Order of the Star in the East

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Order of the Star in the East

Organization promoting the teachings of Jiddu Krishna-murti as a World Teacher. The Order was developed by Theosophical president Annie Besant in July 1911, as an international movement, extending the scope of the Order of the Rising Sun (founded seven months earlier). The Star in the East had been founded

"…out of the rapidly growing expectation of the near coming of a great spiritual Teacher, which is visible in many parts of the world today. In all the great faiths at the present time, and in practically every race, there are people who are looking for such a Teacher; and this hope is being expressed quite naturally, in each case, in the terms appropriate to the religion and the locality in which it has sprung up. It is the object of the Order of the Star in the East, so far as is possible, to gather up and unify this common expectation, wherever and in whatever form it may exist, and to link it into a single great movement of preparation for the Great One whom the age awaits."

The Order expanded with the assistance of active branches of the Theosophical Society. A junior Order of the Servants of the Star was established for members under twenty-one years of age. Membership in the Theosophical movement peaked in the late 1920s.

Order Under Attack

Attacks by the Indian newspaper The Hindu, revived the Hodgson Report scandal of the Society for Psychical Research. The report alleged fraud by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and sex scandals involving Charles W. Leadbeater and young boys in 1906. However, in spite of the attacks, the OSE survived. In 1911, Krishnamurti was claimed to be "the chosen Vehicle of the Lord Maitreya-Bodhisattva-Christ."

In October 1912, J. Narayniah, the father of Krishnamurti, and his brother, started legal proceedings against Besant for the guardianship of the two boys. Narayniah claimed that because of Leadbeater's influence, Besant was unfit to have custody. The case was heard two years later in Madras, the judge concluded that charges of sexual immorality against Leadbeater in relation to Krishnamurti were unfounded. However, he also ruled that Leadbeater was not a suitable person to associate with children, Besant should no longer have custody, and the boys were to become wards of the court. After an appeal court upheld this decision, Besant appealed to the Privy Council in England, and in May 1914, the original judgment was reversed.

Meanwhile, Katherine Tingley, head of the American branch of the Theosophical Society also attacked Leadbeater, Besant, and the OSE, declaring that "Krishnamurti is a fine chap who has been hypnotized by Mrs. Annie Besant, and is really an unwilling follower."

In 1912, American members of the Esoteric Section of the Theosophical Society (Adyar) formed a school and community named "Krotona" ("the place of promise") in the Hollywood Hills. Krotona was similar to the community Tingley had developed at Point Loma (San Diego). The complex included a temple, vegetarian cafeteria, metaphysical library, and experimental center. Disciples invented "stereometry," a three-dimensional geometric alphabet, involving a structure weighing three tons and using redwood. After an internal conflict concerning money, the property was sold and the group relocated to the Ojai Valley, a desert in California. Krishna-murti moved Besant to Ojai in hopes of reviving the health of his brother who was suffering from tuberculosis. His brother did not recover but Krishnamurti made Ojai his American headquarters.

On January 23, 1927, Besant announced the arrival of the World Master and that a new utopian colony would be set up in Ojai. Subscriptions were requested to establish a $200,000 Happy Valley Foundation, covering 465 acres and comprising temples, an art center, places for worship and meditation, and a playground for Greek games.

During his world lecture tours, Krishnamurti was favorably received by his followers. However, in June 1927, he gave a speech that disturbed believers in the Vehicle of the Great Teacher. Krishnamurti suggested that Masters and other gurus were superfluous and there was a more direct route to the truth within every individual. Meanwhile, the objectives of OSE were revised as follows: "1. To draw together all those who believe in the presence in the world of the World Teacher. "2. To work for Him in all ways for His realization of His ideal for humanity. "The Order has no dogmas, no creeds or systems of belief. Its inspiration is the Teacher, its purpose to embody His universal life."

On June 28, 1927, the name of the Order was changed to the Order of the Star, implying the World Teacher had "arrived," but on August 1, Krishnamurti gave an address on "Who brings the truth?" In this speech, he claimed the Masters had no objective existence—they were mental images shaped by belief and imagination. Krishnamurti stated: "What you are troubling about is whether there is such a person as the World Teacher who has manifested Himself in the body of a certain person, Krishnamurti." He believed the truth must be sought inside each individual rather than relying on an external authority such as himself. In effect, he renounced the role of World Teacher as defined by Besant and Leadbeater. The following day, at the Star Camp at Ommen, The Netherlands, Krishnamurti reiterated this message.

The Order of the Star was formally suspended in 1929. However, Krishnamurti continued to teach as an independent teacher and drew followers throughout his life. Many of his speeches were transcribed and published as books.

From time to time, the messianic concept of a coming World Teacher was similar to that of the Lord Maitreya/Jesus. The concept continued to find support from various theosophical teachers such as Alice A. Bailey and was revived as one theme within the New Age movement by Bailey student Benjamin Creme. In 1982, the Order of the Star was revived similar to its earlier form by a group in Britain.