Douglas Keene – USA
The year 2026 marks the centenary year of the Theosophical Society in America located in Wheaton, IL. The cornerstone was laid on August 29th, 1926 during 40th Annual Convention. Dr. Annie Besant was in attendance (described at the time as the Grand Old Lady of India) as well as Jiddu Krishnamurti. There was a curious road accident, later described by Dr. Besant as follows:
Krishnaji was present, and was to have taken part, but we were run into by a car driven recklessly down a side-street which struck our door full; our car was a large and heavy one, and only the door was cracked ; but it gave us a bad jar, and he was shaken, in addition to his head coming violently into contact with mine, with a head-ache as the result. (1)
Approximately 3000 people attended the ceremony on the grounds of the site of the new location, arriving by trains and buses from Chicago and beyond. There was a Co-Masonic procession, and certain documents were placed in a copper box and then in the cornerstone. The American President of the Society was Mr. L. W. Rogers at the time, for whom the building was later named. Many blessings were given over the cornerstone for the future of the building and the Society.
The American Theosophical Society (as it was then known) was looking to make a move from its headquarters in the city of Chicago to a more spacious environment. They solicited offers from towns, mayors, and business groups. The Society was searching for a location that had reasonable access by train and had a calm and inspiring beauty. The board chose a location near Wheaton, Illinois (only annexed in the 1960’s). The original land purchase was 10 acres, out in the country, but over the decades the Chicago suburbs grew up around it. The property, through donations, grew to 42 acres. The first trees were planted in 1925 (Silver Linden) and today there are more than 1,000, comprising over 100 species. The Rogers building is an approximately 40,000 square-foot, three-story structure designed by architect Irving Kane Pond, which contains over 330 windows, auditorium, dining hall, offices and residential space.
Krishnamurti garnered a good deal of attention from the American press (especially females). Question: K was asked: What, then, did he think of American jazz and other American amusements?
His answer was:
Well, I am indifferent. They don’t seem important to me. They seem to distract people from things that count. The question is ‘what is happiness?’ It is not in material things. It is a condition of the spirit. I seek happiness. But if people can find happiness in jazz -well, that is another thing. Time will improve them. America has achieved material greatness. The greatness of the spirit is to come. Neither should be neglected. (2)
It appears that Krishnamurti was alluding to a difference between momentary happiness (such as enjoying jazz or other sensory phenomenon) and the other deeper happiness, sometimes described as bliss or joy (Ananda in Sanskrit). It refers to a deeper sense of supreme happiness and comes from an inner stillness, the union with the divine. This blissful state is durable once that connection has been achieved, for it depends only on our inner source of unity and supreme peace. Once established, it often can be entered at will with the sublime understanding of our deeper nature. Happiness from circumstances (Preya in Sanskrit) depends more on external sources and is not long-lasting, as every situation will change, and even if it should not, we become satisfied, bored or even surfeited. The most enjoyable experiences can lose their potency over time. This is not true with ananda, as it will grow and strengthen.
The US national headquarters remains a sacred home to many for pursuing open-minded inquiry, the unity of all life, and spiritual self-transformation. I hope you can visit.
1 "On the Watch-Tower," The Theosophist, 48-3 (December 1926), 251-253.
2 Ibid.
Learn much more about the OLCOTT CAMPUS, click on the image below to open this booklet in PDF
Please note that Theosophhy Forward published this special edition in 2012, so in a way it is somewhat outdated. However, it contaIns a load of historical information, making it worthwhile to go over it again. Happy reading!
Thanks to ANTON ROZMAN.
