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[[File:Albert Einstein.png|right|250px|thumb|Albert Einstein]]
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'''Albert Einstein''' (14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the general theory of relativity. He is also best known for his mass–energy equivalence formula E = mc<sup>2</sup>.
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==Einstein and The Secret Doctrine==
==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".<ref>Iverson Harris, The Journal of San Diego History, San Diego (California) Historical Society, Summer 1974. 16.</ref> In her book ''H.P.B. The Extraordinary Life and Influence of Helena Blavatsky'', Sylvia Cranston wrote:
In the Summer of 1974 ''The Journal of San Diego History'' published an interview to [[Theosophist]] Iverson L. Harris, where he stated that A. Einstein had a copy of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|Madame Blavatsky's]] book [[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 (Adyar)|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>
 
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 (campus)|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 and Research Centre|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 Adyar Archives has this volume.<ref>[http://theosnet.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=3055387%3ABlogPost%3A29407&commentId=3055387%3AComment%3A29970 Letter by Pedro Oliveira]</ref>
 
Scholar [[David Reigle]] said he and his wife talked to [[Eunice Layton]], who confirmed the story about Einstein's niece 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 David Reigle]</ref>


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


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> However, this copy of [[The Secret Doctrine (book)|''The Secret Doctrine'']] is not to be found neither in the Adyar Library nor in the Archives.<ref>http://theosnet.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=3055387%3ABlogPost%3A29407&commentId=3055387%3AComment%3A29970</ref> 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 was one of the trustees of Einstein's state:
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>


<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>
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. According to him, Einstein said:


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.<ref>http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/brown/jackbrownoneinstein.htm</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</ref>
<blockquote>I have even told professor Heisenberg, my fellow physicist, to get a copy [of ''The Secret Doctrine''] and keep it on his desk. I urged him to dip into it when he’s handicapped by some problem.<ref>[http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/brown/jackbrownoneinstein.htm “I Visit Professor Einstein” by Jack Brown] published in Ojai Valley News, 28 September, 1983</ref></blockquote>
 
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>


==Online resources==
==Online resources==
===Articles===
===Articles===
*[http://theosnet.ning.com/profiles/blogs/meanderings-september-19-2010# The Einstein SD - Some Conclusions]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein# Albert Einstein] at Wikipedia
*[http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/brown/jackbrownoneinstein.htm# I Visit Professor Einstein] by Jack Brown
*[http://theosnet.ning.com/profiles/blogs/meanderings-september-19-2010 The Einstein SD - Some Conclusions] by Joe Fulton
*[http://theosnet.ning.com/profiles/blogs/what-everyone-should-know# How Did Albert Einstein Intuit (Grok) E=mc2?] by Leon Maurer
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=PzhKdfP8LMcC&pg=PA133&lpg=PA133&dq=einstein+theosophy&source=bl&ots=2iftmYirLy&sig=3e-0ueehcq98pjQqBT3YBqaV_Ko&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FMPdUI7sJIXt2QX_x4CoBg&ved=0CGcQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=einstein%20theosophy&f=false# Theosophy and Einstein] by Herbert Radcliffe
 
===Additional resources===
* [http://theosnet.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=3055387%3ABlogPost%3A29407&page=1#comments# Research about A. Einstein's copy of The Secret Doctrine] at Theosophy.Net.
* [http://www.khaldea.com/charts/einstein.shtml Albert Einstein Natal Horoscope] at Khaldea.


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
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[[Category:Nationality German|Einstein, Albert]]
[[Category:Nationality German|Einstein, Albert]]
[[Category:Scientists|Einstein, Albert]]
[[Category:Famous people|Einstein, Albert]]
[[Category:Famous people|Einstein, Albert]]
[[Category:People|Einstein, Albert]]

Latest revision as of 23:13, 17 August 2017

Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein (14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the general theory of relativity. He is also best known for his mass–energy equivalence formula E = mc2.

Einstein and The Secret Doctrine

In the Summer of 1974 The Journal of San Diego History published an interview to Theosophist Iverson L. Harris, where he stated that A. Einstein had a copy of Madame Blavatsky's book 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 Adyar Archives has this volume.[5]

Scholar David Reigle said he and his wife talked to Eunice Layton, who confirmed the story about Einstein's niece 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.[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. According to him, Einstein said:

I have even told professor Heisenberg, my fellow physicist, to get a copy [of The Secret Doctrine] and keep it on his desk. I urged him to dip into it when he’s handicapped by some problem.[11]

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 David Reigle
  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