| 264. The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One: The Nature and Work of the Masters V
28 Dec 1905, Berlin Rudolf Steiner |
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| 264. The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One: The Nature and Work of the Masters V
28 Dec 1905, Berlin Rudolf Steiner |
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Memoranda from Eugenie von Bredow There were two things he wanted to tell us today about mantrams and about the most important instructions that the exalted Master Morya gives his disciples. There are nine qualities that are inherent in the masters:
He demands five things from us:
The mind must be purified. Love must lose all unchastity and become divine. The memory, in order to become objective, should not hold anything that could awaken prejudice. The mind should be clear and the will should be extinguished where it is selfish, but should be kindled where it serves as an instrument of the masters. Mantras create vibrations of the word that correspond to the vibrations of thought in the Akasha matter. About the Christmas saying “Gloria in excelsis Deo et pax hominibus bonae voluntatis”: it has a mantric effect in Latin. Then he said another Indian mantram with a similar content, with which he also concluded. The festivals are nodal points set by the masters. New Year too. Therefore elevation is important. |
| 264. The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One: The Nature and Work of the Masters VII
26 Jun 1906, Berlin Rudolf Steiner |
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| 264. The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One: The Nature and Work of the Masters VII
26 Jun 1906, Berlin Rudolf Steiner |
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Notes by Eugenie von Bredow As an introduction to the four masters who work in our movement: Master Morya: power |
| 264. The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One: The Nature and Work of the Masters VIII
22 Oct 1906, Berlin Rudolf Steiner |
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| 264. The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One: The Nature and Work of the Masters VIII
22 Oct 1906, Berlin Rudolf Steiner |
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Notes by Amalie Wagner Sublime, exquisite, words fail to express what we have received. The Masters of the Wisdom, etc., were surely among us. The power radiating from our beloved teacher was great; at the end I saw him transfigured, radiant and youthful. And then the sacred word: A the past We are to be pioneers, the elite of humanity. We are to feel exalted, but not arrogant, but worthy of such a task, such a position, not in arrogance but in humility. We were told again about the four masters: Master Jesus was the “unknown from the Oberland” who came to Tauler, who taught the Gnostics, etc. We should get to know the essences of the masters better and better. To do this, it is necessary to go back in time. On the moon, there were no lung-breathing creatures yet. They inhaled or exhaled warmth and gave off cold. In this way they drew warmth from the moon. Just as we make use of plants, which utilize the air by breathing in the harmful carbonic acid exhaled by humans and animals, consuming the carbon it contains and then breathing out the pure oxygen, so there were also beings on the moon who performed the function of our present-day plants: namely, to halt the too rapid process of cooling by breathing out warmth. These beings are called fire spirits. They had not yet reached the level of humans. There were also spirits on the moon that had already transcended the human level and helped to prepare for breathing air. They were obliged to incarnate in bodies that had no lungs, but they craved oxygen. This was first prepared on Earth by the emerging plant world. It was only in the middle of the Lemurian period that the human being had developed to the point where the “living breath” could be blown into him. The first breath drew in oxygen. This was of great significance. The spirits that bring this about are called air spirits. The fire-breathing dragon is a symbol of the fire spirits. Jesus was a third-degree chela. When he was thirty years old, the following happened to him. He left his body and Christ took possession of this pure, noble body: the physical, etheric and astral body. He himself withdrew to the astral plane, where he remained united with the brothers of the white lodge and even attained mastery, etc. Morya – his true name is only revealed to the more advanced students – strengthens the will. Kuthumi is the actual Master of Truth. Jesus, the leader of his church, works particularly on the emotional side. We can call on them when we need them. The twelve masters of the white lodge have all gone through the entire evolution of our earth. They cannot directly influence the physical plane. We have to rise up to them. They influence us through the school and in us and through us. The mediator, the teacher of the school, is accountable to no one but to the one in whose name he speaks. Another participant in this session, Ludwig Kleeberg, reports: He spoke as if he knew and had direct knowledge of the great masters who guide our lives and our striving: Kuthumi, Morya, Jesus and Christian Rosenkreutz – the masters of wisdom and of the harmony of feelings.12
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| 264. The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One: To the Members of the Theosophical Society regarding the “Leadbeater Affair”
01 Jul 1906, Berlin Rudolf Steiner |
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| 264. The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One: To the Members of the Theosophical Society regarding the “Leadbeater Affair”
01 Jul 1906, Berlin Rudolf Steiner |
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that initiated the separation from the Esoteric School of Theosophy.
Dear Friends! The above document contains an important message in a somewhat brief form for the members of the Theosophical Society. Mr. Leadbeater is not only a member of the Society; he is one of the most outstanding propagators of the Theosophical worldview. His books have become a guide to Theosophy and a guide within it for many. He has numerous disciples who follow his direction. He has just completed a long lecture tour, during which he achieved something significant for the Theosophical movement in America and Australia. And immediately afterwards, “serious accusations” were made by the American section, the section within which he had just been working so energetically. In view of these circumstances, I must concede to the members of the German section the right to demand an explanation from me as General Secretary. It is indeed repeatedly emphasized from many sides that the Theosophical Society in its aims and tasks should not be confused with the achievements of some of its members. On the other hand, however, it cannot be denied that the Society's overall activity is composed of the work of its individual members, and that it cannot be unimportant if trust in outstanding work must suffer a severe shock due to facts of the kind communicated in the President's circular. For with this trust in the workers, surely that in their achievements also falls away. And these achievements form the true living content of the Society. They are the means by which the Society is to fulfill a great task, from which its members want to draw spiritual nourishment. The Society certainly cannot live by the ever-recurring enumeration of the “three basic goals,” which are supposed to stand higher than any achievement of individuals. But there are reasons for not talking in a circular about the things about which some of our American members have made serious accusations against Mr. Leadbeater, and because of which the members of the Executive Committee of the British Section and some delegates of the French and American Sections felt obliged to give their consent to the acceptance of Mr. Leadbeater's resignation. I myself can now speak all the more impartially about this case of Leadbeater's, because from the standpoint of occultism, which I have to represent, I have always had to reject the methods by which Mr. Leadbeater comes to his occult realizations and which he also recommends as useful methods for others. I am not saying anything for or against the correctness of what Leadbeater presents as occult truths in his books. It is the case in occultism that someone can come to some correct insights, even though the methods he uses are dangerous and can easily lead astray. I must therefore trace the case of Leadbeater back to much deeper underlying causes. At the same time, however, I must explain that there is almost no one for whom there is no guarantee of falling into a disastrous error if he applies the methods on which Leadbeater's work is based. Because of my point of view, the case of Leadbeater was no surprise to me. But I do not think that anyone who agrees with the methodological basis of Leadbeater's occult research has any reason to condemn him now. Either the circular sent to the members should have clearly stated that the accusations concern matters that have nothing at all to do with occultism, or else Leadbeater's entire occult system falls with him. I am quite clear about the latter; that is why I have explained my point of view to the members of the German Section here, instead of making an official statement that is not included in the executive note. As for the assessment of Mr. Leadbeater as a person, which might be important to some, it may be stated that he always emphasized the good intention he had in all of this, of which he is accused. And no one has any reasonable grounds for casting doubt on this assertion of Leadbeater's. It should also be considered in this matter that a large number of American members of the Theosophical Society have just sent out a circular letter in which they vigorously protest against the action taken against Mr. Leadbeater and in which they strongly demand his reinstatement in all his rights. From this it could also be concluded that one can have a different opinion about the charges against Leadbeater than the American Executive Committee has, and than those who simply make the opinion of this committee theirs. I ask the esteemed members of the German Section not to be shaken in their commitment to the Theosophical cause, whatever the consequences of the Leadbeater case may be; and with that I send all friends heartfelt Theosophical greetings Dr. Rudolf Steiner I am happy to provide any member with further oral clarification of the matter should the opportunity arise.
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| 264. The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One: To Annie Besant regarding the “Leadbeater Affair”
01 Jul 1906, Berlin Rudolf Steiner |
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| 264. The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One: To Annie Besant regarding the “Leadbeater Affair”
01 Jul 1906, Berlin Rudolf Steiner |
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that initiated the separation from the Esoteric School of Theosophy. To Annie Besant, early July 1906 1 Dear Mrs. Besant. I have received your messages dated June 9, 1906, from Simla, India, to the Wardens and Sub-Wardens of the E.S. Thank you very much indeed. Please allow me to write the following in response. Since you have granted me complete freedom in conducting E.S. affairs in Germany, I have so far not wished to take up your valuable time with letters; but the present case of Leadbeater is important enough to justify this letter. I would like to point out in advance that I am having my letter translated by Marie von Sivers to make it easier for you to read. This is certainly not a mistake, in my opinion, because this colleague of mine can no longer be misled by what I have to say; and as for the very last things I have to say, I will not say them in full. I think you will read them between the lines. Now a word in advance. I will speak with complete frankness. And with this in mind, I ask you, dear Mrs. Besant, to include the following. I was not surprised for a moment by what was said against Mr. Leadbeater. And neither what Messrs. Mead and Keightley were able to tell me in Paris, who were present at the meeting of the Executive Committee, nor the report sent to the General Secretaries from that meeting, were able to change my opinion – ultimately – from what it was before this whole matter became publicly known to a limited extent. The whole matter presents itself to me in a much deeper light and context. I have to see the bad in the whole thing in the peculiarity of Mr. Leadbeater's occult method. This occult method must necessarily lead in certain cases to such or similar errors as those found in Mr. Leadbeater, because it is no longer applicable to the cycle of humanity to which the Western population belongs. It does not have to be the same errors in every case, but similar ones may arise that are no less serious. For these methods can lead to a sure result only when behind each one who enters the path stands the absolute authority of a guru, such as is quite impossible in the Occident because of the general cultural conditions. In the Occident, a person may be led to the stage of psychic development on which Leadbeater stood only if the part of the guidance that can no longer come from the guru is replaced by a certain degree of mental training. And this training is lacking in Mr. Leadbeater. By this I do not mean a mere intellectual-philosophical training, but the development of that level of consciousness that consists in inner, mental vision. This simply requires the level of brain development that the Westerner must have attained. In Germany, for example, the paths to this training must be taken from the thought mysticism of Fichte, Schelling and Hegel, which cannot be understood at all in view of their truly occult basis. All this is the case because the thought itself is the same for all plans. Wherever thought is developed, whether on the physical or on a higher plane, it will be a sure guide for everything if it is free from sensuality and grasped in self-knowledge. If it is first developed on the physical plane, according to the Western brain disposition, then it remains the sure guiding thread through all stages of physical and superphysical knowledge. If it is lacking, then the Westerner is rudderless, whether he is moving on the physical or a higher plane. And with the close relationship at the present time between all higher human forces and the forces that belong to a lower level of the sexual sphere, a derailment similar to that of Mr. Leadbeater can occur at any moment. His “case” is not the only one, but something that belongs to the field that is currently being practiced in many occult groups that are more or less heading in the wrong direction. The Masters of the Rosicrucian School have foreseen the peculiarity of the fifth human sub-race and have worked out the “Path” for the Occident, which alone is applicable in the present cycle. As far as it may be brought before the public, this “path” has been communicated by me in the magazine Lucifer-Gnosis.3 It is not necessary to reflect on the individual case of Mr. Leadbeater, but on the dangers of his method. This danger lies in itself; and one should never assume that it cannot lead to such aberrations. What is not right does not begin with the fact that one or another person is led to do the things that have been mentioned here, but already with the way in which one arrives at the results in the sense of this method, as they can be found in Mr. Leadbeater's writings. If I had stood alone, I would never have recommended Mr. Leadbeater's writings as suitable Theosophical reading. Since I joined the T.S. for deeper reasons, I naturally could not reject the books of a recognized leader. So that is the merits of the case. But the treatment he has received at the hands of the British Section Committee is, in the occult sense, quite impossible. How can it not be clear that by such a judgment one has done something equivalent to the act of a man sawing off the branch on which he sits? The difficulty lies in the fact that the exoteric character of T.S. must always collide with the occult point of view when it comes to an emergency arising from the occult worlds. It would have to be ensured under all circumstances that Mr. Leadbeater is not morally condemned in the ordinary sense, that everyone who hears about the matter also learns that this is a case that can only be understood by the occultist, and that Leadbeater has not “morally failed” in the ordinary sense of the word , but that he fell a victim to his method, that what the public morally condemns here is to be judged according to the principle that “where there is strong light, there must also be strong shadow”. Only through such an interpretation can one get over the shock into which, in the other case, society will inevitably fall. It will not depend on our judgment of Mr. Leadbeater, whom so many now condemn, but solely on our finding the right way to continue our work fruitfully. And that can only consist in recognizing the Rosicrucian path as the right one for European conditions. If we do not do this, cases similar to Leadbeater's will be repeated, and the Society will disintegrate into its atoms. In the present phase of human development, occultism must be taught publicly, of course with all the restrictions that the holy masters impose on us; but in this teaching, too, we must take a truly occult point of view. It would be contrary to the demands of our time if we were to limit ourselves to a mere operation of things that can be controlled by the so-called “common sense”. This word “common sense” played a fateful role at the Paris Congress. I do not wish to bother you further, dear Mrs. Besant, with specific suggestions regarding what needs to be done in Germany for the good of our great cause, because it is only possible if I have the full freedom I have been granted in this case as well. In Central Europe, the lines of occult activity have been clearly defined since the fourteenth century; and we must follow these directions here. Those in Germany who are still walking in the paths that were taken here before our section was founded have often said to me during my lectures: “Yes, but Leadbeater says otherwise...”. But it was always foreigners who had come to Germany on a visit who said this. I knew that I had to say something different. In conclusion, I need only say that I am aware of my devotion to the masters in every word of this letter, and therefore I can also know that you, dear Mrs. Besant, will not see my candour in the wrong light. With all my devotion and affection, Yours sincerely, Dr. Rudolf Steiner
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| 264. The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One: To Annie Besant regarding the “Leadbeater Affair”
01 Nov 1908, Berlin Rudolf Steiner |
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| 264. The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One: To Annie Besant regarding the “Leadbeater Affair”
01 Nov 1908, Berlin Rudolf Steiner |
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that initiated the separation from the Esoteric School of Theosophy. To Annie Besant, ca. November 1, 1908 1 ... 2 It can be truly distressing that the matter of Mr. Leadbeater, who has rendered such outstanding service to the Society, has caused such strong feelings. This matter is like so much else in the world. It is basically simple at its root; but it has become complicated due to everything that has formed around it as it emerged and especially in the course of the last few years. For me, the matter was never unclear; and my point of view today is the same as when it first arose. My position regarding Mr. Leadbeater has not been shaken in the slightest by the whole affair. The case has been torn out of the sphere of occultism and placed in a field to which it does not belong in principle, in the field of T.S. measures. It is not acceptable to intervene in the sphere of responsibility of an occultist by exoteric means. One could come to disagree with his views and measures. But in the exoteric Society there is no forum that could be called upon to judge it. I myself, for example, would never have allowed a discussion of the matter itself at a general meeting of the German Section, and would have taken part in such a discussion myself only within a purely occult committee. But this is my individual opinion, which has never changed. From the very beginning, I have tried to clarify and calm the situation as much as I could. But I would like to express myself in my official position as Secretary General of the German Section with regard to the current state of the matter. The circumstances of our Section make it quite impossible, especially at this point in time, to follow the example of other sections and address to you, dear Mrs. Besant, as President, a request for the reinstatement of Mr. Leadbeater. When the committee was convened in London two years ago to deal with the matter, the German Section was completely ignored. Of course, I am not saying this because anyone in the German Section would have felt the slightest bit offended; but because the German Section was never in a position to give a judgment on the case. My aim was to prevent the waves that the case had caused from washing up on the German Section. This was completely successful. But now it is quite impossible to engage the German Section for the reinstatement, since it was in no way involved in the departure. Now, of course, there is something essential to be said against this argument, namely, that society is a whole, and that therefore such a matter concerns all members. This would also necessarily come into consideration if Mr. Leadbeater's re-entry depended on a general vote. But that is not the case. Mr. Leadbeater resigned voluntarily and can therefore be re-admitted to any section any day. Naturally the German Section will have no objection to such a readmission. Since matters stand in our Section, you, dear Mrs. Besant, will appreciate that I had to refrain from discussing the matter at our last General Meeting. In view of the development of this matter in the English section, the opinion of Mr. van Hook in America may be taken into consideration. May I mention in this regard that you can always count on my loyal support in this matter. Regarding the statement that these or those manifestations go back to spiritual sources, I will always emphasize that no one's right to invoke spiritual sources and to base his work on such sources must not be denied, even though, on the other hand, everyone is free to evaluate such an appeal as he sees fit. I would have to dispute my own right to do many things if, for example, I were to criticize Dr. W. van Hook now. 3...4span class="footnoteText">The end of the letter concerns the matter of Hugo Vollrath.
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| 264. The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One: To the President-Founder of the Theosophical Society H.S.Olcott
01 Mar 1907, Berlin Rudolf Steiner |
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| 264. The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One: To the President-Founder of the Theosophical Society H.S.Olcott
01 Mar 1907, Berlin Rudolf Steiner |
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Regarding the election of Annie Besant, head of the Esoteric School, as president of the Theosophical Society, which led to the separation of the Esoteric School. With the expression of the utmost respect, the undersigned, in his capacity as Secretary General of the German Section and as a member of the General Council of the Theosophical Society, would like to make the following comments regarding the January 1907 messages from the President-Founder and the resolutions of part of the General Council, as well as the letters from Mrs. Besant. 1. It seems completely impossible to designate a member as unsuitable for the Society because he holds this or that opinion and draws the consequences of his opinion in his teaching methods. The Society can only be an administrative body, in accordance with its present constitution; and it cannot form a tribunal of judges to decide whether any opinion is right or wrong. This principle could only be abandoned if members were obliged, upon admission, to hold certain opinions. But that would not be in the spirit of the Society. 2. In the case of Mr. Jinarajadasa, apart from any misunderstanding, there is nothing to justify his exclusion. His exclusion would be legal only if it were admitted that a member could be excluded because he does not hold the opinion held by another section of the Society. Therefore the exclusion of Mr. Jinarajadasa should be annulled. If it is not, it would be a failure to observe the above point 1). The undersigned therefore fully agrees that Mr. Jinarajadasa should continue to be considered a member of the Society. 3. The undersigned welcomes with complete satisfaction the nomination of Mrs. Besant as successor to the esteemed President-Founder. He only adds that the individuality of the esteemed President may continue to dwell in the physical body for a long time to come. He therefore sends his best wishes and thoughts for the President's recovery. 4. The undersigned, in his capacity as General Secretary of the German Section, cannot take any notice of the announcement that Mrs. Besant's nomination was made on behalf of the High Masters. However important the manifestation of the High Masters may be for the esotericist, the administration of the Theosophical Society is not concerned with it. And the latter has to regard Mrs. Besant's nomination merely as an expression of the will of the President-Founder. Whether the President-Founder is advised by the high masters or by someone else is a purely private matter for the President-Founder himself in the exoteric Society. The undersigned is therefore not in a position to officially communicate this justification of Mrs. Besant's nomination to his section. He can only treat this as an esoteric matter. On the other hand, he will strongly support the nomination of Mrs. Besant as President as the will of the President of the German Section, and he does not doubt for a moment that Mrs. Besant's great universal admiration will ensure her almost unanimous election by the German Section. The wishes and thoughts of the undersigned will accompany Mrs. Besant as president at every step, just as they have done in her work so far. With the most respectful and theosophical greetings, Dr. Rudolf Steiner |
| 264. The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One: Letter to Heads of the German Sections
28 Feb 1907, Berlin Rudolf Steiner |
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| 264. The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One: Letter to Heads of the German Sections
28 Feb 1907, Berlin Rudolf Steiner |
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Regarding the election of Annie Besant, head of the Esoteric School, as president of the Theosophical Society, which led to the separation of the Esoteric School. Typewritten text, page 1 and signature missing. End of February 1907 The President-Founder has been granted the right to make a proposal regarding his successor based on his personal preference. In the meantime, the Vice President is taking over the business and initiating the election process. Everyone can vote for whomever they choose. The President's suggestion is not binding. The election will not begin before May 1. No ballot submitted before May 1 will be valid. During the month of May, all members will elect the new President of the Theosophical Society. Sinnett is the acting Vice President until the election. I will not make use of what I now want to say, so I will not say anything about it, although it has been mentioned in other sections. If we had been informed by Olcott that he was proposing Annie Besant, we would all have elected Annie Besant. But Colonel Olcott's proposal arises in connection with psychic phenomena. It has been communicated in a communiqué sent to all the General Secretaries that on the last day of Olcott's life the two Masters appeared to him on his deathbed and expressed their wish that Mrs. Besant should succeed Colonel Olcott. They would probably excuse me from discussing this matter precisely because I believe I know something about these things. However, I am in the special position of not being able to express myself further on all these matters. We would be in a difficult position if we were to refer to this communiqué. We must therefore treat it as if it did not exist. We must regard it as if it were only Colonel Olcott's personal wish. We will ignore the content of the matter and discuss only the formalities. We must not care whether Olcott was advised by a Schulze or a Müller or by a Mahatma. It may well be that he was given the advice by a Mahatma. This is an administrative act, and it is true that the Masters do not concern themselves with administrative matters on the physical plane. On the other hand, we would be in a strange position if we opposed the decision of the Masters. So we simply have to write the name we want on the ballot paper. For those who live in the occult life, the Master's word would be absolutely binding. Olcott may have taken advice. That is his business as an esotericist, but not the business of the Society. If we were to regard it as the wish of the Master, we Theosophists would be in a very difficult position. If the Adyar Communiqué were correct, the President would be appointed and we would not need to elect him. I would like to ask you urgently to do what you can to ensure that this matter is discussed as little as possible or not at all. However, it should be recognized that the German section at least understands that these things do not belong in public, and that if they must be discussed, they are treated like an intimate family matter in society. We can only serve the true, great cause if we not only try to remain silent about this matter, but also if we try to maintain this silence in such a way that the matter does not become public, so that it can never appear in our newspapers. Just think what a shock could be caused to our society if it became known in the world that the Theosophical Society has the President appointed by extrasensory means. This appointment is to be considered as non-existent. This is difficult, because it can be read everywhere and because there is discussion about whether it should be considered valuable or not. The only thing to do is to pay no attention to it. The high teachings of wisdom have nothing to do with the administrative affairs of society. The content is provided by wisdom, the framework for it is to be provided and formed by people. Not only out of my conscience, but also out of my knowledge, I had to give you this advice: to ignore the communiqué. |
| 264. The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One: To The Members Of The German Section Of The Theosophical Society
12 Mar 1907, Berlin Rudolf Steiner |
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| 264. The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One: To The Members Of The German Section Of The Theosophical Society
12 Mar 1907, Berlin Rudolf Steiner |
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Regarding the election of Annie Besant, head of the Esoteric School, as president of the Theosophical Society, which led to the separation of the Esoteric School. Berlin, March 12, 1907 Dear Friends! Certain events currently taking place within the Theosophical Society make it necessary for the following lines to be addressed to the members of the German Section. These events have not played a role within the German Section so far, and rightly so. Now, however, they are stirring up a lot of dust within other sections – unfortunately to the detriment of the Society – and it cannot be avoided that the matter will also be brought into our Section from outside and will disturb minds here. This is why this letter is necessary. The relevant events relate to the election of a successor to our dear and revered President-Founder H.S. Olcott. According to the statutes of our Society, the election of a new President could have been the easiest, smoothest thing in the world. Now it is being made confusing for no good reason. The statutes state:
From this it can be seen that the founding president was granted special rights that will no longer apply in the future. We must now vote in the spirit of these rights. That is, the general secretary of a section must inform the members of the proposal made by the president-founder regarding his successor. Furthermore, the general secretary must hand over or send a ballot paper to each member of his section, which the member may fill out at his or her own discretion. Of course, no member is obliged to follow the president-founder's suggestion, but can put the name they consider most suitable on the ballot paper. The completed ballot paper is then to be returned to the Secretary General. For the German section, everything necessary in terms of the statutes has basically already been done, except for the election itself. And this must be carried out in accordance with the instructions of the Vice-President, who is to perform all the functions of the President until a new President takes office. The current Vice-President is Mr. Sinnett. The election will now be carried out in our section in the proper manner at the proper time. So far, then, everything is in perfect order. But disorder is brought into the matter by the following. Before his passing away, our revered President-Founder sent to the General Secretaries and to others all kinds of circulars in which he announced that he had received instructions from higher worlds to appoint a certain personality, namely Mrs. Besant, as his successor. The President-Founder claims that certain Masters, who in Theosophical circles are referred to by the names M. and K.H., appeared to him and gave him the aforementioned instructions. Whether or not these instructions are genuine is a matter for esoteric study. It would have been necessary to completely ignore this matter in the administration. For who advises Olcott in his proposal regarding his successor is nobody's business but his own. It does not matter whether Olcott took advice from an ordinary person or from a supernatural power. One can be of the opinion that Olcott should not have communicated the whole matter. But this communication can be attributed to a weakness of his last seriously ill times. It is also due to this weakness that he said, contrary to the statutes, that he was appointing his successor. Because the statutes give him no right of appointment, but only a right of proposal. It would therefore have been right to extract the right thing from Olcott's circular and ignore everything else. This has not been done in various sections. There is a lot of discussion about what does not belong to the election matter. This carries the risk that a purely administrative matter will be mixed up with esoteric matters. Particularly if one takes the correct esoteric standpoint, that our teachings go back to supersensible sources, then one should carefully avoid bringing a purely social matter, such as the election of a president, into any connection with supersensible powers. It would contradict all esoteric principles to drag the supersensible into the discussion, which can always arise in the case of a presidential election. It should be expressly emphasized here that it would not actually be necessary in principle to say the following, and that it is only said here to prevent misunderstandings that may be caused by discussions in which the leadership of the German Section is innocent, but which have unfortunately arisen. None of the individualities that we can recognize in supersensible vision will ever interfere in a matter such as the present presidential election. That would be to bind our will, but these individualities, by the way they stand to us, actually want to free our will so that it can make the right decision in each individual case. Therefore, the currents of spiritual life never come to us from them in such a way that they can interfere with our free choice. I am saying something that goes beyond the powers of the General Secretary, but I must say it as a friend of the members. The time will come when I will be able to say what the actual position is regarding the pronouncements made by Adyar. It would not be right for me to talk about them now. I would now like to ask the members, especially in the present time, to carefully distinguish the official messages from the unofficial ones. A completely private message, for example, is the one Mr. Mead has now sent to the branches. It is to be understood as nothing more than Mr. Mead's personal opinion. All official messages can only be sent to the members by the General Secretary of a section. The Deputy President, Mr. Sinnett, will also forward all communications to me, and I will duly forward everything to the members. This to clarify the situation. I will write again as soon as possible. With theosophical greetings, Dr. Rudolf Steiner |
| 264. The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One: To Anna Minsloff in Russia
26 Mar 1907, Berlin Rudolf Steiner |
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| 264. The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One: To Anna Minsloff in Russia
26 Mar 1907, Berlin Rudolf Steiner |
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Regarding the election of Annie Besant, head of the Esoteric School, as president of the Theosophical Society, which led to the separation of the Esoteric School. Private! Berlin, March 26, 1907 My dear Miss Minsloff! Your feelings regarding the information about occult events being distributed by Adyar are correct. However, we are now facing difficult times, not only for the progress of the Theosophical Society but for spiritual life in general. There are many dark forces at work seeking to destroy the most sincere occult striving, which is so necessary for the present time for the good of humanity. At the present moment, I must remain silent about the actual deeper foundations of the struggle that is being waged behind the scenes. It may become a terrible fight and we must face with open eyes what is coming. Perhaps the time will soon come when I will no longer be able to keep silent about what is going on in Adyar. For the time being, it is best to simply ignore everything that is being spread by Adyar or elsewhere about occult events if it is in line with what has been published so far. It means really blindfolding oneself if one does as Miss Kamensky does and is glad to find a straw somewhere to lift a heavy stone from one's heart. One must ignore everything coming from that source. Now, at the present moment, the important question is not who is elected, but the main thing is that the sacred cause of the masters should not be associated with something as trivial as an election. What matters is not whether Mrs. Besant is elected or not, but whether she can associate the election at all with the exalted masters. This is what must cause the greatest possible confusion, and what could lead to the complete loss of connection between the Masters and the Society in the future. For the Masters may no longer concern themselves with a society in which they are expected to play the role that is currently being attributed to them by Adyar. What is much more important, whether Mrs. Besant is elected, is that she herself gets back on the right track. Unless some very special complications arise, Mrs. Besant will probably have to be elected. Of all the older members of the Society, she must appear to be the most suitable so far. Please do not tell anyone that you are thinking of me, because apart from the fact that this is as hopeless as possible, my task lies in a completely different area than the administration of the Society. It must surely be the aim that the position of President should increasingly turn him into a mere administrative figure. The best President will be the one who does the paperwork well, takes care of correspondence from Adyar and otherwise keeps his mouth shut about occult matters. The fact that Mrs. Besant will not perceive her office in this way seems to be the most important reason against her election. But such an understanding of the President's position will only come about after many years. Therefore, for the time being, it would probably be best if Mrs. Besant were elected. The practice of how we act and how we always strictly reject occult messages that are spread as widely as the current ones will determine whether the Society can be a spiritual guardian in the future. But for the time being, no member should decide yet. The election in the German section will not take place until May 1, and a lot can still happen then that could influence the vote in this or that direction. Until then, however, you will still hear from me what I believe to be right. Your inner life continues in the right direction, as we have discussed it here. Since you are doing everything right, I have no new instructions to give you, but only from the physical distance, but the spiritual closeness, in thoughts to send what I am able to send to you. In this sense, entirely yours Dr. Rudolf Steiner |