Theos-Talk Archives (June 1999 Message tt00059)

>>I believe than Daniel Caldwell, in his manuscript "K. Paul Johnson's House
of
Cards?" has responded more than adequately to every major assertion that
Johnson makes in his books.  I don't believe the topic can be adequately
discussed without reference to *both* sides of the evidence, and citing
Johnson alone is a gross error in scholarship, even by academic standards,
let alone Theosophical ones.>>

Good point, Rich.  There is no "proof" that HPB ever went to
Tibet. There is also no "proof" that she didn't.  There is no "proof"
that she had Tibetan Teachers. There is also no "proof" that she
didn't. We have to either believe it or not.  However, it is a
fact that she was one of the first, if not the very first, Western
writer of true Mahayana Buddhism.  "Buddhism" was largely
Theravadin until HPB came along.  So if she didn't have
Mahayana teachers somewhere along the line, then we have to
wonder where she learned the Mahayana doctrine.

Personally, I like Johnson's book and I think that he is right
about HPB deliberately mythologizing the Mahatmas. As Paul
points out, myths do have a psychological validity and are
usually based on physical facts.

Jerry S.




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