Convention 2020 Presentations

Below are video recording of some of the presentations at the Convention in January 2020.

1. Awakening the Heart Mind with John Vorstermans

The exploration of processes to awaken our spiritual potential incorporates the development of a perception that has a heart-mind focus. Some of the practical steps as part of this process of awakening, are outlined below. According to Theosophy, the mind is the soul. The mind and the soul are the same things. The soul is also referred to as our permanent individuality, in contrast with our present personality. It is this Mind-Soul-Ego which incarnates and reincarnates, from life to life and body to body, on a long journey of progressive evolution and inner unfoldment. The doctrine of the eye is the mind turned outward, the inward-looking mind representing the doctrine of the heart. Ultimately we need both developed in balance.

John Vorstermans is from New Zealand. He is the National President of the New Zealand Theosophical Society and has been a past president of the Indo-Pacific Federation of the Theosophical Society.

2. The Incredible Power of Silence by Deepa Padhi

Silence is a place within everybody where all questions are answered, all doubts are dissolved, all creative solutions are found. It is my personal experience that in silence one can let go of one's grief, painful experiences, and release the pent-up emotions. It is the place where you get moved with compassion and love to forgive even those who hurt you the most. Silence is oneness. There is no `other' in silence. Today, life seems to be loud and chaotic because we have lost the art of being silent. Why not enrich and transform our life by adding silence into it?

Dr Deepa Padhi, International Vice-President of the Theosophical Society, is a retired Professor of Philosophy. Her work as a Post-Doctoral Research Scholar was: Live and Let Live – An Analytical Study in Holistic Ethics. Dr Padhi wrote The Ethical Philosophy of the Bhagavad Geeta and edited a book on women’s issues: Yes, She Can. She writes on social, philosophical, Theosophical and spiritual issues for magazines and journals. Dr Padhi joined the TS in 1994. She joined the Theosophical Order of Service in 2006 and in 2012, the Mahabharat Group started the project Change the mindset to stop violence against women. She is associated with orphanages, old age homes, and institutions taking care of women. She believes in practical Theosophy, which to her is spiritual self-transformation and service

3. The Nature of Acceptance with Richard Sell

As humans we tend to try and control circumstances around us to get the best outcome for our self and our family. We tolerate other so long as they go along with our plans, but all this inevitably ends in conflict and unhappiness. By displaying tolerance and acceptance in our actions we find that we are both healthier and happier. We find our lives are richer and lived in a more harmonious mode. This talk discusses tolerance, forgiveness, regret and holding the right attitude to achieving both inner and outer harmony.

Richard Sell is a life long theosophist, growing up in a theosophical family and he joined the Society when he was 16 years old. Richard has been President of Auckland’s HPB Lodge for 6 years and also serves on the Governance Board and is the Chair of the Board.

4. Grow as the Flower Grows with Nancy Secrest

We are all on an obligatory pilgrimage that Blavatsky called spiritual unfoldment. How do we get there? Grow as the Flower Grows.

Nancy served as National Secretary of the Theosophical Society in America (TSA) from 1988 through 1990. A Certified Public Accountant by profession, Nancy subsequently served as the National Treasurer of the TSA for eighteen years. She currently holds the position of International Treasurer of the Theosophical Society. Nancy became the International Secretary of the Theosophical Order of Service in December 2014. Since then she has traveled in the USA, Europe and India giving presentations, talks, and workshops on both theosophical topics and TOS work. Her articles, and some of her talks, have been published in The Theosophist and other theosophical publications.

5. TOS NZ session and panel discussion facilitated by Renee Sell

T OS Session with Special Guests Facilitated by Renee Sell TOS SESSION and Panel with:

Nancy Secrest, International Secretary of the TOS and Treasurer of the International TS with many years of experience within the Society in the USA.
Dr. Deepa Padhi, who started the TOS Mahabharat Group in India and particularly started a project that NZ got involved with ‘Changing the mindset to stop violence against women. She is associated with orphanages, old age homes, and institutions taking care of women. She believes in practical Theosophy…
Michel Chapotin – Head of the TOS in France, and he joined the TS in 1964 at the age of 18, but had been reading theosophical books since the age of 15. He participated in the World Congress held in Salzburg in 1966. And under the influence of John Coats, joined the European Young Theosophists. Was the Vice President of the French section for many years and became President of the TOS 15 years ago. ________ years
Diana Chapotin - ex-international secretary for the TOS will be translating a question that I will ask Michel.

6. The Four Pillars of Enlightenment: Living from Heart

Dr Nicky Hamid is well known in NZ and has taught in universities for over thirty years, in psychology, self-awareness, and spiritual psychology, integrating science with the teachings of the mystic schools and the path of enlightenment.

7. From the world of ‘me’ to the world of ‘we’ with Dr. Deepa Padhi.

A Journey: from the world of ‘me’ to the world of ‘we’ I searched for my sense of self by helping others, particularly unprivileged women and differently challenged persons - this led me to look within. Serving others with genuine love and empathy, showed me the way to develop inclusive consciousness. It is only a change of perception, from limited to unlimited, a change of letter, from 'm' to 'w'.

Dr Deepa Padhi, International Vice-President of the Theosophical Society, is a retired Professor of Philosophy. Her work as a Post-Doctoral Research Scholar was: Live and Let Live – An Analytical Study in Holistic Ethics.

Dr Padhi wrote The Ethical Philosophy of the Bhagavad Geeta and edited a book on women’s issues: Yes, She Can She writes on social, philosophical, Theosophical and spiritual issues for magazines and journals. Dr Padhi joined the TS in 1994. She joined the Theosophical Order of Service in 2006 and in 2012, and the Mahabharat Group started the project Change the mindset to stop violence against women. She is associated with orphanages, old age homes, and institutions taking care of women.

She believes in practical Theosophy, which to her is spiritual self-transformation and service

8. Maori Ways of Healing by Donna Kerridge

A Look at Indigenous Knowing and Healing By investing in understanding how indigenous peoples interpreted their landscape and wellbeing - we consider innovative ways to bridge the gap in health equity in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Māori healing (rongoā Māori), is akin to enhancing vitality (mauri), restoring the life force of people and planet and our connections to the land. Māori, saw themselves as an extension of a wider family group (whānau) and indeed the world itself (Te Ao Marama), totally interdependent - one heart, one breath, one world. Nothing, healed in isolation and the lore of nature, not human doctrine, dictated wellbeing.

Donna Kerridge (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Tahinga, Ngāti Maniapoto) is a traditionally trained Māori medicine practitioner. She is a passionate advocate for the sharing of traditional Māori knowledge as a means to address health inequities in the modern world. She is the contracted spokesperson for Te Kāhui Rongoā, the New Zealand national collective of Māori medicine practitioners.

9. Macro-Micro patterns of the Kosmos with Kirsty Morton

In The Secret Doctrine, HP Blavatsky spoke of a basic item of cosmogony reflected in the ancient saying: "as above, so below". The microcosm is the miniature copy of the macrocosm and therefore what is found "below" can be found, often through analogy, "above". Examples include the basic structures of microcosmic organisms mirroring the structure of macrocosmic organisms. The lifespan of a human being can be seen to follow, by analogy, the same path as the seasons of the Earth, and in theosophy, it is postulated that the same general process is equally applied to the lifespan of a planet, a solar system, a galaxy and to the universe itself.

Kirsty Morton has been president of Theosophy Whanganui since 2016 and has filled all executive committee roles since becoming a Theosophical Society member in 2012. She works fulltime in the health sector, supports community development including face-painting at events, enjoys being a parent of three and grandparent of two, is a Reiki 2 practitioner, and runs an eco page. She agrees with Richard Bach in his Jonathon Livingston Seagull piece: "It's good to be a seeker, but sooner or later you have to be a finder. And then it is well to give what you have found, a gift into the world for whoever will accept it."

10. Bringing the Experience and Reality of Oneness to Life

How does this journey begin, and what are some things that feed its emergence into full expression?

Murray Stentiford combines knowledge of science, music, and spirituality with a passion for exploring and sharing things, life and consciousness. He has held several positions of responsibility in the Theosophical Society over the years, including those of National Vice President and National Education Coordinator. Murray has a Masters's degree in Physics and is also an accomplished musician.

11. Annie Besant in the 21st Century with Nancy Secrest

Annie Besant in the 21st Century. A biographical look at Annie Besant fast forwarded to the issues and answers we face in service work today.

Nancy Secrest, the International Treasurer of the Theosophical Society, began studying metaphysics and comparative religion in childhood. She encountered Theosophy in her early twenties and joined the Theosophical Society in 1980. Nancy served as National Secretary of the Theosophical Society in America (TSA) from 1988 through 1990. A Certified Public Accountant by profession, Nancy subsequently served as National Treasurer of the TSA for eighteen years. She currently holds the position of International Treasurer of the Theosophical Society. Nancy became the International Secretary of the Theosophical Order of Service in December 2014. Since then she has traveled in the USA, Europe and India giving presentations, talks and workshops on both theosophical topics and TOS work. Her articles, and some of her talks, have been published in The Theosophist and other theosophical publications.

12. An evening with Russell Shipman (Former Venerable Tenzin Chosang)

Former Venerable Tenzin began practising Buddhism in the 1990’s and in 1996 when HH Dalai Lama consecrated the newly bought property of Trashi Gomang, he also cut a lock of Ven Tenzin’s hair as a sign of Tenzin’s wish to enter the monastic life. In the years that followed, he took novice monk and then full ordination with His Holiness in Dharamsala and spent some time at Gomang Drepung Monastery in south India.

Following Khensur Thapkhey Rinpoche’s passing in 1999, ven Tenzin returned to Trashi Gomang to help stabilise and develop the Centre. He has provided a continual and multifaceted support, both as a monastic as well as taking on many practical roles. He was a founding trustee and completed a 5 year period as Director. He runs a weekly meditation class at the centre on Thursday nights at 8 pm, as well as in a broad spectrum of the community – helping various other Buddhist centers, giving instruction and talks as well as assisting with English documents, running classes at St Matthews in the City, the Sri Lankan temple in Hamilton, Auckland District Health Board’s mental health facility Seagar House, private houses and a Dharma Radio programme through the Chinese Buddhist Youth Association.