DOCSLIB.ORG

The Politics of Divine Wisdom, Theosophy and Labour, National

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Politics of Divine Wisdom, Theosophy and Labour, National Herman A.O. de Tollenaere The POLITICS of DIVINE WISDOM .. Theosophy and. labour,~ national, and women's moveffientsII. in Indonesia and South':Asia"? 1875-19~'? .. ' Hermall' A.a. de Tollenaere The POLITICS of DIVINE WISDOM Theosophy and labour, national, and women's movements in Indonesia and South Asia 1875-1947 The POLITICS of DIVINE WISDOM Theosophy and labour, national, and women's movements in Indonesia and South Asia. 1875-1947 een wClenschappelijke proeve op hel gebied van de Sociale Welenschappen PROEFSCHRIFT lcr verkrijging van de graad van doclor aan de Katholieke Universilcil Nijmegen volgens bcsluil van het College van Decanen in het openbaar Ie verdedigen op dinsdag 21 mei 1996 des namiddags Ie 3.30 uur pn:cies door Herman Arij Oscar de Tollenaere gehoren op 24 september 1949 Ie Leidcn v Promotores: Prof. Dr. G. Huizer en Prof. Dr. G. Lock Leden van de manuscriptcommissie: Prof. B. Hering, Prof. Dr. R. Van Niel, PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Prof. Dr. C. Risseeuw. To my sister, Els de Tollenaere My mother told me how, for the first time, as a child, she boarded the tram from The Hague to Wassenaar. As it passed the rich people's mansions there, she cried out to her father: 'Oh! I have never seen such beautiful houses before!' 'Yes', my grandfather replied; but added that they were built with the sweat of the Indonesian workers. In the 1920's, Indonesian students published·their Indonesia Merdeka magazine in the Merelstraat in Leiden. When my father came to The Netherlands a decade later, he went to live in that street, in a boarding-house with Indonesian and Japanese students. I lived there during my childhood. As I grew up, I followed political controversies in the 1960's US from papers. Martin Marty writes that occultists were mainly on the conservative side of these questions. On composition of 'New Age' groups, Eileen Barker says: 'one of the most prominent features of the movements is the disproportionate numbers of materially advantaged, middle (and upper?) class followers, whom they attract. 01 January 1996. The Dutch businessman Gerrit van der Valk says he is telepathically gifted. He advocates the theosophical 'Akasha chronicle' method in historical research2 The 1990·s. Beliefs like contacting spirits of the dead, reincarnation, astrology, and paranormal healing are widespread. Authors note them from Dutch universities to British royalty's Camillagate affair,3 to the US Pentagon intelligence's Star Gate affair.4 This is not an overnight development. Some of its previous history is in this book. Scientists and others may think, prematurely, once they as individuals know aspects of occultism are nonsensical, there is no longer a social problem. © 1996 H.A.O. dc Tollcnacrc, Lcidcn ISBN 90 373 03307 One can reproach critics, from Friedrich Engels up 10 Theodor W. Adorno. that Ihey did not NUGl64l take phcnomena like mysticism, occultism, spiritualism, and others. seriously enough.' Uitgcverij Katholicke Ullivcr.l'ircir Nijmcgcll I'New Religious Movements: Yet Another Great Awakening?' ill Phillip E. Hammond, The NielS uit deze uitgavc mag worden vcrvcclvoudigd en/of opcnh~!;:tr gcrnaakt door middcl van druk, fowkopic. microfilm or op welke andere wijzc ook. zonder voorafgaandc schriftclijkc tocsh:mming \'(ill de uilgcvcr. Sacred in a Secular Age, Berkeley, University of California Press, 1985,36-58; 40. zEric van Onna, 'Gerrit en Toos van der Valk'. VARA TV· Magazine . 6-12-1-1996, 4. No part of this book may be reproduced ill any (onn by prinl. phowprim. mi<:rorilm or any olher means without written permission from the publisher. 3Mare, 3-10-1991; 19·[2-1991. VAN VUGT, 20, amibutcs occult tendencies among Dutch university students to government pressures to sludy faster. The Daily Mirror, 19-12-1992: British Princess Diana engaged a clairvoyant to contact her late father as her marriage to Prince Charles went on the rocks. 4D. Waller, 'The Vision Thing. Ten years and $20 million later, the Pentagon discovers that psychics are unreliable spies'; Time, Dec. II, 1995. The 'ultra-secret Defense Intelligence Agency' spent millions on 'Star Gate' (official code name) involving fortune-tellers in snooping on the whereabouts .:;; Soviet submarines, North Korean tunnels, Colonel Gaddafi, etc; to no avail. The CIA also had its secret paranormal programs. 'SENFT, 7. 'One cannot fight nonsense, just by saying it is nonsense.' Australian investigator of astrology Geoffrey Dean, interviewed NRC 10-1-1991. VII VI The word 'sensualist' has not just one sense. As the set of opposites, 'materialist' and Theosophists, though, saw progress in the evolution of consciousness with the 'idealist,' has different meanings in philosophical, and in everyday language. 'Sensualist' can mean: A. Sensual, materialist person in a pejorative context. B. One nearing of the sixth root race, progress up (10m the mental plane, to the buddhic, who subscribes to the doctrine that all knowledge is derived from sensory perception: intuitional plane', with clairvoyance for all. Like with some other systems of thought, sensationalist, in the sense(!) of a follower of the eighteenth century French philosopher one attraction of theosophy is that once you accept a few axioms, the whole universe Etienne de Condillac. seems to fall coherently into place around you. I do not consider myself a Is a third (or 4th, or ... ) perspective possible, when one investigates especially links to political history in Indonesia and India? dogmatic sense B sensualist. However, I wrote, trusting my I hope I will start discussions. I hope this book will clear up some misunderstandings: own two eyes, though deficient, though inevitably it will produce new ones, there being hardly any 'definite' books on more than the 'Spiritual Eye of ,:~ -:.:::>p' . any subject. I hope readers will let me know their criticisms, so if I ever publish anything Clairvoyance' of theosophists like again on this, it will be an improvement. ~:~rr·~~~~i_~~ Leadbeater. Alice did not take ~~:~ .l;;~.~•....tv~~~1 I am very grateful to the people who helped me (any not mentioned should sec it as •.•..f. everything in Wonderland for deficiency in my memory or space, not in gratitude): my parents Felicien de Tollenaere granted. Without questioning of and Anna de 1'ollenaere-Blonk. I shall never forget how Carla Risseeuw helped me on nIl' use of II Iwok; from 'Alice ;11 WOllder/alld' political. religious, and scientific my way, as I began. Professors G. Huizer and G. Lock presenting me contributed r.1Uch authority, there is no freedom. to the cohesion of my thesis. I also owe gratitude to Rudi Jansma, Dr. Harischandra Kaviratna and Miss Rajesvari Kaviratna, whose ancestors played a prominent part in the 1880 reception of the 1'S leaders in Sri Lanka, and in subsequent Buddhist education there; F. Tichelman and E. Schwidder of the Internationaal (nstituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis, the people working at Leiden university library and (nstituut Kern, Nirmala Nair, Tine Ruiter, M. Ave, Wati Dengkeng, H. Maier, Hans van Miert. Mrs Madelon Djajadiningrat-Nieuwenhuis, A. Ollongren, Hon Tom Wong, H. van der Laan, Yvonne Houps, Jurrie Reiding. J. Persijn, Catherine Wessinger (Loyola University. New Orlcans, USA), Catherine Candy (Loyola University. Chicago), Joy Dixon, Robert S. Ellwood, J. Santucci, Charles Cappel, Susan Blackburn, lem Brown, D. van Arkcl, I. Scharfer, W. OUcrspeer, Soemini KasanlTloentalib, Naneue Wijshijer, A. Caluwaerts; Frits Evclein and Faye van Icrlant of the Theosoflsche Ver~l1ig;lIg in Amsterdam, E. Rietkerk and others at the Nederlands Historisch Data Archief for photo scanning help, H. Poeze, D. Henley, Rita de Coursey, Rosemary Robson, and others at the Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land en Volkenkunde in Leiden. They helped me in the more desperate moments of writing this thesis (abbreviated in Dutch: 'diss. ') when I reflected how close the abbreviation is to Dis, the Roman god of hell. Is having to rewrite from scratch after accidentally erasing your computer file the 1990's equivalent of ancient Sisyphus' punishment? Has blaming the computer for your mistake anything to do with the doctrine of Karma? Do I have the right to write this book? Tell them ; As pure water poured into the scavenger's bucket is befouled and unfit for use, so is divine truth when poured into the consciousness of a Sensualisl according to a 'Master'Z of TS founder H.P. Blavatsky. IBESANT and LEADBEATER(l913), 5. MARCAULT(l930), 672 2Letter to HPB from her Master; CLEATHER(l922A), IV. VIII CONTENTS HOW THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN v PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This book was written in English; not on account of compliance with a Dutch Education VIII Minister's wish English should become the language of universities in The Netherlands; HOW THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN not on account of theosophist C.W. Leadbeater's clairvoyant prediction it would be the VIII 'universal commercial and literary language' of the year 2763 A.D.;I just laziness. Most MASTER KEY TO SYMBOLS sources and literature on theosophr are in English, so it saved translating; not to mention XIII inaccuracies, inevitably creeping in with translation. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Unless stated otherwise, ail translations of quotes, originally not in English, are mine. XIII I quoted Japanese authors' names as in the originals; though the order of personal and LIST OF TABLES family names may be incorrect. Indonesian geographical names are in the new spelling. XIV Names of persons are in the old spelling, except if they, like Sukarno, also played an MAPS important role after the introduction of the new spelling. XVIII LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Wherever possible, I tried to avoid using 'learned' expressions for their own sake, or without explanation. XXII GLOSSARY Numbers after authors' names, or years of publication, are page numbers. Dates are in the day-month-year format; 1-3-1900 is I March 1900, for instance.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Theosophy and the Origins of the Indian National Congress
    THEOSOPHY AND THE ORIGINS OF THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS By Mark Bevir Department of Political Science University of California, Berkeley Berkeley CA 94720 USA [E-mail: [email protected]] ABSTRACT A study of the role of theosophy in the formation of the Indian National Congress enhances our understanding of the relationship between neo-Hinduism and political nationalism. Theosophy, and neo-Hinduism more generally, provided western-educated Hindus with a discourse within which to develop their political aspirations in a way that met western notions of legitimacy. It gave them confidence in themselves, experience of organisation, and clear intellectual commitments, and it brought them together with liberal Britons within an all-India framework. It provided the background against which A. O. Hume worked with younger nationalists to found the Congress. KEYWORDS: Blavatsky, Hinduism, A. O. Hume, India, nationalism, theosophy. 2 REFERENCES CITED Archives of the Theosophical Society, Theosophical Society, Adyar, Madras. Banerjea, Surendranath. 1925. A Nation in the Making: Being the Reminiscences of Fifty Years of Public Life . London: H. Milford. Bharati, A. 1970. "The Hindu Renaissance and Its Apologetic Patterns". In Journal of Asian Studies 29: 267-88. Blavatsky, H.P. 1888. The Secret Doctrine: The Synthesis of Science, Religion and Philosophy . 2 Vols. London: Theosophical Publishing House. ------ 1972. Isis Unveiled: A Master-Key to the Mysteries of Ancient and Modern Science and Theology . 2 Vols. Wheaton, Ill.: Theosophical Publishing House. ------ 1977. Collected Writings . 11 Vols. Ed. by Boris de Zirkoff. Wheaton, Ill.: Theosophical Publishing House. Campbell, B. 1980. Ancient Wisdom Revived: A History of the Theosophical Movement . Berkeley: University of California Press.
    [Show full text]
  • Satellite Magazine Satzine
    Satellite Magazine SatZine In dit nummer: - Astra met 3DNL - Test: iPad & Rebox 9000 - Zomercampagne Astra / CDS - Alfacam bij het WK - NOS WK prestige project - Bezoek BBC World News Speciale WK editie! www.satellitemagazine.com Nummer 5 | juni 2010 Dit is een gratis uitgave van SatelliteMagazine.com Powered by Satplaza Verruim uw blik met de Triple Sat schotelset De Triple Sat schotelset is een compacte oplossing voor ontvangst van Voor uw nieuwe Triple Sat kunt u terecht bij een van digitale tv en digitale radio via de satelliet. Perfect voor iedereen die wil de vele CanalDigitaal verkooppunten. Of bestel hem genieten van een veel uitgebreider internationaal zenderaanbod. online in de CanalDigitaal webshop. De voordelen van de Triple Sat schotelset op een rijtje: Ga voor meer informatie naar: www.canaldigitaal.nl • Genieten van een uitgebreider internationaal (Engelstalig) zenderpakket. • Strak vormgegeven. • Compact, waardoor makkelijker op een onopvallende plek te plaatsen. • Geschikt voor ASTRA 19,2, ASTRA 23,5 én ASTRA 28,2 satellietposities. • Diverse BBC en ITV zenders ontvangen via ASTRA 28,2 satellietpositie. AdvCanal210x297.indd 1 23-01-2009 12:27:54 Beste lezers, INHOUD et de overwinning van afgelopen zaterdag is 4 Het WK thuis in HD of in de kroeg MNederland de eerste ronde van het WK door. Dat betekent nog meer vreugde, plezier en marke- kijken? tingcampagnes. Ook al zou je willen, je kunt er niet 6 Satellietnieuws omheen. Zoals SBS zou zeggen: “Nederland is in de ban van het WK”. 8 CanalDigitaal nieuws 10 CanalDigitaal komt HD belofte na De elektronicabedrijven richten zich zoals bij ie- der EK of WK op het zoveel mogelijk verkopen van 12 Steeds meer Britse HD zenders free to televisies.
    [Show full text]
  • The Secret Doctrine Symposium
    The Secret Doctrine Symposium Compiled and Edited by David P. Bruce THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IN AMERICA P.O. Box 270, Wheaton, IL 60187-0270 www.theosophical.org © 2011 Introduction In creating this course, it was the compiler’s intention to feature some of the most com- pelling and insightful articles on The Secret Doctrine published in Theosophical journals over the past several decades. Admittedly, the process of selecting a limited few from the large number available is to some extent a subjective decision. One of the criteria used for making this selection was the desire to provide the reader with a colorful pastiche of commentary by respected students of Theosophy, in order to show the various avenues of approach to Mme. Blavatsky’s most famous work. The sequence of the articles in the Symposium was arranged, not chronologically, nor alphabetically by author, but thematically and with an eye to a sense of balance. While some of the articles are informational, there are also those that are inspirational, historical, and instructional. It is hoped that the Symposium will encourage, inspire, and motivate the student to begin a serious and sustained exploration of this most unusual and important Theosophical work. Questions have been added to each of the articles. When referring to a specific quote or passage within the article, the page number and paragraph are referenced. For instance, (1.5) indicates the fifth paragraph on page one; (4.2) indicates the second paragraph on page four. A page number followed by a zero, i.e ., (25.0) would indicate that something is being discussed in the paragraph carried over from the previous page, in this case, page 24.
    [Show full text]
  • DIMENSIONS of CONSCIOUSNESS by Dora Van Gelder Kunz
    The Theosophical Society in America DIMENSIONS OF CONSCIOUSNESS By Dora van Gelder Kunz This article was taken from The Personal Aura by Dora van Gelder Kunz. The life of even the most ordinary person, which may seem very uneventful, is actually full of experiences on many levels. While we are focused on the daily business of living, we are at the same time involved in a whole complex of interactions between physical processes, feelings and thoughts. Though we may not pay much attention to these interactions, they constantly influence our behavior, as well as our sense of well-being. What I try to do in this book is share with you something of my perception and appreciation of the hidden dimensions of consciousness within us, and in so doing, make you more aware of these aspects of your own life, and of your ability to effect conscious changes in yourself. My focus is principally upon our feelings, for the aura—the luminous cloud of color surrounding each of us—is the personal emotional field. But our feelings are part of the larger whole we call a human being, and therefore they are inseparable from everything else that goes on within us. The interactions between mind, emotions and physical energies are so rapid and so constant that they blur these differentiations, and so we usually only notice them when they break down. There- fore, in order to understand the nature of the emotions and the role they play, we have to see them from the perspective of the whole person—and this includes not only the body, mind and feelings, but also still higher dimensions of consciousness.
    [Show full text]
  • Energy Healing
    57618_CH03_Pass2.QXD 10/30/08 1:19 PM Page 61 © Jones and Bartlett Publishers, LLC. NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION. CHAPTER 3 Energy Healing Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie. —WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1. Describe the types of energy. 2. Explain the universal energy field (UEF). 3. Explain the human energy field (HEF). 4. Describe the seven auric layers. 5. Describe the seven chakras. 6. Define the concept of energy healing. 7. Describe various types of energy healing. INTRODUCTION For centuries, traditional healers worldwide have practiced methods of energy healing, viewing the body as a complex energy system with energy flowing through or over its surface (Rakel, 2007). Until recently, the Western world largely ignored the Eastern interpretation of humans as energy beings. However, times have changed dramatically and an exciting and promising new branch of academic inquiry and clinical research is opening in the area of energy healing (Oschman, 2000; Trivieri & Anderson, 2002). Scientists and energy therapists around the world have made discoveries that will forever alter our picture of human energetics. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is conducting research in areas such as energy healing and prayer, and major U.S. academic institutions are conducting large clinical trials in these areas. Approaches in exploring the concepts of life force and healing energy that previously appeared to compete or conflict have now been found to support each other. Conner and Koithan (2006) note 61 57618_CH03_Pass2.QXD 10/30/08 1:19 PM Page 62 © Jones and Bartlett Publishers, LLC. NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION. 62 CHAPTER 3 • ENERGY HEALING that “with increased recognition and federal funding for energetic healing, there is a growing body of research that supports the use of energetic healing interventions with patients” (p.
    [Show full text]
  • A REFLECTION on the SECRET DOCTRINE, No. 1
    January 2012 A REFLECTION ON THE SECRET DOCTRINE , No. 1 The word doctrine may be defined as set of principles or as a body of teachings related to a particular subject. One example from the field of religion would be the Calvinist doctrine of predestination. In the realm of jurisprudence, the doctrine of self-defense is well established. Economists often refer to Marxist or Keynesian doctrines. The military has its doctrines relating to warfare which are studied at West Point and other military academies. A doctrine is something more than a mere idea, or even a concept. For these to be elevated to the status of doctrines, they need to be subjected to a period of intense critical analysis by scholars and experts in that particular field. The principles articulated by Mme. Blavatsky in The Secret Doctrine qualify as doctrines because they are part of a wisdom tradition extending back centuries in time. In his historical introduction to the 1979 edition, Editor Boris de Zirkoff dispenses with the notion that The Secret Doctrine is nothing more than a “syncretistic work wherein a multitude of seemingly unrelated teachings and ideas are cleverly woven together to form a more or less coherent whole” (1:74). It is not difficult to see how a novice reader might arrive at this superficial but erroneous conclusion, given the non-linear style of writing employed by Blavatsky in her magnum opus. To the student possessing a measure of intuitive capacity, deep and sustained consideration will reveal The Secret Doctrine to be “a wholly coherent outline of an ageless doctrine, a system of thought based upon occult facts and universal truths inherent in nature and which are as specific and definite as any mathematical proposition” (1:74).
    [Show full text]
  • “History of Education Society Bulletin” (1985)
    History of Education Society Bulletin (1985) Vol. 36 pp 52 -54 MONTESSORI WAS A THEOSOPHIST Carolie Wilson Dept. of Education, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia In October 1947 Time magazine reported that world famous education- ist Dr. Maria Montessori, though 'almost forgotten', was none the less very much alive in India where she was continuing to give lectures in the grounds of the Theosophical Society's magnificent estate at Adyar on the outskirts of Madras. 1 Accompanied by her son Mario, Montessori had gone to India at the invitation of Theosophical Society President, George Arundale, in No- vember 1939 and had been interned there as an 'enemy alien' when Italy en- tered the Second World War in June 1940. The Dottoressa was permitted however, to remain at Adyar to continue her teacher training courses and later to move to a more congenial climate in the hills at Kodaikanal. 2 At the end of the War she made a short visit to Europe but returned to India to undertake the first teacher training course at the new Arundale Montessori Training Centre.3 The Centre was established as a memorial to former Theosophi- cal Society President, Dr. Annie Besant, whose centenary was being celebrat- ed at Adyar in October 1947.4 In view, no doubt, of her continued residence at Adyar and the gener- ous support the Theosophical Society extended to Montessori and Mario during the War years, the Dottoressa was asked on one occasion under the shade of the famous giant banyan tree at Adyar, whether she had in fact become a Theosophist.
    [Show full text]
  • The Third Object of the Theosophical Society
    March 2011 THE THIRD OBJECT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY To investigate unexplained laws of nature and the powers latent in humanity. ― Third Object of the Theosophical Society The wording of the Theosophical Society’s three Objects was revised a number of times during the early years of the Society, but they have remained essentially unchanged since 1896. Many of our members associate this Object primarily with psychic powers such as clairvoyance, clairaudience, precognition, telepathy and the like. Certainly the scope of the third Object includes these types of interesting phenomena, but it really goes much deeper than that. In the March 1953 issue of The American Theosophist (AT) , seventy-eight years after the founding of the Society, the Theosophical writer Rohit Mehta observed, “We have yet to understand the full significance of the third Object.” Oddly enough, this may still be the case today. Over the years, deep students of Theosophy have given us hints as to the inner meaning of the third Object. In Human Regeneration , Radha Burnier suggests that “we must see the connection between the three Objects . to the unfoldment of the human consciousness.” In the October 1970 issue of the AT , Joy Mills suggested that the third Object relates to both “a way of knowing” and “a way of living.” By knowing she meant, not an accumulation of intellectual data, but rather a “process of inner comprehension.” Another insight was given by Hugh Shearman in his AT article of June 1949: “Occult truths are never hidden from us by anybody. We reveal or conceal them ourselves individually by what we are and what we are not yet.” In other words, the methods used to gain ordinary knowledge are not sufficient to compre- hend the hidden laws of nature and unfold the latent powers within.
    [Show full text]
  • Healing Touch: Trouble with Angels
    CHRISTIAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE P.O. Box 8500, Charlotte, NC 28271 Feature Article: JAH025 HEALING TOUCH: TROUBLE WITH ANGELS by Sharon Fish Mooney This article first appeared in the Christian Research Journal, volume 28, number 2 (2005). For further information or to subscribe to the Christian Research Journal go to: http://www.equip.org SYNOPSIS Nontraditional health-related practices that involve the hands, based on the assumption that people are energy fields, are becoming increasingly popular. One of the most widely used is Healing Touch, a practice rooted in a variety of belief systems, including Theosophy, spiritism, and Buddhism. Nurses and others certified as Healing Touch practitioners are expected to read a wide range of books on occult philosophy and engage in experiential training that includes information on contacting and channeling “angels” or “spiritual guides.” Healing Touch and related practices such as Therapeutic Touch and Reiki are being welcomed into Christian churches uncritically in the guise of Christian healing practices, based on the belief that the healing associated with them is the same form of healing practiced by Jesus and the first-century Christians. These churches appear to be ignoring biblical injunctions that warn the people of God to have nothing to do with aberrant belief systems, mediums, and with any practices associated with divination. Elisabeth Jensen is a registered nurse and a qualified mid-wife. She has many qualifications in complementary healing methods: she is a Therapeutic Touch Teacher; Melchizedek Method Facilitator; Past, Parallel, and Future Lives Therapist; Certified Angel Intuitive Practitioner; Professional Crystal Healer; Aura Reading and Healing Therapist, and Healing Touch Practitioner.
    [Show full text]
  • Painting the Masters. the Mystery of Hermann Schmiechen
    Painting the Masters The Mystery of Hermann Schmiechen Massimo Introvigne (UPS, Torino, Italy) Besançon’s Forbidden Image One of the first books where sociology of religion met history of art was L’image interdite. Une histoire intellectuelle de l’iconoclasme, published by French social historian Alain Besançon in 1994 Iconoclasm vs Iconodulism The controversial book argued that Western art history is defined by opposition between iconoclasm (i.e the idea that the sacred should not be represented visually) and iconodulism (i.e support for sacred images) Although the terminology dates back to the Byzantine iconoclastic riots of the 8th century (right), modern Western iconoclasm originated with John Calvin (1509-1564) and became culturally dominant after the Enlightenment Iconoclasm: not against art, but against an art representing God or divine spirits Besançon’s definition of iconoclasm is not identical with some dictionary definitions of the same word. For him, iconoclasm is not against art and may even promote it. It only excludes from the field of art the representation of God and divine spirits or beings Image of Byzantine Emperor Leo III (685-741) on a coin: Leo, a leading iconoclast, was obviously not against representing himself Abstract Art as Iconoclasm Besançon* also argued that: 1. Iconoclasm is a distinctive trait of modernity, and abstract art is its most mature fruit 2. Symbolism, at first sight anti-iconoclastic, by substituting the Christian foundations of sacred art with a very different esoteric spirituality, in fact prepared the way for abstract iconoclasm 3. Several abstract painters, including Piet Mondrian (1872- 1944) passed at one stage through symbolism (Evolution, 1910-1911, left) * … with whom I do not necessarily agree Besançon and Theosophy Besançon claimed to be among the first social historians to devote serious attentions to Madame Blavatsky (1831-1891) and other Theosophical classics.
    [Show full text]
  • Primary Instruction 12 Sanat Kumara
    PRIMARY INSTRUCTION 1 2 ANAT KUMARA - THE SAVIOR OF OUR EARTH PRIMARY INSTRUCTION LESSON NO. 12 SANAT KOMARA THE SAVIOR OF OUR EARTH A BRIDGE TO SPIRITUAL FREEDOM TEACHINGS PUBLICATION CONTENTS PARTI How Venus has helped the Earth 1 Dissolution once threatened the Earth . 2 Discourse by Beloved Sanat Kumara . 3 The Thirty Who came from Venus 6 The Building of Sharnballa . 8 The Coming of Sanat Kumara . 10 PART II The Great White Brotherhood . 13 The Release of Sanat Kumara . 17 An Address by Beloved El Morya . 17 Copyright © 1990 Sanat Kumara's Return to Venus 20 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED An Address by Lord Michael, the Archangel . 20 An Address by Beloved Sanat Kumara . 23 Offices of the Spiritual Hierarchy. 25 An Address by Beloved Lord Gautama . 27 PART Ill The Activity of the Holy Christ Self. 28 Published by An Address by Beloved Holy lEolus . 29 Shamballa: Home of the Spiritual Hierarchy . 31 THE BRIDGE TO SPIRITUAL FREEDOM An Address by the Ascended Master Kuthumi . 32 PO Box 753, Payson, AZ 85547 PARTIV USA Outline for the Director to use in Class . 36 1 2 PRIMARY INSTRUCTION Heart Flame to assist It in expanding into greater Light. Thus are they the forerunners of that type of civilization LESSON NO. 12 which the Earth shall one day manifest! PART I The radiation of the planet Venus is a constant out• pouring of Love and Beauty. The planet's present service, HOW VENUS HAS HELPED THE PLANET EARTH through its people, is to help the Earth in changing its radiation from a cry of pain to a harmonious and peace• On the planet Venus, which belongs to the same Uni• ful Song of Praise.
    [Show full text]
  • The Voice of the Silence”
    MYSTICISM IN “THE VOICE OF THE SILENCE” By SUSRUVA Transaction No 61 INDIAN INSTITUTE OF WORLD CULTURE. Bangalore 560004 TRANSACTIONS Many valuable lectures are given, papers read and discussed and oral reviews of out- standing books presented at the INDIAN INSTITUTE OF WORLD CULTURE. These Tran- sactions represent some of these lectures and papers and are printed for wider dissemination in the cause of better intercultural understanding so important for world peace and human brotherhood. TRANSACTION No. 61 The Voice of the Silence, translated and annotated by H. P. Blavatsky, is a mystic treatise belonging to the trans-himalayan tradition. It has been the subject of a large number of commentaries and explanations which are still insufficient. This paper was delivered at the Indian Institute of World Culture by Susruva, who is a student of Theosophy of long standing, on White Lotus Day in 1981. © 1982, INDIAN INSTITUTE OF WORLD CULTURE All Rights Reserved Printed by W. Q. Judge Press, 97, Residency Road, Bangalore 560 025 and published by the Indian Institute of World Culture, 6 Shri B. P. Wadia Road, Basavangudi, Bangalore 560 004. Printed in India. MYSTICISM IN “THE VOICE OF THE SILENCE” The term Mysticism defies definition. There are many definitions given in the books deal" ing with the subject. But, defining a thing means limiting it, crucifying by putting the idea on the Procrustean bed for the sake of verbal formulation, thus imprisoning reality within the framework of words. Is Truth then a picture to be framed or a fish to be caught in the network of words? If words reveal, don’t they also hide? As an example, let us take the word “God”.
    [Show full text]