Theosophical Society facts for kids
The Theosophical Society is an organization for people who study Theosophy. Theosophy is a spiritual movement that combines ideas from philosophy, science, and religion. It was started in New York City in 1875.
The main founders were Helena Blavatsky, a Russian writer who developed most of Theosophy's ideas, and Henry Steel Olcott, who became the society's first president. Theosophy mixes older European ideas like Neoplatonism with parts of Eastern religions like Hinduism and Buddhism.
The founders believed Theosophy could unite science, religion, and philosophy. A core belief is that the human soul is reborn into a new body after death. This process is called reincarnation. What you do in one life affects your next one, a concept known as karma.
Around 1880, Blavatsky and Olcott moved to India. Later, the society split into two main groups. One is based in Adyar, India, and the other is in Pasadena, California.
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Founding the Society
The Theosophical Society was officially created in New York City on November 17, 1875. The founders included Helena Blavatsky, Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, William Quan Judge, and others. They described it as a group for people seeking truth and wanting to help humanity. Olcott served as president until he died in 1907.
Initially, the group's goal was to study subjects like Occultism and the Cabala. After a few years, Blavatsky and Olcott moved to India. They set up the society's international headquarters in Adyar, a part of the city of Madras (now Chennai). There, they also began to focus on studying Eastern religions.
The Three Main Goals
The Theosophical Society has three main goals, which were officially recorded on April 3, 1905.
- To create a core group that represents the universal brotherhood of all people, no matter their race, beliefs, gender, or social status.
- To encourage the study of different religions, philosophies, and sciences.
- To explore the unexplained laws of nature and the hidden powers within people.
Anyone who agreed with these goals could join. The society was created to be non-sectarian, meaning it doesn't follow one single religion or set of beliefs. Members are free to believe what they wish, as long as they support the idea of a universal brotherhood.
The Hidden Masters
A key idea in Theosophy is that all of existence is evolving, both physically and spiritually. This idea was explained in The Secret Doctrine, a major book by Helena Blavatsky published in 1888.
According to this belief, human evolution is guided by a secret group of wise spiritual beings. These beings are often called the Masters of the Ancient Wisdom. Blavatsky said that these Masters have tried for thousands of years to help humanity evolve.
She believed the Theosophical Society was one of these efforts. She claimed it was inspired by several of these Masters, also known as Mahatmas, to help guide humanity toward a better future.
A Split in the Society
After Helena Blavatsky died in 1891, the society's leaders did not stay united for long. William Quan Judge was accused by Olcott and another important member, Annie Besant, of faking letters from the Masters.
In 1895, Judge split from Olcott and Besant, taking most of the American members with him. This created two main groups:
- The Theosophical Society – Adyar, the original group led by Olcott and Besant, with its headquarters in India. This is the largest Theosophical group in the world today.
- The Theosophical Society, the group led by Judge, with its headquarters in Pasadena, California.
Other smaller groups also formed over the years. For example, in 1913, Rudolf Steiner, the leader of the German and Austrian members, broke away to form the Anthroposophical Society. He had different views from Annie Besant, especially about the role of Christ.
The World Teacher Project
Blavatsky had said that one reason for starting the society was to prepare the world for a "World Teacher." According to Theosophy, this teacher is a great spiritual being, known as the Maitreya, who appears on Earth from time to time to help humanity evolve.
Annie Besant, who became president in 1907, believed this teacher would arrive soon. She and other leaders began to look for the person who would serve as the vehicle for the World Teacher.
Jiddu Krishnamurti
In 1909, a leading Theosophist named Charles Webster Leadbeater met a young Indian boy named Jiddu Krishnamurti. Leadbeater believed Krishnamurti was the perfect person to become the vehicle for the World Teacher.
Krishnamurti and his family had moved next to the society's headquarters in Adyar. The society took him in and began to prepare him for his special role. An international organization called the Order of the Star in the East was even created to support him.
However, as Krishnamurti grew up, he began to have his own ideas. In 1929, he made a surprising announcement. He dissolved the Order of the Star and said he was not the World Teacher. He left the Theosophical Society but stayed friends with many of its members. For the rest of his life, he traveled the world as an independent speaker and became known as a unique spiritual thinker.
Related People and Groups
Many famous people have been connected with the Theosophical Society. These include the inventor Thomas Edison and the poet William Butler Yeats.
See also
- Ascended Master Teachings
- Christian theosophy
- Religion and mythology
- Theosophical mysticism
- Universal brotherhood
