WHEATON – On the northernmost part of town, way at the end of Main Street, is what appears to be a huge manor estate.
"We get that a lot," said Chris Dixon, chief of staff at the Theosophical Society in America.
Theosophy has roots in the 16th century, but the society was founded about 300 years later. The goal of the philosophy and worldview can be found in its name, Dixon said.
"From the ancient Greek, the word means 'divine wisdom,'" he said. "Our main mission is the idea that the world's spiritual traditions sprang from this common ancient wisdom and share far more things than they differ on, so we try to focus on the commonalities ... and nurture people on their spiritual path."
Whether that pursuit is based in Christianity, Buddhism, Islam or reason and science, the society tries to provide its members with as many resources as possible.
The 42-acre campus, established in 1926, holds a library with more than 20,000 rare scientific and spiritual texts, hosts daily and weekly lectures and classes, and even has a publishing house that produces close to a dozen books per year. Throughout the picturesque campus are statues of the Virgin Mary and the Buddha, a labyrinth, several gardens and a small pond.
Dixon said for those who take a Theosophical approach, the path towards knowledge and understanding is more important than the destination. By asking questions about what you know and don't know through study, service and contemplation, you can reach a deeper understanding of yourself and the world, he said.
"The idea is really just ... to bring people together to try to understand these things and find the commonalities of the human condition," Dixon said. "To me, the spiritual path is a process. So ultimately, whether you believe in Heaven or you believe in enlightenment or any type of higher thing, that's an interest to some, but I'd say our goal is to help people along."
Speakers and programs have included scientists, gurus, Christian theologians – the society even helped host the Dalai Lama's 2011 visit to Chicago.
Theosophy's practices span the globe. The Wheaton location is the main headquarters for the society in America, though the overall headquarters are in India, with other locations worldwide.
Pablo Sender, an international speaker with the society who moonlights in its extensive library, first encountered the organization as a student in Argentina. He said it appealed to him because its holistic approach to obtaining knowledge was in contrast to his day job as a molecular biologist.
Through shared study, members can push one another as they choose the elements of their own path.
"I can't function in narrow boundaries," he said. "For example, I like several philosophies, but I could not belong to a place where they would tell me 'You have to look at life in this particular way only.' Because I see value everywhere."
That sort of curiosity is exactly what the society tries to foster, Dixon said. Its presence in Wheaton, a city with more than 40 churches and a large Christian college, has been welcome.
"If people come here looking for answers, that's not necessarily what they're going to find," he said. "We think it's important to explore Theosophy or the divine wisdom or these ideas that are shared by the world religions, whether it's the ideas of passion or the seeking of truth, and really just be a place of dialogue for seekers."
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Know more
For more information about the Theosophical Society in America, visit www.theosophical.org, email info@theosophical.org, call 630-668-1571 or visit its location at 1926 N. Main St.