HPB Newsletter Issue 1 2020

President: Richard Sell 4 Warborough Ave

Vice Pres: Margaret Johns Epsom Secretary: Jeanette Blackburn Auckland 1051 Treasurer: Darryl Crofskey . 09 524 7994 EMAIL: hpbsec@theosophy.org.nz

From the President’s Pen

Welcome to our first newsletter for the year and a fresh new decade. With spring, summer, a New Year and a new decade, it is a time of fresh starts and renewals.

The Secret Doctrine talks about the Law of Periodicity, where life unfolds amongst endless cycles – the four seasons, day and night, birth and death. The challenge for humanity is to apply ourselves to ‘human regeneration’ in order to evolve as a species.

This implies a change in the human mind, in each individual. As one is lifted we all are lifted.

How this manifests is through a variety of societal pressures and change, right relationships and human effort; there are many paths that one can tread along the way. This year we will be looking into some of these fascinating topics during our studies.

These are very helpful to our learning and, of course, with applying such wisdom gathered to our daily lives. HPB Lodge’s library is also a treasure trove of information and well worth a visit.

I hope you will be able to make it to TheosoFest in March 2020, as this is always a very special day.

“Theosophy is not a matter of having ideas about brotherhood [and sisterhood], reincarnation or karma. All these ideas become stale, achieve nothing, and decay when communicated. The concept of brotherhood [and sisterhood] is based on the truth of unbreakable harmony, the music of the eternal energy we spoke about. That harmony cannot be heard by a self-enclosed mind full of its own noise. Something must break down in that mind. The scientist Yukawa noted that prior to creativity there must be a struggle within oneself, a breaking down of the egotistic composition of the mind. When the mind is open, free, perceptive, it sees brotherhood [and sisterhood] as a truth.”

Radha Burnier - New Light on Old Ideas

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We have a number of new and

interesting talks and activities

lined up for the start of this new

decade....

Check out the programme AND

note the start times!

Dates for your Diary

Introducing Theosophy Series

This series begins on Monday 30 March 2020 at 7.30pm

See attached programme for dates, but topics that will be covered include: What is the Wisdom Tradition What is Theosophy and the Fundamental Teachings Exoteric and Esoteric Theosophy Introducing the Human Being

Silent Meditation Evenings : 7pm to 8pm

You will notice in the programme that we start our Silent Meditation Evenings in April.

The intention of these evenings is to create space for people to come together and meditate as a group in whatever style they are comfortable with. During the year we will be exploring different types of meditations for beginners. These sessions will be one hour long starting at 7.00pm on a Tuesday evening.

Special Guest Speaker – Dianne Kynaston from Australia

Sunday 1st March: The Solar System This presentation looks at this subject from the mythological, scientific and theosophical perspectives.

Monday 2nd March: Gazing into the Veil of Illusion This presentation looks at the art of a number of people, most of whom were TS members, And how theosophy and spiritual imagery shaped their work.

TheosoFest Open Day – Sunday, 29th March 2020 : 10am to 4pm

We start our year officially on this day with a series of talks during the day on various aspects of theosophy, especially aimed at those new to this philosophy. Delicious food will be available for purchase, and the Library will also be open for those wishing to check out this wonderful resource.

HPB LODGE OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, INC.

http://hpb.theosophy.org.nz Office and Library: 09 524 7994

Members Discussion Evenings

Wednesday 25 March : Problems of Life

Wednesday 22 April : Do we need a Guru?

Saturday morning Discussion Group : Held in the Library at HPB Lodge : 10am - 12 noon

Saturday 18 April : Thought forms and how they affect us

Saturday 30 May : Topic to be decided

National sponsored event: Studies in the Wisdom Tradition

with national speakers John Vorstermans and Renee Sell

You must register for this event at: theosophy.nz

LIBRARY AND BOOKSHOP RE-OPENING

The library and bookshop will reopen for the year at 10am on Saturday 7th March. Opening hours for this year are: Thursday : 12 noon – 2.00pm Friday: 12noon to 2.00pm Saturday : 10am to 12 noon PLEASE NOTE: The library will be closed on Saturday 9th May.

Many thanks to our wonderful volunteer librarians. If you would like the library to be open more often, please consider volunteering. It will give you an opportunity to browse and also get to know some of your fellow members. Email the secretary on hpbsec@theosophy.org.nz

Meditation in the light of Theosophy Facilitator : Barbara Zanarb

11th May, 18th May 25th May – start time: 7.00pm

Aims for the three Monday evenings are: To share your understanding of meditation To explore preparation for Meditation To explore states of consciousness in meditation To deepen your awareness

Admission is by gold coin donation for TOS.

Property & Maintenance

After discovering a leak in our Reference Library room late last year, we have now had the air vents on the flat

roof of the hall replaced, so we are hoping the hall is now leak proof, especially after the repairs and painting

done last year! The Hall surrounds have also been tidied up, although one or two gardens still need weeding, and a

regular maintenance schedule is being looked at.

Would you like to help beautify our grounds? We are looking at continuing the line of camellias which line the

drive and planting some around part of the first parking bay. If you'd like to "donate" a camellia you can

deposit $30 - $40 into the HPB bank account (12-3011-0757379-00) - with the reference camellia (and

your name if you would like a receipt).

Some of the glorious spring and summer colours in our gardens ....

HPB LODGE OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, INC. http://hpb.theosophy.org.nz Office and Library: 09 524 7994

Convention 2020 – Review:

What a lovely venue – blue skies, mature trees, idyllic peace, spacious individual rooms, comfortable

beds, enough mild walking exercise to allow full enjoyment of the wonderful array of meals!

Each speaker flowed on from the previous speaker’s session, forming a seamlessly linked presentation

of the central theme: One Heart, One Breath, One World.

Even the invited “outside” speakers continued the flowing effect of the theme – and what interesting

people they were!

Members who gave talks were enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and our overseas speakers, Nancy

Secrest and Dr Deepa Padhi, were absolute gems, with apparently endless compassionate energy and

ideas for practical application of their theosophical knowledge.

Those attending were friendly and welcoming to newcomers and old friends alike.

Congratulations to the organisers of this year’s Convention – it was a resounding success and left

attendees feeling the better for attending, with a take away overall effect of joy and positivity.

One Heart, One Breath, One World

Snapshots of Convention 2020

Speakers made great use of Visuals during their talks. Chris and Nancy share a joke during the Speaker Introduction.

Nancy and friends revelling in the beautiful grounds and sunshine.

Oh! That delicious food!! The School Chef was delighted to have

such appreciative diners.

Raffle Winner - Nancy Secrest, on the right!

Some of the core team - a really international effort with folks

from America, India, and France, as well as NZ.....

Vicki, Nancy, Michel, Deepa, Diana, Renee

1

Theosophical Centre 4 Warborough Avenue, Epsom, Auckland

PROGRAMME 2020

MARCH 2020

Sunday 01 7.30 pm

TheSolarSystemWithAustralianguestspeakerDianneKynaston

Monday 02 7.30 pm

GazingintotheVeilofIllusionWithAustralianguestspeakerDianneKynaston

Friday 20 to Sunday 22

EarthBeatMusic&ArtsFestivalĀtiuCreekontheshoresoftheKaipara,

TheTheosophicalSocietywillberunningasessionatthiseventDetailsavailableat:https://earthbeatfestival.com

Wednesday 25 7.30 pm

MembersDiscussionEveningProblemsofLife

Sunday 29 10.00 am – 4.00 pm

THEOSOFESTOpenDay–HPBLodge

4WarboroughAvenue,Epsom,Auckland

Monday 30 7.30 pm

IntroducingTheosophyWhatistheWisdomTradition(1)

APRIL 2020

Monday 06 7.30 pm

IntroducingTheosophyWhatisTheosophyandthefundamentalteachings(2)

Tuesday 07 7.00 pm SilentMeditationEvening

Monday 13 EasterMondayHolidayTuesday 14 Break

Saturday 18 10 – 12 noon

SaturdaymorningdiscussiongroupThoughtFormsandHowTheyAffectUs

Monday 20 7.30 pm

IntroducingTheosophyExotericandEsotericTheosophy(3)

Tuesday 21 7.00 pm SilentMeditationEvening

Wednesday 22 7.30 pm

MembersDiscussionEveningDoweneedaGuru?

Monday 27 AnzacDayHolidayTuesday 28 7.00 pm SilentMeditationEvening

2

MAY 2020

Monday 04 7.30 pm

IntroducingTheosophyIntroducingtheHumanBeing(4)

Tuesday 05 7.00 pm SilentMeditationEvening

Friday 08 7.30 pm WhiteLotusEvening

Friday 08 to Monday 11

Nationalsponsoredevent:StudiesintheWisdomTradition

withnationalspeakersJohnVorstermansandReneeSellN.B.PleasenotelibraryclosedonSaturday09May

Mustregisterforthiseventat:theosophy.nz

Monday 11 7.00 pm

MeditationintheLightofTheosophy(1)Aim:Toshareyourunderstandingofmeditation

facilitatedwithBarbaraZanarb

Tuesday 12 7.00 pm SilentMeditationEvening

Monday 18 7.00 pm

MeditationintheLightofTheosophy(2)Aim:ToexplorepreparationforMeditation

facilitatedwithBarbaraZanarb

Tuesday 19 7.00 pm SilentMeditationEvening

Monday 25 7.00 pm

MeditationintheLightofTheosophy(3)Aim:Toexplorestatesofconsciousnessinmeditation

facilitatedwithBarbaraZanarb

Tuesday 26 7.00 pm SilentMeditationEvening

Wednesday 27 7.30 pm

MembersDiscussionEveningSelf-Knowledge

Saturday 30 10 - 12 noon Saturdaymorningdiscussiongroup