White Lotus Day 2023: Theosophists celebrate White Lotus Day on May 8 annually. It commemorates the demise of Russian noblewoman and co-founder of the Theosophical Society Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. There are numerous theosophical organisations in the globe, but they all share this celebration. The name ‘White Lotus Day’ was derived from an observation by co-founder American Colonel Henry Steel Olcott that, one year after Blavatsky’s death, white lotuses grew in an unusual abundance at the international headquarters of the organisation in Chennai, India. More than a hundred esoteric religious movements were founded as a result of the society’s propagation of Eastern thought in the West.
HISTORY OF WHITE LOTUS DAY
The contemporary theosophical movement began in 1875 when Helena Blavatsky, Henry Olcott, and William Quan Judge founded the Theosophical Society in New York City. After years of travelling and studying in Europe and the Middle East, the Russian aristocrat Blavatsky departed for the United States in 1873. In 1875, Olcott, an American barrister, journalist, and spiritualism student, was captivated by the teachings and became the society’s president. In 1878, they emigrated to India and settled in Adyar, which now functions as the international headquarters of the organisation. Branch societies were established in key cities throughout India, Europe, and North America.
The term Theosophy is derived from the Greek ‘theos,’ which means ‘god,’ and’sophia,’ which means ‘wisdom,’ and is commonly understood to mean ‘divine wisdom.’
Theosophists emphasise mystic experience and believe in a spiritual reality that is more profound. They believe that it is possible to establish direct contact with this reality through intuition, meditation, revelation, and other states that transcend human consciousness. Modern theosophists assert that all world religions contain this type of interior teaching, and a great deal of effort is devoted to deciphering the meaning of sacred texts. They are also fascinated by preternatural or other extraordinary occurrences, as well as the attainment of psychic and spiritual abilities. Theosophists assert that knowledge of divine wisdom grants access to the mysteries of nature and the human soul. Although Olcott designated this day as White Lotus Day, Blavatsky believed that the flower represented the emergence of the objective from the subjective, as well as the transformation of divine ideation from the abstract to the concrete or visible form.
HOW TO OBSERVE WHITE LOTUS DAY
Visit the main office
Visit the headquarters of the Theosophical Society, which was founded in 1882 in Adyar, India, near Madras (present-day Chennai). The trek would be well worth it.
Read “The Bhagavadgita” and “The Light of Asia”
Follow Blavatsky’s request that members of the society gather on the anniversary of her death to read passages from the Bhagavad-gita and The Light of Asia. After some time, excerpts from Blavatsky’s last published book, “The Voice of the Silence,” were also included.
Get spiritual
Contemplate the esoteric mental imagery of the white lotus and conceive of yourself as an earthling who aspires to blissful and celestial mental states. Alternately, practise the method of meditation with which you are most familiar.
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5 FACTS CONCERNING THEOSOPHY YOU DIDN’T KNOW
It still exists.
The theosophical movement continues to exist, albeit in a much diminished guise compared to its heyday.
Anyone can join it
If you don’t reside close enough to a centre, you can join the Theosophical Society by becoming a national member.
An evangelist of ancient knowledge
Blavatsky viewed herself as a missionary of ancient knowledge and travelled the globe while composing occult books such as “Isis Unveiled” and “The Secret Doctrine.”
Psychic talents
According to the Theosophical Society, she was a remarkable child who displayed psychic abilities at a young age.
It features an intriguing symbol.
It expresses the order of the universe and the spiritual unity of all life by combining symbols from various religious traditions around the world.
WHY WHITE LOTUS DAY IS IMPORTANT
It has a lengthy past.
Theosophy played a crucial role in spreading knowledge of South Asian religions to Western nations and in fostering cultural pride in numerous South Asian countries. A number of notable artists and authors have also been influenced by its teachings.
It was in favour of progressive causes
By 1911, the Theosophical Society was involved in numerous progressive political causes-related initiatives. Strong ties existed between Theosophy and first-wave feminism in England, with theosophical contingents participating in feminist marches of the time.
A day to sample various desserts
Numerous influential figures in the disciplines and the arts participated in and were influenced by the movement. Among the prominent scientists who had been members of the society were Thomas Edison, Alfred Russel Wallace, and William Crookes.
WHITE LOTUS DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | May 8 | Monday |
| 2024 | May 8 | Wednesday |
| 2025 | May 8 | Thursday |
| 2026 | May 8 | Friday |
| 2027 | May 8 | Saturday |
