Radha Burnier
Encyclopedia
Radha Burnier is president of the Theosophical Society Adyar
since 1980. She was General Secretary of the Indian Section of the Society between 1960 and 1978.
She is the daughter of Nilakanta Sri Ram
who was the fifth President of the T.S. Adyar as well. She was educated in Theosophical Schools and was a student in Rukmini Devi Arundale
's school of classical Indian dance (the Kalakshetra
Foundation). Later on she went to the Benares Hindu University from which she obtained a B.A. with distinction and a M.A. on Sanskrit
, standing first in that University. She played a pivotal role in Jean Renoir
's film The River
(Le Fleuve).
She joined the Theosophical Society in 1935 and was president of youth and adult Lodges for several years. She was President of the Madras Theosophical Federation (1959-63) and librarian and worker at the Indian Section Headquarters of the TS (1945-51). She has been a member of the General Council of the TS (Adyar) since 1960, and has been in its Executive Committee, Finance Committee and Theosophical Publishing House Council for many years. She has lectured extensively around the world on a regular basis since 1960 and has been guest speaker at many conventions, congresses and summer schools. She presided over three World Congresses of the Theosophical Society: 1982 in Nairobi, Kenya; 1993 in Brasilia, Brazil, and 2001 in Sydney, Australia. In July 1990 she conducted two well-attended seminars on "Human Regeneration" at the International Theosophical Centre in Naarden, The Netherlands, which included participants from many countries. In one of the sessions, speaking on "Regeneration and the Objects of the T.S.", she said: "Universal brotherhood, the realization of a mind in which there is no prejudice whatsoever, no barrier against anything, is regeneration, because such a consciousness is totally different from the ordinary consciousness." She is the author of numerous articles in The Theosophist, of which she has been the editor since 1980, and other Theosophical journals. She supervised and directed the work of the Adyar Library and Research Centre since 1954 and is the editor of the Library's research journals and publications. She also translated Sanskrit works for publication.
Radha Burnier is the Head of the Krotona Institute of Theosophy in Ojai, California; The Manor Centre in Sydney and President of the International Theosophical Centre in Naarden, Holland. She is president of the Olcott Education Society, The Theosophical Order of Service (founded by Annie Besant in 1908), the Besant Education Fellowship and founder of The New Life for India Movement (1968), which promotes right citizenship, right values and right means among Indians. She is a former member of "Le Droit Humain
" and presently is the Head of the Eastern Order of International Co-Freemasonry. She was also a close associate of Jiddu Krishnamurti
and is a Trustee of the Krishnamurti Foundation India. On 4 November 1980, at her invitation, Krishnamurti visited Adyar after an absence of 47 years. He walked with her and a number of residents from the main gate of the compound to the sea-shore and visited the beach where he was discovered, in 1909, by C. W. Leadbeater. Two years later, in December 1982, during the Adyar Centenary Convention of the TS, Krishnamurti planted a Bodhi tree
at Adyar.
Theosophical Society Adyar
The Theosophy Society - Adyar is the name of a section of the Theosophical Society founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and others in 1875. Its headquarters moved with Blavatsky and president Henry Steel Olcott to Adyar, an area of Chennai in 1883...
since 1980. She was General Secretary of the Indian Section of the Society between 1960 and 1978.
She is the daughter of Nilakanta Sri Ram
Nilakanta Sri Ram
Nilakanta Sri Ram or Nilakantha Sri Ram was a freemason, theosophist and president of the Theosophical Society Adyar....
who was the fifth President of the T.S. Adyar as well. She was educated in Theosophical Schools and was a student in Rukmini Devi Arundale
Rukmini Devi Arundale
Rukmini Devi Arundale was an Indian theosophist, dancer and choreographer of the Indian classical dance form of Bharatnatyam, and also an activist for animal rights and welfare....
's school of classical Indian dance (the Kalakshetra
Kalakshetra
Kalakshetra is a cultural academy dedicated to the preservation of traditional values in Indian art, especially in the field of Bharatanatyam dance and Gandharvaveda music. The academy was founded in January 1936 by Rukmini Devi Arundale. Under Arundale's guidance the institution achieved national...
Foundation). Later on she went to the Benares Hindu University from which she obtained a B.A. with distinction and a M.A. on Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
, standing first in that University. She played a pivotal role in Jean Renoir
Jean Renoir
Jean Renoir was a French film director, screenwriter, actor, producer and author. As a film director and actor, he made more than forty films from the silent era to the end of the 1960s...
's film The River
The River (1951 film)
The River is a 1951 film directed by Jean Renoir. It was filmed in India and was seminal to the launching of the careers of Satyajit Ray , who assisted on the film, and Subrata Mitra, Ray's cinematographer whom he met during the filming of The River.A fairly faithful dramatization of an earlier...
(Le Fleuve).
She joined the Theosophical Society in 1935 and was president of youth and adult Lodges for several years. She was President of the Madras Theosophical Federation (1959-63) and librarian and worker at the Indian Section Headquarters of the TS (1945-51). She has been a member of the General Council of the TS (Adyar) since 1960, and has been in its Executive Committee, Finance Committee and Theosophical Publishing House Council for many years. She has lectured extensively around the world on a regular basis since 1960 and has been guest speaker at many conventions, congresses and summer schools. She presided over three World Congresses of the Theosophical Society: 1982 in Nairobi, Kenya; 1993 in Brasilia, Brazil, and 2001 in Sydney, Australia. In July 1990 she conducted two well-attended seminars on "Human Regeneration" at the International Theosophical Centre in Naarden, The Netherlands, which included participants from many countries. In one of the sessions, speaking on "Regeneration and the Objects of the T.S.", she said: "Universal brotherhood, the realization of a mind in which there is no prejudice whatsoever, no barrier against anything, is regeneration, because such a consciousness is totally different from the ordinary consciousness." She is the author of numerous articles in The Theosophist, of which she has been the editor since 1980, and other Theosophical journals. She supervised and directed the work of the Adyar Library and Research Centre since 1954 and is the editor of the Library's research journals and publications. She also translated Sanskrit works for publication.
Radha Burnier is the Head of the Krotona Institute of Theosophy in Ojai, California; The Manor Centre in Sydney and President of the International Theosophical Centre in Naarden, Holland. She is president of the Olcott Education Society, The Theosophical Order of Service (founded by Annie Besant in 1908), the Besant Education Fellowship and founder of The New Life for India Movement (1968), which promotes right citizenship, right values and right means among Indians. She is a former member of "Le Droit Humain
Le Droit Humain
The International Order of Co-Freemasonry Le Droit Humain is a global Masonic Order, membership of which is available to men and women on equal terms, regardless of nationality, religion or ethnicity. The Order is founded on the ancient teachings and traditions of Freemasonry, using Masonic ritual...
" and presently is the Head of the Eastern Order of International Co-Freemasonry. She was also a close associate of Jiddu Krishnamurti
Jiddu Krishnamurti
Jiddu Krishnamurti or J. Krishnamurti or , was a renowned writer and speaker on philosophical and spiritual subjects. His subject matter included: psychological revolution, the nature of the mind, meditation, human relationships, and bringing about positive change in society...
and is a Trustee of the Krishnamurti Foundation India. On 4 November 1980, at her invitation, Krishnamurti visited Adyar after an absence of 47 years. He walked with her and a number of residents from the main gate of the compound to the sea-shore and visited the beach where he was discovered, in 1909, by C. W. Leadbeater. Two years later, in December 1982, during the Adyar Centenary Convention of the TS, Krishnamurti planted a Bodhi tree
Bodhi tree
The Bodhi Tree, also known as Bo , was a large and very old Sacred Fig tree located in Bodh Gaya , under which Siddhartha Gautama, the spiritual teacher and founder of Buddhism later known as Gautama Buddha, is said to have achieved enlightenment, or Bodhi...
at Adyar.
Personal life
Radha Burnier was married to Raymond Burnier, a Swiss photographer, who came to India in 1932.Works
- Human regeneration, lectures and discussions. Theosophical Publishing House, Wheaton 1991; ISBN 81-7059-169-4
- No Other Path to Go. Theosophical Publishing House, Wheaton 1985; ISBN 0-8356-7578-5
- The Way of Self-Knowledge. Theosophical Publishing House, Wheaton 1993; ISBN 81-7059-216-X
- Truth, Beauty, and Goodness. Theosophical Publishing House, Wheaton 1985; ISBN 0-8356-7576-9
External links
- Press release on her work in Freemasonry, November 1, 2003