Theos-Talk Archives (November 2006 Message tt00061)

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "carlosaveline" wrote:

> any news about any theosophical work going on in 
> Russia and Ukraine will be most welcome.

Dear Carlos,

Now I forward the information which already exists in English; I've 
compiled the following of the letters previously written to an 
American theosophist and from other sources.

---
First, the publishing activity, for it's the largest activity,
while other types of activity are comparatively insignificant.

Most of the publications are effected by the commercial publishers
with collaboration of theosophists. The genre of collections is 
popular
because it enables to publish many small books or lectures at once 
under
some attractive title. There were several such compilations in 
previous
years, so they are not listed. (I think I would make the almost 
complete
list of the publications since 1990, but it will take time). 
Appendixes
also often used to enlarge the volume, they often are the extracts 
from
other authors on the subject.

There are two types of publishers. Firstly, the big commercial 
publishers.
The two of the top three are publishing some theosophical literature.
Though the variety of titles is not wide, they print them in large 
quantities
and distribute effectively. So such books as "Secret Doctrine" 
(including
3rd vol.) and "Isis Unveiled" are always in print. I think that they 
sell
no less than 5000 copies each year. I didn't include them into my list
because I don't know the details, but they are currently available in 
most
central bookshops of Moscow and some other cities. Secondly, the 
specific
publishers which can be defined as "New Age" publishers. They print 
more
wide variety of the titles.

There are, of course, publications effected by theosophical groups, 
but
they are not numerous. As a rule, the publications aren't results of 
an
organized work of the group but effected by the efforts of the 
individual
members of the groups or persons not connected with any groups.


 ? Theosophical publications for the two last years ?

2004

Blavatsky. Key to Theosophy (with selected articles & Transactions of 
Blavatsky Lodge) 5000 copies.**
Blavatsky. Phenomenon of Man (collection of 25 articles). 2000 copies.
Damodar: Writings of a Hindu chela. 2000 copies.*
Pavri. Theosophy explained in questions and answers.
Rogers. Hints to the young occultists. 3000 copies****
Leadbeater. Masters and the Path. (Full edition). 2000 copies***
Leadbeater. Astral plane. 2000 copies
Leadbeater. Devachanic plane. 5000 copies
Leadbeater. How Theosophy came to me. 3000 copies*
Chatterji, Holloway. Man: fragments of forgotten history. 3000 
copies.*
Anonymous. Dream of Ravana with the comments ascribed to K.H. 1500 
copies.*

2005

Blavatsky. Key to Theosophy (separate edition) 5000 copies. (2004 ed. 
also reprinted)
Leadbeater. Inner Life. (Abridged edition) 5000 copies.
Besant, Leadbeater. Thoughtforms. 1500 copies.
Barborka. Mahatmas & their letters. 3000 copies.*
Taimni. Glimpses into the psychology of yoga.*
_____________
* First printing in Russian
** First printing of a new translation
*** First full printing
**** Reprinted for the first time since 1922


The list is incomplete; I have mentioned publications in which I took 
part
and others by the publishers I collaborate with, so I could miss 
something.
2004 was the most fruitful year, so it shouldn't be considered as the 
typical.


---
In this letter I'll try to summarize other lines of theosophical work.

There is apparently no theosophical work in Russia which is directed 
from
some center or otherwise organized; all is being done by efforts of 
enthusiasts
in different places.

There are several theosophical groups in different cities and each 
works
as it regards the best. The Moscow TS which is an informal group holds
regular meetings for 15 years. There are members of TS Adyar among
its active workers and non-members as well. The meetings cannot be 
defined
as the lodge meetings, for they are open and everyone can attend. The
work is going predominantly along the line of comparative study. The
outside lectures are often invited and then their talks are discussed.
It is rather exoteric than esoteric society. I've described its 
methods
of work in the separate message which I shall quote below. For there
are different opinion how to promote theosophy (many people think that
those who are ready shall come themselves) everyone does it as he 
likes,
giving lectures (and even giving radio talks, though it happens very
rarely), writing articles and books.

Of the other groups TS of Vladivostok is worth to be mentioned. They 
have
made archival researches and discovered the papers of the Theosophical
Society which existed there before 1922, because it was the part of 
the
country where communists came later. Though Russian Section ceased to
exist officially in 1918, the branch in Vladivostok survived and for
several years worked and kept contact with TS in America. This 
information
was quite unknown for us before. This branch gave us Alfred Heidok who
has translated into the Russian Isis Unveiled, 3rd volume of SD and
Theosophical Glossary and was the author of the collection of stories
about the paranormal.

There are contacts and collaboration between the groups in different
cities, though not very active. It is exchange by books, films or 
other
materials useful for promotion of theosophy. Due lack of theosophical
multimedia products other are used like film produced by ISKCON, etc.
Visits of members of one group to another are rare due big distances
but they happen. Sometimes the groups which were formed soon became
inactive and cease their work; I'm inclined to attribute it to lack of
support from the center, though there are many other reasons, of 
course.
There were around 10 groups in Russia, but haven't heard anything from
some of them for a long time, so it would be more safe to talk about
5 or so.

Since 1993 the work for collection of theosophical electronic texts
began. Now it is probably bigger than any other available in languages
other than English. First these text were circulated through 
non-commercial
network FidoNet, and in 1997 website was created. In 2000 the domain
theosophy.ru was registered. Now the site has more than 100 unique
visitors a day, of which only half is from Russia. For many years it
was the only theosophical site but in 2005 new theosophical portal
chelas.org with a webforum was created by theosophists of 
Dnepropetrovsk.
Besides philosophical issues the forum also used for coordination of
such work as scanning the books. The collection of English texts was
also increased by our efforts; they were put online on the foreign 
sites.


Here follows the message which I wrote from somewhat other angle,
for it is about how avoid sectarianism, yet it provides some 
information
about style of work of Moscow TS.

-----
> I wanted to ask your opinon about what should Theosophical Society
> do to prevent dogma, sect, cult.

I don't know whether what I'm going to describe is applicable
to whole Theosophical Society but it can be done in some branches
at least. It is practiced in Moscow Theosophical Society (which is
an informal group having no officials) for last several years and
the experience has shown that it helped to avoid sectarianism and
clashes or rivalries among the members.

First, the brotherhood is regarded an object of prime
importance and it cannot be neglected for sake of any other
object. So the statements like "you are wrong" are not
encouraged. When some topic is discussed, all, who want, one
by one express their opinions. There are no authorities and
each opinion is regarded valueable. There can be opposite
opinions, but criticize of other's opinion isn't permitted.
Around 5 minutes is given to everyone, so in a hour or a little
more all opinions are heard.

There are three types of the meetings. One is a seminar. Someone
of the members proposes the topic beforehand. At the beginning
he gives a short introductory speech, 15 minutes or less; then
everyone speak their opinions as was described above (as a rule,
in a circle clockwise). At the end the member which is responsible
for the topic concludes the discussion. The topics may be both of
abstract philosophical nature and related to the practical work.

Other two types are lectures delivered by the members themselves
(often intended to elucidate some theosophical question)
and by invited lectures who may represent different religious
traditions, sects, spiritual or scientific schools (often of so
called alternative science). The questions of the members then
follow, and in that latter case they can sometimes contain
acute criticism if the theory spoken out by the guest speaker
seems to us doubtful. There also often follow comments trying
to explain new information from theosophical point of view.
Sometimes the guest speakers are theosophists from other cities.

No rites or prayers specific to any religion are permitted
except of one minute of silence on the opening and closing the
meetings. Each one can meditate or make silent prayer the way
he likes. Oftenly at the end of the meeting the announcements
are made about the events of other organizations which could
be of interest to us. There are believers and non-believers and
adherents of different theosophical traditions among us,
yet all are keeping friendly and brotherly relations.

I cannot vouch that all I have described should inevitably
eliminate any sectarianism and cultism but at least we haven't
any. Our style of work has its drawbacks too. Two are foremost:
there is lack of in-deep study of theosophical teaching (for
those who want it another more narrow group is planned), and
there's almost no young people join us.

---
In Ukraine the theosophical work is somewhat better organized; they 
have a strong group in Kiev which is in contact with Adyar 
headquarters; regular seminars and conferences are held in capital 
Kiev and other cities of Ukraine. Yet the publishing activity is small 
compared with that in Russia.

CONFERENCE OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IN CRIMEA (UKRAINE)

Since june 28th upto july 2th 2006 in Yalta (famous seaside recreation 
center)
the conference took part which was organized by the Cultural 
Foundation "Ankh"
(Kiev, S. Gavrilenko), Theosophical Society of Yalta (G. Abroskina) 
and
HPB Center (Dnepropetrovsk, T. Golovchenko).

The following topics were discussed:

Theosophical idea of synthesis in the modern world (prepared by the 
Kiev group).
Theosophy as a teaching of the heart (prepared by the Dnepropetrovsk 
group).
Music and the spiritual development of man (prepared by the Yalta 
group).

Besides of that representatives of Dnepropetrovsk (T. Golovchenko) 
have
reported about the works for creation of HPB Museum, while those of 
Odessa
(V. Perevalov) about the planned creation of the theosophical center 
in Odessa
where HPB and her family lived (the house itself exists no more).

The following resolution was passed by the participants:

We, the participants of the International Theosophical Conference,
being the representatives of the theosophical movement of Ukraine, 
Russia
and Belorusia, have taken the following decision:

1. To establish, since 2006, annual theosophical conferences 
"Practical
Theosophy" which will take place in different cities.

2. The informational support of theosophical happenings in the Russian
language space will be effected by the electronic bulletin "Messenger 
of
Unity" which is issued by the Kiev theosophical group.

3. During the group meetings and individual theosophical studies to
effect the meditative connection with our theosophical collegues in
different countries of the world.

4. To invite the TS International Secretary miss Mary Anderson (or 
other
international lecturer) in the next year (2007) to Ukraine for leading
the seminar and school of wisdom.

5. Jointly with the September forum in Dnepropetrovsk to call the 
meeting
of the Coordination Council of the groups for support of HPB Center.

6. In order to provide a possibility of mutual visits and exchange of 
the
working experience to call the open meetings in the different 
theosophical
groups, dedicated to While Lotus Day (8 May) and TS Birthday (17 Nov).

7. To promote circulation of the materials of the Yalta Conference of 
2006
through the groups which are working and mass media.

Passed by the participants of the Conference, 68 persons which are
representatives of the theosophical movement of Kiev, Dnepropetrovsk,
Yalta, Odessa, Moscow, Minsk, Lugansk, Novosibirsk, Gorlovka, Donetsk, 
Griazi, Sevastopol, Severodonetsk.