‘The Immediate Future’ by Annie Besant

In this part of her work, Annie Besant develops subjects of Theosophy that are rather far removed from ordinary thought.  Namely for a Theosophist, issues such as the growth of a Religion and the coming of a World-Teacher, would become familiar and possible to be presented without any preamble.

To Besant, Creation is everything.  Just as in the way a building is sketched by an architect and gives a general idea of its structure, nonetheless, there are visible parts already completed, parts still under construction and parts that are not yet raised above the surface, all of which are still known.  This also says, “You may look at the great plan whose field of evolution is our world.”

In this world a great drama is played, divided into different acts.  In every act the setting is different, but the argument, the plan, is carefully carried on.  Therefore, the history of the world (past, present or future) is all part of the same plan; all filling up some of the great out­line.  The present will become more comprehensible and the future more hopeful, as we learn that beyond the confusion, order exists.

• Title: “The Immediate Future”
• Author: Annie Besant
• Pages: 66