Krishnamurti's Departure from the Theosophical Society: The Krotona Series, Volume 6, 1932-1940

by Joseph E. Ross

Joseph E. Ross resided at the Krotona Institute of Theosophy, Ojai, in 1971. A scholar on the history of the Krotona Institute, he is also the owner of the Ross Collection, a unique archive of rare documents, letters, and images pertaining to the early days of Theosophy and its leading figures of the time, Dr. Annie Besant, C.W. Leadbeater, C. Jinarajadasa, A.P. Warrington, and J. Krishnamurti. See www.krotonaarchives.com. From this archive, he has produced eight books. This, Volume VI, is the last in the Krotona Series. It is of particular interest to historians because it builds on Volume 5 and new archival documents to further reveal Theosophical conversations from the period when Krishnamurti broke away from the organization of The Theosophical Society, as Krishnamurti’s point of view becomes manifest in his “You, cannot give a poison from one side and the remedy from the other, that is to say give with one hand what I call Poison, organizations, discipleship, Masters; and with the other the remedy, the remedy against fear, against lack of understanding and intelligence.” ~*~ "Volume 6 is a shattering account of the activities of the early leaders of The Theosophical Society, including their attempts at coercing Theosophical members into agreement with their ideas on the Masters, extending even to forcing belief in a synthesis of nontraditional Christianity with Hindu Esotericism. Through their letters and conversations, up to and beyond the deaths of Dr. Besant, and C.W. Leadbeater, the reader learns also of Krishnamurti’s estrangement from and reconciliation with the T.S. Much of this information is not available anywhere else." - Robert Boyd, theosophical scholar

382 pages, Paperback

First published August 28, 2012

Reviews

[S Ravishankar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed look at the history of the period when Krishnamurti left the Theosophical society. I was struck by the parting of ways based on differing views and convictions; at the same time without apparent rancor or ill-will.