Theos-Talk Archives (August 2002 Message tt00204)

Aug 22 2002

Dear Sally and Jim:

Re: Vol III of The SECRET DOCTRINE 1897 (Mrs. A. Besant
edited)

We don't know how much A. B. may have altered (or not
altered) H P B's original texts.

Some of those articles had been already reprinted
immediately after H P B's death in LUCIFER. Other material
is not covered in H P B's description of those Vols 3 and 4
(as found in S D Vols. I and 2.).

How come ?

In another interview in 1926, Oct. 25 with a reporter W.
Mulliss ( Mullies ?) we find her declaring she had never
read or encountered the manuscripts of THE SECRET DOCTRINE,
Vols 3 and 4 during H P B's life time. [ This interview, we
are seeking to discover if it was ever used or printed in
the Los Angeles EXAMINER for whom it was done. ]

Also in the book: that offers a documentary source for
Theosophical history: THE THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT
(1875-1925), and the 2nd edition of this, (1875-1950)
[Cunningham Press, Los Angeles ] we find the editors
questioning the accuracy of her editing, and not
recommending it.

You are absolutely right, a well studied student will detect
changes and deviations based on his/her knowledge of what H
P B writes elsewhere. But this is of course private opinion
and remains his own.

The THEOSOPHICAL GLOSSARY was completed by R S Mead after
H P B's death. In the preface he states exactly what she and
he had done. It is my belief after studying that book for
years, that he did not substantially alter (if at all) what
H P B had written. I have been able to identify over 90% of
the definitions there by cross reference to other sources in
her writings where she offered those definitions.

If one reads carefully, he (Mead) indicates that H P B had
read 32 pages of proof . Further, she was making
corrections and additions to those pages. This, to me,
implies she had already laid out and written in manuscript
for the Press to compose) a number of comments for various
words that are explained right through the book, and, in
fact, we can trace many of these where she gives the occult
or the esoteric meanings. Some of these supplement or extend
information already given in her books and articles.

One might say in fact that in many cases, she adds to the
esoteric information made available up to then.

If one reads through The SECRET DOCTRINE culling carefully
all the statements that she identifies as "esoteric" or
"occult" one acquires a wealth of important evidence on
those subjects. This ought to be a special subject and
carefully studied.

Best wishes,

Dal & Val

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



-----Original Message-----
From: JIM2SAL
Sent:	Tuesday, August 20, 2002 11:52 PM
To:
Subject:	Re: Editing of SD Volume III as compared to editing
of The Theoso...


While the Vol. III is certainly well worth reading and
gleaning from it what
truth it contains, it seems that Dalval's reasonings may
have value also.


For instance, one would hope that any of HPB's original
texts would not be
altered. Also, a Glossary would not seem to fall into this
category.

Also, don't you think any theosophical student who has a
good background in
the teachings would be able to sort out for h/herself any
differences in
theosophical doctrines that a Vol. III might contain?

Jim2Sal