The Diploma

The Diploma is a one year open-learning course by the Theosophical Society in England, designed to assist students’ understanding of the basic Principles of Theosophy.  Students will undertake the course by home study and have contact with Course Leaders and Course Tutors based around the country.

There will be four modules during the year each divided into three subjects.  At the end of each module Seminars will be run by the Course Leader for each location.  This will give students the opportunity to meet and to share both their understanding and difficulties with each other and with the Course Leader.  The purpose of the Seminars will be to ascertain that students are keeping up with the course and that they have grasped the concepts of the module.

How the Diploma will be Awarded

The Diploma will be awarded to students who have completed the course and shown that they have not simply learned the course material but have truly understood it.  Students must pass the end of year examination.  The course will be centred on gaining an understanding of basic Theosophical Principles. 

Who Can Take the Course?

The Diploma is exclusively for members of the Theosophical Society.  There are no entry requirements other than membership of the Society and the course is available to any member who has a wish to gain knowledge of basic Theosophical Principles.   In due course we hope it will be available to TS members in Europe and around the world, but at least for the first year it will only be available to members who are resident in the United Kingdom.  This will be reviewed at a later date.

How Much will it Cost?

The Fee for the Diploma will be £20.  This modest fee is to make the course accessible, concessions and some bursaries are available.  Students will be provided with three core reference books (see back cover), but will be responsible for their own costs in buying further books, for internet costs and for expenses in attending the seminars.  Guidance will be provided on appropriate free or inexpensive sources of information where available. 

Application Forms

These can be obtained by email from:  diploma@theosoc.org.uk  or downloaded from:  Diploma Application Form  - will open in Word form-filling format, please complete and return by email or print off to return by post. Please telephone 020 5637 9817 to receive the form by post or write to “Diploma”, The Theosophical Society in England, 50 Gloucester Place, London W1U 8EA.

To Register

Application Forms and Course Fees must be received at 50 Gloucester Place, London W1U 8EA by 30th September 2010.  Late entrants may be considered but cannot be accepted after 31st October 2010. 

Duration of the Course and Awards

The Course will commence in October 2010, the end of year examination will be completed by 30th September 2011 and Diplomas will be awarded no later than January 2012.  Students who have been awarded the “Diploma in Theosophy” will be eligible to undertake an “Advanced Diploma in Theosophy” which it is due to commence at a later date.

Course Content

Information will be provided about the Three Objects of the Society, its history and purpose, Universal Truth; and the Path of Service as part of Self-development and to humanity as a whole.  This is to help students to understand the role of the Society and the opportunity for Self-development which Theosophy offers and is not part of the syllabus.
The Syllabus will be comprised of the following modules – examples within brackets:

Module 1

UNIVERSAL LAWS        (From the within to the without, as above so below)
SEVEN PLANES             (Varieties of groupings – two, three, five, seven etc)
SEVEN KINGDOMS OF NATURE     (The elemental kingdoms, progression of              
the life-waves and the ladder of life)

Module 2

HIERARCHIES                 (Angels/devas, nature spirits, and elementals)
INVOLUTION                 (Principles of materialization, from the One to the Many)
EVOLUTION                   (Principles of spiritualization, from the Many to the One)

Module 3

HUMAN CONSTITUTION       (Physical, etheric, astral, lower and higher mind, the
spiritual triad or higher Self, personality or lower self)
REINCARNATION - CYCLE OF LIFE, DEATH AND REBIRTH  
KARMA                                   (As balancer, teacher, Self initiator etc)

Module 4

COSMOGENESIS                     (The awakening of the Cosmos)
CHAINS, ROUNDS, ROOT RACES AND SUB-RACES    (General pattern only)
TIME FOR REVISION FOLLOWED BY EXAM

 

The use of meditation will help to enhance deeper levels of understanding and is strongly recommended to all students.

 

Students will be assigned a Course Leader in their geographical area.

Communication
Communication will mostly be by email and some study material will be available via the internet.  Students with no internet access at this time will be encouraged to start using the web, enlist the help of a friend who has access, or join a local library internet scheme.  Students who can do none of the above will be sent the necessary study material and all formal communications via land mail, with telephone contact as necessary.

Course Leaders

Midlands - John Holden
North West - Hugh Agnew
North East - Susan Bayliss
South - Angela Ovenden
South West – Jennie Dix
South East - Colin Price
Devon and Cornwall – Robert Kitto
London - Eric McGough
Wales - Julie Cunningham

Course Tutors

The role of Tutors will be to help students locate information and navigate their way through the course.

Note:Students will NOT be given theosophical teachings by the Course Leaders or Course Tutors.  All study material will be sourced by the student from books, study papers, and the internet.  Apart from the books and study material given to students as basic reference material, there will be a suggested Reading List with details of appropriate study material on recommended websites.

 

The Motto

The Motto of the Theosophical Society is “There is no Religion Higher than Truth”.   The Masters of the Wisdom encourage each one of us to search for and find that Truth for ourselves.

Text of the Resolutions passed by the General Council of the Theosophical Society.

Freedom of Thought

As the Theosophical Society has spread far and wide over the world, and as members of all religions have become members of it without surrendering the special dogmas, teachings and beliefs of their respective faiths, it is thought desirable to emphasize the fact that there is no doctrine, no opinion, by whomsoever taught or held, that is in any way binding on any member of the Society, none which any member is not free to accept or reject.  Approval of its three objects is the sole condition of membership.   No teacher, or writer, from H.P. Blavatsky onwards, has any authority to impose his or her teachings or opinions on members.  Every member has an equal right to follow any school of thought, but has no right to force the choice on any other.  Neither a candidate for any office nor any voter can be rendered ineligible to stand or to vote, because of any opinion held, or because of membership in any school of thought.  Opinions or beliefs neither bestow privileges nor inflict penalties.  The Members of the General Council earnestly request every member of the Theosophical Society to maintain, defend and act upon these fundamental principles of the Society, and also fearlessly to exercise the right of liberty of thought and of expression thereof, within the limits of courtesy and consideration for others.

The Theosophical Society, while cooperating with all other bodies whose aims and activities make such cooperation possible, is and must remain an organisation entirely independent of them, not committed to any objects save its own, and intent on developing its own work on the broadest and most inclusive lines, so as to move towards its own goal as indicated in and by the pursuits of those objects and that Divine Wisdom which in the abstract is implicit in the title ‘The Theosophical Society’.

Since Universal Brotherhood and the Wisdom are undefined and unlimited, and since there is complete freedom for each and every member of the Society in thought and action, the Society seeks ever to maintain its own distinctive and unique character by remaining free of affiliation with any other organisation.