This edition of the AQ leads with the campaign for justice to be done in the case of the defamation of William Q Judge’s name.   

As many will know, Judge was one of the principle founders of the 1875 Theosophical Society and a close co-worker with Mme Blavatsky.   But after Mme Blavatsky died he was accused of “forging messages from the Mahatmas” (see theosophyonline.com), whilst no substantiating evidence has ever been produced that could support such charges.

Perhaps you are one of those who have in past years written to our brothers and sisters at the TS in Adyar asking for a change of policy on this historic injustice?  The details of this year’s call to action starts on page 1.  It may now seem a distant and remote issue from our lives in 2011… but don’t let it pass you by too quickly! 

Many students of the philosophy remain firmly convinced that the rejuvenation of the theosophical movement as a whole hinges on this issue …  and this is not, as may seem at first sight some loosely thought through statement, but an observed effect of group dynamics and psychology.  Where there is disunity and factionalism there is weakness and division… where there is unity and co-operation there is strength and vitality.  HPB has written much along these lines, as is known to those familiar with her writings.    Have a  look at the article on p 1 and the links there – and we hope you’ll feel able write to the TS at Adyar with any constructive comments, or leave them at the bottom of this page. 

This is a grass roots movement – with many supporters of WQJ among TS members – and as it’s only right that the leadership should be made aware of these feelings, so if you feel it’s appropriate please do copy your letters to the local TS centres and the National Presidents.  

William Quan Judge - pencil sketch

We also include in this edition a new piece on earthquakes, written in January by an Italian scientist with some interesting views on earthquake prediction – something current in the light of the recent events in Christchurch NZ and in Japan.   

“The forecasting of earthquakes – a feasible goal” is on p 3: it’s followed by extracts from an article by Mme Blavatsky on the remarkable predictor of earthquakes and volcanoes, the 19th c. seismologist Dr Falb - ”Volcanoes & Earthquakes: seeing them coming” is on p 5.  

There is a “Report on The H.P.B Defense Fund – 2011″ on p 6 which provides an update on the project to address the issues around the controversial 2003 Quest edition of published “letters” of Mme Blavatsky – what has become clear to many is that some of the letters (as many as one in every five?) were not written by her at all.  It’s followed by an AQ Editorial comment on p 8.  

These are all the news and articles inside:  

Celebrating “Justice to Judge” in 2011         p 1
The forecasting of earthquakes – a feasible goal     p 3
Volcanoes & Earthquakes: seeing them coming      p 5
Report on The H.P.B Defense Fund – 2011       p 6
The Letters of H.P.Blavatsky       p 8
The Sphinx & the People Egypt’s Revolution    p 9
News Release from Rupert Sheldrake Online   p10
Animals can tell right from wrong    p11
Music and the Paranormal    p 11
B.P.Wadia on the Inner Work     p 12
Haiti ULT celebrates WQJ’s life    p 12
Californian ITC Conference 2011     p 13
WISDOM IN ACTION    p 14
Protest Success: “Cows Belong in Fields”   p 14
WQJ’s “The Path” 1886-96 available on-line      p 14  

We wish you happy reading – please do print off a copy or two and pass them around your Lodge, study group or to like-minded companions, as  efforts will sooner or later bear their fruits.

With sincere good wishes to all our subscribers for the coming period, 

the AQ Editors in LA USA, London UK and London Canada.  

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Celebrating “Justice to Judge” in 2011

The Sixth Year of Letters to Adyar with other activities also taking place

For the sixth time since April 2006, independent students from various countries will be sending on 13th April 2011 a number of open letters to the President of the Adyar Theosophical Society, Ms. Radha Burnier.  

They will be asking her to help stop a century old injustice by re-examining  the Adyar “Case” against Mr. William Q. Judge. Those who have an interest in the future of the theosophical movement are invited to join the initiative, which is a celebration of its dynamic unity.   

Restoring justice with regard to William Judge does more than showing that Adyar Society cares about Ethics and Truth. It gives a large portion of the movement a better chance to benefit from the example of Judge’s life and from the wisdom present in his books. It opens the way to a more intense life of the theosophical effort, by promoting a better knowledge of  its history and by destroying the illusion of separateness.
It stimulates the perception that the movement as a whole is in fact one single magnetic field; that such an aura or energy-field has a center; and that its living center is related to the “blood” – the skandhas and magnetism donated by its main Founders.   

William Quan Judge - pencil sketch

William Q. Judge showed the importance of a non-bureaucratic view of the theosophical effort. The ultimate center of the visible movement is no outer authority. It is in the heart and mind of each student who’s able to understand its goal and its dharma, and who has a profound respect for its sources of inspiration. Such sources are alive, and they are active in the center of the magnetic field of the movement. The action of promoting respect for the founders increases both individual and collective connection to the source.  

It also makes it possible to attain a better vision of the future unity of the movement.  The building of a lasting and true unity depends on the fulfilment of its Dharma.  

This unity won’t be obtained by the practice of outward social courtesy between shells and personalities, nor by blind obedience to this or that “leader” and “authority”. It will be built by facing reality and discharging the movement’s duty towards mankind, which still remains “the great orphan” these days.  

Although the open letters campaign has no attachment to short term results, it acknowledges that progress has been made since 2006.  More specifically in the last two years,  the campaign has started to become an increasingly  multidimensional process. There has been a growing decentralized response from members of the Adyar Society. Several  regional and online initiatives related to William Judge and to the unity of the movement have taken place in different countries around  mid-April, involving members, websites and  lodges of the Adyar Society, and including talks, seminars and online publications.    

The 19^th century process of persecution against Judge within the Adyar Theosophical Society is extensively documented in the book The Judge Case, by Ernest Pelletier and in other books.  

The accusations were based on a campaign of rumours. They seem to have been used as a tool by those who aimed at attaining political power within the organization. No actual, valid proofs were ever presented against Judge. The Judicial Committee appointed to examine the matter declared it could not decide on the issue.  

Every letter in defence of William Q. Judge should be as widely circulated as possible among one’s friends and co-students, or in publications in one’s local language, so that the vindication of Judge takes place at the grass-roots level,  as long as the international leaders of the Adyar Society are unable to act.  These letters stimulate the movement’s ability to learn from its own mistakes. They help people realize that it is a privilege and a blessing to defend the Founders every time they are unjustly attacked, whether from within or from without the theosophical movement.  

Each in his or her own way, style and words, students will suggest for the sixth time next April 13th that Adyar should publicly admit that Judge was innocent of any wrongdoing – or else open the Adyar Archives and show any existing proofs of his mistakes.   

 The agenda includes some celebration. The letter-effort takes place by April 13, which is Judge’s birthday.  Yet as Judge donated his life to the movement, it is the movement  itself -  in its ever-renewing unity and diversity – that is actually being celebrated by these letters and related activities.      

E-mail messages and phone calls to Adyar are good ideas as additional means of expression; but  it is felt that the efficiency of an air mail letter is greater. Envelopes must be addressed to  

Mrs. Radha Burnier, President           The Theosophical Society       Adyar, Chennai        600 020, India.  

Whenever possible,  signed copies of the letters to Adyar should be sent by air mail to the address indicated below. Ms. Radha Burnier sent  kind answers to some of the letters.  

The  correspondence to Adyar has been discussed in previous editions of “The Aquarian Theosophist” and other theosophical magazines.  Special sections with articles on this topic can be found at the websites:  

www.TheosophyOnline.com       www.Esoteric-Philosophy.com        www.FilosofiaEsoterica.com  

Those interested in obtaining more information may also write to  lutbr@terra.com.br   

Air mail contact:  Carlos Cardoso Aveline, Caixa Postal 5111,  Ag. Brazlândia, CEP 72.705-970, Brasília, DF, Brazil. 

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As we come to the season of Easter – named after Ostara, the Scandinavian goddess of spring or rebirth of the Solar forces in us and Nature – we follow up last month’s theme on the vitality of the theosophical movement, why it’s waning and what may have caused this.

It is said that unless the study of both HPB and WQJ are restored the movement will remain divided and weak.  They are analogous to Buddhi, the “potentiality of intelligence”, and Manas, the active power of the mind: to effect a change both must be brought together into close union.

The lead article is in support of the annual call for “Justice to Judge” – see also “Documents that would clear WQJ’s name” on p 3, which investigates the evidence that would put an end to this long running injustice.

You can also read about the marvellous work of the associates at the Jacmel Lodge in Haiti.  They lost their building in the earthquake on January 12th but managed to open a new one in time for W.Q.Judge Day on 21st March.  They were thankful for assistance from fellow theosophists locally and from Paris, Philadelphia, New York, London and elsewhere.   These few extracts from their emails gives a brief, moving insight to conditions there. 

- “News from Haiti” on p.7 and “Jacmel: a Preliminary Report” on p.8.

It’s said if we believe in something, do it wholeheartedly, if not stay well away from it.   We commend this issue to you and leave the rest to the good Law!

The Editors

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Justice to Judge 

Letters to Adyar – the Fifth Year

For the fifth time since April 2006,  independent students from various countries will be sending on 13 April 2010 a number of open letters to Ms. Radha Burnier, President  of the Adyar Theosophical Society.

They will be asking Ms. Burnier to think of stopping a century old, on-going  injustice by  re-examining  the Adyar “Case” against Mr. William Q. Judge.

Such a decision would be a demonstration that the Adyar Society actually cares about Ethics and Truth. It would give a large portion of the theosophical movement a better chance to benefit from the practical example of Judge’s altruistic life, and from the theosophical wisdom present in his books. 

The open letters campaign has no expectations of great short term results. Karma  may take time, although it always produces results – often by invisible ways. As any social institution, the Adyar T.S. is accountable for what it does or doesn’t do.  Just  like the executive officers of any private corporation or government officers around the world,  Adyar leaders must be willing to accept the truth and to admit the mistakes of  their organization in a public way, especially if  such mistakes create a public, long term illusion.

The 19^th century process of persecution against Judge within the Adyar Theosophical Society is extensively documented in the book The Judge Case, by Ernest Pelletier (published by the Edmonton Theosophical Society, Canada, in June 2004) and in other books.

click to download PDF of magazine

The accusations were based on a campaign of rumours. They seem to have been used as a tool by those who aimed at attaining political power within the organization. No actual, valid proofs were ever presented against Judge. The Judicial Committee appointed to examine the matter declared it could not decide on the issue (on the basis that there was little evidence against WQJ, AQ Eds). Yet  Judge was never declared innocent by Annie Besant’s Society.  It is felt by some that the 21^st century may be a nice occasion for truth to be restored. 

Although 2010 is only the fifth year since the yearly letters began, organizers say that there has been growing sympathy for the cause among members of the Adyar Theosophical Society, in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. According to the organizers, it is easy to see that the Adyar Society has only to gain from accepting the truth, in this and in other matters as well.

Every letter in defence of William Q. Judge has been and should be open. It should also be as widely circulated as possible among one’s friends and co-students, or in publications in one’s local language, so that the vindication of Judge takes place at the grass-roots level, as long as the international leaders of the Adyar Society are unable or unwilling to act.  These letters are also a way of celebrating Mr. Judge’s life and work for the cause of humanity.  They stimulate the movement’s ability to learn from its own mistakes.  They  help people realize not only  that the Founders deserve Respect, but also that it is a duty and a privilege for anyone to actively defend them every time they are unjustly attacked, whether from within or from without the theosophical movement. 

Each in his or her own way, style and words, students will suggest for the fifth time next April 13^th that Adyar should publicly admit that Judge was innocent of any wrongdoing – or else open the Adyar Archives and show any existing proofs of his mistakes. 

The letter-effort is also a celebration: April 13^th has been chosen for it is Judge’s birthday.

E-mail messages and phone calls to Adyar are good ideas as additional means of expression; but  it is felt that the efficiency of an air mail letter is greater.

Envelopes must be addressed to

Mrs. Radha Burnier, President, The Theosophical Society, Adyar, Chennai 600 020, India.

Whenever possible, signed copies of the letters to Adyar should be sent to the air mail address indicated below. Mrs. Radha Burnier – the president of the Adyar Society since 1980 – has sent  kind answers to some of the letters, and the correspondence to Adyar has been discussed in previous editions of “The Aquarian Theosophist” and other theosophical magazines.

More information on the subject – including the first reactions from Mrs. Burnier to the Letters – will be found at

www.esoteric-philosophy.com

Those interested in taking part of the chain of letters may also write to  lutbr@terra.com.br

… or by air mail to:  C.C.Aveline, Caixa Postal 5111, Ag. Brazlândia,

CEP 72.701-970, Brasília, DF, Brazil

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Dear Readers

There is a quiet revolution going on in our engagement with schools.  The difference one knowledgeable person – a retired School Principal – can make to the life chances of hundreds of pupils is extraordinary.  It’s inspired, careful work.  Read about it on page 1.

‘Qualifications for Chelaship’ starts on page 2, on “the power of the Adepts over forces of nature… and their goodness and their solicitude for the welfare of the race”.

There’s lots more inside: on growing wheatgrass, the dangers of MSG in our diet and an announcement from a new study group in Toronto Canada – have a look inside and spread the word.

Grateful thanks to you all for your contributions and making the AQ what it is.  Why not do a little propaganda of your own – if you feel like it, print it off and pass it around.

The Editors

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A Quiet Revolution 

by Ann Colburn, “Once Upon a School” http://onceuponaschool.org/stories/232

[An inspiring account of how one person’s work can affect the life chances of many pupils in the critical teenage years at school.  Ed]

I have always been dismayed by the discrepancy between the poor educational opportunities of low-income students in the inner-city in contrast to that of affluent students in private education…

One of the biggest problems for students in inner-city schools is setting goals for after graduation and making a practical plan for reaching those goals.

Far too many students do not make it to graduation and the result is a huge pool of under-educated young people, too many of whom end up stuck in poverty in dead-end jobs or in jail.  I wanted to help inner-city students dream a positive future and create a viable plan to achieve their goals.

What we did

The director of the Academy of Finance (AOF) at Manual Arts High School noticed my work with a few of his students who had been chosen for the One Voice Scholars program. 

He asked if I would be willing to work with his whole class of seniors to enable them to reach goals similar to the One Voice scholars.

He offered me class time in his block schedule to work with the entire class and encouraged me to meet with students one on one to create a plan tailored to each student’s dreams, needs and individual situation.

Manual Arts High School, 4131 S Vermont Ave a few blocks from the ULT in LA, USA.

Each year for the seven years I have worked with the program, I have expanded my understanding of how to help these students succeed. I now reach out to students beginning in 9th grade to help them to see that college and a better life is in their future…

In the larger school, fewer than half of entering freshmen graduate. Of those who do graduate only 15% or so go to college. In the AOF program, 99% graduate and 90% go on to college.

The remaining students enroll in trade programs. One or two have gone into the military.  We have not had to find much funding for our college program, since it is run by volunteers …

In general the AOF students fund-raise constantly for better classroom equipment, textbooks, desks and even a culminating senior trip to Washington DC.

~ End ~

 Click to read the PDF

Venus - the morning and evening star

The Supplement contains the full text of the new play about the  three Theosophical Founders in 1875 – in it William Q Judge is given a leading role with a monologue at the end that finishes:

“Brothers and Sisters… this Society must not fail.  It will not fail. 

As you’ve just heard, we are entering a New Cycle with all the opportunities that it offers! Humanity has a choice; it can either move further down that road to where its goals are wealth, possessions and selfish gratification, or up towards a Golden Age of compassionate love and the true joy that comes from an awareness that none of us are separate but integral parts of the whole of Nature…

So, though many attempts will be made to break our resolve through slander, malice and deliberate distortions of what we are attempting to teach – and, more importantly, to show by the way we live – it is only indifference that can seriously weaken our cause.  

To study what The Masters have given us is a privilege.  What individually you do with that privilege is up to you.

Remember, when we have gone on, you will be the Society’s advocates; you will be its emissaries.  And remember too that wonderful phrase – our “Inner Abiding Presence”. Draw comfort from the thought of its existence, or – dare I say – from its realisation.”

The play is written by Alan Hughes from the London Adyar TS and its even-handed view of the founders is most warmly welcomed to the AQ. 

Justice for Judge:

The Supplement also contains a so far unreported letter from Canada to the Adyar TS’s International President  from Bruce Mac Donald, that unpicks some of the obstacles at Adyar in restoring Judge’s good name. 

Further it points out the responsibilities of the TS to ‘live the life’ - through impersonal and enlightened leadership which is so clearly needed as an example in these days of drab materialism: in it is asked:

“What is Adyar doing in order to point people in the right direction [not more material progress but a spiritual message]?   William Q. Judge could very well hold the key of a Theosophical Renaissance.”

With best wishes,

The Editors

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• new play about the three founders of the TS in 1875 (extract below from page 1)
• Root Causes ”The Error of Violence” on p 3
• Experiences of a Chela on p 5
• Franklin on Humility & the Virtues p 7
• B.P.Wadia and the early ULT p 8… and don’t miss
• the book review of  the excellent “Is there no other way? – The search for a nonviolent future” p 11

on the founding of the TS –

opens with Narrator, H.P.Blavatsky and Col H.S.Olcott

 extract from Part 1:

 Narrator: … but first, there’s someone else I want to introduce to you all.    So if you’d take a seat.   Colonel, I would like to call forward (raises voice) Mr. William Quan Judge!

          (HSO sits next to HPB as WQJ comes forward, bows to HPB, shakes hands with HSO and turns to face the audience)

         Mr. Judge, we think of you now as the third member of the theosophical ‘trinity’, but am I not right in saying that your doctor many years ago would not have believed such a career as yours would be possible.

  WQJ: He pronounced me dead.

 Narr: Could you elaborate a little, please?

 WQJ:  Not really. I was dead. The doctor had said to my parents who were at the bedside: “I’m deeply sorry, but your son is dead”.

 Narr: (pause) I suspect that everyone in this room feels there’s something more you have to tell us.

WQJ: Well, you can imagine my parents’ surprise when I not only opened my eyes but then started to tell them of having been somewhere else. 

Narr: And in the following months this visiting “somewhere else” continued each time you slept?

WQJ: My mother was a strict Methodist and hated any talk about mysticism and things like reincarnation or the religions of the East.

Narr: And your dreams were of places in the East?

WQJ: Yes, in India. But they weren’t dreams. I was there  – as a boy – a boy of noble birth. Then - (pause)

Narr: Yes?

WQJ: Then he – or rather I – that is, the I in India, died too (pause) Well, actually he didn’t die but he became one with me; or I became one with him. (turns to HPB) Please, Madame, can you explain this better?

HPB: Use your intuition, Judge, and try to understand.

WQJ: To this day I’m not really sure why it was but when I recovered after that near death in Ireland, I found I had an intense interest in books on occultism, and mesmerism and such like. Poor Mother. She felt she’d brought some sort of changeling into the world. And it was doubly “poor Mother” as she exhausted herself giving birth to seven children.

HSO: Didn’t you tell me she died soon after that seventh birth?

WQJ: (pause) Yes. (pause) Father decided that perhaps we’d have a better life in America, so to the United States we came.

————–from Part 4: —————

 HPB: (still writing) That One religion of Nature from which every dogma has grown and – and become sadly materialised, (pretends to gather up papers, stands up, kisses WQJ and follows HSO, waving as she goes)

         (pause)

 Narr: Our revels now are – almost – ended. To round off the story of the formation of our Society this evening, I would like to ask Mr Judge if he would care to say a few closing words – Mr Judge.

 WQJ: (to Narr.) Thank you, Mr – er – thank you. (faces audience)

 Brothers and Sisters, it is surely unnecessary to say to you – members of the T.S. as you all are – that this Society must not fail. It will not fail. As you’ve just heard, we are entering a New Cycle with all the opportunities that it offers!

  Humanity has a choice; it can either move further down that road to where its goals are wealth, possessions and selfish gratification, or up towards a Golden Age of compassionate love and the true joy that comes from an awareness that none of us are separate but integral parts of the whole of Nature.

We have been assured by The Masters that in this task, as long as The Theosophical Society exists, the link between them and ourselves will be maintained.

So, though many attempts will be made to break our resolve through slander, malice and deliberate distortions of what we are attempting to teach -and, more importantly, to show by the way we live – it is only indifference that can seriously weaken our cause.

To study what The Masters have given us is a privilege. What individually you do with that privilege is up to you.

Remember, when we have gone on, you will be the Society’s advocates; you will be its emissaries. And remember too that wonderful phrase - our “Inner Abiding Presence”. Draw comfort from the thought of its existence, or – dare I say – from its realisation.

Therefore, dear friends, whatever your achievements or failures; whenever come your times of happiness or sorrow; wherever you go, may your Inner Abiding Presence always guide you.  (puts hands together)  Namaste.

              (turns to Narr:) Namaste.

              Narr: Namaste.

THE END

 Permission to reprint these extracts were kindly given by the author, Alan Hughes, from the Adyar TS in London UK.

The full text will be reprinted in the May Supplement.

 [...]

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