Baha'is and Theosophy

[Arthur E Gregory]

I had wanted to post a thread on the history of the contacts between the Baha'i Faith and Theosophy and found a letter written by Abdul-Baha to Graham Pole circa 1914 in appreciation of Annie Besant...

“The ideal of Mrs. Besant, truly, I say, is very lofty. She is working and laboring most valiantly, and her utmost hope is to render a service to the world of humanity and be the means of the establishment of good fellowship and love between the communities of the earth. At all times I am praying in her behalf so that the confirmation of the Kingdom may surround her, and that she may sow the seeds of service in pure productive soil; that she may gather many, many harvests; then the heavenly benediction will be gained, the outpourings of the Holy Spirit will be realized and her services, troubles, and hardships be crowned with eternal results. I desire this station for her.”

- ‘Abdul-Baha, quoted in Theosophy in Scotland, Vol. IV, No. 10, p. 143

Also found on p. 118 “The Seven Candles of Unity The Story of Abdul-Baha in Edinburgh" by Anjam Khursheed copyright by the Baha'i Publishing Trust 1991.

[Arthur E Gregory]

There's a statement also by Abdul-Baha in a book called the Promulgation of Universal Peace which is a collection of speeches made by Abdul-Baha while He travelled in the United States and Canada in 1912:

"Oneness of the world of humanity ensures the glorification of man. International peace is the assurance of the welfare of all humankind. There are no greater motives and purposes in the human soul. As we are agreed upon them, the certainty of unity and concord between Bahá'ís and Theosophists is most hopeful. Their purposes are one, their desires one, and spiritual susceptibilities are common to both. Their attention is devoted to the divine Kingdom; they partake alike of its bounty".

(Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 156)

Talk given at the Theosophical Lodge Broadway and 79th Street, New York 30 May, 1912.

[Arthur E Gregory]

Here is an opening talk given in 1911 by Abdul-Baha at a Theosophical Society in Paris:

THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, PARIS

Since my arrival in Paris, I have been told of the Theosophical Society, and I know that it is composed of honoured and respected men. You are men of intellect and thought, men with spiritual ideals, and it is a great pleasure for me to be among you.
Let us thank God who has drawn us together this evening. It gives me great joy, for I see that you are seekers after truth. You are not held in bondage by the chains of prejudice, and your greatest longing is to know the truth.

(The talk is fairly long but it concluded with:

Monsieur Bleck thanked ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and he replied:

‘I am very grateful to you for the kind sentiments which you have just uttered. I hope that these two movements will ere long be spread all over the earth. Then will the unity of humanity have pitched its tent in the centre of the world.’

For the complete talk go to:

http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/PT/pt-41.html.utf8?query=theosop...

[Arthur E Gregory]

The Theosophical Society, London headquarters


I had one other brief article to add here relating to the friendless between Abdul-Baha and Theosophists:

ON September 30th, 'Abdu'l-Bahá met the Theosophical society at their new Headquarters at the express request of their president Mrs. Annie Besant. After a general history of the movement and sympathetic words of welcome by Mr. A. P. Sinnett, 'Abdu'l-Bahá rose and delivered to the crowded assembly an address upon the distinctive notes of the Bahá'í teaching, warmly commending the eagerness of the Society in its search for Truth.  

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, pp. 26-27

THe same report is found in a book by H.M. Balyuzi:

'Abdu'l-Bahá's last public address in London was delivered at the Theosophical Society on September 30th. Mrs Annie Besant, the renowned president of the Society, had called on 'Abdu'l-Bahá and asked Him to visit and speak in their new headquarters. A. P. Sinnett, another leading Theosophist, was in the chair. Here for the first time 'Abdu'l-Bahá made a systematic presentation of some of the basic principles of the Faith of His Father. 'This is a short summary of the Teachings of Bahá'u'lláh,' He said. 'To establish this Bahá'u'lláh underwent great difficulties and hardships. He was in constant confinement and he suffered great persecution. But in the fortress [of 'Akká] he reared a spiritual palace and from the darkness of his prison he sent out a great light to the world.'(89)  

H.M. Balyuzi, Abdu'l-Baha - The Centre of the Covenant, p. 152-153)

[Arthur E Gregory]

Theosophical Society in Bengal:


One of the best known Baha’i teachers internationally was Martha Root who was a journalist and a world traveler.

In a book entitled Martha Root Herald of the Kingdom published by the Baha’i Publishing Trust of India in 1983 the following account is given on page 318 by Martha Root of her teaching activities in Bengal:

"On November 22nd (1938), I gave a public lecture under the auspices of the Theosophical Society, when Prof. Tulsi Das Khar, Honorary Secretary of the Bengal Federation of the Theosophical Societies, presided.

He stressed that the next step the world must take is towards internationalism and unity of all humanity. He added:

“I do not say that the Baha’I Movement is the only movement that will bring it. The Theosophical Society and the Ramakrishna Mission will also help. The religion of the world must be a universal religion, and if we do not establish internationalism we shall be wiped out by international war and other people will achieve it. The Theosophical Movement is part of the Baha’I Movement; they must advance together to the same goal, and can be helpful one to the other.”

I remembered so well Abdul-Baha’s words. He said that the Theosophists are our friends and truly in every part of the world I have found them true friends."

[Arthur E Gregory]

Theosophy

When 'Abdu'l-Bahá was asked if he recognized the good which the Theosophical Society has done.

He replied:

I know it; I think a great deal of it. I know that their desire is to serve mankind.
I thank this noble Society in the name of all Bahá'ís and for myself.
I hope that by God's help these friends will succeed in bringing about love and unity.
It is a great work and needs the effort of all the servants of God!

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 61

[Arthur E Gregory]

From the book Abdul-Baha The Centre of the Covenant of Baha'u'llah on p. 367-368

H.M. Balyuzi wrote:

".. Abdul-Baha spoke (January 9, 1913) before the Theosophical Society of Edinburgh at 28 Great King Street. Theosophists of neighboring districts had come as well, and there was not room in that spacious hall for all who attended the meeting.

David Graham Pole the secretary of the Society said in his opening remarks:

"Abdul-Baha has tremendous spiritual powers. In my opinion, He is the focal point of the spiritual, intellectual and theological forces of the present and future centuries."

after speaking Abdul-Baha was "the guest of the Theosophical Society for dinner, autographed a number of his own photographs which some of the members had, prayed for a young couple who were about to be married who, kneeling before Him asked for His blessing, and wrote this prayer in the Society's book:

"He is God. O Lord! Cast a ray from the Sun of Truth upon this Society that it may be illumined."

[Mark Newbold]

Arthur,

You are doing a great service historically in documenting those meeting points in time between Baha'is & Theosophy. Bravo! Maybe you could turn this into an article for the Quest mag?

[Arthur E Gregory]

Thanks Mark.. I still have some material I need to sift through.. There's the large collection of "Star of the West" magazines which was a Baha'i magazine for many years.

There were Baha'is who were Theosophists or Theosophists who became Baha'is.

The thing is there were quite a lot of friendly exchanges between Baha'is and Theosophists for a long time..however under the Guardianship of Shoghi Effendi this was largely closed and I'll note that later.

Today I would say there practically no contacts that I am aware of except at a Parliament of World Religions maybe ..

Maybe you could see from your end if there are some references you could find ..then we could make it a joint venture.

Kenneth Paul Johnson also made a few references.

- Art

[Mark Newbold]

I regret my knowledge of the Baha'i movement is minimal at best. I defer to you sir as to this expertise.

[Sen McGlinn]

The person to contact on this would be Lil Abdo, a British Bahai scholar who has studied the relationship in the UK between the Bahais, feminists, theosophists and wiccans, circa 1900-1940.

[Arthur E Gregory]

Thanks for the input Sen!

I've begun to appreciate this subject over time ...

- Art

[Arthur E Gregory]

Annie Besant visited Abdul-Baha in London and the subject was the advancement of women:


'Abdu'l-Bahá's interest in women's work and progress is well known, and among the notable leaders who came to see him, may be mentioned Mrs. Annie Besant, President of the Theosophical Society, the organizers of various suffrage bodies,  civic and philanthropic workers, the principals of several woman's colleges and lady doctors.

A spirited conversation due to the visit of an ardent suffragist will be long remembered by those who had the privilege of being present. The room was full of men and women, many Persians being seated in their familiar respectful attitude on the floor.

After contrasting the general position of the Eastern and the Western women, and then describing how in many respects the Eastern woman has the advantage of her Western sister, 'Abdu'l-Bahá turned and said to the visitor: "Give me your reasons for believing that woman today should have the vote?"

Answer: "I believe that humanity is a divine humanity and that it must rise higher and higher; but it cannot soar with only one wing." 'Abdu'l-Bahá expressed his pleasure at this answer, and smiling, replied: "But what will you do if one wing is stronger than the other?" Answer: "Then we must strengthen the weaker wing, otherwise the flight will always be hampered."

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 101