Theosophical history

[John Vorstermans]

I have over the years been fascinated by the history of the modern day theosophical society. As an organization it has weaved an interesting web in once sense and seen the spawning of many other organisation as it moved through history, many of them having had a great influence on the world.

It seems to me that we have gone through several, well at least three cycles of evolution since 1875 and its founding. The move from one cycle to the other has sometimes come with pain and other times quite naturally through the emphasis of the leadership.

Are there any others that have an interest in the history and evolution of the theosophical society here?

Namaste
John

[Katinka Hesselink]

Sure - I think we're going through growing pains right now, as we're starting to deal with the implications of the internet and globalisation. I've put up a whole section on theosophical history on my website btw, though most of that is really about history, not recent changes.

[John Vorstermans]

For organization the biggest challenge is to stay relevant to today. This is no different for the T.S., this being the challenge we always must face. If such organization do not evolve with the rest of evolution then they eventually decay and disappear. Every aspect of nature goes through it's cycles of spring, summer, autumn and winter and then it is hopped they will see a new sping again at the end of the winter cycle.

Looking back at the T.S. history we can see that we have had several major shifts in emphasis in what and how the T.S. expressed over its years. I see it as this (in summary).

1. HPB/Olcott brought placed before the world some of its wisdom, or what we could call "hidden" or obscure knowledge for it's consideration. They laid down stepping stones of ideas, philosophies, religious beliefs, traditions, scattered with bits of real precious gems for those who could see them. Mahatma's correspondents added to this amazing insight to a world of consciousness that is beyond comprehension... with the mind anyway.

2. A Besant and CW Leadbeater (and that generation) took the first real steps in the post Blavatsky era in establish an initial framework around the initial teachings. This was largely taken from the work or CW Leadbeater with the addition of others around him during those years. This was the first crystallization of modern theosophy and has left its hallmark in the organization since that time for good or not. In a sense it took some of the original ideas of the Blavatsky era and filter them through a sort of Victorian English mind translating many of the early concepts to fit into an acceptable way of thinking for the Western world in those days. A great job for its time.

During this area a lot happened which eventually changed the course for the years ahead. The T.S. almost turned itself into a religion around the personality of J Krishnamurti which he himself resolved eventually but this was to have a devastating effect on the T.S.

We also through this area had the fracturing of the Society with many breakaways as well as splinter organizations being formed. Quite common and a good sigh that the organization was vibrant and under the power of a definite focus.

3. N Sri Ram during his time gave the T.S. a more mystical tone. During his time we moved away from looking at personalities for our leadership and more inwardly for answers. The T.S. over the years became much more reflective, embracing not so much the words we see written but more the meaning behind them. This was fresh and relevant to that time.

However the wave that was put in place during the 2nd era was and still remains strong and we find today many people holding fast to the ideas of this era as the Theosophical Society's teachings. Some see the influence of this era having turned the T.S. into a sort of cult, especially amongst those who hang so strongly on the words of the era, which focuses mainly on the words and writing of such a few people.

Today's world is vastly more informed and knowledgeable, especially when it comes to the teaching of the original founders with scholars having a tremendous grounding in the Vedas, the Religions and philosophies of our past both from and Easter and Western point of view. The world has certainly moved forward.

Yet the T.S. has a special gift it still can give to the world. The founders placed in front of us so much that has yet to be explored or investigated. We have yet to manifest the nucleus that is our first object. We each are capable digging deep within ourselves and sharing amongst friends, be in over a cup of coffee, or a discussion on the Internet our own insights and expression of theosophy, in the tradition of a genuine Gnostic or explorer should we chose to.

So are we on the ready to move into the 4th era of our organization? What will it be? Sometimes these things just happen naturally and perhaps that is better. Once out Theosophical winter ends will we reincarnate into a different form. Does the snake that sheds its skin change with the shedding of the skin?

Namaste
John

[Katinka Hesselink]

I do think the TS will either make a new shift or totally loose all relevance in the world today. It's said that in organizations going through change, there are really two organizations: the old one and the new one - side by side.

Aspects of the new one, I hope:
- relating to the world today in some meaningful way (Radha sits on the side of the 'new' on this one, usually)
- using the internet well and wisely (lots of people contributing to that)
- relating the 'the new age' in a meaningful way: Amit Goswami and his wife Uma Krishnamurti are the only bigshots that come to mind there.

[Katinka Hesselink]

I did a review of Amit Goswami's latest book here: Creative Evolution. Both of them speak at Krotona a lot. Uma Krishnamurti caused a stir in the Dutch lodges she visited a few years ago - apparently really good with the whole practical spirituality niche. Amit Goswami is a Quantum Physicist who made it onto that movie: 'What the Bleep...' a few years back. He's into the whole quantum spirituality thing, but in a good way, I think. this book I'm reading is really thorough. I'll be reviewing it more on my blog in the coming weeks. And when I'm done writing about it - I'll be sure to post links to all I've written about him here.

All I've read of his is this one book - though I speed read another as well. Publishes at Quest and video's of his are available all over youtube.

That's all I know really. Except of course: members of TS Adyar :) this book is published at Quest Publishing.

[Kiki]

Is Uma Krishnamurti related to Jiddu Krishnamurti?

[Mark Newbold]

I assume this is your discussion re: the 3 eras you refer to. I tend to disagree w/ your comments on Besant/Leadbeater. I think the break from the TS by K was a casting off of the psychic "dogmatic slumber" for the TS at that time. I also see the reconnecting of K w/ the TS through his respect & friendship w/ Radhaji as possessing a depth of spiritual implication still to be explored. This may be the continuance of N. Sri Ram's influence to look more toward inner self reliance & less as you say toward personalities.

[Kerry James Goodhew]

Hi John,
Re:
"Today's world is vastly more informed and knowledgeable,

Is it really? About what? What of the information and knowledge we know is really important? ...for what?

That is, Where is our "wisdom" with it?

The majority of theosophists in my short time as a member are far too much in their heads intellectually / academically which is just another kind of dense materialism.

Let me serve one up, hoping you all do not mind too much!

I do not believe that most theosophists are aware of the dual meaning that can be taken of the root derivatives of the word theosophy.

Theosophy today is 134 years out of balance down one side of itself!

This is where I believe most of the current problems lie, brought to the present day by a history of over intellectualised obsessions!

I'm not going to give the answer if people perceive this as a riddle. I am keen to see where this will go!

Sincerely
KJG

[Janeth]

>"This is where I believe most of the current problems lie, brought to the present day by a history of over intellectualised obsessions!"<---Thank you very much Kerry!!☺

[John Vorstermans]

Hi Kerry,

Yes you do see a lot of intellectualism in the T.S. today. A lot of head learning with little heart to go with it. I would like to see this change and the T.S. embrace a service orientation as well as an academic one. However in the end the only one I can really change is myself. So I try to embrace compassion, service and follow my own intuition in my journey in life.

I am also a teacher and administrator at a College of Natural Therapies in New Zealand and through this work it is clear to me that today's students have a very good grounding in what we could call the basis of the theosophical knowledge. They embrace compassion and are endeavoring to help others because of this compassion through wisdom and understanding. They know they are not the healer but simply the facilitators on another's healing process.

Theosophy is rampant in the world. It may not be in an organization but it is making its mark through so many activities and there are so many people living the life. You obviously do not need to be a member of any organization to do this. However lots of these people have spent time at T.S. gatherings, and while they are not members for one reason or another, have taken some seeds with them on their journey which have sprouted.

For some this intellectual study eventually leads to the heart as they say in Jyana Yoga but for others it is the heart they start from. However it all leads to the same place in the end.

We could simply be examples in the T.S. of heart and service centered people and others might catch on and want to join us.

Namaste
John

[Mark Newbold]

Hello John, I am a student of Theosophical history as well as a member of the society in America. The TS is a rich pageant of personalities and issues. I am interested in the influence of Theosophy on other esoteric groups from the Golden Dawn to Steiner's Anthroposophy. I am curious as to the three cycles of evolution you refer to in your comments- I'd like to hear more of your views on this?

I assure you I'm not a "Back to Blavatsky" literalist, however I have little patience with the era of the Besant/Leadbeater gang & their ilk attempting to force a ritualized Christian/Masonic veneer to the TS. I think Olcott & Blavatsky would be set spinning in their graves to see such capers.

Namaste,
Mark

[John Vorstermans]

Hi Mark,

During the 2nd T.S. cycle which was the Besant/Leadbeater period we saw several splits from the original T.S. which often resulted in new organizations forming but this was not so in all cases.

Anne Besant was a very powerful women of strong will. She forged a strong path based on her view of Theosophy in that day and she also had some strong clashes with other powerful personalities in that time. She was a great personality having done so much for England, India and the T.S. in her day but it did come as some costs. On the other hand there were strong charismatic figures such as Leadbeater, a close friend of Anne Besant who was respected by her, being one of her main advisors during her years. Leadbeater wrote many books during his years being a skilled and gifted writer based on his perceptions and investigations by clairvoyance. Much of his writing become a sort of dogmatism in the T.S. in those days and took on a sense of worship by the members. Today this is still the case amongst many members although there is more a sense of exploration today and people willing to question and find out the answers for themselves.

I have not spent a great deal of time studying the Golden Dawn however you come across it when you study the founding of the Esoteric School by HPB several years before her death. The motive for starting the school, as I understand it, was because of a concern by HPB's teachers that the T.S. would die after her death as she and Olcot were the main lights which attracted people. These teachers had already said in the Mahatma letter to AP Sinnet, which were published may years later, that their main reason for supporting HPB in the establishment of the T.S. had all but failed. The nucleus which they had hopped to form was nowhere in sight. So they wanted to bring those few together who did believe and live this first object together to hold this light. This happened but it followed mainly an Easter Path (Raja Yoga) or the teaching of eastern esotericism. Some of the E.S. members wanted to follow the Western Esoteric tradition, which had all but died out in the late 1880's so they proposed forming a Wester Esoteric School which they called the Golden Dawn. This school was based on an older order that had existed but died out. This was done with the blessing of HPB's adepts and the school was set up with members of the E.S. amongst those in the early days. Like the E.S. the Golden Dawn was a separate organization from the T.S. but unlike the E.S. where you had to be a T.S. member to join, the Golden Dawn was open to anyone who was interested in it. In the early days it attracted some very respected members.

The Golden Dawn grew internationally and was active I think until the 1960's when the last lodge closed which was in Havelock North in New Zealand. Since then some of their rituals have been published. There are still groups calling themselves Golden Dawn today but as I understand it these are not of the same line as the onces which closed but rather a new incarnation again. The New Zealand national convention in January next year is going to be in Napier which is not far away from the last of the Golden Dawn temple. They are, I understand going to see if they can get permission to go an view the old temple which is the basement of a now famous hose in the region but still intact. The Golden Dawn ritual is not too dissimilar to the Masonic ritual except it uses the characters/keys of the Kabbalah as it main reference points in the ritual and attracts especially the ritualists in life.

The Co-Mason movement and the Liberal Catholic Church are two further organizations spread by the TS of the 2nd era.

Now Steiner is also an interesting story to follow. He was the General Secretary (what we now sometimes call the National President) of the German Section of the T.S. during Anne Besant's time. My understanding is that he disagreed with they way the T.S. and Besant/Leadbeater were pushing Krishnamurti as the new Christ at the time. He protested strongly but his views feel on deaf ears it seems. On reflection these days it can be seen that the T.S. then was turning itself into a religion and establishing its head in Krishnamurti and his disciples. Anyway for this reason and no doubt others also Steiner left the T.S. fold. He and the German Section resigned from the T.S. Steiner went on to start his own organization, Anthroposophy which has grown and still flourishes in the world today with many schools.

These were to organizations which separated from the T.S. but both carried on or took with them some of the core seeds of the Blavatsky material and spread those through the world influencing many people. Anthroposophy took a strong Christian mystical focus which I think made sense for the people in that part of the world then. In my opinion this is a great things as we need to package things many different ways to be relevant to different types of people, cultures and interests.

I am also not a "Back to Blavatsky" but rather someone who feels it is important that we should be able to question what we are told until we can come to the realization ourselves, through our own study, meditation and life experiences.

Namaste
John

[Konstantin Zaitzev]

> He protested strongly but his views feel on deaf ears it seems. On reflection these days it can be seen that the T.S. then was turning itself into a religion and establishing its head in Krishnamurti and his disciples. Anyway for this reason and no doubt others also Steiner left the T.S. fold. He and the German Section resigned from the T.S. Steiner went on to start his own

It's a story promoted by the anthroposophists.
Really it was Steiner who broke rules of the Theosophical Society by refusal to admit to membership the people whose religious views he didn't like. He was quite free to say that the belief in Krishnamurti is foolish but he has no right to use it to control membership and discriminate all who fit into his narrow christian dogmatism (he didn't admit some others who had no relation to Krishnamurti but had their own ways in occutism). Moreover, some theosophists of that time thought that he wanted to get hold over the Theosophical Society and when that plan failed, decided to split. At least, there are strong evidences that he has plotted the split before all this story with Krishnamurti began, so he just ably used it as a good excuse.