Theos-Talk Archives (March 1999 Message tt00016)

Dear Dallas,
no I actually have no copy of TTM 1875-1950, but not long ago I received
from a Californian friend a copy of TTM 1875-1925, which is very big. It the
first only a derivation of the latter or do I need it too? Then of course
you would make me happy to send me one for my archives. Of course I'll cover
the costs.
Dallas, what you wrote about the original sources it quiet true. And it is
right that Adyar has had its bad period were alleged clairvoyant self-made,
man-made ideas got a higher value than the Arhat philosophy represented by
HPB. That was the main reason why Katherine Tingley and Gottfried de
Purucker trained Boris in Point Loma and opened the esoteric ways to be able
to start the BCW project in 1924.
The Adyar T.S. of today is not the same as yesterday, although there
remained some of the false "London Lodge philosophy", mainly represented by
AB and CWL. Adyar has all my thanks for publishing the original Blavatsky
texts, although not all compilations from other authors have the same value,
as your good example showed.
I have indeed, that the latest offspring in the Theos. movement, the
Pasadena T.S., will one day recognize the value of publishing unaltered
texts and laugh no more about the Blavatsky/Point Loma tradition, as Jerry
mentioned some days ago. GdeP has the same right as HPB to be read by
students unaltered. At present the Pasadena T.S. can learn something from
the experience Adyar has made.
Although you personally prefer another tradition that I, you have understood
well the idea and the motive of my posts about questionable actions of the
Pasadena T.S. Indeed, alterings, if not falsifications of original texts,
which were strongly opposed by Katherine Tingley and G de Purucker which
were supporters of HPB, are a matter of every true theosophists, no matter
which lineage he/she personally prefers.
The internet gives us students now the opportunity to ask questions about
things, which seems to get wrong way. But is seems that this new democratic
instrument of internet is not yet well established in our theos. circles and
it seems that some officials of Theos. organizations fear it. I think that
only those could fear who have a bad conscience. Compare the policies: In
the last years I was sometimes critical with Adyar, but I remained friends
with them and I am even friends with Lodge Presidents, who are strong
supporters of CWL, whose teachings I personally oppose. OTOH, actually I am
critical with some dark events concerning the founding of the Pasadena T.S.
in 1951 and the many altering of G.de Purucker's books by them. The first
reaction by an Pasadena official was a brand letter accusing me personally
of psychic illness and the threat of discontinue cooperation with the
reasoning, that I have no right to be critical to Pasadena because I am not
a member of them. What do you think about that? I may express, that I am not
a Adyar member too, but they allow me to ask questions.
Frank






>Feb 3rd 1999
>
>Dear Frank:
>
>Did I send you a copy of the book  THE THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT
>1875 - 1950 ?
>
>It is documentary history of the movement and takes into account
>all the main aspects of events between those years.  If I did
>not, then would you like me to send you a copy ?
>
>No one who writes for Theosophy receives any consideration
>because of any "authority."  Truth does away with external
>authority.  The only "authority" is entirely internal.  Each one
>makes up his own mind as to what is true.  If you are interested,
>I can send you some pages of quotations from Theosophical sources
>that speak to this effect.
>
>I have read many writers on theosophical matters, or those who
>claimed to be able to interpret the meaning of some of the more
>obscure statements.  Some do illuminate or draw our minds to
>correlations and analogies, others seem to obscure thought,
>direct it to themselves and their particular views, and fail to
>provide students with adequate referencing, so that they can do
>their own research.  I tend to be very cautious about those who
>refrain from giving SOURCES.  They may be right or wrong, but I
>have to see corroboration.
>
>As to the preservation of the "Original Writings."  There is no
>question but the issuing of COLLECTED WORKS, BLAVATSKY  is most
>valuable.  Boris de Zircov and those who assisted him did a
>magnificent job.  TPH ought to be commended for that. The only
>problem with that work is its high price.  The average student
>cannot afford the set.
>
>I would like to point out to you that historically around the
>1920s all the "original writings" had gone OUT OF PRINT.  It is
>true that some of the books had been reprinted, but most of those
>reprinted editions had been changed and edited by those who
>claimed "successorship", or "authority" to do so.  In effect they
>were no longer "accurately true to the originals."  One of the
>primary tasks of the United Lodge of Theosophists was to make the
>ORIGINALS again available, widely, and at the most reasonable
>price, as close to actual cost, so that students could have those
>to use and work on.
>
>THEOSOPHY monthly magazine began publishing in 1912 and the
>reprinting of HPB's articles (by then only in library editions of
>THEOSOPHIST, LUCIFER and PATH) were again made available to
>students.  In India, starting in 1930, THE THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT
>began doing this also (published under the auspices of the ULT in
>Bombay.)  Both magazines continue that work today.  In the 1920s
>the larger task of reprinting a photographic version of THE
>SECRET DOCTRINE,  ISIS UNVEILED,  THE KEY TO THEOSOPHY and the
>New York version Me. Judge had issued in 1893 of THE VOICE OF THE
>SILENCE was commenced and carried out.  This was necessary for
>the reason that the copies being printed and sold by other
>Theosophical bodies no longer gave students the unchanged
>ORIGINALS.
>
>I write this so you will be aware of the history of these books.
>Adyar TPH was not one of those who left the original writings
>untampered with.  In fact today you can but a copy of PRACTICAL
>OCCULTISM said to be by HPB and which I found was done by a
>mosaic of authors, all heavily edited, and some articles were by
>orthodox Brahmins and professed credal methods and rites, which
>HPB never endorsed.  I an send you if you are interested my
>findings on this.  I wrote Adyar TPH and protested, and head
>nothing, nor has the book been withdrawn.
>
>Best wishes as always,
>
>Dallas.
>
>PS
>[ Incidentally: Were you able to send something to Reed on the
>German translations of Theosophical texts that might be
>available.  I too am interested to have that information. ]
>
>
>
>
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>
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