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Another important development during CWL’s journey to India happened in Colombo, Ceylon, on 17 December 1884, as Col. Olcott describes: While the party were in Colombo, en route for Madras, an interesting episode occurred. The Rev. Mr. Leadbeater, with H.P.B. and myself acting as sponsors, “took Pansil” from the High Priest Sumangala and Rev. Amaramoli, in the presence of a crowded audience. This was the first instance of a Christian clergyman having publicly declared himself a follower of the Lord Buddha, and the sensation caused by it may be easily imagined.

— Henry Steel Olcott on Charles Webster Leadbeater

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Another important development during CWL’s journey to India happened in Colombo, Ceylon, on 17 December 1884, as Col. Olcott describes: While the party were in Colombo, en route for Madras, an interesting episode occurred. The Rev. Mr. Leadbeater, with H.P.B. and myself acting as sponsors, “took Pansil” from the High Priest Sumangala and Rev. Amaramoli, in the presence of a crowded audience. This was the first instance of a Christian clergyman having publicly declared himself a follower of the Lord Buddha, and the sensation caused by it may be easily imagined." in the context of "Henry Steel Olcott quoted in T. Subba Row, CWL and Esoteric Teachings Pedro Oliveira, compiler" to mean that wisdom is timeless.

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Source: Wikiquote: "Charles Webster Leadbeater" (Quotes about C.W. Leadbeater) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
Henry Steel Olcott

About Henry Steel Olcott

Henry Steel Olcott (2 August 1832 – 17 February 1907) was an American military officer, journalist, lawyer and the co-founder and first President of the Theosophical Society.