Theos-Talk Archives (April 2004 Message tt00271)

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Daniel H. Caldwell" 
<danielhcaldwell@y...> wrote:

> Pedro, you write that according to HPB "the essence
> of Theosophy" is "a message of altruism and selfless service"
> or IS "altruism and selfless service."

It is altruism. "Let them know at once and remember always, that true 
Occultism or Theosophy is the "Great Renunciation of SELF," 
unconditionally and absolutely, in thought as in action. It is 
ALTRUISM, and it throws him who practises it out of calculation of 
the ranks of the living altogether." (BCW, vol. IX, May, 1888) 

> And you believe that Besant's and Leadbeater's contribution
> to Theosophical literature is THAT "message of altruism and
> selfless service."

Yes.

> But though you may be left "perfectly cold" by these arguments and 
contentions,
> it would appear that both Madame Blavatsky and the Master Koot Hoomi
> were VERY MUCH concerned about the distorting and disfiguring of the
> Theosophical teachings.
> 
> In HPB's great work, in the preface, we find the following 
statement:
> 
> "The publication of many of the facts herein stated has been 
rendered 
> NECESSARY by the wild and fanciful speculations in which many 
Theosophists 
> and students of mysticism have indulged, during the last few 
years. . . . 
> THE SECRET DOCTRINE, Vol. 1, Page viii. caps added.
> 
> Notice HPB's adjectives: WILD .....FANCIFUL.


The date of publication of "The Secret Doctrine" is October, 1888. 
Besant joined the TS in May 1889 and Leadbeater was at Adyar at that 
time, after having helped Col. Olcott in Ceylon. None of them had any 
theosophical books published in 1888. 


> And Master Koot Hoomi told Colonel Olcott about the forthcoming
> SECRET DOCTRINE:
> 
> "Every mistake or erroneous notion, corrected and explained by her 
[HPB] from 
> the works of other theosophists was corrected by me, or under my 
instruction." 
> Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom, Series I, p. 47 
> 
> Here KH was not inattentive or "perfectly cold" to such distortions 
but took an
> active part in being sure that CORRECTIONS would be made.
> 
> Again notice KH's words: MISTAKE....ERRONEOUS notion....CORRECTED


There were no published works by Besant and Leadbeater at the time 
the letter was written (1888).


> And in THE MAHATMA LETTERS, Master KH writes:
> 
> "I dread the appearance in print of our philosophy as expounded by 
> Mr. H[ume]. I read his three essays or chapters on God (?) 
cosmogony 
> and glimpses of the origin of things in general, and had to cross 
out 
> nearly all. . . . if he publishes what I read, I will have H.P.B. 
or 
> Djual Khool deny the whole thing; as I cannot permit our sacred 
philosophy 
> to be so disfigured. He says that people will not accept the whole 
truth. . .
> In such a case the less such idiots hear of our doctrines the 
better 
> for both. If they do not want the whole truth and nothing but the 
truth, 
> they are welcome. But never will they find us -- (at any rate) -- 
compromising 
> with, and pandering to public prejudices." 2nd ed., Letter 54
> 
> Notice KH's words: "I cannot permit our sacred philosophy to be so 
DISFIGURED...."
> caps added

This is quite specific to Hume's writings, although it carries more 
general considerations. To use this to theosophically disqualify 
Besant and Leadbeater's contribution to Theosophy is unwarranted. It 
amounts to criticize and invalidate a book that has not been written 
yet!

> Also in the opening pages of HPB's first instruction to her 
esoteric students,
> she gives the following WARNING:
> 
> ". . . A new and rapidly growing danger. . . is threatening . . . 
> the spread of the pure Esoteric Philosophy and knowledge. . . . 
> I allude to those charlatanesque imitations of Occultism and 
> Theosophy. . . . By pandering to the prejudices of people, and 
> especially by adopting the false ideas of a personal God and a 
> personal, carnalized Saviour, as the groundwork of their teaching, 
> the leaders of this 'swindle' (for such it is) are endeavoring to 
> draw men to them and in particular to turn Theosophists from the 
true path."
> 
> ". . . A close examination will assuredly reveal. . . materials 
> largely stolen . . . from Theosophical writings. . . [and] 
distorted 
> and falsified so as to be palmed off on the unwary as revelations 
of 
> new and undreamed of truths. But many will neither have the time 
nor 
> the opportunity for such a thorough investigation; and before they 
> become aware of the imposture they may be led far from the 
Truth. . . . 
> Nothing is more dangerous to Esoteric Truth than the garbled and 
> distorted versions disfigured to suit the prejudices and tastes of 
> men in general." 


A look at the relevant page on you website

http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/ests1p2.htm

reveals that you omitted the fact that HPB was referring to something 
happening in the USA, more specifically to an article entitled "Call 
to the Awakened", published in the Boston "Esoteric". She also 
mentioned the "H.B.L." (Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor) and the 
Esoteric College of Boston, founded by a "Brahmin of Irish descent, 
thousands of years old."

She is referring to very specific, historical personages in the US in 
1888. To use her statements to condemn Besant and Leadbeater's non-
existent writings at that time is extremely prejudicial. 

> Notice HPB's key words: DANGER ....CHARLATANESQUE 
IMITATIONS....FALSE IDEAS...DISTORTED AND FALSIFIED....
> 
> She warns her students that such imitations, such false ideas, such
> distorted and falsified teachings may TURN THEOSOPHISTS FROM THE 
TRUE
> PATH....THEY MAY BE LED FAR FROM THE TRUTH.
> 
> And HPB's last sentence in her quote bears repetition:
> 
> "Nothing is more dangerous to Esoteric Truth than the garbled and 
> distorted versions disfigured to suit the prejudices and tastes of 
> men in general."
> 
> NOTHING IS MORE DANGEROUS.....garbled and distorted 
versions...disfigured
> versions of Esoteric Truth or Theosophy.
> 
> If anything, HPB was WARNING her students to be ON THE LOOKOUT FOR 
and to 
> pay ATTENTION for such "garbled and distorted versions" of 
Theosophy.

Your expression "on the look out for" is an attempt to create a link 
between what HPB wrote and your implicit condemnation of Besant and 
Leadbeater's Theosophy. You are trying to convey a meaning which does 
not exist in the original statements made by HPB, included in your 
site, as she was referring to specific and historical situations.

Let me quote the Old Lady. I have found in this passage an ever-fresh 
source of inspiration in my work for The Theosophical Society:

"Orthodoxy in Theosophy is a thing neither possible nor desirable. It 
is diversity of opinion, within certain limits, that keeps the 
Theosophical Society a living and a healthy body, its many other ugly 
features notwithstanding. Were it not, also, for the existence of a 
large amount of uncertainty in the minds of students of Theosophy, 
such healthy divergencies would be impossible, and the Society would 
degenerate into a sect, in which a narrow and stereotyped creed would 
take the place of the living and breathing spirit of Truth and an 
ever growing Knowledge." 
(BCW, vol. IX, Letter to the Second American Convention, April, 1888)

Pedro