Theosophical Society 3

We didn’t get to the Ocean. A guard stopped us. He didn’t speak enough English to explain, but I think we may have been nearing the closing hours. It was strange to see a guard on the site. The whole area is eerily peaceful. It really feels like you are the only one there, and it is a place for contemplation.

We wandered past the Jain temple, the Parsi temple, The Liberal Catholic church, and the temple of light (complete with wooden signs pointing the way to every separate place of worship). There seemed to be people living in some of the buildings (both Indian’s, and foreigners, groundskeepers? those affiliated with the society, students?, teachers?). There were a lot of empty dormitories which looked to be going into disrepair. They were labeled. “students quarters”. It seems that the theosophical society was at one time more active than it is now. It is such a contrast to the bustle of Chennai. How can something so luxurious, and contemplative, and not Hindu exist in such a city?

The Theosophical society remains a mystery worth exploring. I was sad to have only visited it in my second to last week in Chennai. I would like to understand it more, but the mystery is also interesting to unravel from afar. It seems like a miracle it has lasted so long. I wonder if that is because it is infact magic.