June 2016 Newsletter
The following articles are reproduced from the June 2016 Newsletter to members. Non-members may or may not be able to relate to the contents.
The 13th Triennial Conference of the Indo-Pacific Federation of the Theosophical Society
The Indo-Pacific Federation of the Theosophical Society
The Indo-Pacific Federation of the Theosophical Society (IPF) is a federation of Sections and Branches of the Theosophical Society, stretching from the Indian subcontinent to the west and New Zealand to the east. It is the largest federation of The Theosophical Society.
The IPF had its beginnings at an initial conference near Sydney, Australia, held on December 31, 1959 to January 8, 1960, hosted by the Australian Section under the leadership of Helen Zahra. The initiative to form the federation was not followed up until 1976 at the initiative of Elaine Murdoch of Australia which resulted in another preliminary conference being held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Subsequently, the inaugural conference of the Indo-Pacific Federation was held in Jogjakarta, Indonesia on August 4 - 6, 1978, attended by delegates from Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines and Singapore chaired by the 6th International President, John B.S. Coats.
Indo-Pacific Conferences
1. 1978: Jogjakarta, Indonesia
2. 1983: Manila,Philippines
3. 1985: Karachi,Pakistan
4. 1989: Perth,Australia
5. 1992: Auckland, New Zealand
6. 1994: Adyar, Chennai, India
7. 1997: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
8. 2001: Sydney, Australia
9. 2004: Singapore
10. 2007: Manila, Philippines
11. 2010: Adyar, Chennai, India
12. 2013: Bali,
Indonesia
The
13th Triennial Conference
The 13th triennial conference of the Indo-Pacific Federation of the Theosophical Society will be held in the beautiful city of Auckland in New Zealand from 14 to 19 October 2016, starting with dinner at 6 p.m. on Friday 14 October and finishing with breakfast and departures on Wednesday morning 19 October. The last time the Indo-Pacific Conference was held in Auckland was in 1992, 24 years ago!
New Zealand is the host Section for this conference and they welcome members from throughout the Indo-Pacific region to explore and share the ageless wisdom in fellowship, meet old friends and make new ones. These conferences are full of learning and inspiration and the opportunity to share the experience of popularizing theosophy and furthering the theosophical cause amongst participating countries. The International President, Tim Boyd and wife Lily will be the Guests of Honour at the forthcoming conference.
Conference Theme
Theme of the 13th Indo-Pacific Conference is “The Why of the Theosophical Society” — Exploring the purpose of the Society, the reason for its existence in today's world.
If we are all clear on the “purpose” of why the Theosophical Society exists then it is easier to understand what we do and how we do it. We will spend some time during the conference exploring this together. Listening to the views of some of the speakers will help bring clarity with regards to what we do in our Indo-Pacific Federation and enable us to find ways to support each other to do these things.
Conference Venue
The Conference will be held at Rose Park Hotel, located in Parnell, Auckland overlooking Sir Dove Myer Robinson Park, which incorporates the stunning Parnell Rose Gardens with attractive views over the Auckland Harbour. The location is close to central Auckland CBD with easy access to walks and harbour cruises.
Accommodation
Accommodation is also provided in the Rose Park Hotel. Single or twin share rooms available with wifi access, restaurant and swimming pool.
The conference and accommodation is at the Rose Park Hotel which is situated in Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand. It overlooks the rose gardens and the Auckland Harbour, and is within walking distance of several popular Auckland sites, including the Auckland museum, Kelly Tarlton’s Sea World and some unique shopping areas.
The hotel provides single or twin shared rooms along with all the meals and a conference facility all in the same premises. The hotel is 30 minutes from the Auckland International airport by Airport shuttle. Accommodation includes access to Wi-Fi from your rooms, so it will be easy to keep in touch with friends and family or any urgent business that requires your attention while at the conference.
More information about the accommodation and conference facilities could be found in the hotel website at Rose Park Hotel http://www.aucklandroseparkhotel.co.nz/ .
Conference Fees
There are several options with regards to registering for the conference. All fees are payable in New Zealand Dollars.
Option 1
NZD $590 per person (twin-sharing room) including:
· Registration
· Accommodation (5 nights from 14 October)
· 5 Breakfasts
· 4 Lunches
· 5 Dinners
Option 2
NZD $920 per person (single occupancy room) including:
· Registration
· Accommodation (5 nights from 14 October)
· 5 Breakfasts
· 4 Lunches
· 5 Dinners
Option 3
NZD $295 per person (no accommodation) including:
· Registration
· 4 Lunches
· 5 Dinners
Option 4
NZD $100 per person:
·
Registration only
Singapore Delegation
The Singapore Lodge Theosophical Society will be sending an official delegation to the 13th Indo-Pacific Conference. Members interested in participating should email info@singaporelodge.org to register and indicating Option required.
Post Conference Tours
Check out the following tour agencies:
Scenic Pacific http://www.scenicpacific.co.nz/auckland-2-3-day-tours.htm
Great Sights
http://www.greatsights.co.nz/find-a-new-zealand-tour/north-island-tours/
The Life of the Buddha
Five hundred years before Christ a young prince left his palace and set out on a journey through Northern India. His experience became a philosophy that is now followed by over 400 million people. Six years after leaving home, the Buddha arrived at Bodh Gaya where he sat beneath a magnificent tree, vowing not to move until he had reached enlightenment. He then formulated his philosophy based upon Four Noble Truths. Today, a descendant of that same tree stands upon the same site. A temple now stands next to it and Bodh Gaya has become the most sacred and important landmark along the Buddhist pilgrimage route. From here, the Buddha set out to teach for forty years.
The Buddha lived in India two and a half thousand years ago, and the events of his life make up one of the greatest stories ever told. Using CGI graphics, expert testimony and the latest archaeological findings, this documentary video by BBC dramatizes his extraordinary life, from the luxuries of the palace where he was waited on hand and foot, to his dramatic escape from home when he set out to experience real life for the first time. The film also reconstructs the spiritual practices he tried and rejected.
Until about one hundred years ago the secrets of Buddha lay hidden in the dense jungles of India. But in the 1800s Western archaeologists and explorers stumbled upon the small village of Lumbini in Nepal where they discovered the birthplace of the Buddha, enabling them to unlock the secrets of his life.
Singapore Garden Festival 2016
Enter a magical world of exciting garden designs and exquisite floral creations as Singapore goes into full bloom this July at the Singapore Garden Festival 2016. Whether you are a serious gardener, hobbyist or just looking for a wonderful day out with the family, you are in for delightful treats at the Festival. Held at the award winning Gardens by the Bay, from 23rd to 31st July, this year’s Festival promises to be more spectacular than ever before.
If you would like to go as a group on 23rd July 2016, please see our Events Coordinator. He will help you get tickets at a nominal discount so that you can be a part of the magic at the Singapore Garden Festival 2016!