First Day 29th Tuesday
Bhowali a beautiful small hill station located in Kumaon Hills of Himalayas at a height of 5426 feet above mean Sea level. It is in Nainital District of Uttarakhand state with many lakes attract tourists. In response to the announcement of the Indian Section, Theosophical Society, this camp was held at The Himalayan Centre in which 36 delegates participated.
Active TOS members from different regions of India participated in the event. It was a good gathering including Deepa Padhi, International Vice President, Nancy Secrest, International Secretary TOS, Marja Artamaa, International Secretary TS along with Adyar members Dr.Revathy and Sr.Sudha. From Varanasi Br.Narayanan, National treasurer participated and taken care of the entire programme from beginning to the end and all the members participated expressed sincere thanks for his kind hearted support.
The theme of the camp was “ Working towards Future”. Meeting started with Universal Prayer and followed by the welcome by Br.Sivaprasad, National Secretary, TOS india expressed gratitude for all gathered to attend this TOS camp. He read out kind and encouraging messages from Tim Boyd, International President, Br.Bhattachrya, TOS National Director, Br.Pradeep Gohil, General Secretary, Freny Toddywala (Mumbai), Adyar lodge,Telugu region, Karnataka region.
In the inaugural address, Sr.Deepa padhi emphasised that “ You need to give more service.’’Serviceis really a journey of awakening because by rendering service to all forms of life, human and non-humans, one realizes the Unity of beings, gets connected to the source”. The theme“Working towards Future’’, refers to a process,a transformative journey through service. Service changes people. It refines, purifies, gives the best in every individual and importantly prepares to realize the oneness of being. While defining Theosophical Education, our International President Tim Boyd says-`It is an act of skill, science, art and wisdom’.He further says,`Let our educational motive be to create the environments in which our students can experience the freedom,co-operation, strength, honesty, happiness and responsibility that are the birthright of every soul that comes into this world.’
At this point of time, TOS needs more willing hands, more caring hearts and more intelligent minds to move our work towards future. The theme suggests optimism, dynamism, and vision. It is said,`Vision without action is a day-dream and action without vision is nightmare; vision and action together bring hope for the future.’ `Future’ is contained in the womb of `now’ in the form of experiences of the past and potentialities of the present. Working for future is the process of actualization of these potentialities. The outer requirements of any act of service include 1) selecting a genuine cause 2) identifying the target group or the beneficiaries 3) planning a budget and arranging funds 4)organizing human resources etc. But the inner equipments are most important which refer to strong will, pure motive, selflessness, empathy, compassion, commitment and involvement. These are very much necessary for working towards a sustainable future.
Sr.Nancy Secrest gave detailed picture of theosophical efforts in support of education from the time of TS founders. Children to be nourished with right kind of education for free thought,values, self reliance and to lead a whole life (not for job alone). Col.Olcott started with 45 children from downtrodden at Adyar and it is serving the poor local communities even today expanding in to high school and also branches in Kodambakam,Mylapore and Besant School. Theosophical educational trust was formed in 1913. Col.Olcott started many schools in Srilanka. Home schools and Nursing scholarships in Pakistan supported by Australian and American Sections were of significant contribution for the upliftment of women.TS invited for the stay of Maria Montessori in India at Adyar where the unique child centred education was propagated and TS gave awards for her contribution during World War II. Evolution of Golden Link School and college in Philippines is an excellent effort to inculcate universal values and right kind of teaching for the overall growth of learner. Theosophical education emphasises on how to think but not what to think.
Sr.Marja Artamaa spoke about the Finland section TOs support for Adyar Olcott school. She expressed that in each individual there is compassion, ToS is an avenue for Theosophical living.TOS can work for some of the public concerns where TS may not be able to intervene. Explained the connectivity of TS and TOS and how both complement each other in spreading theosophy.
Br.Narayanan extended warm welcome to all the delegates for attending this TOS camp.In the charity people may feel that they are giving but it is also important to observe the opportunity provided by the served community. As treasurer of TOS in India he is in a position to guide financial regulations applicable to the charitable organisations to be followed by the branch offices.
Br.Basavaraja Reddy enlightened the delegates with the topic spiritual evolution and Service.He gave detailed speech on how individualisation of soul takes place from the divine spark in the journey of human evolution. Moving our attention from lower self to the higher self we will be undertaking service actions for the welfare of humanity rather than self centred attitude. We have a tendency to grow horizontally with materialistic desires and that has to be converted in to vertical level with spiritual growth. Personality development is centred around selfishness where as spiritual development is towards unselfish growth. The process of personality growth is a trial and error approach, the lower triad involved in worldly desires transforms in to higher triad with tolerance,compassion and unselfishness. Service is one of the channels for this transformation.
In the next session Sr.Nancy presented the PPt presentation on the past and future scenario in the progress of TOS . Participants were fortunate to view the glimpse of International programmes of TOS happening in various countries. This historical events of TOS from Annie Besant time up till now gave over view work of the ToS which was informative and inspiring with valuable pictures and messages.
Second day 30th Wednesday
In the first session representatives attending the camp from the regions of Tamilnadu, Maharashtra,Uttar Pradesh (East), Chennai,Telugu,Rayalaseema,Odisha,NOIDA,Rajasthan and Karnataka presented their respective action Plan for the Next Five years (2018-2022). The need for revival of dormant TS and TOS lodges/Groups has been highlighted to consider as important intervention. Regular service activities such as tailoring machines support, Note books for poor children, Medical Aid,school fee payment for poor,Wheel chairs, artificial legs,and other various support activities as per the local needs are proposed in the future action plan. Special focus was on strengthening existing Theosophical schools and initiate new schools as priority work of TOS considering the need for primary education to the deprived communities.
In the next session brief talks on TOS related subjects were given by Col.Kailash,Br.A.P.Lokhande,Dr.Revathy, Br.B.L.Kandoi, Br.Pradip Mahapatra and Mithalini. Speakers shared various Service related matters with their practical experience in the field. Besides poverty,Compassion,Education,Health concerns it was also on the degradation of environment/ Ecological destruction which is a serious issue linked with poverty among poorer sections of society.
After Noon session was on “ Past Life Regression Therapy” by Sr.Lipa Rath whose Grand Father Late Dr.Ramachandra Rath was founder of Theosophical Society in Odisha. This technique of past life regression is based on QHHT (Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique) founded by Doleres Cannon in America. It was an interesting session to know how this technique is beneficial for the acute health issues of psychological, physical and other mental ailments.
In the evening cultural event was an entertainment time with dance,Music and songs performance by local ‘ Kumaon cultural Association’. All the participants were happy to see this local traditional folk dances of this region.
Third Day Thursday
In the morning session Sr.Deepa Padhi held interactive discussion on practical implications TOS. In this crucial matters related to TOS programmes need,process of implementation and the cooperation extended by members were discussed thoroughly. During this interactive dialogue session challenges faced by TOS as an institution was dealt with, major concerns include lack of active members,funds,leaders,ideas and motivation. Some of best examples of success in TOs actions were narrated by members. It was informed that in the month of November 2018 there will be two days TOS teachers training programme being organised at Indian section, Varanasi with the guidance of Br. Vicente Hao Chin from Philippines. Schools run by theosophical societies in India will be communicated about this for their teachers participation.
Br.Narayanan gave the financial details as per the Indian law regarding obligations under Income tax,service tax and the registration norms to be followed as non profit bodies.
In the last session Br.Sivaprasad presented the Action plan for the next five years. All the delegates gave valuable inputs to make the list of interventions at Group level,regional ,National and at all levels.
Following is the list of activities:
Group level
1.Establishing Schools at urban slums and remote villages
2.T.S. Awareness camps
3.Health camps/Blood donation
4.Orphanages/ old age homes/ destitute homes
5.Crisis relief work
6.Sharing of TOS work with local media
7.Environmental protection.
8.Animal welfare
9.planting trees
10.conservation of Biodiversity
11.Community dialoge/development
12.Youth programmes
13.Supporting poor with financial help for education/Health
14.women empowerment
15.Skill development
16.Needs of children with special abilities
Regional level
1.Revival of dormant TS lodges and formation of new TOS groups
2.Monitoring of Groups and motivation for TOS work
3.Strengthening of groups as active institution for undertaking TOS work.
4.Preparation of temporary and permanent projects and mobilise funds from philanthropic bodies
5.Explore CSR (corporate social responsibility) funds for TOS
- Compilation of progress report in a common format.
National level
1.Preparation of Theosophy study material for including in the curriculum of school/college
2.Coordination with United nations bodies.
3.Creation of funds for Fellowships to undertake deeper Theosophical studies
4.Formation of new groups and revival of Lodges
5.Coordination with International TOS for collaborative programmes
6.Conceptualising for establishing a Theosophical University in India
7.Preparation of permanent projects and mobilise funds.
At all levels (Group,Regional and National)
1.Observation of auspicious days like Adyar day,White lotus day,AB birth day etc.
2.To include spiritual dimension rather than only charitable activities such as:
- a) comforting the bereaved
b)caring elders
c)Advising parents with difficult children
d) awareness on climate change/cruelty in factory farming/Farmers suicide/distress migration
The three day camp concluded with the encouraging feed back from the participants . It was emphasised the need for strengthening TOS as an Institution working actively at Group,regional and national level. There are more than 6000 patron/life members of TOS and their involvement at present is confined to membership fee payment only, where as it is suggested that their participation in activities of service will be more meaningful. Hence there is need to form a network of them for greater strength of TOS. It was observed that indiatos.org web site may be more actively used for sharing information and reports. It was acknowledged that International tos web site is very much resourceful with valuable information related to TOS for ready reference. All the members attended expressed the usefulness of this camp and suggested for further improvement in future. Local delegates Br.Sanit Joshi and other office bearers of Bhowali TOS group which was formed recently received Diplomas from Sr.Nancy . Br.Sanit Joshi appreciated the camp and requested for more activities in the Himalayan centre.
– K.Sivaprasad