Theos-Talk Archives (January 2003 Message tt00100)

Yes indeed Jerry, this is very helpful and should clarify the history of who
was influenced vs. who was the influencer. The former was Alice Bailey; the
latter Leadbeater & Besant, who were the creators (along with Sinnett's
medium, whose name I forget) of pseudo-theosophy.

Joseph Ross's book is KROTONA OF OLD HOLLYWOOD, 1866-1913. I think he was
planning another volume, but do not know if it was done.
Nicholas
*****************

From: "Jerry Hejka-Ekins" <jjhe@charter.net>

Nicholas,

The Neo-theosophy had its roots in two places that I know of: 1) In
Subba Row's Esoteric Teachings to CWL and others and, 2) through the
London Lodge Inner Group, which CWL was a member, and where Sinnett and
company were getting Mahatmic teachings through a medium. These
teachings began to become main stream in the Theosophical Journals after
Besant's involvement with the London Lodge and CWL beginning in 1894.
The Maitreya teaching was originally tied to Krishnamurti, the supposed
vehicle for the Maitreya/Christ return. Besant, in an ES talk in 1909
or 10, presented the earliest (that I'm aware of) full description of
what later became credited as the Bailey hierarchy-Maitreya and all.
This was published in The Link (a London ES journal) and in the American
EST Bulletin in 1910, I think, but no later than this. Also in January
1912, CWL and AB were called by the Maitreya to prepare Krishnamurti and
Jinarajadasa for their second initiation. The boys were taken to
Taormina in Sicily for the training. Much of the material in Masters
and the Path comes from these early events. The account of this 1912
initiation begins on pg. 298 in my 2nd edition (1927). You might also
look at Joseph Ross' book on the Taormina stay. There is a lot of
material made public there for the first time.

According to her Autobiography, (If my memory serves me correctly)
Bailey's first contact with Theosophy was through the Pacific Grove
Lodge around 1912. She moved to Krotona Hollywood a year or two
thereafter where she joined the ES, and gained access to the material
concerning the inner government and initiations, which was only
circulated through the ES at that time. However, you will find hints of
it in the Theosophist. Bailey states in her Autobiography that she
began taking psychic dictation from "the Tibetan" around 1917 or 18 and
left Krotona shortly afterwards (I'm recalling from her Autobiography
that I read years ago, so my memory may not exactly match her dates, but
they should be close). Initiation Human and Solar was published in
1922-her first book-I think. I read it some years ago, and found it
very faithful to the ES teachings as they were presented from 1910-1918.


I hope this is helpful.

--j