I took some nice pictures, but Tom Dede from Hungary is a professional photographer and took over 1000 photographs. He gave me permission to use them, but needed some time to select the best ones. Then of course I made my selection and did some photoediting and here is the result. Since this is officially the last of my posts about the World Congress in Rome, I’m also linking to each and everyone of them here.

Please do tell me the names I missed, and any spelling mistakes I may have made on names I did catch. The pictures are in semi-random order.

The audience at the Theosophical World Congress (notice me in the corner spoiling the picture)

We had a Buddhist monk as part of the opening greetings

Getting ready to enjoy the pool

Chatting after the lectures

Isn't Marja Artamaa a dynamic workshop host?

Earnestly contributing

For balance sake: a picture of Colin Price in a suit

Radha Burnier in conversation with Pedro Oliveira and others

Drinking coffee between lectures

Two people we'll all remember: Enrico Stagni (the English language translator) and Antonio Girardi

Finish ladies at breakfast

Four generations of Round Table Knights, from Spain, India and Hungary

Here I am borrowing a laptop to do some stealth blogging at the free wireless internet point.

Tom Dede, CVK Maitreya and someone from Israel

Mary Anderson at a workshop

Music by the pool, at the reception by the Italian Section

Pedro Oliveira

Prithi

Questions and answers with P. Krishna, Radha Burnier and Colin Price

Radha Burnier enjoying a conversation with Dara Tatray

Summit Roma Hotel - beautiful, but not 4 stars by most standards

Theosophists enjoying the Pantheon on their day off.

There was an actual theosophical movie, and it wasn't bad.

Tim Boyd can really deliver a talk

Diana Dunningham Chapotin, who has made the TOS work come to life again.

The TOS shop: raising money for theosophical charity work

people and merchandise

• Discussing the future of the TS at the World Congress
• Pictures from the Theosophical World Conference in Rome 2010
• Marja Artamaa’s workshop at the Theosophical World Congress
• The Theosophical World Congress evaluated
• Heard in the hallway of the Theosophical World Congress
• Heard by the pool of the Theosophical World Congress
• Overheard in the lecture hall – Tenth Theosophical World Congress
• Kim Dieu and other symposium lectures world congress, July 12th
• Dara Tatray at the Theosophical World Congress
• P. Krishna at the Theosophical World Congress
• Linda Oliveira at the Theosophical World Congress about Brotherhood

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It’s no secret the Theosophical Society has been losing members since the 1930′s. What’s less well known is that this has meant a large inheritance for the lodges and sections: in the form of money and property.

Recently though several such estates have made headlines on theosophical forums:

• Teckels park in England is being sold
• In New Zealand there is talk of a building with tenants being sold
• The Adyar estate itself – during my lifetime always hard to maintain – is now seriously short in volunteer workers and threatened by the city it is in from all sides.

From the perspective of the organization it is clear that buildings should not be a drain on money or resources and should have a function in the theosophical work. This is ultimately why Teckels park is being sold: it was too small for national conferences. The rest follows naturally: if it’s too small for conferences it is obviously too expensive to maintain. The TS cannot afford to keep property simply because it is beautiful and has sentimental value.

The New Zealand case is more heartbreaking: there are tenants involved. I know this situation well from the Dutch section: a building has space for tenants, so it’s let out to people sympathetic to the theosophical cause. They may even offer to do volunteer work: so they get a discount on the rent. The volunteer work never materializes, but the discount is in the contract so it can’t be easily changed.

Recently the TS has learned to be more cautious: instead of a discount on the rent, a volunteer fee is given to lighten the load of the rent. That way: when the volunteer worker stops working, at least the rent doesn’t stay at that low level.

Why is this important? Because buildings are expensive to maintain.

Let me repeat that: buildings are expensive to maintain.

If the TS or the TOS were planning low cost housing, it would plan for not just building an apartment building. It would have to take into account the cost of maintaining the building despite low rent. In other words: money would have to be set aside to make sure maintenance could be kept up.

But obviously that’s not how it was done in New Zealand: they just stumbled into offering low cost housing. Probably through being kindhearted and not minding the money very much. Then someone started looking at the financial situation and discovered that the building was a money drain and not efficient for theosophical work. It probably took years for the board to decide that – yes, we really need to sell this building.

Next came the sale of the building and press coverage over the tenants being left out in the cold. Don’t get me wrong: It would be much better for the tenants and TS PR if the TS managed to get low cost housing for everybody, not just the former theosophical workers. However, it is fully understandable that this is a tall order – probably next to impossible.

Then the Adyar estate. Here the situation isn’t so black and white. It is clearly functioning as the home of the Theosophical Society. There is not a building on the premises not being used by theosophical workers or theosophical guests every year. However the city Chennai (formerly Madras) has it’s needs. One of the largest cities in India, it needs roads to avoid unnecessary traffic jams. And an obvious route for those roads is right over the Adyar estate. We did a grand job preventing the road going over one side of the estate, now the other side (the beach side) is being threatened.

Real estate agents would love to get their hands on the property too. I’ve been told it’s only because of Radha’s standing that the estate is still ours. In fact: it’s been cited as a reason for having an Indian president follow in her footsteps. Of course a strong Indian right hand man (or woman) might do as well. Any non-Indian trying to manage the Adyar estate is going to have serious problems anyhow. It’s one of the reasons John Coats had such a hard time.

The obvious question arises: should we not just move with the tide? Should we not be looking out for a new estate to build an ashram on?

Despite the obvious difficulties in moving, I think it has to be seriously considered. A plan would have to be made for every aspect of the local theosophical work. The TOS work has an obvious need to stay local – perhaps right where it is, perhaps a few blocks away. Either way: it can’t move too far, because the local people rely on it. The publishing house, library, TS offices and so on are another matter. There is a logic to them staying close together – and it’s likely affordable to keep doing the printing in house too – as long as those activities stay in India.

The question becomes: finding an estate somewhere in India, preferably with existing reasonably modern buildings on it, on which all that can be done.

I do think this whole business is symbolical: the TS needs to reevaluate it’s work in the world of today. And what does that world do in Adyar? it forces itself on us.

[Disclaimer: this post was written based in information in the grapevine and common sense. For factual details please see the respective organisations.]

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Hi MKR [In response to something he wrote on Theos-talk, July 19th 2010],

You wrote:

> In the recent world Congress, I thought the leaders from the Sections will
> have an informal or formal session addressing the membership growth issue. I
> am disappointed that there was none and are we to take it that Section
> leaders do not consider membership growth as a priority issue or is it
> possible the issue is too hot for anyone to touch it.

I share your disappointment, and would like to add that it’s due to Radha Burnier being unwilling to schedule any extra sessions. I know for a fact that at least one general secretary tried to organize such a meeting. The same person also tried doing conflict resolution during the General Council meeting 18 months ago BTW (with the same result: Radha Burnier being unwilling to even try).

Radha’s formalism and unwillingness to openly discuss issues is one of the causes of the lack of real discussion during the world congress.

However, of course people did informally discuss things. Some of the workshops were even actual workshops. It’s just that more would have been possible.

The one lecture that DID discuss the issues on how to move the TS forward was by Vicente Hao Chin – the general secretary of the Philippine section. He certainly knows how to make things happen, as his TOS record clearly shows. I’d personally love to see him run for president next election. He talked PR, Internet and how we’re perceived in the world. And for those who think he’s not ‘theosophical’ enough: he edited the chronological edition of the Mahatma Letters and the classic theosophy CD-ROM. I’ve personally admired his ‘Theosophical Digest’ for ages.

Vic was also the only person to interrogate me on how to do online work – I know many wanted me to have a talk with Radha on the internet, but despite me offering to talk with her: that didn’t happen.

Vic is setting up a page on the Philippine section site with how-to’s on TS work and would welcome any-body’s contribution. He’s a clear example of the fact that we really don’t need Radha to change things. We can go ‘bottom-up’. Let’s face it: our sections are independent, so are most of our lodges. Who needs Radha? More transparency on her side would help, but for most work around the world she’s irrelevant.

Some of the best TS work is done through the TOS. I think members need to stop looking at the TOS with suspicion and recognize it’s the one area of TS work that has grown in the past decade. It’s also work with a long history: Olcott started the service work (healing, setting up schools) that we now call ‘TOS’ work.

The TOS is also the one place I’ve heard of in the TS where there is a sense of knowing how to deal with volunteers.

This is a bit of a rambling post – I’m posting it here because I also posted it at theos-talk and am not sure it will stay in the archives there.

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Just to make it clear that the TS Adyar does not discriminate against that third founder of the Theosophical Society, I want to draw attention to the review of ‘Echoes of the Orient’, the writings of William Quan Judge, in The Theosophist of July 2010. The review by A. Kannan consists mostly of quotes. For instance:

The spiritual unity of mankind is the basis of our moral life. Regard, consideration, love, kindness are qualities which are exhibited and practiced intuitively during the greatest part of daily life; the voice of conscience which meddles in every thought and act is indicative of brotherhood founded upon the sympathy of man for man, which is a fundamental fact of human nature. (p. 181 – The Theosophist, July 2010, p. 35)

Kannan goes on to conclude:

These writings are in simple, easily understandable language and are of importance and value because of their perennial interest. (The Theosophist, July 2010, p. 136)

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These are some of the pictures I took and people took for me at the world conference organized by the Italian Section of the Theosophical Society Adyar, in Rome 2010. There were 524 registered visitors.

Colin Price enjoying the pool

Katinka Hesselink, Dara Tatray and Edi Belimoria

Mary Anderson and Katinka Hesselink

Tom Dede from Hungary enjoying the wireless internet connection

pool side theosophists

A family of theosophists at the reception

Young and not so young

enjoying the shade

Delegates from Ghana

Finding a seat on a staircase

Our Buddhist monk in conversation

Vicente Hao Chin at the reception

Anton Rozman

Jan Kind (right) from Theosophy Forward

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There was some complaining before hand, and during the congress, on the workshops. I thought for instance that it was impossible to do a workshop with a hundred people. It turns out though: it IS possible. And the person who showed me that (though she didn’t have to take on that challenge, because only 20 or so showed up) was Marja Artamaa. She’s the general secretary of the Theosophical Society in Finland.

I forgot to ask what her dayjob is, but she did tell me that she’s had training to do workshops through her work. Well, it showed. Her workshop was really a workshop, and she got all her participants involved.

The first day was a combination of interactive teaching and working in pairs. Nothing revolutionary, but some good things came up. She let us take the most important values relating to brotherhood and it’s practice.

These were the values we picked out:

1. Co-operation        6
2. Responsibility    6
3. Courage            5
4. Openness            5
5. Respect            5
6. Love                4
7. Tolerance            3
8. Unselfishness    3
9. Equality            2
10. Compassion        2
11. Service            2

On the second day we went into the top five. There were three tables and on each there was a large piece of paper with one or two of those most important values. We were asked to write down what we could do to practice that value more. Here’s what we came up with. The ones that were later underlined as most important art bolded.

Brotherhood needs courage and openness

• To thine own self be true
• Put yourself in other’s shoes
• Courage to admit and forgive oneself when mistake is made and be careful
• Courage to stand by the right thought and action
• Courage to carry on the responsibility / to once duty
• Courage to go against the flow of the road and if I don’t have the courage then I should be able to get out of the cement.
• Need to let go of fears and insecurities
• Pick your own truth and stand by it
• Respect boundaries
• Self-knowledge, self-realization
• Listening
• While listening to thought or opinion of others, do not depend on it

Brotherhood is Co-operation

• Lighten up – don’t be too serious
• Treat others as you wish to be treated
• Define common goals
• Learn to be silent (to listen to others)
• Non-judgment (to overcome emotional reaction)
• To appreciate
• To communicate effectively (assume less)
• Having a helpful attitude
• Learn from each other
• Take initiative
• Self-knowledge / skills / personality
• Reflection
• Being ourselves: authenticity
• Involved & commitment

Brotherhood includes responsibility and respect

• Know thyself
• Realize why are you engaged in …
• Little things are important
• Listening, being friendly
• Don’t wait for a crisis to help – Help
• Be a solution finder
• Participate
• Have courage!
• Be co-operative / to respond
• Be responsible for ones action. Do not interfere but only help.
• Act according to your belief (be true to yourself)
• Know thyself and you will know God & the Universe
• Be accountable for your brother
• It takes selflessness / unselfishness
• Complain less
• Talk about what we can do

(This post was largely based on the summary that Marja made of her own workshop and the results.)

The following pictures were taken by Tom Dede from Hungary. Please leave the names of the participants in the comments where you know them.

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I came to the World Congress mainly for the people – as I do for any theosophical meeting. And the people were great. I met inspiring and hard working people from all over the world, and have learned about theosophical issues and activities all over the world. I do think in general the atmosphere of this congress was great: relaxed, friendly, cheerful even.

In planning such a congress I do think there are two possible roads to take:

1. Going for a theosophical theme and really making it inspiring in that sense
2. Taking advantage of having over 500 (!) active theosophists to get them to share and learn from each other on how to tackle the issues involved with running the TS.

Neither of these possible paths was taken in the way this congress was set up. The success of the congress, and I do think it can be called a succes, was mostly despite the program – not because of it. Though the long breaks over lunch (siesta) surely helped create a calm atmosphere.

The lecturers were obviously selected mostly for political reasons: making sure a variety of sections was represented and no attention payed to the quality of their English.

The workshops were not about how to improve our work in the TS, and most were mini-lectures instead of workshops. Don’t get me wrong though: it takes real skill to do a workshop for a hundred people like Betty Blend had to do. The only theosophist I know who has training to take on that kind of large group and make it interactive and ‘work’ for everybody is Marja Artamaa – on whose workshop I will be reporting later (see Marja Artamaa’s workshop).

Neither was the theme of the congress conducive to deep spiritual reflection. There really is only so much one can say about Brotherhood that active theosophists haven’t heard a thousand times already. As I told someone: the very theme of the world congress was an invitation for sermons.

I do wish the organisation of this congress had involved more of Vic Hao Chin’s approach. He really impressed me yesterday with his vision for the management of the TS work. This is really someone who charts his own course and knows what PR is, and how to manage an organisation so that PR is more than just having a website and put up ads for important events. He has ideas on how the TS should be perceived in the world, on how to shape the public expressions of the TS in such a way that those themes get stressed.

After reflection on his talk I was like: I do hope Vic runs for president next time there is an election.

Back to the congress: I have the impression that it was an expression of brotherhood in a practical sense and I believe that despite the program, most delegates will go home with renewed enthusiasm for the work and perhaps some added views on how to move forward in that work.

[edit] Based on the pictures by Tom Dede, I’d say at least one other workshop was a success. I guess we’re not as hopeless as I thought.

The picture shown here is also by Tom Dede. It shows the lecturers at the table at the closing of the Congress. [/edit]

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• When the word ‘selfish’ is used, it usually means there is a moral judgement of someone else involved.
• As the Americans say ‘walk the talk’… I think the amount of talk is inversely proportional to the mileage of the walk. -Edi Bilimoria
• The easiest question to ask is the hardest to answer.
• Because the real issues in the TS are not discussed openly resort to gossip as are only source of information.

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I have never been to a theosophical meeting with so much technology: everybody is taking pictures with their own digital cameras. Live streaming and tv’s at the back of the hall so everybody can see the speakers properly.

But the one feature of this congress that I think people most enjoy is the pool. It is large enough to take laps in and when it is hot – and it is hot – it is a relief to sit in the brieze by the water.

And sometimes conversations take place that are well overhearing.

For instance: The TS is a unique organisation: if something does not work, we stick to it.

And: It is always said the TS is for the select few. It seems it is doing its utmost to get it there.

Last but not least (and totally unrelated): Those who tell others about being a supposed master, are initiates of their own egos.

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While we’re listening to lectures on brotherhood, some people had some poignant remarks.

For instance, various suggestions were made to replace ‘Dear Brothers and Sisters’ with

1. Dear friends, monads, and countrymen, lend me your ears
2. Dear permanent atoms …

Someone else thought that ‘dear sister Jane’ had a Catholic sound.

Then the insight that ‘The last thing a theosophist needs is another talk’.

One person was heard to remark: ‘I have taken a vow against workshops, unless it can be proven in advance that the person conducting it knows what a workshop is. It is not a mini-lecture for instance.’

More:

The TS is a talking and sitting society.Edi Belimoria said: If there’s any problem, preach in platitudes.

Two people actually gave me permission to give their names here.

Edi Belimoria said: If there’s any problem, preach in platitudes.

P. Krishna said: if only sermons could solve problems.
Comments on this post here: http://theosnet.ning.com/profiles/blogs/overheard-in-the-lecture-hall

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