The Failings of Annie Besant’s Pro-Israel and Jewish Nationalist Advocacy

NEO–THEOSOPHICAL MESSIANISM IN SUPPORT OF ZIONISM

IT IS NO SURPRISE THAT BESANT, A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR HINDU NATIONALISM AND INDEPENDENCE also spoke glowingly in the same manner about Israel. However, her support is entirely built on her belief and enthusiasm for her mission of the “World Teacher,” most notably through Jiddu Krishnamurti.

Buddhist revivalist Anagarika Dharmapala and Mohandas Gandhi had respect for H.P. Blavatsky, but distrusted Charles W. Leadbeater. Anagarika Dharmapala explained in a letter in 1922 to Alice Leighton Cleather (one of the chosen members of HPB’s esoteric Inner Group in London), that:

“C.W.L. and A.B. are spiritualistic acrobats. They know the diplomacy of necromancy; but they succeed. In 1907, I attacked them furiously; but as I say they are diplomats and they know what way to go to get hold of the people who desire for occult studies. . . . Col. Olcott loved power more than truth. He feared A.B. . . . Theosophy of C.W.L. and Besant is a travesty of the doctrine taught by H.P.B..” and “Every attempt should be made to warn true Theosophists of A.B.’s & C.W.L.’s writings. The latter is a necromancer and a diabolical liar.”

It is exactly her enthusiasm that first attracted me to Annie Besant’s writings, but then I began to notice the same unmistakable differences and patterns in these writings, as well as in the writings of Charles Leadbeater.

If we understand her nationalist vigor and passion, like why she would view Muhammad as a Prophet and “one of the great messengers of the Supreme,” we would see, this is some type of Theosophism with her own Angelology:

“According to this view, the Founders of the great religions are members of the one Brotherhood . . . As Theosophy of old gave birth to religions, so in modern times does it justify and defend them.” (Annie Besant, Ancient Wisdom, pp. 3 and 5)

“(…) the Guardians of humanity (…) From time to time, one of them comes forth into the world of men, as a great religious teacher, to carry on the task of spreading a new form of the Eternal Verities, a form suitable to a new race or civilization. Their ranks include all the greatest Prophets of the Faiths of the world, and while a religion lives one of these Great Ones is ever at its head, watching over it as His special charge.” (Annie Besant, The Masters, pg.. 79, Krotona edition)

Theosophists before her did not hold to such a view of the religions as progressive forms of revelation from God, nor did they hold that the so-called founders of Religions are Messengers all part of a single secret Brotherhood. The religions are imperfect, and are the result of human error, according to Blavatsky. 

This letter written in 1925 to English Buddhist and Theosophist Christmas Humphreys from Anagarika Dharmapala gives us furthe rinsight into the problem, when he states that “Mrs A.B. I am afraid will eventually destroy the work of H.P.B. and the Masters. The T.S. will become under her management a Christian sect, and bishops, deacons etc. will rule the T.S. Brotherhood will disappear. Ambition, pride, the desire to rule will control the minds of those members and they will degenerate.”

After Blavatsky’s death, leadership was won over by the newly brought-over Annie Besant against the favored but snubbed William Q. Judge (co-founder of the Theosophical Society), accused of forging letters. The situation was a clear subversion of the Theosophical Society, “under deluding influences,” a letter warned to Mrs. Annie Besant (Part of the Last Letter to Annie Besant).

Annie Besant was allied with the Jewish Theosophists and Zionists, once stating as usually with her long-winded romanticist oration:

“Step forward, then brothers, and take your rightful place among the Nations. Israel has a future and a work to accomplish therein.” (see The Jewish Theosophist, 1927)

The Jewish Theosophist Magazine Issues, IAPSOP, 1926-1932.

While having nothing against a Jewish Theosophist at all, we must tell the truth. The Jewish Theosophists at the time, called the Association of Hebrew Theosophists, were perceived as a new Jewish sect of theosophists with headquarters at Adyar (India) in 1927 in a Jewish Telegraph.

The principles of the Jewish Theosophical group were:

1. To study Judaism in the light of Theosophy and Theosophy in the light of Judaism;
2. To spread Theosophical teachings among Jews and;
3. To undertake any other activity which could aid in the realization of the objects of the Association.

Great, perfectly fine, but in an address to the welcome of the Hebrew Theosophists, Besant speaks of the return of the “World-Teacher” (i.e., J. Krishnamurti). This is the basis of her advocacy — another new messianism.

“I am very glad to welcome the association; it would indeed be splendid if some of the nation which ignorantly rejected the World-Teacher when He came to them, using the body of a Jewish disciple as His vehicle, should welcome Him on His return two thousand years later. Who knows what Word He may have for the ancient people to whom He came on His previous visit, when He manifested Himself in Palestine? Will He lift them up again among the nations of the world? St. Paul looked forward to such a revival of his people. and likened it to “life from the dead.” (see Theosophists Create New Jewish Sect: May 3 Jewish Telegraphic Agency Mail Service.)

This isn’t Theosophy, and it is not in keeping with the relationship between Theosophy and Jewish mysticism and esoteric tradition. The failings of Annie Besant’s pro-Israel and Jewish nationalist advocacy are revealed to be built on her and Charles W. Leadbeater’s Christo-Theosophical messianic beliefs.

The Wikipedia page on Theosophy ignorantly describes a “Blavatskyan Theosophy.” It speaks of doctrinal debate and dispute between Theosophists, and labels those critics of later influences, as I am doing, as adherents of “Theosophical orthodoxy.”

Wiki article, Neo-Theosophy states:

“The term Neo-Theosophy is a term, originally derogatory, used by the followers of Blavatsky to denominate the system of Theosophical ideas expounded by Annie Besant and Charles Webster Leadbeater following the death of Madame Blavatsky in 1891. This material differed in major respects from Blavatsky’s original presentation, but it is accepted as genuinely Theosophical by many Theosophists around the world.”

Neo-Theosophy, or Pseudo-Theosophy is not used by mere followers of Blavatsky. She coined the term herself. We have to use it, because of the obvious differences, and since researchers take it upon themselves to view the literature as one long thread to understand Theosophy, they perpetuate ignorance about it. A blind enthusiast who eats all the literature without proper discrimination is a more suitable foot-soldier for a fundamentalist Bible cult, not a Theosophical Association.

Certain Theosophists have also attempted to justify their pro-Zionism and pro-Israeli sentiment by using the writings of Helena P. Blavatsky on Jewish tradition and philosophy. There is in Zionism a demarcating line. Zionism is the ethnic nationalist philosophy, but Jews who disagreed with Zionism divide orthodox Judaism from Zionist political ideology. When a student asks, “what does politics have to do with Theosophy, or these spiritual things!” they must be showed this history.

It is profane to perpetually read that nauseating millenarian habit in C.W. Leadbeater and Annie Besant’s writings, speaking of the coming of the “Lord”!

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For more information, see From Theosophical Society to Bizarre Quasi-Catholic Anti-Blavatsky Cult? and Annie Besant’s Life, and Influence in Theosophy.