Theos-Talk Archives (August 1999 Message tt00040)

24 August 1999
Hello Chaps! [or 'Guys' if in the USA]
First, greetings from a new member of theos-talk, based in Yorkshire,
northern England (our largest and most beautiful county), and London, which
needs no introduction.
I write because the other day I saw in my local library a chapter in the
Lion Handbook of the World's Religions (Oxford, 1982&1994).  It was on
Zoroastrainism, which has interested me for some time, and written by John
Hinnells, a professor at the School of Oriental and African Studies.  I
shall be writing to Prof. Hinnells, but would like to ask any of you to
comment on the following passage:

Lion Handbook, p.219;

'THEOSOPHY AND THE PARSIS
'Early in the C20th, a specifically Parsi form of Theosophy was begun by
BEHRAMSHAH SHROFF (1857-1927).  He claimed that he had been taken to an
unknown hideout in the Persian Mountains by a wandering group of secret
Zoroastrians.  There, hidden in caves, he claimed, were ancient treasures
and teachings from Zoroastrian Persia.  The religion revealed to Shroff
contained many Theosophical teachings.
'For thirty years after his return, Shroff remained silent, but spent the
last twenty years of his life preaching.  There is ni way of estimating the
[number of] followers of his teaching (called the PATH OF KNOWLEDGE, ILM-i
KHSNOOM), because they have not formed a clear, distinct sect.  They are
probably relatively few, though they are very vocal among the Parsis.'
Does anyone know anything about this chap, whose name hardly sounds Parsi?
Or about his 'path of knowledge'?  I would be most interested to know.
Best Wishes.
Aidan

Aidan Rankin



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