Text of 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 re- spective 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. Freedom of the Society The Theosophical Society, while cooperating with all other bodies whose aims and activities make such cooperation possible, is and must remain an organization 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 pursuit 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 or identification with any other organization.
VOL. 141 NO. 6 MARCH 2020
CONTENTS
Address to Sri Sankaracharya Sanskrit University Faculty and Students 5 Tim Boyd Science for Health and Consciousness 8 S. Abhaya Srisrimal Jain Theosophy and Krishnamurti —I 16 P. Krishna in Conversation with Tim Boyd The Need for Theosophical Ethics 21 Jon Fergus HPB on the Gospel according to John 26 Daniel H. Caldwell, Doss McDavid, and Spencer M. Conlin The Light That Never Fails 30 Boris de Zirkoff Fragments of the Ageless Wisdom 35 Books of Interest 36 Index 38 International Directory 40
Editor: Mr Tim Boyd
NOTE: Articles for publication in The Theosophist should be sent to:
Cover: Athirapally Falls on Chalakudy River, Thrissur, Kerala — Photo taken by international Secretary, Marja Artamaa, on the way to the annual gathering of the Kerala Theosophical Federation, November 2019 ______This journal is the official organ of the President, founded by H. P. Blavatsky, 1879. The Theosophical Society is responsible only for official notices appearing in this journal.
3 THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY Founded 17 November 1875 President: Mr Tim Boyd Vice-President: Dr Deepa Padhi Secretary: Ms Marja Artamaa Treasurer: Ms Nancy Secrest Headquarters: ADYAR, CHENNAI (MADRAS) 600 020, INDIA Vice-President: [email protected] Secretary: [email protected] Treasurer: [email protected] Adyar Library and Research Centre: [email protected] Theosophical Publishing House: [email protected] // www.adyarbooks.com 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. They hold that Truth should be sought by study, by reflection, by purity of life, by devotion to high ideals, and they regard Truth as a prize to be striven for, not as a dogma to be imposed by authority. They consider that belief should be the result of individual study or intuition, and not its antecedent, and should rest on knowledge, not on assertion. They extend tolerance to all, even to the intolerant, not as a privilege they bestow but as a duty they perform, and they seek to remove ignorance, not punish it. They see every religion as an expression of the Divine Wisdom and prefer its study to its condemnation, and its practice to proselytism. Peace is their watchword, as Truth is their aim. Theosophy is the body of truths which forms the basis of all religions, and which cannot be claimed as the exclusive possession of any. It offers a philosophy which renders life intelligible, and which demonstrates the justice and the love which guide its evolution. It puts death in its rightful place, as a recurring incident in an endless life, opening the gateway to a fuller and more radiant existence. It restores to the world the Science of the Spirit, teaching man to know the Spirit as himself and the mind and body as his servants. It illuminates the scriptures and doctrines of religions by unveiling their hidden meanings, and thus justifying them at the bar of intelligence, as they are ever justified in the eyes of intuition. Members of the Theosophical Society study these truths, and theosophists endeavour to live them. Everyone willing to study, to be tolerant, to aim high, and to work perseveringly, is welcomed as a member, and it rests with the member to become a true theosophist.
4 The Theosophist Vol. 141.6, March 2020 Address to Sri Sankaracharya Sanskrit University Faculty and Students Address to Sri Sankaracharya Sanskrit University Faculty and Students (In Kaladi, Kerala, India, on 22 January 2019)
TIM BOYD
I AM deeply honored to be in the pre- expressions has come into being at a sence of the faculty and students of a particular time, in a particular place, and University of this caliber. It is a wonder- has generally focused on a particular ful thing that is happening here at your people. While each of these expressions University. I am especially hopeful about speaks to the one truth, it is necessarily the linking of our Adyar Library and limited because it draws on the symbols Research Centre with your institution and language of a specific culture, place, that we will undertake today. and time. These are limitations which First of all I would like to thank the are human-created, but which can be Professor for his generous introduction. exceeded. The type of work that you I think his study of the Theosophical do here at the Sanskrit University is Society’s (TS) background almost ex- focused on those great beings who have ceeds my own, although I have been realized truth and tried to communicate associated with it for a while. Every- it in every way possible. thing that he said today speaks to the The greatest challenge for these Great purpose and the way that the TS has Ones has been that we have been their functioned within India since its arrival students. Because of our limitations and on these shores. prejudices, in generation after generation Although for most people the TS is we have found ways to limit these limitless strongly associated with India, it was teachings that have been given. Throughout actually founded in New York City in the ages this has been the human res- 1875, then migrated to India in 1879. It ponse to wisdom. It is unfortunate, but was from this place, that the message of it has never deterred the Wise Ones in Universal Brotherhood radiated out into their attempts to elevate us. The work that the world along with a studied appre- you do here has enormous value, taking the ciation for the value of all of the world’s teachings and example of Sankaracharya, religions, combined with science and one of the greatest teachers in human philosophy. Each of the world’s religious history, and trying to explore as deeply
Vol. 141.6, March 2020 The Theosophist 5 Address to Sri Sankaracharya Sanskrit University Faculty and Students as possible the subtleties of his message. moment, here at the University, we sit in An additional requirement is to ex- a peaceful environment, yet around the plore in terms of experience. This is world there are around 60 different wars another emphasis within the theosophical being fought. As we sit, our environment approach. The idea that the teachings is very pleasant, but the planet’s environ- from the Great Masters are things to be ment, soil, water, air, all of them are being apprehended intellectually can only take polluted in ways that are going to have us to a certain limit. If we are to deeply powerful consequences. At this point no experience the power that gives a benefit matter how we respond, some of these to the world, a practical application of consequences cannot be averted. these great teachings is needed. This dual In terms of human knowledge we do focus is what has always been at the core not need a new technology or theory to of the theosophical movement. address each and every one of these pro- The TS is active in around 70 coun- blems. The knowledge that we have now tries in the world today, and part of its is sufficient. Yet the problems persist attraction has been that it is intended to and grow. What this says to me is that speak in terms understandable to any of knowledge in and of itself is insufficient. us on the planet. This is something that What is it then that is required? This is has interest for many. There is more that where the value of the actual experienced I could say, but in imitation of the wis- teachings of a Sri Sankara, of an Ageless dom that was shown by the Professor in Wisdom tradition, become increasingly his introduction, I will stop talking before valuable. They show themselves in the I reach the range of things that I know activities of inspired individuals. So in nothing about. I would be happy to the absence of some deepening, we plan respond to questions you may have. for escape routes from the harms that Q: I have a simple question: Science we are continually creating. But there is and technology have advanced so much, no escape from our own unenlight- whereas Vedanta and Theosophy belong ened minds. to a different old age. How are the latter It is an unfortunate feature of human relevant to today’s technological and behavior that sometimes our greatest scientific world? learning takes place in the face of A: I should say it is always simple crises. The uncultivated mind responds questions that are the most challenging. in ways that create problems. The cul- As has been noted, there are many press- tivated mind, whether it is of a young ing issues that we are facing as a human or older person, responds in those family in the world today. The idea of es- ways that are needful to this moment. cape to another planet is being put forward The exposure to the Advaita teachings, as some sort of hope for the devastation philosophy, and practice, the exposure that we are creating on this one. At this to any of the Ageless Wisdom tradi-
6 The Theosophist Vol. 141.6, March 2020 Address to Sri Sankaracharya Sanskrit University Faculty and Students tions, is necessary now. As crises arise 35 kilometers beyond the TS campus, yet we necessarily reach for depths that we still we have maintained a peaceful envir- did not before consider were worthy of onment at our place. our time. Thank you for your question. Our campus is 260 acres in the center The Memoramdum of Understand- of a city of 7 million people, and it has a ing that we are signing today provides peaceful and powerful atmosphere. For for students of this institution to utilize those who come to study, they can do so the resources we have at the TS head- in a way unique for today’s world. Fully quarters in our Adyar Library and Re- a half of our campus is forested land, so search Centre, and there are numerous the benefits of the stabilizing influences palm-leaf and other manuscripts, many of the natural world are there. Yet if you of which have yet to be translated. We step outside of the walls you can have all can also provide accommodation. Our the honking of horns and everything that campus is in the heart of Chennai. When comes with city life. These are some of it was founded in 1882 it was on the the things that will be available to stu- southern outskirts of the city, surrounded dents and professors with the institutional by paddy fields. Now Chennai stretches linkages we are establishing today. 3
Once we become conscious, even dimly, of the Atman [our essential nature], the Reality within us, the world takes on a very different aspect. It is no longer a court of justice, but a kind of gymnasium. Good and evil, pain and pleasure, still exist, but they seem more like the ropes and vaulting-horses and parallel bars which can be used to make our bodies strong. Maya [illusion of the physical world] is no longer an endlessly revolving wheel of pain and pleasure but a ladder which can be climbed to consciousness of the Reality. Adi Sankaracharya Crest Jewel of Discrimination (Vivekachudamani)
Vol. 141.6, March 2020 The Theosophist 7 Science for Health and Consciousness Science for Health and Consciousness
S. ABHAYA SRISRIMAL JAIN
THIS talk seeks to explore the intercon- prism of my life experiences in the nectedness between various apparently diverse fields I have worked in. This different categories and levels of existence is not so much a technical talk but an and understanding. To the layman today, experiential one. It hopes to also touch the dualities of science and spirituality, upon some commonalities with Theo- the physical and the mental, man and the sophy, whereby both become mutually world, are all distinct and disconnected meaningful. Having been taught right from each other. Both rational and emo- from childhood the pitfalls of an egoistic tional people would concur that their approach, the use of the first person is nature points to contrasting realms of only for convenience. As a start, it be- operation. Any attempt to understand comes imperative to put forward a basic them on a common platform would ap- definition of the three major terms of my pear to be remote. talk: health, consciousness, and the appli- However, there is strong evidence in cation of science to humankind. the erstwhile “oriental traditions” that the universe works as a whole, wherein all Health elements are in harmony. The discord out- It refers to a state of complete physical, side is a reflection of that within. Once psychological and social well-being and the unique yet holistic nature of the world a resource for living a full life. It indicates is understood, the assimilation within the the absence of disease with the ability to inner self would be achievable as well. recover and bounce back from illness and While scientific research has begun to other problems. A balanced diet, exercise, prove it with reference to Nature, Indian screening for diseases, and coping strat- spirituality has already established it with egies can all enhance a person’s health. reference to the Self. The factors for good health include the The attempt here then would be to environment, relationships, education, trace the meeting points of science, and control of the mind and emotions, health, and consciousness through the among others.
S. Abhaya Srisrimal Jain, Industrialist and Social Educationist, is Chairman of Abusha Investment and Management Services LLP, Chennai, India. Theosophy-Science Lecture delivered at the TS Adyar international Convention, Varanasi, 3 January 2020.
8 The Theosophist Vol. 141.6, March 2020 Science for Health and Consciousness Consciousness wealth we have, but its trustees. It is ne- It can be defined as sentience or aware- cessary to give the wealth back to the ness of internal and external existence, society from where it has come. This the development of which covers the had been imbibed very strongly by my life span of an individual from childhood mind right from my childhood. to adulthood. The alterations of thought leading to levels of consciousness can Application of Science to Health and be due to physical, psychological, and Consciousness social factors. When trying to analyze the applica- This morning I had a meeting in tion of science to health and conscious- Varanasi with an enlightened person from ness, some of the questions that arose Mumbai. When I went to meet him he were: What kind of research is being asked me, “Since you are going to speak done into health challenges facing hu- on ‘consciousness’, tell me where does mankind? How do we connect research- consciousness arise from? What is the ers and the pharmaceutical and life mother of consciousness?” My wife, who science industry to promote inspired was with me said: “It is the mind of the solutions for the same? Applying science soul which generates consciousness, or is also meant the introduction of the latest the mother of consciousness.” Then he technologies from the domestic to the explained to me that consciousness arises medical level. when the soul and matter meet. It is not the soul alone; soul is only one aspect of My Evolution consciousness. He continued that when Hailing from a traditional Jaina family, the sperm and the egg meet, both the with an academic background of engi- creative energy and that which is gener- neering, my life’s trajectory has been an ated are both consciousness. That is evolution of both the scientific and the how consciousness flows in our body spiritual. Growing up with an insatiable through neurons. curiosity for knowledge, no question Consciousness also refers to the archi- seemed unanswerable, no problem un- tecture of beliefs in keeping with a faith worthy of a solution! The focus was both system. In my case, it would be the role on the cultivation of the body through of ethics and ahimsa, the Jaina tenets of physical fitness and cultivation of the non-absolutism (anekântavâda) and non- mind through mental discipline. At every possessiveness (aparigraha) in any study juncture of my growth, the foundational of consciousness. The Jaina system very principles of the Jaina faith I follow have clearly says we should have only as been like goalposts guiding me in the right much as what we need. What is more direction. They have permeated both than our need should be given back to my personal and professional life. The society. We are not the owners of the fundamental tenets of non-absolutism
Vol. 141.6, March 2020 The Theosophist 9 Science for Health and Consciousness
(anekântavâda), karma, the seven funda- Cultivation of the Body mentals (tattva-s), the three jewels of right It gave me an opportunity to under- faith, knowledge, and conduct (triratna), stand the five elements that make up the the three qualities or attributes (triguna), ecosystem and the human organism. By Nature (prak·ti), detachment, non-violence learning to use different media on earth (ahimsa), coupled with a unique form of (yogasanas and pranayama, cricket, horse vegetarianism and regular fasting, as- riding, golf), water (rowing, swimming), sociation (satsanga) with Jain realized air (flying), I was able to understand both souls (muni-s), and other philosophical my capacity and limitations. concepts had instilled discipline and focus Like Swami Vivekananda said — “a in every activity. sound mind in a sound body” — the cultivation of mind became equally neces- Academic Background — Science sary. What better way to achieve that than I have learnt some very important by a pursuit of the arts. Learning to sing lessons of life from my science back- and play the guitar, the fine, performing, ground and my pursuit of sports and the and liberal arts opened a whole new arts. I have been constantly guided by realm of artistic endeavours. The creative the special emphasis of science on the juices flowed into a company launched following: observation, classification, for visual effects and animation in movies, analysis, experimental verification, com- Sony Imageworks, the special effects munication, measurement, adaptability, hub in Chennai for Hollywood movies updation of knowledge, skills enhance- like the Spiderman series, Men in Black, ment, usage of technology, and goal of and so on. human welfare. This has however been These kindled in me the aesthetic sense with strict adherence to ethics. The in- to recognize the symmetry and balance fluence of chemical engineering had a in the world. It helped me synchronize bearing on my mind to the extent that we varied fields and professions, like a could enhance the efficiency of reactions, symphony conductor, bringing out the reduce time cycles without compromise best in everyone. The symphony conduct- on quality, and protect the environment or may not be the best in every instru- through enhanced recovery and zero ment of music which is being played waste management. there, but he knows how to synchronize When I went through some articles on between each player and brings the Theosophy, I found quite a few similar best out of them. That is what I do in my thoughts, corroborating my own approach life. By fine-tuning my sensitivity to to life. “Theosophists are ever ready to peoples’ needs, it helps me appreciate and abandon every idea that is proved erro- empathize with the holistic consciousness neous upon strictly logical deductions”.1 at work in the world at large. This idea A truly scientific attitude! has been highlighted in a quote from
10 The Theosophist Vol. 141.6, March 2020 Science for Health and Consciousness Theosophy: “Harmony in the physical entry of the Shasun Group into chemicals and mathematical world of sense is justice and pharmaceuticals marked a major in the spiritual one.”2 milestone in this direction. Fast-changing The cultivation of the mind was not lifestyles precipitated unknown diseases, limited to only learning art forms. It also demanding newer drugs and treatment implied enlarging my dimensions through methods. Pioneering work into stem-cell reading and networking, contributing research became a necessity. I am also towards training young minds through proud to tell you here that Shasun is the coaching/mentoring as a member of edu- only pharma company in India to have cational trusts, and providing opportunities the distinction of thirty-six new drugs in for exploring various avenues of growth. the world, of the “new chemical entities” I have helped forty-five youngsters in as drugs, in collaboration with major India to start their own businesses by pharma companies. mentoring them and making them suc- cessful. I will not say that I am 100% Application of Science — Stem Cell successful — out of forty-seven, forty- Research five were successful, and two could not The goal here is the preservation of take it further. stem cells to fight and cure diseases. A particularly special venture is the Though a revolution in modern health- empowerment of women. The Shasun care, it was in keeping with ancient Indian Jain College for Women was founded as tradition which revered the umbilical cord a tribute to the memory of my parents, between the infant and the mother and as a one-stop education provider for the preserved it. The attempt was to carefully bright, talented young women of today. avoid all ethical issues in stem-cell re- Not content with being part of the stan- search, as only cord cells are stored and dard academic system, centres of excel- used instead of embryonic stem cells. So lence were created to further enhance the we deal with science only where there skill sets of the students and the public. are no ethical issues. So health for me is the all-round well- being and growth of an individual, keep- Application of Science — Green ing pace with scientific research and Nanotechnology technological advancement. This is guided The introduction of nanotechnology by the individual consciousness and is in ensured keeping pace with an accelerating harmony with universal consciousness. technological advancement. The goal of The demands of scientific rigour be- green nanotechnology is the production came necessary for building a logical, of nanomaterials and products without foolproof system of research into hitherto harming the environment or human unchartered territories of medicine, bio- health, being chemical-free. We make technology and pharmaceuticals. The nanoparticles of gold and silver through
Vol. 141.6, March 2020 The Theosophist 11 Science for Health and Consciousness green nanotechnology without the use of We believe that everything in material life any chemical or synthetic solvents. This is most intimately associated with Spir- is seen as a solution to many environ- itual agencies.6 mental problems. Some of its classic Physical existence is subservient to the features include using existing principles spiritual, and all physical improvement of green chemistry and green engineering, and progress are only the auxiliaries of without toxic ingredients, and at low tem- spiritual progress, without which there peratures; using less energy and renew- could be no physical progress.7 able inputs wherever possible; and using life-cycle thinking in all design and Contribution to Society (General) engineering stages for being effective in As a philosophy my family had a very treating world issues. It has turned out to clear view that we will not enter into any be powerful, and at the same time not meat-processing or non-vegetarian in- drug-resistant like other antibiotics in the dustry, any alcohol or alcohol-based market today. The world is now having industry, or leather and leather products a huge problem of drug resistance where industry, and we have maintained that. antibiotics become ineffective. I would like to mention an incident. The interconnectedness of science, We had acquired a company in New- health, and consciousness, explained so far from my perspective also finds an castle, UK, spread over forty-four acres echo in many thoughts expressed in employing three hundred people. The Theosophical teachings: factory had been running for the previous twenty-five years. After due diligence Right thought is a good thing, but thought and acquisition, the presence of non- alone does not count for much unless it is vegetarian food in the canteen remained translated into action.3 an irritant. Since this was against our The idea of Universal Life composed of philosophy, we had a discussion with the individual atomic lives is one of the oldest trade union and expressed our sensitivity teachings of esoteric philosophy.4 to this issue. The trade union came back The only decree of Karma — an eternal with a suggestion that if we agree to pay and immutable decree — is absolute har- 100 GBP (British pounds) per employee mony in the world of matter as it is in per month, they will not serve any food the world of Spirit. It is not, therefore, in the canteen except tea and coffee. This Karma that rewards or punishes, but it was an eye-opener to us to understand is we, who reward or punish ourselves what could be achieved by proper rea- according to whether we work with, soning and clear expression about our through, and along with Nature, abid- sensitive areas. ing by the laws on which that harmony The fundamental tenets of a deeply depends, or, break them.5 ingrained religious faith could not be
12 The Theosophist Vol. 141.6, March 2020 Science for Health and Consciousness compromised for mere novelty and health, and consciousness had to make commerce. Innovation had to go hand- an impact on society, it had to start with in-hand with ethics. The struggle was creating awareness. The end user being deep and tiresome, but the balance was society at large, the building blocks had to paramount for a sustainable future, as be the young minds waiting to be trained. good health and happy living are non- Thus education became a prime mover in negotiable. the sequence of events, bringing in its Each business venture proved to be wake the Shankarlal Sundarbai Shasun an opportunity, not so much for profit but Jain College for Women. to provide people with possibilities for Realizing the dream of empowering progress and prosperity. The contribution women through education, there were no to society in general took on many fields: full stops. “Go Beyond” is the motto. All education, business model, philanthropy, aspects physical, psychological, cultural, charitable work, health initiatives, cultural ethical, and technological were enhanced. inculcation, scientific research, techno- While preparing young women for aca- logical upgradation, value systems, and demic degrees is the basic purpose of a social work. Further elaborating on the collegiate education, building their skills specific contribution to society with refer- for the emerging job roles gained priority. ence to social work, removing miscon- The recognition, as a partner institution, ceptions regarding requirements, namely from National Skill Development Corpo- time, money, knowledge, energy, and ration (NSDC), and Media and Enter- recognition, was a task to be undertaken. tainment Skills Council (MESC) came According to Jaina philosophy the nature after rigorous upgradation of facility of charity, or daan, is of three types: arth- and faculty. daan, ºramdaan, and vidyadaan. Under The aim to contribute to society at arthdaan (money) forty-five entrepre- the national level has now become a neurs have been helped to set up different reality. We are encouraging a team that ventures; through ºramdaan (effort) a is be-ing developed to compete in the decent farewell is being given to humans Olympics of 2020. I am proud to tell you on their final journey by maintaining the that the archer has been selected for the Kannammapet Crematorium and Burial trials tomorrow in Pune for the Olympics Ground in Chennai; and finally by vidya- squad selection from India. She has been daan (knowledge), help with ideation and practicing for the past thirty-five months, planning is imparted to entrepreneurs. We has scored the highest in the world, and can see the parallel in the theosophical broken the world record many times. Girls quote: “To live to benefit mankind is the making it to the top of the world is a great first step.”8 phenomenon for us. Finally, digitization, Contribution to Society (Specific) the new mantra of technological applica- If the interconnectedness of science, tion, has percolated into even routine tasks
Vol. 141.6, March 2020 The Theosophist 13 Science for Health and Consciousness of the college campus, resulting in effi- by it became possible to work with people ciency and transparency. of diverse thought systems with the one The other most recent development in goal of the common good; the capacity the education sector has been the purchase of visualization or a mental road map of of land in Butati in the Nagaur district of any given event/experience and the willing- Rajasthan state, where my grandfather ness to learn from any source. We always was born. We have purchased twenty try to delve into unknown areas and have acres to build a school for the villagers. the capacity of visualization to learn from A centre is also being developed to supply any sources. So I have ventured into vari- food and provide a place for people to stay ous fields without the fear that I will not at a very nominal cost. have the right source of people who can Again I see the corresponding vision be hired with the right technology. expounded in Theosophy in the following Understanding the fundamental prin- quote: “Theosophists do not believe in ciples of science helped towards their giving money . . . through other people’s application for the welfare of humanity’s hands or organizations. We believe in health and elevation of consciousness. Is giving to the money a thousandfold this not similar to what the theosophist greater power and effectiveness by our said: “Be humble, if thou wouldst attain personal contact and sympathy with those to Wisdom. Be humbler still, when Wis- who need it.”9 dom thou hast mastered.”10 These seemed the right steps for sci- These so-called parallel paths of science entific progress and intellectual and phys- and spirituality coalesced in a deeper under- ical health. Where was consciousness standing of consciousness, making life in this scheme of things? Back to basic be- both useful and harmonious. This has liefs! The Jaina doctrine, which shares so given me the courage and desire to share many similarities with Theosophy, came these rather personal but transformational to the rescue. It reinforced the notion that experiences from my life, hoping to reach all living beings are connected in this out to some of you here in a better and universe, explained in material terms by fuller way. science, but experienced in spiritual states What brought me here, was when Tim by evolved souls. Boyd, asked me how I was able to manage diverse interests and activities. This was Building on Strengths my answer, that when I start a business, I Finally it is important to build on our always think of the exit strategy. This strengths while correcting our weak- helps me to lessen my attachment to the nesses. I believe with the integrated vision business. We should put in our best, but acquired by balancing science and spir- not cling to it. Thus, I conclude with a ituality, certain positives have emerged: favourite catchphrase: Put in your best the “synchronization of diversity” where- effort, but practise detached attachment.
14 The Theosophist Vol. 141.6, March 2020 Science for Health and Consciousness Notes & References: 1. H. P. Blavatsky, Collected Writings (CW), vol. I, “A Society without a Dogma”, p. 304. 2. ——— Isis Unveiled, vol. I, p. 330. 3. ——— CW, vol. VI, “Spiritual Progress”, p. 336. 4. ——— CW, vol. XII, “Kosmic Mind”, p. 134. 5. ——— The Secret Doctrine, vol. I, part III, “Cyclic Evolution and Karma”, p. 643. 6. ——— CW, vol. I, “Madame Blavatsky on the Views of the Theosophists”, p. 295. 7. ——— A Modern Panarion, “What Is Occultism?”, p. 78–9. 8. ——— The Voice of the Silence, II.144. 9. ——— The Key to Theosophy, sec. XII, “On Charity”. 10. ——— The Voice of the Silence, II.161–162.
Bibliography: (i) Science, Education, Health, and Consciousness, Sampooran Singh and Kanwaljit Kaur, Kalpaz Publications, 2005. (ii) Consciousness Explained, Daniel C. Dennett, Penguin Books Ltd, 1993.
E-Resources: (i)
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Dated: 29 February 2020 S. HARIHARA RAGHAVAN, PUBLISHER
Vol. 141.6, March 2020 The Theosophist 15 Theosophy and Krishnamurti — I Theosophy and Krishnamurti — I (P. KRISHNA in Conversation with TIM BOYD)
IN the Bhagavadgitâ there is a moment Prof. P. Krishna: It was in Delhi in when Arjuna poses a question to Lord January 1958 in the house of Mr B. Shiva Krishna. He asks “What are the signs of Rao, who was a family friend of my someone who is self-realized? How does father. They had grown up together in he act?” It is a poignant question that is the TS at Adyar in childhood when echoed throughout the religious traditions Krishnaji was also growing up there. Mr of the world. Like Arjuna, we try to Shiva Rao had invited me to have lunch comprehend the qualities of the great with Krishnaji and meet him. At the lunch teachers who periodically appear on the Krishnaji said: “Sir, I have lost all my world stage. Whether it is Jesus, Ramana memories of childhood. I have no rec- Maharshi, or the Buddha we try to fathom ollection of my brother’s face. I can barely their life and behavior. Because of dis- recall the outline of Mrs [Annie] Besant’s tance in time, mostly we are forced to face.” His brother died in 1925 when he rely on conjecture or the pronounce- was 30 years of age, so I found it very ments of tradition for our answers. In the surprising, and I said: “Is it because you case of J. Krishnamurti we have a con- don’t ruminate over the past like we do, temporary world teacher whose life, and so it doesn’t get revived?” He said, from his earliest beginnings to his mo- “No, it’s not that.” The other thing I ment of death, was witnessed, recorded, remember is that he said: “I don’t know and shared. Many of the people who were what hunger is.” I said, “What do you closest to him are still with us today. So mean, if you don’t eat food don’t you feel we have the special opportunity to hungry?” He said, “No, I just become speak with Professor P. Krishna, some- weaker, and I eat in order to keep the body one who was both a student and co- going.” So I wondered if desirelessness worker of Krishnamurti. could go to that extent. Tim Boyd: When did you first meet TB: What do you think? Krishnamurti? Can you recall some of PK: Well, I think that he told the truth what transpired then? (laughter). But I think that this business
Prof. P. Krishna is Head of the Study Centre at the campus of the Krishnamurti Foundation India in Rajghat Fort, Varanasi. This conversation was part of the TS Adyar International Convention held at the Indian Section National Headquarters in Varanasi, India, on 2 January 2020.
16 The Theosophist Vol. 141.6, March 2020 Theosophy and Krishnamurti — I of getting realized is like a rebirth within his own volition was on 7 February 1986, this life itself. So the past died out in the just ten days before his death. He said: sense that it is still there somewhere, but “There is a vast intelligence which has it does not dominate in the conscious- used this body, a tremendous energy has ness. Thus the Buddha was brought up as gone through it, and you may not find a Hindu with all those Hindu morals, another body or that energy operating in “casteism” and so on, but he walked out such a body for several hundred years.” of it completely. Similarly, Jesus Christ You can read that in the third volume was brought up as a Jew, and the Jews of Mary Lutyens’s biography called believed in “an eye for an eye and a tooth Krishnamurti: The Open Door. That was for a tooth”. So how did he come up with very close to what [C. W.] Leadbeater and the realization that you must not retaliate Mrs Besant had predicted. They called it violence with violence? the Maitreya consciousness — that is just These are all cases of people who have a name coming from Buddhism — but it broken free from their past, and that is is some kind of intelligence or divine what I think Krishnamurti keeps saying energy that manifested through the person when he talks about freedom from con- of Krishnamurti. ditioning, that you have to come out of He said: “All creative perception is this prison of the past which is just an like that.” So he was not coming out of accident of birth. If we are too attached to thinking, but out of insight. Insight that personality, then it blocks us from means that you actually see beyond discovering anything new. All creative the known, whereas thought is confined perception is beyond the known. So it to the area of the known. All creative requires a certain amount of freedom perception, whether in science, art, or from the known, from our experience. music, is of that Nature. But to be So I think something happened to him completely free from your past, not just [to JK] in 1922 under that pepper tree. in one particular field of endeavor, is what He went through something called “the one means by “liberation”. I think he was process”, which is a great mystery. I have a liberated man, and was, in a sense, talked with many people who were very reborn. When we are born in the next life, close to him for a long time, including we do not have the memory of what is Pupul Jayakar, Mary Zimbalist, Rosalind going on now. But if that happens within [Rajagopal], and so on, who witnessed the same life, then possibly you lose your the process at different times during memory. Krishnaji’s life, and none of them really TB: In many religious traditions, when understood what was happening to him. somebody has an initiation in that tradition, So it is still a mystery; we do not know very often there is a change of name to about his consciousness. represent a change, or supposed change of The last tape that he recorded out of consciousness. In Krishnamurti’s case the
Vol. 141.6, March 2020 The Theosophist 17 Theosophy and Krishnamurti — I name stayed the same, but the conscious- eater; ate very little. After the lunch he said: ness became something very different. “Sir, I have something important to speak PK: I think so too; but sometimes the with you, will you come to my room?” I change of name is also given before full said, “Yes”, and we went to his room, sat realization or freedom. Then it is not the with him on the floor. He could sit cross- same thing. legged on the floor at the age of 90. I find it difficult even now; if I do, I find it TB: At a certain point in your relationship difficult to get up. But he used to do yoga with Krishnamurti he asked you to come every day for two hours and pranayama. and see him for a discussion about the He never said to anybody else that they school in Rajghat, and at that meeting he have to do yoga, or so forth. He did that actually asked you to take on responsibility because he felt that was good for his body for running the school — a meeting that and health. many would interpret as a very unusual He said: “Sir, may I come to the point job interview. Could you say a little bit directly?” I said, “Well, why not?” And about that? he said: “I’m not going to be around very PK: Yes, sure. I am still surprised how long. I happen to know when I’m going his mind worked at that time; I had not to go, but I’m not going to tell anybody. met him for five years. I had met him in Before I go I want to put my house in order, Brockwood in 1980 or ’81, and after that and I want you to take charge of Rajghat.” he had stopped coming to Benares be- [The Krishnamurti Education Center, cause he was getting old and wanted to Rajghat, Varanasi, India] I was stunned! cut down on his travels; and since I was [Laughter] I did not even know what all at the University I had no opportunity to there was in Rajghat, and so I said: “Sir, meet him. But when he came here for the you hardly know me!” and he said: “No, last time, in 1985, he asked for me. I do sir, don’t say that, I know you enough.” not know how, because he met thousands But he had not seen my biodata. He never of people all over the world. I had not lived asked whether I was a vegetarian, or took or travelled or worked with him, so he did alcohol, or had any addictions. Whatever not know me very much. But I got a phone I do before appointing somebody, he did call from Rajghat saying: “Krishnaji is not do. So it is a great mystery to me, here; he wants you and your wife to come because I think that kind of consciousness and have lunch with him, and he does not is able to see through you. He said: “You want you to refuse!” I said, “There’s no don’t have to tell me, I know!” I think he question of refusing, I’ll arrange for my had all those occult powers which Lead- classes and come”, and we went for lunch. beater and Besant had, but he gave no Lunch with him lasted for an hour or importance to it. In that first meeting in so. A lot of other trustees and people had Delhi, I asked him: “Sir, I have heard that conversations going on. He was a slow in the Esoteric Section you people sat
18 The Theosophist Vol. 141.6, March 2020 Theosophy and Krishnamurti — I around a table and brought messages from Not because the Buddha lived there or dead souls, and so on. What was that? Christ lived there, and so on. The mind Was it all hallucination?” And he said: there, today, must be religious.” “No, sir, those things exist. It’s another Of course, by religious he meant a form of power; it has nothing to do with mind in quest of Truth. It must attract the goodness, so I’m not interested in it.” true pilgrim and must be a sanctuary for So that was his take on occult power, all life. So, with that responsibility, he that a religious mind is not interested in asked me to take charge of Rajghat, and cultivating any power, because there is no he said: “I’m offering you a jewel on a desire to manipulate or dominate another, silver platter, and I’m asking: Will you find things which you do not know, and take it?” I felt very diffident. I have put things like that. But he had all those all that in my book. I have written a book powers, and when he needed it, he would about it. It is called A Jewel on a Silver use them. People would ask him: “How Platter. In the US it is sold by
Vol. 141.6, March 2020 The Theosophist 19 Theosophy and Krishnamurti — I respect and inquiring or questioning. So murti was talking about “the field” in there were a lot of things on which I did which human beings operate, basically not agree with him, and I would feel free describing it as the field of illusion, and to say it to him. that no matter what it is you are doing I remember for instance in one of his within that field, nothing good will ever talks he said: “A disciplined mind is a lazy come out of it. You challenged that point mind.” I did not think so, so I went to him very strongly, and persisted. Do you have afterwards and said: “There is something any remembrance of that? I didn’t understand in what you said PK: Oh, yes. I said: “Sir, it seems to you today”, and he said: “What?” I said: “You like that but we have a lot of good things said that a disciplined mind is a lazy mind. in our life. We have kindness, friendships, I don’t think so. A disciplined man is a a lot of love, and so on, so I don’t under- person who is energetic, who does all his stand why you think that we have to be work, and is punctual, and so on. So why completely free from the ego before you do you say that he is lazy?” And he said: can have goodness.” And he said: “It’s “Sir, if he is not lazy, why does he have chicken feed; I mean, you’re satisfied to discipline himself?” with small things, you’re saying Indira So he taught me about the dichotomy Gandhi did some good, and Nehru did that what you are trying to be is the some good, and Gandhi did some good, opposite of what you actually are. He but ultimately the world is the way it is. said: “If I have to get up at 6 o’clock in So all that is like aspirin, it removes your the morning, I get up; but if it needs a lot headache but it doesn’t cure the disease.” of discipline to get up at that time, then I That is how I understood him: that am lazy, isn’t it?” In the same way, when when you are deeply interested in the you’re trying to cultivate courage it means transformation of consciousness, you are you are fearful; otherwise, why do you not satisfied with small things. I remember need courage? And if you are trying to one of his sentences, quite early, in the be non-violent, it means you are really 1950s, where in one of his books he said: violent, because if you are not violent “Why worship at a candle when you can there is no need to cultivate non-violence. have the sun?” So to him it seemed that So I learnt about this corridor of the we are satisfied with small achievements opposites in which the mind gets caught. and he wanted one to make much bigger TB: There was one particular dialogue demands on oneself. that comes to my mind when Krishna- (To be continued)
20 The Theosophist Vol. 141.6, March 2020 The Need for Theosophical Ethics The Need for Theosophical Ethics
JON FERGUS
Compassion is no attribute. It is the LAW facing humanity. As we begin to evolve of LAWS — eternal Harmony. . . . Com- self-consciously, through self-devised passion stands here as an abstract, imper- and self-induced efforts, we need to learn sonal law whose nature, being absolute to progress together in dynamic harmony. Harmony, is thrown into confusion by But while this problem of straying from discord, suffering, and sin. — The Voice harmony, thus evoking discord and suf- of the Silence fering, is daunting, it is capable of being solved — what we are ignorant of or un- Harmony is the law of life, discord its practised in, we can learn and master. We shadow, whence springs suffering, the can learn to place ourselves in harmony teacher, the awakener of consciousness. and maintain that harmony on all levels of — Gems from the East our being, from one moment to the next. Harmony is the essential law of the Our current difficulty, however, is not Universe. All that is, was, or will be must as simple as this. It has been compounded stand in eternal harmony. Yet this is no by what Plato calls “the disease of the mechanical law, but a dynamic consciously multitudes”, or double ignorance — that driven harmony, capable of being thrown state in which we are not only ignorant, into confusion by our own thoughts, but ignorant of our own ignorance! We speech, and acts. While the Universe as a are capable of learning that which we are whole remains ever in balance, we may ignorant of, but we remove that possibility push ourselves out of that balance, and the moment we believe ourselves to be by doing so we activate another side of that knowledgeable where we are not, for no same law: Karma. When we deviate from one would attempt to investigate that the inherent harmony of the Universe, we which he thinks he already knows! call upon forces of counterbalance, which This is the current state of humanity. forces will always, eventually, react upon Not only are we deviating from natural us. We do this individually and collectively. harmony, we are constantly deluding our- This, then, is the essential problem selves into believing that such is not the
Jon Fergus is a Canadian theosophist whose primary focus is the practical application of wisdom via theosophical ethics. He has helped lead many people to adopt a more cruelty-free, non-violent lifestyle.
Vol. 141.6, March 2020 The Theosophist 21 The Need for Theosophical Ethics case. Like many musicians playing in an self to be wise and in possession of the orchestra with out-of-tune instruments, we solutions to the woes of their society. As sow discord in the music of Nature, but, is shown in the dialogue, however, Alci- each focusing solely on his own playing biades is suffering from that dreaded while ignoring the rest, each deludes state of double ignorance. He points the himself into believing that he is playing finger at others and not to himself be- aright. If, at times, we break our self- cause he believes himself to be know- absorbed focus and notice for a moment ledgeable where he is not; he believes the mess of sounds being played, we more himself to be in possession of solutions often than not will point our fingers at when he is not. Alcibiades is intent upon those around us and say: “Listen, they entering politics in order to lead Athens; are ruining the song! Them, they, those he is, in short, a tyrant in potential. When others; they are the problem; not I!” And the wise sage Socrates comes to him, he is so we continue to play our own out-of- on the verge of taking his first real step to- tune part, waiting for those others to match wards manifesting that tyrannical nature. our own playing, falsely imagining that This is the ever-continuing state of then we shall have harmony. humanity. We are Alcibiades, and we are It is this double ignorance that stalls ever-manifesting the tyranny that arises out all human progress and keeps us rooted of that condition of double ignorance: in our discord. Thus, our solution to tyranny towards each other; tyranny to- human woe comes in two parts: we must wards our younger brothers and sisters of overcome our double ignorance first, then the animal kingdom; tyranny towards our learn to harmonize not solely with each Mother Earth; and even tyranny towards other, but with all of Nature. our “Father who art in heaven”, our own impersonal Higher Self, as we “struggle The reasons of your being exalted so highly to break the silver thread” that binds us in your own opinion, I am desirous of to the Universal. It is all-important that laying before you. . . . [This] I shall now we ourselves realize that the troubles of show, and shall lay your own mind open the world are but an outer reflection of before yourself. — Socrates to Alcibiades each of our own inner condition of dou- There is a wonderful story written by ble ignorance. Plato1 wherein a young man named Alci- There is good news in the story of biades embodies this human tendency of Alcibiades as well, however. Through his double ignorance. Alcibiades is young and dialogue with Socrates — through attend- intelligent, and initially widely admired by ing to the words of the wise Sage — he his peers, but he becomes blindly arrogant is gradually disabused of his false sense about his own knowledge and supposed of superiority in knowledge. He is guided, greatness. He believes all the politicians little by little, out of his double ignorance of Athens to be ignorant fools, and he him- and towards the wonderful Socratic state
22 The Theosophist Vol. 141.6, March 2020 The Need for Theosophical Ethics of “simple ignorance”, wherein one is vahana then proceeds to ask ªvetaketu indeed still ignorant, but has become five essential questions related to the aware of, and is willing to admit to, one’s Mystery teachings, none of which he has own ignorance. This state is the prere- any answer to. Then comes the most quisite of all real learning, and therefore important lesson: Pravahana offers to of all solutions to all problems. teach ªvetaketu the Mystery teachings, There is another illustrative story, this but ªvetaketu refuses and instead runs time from the Upanishads,2 where another back to his father. He tells his father that character, ªvetaketu, is made the exem- Pravahana had asked him five questions plar of double ignorance. He is a young but that he had not known any of them, Brahmin who has been instructed in the and accuses his father of not having Vedas and Vedic sciences. He is admit- taught him fully. His father, however, is tedly very learned — he knows the Vedas also ignorant of the answers to the five by heart after 12 years of study — but questions, and so suggests to his son that he has let this knowledge go to his head they both go to the sage to learn the and has become prideful of it. ªvetaketu’s answers. But ªvetaketu again refuses! father comes to him and, like Socrates Though his father did go humbly to the with Alcibiades, calls out his son’s blind sage and was taught the doctrines of the arrogance. He says to him: “ªvetaketu, Mysteries, we, quite tellingly, do not see since you are conceited, dear, vain of ªvetaketu in the Great Upanishads again. your learning and proud, have you asked ªvetaketu let his arrogance and double for that instruction through which the ignorance block him from finding answers unheard becomes heard, the unthought to the most important questions of life. becomes thought, the unknown becomes When shocked by a sage into a momen- known?” ªvetaketu had not, of course, tary realization of his own ignorance, sought such instruction. he reacted by retreating back into his His father then instructs him in deeper false learning like a turtle into its shell. Vedic teachings. However, ªvetaketu is Alcibiades, on the other hand, found the still not cured of his double ignorance. courage to allow himself to be guided out In fact, one may venture to suggest that of that double ignorance. his double ignorance is simply furthered These two stories represent two pos- by such continued instruction, as he then sible pathways humanity now faces. believes himself to be even more know- Now for us poor and unknown philan- ledgeable! Increased “head-learning” is thropists, no fact of either of these sciences not the cure for double ignorance. [physical and metaphysical] is interesting In time ªvetaketu comes to a râjanya except in the degree of its potentiality of sage named Pravahana. The sage asks him moral results, and in the ratio of its use- if he has been instructed by his father, to fulness to mankind. . . . Exact experimental which ªvetaketu replies that he has. Pra- Science has nothing to do with morality,
Vol. 141.6, March 2020 The Theosophist 23 The Need for Theosophical Ethics
virtue, philanthropy, therefore can make greater technological and scientific know- no claim upon our help. ledge is not enough in and of itself. Sure, — “First Letter of Mahatma much of what we learn in those fields KH to A. O. Hume” has the potential to aid humanity, yet the same knowledge holds equally the poten- Even ignorance is better than head- tial of great harm. To use such knowledge learning with no Soul-Wisdom to illu- wisely requires “Soul-Wisdom”. minate and guide it. What, then, is that “Soul-Wisdom”? — The Voice of the Silence In The Voice of the Silence, “Soul- Humanity on the whole has thus far Wisdom” is that which is connected with followed the same pattern as ªvetaketu. the Heart, “head-learning” with the brain. We have collectively settled into an un- The cultivation of “Soul-Wisdom” is to founded conviction in our own “head- “make clean thy heart”, to “remove . . . learning”, becoming ever more enclosed pollution from thine heart”. We are within our shell of double ignorance, and urged to “let each burning human tear in doing so we have thrown off the wis- drop on thy heart and there remain, nor dom of the great sages. The knowledge ever brush it off, until the pain that caused we have gained, scientific and techno- it is removed”. logical, provides only a small part of the “The Dharma of the ‘Heart’ is the em- solution to human woes, but itself is more bodiment of Bodhi”, true divine Wisdom. harmful than good if not guided by “Soul- This is not knowledge or wisdom of Wisdom”, which we sorely lack, and which the usual kind, but Self-Knowledge, no amount of “head-learning” can cultivate. and “Self-Knowledge is of loving deeds What Alcibiades did, which ªvetaketu the child”. refused, is to attend seriously and humbly The worldly knowledge that humanity to the wisdom of the sage. Over the pre- has so far excelled in, when devoid of Self- ceding centuries, there has been a great Knowledge, causes but an increase of our effort made by countless people to bring disharmony, especially between ourselves the wisdom of the sages once again to and the delicate ecosystems in which we the forefront of human thought. H. P. live. To bring us into balance we need that Blavatsky, among others, urges us to Self-Knowledge, that “Soul-Wisdom”, to attend to that wisdom, telling us in no overshadow it, but this is not acquired uncertain terms that it is that wisdom through book-learning or scientific or alone that can solve the problems that vex technological pursuits. It is acquired by us. One ought to give proper consider- “living the life” — it is acquired through ation to this proposition. the practice of Ethics. As many of us throw off our state of If we can arrive honestly at this point double ignorance and settle into simple of realization — that a proper code of life ignorance, we realize that greater and is needed, that guidance in Ethics is needed
24 The Theosophist Vol. 141.6, March 2020 The Need for Theosophical Ethics — we may find ourselves asking the same and practice of those Ethics. To do this type of question as we find in the one must attend seriously to the systems following, from The Key to Theosophy: of the great Sages, and to “cull the good we find in each”. This is a task we must ENQUIRER: Have you any ethical system each undertake, but we must also do it in that you carry out in the [Theosophical] concert with one another. Through self- Society? devised and self-induced efforts, through THEOSOPHIST: The ethics are there, ready testing and verifying, we must synthesize and clear enough for whomsoever would the ethical teachings of those great Sages follow them. They are the essence and into a living power within ourselves — cream of the world’s ethics, gathered from and this is the path of Theosophical Ethics. the teachings of all the world’s great re- Whether it be the Yama and Niyama formers. Therefore, you will find repre- of Patañjali, the Eightfold Path and Pâr- sented therein Confucius and Zoroaster, amitâs of the Buddha, the Four Cardinal Laotze and the Bhagavatgitâ [Krishna], Virtues of the Greeks, the Golden Rule the precepts of Gautama Buddha and of Hillel, the Sermon on the Mount of Jesus of Nazareth, of Hillel and his school, Jesus the Christ, Confucian and Taoist as of Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato, and virtues, or the “actionless action” of their schools. . . . Krishna, each of these is but one facet of ENQUIRER: Which system do you prefer the ethical diamond. It is the synthesized or follow . . . ? whole which is the true “Soul-Wisdom”, THEOSOPHIST: None, and all. We hold to which is the foundation for real Self- no religion, as to no philosophy in parti- Knowledge, and which is the key to the cular: we cull the good we find in each. dynamic Harmony of our shared spiritual evolution. This, then, becomes our great task. Let us theosophists, then, seek out this Step one is passed when we throw off wisdom, study and synthesize the great our double ignorance; step two is passed ethical teachings into a practical code of when we understand the need for “Soul- life, and above all, practice those ethics Wisdom” through Ethics to guide our such that we may become shining examples actions in the world. Next comes the study of Harmony in a deeply struggling world. 3
Footnotes 1. See The First Alcibiades, tr. Thomas Taylor, Kshetra Books, 2016. 2. See Chhândogya Upanishad 6.1–16 & 5.3–10, and Brihadâranyaka Upanishad 6.2, in The Mukhya Upanishads, tr. Charles Johnston, Kshetra Books, 2014, pp. 381, 402, 579 et seq.
Vol. 141.6, March 2020 The Theosophist 25 HPB on the Gospel according to John HPB on the Gospel according to John
DANIEL H. CALDWELL, DOSS MCDAVID, AND SPENCER M. CONLIN
Introduction Theosophical Society (Adyar, Chennai, In October 1889, the members of the India).1 As far as we can tell, this article Blavatsky Lodge devoted at least two of has not been previously transcribed or their Thursday meetings to the study of published. the Gospel according to St John. H. P. There are several references in this Blavatsky (HPB) took the lead in this dis- manuscript that may be unfamiliar to cussion, assisted by her secretary, G. R. S. modern readers. They all appear to come Mead, who was proficient in the Greek from HPB’s study of J. Ralston Skinner’s language. In 1893, Mead’s notes sum- Key to the Hebrew-Egyptian Mystery in marizing the teachings by HPB were the Source of Measures:2 published in the February and March ♦ HPB refers to the Hebrew word issues of Lucifer journal. This material “Dabvar”. This spelling of the Hebrew was republished by Boris de Zirkoff word usually spelled “Dabar” appears in Volume XI (pp. 482–503) of H. P. on pages 169 and 312 of Skinner’s text Blavatsky Collected Writings. As a follow- although he gives the Hebrew letters and up to the two Thursday meetings in which number as DBR = 206. The word “Dabar” John’s gospel was discussed, HPB began means “word”, “talk”, or “thing” in Hebrew.3 writing an explanatory article which was The Septuagint, the oldest translation of never completed. This manuscript was the Hebrew Bible into Greek, uses the probably written by HPB in the latter part terms rhema and logos as equivalents. of October 1889 for the ongoing Blavatsky Both words appear in the New Testament Lodge meetings. This unfinished article, and both are generally translated into transcribed below, is contained in one of English simply as “word”. eight notebooks belonging to HPB and ♦ HPB refers to the relationship be- now preserved in the Archives of the tween the digits of pi (31415) and the
Mr Daniel H. Caldwell, librarian and historical researcher, has authored several books, including The Esoteric World of Madame Blavatsky: Insights into the Life of a Modern Sphinx. See:
26 The Theosophist Vol. 141.6, March 2020 HPB on the Gospel according to John
Hebrew name “Alhim”. This was dis- the ships. Jonah (Hebrew Yonah, for cussed by J. Ralston Skinner on page 193 dove, a bird sacred to Venus) fled to Jaffa, of The Source of Measures and was com- where the god Dagon, the man-fish, was mented upon by HPB in The Secret worshipped, and dared not go to Nineveh, Doctrine. An interesting letter from HPB where the dove was revered. Hence, some to Skinner referring to these relationships commentators believe that when Jonah will soon be published in the journal was thrown overboard and was swallowed Theosophical History with a historical by a fish, we must understand that he was introduction by the editor James Santucci.4 picked up by one of these vessels, on the ♦ HPB refers to the relationship of prow of which was the figure of Ketos. John, Jonah, and the dove, discussed on But the kabalists have another legend, to page 220 of Skinner’s book. The follow- this effect: They say that Jonah was a ing passage from Isis Unveiled5 may runaway priest from the temple of the throw a little additional light on these goddess where the dove was worshipped, somewhat obscure correlations: and desired to abolish idolatry and institute Jonah is swallowed by a big fish, and is monotheistic worship. . . . [When he was] cast out again three days later. This the caught near Jaffa, he was held prisoner by Christians regard as a premonition of the devotees of Dagon in one of the the three days’ sepulture of Jesus which prison-cells of the temple, and that it is preceded his resurrection . . . “Big Fish” is the strange form of the cell which gave Cetus, the latinized form of Ketos . . . and rise to the allegory. . .. Considering the Ketos is Dagon, Poseidon, the female extraordinary tendency of Oriental nations gender of it being Keton Atar-gatis — the for puns and allegories, is it not barely Syrian goddess, and Venus, of Askalon. possible that the “big fish” by which Jonah The figure or bust of Der-Ketos, or Astarte, was swallowed was simply the cell within was generally represented on the prow of the belly of Dagon?
Footnotes 1. See HPB’s Collected Writings, vol. I, p. 25, for a brief description of these eight notebooks in the Adyar Archives. HPB’s manuscript titled John’s (Fourth) Gospel can also be found on Micro-film Reel 29, Records Series 22, in the Boris de Zirkoff Papers preserved in the Theosophical Society in America Archives, Wheaton, Illinois. 2. Skinner, J. Ralston. Key to the Hebrew-Egyptian Mystery in the Source of Measures. San Diego: Wizard’s Bookshelf, 1982 edition of 1875 text. 3.
Vol. 141.6, March 2020 The Theosophist 27 HPB on the Gospel according to John
Transcription cond logos, Viraj, is emitted in the Indian John’s (Fourth) Gospel cosmology. It is the Hebrew Kabalistic Reading esoterically the biblical narra- Dabvar, or the Word, whose male aspect tives, we have to bear in mind that unless is Adam Kadmon, and whose female one has read them in the Hebrew and aspect is Sephira. Greek texts he will find himself forthwith Therefore the first verse of John “In perplexed and lost in the English and other the beginning was the Word, and the translations. Yet in the English translations Word was with God, and the Word was he will find an Ariadne thread in the use God”, must read esoterically: “In the of and difference in the words “God” and beginning of the precosmic period was the “Lord”, which do not denote one and the potential creative power, (the divine same thing. “God” is a translation of the Principle) and that Power was with the Hebrew Elohim and the Greek Theos Elohim (or Theos); and the Power was the while “Lord” stands invariably for the Elohim themselves”, i.e., the seven Hebrew Jehovah and the Greek Kurios. creative male/female Forces of Nature. On the other hand the term Logos, or Now those who read the Secret Doctrine Word, which plays such a prominent part know that according to the total of the in all Cosmogonies, means esoterically the numerals giving each the corresponding same as ªakti in Indian philosophy — values of each letter of the word Alhim creative Power. While with the Hindus (Elohim) it represents the sum of 31415 the manifested gods (such as Brahma, which is that of the astronomical pi. The Vishnu, and others) being all male Logoi, term “Elohim” stands for the ratio of the their ªakti is their female counterpart. In circumference of a circle to the diameter, the Western scheme, the Logos has be- or 3.1415 to unity. See S. D., Vol 1, p. 91. come by usage exclusively male, Jesus This verse contains a reference to the being one with the Father, and his ªakti first immaculate conception in Kosmos, has now vanished from the dogmatic to the Logos or Adi Buddha, Anupadaka exoteric plane — yet it is there in the per- . .. the “Parentless” as the Logos is one son of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, on the with the Father who is not born according terrestrial plane and in that of the Holy to the Christians. Ghost (female always in early and Gnostic John is identical with Jonah and the Christianity) on the plane of pri-mordial Dove (in Hebrew the Dove is Jonah and differentiation. female) and the name of Jonah is con- Thus the Word or Logos is in truth that nected with the fish (the whale who formative power through which the sub- swallowed him), the symbolical allegory jective primordial matter is formed and of the last initiation — the three-days long made manifest as an objective universe. sleep or trance (exoterically) in the womb This Logos is male-female — as every- of the Earth; esoterically in the womb of thing differentiated is, in its essence. It is Space. The narratives of the NT [New the Brahma-Vach out of which the se- Testament] are but another allegorical
28 The Theosophist Vol. 141.6, March 2020 HPB on the Gospel according to John form for the narratives bearing on the wherein were taught Cosmogony, mysteries in the Old Testament. When you Anthropogenesis and all other sciences, remember that in the OT [Old Testament] headed by that of the successive births of Joshua (whose name is phonetically the the Ego, on earth, in the psychic and same as that of Jesus and identical with it) finally, in the Spiritual Realm. is the son of Nun or the Fish, you will see The above will explain more clearly the easily the connection. In the Gnostic esoteric reading of the 1st and 2nd chapters system, Space, or Pleroma, the waters, the of John, on the two past Thursdays. abode of fish, swallows the “Word” or the Let us read now the 3rd chapter of divine creative Potency, which descends the same. It begins by the narrative of into the womb of Nature and after three Nicodemus who comes at night to Jesus eons gives birth to the universe. Jesus who meets him with the Sphinx-like riddle passes three days in the realm of the dead, “Verily - except a man be born again he the womb of the earth, and when he cannot see the Kingdom of God”, which returns to earth is resurrected, or born, that translated, reads: “Except a man receives is to say, the anthropomorphized Logos a new birth thro[ugh] initiation, he cannot is born. Jonah is swallowed by the fish know of the mysteries of the Elohim.” and three days later is cast out etc. All these And in reply to Nicodemus’ wonderment, are allegories and variations of the same Jesus adds — “Except a man be born of theme: the birth of the universe, macro- water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into cosmos, the birth of divine man, micro- the Kingdom of God.” (v. 5) which cosmos, and the birth of terrestrial man; translated again means “except ... all of these being typified in the Mysteries [Manuscript ends here.] 3
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:24–30
Vol. 141.6, March 2020 The Theosophist 29 The Light That Never Fails The Light That Never Fails
BORIS DE ZIRKOFF
THE essential keynote of the Theo- Custodians of the sacred knowledge whose sophical Movement throughout all ages attention is compelled only by impersonal has been its Universality. By the very service and self-forgetfulness. nature of its message, its objectives and Disciples and agents of the Great Ones its ideals, it can never be confined to any are at work everywhere and have been single group of people or any one depart- active in that universal cause from time ment of human thought. Everything that immemorial. Signposts and milestones of is genuinely theosophical is uncondi- their activity may be traced and recognized tionally universal, in meaning and appli- in any century and in every land. Without cation, in theory and practice. their help and assistance along both inner The mystic force behind the Movement and outer lines, many of the constructive is a living, dynamic energy pulsating in movements of past ages would have never and through the spiritual atmosphere of taken place. As far back in universal his- our Earth. It flows, to a greater or lesser tory as we may go in thought, we en- extent, through every selfless man or counter the distant and often somewhat woman who is working for the spiritual uncertain delineaments of noble figures advancement of humankind, and mani- whose spiritual grandeur is forever re- fests itself in the world as a ceaseless corded in human thought: Zoroaster, drive, a never-ending urge towards higher Krishna, Hermes, Orpheus, Quetzalco- knowledge, character achievement, spiri- huatl, Moses, Akhenaton, Taliesin, and tual illumination and inner conquest. many others. Closer to our time and much Every impersonal work in the cause more definite in their outline and work, of the Theosophical Movement — which are the Mystery-schools of old. Colleges is the cause of the “Great Orphan”, of spiritual training, centres of initia- Humanity — is an integral part of a uni- tion, led by inspired teachers and guides, versal pattern, and has either the direct or they shed their light upon one or anoth- the indirect backing of the Teachers and er ethnic group or civilization: Cave-
Boris M. de Zirkoff (1902–1981) was a Point Loma Theosophist, editor of H. P. Blavatsky’s works, and writer. In 1981 he received the Subba Row Medal for his huge contribution to theosophical literature. Talk given at the 6th, also Centennial, World Congress of the TS Adyar, held in New York City in 1975.
30 The Theosophist Vol. 141.6, March 2020 The Light That Never Fails Temples of India, remote hermitages of aspirations of people, guiding their efforts the Orient; Eleusis, Samothrace, the towards a deeper knowledge. We see Orphic rites of Greece; Ecbatana and them standing as beacons of light through Ephesus in Media; Abu-Simbel, Thebes, the centuries of the past. The radiance of Karnak, and Memphis in Egypt; Nippur their thought and their life is made more and Lagash in Babylonia; Sippar in As- conspicuous by the surrounding darkness syria; Stonehenge in Britain; Tyre and of the days they lived in. Some are well- Baalbeck in Phoenicia; Chichén-ltza, known; some others almost unknown; Teo-ti-huacan and Tia-huanaco in the some have left their written message for Americas — how many others elsewhere? generations to come; others passed as From them originated streams of in- bright meteors in the gloom of their epoch. spiration, technical occult teachings, and Some may have been direct disciples of the noblest precepts of human conduct initiates, working under their tutelage; which were transmitted to others by ini- others may have been merely touched by tiated disciples who acted as messengers the inner light, assisted from beyond the in the outer world, at times recognized as visible horizon, yet unaware of their true such, at other times unknown and working mission. Numerous and differing are those silently among men and women. who carry on the work of the ages! What of the Neoplatonic succession Many are the centuries that separate of teachers? Ammonius Saccas, Porphyry, us from the work of Pythagoras and his Iamblichus, Plotinus, Proclus, and others School, from Apollonius of Tyana, Dio- whose noble philosophies are current nysius the Areopagite, Jâbir’s alchemical even today. What of the Gnostics? Who wisdom, the tragic efforts of Emperor really were Marcion, Basilides, Bardesanes, Julian and the mystic depths of Johannes Valentinus, Menander, Saturninus of Scotus Erigena, to cite but a few of the Antioch, who taught of that mystic Gnosis noble beacons of light. the realization of which is like a flash lbn Gebirol of Avicebron stands as of incomparable light wherein all things witness in the eleventh century; the twelfth are at once made clear to those who are century saw Joachim de Floris and Mai- not blind? What of the Kabalists and monides; the thirteenth went by with Alchemists of many different ages, and Meister Eckhardt, Vincent de Beauvais, the Rosicrucians of the seventeenth and Roger Bacon and Raymond Lully, sow- eighteenth centuries, those little known ing seeds of knowledge far and wide; the individuals whose title and ideas have been fourteenth witnessed the martyrdom of dragged in the mud in later times by self- John Huss; the fifteenth had its Thomas à seeking people devoid of real knowledge? Kempis and Pico della Mirandola; the In all ages and in every land, witnesses sixteenth was the outer scene for Para- to the Light have been at work, sowing celsus, Giordano Bruno, Jacob Böhme, seeds of spiritual thought, encouraging the Cornelius Agrippa, John Dee, and Conrad
Vol. 141.6, March 2020 The Theosophist 31 The Light That Never Fails Gessner, among many others; the seven- enlarge upon it. They themselves and teenth nurtured Spinoza, Robert Fludd, those who followed in their footsteps are Elias Ashmole; the eighteenth produced the witnesses of our present era; and even the extraordinary Grigoriy S. Skovorodá, if their actual names may become blurred the Russian self-made occultist. by the passage of time, their effort and More than one century saw the deadly message will not disappear from the struggle between the Cathars, Albigenses, memory of men. and Manicheans on the one hand and the To bridge this century and to carry its ecclesiastical tyranny on the other, a strug- message and effort into the next one, the gle between the ancient light and the Theosophical Society must remain true to power of darkness, a periodic event in the original impulse of a hundred years the history of humankind as a whole. ago and preserve inviolate the basic teach- The present-day theosophical move- ings of the Esoteric Philosophy entrusted ment, in all its ramifications, is but the to its care by the “outer” founders and most recent link in that ancient chain of those “inner” and far greater individuals light, the custodian of the same teachings whose agents they were. In this respect, in a somewhat different language and the we have a sacred duty to perform: to car- crest of an ancient wave which is part ry over, safe and untarnished, a treasure of the rising tide of occult and spiritual of mystic and occult lore, and to hand it thought. The organized movement and over to a younger generation, among some of its independent agents are but whom some other agents of the Bro- witnesses to the existence and the vital therhood will be found to carry on the momentum of that inner and universal ancient work. urge which bridges all centuries in due No one could possibly deny the rapid time and reveals itself over and over increase of interest among all types of again, as epochs of history pass from people in somewhat less material and more their present-day manifestation into the spiritually minded ideas which may be relative oblivion of the receding past. observed today all over the world. This In thinking of the three chief founders interest is largely overshadowed by an of the modern Theosophical Society — even greater interest in the sensational, H. P. Blavatsky, Henry S. Olcott and pseudo-occult, mediumistic, and wonder- William Q. Judge — it would not be out working aspect of Nature. This fact is of line to look upon them and their com- exploited by a new crop of fakers who bined work as a wedge thrust with both play upon the gullible public and use it knowledge and power into the fabric of with personal ends in view. All sorts of occidental materialism, an effort which rishis and swamis, avataras and tulkus, resulted in the opening up of new channels self-proclaimed initiates and mahatmas for human thought, and made it possible advertise themselves ad nauseam and fill for others to continue their work and lecture halls with ignorant dupes. The
32 The Theosophist Vol. 141.6, March 2020 The Light That Never Fails prevailing ignorance of most people and provide the hearers with a basic, workable, their lack of discrimination between ethical background for their own lives and spiritual and psychic makes them an easy answer their questions as to the meaning prey to psychic deception. The situation of existence. To deal with side issues and is not without some danger even to spend hours of valuable time on astro- students of Theosophy not sufficiently logy, numerology, biofeedbacks, church grounded in the foundation-principles ritualism, psychic wonders, healing ses- of our teachings and who, at times, allow sions, meditation techniques and various themselves to wander off the path of types of yoga practices, is to promote, no genuine spiritual study into the morass doubt, without meaning to do so, confu- of psychic confusion. sion and to lead the audience away from In these days of psychic malpractice even the first steps of spiritual knowledge. and mediumistic visions sold to the public Today, more than ever before, it is of by a vast array of itinerant “yogis” often serious importance and of urgent need to parading under fictitious oriental names provide the people through all of our and titles, it is indeed of paramount im- established channels or through new ones portance for any theosophical lodge as a to be opened up, with the basic teachings group, as well as for any individual stu- of the theosophical philosophy of life: dent, to be well informed on the subject reincarnation and karma, the duality of of the theosophical philosophy, its tea- man, the Divine Self in man, the sevenfold chings and postulates, so as to be in structure of the universe, the cyclic oper- possession of a touchstone ready to be ations of Nature, the difference between used to assay any idea that may be thrown the psychic and the spiritual, the function at them from various quarters. Without of the Astral Light, the existence of per- this thorough grounding in our tradition- fected men beyond our own stage of al teachings, the student is deprived of evolution and our own ability to evolve the discrimination that is needed in the to that stage, the succession of root-races present-day confusion of ideas. and rounds in the life history of the globe, In this respect much remains to be the dangers of psychism, the doctrine desired, as we observe the programmes of hierarchies, the nature of the after- of various lodges in different parts of the death states, and the ethical principles and theosophical world. Some of them permit precepts which are the basis of a theo- themselves to become halls for the enter- sophical life. tainment of people with scheduled sub- Any support given by us to the psychic jects which bear no relation whatever to confusion which is prevalent in today’s the main purposes for which such groups world is support of the agencies which have been established, namely, the study seek to promote the manipulation of and dissemination of Theosophy, of the psychic forces in order to affect human foundation-teachings which alone can minds and to dominate them in subtle
Vol. 141.6, March 2020 The Theosophist 33 The Light That Never Fails ways, both on the individual and the traditional wisdom of old, and concen- government level. This is plain and un- trate on the promulgation of the tenets adulterated “black magic”, that is, the received from the original founders and usage of natural forces for selfish ends. from the accumulated tradition of centu- As a worldwide Movement along tra- ries, they will sustain and strengthen the ditional spiritual lines, we should make foundations of the present-day movement every effort to be free of this contam- which will then, without a doubt, carry ination and to be solidly planted upon over into succeeding centuries the spiritual the basic ground of the age-old teach- momentum behind the outward move- ings, ready at any moment to distin- ment and the treasures of esoteric know- guish between them and their distortion ledge entrusted to us. by vested interests. In the former case, the Theosophical To the extent to which organized theo- Society will have no future worth record- sophical groups or individual students ing. In the latter case, its recognition allow themselves to dilute the ancient and worldwide influence will have a teachings with a welter of quasi-mystical glorious future as a spiritual bulwark in and mostly pseudo-occult ideas promoted civilizations yet unborn. The choice lies by all sorts of people ignorant of the squarely before us all, and demands im- genuine tenets of the Ancient Wisdom, mediate, forceful, and sustained action. the Theosophical Society of today runs Beacon of Light in a world of material the risk of being gradually dissolved in a darkness, the theosophical movement of veritable sea of pseudo-occultism and today is the legitimate successor to all may not outlast the present century. similar efforts throughout untold ages of To the extent to which such groups and the past, deriving its strength from the individuals shun any efforts on the part same source of inspiration, and its vitality of others to deflect their studies from the from the fires of the sun itself. 3
The humanities developed coordinately, and on parallel lines with the four Elements, every new Race being physiologically adapted to meet the additional element. Our Fifth Race is rapidly approaching the Fifth Element — call it interstellar ether, if you will — which has more to do, however, with psychology than with physics. H. P. Blavatsky The Secret Doctrine , vol. II
34 The Theosophist Vol. 141.6, March 2020 Fragments of the Ageless Wisdom
In meditation there can be no thinker, which means that thought must come to an end — the thought which is urged forward by the desire to achieve a result. Meditation has nothing to do with achieving a result. It is not a matter of breathing in a particular way, or looking at your nose, or awakening the power to perform certain tricks, or any of the rest of that immature nonsense. . .. Meditation is not something apart from life. When you are driving a car or sitting in a bus, when you are chatting aimlessly, when you are walking by yourself in a wood or watching a butterfly being carried along by the wind — to be choicelessly aware of all that is part of meditation. J. Krishnamurti The Book of Life, 1995
Vol. 141.6, March 2020 The Theosophist 35 Books of Interest Books of Interest
WORLD TEACHER title. In the introduction there is a perfect — The Life and Teach- example of how deeply revolutionary the ings of J. Krishna- teachings are: murti by R. E. Mark I am not establishing myself as an authority Lee, Hay House Pub- to tell you what to do because I do not lishers (India), New believe in authority in spiritual matters. Delhi, 2020, pp. 204, All authority is evil; and all sense of Rs 350. authority must cease, especially if we R. E. Mark Lee was would find out what is God, what is truth, closely associated with whether there is something beyond the J. Krishnamurti for 21 mere measure of the mind. years of his youth. He served as executive director of the Being close to the teacher and the Krishnamurti Foundation of America for teachings, Mr Lee is an eyewitness able 20 years and was director of Krishnamurti to write about events of which he was a Publications for 5 years. He was the chief part. The book is loaded with precious editor of the 17 volumes of The Collected information, like the answer to a question Works of J. Krishnamurti, The Book of posed to Krishnaji, which makes clear his Life, and The Little Book on Living. well-known statement, “The first step is From 1995 to 2010, Lee was the owner- the last step”: publisher of Edwin House Publishing, Questioner: Why is your teaching so which specialized in memoirs of Krishna- purely psychological? There is no cosmo- murti’s associates. For 40 years, he has logy, no theology, no ethics, no aesthetics, lived with his wife and daughters in no sociology, no political science, not even Ojai, California. hygiene. Why do you concentrate only on The book under review brings forth in the mind and its workings? its title an astonishing truth. The name Krishnamurti: For a very simple reason, “World Teacher” was not used for several sir. If the thinker can understand himself, decades, but now it can no longer be then the whole problem is solved. Then denied, as Krishnaji himself confirmed it he is creation, he is reality; and then what to his close associates before his death. he does will not be antisocial. Virtue is This work is a beautiful account of the not an end in itself; virtue brings freedom, life and teachings of the great sage who and there can be freedom only when the never claimed any special treatment or thinker, which is the mind, ceases. That
36 The Theosophist Vol. 141.6, March 2020 Books of Interest
is why one has to understand the process, friendship, abiding goodness, lack of the mind, the “I”, the bundle of desires envy, cooperation, and affection.” The that create the “I”. author goes on pointing out the difficul- ties that one faces when running such The connection with the Theosophical organizations and how those problems Society is described briefly, not repeating were dealt with: “The work of the foun- what other biographers had already said. dations was the same work for each trust- In Chapter Three we read: ee, namely, ‘to flower in goodness’.” While the Society’s membership has About the schools it is mentioned that always remained small when compared to Krishnamurti emphasized that the most that of organized religions and their off- important curriculum is the three arts: shoots, the reach of their messages and Looking, listening, and learning. The publications was among a very different book is a “light-read” with profound state- level of society, namely the intellectuals, ments made by the author and quotations artists, professionals, and socially con- from Krishnamurti. The “to-the-point” scious classes worldwide. . . . writing style is certainly appealing to the It was the formal, organizational aspect young generation of Krishnamurti read- of the Society and of the Order of the Star ers and students of life. The author says in the East that particularly disturbed in the last page: Krishnamurti. . . . It was the unquestioned Our collective consciousness perhaps has attention and devotion to their beliefs and reached a tipping-point where books, teach- ceremonies that he focused on in his talks ers, and authorities on atheism, agnos- and writings, as the whole subject of the ticism, faith, and belief all seem to have danger of religious and psychological been exhausted. Reality has taken over as authority became an increasingly important mankind looks at itself, deeply and with part of his message. awe, at the universe within. To serious questioners, who are able The bullet fire closing the book is a to look at facts without taking sides, this summary of the teachings: newly released book is a “must-read”. It is a serious exposition of the events that Krishnamurti had made it clear that a took place in Krishnaji’s life with addi- religious mind would discover that for a tional insightful comments made by Mr serious person there is nothing to find like Lee. The author talks about Krishnaji’s enlightenment or realization. There is no- vision for the foundations and schools where to go like heaven or somewhere founded during his lifetime: “Krishna- better than here. Nothingness is the murti wanted those around him to em- beginning and the end. brace strongly very simple qualities of CLEMICE PETTER
Vol. 141.6, March 2020 The Theosophist 37 Index Index OCTOBER 2019 TO MARCH 2020 Key: O=October, N=November, D=December, J=January, F=February, M=March
Address to Sri Sankaracharya CARBONELL, ENEIDA Sanskrit University William Quan Judge O34 Faculty and Students M5 Convention Programme D35 Tim Boyd ELLWOOD, ROBERT ALGEO, JOHN Theosophy and Hope for the Future N7 “The Golden Stairs”: Ethics in the Esoteric and Scientific Views on Ageless Wisdom Tradition D9 Cosmogenesis D22 Ali Ritsema — In Memoriam F34 Pablo Sender Louis Geertman Essence of Annie Besant, The O5 Animal Rights: A Scientific and Tim Boyd Spiritual View — I, II, III O29,N35,D28 FERGUS, JON Michiel Haas The Need for Theosophical Ethics M21 Are You Not Saying Fragments of the Ageless Wisdom M35 What the Buddha Said? — II, III O9,N15 Gandhi on Theosophy and the J. Krishnamurti in Dialogue with Global Civilization of Buddhist Scholars and Others Tomorrow — I, II, III O15,N29,D16 James E. Tepfer Art of Parenting, The J28 GATFIELD, WAYNE Clemice Petter Path of Light, The F29 Awakening the Heart-Mind F23 GEERTMAN, LOUIS John Vorstermans Ali Ritsema — In Memoriam F34 Books of Interest M36 “Golden Stairs, The”: Ethics in the World Teacher: The Life and Ageless Wisdom Tradition D9 Teachings of J. Krishnamurti John Algeo R. E. Mark Lee GRAMAGLIA, EDUARDO J. BOYD, TIM Soul, Mind, and Meditation, The F15 Essence of Annie Besant, The O5 HAAS, MICHIEL Inaugural Talk at the Easter Conference N5 Animal Rights: A Scientific and John Algeo — In Memoriam N39 Spiritual View — I, II, III O29,N35,D28 Presidential Address J5 HALL, ELTON A. Relevance of Our Work, The F5 Theosophy and a Life Worth Living N20 Address to Sri Sankaracharya Sanskrit How Shall I Live? J33 University Faculty and Students M5 Rami Shapiro Theosophy and the Individual D5 HPB on the Gospel according to John M26 CALDWELL, DANIEL H., Daniel H. Caldwell, Doss McDavid, DOSS MCDAVID, AND and Spencer M. Conlin SPENCER M. CONLIN Inaugural Talk at the Easter Conference N5 HPB on the Gospel according to John M26 Tim Boyd
38 The Theosophist Vol. 141.6, March 2020 Index
J. KRISHNAMURTI in Dialogue with Relevance of Our Work, The F5 Buddhist Scholars and Others Tim Boyd Are You Not Saying RITSEMA, ALI What the Buddha Said? — II, III O9,N15 Mahatmas, The F35 JAIN, S. ABHAYA SRISRIMAL Science for Health and Consciousness M8 Science for Health and Consciousness M8 S. Abhaya Srisrimal Jain John Algeo — In Memoriam N39 SENDER, PABLO Tim Boyd Esoteric and Scientific Light That Never Fails, The M30 Views on Cosmogenesis D22 Boris de Zirkoff SHAPIRO, RAMI Love at Its Finest J37 How Shall I Live? J33 Ananya Sri Ram Rajan Soul, Mind, and Meditation, The F15 Mahatmas, The F35 Eduardo J. Gramaglia Ali Ritsema Sublime Symbology of the Lotus, The F9 MILLS, JOY Linda Oliveira What Shall We Study? J19 TEPFER, JAMES E. Need for Theosophical Ethics, The M21 Gandhi on Theosophy and Jon Fergus the Global Civilization OLIVEIRA, LINDA of Tomorrow — I, II, III O15,N29,D16 Sublime Symbology of the Lotus, The F9 Theosophical Work around the World OLIVEIRA, PEDRO O37,D38,J39,F38 We Are All Fragments of the Divine J22 Theosophy and a Life Worth Living N20 P. KRISHNA in Conversation with Tim Boyd Elton A. Hall Theosophy and Krishnamurti M16 Theosophy and Hope for the Future N7 PADHI, DEEPA Robert Ellwood Practical Theosophy: “I Am the Whole” D11 Theosophy and Krishnamurti M16 Path of Light, The F29 P. Krishna in Conversation Wayne Gatfield with Tim Boyd PETTER, CLEMICE Theosophy and the Individual D5 Art of Parenting, The J28 Tim Boyd Practical Theosophy: “I Am the Whole” D11 VORSTERMANS, JOHN Deepa Padhi Awakening the Heart-Mind F23 Presidential Address J5 We Are All Fragments of the Divine J22 Tim Boyd Pedro Oliveira Providential Higher Spiritual Path, The O22 What Shall We Study? J19 William Wilson Quinn Joy Mills QUINN, WILLIAM WILSON William Quan Judge O34 Providential Higher Spiritual Path, The O22 Eneida Carbonell RAJAN, ANANYA SRI RAM ZIRKOFF, BORIS DE Love at Its Finest J37 The Light That Never Fails M30
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rez é , etc. an Osta . Fernández P V uononvirta V Aguayo V ictor Sonia Montecinos Rojas Darko Majstorovic Jón Ellert Benediktsson Pradeep H. Gohil V Mrs Ligia Montiel Mr Carlos Mr Antonio Martinez Mrs Sabine Mrs Jeannine (Nano) Leguay Mr Mr Mrs Marie Harkness Mr Mr Widyatmoko Mr Mr Narendra M. Shah Mr Chong Sanne Mr B. L. Bhattacharya Mrs Mrs Manuela Kaulich General Secretary Mrs Maryse DeCoste Dr Alexandros Bousoulengas Mr Janos Szabari Mr Janne Mrs Jenny Baker Mr Sergio Carvalho de Moraes,Jr Mrs Magaly Polanco Mr Esteban Langlois Mrs Beatriz Elisena Mrs Linda Oliveira Mr Desmond Chapman Mr Albert Schichl Mr John Osmond Boakye … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Martinez Pozas … … … … … … … … est p W Central * Central Costa Rica † Cuba Colombia † Croatia Belgium France Chile * Ireland * Iceland Brazil Indonesia India Section Africa, East and Asia, East and Bangladesh † Bolivia Germany Canada * Greece Hungary † Finland England Dominican Rep. † Argentina Southeast † America, Australia Africa, South Africa, Austria * ate 891 928 1997 1905 1937 2007 1911 1899 1920 1919 1921 1920 1912 1 D 1947 1920 1990 2013 1965 1902 1924 1 1907 1907 1888 1987 1929 1895 1909 1956 1912
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