Theos-Talk Archives (April 1998 Message tt00169)

Eldon wrote:
>The edition of the SD that I've been using is by the Theosophical
>Publishing House. The T.S. Adyar puts it out. It was edited by
>Boris de Zirkoff, with all quotations corrected to the original
>sources cited, and other corrections added as Boris deemed
>necessary.
It is difficult to understand why Boris de Zirkoff deemed it necessary to
alter the symbols so much in size on pages 4 and 5 of the PROEM, and why in
the 3rd symbol he changes the diameter into an elongated H, and why he
deemed it necessary to put a dot inside the 12th symbol, the five-pointed
star reversed. Also why did he alter the spelling of the word disc (before
the 1st symbol, and after the 2nd symbol) to disk?
On page 3 HPB differentiates between Kosmos ("the NOUMENON") and Cosmos
("With regard to its body or Cosmic organization"). Why also shouldn't
there be a similar differentiation between disk with a "k" (page 1) and disc
with a "c" (page 4), especially as the latter is illustrated (its body) and
it is now page 4. On page 1 "Kosmos in Eternity" - NOUMENON. Thus begins
the vast difference between the ORIGINAL SD of HPB and the Masters, and
Boris de Zirkoff's Secret Doctrine.

>The edition is considered a part of the Collected
>Writings of HPB series, although it's not a numbered volume.
>Besides the citations being corrected, the quotes in the text
>are set apart typographically, in smaller type, making it easier
>to see, in reading the book, where HPB is quoting someone, and
>where she is writing herself.

Best wishes
Tony
>