Sunday, September 14, 2025

"The Society will live on into and through the twentieth century ..." - Blavatsky on the Kali Yuga & the Theosophical Society's Mission

So long as the T.S. has a few devoted members willing to work for it without reward & thanks, so long as a few good Theosophists support it with occasional donations, so long will it exist, & nothing can crush it. - H.P.B., Key to Theosophy

Excerpts from H.P. Blavatsky's Key to Theosophy (1889)

To this day no one seems even to feel quite certain whether the Theosophists are a kind of Serpent-and-Devil worshipers, or simply “Esoteric Buddhists”—whatever that may mean. It was useless for us to go on denying, day after day and year after year, every kind of inconceivable cock-and-bull stories about us; for, no sooner was one disposed of, than another, a still more absurd and malicious one, was born out of the ashes of the first.

So long as the T.S. has a few devoted members willing to work for it without reward and thanks, so long as a few good Theosophists support it with occasional donations, so long will it exist, and nothing can crush it.
Enquirer: I have heard many Theosophists speak of a “power behind the Society” and of certain “Mahatmas,” mentioned also in Mr. Sinnett’s works, that are said to have founded the Society, to watch over and protect it.
HPB: You may laugh, but it is so.

We call them “Masters” because they are our teachers; and because from them we have derived all the Theosophical truths, however inadequately some of us may have expressed, and others understood, them. They are men of great learning, whom we term Initiates, and still greater holiness of life. They are not ascetics in the ordinary sense, though they certainly remain apart from the turmoil and strife of your western world.

The Society will live on into and through the twentieth century. It will gradually leaven and permeate the great mass of thinking and intelligent people with its large-minded and noble ideas of Religion, Duty, and Philanthropy. Slowly but surely it will burst asunder the iron fetters of creeds and dogmas, of social and caste prejudices; it will break down racial and national antipathies and barriers, and will open the way to the practical realization of the Brotherhood of all men.

Through its teaching, through the philosophy which it has rendered accessible and intelligible to the modern mind, the West will learn to understand and appreciate the East at its true value. Further, the development of the psychic powers and faculties, the premonitory symptoms of which are already visible in America, will proceed healthily and normally.

It is curious to see how prophetic in almost all things was the writer of Vishnu Purâna when foretelling to Maitreya some of the dark influences and sins of this Kali Yug. For after saying that the “barbarians” will be masters of the banks… There will be contemporary monarchs, reigning over the earth— kings of churlish spirit, violent temper, and ever addicted to falsehood and wickedness... Wealth and piety will decrease until the world will be wholly depraved. Property alone will confer rank; wealth will be the only source of devotion; passion will be the sole bond of union between the sexes; falsehood will be the only means of success in litigation; and women will be objects merely of sensual gratification.

Mankind will be saved from the terrible dangers, both mental and bodily, which are inevitable when that unfolding takes place, as it threatens to do, in a hot-bed of selfishness and all evil passions. Man’s mental and psychic growth will proceed in harmony with his moral improvement, while his material surroundings will reflect the peace and fraternal goodwill which will reign in his mind, instead of the discord and strife which is everywhere apparent around us today.

Tuesday, September 2, 2025

THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF SAN FRANCISCO SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2025 PROGRAM

What then is Theosophy? It is the formulated system of natural Religion-Philosophy-Science, embracing the verities of infinite Nature, and teaching therefore of the structure, operations, and laws of Nature as they have been and are visioned, seen, experienced, witnessed by all the great Sages and Seers of the past and present. - Gottfried de Purucker, The Masters and the Path of Occultism (1939)

THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF SAN FRANCISCO SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2025 PROGRAM 

IN-PERSON: Sunday, 9/21/25, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. - Richard Power presents "Verities of Being, Part 4: Spanda"

ON-LINE: Sunday, 9/21/25,  at 6 p.m., - Richard Power presents "Verities of Being, Part 4: Spanda"

ON-LINE: Sunday, 9/28/25,  at 6 p.m., Elaine Santos presents "Antarayh Imagery - Understanding Your Obstacle to Practice"

ON-LINE: Sunday, 10/12/25,  at 6 p.m., Jeff Curtis presents "In the Beginning, There was Nothing, which Exploded"

IN-PERSON: Sunday, 10/26/25, 4 to 6 p.m. - Lodge Library Hours / Conversations in Theosophy (Topic:  "Cult versus Occult")

SPECIAL EVENT: "Verities of Being: Part IV: Spanda"

This last talk in Richard Power's "Verities of Being" series will be held both in-person (at the Lodge) and on-line (via Zoom). The talk itself, like the others, will start at 6 p.m.

For those attending in-person, the Lodge will open at 4 p.m.

Join us for refreshments. Explore the library. Catch up with friends.

For those who want to view the talk on-line, here is the Zoom registration link:

After you register, you will receive e-mail with confirmation and instructions.

If you already registered for any of the prior talks in the series, you don't have to register again.

For more information, e-mail us (sftslodge at gmail.com) or inquire via Facebook Messenger (https://www.facebook.com/sfts.lodge)

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

"Just a wild-assed spark of the Infinite functioning in the finite" - Celebrating the 33rd Anniversary of the Paranirvana of Legendary American Sage Joe Miller


Today we celebrate the 33rd anniversary of the parinirvana of
 the legendary American sage Joe Miller on 8/19/92 - SFTS Lodge 

"I know I'm NOTHING," Joe once bellowed, "no-thing, no-thing ... just a wild-assed spark of the Infinite functioning in the finite." -- Great Song: Life & Teachings of Joe Miller 

Joe was a retired vaudeville and burlesque entertainer, with an 8th grade education. He never traveled to the East. But the East came to him. Visiting Tibetan teachers called him a "Lama" and a "Tulku." Visiting Sufi teachers called him "Murshid" (Master) and "Madzoub" (Idiot of God). Visiting Indian teachers called him "Swami" and "Guru" and thanked him for his Darshan. Visiting Korean and Japanese teachers recognized him as a "Zen Master." He was given numerous unsolicited titles, but never used them. He shared the deepest teachings for free. He said he was not a teacher, he said he was "just a friend." He never took any money from any of us, he said he lived off his "rich uncle" (i.e., his social security check). Hundreds of people gathered in Golden Gate Park every Thursday morning to take a walk with him. His only official affiliation was with the San Francisco Lodge of the Theosophical Society. His story is told in my first book, "Great Song: Life and Teachings of Joe Miller" (Maypop, 1993). Published by our friend and colleague Coleman Barks (famed for his renderings of Rumi's mystical poetry). - Richard Power 

"Great Song" is available in both soft cover and Kindle versions from Amazon.com

#theosophy #theosophicalsociety #noreligionhigherthantruth #nopowergreaterthanlove

Sunday, August 10, 2025

From August 10, 1901 to August 10, 2025 & On & On - "No Power Greater Than Love"

 

Today is the 124th birthday of the San Francisco Theosophical Society (SFTS) Lodge. Our charter was signed by the remarkable Annie Besant on August 10th, 1901.

SFTS Lodge has borne witness to two World Wars, the Great Depression, the rise of the Information Age, the ongoing planetary Climate Emergency, the global Covid pandemic and other dire threats.

The legendary American sages Joe and Guin Miller brought many of us into the circle of this Lodge and some of us have kept it alive and thriving since the Millers’ passing in 1992. Yes, over three decades ago. Poignantly, a new generation of members, friends and allies who never met Joe and Guin have felt the power and holy atmosphere of this space and have made it a part of their lives.

The circle is unbroken. As Joe used to say, “We pray to the great god ‘On’!”

"The motto under our symbol out there on the wall says, 'There is no religion higher than Truth.' Of course, we in this particular lodge have added another line to that, 'And no power greater than love.' Because love is what makes it all go around. That’s what Theosophy is all about — wisdom and love. There is a place in The Secret Doctrine where it states very clearly that Theosophy isn’t the 'love of wisdom,' but rather 'the wisdom of love.' If each one of you thinks back over your life, you will see that it is always feeling that moves you, the feeling of love."
- Joe Miller, Great Song: Life and Teachings of Joe Miller




Wednesday, July 2, 2025

THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF SAN FRANCISCO JULY-AUGUST 2025 PROGRAM

 

"No Religion Higher Than Truth, No Power Greater Than Love"
Altar, Main Meeting Room, Theosophical Society of San Francisco

THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF SAN FRANCISCO 

JULY-AUGUST 2025 PROGRAM 

ON-LINE: Sunday, 7/20/25,  at 6 p.m., Richard Power presents "Siddha" (Second in A Series of Four Talks on "Verities of Being")

IN-PERSON: Sunday, 7/27/25, 4 to 6 p.m. - Lodge Library Hours / Conversation in Theosophy (Topic: "Cult versus Occult")

ON-LINE: Sunday, 8/10/25,  at 6 p.m., Jeff Curtis presents "Some Highlights from the JWST Revolution in Cosmology"

ON-LINE: Sunday, 8/17/25,  at 6 p.m., Richard Power presents "Shakta" (Third in A Series of Four Talks on "Verities of Being")

IN-PERSON: Sunday, 8/24/25, 4 to 6 p.m. - Lodge Library Hours / Conversations in Theosophy (Topic:  "Cult versus Occult")

Our monthly in-person events are held on Sundays at 4 p.m. 

Our on-line events are held once or twice a month on Sundays at 6 p.m. 

All Lodge events are free and available to the public. 

SPECIAL EVENT: "Verities of Being: A Series of Four Talks by Richard Power"

 6/15/25  -  Shadow
 7/20/25  -  Siddha
 8/17/25  -  Shakta 
 9/21/25 -  Spanda

The "Verities of Being" series will be held on-line via Zoom. 

Here is the Zoom registration link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ygrx3Z1ESHCR9muMtKrwDw

You will only have to register once. You will be confirmed for all four talks.

After you register, you will receive e-mail with confirmation and instructions.

For more information, e-mail us (sftslodge at gmail.com) or inquire via Facebook Messenger (https://www.facebook.com/sfts.lodge)

Friday, May 23, 2025

"Verities of Being" - A Series of Four Talks By Richard Power



"Verities of Being" - A Series of Four Talks By Richard Power

Theosophical Society of San Francisco via Zoom


June 15, 6-7 pm - “Part 1: Shadow”

July 20, 6-7 pm - “Part 2: Siddha”

August 17, 6-7 pm - “Part 3: Shakta”

Sept 21, 6-7 pm – “Part 4: Spanda”

Register Once & You Will Be Confirmed for All 4 Talks

To Register, Go To 


#Theosophy #TheosophicalSociety


To Register, Go To -





To Register, Go To -


Thursday, May 8, 2025

White Lotus Day, 5/8/25 (Theosophical Society of San Francisco)

 

"The Universe is the periodical manifestation of this unknown Absolute Essence" - H.P. Blavatsky

Every year, on May 8th, in solidarity with our fellow Theosophists throughout the world, the SFTS Lodge celebrates #WhiteLotusDay. To honor the passing of the great occultist H.P. Blavatsky, founder of the #TheosophicalSociety

Here are some powerful, personal reflections on the life and work of H.P. Blavatsky, from three beings, who like H.P.B. herself, made profound contributions to the collective knowledge and wisdom of our species (one of them might surprise some of you):

And we, who lived around her, who in closest intimacy watched her day after day, we bear witness to the unselfish beauty of her life, the nobility of her character, and we lay at her feet our most reverent gratitude for knowledge gained, lives purified, strength developed. - Annie Besant

Mme Blavatsky is a bit wild and somewhat irrational and speaks as if she were the Oracle of Delphi. But I will admit that I find some interesting observations in her book which was published as you know, back in 1888, at a time when physics and science were in their swaddling clothes... I'm astonished how much in keeping it is with modern Physics... There are many other significant statements of hers which I find interesting, but for which i have no time to discuss now. - Albert Einstein

She was a splendid pianist, playing with a touch and expression that were simply superb. Her hands were models—ideal and actual—for a sculptor and never seen to such advantage as when flying over the keyboard to find its magical melodies... There were times when she was occupied by one of the Mahâtmas, when her playing was indescribably grand. She would sit in the dusk sometimes, with nobody else in the room beside myself, and strike from the sweet-toned instrument improvisations that might well make one fancy he was listening to the Gandhâvas, or heavenly choristers. It was the harmony of heaven... - Henry S. Olcott 

And here is a beautiful performance of the adagio from Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata (the music she asked be played in remembrance of her, annually, on this date): 


#theosophy