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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. -
Theosophy and Science
Theosophy and Science Science and Mysticism The motto of the Theosophical Society is “There is no religion higher than Truth.” That is a statement to which a scientist can subscribe equally well. Theosophists and scientists are indeed both engaged in a search for Truth. However, scientists seek for truth at the outward physical level, whereas Theosophists are concerned with Truth at an inner and more spiritual level, as taught by the great mystics and seers throughout the ages. That deeper Truth is sometimes called the “ancient wisdom” or the “perennial philosophy.” The scientific and mystical methods of search also differ, being complementary rather than contradictory. Science does not need mysticism and mysticism does not need science, but we human beings need both. Yet many scientists, perhaps even the majority, do not see a need for any deeper Truth than those which objective scientific procedures discover. Others would like to have some involvement with religion but are discouraged by fundamentalist religious teachings that are inconsistent with well-established scientific knowledge. Nevertheless, many great scientists—Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Erwin Schrödinger, and David Bohm— have seen the need for the deeper spiritual understanding taught by the great reli- gious teachers and mystics of all ages. Scientists seek to understand the world by proposing explanations (or theories) that account for what we can observe in the physical environment around us. A theory must be adequate to account for what we observe repeatedly in experiments testing it. It should also be internally consistent and as simple as possible. A scientific theory is never “proved.” It is only tested by experiments, and if it accounts for what the experiments show, it is upheld. -
Echoes of the Orient: the Writings of William Quan Judge
ECHOES ORIENTof the VOLUME I The Writings of William Quan Judge Echoes are heard in every age of and their fellow creatures — man and a timeless path that leads to divine beast — out of the thoughtless jog trot wisdom and to knowledge of our pur- of selfish everyday life.” To this end pose in the universal design. Today’s and until he died, Judge wrote about resurgent awareness of our physical the Way spoken of by the sages of old, and spiritual inter dependence on this its signposts and pitfalls, and its rel- grand evolutionary journey affirms evance to the practical affairs of daily those pioneering keynotes set forth in life. HPB called his journal “pure Bud- the writings of H. P. Blavatsky. Her dhi” (awakened insight). task was to re-present the broad This first volume of Echoes of the panorama of the “anciently universal Orient comprises about 170 articles Wisdom-Religion,” to show its under- from The Path magazine, chronologi- lying expression in the world’s myths, cally arranged and supplemented by legends, and spiritual traditions, and his popular “Occult Tales.” A glance to show its scientific basis — with at the contents pages will show the the overarching goal of furthering the wide range of subjects covered. Also cause of universal brotherhood. included are a well-documented 50- Some people, however, have page biography, numerous illustra- found her books diffi cult and ask for tions, photographs, and facsimiles, as something simpler. In the writings of well as a bibliography and index. William Q. Judge, one of the Theosophical Society’s co-founders with HPB and a close personal colleague, many have found a certain William Quan Judge (1851-1896) was human element which, though not born in Dublin, Ireland, and emigrated lacking in HPB’s works, is here more with his family to America in 1864. -
Theosophy and the Arts
Theosophy and the Arts Ralph Herman Abraham January 17, 2017 Abstract The cosmology of Ancient India, as transcribed by the Theosophists, con- tains innovations that greatly influenced modern Western culture. Here we bring these novel embellishments to the foreground, and explain their influ- ence on the arts. 1. Introduction Following the death of Madame Blavatsky in 1891, Annie Besant ascended to the leadership of the Theosophical Society. The literature of the post-Blavatsky period began with the very influential Thought-Forms by Besant and C. W. Leadbeater, of 1901. The cosmological model of Theosophy is similar to the classical Sanskrit of 6th century BCE. The pancha kosa, in particular, is the model for these authors. The classical pancha kosa (five sheaths or levels) are, from bottom up: physical, vital, mental, intellectual, and bliss. The related idea of the akashic record was promoted by Alfred Sinnett in his book Esoteric Buddhism of 1884. 2. The Esoteric Planes and Bodies The Sanskrit model was adapted and embellished by the early theosophists. 2-1. Sinnett Alfred Percy Sinnett (1840 { 1921) moved to India in 1879, where he was the editor of an English daily. Sinnett returned to England in 1884, where his book, Esoteric 1 Buddhism, was published that year. This was the first text on Theosophy, and was based on his correspondence with masters in India. 2-2. Blavatsky Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1831 { 1891) { also known as HPB { was a Russian occultist and world traveller, While reputedly in India in the 1850s, she came under the influence of the ancient teachings of Hindu and Buddhist masters. -
“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. -
The Theosophist
THE THEOSOPHIST VOL. 135 NO. 7 APRIL 2014 CONTENTS On the Watch-Tower 3 M. P. Singhal The many lives of Siddhartha 7 Mary Anderson The Voice of the Silence — II 13 Clara Codd Charles Webster Leadbeater and Adyar Day 18 Sunita Maithreya Regenerating Wisdom 21 Krishnaphani Spiritual Ascent of Man in Secret Doctrine 28 M. A. Raveendran The Urgency for a New Mind 32 Ricardo Lindemann International Directory 38 Editor: Mr M. P. Singhal NOTE: Articles for publication in The Theosophist should be sent to the Editorial Office. Cover: Common Hoope, Adyar —A. Chandrasekaran Official organ of the President, founded by H. P. Blavatsky, 1879. The Theosophical Society is responsible only for official notices appearing in this magazine. 1 THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY Founded 17 November 1875 President: Vice-President: Mr M. P. Singhal Secretary: Dr Chittaranjan Satapathy Treasurer: Mr T. S. Jambunathan Headquarters: ADYAR, CHENNAI (MADRAS) 600 020, INDIA Secretary: [email protected] Treasury: [email protected] Adyar Library and Research Centre: [email protected] Theosophical Publishing House: [email protected] & [email protected] Fax: (+91-44) 2490-1399 Editorial Office: [email protected] Website: http://www.ts-adyar.org The Theosophical Society is composed of students, belonging to any religion in the world or to none, who are united by their approval of the Society’s Objects, by their wish to remove religious antagonisms and to draw together men of goodwill, whatsoever their religious opinions, and by their desire to study religious truths and to share the results of their studies with others. Their bond of union is not the profession of a common belief, but a common search and aspiration for Truth. -
Constructivism and Education; Prospects
qunrti.rly rcL ie\v ot cornpar,ltive education OPEN FILE CONSTRUCTIVISM AND EDUCATION GUEST EDITOR: JEAN-JACQUES DUCRET INTE.RNATIONAL BUREAU OF EDUCATION / I - 1 I 1 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF EDUCATION PROSPECTS quarterly review of comparative education This journal is available in the following languages: ARABIC i&la& ~J.i,.J\ Q.u ‘y&h &A ISSN: 0254-l 19-X CHINESE ENGLISH PROSPECTS quarterly review of comparative education ISSN: 0033-1538 FRENCH PERSPECTIVES revue trimestrielle d’education comparte ISSN: 0304-3045 RUSSIAN nepcneKlHBbl exeKsspTsnbnufilwypnmcpaanmnbnblx “CcJlo&awnii I)06Mclw o6pmosanwn ISSN: 0207-8953 SPANISH PERSPECTIVAS revista trimestral de education comparada ISSN: 0304-3053 The annual subscription rates for Prospects are printed on the order form at the end of this issue. Subscription requests for the different language editions can be? l either sent to the national distributor of UNESCO publications in your country (see list at the end of this issue); l or sent to Subscription Service, Jean De Lannoy, Avenue du Roi 202, 1190 Brussels, Belgium (see order form at the end of this issue). ISSUE NUMBER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN PROSPECTS quarterly review of comparative education Vol. XxX1, no. 2, June 2001 EDITORIAL Social changes and challenges to education in the twenty-first century Cecilia Braslavsky 129 VIEWPOINTS/CONTROVERSIES Globalization, education and the technological revolution Jose’Joaquin Brunner 131 OPEN FILE: CONSTRUCTIVISM AND EDUCATION Constructivism: uses and prospects in education Jean-Jacques Ducret -
55. SECTION Lll William Quan Judge
55. SECTION lll William Quan Judge ….if your discretion and silence are likely to hurt or endanger others, then I add: Speak the truth at all costs, and say, with Annesly, “Consult duty, not events.” There are cases when one is forced to exclaim “Perish discretion, rather than allow it to interfere with duty.” Key to Theosophy, p. 202 Ingratitude is a crime in Occultism and I shall illustrate the point by citing the case of W.Q. Judge. He is one of the three founders of the Theosophical Society, the only three who have remained as true as rock to the cause. While others have all turned deserters or enemies, he has ever remained faithful to his original pledge……He is the Resuscitator of Theosophy in the United States, and is working to the best of his means and ability, and at a great sacrifice, for the spread of the movement……Brother Judge refuses to defend himself…But is that a reason why we should let him go undefended? It is our bounden duty to support him, in every way, with our sympathy and influence, energetically, not in a half-hearted, timid way….Is it the part of “Brother-Fellow” to remain indifferent and inactive when one who has done so much for the noble and sacred CAUSE is vilified for its sake, hence, for that of every Theosophist; when he is selected by the enemy as the mark of all the lying and damaging attacks of those who wish to destroy the Society in order to build on its ruins another, a bogus Body of the same name, and to enshrine therein an idol with feet of clay and a heart full of selfishness and evil, for the admiration and worship of credulous fools? Can we allow them to achieve this object when they seek to ensure success by undermining the character of this most unselfish champion of our T.S. -
KFA Bulletin #91
KFA Bulletin #91 2017 The Mirror of Relationship This annual Bulletin is offered to a small group of supporters and typically includes previously unpublished material by Krishnamurti. In our archives we have a great deal of unpublished content, including audio recordings, which require some work to transcribe and verify. There are some compelling materials in the vault that will one day be put into book form. Dear Friends, Every year we select a theme to focus on in order to align various programs at the Krishnamurti Center in Ojai and inquiry activities at the Oak Grove School. This year we’ve chosen the theme The Mirror of Relationship. In this hitherto unpublished talk that took place in Saanen in 1979, Krishnamurti talks about “thinking together”. He points towards our inability to think together and implies at the same time that the acute realization of this inability brings about “thinking together.” He spells out that thinking together means to meet at the same point, at the same level, with the same intensity. Responding to a question from the audience, he states that you cannot try this, that trying is another trick of the mind to avoid. To consider “doing without trying” is a huge challenge for our brains which habitually base action on a progression of gradual improvement. Our brains are caught in time. Krishnamurti connects the ability to think together directly with the need to bring about a good society in which we can live happily, without fear, without terror, without all the horrible things that are going on in the world. -
The Theosophical Seal by Arthur M. Coon the Theosophical Seal a Study for the Student and Non-Student
The Theosophical Seal by Arthur M. Coon The Theosophical Seal A Study for the Student and Non-Student by Arthur M. Coon This book is dedicated to all searchers for wisdom Published in the 1800's Page 1 The Theosophical Seal by Arthur M. Coon INTRODUCTION PREFACE BOOK -1- A DIVINE LANGUAGE ALPHA AND OMEGA UNITY BECOMES DUALITY THREE: THE SACRED NUMBER THE SQUARE AND THE NUMBER FOUR THE CROSS BOOK 2-THE TAU THE PHILOSOPHIC CROSS THE MYSTIC CROSS VICTORY THE PATH BOOK -3- THE SWASTIKA ANTIQUITY THE WHIRLING CROSS CREATIVE FIRE BOOK -4- THE SERPENT MYTH AND SACRED SCRIPTURE SYMBOL OF EVIL SATAN, LUCIFER AND THE DEVIL SYMBOL OF THE DIVINE HEALER SYMBOL OF WISDOM THE SERPENT SWALLOWING ITS TAIL BOOK 5 - THE INTERLACED TRIANGLES THE PATTERN THE NUMBER THREE THE MYSTERY OF THE TRIANGLE THE HINDU TRIMURTI Page 2 The Theosophical Seal by Arthur M. Coon THE THREEFOLD UNIVERSE THE HOLY TRINITY THE WORK OF THE TRINITY THE DIVINE IMAGE " AS ABOVE, SO BELOW " KING SOLOMON'S SEAL SIXES AND SEVENS BOOK 6 - THE SACRED WORD THE SACRED WORD ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Page 3 The Theosophical Seal by Arthur M. Coon INTRODUCTION I am happy to introduce this present volume, the contents of which originally appeared as a series of articles in The American Theosophist magazine. Mr. Arthur Coon's careful analysis of the Theosophical Seal is highly recommend to the many readers who will find here a rich store of information concerning the meaning of the various components of the seal Symbology is one of the ancient keys unlocking the mysteries of man and Nature. -
Krishnamurthi on Education and the Educated Person
KRISHNAMURTHI ON EDUCATION AND THE EDUCATED PERSON Leela Kobbekaduwa In this paper I propose to elucidate some aspects of Krishnamurtis notion of 'education' and the 'educated person'. Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895 - 1986), as is well known, is an eminent spiritual and humanist philosopher. His key concepts in education are presented in his writings with the informality of spontaneous talks and dialogues - of which his books are mostly, in fact, transcripts. For almost fifty years he travelled widely delivering talks to, and engaging in discussions with, mixed audiences of different cultural orientations, and varying intellectual capacities, without any distinction of race, class or creed. Krishnamurti does not expound a definite philosophy, nor does he preach any doctrine. He speaks of a variety of topics concerning the human condition. His talks are directed at establishing a communion with his listeners. Thus it would he correct to assert that what he would say in a particular talk is somewhat a joint product of the speaker and the audience. Consequently, it is difficult to find a systematic exposition of a specific theme in his talks. Undoubtedly, this presents a formidable task to anyone engaged in the understanding and the intellectual clarification of his ideas. What we may therefore best do to understand what he stood for is to examine, even if briefly some of his most salient ideas on the matter of Education. 1. Education as Freedom from Conditioninl: Krishnamurti considers freedom from conditioning as fundamental to education. In my view the following statement summarizes Krishnamurti's notion of education and the related notion of the educated person. -
Morya, One of the "Masters of the Ancient Wisdom" Spoken of in Modern Theosophy and in the Ascended Master Teachings I
Morya, one of the "Masters of the Ancient Wisdom" spoken of in modern Theosophy and in the Ascended Master Teachings is considered one of the "Ascended Masters." He is also known as the "Chohan of the First Ray". Morya first became known to the modern world when H. P. Blavatsky declared that he and Kkuthumi were her guides in establishing the Theosophical Society. Seven Rays Blavatsky wrote that Masters Morya and Koot Hoomi belonged to a group of highly developed humans known as the Great White Brotherhood. Although Master Morya's personality has been depicted in some detail by various theosophical authors, critics point out that there is little evidence that Blavatsky's Masters, including Morya, ever existed. There being a dearth of material evidence to prove anything with certainty, this article focuses on presenting the narratives about Morya given by various believers in his existence, beginning from the time of his alleged contacts with 19th-century theosophists. Morya Khan is known in many New Age religions as the Ascended Master of the Blue Ray or First Ray. He is well known as the 'Master M' who worked with the Kuthumi in the late nineteenth century to establish the Theosophical Society and to spread the knowledge of higher truths to a wider circle among mankind. After his alleged ascension in the late 1800s, he continued working for this same purpose. He is believed to have ascended in 1898. http://www.crystalinks.com/morya.html אל מוריה الموريا Ελ Μόρυα 天使のエル·モリヤ http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/chain_of_flowers723/56856858.html Morya (Theosophy) For other uses, see Morya.