Sir Anthony Brooke was known as ‘the last white Rajah of Sarawak’, a title which needs some explanation. Retreating from his obligations to Sarawak in the 1960s he travelled the world looking for true spiritual masters making a special connection with Meher Baba. Through the Universal Link, founded by Liebie Pugh, he met Peter Caddy and became interested in the work at Findhorn. He was already an international speaker on the topic of universal peace and one humanity. He founded Operation Peace Through Unity, with his partner Gita, which is still very much active in 2023. This work has been taken on by the Brooke family. Sir Anthony died in 2011.

Heir to the role of Rajah of Sarawak Sir Anthony worked hard, as had most of his family, for the well-being of the Sarawak people, encouraging their desire for independence, but not taking part in the revolutionary movement which formed at the time. He was investigated by British Intelligence services regarding possible involvement with the murder of the governor by what was seen as a terrorist organisation. He was acquitted.

The White Rajahs of Sarawak

In 1841 Sir Anthony’s great grandfather, James Brooke, was invested with political authority by the Rajah Muda Hassim of Brunei for his help against pirates and insurgents. This action saw the founding of the state of Sarawak. The local tribes people had been squabbling amongst themselves for generations and James Brooke was seen as a fair minded and honourable man. An enigmatic entry in the Brooke Trust timeline records that in 1863 Rajah Muda (heir apparent) John Brooke Brooke, was disinherited and banished. Following the death of James Brooke, Charles Brooke was proclaimed second Rajah. In 1874 Charles Vyner Brooke was born followed in 1876 by Bertram Brooke, Sir Anthony’s father. Sir Anthony was born in 1912 and in 1915 his grandfather, Charles Vyner Brooke, made a stirring speech to the people of Sarawak saying that while he was in place he would work to ensure their best interests but he could not do so when he was gone. Being sceptical of the imperialist intentions of the British he encouraged the people to be careful in their dealings with others, declaring “This land is your inheritance on which your flesh and blood exist, the source of your income, the food even of your mouths… Unless you follow this advice you will lose your birthright, which will be taken from you by strangers and speculators who will in their turn become masters and owners, whilst you yourselves, you people of the soil, will be thrown aside, and become nothing but coolies and outcasts of the island.”

On the death of Charles his son, Vyner, was appointed ruler but had no interest in doing so and later the same year 1917 Bertram Brooke was appointed as co-ruler, alternating with his brother. Following the Second World War, during which Sarawak had been invaded by Japan, Rajah Vyner ceded Sarawak to Britain and in 1946 it was annexed by Britain. This saw the foundation of the anti-Cession movement and with it the banning of Anthony Brooke from Sarawak. The British governor was assassinated in 1949. Sir Anthony withdrew from the anti-cession campaign in 1951 at the height of the Cold War. He would go on to advise the British government on constitutional matters leading up to the formation of Malaysia in 1963 ensuring that the 9 principles which underlay the Brooke ruling of Sarawak were written into the constitution.

Spiritual Vision

In documenting the life of this extraordinary man I wrote in ‘Formative Figures and Early Days’

“Sir Anthony began to travel world wide and to visit various spiritual leaders and attempt to promote the idea of world peace and human unity. What the founders at Findhorn were doing on an inner psychic level, Sir Anthony was doing on an outer level. Among the leaders he met were Meher Baba and Sun Myung Moon, both of whom he clearly saw as demonstrating the unfoldment of a new spiritual awakening that was heralded by the Master and through the Universal Link organisation. He also visited Auroville in India”( p.79)

In Towards Human Unity (1976) Sir Anthony writes, concerning the idea of the Second Coming that his understanding is,

“using Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s graphic term, the divinisation of the earth. Humanity in fact is now to take responsibility consciously and joyously for bringing this transformation about. We are being called upon to accept the “mission” of acting, both individually and corporately as Christ – the Son of God – and so to assume, at last responsibly, our inherited God-given dominion over the earth.” (p.14)

A vision somewhat different from that of the multinationals that appear to be attempting the same thing for their own ends. We can see the movement Sir Anthony heralded, reflected in the various ground level organisations such as Gaia Education and the GEN (Global Ecovillage Network) movement, not to mention the more established organisations such as the Soil Association. Already in 2023 there are innumerable small groups working together to bring a more healthy relationship with Nature and even larger organisations such as the United Nations are working to eradicate the exploitation of the animal kingdom through illicit trading in contraband goods. Yet still commerce is leading the destruction of the planet both by land and sea, and, as a single example, global warming through emissions which are not measured for ocean trading vessels with no-one held accountable for the pollution they are spreading. These exploitative methods are clearly far from the conscious expressions of intelligence one might expect from humanity under such a transformation. However we are at the beginning of this overhaul of our relationship with Nature and already sprouts are found the world over of this renewal.

Again from ‘Formative Figures and Early Days’ (p.81) we read

“The book Towards Human Unity possibly has the clearest expression of his (Sir Anthony’s) philosophy, but this was written in 1975 or earlier and it is quite possible, indeed likely, that his ideas grew in the remaining 30 years of his life. Among the material related to the Universal Link is an account of a visit he made to a psychic channel in the US”

“May 7th 1966 Grand Rapids Michigan U.S.A. (Afternoon) “Keeper of the Flame” to Anthony Brooke, through Nellie and Edward Cain (Spiritual Research Society)
(Anthony asked for guidance and verification as he travels and foretells the Second Coming.)
“My Beloved: You are my Truth bearer and I fashion your words as I want them revealed to my people. Bless you for receiving and transmitting my message. Have no reservations, you are attuned to me. Never question your ability to receive. You are my Light bearer.” Anthony asked if any details could be given about 1967. “Light and Truth will descend among my people and all shall know that I live in their hearts and not in a far-off Heaven. Yes, Light comes to man in a change of world frequencies. The earth’s frequency comes under new Cosmic influences. My Light shall be evident to those who have transmuted their body and mental frequencies to the Christ vibration. A great translation whereby old concepts yield to the realization of man’s Divine nature and God innate in All of creation. Flesh is the vehicle from Spirit and MAN IS SPIRIT…”

This shows the alignment with the Findhorn Community at that time. Today there is less reliance placed upon channels and psychics and far more on action involved with whatever area appeals to the concerned individual. Yet we must not consider these activities are any less guided by spirit simply because the form has changed.

David Spangler, Peter Caddy, Anthony Brooke photo Findhorn Foundation

David Spangler, Peter Caddy, Anthony Brooke photo Findhorn Foundation

Sir Anthony lived at Findhorn with his partner Monica Parish in the bungalow called Universal, named for the Universal Link. From here he still wandered the world speaking on the coming changes and the importance of Peace to be found through the recognition of ourselves as part of one human family. During this time he and Monica began to drift apart and when Sir Anthony met Birgitte (Gita) Keller in Sweden together they established the Foundation for Peace Through Unity. Supported by the Brooke family Trust this was the vehicle for their work until they settled in New Zealand and established the Peace Through Unity Charitable Trust.

They lived together in their home at Wanganui until his death on March 2nd 2011, (on the same date as the hanging of two members of the Sarawak Anti-Cession Movement in Kuching Central Prison. Two others were hanged a few weeks later). His ashes were buried at the Brooke family graveyard near Fort Marguerita in Sarawak. The full impact of his work has yet to be realised.

This YouTube video gives a sense of Anthony Brooke and so we include it here even though it does not relate to his connection with the Community.

Websites

Peace Through Unity Charitable Trust

The Brooke Heritage Trust

You can find other stories about Anthony Brooke on our website by following this link to his tag.