SFTS Lodge November 2016 Founder’s Day Statement

SFTS Lodge Altar for Founder’s Day, November 2016.

NOTE: On Friday, November 11, 2016, the SFTS Lodge held its annual celebration of Founders’ Day. (The Theosophical Society was founded in New York on November 17th, 1875.) As we do every year, we honored the contributions of H.P Blavatsky, Colonel Henry S. Olcott and William Q. Judge by sharing stories of their high adventures, great good works, exemplary characters and astonishing karmas. On this particular Founder’s Day, acknowledging the deeply troubling state of the nation and the world, we also discussed the Three Avowed Objects and their practical application, and collectively composed a statement affirming our dedication to these core principles, our core principles. The circle is unbroken. May all beings be well, may all beings be happy. Peace, peace, peace. — Blessings, SFTS Lodge.

SFTS Lodge November 2016 Founder’s Day Statement 
 
We do not discuss politics or political issues. But we do … 
Stand together in strength and solidarity and declare our cultivation of a humanity that meets upon a common ground of respect and tolerance; to form the nucleus of brotherhood-sisterhood in relation to all sentient beings, regardless of race, creed, sex, gender, caste, class … 
Hold fast to the provision of a safe environment where learning and discussion prevail, one which does not tolerate superiority complexes (whether individual or group), hate speech, oppressive attitudes, aggressive behavior, or violent actions. 
Defend all (ourselves and others) against the violence of hate speech, homophobia, xenophobia, misogyny, racism, economic prejudice and religious intolerance. 
Continue to protect our religious freedom by studying comparative religion, philosophy and science, with empathy and the desire to progress in our understanding and our own spiritual growth, 
Build our collective understanding through discovering and tapping into the unexplained powers of nature, and through cultivating and celebrating our relations with all sentient beings.

Three Avowed Objects of the Theosophical Society  (Slightly Modified)
To form a nucleus of the universal brotherhood-sisterhood without distinction of race, creed, sex, gender, class, or color.
To encourage the comparative study of religion, philosophy and science.
To investigate the unexplained powers of nature and the power latent in all human beings.