Interview with Kathryn Gann, President of the Denver Denver Theosophical Society

By Mike Brenner

Key Inspirations' Senior Editor Mike Brenner recently spoke with Kathryn Gann, president of The Denver Theosophical Society, about potential, positivity, and personal centeredness in challenging times.

KI: You are the President of The Denver Theosophical Society. I'm sure a lot of readers will be wondering what the difference is between "philosophical" and "theosophical."

KG: Theosophy is a type of philosophy that focuses on spiritual things. It comes from a compound Greek word originally coined by the Neo-Platonists: Theos means divine and Sophia means wisdom. So it's a philosophy that deals with spiritual wisdom teachings. It's not a religion per se but is, you might say, the heart and essence of all religions.

KI: Tell me about the mission of the Denver Theosophical Society and The Theosophical Society in general.

KG: The Theosophical Society is a modern version of many similar movements going back to antiquity. It provides an opportunity to not only explore timeless truths but, more importantly, to put them into practice. It's important for people to realize that, as lofty as these concepts and principles sound, they're also very practical. Theosophy provides the ideas and our daily lives are the workshop in which we can put those ideas into practice and really make them part of us. So the bottom line mission of the Theosophical Society is to promote human growth and spiritual evolution. The Theosophical Society in America has a website your readers may wish to explore: www.Theosophical.org.

In our local Denver group, we study wisdom teachings together and invite guest speakers in order to explore different viewpoints and perspectives. Through our service branch, we offer a free healing meditation service for people who need some positive energy sent their way: www.TheoService.org.

KI: Let's get into some practical uses for theosophy so that we can make these concepts relevant to our readers. Why is it particularly important in this day and age to reconcile the religions, philosophies, and sciences of both East and West - one of your group's stated missions?

KG: As I've studied theosophy, it's been fascinating to see that at the bottom of it all each religion, philosophy and even branch of science is essentially reaching toward the same thing - that is, figuring out the true nature of the world we live in. Think of the synergy we would create if we all focused on the common threads running through our views rather than the differences. If we spent our energy on connection and collaboration rather than competition, what could humanity achieve? Or better yet, what couldn't we achieve? There would be no stopping us. Is it something we can really do? That, of course, remains open to debate. There are reasons to be optimistic but also many challenges to be faced. But I really like what President Obama said in a different but equally important context: we must find a way to disagree without being disagreeable.

KI: Your website emphasizes the importance of "increasing awareness of the Inner Reality present in every human being." What exactly does this mean and how does this enhance wellbeing?

KG: The idea of Inner Reality sounds abstract but it's really not. Some of your readers may have heard it referred to as "Source Energy" or simply "Source." There are many different names for it. But regardless of what we call it, Inner Reality is nothing more or less than our true nature. It both contains and encompasses the qualities we all seek - happiness, joy, peace, intelligence, and bliss. In that sense, it connects and binds all of us. The most important thing to remember about our Inner Reality is that it is essentially limitless. We may impose limits on it. Others may try to impose limits on it. But limitless potential is always within our grasp, just as the sun during an eclipse is temporarily blocked but remains in the sky providing warmth and light. Our current economic woes are like that eclipse. Right now many of us are too focused on bills, debts and keeping or finding jobs to think about our limitless potential as human beings. But that doesn't mean it goes away or disappears. It is always within us. I think that is a comforting notion.

KI: You've stated elsewhere that truth is best sought "by study, reflection, and service." What is significant about these three concepts?

KG: I think of these concepts as three legs of a stool. We might think of studying as the taking in of knowledge, just as we take in food when we eat. Reflection on what we've learned is akin to the process of digestion, where we assimilate the new material into our being. Service is where "the rubber meets the road," because it's by altruistic interaction with others that we transform knowledge and principles into faculties and skills. So paradoxically, it's by helping others that we most help ourselves. This is especially true now, when so many of our fellow Americans are hurting and in need of a helping hand and an empathetic ear.

KI: With regard to personal centeredness and wellbeing in our chaotic and unpredictable age, what advice can you give our readers?

KG: Well, no matter how turbulent the world becomes, there's one thing that will never change: we are each connected to our Source, and therefore to each other. As the world becomes more chaotic, meaningful connections with each other become more important. When I interact with people, I try to mentally identify something about them that's the same as me, or something I can appreciate about them. What are they expressing that I've also experienced within myself? Rebellion? Compassion? Fear? Enthusiasm? No matter how stark our outward differences, we all have fears and insecurities and we all enjoy being appreciated. As we tune into our similarities, we find that connections become deeper and richer, and that's an anchor we all need when life gets crazy.

Kathryn Gann is President of The Denver Theosophical Society, a study center of The Theosophical Society in America. Internationally, The Theosophical Society maintains a presence in over 70 countries. Ms. Gann can be reached at info@DenverTS.org.