Theosophical Society
신지학회
The organisation of the Theosophy movement, founded in New York in 1875 by Helena Blavatsky, Henry Steel Olcott and others. Presenting itself as a synthesis of science, religion and philosophy, it drew on Neoplatonism and occultism and on the Indian doctrines of reincarnation and karma. It moved to India around 1880, and the Adyar branch associated with Annie Besant is today its most widespread successor.
In depth
The Theosophical Society was formed in New York on 17 November 1875 by Blavatsky, Olcott, William Quan Judge and 16 others, describing itself as “an unsectarian body of seekers after Truth”. Its initial object was the “study and elucidation of Occultism, the Cabala etc.”, and Olcott was president until his death in 1907. After a few years Blavatsky and Olcott moved to India and set up the international headquarters at Adyar in Madras, adding the study of Eastern religions to the Society’s aims.
The first of the three objects incorporated in 1905 was to form a nucleus of the universal brotherhood of humanity without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or colour. After Blavatsky’s death rivalry among the founders split the Society into the India-based Theosophical Society Adyar (Olcott–Besant) and the California-based Theosophical Society Pasadena (Judge). Annie Besant, who met Blavatsky in 1890, turned from secularism and socialism to become a leading lecturer on Theosophy, and her work in India led her into the Indian home-rule movement.