Theos-Talk Archives (August 2004 Message tt00661)

> Please feel free to reprint anything I put on Internet.

Thanks a lot, dear Dallas. In that case I will translate it for the
issue next month. :-)

> I don't know anything about "SOPHIA" and am glad to hear of its
> publication.

It is a monthly magazine that has been published for about 15 years
and which consists mainly of articles translated from other
Theosophical publications in other countries. It is sent to all the
Southamerican countries every month, too, as well as to all the
members of the Spanish Section.
>
> I have two friends who are deeply interested in the spread of
THEOSOPHY to
> those who speak and use Spanish.>
> May I introduce you to them in case you do not already know them?>
> Don Rodolfo>
> Alex. Bianchi

Of course, please do. I'll be happy to talk to them.

> But keeping THEOSOPHY alive and its worth spreading is most
valuable.

That has been the main aim and ideal of my dear father, who died two
weeks ago, at the age of 102, totally active physically (needed no
help at all), mentally and especially spiritually till the end.
Sadurni Torra was the man in charge of the Spanish Theosophical
Section during the 40 years of dictatorship in our country and I
remember, as a child, the clandestine meetings at home, when people
had to leave our flat in little groups so as not to be suspectful.
Also I remember my father building walls under the stairs in a little
house he had in the country and hiding the Theosophical books behind
it. And I remember the police coming into our house because he figured
in their files as a "man of multiple activities and probably a mason".
He did not have a passport for 25 years and devoted his whole life and
energy to the spreading of Theosophy, through meetings and talks and
work. But the extraordinary thing is that he was an example of what he
talked about. Even my skeptical friend had to admit that my father
lived up to his ideals, while it is all too frequent to see people
talking about something but acting very differently from their
words...

Being the age he was, he was able to meet personally some outstanding
Theosophists (once he could travel abroad) and also he told us about
Krishnamurti's talks and meetings. But when I see in some of your
mails (I confess I can't always follow the list) how important it is
for some of you whether so and so did such a thing or other, I can't
help thinking that the essence of Theosophy is much beyond that and I
don't recall my father critizising or despising anybody, in of out of
Theosophy. He had hundreds of books and he always seemed to pick up
something valuable from passages in them which he read and pondered
upon. Until the very end, he kept saying "I have made a great
finding..." and then told you about it with such passion and
enthusiasm that it was not only what he said but the way he said it
that succeeded in conveying the message.

In sorting out his papers, I found a diary of his which impressed me
very much for several reasons, one of them being that he never
mentioned anything or anybody in it except his progress on the path
and his efforts to overcome his "more human" tendencies in favour of
his more spiritual ones. On the day of his 100th anniversary, he wrote
"It was interesting to have this family gathering. My contribution to
it was to talk very little...". He had always been a great talker,
ready to talk about his ideal whenever you came to him, you know. And
he had spent 100 years aware on this earth to realize that silence is
a present.

I realize I have written a lot about my father here and I apologize
for it. His death is probably still too recent and my heart is too
full. But I still would like you to have a glimpse of what this great
man looked like at 100, so that you could understand a bit better what
I'm talking about. Maybe attachments aren't allowed on the list, but I
will try to attach a picture of his to this.

Thanks a lot for letting me ramble.
A big embrace to you all

ana maria.


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