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A MARRIAGE OF PARAPSYCHOLOGY & PSYCHIC CLAIRVOYANCE: LAURENCE & PHOEBE BENDIT
Welcome to the 26th e-newsletter of The Foundation for Theosophical Studies, which lists our events for the next ten days at the London headquarters of the Theosophical Society in England.
This week we feature a research appeal for personal information about Phoebe and Laurence Bendit, that wonderful, and currently unsung, team of esotericists, the profound parapsychologist husband and his very gifted psychic, clairvoyant wife. Those of us who have read the Bendits' books are likely to be eager for more, and delighted that they are about to be recognised and once again given the prominence they deserve. We will be featuring their work here soon.
As well as our usual classes on Theosophy, another celebrated parapsychologist, Serena Roney-Dougal, heads our events this week, giving two sessions on Sunday - be sure to come along early, as she usually attracts a large audience. Meanwhile, George Sieg continues with Gnosis, Magic and Mysticism, and Sue Peat talks to an open meeting of the Blavatsky Lodge about Rudolf Steiner and depression and illness.
Thank you for all your comments so far about the newsletter. Please keep sending them and let us know if there are any topics you would like us to feature in the future.
We also welcome contributors willing to submit the featured article. These are designed to be properly researched informative, educational or historically-based articles which relate to theosophy and the ageless wisdom.
Do please forward this newsletter to your friends and fellow TS members and encourage them to sign up!
And if you can't get to 50 Gloucester Place, you can always buy CDs or tapes of most of our events. |
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Very best wishes,
Colyn Boyce
Publicity and Administrator
The Foundation is an educational charity which uses theosophical principles to promote knowledge and the study of religion, philosophy and science; which also researches the laws of nature and the powers latent in man; and which promulgates the unity of all people |
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This Week at 50 Gloucester Place |
SUNDAY 21 OCTOBER 2007
2-4.30 pm: EXPLORING CONSCIOUSNESS: YOGA & PSYCHIC AWARENESS
 Serena Roney-Dougal
The Yogic Vedic and Tantric philosophical traditions consider Consciousness as the ultimate origin of the universe. Tantra recognises 16 levels of consciousness and states that our purpose in life is to become one with Consciousness. At the psychic level we experience mind not limited by time, space and the senses, called the siddhis in yogic philosophy. The Yoga Sutras by Patanjali state that these develop automatically as we become more experienced meditators. Research by Dr Roney-Dougal over the past six years, at an ashram in India with swamis, and with Tibetan Buddhist monks, suggests that years of meditation practice is related to a greater degree of psychic awareness. Serena will be teaching some of these meditation techniques this afternoon. Serena Roney-Douglas has spent over 30 years studying and experiencing scientific, magical and spiritual aspects of the psyche.
£15, £10 concessions (all attending receive £2 discount on 6 pm talk)
4.45-5.45 pm: THEOSOPHY: Way to Self- Discovery - Introductory Course on the Ageless Wisdom
 Edward Archer
An informal on-going class in which the basic teachings of Theosophy (Greek for Divine Wisdom) are explored and discussed. In this class we will consider the sevenfold nature of humanity and the cosmos and how karma and reincarnation are involved. The book Deity, Cosmos and Man will be used as the main source text for the meetings.
Admission free
6 pm: TABOO AND BELIEF IN TIBETAN PSYCHIC TRADITION
 Serena Roney-Dougal
The Tibetan culture is renowned for its psychic practitioners. This talk presents a brief overview of a selection of Tibetan beliefs in psychic awareness. The oldest Tibetan traditions are those of the oracles, which involves deity possession, and the practice of Mo divination. More recent beliefs include attainment of psychic abilities through Buddhist meditation practice. These beliefs are surrounded by many taboos. By studying another culture's beliefs and taboos, it is hoped that we may gain a greater understanding of psychic phenomena. One of Britain's best known parapsychologists, Dr Roney-Dougal is the author of Where Science and Magic Meet and The Faery Faith.
£7, £5 concessions + TS members
MONDAY 22 OCTOBER 2007
7-8.30 pm:SELF REALISATION CENTRE
Christian Bodhi
Every Monday until 10 December 2007
The centre is dedicated to the practice of self-realisation, based on Blavatsky, Alice Bailey and Maitreya's teachings. It will provide education in Ageless Wisdom and its day to day application. The meetings are in a form of workshops: offering meditation, signing of mantras and spiritual songs of all religions, text study, free discussion and artistic enterprise (e.g. music, drawing and film making). A due attention will be given to personal growth and emancipation. Your active participation and passion for the community is expected, and your creative contribution is more than welcome. We hope to create a supportive and friendly group where members can feel at home and have an opportunity for individual and group growth.
Christian Bodhi is a long-term student and lecturer of Ageless Wisdom, experienced in Raja, Jnana, Laya and Bhakti Yoga. He is educated in philosophy and science, and he is a student of Bioenergetics school of psychology. Christian is committed to spiritual path through individual, collective and global illumination and transformation.
Admission £3
TUESDAY 23 OCTOBER 2007
7-8.30 pm: THE SECRET DOCTRINE
Victor Hangya
 In the midst of today's materialism and ruins of old religions you are invited to join the excavation of the perennial wisdom! The tool used in our exploration is The Secret Doctrine, which claims 'logical coherence and consistency' and expects to be treated as a 'working hypothesis', so freely accepted by modern science. The SD sheds light on some of the greatest mysteries concerning Man, God and the Universe. Victor Hangya has been exploring the Ageless Wisdom for more than 20 years. Admission free
WEDNESDAY 24 OCTOBER 2007
7 - 9 pm:
GNOSIS, MAGIC & MYSTICISM II
(10, 24 October; 7, 21 November)
George Sieg
This course introduces methods and techniques of applied occultism. Drawing on many Northern and Southern traditions, it covers the cultural and modern relevance of Western esotericism, as well as historical and contemporary occult practices, including magical theory; concentration and meditation; spiritual and elemental magic; and the use of magical runes, sigils, arcana, and 'alphabets of desire.'
George Sieg is researching his MPhil/PhD at the University of Exeter's Centre for the Study of Esotericism.
Admission: £8 (£6 concessions) each night or £24 (£18) if paying for entire course
THURSDAY 25 OCTOBER 2007
6.45 pm BLAVATSKY LODGE:
Rudolf Steiner's Teachings on Illness & Depression
Dr Sue Peat 
Open meeting of the Blavatsky Lodge
£5 (£2 members of Blavatsky Lodge, £3 other TS members)
Read on... |
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PHOEBE & LAURENCE BENDIT |
Did you know Dr Laurence Bendit and his wife Phoebe Payne Bendit?
Leslie Price (Associate Editor of the quarterly Theosophical History) is preparing a talk for Blavatsky Lodge in early 2008, in which tribute will be paid to these two outstanding theosophists of the mid-twentieth century in both the UK and USA. If you knew Dr and Mrs Bendit, or are among the many who have found their writings helpful, Leslie would like to hear from you c/o enews@theosoc.org.uk. Among those who are encouraging this project in the USA is Joy Mills. |
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Dr. Laurence Bendit was the General Secretary of the Theosophical Society in England from 1958-1962. Born in France, of American and British parentage, he was an American citizen until age 25 when he took up residence in England. Dr. Bendit held both MA & MD degrees from Cambridge University, as well as the specialist diploma of Psychological Medicine. His doctoral thesis was on parapsychology, the first ever to be accepted by any British university for that degree.
Dr. Bendit's contributions to Theosophical literature include dozens of articles published in Theosophical journals as well as several books, some of which resulted from collaboration with his wife, Phoebe Bendit.
They both died in 1974. Available books by Laurence Bendit:
· Hidden Aspects of Health and Healing
· The Mirror of Life and Death
· This World and That: An Analytical Study of Psychic Communication
· The Yoga of Beauty 
Phoebe Bendit was a trained psychotherapist who spent most of her career dealing with obscure problems of physical and psychological ill-health. She was also a psychic and clairvoyant.
Her articles appeared regularly in Theosophical journals during the 1960s and early 1970s. Besides lecturing to Theosophical groups around the world, her contributions to Theosophical literature include several books that she co-authored with her husband. Available books by Phoebe Bendit:
· Etheric Field
· Reality of Illusion
· Sixth Sense of Man
Available books by Phoebe & Laurence Bendit:
· The Etheric Body of Man
· Medical Diagnosis By Clairvoyance
· Imagination as Creative Force
· Our Psychic Sense
· Psychic Factors Affect Health
· Resources of the Mind
· The Transforming Mind
· Visions, Dreams, and Symbols
Books by the Bendits can be found at the Theosophical Society in England Library at 50 Gloucester Place. They are also available on-line from Quest Books at
www.questbooks.net |
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