While Hitler used mysticism to persecute Jews and to further his terrible deeds towards humanity, founders of the Theosophical Society used the same to advance the feeling of brotherhood among people, said Justice V Ramasubramaniam. He was speaking at the 138th anniversary of the Foundation Day of the Theosophical Society on Sunday.
Ramasubramaniam pointed out that between 1850 and 1900, there was an increased interest in occultism and mysticism, and a decline in abstract spirituality. He described how Hitler had developed an interest in mysticism right from his teenage years. Hitler became a follower of the radical monk Dr Jorg Lanz Von Leibenfels and later went on to formulate his philosophy of racial superiority, which came to be symbolised by the Swasthika, explained Ramasubramaniam.
With use of anecdotes, the judge described how Hitler’s war tactics were influenced by black magic. The fact that Hitler used occult techniques was well known even to his counterparts in London, who were led by Churchill. A department was specially designed in England to predict these mysticism-influenced moves of Hitler, he said.
This was the time when a number of events were taking place, that would later determine the course of history in the 20th and the 21s t centuries. With the industrial revolution, material pursuits began overtaking the spiritual pursuits. It is at this time that many spiritual thinkers came into the fore, like Madam Blavasky, cofounder the Theosophical society, who used mysticism to explore the true nature of universe and create a better world. This took her further deep into the subject of theosophy.
Ramasubramaniam also described how Henry Olcott, the other founder of the Theosophical Society, explored a way to create a better world by investigating corruption cases that was then rampant in the American Army.
Speaking about the contribution of Annie Besant in India’s history, the Justice spoke about the struggle she took up in various spheres — be it for the cause of journalism, contraception, adoption or for custody of children for females and for the freedom struggle.
