Impact of Theosophical Society in Transfer of Eastern Teachings to The West

Abstract

Theosophical Society, is a modern esoteric and occultist movement, which was founded in 1875 in the United States. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, doctrinal leader of the Society is a mysterious character. For a while Blavatsky was one of the members of the spiritualism, then she abandoned the spiritualist thought and founded the Theosophical Society with presidency of her fellow H. S. Olcott. A few years the society continued to work in USA. Theosophical movement which tended towards to Western esoteric and occult tradition moved to India in 1879. From this date, Indian teachings has been dominant in the Theosophical literature. In this sense, the society showed a syncretic nature, literally. Society played an important role in transfering the concepts of Indian teachings and beliefs, especially reincarnation and karma to the Western world. Literature of the society was instrumental in many Westerners recognition of the Eastern teachings.  Theosophy lodges was almost the center of the Eastern teachings. Even Mahatma Gandhi expressed the impact of the Theosophical Society to his recognition of his own culture. Many people who tended to Indian beliefs familiarized Hinduism and Buddhism through the society. Despite receiving some criticisms, the translations of basic Indian texts which society made managed to directing the attention of many people to the Eastern teachings. Today, Society has special significance in Tibet's great importance in Western world as an exotic and mistyc land. Blavatsky's doubtful Tibet trip and the Tibetian mahatmas which were production of her myth maker mind was instrumental in Tibet's being as a mysterious center.  Society was also a pioneer in the publication and promotion of secret Tibetian texts in the West. In addition to this, the society has also received serious criticism that it has degenerated Indian teachings. This study aims to evaluate the role of the Theosophical Society in transfering Eastern teachings to the West.    

Keywords

• Theosophical Society,H. P. Blavatsky,Hinduism,Buddhism,Eastern teachings,Western world,Gandhi,Tibet

Doğu Öğretilerinin Batıya Aktarılmasında Teosofi Cemiyeti’nin Etkisi

Abstract

Teosofi Cemiyeti, 1875 yılında ABD’de kurulan bir modern ezoterik ve okültist harekettir. Cemiyetin doktrinel lideri gizemli bir kişilik olan Helena Petrovna Blavatsky’dir. Temelde Batı ezoterik ve okült geleneklerine yönelen Teosofi hareketi 1879 yılında Hindistan’a taşındı. Bu tarihten itibaren Teosofi literatürüne Hint öğretileri hâkim oldu. Bu anlamda cemiyet tam anlamıyla senkretik bir yapı sergiledi. Cemiyet reenkarnasyon ve karma başta olmak üzere Hint düşünce ve inanç dünyasının kavramlarını Batı’ya taşımada önemli rol oynadı. Ürettiği literatür birçok Batılının Doğu öğretilerini tanımasına vesile oldu. Mahatma Gandhi dahi öz kültürünü tanımada Teosofi Cemiyeti’nin etkisini ifade etmiştir. Bugün Batı dünyasında Tibet’in egzotik ve mistik bir merkez olarak tanınmasında ise cemiyetin özel bir yeri vardır. Tüm bunların yanında cemiyet Hint öğretilerini yozlaştırdığı hususunda ciddi eleştiriler de almıştır. Bu çalışma Teosofi Cemiyeti’nin Doğu öğretilerini Batı’ya taşımadaki rolünü değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. 

Keywords

• Teosofi Cemiyeti,H. P. Blavatsky,Hinduizm,Budizm,Doğu öğretileri,Batı dünyası,Gandhi,Tibet

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