INTERNATIONAL THEOSOPHY CONFERENCE 2008

This is a Letter of Appreciation, from one of the attendees,

sent to the International Theosophy Conference held August 7-10, 2008.

What a delight to have been there! The joyfulness of the event - the "living presence of Theosophy" - was so noticeable and so real that any proverbial "ants at the picnic" quickly faded out of sight, as do all differences when students come together to talk and share. "Down the years" - it is the vital, living contacts and words that last, and keep us together in mind and heart.  The spirit of the conference, which had a "Mind of its own" was so real that I have been thinking a lot about it since I returned ... the sense of a new direction, a seed germinating in the dark that as yet has no name nor definition, since it is not what we think it will be...but it is there. (And then there is this phrase about the Winter Solstice from the old Theosophy School Christmas Play: "It comes in the midst of the cold and the dark, and is the secret, hidden promise of spring.") In sharing about the heart of the experience with those not able to attend, one of the most important factors in the power of it was, I think, the successful efforts made to encourage "enquirers-newcomers" to attend. Vast congratulations on this! The relocation to Haverford clearly allowed "drop-ins" to...well, drop-in, or so it seemed to this crowd-counter. (It seemed at every session the faces were different.) This invigorated the energy flow, and kept the atmosphere from being circular or stagnant. There also was a wonderful tone to the presentations themselves. I think it was a certain kind of freedom of enquiry that is the basis of Theosophic effort and thought, when all labels and preconceptions are removed. And there was something else, something that was the result of a certain innocence, of not following old grooves. A friend of mine here, a long-time student, laughingly refers to the things we read and wonder about that are...well...not part of the "official canon" so to say, as "black market" studies. And what a loving, serious, and yes thoughtful collection of these studies there were -- yet what they amounted to was not eccentric or personal hobby-horse stuff, but true "theosophy in action." Who, having heard you all, could doubt that serious students consider the world around them to be a living laboratory - that masonry and the physiology of the heart and brain, embryology, and meditation, are all worthy "Theosophic" topics -- ideas to be considered "here and now" not just in the language of the past, but in an on-going dance with our co-workers in science, religion, philosophy. And, while I would not have agreed with this prior to the conference (I really am quite conservative) I found the speakers who were not "formal" theosophists, i.e. Ashok and the dear older Mason - to bring a freshness and openness to the meeting that was unexpected and kind.  Looking forward to the spontaneity and freshness of next year ---"wherever and however" - and again, with thanks and gratitude.