Krishnamurti Edict Causes No Surprise

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 737, 9 August 1929, Page 1

Krishnamurti Edict Causes No Surprise

“Star in East” Members Expected Dissolution WORK WILL CONTINUE Though interested outsiders may be surprised at Krishnamurti’s decision to dissolve the Order of the Star in the East, of which he is the official head, the cabled announcement, published a day or two ago, was not unexpected by members of the order. JT has been known for some time that the young Hindu preferred the offering of his teachings to the world at large, rather than their cultivation within the confines of.any particular society. This was explained to a Sun reporter yesterday by an Auckland member of the order who claimed definitely that Krishnamurti’s move was a wise and popular one and would be received as such throughout the world. Thus, on the decision of its much discussed and criticised chief, the Order of the Star in the East, with it 3 extensive European organisation and its branches in 49 countries, will join the limbo of forgotten things. Its usefulness appears to be at an end and its legion of members will continue to study under their leader either privately or as members of the Theosophical Society. VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND

Though actually formed by the Theosophical Society, or “T.S.” members, the Order of the Star in the East is an entirely separate organisation, members of which are not necessarily “T.S.” people. As, however, there is a close similarity in many beliefs and ideals, the “T.S.” and the order have gone hand in hand since the inception of the younger organisation.

Despite the dissolution of the order there will be no check in the promulgation of its leader’s teachings, for his many writings are to be marketed through trusts and his extensive tours will continue. His visit to Auckland early next year is bound to swell the ranks of his New Zealand followers.

Members of the Order of the Star in the East have as their professed object the drawing together of "those who believe in the presence of a world teacher in the world,” and are pledged to “work with him in the establishment of his ideals.” Krishnamurti. as head of the movement, undoubtedly is regarded as that teacher. He does not repudiate the claim, but has taken firm exception to the title “The New Messiah,” said to be bestowed on him by American newspapers on the occasion of his first visit to the United States when he was accompanied by Dr. Annie Besant, president of the Theosophical Society, and patron of the order. POSITION DEFINED Defining his position as a world teacher, he said in the course of a recent interview: “As far as I am concerned, Krishnamurti, as such, has ceased to exist. He has entered into that life which is represented to some as the Christ, to others as the Buddha, and to those in the East as Shri Krishna. The teachers /of all ages have repeated the same essentials, but we never seem to understand them; perhaps because of their very simplicity. And so, when it becomes necessary for humanity to receive in a new form the ancient wisdom, someone whose duty it is to repeat these truths is incarnated. The term World Teacher, is merely an assertion of the fact of attainment.” When Krishnamurti was proclaimed “world teacher” by Mrs. Besant at the international congress at Adyar four years ago, there was considerable excitement among the throng of delegates of the order whose ranks included several New Zealanders. This climax to a long probationary period under the guidance of Mrs. Besant and other prominent Theosophists, tvas greeted in mixed fashion. As a whole, members of the order accepted his elevation with satisfaction, but the outside world was inclined to either heap ridicule or wax indignant. Krishnamurti’s first American visit was not a pronounced success, mainly because of the nature of the publicity which surrounded the young Hindu’s every movement. Innocent of public life and eager to oblige, Krishnamurti was an easy victim to astute American interviewers, and his claims were extravagantly broadcast. Such terms as a “modern Jesus” were coupled with his name. m EFFECT OF DISSOLUTION During the past week the eighth international congress of the Order of the Star has been in camp at Ommen, Holland. It was there that Krishnamurti issued his edict. “Though the cable message may have created the impression that Mrs. Besant was accepting with good grace a decree that had come as a shock to her, this is quite foreign to the true position,” another member of the order told The Sun. “She has been and is in full agreement with the principle lying behind the move.” He added that the dissolution of the order would have hardly any effect in New Zealand. The order here had been comparatively inactive for some time, hardly any meetings having been held. Its principal work had been the distribution of Krishnamurti's writings which had been done privately and through the various headquarters of the Theosophical Society. Therefore the formation of trusts for the selling of the books would render the work more effective and place it on a more businesslike footing.