Theos-Talk Archives (July 2005 Message tt00227)

Poor Anand obviously follows Leadbeater’s principle: never let the facts get in
the way of a good story!

To deal with a few of the more obviously silly of Anand’s claims:

1.”He earned doctorate because he did some research mostly related to rumors in
Leadbeater's life. Till this point what Gregory did was logical and sensible
from viewpoint of the candidate for Ph.D.”

Where and when did Anand read my doctoral thesis? If he has not read it, onwhat
basis does he claim to know its content? If he has read it, on how many of the
some 1500 pages are “rumours” about Leadbeater considered?

I presume Anand has no understanding of the requirements of doctoral research in
reputable universities. No thesis would be accepted by the university, let alone
approved by the external examiners, which was not based on sound historical
methodology and documentation.

2. “But Gregory made big mistake later. His research on rumors - which formed
very small part of the life of Mr. Leadbeater - was published by Gregory ashis
full biography.”

Anand attributes to me occult powers which Leadbeater claimed, but which I do
not claim: how could I complete a thesis in 1986 and then publish the book
based on the thesis in 1982? Do I possess powers to transcend the laws of time?

3. “In Adyar TS there are large number of members who have Ph.D. or master's
degree. Most of these scholars rejected this biography considering it
completely misleading as it focused on small part of his life and was published
by Gregory as full biography of Mr. Leadbeater.”

Name three of them! Produce the evidence of their critical reviews of the book.
Incidentally, the only reviews published in (Adyar) TS journals were both
highly flattering AND written by a member with a PhD. Even poor Peter Michel, a
devout Adyar Theosophist, who struggled in his biography of Leadbeater to defend
the man, began by acknowledging the quality of my research (and, by the way,
accepting the 1854 birthdate).

Anand might also like to explain why the (Adyar) TS, apparently packed with
scholars able and willing to demolish my work, has never published a critical
review.

Anand might also like (assuming he has read “The Elder Brother”) to tell me on
how many of its 337 pages are “rumours” about Leadbeater considered.

4. “These scholars in Adyar TS and many outside TS also considered this
biography as most unscholarly biography. It formed opinion that Gregory does
not have capacity to do any objective, scholarly research and his characteris
not pure enough to place before world accurate facts in balanced manner.”

Name three of the scholars outside the TS! Produce the evidence of their
critical reviews of the book. All the published reviews – many of them both
scholars with PhDs! – were highly favourable.

Perhaps Anand might like to explain why, from amongst the “hundreds of scholars
in Theosophical circles”, only one (Hugh Shearman – who had a PhD!) hasever
attempted a biography of Leadbeater – and that a small pamphlet which didn’t
challenge any of my research, and confirmed the 1854 birthdate. When is theTPH
publishing its definitive, scholarly biography of Leadbeater?

5. “So whatever credit Gregory had earned by getting Ph.D. was lost by printing
thesis as biography.”

See 2 above: please explain how I could have published a book in 1982 basedon a
thesis completed in 1986.

6. If he was wise enough, after taking Ph.D. he could have said " thesis is
written to get Ph.D, I wrote it and earned doctoral degree. Matter is over,I
don't want to discuss that subject" If he had said so, nobody would have
ridiculed Gregory or questioned his capacity to do research. But after getting
doctoral degree also he published that small part of Leadbeater's life as
biography.

See 2 above: please explain how I could have published a book in 1982 basedon a
thesis completed in 1986. Or how I could make a decision after obtaining a
degree in 1986 to publish a book in 1982. If I have these occult powers, Anand,
please remind me how to use them: it would be fun!

Please also provide the sources in which I have been “ridiculed” or my capacity
to do research questioned.

7.”Result was hundreds of scholars in Theosophical circles and outside ridiculed
Gregory, considered his work as unscholarly and came to conclusion that Gregory
lacks capacity to do research and he can't present correct picture.”

You say “hundreds of scholars” ….. I won’t hold you to that, but name ten of
them from within the TS and ten from outside it. Produce their comments.

8. “So what Gregory earned by getting Ph.D. was lost by publishing thesisas
biography.”

See 2 above: how could what I earned in 1986 be lost in 1982? Do I have the
ability to travel in time?

It’s easy to understand why Anand is such a devotee of Leadbeater: their
approach to the world is all but identical. Vast claims based on nothing
substantial, an enthusiastic re-writing of history, ignorance veiled under
pomposity and, when all else fails, simple lies.

But entertaining in small doses provided he is not taken at all seriously (also
like Leadbeater).

Dr Gregory Tillett