Theos-Talk Archives (October 2006 Message tt00158)

Carlos, you wrote:

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...there is a difference -- a technical difference -- between a 
secret society, strictu sensu, and an esoteric school.

An esoteric school (as a masonry, Archane School, etc.) is an 
esoteric, selective group/institution, but not a "secret" one, since 
its existence in itself is relatively well-known and public. Only 
its membership is not public.

For instance, HPB wrote many pages about the Esoteric School in her 
book "The Key to Theosophy". Every new member of the Adyar TS is 
even today told that an Esoteric School exists, etc.

On the other hand, the Adyar "Egyptian Rite" is a "secret society", 
indeed, in the sense that it tries to be completely unknown. No one 
is supposed to positively know of its existence except its members. 
Not even senior members of the Adyar ES, or "33 degrees" of 
Theosophical Masonry....
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So in light of this "difference" in terms, do you consider the ULT's 
Esoteric School --- Dzyan Esoteric School [founded by Robert 
Crosbie] --- a "secret society" like the Egyptian Rite or 
an "esoteric school" like HPB's esoteric school of 1888-1891? 

Daniel
http://hpb.cc