I’m Jon. I live in the Chicago area, and work as a manager in the automotive industry.

I guess I’m a Theosophist (small “t” anyway). I have been a member of the TSA (Adyar) since 1996, although I was not specifically interested in Theosophy until maybe 2001-2. I have been a lurker on theos-talk and theos-l most of those years as well.

I am a student of many flavors of the Western traditions and I'm also interested in advaita-vedanta (Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta Maharaj). I am constantly reading, and have a broad education, but I am by no means an expert or master in any subject.

I am a book hound. I have a rather large personal library at home covering religion, science and philosophy. I don’t collect rare or expensive books, but there are a few on my shelves that are scarce or unusual. The internet has been a tremendous help in finding titles that are usually only found in good libraries.

Lately, I have narrowed my focus to Theosophy in particular, reading HPB and Purucker. I attended a six week course on the Mahatma Letters with Joy Mills last fall in Ojai and I also frequently attend classes and lectures at the TSA HQ at Olcott in Wheaton. I have also become somewhat interested in the history of the societies and their politics. I, however am not a political guy, and do not particularly favor one society over another. I enjoy meeting theosophists of all flavors, and seeing how the various groups do their lectures and study groups. I attended the Theosophical Gathering last year in Santa Barbara, and have met a couple of y'all on this board.

Gnothi se auton. It is by understanding oneself that one understands the universe and his place in it - not separate from it. My intent is to know myself, conquer my lower self as best I can, so that I might become a more perfect instrument for my higher will.

I thoroughly embrace the three objects (TSA), though the first is by far the most important. The second is a means to the first, and the third ain’t all that important to me. I’m not interested in developing any latent powers. I have all (or will have) I need. I feel that dharma is not stressed by the societies as it should be. Theosophy should not be solely an intellectual pursuit. Selfless service to one’s fellow beings is key.

Please don't expect me to talk too much here - I've said too much already.

Namaste, Jon

Jon, welcome to the Forum. I envy you being so close to the Wheaton headquarters! I also attended the Santa Barbara conference last summer, so maybe I will recognize you if I see you this year at Julian.

I am glad to hear that you take an open mind to the different traditions within Theosophy. One of the reasons this Forum was created was to give members of the different Theosophical traditons a chance to communicate with each other.

You are interested in the history of TS? Have you read Theosophy: A Modern Revival of Ancient Wisdom by Alvin Boyd Kuhn?

I have not read Kuhn's book. After reading The Occult World and Hansen's Masters & Men during the Mahatma Letters course, I went on to try and understand how we got to where we are today. I read pieces of Ransom's history, Joy Mills' 100 Years and then a bunch of articles on Judge, Tingley and Conger. I really don't want to study history (of men and organizations), but the teachings themselves.