Arthur Lillie: Difference between revisions

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'''Arthur Lillie''' (1831-?) was a soldier in the British Army in India. While there, he became a Buddhist. He wrote several books on religion but they were poorly received by scholars since were full of mistakes. His book ''Buddha and Early Buddhism'' (1881) attracted the attention of [[Spiritualism|Spiritualists]] because in it he stated: "the Buddhist belief is permeated by what I have described as a distinctive, a peculiar note of Modern Spiritualism—the presence and guardianship of departed spirits."
'''Arthur Lillie''' (1831-?) was a soldier in the British Army in India. While there, he became a Buddhist. He wrote several books on religion but they were poorly received by scholars since were full of mistakes. His book ''Buddha and Early Buddhism'' (1881) attracted the attention of [[Spiritualism|Spiritualists]] because in it he stated: "the Buddhist belief is permeated by what I have described as a distinctive, a peculiar note of Modern Spiritualism—the presence and guardianship of departed spirits."


[[Koot Hoomi|Master K.H.]] wrote about Lillie's "Buddha and Early Buddhism":
== Against Theosophy ==


<blockquote>With its host of fallacies, unwarranted assumptions and distortion of facts and even [[Sanskrit]] and [[Pali]] words, this snobbish volume had nevertheless the greatest success with [[Spiritualism|Spiritualists]] and even mystically inclined [[Christianity|Christians]]. I will have it slightly reviewed by [[T. Subba Row|Subba Row]] or [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|H.P.B.]] furnishing them with notes myself.<ref>Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., ''The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence'' No. 104 (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), ???.</ref></blockquote>
Early Theosophical leaders and [[chela]]s took exception of Mr. Lillie's claims in his books, more particularly in his ''Buddha and Early Buddhism''. For example, [[Koot Hoomi|Master K.H.]] wrote to [[Alfred Percy Sinnett|A. P. Sinnett]]:


[[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|Mme. Blavatsky]] did criticized this book in several publications, what made of Mr. Lillie an enemy of Theosophy.
<blockquote>Do not lose sight of Lillie's "Buddha and Early Buddhism" when you write [Esoteric Buddhism]. With its host of fallacies, unwarranted assumptions and distortion of facts and even [[Sanskrit]] and [[Pali]] words, this snobbish volume had nevertheless the greatest success with [[Spiritualism|Spiritualists]] and even mystically inclined [[Christianity|Christians]]. I will have it slightly reviewed by [[T. Subba Row|Subba Row]] or [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|H.P.B.]] furnishing them with notes myself.<ref>Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., ''The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence'' No. 104 (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), ???.</ref></blockquote>
 
[[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|Mme. Blavatsky]] criticized this book in several publications. The chela [[Dharani Dhar Kauthumi]] published a critical review entitled "Remarks and Thoughts on Buddha and Early Buddhism" in [[The Theosophist (periodical)|''The Theosophist'']] (February 1884, pp. 125-129). The article includes some editorial notes that may come from Master K.H. Mr. Sinnett also exposed some of Mr. Lillie's misunderstandings in his book [[Esoteric_Buddhism_(book)|''Esoteric Buddhism'']].
 
All this, in addition to his sympathy for [[Spiritualism]], made of Mr. Lillie an enemy of Theosophy. He wrote a pamphlet entitled ''Koot Hoomi Unveiled; or, Tibetan "Buddhists" versus the Buddhists of Tibet'' and the book ''Madame Blavatsky and Her "Theosophy"''.
 
In the August 3, 1883 issue of the Spiritualist journal [[Light (periodical)|''Light'']], Mme. Blavatsky refuted Lillie's letters to that journal, and to his pamphlet, ''Koot Hoomi Unveiled''. She clarified her knowledge of [[John King]].<ref>Mary K. Neff, ''The "Brothers" of Madame Blavatsky'' (Adyar, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1932), 86-87.</ref><ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. VI (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1989), 271.</ref>


==Online resources==
==Online resources==
===Articles===
===Articles===
*[http://www.katinkahesselink.net/blavatsky/articles/v3/y1882_002.htm# Esoteric Axioms and Spiritual Speculations] by H. P. Blavatsky
*[http://www.katinkahesselink.net/blavatsky/articles/v6/y1884_052.htm# Mr. Arthur Lillie] by H. P. Blavatsky
*[http://www.katinkahesselink.net/blavatsky/articles/v6/y1884_052.htm# Mr. Arthur Lillie] by H. P. Blavatsky
*[http://www.katinkahesselink.net/blavatsky/articles/v6/y1884_047.htm# Mr. A Lillie's delusions] by H. P. Blavatsky
*[http://www.katinkahesselink.net/blavatsky/articles/v6/y1884_047.htm# Mr. A Lillie's delusions] by H. P. Blavatsky
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== Additional resources ==
== Additional resources ==
*'''Remarks and Thoughts on Buddha and Early Buddhism''' by [[Dharani Dhar Kauthumi]], [[The Theosophist (periodical)|''The Theosophist'']] Vol. V, No. 5(53), February, 1884, pp. 125-129. It includes some editorial notes that may come from [[Koot Hoomi|Master K.H.]].
*'''Remarks and Thoughts on Buddha and Early Buddhism''' by [[Dharani Dhar Kauthumi]], [[The Theosophist (periodical)|''The Theosophist'']] Vol. V, No. 5(53), February, 1884, pp. 125-129. It includes some editorial notes that may come from [[Koot Hoomi|Master K.H.]].
*'''Koot Hoomi Unveiled; or, Tibetan "Buddhists" versus the Buddhists of Tibet'' by Arthur Lillie. London: The Psychological Press Association, 1884. 24 pp.
*'''Koot Hoomi Unveiled; or, Tibetan "Buddhists" versus the Buddhists of Tibet''' by Arthur Lillie. London: The Psychological Press Association, 1884. 24 pp.
*'''Observations on Mr. Lillie's "Koot Hoomi Unveiled"''' by the President of the London Lodge of the Theosophical Society, London, 1884.


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
<references/>
<references/>
[[Category:Writers|Lillie, Arthur]]
[[Category:Nationality English|Lillie, Arthur]]
[[Category:Buddhists|Lillie, Arthur]]
[[Category:Spiritualists|Lillie, Arthur]]
[[Category:Hermetic Society|Lillie, Arthur]]
[[Category:People|Lillie, Arthur]]

Latest revision as of 23:51, 17 August 2017

Arthur Lillie (1831-?) was a soldier in the British Army in India. While there, he became a Buddhist. He wrote several books on religion but they were poorly received by scholars since were full of mistakes. His book Buddha and Early Buddhism (1881) attracted the attention of Spiritualists because in it he stated: "the Buddhist belief is permeated by what I have described as a distinctive, a peculiar note of Modern Spiritualism—the presence and guardianship of departed spirits."

Against Theosophy

Early Theosophical leaders and chelas took exception of Mr. Lillie's claims in his books, more particularly in his Buddha and Early Buddhism. For example, Master K.H. wrote to A. P. Sinnett:

Do not lose sight of Lillie's "Buddha and Early Buddhism" when you write [Esoteric Buddhism]. With its host of fallacies, unwarranted assumptions and distortion of facts and even Sanskrit and Pali words, this snobbish volume had nevertheless the greatest success with Spiritualists and even mystically inclined Christians. I will have it slightly reviewed by Subba Row or H.P.B. furnishing them with notes myself.[1]

Mme. Blavatsky criticized this book in several publications. The chela Dharani Dhar Kauthumi published a critical review entitled "Remarks and Thoughts on Buddha and Early Buddhism" in The Theosophist (February 1884, pp. 125-129). The article includes some editorial notes that may come from Master K.H. Mr. Sinnett also exposed some of Mr. Lillie's misunderstandings in his book Esoteric Buddhism.

All this, in addition to his sympathy for Spiritualism, made of Mr. Lillie an enemy of Theosophy. He wrote a pamphlet entitled Koot Hoomi Unveiled; or, Tibetan "Buddhists" versus the Buddhists of Tibet and the book Madame Blavatsky and Her "Theosophy".

In the August 3, 1883 issue of the Spiritualist journal Light, Mme. Blavatsky refuted Lillie's letters to that journal, and to his pamphlet, Koot Hoomi Unveiled. She clarified her knowledge of John King.[2][3]

Online resources

Articles

Books

Additional resources

  • Remarks and Thoughts on Buddha and Early Buddhism by Dharani Dhar Kauthumi, The Theosophist Vol. V, No. 5(53), February, 1884, pp. 125-129. It includes some editorial notes that may come from Master K.H..
  • Koot Hoomi Unveiled; or, Tibetan "Buddhists" versus the Buddhists of Tibet by Arthur Lillie. London: The Psychological Press Association, 1884. 24 pp.
  • Observations on Mr. Lillie's "Koot Hoomi Unveiled" by the President of the London Lodge of the Theosophical Society, London, 1884.

Notes

  1. ↑ Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence No. 104 (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), ???.
  2. ↑ Mary K. Neff, The "Brothers" of Madame Blavatsky (Adyar, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1932), 86-87.
  3. ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings vol. VI (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1989), 271.
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