NATIONAL CAPITAL 2015 PROGRAM
Members’ Meeting: 11 PM
Public Meeting: 12 PM
January
Jan 3 Founders of the Theosophical Society: Blavatsky and Olcott Modern spiritual seekers of every tradition owe a debt of gratitude to the Founders of the Theosophical Society. Join us for this first in a series of talks that shed light on how and why the Society was established and to learn more about the struggles, antics and triumphs of two of its inspirational and entertaining Founders: Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and Colonel Henry Steel Olcott.
Jan 10 Bhagavad-Gita Part III The Bhagavad Gita is an ancient Hindu scripture that has inspired spiritual seekers for centuries. Set in an actual battlefield, the Gita has been mostly interpreted as an allegory for the ethical and moral struggles of the human life. In a dialogue between Arjuna and Lord Krishna, Krishna teaches his disciple the truth about one’s duty, realization of wisdom and liberation from the cycle of reincarnation. The talk will conclude the overview of this ancient, but spiritually relevant text.
Jan 17 Musings of a Student of Theosophy A basic principle of the Theosophical approach to spiritual study is open-minded inquiry, accepting nothing on belief but rather questioning and deciding the validity of presented ideas for ourselves. In this talk, Bill Katzenstein will present for discussion a number of apparent paradoxical issues of Theosophical teachings, such as the extent we should be “instruments of karma,” the role of “discrimination” (discernment) and the nature of Theosophy itself.
Jan 31 Death and After (Cancelled Due to Weather) Death is not the opposite of “life” but one of its phases – a change from one condition to another, with phase following phase in a cycle of living and learning. Join us for a presentation on the Theosophical view of the temporary phase of “death.”
February
February 7 The Physics of Time and Black Holes Using pure physics, this presentation will continue where the Big Bang left off by shedding light on the curious phenomenon of time and its association with black holes. What is time, how does it change in the case of a black hole and how in the world do we even know? Join us for an amazing and entertaining presentation by physicist Sonya Lyatsky on this mind-expanding topic.
February 14 The Future of Esoteric Christianity (DVD Screening) (Cancelled Due to Library Closure) What is the truth about the esoteric teachings of Christianity? Join us for a look at the dilemma of the outer versus the inner circle of religion. Quest Magazine editor and scholar Richard Smoley suggests how the external forms of the Christian faith, understood literally, relate to esoteric truths which point not to historical fact, but to inner experience and awakening.
February 21 The Elemental Kingdom – (Rescheduled to April 25 Due to Library Closure) Join us for a short visit to the non-physical part of our total environment and be introduced to some of its denizens: thought forms, nature spirits, devas (angels) and poltergeists.
February 28 Theosophy and World Religions (Cancelled Due to Library Closure )What is the Theosophical view of world religions? What are some of the problems associated with organized religion? In what way is religion helpful and even necessary? How do members of the Theosophical Society bridge the gap between their own various faiths, beliefs and practices? Join us for a special presentation by Theosophical National Secretary David Bruce, a third-generation Theosophist and visiting public lecturer.
March
March 7 Doing Time: Notes on the Prison Outreach Program (Rescheduled to March 28) (DVD Screening) For decades the Theosophical Society has offered a correspondence mentorship program for inmates in our country’s prison system. This service fills a great need in our prisons for the spiritual light and truth Theosophy can bring to those living in pain and darkness. Join us for a presentation given at the 2014 International Education Conference by one of the participants of the program as he describes his experiences in incarceration and the role Theosophy played in helping him change his life.
March 14 Viveka and Vairagya (Cancelled due to Library Closure) Special Guests SwamisAbhipadananda & Jyotir Vakyananda (Heidi Lindemann & Michael Perry) will discuss two qualities yogis say must be cultivated in order to attain freedom from what binds us. We will consider several classical statements from yogic scriptures that shed light on these qualities from the perspective of the householder rather than that of the monastic.
March 21 How We Remember Past Lives Reincarnation is one of the foundational theories in many religions and philosophies. Julia Rogers will present how reincarnation works, how we remember past lives – and why we most often don’t. Come prepared with questions!
March 28 Doing Time: Notes on the Prison Outreach Program (Rescheduled to March 28) (DVD Screening) For decades the Theosophical Society has offered a correspondence mentorship program for inmates in our country’s prison system. This service fills a great need in our prisons for the spiritual light and truth Theosophy can bring to those living in pain and darkness. Join us for a presentation given at the 2014 International Education Conference by one of the participants of the program as he describes his experiences in incarceration and the role Theosophy played in helping him change his life.
April
April 4 Closed for Passover/Easter
April 11 The Arhat and The Bodhisattva: The Arhat and the Bodhisattva represent two distinct paths described in Buddhist philosophy. The Arhat seeks enlightenment for himself. The Bodhisattva vows to work for the enlightenment of all living beings. Special Guests SwamisAbhipadananda & Jyotir Vakyananda (Heidi Lindemann & Michael Perry) will discuss the deeper meaning of these paths as well as address the third path that was defined: samsara is nirvana, meaning, there is no evolution to attain and no place to arrive. Things are as they are and need only be accepted.
April 18 Know Thyself: Alcibiades I The Alcibiades I is the first Platonic dialogue that was covered in the curriculum of the Neoplatonic academies. The foundation of the curriculum is in the necessity of self-knowledge, in the words of the Delphic command, “Know Thyself.” Gwendolyn Reece, Theosophist and Hellenophile, will lead a workshop on this dialogue and its themes. If anyone would like to read the dialogue in advance, it is available for free on Kindle through Amazon.
April 25 The Elemental Kingdom Join us for a short visit to the non-physical part of our total environment and be introduced to some of its denizens: thought forms, nature spirits, devas (angels) and poltergeists.
May
May 2 Satsangha In yogic philosophy the concept of Satsangha means “in company with truth” or “in company with being.” Special Guests SwamisAbhipadananda & Jyotir Vakyananda (Heidi Lindemann & Michael Perry) will discuss ways in which a sense of human wholeness can only be found in the company of others.
May 9 Meditation Part IV John Calvello will continue his presentation on meditation. Of all the components of living the ideal Theosophical life: study, service and meditation, the latter requires the least amount of time yet is the hardest for most of us. Why is this? John will continue discussion on common impediments to regular meditation in our lives and help us discover ways to overcome them.
May 16 Health and Healing Science is beginning to recognize the ancient knowledge of the inter-relatedness of mental, emotional, and physical health. A round table discussion will examine health and healing from an esoteric perspective. Bring your ideas and questions.
May 30 How Our Astrological Charts Can Help Us Find Our Soul’s Purpose Susanne Hoepfl-Wellenhofer will explain how astrologers analyze the position of the planets at the time and place we were born to map not only our strengths and challenges, but our soul’s purpose as well.
June – September 2015
Summer Study “A Human Heritage” Alfred Taylor
We will undertake an open group study of A Human Heritage by Alfred Taylor. It presents ancient ideas practical to modern science through the lens of a new breed of scientist not afraid to make waves in the orthodox scientific community. Free copies available at the meeting. Study guide available at the bottom of this page. All earnest seekers are welcome to join the study.
June 13 Chapter 1
June 27 Chapter 2
July 11 Chapter 3
July 25 Chapter 4
Aug 8 Chapter 5
Aug 22 Chapter 6
Sept 12 Chapters 7-8
Sept 26 Chapters 9-10
October
October 10 Karma “Karma is not an outside power—Karma is oneself,” said a Theosophical student. It is also “an eternal relationship manifesting itself in space and time.” Like the law of gravity, karma is complicated: a universal law with innumerable and complex variations, Julia Rogers will not try to explain Karma but will present one or two of her own ways of looking at it.
October 17 (Special Time 11 AM – 1 PM) The Truth About Life After Death – National Speaker Bishop Ruben Cabigting According to psychic investigations by some prominent members of the Theosophical Society, there are a number of people who have died and woken up terrified in the afterlife, hopelessly believing that they will burn in hell forever. We will explore the truth of life after death and the benefits of life in heaven. Then we will describe the life after heaven leading to compulsory rebirth or reincarnation, which is in line with the plan of God for the spiritual evolution of humanity to realize its divine heritage.
Ruben Cabigting has been a member of the Theosophical Society for the past 67 years, and has spoken on theosophical topics in the USA and several countries. He is a bishop in the Liberal Catholic Church, a 33rd degree Mason of the Eastern Order of International Co-Freemasonry, and retired Navy Commander and Ship Captain.
October 24 The Spiritual Ideal of Citizenship in the Cosmopolis From an Hellenic Pagan perspective, the roles and responsibilities of citizenship are a sacred charge and are at the root of the emergence of democracy. The philosophical concept that one is not merely a citizen of an individual society, but is a citizen of the cosmos and carries associated roles and responsibilities also began to emerge within the context of Hellenic Paganism during the time of Alexander the Great. This meditation delivered by Gwendolyn Reece upon these ideals moves them forward into a contemporary context and offers them as foundational sacred concepts for a globalized world and a way of viewing ethics.
October 31 The Problem of Evil (DVD Screening) One of the main mysteries in our universe is the co-existence of good and evil. The presence of evil in our world leads some to conclude that God does not exist, while others postulate that evil is merely the outcome of humanity’s misuse of our free will. Popular speaker Pablo Sender will present a Theosophical perspective on this paradoxical topic.
November
November 7 The Twelfth House of Astrology: Gateway to “Heaven” or “Hell” Part I The Symbolic Meaning of Heaven-Going This talk two-part talk given by Special Guests Swamis Abhipadananda & Jyotir Vakyananda (Heidi Lindemann & Michael Perry) will discuss the belief system as it is informed by the moment of birth, and the four immediate influences of a newborn human life:
- the presentation of an impressionable self dependent upon the collective
- the circumstances of the home life
- the circumstances of family dynamics
- the traditional employment and education habits of the family line.
November 14 The Tree of Life John Calvello will present key points on the Tree of Life, the central symbolic figure of the Kabbalah, which speaks to the origins not only of our universe, but also of man’s place in it and his ascent to divinity.
November 21 The Twelfth House of Astrology: Gateway to “Heaven” or “Hell” Part II The Symbolic Meaning of Hell-Going This talk two-part talk given by Special Guests Swamis Abhipadananda & Jyotir Vakyananda (Heidi Lindemann & Michael Perry) will discuss the belief system as it is informed by the moment of birth, and the four immediate influences of a newborn human life:
- the presentation of an impressionable self dependent upon the collective
- the circumstances of the home life
- the circumstances of family dynamics
- the traditional employment and education habits of the family line.
November 28 – Closed for Thanksgiving –
December
December 5 A Distinct View of Spiritual Jump-Steps Part I This talk by William Whitesell integrates a bit of speculative string theory with a fresh view on five transformations potentially taking us from human to god-like nature.
December 12 A Spiritual Challenge Part II This talk by William Whitesell discusses the dark side of spiritual development and the challenge it can pose to maintaining psychological integrity.
December 19 Karma, the Space-Time Continuum, and Other Wrinkles It is comforting to imagine that what goes around, comes around. But is it that simple? What should our role be in meting out punishment for punishment’s sake? Is all suffering “deserved” or somehow otherwise warranted? What about the role of chance in our lives? Join us for a talk and roundtable discussion of these and other karmic issues, and how they are being treated by contemporaries in the Theosophical movement.