Theos-Talk Archives (January 2002 Message tt00092)

January 6, 2002

A chronological BIBLIOGRAPHY of "Fundamental"
THEOSOPHICAL TEXTS.


Dear Jerry:

What is "Fundamentalism?" Who can decide ?


Excuse my saying something on this.

THEOSOPHY is a philosophy. It claims extreme antiquity, and in
its literature it demonstrates familiarity with the most ancient
of texts and concepts.

Its modern exponent is Mme. Blavatsky.

The THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY is an organization made up of
individuals interested in its objects. It was started in 1875.
Only three of the Original Founders remained with it right up to
their respective deaths: H. P. BLAVATSKY, Col. H. S. Olcott and
Mr. Wm. Q. Judge.

Individuals associated with Theosophical work and activities in
the early days of the Movement which re-began in 1875 seem to
have focused around the TEACHINGS which Mme. Blavatsky offered.

"Orthodoxy" or "Heterodoxy" are not at issue, ever, in Theosophy.
Theosophy considers all statements of ideas on the basis of
certain fundamental concepts. These can be found throughout its
literature to be uniform. One of the best definitions will be
found in The SECRET DOCTRINE Volume I, pp. 14 to 19. It is a
record of the history of the evolution of the Universe, and of
man on our Earth -- of the Macrocosm and Microcosm. It offers
succinctly the threefold basis of this system which has always
been under review and supervision by the Great Ancient Lodge of
the ADEPTS.

Theosophy does not forbid any presentation or discussion or
criticism of these, but it does request of those who use its
system that they offer to others the same freedom of expression
as they claim for themselves. That is UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD in
practice. One cannot discuss "THEOSOPHY" unless one is
reasonably well read in its literature.

Chronologically, some of the important books dealing with this
history are:



1. 1877 - ISIS UNVEILED was published. It was an instant
success and highly respected.

2. 1879 - The THEOSOPHIST magazine, started in October
1879 in Bombay, India. Mme. H. P. Blavatsky contributed many
articles of explanation and added to the doctrines of Theosophy,
modifying some as needed and as interest from the public grew and
changed. But the FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS remained the same. They
are expressed in the PREFACE and the section BEFORE THE VEIL in
Vol. I of that book. I assume all can read them so we know
exactly what they are.

3. 1881 -82 - FRAGMENTS OF OCCULT TRUTH were printed in
THEOSOPHIST during 1881, 1882.

4. 1879 - 1880 - Articles written by H P B as "Radha Bai"
were printed in Russian in Moscow, latter translated and issued
as: FROM THE CAVES AND JUNGLES OF HINDOOSTAN.

5. THE PEOPLES OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS also by H P B ( Radha
Bai) published and translated.

6. 1880 - 1887 - The correspondence between Mr. A. P.
SINNETT and Mr. A. O. HUME with the Mahatmas began around October
1880 and continued May 1887. (according to Margaret Conger
pamphlet on the COMBINED CHRONOLOGY of these LETTERS published in
1939). Later, Mr. Trevor Barker in London, edited, and issued
the MAHATMA LETTERS in 1923.

7. 1880 - 1886 - Trevor Barker also issued an edited
version in December 1924, of THE LETTERS OF H. P. BLAVATSKY to A.
P. SINNETT (covering a period from 1880 to about 1886 to 1888)

8. Mr. A . P . Sinnett published ESOTERIC BUDDHISM and the
OCCULT WORLD based largely on the correspondence he had had with
the Mahatmas.

9. 1885 - LIGHT ON THE PATH written down by M. C.

10. 1886, April the first issue of the PATH was issued by Mr.
Judge in New York. H P B contributed articles and letters.

11. 1897, H P B started LUCIFER magazine in London.

12. 1888 - The SECRET DOCTRINE was published by Mme.
Blavatsky in 1888.

13. 1889 - The KEY TO THEOSOPHY, 1st and 2nd Editions were
issued in 1889 and 1890.

14. 1889 - The VOICE OF THE SILENCE was issued in 1889. In
America Mr. Judge issued an edition in 1893 with typographical
revisions. [ Adopted in 1920 and reprinted by Theosophy Company,
LOS ANGELES ]

15. 1890 - TRANSACTIONS OF THE BLAVATSKY LODGE OF THE
BLAVATSKY LODGE was issued in London.

16. 1891 - LETTERS THAT HAVE HELPED ME by WM. Q. Judge --

17. 1892 - THE THEOSOPHICAL GLOSSARY was compiled by H P B,
before her death but she did not live to complete the proofs.
Her secretary G. R. S. Mead completed the work. It was issued in
London in 1892, a year after her death.

18. 1893 - The OCEAN OF THEOSOPHY by Wm. Q. Judge A
synopsis of the teachings given in The SECRET DOCTRINE.

19. 1893 REMINISCENCES of H. P. Blavatsky and The SECRET
DOCTRINE - by Constance Wachmeister and others biographical and
letters concerning H P B and the writing of The SECRET DOCTRINE

20. 1894 - FIVE YEARS OF THEOSOPHY -- Edited by M. M.
Chatterjee in 1885 -- a selection of articles by H P B and others
originally printed in the THEOSOPHIST (1880 - 1885)

21. 1895 - A MODERN PANARION -- a collection of the early
writings of H P B, letters and articles between 1874 and March
1882.

==============================




-----Original Message-----
From: G---d S------r
[Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2002 9:52 AM
To: Subject:
RE: "Quoting Blavatsky is fundamentalism," etc.


<<<Many readers (possibly even Brigitte and Steve, for all I
know!) on this forum may not know exactly what Blavatsky/the
Masters wrote in various
articles/letters on the subject under discussion. I
was simply giving some references so that interested
readers could study what Blavatsky/the Masters wrote
on the very same subject that Olcott and others were
writing about.>>>

OK


<<<Jerry, I'm glad that you have now defined your position on
"fundamentalism". But this has nothing to do with what I was
writing
about, i.e.: SOME readers on this forum might not be aware of
the various statements by Blavatsky on this subject. >>>

OK. When I say Theosophical fundamentalism, I refer to answering
subject-related questions, or to discussing Theosophical
subjects, by throwing out quotes, most of which they probably
don't understand anyway. You normally don't do this, but it
seemed like you were getting close.


<<<Each reader and student can take the time and effort if
interested and try to understand what Blavatsky is trying to
convey.>>>

OK, but why waste time on this list, when anyone seriously
interested can use an index and read for themselves? And again, I
say, quoting her words usually does NOT help anyone understand
what she means.


<<<But as far as I can tell, this constant harping on
"theosophical fundamentalism" is just a ploy to divert attention
from the actual subject matter under
discussion. >>>

>From my perspective, Daniel, quoting Blavatsky as some kind of
response or answer is also a ploy to divert attention, etc, as
well as a cover up for one's lack of understanding. Quotes are OK
when used in context, but when given by themselves, as Dallas is
prone to do, is an insult to my intelligence and really helps no
one at all. But when given in response to a someone else asking
for them, that is certainly OK.

Your recent posting of Ryan's opinion on reincarnation, for
example, was OK, but it is, after all, merely Ryans's
interpretation of Blavatsky. The fact that you presented it,
leads me to assume that you personally agree with what he is
saying, and for the most part I do too. But I still don't know
what your own views are.

J S.