Magazine - Year 2016 - Version 2
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Language: ENGLISH
The Round of Preparations -2
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The successors of Dr. Annie Besant
Dr. Annie Besant expired 1933 but the controversy that was generated in her time still persisted. A branch of Theosophical Society was opened in Agra; and there also reverberated the echo of that controversy. Shriram was very much familiar with Theosophical Society. The activities of Theosophical movement were not very visible as this was not an active organization. Shriram agreed with its philosophy but, from the point of view of activities, he was more near to Arya Samaj. In politics, he was on the platform of Congress; and in the cultural field, he was on the platform of Arya Samaj. In 1934, theosophists became active in Agra. Earlier too there were a few members of this society, but after the death of Annie Besant, they started expanding the work.
A Sadhak named Pandit Anant Narayan Jutsi took charge of Theosophical Society in Agra. He organized a festival in September, 1934. Probably it was the period of Ashvin Navratri. It was a Sadhana - shivir (camp) of four days. Twelve Sadhaks participated in it. Apart from Dhyan - Dharna, there used to be Pravachans also in the afternoon and evening. Jutsiji persuaded Shriram to participate in the camp. Through discussions and discourses, Shriram got acquainted with the thoughts and beliefs of the Theosophical Society. In this interaction, the causes of disintegration of the society were also made known to him.
Selection for specific experiments
The controversy that hurt Theosophical movement was concerned with a brilliant youth named J. Krishnamurthy. Due to some inborn virtues in Krishnamurthy (born in Madanapalle, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh), Annie Besant and her colleague C. W. Leadbeater, took him under their protection. They had already taken Krishnamurthy’s elder brother earlier under their protection, but their hope rested more on Krishnamurthy.
Annie Besant believed that if some specific orientation / training were given to this child, he could become a messiah for propagating the message of spirituality to the world. She arranged the best possible education for Krishnamurthy. She took him abroad and kept him in the proximity of sadhaks of Theosophy in London. Full attention was paid to him in terms of food, living, learning environment and culture. This preparation was done for about fifteen years. Annie Besant also gave some lectures on the mission and purpose of birth of Krishnamurthy. The essence of those lectures was that Lord Buddha, prior to his Mahanirvan, had promised his disciples that he would take birth once more; and after 2500 years, his consciousness would make someone his vehicle. At that time, he would again show the correct path to the way–lost humanity. In 1926-27, Annie Besant made a tour of several places in Britain and America and kept Krishnamurthy with him. In the public meetings, she would introduce him and say that once again Lord Buddha would give his message to humanity through this youth.
In those meetings, Krishnamurthy also used to speak. His lectures used to be centered around two themes – ‘Appa dipo bhava’ (meaning: Be your own source of light) and ‘Sarvam dukham dukham’ (meaning: There is pain and sorrow everywhere). After addressing several meetings, for almost two years, in Britain, America, France, Itali, Japan, etc, Annie Besant returned to India. Krishnamurthy was also called back. As soon as he returned to India, there arose a controversy. His parents asserted their right over their son. Earlier also they were doing so, but as Krishnamurthy was living abroad, no legal action could be taken. In 1927, as soon as he returned to India, they filed a case against Theosophical Society (TS) in Madras High Court. They charged, ‘Annie Besant and Leadbeater kidnapped their son in the childhood; they enticed the child, frightened him and brought him up in a different culture.’
The case was fought for a long time. During the trial, several types of charges were labeled which hurt Annie Besant deeply. For a person, who was President of ‘Indian Home Rule League’ – a socio-political organization, the charge of kidnapping a boy itself was a source of unbearable hurt. Apart from that, the charge of destroying the character of the child shook her still more deeply.
Krishnamurthy’s Frankness
A situation came during the hearing when there was need of Krishnamurthy’s testimony. At that time, he was a young man of thirty two; and due to his association with TS, he was commanding a great respect. In his statement, Krishnamurthy declared himself to be separate from both – his biological family and the TS. He didn’t complain against anyone; he also didn’t show any attachment to either. The end of the legal proceedings was strange. The verdict didn’t go in anybody’s favour. But Annie Besant could not bear the shock. She fell sick; and after a prolonged illness passed away in 1933.
This controversy was also a matter of discussion in the Sadhana- Shivir organized in Agra. People expressed their sympathy towards Annie Besant and Leadbeater. According to them, whatever spiritual awakening had occurred within Krishnamurthy was due only to the efforts of those two pioneer theosophists. He should not have left TS. Instead, he should have expressed his gratitude. It would have been still better if he had remained in the same movement and given it a new direction.
Where was the lapse?
It was the third day of the shivir. Sadhaks were talking that Krishnamurthy had set up his own organization and that he would work independently. Like everyday, that day also Shriram got up at 3 AM and was engaged in Japa-Dhyan. By the time Dhyan was complete, there was some spark of realization. This was related to the discussions at TS camp. By 7:30 AM he was ready and arrived in the shivir to participate in the collective sadhana. The topic of the day was – ‘Invisible guidance available in the path of spirituality.’ The invited guest to speak on this topic was Swami Nikhilanand. Swamiji had his own Ashram. He was very much influenced by the philosophy of TS.
Beginning his Pravachan (discourse) he said – “It is enough even to resolve to move onto the path of sadhana. After taking the resolve, the liberated souls rush to sadhak for help. As the evil spirits push a person onto the path of decline; in the same way elevated spirits intensify the desire for salvation in resolute sadhaks.” As soon as the Pravachan ended, a sadhak named Yogendra Mathur asked a question – “Swamiji! If the liberated spirits help, then they must also be looking after the sadhaks very well.
Swamiji said – ‘Certainly’. Then the next question of Mathur was – ‘If this is true, then why Krishnamurthy deviated from the group in which he grew up?”
Swamiji had no answer to this question. He was taken aback. Then he composed himself and said honestly – “I have no answer to this question. If any one of you wants to say something, he is most welcome.” Sadhaks were looking at one another; but no one had the answer to this question. Shriram raised his hand and after getting the green signal from Swamiji he got up. He started saying – “Resolve alone is not enough. It requires sadhana too. Without this, what to talk of invisible spirits, even God is unable to help. In bringing up Krishnamurthy, there was one lapse on the part of the great Annie Besant and other siddha scholars. That lapse was that they themselves did the sadhana that was to be done by Krishanmurthy. This raised the level of Krishnamurthy but he could not assimilate the energy of sadhana. Therefore, when the responsibility of spiritual growth of others was to be entrusted to Krishnamurthy, he deviated from it. He refused to take the responsibility.”
Swami Nikhilanand felt that Shriram was giving the answer from his experience or inner vision. He asked – “Is it true that the consciousness of Lord Buddha was to descend in his personality?” Shriram said – “Certainly, because the great adepts of theosophical occultism like Annie Besant and others were working hard on his spiritual growth for sixteen years. This endeavor was to make Krishnamurthy a fit medium for that descent.” Swamiji asked – “Then where was the lapse? Why didn’t the spirit of Buddha descend in him?”
“Because, Krishnamurthy didn’t prepare himself for it. Had this preparation got done by him, then the experiment of Annie Besant would have been successful.” – Said Shriram. After a pause, he again said – “But that possibility is not altogether ruled out. That is still valid. The consciousness of Buddha will make someone else his medium.”
“Can you tell me when would that right moment arrive? Will we be the witness to that incident?” asked Swamiji. Shriram said – “If one opportunity is lost, then second should come quickly. In fact, this is the right time. I cannot say which body Tathagat would use as his medium, but it is also possible that he may do so in the near future. That medium will not need any evidence / proof. The world will automatically recognize him.”
Dr. Annie Besant expired 1933 but the controversy that was generated in her time still persisted. A branch of Theosophical Society was opened in Agra; and there also reverberated the echo of that controversy. Shriram was very much familiar with Theosophical Society. The activities of Theosophical movement were not very visible as this was not an active organization. Shriram agreed with its philosophy but, from the point of view of activities, he was more near to Arya Samaj. In politics, he was on the platform of Congress; and in the cultural field, he was on the platform of Arya Samaj. In 1934, theosophists became active in Agra. Earlier too there were a few members of this society, but after the death of Annie Besant, they started expanding the work.
A Sadhak named Pandit Anant Narayan Jutsi took charge of Theosophical Society in Agra. He organized a festival in September, 1934. Probably it was the period of Ashvin Navratri. It was a Sadhana - shivir (camp) of four days. Twelve Sadhaks participated in it. Apart from Dhyan - Dharna, there used to be Pravachans also in the afternoon and evening. Jutsiji persuaded Shriram to participate in the camp. Through discussions and discourses, Shriram got acquainted with the thoughts and beliefs of the Theosophical Society. In this interaction, the causes of disintegration of the society were also made known to him.
Selection for specific experiments
The controversy that hurt Theosophical movement was concerned with a brilliant youth named J. Krishnamurthy. Due to some inborn virtues in Krishnamurthy (born in Madanapalle, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh), Annie Besant and her colleague C. W. Leadbeater, took him under their protection. They had already taken Krishnamurthy’s elder brother earlier under their protection, but their hope rested more on Krishnamurthy.
Annie Besant believed that if some specific orientation / training were given to this child, he could become a messiah for propagating the message of spirituality to the world. She arranged the best possible education for Krishnamurthy. She took him abroad and kept him in the proximity of sadhaks of Theosophy in London. Full attention was paid to him in terms of food, living, learning environment and culture. This preparation was done for about fifteen years. Annie Besant also gave some lectures on the mission and purpose of birth of Krishnamurthy. The essence of those lectures was that Lord Buddha, prior to his Mahanirvan, had promised his disciples that he would take birth once more; and after 2500 years, his consciousness would make someone his vehicle. At that time, he would again show the correct path to the way–lost humanity. In 1926-27, Annie Besant made a tour of several places in Britain and America and kept Krishnamurthy with him. In the public meetings, she would introduce him and say that once again Lord Buddha would give his message to humanity through this youth.
In those meetings, Krishnamurthy also used to speak. His lectures used to be centered around two themes – ‘Appa dipo bhava’ (meaning: Be your own source of light) and ‘Sarvam dukham dukham’ (meaning: There is pain and sorrow everywhere). After addressing several meetings, for almost two years, in Britain, America, France, Itali, Japan, etc, Annie Besant returned to India. Krishnamurthy was also called back. As soon as he returned to India, there arose a controversy. His parents asserted their right over their son. Earlier also they were doing so, but as Krishnamurthy was living abroad, no legal action could be taken. In 1927, as soon as he returned to India, they filed a case against Theosophical Society (TS) in Madras High Court. They charged, ‘Annie Besant and Leadbeater kidnapped their son in the childhood; they enticed the child, frightened him and brought him up in a different culture.’
The case was fought for a long time. During the trial, several types of charges were labeled which hurt Annie Besant deeply. For a person, who was President of ‘Indian Home Rule League’ – a socio-political organization, the charge of kidnapping a boy itself was a source of unbearable hurt. Apart from that, the charge of destroying the character of the child shook her still more deeply.
Krishnamurthy’s Frankness
A situation came during the hearing when there was need of Krishnamurthy’s testimony. At that time, he was a young man of thirty two; and due to his association with TS, he was commanding a great respect. In his statement, Krishnamurthy declared himself to be separate from both – his biological family and the TS. He didn’t complain against anyone; he also didn’t show any attachment to either. The end of the legal proceedings was strange. The verdict didn’t go in anybody’s favour. But Annie Besant could not bear the shock. She fell sick; and after a prolonged illness passed away in 1933.
This controversy was also a matter of discussion in the Sadhana- Shivir organized in Agra. People expressed their sympathy towards Annie Besant and Leadbeater. According to them, whatever spiritual awakening had occurred within Krishnamurthy was due only to the efforts of those two pioneer theosophists. He should not have left TS. Instead, he should have expressed his gratitude. It would have been still better if he had remained in the same movement and given it a new direction.
Where was the lapse?
It was the third day of the shivir. Sadhaks were talking that Krishnamurthy had set up his own organization and that he would work independently. Like everyday, that day also Shriram got up at 3 AM and was engaged in Japa-Dhyan. By the time Dhyan was complete, there was some spark of realization. This was related to the discussions at TS camp. By 7:30 AM he was ready and arrived in the shivir to participate in the collective sadhana. The topic of the day was – ‘Invisible guidance available in the path of spirituality.’ The invited guest to speak on this topic was Swami Nikhilanand. Swamiji had his own Ashram. He was very much influenced by the philosophy of TS.
Beginning his Pravachan (discourse) he said – “It is enough even to resolve to move onto the path of sadhana. After taking the resolve, the liberated souls rush to sadhak for help. As the evil spirits push a person onto the path of decline; in the same way elevated spirits intensify the desire for salvation in resolute sadhaks.” As soon as the Pravachan ended, a sadhak named Yogendra Mathur asked a question – “Swamiji! If the liberated spirits help, then they must also be looking after the sadhaks very well.
Swamiji said – ‘Certainly’. Then the next question of Mathur was – ‘If this is true, then why Krishnamurthy deviated from the group in which he grew up?”
Swamiji had no answer to this question. He was taken aback. Then he composed himself and said honestly – “I have no answer to this question. If any one of you wants to say something, he is most welcome.” Sadhaks were looking at one another; but no one had the answer to this question. Shriram raised his hand and after getting the green signal from Swamiji he got up. He started saying – “Resolve alone is not enough. It requires sadhana too. Without this, what to talk of invisible spirits, even God is unable to help. In bringing up Krishnamurthy, there was one lapse on the part of the great Annie Besant and other siddha scholars. That lapse was that they themselves did the sadhana that was to be done by Krishanmurthy. This raised the level of Krishnamurthy but he could not assimilate the energy of sadhana. Therefore, when the responsibility of spiritual growth of others was to be entrusted to Krishnamurthy, he deviated from it. He refused to take the responsibility.”
Swami Nikhilanand felt that Shriram was giving the answer from his experience or inner vision. He asked – “Is it true that the consciousness of Lord Buddha was to descend in his personality?” Shriram said – “Certainly, because the great adepts of theosophical occultism like Annie Besant and others were working hard on his spiritual growth for sixteen years. This endeavor was to make Krishnamurthy a fit medium for that descent.” Swamiji asked – “Then where was the lapse? Why didn’t the spirit of Buddha descend in him?”
“Because, Krishnamurthy didn’t prepare himself for it. Had this preparation got done by him, then the experiment of Annie Besant would have been successful.” – Said Shriram. After a pause, he again said – “But that possibility is not altogether ruled out. That is still valid. The consciousness of Buddha will make someone else his medium.”
“Can you tell me when would that right moment arrive? Will we be the witness to that incident?” asked Swamiji. Shriram said – “If one opportunity is lost, then second should come quickly. In fact, this is the right time. I cannot say which body Tathagat would use as his medium, but it is also possible that he may do so in the near future. That medium will not need any evidence / proof. The world will automatically recognize him.”
