Order of the Star in the East

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The Order of the Star in the East (OSE) was an organization established by the leadership of the Theosophical Society at Adyar, India, from 1911 to 1927. Its mission was to prepare the world for the coming of the "World Teacher" or Maitreya (see Jiddu Krishnamurti). The precursor of the OSE was the Order of the Rising Sun (1910-1911) and the successor was the Order of the Star (1927-29). The disbanding of the Order in 1929 led to a crisis in the Theosophical Society.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Prehistory

Helena Blavatsky wrote in the Key to Theosophy about the future of the Theosophical Society:

Not only so, but besides a large and accessible literature ready to men's hands, the next impulse will find a numerous and united body of people ready to welcome the new torch-bearer of Truth. He will find the minds of men prepared for his message, a language ready for him in which to clothe the new truths he brings, an organization awaiting his arrival, which will remove the merely mechanical, material obstacles and difficulties from his path. Think how much one, to whom such an opportunity is given, could accomplish. Measure it by comparison with what the Theosophical Society actually has achieved in the last fourteen years, without any of these advantages and surrounded by hosts of hindrances which would not hamper the new leader. [1]

Based on these words, many theosophists anticipated the advent of Maitreya. [2][3][4][5]

Blavatsky had also founded, and led, the so-called Esoteric Section of the Society, whose main purpose was to inform and prepare select members of the Society about the coming World Teacher.

In May 1909, one of the members of the Esoteric Section instructed on the "World Teacher", the high-ranking Theosophist and occultist Charles Leadbeater, encountered 14 year old Jiddu Krishnamurti on the private beach attached to the headquarters of the Theosophical Society at Adyar. Believing him to be a suitable candidate as the person who would serve as a "vehicle" for the new "World Teacher", he took Krishnamurti under his, and the Society's, wing. In March 1910 Krishnamurti was adopted by Leadbeater and Annie Besant, then President of the Society.[6] [2] [7] [3] [8]

[edit] Order of the Rising Sun

During a lecture on December 31, 1909 at Chennai, Annie Besant said for the first time that a great teacher and leader has arrived. In 1910 the Order of the Rising Sun was founded by prominent theosophist George Arundale, though the official founding date was in January 1911.[6] [9] [3] [4] [8]

[edit] Order of the Star in the East

In April 1911, Besant founded the Order of the Star in the East, which replaced the Order of the Rising Sun. "Mrs Besant and Leadbetter were made Protectors of the new Order of which Krishna was the Head, Arundale Private Secretary to the Head, and Wodehouse Organizing Secretary."[10]

In 1913, some members of the OSE had to leave the Central Hindu College (CHC) in Varanasi, because the activities of the Order were deemed as unacademical.[9] [11]

The goal of the Order was to remove the mechanical, material obstacles and difficulties from the path of the World Teacher. Most of the members were Theosophists. [3] [4]

The six principles of the Order were:

  • 1. We believe that a great Teacher will soon appear in the world, and we wish so to live now that we may be worthy to know Him when He comes.
  • 2. We shall try, therefore, to keep Him in our minds always, and to do in His name, and therefore to the best of our ability, all the work which comes to us in our daily occupations.
  • 3. As far as our ordinary duties allow, we shall endeavour to devote a portion of our time each day to some definite work which may help to prepare for His coming.
  • 4. We shall seek to make Devotion , Steadfastness and Gentleness prominent characteristics of our daily life.
  • 5. We shall try to begin and end each day with a short period devoted to the asking of His blessing upon all that we try to do for Him and in His name.
  • 6. We regard it as our special duty to try to recognise and reverence greatness in whomsoever shown, and to strive to co-operate, as far as we can, with those whom we feel to be spiritually our superiors.

[12] [13] [14]

During the existence of the OSE, Krishnamurti held many discourses and lectures, and had a large following among theosophists. [6] [2] [7] [3] [4]

[edit] Order of the Star

In June 1927 the name of the order was changed to the Order of the Star. Krishnamurti's emphasis, in his public talks and private discussions had changed, and he talked less about Maitreya. [6] [3]

On August 3rd, 1929, he disbanded the Order in Ommen in front of 3000 people, including Annie Besant. The Order had about 60000 members at the time. In his speech dissolving the organization, Krishnamurti said:

I maintain that Truth is a pathless land, and you cannot approach it by any path whatsoever, by any religion, by any sect. That is my point of view, and I adhere to that absolutely and unconditionally. Truth, being limitless, unconditioned, unapproachable by any path whatsoever, cannot be organized; nor should any organization be formed to lead or to coerce people along any particular path. [15]

Shortly afterwards, he also left the Theosophical Society, and began to give back the estates, houses and funds to the people who gifted them to the Order.[6] [2] [7] [3]

[edit] Consequences

In 1920 the Theosophical Society had 36000 or more members, and in 1928 about 45000 members. Many people who became a member of the OSE also became members of the Theosophical Society.[6]

When Krishnamurti disbanded the Order in 1929, many people left the Theosophical Society. [16] [6] [4]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ H.P. Blavatsky. The Key to Theosophy
  2. ^ a b c d Jiddu Krishnamurti - eine Reise ohne jeden Pfad: [1]
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Krishnamurti - Biography:
  4. ^ a b c d e Krishnamurti and the World Teacher Project: [2]
  5. ^ The Future of the Theosophical Society: [3]
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Falsche Christuserscheinungen im 20. Jahrhundert: http://www.lohengrin-verlag.de/Artikel/eswerdenvielekommen.htm
  7. ^ a b c Jiddu Krishnamurti resources on the Web: http://www.robotwisdom.com/jorn/krishnamurti.html
  8. ^ a b Rudolf Steiner - Wegen naar Christus: http://www.christofoor.nl/srsv/v512wege.pdf
  9. ^ a b The Central Hindu College and Mrs. Besant: http://www.parascience.org/hinducol.htm
  10. ^ Krishamurti:The Years of Awakening, by Mary Lutyens. Discus Books reprint (1983) ISBN 0380007347
  11. ^ George S. Arundale: http://www.theosophicalsociety.gr/presidentsgallery/arundale.htm
  12. ^ Horst E. Miers: Lexikon des Geheimwissens. Goldmann, München 1986, ISBN 3-442-11708-9
  13. ^ The Order of the Star in the East: http://www.katinkahesselink.net/his/stareas1.html
  14. ^ The Christian Party: http://christianparty.net/wm/wm0019b.html
  15. ^ http://www.katinkahesselink.net/kr/star.htm
  16. ^ Adelaide Gardner: Einführung in die Theosophie. Adyar-Verlag, Graz 1952.

[edit] Further reading

  • Mary Lutyens, Krishnamurti: The Years of Awakening, London: John Murray, 1975, Shambhala reprint edition 1997: ISBN 1-57062-288-4 (covers 1895 to 1935)

[edit] External links

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