Canberra Group
Meets third Saturday of each month from 2 to 4pm
Coordinator: Gordon Herbert
Secretary: Barbara Harrod
Email: [email protected]
Bulletins: Current and previous Bulletins from the Canberra Group can be viewed at
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GxQUaqlCD4uJSwWoxNgurd6qZiq3TfZI?usp=sharing
Meeting place: Friends' Meeting House, 17 Bent Steet, Turner (on the corner of Bent and Condamine Streets)
Meet: 2 - 4 pm 3rd Saturday each month.
2023 Programme
2.00pm Saturday 19 August
Topic: Redemption, the Science of Divine Purpose
Presenter: Gordon Herbert
About the presenter:
Gordon has studied the ancient wisdoms and practiced their methods for over 30 years. His interests include evolution and development, symbols and myths, the wisdom teachings of religions, modern inspirations, and astrology, as well as theosophy and the works of Alice Bailey. Aspects of modern science that parallel the older teachings are of particular interest. Gordon has a M.A. in Human Geography and was Tutor and Lecturer at the Australian National University and at Macquarie University. Although offered a tenured position and PhD at Macquarie University he decided instead to study the spiritual wisdoms. For 27 years he was a foreign aid manager in the Australian Government’s Development Assistance Agency, including posting as Head of Aid section at the Australian High Commission in Sri Lanka. His book on stages of spiritual and social development is free on line at http://www.progressions.info.
About the presentation:
Have you ever wondered if there is a single profound purpose for life on Earth and in the rest of the universe? We would need to know the Mind of God, yet the Masters give us hints. Within the cycles of creation there is a constant upliftment of forms and their substance, and then their integration into higher realms of awareness. This is called the redemption of substance, and it applies to all types and levels of life as one integrated whole, as a joint progression to divinity.
This redemption is the core of divine Purpose. It includes human progress, and all assistance given by the Masters to humanity. At a larger level it is our Earth Logos, the Ancient of Days[1], creating and redeeming all of our planet and its life forms. The ongoing Plan of upliftment for humanity changes in pace with our progress. We will consider the hints that the Masters now provide for our present and future. We will also consider an increasing understanding about the nature of spiritual science, and how we must use it for our own redemption.
Divine immanence leads to transcendence, which leads to divine Unity.
The presentation and discussion will focus on
- The nature of redemption
- Spiritual science
- The purpose of redemption
- Our human role
- Hints to disciples
- Relevance to today
- The new Plan of 2025
[1] Also known as Sanat Kumara, the Lord of the World, the highest regent of Life on Earth.
2.00pm Saturday 16 September
Topic: Living with Kuan Yin
Presenter: Walter Mason
About the presenter:
Walter Mason is vice-president of Blavatsky Lodge in Sydney and guest National Speaker for the Theosophical Society in Australia. He is the author of the travel memoirs “Destination Saigon” and “Destination Cambodia” (both published by Allen & Unwin), and is the vice-president of the NSW Dickens Society. He is a well-known travel writer and speaker. Walter is also a popular teacher of writing, mindfulness and creativity. As well as leading tours to Vietnam, Walter teaches Cambodian, Vietnamese and Buddhist history. He is a regular lecturer on literary subjects including E. F. Benson, Noel Coward and the travel writer H. V. Morton. Walter has spoken at festivals and conferences around the world and teaches writing and journaling across Australia.
About the presentation:
Walter has been a devoted Buddhist student for over 25 years and will talk about the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Kuan Yin, or (in Sanskrit) Avalokitesvara, the one who looks upon the world with great compassion. We will look at the lived tradition of Kuan Yin devotion in the Buddhist world and explore ways we can use her stories, traditions and symbolism to help make the world a more compassionate place.
