INSIGHT Autumn 2008 vol 49 no. 3 Editorial and selected articles from The Journal of The Theosophical Society in England   editorial archive	from the Autumn 2008 issue: Allan Bennett & the Emergence of Buddism in the West by John L. Crow go to article

Inner & Outer Cycles - from the National President This issue of Insight has an extract from one of Annie Besant’s most acclaimed works – A Study in Consciousness. We have taken parts of the section on Spiritual Will for you to think about and maybe from this you will be inspired to read or reread this brilliant exploration of the origins and nature of consciousness. As we head into our winter months, with the autumn colours bringing joy to the eye, we may reflect on the cyclical workings of life in all of their expressions and look within ourselves for the reflections of that. How do we accommodate the changes reflecting from all around us and how do we manifest the changes from within our own cyclical nature? Theosophy teaches us that both these systems of cyclical change – those without and those within – are the same thing and only seen as different or separate from the conditioned view of the lower self. Just as the little will is only a conditioned aspect of the Spiritual Will and must ever work within that higher energy field, so too is the little perception of the lower self working within the super consciousness of the greater Self. I would recommend this way of seeing to you as a really effective way to open up higher awareness in everything you do. Our commitment to brotherhood as Theosophists is very much dependent on us realising these key truths. We are individuals for sure but all of our actions, decisions, plans, and dreams are born, contained, and operate within the greater collective of humanity. Only in this context will we be free to live in accord with our Spiritual Self. Every act, every feeling and every thought is a vibrant pulse in that greater energy. We are the little wills within the greater will of mankind. We can not exist outside of our spiritual family. From this understanding we see our personal uniqueness in its true context and brotherhood is no longer a proposition and objective but an undeniable fact. It is our task to live in accord with this realisation otherwise the outer and the inner – the cycles without and the cycles within – remain apparently unconnected and we are disenfranchised from the greater life. As President of the English Theosophical Society I am indeed fortunate in that so many people talk to me about how Theosophy has brought about positive change in their lives. This is not simply a matter of having acquired a deeper knowledge but the greater awareness that this knowledge has manifested from within. Annie Besant passed from this outer cycle 75 years ago this year. Her profound grasp of the universal truths that we call Theosophy is plain for all to see in her incredible life, writings, and love of that orphan child – humanity – every man, woman, and child of whom were truly her brothers and sisters. I wish you all a cosy autumn with walks among golden bowed trees and evenings curled up by a warm hearth with a good theosophical book. Eric McGough National President       FUTURE DEADLINES We welcome short articles and letters to the Editor on the subject of the Ageless Wisdom and its relevance to the world today. The Editor reserves the right to edit materials for reasons of space and grammar. Please enclose a SAE and post to: 50 Gloucester Place, London Wl U 8EA. Or send your contributions by fax to: 020 7935 9543 or to our e-mail address		Search Insight Articles for (containing text): go to Advanced Text Search >> search all website articles The Insight journal is produced 4 times a year and is sent postfree to members of the Theosophical Society in England. Membership details. info@theosoc.org.uk
Selected articles from INSIGHT
Autumn 2008 Vol 49 No 3 - from this issue ... John L. Crow Allan Bennett & the Emergence of Buddism in the West
Summer 2008 Vol 49 No 2 - from this issue ... Susan Bayliss The Blossom of the Root of Life
Summer 2008 Vol 49 No 2 - from this issue ... Eric McGough The Path of Wisdom
Spring 2008 Vol 49 No 1 - from this issue ... Colin Price Compassion: The Basis of Peace & Understanding
Winter 2007 Vol 48 No 4 - from this issue ... Wayne Gatfield The Heroic Ideal & The Warrior Spirit
Autumn 2007 Vol 48 No 3 - from this issue ... Colin Price The Web of Karma
Summer 2007 Vol 48 No 2 - from this issue ... re-published H.P. Blavatsky What is Theosophy?
Spring 2007 Vol 48 No 1 - from this issue ... Caty Green Who is This 'I' ?
Winter 2006 Vol 47 No 4 - from this issue ... Negeen Sai Zinovieff Ancient Wisdom : Zoroaster
Autumn 2006 Vol 47 No 3 - from this issue ... John O'Rourke Hilma af Klint & the Theosophical Roots of Abstraction in Western Art
Summer 2006 Vol 47 No 2 - from this issue ... Tom Davis Universal Attunement - Doorway to Universal Wisdom
Spring 2006 Vol 47 No 1 - from this issue ... Terry Edwards Strange attractors: An Esoteric View Winter 2005 Vol 46 No 4 - from this issue ... Shirley Nicholson The Mystery of Consciousness. Autumn 2005 Vol 46 No 3 - from this issue ... Colin McCallien Esoteric English: The Wisdom in Everyday Speech Summer 2005 Vol 46 No 2 - from this issue ... Dr Radha Burnier The Way of Self-Knowledge Spring 2005 Vol 46 No 1 - from this issue ... H. P. Blavatsky The Mystery & Sacredness of Number Seven Winter 2004 Vol 45 No 4 - from this issue ... Muriel Daw Paramitas of Perfection (virtues enumerated in The Voice of the Silence) Autumn 2004 Vol 45 No 3 - from this issue ... Geoffrey Farthing Ascending the Heights ~ (previously unpublished) Geoffrey Farthing The Right Angle (writings on Masonry - comiled from the writings of H.P. Blavatsky) Summer 2004 Vol 45 No 2 Alan Wallace The Scientific Frontier of The Spirit (first appeared in the 2002 issue of Network magazine) Spring 2004 Vol 45 No 1 Geoffrey Farthing Truth Is One (first published in 'The Theosophist') November/December 2003 Vol 44 No 6 Playing God? The Genetic Engineering Debate (extract) September/October 2003 Vol 44 No 5 - from this issue ... John Danser Co-operation: A Fact of Nature July/August 2003 Vol 44 No 4 - from this issue ... Christine Lowe. The Grail Mirage. May/June 2003 Vol 44 No 3 - from this issue ... H.P. Blavatsky. The Real Meaning of the Christian Gospels. November/December 2001 Vol 42 No 6 - from this issue ... A Theosophical Labyrinth Painting, Spirituality & The Esoteric (Focus on Jean Delville) Membership articles & lectures Fossils and the Evolution of man George McNamara The Blavatsky Lecture 2003: JOYFUL GNOSIS Dr. Stephan Hoeller The Blavatsky Lecture 2002: THE HARVEST OF LIFE Alan Hughes The Blavatsky Lecture 2001 THEOSOPHY: ITS BENEFICENT POTENTIALITIES Geoffrey Farthing The Blavatsky Lecture 1999: THE SOULS IMPERATIVE Harold Tarn       For further information about Theosophy & the Theosophical Society in England, please contact us www.theosophical-society.org.uk