Who is Annie Besant, teacher, lecturer, secularist and theosophist...
Ranked #318 in Religion, #23,748 overall
The Many lives of Annie Besant Wood
[Many of the below were not true during her whole life - as they are obviously incompatible.]
She was a medicine student, when women weren't yet allowed into most colleges. Her degree was withheld from her on a technicality.
She was a Reformer and Secularist. Fighting in print and on the lecture platform for causes she believed in. In her English days: freedom of thought, women's rights, secularism, birth control, Fabian socialism and workers' rights.
She was a famous lecturer that drew breath bound crowds.
She was a socialist and even a marxist for a while.
She was a theosophist - losing her trust in atheism and regaining her interest in the religious and spiritual aspects of life. She wrote a lot of books, held hundreds of lectures and raised Jiddu Krishnamurti. more on Annie Besant as a theosophist
She was the second President of Theosophical Society.
She was a president of the Indian National Congress which fought to get independence for India.
Admired by Mahatma Gandhi - she felt his methods weren't peaceful enough. His peaceful methods were still too violent. Given the result - she may not have been all wrong. The bottom line: she fought for what she believed in.
Three of the reasons I love Annie Besant
Annie Besant admired
- She cared deeply about the needs of humanity
- She went into anything she believed in with hart and soul
- She knew how to be a leader of men, when few women got that chance
Service - a Annie Besant Quotes
From 'The Duties of the Theosophist', quoted in 'Daily Meditations on the Path and Its qualifications', p. 9
What are we here for, save to help each other, to love each other, to uplift each other?
From 'The Laws of the Higher Life', quoted in 'Daily Meditations on the Path and Its qualifications', p.10
Annie Besant Short Bio
Annie Wood Besant (; Clapham, London October 1 1847 - September 20 1933 in Adyar, India) was a prominent Theosophist, women's rights activist, writer and orator and supporter of Irish and Indian self rule.
Annie Besant before theosophy: socialist reformer and feminist
Control of the Tongue! - an Annie Besant quote
From 'The Masters and the Way to Them', quoted in 'Daily Meditations on the Path and Its qualifications', p.8
Books by Annie Besant
Thought-forms, by Annie Besant and C. W. Leadbeater
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Annie Besant: A Biography of Her Vision and Ideas
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The value of Devotion - an Annie Besant quote
From 'The Value of Devotion', quoted in 'Daily Meditations on the Path and Its qualifications', p.4
Victorian Besant
Besant finds theosophy
Men suffer from themselves... - an Annie Besant quote
From 'In the Outer Court', quoted in 'Daily Meditations on the Path and Its qualifications', p. 3
Annie Besant's Mantra
This mantra is used in the Theosophical Society Adyar all over the world
Oh hidden Life
Vibrant in every atom
Oh hidden Light
Shining in every creature
Oh Hidden Love
Embracing all in Oneness
May all who feel themselves
As one with Thee
Know they are therefore
One with Every Other
Oh Hidden Life by Annie Besant, the Theosophical Mantra
Besant and Jiddu Krishnamurti - the new world teacher
So, what do you think of Annie Besant?
More about Annie Besant
Annie Besant - the theosophist
Articles by and about Annie Besant - with links.1 point
Besant, Annie - more Besant links
on the ODP0 points
What is true Religion?
From 'The Place of Religion in National Life' (1918), found in 'Annie Besant on the Brotherhood of Religions'.
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What do you think about this lady?
Share your stories, sightings, thoughts, rants, raves...
PaperClipGirl wrote...
Thanks for this lens! I was introduced to Annie Besant recently and started to read her book "A Study in Karma" - very profound book. I am enjoying it so far.
Posted June 08, 2009
JenOfChicago wrote...
Interesting, I was not familiar with her before reading this lens!
Posted May 12, 2009
monarch13 wrote...
What a wonderful introduction to a fascinating woman! Rolled to "Wise Women of the World".
Posted May 12, 2009
jaye3000 wrote...
Very nice lens, never heard of her before, but she seems like she had a handle on it. 5 stars :)
Posted May 11, 2009
RinchenChodron wrote...
Another wonderful lens 5*s I love Annie Besant! You beat me to it writing this lens.
Posted May 11, 2009
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