The Society's seal incorporated the Swastika, Star of David, Ankh and Ouroboros symbols. The swastika (from Sanskrit: svástika sa स्वस्तिक Hindu IS CORRECT if 'ि' is positioned incorrectly see -->) is The Star of David or Shield of David ( Magen David in Hebrew with nikkud or מגן דוד without academically transcribed Māḡēn Dāwīḏ by Ankylosis progressive homolog (mouse, also known as ANKH, is a human Gene. The Ouroboros (Greek grc Ουροβόρος from grc ουροβόρος όφις "tail-devouring snake" also spelled Ourorboros, Oroborus, Uroboros

A view of the gardens of the Adyar Theosophical society

The Theosophical Society was the organization formed to advance the spiritual principles and search for Truth known as Theosophy. This article is about the philosophy introduced by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky

History

Formation

Theosophical Society's foundation act

The Theosophical Society was founded in New York City, USA, in 1875 by H.P. Blavatsky, Henry Steel Olcott, William Quan Judge and others. The City of New York Year 1875 ( MDCCCLXXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Elena Petrovna Gan (Елена Петровна Ган also Hélène, Yekaterinoslav, Ukraine, Russian Empire — May 8 1891 London) better Colonel Henry Steel Olcott (1832–1907 founder and first president of the Theosophical Society, was the first well-known person of European ancestry to make a formal conversion William Quan Judge ( April 13, 1851 – March 21, 1896) was a mystic, Esotericist, and Occultist, and one of Its initial objective was the investigation, study and explanation of mediumistic phenomena. Spiritualism is a Religion founded in part on the writings of the Swedish mystic Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772 After a few years Olcott and Blavatsky moved to India and established the International Headquarters at Adyar, Madras (Chennai). There, they also became interested in studying Eastern religions, and these were included in the Society's agenda. By 1889 when Blavatsky wrote Key to Theosophy, the Society's objectives had evolved into

1. To form the nucleus of a Universal Brotherhood of Humanity without distinction of race, colour, or creed. Year 1889 ( MDCCCLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
2. To promote the study of Aryan and other Scriptures, of the World's religion and sciences, and to vindicate the importance of old Asiatic literature, namely, of the Brahmanical, Buddhist, and Zoroastrian philosophies. Aryan is an English word derived from the Sanskrit " Ārya " meaning "noble" or "honorable" Brahmin ( Brāhmaṇa, sa ब्राह्मणः is the class of educators scholars and preachers in Brahminical Hinduism. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Zoroastrianism (ˌzɔroʊˈæstriəˌnɪzəm is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings
3. To investigate the hidden mysteries of Nature under every aspect possible, and the psychic and spiritual powers latent in man especially. (p. 39, Key to Theosophy)

In addition to the stated objectives, as early as 1889 Blavatsky had told a group of Theosophical students that the real purpose of establishing the Society was to prepare humanity for the reception of the World Teacher when he appeared again on earth. This was repeated again more publicly by Annie Besant in 1896, five years after Blavatsky's death. Annie Wood Besant (ˈbɛsənt Clapham London October 1 1847 &ndash September 20 1933 in Adyar, India) was a prominent Theosophist, ^[1]

Schisms

Theosophical Society, 1890

The Manor, Sydney, Australia, which has been used as a centre by the Theosophical Society since 1922

After Helena Blavatsky's death in 1891, the Society's leaders seemed at first to work together peacefully. The Manor is a mansion in the Sydney suburb of Mosman. Built circa 1911 loosely in the Federation style, it stands in the harbour front street of Iluka Year 1891 ( MDCCCXCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common This did not last long. Judge was accused by Olcott and Annie Besant of forging letters from the Mahatmas; he ended his association with Olcott and Besant in 1895 and took most of the Society's American Section with him. Annie Wood Besant (ˈbɛsənt Clapham London October 1 1847 &ndash September 20 1933 in Adyar, India) was a prominent Theosophist, Mahatma is Sanskrit for "Great Soul" (महात्मा mahātmā: महा mahā (great + आत्मं or आत्मन Year 1895 ( MDCCCXCV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The original organisation led by Olcott and Besant remains today based in India and is known as the Theosophical Society - Adyar, while the faction led by Judge is today known simply as the Theosophical Society, but often with the clarifying statement, "international headquarters, Pasadena, California". The Theosophy Society - Adyar is the main remnant of the original Theosophical Society founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and others in 1875. The Theosophical Society (Pasadena is a successor organization to the original Theosophical Society founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and others in 1875 Pasadena ( is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. A third organization, the United Lodge of Theosophists or ULT, in 1909 split off from the latter organization, and various small splinter groups began to take shape including the Palmers Green Theosophical Lodge under the leadership of Thomas Neumark-Jones — which was influential among British New Liberal intellectuals. The United Lodge of Theosophists, or ULT, was founded in 1909 by a Theosophical Society member Robert Crosbie (1849-1919 Year 1909 ( MCMIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Thomas Ernst Neumark-Jones (1841&ndash1912 was born to German emigre parents in Hampstead London
In 1902, Rudolph Steiner became General Secretary of the German/Austrian division of the Theosophical Society. Rudolf Steiner ( 25 February 1861 – 30 March 1925) was an Austrian philosopher literary scholar educator artist playwright He maintained a Western-oriented course, relatively independent from the Adyar headquarter led by Besant and Olcott. After serious philosophical conflicts, primarily on the spiritual significance of Christ and on the status of the young boy Krishnamurti (see below), most of the German and Austrian members split off in 1913 and formed the Anthroposophical Society. Jiddu Krishnamurti ( Telugu: జిడ్డు కృష్ణ మూర్తి or J The General Anthroposophical Society is an organization dedicated to supporting the community of those interested in the form of Spirituality known as Anthroposophy The latter remains very active and influential today and has branches in almost all western communities, including the US and Canada.

Controversy / Racial Beliefs

Blavatsky argued that humanity had descended from a series of "Root Races", naming the fifth root race (out of seven) the Aryan race. In Theosophy, Root Race (or Epochs to subsequent authors is a term first used in the late 19th century by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky in her book The " Aryan race " is a concept in European culture that was influential in the period of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries The Root Races were evolutionary stages, each new Root Race being more evolved than the previous one. She thought that the Aryans originally came from Atlantis,^[2], who were part of the fourth Root Race. Aryan is an English word derived from the Sanskrit " Ārya " meaning "noble" or "honorable" Atlantis (in Greek,, "island of Atlas " is the name of a Legendary Island, first mentioned in Plato 's dialogues The Aryan Root Race was only one more step in the evolutionary progress and it would eventually be superseded by a more spiritual Root Race, the sixth. She believed that Semitic peoples were later Aryans who have become "degenerate in spirituality and perfected in materiality. In Linguistics and Ethnology, Semitic (from the Biblical " Shem " Hebrew שם translated as "name" Arabic: ساميّ "^[3] However, she did not encourage any feeling of superiority by any person or race, spreading the idea of the common origin and destiny of all humanity, and establishing the principle of universal brotherhood as the First Object of the Theosophical Society: "To form the nucleus of a Universal Brotherhood of Humanity without distinction of race, colour, or creed. " ^[4]. Thus, she declares "Theosophists, collectively, respect the Bible as much as they do the sacred scriptures of other people, finding in it the same eternal truths as in the Vedas, the Zend-Avesta, the Tripitakas, etc. " ^[5] Guido von List (and his followers such as Lanz von Liebenfels) later took up some of Blavatsky's ideas, mixing her ideology with nationalistic and fascist ideas; this system of thought became known as Ariosophy. Guido Karl Anton List, better known as Guido von List ( October 5, 1848, in Vienna, &ndash May 17, 1919, in Adolf Josef Lanz (aka Jörg Lanz) who called himself Lanz von Liebenfels ( July 19 1874 - April 22, 1954) was an Austrian Armanism and Ariosophy are the names of ideological systems of an Esoteric nature pioneered by Guido von List and Jörg Lanz von Liebenfels Ariosophy, like Theosophy, had relied on intellectual expositions of racial evolution. The Thule Society preached Aryan supremacy and acted to achieve it. It provides the final link between occult racial theories and the racial ideology of Hitler and the emerging Nazi party. "^[6]

Krishnamurti

In 1909, C.W. Leadbeater, one of the leaders of this movement, proclaimed J. Krishnamurti, an adolescent Hindu boy, as the vehicle for a new indwelling of Maitreya Buddha. Elena Petrovna Gan (Елена Петровна Ган also Hélène, Yekaterinoslav, Ukraine, Russian Empire — May 8 1891 London) better William Quan Judge ( April 13, 1851 – March 21, 1896) was a mystic, Esotericist, and Occultist, and one of Colonel Henry Steel Olcott (1832–1907 founder and first president of the Theosophical Society, was the first well-known person of European ancestry to make a formal conversion Alice Ann Bailey ( June 16, 1880 &ndash December 15, 1949) known as Alice A Annie Wood Besant (ˈbɛsənt Clapham London October 1 1847 &ndash September 20 1933 in Adyar, India) was a prominent Theosophist, Geoffrey Hodson (12 March 1886 in Lincolnshire – 23 January 1983 in Auckland New Zealand) was a Occultist, Theosophist, mystic, CW Leadbeater ( Feb 16, 1854 Stockport, Cheshire, England - March 1, 1934 Perth, Western AP Sinnett (18 January 1840 - 26 June 1921 was an Author and Theosophist. Rudolf Steiner ( 25 February 1861 – 30 March 1925) was an Austrian philosopher literary scholar educator artist playwright Abner Doubleday (June 26 1819 &ndash January 26 1893 was a career United States Army officer and Union general in the American Civil War. The Seven Rays is a metaphysical concept that has appeared in several religions and Esoteric philosophies since at least the sixth century BCE in both Western culture Initiation is a concept in Theosophy that there are nine levels of spiritual development The Theosophy Society - Adyar is the main remnant of the original Theosophical Society founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and others in 1875. The Theosophical Society (Pasadena is a successor organization to the original Theosophical Society founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and others in 1875 The United Lodge of Theosophists, or ULT, was founded in 1909 by a Theosophical Society member Robert Crosbie (1849-1919 Isis Unveiled, published in 1877, is a book of Esoteric Philosophy, and was Helena Petrovna Blavatsky 's first major work The Key to Theosophy is a popular book by Helena P Blavatsky first published in 1889 and still in print today expounding the principles of theosophy in a readable The Mahatma Letters are letters that were written by the Theosophical Mahatmas to certain Theosophists especially A The Secret Doctrine the Synthesis of Science Religion and Philosophy, a book originally published as two volumes in 1888, is Helena P The Voice of the Silence is a book by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. For Sanat-Kumara the sage from Puranic - Hinduism, see Four Kumaras or Sanatkumara. Djwal Khul (variously spelled 'Djwhal Khul' 'Djwal Kul' or simply 'DK' is supposed by some Theosophists and others to be a Tibetan Master in the The Master Morya, in the teachings of the Theosophical Society is one of the "Masters of Wisdom" and in the Ascended Master Teachings is one The Master Kuthumi, in the teachings of Theosophy is one of the "Masters of Wisdom" and in the Ascended Master Teachings is one of the Ascended Paul the Venetian is one of the "Masters of the Ancient Wisdom" in the teachings of Theosophy and is regarded as one of the Ascended masters in the Ascended Serapis Bey, sometimes written as Serapis, is regarded in Theosophy as being one of the Masters of Wisdom; and in the Ascended Master Teachings The Master Hilarion, in the teachings of Theosophy is one of the "Masters of Wisdom" and in the Ascended Master Teachings is one of the Ascended The Master Jesus is Jesus as understood by the metaphysical system of Theosophy as opposed to the Jesus Christ of the Christian religion The Count of St Germain ( fl 1710–1784 has been variously described as a Courtier, Adventurer, Charlatan, Inventor, Agni Yoga is a spiritual teaching transmitted by the artist Nicholas Roerich (Nikolai Konstantinovich Rerikh in Russian and his wife Helena Roerich (Yelena Ivanovna Anthroposophy is a spiritual philosophy based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner (25 February 1861 – 30 March 1925 which postulates the existence of an objective intellectually The term Neo-Theosophy is a term originally derogatory for the system of Theosophical ideas expounded by Annie Besant and Charles Webster Leadbeater The Liberal Catholic Church (LCC is a form of Christianity open to Theosophical ideas and even Reincarnation. Students of Ascended Master Teachings organizations (also known as " Ascended Master Activities " believe that the Presence of Life - God - Individualizes as the "I Benjamin Creme (b Dec 5 1922 Scotland) is a British Esotericist, lecturer author artist and chief editor of Share International magazine. Year 1909 ( MCMIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting CW Leadbeater ( Feb 16, 1854 Stockport, Cheshire, England - March 1, 1934 Perth, Western Jiddu Krishnamurti ( Telugu: జిడ్డు కృష్ణ మూర్తి or J A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Maitreya ( Sanskrit) or Metteyya ( Pāli) is a future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology. Krishnamurti's family had relocated to live on the site of the Theosophical Society headquarters in Adyar India in January 1909, a time when Annie Besant was the head of the organization in India. Adyar may refer to Adyar (Tamil Nadu &mdash a locality in Chennai (Madras in the state of Tamil Nadu India Adyar River Year 1909 ( MCMIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting

By 1925 J. Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Krishnamurti had began his movement away from the organization, and in 1931 he disavowed his status and left the Theosophical Society altogether. Year 1931 ( MCMXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He spent the rest of his life as an independent spiritual teacher, though he remained on friendly terms with some individuals of the Theosophical Society.

Related individuals and organizations

These people and groups claim origins or association with the Theosophical Society, its branches or leaders. Note that many of those listed are highly controversial in terms of their relation to Theosophy.

• Agni Yoga Society
• Anthroposophy
• Arcane School (Alice Bailey)
• Annie Besant
• Charles Webster Leadbeater
• Order of the Temple of the Rosy Cross
• Church Universal and Triumphant
• Hugh Dowding
• Anna Kingsford
• J. Krishnamurti
• James Cousins
• U.G. Krishnamurti
• Liberal Catholic Church
• New Acropolis
• I AM Activity
• Elizabeth Clare Prophet
• Rudolf Steiner
• The Temple of the People
• Share International
• Warren Prall Watters
• Brother XII
• The Temple of The Presence
• The Bridge to Freedom

See also

• Ascended Masters
• Order of the Temple of the Rosy Cross
• Theosophical Society of the Arya Samaj
• Arya Samaj
• Religion and mythology
• Aryan_race - Theosophy

References

Further reading

• Bruce F. Campbell: Ancient wisdom revived, a history of the Theosophical movement. University of California Press, Berkeley 1980, ISBN 0-520-03968-8.
• Michael Gomes: The dawning of the theosophical movement. Theosophical Publishing House, Wheaton 1987, ISBN 0-8356-0623-6.
• Henry Steel Olcott: Old Diary Leaves, Part 1. Kessinger, Whitefish 2003, ISBN 0-7661-3336-2. (Reprint von 1895)
• Peter Washington: Madame Blavatsky's Baboon. Schocken Books, New York 1995, ISBN 0805210245.

External links

• AnandGholap.net - Online Most Important Books on Theosophy and the Theosophical Society
• Theosophical movement 1875 - 1950 (39ff. )
• Esoteric World of Madame Blavatsky
• Modern Revival of Ancient Wisdom (pp. 58ff. )
• Beginnings of the TS
• H.P. Blavatsky and The Theosophical Society
• The Original Programme of the Theosophical Society
• FAQ on the Theosophical movement
• Historical background of The Theosophical Society
• The Theosophical Society UK