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Re: TPH & Recent Libels Against HPB

Mar 04, 2006 01:51 PM
by Robert Bruce MacDonald


Message: 23 Date: Sat, 4 Mar 2006 15:01:21 EST
From: leonmaurer@aol.com
Subject: Re: TPH & Recent Libels Against HPB

Theosophists and others,

The following letter has one basic failure of understanding that belies every statement it makes or conclusion it implies. And that understanding is that; A true "Historian" can only report *everything* that is pertinent to the *truth* of *exactly* what happened, including what anyone said or wrote, at any particular time in history -- without making any personal judgments or opinions about any of it.
It seems to me that this is exactly what Daniel refuses to do, make a personal judgment. If he believes the Coulombs and Solovyoffs of this world, he should have the courage to say so and argue why they should be taken seriously. If he believes, as others have argued, that much of what they say is fabricated (hence lies), he should have the courage to come out strong in support of HPB. What Daniel does instead (intentionally or not) is insidious. He repeats the lies without any argument at all (he simply states that some of the points of view are from enemies, as if enemies and liars are the same thing). Some would argue that this lack of taking a stance is cowardice at best, and diabolical at its worst.


This is something that the author has to Learn -- so that he can understand why his own personal opinions, implied, insinuated or otherwise, have no validity whatsoever, and are nothing more than unfounded gossip when they
pertain to the motives or actions of anyone else.
These are not opinions, Carlos is arguing that there is a difference between liars and enemies and liars do not deserve the same treatment as enemies. Enemies are to be respected because they believe they are dealing with the truth. Liars know they are not. When looking at a body of evidence presented by one party (for instance the Coulombs), when some of that evidence is shown to be fabricated, then it shows that that party has deliberately misled (like the Coulombs), and nothing they say can be trusted. If you as a historian want to repeat some aspect of these proven liars testimony, then the onus of proof is on you. Prove that this aspect of their testimony is valid, otherwise your behavior is immoral as it does nothing but sully the reputation of an innocent person by repitition of garbage.

His taking on the role of prosecutor, judge and jury is far more insidious and untheosophical than the purported actions of someone he repeatedly implies, besides remaining silent in the face of such unproved accusations (as HPB did with her attackers) has committed some kind of fraud by reporting the truth of what happened to HPB, and publishing all the so called evidential comments and writings of those that attacked as well as defended her -- without his own personal comment or opinions... And letting the readers judge for themselves what is true or false, and who is right or wrong, innocent or guilty.
Deal with the argument, Leon. The arguments of enemies are to be treated with respect, the words of liars need not be accorded any respect. If you believe the Coulombs, etc. to be other than liars, argue for them. To attack Carlos for trying to stand up for someone he has a great deal of respect for is ludicrous. Once people are shown to be liars, their words are "evidence" only in proceedings against them (libel, contempt of court, etc.).

As further advice to students of theosophy, the judgment of HPB's teachings are dependent only on the teachings themselves, and not on her personal life or actions, regardless of whether one approves of them or not.
Certainly the above is true, but this does not make it open season on her reputation. When is it permissable to start sullying your name? Now? One minute after your death? A year? Hopefully as theosophists we will all stand by you even after your death and not let lies diminish your memory in the eyes of the world.

Henceforth, I intend to trash such personalized, propaganda-like letters before wasting my time reading them. What anyone else does about them, is strictly their own business.
Your prerogative,

Bruce

LHM


In a message dated 3/4/06 11:08:53 AM, carlosaveline@hotmail.com writes:


Dear Friends,


In the year 2000, the Theosophical Publishing House/Quest Books published
the unfortunate volume "The Esoteric World of Madame Blavatsky", by Daniel
Caldwell.

This 451 pp. book is a collection of testimonies, false and true, about the
life of H. P. Blavatsky. With this book, Daniel Caldwell inaugurated a new
"editorial policy" adopted by the Adyar Theosophical Society in America ,
which consists of publishing lies and libels invented by the old enemies of
H. P. Blavatsky and of the theosophical movement as if they were authentic
documents.

The new editorial "policy" also includes publishing these false accusations
scattered amidst authentic documents, which makes it harder for the
unexperienced student to identify the falsehoods whose effect - if
unresisted - would be killing HPB´s memory and destroying its spiritual
vibration at the moral, ethical and occult levels, which are inevitably
interconnected.

Thus HPB´s image could be apparently put at the same level as some other
"theosophical" leaders, perhaps. In the disgusting volume "The Esoteric
World of Madame Blavatsky" - while believing the editor has selected
truthful documents - the reader will bump into many of the lies written
against HPB. There he will see two texts by Emma Coulomb (pp. 35-36 and pp.
210-215) with no word from the "editor" Daniel Cadlwell admitting he is
publishing documents which have no trace of truth in them whatsoever.

Caldwell´s book also contains two texts by Mr. Solovyov with attacks against
HPB; one false testimony by Mr. Richard Hodgson, several false accusations
against HPB made by Moncure D. Conway and many other unjust attacks aimed at
her who is not here to defend herself. The disgusting material includes
utter disrespect for two Sacred Teachers and Their names, in one of the
libels signed by Emma Coulomb.

Its reproduction by a Publishing House which calls itself "Theosophical"
is something which surpasses and goes relatively far beyond the limits of
absurdity. HPB wrote long enough in The Key to Theosophy about the abuse
of sacred names, even when the cause of such a desecration is not a
collection of deliberate lies against the theosophical philosophy.


As to this kind of action, there are two levels of karma: the karma of
actively publishing lies against the Masters and HPB, and the karma of
anyone who knows about this and does nothing. This will not be the karma
of earnest students. In the Preliminary Memorandum of the Esoteric Section
of Theosophical Society, issued in 1888, Mrs. Blavatsky made an inspiring
quotation from the Book of Discipline in the schools of Dzyan and from a
letter of a Master: "He who wipeth not away the filth with which the
parent´s body have been defiled by an enemy, neither loves the parent nor
honours himself. He who defendeth not the persecuted and the helpless (...)
has been born too soon in human shape." I can only humbly aggree with
these wise words.

It is true that the editor of "The Esoteric World of Madame Blavatsky" wrote at the preface of the book:

"These reminiscenses by her relatives, acquaintances, friends, co-workers,
and enemies give a vivid portrayal of Madame Blavatsky´s personality and
allow the reader to enter into the historical milieu of her time."

But he forgot the profound difference between an enemy and a liar.

An enemy, says the dictionary, is an adversary or an opponent - often an
honest person. A liar is a person who tells lies - or who knowingly helps
propagating them. Enemies may say unpleasant truths and we should be able to
learn from them. The problem is not with enemies, then, but with false
testimonies. The editor of "The Esoteric World of Madame Blavatsky" wrongly called "reminiscenses" the old, well-known falsehoods and proved
lies. He and TPH-Wheaton considered them beautiful enough to go to the
public.

O o o O o o O o o O

Best regards, Carlos.


O o o O o o O o o O


NOTE:

The paragraphs above are part of my text "The Embellishment of Truth",
published in "FOHAT", the magazine of the Edmonton Theosophical Society,
Canada, in the Summer 2005 issue.

O o o O o o O o o O
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