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Jeanine Miller obituary Jeanine Miller obituary
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My friend Jeanine Miller, who has died aged 83, devoted many years of her life to the study of Sanskrit and of the Vedas – hymns of praise – in particular the Rgveda, one of the most ancient Indian scriptures and source of Hinduism, thought to have been written between 1500 and 1200BCE. She believed that the wisdom in these ancient texts, with their message of an underlying cosmic order, was of particular relevance today.My friend Jeanine Miller, who has died aged 83, devoted many years of her life to the study of Sanskrit and of the Vedas – hymns of praise – in particular the Rgveda, one of the most ancient Indian scriptures and source of Hinduism, thought to have been written between 1500 and 1200BCE. She believed that the wisdom in these ancient texts, with their message of an underlying cosmic order, was of particular relevance today.
Jeanine was able to convey the sheer scope and depth of some of these teachings through a brilliant synthesis of scholarship, spiritual insight and poetic vision that, combined with an understanding of myths and symbols, gave her writing a visionary dimension all of its own.Jeanine was able to convey the sheer scope and depth of some of these teachings through a brilliant synthesis of scholarship, spiritual insight and poetic vision that, combined with an understanding of myths and symbols, gave her writing a visionary dimension all of its own.
She was inspired by the great orientalist and Indologist Jan Gonda, who wrote the foreword to Jeanine's first book, The Vedas: Harmony, Meditation and Fulfilment (1974). She found a kindred spirit in the Sanskrit scholar and Roman Catholic priest Raimon Panikkar, who wrote the foreword to her book The Vision of Cosmic Order in the Vedas (1985).She was inspired by the great orientalist and Indologist Jan Gonda, who wrote the foreword to Jeanine's first book, The Vedas: Harmony, Meditation and Fulfilment (1974). She found a kindred spirit in the Sanskrit scholar and Roman Catholic priest Raimon Panikkar, who wrote the foreword to her book The Vision of Cosmic Order in the Vedas (1985).
Jeanine was born to French parents in Shanghai, where her father, Maurice Meunier, was the manager of a Franco-Chinese bank. He became a Gaullist resistance operator in the city during the second world war, smuggling out young men who wanted to join the British forces. These activities eventually forced the family to emigrate to Australia, where they changed their name to Miller. Jeanine was educated at a convent school in Sydney.Jeanine was born to French parents in Shanghai, where her father, Maurice Meunier, was the manager of a Franco-Chinese bank. He became a Gaullist resistance operator in the city during the second world war, smuggling out young men who wanted to join the British forces. These activities eventually forced the family to emigrate to Australia, where they changed their name to Miller. Jeanine was educated at a convent school in Sydney.
After her father's death, she moved with her mother, Fernande, to London, joining her brother, the immunologist Jacques Miller, who was then doing postdoctoral research at the Chester Beatty Research Institute in South Kensington.After her father's death, she moved with her mother, Fernande, to London, joining her brother, the immunologist Jacques Miller, who was then doing postdoctoral research at the Chester Beatty Research Institute in South Kensington.
Jeanine studied Sanskrit at Durham University, obtaining an MLitt, and worked as a researcher in the department of manuscripts at the British Library. Two Russian mystics were to have a great influence on Jeanine's life, the first being HP (Helena) Blavatsky, founder of the Theosophical Society. Jeanine lectured extensively and taught meditation at the Theosophical Society's headquarters in London.Jeanine studied Sanskrit at Durham University, obtaining an MLitt, and worked as a researcher in the department of manuscripts at the British Library. Two Russian mystics were to have a great influence on Jeanine's life, the first being HP (Helena) Blavatsky, founder of the Theosophical Society. Jeanine lectured extensively and taught meditation at the Theosophical Society's headquarters in London.
In the 1960s Jeanine met the Russian Sufi teacher Irina Tweedie and became one of her first disciples, practising dhyana, the silent meditation of the heart, and gaining direct experience of the spiritual dimension of the ancient texts she was translating. Jeanine helped Tweedie with the editing of her journal, The Chasm of Fire.In the 1960s Jeanine met the Russian Sufi teacher Irina Tweedie and became one of her first disciples, practising dhyana, the silent meditation of the heart, and gaining direct experience of the spiritual dimension of the ancient texts she was translating. Jeanine helped Tweedie with the editing of her journal, The Chasm of Fire.
Jeanine's last book was her magnum opus: in The Blazing Dragon of Wisdom: The Esoteric Tradition as Enshrined in the Vedas and Beyond, her gift of combining scholarship with an encyclopedic knowledge of world myths and religions came into its own. Jeanine's last book, The Blazing Dragon of Wisdom: The Esoteric Tradition as Enshrined in the Vedas and Beyond, was her magnum opus, in which her gift of combining scholarship with an encyclopedic knowledge of world myths and religions came into its own.
In later life Jeanine moved to Languedoc-Roussillon with her partner Ron Wildego, an artist, and they married in 2011.In later life Jeanine moved to Languedoc-Roussillon with her partner Ron Wildego, an artist, and they married in 2011.
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