16/02/2024
*TWO MEETINGS ON THEOSOPHY EVERY WEDNESDAY IN LONDON*
IN-PERSON WEEKLY STUDY CLASS ON THE PHILOSOPHY AND APPLICATION OF THEOSOPHY
Wednesdays, 7-8.15 pm (doors open 6.30) & 8.30-9.30 pm at the United Lodge of Theosophists, 62 Queen's Gardens, London, W2 3AH
On Wednesdays there are 7 pm and 8.30 pm meetings which cover many aspects of the teachings of Theosophy, the universal Esoteric Philosophy or Ageless Wisdom.
The texts for the 7-8.15 pm meeting are:
* "THE OCEAN OF THEOSOPHY" by William Q. Judge
This helps to make much of the Theosophical teachings clearer and more easily understood.
The book includes the subjects of the sevenfold nature of man, reincarnation and karma, psychic practices such as clairvoyance, the theory of cycles, the after-death states, and the existence of the Mahatmas or Masters of Wisdom.
Books such as "The Secret Doctrine" by H. P. Blavatsky have been found by many to only begin to truly "come alive" once the more foundational texts such as "The Ocean" and HPB's "The Key to Theosophy" have been well studied and meditatively reflected upon. Although worded simply, "The Ocean of Theosophy" contains a depth of meaning, making it a frequently recurring and much appreciated study for even the most experienced student of Theosophy.
After concluding each chapter, we take up the corresponding chapter from Robert Crosbie's "Answers To Questions on The Ocean of Theosophy." In our study of the astral body we read this answer from Crosbie on the nature of the astral body at birth: "There is no such statement made as that the Astral body is perfect at birth; what is said is that “the model for the growing child in the womb is the astral body already perfect in shape.” The Astral body grows apace with the physical; the phrase “full-sized at birth” has no meaning, since all bodies vary in size and dimensions from birth to old age. The model of the oak is in the acorn. A small photo can be magnified a thousand times, perfect in every detail."
* "THE WAY OF THE BODHISATTVA" by the 8th century Indian Buddhist teacher Shantideva
This is one of the most popular and celebrated texts of Mahayana Buddhism, especially in Tibetan Buddhism. In Sanskrit it is called the Bodhicharyavatara.
The book emphasises the value in adopting the Bodhisattva Path through cultivating the precious quality of bodhichitta: the ardent aspiration to gain enlightenment solely for the benefit and welfare of all other beings.
It is a poetic elaboration on the nature of true compassion and although more exoteric than esoteric, it has numerous parallels with "The Voice of The Silence," a purely esoteric Mahayana text translated by H. P. Blavatsky.
Shantideva affirms that “All the joy the world contains has come through wishing happiness for others. All the misery the world contains has come through wanting pleasure for oneself.” And he encourages spiritual seekers to frame their quest in this way: "For all those ailing in the world, until their every sickness has been healed, may I myself become for them the doctor, nurse, the medicine itself. And now as long as space endures, as long as there are beings to be found, may I continue likewise to remain to drive away the sorrows of the world."
In its place, on the last Wednesday of each month, we study instead some of the most essential passages from HPB's writings, on what Theosophy actually is and what its core teachings or "fundamental propositions" are.
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We are still only around a third of the way through both these books, so those who may start newly attending will not have missed a great deal. The few chapters covered so far can easily be read in one's own time by those who may wish to bring themselves up to speed.
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For those who wish to stay after the short break between the two meetings, from 8.30 to 9.30 pm we study:
Vol. 2 of "THE SECRET DOCTRINE" by H. P. Blavatsky
This second volume is about the secret history of the world and its very earliest races according to esoteric records known to the Masters or Initiates.
The current section is on "The Civilization and Destruction of the Fourth and Fifth Races" (2:316), and relates to the divine Dynasties which were claimed by all the early races to have preceded their human kings, which was the belief of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Greeks, and is still believed by the modern Hindus and enumerated in their sacred books. These Dynasties had existed on continents submerged long ago, but the teachings is that there were men and civilisations on them during the early geological periods as shown by the Easter Island statues which are said to date from those times.
Although all are welcome and many derive benefit from this meeting, it is sometimes found too complex by those who are new to the philosophy. This can often be solved by first studying "The Ocean of Theosophy" and "The Key to Theosophy."
Once a month, we also take B. P. Wadia's "Some Observations on the Study of The Secret Doctrine" on how best to approach and study this text.
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You are welcome to join these weekly meetings to learn and discuss with others the Theosophical teachings; they are free and open to all. No registration is required.
The 8.30-9.30 pm "Secret Doctrine" meeting can also be joined online via Skype but the 7-8.15 pm one is for in-person attendance only. If you cannot join the 7-8.15 pm meeting in person and wish to join it online, it is also held via Skype on Tuesdays at the same time.
For more information about these meetings, please click here - https://theosophy-ult.org.uk/events/tuesday-and-wednesday-meetings-online-study-classes/ - or click here - https://theosophy-ult.org.uk/events/ to learn about all the meetings offered by this centre.
*** Please send any questions or comments by email to info@theosophy-ult.org.uk as we do not always get notified about Facebook comments and messages. Thank you! ***
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