Contact Members' newsletter of the Brisbane Theosophical

Society 2016 Issue 3 Sep Oct Nov Dec

Brisbane Theosophical Society p 2 CONTACT Magazine 2016-1

Brisbane Theosophical Society 355 Wickham Terrace, Brisbane (opp. top of Albert St) Tel: (07) 3839 1453 (library times) Fax: (07) 3831 3692 Web: http://www.theosophyqld.org.au Email: brisbanelodge@theosophyqld.org.au

BOOKSHOP & LIBRARY: (Closed on Public Holidays)

Monday, Tue, Wed, Thurs ….……………..10.30 am to 2.30 pm Friday……………… 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm & 6.30 pm to 7.25 pm

‘Contact’ magazine is edited by Phillipa Rooke

The programme of Lodge meetings is placed on the Lodge website which will always be the most up-to-date source of information.

The Theosophical Society has no official statements of belief. It encourages members to seek the truth by various avenues, but always subject to respect for others. All views expressed in these pages are entirely those of the authors – not of the Society.

PRESIDENT’SRAVINGS

As this is my last rave for a while, I want to talk about how important I believe Theosophy is to the future of humankind and the planet (or maybe planets) on which we live (or will live). I don’t mean the Theosophical Society as such, but Theosophy – the Ancient Wisdom, the Divine Wisdom, the Wisdom of a long line of seers, sages, adepts, Masters going back millennia. As one of our pamphlets says, these Wisdom principles “were present in teachings such as those of ancient India and China, the Egyptian Thoth or the Greek Hermes, the neo-Platonists, and Gnostics of the early Christian era.” This Wisdom has the potential to regenerate humanity and transform the world – it is that important!

The remit of the Theosophical Society is to make this Wisdom more widely known and understood. The Maha Chohan says (Letter No 1, Letters from the Masters of Wisdom, C Jinarajadasa 1919); “We have to preach and popularize a knowledge of theosophy. It is not the individual and determined purpose of attaining oneself Nirvana … which is after all only an exalted and glorious selfishness, but the self-sacrificing pursuit of the best means to lead on the right path our neighbour, to cause as many of our fellow creatures as we possibly can to benefit by it, which constitutes the true Theosophist.”

I started out many years ago with an interest in reconciling science and religion. I have given a number of presentations on this subject over the years, invoking among other things the work of philosopher Alfred North Whitehead, transpersonal psychologist Ken Wilber and various scientists of course. By the time I gave my most recent talk, at Convention 2016 in Perth, I had come to realise that the Theosophical Society is in a position to address, not just the religion-science controversy, but many of the world’s problems. It has answers to inter-religious conflict, and religious intolerance. Going further, the Society could apply its knowledge to better understanding alcohol and drug addiction, and to healing generally. Restoring the hierarchical understanding of reality – to reverse the materialist, one level (I used the word “flatland”) view of reality - would help the dying and bereaved; perhaps also those suffering from depression and meaninglessness.

At a recent Members Meeting, the webcast and subsequent discussion began with well-known US presenter, Michael Gomes, opening the session with a quote from The Theosophist (2012). Radha Burnier, the then International President, wrote: “We are happy when people become members but we are much happier when they really study Theosophy in the real sense of the term: study life, study our relationships, study how to give to other people what we have.”

And we should note the word “study” has changed its meaning in the years since HPB talked about the centrality of study, meditation and service. I believe it should be taken in the 19th century meaning of “to observe closely, scrutinize.” One thinks of the 19th century botanist roaming the fields observing flowers and insects with his magnifying glass, or even Sherlock Holmes with his, looking for clues. Study in this sense has little to do with book learning and obtaining university degrees. We are urged to put life, ourselves, our relationships “under the microscope.” In a word, to be mindful.

In this issue...

President’s Ravings - Brian Harding........................ 2

Brisbane Lodge News.............................................. 3

Library News.............................................................4

Meet the Volunteer....................................................5

Poetry Page...............................................................6

Jung’s Fascination with the East...............................7

The Emerald Tablet...................................................8

The Noble Eightfold Path in Verse............................9

TOS News...............................................................10

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The webcast discussion roamed over the three topics – study, meditation and service, but in many ways the last was most important, taking me back to the quote from the Maha Chohan. We are not primarily a member of the TS for the purpose of attaining Nirvana for ourselves but for “the self-sacrificing pursuit of the best means to lead on the right path our neighbour…” That is such an inspiring statement!

However, it demands a great deal to work unselfishly, without any thought of reward, for the benefit of humanity. And it means working together. Michael Gomes, addressing his circle, said this means “putting aside our own personalities for a goal that is bigger than you.” He quoted “a wise old Theosophist” (unnamed) who had said “Theosophy means being able to work with people you don’t like” for an enormously great Good. And, with somewhat dated humour, he added “the real test is when you go visit your in-laws.”

But the discussion included also a note of joy, when Michael concluded that what we have is incredibly wonderful – “how blessed we are!” He repeated this with enthusiasm – “How blessed we are!” So let’s work together in harmony to attain “a pearl of great price” (Mat 13:46).

Thank you for having me as your President. It has been a great privilege.

BRISBANE LODGE NEWS

Program Listing The Lodge program is in the form of a 3-fold A4 sheet as a pocket sized leaflet. The weekly groups are included in sequential context between the Friday night meetings, so that it is clearer what is on and when. The programme is enclosed with this newsletter. It can also be seen on the website, and downloaded as a PDF file. The web copy will always be the latest update.

Brisbane Theosophical Society Executive Committee for 2016 President: Brian Harding Vice Presidents: Phillipa Rooke, John Harris Secretary: Vacant Treasurer: Dianne Manning Committee: Christine Gwin, Robyn Rizzo, Geoff Harrod, Patricia Ossenberg

Sub-Committees - Library: Patricia Ossenberg, Phillipa Rooke Bookshop: Patricia Ossenberg, Robyn Rizzo Finance: Brian Harding, Phillipa Rooke, Dianne Manning, Patricia Ossenberg, Programs: Brian Harding, Phillipa Rooke Property & Equipment: Brian Harding, John Harris, Dianne Manning Publicity: Robyn Rizzo, Christine Gwin, John Harris

End-of-year closure period The Lodge, Library & Bookshop is closed from 10th December, re-open Monday 30th January 2017

Secretary retires After many years of service to Brisbane Lodge, and being the ‘face’ of the Lodge for so

many people, Phoebe Williams has ‘retired’. We wish her many long and fruitful years

to come. Thank you Phoebe!

Brisbane TS now has a Facebook page Our member Michael Morton has kindly volunteered to set up and maintain a

Facebook presence for Brisbane TS.

It’s at https://www.facebook.com/brisbanetheosophicalsociety

Cover picture:

This photograph was taken on the 2016 TOS tour of Cambodia. It is indicative of the way in which nature is reclaiming some parts of the Ankor Wat ruins over the centuries.

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TS in Australia

TS e-Newsletters and ‘T-in-A’ magazine The national magazine ‘Theosophy in Australia’ is now only posted in paper form to those members who pay extra for it when paying their annual dues. It is put on the national website www.austheos.org.au as a PDF file. To be advised by email when each new issue is available, register by sending an email to Gil Murdoch at web@austheos.org.au. Also ask Gil to add you to the e-Newsletter mailing list if you don’t already receive it.

Annual Fund The Annual Fund provides an opportunity for members to help finance new educational initiatives and promotional activities for the Theosophical Society in Australia. This special fund is not used for the day to day running of the Society but is reserved for special projects that mey promote the TS and its activities in new ways.

The Annual Fund was used for engaging a professional to capture some selected sessions on video during the 2016 Convention in Perth. Some of these can now be viewed on the National Website www.austheos.org.au.

Next up, an approach has been made to a professional marketer with a view to improving the profile of the TS in Australia, especially through our digital technology.

Visiting Speaker – Friday 9th September @ 7.30pm We will be happy to welcome to the Lodge, Pedro Oliveira, Education Coordinator for the TS in Australia.

Pedro will be speaking on The Septenary Constitution of the Human Being – Theosophical literature has introduced to the western world a holistic vie of the human being: multiple levels of consciousness. In this presentation we will examine the seven principles of the human being according to the teachings of H>P> Blavatsky’s book, “Key to Theosophy”.

Library News

New Additions to the Lending Library Esoteric Instructions.............................................................................HP Blavatsky The Path of Practice ............................................................................Bri Maya Tiwari Muhammad & the Quran .....................................................................Rafik Zakuria The Essence of Jung’s Psychology and Tibetan Buddhism ................Radmila Moacanin The Quantum and the Lotus ................................................................Matthieu Ricard & T Xuanthuram A Jewel on a Silver Platter ...................................................................Padmahabhan Krishna Die Wise ...............................................................................................Stephen Jenkinson Still Here ...............................................................................................Ram Dass Glastonbury, Maker of Myths ................................................................Frances Howard-Gordon The Yoga of Nutrition .............................................................................Omraan Mikhael Aivhanov

These are just a selection of 40 books added to our library over the past months.

Australian Book Review by Patricia Ossenberg - Librarian.

The Consolations of Philosophy (Penguin Australia 2008) Alain de Botton is a contemporary author with and entertaining, often quirky way of writing about life. In this book he discusses the disciplines of logic and the mind using just six philosophers spanning the period from around 400 BC to the end if the 19th century. He looks into the typically human issues of unpopularity (Socrates); insufficient money (Epicurus); frustration (Seneca); inadequacy (Montaigne); a broken heart (Schopenhauer) and difficulties (Nietzsche). With the benefit of hindsight and a modern take on life, Alain de Botton has made and often dry subject both interesting and readable. Two of his other books are also in our library: The Art of Travel and Religion for Atheists.

From Audio tape to CD A number of the library’s older audio cassette tapes have been transferred to CD and are now available for loan.

Past speakers represented on the CD’s include N. Sri Ram, Radha Burnier, Shirley Nicholson, Joy Mills, Bev Champion, Ravi Ravindra and many others not so well known. Among the topics included are theosophical history, mysticism, science, mantra, religion and “Secret Doctrine” and “Mahatma Letters” studies. Awareness and self-transformation are addressed in a variety of ways by a wide range of speakers. A list of titles hangs on the wall beside the collection, which is housed in the upstairs library room.

The CD Subject Index is currently being upgraded by the librarian.

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Meet the Volunteer.....

Our Volunteer for this edition of ‘Contact’ is Mira Litwin.

Mira’s first experience of Theosophy was many years ago in her native Poland. At that time in Poland’s history, such meetings of people interested in these topics had to be conducted secretively, but still she persisted. Mira comes into the Lodge on Wednesdays to conduct personal research (she is a devoted student of Theosophy) and to assist the Librarian. She has nearly completed going through the entire library, upgrading the code of the author on the spine of our books, some of which, over the years, had faded. She has also been instrumental in distributing hundreds of our library postcards in the universities around Brisbane and in other places.

Mira also comes on Friday afternoon 1pm – 4pm to open the bookshop/library. If it were not for the very small band of devoted volunteers who man the front desk, we would not be able to open our doors to the public.

Thank you Mira! The following has been submitted by Mira Litwin.

NIRGUNA AND SAGUNA BRAHMAN “Where one sees nothing else, hears nothing else, understands nothing else – that is Infinite. Where one sees something else, hears something else, understands something else – that is the finite. The Infinite is immortal, the finite mortal”. Consequently, according to Advaita Vedanta, the Knowledge of Brahman and the performance of sacrifices cannot coexist. He who has realized the oneness of jiva and Brahman and the unreality of the relative world cannot participate in Vedic [or any other religion] sacrifices, the aim of which is to enable the performer to enjoy happiness in heaven. Brahman and Atman, identical in nature, were the First Principle. Derived from the root which means “to expand”, the word Brahman denotes the Entity to whose greatness, magnitude, or expansion no one can put a limit or measure. The word Atman is used to denote the immutable inner Consciousness, which experiences gross objects during the waking state, subtle objects during the dream state, and during dreamless sleep when the subject – object relationship ceases to exist, an ineffable bliss. This is the unchanging and transcendental Consciousness in man, present in his every act of cognition. Rig – Veda’s Indo – Aryan Thinkers recognized the eternal Unity of Existence which “holds in Its embrace all that has come to be”. This Unity pervades the universe and yet remains beyond it. All objects, animate and unanimate are included in It. Gods, men, and subhuman beings are part of It. As the unchanging Reality behind the universes. We read in Upanishads: “All is, indeed Brahman”; “The soul is Brahman”; “Brahman is Consciousness and Bliss”. “There is no multiplicity whatsoever”. However, they divided this First Principle:

1. Supreme Brahman = Para Brahman; devoid of any qualifying characteristics [nirvisesha]

2. Inferior Brahman = Apara Brahman; endowed with qualities [savisesha] The Upanishads tend to designate Brahman with attributes by masculine “He”, and the attribute less Brahman by the neuter “It”. The first is upheld by those who regard the world as real and therefore describe Brahman as its omnipotent and omnipresent Creator, Sustainer and Destroyer; such a Brahman is , to be sure, Saguna, endowed with attributes. But according to opposite opinion, the world of names and forms is finally unreal and only Brahman exist. All that is perceived anywhere is Brahman alone and this Brahman is unconditioned, free from all qualities or attributes. Therefore there can be no such thing as a Creator, Sustainer and Destroyer of the universe. From this point of view Brahman is Nirguna. Thus the same indefinable Reality is described in two different ways according to the point of view of the perceiver. Nirguna Brahman, cannot be characterised by any indicative marks, qualities or attributes. Therefore is not describable by words....Brahman alone remains unpolluted, because no tongue has been able to touch It. Brahman “cannot be attained by speech, by mind, or by eye”. That is why attributeless [Nirguna] Brahman is explained sometimes by silence. This and more, in our new arrivals to library; “The Upanishads” vol.1, 2, 3, 4, by Swami Nikhilananda.

(The above consists of quotes from Volumes 1 and 2 of “The Upanishads”)

“All is, indeed Brahman” “The Soul is Brahman” “Brahman is Consciousness and Bliss” “There is no multiplicity whatsoever.”

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Poetry Page This is an original poem by Min Chen, our newest TS member, even though she has been attending for many years and is well known and held in great affection by many.

A Boat Song from Song Dynasty – a Poem by Min Chen

Sometimes in my daydream, sometimes in my night dream, sometimes in my fantasy, and maybe somewhere in my deep memory, I lived and loved in Song Dynasty… Feb 1, 2007

Through the morning mist

I drift into the river

The pale crescent veiled behind the clouds

My thin sleeves flapping in the breeze

Green branches of willow trees

gently caress my forehead

from the distance comes music

that is my love playing flute

My boat slides through the lotuses

and sends circles of ripples

all the way they float

till they reach the other bank

Pure fragrance of the pink blossoms

soothes my lovesick heart

Cool dew drops swaying in the wind

roll down my silk green robe

My boat slides over the ripples

startling blue birds among the leaves

I look at the girl in the water

oh how full of longing her face is

Like vapor above the water

the music of flute does hover

From somewhere in the distance

or maybe from the thickest shade

and down flows my lotus-gathering boat

till where the river ends

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Jung’s Fascination with the East Extract from a Talk by Anne Di Lauro, Theosophical Society, 1 July 2016

This talk looked at Jung’s writings on Yoga, Mandalas and two ancient Chinese texts - The Secret of the Golden Flower and the I Ching or Book of Changes. This is the section of the talk dealing with The Secret of the Golden Flower.

Jung and China and Richard Wilhelm

Richard Wilhelm (1873-1950) was a friend of Jung’s – a German theologian and missionary and student of Chinese thought who lived in China for 25 years. He is still famous for his translations into German of the I Ching and The Secret of the Golden Flower, to both of which Jung wrote an introduction.

The Secret of the Golden Flower is a Chinese esoteric work passed down orally and first printed in the 18th century. It describes a meditation practice, namely the “circulation of light” through fixed concentration on the central white light. The meditation is described in four stages, illustrated in the book by four line drawings: Stage 1, Gathering the Light; Stage 2, Origin of a New Being in the Place of Power; Stage 3, Separation of the Spirit-Body for Independent Existence; Stage 4, The Centre in the Midst of the Condition.

Richard Wilhelm’s translation into German was first published in 1929. In 1928 Wilhelm sent a copy of his translation to Jung asking him to write a commentary on it. Jung came to regard this text as alchemical, i.e. as being about transformation of the inner.

In his autobiographical Memories, Dreams, Reflections Jung recounts that he only began to appreciate the nature of alchemy after he had read the text of the Golden Flower. This marked an important phase in his life when he began to acquire and study alchemical texts which form the basis of some of his most important work.

Jung’s introduction to Wilhelm’s translation of The Secret of the Golden Flower gives an excellent insight into the psychological aim of meditation and of Jung’s own theories.

I am going to quote a few paragraphs in which Jung describes the striking parallel between the aim of his therapy methods and the aim of the meditation described in The Secret of the Golden Flower:

“By understanding the unconscious, we free ourselves from its domination. This is really also the purpose of the instructions in our text. The pupil is taught to concentrate on the light of the innermost region and, while doing so, to free himself from all outer and inner entanglements. His life-impulse is guided towards a consciousness without content which none the less permits all contents to exist. [The text] pictures a psychic state which perhaps can best be characterized as a detachment of consciousness from the world, and a withdrawal of it to [a point outside the world], so to speak. This consciousness is at the same time empty and not empty. It is no longer preoccupied with the images of things but merely contains them. The fullness of the world which heretofore pressed upon consciousness has lost none of its richness and beauty, but it no longer dominates consciousness… The unconscious is no longer projected, and so the primal participation mystique with things is abolished.”

Participation mystique is a term introduced by the French scholar Lucien Lévy-Bruhl in his book “Primitive Mentality”, to describe the chief characteristic of primitive mentality. It refers to the non-differentiation between subject and object and hence an unconscious identity with the object. In Jung’s terminology, this means that the unconscious is projected onto the object.

Jung continues: “Naturally, civilised man regards himself as immeasurably above these things [i.e. participation mystique or unconscious projection]. Instead, often he is identified with his parents throughout his life, or he is identified with his affects and prejudices, and shamelessly accuses others of the things he will not see in himself.”

Jung says that what he labours for with his patients is the dissolution of participation mystique. In other words the chief aim of Jungian analysis is the withdrawal of projections, to bring about the same effect as that aimed for in The Secret of the Golden Flower.

Jung then gives an important description of what he means by the Self – which is the goal of individuation: “If the unconscious can be recognized as a co-determining quantity along with the conscious, and if we can live in such a way that conscious and unconscious, or instinctive demands, are given recognition as far as possible, the centre of gravity of the total personality shifts its position. It ceases to be in the ego, which is merely the centre of consciousness, and instead is located in a hypothetical point between the conscious and the unconscious, which might be called the Self. If such a transposition succeeds … a personality develops that suffers only in the lower stories, so to speak, but in the upper stories is singularly detached from painful as well as joyful events.

“The creation and birth of this superior personality is what is meant by our text when it speaks of the … ‘diamond body’.”

Jung sees a parallel with this in the Philosophers Stone which was the goal of the alchemists. In both cases, the aim is to reach a state which Jung calls the Self. In alchemy, the different ingredients are first separated out and purified, and then a union of opposites takes place (the Coniunction) to bring about the creation of the Lapis or stone, i.e. the superior personality or, in the terminology of The Secret of the Golden Flower, the Diamond Body. The whole process is symbolised in the mandala symbol of the Golden Flower.

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The Emerald Tablet The Emerald Tablet is an arcane text of undertermined antiquity, attributed to one of the great figures of ancient history, the mythic Hermes Trismegistus. Hermes is the Greek name for the Egyptian god Thoth, said to be the founder of medicine, law, art, mathematics, music, alchemy, astrology, peotry and writing. It is said to encapsulate ‘in its mysterious phrases all the occult wisdom of the ancients regarding diine actions in the creation of the world....’ (Dobbs 1988). Isaac Newton was one who devoted much time and effort to its study, hoping to obtain therefrom ‘a precise knowledge of the operations of the Deity in organizing and vivifying the inert particles of matter in the microcosm’ (Dobbs 1994)

This famous axiom, often shortened to AS ABOVE SO BELOW is regarded as containing the essence of all esoteric work. The Emerald Tablet has sometimes been referred to as the Master Pattrn because it is a pattern that repeats itself at all levels in every realm of the universe; and ecause understanding it one understands everything else. This is a coception with which a theosophist should be quite familiar, as Theosophy like hermeticism, is analogical. The text which follows is Isaac Newton’s translation dated 1690; which was the first translation of the Emerald Tablet into English.

Emerald Tablet

Tis true and without lying, certain and most true.

That which is below is like that which is above and that which is above is like that which is below

to do the miracles of one only thing

And as all things have been and arose from one by the meditation of one

so all things have their birth from this one thing by adaptation.

The Sun is its father, the moon is its mother, the wind hath carried it in its belly, the earth is its nurse. The father of

all perfection in the whole world is here. Its force or power is entire if it be converted into earth.

Separate thou the earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross sweetly and with great industry. It ascends from the

earth to the heaven and again it descends to the earth and receives the force of things superior and inferior.

By this means you shall have the glory of the whole world and thereby all obscurity shall fly from you.

Its force is above all force for it vanquishes every subtle thing and penetrates every solid thing.

So was the world created.

From this are and do come admirable adaptations whereof the means (or process) is here in this.

Hence I am called Hermes Trismegist, having three parts of the philosophy of the whole world.

That which I have said of the operation of the Sun is accomplished and ended.

From the Katha Upanisad...... The light, as one, penetrates into space, And yet adapts itself to every form, So the inmost Self of all beings dwells Enwrapped in every form, and yet remains outside. The air, as one, penetrates into space, And yet adapts itself to every form, So the inmost Self of all beings dwells Enwrapped in every form, and yet remains outside.

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The Buddha’s Noble Eight-fold Path in Verse

The path is a means and never an end, and may be regarded from the positive or negative point of view.

Negatively, it brings about dispassion by the slow elimination of the thirst for sensuous pleasure; positively, it leads

to pure compassion by the cultivation of a selfless love for all that lives. (B p 93)

1 - Right Understanding

“When ignorance has been got rid of and knowledge has arisen, one does not grasp after sense pleasures,

speculative views, rites and customs, the theory of self.”

2- Right Thought

“Great men are they who see that spiritual is stronger than any material force; that thoughts rule the world.”

3 - Right Speech

Silence should be so respected that the words that break it must leave the world the better for their birth.

4 - Right Action

Let the motive for action be in the action itself, and not in the event. Do not be incited to actions by the hope of

their reward, nor let thy life be spent in inaction.

5 - Right Means of Livelihood

One should live by a profession which is honourable, blameless and innocent of harm to others.

6 - Right Effort

You must know that it is no easy thing for a principle to become a man’s own unless each day he maintain it and

hear it maintained, as well as work it out in life.

7 - Right Mindfulness

‘Mindful and self-possessed’ each moment of the day, the pilgrim finds increasingly that right habits of thought,

desire and action have their slow but final effect.

8 - Right Concentration/Meditation

To leave the well-known forms and processes of thought, and to leap into a void beyond imagining needs courage,

and courage of a high order such as only years and lives of preparation will achieve. Yet meditation year by year

affects the meditator’s mind more widely than mere progress to the mind’s enlightenment. As flashes of Buddhi

flood the mind the consciousness of unity is strengthened, and a joyous love for all mankind becomes part of

normal consciousness.

(The above quotes are taken from Buddhism, Studies in the Middle Way, The Search Within, and The Wisdom of Buddhism by Christmas Humphreys, No 5 from What the Buddha Taught by Rahula Walpole, and No 6 by Epictetus.) Submitted by Phillipa Rooke

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T.O.S. news Brisbane Theosophical Order of Service, 355 Wickham Terrace, Brisbane Q 4000 Phone: (07) 3839 1453 FAX: (07) 3831 3692 Email: geoffrey.harrod@gmail.com President: Geoff Harrod Vice-President: Dianne Manning

DatesforyourdiaryAll interested people are invited to attend our AGM on Saturday 3 December 2016 at 10:00 am in the T.S. rooms. A Healing Meditation will be held at 9:30, prior to the meeting. The AGM will be followed by a Christmas morning tea, so all participants are invited to bring a plate of goodies to share.

DonationsforthisfinancialyearThe Brisbane TOS has provided the following donations, totaling $7,520, to support TOS projects internationally and locally. • $1,100 to our literacy home-school in Pakistan • $300 for two educational scholarships in Pakistan • $1,000 to the Golden Link College in the Philippines • $750 to the Olcott Memorial School at Adyar • $750 for mobility aids in northern India • $750 to the Animal Dispensary at Adyar • $1,000 to our local Domestic Violence project that

offers free places in cooking classes organised by celebrity chef, Dominique Rizzo.

• $625 to Women’s House Shelta in Brisbane • $1,245 for emergency relief in Fiji, Queensland

Farmers’ Appeal and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Thankyouforsupportingourtwofundraisingevents

ThesocialafternoonofbookbrowsinginJunetobenefitVictimsofDomesticViolence was a great success both from a social and a fundraising perspective. The Annerley Community Bookshop is a warm and welcoming place with comfortable seating and a wealth of fascinating books to browse through. TOS members produced a delicious afternoon tea that was enjoyed by all attending.

Women's House provides support, emergency housing, advocacy and information to women experiencing domestic violence and sexual assault, so we were delighted to be able to send them a cheque for $625.

ConcerttobenefittheHome-schoolsinPakistan

Once again our Concert was an outstanding success, thanks to Barbara Damska who organized the program and the excellent group of musicians, the assistance of TOS members and, of course, those who attended and brought friends. We raised funds for the Qandeel schools through concert tickets, a sale table of jewelry and jams and relishes, and a popular raffle with a seven prize draw, with winners having a choice of prizes.

Our group of musicians who volunteered their time and

expertise

This education project is conducted by the TOS in Pakistan. The Qandeel home-schools enable children, young girls and women who have no opportunity to pursue even a basic education, to attend classes. Reading, writing and arithmetic are taught by a teacher who holds classes at her own house which is in the same locality as the students. The teachers meet regularly for professional development. These schools provide life-changing opportunities. All donated funds are spent on the schools, since administrative tasks in both Australia and Pakistan are done by volunteers.

Upcomingevents

Look out for two social events we have in the planning stages.

FilmmorningandlunchatSouthbank

Everyone is invited to join us for this social opportunity to enjoy a movie and then each other’s company at lunch. Details will be announced at the TS when we have selected a movie.

Christmassaletable

Look out again for our Christmas sale table at the TS Christmas Party. It’s a great opportunity for Christmas shopping with home-made goodies and crafts.

One has to forge oneself into an instrument of service. This involves a radical reorganisation of the whole nature, a work which lies less on the outer plane than on the plane of one’s inner being. This reorganisation amounts to a spiritual rebirth, and Brotherhood is its basis.

N Sri Ram

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