Theos-Talk Archives (May 2012 Message tt00020)

An excerpt of an Opinion

Prof. D S Sarma, in his book "Hinduism through the Ages" (Pub: 1956 and several later reprints) has a chapter on Annie Besant and the Theosophical Society. He concludes this chapter with the following paragraph:
"The Theosophical Society with its centre at Adyar, near Madras, is a world-wide organization. But it became more popular in India than elsewhere. That was because most of its teachings were taken from Hindu and Buddhist scriptures and modified in the light ( r twilight ) of occultism derived from various sources. Whether we approve of all these teachings or not ? most Hindus would have nothing to do with them now ? we should ever feel grateful to the Theosophical Society, and especially to Mrs. Besant. For some of the fundamental principles of our faith, viz., Karma, Reincarnation, Yoga and Spiritual evolution, have been broadcast by this great and wide-spread International Association. The Society has, moreover, a library of rare books and manuscripts in Adyar and regularly publishes useful editions and translations of Hindu scriptures. It is a centre of culture and art. And above all, to its lasting credit it must be said that, at a time when colour-prejudice ran high, it deliberately set its face against it and did its best to bring together men from the East and the West on terms of equality and brotherhood and this, not as a matter of policy but on religious principle, not in mere theory but in actual practice. This alone would entitle it to a high place in the Kingdom of Spirit."

Dr N C Ramanujachary