Albert Einstein
Einstein and The Secret Doctrine
Iverson Harris published an article in The Journal of San Diego History claiming that "A niece of Einstein reported that a copy of The Secret Doctrine was always on his desk".[1] In her book H.P.B. The Extraordinary Life and Influence of Helena Blavatsky, Sylvia Cranston wrote:
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.”[2]
An additional testimony supporting this theory comes from Leon Maurer, who claims that around the mid 1970s he was attending a lecture by a foreign visitor at the United Lodge of Theosophists in New York City where he met a group of women, one of which stated she was present when Einstein's niece arrived at Adyar.[3] However, this copy of The Secret Doctrine is not to be found neither in the Adyar Library nor in the Archives.[4] It is also unclear whether Albert Einstein had a niece. His sister Maria "Maja" Einstein had no children,[5] and the same seems to be the case with his first wife's siblings.[6] Some speculate that this "niece" could have been his secretary, Helen Dukas, who was one of the trustees of Einstein's state:
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.[7]
An independent account regarding the fact that A. Einstein possessed a volume of The Secret Doctrine was given by Jack Brown in his article “I Visit Professor Einstein”, published in Ojai Valley News, 28 Sept. 1983.[8] However, the veracity of the claims found in this publication have been challenged by Barbara Wolff, from the "Albert Einstein Archives" at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.[9]
Online resources
Articles
Notes
- ↑ Iverson Harris, The Journal of San Diego History, San Diego (California) Historical Society, Summer 1974. 16.
- ↑ HPB - The Extraordinary Life and Influence of Helena Blavatsky, Founder of the Modern Theosophical Movement Sylvia Cranston, a Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam Book, published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, 1994, p. 557-558.
- ↑ What everyone should know about Einstein and the Secret Doctrine at Theosophy.Net
- ↑ http://theosnet.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=3055387%3ABlogPost%3A29407&commentId=3055387%3AComment%3A29970
- ↑ Einstein's Family at Wikipedia
- ↑ Einstein's Family and Friends
- ↑ Einstein's Family and Firends
- ↑ http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/brown/jackbrownoneinstein.htm
- ↑ http://theosnet.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=3055387%3ABlogPost%3A29407&commentId=3055387%3AComment%3A30337