Albert Einstein

[Under construction]

The Secret Doctrine

Pedro Oliveira said that there was no copy of it at the Adyar Archives

PREFACE: p.ii “A niece of Einstein reported that a copy of "The Secret Doctrine" was always on his desk.” [footnote 11: “Iverson Harris, The Journal of San Diego History, San Diego (California) Historical Society, Summer 1974. 16. In checking this information it was learned that a niece of Einstein’s, in India during the 1960s, paid a special visit to the headquarters of the Theosophical Society at Adyar. She explained that she knew nothing of theosophy or the society, but had to see the place because her uncle always had a copy of Madame Blavatsky’s Secret Doctrine on his desk. The individual to whom the niece spoke was Eunice Layton, a world-traveled theosophical lecturer who happened to be at the reception desk when she arrived. While in Ojai, California, in January 1982, Sylvia Cranston met Mrs. Eunice Layton, who confirmed the story.”]

PART 7 CHAPTER: SCIENCE AND THE SECRET DOCTRINE p.434 “As indicated in the preface to the present work, a number of scientists have been interested in "The Secret Doctrine." According to his niece, Einstein always had a copy of it on his desk. Details as to her testimony are given in the Preface endnote 11. [See also Joy Mills comment, "Secret Doctrine Centenary: Report of Proceedings," Pasadena, California, The Theosophical Society, 1988, 70.] Evidence is also provided concerning the two persons who could have interested Einstein in the volumes. [footnote 22: (names number of scientists who may have talked to Einstein about "The Secret Doctrine" but nothing about Einstein’s use of it.) "The Secret Doctrine" contains many teachings that were denied by the science of HPB’s day but were subsequently proved true, and it is entirely possible that it contains hints of other truths that have yet to be accepted.... (gives statements of scientists that agree with HPB)

“HPB - The Extraordinary Life and Influence of Helena Blavatsky, Founder of the Modern Theosophical Movement”, by Sylvia Cranston, a Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam Book, published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, 1994, 648 pp.. See preface, p. XX; pp. 434-435; and note 22 to Part 7 of the book, at pp. 605-606.

However, A. Einstein had no nieces or nephews..

Einstein's secretary, Helen Dukas inherited his possessions:

On April 13,1928, Helen Dukas starts working as Einstein's secretary. She is not well educated, but gets the job through family connections. In 1933, she emigrates to the U.S. with the Einsteins. Some people, including Hans Albert, suspect she is Einstein's lover. His will makes her a trustee of the estate. He also bequeaths his personal effects to Helen, along with more money than he leaves to any blood relatives. She spends the rest of her life fiercely guarding his privacy and reputation.

A possible specific influence of Theosophy on modern physics has been reported from a 1935 conversation with Albert Einstein, in which the Father of Relativity is said to have remarked of H. P. Blavatsky’s Secret Doctrine

((This follows the information about Prof. Rothman, Brown's friend who got the invitation to visit Einstein, their reception at 112 Mercer in Princeton by Mr and Mrs Einstein))

Just then Prof. Einstein came downstairs with Howard from his study room. He asked for a sandwich and a cold drink.

“Would you like to see my study, young man?” said the professor to me. “Come up for a moment and witness the utter confusion of my work-place.”

I went upstairs to his study, and it was as I expected. He had two large book shelves with books that reached from the floor to the ceiling; besides books on his desk, plus magazines, papers, an assortment of well-smoked pipes, letters, note-books and, to my utter astonishment, a copy of Mme. Blavatsky’s, “The Secret Doctrine,” which sat at the far corner of the large desk.

“What is this book doing here!?” I asked, unable to control myself.

Why, don’t you know?: he replied, “this is the Bible of the Theosophists. Like every religion, they have their Bible. One is struck by its total dissimilarity with the Old or New Testaments. It’s a very strange books, and I’ve even told prof. Heinsenberg, my fellow physicist, to get a copy and keep it on his desk. I urged him to dip into it when he’s handicapped by some problem. the strangeness of this book may relax or possibly inspire him. It is like a box of mixed goodies and vague but solemn mysteries. For instance, i cannot believe that the individual survives the death of his body, as she avers, although feeble sold harbor such thoughts through fear or ridiculous egotism.”

“But,” I feebly interjected, “the personal ego which is part of the physical body does not survive after death - what Blavatsky speaks of is the inner core; the soul, if you will, the higher self, the divinity within him - that is what survives and continues to evolve through future incarnations.

Einstein smiled and gave an uncertain shake of his head, as to say, “Perhaps, perhaps. Like T.H. Huxley,” he said, “I’m aware that great though science was, it can never touch even with the tip of its finder tat dream with which our little life is rounded - and if that dream includes thoughts of re-incarnation or immortality, I find it hard to believe.” He continued with the following observations: “Mme. Blavatsky is a bit wild and somewhat irrational and speaks as if she were the Oracle of Delphi. But I will admit that I find some interesting observations in her book which was published, as you know, back in 1888, at a time when physics and science were in their swaddling clothes. For instance, here is something she said which intrigues me, and I’m astonished how much in keeping it is with modern Physics.” He turned to a page with a paper slip in it. “I quote from ‘The Secret Doctrine’ --- ‘This is to show how absurd are the simultaneous admissions of the non-divisibility and elasticity of the atom. The atom is elastic - ergo, the atom is divisible and must consist of particles or sub-atoms. And these sub-atoms? They are neither non-elastic and, in such case, they represent no dynamic importance, or they are elastic, and in that case, they too are subject to divisibility - and thus ad infinitum. But infinite divisibility of atoms resolves matter into simple centers of force, i.e., precludes the possibility of conceiving matter as an objective substance.’

“There are many other significant statements of hers which I find interesting, but for which I have no time to discuss now,” he concluded.

However, correspondence carried out by Joe Fulton with the Einstein Archives were not supportive of this theory.

"From: Barbara Wolff Sent: Sunday, September 12, 2010 5:37 AM To: 'Joe Fulton' Subject: RE: Einstein's Copy of the Secret Doctrine

Thank you – you were right, with one more click – and not by enlarging the small picture – the text became legible. Here is my comment:

While I cannot exclude that Brown and/or Rothman once visited Einstein (although Howard Rothman does not appear among Einstein’s correspondents and those mentioned in letters, and therefore Einstein’s alleged invitation for a two-day visit sounds dubious in the first place), the description Brown delivers is quite suspicious.

Suspicious is the tone/style and the talkativeness both of Elsa as well as of AE. But for sure, that’s just an impression. Suspicious are some statements: “He doesn’t walk much” is completely wrong as Einstein liked and used to walk. “He loves to receive letters from anyone” contradicts AE’s complaints about the incoming mail. Suspicious is, too, the remark about recommending THE BOOK to Heisenberg – AE’s relationship with Heisenberg was a rather distant one and mentioning Heisenberg of all colleagues in 1935 does not make much sense. But all these impressions are just impressions.

Here are facts: The visit cannot have taken place before the end of October 1935 or even later when the move to the Mercer Street house was done. At that time, however, Elsa fell ill. It is out of question that she received the two visitors the way Brown describes it in the following months.

But the ultimate evidence of the fictional character of Brown’s article are these two details : As long as Elsa was alive no white dog Chico was part of the Einstein family. And : the letter in which AE comforts a student from Washington DC “Don’t worry about your difficulties…” was written in 1943.

In order to persuade me you’ll have to show me at least one single page of Blavatsky’s book with Einstein’s notes.

Best,

Barbara Wolff"