Theos-Talk Archives (March 1999 Message tt00339)

In a message dated 3/23/99 4:21:46 PM, bartl@sprynet.com writes:

>Caldwell/Graye wrote:
>> What in your opinion was the purpose of the original esoteric section
>as founded
>> by Madame B.?
>
>	My opinion is that the Esoteric Section was formed because there were
>a number of members who wanted to turn Theosophy into a religion, and the
>Mahatmas, wanting nothing like this for the TS, gave instructions to
>create a separate organization for them. 

That's a completely unfounded opinion.  Even if there were students who wanted
to form a religion out of theosophy, the Masters would never have condoned
such an activity.  

It is much more likely that the Esoteric Section was originally founded by HPB
to satisfy those advanced students who were asking the type of deep questions
such as those answered by her in the Transactions of the Blavatsky Lodge.  The
Esoteric Section was most probably designed for advanced students who wanted
to understand the deeper teachings that could prepare them for adeptship based
on the teachings HPB said would be in her proposed volume 3 and 4 of the
Secret Doctrine.  

It's obvious that most general members of the TS were perfectly satisfied with
the superficial teachings that could be given second hand through
interpretations by the so called "student teachers" who organized and ran the
meetings and lectures at the various TS meeting halls throughout the world.
Most of these exoteric teachings were based on the original writings of HPB as
well as WQJ, RC, CT, AB, etc.--none of whom were Adepts of the same caliber of
HPB or the Mahatmas.  It is obvious that any teachings that were supposedly to
be given in the "Esoteric Section" would be those teachings that were not
previously ("exoterically") published.  As far as my understanding of the
meaning of "esoteric teachings"... They were supposedly to be given only to
those students who were avowed Chelas.  Making a religion out of them could be
considered simply as seeing theosophy as a "religious science and a scientific
religion," and would have no relationship with forming an "organized religion"
as such.

LHM

-- THEOSOPHY WORLD -- Theosophical Talk -- theos-talk@theosophy.com

Letters to the Editor, and discussion of theosophical ideas and
teachings. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message consisting of
"subscribe" or "unsubscribe" to theos-talk-request@theosophy.com.