Theos-Talk Archives (March 2006 Message tt00320)

Dear John,

Judith Tyberg was the daughter of Olaf and Marjorie Tyberg, who were 
early Theosophists during the days of Judge.  Judith was  born in 
California in 1902 and grew up at the Point Loma Theosophical Community  
when it was headed by Katherine Tingley, and later, G. de Purucker.  She 
received her early education at the Point Loma Raja Yoga Academy and 
received a M.A. in Religion and Philosophy, at the Theosophical 
University. I have copies of her school records here in the archives.

I remember her once telling me that she, as a young woman, asked G. de 
P. to teach her Sanskrit.  She said that G. de P. became very excited 
and said that he had been for so long hoping that she would ask.   After 
a few lessons, G. de P. told her that he was going to announce a new 
class in Sanskrit and that she (Judith) was going to teach it.  Judith 
said that she was so nervous because she was only a few lessons ahead of 
the class.  While she was teaching the Point Loma students, G. de P. was 
teaching her.   I have a photo here in the archives of Judith in front 
of a black board teaching the Raja Yoga children Sanskrit.  Later, she 
became the Dean of Studies at the school. 
It was G. de Purucker who ordered research to begin for the production 
of a Theosophical Glossary (this is the controversial unpublished 
Glossary which has, off and on, been the subject of so many posts on 
this bulletin board).  There was a select groups of Theosophical 
Scholars who worked on the Glossary.  Geoffrey Barborka and Judith 
Tyberg were among them.  
It was in 1941 that Judith published her first textbook: Sanskrit Keys 
to the Wisdom Religion.  It was Geoffrey and Judith who designed the 
Devanagari typeface, which Merganthaler tooled into a font for the 
casting of linotype slugs.  
In 1947, Judith left for India to study Sanskrit and to gain an M.A. at 
Benares Hindu University.  There she discovered the Sri Aurobindo 
Ashram.  Judith once related to me that when she was grated audience 
with Aurobindo, they talked for over an hour.  She was later told that 
normally the visits were only for a minute or so, because most visitors 
were too overwhelmed by his presence. She also related that G. de P. 
once told her that she would meet a great teacher.  Judith believed that 
Aurobindo was the teacher he had predicted.   During her stay in India, 
she wrote letters back home to her friends for them to share.  I have 
copies of those letters here.  
In 1950, Judith returned home.  Troubles were still brewing at the Point 
Loma (now in West Covina) TS, so she founded the East-West Cultural 
Center in Los Angeles.  I recall lecturing there on a couple of 
occasions--on one of those occasions, sharing the platform with Dane 
Rudhyar.  It was also around this time that she also joined the faculty 
of the American Academy of Asian Studies.  Other professors there were 
Alan Watts, Haridas Chaudhuri and Ernest Wood.  
I last saw Judith a few month before her passing in 1980.   She was in 
very good spirits, though suffering from back pain.  We talked at length 
about her Point Loma days.  Her presence and the balanced way that she 
related her memories was quite extraordinary.  She is a person who I 
have come to more deeply appreciate as the years go by.

Best,
Jerry




Best wishes,
Jerry


samblo@cs.com wrote:

> Jerry,
>   I can't remember when anyone mentioned Judith Tyberg on this Forum, I have 
> several of her books and I used to visit the East-West Center in LA many 
> years ago, I really liked her books and thought she was a pretty good presentative 
> of Theosophy, what can say about her to people that never heard of her on 
> this Forum?
>
> John
>
>
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