Ancient Ideals in Modern Life: Four Lectures Delivered at the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Meeting of the Theosophical Society, at Benares, December 1900 - Hardcover

About The Book: In the following lectures I have endeavoured to discharge the duty incumbent on the spiritual Teacher however humble the grade of holding up the ideal to be aimed at, of reproving the evils of the day, of indicating the path along which the ideal may be approached. The task is one beset with difficulties, but not for that reason may it be avoided; cowards shrink back, appalled by obstacles; heroes overcome them. Though the lectures are addressed to Hindus, many of the matters dealt with, Specially in the first and last lectures, are applicable outside Hinduism, and describe ideals that might be incorporated generally in modern life, to its great improvement. And, in any case, the raising of India must interest all who belong to the great Empire of which India forms a part. May the proposals here made, if wise and good, win the assent and support of India’s children, and so prove a step towards her redemption. About The Author: Annie Besant (1 October 1847 – 20 September 1933) was a British socialist, theosophist, freemason, women's rights and Home Rule activist, educationist, and campaigner for Indian nationalism. Annie Wood was born on 1 October 1847 in London into an upper-middle-class family. She was the daughter of William Burton Persse Wood (1816–1852) and Emily Roche Morris (died 1874). Regarded as a champion of human freedom, she was an ardent supporter of both Irish and Indian self-rule. She was also a prolific author with over three hundred books and pamphlets to her credit. As an educationist, her contributions included being one of the founders of the Banaras Hindu University. For fifteen years, Besant was a public proponent in England of atheism and scientific materialism. Besant's goal was to provide employment, better living conditions, and proper education for the poor