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[[File:Van der Leeuw brothers - Cees Koos Dick.jpg|right|320px|thumb|Van der Leeuw brothers - Cees, Koos (J.J.), Dick]]
Dr. '''Jacobus Johannes (J.J.) van der Leeuw''' was a Dutch Theosophist and writer.

== Life ==

J. J. van der Leeuw was born in Rotterdam, on August 26, 1893. His nickname was "Koos". He studied law, and later earned a doctorate (LL.D) at the University of Leiden in 1920. 

He died in Tanganyika on August 23, 1934 in a crash of the small airplane that he was piloting.

== Theosophical work ==

Koos served as head of the Theosophical Society in The Netherlands. A close friend of [[Jiddu Krishnamurti]], he and his brother "Cees" (Cornelis Hendrik) assisted with the [[Order of the Star]] camps at the Eerde estate in Ommen. Koos went to Sydney, Australia in 1924 for occult training with [[Charles Webster Leadbeater]], and there became a priest in the [[Liberal Catholic Church]]. In the 1930s, he lived in the United States of America, where he was a university lecturer and a field organizer for the New Education Fellowship. 

[[File:Leeuw - Fire of Creation.jpg|right|220px|thumb|''The Fire of Creation'', 2nd edition, 1927]]
== Interaction with Freud ==

During 1933, in Vienna, Dr. van der Leeuw was a regular visitor of Sigmund Freud, who regarded him as his student.<ref>Ariela Freedman, ''Death, Men, and Modernism'' (New York and London: Routledge, 2003), 106.</ref> He was looking to apply psychological principles to general education.<ref>Alice Gambrell, ''Women Intellectuals, Modernism, and Difference'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997), 164.</ref> Hilda Doolittle (H.D.), when learning about Dr. van der Leeuw's accidental death, told Freud:

<blockquote>I felt all the time that he was the person who would apply, carry on the torch--carry on your ideas, but not in a stereotyped way. I felt that you and your work and the future of your work were especially bequeathed to him. Oh, I know there is the great body of the Psycho-Analytical Association, research workers, doctors, trained analysts, and so on! But Dr. van der Leeuw was different. I know that you have felt this very deeply. I came back to Vienna to tell you how sorry I am.<ref>Hilda Doolittle, ''Tribute to Freud'' Volume 4 (New York: New Directions Publishing Corporation, 1984), 6.</ref></blockquote>

Freud regarded Dr. van der Leeuw as an "eminent scholar."<ref>Susan Standford Friedman (editor). ''Analyzing Freud: Letters of H.D., Bryher, and Their Circle'' (London: Paterson Marsh Agency, 2002), 400.</ref>

== Writings ==
Dr. van der Leeuw's best-known work is '''''The Conquest of Illusion''''', published in London. In announcing the book, publisher Alfred A. Knopf advertised:
<blockquote>
''The Conquest of Illusion'' is Dr. Van Der Leeuw's main work so far and embodies his philosophy. It is the book promised in the Foreword of ''The Fire of Creation'' under the title of ''The Rhythm of Life''. This title was changed later to ''The Conquest of Illusion'', under which title also Dr. Van Der Leeuw's lecture to the Ommen Camp, 1928, was given, and his lecture to the English Convention, which Dr. Besant, who presided, called "the clearest exposition of the nature of Reality she had ever heard".<ref>Alfred A. Knopf advertisement. ''The Theosophist'' 91 (March, 1928), unnumbered page following Supplement.</ref>
</blockquote>
=== Articles ===
The [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]] lists '''[https://theosophicalsociety.org.au/union_index/entries?q=van+der+leeuw&s=author 53 articles by or aboutvan der Leeuw]''' and '''[https://theosophicalsociety.org.au/union_index/entries?q=van+der+leeuw&s=title 23 articles about him]''', in 18 different publications. 

=== Books ===
His books were popular and were printed in many editions, and translated into several languages. Here are his titles in the order of publication:

* '''''Historical-Idealistic Politics'''''. 1920.
* '''''Practical Idealism and the P.I.A'''''. 1920.
* '''''To Serve Him When He Comes'''''. Adyar, Madras: Order of the Star in the East, 1921. Los Angeles: Budd-Lincoln Co., 1924. Other publishers and printings.
* '''''The Fire of Creation'''''. Adyar, Madras, Theosophical Pub. House, 1926. The [[Subba Row Medal]] was awarded in recognition of this work. 
* '''''Gods in Exile'''''. Chicago: Theosophical Press, 1926.
* '''''The Dramatic History of Christian Faith. From the Beginnings to the Death of St. Augustine'''''. Madras, India, Theosophical Pub. House, 1927.
* '''''The Conquest of Illusion'''''. London: Alfred A. Knopf, 1928. London: Allen & Unwin, 1928.
* '''''Revelation or Realization, the conflict in theosophy'''''. 1930. Lecture delivered to the London Federation of the Theosophical Society on June 15th, to the Dutch Convention on June 21st, and to the Geneva Congress of the European Federation on June 30th, 1930.
* '''''The Task of Education in a World Crisis'''''. London: New Education Fellowship, 1932.
* '''''Why a World police Force is Inevitable'''''. London: New Commonwealth, 1934. 26 pages. New Commonwealth pamphlets, Series B.
* '''''We Can Banish the War! A powerful stand surpassing the thought of war'''''. 1950. This was published posthumously. The co-author was Adriaan Viruly.

== Sound recordings ==

* '''''The Rhythm of Life'''''. Theosophical Society in America, 1916, 1990. Eternal Quest National Radio series. Talk based on the book ''The Fire of Creation''.

== Additional resources ==

* "Johannes Jacobus (J. J.) van der Leeuw" in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Jacobus_%28J._J.%29_van_der_Leeuw Wikipedia].
* [https://www.theosophy.world/encyclopedia/leeuw-johannes-jacobus-van-dert Leeuw, Johannes Jacobus Van Der] in Theosophy World.
* [http://kingsgarden.org/English/Organizations/lcc.gb/LCIS/Scriptures/Liberal/vdLeeuw/vdLeeuwBio.htm Kingsgarden website].
* [http://home.earthlink.net/~grharmon/conquest.htm Conquest of Illusion].
* [http://www.alpheus.org/html/source_materials/krishnamurti/leeuw.html Revelation or Realization: The Conflict in Theosophy].

== Notes ==
<references/>

[[Category:Writers|van der Leeuw, J. J.]]
[[Category:Lecturers|van der Leeuw, J. J.]]
[[Category:Educators|van der Leeuw, J. J.]]
[[Category:Liberal Catholic Church|van der Leeuw, J. J.]]
[[Category:TS Adyar|van der Leeuw, J. J.]]
[[Category:General Secretaries in TS Adyar|van de Leeuw, J. J.]]
[[Category:Nationality Dutch|van der Leeuw, J. J.]]
[[Category:People|van der Leeuw, J. J.]]