Old Diary Leaves 1878–83
The Only Authentic History of the Theosophical Society

Olcott chronicles his and Madame Blavatsky's stay in India from 1878 to 1883 on behalf of the Theosophical Society.

Henry Steel Olcott (Author)

9781108072908, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 19 May 2011

508 pages, 9 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 2.9 cm, 0.64 kg

Henry Steel Olcott (1832–1907), co-founder of the Theosophical Society, was a versatile man. He is regarded as one of the pioneers of American agricultural education and also served in the U.S. War Department. Later Olcott was admitted to the New York Bar and became interested in psychology and spiritualism, travelling to India and Sri Lanka with Madame Blavatsky to explore eastern spiritual traditions, especially Buddhism. In this volume (published in 1900) Olcott chronicles how he and Madame Blavatsky journeyed to India and Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) in the years 1878 to 1883 to oversee the foundation of new branches of their Society. This is part classic travel writing in which the author gives breathless descriptions of the beauty of Indian nature, culture and philosophy and part characterisation of Madame Blavatsky's 'psychological eccentricities' as Olcott experiences them. To him she was and remained 'an insoluble riddle'.

Introduction
1. The voyage out
2. Settling down at Bombay
3. Laying foundations
4. Many wonders
5. A journey to northern India
6. Northern wanderings
Dyánand Saraswati
Snake charming
The Theosophist started
7. The future workers begin to arrive
8. Visits to Allahabad and Benares
9. Phenomena and Pandits
10. First tour in Ceylon
11. The popular enthusiasm
12. The tour concluded
13. A little domestic explosion
14. Swami Dyánand Saraswati on yoga
15. Simla and the Coerullians
16. What happened at Simla
17. Gorgeous scenes
18. Benares the holy
19. A master of djinns
20. Ceylon Buddhism explained
21. Creating a Sinhalese Buddhist fund
22. From Bombay northward and back
23. A houseboat journey with H. P. B.
24. Baroda to Ceylon, and the healings of sick folk there
25. Possible discovery of the secret of psychopathic healing
26. Incidents of healings
27. Touring and healing in Bengal
28. Florid compliments
29. Healing of the dumb man in Nelliappa Temple
30. South Indian wonders.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX]