Theos-Talk Archives (May 2003 Message tt00019)

Re the brief section of Daniel's message quoted below: I am not
knowledgeable on the subject of different editions of Madame Blavatsky's
writings, but I do have an important comment to make.

Some people may not realize that one of the common devices used by spiritual
writers, both ancient and modern, is to convey hidden information by page
and verse numbering (and also by the use of dates, etc.) Sometimes this
page, chapter and verse numbering is used in clever ways to refer to
material concerning the structure of the universe and is given in the form
of numerology, but often, this device is used, in combination with other
devices, to cross reference to other material within the same text or even
in other texts sometimes even texts written by other authors. There is no
limit, except the boundaries of human imagination and ingenuity, to the
clever variations that can be used to convey hidden information. This can go
as far as deliberately misspelling words, giving contradictory information
in such a way as to catch the eye of the vigilant, such as errors of grammar
or even inconsistent punctuation (though I personally have never seen this
last, it is a great idea, and someone, most likely more than one person, has
certainly used this device already). Each person has his own style of
conveying a certain kind and quality of information, and he will invariably
tailor this common (among the ancients) practice in his own unique way, but
if the person has never received knowledge in this way, if someone does not
tell him of the existence of this kind of communication, he will never be
able to learn, and, as with anything, picking up the ability to understand
this takes practice.

I have not yet had time to look over Madame Blavatsky's writings with a fine
toothed comb, but when I do, I will, in some discreet manner, share what, if
anything I discover, with those who are able to receive it. I have taken the
time to write this message because I believe some uninformed people, who do
not understand how various devices that can be used to convey certain
information that is not for everyone , might construe Daniel's message to be
a form of nitpicking, which it most emphatically is not. I have seen too
many people destroy the nuance of key texts by altering them in ways that
they erroneously perceive to be innocuous, and this is one of my pet peeves.
Sincerely, Wry

----- Original Message -----
From: "Daniel H. Caldwell" <inquire@blavatskyarchives.com>
To: <theos-talk@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2003 2:23 PM
Subject: Theos-World Dallas TenBroeck on the ORIGINALS of Blavatsky's
Writings

snip
> ". . . it is quite clear to me that the T. Co. edition of the text of
> the VOICE has changes in format, punctuation, numbering, footnotes,
> and even in the spelling of some of the "foreign" words (as
> diacritical marks were not used). No argument there."
>
> This seemed quite puzzling to me in light of his previous use of the
> term "verbatim".
>
> I was even more "dumbfounded" that Dallas was still recommending to
> new students and inquirers this Theosophy Company edition in which
> not only the changes, emendations, corrections and interpolations
> were to be found but in addition nothing in this TC edition indicated
> that changes had actually been made. No publisher's or editor's Note
> telling the reader that corrections, etc. had been made to HPB's
> original text was to found anywhere in the Theosophy Company
> edition. In other words, all these changes were UNMARKED to use a
> word Dallas likes to use.
>
> Had not Dallas written before in clear and unmistakable terms on this
> very point of UMARKED editing as well as to even more important
> ethical issues?

snip

> > Daniel H. Caldwell
> BLAVATSKY STUDY CENTER/BLAVATSKY ARCHIVES
> http://blavatskyarchives.com

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