By Marijn Gijsbers

The participants of ITC 2018 in Berlin were asked to fill out an evaluation form and make suggestions for coming ITC conferences.

A total of 41 evaluation forms were returned. From the many positive comments we can conclude that the 2018 conference was a good execution of the Philadelphia Declaration.* Especially appreciated were the open exchanges and the spirit of brotherhood. Like one participant commented: ‘we were swinging like a jazz ensemble.’

The information beforehand, 98%, was good and the readings were well received, 80%. A few participants remarked that it is not necessary to focus so much on differences as we are one movement. The method in which we worked together provided ample opportunity to pick up ideas on how to address the major themes of the conference and communicate them to others (93%).

Ever since ITC became an international body, we have come to see each conference as a new experiment regarding how the different Theosophical streams can work together as a Theosophical Movement. It is great to see that each encounter results in additional suggestions for shaping future conferences. This year’s meeting included short lectures before or after the study circles, suggestions were made on how to integrate the valuable work of the groups, but also other ideas came up, including more “Hot Topics” for future conferences.

 


*The Philadelphia Declaration
We commit ourselves to facilitate the creation of working conferences harnessing the unique genius of the various theosophical streams, by:

  1. identifying suffering/hot topics that need a solution from theosophical perspective
  2. studying and contemplating the theosophical teachings and selecting the relevant principles
  3. translating these into modern language/ putting these into context
  4. developing pure and simple applications (products)
  5. inspire, encourage or facilitate theosophical branches or organizations to enter the arena*, to offer these solutions

we have it in our power to begin the world over again”
– Th. Paine

The Letter of The Maha Chohan