There are currently 12 members of our NY Lodge that have been members for many years. One of our members, although no longer able to attend our meetings, has been a member since March 31, 1950! Come join us in honoring their long-term commitment to the Theosophical Society and our Lodge. Refreshments will be served.
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with Ed Abdill
We all seek happiness, yet we all suffer psychological pain. What prevents us from realizing the happiness we seek? The path to universal joy and happiness is outlined in Theosophical literature and is summarized in a way of life called The Golden Stairs. But merely reading the texts and remembering what we read will not bring understanding. Essential to understanding is direct insight, what Blavatsky calls “spiritual intuition.” By probing deep within ourselves, we may discover the key to happiness and inner peace. In each session of this 4-part series, we will seek to discover the ultimate cause of psychological suffering and its cure. If our search leads to new insights, we may find that our lives gradually become joyous and worth living, even in their worst stages.
This will be an ongoing course in which we will study the Stanzas of Dzyan using direction from a course given by Martin Liederman in 2009. In order to better acquaint ourselves with this method of study, we will watch the introductory DVD of Martin’s course this week and then prepare to move on with more intensive study one Wednesday each month.
So much of HPB’s writings make reference to the Qabbalah that it seems prudent to study it. Grace Knoche was a long-time theosophist who wrote her thesis on this subject, which is now in book form. We will begin this week with some introductory information about the author, and we will explore chapter 1 of the book. One Wednesday each month will be devoted to a chapter. The book is available at our Quest Bookshop for $14. (Remember, TS members get 10% off all purchases at our bookshop.)
Gnosis means spiritual knowledge; Gnosticism was an ancient, pre-Christian form of esoteric wisdom. The speaker refers to Gnostic texts collected and translated by the 19th-century theosophist and scholar G. R. S. Mead, and shows how the Gnostics coded their wisdom into poetical, symbolic works that need to be "decoded" or "cracked." 2006. 64 minutes. John Algeo, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus at the University of Georgia, was Alumni Foundation distinguished Professor of English until his retirement to accept the presidency of the Theosophical Society in America.
Once again, it is time to ring out the old year and bring in the new. Come join us for a lovely evening of good food and perhaps some wonderful entertainment. (Members are encouraged to bring whatever portable instrument they play for a sing-a-long.) We will be serving Thai food this year, from a wonderful restaurant around the corner from us, A+. There is a fee of $20 per person for the meal. Please reserve your space by purchasing a ticket before Dec. 8, 2010. We must have the exact number of attendees to give to the restaurant several days in advance, so please honor the Dec. 8 deadline.
