"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

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

#theosophy #theosophicalsociety #noreligionhigherthantruth #nopowergreaterthanlove #agape #bhakti #jnani #dharma #meditation #yoga #thecircleisunbroken #thegreatwheelturns

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)

"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 

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

#NoReligionHigherThanTruth #NoPowerGreaterThanLove

#Theosophy #TheosophicalSociety

To Register, Go To -

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

To Register, Go To -

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

To Register, Go To -

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

To Register, Go To -

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

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

White Lotus Day, 5/8/25 (Reposted from Theosophical Society World HQ - Adyar)

 

THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF SAN FRANCISCO - MAY-JUNE 2025 PROGRAM

H.P. Blavatsky, Occultist, Author, Founder of the Theosophical Society, Messenger to Humanity
On White Lotus Day, May 8th, Throughout This World & Beyond,
We Theosophists Celebrate Her Extraordinary Life & Profound Teachings

THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF SAN FRANCISCO 

MAY-JUNE 2025 PROGRAM 

ON-LINE: Sunday, 5/18/25, at 6 p.m. - Elaine Santos presents "Relieve Stress with Imagery" 

(For more information on Elaine's work, visit https://wellnessasart.com)

IN-PERSON: Sunday, 5/25/25, 4 to 6 p.m. - Lodge Library Hours / Conversation in Theosophy (Topic: "Cult versus Occult")

ON-LINE: Sunday, 6/15/25,  at 6 p.m., Richard Power presents "Shadow"

 (First in A Series of Four Talks on "Verities of Being")

ON-LINE: Sunday, 6/22/25,  at 6 p.m., Jeff Curtis presents "Recent Scientific Developments in Consciousness & Cosmology"

IN-PERSON: Sunday, 6/29/25, 4 to 6 p.m. - Lodge Library Hours / Conversations in Theosophy (Topic:  "Cult versus Occult")

Our monthly Sunday in-person events start at 4 p.m. and end at 6 p.m. Our monthly Sunday on-line events start at 6 p.m. All 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

This "Special Event" is 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)