3rd June 2005

Commencement of the 20th Basic Theosophy Course

Lecture 1: The Different Planes of Nature

Knowing the different planes of nature; the different bodies of man and the different vehicles of consciousness.

Study Class - A Study in Consciousness

Study class on A Study in Consciousness with commentary by Chong Sanne. This week we will be reading Chapter XII, THE NATURE OF MEMORY. This is the last chapter of Part I of the book and it covers the topics of The Great Self and the Little Selves, Changes in the Vehicles and in Consciousness, Memories, What is Memory? Remembering and Forgetting, Attention and The One Consciousness.

Informal Study Group

Students meet for a question and answer session with Chong Sanne as the facilitator. Read article about the Informal Study Group in the 2005 February newsletter.

10th June 2005

20th Basic Theosophy Course

Lecture 2: Man’s Evolution

A discourse on evolution; where we come from and where we are going to; the Law of Karma; Reincarnation as a process of evolution.

Study Class - A Study in Consciousness

Study class on A Study in Consciousness with commentary by Chong Sanne. This week we start on Part II of the Book, WILL, DESIRE, AND EMOTION and the first Chapter deals with THE WILL TO LIVE. We will also read Chapter II on DESIRE covering the topics of The Nature of Desire; The Awakening of Desire; The Relation of Desire to Thought;  Desire, Thought, Action; The Binding Nature of Desire and The Breaking of the Bonds.

Understanding the Dead Sea Scrolls

Sister Gertrude Weerekoon repeats her talk on the Dead Sea Scrolls based on the 1947 discoveries in Judaea.

17th June 2005

20th Basic Theosophy Course

Lecture 3: Death and After

This will be the first of three lectures on death and the post-mortem states of man. The first lecture is on 'Death & After' describing the process of dying and a summary of the post-mortem states. We will be presenting the theosophical view on death as a recurring event in the course of man’s pilgrimage towards divinity. We shall also talk about where the man goes to after leaving aside his physical vesture. An important aspect of the talk is on the harm of mourning. This lecture, which also covers the karma of death, is useful and is in fact a prerequisite for the next two lectures, viz. 'The Astral Plane' and 'The Mental Plane'.

Study Class - A Study in Consciousness

Study class on A Study in Consciousness with commentary by Chong Sanne. This week we will be reading Chapter III of Part II of the book on DESIRE (Continued) covering the topics of The Vehicle of Desire; The Conflict of Desire and Thought; The Value of an Ideal and The Purification of Desire.

Taijiquan and Theosophy—A Synergism?

Bro. Choong Chi Pin, a long-time practitioner of Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) will give a talk including a brief history of the two major martial arts in China and their origins. He will talk about the development of Taijiquan, its practice and correspondences with theosophical teachings through his own experience.

24th June 2005

20th Basic Theosophy Course

Lecture 4: The Astral Plane

This is a continuation of the lecture on death and after. A general description of the Astral Plane and its inhabitants will be covered. We shall also discuss man’s activities when the physical body is asleep and when he sheds his physical body at death. We will also talk about ghosts and other phenomena.

Study Class - A Study in Consciousness

Study class on A Study in Consciousness with commentary by Chong Sanne. This week we will be reading Chapter IV of Part II the book on EMOTION. This chapter covers the topics of The Birth of Emotion; The Play of Emotion in the Family; The Birth of Virtues; Right and Wrong; Virtue and Bliss; The Transmutation of Emotions into Virtues and Vices; Application of the Theory of Conduct and The Uses of Emotion.

What is God?

Our Hon. Secretary, Lily Chong, will talk on this somewhat controversial subject that seems to divide humanity. Most of us have a need for God, yet there is little we know about Him. Does he exist? Indeed, what is God? 

See article on What is God? in the June 2005 newsletter.