Since 1982

The Wisdom of the Sages – Italy – 2008

Project Info

Project Description

European School of Theosophy  18-25 October Venice, Italy

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Saturday to Saturday
18th – 25th October 2008
Theme:
The Wisdom of the Sages
Venue: Centro Morosini
Via Alberoni 51, Alberoni 30126 Venezia, Italy
Tel: 041-731070-731076

Dr Joscelyn Godwin
was was born in England and came to the USA in 1966. Educated at Cambridge and Cornell Universities, he is known for his writings, translations, and editions in two fields: Speculative Music and the Western Esoteric Tradition. His many books include Harmonies of Heaven and Earth, The Theosophical Enlightenment, The Pagan Dream of the Renaissance, and most recently The Golden Thread: the Ageless Wisdom of the Western Mystery Traditions, published by Quest Books. Since 1971 he has taught at Colgate University in New York State, where he is Professor of Music and Medieval & Renaissance Studies.

IS THERE A GOLDEN THREAD?
Referring in its title to Godwin’s recent book, The Golden Thread, this lecture highlights some continuities and discontinuities in the history of the Western Esoteric Tradition.

THE MAHATMA LETTERS AS A DOCUMENT OF THE “THEOSOPHICAL ENLIGHTENMENT”How do atheism and occultism mix, as expressed in the letters from Mahatmas Koot Hoomi and Morya? This lecture examines the Mahatmas’ sympathetic revision of the program of the European Enlightenment.

PYTHAGOREAN PRINCIPLES OF MUSIC
A non-technical guide to the mathematical and symbolic principles behind the musical system, and the worldview that emerges from them.


THE ITALIAN ESOTERIC STRAIN IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

This lecture focuses on the Gruppo di Ur of the 1920s, its ties with Theosophy and Anthroposophy, and its teaching of pagan wisdom and practical magic.

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Dr. Edi Bilimoria 
THE INNER KNOWING FLUSHES OUT THE OUTER IGNORANCE

This talk will explain the trials and tribulations of the earnest aspirant walking the thorny path. H. P. Blavatsky’s Warning about the Strange Law in Occultism where a person’s true character is brought to the surface and he can no longer assume a mask and pretend to be what is not will be elucidated. (2 lectures)

SCIENTIFIC EVOLUTION AND OCCULT ANTHROPOGENESIS 
– The Scientific Position, Its Interface with the Esoteric, and the Occult Doctrine.
The whole question of evolution and the powers latent in man devolves on the inquiry into what is Consciousness and Intelligence: Is it primordial and the primary in us? Or is it an epiphenomenon manufactured by brain electrochemical processes – a by-product of matter? These two lectures are designed around this central inquiry as regards evolution; and the ramifications of our discoveries. Firstly, we explain the scientific position, make clear its limitations and assumptions and then point up the mass of anomalous evidence that is undermining orthodox Darwinian theory and alluding towards the esoteric doctrines. Then we describe the grand occult doctrine of Anthropogenesis through the Root Races. (2 lectures)
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Michael Gomes
is well-known for his writings on the modern Theosophical movement, having spent the past forty years researching the field. He has edited a number of Mme. Blavatsky’s writings, including an abridgment of her first book, Isis Unveiled. He was made an Honorary Director of the EST in 2007. He is also on the editorial committee for the Collected Letters of H.P. Blavatsky, part of her Collected Writings series, and a contributor to the forthcoming Cambridge Handbook of Western Mysticism and Esotericism. He is Director of the Emily Sellon Memorial Library in New York.

UNLOCKING INTUITION: HERMES TRISMEGISTUS AND THE FUNCTION OF BUDDHI
“Follow the law of analogy,” the Masters teach.’ So HPB reminds the student in the Secret Doctrine. Using the lore surrounding the legendary teacher Hermes Trismegistus, we will, following the law of analogy, see how it enlightens us as to the function of Buddhi, the divine intuition latent in all, and provides a key to its workings. (2 lectures)


THE HIERARCHY OF COMPASSION

Figures of cosmic Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and divine teachers, are part of the story of creation put forward in the writings of HPB and the Mahatmas. We will look at this schema in detail and see how it relates to individual development.

Harold Tarn.
AN UNLIKELY SAGE – RICHARD WAGNER 
The ‘ self ‘ of Wagner is well documented, but what riches his ‘ Self ‘ has passed on to us! He studied Buddhism and towards the end of his life his thinking was very much in line with what was being published by the T.S during the same period. Writing in 1986,Robbins Landon had this to say of the Ring cycle – (it) ” becomes more important to humanity every year…and….like Mozart’s music, becomes increasingly an essential part of our lives” This surely echoes Edouard Schure in 1910 : “his music has become one of the most active occult agencies of the present time” (2 lectures)
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Colin Price.
THE WORLD OF DEEP SILENCE

Beyond the physical noise of our lives and the inner voice of our restless minds there is a world of spiritual awareness and consciousness. Entry into this world is only possible when the aspirant fulfils certain very demanding conditions. There is a reality compared with which our present lives are an illusion.

THE MYTH OF THE BEGINNING OF TIME
If the Universe really did begin with a big bang what preceded it? Did time as we know it begin then? Our earthly experience of time is like our being in the shallow end of the swimming pool. As we go deeper we discover that there is an esoteric philosophical view with concepts of duration and cyclicity that provide many answers to these questions.
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Dr Joscelyn Godwin will design a detailed itinerary
with emphasis on symbolism and
spiritually significant sites.

To read a review of Joscelyn Godwin’s The Golden Thread go to the John Robert Colombo Page at http://www.gurdjieffbooks.wordpress.com