February 2026 Newsletter
The following articles are reproduced from the February 2026 Newsletter to members. Non-members may or may not be able to relate to the contents.
Counting the Blessings
By C. A. Shinde
Life is a stage to play a role as the actor (the Spiritual aspirant role). A play provides us a testing ground, having an opportunity to face a restless mind, agitated mind, leading to inadequate responses and thereby suffering. But such occurrences highlight for us something that we need to learn. Perhaps a certain error, a deficiency needs to be corrected. Such a great law is inviting us to respond – it is a call to action – can we heed this call or respond by beginning to express gratitude, to count the blessing of life.
What I experienced is The Universe is going to put us in the right place at the right time. We receive divine connections, and people will go out of their way to be good to us. There is a big plan for human life and it is manifesting in the best way for each one of us.
Let me thank first the MTF for having this decision to bring a special journal inviting articles on how I was inspired to join the Theosophical Society. In fact, what motivated me is to understand and explore more about the purpose of human life and human evolution (unfoldment of consciousness). With such thought in mind, I would like to give title to my article, “Counting the Blessings: My Journey On The Spiritual Path.”
In this article, I am reflecting on my personal experience, sharing information regarding T.S., T.O.S. E.S., and other activities, which I have come to understand and appreciate the blessings in my journey of service and sacrifice. The purpose of this article is to provide information and how it helped me to appreciate the important Seven Blessings.
The First Blessing: ‘Life is One’ which is the universal law of Unity which is reflected in the TS invocation, “Oh hidden life vibrant in every atom”. Life is one but it is hidden in the form of vibrations. That inspired me to resonate with the flow of life and understand the fact that if I do our every day task with love that becomes an action and not a reaction.
Altruism came to me as Second Blessing. Increasing my curiosity to explore more about HPB’s statement “to benefit mankind is the first step and to be virtuous is the second one”.
Altruism is key to theosophy, showing a selfless concern for the well-being of others without care for one’s own interest, demonstrating unselfishness.
Being more and more sensitive and human concerns inspired by Ancient Teachings:
Paropakaaraaya Phalanthi Vrikshaah – Trees do not eat their fruits
Paropakaaraaya Vahanti Nadyah – Rivers do not drink their water
Paraopakaaraaya duhanti Gaaavah –Cows do not drink their milk
Paropakaaraaya Idam Shareeram – So human body is to serve others
Altruism is action arising out of a selfless concern for the well-being of others—the word is relevant to the entire manifested universe of humans, animals, birds, reptiles, mountains, rivers, the atmosphere, and can take many forms, from small acts of kindness to grand gestures that change lives.
What fascinated me is that hardly anyone is wondering what we are actually doing on this planet. Many, in general, have accepted to work, eat, enjoy entertainment, sleep cycle, as cycle of life, and have no desire for a deeper understanding of the significance of life.
In a world often overshadowed by negative and self-interest, stories of altruism shine brightly as reminders of the goodness our creation is capable as human beings.
Donating to charity of volunteering time to help those in need
-
Risking one's own life to save someone else, such as a Fire-fighter or lifeguard
-
Sharing food, shelter, or other resources with those less fortunate
-
Mentoring or coaching people to help them achieve their goals
-
Dolphins helping injured or distressed animals including humans
-
Elephants caring for injured elderly family members
-
Ants and bees working together for the benefit of their colonies
-
Wolves adopting orphaned pups
-
Trees providing shade and oxygen for other organisms
-
Plants releasing chemical signals to warn neighbouring plants of potential threats
-
Neural networks, where fungi share nutrients with plant roots
-
Some plants, like the coral tree, providing a habitat for beneficial insects
Third Blessing for me was the Practical Theosophy, TOS to TS and ES, and to BEF and OES educational activities.
The distinctive two fold purpose of the TOS is selfless service to the needy and suffering and the inner transformation of the server that this requires. Dr. Besant summarised the mission of the TOS in its motto, “A union of those who love in the service of all that suffers.”
The Theosophical Order of Service (TOS) was founded in 1908 by Dr Annie Besant, then International president of the Theosophical Society to provide an opportunity for participation in activities which promote the first object of the theosophical society: to form a nucleus of the universal brotherhood of humanity without distinction of Race, Creed, Sex, Caste, or Colour.
Sri N Shri Ram said, “There can be no greater purpose in life than to serve- service to the One in many forms. It must not be so-called limited service, but real service, which is direct and sincere, in which the consciousness of self is forgotten.”
In one sentence I may say TS surely supports TOS qualitatively.
Because I believe TS members are disciplined. Their discipline is study meditation and service. Study gives them right knowledge and therefore they have right direction totheir thought. Meditation practice purifies their Minds and heart, and selfless service develops altruistic attitude and that leads them to feel oneness of life. “Altruism is key to Theosophy.” The Motto of the Theosophical Order of Service is a union of those who love in the service of all that suffers. The Master has said a true theosophist is a philanthropist. All this indicates how TS supports TOS and how TOS supports TS. Our founder of TS, H.P. Blavatsky showed her love in the service of all that suffer. It reminds me of her journey by ship on a first class ticket. But while entering into the ship she saw a poor woman with her two children crying bitterly. HPB asked why are you crying and she replied she has been cheated with false tickets. Immediately, HPB went to the shipping company agent and convinced him to exchange her own first class tickets for third class tickets for herself, the poor woman and her children.
Thus she sacrificed her first class comfort in helping the needy woman. Travelling all the way in 3rd class. This is the ideal before the TS members and therefore they are always ready to support the Theosophical Order of Service activities and, I think, the relation between TS and TOS is like theory and practice. With such perspective TOS becomes a project service. and TS becomes a resolution or a firm mind to serve. TS emphasizes self knowledge and TOS emphasizes method or you may say Technology. With such a perspective when both become complementary to each other, then purushartha happens. Such purushartha leads to an altruistic attitude. Thus Theosophy teaches the real meaning of human life. Meaning of human life is to grow and evolve together in an on-going process of dynamic growth to develop our hidden or latent abilities, and thus learn to find our place in this flow of life and flow of consciousness. Theosophy teaches human life is to protect subhuman lives.
Subhuman entities are our younger brothers. Think for a moment about the atom or cells which live directly in our sphere of influence. Our responsibility is to protect them and, in fact, we are also under the protection of cosmic beings or universal being, under their influence we live and work. So the meaning of life is to evolve together respect for all lives as sentient beings that need to be human ethics. Together we can suggest to the Government, too.
Now the Beauty Without Cruelty organisation has, therefore, requested the Government of India to shift the Animal Welfare Board of India to the Ministry Of Social Justice and Empowerment, or to Ministry of Environment or to Forest and Climate Change but not in Animal Husbandry Dairying Fishery which actively promotes animal exploitation.
Esoteric School (ES) is my Fourth blessing. The ES is constitutionally independent of the theosophical society and exists in various countries. Members of the ES come from different backgrounds. And new members of the Theosophical Society receive a letter from the International President, which includes the following postscript:
There is an Esoteric School of Theosophy (ES) which is administered separately from the Theosophical Society and which is open to TS members, after 2 years of active membership, who are building to abide by some basic conditions directed towards a life of sincere altruism and harmless living. The school was originally founded by HP Blavatsky in 1888 and is based on the principles of Raja yoga. The E.S. provides one avenue of living a Theosophical life, not only through the study of Divine Wisdom but through its understanding, assimilation, and practice. Its members voluntarily undertake the work required in preparing for the Spiritual Path. A spirit of harmony with all is emphasized within the School, as well as support for the T.S. and its activities. The ES is not a secret body although, as with similar schools down the ages, it conducts its activities in private. The ES was initially known as the “Esoteric Section of the Theosophical Society”. Madame Blavatsky (H.P.B.) subsequently modified its name to the Eastern School of Theosophy” in 1891. Mrs Annie Besant be the next Outer Head of the worldwide body. After her move to India in 1893, she changed the name to the “Esoteric School of Theosophy’, which has remained until date.
Since Madame Blavatsky’s death, she has been succeeded in this office by Annie Besant (1891), C.W. Leadbeater (1933), C. Jinarajadasa (1934), N. SriRam (1953), I. K Taumni (1973), Radha Burnier (1978), Linda Oliveria (2013-).
FIFTH blessing in my life that of getting an opportunity to serve at the International Headquarters of the Theosophical Society Adyar, and valuable cooperation of my wife, Savita Shinde, and two sons. It was a call for me to “Work for Adyar, the Masters Home” I made up my mind to render voluntary service at Adyar. Since 2006 October, as per the letter of Mrs Radha Burnier, International President, which motivated me to follow the Spiritual Path. I have preserved that letter as a call from the Masters of Wisdom and now to publish it with reverence and gratefulness.
I am happy to serve at Adyar, a spiritual oasis, with my meditational practices, like study, meditation and selfless service. Practices involve rituals like masonic order, mystic star, Bharat Samaj Pooja and ER rituals that kept me always active and punctual in my lecturing tours for T.S. work in India, Sri Lanka, USA, Naarden, and to Canada now to attend the 12th World Congress to celebrate the 150th year of the TS and centenary of the Theosophical Society in Canada, with the theme Our Role in Shaping the Future and Towards Insight and Wholeness.
Sixth Blessing in my life needs to be mentioned is that I was permitted to compile all the Editorial Articles by Mrs Radha Burnier published in The Theosophist and to publish them in the form of a book titled The World Around Us.
The Seventh Blessing, the last but not the least blessing, I am given the opportunity to serve as the Secretary of the Esoteric School of Theosophy with Mrs. Radha Burnier and the present President, Mrs. Linda Oliviera, with the responsibility of HOD of the Central EST Office at Adyar and President Tim Boyd permitted me to start the digitization of the manuscripts in the Adyar Library and Research Center.
Beautiful Thoughts of life inspire me to explore more of the Theosophical insights: Look back & get Experience; Look forward & see Hope; Look around & find Reality; Look within & find Yourself.
The book, The Light on The Path, says,
-
Hold fast to that which has neither substance nor existence
-
Listen only to the voice which is soundless
-
Look only on that which is invisible alike to the inner and outer sense
And the way is to let go:
-
Let go everything that cannot be controlled
-
Let go everything that you gathered knowledge
It is to be free from the known to gain the power of nothing. Let me end with the words, “Life will test you just before it will bless you.” But don’t forget to count the blessings that give you positive power towards the power to be nothing and the power to bless as reward.
I found the Theosophical Society is a testing ground in our spiritual endeavour.
Prof. C. A. Shinde is a
retired Zoology Professor who worked at Sangli and Pune for 37 years. He is the
Head of the Adyar Library and Research Centre