To
begin my short talk, I should like to quote a saying by John Milton, an English
poet who lived in the 17th century. He said: "To understand what is now,
we have to remember what is past". So here are some observations on the
history of the St. Michael's Foundation of the International Theosophical Centre
at Naarden.
Turning over the leaves of the visitors' book of St. Michael's House, I came
across the names of a number of prominent members who played an important role
in the history of the Theosophical Society, among them dr. Annie Besant, Wedgwood,
Leadbeater, George Arundale, Rukmini Devi Arundale, Jinarajadasa, Sri Ram, John
Coats, Geoffrey Hodson and many others. The names of His Holiness the Dalai
Lama and the Karmapa are also there. They have all contributed to what the Centre
is now, and made the Centre widely known throughout the TS.
At first St. Michael's House was called 'the Dunes', as it was built in 1912
on the dunes bordering the Zuyderzee (now referred to as IJsselmeer) - part
of the North Sea. There was at that time ebb and flow here, and the dunes protected
the land that lay behind them. In the thirties, the 'Big House' as it is now
called was given the name 'Vasanta House', being a mutation of the word 'Besant'.
The Vasanta Press at our International Headquarters in Adyar bears also this
name. The name St. Michael's House is of later date.
The entire estate was donated by Mrs. Mary van Eeghen-Boissevain for the work
of the Masters. In the Rules of the Centre is stated that the aims of the Centre
are "to promote universal brotherhood and peace, inspired by the highest
human values, to serve the world under the perspective of One Life in all living
beings". George Arundale was the first Head of the Centre. He had become
the international president of the TS when Annie Besant died in 1933 and his
wife Rukmini Devi took over and remained Head of this Centre until her death
in 1986. After an interim period, a direct link was made with the Theosophical
Society in Adyar under the international president, Mrs. Radha Burnier, who
became Honorary Chairman of the Council with the title of President of the International
Theosophical Centre.
More or less at the same time when this Centre came into being in 1925, the
Krotona Centre at Ojai in California and a little later Tekels Park in England
were founded - all dedicated to the ideals of Universal Brotherhood and to the
upliftment of humanity, "the great orphan", to quote the Master KH
in one of his letters. It goes without saying that our successive international
presidents visited the Centre many times during their presidencies, except during
the World War II. From 1940 until 1945, the Rules and Regulations of the Foundation
had been changed to safeguard the Centre from confiscation. Prof. Van der Stok,
a member of the Council, took the initiative to restore the Rules in their original
form immediately after the war was over. However, the name St. Michael's was
retained, as the Centre had been working under the auspices of the Liberal Catholic
Church during the war.
It had been decided that after the war especially the international contacts
of the Centre with the countries in Europe would be strengthened. In 1938 George
Arundale established the group of Link Officers. It's aim is summarized as follows:
"United in a common dedication, it seeks to become a true and dynamic Link
to the countries represented and to the world at large, radiating the living
powers of Unity and Peace, the main aim being the integration of Europe, and
through Europe the integration of the world". The Link Officers at the
Centre meet every month and representatives make contact by correspondence to
the 'Links' in countries all over the world where there are Sections of the
TS. The international aspect was increased also by making the Centre the 'home'
of the European Federation of the TS (EFTS).
Rukmini Devi Arundale was the Head of this Centre for 52 years, from 1934 until
1986. She and her husband George paid innumerable visits to the 'Huizen Centre'
as it was formerly called. He wrote the following lines above his signature
in 1937:
The spirit of youth is the spirit of becoming,
By giving, by sharing, by causing the One to appear
In power, and blessing, and comradeship
Among the many.
There are hundreds of similar short characterizations of the Centre in the Guest
Books especially in the last three decades by people from all parts of the world,
sometimes in their own (for the layman) illegible handwriting. Above all, the
signatures of the Dalai Lama and the Karmapa are fascinating to look at.
A centenary is a perfect occasion to look back for a moment. It is worth to
be conscious of all that has happened all over Europe since the year 1903, a
century with suffering from two world wars which did not leave the work of the
TS unaffected. Until now, there has always been enough enthusiasm; new workers
applied to replace the old stalwarts here at Naarden. There has always been
a perpetual come-and-go; the same applies to our International Headquarters
in Adyar.
But times have changed in many respects. For a long time, the activities of
this Centre were mainly directed towards the work of the TS and closely related
groups. Nowadays there is a wider scope of activities taking place, partly because
our buldings are rented out to other groups that work from a similar background
and are willing to accept the Rules we maintain at our Centre. We call our Centre
an ashram. Luckily there are enough spiritually orientated groups that accept
eagerly our Rules which include a vegetarian diet, no smoking and abstaining
from alcoholic drinks.
That the ITC is now called the 'home' of the EFTS was certainly not the case
during the first decades of its existence. It is at the moment one of the very
few theosophical centres in Europe, besides Krevilä in Finland and Tekels
Park in England.
A very important phase in the history of the Centre was the building of the
new guest house called "Crystal House" and "Crystal Hall",
the adjoining restaurant. These new premises are now regularly used for our
own activities as well as those by other groups that rent the buildings. All
this contributes to the income necessary for the upkeep and repairs. It is self-evident
that the supervision of these buildings demands much from the few permanent
residents who live at the Centre; therefore a campaign has been started to acquire
more volunteers to assist in this work. It is no exaggeration when I say that
there is a risk that people become overworked in their enthusiasm and devotion.
We must continually ask ourselves what the founders had in mind; such an investigation
has nothing whatsoever to do with nostalgia. It was HPB who already told us
that Theosophy had everything to do with common sense. This may perhaps seem
to the outsider a conflicting statement, but certainly not for serious students
of Theosophy. We should look beneath the surface, behind the outer phenomena
- and act accordingly. Theosophists are not dreamers in the usual significance
given to that word; they might be called idealists. Their ideals, however, are
not based on false and unrealistic concepts but on the highest aims, as taught
by the Ageless Wisdom we call Theo-Sophia. You might call these ideals dreams,
as they seem far away. This does not prevent us from cherishing them in our
hearts, and trying to put them into practice.
It has been said that every attempt will bear fruit, sooner or later. The Law
of Karma is at work at all levels, also at the personal level and on a small
scale. We can verify this for ourselves every day of our lives. We do not need
to go the other end of the world to experience this. It is everyday life that
matters! This is an encouraging idea: that every thought, every idea and every
deed has its effect, however small it may be - that no attempt is lost but must
make its imprint on the akashic records, and influence the course of our evolution.
If we realize this, we can only conclude that we all, each one of us, bear a
tremendous responsibility. "We are all responsible" is an occult axiom
with far-reaching consequences, because it means that anything we do affect
the situation, our circumstances and the well-being of all those around us.
Are we flexible enough and prepared to cooperate with our fellowmen, realizing
that all great projects can only be achieved by a united team of workers? How
much patience and preparation were needed before the building of the new Crystal
House and Crystal Hall here on the estate could be realized? A few lines of
the Master KH to Mr. Sinnett are as follows:
It was thy patience that in the waste
Attended still thy step, and saved MY friend
For better days.
What cannot patience do?
A great design is seldom snatched at once,
It is Patience heaves it on.
The Mahatmas said of themselves that They were well trained in patience; They
told Mr. Sinnett that a great man is he who is strongest in patience. As to
the future of this Centre: let us have patience, but work hard; let us be alert
and trust in the Great Law. Let us be humble, but at the same time courageous.
Referring to the mystery schools of Greece and Egypt of long ago, the Master
KH wrote to Mr. Sinnett: "My friend, in the Masonic Lodges of old times,
the neophyte was subjected to a series of frightful tests of his constancy,
courage and presence of mind."
So this is what we need and have to develop: Constancy, Courage and Presence
of Mind. Constancy, to continue our work for Theosophy, The Theosophical Society
and its Three Declared Objects. Courage to make decisions and follow new courses
if necessary, and conquer any danger on the Path steep and thorny. Presence
of Mind, meaning being alert and making use of all the possibilities life is
offering us, an attitude which was described by J. Krishnamurti as "awareness"
and "complete attention".
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