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==Einstein and The Secret Doctrine==
==Einstein and The Secret Doctrine==


In the Summer of 1974 ''The Journal of San Diego History'' publishes an interview to [[Theosophist]] Iverson L. Harris, where he states that A. Einstein had a copy of ''The Secret Doctrine'' on his table all the time.<ref>[http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/74summer/lomalandinterview.htm# Reminiscences of Lomaland] edited by Dennis E. Berge, ''The Journal of San Diego History''</ref> In 1993 [[Anita Atkins|Sylvia Cranston]] wrote in her book ''H.P.B. The Extraordinary Life and Influence of Helena Blavatsky'' the following:
In the Summer of 1974 ''The Journal of San Diego History'' publishes an interview to [[Theosophist]] Iverson L. Harris, where he states that A. Einstein had a copy of [[The Secret Doctrine (book)|''The Secret Doctrine'']] on his table all the time.<ref>[http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/74summer/lomalandinterview.htm# Reminiscences of Lomaland] edited by Dennis E. Berge, ''The Journal of San Diego History''</ref> In 1993 [[Anita Atkins|Sylvia Cranston]] wrote in her book ''H.P.B. The Extraordinary Life and Influence of Helena Blavatsky'' the following:


<blockquote>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.”<ref>''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.</ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>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.”<ref>''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.</ref></blockquote>


Daniel Caldwell said he and his wife talked to Eunice Layton, who confirmed the story about a relative of Einstein having visited Adyar stating that the scientist had a volume of [[The Secret Doctrine (book)|''The Secret Doctrine'']], but Mrs. Layton never mentioned having seen the book.<ref>[http://theosnet.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=3055387%3ABlogPost%3A30653&commentId=3055387%3AComment%3A31021# Account by Daniel Caldwell</ref>
Leon Maurer states 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 them claimed she was present when Einstein's niece arrived at Adyar, adding that the latter had brought the copy of ''The secret Doctrine'' to donate it to "the library of the Lodge in Adyar". This woman said she actually opened the book, which "was heavily notated and underlined, and that the margins were covered with scribbles and other markings that none of them could make heads nor tails of".<ref>[http://theosnet.ning.com/profiles/blogs/what-everyone-should-know# What everyone should know about Einstein and the Secret Doctrine] at Theosophy.Net</ref> However, neither the Adyar Library <ref>[http://theosnet.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=3055387%3ABlogPost%3A29407&commentId=3055387%3AComment%3A29921 Letter by C. A. Shinde]</ref> nor the Archives have this volume.<ref>[http://theosnet.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=3055387%3ABlogPost%3A29407&commentId=3055387%3AComment%3A29970 Letter by Pedro Oliveira]</ref>  


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.<ref>[http://theosnet.ning.com/profiles/blogs/what-everyone-should-know# What everyone should know about Einstein and the Secret Doctrine] at Theosophy.Net</ref>
Daniel Caldwell said he and his wife talked to Eunice Layton, who confirmed the story about a relative of Einstein having visited Adyar and mentioned about his copy of ''The Secret Doctrine'', but Mrs. Layton never mentioned having seen the book.<ref>[http://theosnet.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=3055387%3ABlogPost%3A30653&commentId=3055387%3AComment%3A31021# Account by Daniel Caldwell]</ref>


It is unclear whether Albert Einstein had a niece. His sister Maria "Maja" Einstein had no children,<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_family#Maria_.27Maja.27_Einstein# Einstein's Family] at Wikipedia</ref> and the same seems to be the case with his first wife's siblings.<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/opb/einsteinswife/family/index.htm# Einstein's Family and Friends]</ref> Some speculate that this "niece" could have been his secretary, Helen Dukas, who became his housekeeper after his wife died, and was made one of the executors of Einstein's estate:
It is also unclear whether Albert Einstein had a niece. His sister Maria "Maja" Einstein had no children,<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_family#Maria_.27Maja.27_Einstein# Einstein's Family] at Wikipedia</ref> and the same seems to be the case with his first wife's siblings.<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/opb/einsteinswife/family/index.htm# Einstein's Family and Friends]</ref> Some speculate that this "niece" could have been his secretary, Helen Dukas, who became his housekeeper after Einstein's wife died, and was made one of the executors of his estate:


<blockquote>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.<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/opb/einsteinswife/family/pop_helen_dukas.htm# Einstein's Family and Firends]</ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>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.<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/opb/einsteinswife/family/pop_helen_dukas.htm# Einstein's Family and Firends]</ref></blockquote>


In any case, this copy of ''The Secret Doctrine'' is not to be found neither in the Adyar Library <ref>[http://theosnet.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=3055387%3ABlogPost%3A29407&commentId=3055387%3AComment%3A29921 Letter by C. A. Shinde]</ref> nor in the Archives.<ref>[http://theosnet.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=3055387%3ABlogPost%3A29407&commentId=3055387%3AComment%3A29970 Letter by Pedro Oliveira]</ref>  
An independent account regarding this volume of ''The Secret Doctrine'' was given by Jerry Hejka-Ekins. The latter knew Dr. Alfred Taylor, once director of the Krotona School of Theosophy, and alleged personal friend of Einstein. According to Mr. Hejka-Ekins, Dr. Taylor described on several occasions Einstein's enthusiasm for the book, to which he referred as his "bedtime reading."<ref>[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theos-talk/message/16667# Account by Jerry Hejka-Ekins]</ref>


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”.<ref>[http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/brown/jackbrownoneinstein.htm “I Visit Professor Einstein” by Jack Brown] published in Ojai Valley News, 28 September, 1983</ref> 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.<ref>[http://theosnet.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=3055387%3ABlogPost%3A29407&commentId=3055387%3AComment%3A30337 Letter by Barbara Wolff]</ref>
Finally, Jack Brown in his article “I Visit Professor Einstein” published in Ojai Valley News, says he saw the volume on Einstein's desk and exchanged some thoughts with him about it.<ref>[http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/brown/jackbrownoneinstein.htm “I Visit Professor Einstein” by Jack Brown] published in Ojai Valley News, 28 September, 1983</ref> 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.<ref>[http://theosnet.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=3055387%3ABlogPost%3A29407&commentId=3055387%3AComment%3A30337 Letter by Barbara Wolff]</ref>
 
Jerry Hejka-Ekins said that Dr. Alfred Taylor, once director of the Krotona School of Theosophy, was a personal friend of Einstein. Dr. Taylor described to him on several occasions Einstein's enthusiasm for ''The Secret Doctrine'' to which he referred as his "bedtime reading."<ref>[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theos-talk/message/16667# Account by Jerry Hejka-Ekins]</ref>


==Online resources==
==Online resources==

Revision as of 20:04, 27 December 2012

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Einstein and The Secret Doctrine

In the Summer of 1974 The Journal of San Diego History publishes an interview to Theosophist Iverson L. Harris, where he states that A. Einstein had a copy of The Secret Doctrine on his table all the time.[1] In 1993 Sylvia Cranston wrote in her book H.P.B. The Extraordinary Life and Influence of Helena Blavatsky the following:

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]

Leon Maurer states 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 them claimed she was present when Einstein's niece arrived at Adyar, adding that the latter had brought the copy of The secret Doctrine to donate it to "the library of the Lodge in Adyar". This woman said she actually opened the book, which "was heavily notated and underlined, and that the margins were covered with scribbles and other markings that none of them could make heads nor tails of".[3] However, neither the Adyar Library [4] nor the Archives have this volume.[5]

Daniel Caldwell said he and his wife talked to Eunice Layton, who confirmed the story about a relative of Einstein having visited Adyar and mentioned about his copy of The Secret Doctrine, but Mrs. Layton never mentioned having seen the book.[6]

It is also unclear whether Albert Einstein had a niece. His sister Maria "Maja" Einstein had no children,[7] and the same seems to be the case with his first wife's siblings.[8] Some speculate that this "niece" could have been his secretary, Helen Dukas, who became his housekeeper after Einstein's wife died, and was made one of the executors of his estate:

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.[9]

An independent account regarding this volume of The Secret Doctrine was given by Jerry Hejka-Ekins. The latter knew Dr. Alfred Taylor, once director of the Krotona School of Theosophy, and alleged personal friend of Einstein. According to Mr. Hejka-Ekins, Dr. Taylor described on several occasions Einstein's enthusiasm for the book, to which he referred as his "bedtime reading."[10]

Finally, Jack Brown in his article “I Visit Professor Einstein” published in Ojai Valley News, says he saw the volume on Einstein's desk and exchanged some thoughts with him about it.[11] 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.[12]

Online resources

Articles

Additional resources

Notes

  1. Reminiscences of Lomaland edited by Dennis E. Berge, The Journal of San Diego History
  2. 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.
  3. What everyone should know about Einstein and the Secret Doctrine at Theosophy.Net
  4. Letter by C. A. Shinde
  5. Letter by Pedro Oliveira
  6. Account by Daniel Caldwell
  7. Einstein's Family at Wikipedia
  8. Einstein's Family and Friends
  9. Einstein's Family and Firends
  10. Account by Jerry Hejka-Ekins
  11. “I Visit Professor Einstein” by Jack Brown published in Ojai Valley News, 28 September, 1983
  12. Letter by Barbara Wolff