Gottfried de Purucker

UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Gottfried de Purucker

Gottfried de Purucker (1874-1942) was a longtime resident of theTheosophical Society based in Point Loma and was Leader of that organization from 1929 to1942. He was well known and admired in the broader Theosophical Movement for his erudition, his superior skills as writer and editor, and as a proponent of fraternization among all the various Theosophical societies.

Early life and education

Hobart Lorenz Gottfried de Purucker, widely known as ‘’’GdeP’’’, was born in Suffern, New York on January 15, 1874. His father, Gustav Edmund von Purucker, was a naturalized citizen of the United States born in Bavaria, and his mother, Julia P. Smyth, was born in Pennsylvania. The family moved to Grayson, Texas in the late 1870s. In 1880 there were four children: Dollie, 9 years, Hobart, 6 years, Lois, 4 years, and a 2-month-old baby Gustav, and the family was later described as being seven in number. "In 1881-2, while the family was living in Texarkana, Texas, he [GdeP] came down with a severe case of typhoid fever, and his doctor actually declared him dead at one point. In 1888 the family settled in Switzerland, where he continued studying under his father and various tutors, as well as at such schools as the College de Geneve."

Dr. de Purucker said of his education,

I was destined for the church by my father, who was a clergyman of the Anglican communion, and pastor of the American church in Geneva. My father taught me Greek; he taught me Hebrew; he had teachers for me in other languages. Living in a French-speaking country, of course I spoke French; my mother being an American, of course I spoke English; my father being a German, of course I spoke German. I was also taught Italian and Spanish. I was likewise taught Anglo-Saxon. . . . When I was about fourteen years old, I remember translating, as a Christmas gift for my father, the entire Greek New Testament, and he said it was very well done. . . . When I was seventeen I translated from the Hebrew the book of Genesis, as a birthday gift to my father.

In addition to his early proficiency in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, and Greek, Dr. de Purucker later became expert in Sanskrit.

Work in Point Loma

Office in Covina

Office in Covina

Move to Covina

During World War II, the United States military insisted on purchasing the Point Loma property to supplement its other important San Diego bases. In 1942, Dr. de Purucker and his associates made a difficult decision to move headquarters to Covina, California. The university and publishing house remained in operation, but the Lomaland School ceased to exist.

On September 27, 1942, shortly after supervising the relocation to Covina, GdeP died.

de Purucker and the Mahatmas

"Point Loma Theosophists connected his intellectural depth with his supernatural identity. They believed that a Master joined his personality with de Purucker's , just as a Master evidently guided Judge's mind and body. De Purucker claimed that this relationship began during a near-death experience when he was seven or eight years old. He believed that his own psychic powers were extraordinary, and that he communicated with the Master on important matters related to the Point Loma community."

Personal accounts of GdeP

The Bishop of Los Angeles, Francis Eric Bloy, wrote:

I heard him lecture on many occasions. As a student of comparative religions myself, I was always impressed by his erudition and the simplicity of his presentation. In the Question and Answer periods which followed many of his lectures, he was always patient and understanding and never patronizing. He was a wise and gentle teacher. I have often thought that the Tibetan doctrine of tulku might well apply to him. He was a man of great conviction, courage and hope.

Writings

• Fundamentals of the Esoteric Philosophy. A series of lectures given in the Aryan Temple, as a simplified introduction to The Secret Doctrine.
• The Dialogues Of G De Purucker' Lectures on Theosophical teachings presented to young adults in the Katherine Tingey Memorial Group at Point Loma.
• The Story Of Jesus [n|1938]
• The Masters And The Path Of Occultism [n|?]
• Wind Of The Spirit [n|?]
• Occult Glossary [n|?]
• Encyclopedic Theosophical Glossary (ed) [n|?]
• Golden Precepts Of Esotericism [n|?]
• Man In Evolution[n|?]
• The Esoteric Tradition [n|?]
• Fountain-Source Of Occultism [n|?]
• The Path Of Compassion [n|?]
• The Four Sacred Seasons [n|?]
• Studies In Occult Philosophy [n|?]
• Questions We All Ask [n|?]
• Messages To Conventions [n|?]
• Word Wisdom In Esoteric Tradition [n|?]

Other resources

• Belderis, Jim. "Technical Theosophy - As Taught by GdeP." Sunrise 49.4 (April-May, 2000), 116.
• Dougherty, Sarah Belle. "Gottfried de Purucker: A Biographical Sketch." Sunrise 49.4 (April-May, 2000), 99.
• Stokes, H. N. "My Personal Impressions of G de Purucker." Sunrise 49.4 (April-May, 2000), 145.
• Van Mater, Ingrid. "GdeP as I Remember Him." Sunrise 49.4 (April-May, 2000), 159.