THEOSOPHY WALES CENTRE

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CARDIFF

THEOSOPHY

START-UP

 

 

 

Theosophy has no dogma, no priesthood

or diploma elite and recognizes no spiritual head

All ideas presented at meetings are for consideration

 

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A FREE INTRO

TO THEOSOPHY

 

 

Let’s Start With What Theosophy Is

 

The actual word Theosophy is a Greek derivative meaning Divine Wisdom but that doesn’t mean much to the enquirer.

 

In the Theosophical Society the word has a more specific meaning in relation to the work of Society co-founder Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and later writers. H P Blavatsky’s mission was to interpret Eastern Esoteric ideas for Western Society.

 

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky

1831 -1891

 

H P Blavatsky’s remit was to describe a scheme for the existence of the Universe and to define man’s place within that scheme. Her remit also encompassed study of the hidden dimensions of man and his potential and also the Laws of Nature.

 

But It’s Not a Religion

 

H P Blavatsky presented her work as ideas for consideration and not as dogma. This format has been upheld by the Theosophical Society and everything is negotiable.

 

Members of the Theosophical Society are simply required to agree with its 3 objects (outlined below)

 

 

Objects of the Society

 

1. To form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or colour.

 

2. To encourage the study of Comparative Religion, Philosophy and Science.

 

3. To investigate unexplained laws of Nature and the powers latent in man.

 

 

How The Theosophical Movement Began

 

It all began in New York on November 17th 1875

The first Theosophical Society was founded by

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Henry Steel Olcott who was an American Civil War Colonel, journalist and lawyer and William Quan Judge who was an Irish born New York lawyer.

 

The headquarters were subsequently moved to Adyar, India and an Adyar based Theosophical Society still exists. After the death of H P Blavatsky, The Theosophical Movement fragmented and the Theosophical Tradition is today carried forward by many diverse groups.

 

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The Secret Doctrine

 

H P Blavatsky wrote a voluminous amount of Theosophical Literature but The Secret Doctrine, published 1888, is the big one she is remembered for, and the major reference work for Theosophists.  The book is divided into two sections, Cosmogenesis (the coming into being of the Universe) and Anthropogenesis (the coming into being of Mankind).

 

The Secret Doctrine is usually a rather difficult work for beginners to tackle and we have provided some material on this site which should make the way in to Theosophy much easier. But please don’t give on the idea of reading The Secret Doctrine, you will probably move on to it when you feel you are finding your feet with Theosophy.

 

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And Now,

A Quick Tour of Theosophical Ideas

 

The overview of Theosophical ideas offered her was written by mainstream Theosophist Charles Webster Leadbeater. The work is divided into short soundbites and Leadbeater has an accessible journalistic style.

 

An Outline of Theosophy

By

Charles Webster Leadbeater

 

Charles Webster Leadbeater

1858? - 1934

 

 

Theosophy - What it is

 

How is it Known?

 

The Method of Observation

 

General Principles

 

The Three Great Truths

 

Advantage Gained from this Knowledge

 

The Deity

 

The Divine Scheme

 

The Constitution of Man

 

The True Man

 

Reincarnation

 

The Wider Outlook

 

Death

 

Man’s Past and Future

 

Cause and Effect

 

What Theosophy does for us

 

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The Rationale for Theosophy

 

A Rough Outline of Theosophy by Annie Besant is a concise round up of Theosophical principles which also examines the claims made by Theosophy. In addition, Annie Besant summarizes the Theosophical position and approach;

 

“We, who are Theosophists, allege that there exists a great body of doctrine philosophical, scientific and ethical, which forms the basis of, and includes

all that is accurate in, the philosophies, sciences, and religions of the ancient and modern worlds.”

 

Annie Besant

1847 - 1933

 

A Rough Outline of Theosophy

Annie Besant

 

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Karma and Reincarnation

 

Theosophy postulates that Reincarnation or the cycle of Death and Rebirth is an integral part of our evolution and that we will all ultimately evolve beyond the need for further lives. For most of us this is rather a long way off but in the meantime we can help ourselves along and make the process a whole lot easier by studying the subject and striving to exercise some personal control over our destiny. We have more control than we might at first think.

 

In each life we have something to learn and our teacher is the law of cause and effect or Karma. Karma is a correcting process that pervades every level of existence without which the Universe would simply be unworkable.

 

In Life and Life After Death, Annie Besant covers the mechanics of the cycle of death and rebirth and what it means to the end user. She outlines how the period between physical lives is a full programme of events which can be difficult or easy depending on the life previously lived and gives encouragement and warnings regarding the Karmic consequences of our actions.

 

Life, And Life After Death

Annie Besant

 

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Man’s Seven Principles

 

If you are reading this then you will probably at least accept the possibility that there is more to us than our physical bodies.

 

Theosophy postulates that we have seven

principles, sometime referred to as bodies.

 

Here is an outline of them with their Sanskrit names and a brief description of their function.

 

Atma – The piece of the divine in everybody sometime referred to as the Divine Spark.

 

Buddhi – Our individual spiritual identity. This acts as a vehicle for the Atma

 

Manas – The Mind principle divided into

Higher Manas – spiritual ideals

Lower Manas – concrete and rational thought.

There is a bridge between the two called the Antahkarana. This is represented as Jacob’s Ladder in the Christian Bible.

 

The Mortal & Immortal Principles

 

Atma, Buddhi and higher Manas form the immortal part of man. The four principles below are dumped at the end of your physical life and you get new ones for your next life.

 

Kama – The desire principle

 

Prana – The life energy principle

 

Linga Sharira – The model body or template for your physical body.

 

Sthula Sharira – Physical body – we are all familiar with this one.

 

The sevenfold constitution of man is covered in depth by the following articles;

 

The Seven Principles Of Man

Annie Besant

 

The Constitution of Man

(From a Textbook of Theosophy)

Charles Webster Leadbeater

 

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Evolution

 

The Theosophical concept of evolution is very different from that of Charles Darwin who focused principally on the physical and mental

development of ourselves and the animal kingdom and the physical development plant kingdom.

 

The Theosophical model of evolution is very complex and far reaching and a basic description is given here to give new enquirers a handle on the subject.

 

Theosophy postulates that everything in the universe is evolving but to simplify the explanation, the description here is limited to the evolution of humanity and our planet.

 

The Earth is evolving just as we are and as we are part of our planet, our evolution and the Earth’s evolution are inseparable and interdependent. Theosophists refer to this interdependence of Earth and human evolution as “Rounds and Races”

 

The Earth evolves through cosmic eras known as Rounds made up of smaller cosmic eras known as Globes.

 

The term globe refers both to the Earth that we recognize and six currently dormant companion Globes which function on other planes of nature. These Globes are known as the Planetary Chain or Chain of Globes.

 

A driving force composed of spiritual entities known as the Lifewave passes through each Globe of the Chain one at a time. This tour of the Globes is known as a Planetary Round. Our spiritual entities are part of the Lifewave and we are on the fourth Globe of the Fourth Round.

 

Seven Rounds or Tours of the Globes complete the cycle known as a Planetary Manvantara. The Earth Chain and the Lifewave then go into a period of rest known as the Planetary Pralaya.

(There are smaller Pralayas between each Globe and each Round)

 

Humanity evolves through mass reincarnations known as Root Races. There are seven Root Races per Globe and we are the fifth on the current Globe.

 

In each phase of evolution there is something to learn or develop.

 

This is a very basic outline and to move forward with this topic here are W Q Judge’s article “Rounds and Races” and “The Planetary Chains” by C W Leadbeater in which the subject is covered in much more depth.

 

 

William Quan Judge

1851 - 1896

 

Rounds And Races

William Quan Judge

 

The Planetary Chains

Charles Webster Leadbeater

 

For more information on the Theosophical model of Evolution here is a link to a website dedicated to the subject.

 

The Mornington Crescent

Underground Theosophy Website

The Earth Base for Evolutionary Theosophy

 

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Involution and Evolution

(The Descent into Matter)

 

This explanation is applied to Human Evolution but please note that everything in the Universe is evolving on the same principle.

 

Theosophy postulates that evolution is spiritual as well as physical whereas Darwin just dealt with the physical.

 

We start out as Spiritual Entities but you don’t get any experience for your evolution if you remain spirit. Spirit can’t get its hands dirty so you need a vehicle and in our case this is a physical body.

 

Spirit effectively descends into matter in the form of the human body it enters and then having gained experience (hopefully) will then rise out of it. The general idea is for us to evolve by continually dropping down into matter (taking physical form) and then coming back up again. This process is known as Involution and in Theosophy this is an integral part of evolution.

 

Of course progress will be made and this is on an upward spiral in which although we descend into matter, both our Spiritual Entities and even the physical bodies we inhabit will slowly evolve.

 

Involution and Planetary Rounds

 

The progress of the Lifewave through the Chain of Globes begins with passage through three increasingly more physical Globes to our own, which is the most physical of all the Globes, operating on the most physical cosmic plane. The Lifewave will then move up through three less physical Globes to complete the Round.

 

In “The Earth Chain”, W Q Judge explains the descent into matter of both the Earth and Humanity as an integral component of the evolutionary process.

 

The Earth Chain

William Quan Judge

 

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The Moon is our Parent

 

Theosophy maintains that prior to engaging in its journey through the Earth Chain of Globes, the Lifewave completed the process with the Moon. The Moon like our Earth has a Chain of Globes and the passage of the Lifewave has now completed its cycle. The Moon we can now see is the moribund shell of the equivalent Globe to our own which operated on the same plane of nature.

 

W Q Judge covers the subject of the Lifewave’s passage from the Moon in “The Earth Chain” (link above) and also gives an excellent explanation in

“On Evolution” in response to a question from an enquirer.

 

On Evolution

William Q. Judge

 

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A Word About Sanskrit

 

A brief look at Theosophical writings will reveal that Theosophy uses Sanskrit terms to describe many of its concepts

 

Theosophists have good business and esoteric reasons for using Sanskrit terms. Sanskrit is not just a language in the sense of verbal communication, it has other dimensions and attributes that go far beyond practical everyday language.

 

Sanskrit is the ancient religious, philosophical and scientific language of India through which learning has been handed down in written form since at least 1000 BCE. Before the written form arrived, Sanskrit must have been the basis of a phenomenal oral tradition. Despite being the most successful world language, English as we can understand it only goes back about as far as the works of John Skelton 1525ish.

 

By its esoteric nature and rarified use, Sanskrit has also been protected from distortion and pollution by other languages. English has the problem that some words vary in meaning around the world.

 

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Cardiff Theosophical Society

206 Newport Road,

Cardiff, Wales, UK, CF24 – 1DL.

 

 

For more info on Theosophy

Try these

 

Theosophy has no dogma, no priesthood or diploma elite

and recognizes no spiritual head

All ideas presented at meetings are for consideration

 

Cardiff Theosophical Society meetings are informal

and there’s always a cup of tea afterwards

 

Theosophy

Cardiff

The Cardiff Theosophical Society Website

 

Theosophy

Wales

The National Wales Theosophy Website

 

Wales has Theosophy Groups in

Bangor  Cardiff  Conwy  Swansea

 

Dave’s Streetwise Theosophy Boards

The Theosophy Website that

Welcomes Absolute Beginners

 

Wales! Wales! Theosophy Wales

The All Wales Guide to

 Getting Started in Theosophy

This is for everybody not just people in Wales

 

Hey Look!

Theosophy in Cardiff

 

Theosophy in Wales

The Grand Tour

 

Theosophy Avalon

The Theosophy Wales

King Arthur Pages

 

King Arthur &

The Round Table

 

 

Theosophy Cardiff’s Instant Guide to Theosophy

 

Cardiff Theosophical Archive

 

Cardiff Blavatsky Archive

A Theosophy Study Resource

 

Pages About Wales

General pages about Wales, Welsh History

and The History of Theosophy in Wales

 

Theosophy

Nirvana

 

Theosophy Avalon

The Theosophy Wales

King Arthur Pages

 

Teosofia en Cardiff (Página en Español)

 

Teosófia em Cardiff

Webpage no Português

 

Blavatsky Blogger

Independent Theosophy Blog

 

The Blavatsky Blogger’s

Instant Guide To

Death & The Afterlife

 

Death & How to Get Through It

 

Quick Blasts of Theosophy

One Liners & Quick Explanations

 

Great Theosophists

The Big Names of Theosophy

 

 

Theosophy Cardiff Nirvana Pages

 

National Wales Theosophy

Karma Pages

 

The Most Basic Theosophy Website in the Universe

If you run a Theosophy Study Group you can use

this as an introductory handout

 

Theosophy

The New Rock ‘n Roll

 

The Key to Theosophy

 

The Voice of the Silence

 

The South of Heaven Guide to

 Theosophy and Devachan

 

The South of Heaven Guide

To Theosophy and Dreams

 

The South of Heaven Guide

To Theosophy and Angels

 

Theosophy and Help From

The Universe

 

Theosophy

Aardvark

No Aardvarks were harmed in

The preparation of this Website

 

Feelgood Theosophy

Visit the Feelgood Lodge

 

SearchSight

 

The Tooting Broadway

Underground Theosophy Website

The Spiritual Home of Urban Theosophy

 

The Mornington Crescent

Underground Theosophy Website

The Earth Base for Evolutionary Theosophy

 

Theosophy Wales Now!

 

Theosophy Wales History

 

Theosophy Cardiff Burn-Up

 

Theosophy Wales Burn-Up

 

Theosophy Wales Vanguard

 

Theosophy Wales Hornet

 

Theosophy Wales 3000

 

National Wales Centre for Theosophy

FREE STUFF

 

Blavatsky Wales Theosophy Group

Regular Blavatsky Events

 

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Teozofio Cardiff

Ĉefpaĝo En Esperanto

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Theosophy Cardiff Cancels its Affiliation

to the Adyar Based Theosophical Society

and becomes an independent body within

the Worldwide Theosophical Movement

 

Theosophy Birmingham (England)

The Birmingham Annie Besant Lodge

 

Chester Theosophy (England)

 

Theosophy Sidmouth

Sidmouth, Devon, England

 

Theosophy Utah

Theosophy Cardiff has links with the

Theosophical Society in Utah

 

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The Theosophy Cardiff

Glastonbury Pages

 

Chalice Well, Glastonbury.

The Theosophy Cardiff Guide to

Chalice Well, Glastonbury,

Somerset, England

 

The Theosophy Cardiff Guide to

Glastonbury Abbey

 

Theosophy Cardiff’s

Glastonbury Abbey Chronology

 

The Theosophy Cardiff Guide to

Glastonbury Tor

 

The Labyrinth

The Terraced Maze of Glastonbury Tor

 

Glastonbury and Joseph of Arimathea

 

The Grave of King Arthur & Guinevere

At Glastonbury Abbey

 

Views of Glastonbury High Street

 

The Theosophy Cardiff Guide to

Glastonbury Bookshops

 

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Tekels Park

Camberley, Surrey, England GU15 2LF

 

Concerns about the fate of the wildlife as

Tekels Park is to be Sold to a Developer

 

Concerns are raised about the fate of the 

wildlife as The Spiritual Retreat, 

Tekels Park in Camberley, Surrey, 

England is to be sold to a developer.

 

Tekels Park is a 50 acre woodland park, 

purchased for the Adyar Theosophical 

Society in England in 1929.

 

In addition to concern about the park, 

many are worried about the future 

of the Tekels Park Deer as they 

are not a protected species.

 

Theosophy talks of compassion for animals

and the apparent indifference to the fate of

the Tekels Park wildlife has dismayed many.

 

Confusion as the Theoversity moves out of 

Tekels Park to Southampton, Glastonbury & 

Chorley in Lancashire while the leadership claim

that the Theosophical Society will carry on using 

Tekels Park despite its sale to a developer

 

Anyone planning a “Spiritual” stay at the

Tekels Park Guest House should be aware of the sale.

 

 

Future of Tekels Park Badgers in Doubt

 

Party On! Tekels Park Theosophy NOT

 

Tekels Park & the Loch Ness Monster

A Satirical view of the sale of Tekels Park

in Camberley, Surrey to a developer

 

The Toff’s Guide to the Sale of Tekels Park

What the men in top hats have to

say about the sale of Tekels Park

to a developer

 

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Classic Introductory Theosophy Text

A Text Book of Theosophy By C W Leadbeater

 

What Theosophy Is  From the Absolute to Man

 

The Formation of a Solar System  The Evolution of Life

 

The Constitution of Man  After Death  Reincarnation

 

The Purpose of Life  The Planetary Chains

 

The Result of Theosophical Study

 

 

Elementary Theosophy

An Outstanding Introduction to Theosophy

By a student of Katherine Tingley

 

Elementary Theosophy Who is the Man?  Body and Soul   

 

Body, Soul and Spirit  Reincarnation  Karma

 

The Seven in Man and Nature

 

The Meaning of Death

 

 

The Occult World

By Alfred Percy Sinnett

 

Preface to the American Edition    Introduction

 

Occultism and its Adepts    The Theosophical Society

 

First Occult Experiences   Teachings of Occult Philosophy

 

Later Occult Phenomena    Appendix

 

 

The Ocean of Theosophy

William Quan Judge

 

Preface    Theosophy and the Masters    General Principles

 

The Earth Chain    Body and Astral Body    Kama – Desire

 

Manas    Of Reincarnation    Reincarnation Continued

 

Karma    Kama Loka    Devachan    Cycles

 

Septenary Constitution Of Man

 

Arguments Supporting Reincarnation

 

Differentiation Of Species Missing Links

 

Psychic Laws, Forces, and Phenomena

 

Psychic Phenomena and Spiritualism

 

 

A Study in Karma

Annie Besant

 

Karma  Fundamental Principles  Laws: Natural and Man-Made  The Law of Laws 

 

The Eternal Now  Succession  Causation The Laws of Nature  A Lesson of The Law

 

  Karma Does Not Crush  Apply This Law  Man in The Three Worlds  Understand The Truth

 

Man and His Surroundings  The Three Fates  The Pair of Triplets  Thought, The Builder

 

  Practical Meditation  Will and Desire  The Mastery of Desire  Two Other Points

 

  The Third Thread  Perfect Justice  Our Environment  Our Kith and Kin  Our Nation

 

The Light for a Good Man  Knowledge of Law  The Opposing Schools

 

The More Modern View  Self-Examination  Out of the Past

 

Old Friendships  We Grow By Giving  Collective Karma  Family Karma

 

National Karma  India’s Karma  National Disasters

 

 

Try these if you are looking for a

local Theosophy Group or Centre

 

 

UK Listing of Theosophical Groups

Please tell us about your UK Theosophy Group

 

Worldwide Directory of Theosophical Links

 

International Directory of 

Theosophical Societies

 

 

WALES

Pages about Wales

General pages about Wales, Welsh History

and The History of Theosophy in Wales

 

Wales is a Principality within the United Kingdom

and has an eastern border with England. The land

area is just over 8,000 square miles. Snowdon in

North Wales is the highest mountain at 3,650 feet.

The coastline is almost 750 miles long. The population

of Wales as at the 2001 census is 2,946,200.

 

Theosophy Wales

 

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SearchSight

 

DMOZ Open Directory Project

Theosophy Links

 

Link Exchange Web & Blog Directory of Top Sites Dmegs.com
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into categories and presented according to relevance of website.

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 Web  Theosophy  Cardiff

 

 

 

 

Theosophy has no dogma, no priesthood or diploma elite

and recognizes no spiritual head

All ideas presented at meetings are for consideration

 

 

 

theosophycardiff.org

 

                  Cardiff Theosophical Society in Wales           

Theosophy House

206 Newport Road, Cardiff, Wales, UK. CF24 -1DL