Theos-Talk Archives (August 2003 Message tt00161)

Joseph P. Fulton wrote:

"A quick perusal of the Boston Lodge program reveals only one
Theosophical class, on Friday night, and no public programs on
Theosophy, per se, that is, directly dealing with HPB or the
Mahatma's, within her tradition, for the next three months. Not to
be sectarian, but if that's how the group regards "Theosophy" proper,
then better to call itself something else and be honest about
it....By your fruits, so shall you be known."

The Theosophical Society in Boston is a "theosophical" organization in that
it adheres to the three objects that Blavatsky listed for the Theosophical
Society:
1) To form a nucleus of Universal Humanity, without distinction of race,
creed, sex, caste, or color;
2) To encourage the study of comparative religion, philosophy, and science;
3) To investigate the unexplored laws of nature and the powers latent in the
human constitution.

These objects are posted on the TSB website (www.tsboston.org) and in the
TSB Lecture Hall; each activity (lecture, discussion, class, or meditation)
at the TSB has the purpose of fulfilling one or more of these objects.

With regard to classical theosophy, less than two weeks ago, on August 15,
the TSB did sponsor a talk on "Human Evolution Through Globes, Rounds and
Chains," which was concerned with concepts in Blavatsky's Secret Doctrine,
and the TSB holds a weekly study group on the Secret Doctrine.

The TSB program has a unique feature of being inclusive: perhaps because the
TSB has become separated from the original society, the TSB generally
includes activities based on prominent individuals who had also become
separated from the original society. For example, in the Sept-Oct program
posted on the TSB website, there is an art class based on Rudolf Steiner's
spiritual approach to painting; a study group on Alice A Bailey; and a
discussion group on J. Krishnamurti.

Although each TSB program generally has activities based on Blavatsky,
Steiner, Bailey, and Krishnamurti, the TSB program is not limited to
thinkers who have been associated in the past with the Theosophical Society.
In keeping with the second object, the Sept-Oct program sponsors classes on
Qigong, Yoga, Pranic Healing, Buddhism, and Tibetan Dance and Chanting.
There is even a lecture concerned with comparative science: Newton's theory
of color is compared with Goethe's prismatic experiments and alchemical
theory of color.

Zack Lansdowne