As We Head into Autumn, Reflections on Summer

The Theosophical Society in Buffalo’s summer program was crowned with a visit from Susan and John O’Neill on August 11. We were all so pleased to meet them and have them join in our theosophical discussion of the causal body. Their gracious visit was an important moment for our lodge to reflect on the theosophical community at large, specifically the Northeast Federation, and verify our desire to become more actively involved and connected. Just as we hope to continue hosting guests from other lodges, and look forward to another visit from the O’Neills, we will continue to take part in events hosted by other Federation lodges such as the Symposium on H.P. Blavatsky and The Secret Doctrine, which was held in New York City on September 20^th, and at which representatives of the Buffalo Lodge were present. We also plan to take part in a Pumpkin Hollow retreat next Spring or Fall.

Our thanks again to the O’Neills for renewing the spirit of brotherhood within the Federation.

AUTUMNAL SESSION 2009

The Theosophical Society in Buffalo continues the study of the Ancient Wisdom. Every Tuesday at 7:00 PM, we begin with the inspirational prayers and the healing service. This is followed by a scheduled program pre-selected by the membership. Science, Philosophy, and Religion form a trinity which guides the work the society has set before itself. Our continuing study of Man, the Microcosm, Astrology, the Macrocosm and the Esoteric teachings of all the great religions are the foundational jewels that open the door to other occult and philosophical discussions. All are welcome to attend and are encouraged to participate in the open discussions. It is the duty of all members in good standing to attend the meetings. Our group consciousness merged together in unity radiates thoughts beneficial to all in attendance.

“Our philosophy… is preeminently the science of effects by their causes and of causes by their effects.” --Master K.H.

Autumn 2009 Members Program Schedule

October

6^th The Ageless Wisdom of Life Clara M. Codd

Chapter 17: Education in the Light of Occultism

13^th The Causal Body A.E. Powell

Chapter XXIX: Memory of Past Lives

20^th Esoteric Astrology A. Bailey

Libra

27^th The Divine Plan G. Barborka

Chapter 9: The Doctrine of the Rounds:

3. The Relations of Rounds and Spheres

4. Relation of the Rounds and Watchers

November

3^rd The Ageless Wisdom of Life Clara M. Codd

Chapter 18: Sex Relations in the Light of Occultism

10^th The Causal Body A.E. Powell

Chapter XXX: The Ego on His Own Plane

17^th Esoteric Astrology A. Bailey

Scorpio

24^th The Divine Plan G. Barborka

Chapter 9: The Doctrine of the Rounds:

5. The Relation of Rounds and the After –Death States

6. The Relation of Rounds and Principles

6.a. Fifth Rounders

“The world was not made in a day…Let evolution take its course naturally—lest we make it deviate and produce monsters by presuming to guide it. --Master M

news letter

In progress

Summer Session 2009

The Theosophical Society in Buffalo continues the study of the Ancient Wisdom. Every Tuesday at 7:00 PM, we begin with the inspirational prayers and the healing service. This is followed by a scheduled program pre-selected by the membership. Science, Philosophy, and Religion form a trinity which guides the work the society has set before itself. Our continuing study of Man, the Microcosm, Astrology, the Macrocosm and the Esoteric teachings of all the great religions are the foundational jewels that open the door to other occult and philosophical discussions. All are welcome to attend and are encouraged to participate in the open discussions. It is the duty of all members in good standing to attend the meetings. Our group consciousness merged together in unity radiates thoughts beneficial to all in attendance.

"Physical man is but the highest development of animal life."

Isis Unveiled I

MEMBERS PROGRAM SCHEDULE Summer 2009

July

7^th The Causal Body A.E. Powell

Chapter XXV: The Ego and His Investment

14^th The Ageless Wisdom of Life Clara M. Codd

Chapter 12: Where Are We After Death? The Process of Dying

Chapter 13: Where Are We After Death? The Psychic World

21^st The Divine Plan G. Barborka

Chapter 8: The Doctrine of the Races, The Fifth Root

Race, The Sixth Root Race

28^th Esoteric Astrology A. Bailey

Cancer

August

4^th The Ageless Wisdom of Life Clara M. Codd

Chapter 14: Where Are We After Death? The Heaven World

Chapter 15: Sleep and Dreams

11^th The Causal Body A.E. Powell

Chapter XXVI: The Ego and the Personality

18^th The Divine Plan G. Barborka

Chapter 8: The Seventh Root Race

Chapter 9: The Doctrine of the Rounds, The Inner Rounds

25^th Esoteric Astrology A. Bailey

Leo

“The Earth is a satellite of the Moon.”

Esoteric Astrology

Cycles of Return

In "The Way of the Disciple" by Clara M. Codd, there is a story about the past lives of the Masters:


I also wonder if the Master Rakoczy was the mysterious Archduke John who disappeared during or after the war, at sea, it was said. I once read the memoirs of one of the Austrian Arch-duchesses, and she describes there a mysterious mission that she undertook for him. There was a photograph in an old "Illustrated London News" of the Emperor Franz Joseph washing the feet of twelve poor men on Maundy Thursday. Around him stand the court, among them two Knights of Malta, (of which the Master was once Grand Master as Count Hompesch) in their white cloaks. The Master is very clearly to be distinguished as one of them. His great confrere, the Master Jesus, is said now to live amongst the Druses in Mount Lebanon. The Druses are a more or less secret body and have monasteries in very inaccessible places. They have a secret faith, somewhat allied to Christianity, believing that divine manifestations come at intervals, and they are abstainers from wine and tobacco. There is a portrait of this Master, precipitated by H.P.B., which now hangs at Adyar.

This brings me to the point of this post. The Buffalo Lodge has been approached by the Knights Of Malta to be one of its outpost stations and to share our building. At this very moment, one of the Knights attends our meetings every Tuesday. I am told that they go as far back as the Crusades. We in the Lodge believe that nothing happens by coincidence. This is happening while our Lodge is being blacklisted by Headquarters and gives us great comfort to feel the presence of the Order, (There are different groupings, or Orders, of the Knights. This one that chose us is called the 'Swan.’) and helped convince me that the Masters are real and that they never abandoned us.

Something to Ponder

"He who deprives any of his fellows of the light, the good, the help, the assistance he can wisely give them, and lives for the accumulation of material things, for his own personal gratification, is the real robber; and he who steals from his fellows the precious possession of character by slander, and any sort of misrepresentation, is no less a thief, and one of the most guilty kind."
from Practical Occultism

How do you interpret this quote in the context of the Theosophical Society in America today?
Is this the path upon which the Theosophical Society in America presently finds itself?
What do you think?

WINTER SESSION 2009

The Theosophical Society in Buffalo continues the study of the Ancient Wisdom. Every Tuesday at 7:00 PM, we begin with the inspirational prayers and the healing service. This is followed by a scheduled program pre-selected by the membership. Science, Philosophy, and Religion form a trinity which guides the work the society has set before itself. Our continuing study of Man, the Microcosm, Astrology, the Macrocosm and the Esoteric teachings of all the great religions are the foundational jewels that open the door to other occult and philosophical discussions. All are welcome to attend and are encouraged to participate in the open discussions. It is the duty of all members in good standing to attend the meetings. Our group consciousness merged together in unity radiates thoughts beneficial to all in attendance.

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." Mahatma Gandhi

MEMBERS PROGRAM SCHEDULE

January

6^th The Ageless Wisdom of Life Clara M. Codd

Chapter 3: Who Are We? The Soul

13^th The Causal Body A.E. Powell

Chapter XIV: Methods and Degrees of Individualization

Chapter XV: Functions of the Causal Body

20^st The Divine Plan G. Barborka

Chapter 8: The Doctrine of the Races, The First Root

Race

27^th Esoteric Astrology A. Bailey

Capricorn

February

3^th The Ageless Wisdom of Life Clara M. Codd

Chapter 4: Who Are We? The Spirit

10^th The Causal Body A.E. Powell

Chapter XVI: Composition and Structure

Chapter XVII: Causal Thought

17^th The Divine Plan G. Barborka

Chapter 8: The Second Root Race

24^th Esoteric Astrology A. Bailey

Aquarius

“The Present is only a

mathematical line which divides

that part of Eternal Duration

which we call the Future from

that part which we call the Past.”

Secret Doctrine