Theos-Talk Archives (January 1999 Message tt00126)

>
>In a message dated 1/10/99 7:19:20 PM, Alan wrote:
>
><<As an aside, I read somewhere that HPB became a member of the Golden
Dawn.
>
>And that A.C. wrote an extensive commentary to the Voice of Silence. If so,
>
>as anyone got a copy they could point me to?>>
>
>I'm afraid you have it backwards, my friend.  It was refugees from HPB's
>Esoteric Section that joined the Golden Dawn, like W.B. Yeats.  The Golden
>Dawn was formed well *after* the Theosophical Society, and I truly suspect
>most of The Dawn's best stuff was "appropriated" from HPB -- without credit
>given, of course.
>

W.W. Westcott was both a founder of the GD and an inner member
of HPB's inner group.  And yes, the founders of the GD did acknowledge
their indebtedness to HPB.  I have already stated here that Crowley
called HPB an Adept.


>Aleister Crowley indeed wrote a Commentary on The Voice of the Silence.
But I
>know a much better commentary -- HPB's own writings.  If anyone knew what
she
>wrote and what she wanted to say, she did.  Try The Key to Theosophy by HPB
>and The Ocean of Theosophy by William Q. Judge.  They are great places to
>start getting a handle on the concepts and terms of The Voice of the
Silence.
>

I have already written of his "commentary" and given good rationale for
why he scorned her words.  Lets not go over this stuff yet agina, please.


>Never forget that Crowley was doing "his own thing."  He did not claim to
be
>part of the Theosophical movement, and I strongly doubt the Theosophists
would
>have had him.  The first object of the Theosophical Society was to form a
>nucleus of Universal Brotherhood, not a school of magic.  (Refer to the
Maha-
>Chohan's letter chastizing Sinnett and others)  Crowley, however, talked
much
>of brotherhood, but was *really* interested in a school of magic.
>

Absolutely right. Their Sources were similar, but their motivations and
purposes were very different, thus their appeal was to different groups.


>I would be interested to hear what humanitarian works Crowley performed,
>OUTSIDE of a "ritual magic" setting.  HPB was known for such things as
trading
>in her first-class ticket so that a stranded woman could ride on a ship to
>America, while HPB rode third-class in the boiler room.  Has Crowley
similarly
>LIVED THE LIFE?
>
>Rich
>

Here is one area in which HPB clearly excels.  Crowley practiced magic,
while Blavatsky practiced altruism (except some of her writings show a
temporary loss of compassion against those whom she felt opposed
her mission).  However, as I have said before, if I went by a person's
life story I would never have joined a TS because of the scandalous
behavior I first read about Blavatsky.  I find it humorous for Theosophists
to criticize Crowley when Blavatsky was just as "wild" (traveling over
the world with men, smoking, cussing, maybe having an illegitimate
child, occult fakery, etc etc). But I stayed because I liked what she
had to say.  Should I do less for Crowley?

Jerry S.