Mount Everest: Its Spiritual Attainment

by George S. Arundale

Overview

WITHIN the pages of this book are contained the outstanding addresses given by Dr. George S. Arundale during the 1932 sessions of Wheaton Institute, Summer School and Convention of The American Theosophical Society.

Discipleship, glorious and inspiring, is the golden motif which runs like a stirring song through every talk to its triumphant climax in the address, Mount Everest. This mightiest peak, towering symbol of the grandeur of the heights attainable by man’s own divinity, rightly represents the goal of our aspiration, as also the difficulties and obstacles to be surmounted on the way of ascent.

It is a vivid and heroic drama which is given by Dr. Arundale with all the dynamic power so splendidly at his command, but a drama which challenges the aspirant to responsibility of leadership in the world’s thought and activity and imposes the obligation of joyous and selfless service. Great is the world’s need during the period of transition through which it is passing and Dr. Arundale makes it abundantly clear that the goal of each man’s Mount Everest may be attained only as he turns outward to his fellows in wise and strong helpfulness.

There can be no greater glory than to “leave the lower self behind” in the selfless service of others, and, on entering the temple of one’s own Godhood, to find the door opening into the world of the Great Ones Who have attained Mount Everest.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781787208940
Publisher:	Muriwai Books
Publication date:	01/12/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	105
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

George Sidney Arundale (1 December 1878 - 12 August 1945) was a Theosophist, Freemason, president of the Theosophical Society Adyar and a bishop of the Liberal Catholic Church. He was the husband of the celebrated Indian dancer Rukmini Devi Arundale (1904-1986).

Born in Surrey, England, Arundale was adopted at a young age by his aunt Francesca, a wealthy Theosophist. Initially privately tutored, he later attended school in Germany before receiving his Master’s degree from St John’s College, Cambridge.

In 1902 he and his aunt moved to Varanasi, India, where he took a position as history teacher at the Central Hindu College (CHC) and was appointed its principal in 1909. He devoted himself to the activities of the Theosophical Society, settling at its sprawling campus at Adyar in Madras. There he met the family of Nilakanta Sastri, a fellow Theosophist, and fell in love with his daughter, Rukmini. They married in 1920, and Arundale mentored and encouraged Rukmini to develop her interest in classical dance.

He then accepted an offer at the Maharaja of Indore in central India to serve as the Commissioner of Education of that state, whilst continuing to devote much of his time to the activities of the Theosophical Society. In 1926 he became bishop of the Liberal Catholic Church and was also appointed General Secretary of the Theosophical Society in Australia, where he moved with his wife.

In 1934, Arundale became president of the Theosophical Society Adyar and founded the Besant Memorial School within the Society’s campus. In 1936, the Arundales founded Kalakshetra, a now venerable institution devoted to researching and teaching Indian classical dance.

In the last decade of his life, he wrote several books and monographs regarding Theosophy. He died peacefully in 1945 at his residence in Adyar, India, aged 66.