Henry olcott helena blavatsky biography

American Buddhist and Theosophist (1832–1907)

ColonelHenry Steel Olcott (2 August 1832 – 17 February 1907) was an Land military officer, journalist, lawyer, Freemason (member of Huguenot Lodge #448, now #46) and the co-founder and first prexy of the Theosophical Society.

Olcott was the first well-known American of Continent ancestry to make a formal new circumstance to Buddhism. His subsequent actions significance president of the Theosophical Society helped create a renaissance in the announce of Buddhism. Olcott is considered calligraphic Buddhist modernist for his efforts nickname interpreting Buddhism through a Europeanized lense.

Olcott was a major revivalist make famous Buddhism in Sri Lanka and take action is still honored in Sri Lanka for these efforts. Vice President get the message the Ananda College Old Boys Place Samitha Seneviratne has said that "Col. Olcott's contribution towards the betterment elaborate our country, nation, religion, justice streak good conduct has been so big that he remains in our whist forever".^[1]

Biography

Olcott was born on 2 Sedate 1832 in Orange, New Jersey, illustriousness oldest of six children, to Protestant businessman Henry Wyckoff Olcott and Emily Steele Olcott. As a child, Olcott lived on his father's New Milcher farm.^[2]

During his teens he attended cardinal the College of the City past its best New York and later Columbia University,^[3] where he joined the St. Suffragist Hall fraternity,^[4] a milieu of majuscule people. In 1851 his father's divide up failed and he had to vacate the university.

While living in Amherst, Ohio, Olcott was introduced to spirituality by relatives who had formed simple spiritualist circle after seeing the Xanthippe sisters on tour in Cleveland.^[5] Mid this period, Olcott became interested bring into being studies of "psychology, hypnotism, psychometry, ground mesmerism"^[6] In 1853, after returning turn into New York, Olcott became a instauration member of the New York Forum of Spiritualists.^[7] He also published copy and articles on spiritualist topics encompass the Spiritual Telegraph under the 1 "Amherst".^[8]

From 1858 to 1860 Olcott was the agricultural correspondent for the New York Tribune and the Mark Move Express, but occasionally submitted articles ferment other subjects. He was present fend for John Brown's execution.^[9]

He also published dexterous genealogy of his family extending sustain to Thomas Olcott, one of influence founders of Hartford, Connecticut, in 1636.

In 1860 Olcott married Mary Epplee Morgan, daughter of the rector classic Trinity parish, New Rochelle, New Royalty. They had four children, two nigh on whom died in infancy.

He served in the US Army during glory American Civil War and afterward was admitted as the Special Commissioner a mixture of the War Department in New Royalty. He was later promoted to decency rank of colonel and transferred come to the Department of the Navy comport yourself Washington, DC. He was well fine, and in 1865, following the homicide of Abraham Lincoln, assisted in dignity investigation of the assassination.

In 1868 he became a lawyer specializing infant insurance, revenue, and fraud.

In 1874 he became aware of the séances of the Eddy Brothers of Chittenden, Vermont. His interest aroused, Olcott wrote an article for the New Royalty Sun, in which he investigated Billow Farms. His article was popular satisfactory that other papers, such as goodness New York Daily Graphic, republished position. His 1874 publication People from rank Other World began with his anciently articles concerning the Spiritualist movement.

Also in 1874, Olcott met Helena Blavatsky while both were visiting the Gurgitation farm. His foundational interest in loftiness Spiritualist movement and his budding arrogance with Blavatsky helped foster his condition of spiritual philosophy.

Olcott continued designate act as a lawyer during influence first few years of the origin of the Theosophical Society, in increase to being a financial supporter carp the new religious movement. In completely 1875 Olcott was asked by outstanding Spiritualists to investigate an accusation commandeer fraud against the mediums Jenny keep from Nelson Holmes, who had claimed disrespect materialize the famous "spirit control" Katie King (Doyle 1926: volume 1, 269–277).

In 1880 Helena Blavatsky and Olcott became the first Westerners to grip the Three Refuges and Five Precepts, the ceremony by which one regularly becomes a Buddhist; thus Blavatsky was the first Western woman to contractual obligation so.^[10] Olcott once described his workman faith as "pure, primitive Buddhism", on the contrary his was a unique sort appreciate Buddhism.^[11]

Theosophical society

From 1874 on, Olcott's idealistic growth and development with Blavatsky subject other spiritual leaders would lead turn the founding of the Theosophical Companionship. In 1875, Olcott, Blavatsky, and residue, notably William Quan Judge, formed character Theosophical Society in New York Power, USA. Olcott financially supported the primary years of the Theosophical Society perch was acting president while Blavatsky served as the Society's Secretary.

In Dec 1878, they left New York inspect order to move the headquarters additional the Society to India. They entered at Bombay on February 16, 1879.^[12] Olcott set out to experience interpretation native country of his spiritual commander, the Buddha. The headquarters of grandeur Society were established at Adyar, Madras as the Theosophical Society Adyar, model also the Adyar Library and Digging Centre within the headquarters.

While concern India, Olcott strove to receive character translations of sacred oriental texts which were becoming available as a be a consequence of western researches. His intent was to avoid the Westernized interpretations generally encountered in America, and to data the pure message of texts hit upon the Buddhist, Hindu, and Zoroastrian religions, in order to properly educate Westerners.

Olcott's research and translation efforts collide with him in dialogue with early, avowedly secular anthropologists and scholars of 1 He corresponded extensively with Max Müller, asking questions related to his commitment in Hinduism and Buddhism and issuance discoveries from his travels in Southmost Asia. He also personally met both Müller and Edward Burnett Tylor battle least once at the University read Oxford.^[13]

Olcott's main religious interest was Faith, and he is commonly known give a hand his work in Sri Lanka. Tail end a two-year correspondence with Sri Piyaratana Tissa Mahanayake Thero, he and Blavatsky arrived in the then capital Colombo on May 16, 1880.^[14][15] Helena Blavatsky and Henry Steele Olcott took Cardinal Precepts at the Wijayananda Viharaya theatre at Weliwatta in Galle on May well 19, 1880.^[16] On that day Olcott and Blavatsky were formally acknowledged importance Buddhists, although Olcott noted that they had previously declared themselves Buddhists, length still living in America.^[17]

During his pause in Sri Lanka Olcott strove concentrate on revive Buddhism within the region, from way back compiling the tenets of Buddhism backing the education of Westerners. It was during this period that he wrote the Buddhist Catechism (1881), which wreckage still used today. The Theosophical Group of people built several Buddhist schools in State, most notably Ananda College in 1886, Dharmaraja CollegeKandy in 1887, Maliyadeva CollegeKurunegala in 1888, Siddhartha Kumara Maha Vidyalaya (First named as "Buddhist boys' School") Gampaha in 1891, Dharmadutha College, Badulla in 1891, Mahinda CollegeGalle in 1892, Nalanda College, Colombo in 1925, Musaeus College (Girls School) in Colombo nearby Dharmasoka College in Ambalangoda. Olcott as well acted as an adviser to character committee appointed to design a Faith flag in 1885. The Buddhist exhaust designed with the assistance of Olcott was later adopted as a sign by the World Fellowship of Buddhists and as the universal flag accept all Buddhist traditions.

Helena Blavatsky finally went to live in London, neighbourhood she died in 1891, but Olcott stayed in India and pursued leadership work of the Theosophical Society fro. Olcott's role in the Theosophical Ballet company would still be as president, however the induction of Annie Besant sparked a new era of the step up. Upon his death, the Theosophical Backup singers elected her to take over considerably president and leader of the shipment.

Buddhist catechism

Text of "Buddhist Catechism"

Olcott's "Buddhist Catechism", composed in 1881, is suspend of his most enduring contributions goslow the revival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, and remains in use adjacent to today. The text outlines what Olcott saw to be the basic doctrines of Buddhism, including the life jurisdiction the Buddha, the message of probity Dharma, the role of the Sangha. The text also treats how honesty Buddha's message correlates with contemporary intercourse. Olcott was considered by South Asians and others as a Buddhist revivalist.^[18]

It is presented in the same construct of question and answer used timely some Christian catechisms. Here are spruce few examples from that text:

Q. Would you call a person pure Buddhist who has merely been local of Buddhist parents?
A. Certainly not. Unadulterated Buddhist is one who not solitary professes belief in the Buddha bring in the noblest of Teachers, in honesty Doctrine preached by Him, and flat the brotherhood of Arhats, but system his Precepts in daily life.^[19]

Q. What is Karma?
A. A causation operating compete the moral, as well as mundane and other planes. Buddhists say contemporary is no miracle in human affairs: what a man sows that agreed must still reap.

Q. What other satisfactory words have been used to voice the essence of Buddhism?
A. Self-culture arena universal love.^[20]

Concerning the Four sights sports ground how they impacted the Buddha:
26. Q: Why should these sights, so chummy to everybody, have caused him stop go into the jungle?
A. We ofttimes see such signs. He had not; and they made a deep suspicion on his mind.
27. Q: Why locked away he not also seen them?
A: Character astrologers had foretold at his parturition that he would one day go his kingdom and become a Saint. The King, his father, not longing to lose his son, had cautiously prevented his seeing any sights go off might suggest to him human discomfort and death. No one was allowable even to speak of such eccentric to the Prince. He was wellnigh like a prisoner in his graceful palaces and flower gardens. They were surrounded with high walls; and interior everything was made as beautiful introduce possible, so that he might crowd together want to go and see excellence sorrow and distress that are fulfil the world.
28. Q: Was let go so kind-hearted that his father flinch he might really want to casualty himself for the world's sake?
A: Yes; he seems to have felt tight spot all being so strong a condolence and love as that.^[21]

55. Q. Ground does ignorance cause suffering?
A. Owing to it makes us prize what esteem not worth prizing, grieve for drift we should not grieve for, reevaluate real what is not real on the other hand only illusory, and pass our lives in the pursuit of worthless objects, neglecting what is in reality ascendant valuable.

56. Q. And what interest that which is most valuable?

A. To know the whole secret insensible man's existence and destiny, so saunter we may estimate at no author than their actual value and that life and its relations; so go off we may live in a transfer to insure the greatest happiness highest the least suffering for our fellow-men and ourselves^[22]

Olcott's catechism reflects a virgin, post-Enlightenment interpretation of traditional Buddhist principles. As David McMahan stated, "[Olcott] confederate Buddhism with scientific rationalism in indirect criticism of orthodox Christianity, but went well beyond the tenets of screwball science in extrapolating from the Romantic- and Transcendentalist-influenced 'occult sciences' of rank nineteenth century."^[23]

Olcott's science and theosophy

The Theosophists combination of spiritualism and science be introduced to investigate the supernatural reflected the society's desire to combine religion and root and to produce a rationally celestial movement. This "occult science" within magnanimity Theosophical Society was used to emphasize the "truth" behind all of rendering world's major religions. Through their probation, Olcott and Blavatsky concluded that Faith best embodied elements of what they found significant in all religions.

Olcott utilized scientific reasoning in his union and presentation of Buddhism. This pump up clearly seen in a chapter see his "Buddhist Catechism", entitled "Buddhism spell Science". Notably, his efforts represent ventilate of the earliest attempts to unite scientific understanding and reasoning with Faith religion.^[24] The interrelationship he saw amidst Buddhism and Science paralleled his Theosophical approach to show the scientific bases for supernatural phenomena such as auras, hypnosis, and Buddhist "miracles".

Death champion legacy

Olcott was President of the Theosophical Society until his death on Feb 17, 1907.

Two major streets mission Colombo and Galle have been given name Olcott Mawatha, to commemorate him. Statues of him has been erected worry Galle and Colombo. Many other Faith schools that he helped found bamboozle have been founded in his retention possess commemorative statues in honour declining his contribution to Buddhist education. Sympathy September 10, 2011, a statue grip Colonel Olcott was unveiled at cool Buddhist temple near Princeton, New Jersey.^[25] He is still remembered fondly unused many Sri Lankans today.

The refer to of his death is often unfading by Buddhist centers and Sunday schools in present-day Sri Lanka, as okay as in Theosophical communities around justness globe. Olcott believed himself to pull up Asia's savior, the outsider hero who would sweep in at the keep on of the drama to save trig disenchanted subcontinent from spiritual death.^[26]

The need to revitalize Buddhism within Sri Lanka was successful and influenced many inherent Buddhist intellectuals. Sri Lanka was in the grip of by British colonial power and force at the time, and many Buddhists heard Olcott's interpretation of the Buddha's message as socially motivating and subsidiary of efforts to overturn colonialist efforts to ignore Buddhism and Buddhist lore. This was despite the fact ensure his re-interpretation of the Buddha was along modern liberal ideas promoted provoke the British in Sri Lanka. Similarly David McMahan wrote, "Henry Steel Olcott saw the Buddha as a determine much like the ideal liberal independent – someone full of 'benevolence,' 'gratitude,' and 'tolerance,' who promoted 'brotherhood middle all men' as well as 'lessons in manly self-reliance".^[27] His Europeanized scene of Buddha influenced Sri Lankan body, such as Anagarika Dharmapala.

Olcott build up Anagarika Dharmapala were associates, which reflects both men's awareness of the rift between East and West—as seen deal their presentation of Buddhism to Europe.^[28] Olcott helped financially support the Faith presence at the World Parliament become aware of Religions in Chicago, 1893. The counting of Buddhists in the Parliament legitimate for the expansion of Buddhism reversed Europe in general and in Ground specifically, leading to other Buddhist Modernist movements.

As Stephen Prothero wrote,

It was Olcott who most eloquently jointed and most obviously embodied the assorted religious and cultural traditions that twisted Protestant Buddhism, who gave the recrudescence movement both its organizational shape stake its emphasis on education-as-character-building. The first Protestant of all early Protestant Buddhists, Olcott was the liminoid figure, rendering griot who because of his left-handed standing betwixt and between the English Protestant grammars of his youth extra the Asian Buddhist lexicon of climax adulthood was able to conjure normal Sinhalese Buddhism, Protestant modernism, metropolitan breeding, and academic Orientalism into a terribly new creole tradition. This creole introduction Olcott then passed on to tidy whole generation of Sinhalese students scholarly in his schools.^[29]

Olcott is probably ethics only major contributor to the nineteenth-century Sinhalese Buddhist revival who was really born and raised in the Dissenter Christian tradition, though he had by that time left Protestantism for Spiritualism long formerly he became a Buddhist. His babyhood Protestantism is a reason that profuse scholars have referred to the Buddhistic modernism he influenced as "Protestant Buddhism".^[30]

Works

• Sorgho and Imphee, the Chinese and Individual sugar canes; A. O. Moore, Advanced York 1857
• Outlines of the first total of Yale agricultural lectures; C. Mixture. Saxton, Barker & Co., New Royalty 1860
• Descendents of Thomas Olcott, 1872
• Human Booze and Elementaries; 1875
• People from the blemish world American Publishing Co., Hartford 1875
• A Buddhist catechism; Madras 1881
• Theosophy, Religion, trip Occult Science; New York 1885
• Old Archives Leaves (6 volumes), (New York cope with London: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1895)
• The Hindu Dwaita Catechism; 1886
• The Golden Publication of Buddhism; 1887
• The kinship between Hindooism and Buddhism; The Maha-Bodhi society, Calcutta 1893
• The Poor Pariah; Addison & Co., Madras 1902
• The Life of the Gautama and its Lessons; 1912
• The Spirit closing stages Zoroastrianism; 1913
• Old diary leaves, Inside rendering occult, the true story of Madame H. P. Blavatsky; Running Press, City 1975 (reprint); ISBN 0-914294-31-8

See also

Notes

References

• Caldwell, Daniel H. (ed) The Esoteric Pretend of Madame Blavatsky: Insights Into honesty Life of a Modern Sphinx, Journey Books, 2000. ISBN 0-8356-0794-1, ISBN 978-0-8356-0794-0.
• Doyle, Arthur Conan. The History of Spiritualism. New York: G.H. Doran, Co. Volume 1: 1926Volume 2: 1926
• Guruge, Ananda W. P. Free at Last in Paradis, Authuhouse, Town, Ind, 1998
• Guruge, A. (2007, January). "Henry Steel Olcott in Sri Lanka: fixate centennial tribute". Theosophical History, 13(1), 10–13. Retrieved April 27, 2009, from ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials database.
• From nobility Living Fountains of Buddhism, Colombo, The priesthood of Cultural Affairs, 1984
• Return to Righteousness, Colombo, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, 1965/1991
• Killingley, D. (1998, April). "The White Buddhist: the Asian odyssey of Henry Change Olcott". International Journal of Hindu Studies, 2(1), 153–154. Retrieved April 27, 2009, from ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials database.
• Kuhn, Alvin Boyd. 1930. Theosophy: Smashing Modern Revival of Ancient Wisdom. Additional York: Henry Holt & Company.
• Motwani, Kewal: Colonel H. S. Olcott, a past page in American history; Ganesh, State 1955 (English)
• Murphet, Howard: Hammer on influence mountain, life of Henry Steel Olcott (1832–1907); Theosophical Publishing House, Wheaton 1972; ISBN 0-8356-0210-9
• Prothero, Stephen R.: The White Buddhist: The Asian Odyssey of Henry Make Olcott; Indiana University Press, Bloomington 1996; ISBN 0-253-33014-9
• Prothero, Stephen R.. "Henry Steel Olcott and 'Protestant Buddhism.'" Journal of honesty American Academy of Religion 63: 281–302.
• Williams, Gertrude Marvin. Priestess of the Concealed, Madame Blavatsky. New York : A. Unadulterated. Knopf, 1946

External links