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NOTE ON TRANSLITERATION
The system of diacritical marks used in the BioBibliography and the Index, as well as in the English translations of original Foreign texts or titles, does not strictly follow any one specific scholar, to the exclusion of all others. While adhering to a very large extent to Sir Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary, the transliteration adopted includes forms introduced by other Sanskrit scholars as well, being therefore of a selective nature. Mr. David Reigle, of the Eastern School Reference Library, helped in the updating of the Tibetan and Sanskrit transliterations.
505 Abrabanel, Isaac. (also Abravanel or Abarbanel) Born 1437 at Lisbon to a family of wealthy and respected Sephardic Jews, son of Dorn Judah the treasurer of Portugal. Began writing on philosophical subjects at age 20, and became treasurer to King Alfonso V. On the invasion of Moors took up collections to free slaves. Warned of intrigues, he escaped to Castile in 1483 but had his fortune confiscated. At Toledo he produced an extensive series of 0. T. commentaries, then returned to Castile to administer army contracts for Queen Isabella. Forced to leave with the banishment of the Jews from Spain, he went into service at Naples for the King, but when the city was taken by the French he followed Ferdinand to Messina, Corfu, Monopoli, and Venice where he negotiated a treaty between the Venetian Republic and Portugal. His writings ar conservative regarding orthodoxy, although he quoted from Jerome, Augustine, and Nicholas de Lyra, and other Christian writers. He held that the Jewish religion had nothing in common with human science, and he was a champion of Maimonides. His peculiarity was that he believed in a forthcoming Messiah and a messianic age, a theme he first expounded to comfort the defecting throngs after banishment from Spain. Sixteen works are shown in his bibliography as being extant. He died at Venice in 1508, and was buried at Padua.
Adalbert of Magdeburg. Alberti parvi lucii lebellus de mirabiliibus naturae arcanis. Vide B. C. FK Vol. X, pp. 410, for biographical and other data.
Adams, John Couch (1819-1892). British astronomer credited with the discovery of the planet Neptune by calculation in 1845. His notes went unheeded due to circumstances until parallel studies by Lever- rier a year later instituted a search, which resulted in confirmation on September 23rd, 1846. Details of these events may be found in Popular Astronomy, by Simon Newcomb, Harper Bros., New York, 1878, pp. 358 et seq.
Agrippa von Nettesheim, Henry Cornelius (1486-1535). Referring to the system of gematria see, De nobilitatae et praecellentia foeminea sexus, Coloniae, 1532; and related material in Isis, Vol. II, pp. 298-300. For biographical profile see B. C. W. Vol. I, p. 443 and Vol. IV, p. 619, of the present series.
Ahrens, Franz Heinrich Ludolf. German philologist; was born at Helmstadt June 6, 1809. Studied at Göttingen under Ludolf Dissen and Karl Otfried Müller, later received many educational positions. In 1849 he was appointed successor to G.F. Grotefend as director of 506the Lyceum at Hanover, a position he occupied for over 30 years with considerable success. His primary interests revolved around the Greek dialects, and he published several volumes in this area. One of the more interesting is; De Duodecim Deis Platonis... Uneditte Griechische and Römische Münzen, beschrieben...von C.L. Grotefend, etc,. Hanover, 1864. His reference to Hebrew letters as musical notes has not been traced as yet. He died Semptember 25, 1881.
Amida Sutra. Another name for the small Pure Realm (Sukhävati) Sutra, one of the main Sutras of the Pure Realm Buddhist sect, founded in China byHuiyuan (344-417), See A General Explanation of The Buddha Speaks of Amitäbha Sütra by Tripitaka Master Hua, Buddhist Text Translation Society, San Francisco, 1974; and the large Pure Realm Sütra in A Treasury of Mahayana Sutras, ed. by Garma C.C. Chang, Penn. State Press, University Park, 1983; chapter 18.
Ammianus Marcellinus (circa 325-395 A.D.). Rerum Gestarum Libri, sometimes referred to as simply Roman Histories. An English translation was published by Bohn’s Classical Library, Charles Duke Younge, London, 1862. For biographical profile, see: B. C. W. Vol. XIII, p. 371.
Anastasius the Sinaite. A priest and monk who flourished in the latter half of the 7th century at the monastery of Mount Sania; (not to be confused with the bishops of Antioch). Little is known of his life aside from his writings which are voluminous. For a time he opposed the doctrines of Severus, Patriarch of Antioch, and traveled to Syria and Egypt to confute the Monophysites, and convince them of the dual nature of Jesus, a problem created by the Council of Niceas’ adoption of certain dogmas. In his chief work Hodegos, he claims to have been successful at Alexandria in arousing the public indignation in favor of his doctrines. A complete list of his works may be found in Fabricius Bibliotheca Graecea, Vol. ix, pp. 313. The reference to the activities of Simon Magus is to be found in Migne, J.P., Patrologie Cursus Completus, Series Graecea, Vol. Ixxxix, Col. 523, quaestiones xx.
Anquetil du Perron, Abraham Hyacinth. French orientalist, born December 7th, 1731 at Paris. Educated for the priesthood in Utrecht and Paris, but developed a strong penchant for eastern languages, and became totally absorbed in their study. His frequent appearance at the Royal Library in Paris caused the keeper of manuscripts, Abbe Sallier, to offer him a modest income as reader in oriental languages, and thus he became interested in some fragments of the Vendidad Sade. 507In November 1754 he joined the military expedition to India as a private soldier, with the idea of discovering Zoroastrian works there. Sympathetic friends obtained his discharge, a free passage with the captain, and a salary to be set by the French governor in India, on his arrival. After a six month passage, he landed at Pondicherry, August 1755, and remained to master Persian, then at Chandernagore studied Sanskrit. War between France and England broke out, and he returned to Pondicherry to travel with his brother to Surat via Mahé. In Surat he had sufficient communication with the priests to learn the Zend and Palavi languages, and translate the Vendidad and other works into French. His plan to study Hindu antiquities at Benares was cut short by the capture of Pondicherry by the British, and he was obliged to return to England. After a period at Oxford, he returned to Paris on the 14th of March 1762, in possesion of 180 oriental manuscripts. The Abbé Barthelemy obtained for him a position as interpreter of oriental language at the Royal Library, and in 1763 he was elected an associate of the Academy of Inscriptions, at which time he began to prepare for publication of his mss. His Zend Avesta appeared in 3 volumes in 1771 with a life of Zoroaster, and fragments. He next endeavored to show that despotism in the orient had been greatly misrepresented in Législation orientale, Amsterdam, 1778. In Thieffenthaler’s Geography of India, his Recherches historiques et géographiques sur l’Inde, appeared in 3 volumes, Berlin, 1783-86. (See Vol. II) His activities changed considerably by the revolution, he became a voluntary recluse living on the most meagre of subsistance. Then in 1798 he published, L’Inde en rapport avec l’Europe, Hamburg & Brunswick, 2 vols., in which he showed his true feelings toward the Bristish in certain matters. This work was also published in German at Frankfurt in 1799. His last major work was a translation from Persian into Latin; Oupnek’hat or Upanishada, containing a mixture of Latin, Greek, Persian, Arabic and Sanskrit; at Argentorati, 2 vols., 1801. He died at Paris, January 17, 1805.
Arago, Dominique François Jean (1786-1853). Traité élémentaire d’astronomie par Ajasson de Grandesagne, etc., renfermant un extrait de l’article sur Comètes, etc. par Arago; In, Bibliothèque Populaire, edited by Ajasson de Grandsagne ( J .B.F.E.). Vicount. Translated as: Tract on Cornets; and particularly on the comet that is to intersect the earth’s path in October 1832. By J. Farrar from the French, Boston, 1832. Also; The Comet; Scientific notices etc, translated from French by C. Gold, London, 1833. Arago’s complete works were published under the direction of J. A. Barral, with an introduction by Alexander von Humbolt, Paris, 1854-62; 17 volumes.
508 Ariosto, Lodovico. Italian poet born at Reggio, Lombardy, September 8th, 1474, son of Niccolo Ariosto, commander of the citadel there. His father had him study law for five years though his inclination toward poetry dates from his earliest days. He next studied Latin classics under Gregorio de Spoleto, but his father’s death compelled him to work towards ridding the family of indebtedness and caring for nine brothers and sisters. Cardinal Ippolito d’Este made him gentleman of his household, but at a bare subsistance though promising much. In 1518 the cardinal went to Hungary, leaving Ariosto under the patronage of his brother, Alfonso, Duke of Ferrara. In several visits to Rome, Ariosto had distinguished himself as a diplomat, but, the violent Pope Julius II nearly succeeded in having him killed, having been incensed at Alfonso. The war between them resulted in Ariosto’s meagre salary being withdrawn, and the poet asked to be released to seek another position. He was then given the governorship of a remote and wild province high in the Apennines, where for three years he tried to maintain order without sufficient means against marauding banditti. A story is told, of his accidently finding himself in their midst, and of their chief apologizing for failing to show proper consideration for the author of Orlando Furioso. Though he lived and died poor, he had the respect of the nobility of Italy. In his final years, he corrected the Orlando, and the complete edition was published a year after his death at Ferrara, in 1533. The Orlando Furioso eclipses the endless romantic poems of the 15th, 16th, and 17th century Italy, and is the most notable work of the period. There were editions published at Milan, 1818, and English translations by Sir John Harrington 1591, John Hoole, 1783, were superceded by the of W. Stewart Rose, London 1823. The Harrington translation has been reprinted at this writing by Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, Ansterdam, and distributed by Walter J. Johnson Inc., Norwood, N.J.
Arnolfinus, Franciscus, Lucensis. His listing is to be found under either of the three names. His life is untraced, but he edited an early 16th century work entitled: Evangelistarium marco Maruli (Marulo)... opus vere Evangeticum cultissimoque adomatum...etc., Cologne, 1529. Later editions were printed the same year with additions, and another printing appeared 1532 with different pagination. H.P.B.’s reference to his mention of The Chaldean Book of Numbers, appears in his, Tractatus de Lapide physico, seu Summa Rosarii Philosophorum. Sometimes referred to as simply, the Summa. It is contained in the the 11th chapter of a compilation of alchemical works...Fasciculus unterschiedlicher alten raren und wahren Philosophischen 509Schrijften vom Stein der Weisen, etc, etc, (published at) Leipzig and Bremen, (by) Johann Andreas Grimm, 1719. The editor is Christoph von Hellwig. Chapter 11, or the Summa occurs on p. 195. Hellwig also authored 34 other works.
Aryabhata (born 476 A.D.) Distinguished Indian mathematician and astronomer. He is the author of a valuable work known as The Aryabhatiya, in which celestial astronomy is explained, and where he shows the numerical equivalents of metrical stanzas actually give the precise number of the thing being referred to, usually in reverse order. See The Aryabhatiya of Aryabhata, translated by Walter E. Clark, University of Chicago press, Chicago, 1930.
Arya Asanga (410-500). Traditionally, the founder of the Yogacara school of Buddhism. His Indian mother was very learned in the Buddhist Scriptures and he gained much from her before becoming a Bhikshu (monk). After studying for 5 years he felt the need for a meditational deity to help him master the difficult Perfection of Wisdom teachings. After choosing Maitreya Buddha, he entered a cave and for 12 years tried, without success, to invoke Maitreya. He started to give up after 3, 6, and 9 years, but noticed each time, a symbol of perseverance which urged him on. Once he saw a huge rock being slowly split open by a small tree root, and was inspired to return to his invocations. But after 12 years with no vision of Maitreya he did finally quit, and left his cave. Hours later, aimlessly shuffling along a dusty road, he saw a half-dead dog, infested with maggots and whimpering in pain. Great compassion arose in Asanga; yet to save the dog he must kill the maggots, and this his Buddhist vows would not permit. So he thought of gently transferring the maggots with his tongue, on to a fresh piece of flesh cut from his own body. After carving a slice of flesh from his thigh, he knelt down to remove the maggots and instantly the dog disappeared and the glorious Buddha Maitreya stood before him. Asanga burst into tears of joy. But soon be began wondering why Maitreya had not come years sooner, and saved him from so much suffering and disappointment. Maitreya heard these thoughts and said “Although rainfall and sunshine may be plentiful, impotent seeds will never sprout. Similarly, wherever Buddhas appear, they will never be seen by those people with karmic veils. Your karmic obstructions were much reduced by your invocations, but until now, the most important factor, Great Compassion, had not fully arisen within you.” For many years after, Asanga was guided by Maitreya and learned from him the Five Books of Maitreya, which, along with many noble works of his own, continue 510to inspire Buddhists of today. One of Maitreya’s works with Asanga’s commentary is Uttaratantra tr. by E. Obermiller, reprinted by Canon Pubs., Talent, Or., 1985; also see his commentary on the Diamond Sutra, tr. by G. Tucci in Minor Buddhist Texts, Vol. I, Rome, 1956.
Ashmole, Elias (1617-1692) Born at Lichfield, England, 23rd of May, son of a saddler. Became a solicitor 1638, and commissioner of Excise 1644; became a captain of horse and comptroller of the ordnance later. Initiated into Freemasonry 1646, married a second time in 1649, and following her passing, a third in 1668. His interest in astrology dates from an association with William Lily in 1646. He is best known for his The Institution, laws and ceremonies of the Order of the Garter, etc., (folio) London, 1672. See also: Theatrum chemicum Britannicum, etc., London, (February 18) 1652, where Ashmole is included. In 1677 he presented his personal collection of antiquities largely inherited from a friend, to the University of Oxford on condition that a building be erected for the purpose. Thus the Ashmolean Museum was founded, which includes his personal library.
Ashoka (d. 223 B.C.). A warrior king of India who, after conversion to Buddhism, abolished war in his empire. He also restricted the hunting and killing animals and built hospitals for man and beast. He engraved on rocks and pillars throughout India his Edicts, which set forth the ethics of Buddhism. Ashoka also sent messengers of Buddhism to all of Asia and beyond, even to Syria and Egypt. It was due to Ashoka’s efforts that Buddhism became an Asian, not just an Indian religion. See Buddhism and Asoka by B.G. Gokhale, Baroda, Padmaja Pubs., 1948; The Edicts of Asoka by Nikam & McKeon, Chicago, 1959.
Augsburgian Jesuits. See Flammarion, Camille.
Avatamsaka Sutra. One of the longest, and for many Buddhists, the most profound Scripture taught by Buddha. Tradition says that even the great Nagarjuna could not fully comprehend it. Yet, that small portion he brought back from the Realm of the Nagas (Adepts) will run to 3 or 4 rather plump volumes in English. The Chinese translation of Shikshananda (652-710) is the basis for the full translations now in process. One is in three volumes, The Flower Ornament Scripture tr. by Thomas Cleary, Shambhala, Boulder, 1984; another, far longer and more helpful because of the commentary of the Venerable Master Hua, is The Flower Adornment Sutra tr. by the Buddhist Text Translation Society, Talmage, Calif., 1982.
511 Azriel Ben Manachem (Ben Solomon). Born at Gerona, Spain 1160, [died 1238] founder of speculative Kabalah, and called “the Saint”. Attracted by the wave of mysticism in Spain, he crossed the border a few miles from his birthplace into France to study with Isaac the Blind of Posquieres, a celebrated Kabalist. Later he traveled throughout Spain spreading kabalistic ideas, but met with limited success. “The philosophers believe in nothing that can not be demonstrated logically,” he says in his introduction to this commentary on the ten Sefiroth. He returned to Gerona to found a school in which Nachmanides received his instruction in kabalism. Azriel’s commentary on the ten Sefiroth is in the form of questions and answers. An edition was published at Berlin in 1850, edited by N.A. Goldberg that did not give the title (Ezrat Adonai). He also wrote a commentary on Shir ha-Shirim often ascribed to Nachmanides, (later published at Altona, 1764) in which the 613 commandments are explained mystically based on the Decaloge. His commentary on the Sefer Yet- zireh was entitled Sefer ha-Milluim, published at Mantua, 1719, and was thought to have been from Nachmanides for a time. He also wrote a kabalistic commentary on prayers, and a hymn with his name Ezra as acrostic. Philosophically, he was close to the Platonic or Theosophie stream, as he conceived God as the En Sof, the unknowable. “God can be described only in negative terms: what he is not, can alone be determined, not what he is. All positive attributes bear the stamp of sensualism. The Being that is the originator of all things can have no intention, desire, thought, word or action, it is infinite, the Endless.” The act of creation did not consist of producing a new thing, it was the transformation of potential existence into realized existence...an efflux (Aziluth) through gradations from the indefinite to the definite.” In his system there are several intermediaries between En Sof and the material world, shown by the ten Sefiroth. He called the first, Rum Ma’alah, rather than Kether. Some scholars think he meant by this the “Will” (Hefez) of Ibn Gebirol. For more on Azriel, see Myer’s Qabbalah, p. 284; and Bloch, Die Jüdische Mystic and Kabbalah 'm, Jüdische Literatur, iii, 261, by Winter and Wünsche, Berlin, 1880.
Babinet, Jacques (1794-1872). French physicist. Revue des Deux Mondes, May, 1855. Vide B.C. W. Vol. X, p. 412, for biographical profile.
Bailly, Jean Sylvain (1736-1793). Histoire de l’astronomie ancienne depuis son origine jusgu’à l’établissement de l’Ecole d’Alexandrie; Paris, Debure, 1775; 2nd ed., 1781, xxiv, 527 pp. For bio-bibliography information see: B.C. W. Vol. VIII, p. 419; B.C. W. Vol. XII, p.724.
512 Ballanche, Pierre Simon. French theocratic philosopher, was born at Lyons 1776. Said to be naturally sensitive and high strung, he was deeply moved by the siege of his city, and again when disappointed in love. His examination of social conditions brought him in contact with Chateaubriand and Madame Récamier of literary fame. His most notable work, Palingénésie, is in three parts, L’orphie, La formule, and La ville des expiations. In the first he deals with the prehistoric period prior to the rise of religion; the second, an attempt to piece together a universal law from historical facts; and the third to show the ultimate state of perfection towards which humanity was heading. Only the first of these parts is complete, the others remain in a fragmentary agglomeration. He often used peculiar phraseology to express unique ideas, and thus confounded his reviewers. Of interest is his Vision d’Hebal: a Scottish chief with second sight prophesized world history; intended to be a part of the La ville des expiations. Philosophically, he placed revelation above individual reason, and order above freedom or progress, emphasizing authority, and holding that individualism was impractical, and man exists only through society. In primitive times speech and thought were identical, and later when separated caused unity to be broken, and man in confusion. Ballanche’s other notable work (excluding poems) is Essai sur les institutions socials, Paris, 1818. The quote by Ragon in Orthodoxie Maçonnique remains untraced. He died 1847. An analysis of his Palingenesis is given by Barchou in: Revue des deux mondes, Vol. 2, pp. 410-456.
Baronius, Caesar (1538-1607). Annales Ecclesiastici, 12 volumes, 1588-1607. See B.C. W. Vol. XI, p. 566, for additional information.
Barthelemy St. Hilaire, Jules (1805-1895). Le Bouddha et sa Religion, Paris, 1860, pp. xxiv, 441. For biographical profile, see B. C. W. Vol. VIII, p. 373.
Basilides. 2nd century Gnostic, and founder of a system described by Irenaeus, and Hippolytus’ Philosophumena. His son Isadorus wrote Ex- egetica, in part published by Hilgenfeld’s Ketzergeschichte, pp. 207-218, which only gives a hint of Basilides thinking. “Named after Basilides; the founder of one of the most philosophical Gnostic sects. Clement of Alexandria speaks of Basilides, the Gnostic, as ‘a philosopher devoted to the contemplation of divine things’. While he claimed that he had all his doctrines from the apostle Matthew and from Peter through Glaucus, Irenaeus reviled him, Tertullian stormed at him, and the Church Fathers had not sufficient words of obloquy against the ‘heretic.’ And yet on the authority of St. Jerome himself, who describes with indignation what he had found in the only genuine Hebrew copy of the Gospel of Matthew (See Isis Unveiled II, 181) which he got 513from the Nazarenes, the statement of Basilides becomes more than credible, and if accepted would solve a great and perplexing problem. His 24 vols. of Interpretation of the Gospels, were, as Eusebius tells us, burnt. Useless to say that these gospels were not our present Gospels. Thus, truth was ever crushed.” (Theosophical Glossary, p. 51.)
Bayer and Schiller, Augsburgian Jesuits. See Flammarion, Camille.
Bentley, John. Historical View of Hindu Astronomy, from the earliest dawn of that science in India, down to the present time, etc., Calcutta, 1823; London, 1825. Aside from the fact that he was strongly oriented towards the Christian viewpoint, and a member of the Asiatic Society, little is known of this author, whose only recorded title is the above. In Asiatic Researches, Vol. VI, Mr. Bentley’s On the Antiquity of the Surya Siddhanta, and the formation of the astronomical cycles therein contained, was published, Calcutta, 1800. H.P.B.’s reference to Bentley’s ‘War in Heaven’ occurs in Part I, section 2, pp. 14-34, of his Hindu Astronomy.
Bergen, Carl Fredric Berndt von. Editor, lecturer, freethinker, was born Dec. 26, 1838 at Gothenberg; died Aug. 19, 1897 at Stockholm. Early education at the Gothenberg gymnasium, later at the Uppsala University and Heidelberg. His literary interests were demonstrated by contributions to many journals of the day on the subjects of philosophy, free thought and researches into true Christianity from the view of the earliest teachings of Jesus. His marriage in 1876 produced three children, and about this time he journeyed to North America on a lecture tour of over a year. Returning to Sweden, he carried on a long controversy in various newspapers with the Christian fundamentalist U.L. Ullman, while continuing to produce works on religion, including two translations of Schenkel on Jesus, and editing his own Magazine Framtiden, (Future) which was a recognized organ of thinkers during those years. He was opposed to atheism, concerned with social problems, religion properly interpreted, and later became interested in spiritualism, which he felt proved the existence of a more subtle world...this about 1880. The renowned literary figure and unorthodox playwright August Strindberg recounts a meeting with von Bergen in 1884, when the latter tried to interest him in the writings of H.P. Blavatsky and occult phenomena. In 1890 he organized the Swedish Society for Psychical Research, and as a representative from Sweden at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago, 1893, he presented ideas in these areas. His bibliography is very extensive beginning in 1867 when he wrote The Latest findings on the Life of Jesus and Early Christianity, and lasting until 1891 and later 514when spiritualism occupied his interests. Von Bergen was among the leaders of his people in breaking the strangle hold of dogmatism that typified late 19th century Sweden.
Bigandet, Paul-Ambroise (1813-1894) Bishop of Ramatha, Burma. The Life or Legend of Gaudama, the Buddha of the Burmese, Rangoon, 1858; 2nd enl. ed., 1866; 3rd ed., London, 1880; 4th ed., London, 1914. For biographical profile, see B. C. W. Vol. IV, pp. 634.
Bismarck-Schoenhausen, Otto Eduard Leopold von. Prince, duke of Lauenburg (1815-1898). A vast literature by and about Bismarck is contained in: Bismarck-Literatur, (bibliography) by Paul Schulze and Otto Koller, Leipzig, 1896. H.P.B.’s reference to Bismarck and the Jesuits is based on the bitter exchanges of the 1870’s which is covered in: L’Eglise, Bismarck et les Jesuits, by Charles Schoebel, Paris, 1873. Schoebel is an author of a wide range of works on eastern and western comparative religion. See also B. C. W. Vol. VI, p. 218 — “Prince Bismarck’s Mysterious Visitors.”
Borchart, Samuel (1599-1667). See B.C. W. Vol. IV, p. 634.
Bodhidharma (fl. 460-534). The 28th Patriarch of the Meditation school of Buddhism. Arriving in China, from India, about 500 he formed the Ch’an school. He taught that the Buddha-nature in every person was pure unity, devoid of all specific character, and identical with Thusness or Nirvana. Although he wrote nothing, his teachings on meditation are still preserved in the oral tradition of Ch’an Buddhism. Much of this oral tradition can be found in the 3 volumes of Ch’an and Zen Teaching tr. & ed. by Charles Luk, Rider, London, 1960-62.
Borrichius, Olaus (1626-1690). Danish chemist and philologist, also may have delved into alchemy. For a list of his works see: Bibliotheca Chemica, a catalog of the alchemical works in the library of the late James Young of Kelly, etc., by John Ferguson, Glasgow, James Maclehose & Sons, 1906, 2 vols. (see p. 118, Vol. I). Vide B.C. W. Vol. XI, p. 568, for biographical profile.
Bulstrode, Whitlocke (1650-1724). Second son of Sir Richard Bulstrode, author or works on King Charles I, and II, and grandson of Edward Bulstrode, who wrote on law and the church. Whitlocke remained in England after the flight of James II; he held some official positions, and in 1717 wrote a pamphlet in support of George I and 515the Hanoverian succession. A strong Protestant, he wrote controversial pieces, and seemed to favor Platonic ideas. H.P.B. cites his An Essay of Transmigration in Defense of Pythagoras; or a Discourse of Natural Philosophy, London, 1692. Later a Latin and Greek edition was published 1725. The Pillars of Popery thrown down, and the principal arguments of the Catholicks answer’d and confuted, etc, London, 1718. The Charge of W.B. to the Grand Jury of Middlesex... April 21, 1718; The Second Charge, etc, October 9, 1718; Third Charge, etc, October 4th, 1722. These answers in pamphlet form are a few of his many writings. He died November 27th, 1724.
Bulwer-Lytton, Edward George Earle, 1st Baron (1803-1873). The Coming Race, 1871; Zanoni, 1842; A Strange Story, 1862; etc.
Bunsen, Christian Charles Josiah, Baron von, (1791-1860). Egypt’s Place in Universal History, tr. by C.H. Cottrell, additions by Samuel Birch; London, 1848-67, 5 vols. for biographical profile see: B.C. W. Vol. X, p. 415.
Burder, Samuel (1773-1837). The Works of Flavius Josephus. Baltimore, 1830. Beginning with this edition, the following additional material was included: Life of Josephus; Preface; Concerning Hades; Dissertations; Testimonies of Josephus concerning Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, and James the Just, vindicated; Gods command to Abraham; Tacitus’ account of the origin of the Jewish Nation. Subsequent editions were entitled “The Genuine Works of Flavius Josephus, ” all published in USA prior to 1900.
Butlerov, Alexander Mihaylovich (1828-1886). For biographical data, see B.C. W. Vol. I, pp. 448.
Callistus, or Calixtus. Pope from 217 to 222. Known until 1850 by the Martyrologium Romanum, which made him a saint, but supplanted by the evidence of the newly discovered Philosophumena of Hippolytus, Bishop of Portus, and contemporary of Callistus. In the account of Hippolytus, Callistus was a slave in a Christian banker’s house, later administered deposits for the bank, but fled when it went bankrupt. Chased to Portus, he was discovered on an outward bound vessel, and flung himself into the sea, but was captured and put to work in a mill. On release he started a riot in a synagogue for which he was seized and sentenced to the mines in Sardinia about 190 A.D. About this time a Christian mistress named Marcia influenced the amnesty of 516slaves, and Callistus was seen in Rome, quickly to be expelled by Victor to Antium, but with a tiny stipend for staying out of Rome. The ignorant and venal Zephyrinus succeeded Victor as Bishop, and placed Callistus in charge of the cemetery in 203. Callistus then began to maneuver his contemporaries towards relaxing discipline, allowing adulterers to communion etc, to further his expected ascendancy towards the chair of St. Peter. Thus his reforms were so popular he became Bishop by demand. He allowed those thrice married to be ordained, and those ordained to marry, and relaxed the laws of marriage until they came into conflict with the State. He ruled that the “Father and the Son were one and made the Spirit, which took flesh in the Virgin, thus both are made to suffer.” (Hippolytus) He also allowed second baptisms. Eusebius recounts his demise in 223, being ejected from the window of an upper story of his house during a popular uprising, his body dumped in a well. Thus Constantine added his name to the lists of martyrs.
Carpocrates. Gnostic living at Alexandria in the second century of Jewish birth. His family is said to have converted to a form of Christianity. He stressed the platonic approach to creation, from unity to diversity, ascribing an unknowable creator as first cause, and series of angels and powers in a long sequence emanating to finally create the world from the lowest of these...and that Jesus was a normal man with greater purity and memory of his “revolutions.” His philosophy was much like that of Saturninus, but was marred by the travesties of his son Epiphanes who distorted the teachings. We must refer to Carpocrates antagonists for his writings: Irenaeus i, 25 & ii, 31-34; Clement of Alexandria Stromata iii, 2; Tertullian De Anima 23, 35; Philaster 35; Epiphanius 27; and psuedo Tertullian 9.
Cassels, Walter Richard (1826-1907). Supernatural Religion; an Inquiry into the Reality of Divine Revelation, 2 vols., London, 1874 (published anonymously) a volume III was published in 1877. See: B. C. W. Vol. VI, p. 430, for biographical data.
Cerinthus (circa 100 A.D.). He is credited with Egyptian training by Hippolytus, and known to have flourished in Asia generally. Accounts by Irenaeus and Hippolytus disagree. It is known that he taught that the world was made by angels, one of whom gave law to the Jews, which was not perfect, and that only a particular gospel of Matthew was of use in the New Testament. His Gnostic ideas in general, and his observances, made his views unique for the time. See Eusibius’ Ecclesiastical Histories, iii, 28, iv. 14; Irenaeus iii, 3;
517
Hippolytus’ Haeresis, VII, 33.; Epiphanius; Haeresis, xxviii. 4.
Champai-chosnga. The Five Books of Maitreya are principal works in the curriculum of many Buddhist monasteries. The Dharmadhar-matâvibhanga and the Mahâyânasûtralâmkâra have not been translated into English. The Abhisamayâlamkâra was tr. by E. Conze in 1954. Translations of the Madhyântavibhanga & Uttaratantra were reprinted in 1985 by Canon Pubs., Talent, Or.
Champollion le jeune, Jean Francois (1790-1832). Pantheon égyptien, collection des personnages mythologiques de l’ancienne Egypte, etc., plates by L.J.J. Dubois, Paris, Firmin Didot, 1823-25. Also; Dictionnaire égyptien en écriture hiéroglyphique, etc., Paris, Firmin Didot frères, 1841. for more on the god Neter, see S.D. Vol. I, p. 675; B.C. W. Vol. VII, p. 364.
Chandrakirti (6th C.). The codifier of the Prâsangika-Mâdhyamika system of Buddhism. His major work is the Guide to the Middle Way, Mâdhymakâvatâra. A complete translation by Martin Willson with commentary by the First Dalai Lama, will soon be published. The first five chapters, with Tsong Khapa’s comments, are in Compassion in Tibetan Buddhism pt. 2, tr. by J. Hopkins, Gabriel/Snow Lion, Valois, 1980; chapter six is in Echoes of Voidness pt. 2 by Geshé Rabten, Wisdom Pubs., London, 1983.
Charcot, Jean Martin (1825-1893). Leçons sur les Maladies du système nerveux, Paris, 1872-93, 5 vols. See B.C. W. Vol. IV, p. 638; B.C. W. Vol. VII, p. 364, for data.
Chi-kai or Chih-i (538-597). Founder of the Tien T’ai sect of Chinese Buddhism. Son of a prominent family, his career in the Chinese civil service seemed a forgone conclusion. But in 554 an army from the North invaded and massacred thousands, his parents included. Turning to the Buddhadharma, he learned from Hui-ssu (514-577) the primacy of inner realization over only intellectual study and good works. Although Chi-kai deepened his inner resources and gained many followers who valued his teachings on putting more emphasis into their meditation practices, few could get beyond their practices to the actual states of realization. Therefore Chi-kai retired from public teaching to live quietly on Mount Tien Tai (Heavenly Terrace). From there he wrote works praising the Lotus Sutra as the most important of Buddha’s teachings; and several classics on meditation. Little is available yet of his works, but short excerpts from two of his works are in The Buddhist Tradition, pp. 163-66, ed. by W.T. de Bary, 518Vintage Books, New York, 1972.
Chromatius. Bishop of Aquileia. 4th and 5th centuries A.D. See B. C. W. Vol. VIII, p. 422, for additional details.
Cleather, Alice Aeighton. Born late April 1846, England. Daughter of a Anglican minister. Joined the T.S. 1885 while residing at Eastbourne with her two sons till 1887. Met Bertram Keightley, and was introduced to H.P.B. that year. In the Esoteric Section autumn, 1888, and was admitted to the Inner Group, at its 3rd meeting, on Sept. 17, 1890, the first having been held on August 20th of that year. She was assigned the task of making careful notes of the proceedings for W.Q, Judge in the USA, which she did for the next 17 meetings. These notes later formed the basis for a critical comparison by Joseph Fussell, who published them in the Theosophical Forum (Pt. Loma) in the 1940’s. They were more complete and accurate than notes that survived from others in the Inner Group, and made possible verification of material inserted by Annie Besant in the “Vol. Ill” Secret Doctrine. Mrs. Weather’s attitude and behavior in the years following her initiation into the LG. can be better understood when the gravity of the warning appended to the pledge is seen:
H.P.B. explained the extreme seriousness of the pledge taken by members of the Inner Group. Occultism must be everything or nothing. This pledge once taken resignation avails nothing; its breach means the most terrible consequences in the present life & in future incarnations. It was a more serious pledge than the voluntary initial pledge by the Chela to the Master: for the Master might make allowances & forgive. But this was taken in the presense of all the manifestations, the emanations, that surround the Higher Self, & all these would be against the breaker of the pledge.
C.W. asked if any had broken the pledge. (E.S.)
Yes: but H.P.B. would not say which. Some had kept it, some had not; the breaches had been involuntary. This new pledge would colour all the life here and hereafter in all future births. Those who kept on the right way would be helped; they need not fear. If they were faithful, no external things could harm them. But each must be sure of himself before taking it, as there was no going back. The responsibility is terrible & cannot be evaded. Once taken, the pledge can never be recalled.
The Pledge was then taken by each in turn.
H.P.B. “It is in the presence of the Master you have taken it 519(after a pause) Now I am your servant, & must answer your questions”
H.P.B. then pointed out that we should not at first recognize the extreme seriousness of the instruction given, but little by little the importance would be seen by us. We must study, work hard, miss no point.
The pledge is given orally, and has never appeared in print, but safe to say, it has enormous impact on the life of those who so commit themselves.
During these years, she wrote a number of pieces for various journals including “Theosophy in Western Lands,” a series of articles concerning the activities at the London headquarters of the T.S., and researchers will find these contain much that can be considered source material. They ran in The Theosophist, Vol. XI, March 1890, through Vol. XVI, August 1895. Notices of her activities and travels also appeared in The Theosophical Forum, New Series, April 1896, December, 1896; and February, March and June, 1897, when the Forum was being issued from New York.
In 1892 she met Mr. Basil Crump (1867-1947) who succeeded his father as editor of the Law Times, and was also department editor of The Field, and The Queen, each journal covering some aspect of law. He was a barrister specializing in Admiralty litigation, and the author of works on the occult significance of Wagner’s operas, and Buddhism. With her natural musical talent she engaged in slide lectures with accompaniment, in concert with Mr. Crump for the best part of the next 30 years throughout the world. Following the occurances which split the theosophical movement in two, Mrs. Cleather sided with W.Q. Judge’s successor, Katherine Tingley, and spoke at the conventions of 1895-98. She accompanied Mrs. Tingley on her world tour, remaining in Europe for a series of talks, and rejoining the main group later, thus returning to San Francisco, February, 1897. After 1899, Mrs. Cleather separated herself from the theosophical movement per se, feeling that neither of the factions then existing embodied the true teachings of H.P.B.
Materials documenting the next ten years are not at hand, and aside from occasional articles, and the Wagner opera lectures with Mr. Crump, little is known until her presence in Egypt in 1911. She then resided in Italy from 1911 to 1918, taking occasional trips to England and other parts of the continent, and giving lectures, notably at Florence in 1911, and Paris in 1912, as part of the “tour.” Next she set out for India with her son Graham Gordon Cleather, and Mr. Crump by what must by all accounts be an inauspicious 520turn of events, for their vessel was torpedoed by a German submarine, and they managed to survive in a life boat, were rescued, and finally reached India in late 1918. She had lost her other son earlier, and her husband, Col. Gordon Cleather, Cameron Highlanders, veteran of the Crimean War and India Service, died in 1919. While in India she authored three books on H.P.B. (see below). In January 1920 she was one of five Europeans to take pansil (vows) at Buddha Gaya, under the auspices of the Gelugpa head lama Geshe Rimpoche, of the Donkar monastery, Chumbi Valley; they being the first of their kind to do so. Also while in India she twice visited Ladahk, as well as Kumaon and Darjeeling. At the end of 1925 she repaired to Peking with Mr. Crump and her son, and met there with the Tashi Lama, from whom she received a “diploma” which read:
“Special Gelukpa Buddhist of the English race, |
This helpful document that would prove valuable in later travels, was supplemented by letters of introduction to military governors of the outer provinces; one from General Fu Tso-yi, and another from the Buddhist General Chu Ching-Lan. These papers were especially necessary due to the political clouds of the Sino-Japanese problem. The Tashi Lama also issued the trio special passports for Tibet. Following the republication of The Voice of The Silence with additions by the Tashi Lama, at Peking in 1928, the party traveled across the Tibetan plateau, to various unspecified areas, arranging to meet the Tashi Lama at Kokonoor (Lake Koko). After an extremely arduous journey of many months by camel and on foot, traversing the barren Mongolian desert, they discovered the Buddhist leader had been detained, and would not arrive as expected. Thus they were required to embark upon the Yellow river at flood stage in a small junk, were stripped of valuables by marauding bandits, and arrived at Sining in North West China 6 months later. After Mrs. Cleather recuperated, they went by air to Peking. At some time during her stay in Peking, she published two pamphlets in Chinese: Why I Believe in Buddhism·, and, Some Thoughts on Buddhism. In October 1936 she suffered a broken left arm in a fall, and recovering, made plans to attend the Parliament of Religions at Calcutta in March 1937, visiting Ceylon enroute. Darjeeling was again visited, and returning to Calcutta, they were informed of the death of the Tashi Lama at Jyekundo, November 30th. In April 1938 she returned to Darjeeling, passing away on May 4th.
521 Some of her other activities include the founding with William Kingsland, of the H.P.B. Lending Library of some 600 volumes, and later, the Blavatsky Association at London, in 1923. Three publication of Transactions, were issued: No. 1, 1924, containing correspondence between the Defence Commitee and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; No. 2, 1925, being correspondence between Canon P. Green, M.A. plus a photo of the New York Sun retraction of Elliot Coues earlier Sun article; Nov. 3, 1927, reprints of letters that had appeared in the Occult Review, concerning the Ady ar Secret Doctrine ‘Volume III.’ The Blavatsky Association was dissolved in the summer of 1947 following the ill health of its secretary Mrs. Iona Davey, the bulk of the library going to Graham Gordon Cleather in Calcutta. Earlier, in 1923, Mrs. H. Henderson had moved the library from London to Victoria B.C. Canada, where she was succeeded by Mrs. Davey.
Her published works are: H.P. Blavatsky, a Great Betrayal, 1922; H.P. Blavatsky, her Life and Work for Humanity, 1922; H.P. Blavatsky as I knew her, 1923. Each was published at Calcutta by Thacker, Spink & Co. In addition she collaborated with Basil Crump on Buddhism, the Science of Life, 1936.
Mrs. Cleather was an outstanding musician and orator with a penchant for total dedication that allowed for fewer variations in theosophy than her contemporaries, as well as possessing a fearless and adamant outlook.
Codex Nazaraeus. The sacred book of the Mandean Gnostics. It is also known as the Sidra Rabba, or great book, and in more recent times is termed Ginza (Genza) rabba, Genza meaning treasure. A translation as: Liber Adami, appelatus Syriace transcriptus, Mathieu Norberg, London, 1815-16, 3 vols., was published with the ‘Liber Adami’ meant as a blind for the church. It is a Latin translation with the original text set in high Syrian on the facing page. The first two volumes are text, and the third is a concordance, index, notes, etc. (now very rare).The translation is imperfect, and the paper is pulp vellum, making xeroxing difficult. In the original form, it was placed on a dias with a Mandean priest standing on one side reading the page facing him, and another priest standing opposite reading the pages before himself. Thus every other page was upside down, and in the recitations alternating between the two. A number of German translations have appeared, notably by Lidzbarsky, 1926, and Robert Haardt, 1968 (fragments). See also, Theosophical Glossary, p. 86, for more details.
Colebrooke, Henry Thomas (1765-1837). Author and translator of 522works on Indian antiquities. See B. C. W. Vol. II, p. 525.
Cousin, Victor. Renowned French philosopher, born Paris, November 28th, 1792. At Lycée Charlemagne age 10 through 18, showing abilities in Latin and Greek, then at Ecole Normal, Paris where he was influenced by Laromiguière, later held positions in philosophy. In 1815 became assistant to Royer-Collard developing under a system he termed ‘triple discipline.’ In 1817 he went to Germany to spend time with Hegel, Schelling and Jacobi. During the political events of 1815, he began espousing liberal views, then reacted against them, which ultimately resulted in the loss of his offices, as well as the normal school in 1822. While at Berlin in 1824-25, he was imprisoned for some vague impropriety of speech, released after six months, but at time formulated his eclectic philosophy. He continued to contribute to journals, and publish, being recalled to professorship at the university in 1828, along with Guizot. His lectures were compelling and he was considered France’s great orator at the time. With the change of government in the 1830’s, he became a counsellor of state and then peer of France, finally becoming minister of education in 1840. He was also director of the revitalized École Normal, member of the Institute, and virtual head of the university, all of which gave him the power to instigate sweeping improvements in the educational system of France, guided by the examples of Russia and Saxony. His Report on education, was translated into English by Mrs. Sarah Austin in 1834, and frequently reprinted in the USA. Thus during the reign of Louis Philippe, he was able to make great strides, but was set aside by Napoleon in 1852, holding only honorary titles. He finished his years at the Sorbonne with his personal library of rare works, passing away on January 13th, 1867. Cousin is the author of over 40 works in a variety of fields, including a Latin translation of Proches in 6 vols., Paris 1820-27; a French tr. of the Works of Plato, Bossange Frère, Paris 1822-40; the Metaphysics of Aristotle, Paris, 1835; all of which showed the direction of his early influence. H.P.B. mentions his Cours de l’Histoire de la philosophie moderne, serie 2, Paris, 1847, (3 vols.).
Crookes, Sir William. (1832-1919). Researches in the Phenomena of Spiritualism, London, J. Burns Co., 1874.
Csoma de Koros, Alexander (Sandor) (1798-1842). See B. C. W. Vol. V, p. 372, for biographical profile.
Cusa, Nicolaus de. See: Khrypffs, Nicolas de Cusa, Cardinal.
523 Cyprian of Antioch (3rd century A.D.), not to be confused with Cyprian of Carthage who lived at about the same time, and who is voluminously documented. See what the Dictionary of Christian Biography shows in a short paragraph contrasting with H.P.B.: “Cyprianus. (2) A magician of Antioch who was hired by a man named Idas, to make a Christian virgin Justina enamoured of him, and was converted himself and martyred with her at Damascus under Decius according to the Menology of Basil, October 2nd; at Nicomedia under Diocletian in September according to others. The whole story is probably a figment. He is the pretended author of the confession of St. Cyprian found in some MSS.” Diet. Christ Biog, Vol. I, p. 755.
Thus we may see the ongoing process of editing out all unorthodox ideas through the years and the conditioned history presented.
Dale, Anthony van. Seventeenth century writer on antiquities. Anthony van Dale de Oraculis Ethnicorum dissertationes duae...Accedit schediasma de consecrationibus ethnicis. Amstelodami, 1683. English translation by Mrs. Behn, London, 1699. See also entry for Fontenelle.
Dalton, John (1766-1844). English physicist, chemist, and meteorologist, was born at Eaglesfield, Cumberland of Quaker stock, receiving his early education from them, and teaching a school for two years, till 1778. Left to engage in farm work, but later became an assistant at a school in Kendal in 1781. Became its joint manager, 1785, holding this position with his brother Jonathon, until 1793 when he moved to Manchester. Through the agency of his close friend John Gough (1757-1825), he was appointed instructor of mathematics and natural philosophy at New College (later transferred to Manchester College) until 1799, thereafter becoming a public and private teacher in science. Became secretary of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society in 1800, and its president in 1817, contributing 116 articles to its journal over years. He had become a corresponding member of the French Academy of Sciences in 1816, and contributed to a number of other scientific periodicals. Throughout his life he pursued independent research in chemistry and physics, being known for his atomic theory is chemistry, such views being suggested to him by his analysis of the properties of gases, which became the foundation for modern chemistry. His interest in weather dates from 1787 when he started his meteorological diary which accounted for over 200,000 observations in 57 years, and were the basis of many of his later discoveries. He was among the first to postulate that all elastic fluids can be reduced to liquids by some means...pressure, low 524temperature, vacuum, evaporation, etc. Dalton’s atomic theory was outlined in Dr. Thomson’s System of Chemistry, in the third edition, 1807, but was not elaborated until Dalton wrote his New System of Chemical Philosophy, 1808, in two parts. For some reason the second part of this title appeared in 1810, though the first part was not issued until 1827, and, an expected addition to Volume II, never appeared. He was not noted as a polished writer, and lacked the qualities of oration, often using intermediaries to convey his ideas. In 1840, a paper on phosphates was refused, so he published it privately, as well as four other papers, including “on the quantity of acids, etc.," “on an easy Method of analysing salts etc.,” containing his discovery that certain anhydrous salts dissolved in water do not increase its volume. Sir Humphry Davy described him as an intuitive investigator.
His major works include: Elements of English Grammar, London, Manchester, 1801; Philosophic Essays, (Vol. V, part ii, Memoires of the Literary and Philosophical Society); Meteorlogical observations and essays, London, 1793. He died at Manchester, May, 1844.
De Cusa, Nicolas. (Cardinal) See Khryppfs, Nicolas de Cusa.
Delaplace, Bishop of China. “Missions de la Chine. Lettre de M. Delaplace, Missionaire Lazariste, a un Pretre du diocese de Sens,” Annates de ¡Association de la propagation de la foi. (published at Lyon, France) Volume XXIV, No. 143, July, 1852.
Della Penna, Horace. See Penna Di Billi, Francesco Arazio Della.
Democritus. Greek physical philosopher born circa 460 B.C. at Abdera in Thrace. Tradition has it that he was a contemporary of Socrates, that he inherited property, and that this boon enabled him to travel extensively in the East searching for information. He studied mathematics and sciences for seven years in Egypt, and it is unknown to what degree he may have been influenced by the hierophants of the temples. He returned to Greece destitute, and was the recipient of a public collection on his behalf; another tradition has it that he was considered insane and that Hippocrates cured him. Diodorus Siculus says that he died at age 90, others claim an additional 20 years longevity. His works numbered 72 and are written in a clear style, but most have been lost. He was considered the Aristotle of the 5th century. His doctrines include: that oneness and immobility were not a characteristic of Being, but eternal sameness is; that invisible, absolutely small atoms completely fill the space they occupy homogeneously, throughout the universe; that the human soul was 525comprised of a psychic atom intercalated between two corporeal atoms, and that life itself is maintained by the inhalation of fresh atoms, death occurring from the cessation of breath; most importantly, that man is a fortuitous agglomeration of blindly driven atoms...an idea that was accepted to a degree in many quarters. Democritus was anti-theistic, but conceded a class of hyper subtle man-like beings dwelling in the upper regions of the air, who sometimes influenced men through dreams; his system of ethics, that the true pleasure to be sought is the good humor and tranquility of the soul; extremes to be avoided. Democritus’ philosophy is very close to that of modern science in many ways, and is generally opposed to that of Plato. His extant writings are to be found in the Loeb Classical Library series of Harvard U. Press.
Diaz del Castillo, Bernal (1492-1581). Hisioria verdadera de la Conquista de la Nueva-Espana...Sacada a luz por A. Ramon. Madrid, 1632. Folio; also 1795 in 4 vols; 1854, 4 vols.
Dionysius, Saint. The Areopagite. a great deal of controversy surrounding the identity of this figure who is identified with St. Denys of the town of St. Denis north of Paris...is explored at length in Ency. Brit. Vol. 8, p. 284 (11th ed.) and in Dictionary of Christian Biography, by Smith & Wace, Vol. I, p. 841-48. The true author of the Celestial, and Ecclesiastical Hierarchies, is also a subject of conjecture. St. Denys is however said to be one of few to postulate an angelic host as artificer of the cosmos, acting on behalf of the Supreme. An important translator of these works was John Scotus Erigena, who rendered them into Latin about the ninth century. They appear in Patrologie Cursus Completus, Series Graeca, tomes 3 & 4, edited by J.P. Migne. The original Erigena translation is in the same series Latina, tome 122; Paris, 1844. English translation by Rev. J. Parker as: Works of Dioy sius the Areopagite, now first translated into English from the original Greek. 2 parts, London & Oxford, 1897-99).
Domitian, Titus Flavius. (51-96 A.D.). Roman emperor, son of Vespasian. Though nominally a partner in the empire with his 526brother Titus, he lived a retiring life of pleasure until the convenient death of Titus made him supreme ruler. Publicly his reforms improve the status quo, but he styled himself Lord and God in public documents, and lead a life of secret indulgences. He was suspicious of everyone, constantly feared for his life, and finally fell victim to intrigue against his own wife, which she reversed by dint of a well placed blade, in his bedchambers on September 18th, 96 A.D.
Drach, David Paul Louis Bernard. (Chevalier) Librarian of the Propaganda in Rome, born March 6, 1791, Strasburg. Educated by his father, a rabbi, then at Talmudic schools, becoming a teacher at Rappoltsweiler, age 16. Tutor for a wealthy Jewish family in Paris, gaining some Christian converts, and studying Greek and Latin. His probe of earliest canons lead him to the analysis of the Septuagint and Hebrew. In 1823 he embraced Catholicism together with his two daughters and a son, Paul — who was later a biblical scholar. He accepted the position of Librarian in 1827. His writings are extensive, and include: an edition of The Bible of Venice, 27 vols., with copious notes, Paris, 1827-33; Del’harmonie entre l’Eglise et la Synagogue, ou perpétuité et Catholicité de la Religion Chrétienne, 2 vols., Paris, 1844. His death occurred at Rome, January 1865.
Drummond, Sir William (1770-1828). Oedipus Judaicus, London, 1811. Biographical data in B. C. W. Vol. Ill, p. 502.
Dunlap, Samuel Fales (1825-1905). Sod, the Son of Man, London & Edinburgh, 1861. This constitutes “Vol. II” of Sod, in many cases; the first volume being, Sod, The Mysteries of Adonai. Both were published by Williams and Norgate in 1861. However, the two sections were issued together in a single binding from the publisher, with either one occurring first, and the two were also available bound separately, Son of Man, is considered to be “Vol. II.” For more, see B. C. W. Vol. VII, p. 368.
Ellenborough, Lady Jane Elizabeth (1807-1881). Second wife of Edward Law, 1st Earl of Ellenborough (1790-1871) whom she married September 15, 1824 and from whom she was divorced in 1830 by act of Parliament. The reason for this was her adultery with Prince Schwartzenburg in 1828. The Earl had a child by her who died in 1830. Her third marriage was to Sheik Midjwal el Mezrab, i.e., of the tribe of Mezrab, a branch of the Anazeh Bedouins at Damascus. Jane Elizabeth was the daughter of Admiral Sir Henry Digby, and was a woman of great beauty and linguistic and artistic talents; she had an adventurous career in Europe, and later resided for many 527years in camp in the desert near Damascus. Consult Revue Britannique, March and April, 1873, quoting an account of her by her friend Isabel, Lady Burton.
Ennemoser, Joseph (1787-1854). History of Magic, Bohns Library, London, 1854. Vide, B.C.W., Vol. V, pp. 373.
Eudocia, Aelia, Empress (also, Achiva) (393-ca.46O A.D.) Wife of Theodosius II, daughter of Leontius, a sophist of Athens, her original name being Athenais. Another account has her deprived of inheritance, and seeking redress from Pulcheria at Constantinople, who arranged her marriage. Socrates Scholasticus (6th century) says she was highly educated by her father, which is apparent from her poetical works. She rendered into Greek Hexameters, the Pentateuch, the Books of Joshua, of Judges; a version of Zechariah, of Daniel, and a poem in three books on St. Cyprian of Antioch and St. Justina. Photius speaks of her works with high praise. Her brothers who had been instrumental in syphoning her inheritance, were appointed to high office, saying she was actually indebted to them by her good fortune. Her daughter Eudoxia Licinia married Vallentinus III of Jerusalem, and the Empress visited the new alliance with gifts, made speeches at Antioch, and ordered the walls of the city restored. After a period of misunderstanding with the Emperor, she returned to Jerusalem, where she passed her final days. Her daughter’s name being so similar to her own, confusion exists as to which authored the piece on St. Cyprian. History mentions no writings by Eudoxia Licinia, though she lived closer to Antioch than her mother, and was also an Empress by marriage.
Eutyches (circa 380-456 A.D.). A presbyter and archimandrite of a monastery near Constantinople. He lived a monastic life for over 70 years, and for 30 years presided over his 300 monks. He was said to be honest and pious, but narrow minded, and full of zeal against Nestorianism and heresy, which he attacked with fervor in unique language. Pope Leo referred to him as “an imprudent and not very learned man.” He enjoyed the favor of court, and was a champion of Cyril of Alexandria, But neither could prevail against Eutyches’ enemies when he was accused of improper ideas. His foremost accuser was Eusebius in 448, at the synod convened by the new archbishop Flavian, on November 8th, at Constantinople. The blow by blow account of the proceedings are outlined from existing records of the event. (See Diet. Christ. Biog. by Smith & Wace, London, 1880; Vol. II, p. 404-412).
528 Fabre D’Olivet, Antoine (1767-1825). French writer and mystic. For biographical data see B. C. W. Vol. VII, p. 368.
Fadeyev, Nadyezhda Andreyevna de (1829-1919). H. P. B.’s aunt. See: B.C. W. III, p. 507.
Firmanus Tarutius. Mathematician and astrologer, close friend of Varro and Cicero, flourishing during the first century B.C. At Varro’s request he calculated the horoscope of Romulus, founder of Rome, by working backwards from known events in Romulus’ life to fix the birthdate. According to Firmanus, Romulus was born on the 23rd of September, in the second year of the second Olympiad, or B.C. 771, and his day for the founding of Rome is given as April 9th; but according to Plutarch no year is given. The name Firmanus is derived from his native town of Firmun (now Fermo) in the Marca d’Ancona, and Tarutius is an Etruscan appelai ion, which ancestry is said to account for his interest in mathematics. Firmanus wrote at least one work on astrology in the Greek language, but modern accounts do not specify its title. Others who mention him are Cicero, de Divin, ii.47; Licinius Macer, ap. Macrobins Saturnalia, i.10; Augustin, de Civ. Dei, vi. 7.
Flammarion, Nicolas Camille (1842-1925). H. P. B. cites his commentary of the 17th century Jesuits of Germany, Julius Schillerus and Joannes Bayer. Each published works on renaming the celestial hosts, Bayer being the more prolific writer. Two which contain Flammarion’s reference are: Coelum Stellatum Christianum...obductis Gentilium simulaechris... humili conatu et voto J. Schilleri... socialli opera J. Bayeri... Uranometrium novam, priore accuratiorum locupletioremque supeditantis: M. Kageri picturam primo concinnantis: scalpello, qua imagines, L. Kiliani; qua stellas, C. Scheksii, etc., Augustae Vindelicorum, 1627. (oblongfolio)and; J.B. Uranometria, omnium Asteris morum continens Schemata, nova methodo delineata, aeris laminus expressa. Augustae Vindelicorum, 1603 (folio) and; J.B. Explicatio characterum aeneis Uranometrias imaginum tabulis insculptorum, addita et commodiore hoc forma tertium redintegrata. Augustae Vindelicorum, 1654. For a biographical profile of Flammarion, see B. C. W. Vol. Ill, p. 509.
Fleury, Amedee. (dates as yet untraced). St. Paul et Sénèque; recherches sur les rapports du philosophe avec l’Apôtre et l’infiltration du Christianisme, etc, etc., Paris, 1853. 2 vols.
Fontenelle, Bernard le Bovier de (1657-1757). French author born at 529Rouen, died 100 years later at Paris. Educated by Jesuits he showed precocious versatility, and was urged to join their order, but deferred for a law career. Losing his first case, he became wholly devoted to literary pursuits. His first drama, Aspar was a total failure in 1680. But Voltaire praised his Thetis et Pelée, 1689, and subsequently over fifty works were produced, making Fontenelle one of Frances’ most widely read authors. In spite of the determined efforts of Racine and Boileau, he was admitted to the French Academy on the fifth try, and in 1691 he became perpetual secretary to the Academie des Sciences, which he occupied for 42 years. He wrote epitaphs, histories, plays, operas, on mathematics, and a work inferred by H.P.B., Histoire des Oracles, Paris 1687. This work created a stir in theological circles, and was the reason he was opposed for the Academie. It was later translated into English by S. Watley as The History of Oracles, London, 1750. It generated a refutation by a Jesuit: Response à l’Histoire des Oracles de Μ. de Fontenelle, dans laquelle on réfute le system de Mr. Van-Dale sur les auteurs des oracles du paganisme. By J. F. Blatus, Strasbourg, 1707; 2nd ed, 1709; also in Migne, J.P., Encyclopaédie Théologique, Vol. 49, Paris 1846. There was an English tr. as, An Answer to Mr. de Fontenelle’s History of Oracles, etc, etc. (anonymous) 2 parts, London, 1709-10. Complete editions of his works have been issued repeatedly, one of the best being the Paris edition of 1790 in 8 vols. (See also, Dale, Anthony Van.)
Foucher, Paul (Abbé) (1704-?). Traité historique de la religion des Perses, in Mémoires de L’Académie des Inscriptiones, Vol. XXV. See also B.C. W. Vol. XIII, p. 381.
Franciscos Arnolfinus Lucensis. See: Amolfmus, Franciscus, Lucensis.
Freppel, Charles Emile, Abbe (1827-1891). Bishop of Angers. Les Apologistes Crétiens au Deuxieme Siècle. St. Justin... Cours d’éloquence sacrée, etc. (Tatzen, Hermias, Athénagore, Théophile d’Antioche, Méliton de Sardes, etc.) Paris, A. Bray, 1860. See also B.C. W. Vol. XIII, p. 381.
Füerst, Julius (1805-1872). Hebräisches und Chaldäisches Handwörterbuch über das Alte Testament. Leipzig, B. Tauchnitz. 1851-61, 2 vols.; tr. into English by S. Davidson, London, 1867-71. See also B.C. W. Vol. VIII, p. 437, for profile.
Gamaliel I. Son of Simon, and grandson of Hillel, first president of the Great Sanhedrin of Jerusalem, and first to receive the title ‘Rabban.’ The apostle Paul prided himself upon sitting at his feet. Little is 530known of his activities because of tradition of anonymity which his school practiced. However a number of his wise sayings have come down to us, including the one referred to by H.P.B. He lived in the first century, and tradition has it that on more than one occasion he was not unkind to Christians. He had a son and a daughter, his son becoming equally well known, (see Gamaliel II).
Gill, Charles. (1824-?) The Evolution of Christianity. 2nd ed., London, Williams & Norgate, 1884. xcvi. 397 pp. also authored the introduction to Archbishop Richard Laurences’ last edition of The Book of Enoch, London, 1883. Reprinted with new notes and index, by Wizards Bookshelf, Minneapolis, 1972, San Diego, 1977, 1983.
Godwin, William. (1756-1836) Author of 23 miscellaneous works, the last of which was, Lives of the Necromancers, London, 1834. Second edition, 1876. This work was considered irreligious by the press and received enmity at the time of its publication.
Gougenot Des Mousseaux, Le Chevalier Henri-Roger (1805-1878). Controversial writer who died under mysterious circumstances. Dieu et les Dieux, Paris, Laguy frere, 1854. For a complete list of his works and additional data see B. C. W. Vol. V, p. 374.
Gregory, St. of Nazianzus (329-389 A.D.) Surnamed Theologus, one of the fathers of the Eastern Church, born at Nazianzus in Cappadocia. His studies carried him to Athens and Alexandria, where he knew Basil and Julian prior to their later prominence. Inclined towards monastic life, he was caught up in the philosophical storms then raging and helped quell the bickering. Though assigned to positions he fled these responsibilities only to be given new duties, mainly because of his eloquence in defending Origen. At Constantinople his successes gained for him a large Church for the orthodox party, and his sermons were heard by Jerome and Evagrius. His five discourses on the trinity are considered a basic Catholic doctrine, and a bastion of the formerly vacillating tenents, thus the beginning of what we now call Christianity. After convening the second ecumenical council in 381 he received the consecration and title of Metropolitan, which however generated jealousy and envy, and he soon withdrew to pursue literary interests, and poetry, passing away in 389. His Opera Omnia (complete works) were first published by Hervagius at Basel, 1550; several later editions.
Guinness, Henry Grattan (1835-1910) The Approaching End of the Age, 531viewed in the light of history, prophesy and science, 4th ed., London, Hodder and Stoughton, 1880. xxxi, 696 pp.
Hadrian, Publius Aelius (76-138 A.D.). Roman emperor noted for his competent and just rule. His early life demonstrated his abilities in an ascending military career. In 117 he succeeded Trajan as emperor, and redrew the empire within the limits of Augustus, which rendered it manageable. He helped the poor, rescinded back taxes covering 15 years, and instituted equitable reforms. Beginning in 121 and lasting five years, he traveled throughout what is now France, Germany, England, Spain, Africa, and the Middle East, and was initiated into the Mysteries at Eleusinia in 125. A second journey through the Middle East in 128 was notable for the many architectural restorations accomplished. It is said that on November 21st, at sunrise, 130 he heard the music which issued from the statue of Memnon at Thebes. Part of his great success can be laid to the policy of maintaining his provincial governors under the strictest supervision, of specifying codes of dress, and morality, leniency with slaves, and the prohibition of elaborate banquets. He was said to possess amazing memory, wrote in Latin and Greek with versatility, and exhibited broad changes in personality, while maintaining a great love of nature.
Hai Ben Sherira. Gaon of the Pumbedita Academy at Babylon. Born 939, died 1038. Received Talmudic education from his father Sherira, and acted as assistant teacher, until his 44th year when he became ‘ab bet din’ making joint decisions. Calif Al-Kadir in 997 imprisoned them, and following release, the father appointed his son Hai to the position of gaon in 998. As head of the Babylonian Academy, his many decisions affecting the Diaspora from throughout the world, numbered over 800. His writings were voluminous and included studies in philology using Arabic and Aramaic, and a dictionary of difficult words with the Arabic title of Al-Hawi. Parts were published by Harkavy in “Mizpah", St. Petersburg, 1886. He also wrote poetry in Hebrew with an Arabic metre, the Muzar Haskel, in 189 double verses. In his administration he consulted authorities from all religions, and in his outward attitude on Cabalah, he was conservative, admonishing his followers to read the Talmud, but at the same time he occasionally betrayed this stance with hints of deeper learning. He was the last gaon of the Babylonian Pumbedita, surviving Samuel Ha-Kohen ben Hofni of the Sura school at Babylon by 4 years. In the following century, an academy was in existence at Palestine with a gaon, and later, one at Damascus. See also B.C. W. Vol. VIII, p. 439.
532 Haller, Albrecht von, Baron (1708-1777). Swiss anatomist and physiologist. His poem referred to by H.P.B., Uber den Ursprung des Ubels, in, Versuch Schweizerischer Gedichte, Gottingen, 1768. Later translated in, The Poems of Baron Haller, by Mrs. Howorth, London, 1794. for biographical profile, see B. C. W. Vol. IV, p. 650.
Hardy, Robert Spence (1803-1868). A Manual of Budhism, in its modern developement; translated from Singhalese MSS. London, 1853, 2nd ed., Williams & Norgate, London, 1880. xii. 566 pp. See B. C. W. Vol. X, p. 417, for biographical profile.
Hare, Robert (1781-1858). Professor, chemist. See B. C. W. Vol. I, p. 467 for bio-bibliographical profile.
Hartmann, Dr. Franz (1838-1912). Extensive bio-bibliographical profile with letters from Mahatmas in, B.C. W. Vol. VIII, p. 439.
Heliodorus. Bishop of Altinum. circa 400 A.D. An extensive section regarding the statements of Jerome and correspondence with Heliodorus and Chromatius is covered in B. C. W. Vol. VIII, p. 233-39; biographical profile on p. 458.
Herschel, Sir John Frederick William (1792-1871). A preliminary discourse on the study of Natural Philosophy, 1831. Cabinet Cyclopaedia, conducted by Dionysius Lardner, London, 1830-49; 133 volumes.
Hieronymous, Saint, (Jerome, ca. 340-420). See B. C. W., Vol. IV, p. 653; Vol. VIII, pp. 233-39 with text reproduced, and p. 460; and Vol. IX, p. 579; and Vol. XI, p. 420.
Higgins, Godfrey. (1773-1833) The Celtic Druids, London, 1829. Reprinted by Philosophical Research Society, with intro, by Manly Hall, Los Angeles, 1977. For biographical profile, see B. C. W. Vol. XIII, p. 458.
Hiuen-tsang or Hsuan-tsang (596-664). A great scholar, traveler and teacher of Buddhism. At thirteen he entered a monastery of the Pure Land school. However, in 618 he began travelling around China in search of the true teaching of Buddhism. Still searching, he left China and visited over 100 countries in Asia, spending sixteen years in India and five at Nalanda University, the center of Buddhist learning. When he returned to China in 645, he brought over 650 Buddhist works, and with imperial patronage began the largest translation project in Chinese history. Having decided that the Yogacara School as 533taught by Vasubandu, (420?-500) was the most correct, he systematized the interpretations of ten Indian philosphers and produced his famous Treatise on Consciousness-Only. Hiuen-tsang’s life, teachings and translations assure him the lasting admiration of all searchers for truth. For an excellent short introduction to his philosophy, see W.T. Chan’s Chinese Philosophy, ch. 23, Princeton U. Press, 1963; also The Doctrine of Mere-Consciousness tr. by Wei Tat, Ch’eng Wei-Shih Lun Pub. Committee, Hong Kong, 1973; and Si- Yu-Ki, Buddhist Records of the Western World tr. by S. Beal, 1884, rpr. by Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, 1982.
Horne, Thomas Hartwell. (1780-1862). An Introduction to the critical study and knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. 10th edition, revised, corrected, and brought down to the present time. Edited by the author, the Rev. S. Davidson, and S.P. Tregelles. London, 1856. 4 vols. The first edition appeared in 3 vols., 1818-21, and the eleventh edition was the basis for several later criticisms and Bible commentaries by other authors. Horne’s work was the accepted standard of the era. E.V.H. Kenealy quotes Horne in ‘Book V’ of The Book of God, which carries the red letter subtitle of The Apocalypse of Adam-Oannes. See B. C. W. Vol. VIII, p. 462, for additional data on Kenealy’s works, which are now scarce.
Huc, Evariste Régis (1813-1860). French missionary and traveler born at Toulouse. In his 24th year he entered the Lazarists at Paris, and in 1839 went to China to spend a period in the Lazarist seminary there. Following instruction in the language, he settled north of Peking with a scattered population of converts at He Shuy valley within Mongolia. He energetically pursued Tartar customs and dialect, translating many religious passages, and in September 1844 prepared to set forth from Dolon Nor with a Tibetan convert and a fellow Lazarist to spread the word among the population. Assuming the dress of lamas, they advanced to the Ordos desert, crossed the flooded Hwang-Ho and reached Tang-Kiul in January 1845. They then awaited the arrival of a returning Tibetan embassy to accompany to Lhasa, meanwhile residing at the famous Kumbum Lamasery with its 4000 monks. They then joined the embassy of 2000 men and 3,700 animals across Koko Nor, arriving in Lhasa January 29, 1846. They were allowed to open a small chapel, but were recalled by the Chinese ambassador, to Canton in October, remaining there three years. Hue returned to Paris in 1852 in poor health, publishing his Souvenirs d’un voyage dans la Tartaric, le Thibet, et la Chine pendant les années 1844-46. Paris, 2 vols, 1850. H.P.B. states in Isis Unveiled that the first printing of this working was suppressed, Abbé Hue censured, and a revised 534edition was immediately issued. An English translation appeared by W. Hazlitt, London, 1851. Hue’s writings also appeared in Annales de la propagation de la foi, including letters and memoires.
Hui Neng (638-713). The major inspiration for the growth of Ch’an Buddhism in China. A poor, illiterate, seller of firewood, he overheard a customer reciting the Diamond Sütra and gained his initial enlightenment. His life and profound teachings are in The Sixth Patriarch’s Sütra with the commentary of Tripitaka Master Hua, tr. bythe Buddhist Text Translation Society, San Francisco, 1977.
Jacob, George Adolphus. Major of the Bombay Staff Corps, inspector of Army schools. A Manual of Hindu Pantheism. The Vedantasara, with annotations, translated by G. A. Jacobs. Trübners Oriental Series, London, 1881.
Jacobi, Hermann Georg. Orientalist. See, Sacred Books of the East Series, edited by F.M. Müller. Also, B.C. W. Vol. IV, p. 512.
Jam-yang-shay-ba (1648-1721). An author of Buddhist study manuals used to this day by many Gelukpas of Tibet, India & Mongolia. A short sketch of his life and works by Lokesh Chandra appeared in Central Asiatic Journal, Dec. 1962, pp. 264-69; for a study and translation of his Great Exposition of the Tenets, see Meditation on Emptiness by Jeffrey Hopkins, Wisdom Pubs., London, 1983.
Jellinek, Adolf (1821-1893). Philosophie und Kabbala; Erstes Heft Enthält. etc, etc., Leipzig, 1854. See B.C. W. Vol. VIII, p. 460, for profile.
Jerome. See St. Hieronymus.
Jones, Sir William (1746-1794). Orientalist and jurist born at London. At Harrow, distinguished himself in oriental languages, beginning with Arabic and Hebrew, and learning French and Italian on holidays. With the help of a Syrian Mirza, he learned Persian, and perfected Arabic at Oxford starting in 1764. Later added Spanish, Portuguese, and started Chinese. Supported himself by tutoring and obtained a fellowship in 1766. To improve finances he studied law, becoming a member of the bar in 1774, and commissioner of bankruptcy in 1776. Appointed judge of the supreme court at Calcutta and knighted in 1783. Founded, the Bengal Asiatic Society in 1784 remaining its president until his death from overwork on April 27th, 1794. His most well known works are: Ordinances of Manu, 1794; Mohammedan Law of Inheritance, 1792; Grammar of the Persian language, 5351771; and from Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, the Hitopadesa, Gitagovinda, the Kalidasa,and much of the Vedas. He knew 13 languages well, and was aquainted with 28 more. A complete edition of his works has been compiled by Anna Maria Jones, London, 1801, 8 vols.
Jowett, Benjamin (1817-1893). English scholar and theologian, master of Balliol College, Oxford. After early school at St. Pauls, Obtained a fellowship in 1838, graduating with honors in 1839. Studied theology, going to Germany in 1845-46 with A.P. Stanley. Appointed to Greek professorship in 1855, having been a clergyman since 1842 as well as a tutor at Balliol, he was a factor in university reforms that became an oct in 1854. He was on the commission for Indian civil service reform, and was refused the mastership of Balliol in 1854, so threw himself into The Epistles of St. Paul, a controversial work which dogged him throughout life. He then coedited a volume of Essays and Reviews, 1860, which seemed to foster an outbreak of fanaticism, resulting in further enmity from the college. He continued to work on reforms, and laid the ground for the Tests Act of 1871, while developing strong support for himself from his students. The college pulpit was closed to him, but he gave sermons at Westminster Abbey from 1866 until his death. When his Dialogues of Plato was published in 1871, he had managed to at last become master the year before, his rule being described as ‘beneficent despotism.’ He also produced Aristotle’s Politics, a translation of Thucydides, Essay on the Religions of the World, Commentary on the Gospels, Life of Christ, and Moral Ideas, among many others. Those interested in the real meaning of the Dialogues of Plato, must take into consideration what Prof. Jowett remarked when asked about the Parmenides.. “just vain phantasies.” See also B. C. W. Vol. XIII, p. 147-157, where these matters receive more attention.
Julian. (Flavius Claudius Julianus) called Julian the Apostate (331-363). Roman emperor, born at Constantinople, son of Julius Constantius, nephew of Constantine the Great, his family ruled at the time Christianity became the religion of Rome. His mother died in the year after he was born, his uncle Constantine when he was only six, and his father and townsfolk massacred about the same time, only he and his half brother Gallus being spared because of youth and sickness. Julian was educated by Eusibius, bishop of Nicomedia, and by Mardonius, his brother having been banished until 344, when the two were sent to a remote castle in Cappadocia. Though trained in Christianity, he became attracted to the pagan philosophy then popular among teachers of the time, and being completely cut off, devoted all his energies towards its pursuit. In March 351 his brother 536Gallus was made Caesar, and Julius was able to return to Constantinople where he studied grammar and rhetoric until sent to Nicomedia, where he engaged many eminent thinkers of the era, furthering his knowledge of Pre-Christian philosophy, much of which is attributed to the Neoplatonist, Maximus of Ephesus. Gallus being headstrong, was put to death by Constantius, and Julian, under suspicion narrowly escaped death, was imprisoned at Milan, then released by the intercession of Empress Eusibia, and was ordered to Athens for a time. At this time Constantius being overwhelmed with duties, appointed him as Caesar of Gaul, married him to his sister Helena, asking Julian to halt the anarchy and marauding Alamanni who had burnt several cities. At a great battle at Strassburg, he defeated the opposing tribes in 357, restoring order and reducing taxes, governing from Paris. His success unnerved Constantius who now saw him as usurper, and, to weaken his power recalled several legions. At the farewell banquet in Paris the legions, leaders forced their way into Julian’s tent and proclaimed him either emperor or dead, thus he selected the former option, sending a message to Constantius who promptly prepared for war. After a rapid march to Sir- mium, word came of the Emperor’s death in November 361, and Julian was acknowledged sole ruler of the Roman empire. His great aim was to make the old philosophy the major influence of his reign, while he issued an edict of universal toleration, he also withheld certain teaching positions from Christians, and holding that the worship of the old gods had preference. After the winter of 362 at Constantinople, he went to Antioch, experiencing some friction with Christians there, and removed to Tarsus where he prepared to embark on the conquest of Persia. At Ctesiphon, he defeated a Persian army after crossing the Tigris, but misled by reports of a larger force elsewhere, he ended up trapped in a waterless wasteland surrounded by the opposing army. Julian’s legions held out until the 26th of June, 363, when he was mortally wounded. His deathbed speech has been recorded by Ammianus Marcellinus. He was the last advocate of polytheistic pantheism, and was universally respected by his subjects. Editions of his complete works have been issued by E. Spanhiem, Leipzig, 1696; F.C. Hertlein, Triibner Series, London, 1875-76, consisting of over 80 letters, 8 orations, including two theosophical declamations on King Helios and the Mother of the gods, Caesares or Symposium, the Misopogon (beardhater) which contains a description of Lutetia (Paris), five epigrams, and Adversus Christianos, which Theodosius II, ordered burned. See also the Thomas Taylor tr. of 1793. For Bohn’s Classical Library, The Theosophical Essays of the Emperor Julian, by C.W. King, London, 1888. See also B. C. W. XII, p. 101-103.
537 Julien, Stanislas Aignan (1797-1873). French orientalist born at Orleans, son of a mechanic. Studied classics at Collège de France, becoming assistant professor of Greek in 1821, and publishing a work of Coluthus with versions of French, Latin, English, German, Italian and Spanish. He then learned Chinese and published a Latin tr. of Mencius in 1824, and other Greek titles which were however, unprofitable. He was sub-librarian of the French Institute in 1827, and professor of Chinese at the College de France in 1832, being elected to the Académie des Inscriptions in 1833. He was also the joint keeper the Bibliothèque with superintendence of Chinese works in 1839, His Tao te King appeared in 1842, and after learning Sanskrit, Voyages du pèlerin Hiouen-tsang, 1853. His secret of rapid learning was said to be his methodical assembling of idiomatic expressions and phrases, which were found on 250,000 cards ordered carefully in a series of boxes discovered after his death. H.P.B. refers to his Histoire de la vie de Hiouen-Thseng, etc, which is contained in Voyages des Pèlerins Bouddhistes, etc, etc, 3 vols., Paris. 1853-58. (The general title only appears in volume 2 and 3).
Jyotisa Vedânga. A very profound and controversial work on Indian Astronomy. To date only two complete English translations exist: The Obscure Text of the Jyotisha Vedânga Explained by Bârhaspatyah (Lala Chhote Lal), Allahabad, 1907; and Vedangajyautisha ed. by Dr. R. Shamsastry, Mysore, 1936. A valuable study, with only Part I in English is Bharatiya Jyotish Sastra by S.B. Dikshit, tr. by R.V. Vaidya, Calcutta and Delhi, 1969.
Kâlachakra Tantra. A deeply esoteric Buddhist work that did not become well known in Asia until the 11th century. There is little in translation and even less understanding, of this or any Tantra in the West. For some of the background of the Kâlachakra teachings see The Books of Kiu-te by D. Reigle, Wizards Bookshelf, San Diego, 1983; and The Way to Shambhala by Edwin Bernbaum, Anchor Books, New York, 1980; for a study of the qualifications for Tantric practice see Meditations of a Tibetan Tantric Abbot by Kensur Lekden, tr. by J. Hopkins, Library of Tibetan Works & Archives, Dharamsala, 1974.
Karaim Jews of the Crimea, or Karaites, Qaraites. Said to number about 12,000 in 1904, about 10,000 in the Crimean districts of southern Russia around Eupatoia, Theodosia, and Sevastopol. Their chief synagogue was at Bakh-chisari, now deserted. The founder of 538the sect was one Anan,, about 780 A.D. who emphasized aceticism. For a large article see, Jewish Encyclopedia, Vol. VII, p. 438, Funk and Wagnalls, London & NYC, 1907.
Kardec, Allan. (psued. of Rivail, Hippolyte Leon Denizard; 1803-1869), See B.C. W. Vol. V, p. 375.
Katzenellenbogen: a name used by H.P.B. in a Russian article. Etymology untraced.
Keightley, Dr. Archibald. (1859-1930). For biographical data, see B.C.W. Vol. IX, p. 427.
Kenealy, Edward Vaughan Hyde. (1819-1880). The Book of God, the Apocalypse of Adam-Oannes, London, Reeves & Turner, (1867). See B.C. W. Vol. VIII, p. 462 for biographical profile.
Kennedy, Major-General Vans (1784-1846), Researches into Origin and affinity of the principal Languages of Asia and Europe. London, 1828. Biographical profile B. C. W. Vol. IX, p. 438.
Khryppfs, Nicolas de Cusa, Cardinal (1401-1464). Son of a fisherman of Cusa near the Moselle river a few miles from Metz. In youth employed by Count Ulrich of Manderschied, who seeing potential sent him to school at Deventer, then the university at Padua, where he received a doctorate in law at age 23. Losing in his first case, he abandoned law to take holy orders. After a period of subordinate positions he became archdeacon of Liege. He was a member of the council of Basel, writing De concordantia Catholica, on the superiority of councils over popes, and assailing Constantine. Later he reversed himself, defending the Pope. He was entrusted with missions to unite the Eastern and Western churches, and from 1440 to 1447 he acted as papal legate in Germany. In 1448, Nicholas V made him a Cardinal, and in 1450 he was appointed Bishop of Brixen, against the wishes of Austrian archduke Sigismund. In 1451 he was sent to rectify ecclesiastical abuses in Germany and the Netherlands, and was successful, but upon returning, his bishopric was in dispute with Sigismund. The bishop was imprisoned, thus the Pope excommunicated the archduke. Nicholas de Cusa spent much of his time on political writings that would save him from the inquisitors rack, because of the hermetic learning that surfaced on many occasions. He was accused of pantheism in his De docta ignorantia, 1440, which contains theosophical ideas throughout. A hundred years later, they were 539developed by Giordano Bruno. In mathematics and physical science he anticipated all his contemporaries, readjusting the calendar by a method eventually used by Gregory, and fixing the sun with the earth revolving around it, 50 years before Copernicus. He professed to have solved the problem of: De Quadrature! Circuit as well. An early translation of De docta ignorantia was: The Idiot in four books; the first and second of wisdome, the third of the Minde, the fourth of statick experiments, etc., by the famous and lerned C. Cusanus, London, (May 22) 1650. Most recently; Of Learned Ignorance, by G. Heron, RKP, London, 1954.
King, Charles, William (1818-1888). The Gnostics and Their Remains. London, 1864. 2nd ed., with bibliographical appendix by J.Jacobs, London, D. Nutt & Co., 1887, xxiii, 466 pp.; reprint of the 2nd edition with expanded bibliography by Wizards Bookshelf, Minneapolis, 1973; San Diego, 1982. See B. C. IV. Vol. XIII, p. 387 for profile.
Kircher, Athanasius (1601-1680). Vide B.C.W. Vol. XIII, p. 388; Vol. VII, p. 378.
Kischuph. “runes and kischuph in mediaeval libraries”...untraced to date. Possible relation to kischen, a variation of kischen, being a term used on the Isle of Man for a peck; one quarter of a bushel, or measures.
Kiu-te, Books of. Tibetan works contained in the Kanjur and Tanjur of the Tibetan Buddhist Canon. Since 1975 several reproductions of block print editions of the original have been reprinted. The overview of recent studies and a comprehensive bibliography are contained in: The Books of Kiu-te, or the Tibetan Buddhist Tantras, by David Reigle, Wizards Bookshelf, San Diego, 1983. 80 pp. See also B.C. W. Vol. VI, p. 425.
Klaproth, Heinrich Julius von (1783-1835); referring to the age of the Hebrew characters. See Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series, Vol. VII, p. 275, 1825; Also see, Observations sur les racines des langues semetiques, in: Principes de I’etude comparative des langues, etc., Paris, 1828. For biographical profile see B. C. W. Vol. IX, p. 440.
Kumarajiva (344-413). Arriving in China in 401, his teachings and translations of Nagarjuna’s works presented correctly the basic principle of the Middle Way, sunyata or emptiness. Emptiness not as actual vacuity or a universal substance, but as the relativity or interdependent causation of all things. Even today, his Chinese versions of the 540Lotus and Diamond Sutras are the standard translations, for example, The Threefold Lotus Sutra, trs. by B. Katô, Y. Tamura & K. Miyasaka, Weatherhill, N.Y., 1975.
LaGrange, Joseph Louis. (1736-1813) French mathematician born at Turin, 25th of January, eldest of eleven children, of which only he and his youngest brother survived infancy. At the college of Turin he showed only modest interest in geometry and literary studies, but an interest in Halley’s comet generated a letter to Leonhard Euler on ‘isoperimetrical’ problems, known later as the Calculus of Variations. He was appointed mathematician for the royal school of artillery in 1754, and four years later formed the basis for the Turin Academy of Sciences. One of his first successes dealt with the propagation of sound in air and harmonies of strings by differential equations. By 26 he was on the summit of fame, but reduced to poor health in his exertions by an attack of bilious hypochondria, which caused him to engage in a program of exercise, thus restoration to a degree. In 1764 he won a prize for an essay on the libration of the moon, and he again won prizes of the Academie in 1772, 74, 78. In 1766 LaGrange had been installed as director of the mathematical department at the Berlin Academy, a wife provided for him as a social requisite; however she died of a lingering illness after a few years despite his efforts. Following the death of Frederick the Great, he moved to Paris where he was patronized by Marie Antoinette, had a healthy income, and lived in the Louvre. However he fell into melancholy, being curious only about the Revolution then in motion. Following this period, he again became active, being on the commission for weights and measures, worked on the metric system, and was married again in 1792. He was also on the Bureau of Longitudes as well as many other prestigious societies. His chief works are: Mécanque analytique, new edition augmented, Paris 1811-15 in 2 volumes; Rapport sur les grandes tables trigonometrique decimales du cadastre, etc, (n.p.) Paris, 1801; Théorie des functions analytiques, Paris, 1813; Traité de la résolution des equations numériques de tous les degrés, etc. Paris 1808. In addition a complete edition of his writings has been issued as, Oeuvres de Lagrange, Paris, 1867-77. 7 volumes.
Lankâvatâra Sutra. The major scriptural guide for Ch’an Buddhists of China in the 5th thru 7th centuries. Still valued today, but less so than the Diamond and Heart Sutras. See D.T. Suzuki’s Studies in the Lankâvatâra Sutra and his tr. The Lankâvatâra Sutra, both pub. by Routledge, London, 1930 & 1932.
541 Lapide, Cornelius Cornelii a. (Cornelis Cornelissen van den Steen) (1567-1637). Bible commentator on the angels as stars, specific passage not yet located in: The Great Commentary of Cornelius a Lapide, translated by Rev. Thomas N. Mossman. London, 1876. See also additional data and profile in B.C. W. Vol. VII, p. 379.
LaPlace, Pierre Simon, Marquis de (1749-1827). French mathematician born at Beaumont-en-Auge, Normandy, March 28th, son of a farmer, he taught mathematics at a military school in Beaumont at a young age. His letter to J.B. d’Alembert on mechanics gained him a professorship at the Ecole Militaire at Paris. By his 24th year he had begun to solve problems in celestial mechanics concerning the inequalities of Saturn and Jupiter that had baffled J.L. Lagrange and L. Euler, making eventually, the greatest strides in these areas since Newton. These calculations proved mathematically the stability of the solar system, even though it appeared to be vastly unequal masses without equilibrium. Together with Lagrange, the entire theorem was completed by 1787, having appeared serially in Mémoires de L’Académie, during 1784, 85, 86. Laplace then co- ordinated the previous years of research into a complete system as presented in his Mécanique céleste, Paris, 5 volumes, 1798-1827 (published) which at the time rated next to Newton’s Principia. The Exposition du système du monde, Paris, 1796, was said to be a simplified version of the larger 5 volume work, and was translated into English by H.H. Harte, as The System of the World, 2 vols., Dublin, 1830. Laplace gained admission to the Académie de Sciences in 1785, was on the commission for weights and measures, President of the Bureau of Longitudes, helped in the formulation of the decimal system, and later with an interest in politics, became Minister of the Interior, which lasted 6 weeks owing to his unsuitability. He was then elevated to the senate where he became chancellor in 1803, under Napoleon. In 1817 he had a seat in the chamber of peers, and the title of marquis. Though thought to be an atheist, private letters suggest otherwise, a characteristic of the dual nature of Laplace that occasionally manifested over the years. Nathanial Bowditch translated the Mécanique céleste, Boston, 1829-39, in 4 volumes, but not the last, or fifth volume. In the intervening years, the French Académie has issued various editions of his complete works.
Lassen, Christian. German orientalist born at Bergen, Norway, October 22, 1800; died at Bonn, May 8, 1876. Since 1827 a tutor and later professor of ancient Indian Languages and Literature at the university of Bonn, where he learned Arabic and Sanskrit; spent 542three years in London and Paris. His editions of ancient texts demonstrate his accurate and comprehensive scholarship. Most important work is Indische Alterthumskunde, (Science of Indian Antiquity) Bonn ( Leipzig, 4 vols., 1847-62. Twenty other works in French, German, Latin, with Sanskrit, Pali, Arabic. Essai sur le Pali, ou langue sacrée de la presqu’île au-dela du Gange, etc, Paris, 1826; Hilopadesas id est Institutio salutaris... Textum... recenserunt, interprétationem... et annotationes criticas etc, 2 parts, Sanskrit and Latin, Bonnae ad Rhenum, 1829-31. The passage cited by H. P. B. on the age of the introduction of Buddhism has not been specifically located.
Laurens, J.L. Wrote on French Masonry early 19th century. His Essais Historiques is contained in: Histoire des initiations de l’Ancienne Egypte...suivei d’une dissertations sur l’origine...des anciens mystères, par Laurens (dans ses Essais historiques et critiques sur la Franc-maçonnerie), par Jean Terrasson, Paris, 1825.
LeBas, Phillippe. French Historian and archeologist, born at Paris June 18, 1794, died in 1860. At the age of sixteen he joined the Imperial navy aboard the tugger Le Vigilant, later on the vessel Le Diadème, then as part of the third regiment of the Imperial Honor Guard. In 1820 he moved from second clerk of the bureau of Prefecture, to administer the education of Charles-Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, until October, 1827. Was professor at the lyceum St. Louis, 1829; placed in charge of the scientific mission to Greece and Asia Minor, 1842, where a large number of rare documents were obtained. He was head of the project of publishing these archeological finds for the French government. Having been nominated to the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres in 1838, he became the administrative conservator of the University Library in 1846. His very extensive works cover a wide range of Greek and Latin historical background. Explication des Inscriptions grecques et latines recueillies en Grec par la commission de Mordée, Paris, 1835-1837. Histoire de Moyen Age, 2 vols., Paris 1847. H. P. B. cities his contribution to Dictionnaire encyclopédique de la Histoire de France, 12 vols., Paris, 1835.
Lecouturier, Charles Henri. French savant born May 6, 1819 at Condé-sur-Noireau. Received his letters in the sciences at Caen 1845, later at Paris. He contributed to La Science pour tous, Le Musée des Sciences, the chemical journal La Coloration industrielle. In 1858 he commenced his most important work, Panorama des Mondes; 1st part, Astronomie planétaire,....Dessins astronomiques par M.C. Bulard. Paris, 1858. He was also scientific editor for the journal Moniteur. With A. 543Chapuis: La Lune. Description et topographie par Lecouturier et A. Chapuis. Paris, (1860?).
Letronne, Jean Antione (1787-1848). French archeologist and Egyptologist born at Paris, the son of an engraver. Sent to study art, he turned to letters at the College de France, correcting old Greek texts and comparing them with late editions for his own amusement. Traveled in Europe 1810-12, returning to publish, Essai critique sur la topographie de Syracuse, Paris, 1812...to elucidate Thucydides. In 1814 appeared his Recherches géographiques et critiques on the De Mensura Orbis Terrae of Diciul. Commissioned by the government to complete a translation of Strabo, then in 1816 admitted to the Académie des In- scriptiones on the strength of his Mémoire on Egyptian metrology; (see Recherches critiques, Historiques et Géographiques sur les fragments d’Héron d’Alexandrie, etc, Paris, 1851. Director of Ecole des Chartes, 1819, and inspector general of the university, then professor of History at the College de France, 1831. In 1838 he exchanged his chair for that of Archeology, and later was keeper of the national archives. His Requeil des Inscriptiones grecques et latines de l’Egypte is his most important work, published at Paris in 1842. Letronne was one of the few to see the astronomical significance of many of Egypt’s monuments, as well as the implications. H. P. B. cities his Letter by Caspar Jacob Christian Reuvens, published by the university as a monograph; Lettres à M. Letronne, sur les papyrus bilingues et grecs et sur quelques autres monumens gréco-égyptiens du Musée d’antiquités de l’université de Leide, par C.J.C. Reuvens. Leyden, Rijksuniverssitaet, S. &J. Luctmans, 1830. 6pp., 1 plate, atlas, tables, folio.
Leverrier, Urbain Jean Joseph (1811-1877). French astronomer born at St. Lô in Normandy, March 11th. His father’s exertions at a government post obtained for him an examination, where his brilliance gained his admittance to the Ecole Polytechnique in 1831. Later as administrator of tobaccos, he presented papers on phosphorus hydrogen-oxygen combinations, which appeared in Annales de Chimie et de Physique, 1835 and 1837, in which year he fell into the chair of astronomy when it became vacant, and thence devoted the balance of his life to its pursuits. In 1839 he furthered the studies of Laplace on the stability of the solar system, calculating orbital variations, and then in 1843 greatly improved tables for Mercury. Recalled by François Arago from studies on comets, he turned his attention to Uranus, postulating a new theory that inferred another planet, (see also profile for John Couch Adams) which was duly observed by J. G. Galle at Berlin on September 23rd, 1846, within one degree of the spot predicted by Leverrier. Being credited with the discovery of Neptune, he was 544enlisted by most of the academies of Europe, and achieved considerable fame, being on the Bureau of Longitudes as well. After the coup d’etat of 1851 he became inspector general of superior instruction, sat on the reform commission for the Ecole Polytechnique, and then succeeded Arago as director of the Paris observatory, in 1854, separating it from bureaucracy and raising its standards. These successes infuriated the bureaucrats, who removed him amidst a great clamour, in 1870. For the next seven years, he labored at perfecting his calculations on Neptune, meanwhile being reinstated to his position on the death of Delaunay, In 1872. Three weeks after completing his work on Neptune he died at Paris, 23, September. His planetary theories are contained in Annales de l’Observatoire de Paris, Vols i-vi (Mémoires) 1855-1861, and in Vols, x-xiv, 1874-1877.
Levi Zahed, Eliphas (pseud, of Alphonse Louis Constant. 1810-1875). Dogme et Rituel de la haute magie, Paris, 1856. Translated by A.E. Waite as Trancendental Magic, Samuel Weiser Inc., New York, 1972 and later editions. For extensive profile see B.C. W. Vol. I, p. 491.
Lewes, George Henry (1817-1878). Also used the pseudonym of Slingsby Lawrence. The Biographical History of Philosophy, from its origin in Greece down to the present day. Library edition, enlarged and revised, London, 1857. See B.C.W. Vol. VIII, p. 463, for biographical profile.
Liberius, Pope. Held office from 352-366, succeeding Julius I. In 355 he was one of a few who refused to sign the condemnation of Athanasius, siding with Lucifer of Cagliari, Dionysius of Milan, and Eusebius of Vercelli. Thus he was relegated to Beroea in Thrace, with Felix II consecrated to his post. After two years in exile, he capitulated and renounced Athanasius, was called to Rome by the Emperor a year later to rule the church jointly with Felix, but the Romans ejected Felix, leaving him to be pope. After the death of Emperor Constantius in 361, Liberius annulled the decrees of the council of Rimini (359), and accepted the old Arian sympathizers. He died 24th of September, 366.
Lin-chi. The founder of one of the major schools of Ch’an Buddhism, yet little is known of him. His name was I-hsüan, he lived at Lin- chi monastery in Hopei, China and died in 867. A selection from his Recorded Sayings is in The Buddhist Tradition pp. 225-31, ed, by W.T. de Bary, Vintage Books, New York, 1972.
545 Lucensis, Franciscus Arnolfinus. See: Amolfinus, Franciscus, Lucensis.
Lucian of Samosata (120-200 A.D.). Philopsued.es e Apiston (Lover of Lies, Or the Doubter) Loeb Classical Library Series, Harvard U. Press.
Lundy, D. John Patterson (1823-1892). Born at Danville, Pennsylvania and educated at Princeton and at the Theological Seminary; ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1849, entered the Protestant Episcopal Church two years later. Ordained 1855 and was pastor of the Church of the Holy Apostles, New York, 1869-75. Monumental Christianity, or the Art and Symbolism of the Primitive Church as Witnesses and Teachers, of the one Catholic Faith and Practice, J.W. Bouton, New York, 1876, xviii, 453 pp. His only other title is: A Review of Bishop Hopkins View of Slavery by a Presbyter of the Church in Philadelphia, 1863.
MacKenzie, Kenneth Robert Henderson (?-1886). Prominent Mason known as “Cryptonymus,” wrote a biography of Bismarck, and The Royal Masonic Cyclopaedia of History, Rites, Symbolism and Biography, London, 1877 [1875-77].
Mackey, Samson Arnold. Born 1765 at Haddiscoe, son of Captain Samson Arnold of Lowestoft, Surrey. Received minimal education, being apprenticed to a shoemaker at age eleven, served his time and was for many years in the militia. He settled again at Norwich in 1811, renting an attic of a small house in St. Pauls, where he pursued his business and studies. By 1822, he had saved enough to have published the first portion of his Mythological Astronomy. He then attracted a small number to whom he lectured, and in 1825 published at his own expense The Theory of the Earth, and pamphlets on the antiquity of the Hindu’s. His efforts continued in this vein, under poor circumstances until he was obliged to enter an Alms House known as Doughty’s Hospital, procured for him by his patron and friend Mr. Moneyment. Information on Mackey is so scarce that we include here excerpts from Notes And Queries, the organ of researchers in library and scholarly studies for over 100 years. In number 222 for January 28th, 1854, p. 89, we find Mackey’s obituary from the Norwich Mercury of August 12th, 1843, reproduced. This followed three earlier pieces in Notes And Queries·, in number 211 for Nov. 12th 1853, p. 468, a Mr. Ward asked for information; a reply appeared in number 215 for Dec. 10th, 1853, p. 565 by a person signed “M” only.:
“in the year 1827 when prosecutions of blasphemy were leading thousands to see what could be said against Christianity...some 546friends of mine recommended the works of shoemaker at Norwich named Mackey, who said he had completely shown up the thing. ...the cause of their excitement the imprisonment of the Rev. Robert Taylor for publishing various arguments against revelation. ...I examined several works of Mackey’s, ...as in time to come, when neither love nor money will procure a copy of these books, some tradition may set inquirers looking after them, perhaps it may be worth while to preserve a couple of extracts for those who have the sense to hunt the index of N. & Q. before they give up anything.
There follows an extract from Mythological Astronomy. On page 566 a second reply regarding Mackey is signed by “F.C.B.” It begins,
“In answer to the inquiry respecting this singular man, I beg to say that I remember him between the years 1826 and 1830, as a shoemaker in Norwich. He was in a low rank of trade, and in poor circumstances, which he endeavoured to improve by exhibiting at private houses an orrery of his own making. He was recognized as a “genius”; but, as may be seen by his writings, had little reverence for established forms of belief. At the period of which I speak, which was soon after the publication of his first work, I knew but little of his mind, and lost sight of him altogether till about 1840. Then circumstances connected with my own line of study led me to call on him in Doughty’s Hospital, Norwich, an asylum for aged persons. I found him surrounded by astronomical apparatus, books, the tools of his former trade, and all kinds of strange litters. In the conversation that ensued, I learned much of the workings of his mind; though his high self-appreciation could not descend to unreserved converse with a woman. My object was to ascertain by what steps he had arrived at his theory of the earth’s motion, but I could gain nothing distinct. He mentioned the Asiatic Researches as containing vast information on his peculiar subject; quoted Latin, and I think Greek, authors; and seemed to place great dependence on Maurice (Thomas) and Bryant (Jacob); but above all, on Capt. Wilford’s Essays. He showed me some elaborate calculations, at which he was then working... I cannot say how far his knowledge of geology went, as I am not well aquainted with that science. He had evidently read and studied deeply, but alone; his own intellect had never been brushed by the intellects and superior information of truly scientific men, and it appeared to me that a vast deal of dirt had accumulated in his mind...”
(Signed) F.C.B.
A third response concerning Mackey also appears on p. 566 of Notes And Queries, signed “E.M.R.” “Mackey, of whom your correspondent 547inquires, was an entirely self educated man, but a learned shoemaker, residing in Norwich. He devoted all his leisure time to astronomical, geological, and philological pursuits; and had some share in the formation of a society in his native town, for the purpose of debating questions relative to these sciences. I have understood that he was for some time noticed by a small portion of the scientific world, but afterwards neglected, as, from his own account, he appears to have been by his literary fellow townsmen; and at last to have died in a Norwich alms-house... ...a medical friend of mine...promised to let me see papers in his possession relative to this learned shoemaker’s career, and to a few of his unpublished speculations.” He then outlinesMackey’s works. The last letter regarding Mackey occurs in Notes And Queries, number 226, for February 25th, 1854, p. 179 (about 11 years after his death):
“A friend called on me this morning with the Number containing a notice of S.A. Mackey, supposing that, being a neighbour, I could furnish a few particulars of that extraordinary man. The whole of his MSS. came into my possession after his demise. Amongst these was a MS. of his Life, written by himself, and of which I took a faithful copy: which I have transcribed for gentlemen who wish to possess a copy. I am ready to furnish any gentlemen with a copy, neatly written, book included, for 5s. It (the book) consists of fifty- two pages large demy 4to. The original is in the possession of a Mr. Brereton of Fitcham, near Lynn, Norfolk, to whom I sold all the MSS., Mr. Brereton being an intimate friend of S.A. Mackey. I have on sale a copy of Mr. Mackey’s Works, selected by Mr. Shickle, another intimate friend; neatly done up in coloured cloth. Also a copy of his Mythological Astronomy, with copius notes, in 100 pages. Also, an Appendix of 48 pages. And another copy of the MS. Astronomy, with notes; but minus the Appendix. I may as well inform you, that a friend of mine has in his possession a halflength full size portrait of Mr. Mackey; admirably executed and in prime condition in a handsome frame. I assure you, when I first saw it, I felt at the moment a kind of impulse to shake hands with my old friend and neighbour. I shall feel great pleasure in answering any inquiries, so far as my knowledge extends. His life is truly interesting; being that of a man born in sorrow, and cradled in adversity. Like him, I am a self-taught humble individual, and in my eighty-second year.
(signed) J. Dawson, number 15, Doughty’s Hospital, Calvert Street, Norwich.
And lastly:
“In July, 1830, Sampson Arnold Mackey delivered a course of six “astro-historical lectures” in a large room near the Philanthropic institution. 548The attendance was full, considering the subject, and I was surprised at the admiration which many well-educated persons expressed for his strange theories, to which they seemed to give full assent. To me his calculations and etymologies appeared as good as those of Pluche, Sir William Drummond, Volney, and Dupuis, but no better. I met him at the house of the late Dr. Wright, then resident physician to Bethlehem Hospital. He was quiet and unassuming; but so perfectly satisfied that he had proved his system, that though ready to explain, he declined to answer objections, or defend his opinions. As a remarkable example of “the pursuit of knowledge under difficulties,” he excited sympathy, and I believe he disposed of all the copies of his various works then unsold.”
(signed) H.B.C., of U.U. Club.
Mackey’s room was described by a friend.. .“in which he worked, took his meals, slept, and gave his lectures, was a strange exhibition of leather, shoes, wax, victuals, sketches of sphynxes, zodiacs, planispheres; together with orreries of his own making, geological maps, and drawings, illustrative of Egyptian and Hindoo Mythologies."...“from his singular habits he was looked upon with wonder by his poor neighbours, and those better informed were inclined to annoy him as to his religious opinions.” His achievements gained for him interviews with the Duke of Sussex, the Duke of Somerset, and other learned men of his time. Mackey is mentioned in Augustus De Morgans’ A Budget of Paradoxes... Reprinted with the Author’s Additions, from the Athenaeum’., London, 1872; pp. 151. De Morgan was a mathematician and compiled almanacs, etc.
Mackey’s known works at present are:
— The Mythological Astronomy of the Ancients Demonstrated, by Restoring to their Fables and Symbols their Original Meanings; (printed for the author) R. Walker, near the Duke’s Palace, Norwich, 1822. pp. vi, 100, 48.
— Part the Second: The Key of Urania, the Wards of which will Unlock all the Mysteries of Antiquity. Printed by R. Walker, Norwich, 1823. pp. xxii, 180.
(Note) Mackey made these available separately, or bound together. A second edition issued in 1824 of the two, had a major reorganiza tion of the material in the Key of Urania, though essentially similar. Both editions included rotating dials placed before the title page, mounted with string.
—A Companion to the Mythological Astronomy... containing a new theory of 549the earth, and of planetary motion.. .Illustrated by five plates. Also an alphabetical arrangement of mythological etymologies. 2 parts. Norwich, 1824.
—A New Theory of the Earth, and of Planetary Motion; in which is demonstrated that the sun is viceregent of his own system. Illustrated by...plates. Printed for the author: Norwich, 1825. pp. 88. (a slightly different version of part two of the preceding.)
— Remarks on the Cabinet Cyclopaedia (of D. Lardner) and the geological globe (of J. Byerly) relative to the polar motion, (with plate) Norwich, 1824
—A Reply, intended to be made to the various disputants, on an essay on chronology, which was read at the Philosophical Society of Norwich, etc. Norwich, (1825?)
—Man’s Best Friend; on the evils of pious frauds. Norwich, 1826. (About this time appeared a pamphlet by T. Bridgman, entitled, — The Bible vindicated, in a letter to S.A. Mackey. Norwich, 1827.)
— To T. Bridgman...author of a pamphlet, entitled Bible vindicated, (a letter) Norwich, (1827)
—More Pious Frauds; on the antiquity of the two zodiacs at Tentyra, Norwich, 1831.
— The two Zodiacs at Tentyra, and the Zodiac of Thebes; explained, etc. Norwich, 1832.
— Urania’s Key to the Revelation; or the analyzation of the writings of the Jews, as far as they are found to have any connection with the science of astronomy...First published in Norwich in 1823. London, 1833.
— The Original Design of the ancient Zodiacal and Extrazodiacal Constellations, arranged on the present globes. ...To which is added an account of the battle between Vicramaditya and Salavahana.. .Also further remarks on the long zodiac of Tantyra, etc. (with a planisphere) Norwich, 1834.
—A Lecture on Astronomy, adjusted to its dependent science geology... Given... in consequence of having seen an essay on the astronomical and physical causes of geological changes, by Sir R. Phillips and edited by W.D. Sauli, etc. London, 1832 (pamphlet)
—A Lecture on Astronomy; in which is shown the cause of the vast abundance of water in the southern hemisphere. London, 1832. (pamphlet).
— The Age of Mental Emancipation... Offered to public notices on reading the accordance of geological discovery with natural and revealed religion by Mr. J.J. Gurney. 3 parts. Norwich, 1836-1839.
Hopefully additional pamphlets and works will turn up in the future, as well as the hand written biography, and the portrait of Mackey.
Mahaprajhaparamita Sutra. The Great Perfection of Wisdom Scripture. Another 550profound Sutra Nagarjuna brought back from the Realm of the Nagas (Adepts). Generally speaking, the Madhyamika Buddhists consider its teaching as supreme, while the Yogacara prefer the Avatamsaka Sutra. See The Large Sutra on Perfect Wisdom tr. by Edward Conze, U. of Cal., 1975; also the more famous epitomes, The Heart of Prajna Paramita Sutra, commentary by Tripitaka Master Hua, tr. by Buddhist Text Translation Society, San Francisco, 1980; and the Diamond Sutra, see Vajra Prajna Paramita Sutra also tr. by BTTS with Master Hua’s comments; Dr. Conze also translated The Short Pra- jnaparamita Texts, Luzac, London. 1973
Maimonides (Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, 1135-1204) Moreh Nebhuchim (Guide for the Perplexed). English translation by E. Soloweyczik, London, 1863. Another translation from an early Arabic ms. by M. Friedlander, London, Routledge Kegan Paul, 1904; Reissued by Dover Publications, New York, 1956, and later reprints. See also B.C. W. Vol. VII, p. 381.
Mariette-Bey, Auguste Ferdinand Francois. French Egyptologist born February 11, 1821 at Boulogne, son of the town clerk. Distinguished himself in art at the college there, then taught French at a boys school, Stratford-on-Avon 1839. Engaged in pattern design for a ribbon manufacturer, Coventry, 1840. Returned to Boulogne, and received his degree at Douai, 1841, becoming a professor there supplementing his salary by writing for periodicals on history and archeology. The death of his cousin who had travelled with Champollion, gave him his first opportunity in Egyptology as he took on the task of organizing papers in the estate. A passionate interest developed, and in 1847 he published Catalogue analytique of the Egptian gallery of the Boulogne Museum, he was appointed to a position in the Louvre, 1849, and was entrusted with the aquisition of rare manuscripts in Egypt for the French government in 1850. Soon after his arrival he made the discoveries of the Serapeum at Alexandria, and the catacombs of the Apis bulls which put him in the spotlight. With this success, funds were advanced to continue excavations, and over the years he sent numerous artifacts to the Louvre, where he was appointed assistant conservator. He then accepted the position of conservator of Egyptian monuments from Ismail Pasha at Cairo in 1858, where he moved with his family. He founded the museum at Boulaq, examined Memphis, Sakkara, Meydum, Abydos, Thebes, and disinterred Dendera, Edfu, Karnak, Medinet-Habu, and Dier el-Bahri. He caused the Sphinx to be excavated to rock level, discovering the so called ‘temple of the Sphinx’ As a result of his great 551success, he was given the title of bey, and finally, pasha, in addition to receiving many coveted honors from throughout Europe. Exhausted from overwork in 1877, he lingered until January 1881, when his death occurred at Cairo. H.P.B. cities his Mémoire sur cette représentation...gravée en têt de quelques proscynèmes du Sérapeum où l’on établit: (in 4 parts) part iv; Qu’elle est une mère d’Apis. Paris, Gide et J. Baudry, 1856. In addition, he was the author of over 25 other works shown in; Catalogue of the Egyptological Library of Charles Edwin Wilbour, compiled by Wm. Burt Cook, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY. 1924. (795 pages)
Markham, Sir Clements Roberts (1830-1916). Narratives of the Mission of George Bogle to Tibet and of the Journey of Thomas Manning to Lhasa, edited by Markham, London, 1876. For biographical profile see B.C. W. Vol. VI, p. 441.
Maspero, Sir Gaston Camille Charles (1846-1916). His discovery of the mummy of Sesostris may be found in the following: Procès verbal de l’ouverture des momies de Ramses II et Ramsès III, Paris, 1886, 7 pp., 3 photos, from the Revue archéologique, series 3, vol. 8, pt 1. It is also in Les momies royales de Deir el-Bahari (pp. 770-773) of the Mission archéologique française au Caire Mémoires, Tome i, (no date shown) circa 1887. Also in The Academy, (journal) New issue, No. 739, Saturday, July 3rd, 1886, pp. 15-16. For biographical profile of Maspero see B.C.W. Vol. VII, p. 382.
Massey, Gerald (1828-1907). The Hebrew and Other Creations Fundamentally Explained. A lecture...with a reply to Prof. A.H. Sayce [ie. to his ‘Hibbert lectures’], pp. 36. privately printed: London, [1887.] This was one of many pamphlets produced on Massey’s lectures, and was among those included in a collection issued by Samuel Weiser Inc., as The Lectures of Gerald Massey, New York, 1974. For an interesting bio-bibliographical profile see B.C. W. Vol. VIII, p. 465.
Mathers, S. Liddell MacGregor (1854-1918). Kabbala Denudata, the Kabbalah Unveiled, London, George Redway, 1887. viii, 359 pp. See also B.C. W. Vol. VIII, p. 467.
Matter, A. Jacques (1791-1864). Histoire critique du gnosticisme, Paris, 1828; into German by Dorner, 1843-44 in two volumes. For biographical profile see B.C. W. Vol. XIII, p. 392.
Maurice, Thomas (1754-1824). English antiquarian was a native of 552Hertford, educated at St. John’s College and University College, Oxford. Becam the Curate of Woodford, Essex; Vicar of Wormleighton, 1798. Assistant Librarian in the British Museum, 1799; Vicar of Cudham, Kent, 1804. He wrote a number of poems, two tragedies, and the following: Indian Antiquities, London, 1791-97, 7 vols; The (ancient)Histoiy of Hindostan, London, 1795-98-99; 2nd ed., 1821; The Modem History of Hindostan, London, 1802-10, five parts in two volumes. As a result of a attack on the latter by the Edinburgh Review, he wrote A Vindication of the Modem History of Hindostan, London, 1805, 88 pp. His Mémoires were published in 3 volumes, London, 1819-20-22.
Maury, Louis Ferdinand Alfred (1817-1892). French scholar born at Meaux, March 23rd. Having completed his education, he entered the Bibliothèque Nationale 1836, later Bibliothèque de l’Institute de France, 1844; studying archeology, language, medicine, and law. With a remarkable memory, a critical mind and a penchant for work, he produced learned works on a variety of subjects. Elected to the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres 1857, making many contributions. Employed by Napoleon III for work on Histoire de César, he was made professor of the Collège of France and Director general of Archives. He contributed widely to educational reform, and founded with Victor Duruy, the Ecole des Haute Etudes, which post he occupied until 1888, passing away four years later, in February 1892. His works are voluminous and include: Croyances et légendes de ¡Antiquité, etc, Paris, 1863; Histoire des grandes forats de la Gaule et de l’ancienne France, etc, Paris 1850. 328 pp; Histoire des religions de la Grèce antique depuis leur origine jusqu’à leur complète constitution, 3 vols., Paris, 1857; La Magie et l’Astrologie dans l’antiquité et au moyen age, etc, Paris, 1860. pp. 450; La Terre et l’Homme, ou aperçu historique de Géologie, de Géographie, et d’Ethnologie générales, Paris 1857. 600 pp. See also Victor Duruy, Histoire Universelle, etc., 1846. English translation as: Indigenous races of the Earth, etc., with new notes, edited by J.C. Nott and G.R. Gliddon, Philadelphia, 1857.
Mead, George Robert Stowe (1863-1933). See B. C. W. Vol. XIII, p. 393, for bio-bibliographical profile.
Mela, Pomponius. Earliest Roman geographer flourished circa 43 A.D. Pliny cites him as an authority in the latter’s Historia naturalis. His birthplace is said to be the small town of Tingentera or Cingentera in southern Spain on the Algeciras Bay. His only known work is a compendium of less than a hundred pages entitled De situ orbis in three 553books, which is rather dry style, but has occasionally pleasing descriptions. Its date of around 43 is fixed by a mention of a proposed expedition to Britian. (Claudius’) Mela divides the earth into five zones of which only two are habitable, and assigns to the Southern temperate zone the inhabitants called antichthones·, which is inaccessible due to the unbearable heat of the intervening torrid belt. But his description of western Europe is more accurate than earlier Greek geographers, and he mentions “Codanavia” north of Germany, which Pliny calls Scandinavia later. The first edition of the De orbis was at Milan in 1471; a better edition was published by Vadianus at Basle, 1522; best is said to be that of G. Parthey, Berlin, 1867; an English translation appeared at London 1585, translated by Arthur Golding.
Mendeleyev, Dmitriy Ivanovich (1834-1907). See В. C. W. Vol. I, pp. 91, 205, 215 et seq; biographical profile p. 499. Extensive review of the commission on spiritual phenomena and its activities is covered.
Merkabah, or Mercavah (Literally the Chariot). The Kabalists say that the Supreme, after he had established the ten SephTroth, used them as a chariot or throne of glory on which to descend upon the souls of men. It is intimately connected with the wheel of Ezekiel, (see Isis Unveiled) and with Enoch. It is a mystery to be taught only to those who are prepared in the wisdom or gnosis, and chief of the principles is Metatron. A helpful review of basic facts is to be found in the Jewish Encyclopaedia, Funk and Wagnals, New York, 1901; Vol. VIII, p. 498.
Metcalfe, Samuel L. Born near Winchester, Virginia, 21st September, 1798. Shortly after moved to a farm at Simpsonville, Shelby County, Kentucky where he displayed precocious abilities throughout youth. At 16 he instructed students in music and voice, and composed church choir pieces. At Cincinnati he had a volume of music published, and in 1819 matriculated in Transylvania University, Lexington, receiving his Doctorate in Medicine, 1823. He set up practice at New Albany, Indiana, later relocating in Mississippi where he married, becoming a widower four years later. A visit to England in 1831 to procure rare books supplemented his library of unusual material, but on his second English book buying trip, his entire library was lost to fire. Having published a brief work on Indian wars in the West, his Terrestrial Magnetism, appeared in New York, 1833, containing unorthodox views. He continued there, writing articles for the Knickerbocker, under the signature of M. until 1835, when he took up residence near the British Museum to further his studies. His health being fragile since youth, and his means of necessity being 554small, he persevered in his unique endeavors until his treatise was published in 1843; Caloric: its Mechanical, Chemical and Vital Agencies in the Phenomenon of Nature, Pickering Co., London: 2nd rev. ed., Lippincott, Philadephia, 1859. 2 vols. In 1846 Metcalfe again married, settled in America, and revised his work for the second printing, passing away at Cape May, July, 1856. His theories of atmospheric phenomena and electricity, respiration, volcanic forces, and primary elements are worth close investigation. H.P.B.’s reference to his Sun force theory is contained in volume two of his Caloric.
Metrodorus of Chios (circa 330 B.C.). Peri Phuseos, a work known to be from his pen, but which exists only in fragments, (Cicero, Academics, ii, 23, 73.). Another work Peri Istorias, is attributed to a Metrodorus by the scholiast on Apollonius, but which of the five Metrodorus’ of history is unknown. See also B.C. W. Vol. XIII, p. 397.
Michelet, Jules (1798-1874). L’Insecte, Paris, 1858. English translation by W.H.D. Adams as, The Insect, London, 1875. See also B. C. W. Vol. IX, p. 444.
Mirville, Jules Eudes, Marquis de. (1802-1873) Pneumatologie. Des Esprits et de leurs manifestations diverses. Six vols., Paris, 1863-64. See B.C. W. Vol. VII, p. 384, for additional data.
Molitor, Joseph Franz: “German Christian Kabalist; born June 8, 1779, in Ober Ursel, in the Taunus; died at Frankfort-on-Main March 23, 1860. Early in life he interested himself in the philosophy of Kant, Fichte, and Schelling, writing under the influence of the last- named’s teachings, Ideen zu einer Künstlichen Dynamik der Geschichte, 1805. In the same year he published his Ueber den Wendepunkt des Antiken und Modemen, which shows the influence of Baader’s theosophy. Ueber die Philosophie der Modernen Welt came out in 1806. About this time Prince von Dalberg founded an institution for the advancement of Judaism, and Molitor became teacher there. Becoming interested in the various phases of Judaism, he began the study of Hebrew and Aramaic, then Talmud, and later actuated by an insight into the Kabala he had received from the Jewish Kabalist Metz in 1813, he turned his attention to the study of the Zohar, to which he henceforth deboted himself entirely. He wrote the first volume of his Philosophie der Geschichte oder über die Tradition in 1824, as a result of his Kabalistic studies. The second volume (1834) contains a compendium of the Kabala and a reference to the need of divine revelation. 555This was followed by a third volume (1839), containing a general account of paganism, Christianity, and Judaism, and a discussion of the Jewish laws of impurity. The fourth volume of this work, published in 1853, shows the relation of the Kabala to Christianity. The fundamental object of this work is to show the superiority of kabalistic mysticism over that of the Christian, and that Christianity is Judaism obscured by a false mysticism.”
Monier-Williams, Sir Monier (1819-1899). British orientalist born at Bombay, son of Col. Monier-Williams, surveyor general of the Bombay presidency. Matriculated at Oxford 1837, was restrained from East India Company service by his mother, and entered University College about 1840. Boden scholarship in Sanskrit Studies, 1843. Shortly thereafter became Professor at Haileybury for a number of years. Taught oriental languages at Cheltenham 1850-60. After a contest with Max Müller, sentiment allowed him to take the chair of Boden Professor of Sanskrit at Oxford. Distinguished himself with his Sanskrit-English Dictionary, which remains a standard after over a century. Solely responsible for the founding of the Indian Institute at Oxford, which project occupied ten years enlisting subscriptions from Indian princes and men of note, including Lord Brassey’s large contribution. The building was completed in 1896. Buddhism, in its Connection with Brahmanism and Hinduism, and its contrast with Christianity. London, J. Murray, 1889. Based on the “Duff Lectures” delivered at Edinburgh in 1888.
Moreri, Louis, born March 25, 1643 at Bargemont, died July 10, 1680, at Paris. Wrote an encyclopaedic dictionary of history, geneology and biography entitled Le Grand Dictionnaire historique, ou le mélange curieux de l’histoire sacrée et profane, Lyons, 1674. folio. He began a second edition on a larger scale published at Lyons in 1681 in two folio volumes; the sixth edition was edited by Jean le Clerc, Amsterdam, 1691 in four folio volumes. The 20th and last edition was issued at Paris, 1759, in ten volumes. It remains to this day a useful work, though to a degree superceded by Bayle’s Dictionary, who makes liberal comment on Moreri. The reference by H.P.B. concerns Moreri’s article on Cardinal De Cusa.
Moses, William Stainton. (1839-1892) Spiritualist known as “Μ.A. Oxon.” for biographical profile see B.C. W. I, p. 500.
Mosheim, Johann Lorenz von (1684-1775). Institutes of Ecclesiastical History, etc, translated from Latin by J. Murdock, London, 1832, 3 556vols.; many later editions. For biographical profile see B. C. W. Vol. I, p. 501.
Muersius, Johannes (1579-1639). Denarius Pythagoricus, Lugduni, 1631. For biographical data, see B. C. W. Vol. XIII, P. 397.
Mula Kurumbas of Nilgiri. A hill tribe of the Madras presidency residing on the elevated plateau of the Blue Mountains in south central India. The Kurumbas are shepherds, and are considered the most uncivilized by the British, who reckon the other four tribes indigenous to the area as more advanced. In appearance they are short of stature, with large mouths of protruding teeth, pug noses and a tendency to avoid bathing, thus with matted hair they present a rather primitive aspect to the traveler. Their apparel is a small cloth worn by both men and women. They live in village termed mutta in long low thatch constructions 30 to 50 feet long and about 5 feet high, divided into small apartments, removing the side during the days. Their language is a corrupt Tamil. To the other tribes, they are the voodoo practitioners, the other tribes being in awe of them, and for the Badagas, the most numerous and wealthy of the area, they officiate as priests at their rituals. Only the kingly Todas command their respect in the Nilgiri. Formore, read People of the Blue Mountains, by H.P.B., Adyar, T.P.H., 1887; Wheaton, Ill., 1930.
Müller, F. Max. (1823-1900). Lectures, etc., See B. C. W. Vol. V, p. 378, for biographical profile.
Müller, George F. (of Bristol 1805-1898). The Lord’s Dealing with George Milller, London, 1837; another edition, New York, 1878. for biographical profile, see B.C. W. Vol. XIII, p. 398.
Mullis, William Μ. Born January 3, 1877, Birmingham, England, his parents brought him to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada as a child, where he resided throughout life. Following his education he was employed by the firm of Adam Hope, and then with Thomas Irwin & Son, which association was never entirely severed. While in his twenties he offered his services as a reporter without remuneration, until being taken in by the Hamilton Times about 1902, where he was best remembered for his role as music and drama critic. His abilities in all phases of journalism, and his accurate reporting gained him a position with the Hamilton Spectator in about 1910, and shortly afterwards the City Council selected him for industrial commissioner of the city of Hamilton. In this aspect he became an ambassador for the city, 557bringing in large firms such as the Oliver Chilled Plow Co., and International Harvester Co., which started a new era for Hamilton. He resigned his position in June 1911 to return to the Spectator as city editor, and then became managing editor in 1912, which he held the remainder of his life. It was in this capacity that he interviewed Annie Besant at Los Angeles in 1926. Mr. Mullis was known as a man with a penchant for hard work, penetrating appraisal and generosity, he was frequent contributor to the Canadian Theosophist signing his articles W.M.W., and was a long time student of the Secret Doctrine. He was survived by his wife Mabel (nee Buckingham) and daughter, Mrs. B.H. Jentzel at the time of his passing, January 14th, 1932.
Munk, Salomon (1803-1867). Melanges de Philosophic Juive etArabe. Paris, A. Franck, 1859. H.P.B.’s reference to Munk is covered with additional notes in B. C. W. Vol. VIII, p. 216, p. 238; biographical profile on p. 469.
Munter, Friedrich Christian Carl Hinrich. Prolific genius in the humanities was born December 14, 1761 at Gotha, Germany; died at Copenhagen, April 9, 1830. Son of Balthazar Munter of Lubec, a Dutch Protestant clergyman, and Magdalena Sophia von Wagenheim, decendant of a long line of titled and scholarly savants. 1778 began studies at University in philosophy, history, philology, and medicine. During extensive European travels spent time with Cardinal Stephen Borgia at Rome, 1784, returning to Copenhagen to study with A. Birch, gaining a Doctorate in Theology between 1787-1790. In 1798 he was named head of the Library of Biden- skaberne University, later spending two years with Dr. Pestalozzi, founder of the preschool or kindergartens of Europe. From 1804-6 administered orphan homes, becoming the Commissioner for these institutions in Scandinavia 1808, amidst accolades. In 1815 he was placed in charge of two large privately endowed Theological Libraries, the Stiftsbibliothek, and the Danebroge, where he had access to rare collections. He was considered a leading authority on the New Testament by 1817, and was afforded membership in the Academies of Gottingen, Munich, Stockholm Edinburgh, and St. Petersburg to name a few. His writings are very extensive, (see; Forsat-terLexicon, edited by Thomas Laufen Crslew, Copenhagen, 1847, pp. 362-374) where over 200 articles are cited, among which are: Odae Gnosticae Solomoni, Thebaice et latine praefatione et adnotationibus Illustratae. Programma Synodate, hafnae, 1812. 32 pp.; The Religion of the North before the time of Odin, contained in, Standling and Tzschirners ‘Archives of Old and New Church Histories’, On Antiochenische Schule, vol. 5581, pp 1-31, Gottingen, 1813; Also in “Hermes,” Vol. 1, (untraced periodical). Again in the S. & T. Archives series Vol. 5, Chapter 1, pp. 1-112, numbers 39 and 40 (1821) appeared: Die Odinische Religion. The exact location in the last two citations, of H.P.B.’s reference to the rituals prior to the time of Odin, has not been pinpointed.
Nagarjuna. The father, if not the founder of the Madhyamika tradition of Buddhism. Traditional biographies vary, but seem to agree on his birth about 150 B.C., in South India. Becoming a Bhikshu (monk) at the early age of ten, he soon mastered most of the scriptural studies and began studying Tantra (esoteric Buddhism) under Ratnamati. His great wisdom and compassion shone forth clearly when a famine struck some years later. He had learned the transmutation of iron into gold and was able to buy food and water for the people of the area and his fellow Bhikshus of Nalanda University. Eventually he became abbot of Nalanda, and immediately expelled 8,000 monks who were morally corrupt. Soon after this he had his first contact with the Nagas or Dragons (the Adepts of Wisdom). The Tibetan tradition says two handsome youths appeared at Nalanda one day, to listen to a lecture of Nagarjuna’s. They stood out from the crowd because of a quite literal odor of sanctity. When asked about their subtle, but pervasive sandalwood fragrance, they said their father, King of the Nagas, had anointed them with the essence of sandalwood as a protection against human impurities. Accepting the invitation from the Naga princes, Nagajuna followed them to the Realm of the Nagas, where he was taken into the Sea, and shown a chest containing the Treasury of the Seven Jewels. After studying for many years the Treasury, he decided to bring back two Sutras, the Prajnaparamita and the Avatamsaka. After returning to India he began the writing of over 100 works that clarified the wisdon teachings of Buddha. His life was extremely long, some say over 300 years, but for an Initiate this is quite possible. For a look at the varied traditions of his life, see Life of Nagarjuna by Max Walleser, Asia Major, 1923; for his philosophy and works see Nagarjuna’s Philosophy by K. Venkata Ramanan, S. Weiser, New York, 1978; Nagarjuna’s Letter tr. by Geshe L. Tharchin & A.B. Engle, Library of Tibetan Works & Archives, Dharamsala, 1979; The Precious Garland tr. by J. Hopkins & Lati Rimpoche, Allen & Unwin, London, 1975; and Nagarjuna a tr. of his Mulamadhyamakakarika by K.K. Inada, Hokuseido Press, Tokyo, 1970.
Nahmanides (Rabbi Moses ben Nahman) or Nachmanides (1195-1270). Commentary on the Pentateuch, has been issued in many editions. For biographical profile see B. C. W. Vol. VII, p. 385.
559 Ngawang Lobzang Gyatso (1617-1682). The Great Fifth Dalai Lama of Tibet. From his time, the Dalai Lama has been the temporal as well as the spiritual leader of Tibet. In about 1642 he appointed his Guru to head Tashi Lhunpo monastery and thus began the lineage of Tashi or Panchen Lamas. A sketch of life is in the Introduction to Songs of Spiritual Change by the Seventh Dalai Lama, tr. by G.H. Mullin, Gabriel/Snow Lion, Ithaca, 1982; ch. 5 of his Sacred Word of Mahjusn is in Practice of Emptiness tr. by J. Hopkins, Library of Tibetan Works & Archives, Dharamsala, 1976; a short biography is in Dreloma magazine, #XI, Jan. 1984, pub. in Mungod, Karnataka, India.
Nature’s Finer Forces, by Rama Prasad, MA, Theosophical Publishing House, 2nd revised edition, Madras, 1890. vii., 251 p. These compiled articles were originally 8 essays appearing in The Theosophist, 1889, and were corrected and revised, and augmented by seven more to comprise the title in question. During the last months of H.P.B.’s life, a review was published of the book in Lucifer, #41, Vol. VII, January 1891, by G.R.S. Mead. In that review, while acknowledging the value of various parts of the work, a strong warning is issued regarding the Tattvas, the hatha yoga emphasis, and the basis for much of the work being the Hindu tantras. Should one actually practice that which is given literally, only one result is forthcoming...personal disaster. See also H.P.B.’s warning on the Black Magic in this work, in B. C. W. XII, pp. 604 & fn.; 606 & 615.
Niebuhr, Barthold Georg (1776-1831). The History of Rome, etc., Fourth edition (most complete) in three volumes, London, 1847-51, translated from German by J.C. Hare and C. Thirwall (Vols. 1 & 2); by W. Smith and L. Schmitz. (Vol. 3) Many other editions and translations of this landmark work. See B. C. W. Vol. XIII, p. 398, for biographical profile, also B. C. W. Vol. I, p. 503.
Padmasambhava (8th C.). Considered the founder of the oldest sect of Tibetan Buddhism, the Nyingma. A powerful magician as well as an enlightened teacher, he was called to Tibet from his home in N.W. India, by the King of Tibet. King Thi-Srong-Detsan (r. 740-786) was a devout Buddhist trying to build a monastery at Samye and gain a foothold for the Buddhadharma in Tibet. The elemental worshipping Bon religion still controlled, thru magical practices, many of the elemental nature spirits in Tibet, including those earth spirits near Samye. Thus the walls of the monastery were continually being flattened by earthquakes. Thru the compassionate magic of confronting these living forces of nature with his wise & kindly aura, they softened and were soon sympathetic to Buddhism. Throughout the land 560Padmasambhava continued to convert by his magic and teaching, the elementals and people of Tibet. For a sample of his teachings and a magical biography see The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation, ed. by W.Y. Evans-Wentz, Oxford U. Press, London, 1954, also The Life and Liberation of Padmasambhava, tr. by K. Douglas & G. Bays, Emeryville, Dharma, 1978.
Palingenio Stellato, Marcello (1503-1543). Italian author whose name was Pier Angelo Manzoli, was born at la Stellata. His didactic poem titled *Zodiacus vitae: hoc est de hominis vita, studio ac moribus optime instiuendes, published about 1534, was dedicated to Hercules II of Fer- ara; it combines metaphysical speculation with satirical attacks on ecclesiastical hypocrisy, especially on the Pope and on Luther. It was of course banned by the Inquisition. English translation by Barnabe Googe, London, 1561 as The Zodiake of Lyfe.
Palm, Joseph Henry Louis, Baron de (1809-1876). Austrian nobleman who was taken into the Theosophical Society by Olcott when nearly destitute, and given some minor duties and possibly spending money, as this is not made clear by H.S.O. or H.P.B., though it is inferred. The Baron is said by H.P.B. to have repaid his benefactor by purloining a few of his shirts. In poor health, Baron De Palm succumbed shortly thereafter, and provided the Theosophical Society with material for the first legal cremation in the United States. This unprecedented event caused an uproar throughout the country and Europe, being carried as feature articles in over 7000 journals. Little else is known of Baron De Palm. See: The Theosophist, Vol. I, p. 187, April 1880.
Panini. Greatest Hindu grammarian, florished in the 4th century B.C. according to some biographers, possibly much earlier. His grammatical work Ashtadhyayt is the earliest work of its kind in any language, and certainly one of the two or three pinnacles of grammar in all of history. See additional data in B.C. W. Vol. V, p. 362, on the Ashtadhyayt.
Paul IV. (Giovanni Pietro Caraffa), pope from 1555 to 1559, born 28th June, 1476, of a noble Neapolitan family. His uncle, a Cardinal, provided his ecclesiastical favor, and he served as advisor to popes regarding heresy. In 1524 with Cajetan, he founded the order of Theatines to combat heresy by preaching. Following the instigation of the Inquisition in 1542-3 and the vigorous exterminations in Italy, he was elected pope, May 1555, though vetoed by the Emperor, which 561fortune Paul called an act of the Deity. He is recorded as having a violent temper, extravagant papal prerogatives, and a fierce hatred of Spaniards in Italy, who he attempted to drive out by an alliance with France in 1555. But the victory of Phillip II at San Quentin in 1557 reversed his plans. He denounced the peace of Augsburg, the abdication of Charles V, the election of Ferdinand, and Queen Elizabeth. Relatives were placed in positions of authority to again try to remove the Spanish, but this maneuver failed. He then set about to reform his court by strict measures, which proved so unpopular, that upon his death in August in 1559, the Romans vented their hatred by demolishing his statue, liberating the prisoners of the Inquisition, and scattering their papers. See Vita di Paolo IV, by Bromata, Ravenna, 1748.