Gottfried de Purucker

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Hobart Lorenz Gottfried de Purucker sometimes also Gottfried von Purucker (born January 15, 1874 in Suffern , New York , USA ; † September 27, 1942 in Covina , California , USA) was an American journalist , author of esoteric works, and theosophist President of the Theosophical Society in America . Often he was briefly called “G. de P. "or" GdeP ".

Live and act

Childhood and youth

Purucker was born on January 15, 1874 in Suffern as one of five children of Gustaf Adolf von Purucker and Juliana Smyth . The father was a priest of the Anglican Church and in the exercise of his profession was often forced to move. After moving several times in the USA, the family settled in Geneva , Switzerland , in 1888 , where their father had taken over the management of the American Church. Purucker attended college here , after having previously been taught by his father in various schools due to the relocation. After deciding for himself that the priestly profession his father wanted was not his path, he left school in 1892 and traveled to the USA. In his search, after a few detours, he finally came to San Diego , where, impressed by their teachings, he joined the local Theosophical Society on August 16, 1893 . For a while he worked actively in the theosophical San Diego Lodge. During his stay in Point Loma , north of San Diego Bay, he discovered a piece of land and thought that a theosophical center should be built there. Later this idea was realized in the form of Lomaland . In 1895 he traveled back to Geneva, where he met Katherine Tingley in September 1896 , to whom he told about this property, whereupon she arranged for the property to be purchased.

In 1897/98 Purucker traveled to South America , returned to Geneva, lived for some time in Paris and visited numerous European cities, where he worked as a journalist. On August 4, 1903, he joined the Universal Brotherhood and Theosophical Society (UBTS) in Point Loma , as the Theosophical Society in America (TGinA) was called at that time.

Purucker never married or had any children. In addition to his native English , he was fluent in German , French , Italian , Spanish , Portuguese , Greek , Latin , Hebrew , Old English and Sanskrit .

In the Theosophical Society

Working in Lomaland

Since 1897, under the leadership of Katherine Tingley and the UBTS, which she directed, a theosophical world center was being developed in Point Loma , which was to perform social and educational tasks to a greater extent, later known as Lomaland . In 1903 Purucker joined the UBTS, where he took on managerial roles on the executive committee from the start and worked closely with Tingley. In addition, he worked in the Lomaland publishing house in the publication of magazines and books, gave theosophical lectures and lectures, led discussions and led disputes with the clergy of various Christian denominations in San Diego. He was also a participant in numerous performances in open-air theater, taught at the Raja Yoga School from 1913 and at the Academy and College from 1914 . After founding the Theosophical Lomaland University in 1919, Purucker was initially enrolled as a student. After receiving his doctorate in literary studies in 1921, he taught there himself as a professor. Purucker was a frequent companion of Tingleys on her world and European trips, so 1903/4, 1908, 1912 and 1926. After Tingley's death on July 11, 1929, Purucker was elected on July 26, 1929 by the UBTS executive committee as her successor . At the same time he also took over the leadership of the esoteric section .

Change of course after the presidency

As president, Purucker changed course, he changed the name of the society from UBTS to Theosophical Society (= Theosophical Society (TG)) on September 1, 1929 . With this he set an example for a change of direction, less Tingleyian care and education, instead a stronger focus on the teachings of Helena Blavatsky and the original theosophy . To make it easier to distinguish it from other TGs, the term Theosophical Society Point Loma (TG-Point Loma) was generally used. Purucker changed the previously centralized structure of the TG and founded national sections in the USA, Europe , Asia and Australia , which were largely able to operate independently. These national sections, each headed by a president, in turn founded centers and lodges in their countries. Purucker called for new lodges to be founded, even if they initially only consisted of a few members, and to build on that to drive the expansion of the TG-Point Loma. Thus, several lodges were created in Germany, but they were banned by the Gestapo in mid-1936 and only continued to exist underground to a small extent.

Attempts to reach agreement in the TG

The autocratic leadership style Tingley had some spin-offs from UBTs and new, competing in some Theosophical societies out. These splits split up again, which led to further Theosophical Societies; the situation was similar with the Adyar-TG. By 1930 the number of societies had grown to over 20 competing organizations, but all claimed to be in possession of the “true” and “genuine” theosophy. In order to overcome the fragmentation and bring about a unification of all theosophical societies, he called the Theosophical Fraternization Movement (= Theosophical Fraternization Movement ) into being. On June 24, 1931, Purucker was able to hold a conference of this movement in London , at which numerous leaders and members of various theosophical societies from all over the world took part. London was chosen because it was neutral ground, whereas Point Loma , as the headquarters of the TG-Point Loma, was viewed by some theosophical societies as "enemy territory". The goal of an agreement was not achieved, but at least it was Purucker's credit to have found a common basis for discussion for the first time in decades. In the years that followed, several such conferences were held, although the basis for discussions among each other was deepened, but no agreement could be reached.

The financial situation

All Purucker's undertakings were dictated by the empty coffers; this problem severely restricted his ability to act and his expansion efforts. Purucker had taken over Lomaland from Tingley in 1929, in addition to the fact that the income just covered the current obligations, there was hardly any financial leeway. The entire administrative apparatus was bloated, many foreign lodges and schools were dependent on Lomaland and placed an additional burden on society. The beginning of the Great Depression on October 24, 1929 met the TGPL and Lomaland heavy. As a result of this event, Lomaland was practically bankrupt . With the help of friends and patrons, Purucker managed to keep the business going through land sales and rigorous austerity measures, and by 1942 to pay off the entire debt. How difficult the situation was is shown by the example that even the three daily meals for employees were reduced to two. After completion of the renovation and the subsequent move to Covina , Purucker achieved the recognition of the Theosophical Endowment Corporation (= Theosophical Foundation) as a non-profit by the California state on September 16, 1942 . Since from this point on all activities of the TG ran through this foundation, this amounted to a tax exemption for the whole company. The financial difficulties were thus overcome.

Move to Covina

The Lomaland property was in the immediate vicinity of a naval and air force base of the US armed forces in San Diego Bay . In late 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor , the headquarters of the US Pacific Fleet were relocated there. For fear of a Japanese invasion, troops were stationed on the west coast of the USA , and gun emplacements were also installed on Lomaland. This raised fears of being drawn into acts of war. The structure of the building was also in poor condition and urgently needed renovation. The necessary funds were not available and Purucker did not want to put any loan money into a war-endangered project. This uncertainty eventually led to the abandonment of Lomaland and the sale of the property in early 1942. From the proceeds of the sale he acquired a building complex in Covina , near Los Angeles , where the TG-Point Loma moved on June 29, 1942. The use of language was adapted accordingly, from this point on the Theosophical Society of Point Loma became the Theosophical Society of Covina (TG-Covina).

The writer

Purucker published in several journals, some of which he edited himself, such as B. Lucifer (1930-1935), The Theosophical Path (1897-1935) and especially The Theosophical Forum (1929-1951). He occupied himself a lot with elaborating and explaining the theosophical foundations, thereby broadening and consolidating the foundation of theosophical philosophy and making it more understandable. He was the author of a theosophical dictionary which explained many technical terms from Helena Blavatsky's secret doctrine and other theosophical literature. Although some of his works were very detailed and written with scientific standards, they remained understandable and mostly easy to grasp. Most of the lectures he gave in the US and Europe were also collected and later published in book form.

Death and succession

During a morning walk on the grounds of the TG-Covina, Purucker suddenly and unexpectedly collapsed on September 27, 1942. A heart attack resulted in his immediate death. As early as January 25, 1935, Purucker had decreed that, should a successor not offer himself after his death, the management committee would elect the head after three years. In fact, it was then that the body controlled the fortunes of the TGC on an interim basis until October 22, 1945, when Arthur L. Conger was elected president.

Works (selection)

  • free online: Wind des Geistes (German translation of Wind of the Spirit (1944)). Theosophischer Verlag, Pasadena 1995; ISBN 3-930623-15-3
  • Esoteric philosophy, dictionary, detailed explanations of essential basic concepts of Eastern wisdom and original secret teachings . Esoteric Philosophy Publishing House, Hanover 1990; ISBN 3-924849-40-4
  • Birth and rebirth, irrefutable reasons for rebirth as a natural fact . Esoteric Philosophy Publishing House, Hanover 1994; ISBN 3-924849-36-6
  • Golden rules of esotericism . Theosophischer Verlag, Eberdingen 1998; ISBN 3-930623-06-4
  • Basics of esoteric philosophy, man, nature and cosmos . Esoteric Philosophy Publishing House, Hanover 2003; ISBN 3-924849-53-6
  • Death - what comes after ?, Death, the gateway to new life! . Esoteric Philosophy Publishing House, Hanover 1995; ISBN 3-924849-37-4

literature

  • Conger, Arthur L. (Ed.): The dialogues of G. de Purucker, report of sessions . Theosophical University Press, Covina 1948
  • Greenwalt, Emmett A .: California utopia, Point Loma, 1897-1942 . Point Loma Publications, San Diego 1978
  • Greenwalt, Emmett A .: City of glass, the theosophical invasion of Point Loma . Cabrillo Historical Association, San Diego 1981
  • Greenwalt, Emmett A .: The Point Loma community in California, 1897-1942, a theosophical experiment . AMS Press, New York 1979; ISBN 0-40460068-9

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Purucker, Gottfried de
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Purucker, Hobart Lorenz Gottfried de; Purucker, Gottfried von
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American journalist and theosophist
DATE OF BIRTH January 15, 1874
PLACE OF BIRTH Suffern (New York)
DATE OF DEATH September 27, 1942
Place of death Covina , California , USA