Theos-Talk Archives (February 2008 Message tt00303)

Dear Frank

Thank you for your reply.

Mr Schuller wrote, "On September 7, 1875, Helena 
Petrovna Blavatsky and Henry Steel Olcott founded 
the Theosophical Society. 
They were directed to do so by two eastern Adepts 
or Masters, Morya and Koot Hoomi.(1)  Besides its 
three official objects (1a), the mission of the 
Theosophical Society was to prepare the world for 
the coming of a great spiritual teacher, expected 
in the last quarter of the 20th century."

When I agreed with your statement, they "did not?worked 
towards the 1975 messenger" you wrote, "not so" and 
introduced that Dr Purucker, Iverson Harris and Emmett 
Small taught and wrote about this.

If this is what Dr Purucker or others said years after the death of 
Madame Blavatsky then I respectfully disagree with their 
interpretation. 

Mr Schuller is referring to Madame Blavatsky and her 
teachers "mission" through the formation of the 
Theosophical Society by virtue of the substantiating 
quote he uses from the Key to Theosophy, and the word 
"was" in the sentence quoted.

So reiterating, I don't accept the premise that the 
deliberate "mission" of Madame Blavatsky and her 
teachers' Theosophical Society was to "?prepare the 
world for the coming of a great spiritual teacher." 

My concern is one of emphasis.

Where Madame Blavatsky referred to the possibility of 
a "new torch-bearer of Truth" it was in the following 
terms:

"If the present attempt, in the form of our Society, 
succeeds better than its predecessors have done?"

Please note the word "if."

And:

"If the Theosophical Society survives and lives true 
to its mission, to its original impulses through the 
next hundred years?"

Note again the word "if."

In other words, if the Society (members) abides by 
its objects (those of 1889) and lives up to its 
"mission" of alleviating suffering, and popularizing 
"?a knowledge of theosophy" (their version of theosophy) 
then possibly, a new teacher may arrive.

As the next passage confirms:

"In Century the Twentieth some disciple more informed, 
and far better fitted, may be sent by the Masters 
of Wisdom?" S.D Vol 1 "Introduction"	

Please note the word "may."

So whichever way we perceive it, there were/are many 
conditions attached to the arrival of a new teacher. 

>From my perspective then Madame Blavatsky and her 
teachers' "mission" through their Theosophical 
Society was not specific preparation for the arrival 
of a new teacher 100 years hence, despite the cyclic 
potential for this to occur. 

They and their Society were working with the conditions 
of the day and they knew that karma would decide 
whether or not there would be another attempt a century 
later.

It was and is for each of us as Theosophical students, 
and humanity as a whole, to earn whatever arises pursuant 
to the law of karma, not to look forward to a future 
teacher or saviour as Mr Schuller's and others' emphasis 
may construe in the minds of many.

This perception of what Madame Blavatsky wrote can 
lead to many unhelpful attitudes and practices 
including the potential for a messianic craze such 
as happened in the Adyar Theosophical Society.  

I suspect the same danger lurks to this day.

Regards
Nigel