Who is Annie Besant, teacher, lecturer, secularist and theosophist...
Ranked #972 in Religion, #60,668 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 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
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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Annie Besant joined the Theosophical Society after reading and reviewing 'The Secret Doctrine'. She became Blavatsky's student and later Jiddu Krishnamurti's teacher. Eventually, after the death of Henry Steel Olcott, she even became its president.-
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William Quan Judge is a well respected early theosophical author who, unlike others, did not make a name for himself outside the movement. He worked himself up from poverty to become a lawyer, in his 'outside' life. Inside the TS he was the young par...
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Jiddu Krishnamurti, world teacher
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Mme Blavatsky : Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
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Geoffrey Hodson books on clairvoyance
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Geoffrey Hodson (12 March 1886 in Lincolnshire, England - 23 January 1983 in Auckland, New Zealand) was a occultist, Theosophist, mystic, philosopher and esotericist, and a leading light for over 70 years in the Theosophical Society. He was educated...
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Theosophy Books - theosophical inspiration
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Links to book reviews of theosophical books and a selection of the most famous and inspirational books in the theosophical movement. Books by Annie Besant, W.Q. Judge, C.W. Leadbeater, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Rudolf Steiner, H.P. Blavatsky and more.
What do you think about this lady?
Share your stories, sightings, thoughts, rants, raves...
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Reply
- daria369 daria369 Jul 15, 2009 @ 6:50 am
- Love the black and white images of her, she seems like she knew where she was going...
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Reply
- PaperClipGirl PaperClipGirl Jun 8, 2009 @ 9:14 pm
- 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.
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- JenOfChicago JenOfChicago May 12, 2009 @ 11:49 am
- Interesting, I was not familiar with her before reading this lens!
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Reply
- monarch13 monarch13 May 12, 2009 @ 3:03 am
- What a wonderful introduction to a fascinating woman! Rolled to "Wise Women of the World".
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- jaye3000 jaye3000 May 11, 2009 @ 4:05 pm
- Very nice lens, never heard of her before, but she seems like she had a handle on it. 5 stars :)
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