Theos-Talk Archives (May 2012 Message tt00003)

Below is my message sent to Mahatma Leadbeater group:
Here are passages from Key to Theosophy 
ENQUIRER. But surely those few who have felt the need of such truths
must have made up their minds to believe in something definite? You tell me
that, the Society having no doctrines of its own, every member may believe as he
chooses and accept what he pleases. This looks as if the Theosophical Society
was bent upon reviving the confusion of languages and beliefs of the Tower of
Babel of old. Have you no beliefs in common?
THEOSOPHIST. What is meant by the Society having no tenets or doctrines of its
own is, that no special doctrines or beliefs are obligatory on its members; but,
of course, this applies only to the body as a whole. The Society, as you were
told, is divided into an outer and an inner body. Those who belong to the latter
have, of course, a philosophy, or ? if you so prefer it ? a religious system of
their own.
There is fashion among many members of TS and followers of Blavatsky to ridicule religions, beliefs and creeds. Above passages from Blavatsky show that this attitude is not proper in TS. Inner body of TS or Esoteric School has always been considered as very important and as core of TS with more serious members becoming members of ES. Now notice Blavatsky's words "The Society, as you were told, is divided into an outer and an inner body. Those who belong to the latter (Esoteric School) have, of course, a philosophy, or ? if you so prefer it ? a religious system of their own."
So Blavatsky not only recognized importance of religious system, a philosophy (or beliefs regarding nature of cosmos and man), but it was considered as essential for more serious students of Theosophy who were in Esoteric School.
Anand Gholap