University of Sydney Conference on Theosophy

The University of Sydney in conjunction with the Theosophical Society in Australia will be hosting a Conference on The Legacies of Theosophy: Unveiling Mysteries of the Creative Imaginary. The Conference will be held at the University, September 30 to October 3, 2010. The Call for Papers notes that:

This conference will explore the cultural legacy of Theosophy and the wider theosophical movement in terms of its considerable impact on twentieth century spirituality, modern art, music, literature, politics and science.  The works of H.P. Blavatsky sought to demonstrate the existence of a vast evolutionary scheme encompassing the whole of nature, physical and spiritual.  Taken up and augmented by the likes of Annie Besant, C.W. Leadbeater, Rudolf Steiner and others, this broad outline, with its implications for the human potential, was highly influential.

The conference seeks to explore the continuity and continuous renewal of some of the key ideas regarding spiritual evolution circulating around the modern theosophical movement, many of which date back to antiquity.  It invites radical approaches to accepted perceptions and established ideas about Theosophy, the Theosophical Society, its offshoots and its key authors.  It asks for new understanding of the great theosophical leaders and spiritual teachers of the modern world, based on an objective and searching appraisal rather than undue bias whether positive or negative.

Those wishing to participate should send an abstract (minimum 200 words for a presentation of 30 minutes) to Associate Professor Vrasidas Karalis at vrasidas.karalis@usyd.edu.au. Proposals are due March 20, 2010.

As far as we know, this will be the first Conference on Theosophy hosted by a major University (though there have been others that included theosophical subjects), and Dara Tatray, the President of the Theosophical Society in Australia, is to be congratulated on this achievement.