My name is Dan Noga and I work at the TSA headquarters in Wheaton. At present I am working alongside Pablo and it's through him that I heard about this forum.

I started as a volunteer there in October, 2006 and primarily helped out by stuffing envelopes for the monthly mailings done by the Member Services department. Towards mid-March of 2007, a temp was needed to cover the shipping department and I got to work for about a month and a half doing that. Just as that job was ending, the Member Services Coordinator left and I applied for that job and got it. Another employee was gracious enough to cover that position for me, as I was just heading out for a three-month trip when I got the job, but when I returned in August I began work and have been working there since.

I don't remember when I was first exposed to Theosophy, but it was probably sometime in my early teens. I learned of Madame Blavatsky in 2nd grade. My class had visited the school library and a friend of mine ran up to me to show me a book called "Real Ghosts", and somewhere in that book, Blavatsky's connection to the Spiritualism scene was discussed. This event kicked off a long-standing interest in the paranormal and what lies beyond, but I am generally a curious person. I spent some time fascinated by ghosts and UFOs. From there I learned of occultism, as such subjects are often discussed together. As my study in occultism deepened, I found that there was an even deeper level, that of spirituality, and Theosophical writing has been the most satisfying writing to me in that regard. So I suppose it all began as a quest for deeper understanding of the universe, and eventually developed into a quest for understanding of the Self.

I feel very fortunate to have a vocation that is so compatible with that quest, and I am happy to have signed up for this forum. I have heard very good things about it from Pablo and look forward to discussing Theosophy and getting to know some other theosophists.

Hi, Dan, and welcome to the Forum.

It sounds like you are very dedicated to the Theosophical cause. It will be interesting to hear some of the tales you have to tell.

There are threads in this Forum on all kinds of topics. Please feel free to jump in anywhere and give your opinion & ask questions.

I envy people who are fortunate enough to work at a Theosophical job fulltime. (I am not so lucky.)

You learned of Madame Blavatsky in 2nd grade? Wow, that is amazing.

You said,

"This event kicked off a long-standing interest in the paranormal and what lies beyond, but I am generally a curious person."

--> I believe an "unexplained" interest in a foreign culture, religion, etc., can only be explained one way — that you are merely re-discovering something from a previous life. For example, I feel my amazing and completely unexplainable Japanese language ability can only be due to one possibility, a previous life in Japan. (Native Japanese people are always amazed by my ability to speak Japanese.)

"So I suppose it all began as a quest for deeper understanding of the universe, and eventually developed into a quest for understanding of the Self."

--> It sounds like you are I are on the same page on this. As a matter of fact, I have been doing some exercises to get in touch with my emotional needs. One exercise was to simply keep track of all topics I think about during an unstructured hour by myself. I was surprised to see how often I ponder a deeper understanding of the universe.

"I have heard very good things about it from Pablo and look forward to discussing Theosophy and getting to know some other theosophists."

--> We will be looking forward to your input. Have you read any Theosophical books, or learned any new Theosophical terms recently?

Hey Dan, Welcome

This will be a great place to ask questions, or comment on a thread already posted. I suggest you explore a little to see what has been discussed, and maybe bring an old thread back to life.
Nobody here has the final answer to anything. We're all students. You should find a couple of different points of view on any given topic, as we come from different traditions and backgrounds.

Jon

Hi all,

Thanks for the welcome! It's good to be here.

Nick, you said, "I believe an "unexplained" interest in a foreign culture, religion, etc., can only be explained one way — that you are merely re-discovering something from a previous life. For example, I feel my amazing and completely unexplainable Japanese language ability can only be due to one possibility, a previous life in Japan. (Native Japanese people are always amazed by my ability to speak Japanese.)"

I agree and think this is an interesting idea. I'm not sure if I have this kind of connection with another culture, or at least not one that's quite as evident as yours. Sometimes parts of one culture or another do seem intensely familiar to me for some reason. Perhaps I've had past lives in Rome? That's one in particular that feels almost eerily familiar.

Also, "Have you read any Theosophical books, or learned any new Theosophical terms recently?"

Right now I'm reading The Power of Thought by John Algeo and Shirley Nicholson. I just got done reading Thought Forms by Besant and Leadbeater. I've also enjoyed Invisible Helpers, as well as The Chakras, by Leadbeater. Angels and Mortals: Their Co-Creative Power (not sure if that title is exact) was great, I forget who it was written by, though. I've read part of Devas and Men, but set it down when it got into some things I hadn't learned about yet, so I didn't know what was going on. :lol: I've read some of The Seven Rays by Ernest Wood and also a book by Powell about the astral plane. All were very good and I look forward to reading more.

Hi Dan. welcome. I am sure you will enjoy your time here. Everyone here is friendly and helpful. So once again welcome.

Dan,

You said,

"Perhaps I've had past lives in Rome? That's one in particular that feels almost eerily familiar."

--> I have no doubt you had a previous life there. Have you heard about the 12-year-old boy who is obsessed with the history of a naval destroyer that sank in WWII?

"I just got done reading Thought Forms by Besant and Leadbeater."

--> That is a great book. The book really shows how we are what we think.

"I've also enjoyed Invisible Helpers, as well as The Chakras, by Leadbeater."

--> Invisible Helpers brings up the question of Guardian Angels. I think Guardian Angels exist, although the topic is almost never addressed in Theosophical literature. Knowing about chakras is good, but messing with them is dangerous. I am unhappy with Leadbeater's book because he does not stress the danger of messing with chakras.

"I've read some of The Seven Rays by Ernest Wood...."

--> Wood's book got me to thinking: There are different kinds of people, so we need different kinds of religions — I do not think one religion works for everyone. (I think Christianity is making a mistake when they say their one form of religion works for everyone.)

"...and also a book by Powell about the astral plane."

--> Powell wrote a whole series of books on the astral plane, mental plane, etc. I do not agree with everything he wrote, but his books sure give us a good idea of what consciousness on the mental plane, etc., is really like.

Dan, welcome.

So, are you still fascinated with ghosts, or is your attitude been-there/done-that now that you've emersed yourself into the study of the Doctrine?

I have a sensitivity to conotations. Never liked the term "ghost," has a scarry nuance. Yet, I have no problem with the concept of and reality of "spirit." Adjusting connotations has helped me pursue things I might not otherwise of ventured into, and thankfully, Theosophy isn't prone to sensationalism.

Have a good visit.
Christian

I too have a problem with the word Ghost, not that there is anyhting wrong with it. I think of movies like The haunting and other scary ones. Spirit is a much more benign term and there is much more than can be gleaned from it.

ChristianMyst:

I am not quite as fascinated with ghosts these days. In retrospect, my interest in them seemed to be more like a gateway into things beyond our everyday perceptions. I could say that in learning about ghosts, I found more questions than answers, and I was not content to end my search at that level. I respect what parapsychologists do, but when it comes to ghosts I think I've found a much greater insight about them using the framework of Theosophy. [EDIT: Greater for me and my own needs, not necessarily "better" or "superior".]

sara morgan and Christian:

As to the term "ghosts," I myself don't mind it, or its connotations. Rather, I use it specifically because of those connotations. When I speak of "ghosts," I am usually using the term in reference to hauntings and related phenomena. I use the terms "ghost" and "spirit" differently.

The word "ghost" is gloomy to me, but when I think about what a "ghost" really is to me, that concept is somewhat tragic and "gloomy", so the term is fitting. For example, a ghost can be a person who has undergone physical death, but is still attached to the physical plane or the personality. That is gloomy and depressing to me. A ghost could also be a "shell" or "husk" left over from a person's incarnation, but no longer ensouled by the Ego that was once attached to it. It may now be animated by elementals or something similar. That is also a bit gloomy and creepy to me. It would be desirable for the Ego to quickly cast off its etheric, astral and mental sheaths and enter devachan, to keep the cycle moving. Such a being as I would call a "ghost," if the Ego is still stuck in its lower vehicles, is probably suffering greatly.

I would use the word "spirit" to describe beings such as nature spirits, devas, etc.

Hi Dan, like Nick I am also impressed that you got such an early start with Theosophy. It is uplifting to know that there are people who get an early start.

Lately, I've been wondering about the fact that we sleep every night, that this could be seen as analogous to pralaya. You know, one more comparison in the 'what is above is the same as what is below...' and perhaps seeing our prana as becoming jiva, thus being conscious while the physical body sleeps. It's a bit above my ability to actually go anywhere with the above thought.

I think I will add a welcome as well, because it is kind of funny to me to do so, seeing as how you started thread back before I was a member. :)