Very exoteric

This volume (about 600 pages) contains back issues of the magazine "Theosophical Path", published by the Universal Brotherhood and Theosophical Society in 1922. This U.S.-based religious group is otherwise mostly known as the Theosophical Society Pasadena, although it was actually based at Point Loma during this period. The society's leader was Katherine Tingley. I only skimmed this volume, but even that took me four days of truly Herculean labour. "Theosophical Path" clearly isn't my cup of tea (or vegetarian juice). Boring, long-winding, and obsessed with the utter splendidness of the Universal Brotherhood and its headquarters at Lomaland in California - such is "Theosophical Path".

A few things stand out. One is the strictly exoteric character of the magazine. Tingley's organization believed that only a small elite of "adepts" were ready to develop clairvoyance and other paranormal powers. Most people, including most Theosophists, still have a long way to walk before attaining this goal. A true Theosophist should diligently study the works of Madame Blavatsky. The ideas of spiritual evolution, karma, reincarnation and "the God within" should awaken the seeker to a new and higher morality. The next step is unselfish service in the interest of mankind. The Universal Brotherhood and Theosophical Society carried out philanthropic work in prisons and certain Third World nations. They also operated schools, known as Raja Yoga schools. Another important activity was the promotion of classical drama, music and art. Séances, parapsychology and yoga practices seem to have been strongly discouraged. This strikes me as a crucial difference between "Pasadena" and the other main branch of Theosophy, the Theosophical Society Adyar of Besant and Leadbeater. Most articles in "The Theosophical Path" are about basic concepts such as karma and reincarnation. There are also articles criticizing the materialist theory of evolution, and others dealing with the cyclical nature of history. Ancient Egypt and Greece are idealized, and depicted as societies with more equality, meritocracy and culture than the modern world. One searches in vain for what usually passes for "esotericism".

A large part of the Universal Brotherhood's activities were concentrated at Lomaland in Point Loma, where Tingley and her followers created something resembling a fantasy land, with buildings in Greek and Egyptian style, drama performances with actors in Classical Greek dress, pageants for peace with sweet little children dressed in white, and even Swedish folk dances (Tingley's organization had an active branch in Sweden). The whole thing gives a very strange and somewhat cultic impression. One issue contains several photos of Tingley's private residence! The personality cult of Tingley isn't as marked as in other publications of this group, however.

Another thing that stands out is that Tingley and her entourage actively cultivated contacts with establishment figures. Several members of Sweden's leading banking and industrialist family, the Wallenbergs, visited Point Loma. So did ex-presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. The Tingleyites had contacts with leading politicians in Cuba, a de facto U.S. protectorate during this period. Many Swedish members of the Brotherhood have aristocratic names, and one is the daughter of a Member of Parliament. The main contact of the Tingleyites in India was a British colonel. Tingley also dabbled in Czechoslovak politics, supporting the demands for independence of Czechs and Slovaks already before World War I, and entertaining the Czechoslovak Legions as they passed through California after their adventure in Russia.

In general, I get the distinct impression that "Pasadena" represented the right wing of Theosophy, while Adyar was the left wing. Annie Besant didn't hobnob with British colonels - as a leader of the Indian National Congress, she was more likely to be arrested by them!

I'm not sure how to rate this chloroform in print, but since I just lost four days of my life on nothing, I'm really tempted to give it one star...