and that we can find therefore in both system, the nazi and the catholic one (and its split offs, at least in history) antisemitism, slavish obedience, kill of innocent people etc., but never in Theosophy.
A. Roy Eckardt (leading scholar of Christian-Jewish relations and former chairman emeritus of religion studies at Lehigh University in Bethlehem) has asserted that the foundation of antisemitism and responsibility for the Holocaust lies ultimately in the New Testament.[1], [2]. That's a truth we don't read about, but from such horrific and stupid lies, that the Third Reich was an occult or pagan state and that Theosophy, a doctrin of philanthropy, common sense, unity, was a base of such a contemptible system.

We Theosophists know, where all this allegations to harm Theosophy, Esotericism etc. have its roots. I wrote already here about this and other false allegations.

In the same direction other articles targeting, but now, to connect Theosophy and or the "Occult" (here especial Blavatsky) to Steve Bannon and/or the Alt- or Far-Right in USA, as you can read here, here and here. Whats going on?

Looks like a new campaign against Theosophy and Esoteric started in the New York Times. And what we should do, we should buy and analyze this book from Eric Kurlander, review and vote it down on Amazon and should tell Mr. Kurland (ekurland@stetson.edu) and that newspapers that spread this fake news, that they are at least with the theosophical point very wrong.

HPB's opinion in such a case is quite clear, she answered to the questions, how can someone help the Society:

Fourthly, by defending the Society from the unjust aspersions cast upon it, by every legitimate device in their power. ("The Key to Theosophy" by H. P. Blavatsky, Section 12)

So we should start together a "counteroffensive" in public media! We should first, after analyzing his book, collect strong scientific (historic) evidence to proof, that this so called Professor of History has done a terrible job, then we should with the power of all TS wrote an open letter to all of this exploited media and also Mr. Kurlander.

What do yout think? How can we in this case defend Theosophy? Or are we to weak and to quarreling? At least the official Societies should act immediately, together and well eliberated. Who can and will help, who has the important contacts? Drope me a line.

Press outside the movement about Theosophy

Theosophy


The 70th anniversary of Indian Independence cause many articles about Annie Besant, f.e. in Deccan Chronicle, News Nation, The Quint and inUth

 

Some thoughs from an anonymous scholar about Olcott and "Colombo Buddhist Theosophical Society" you can find at Lankaweb.

 

An article on island.lk about Prof. Ian Stevenson that published the well known book "Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation" in 1966 that was inspired by Theosophy.

 

In the article How Religion Gave L.A. the Ford Amphitheatre from kcet.org you can read about the founder ot his Amphitheatre, Christine Wetherill Stevenson, that was also a student of Theosophy.

 


Other


In the Leader you can read story about Fiona Maher that debunk a fake-foto that claimed to prove the existence of fairies, and supposedly also Theosophist were involved. Here another article about it in The Belfast Telegraph.

 

An article in TheNews.com about the Bradlaugh Hall mentioned Anny Besant, that was a long-time colleague of Mr. Charles Bradlaugh, a British radical and atheist.

The Jewish Journal mentioned Theosophy in an article named Dating 101: Soulmates.

India Today published an article about Rukmini Devi and mentioded Theosophy in it.


Art


Den Of Geek reported about a new film with Katie Holmes based on the New York Times bestseller book (listed for 190 weeks) "The Secret written by Rhonda Byrne, that is based also on the teachings of Madame Blavatsky. More here.

Patheos published an article about the German-born poet, novelist, and painter Hermann Hesse that was theosophy-inspirated.

The 100st birthday of the Mondrian Movement caused an article about it in the National Catholic Reporter. Also Artnet.com reported about the artist with an 10 facts about Mondrian article and also The Vice.

The villagevoice writes that "abstraction was born in part from symbolism, theosophy, and other means through which minds have pursued transcendence, enlightenment" in an article about the symolism at Guggenheim. Also Financial Times reported.

The Anita Shapolsky Gallery (NY, through Oct. 28) shows works of Jeanne Miles, which was a follower of Theosophy, if we believe ArtFixDaily.

The Moscow Times reported about a concert that will be held in the hall of the Alexander Scriabin house museum,,and therefore also Theosophy was mentioned.

An article about the exhibition Maven of Modernism: Galka Scheyer in California at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, published at hyperallergic, mentioned Theosophy because of Kandinksy was part of the "Blue Four" that the initioator of this collection, the German Galka Scheyer, has created.


To be true, religion and philosophy must offer the solution of every problem. That the world is in such a bad condition morally is a conclusive evidence that none of its religions and philosophies--those of the civilized races less than any other--have ever possessed the TRUTH. The right and logical explanations on the subject of the problems of the great dual principles, right and wrong, good and evil, liberty and despotism, pain and pleasure, egotism and altruism, are as impossible to them now as they were 1880 years ago. They are as far from the solution as they ever were, but. . . . "To these there must be somewhere a consistent solution, and if our doctrines will show their competence to offer it, then the world will be the first one to confess, that ours must be the true philosophy, the true religion, the true light, which gives truth and nothing but the TRUTH. . . .

From the article "The Theosophical Society: Its Mission and Its Future" by H. P. Blavatsky, published in Lucifer, August 1888 and especially this paragraph HPB has quoted from the so-called "Maha Cohan Letter".

Upcoming events

TOS (TS Adyar)

4th International TOS Conference
9 - 11 August 2018 in Singapore
more information

 

TS Adyar

11th World Congress
4 - 9 August 2018 in Singapore
more information

 

ITC

International Theosophy Conference 2018
Berlin, July 26 - 29, 2018 in Berlin, Germany
more information

 

EuST

The European School of Theosophy
5 days from 12 - 17 October 2017 at the International Theosophical Centre, Valkeveenselaan 19, 1411 GT Naarden The Netherland
more information

 

News from Theosophical Societies

ITC published all lectures of this years International Theosophy Conference here. A lot was going on on facebook about it, but I found no other news on websites. See official ITC Website for more. Next International Theosophy Conference 2018 takes places in Berlin, Germany from July 26 - 29, see http://www.theosophyconferences.org/

The TS (Pasadena) Australasian Section has published its latest Newsletter-Issue with many News from TS Pasadena worldwide and more, read here this September-Issue.

The TS in Australia has published the latest issue of Theosophy in Australia Magazine and its announcenment of its 2018 National Convention in January 2018 and the Campbell Library Newsletter from August 2017.

TS (Adyar) New Zealand announced the date and theme of its National Convention in January 2018 The TOS (USA) published a news about the Po’Shines de la Soul-Project.

TS (Adyar) Philippines published The Pilippine Theosophist No.1 (PDF), some photos from International ST Seminars here and about the next national convention of this TS in Davao City in November 2017 here.

The Singapore Lodge TS has published it regulary newsletter, the the issues here, July, August, September.

The Indo-Pacific Federation (Adyar) announced the TOS Fundraiser Tour to Southern India “Sacred Sights Tour” 05-16 Jan 2018. See more information here (PDF).

TS Point Loma Blavatsky House The Hague published the latest Issue of Lucifer (PDF) and some other news you can read here.

The TS in Europe (Adyar) hosted the 38th European Congress of the TS in Europe Barcelona, Spain from 21 to 26 August, wich was clouded by the "Barcelona attacks" on 17 August with 13 killed and at least 130 injured people. See the gallery and all videos here.

TS (Adyar) in America published three new video-logs of ots president, see here: August, September and October and an announcement for a Theosophical Order of Service Campaign for Kindness

Information about future The School of the Wisdom (TS Adyar) Sessions were published here.

Devachan is the idealized continuation of the terrestrial life just left behind, a period of retributive adjustment, and a reward for unmerited wrongs and sufferings undergone in that special life.

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, The Key to Theosophy (London: Theosophical Publishing Society, 1893), p. 90.

Theosophical Magazines

The TS (Adyar) in Australia

Theosophy in Australia Magazine September 2017
publisher, September (pdf)

 

TS Point Loma - Blavatskyhouse The Hague

Lucifer No. 3/2017
publisher, No.3/2017 (pdf)

 

The Aquarian Theosophist

The Aquarian Theosophist – July to September 2017
publisher, September (pdf), August (pdf), July (pdf)

 

The TS (Pasadena) Australasian Section

Theosophy Downunder
Newsletter of the Theosophical Society (Pasadena) Australasian Section, September 2017
publisher, September (pdf)

 

The TS Adyar Indian Section

The Indian Theosophist Magazine – July and September 2017
publisher, July (pdf), September (pdf)

 

United Lodge of Theosophists (ULT)

The Theosophical Movement Magazine Issue July to September 2017
publisher, July (pdf), August (pdf), September (pdf)

 

Articles from Theosophical sites

Theosophy Watch



Blavatsky News



Theosophy Forward



Book of Dzyan Research



Universal Theosophy



The “Wisdom religion” is the inheritance of all the nations, the world over.

HPB, SD:1:xviii (Itroductory)

Letter to the editor

2017/07/17

Via e-mail from Navin S.

Dear Steven, Thanks for the 14th issue of "Theosophy World News". Much appreciated - all the hard work that you put in publilshing the TWN. Kind regards. Navin

✴✴✴ The End  ✴✴✴

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