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RE: a skeptic's argument

May 15, 2003 05:01 AM
by Dallas TenBroeck


Thursday, May 15, 2003

Re: Me. Blavatsky and Theosophy

Dear Mr. Maynard Smith,

I have read your important posting presenting your views as a
skeptic on the life wand work of Mme. Blavatsky.

May I present my views which are based on a number of years of
experience with Theosophy and its objectives. First let me
assure you that I am also a skeptic. Things have to be proved --
by objective presence or subjective testimony and the reports of
as many witnesses as available. [Example we have in ISIS UNVEILED
the historical testimony of an embassy from Great Britain to the
court of the Mogul Emperor Jehanghir, Vol. I. 457-8. There they
were eye witnesses to an extraordinary performance of hypnotism
on a grad scale.] I need to have things proved to me, and set
aside anything that is doubtful until such proof is adduced.

Many of the faults found with her can only be settled by reading
a documentary history of the THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT and a good
documentary biography dealing with Mme. Blavatsky.

I suggest the book The THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT (1875-1950) --
Published by Cunningham Press, Los Angeles All documents
referred to are available and verified.

THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF ELENA BLAVATSKY -- Sylvia Cranston --
TARCHER / PUTNAM offers a well documented and definitive view of
her life and work.

Her "phenomena" have been well attested to by her contemporaries.
Of course there are skeptics -- but the modern ones were not
there, and merely repeat at second hand what others said.

Any defense of Mme. Blavatsky and of Theosophy depends on
available written evidence. Thanks to the Internet this is
available to all enquirers, and being such, every skeptic or
inquirer can read and frame their own opinions. Guidance is not
needed but assistance is.

The "Hodgson Report" sponsored by the Society for Psychological
Research has been exploded, and the Society for Psychological
Research has apologized for it [ see Dr. V. Harrison's
Monograph: J'ACCUSE. ]

Mr. Sinnett has written at length on the "tea-cup" phenomena, and
so have others, showing that Mme. Blavatsky could not have had
anything to do with its possible fabrication. [See THE OCCULT
WORLD ]

He has also attested to the provenance of the MAHATMA LETTERS
which are on file at the British Museum, and which Dr. V.
Harrison has so well described in his monograph. Many other
witnesses have also described both letters and appearances of the
"Masters of Wisdom."

---------------------------

"Theosophia" was apparently used as a word by Pythagoras over
2,500 years ago -- at least scholars have traced it there. It was
also used in Alexandria by the Neo-Platonists around the 3rd
Century.

Theosophy holds that the "God-spirit" (or call it "Divinity," or
the "Ideal") is universal and hence everyone and all things bathe
in it without exception.

In ISIS UNVEILED, SECRET DOCTRINE and her many articles you will
find proof made of the antiquity, as well as the universal
diffusion of Theosophical doctrines.

The superficial religious "faiths" that have arisen form the
outer shell -- are the "exotericism" of the facts and laws of
Nature (the Universe) that underlie (esoteric) its antique and
continuous supportive and life-giving quality. This may mean
nothing to the skeptic -- who doubts his own existence, as well
as everything else. But it is there. Anyone can demonstrate
this. No degrees needed. Occultism simply means "concealed."
Once it is exposed it is no longer occult or esoteric.

There is ample evidence that the knowledge, and the "Ancient
Wisdom" to be found described and recorded in the many
departments of nature to which "Science" applies, are extremely
old. Egyptian, Hindu, Greek, Mayan, and Chinese manuscripts,
hundreds and even thousands of years old, show this. Our modern
"Western" academies have an historic depth of barely 3 to 400
years. They are industrious in accumulating data. But their
theories are found to alter and change with almost every passing
year. They tend to reject the stability that reference to past
history and archeology provide -- for various reasons known only
to them.

Antiquity and the ruins of ancient buildings, monuments, temples,
caves, hydraulic works, canals, etc... demonstrate a knowledge of
ancient engineering and mathematics, as well as of chemistry and
physics.

The rotation of the earth and of the planets was well know to
Hindu and Chinese astronomy. It is still taught in our schools
that we owe our own basic knowledge of mathematics, chemistry,
medicine to savants and scientists of the Middle East who
preserved ancient MSS, and provided practical evidence in their
lives of their ability to use these arts and laws. (Alchemy,
Kaballah, Zohar, The Book of the Dead, the Vedas, The Upanishads,
the Bamboo Books, etc...)

We owe our knowledge to our predecessors. That and laws don't
change. Knowledge and memory of those often gets obscured for
various reasons. Sometimes the records of knowledge are
systematically obliterated by invasions or by natural
catastrophes. The old "races" Lemurians, Atlanteans, early
Aryans are shown in The SECRET DOCTRINE to have a history of many
millions of years.

Any true Scientist will tell you that Nature has installed the
most minute and exact inter-relation of living and intelligent
parts in everything. In the molecule and the atom, they say, are
all the laws of nature -- already present. The whole of SPACE
thrills with uncountable numbers of inter-active and cooperative
entities. The Laws of Nature are evident to them, and their work
has been to merely unveil that which was already long installed
there. This drives home the comprehensive cooperative quality of
nature, in small as in large events and forms.

Science is "Western Occultism." The linking of data and research
into a comprehensive whole has led to theories -- some
inconclusive and some unprovable, also some that are exploded.
The history of Science reveals these. It is a fascinating area
of research.

As to psychology and the purpose of mankind's existence, and
potential future, one need only invite a thorough study of the
KEY TO THEOSOPHY (HPB)

Perhaps we ought to THINK about such ethico-moral questions as:
Why be good? Why conceal evil under an appearance of "goodness?"
Why seek a personal, and selfish advantage over others? Why not
be honest and truthful? Why not trust others? What are "good"
and "bad" desires? How are 'virtues' and 'vices' described? Are
those descriptions fair and just? Why should we not be taught to
use them?

Yes, on mature reflection I would agree to say: there is a "GOD"
within each of us, or rather, figuratively, a "Ray" of that "ONE
UNIVERSAL SPIRIT" -- as IT is at the basis of everything we deal
with. The whole UNIVERSE is embodied DEITY. The whole of SPACE
is "GOD." Why should we think otherwise? Evil is not isolated and
focused in any "Devil." That is impossible in a world of
universal justice, fairness, balance and contrast.

How can we develop the concept of THE ONE SPIRIT, of universal
purity? But it is not SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS. [In The SECRET
DOCTRINE Vol. II, p., 176 (top) is given an ancient verse which
explains this.]

It is said that the ONE SPIRIT desired to know itself. So it
emanated from a portion of ITSELF a "mirror" in which it would
reflect its many POWERS and QUALITIES -- It found that infinity
alone could express these and INFINITY was itself.

The "Mirror" therefore was that "pole of spirit" which appears to
be limited, but in reality it is as pure and as vast in its
potentiality as SPIRIT -- THE ONE SELF is. Thus the UNIVERSAL
Monad consisting of two "poles" sprang into being (manifested).
And this multi-dimensional UNIVERSE is symbolized by an EGG --
an ovoid with two poles.

But this was found insufficient in actual practice, as a third
factor was needed to serve as interpreter between the two
extremes. Thus MIND -- the UNIVERSAL MIND -- MAHAT -- that uses
all the material aspects to be found in the Universe, as a
"brain," simultaneously arose. The UNIVERSAL Monad is thus, in
logic and metaphysics, a Divine imperishable Triad -- SPIRIT -
MATTER - MIND. It is this that is called in man, the "microcosm,"
a "Reincarnating Ego." We are the "microcosm" of the vast
MACROCOSM -- and thus we have Its potentials within ourselves.
It is the "WE" that we speak of, when we say: "I direct my
mind...", I control my feeling....", I analyse ....", "I
remember, or I forget...".

Since the objective of the ONE SPIRIT: "TO KNOW MYSELF" demands
the "mirror" of matter (we find the paradoxes of: 1. unlimited
form "limitations," 2. a MIND that is capable of independently
understanding the totality of their experience, 3. the need for
a progressive development of SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS in each Monad.
This produced 4. "EVOLUTION." We are in the midst of this.
[see S D II 167 -top]

We, "human Monads" are able to embrace with our minds, at will,
the infinitudes of both Spirit and Matter, and reconcile them.
Thus great Minds, Great SOULS -- MAHATMAS -- BUDDHAS --
RISHIS -- DHYAN CHOHANS -- each and every one of them, EVOLVE
THEMSELVES by mind effort, impersonally and universally. Their
task becomes the one that may be called the "tutor" and they take
up residence in every Monad that evolves as the HIGHER SELF ( a
"ray" of ATMAN -- the ONE SPIRIT ) .

Aggregating around each such Mind-Monad are the "skandhas," or
the "Monads of lesser experience." [They emanated from the
"Monadic Essence," later than we did.] This Tutor aspect of the
HIGHER SELF, is one we can probe interiorly in ourselves. The
ignorance and lack of perception, the involvement in impulse and
desire, by the embodied mind, and its assistants, the "Monads of
lesser experience," can be seen in our lower selves
(Personalities) as " Kama-Manas" -- or, the "embodied mind"
wrapped in desires, passions, urges and impulses -- all
unregulated. [see SECRET DOCTRINE II 596]

The Higher Mind ( Buddhi-Mans) has the capacity of standing
aside, independent of the Kama-Manas, and evaluating it in terms
of universal principles and Karma as THE LAW OF VIRTUE UNIVERSAL
IMPERSONAL AND TRUE.

One of its capacities is to view the imaginings and fancies of
the Lower mind, and try to trace their future results, if allowed
to proceed. This process in each of us, is called the growth of
discrimination and becomes ever more acute, as we add into the
panorama of consideration
more of the factors, such as the universality of Law, and the
fact that VIRTUE is the ONLY true expression of the ONE UNIVERSAL
LAW. Justice and mercy are not opposed but complement each other.

If we truly "forgive ourselves," then in such a preview we employ
abstaining from evil-doing as the merciful aspect of true WISDOM.
We deliberately do good and refrain from hurting any other being.

Is Matter not also a part of "GOD?" Then why, and what is it in
us, that serves as an ADVERSARY -- a critic, or a challenger of
LAW and of "goodness" as GOD ?

These are all questions that Theosophical philosophy considers,
and seeks to discover if in the past and present there are
individuals who have thought along these lines. Where are these
Master-SOULS who have resolved to find and then to prove to
themselves the mystery of this dichotomy?

If there is a struggle it is because of the contrast between the
ILLIMITABLE and the limitations of FORMS ( matter). But even
"matter" consists of conjoined minute particles of the Monad =
SPIRIT/MATTER inseparable. This is perceived by the 3rd
"immortal" -- the MIND. Intelligence is then a triple effort --
SPIRIT + MATTER + MIND. Together they form in the process of
development a power, a force that is always alive and eternally
individual.

This is us -- the "Eternal Pilgrim." It proceeds as a wise
"tutor' to live with other Monads who are late-comers and have
less experience -- to try to get them to think and see themselves
as IMMORTALS. Potentially able to do anything. The DIVINE
PURITY takes a lower position, then in order to teach. The wise
Teacher in a School reduces his wisdom to the level
of the children he teaches, and encourages them to advance and
struggle and learn everything they can.

Fundamentally then, and practically, it is our human task to make
the "good" and "virtue" a part of our daily lives -- and
demonstrate their superiority over selfishness, deceit and evil.

Only thus do we raise our own "embodied souls" to greatness
This mission is not a path that is easy and without many bumps --
as we always have some debts to settle from our errors of the
past. But we have many lives in which to do this and to try to
help others, who may be our friends and neighbours along the way.

This is, I hope, an answer to your points. I think it is easy to
be a skeptic. But having doubts in a universe of Law ought to
be self-resolving providing we apply the right law to the facts
available. A narrow approach will never facilitate this. And
this is also the story of my research -- as one who looks for
proof as he goes along. It is a long search.

As to universal good-will and the practice of charity,
generosity, benevolence based on a grasp of the impersonality and
universality of the One Law, I believe we are in agreement. It
is the ideas that count and not the medium of conveyance, in my
esteem.

Re-reading what you have written, I would say that one has to
give more weight to the philosophy and logic that are presented
as Theosophy -- the surface of events does arouse skepticism if
one is unacquainted with the curious events historically recorded
that show the presence of an indwelling set off powerful forces
lying underneath the surface of materials.

The "astral" and the "etheric" planes are beginning to be
demonstrated, but need more data for a complete acceptance. In
the meantime strange events are recorded which need to be
explained in a Universe of LAW -- what are those laws? Where so
we find them?

It is probable that in H P B one finds evidence of an "Adept"
able to perceive and use these strange indwelling forces that
seem to pass us by. [see ISIS UNVEILED which is full of such
curious instances.]

Best wishes,

Dallas

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



-----Original Message-----
From: Maynard S
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2003 5:45 PM
To:
Subject: a skeptic's argument

Theosophy has many skeptics, some of whom make
convincing arguments while others are laudable. I
found the below argument to be in the former category.
Have a read....

http://skepdic.com/theosoph.html

theosophy

-----------------------------------------------------------------
---------------

"We assert that the divine spark in man being one and
identical in its essence with the Universal Spirit,
our "spiritual Self" is practically omniscient, but
that it cannot manifest its knowledge owing to the
impediments of matter. Now the more these impediments
are removed, in other words, the more the physical
body is paralyzed, as to its own independent activity
and consciousness, as in deep sleep or deep trance,
or, again, in illness, the more fully can the inner
Self manifest on this plane. This is our explanation
of those truly wonderful phenomena of a higher order,
in which undeniable intelligence and knowledge are
exhibited. " [Madame Blavatsky]

"...we are imprisoned in the body, like an oyster in
his shell." [The Socrates of Plato, Phaedrus]

To the philosopher, the body is "a disturbing element,
hindering the soul from the acquisition of
knowledge..."

"...what is purification but...the release of the soul
from the chains of the body?" The Socrates of [Plato,
Phaedo]


-----------------------------------------------------------------
---------------

Theosophy, or divine wisdom, refers either to the
mysticism of philosophers who believe that they can
understand the nature of God by direct apprehension,
without revelation, or it refers to the esotericism of
eclectic collectors of mystical and occult
philosophies who claim to be handing down the great
secrets of some ancient wisdom.

Theosophical mysticism is indebted to Plato (c.
427-347 BCE), Plotinus (204/5-270) and other
neo-Platonists, and Jakob Boehme (1575-1624), among
others. It experienced its last great Western
philosophical burst in 19th century German Idealism.
The mystical tradition continues to be a strong
element in many non-Western philosophies, such as
Indian philosophy.

Theosophic esotericism begins with Helena Petrovna
Blavatsky (1831-1891) usually known as Madame
Blavatsky, one of the co-founders of the Theosophical
Society in New York in 1875. The esoteric theosophical
tradition of Blavatsky is indebted to several
philosophical and religious traditions:
Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Gnosticism, Manichaeism, the
Cabala, among others.

Her harshest critics consider Madame Blavatsky to be
"one of most accomplished, ingenious, and interesting
impostors in history." Her devoted followers consider
her to be a saint and a genius. [They claim she
discovered the true nature of light either by
clairvoyance or intuition alone, without any need for
scientific training or communication with other
scientists.] Since these characteristics are not
contradictory, it is possible she was both a fraud and
a saintly genius. Much of what is believed about
Blavatsky originates with Madame herself, her devoted
followers or her enemies. Nevertheless, a few things
seem less dubious than others. She seems clearly to
have been widely traveled and widely read. Blavatsky
claims she spent several years in Tibet and India
being initiated into occult mysteries by various
"masters" (mahatmas or adepts) especially the Masters
Morya and Koot Hoomi, who had "astral" bodies. These
Adepts were said to dwell in the Himalayas, Egypt,
Tibet and other exotic places. They are known for
their extraordinary psychic powers and are the sacred
keepers of some mysterious "Ancient Wisdom". They are
not divine, she said, but more highly evolved than the
rest of us mere mortals. (Evolution, according to
Blavatsky, is a spiritual process.) Their goal is to
unite all humanity in a Great White Brotherhood,
despite the fact that they dwell in the remotest
regions of the world and apparently have as little
contact with the rest of us as possible.

Blavatsky's deceptions

Blavatsky seems clearly to have had an overpowering
personality. She was knowledgeable of the tricks of
spiritualists, having worked for one in Egypt, and in
the early days of the Theosophical Society seems
clearly to have used trickery to deceive others into
thinking she had paranormal powers. She most certainly
faked the materialization of a tea cup and saucer, as
well as written messages from her Masters, presumably
to enhance her credibility. She certainly claimed to
have paranormal experiences, but whether she really
believed she was clairvoyant or possessed psychic
powers, I can't say.

In 1875 she founded the Theosophical Society in New
York City in collaboration with Henry Steele Olcott, a
lawyer and writer, and W. Q. Judge. She met Olcott in
1874 while he was investigating the spiritualism of
the Eddy brothers in Vermont. They continued to meet
with other like-minded seekers and together founded
their society. A few years later, she and Olcott went
to India together and established Theosophical
headquarters there. She left under a cloud of
suspicion in 1885, having been accused of faking
materializations of teachings from her Masters. Back
in Europe in 1888 she published her major work The
Secret Doctrine. The book "is an attempt...to
reconcile science, the Ancient Wisdom, and human
culture through...cosmology, history, religion, and
symbolism." (Ellwood) According to Blavatsky herself,
"The chief aim of the...Theosophical Society [was] to
reconcile all religions, sects and nations under a
common system of ethics, based on eternal verities."

She did not reject religions such as Christianity and
Hinduism, but claimed that all religions have an
exoteric and an esoteric tradition. The exoteric
traditions are unique and distinct for each religion.
The esoteric doctrine is the same for all. She claimed
to be passing on the wisdom of the shared esoteric
doctrines. And even though she had an early
association with spiritualism, she eventually claimed
that "the spirits of the dead cannot return to earth
-- save in rare and exceptional cases...."

One might wonder why, if Theosophy is so ancient and
universal, it was so unknown until 1875. Madame had an
answer. This was due to "willing ignorance". We humans
have lost "real spiritual insight" because we are too
devoted to "things of sense" and have for too long
been slaves "to the dead letter of dogma and
ritualism." "But the strongest reason for it," she
said, " lies in the fact that real Theosophy has ever
been kept secret." There were several reasons why it
was kept secret. "...Firstly, the perversity of
average human nature and its selfishness, always
tending to the gratification of personal desires to
the detriment of neighbours and next of kin. Such
people could never be entrusted with divine secrets.
Secondly, their unreliability to keep the sacred and
divine knowledge from desecration. It is the latter
that led to the perversion of the most sublime truths
and symbols, and to the gradual transformation of
things spiritual into anthropomorphic, concrete, and
gross imagery -- in other words, to the dwarfing of
the god-idea and to idolatry." [The Key to Theosophy]
One wonders, what in the world was any different in
the late 19th century? If at that time humans were any
less perverse, selfish, materialistic, profane, etc.,
than they had ever been, this should come as a great
shock to all social historians.

Ancient wisdom

What was this "Ancient Wisdom" which the theosophists
promised to share? It is truly an eclectic compilation
of Hindu, Egyptian, Gnostic and other exotic
scriptures and teachings, neo-Platonism, and stories
like the Atlantis myth. These are philosophies and
stories for those who shake and quiver at the sound of
such words as secret, special, spiritual,
enlightenment, transformation, esoteric, occult,
divine, ancient wisdom, cosmic, vision, dynamics,
golden, Isis, mysteries and masters. They promise
escape from the evils of the world, especially the
body, while providing an explanation for Evil. They
claim to know that the reason spiritual progress is so
slow in coming is because of all this horrible stuff
in the universe called "matter." They promise the
power of divinity while providing an explanation for
miracles which takes them out of the realm of the
supernatural and puts the believer into the center of
the spiritual universe. They promise union with some
great moral purpose while offering membership in an
isolated society of very special beings. But, probably
the biggest attraction to joining such an esoteric
society is that you don't have to go to college and
you don't have to read Kant.

What you do need, though, is a penchant for the
occult. This is dangerous stuff, according to
Blavatsky, but theosophy can help.

When ignorant of the true meaning of the esoteric
divine symbols of nature, man is apt to miscalculate
the powers of his soul, and, instead of communing
spiritually and mentally with the higher, celestial
beings, the good spirits (the gods of the theurgiests
of the Platonic school), he will unconsciously call
forth the evil, dark powers which lurk around humanity
-- the undying, grim creations of human crimes and
vices -- and thus fall from theurgia (white magic)
into goetia (or black magic, sorcery). [What Is
Theosophy?]

According to Madame, "...no one can be a true
Occultist without being a real Theosophist; otherwise
he is simply a black magician, whether conscious or
unconscious. " She even thought that mesmerism and
hypnotism were occult arts.

Occult sciences are not, as described in
Encyclopaedias, "those imaginary sciences of the
Middle Ages which related to the supposed action or
influence of Occult qualities or supernatural powers,
as alchemy, magic, necromancy, and astrology," for
they are real, actual, and very dangerous sciences.
They teach the secret potency of things in Nature,
developing and cultivating the hidden powers "latent
in man," thus giving him tremendous advantages over
more ignorant mortals. Hypnotism, now become so common
and a subject of serious scientific inquiry, is a good
instance in point. Hypnotic power has been discovered
almost by accident, the way to it having been prepared
by mesmerism; and now an able hypnotizer can do almost
anything with it, from forcing a man, unconsciously to
himself, to play the fool, to making him commit a
crime -- often by proxy for the hypnotizer, and for
the benefit of the latter. Is not this a terrible
power if left in the hands of unscrupulous persons?
And please to remember that this is only one of the
minor branches of Occultism. [The Key to Theosophy]

Blavatksy may have understood the secret of the divine
essence, but I don't think she understood the nature
of hypnosis or mesmerism. However, I believe she was
right when she claimed that "...the ecstatic trance of
mystics and of the modern mesmerists and
spiritualists, are identical in nature, though various
as to manifestation." [What Is Theosophy?] I believe
that none of these so-called "trance" states is a
unique state of consciousness, though they are states
of mind, states governed by social role-playing rules,
a position argued for by many contemporary
psychologists including Nicholas P. Spanos.

Where are the plaudits?

The reader may wonder why theosophy isn't universally
recognized as the salvation of mankind. For some it
may have been the messenger which kept them away. Many
people are not likely to take seriously a Russian
noblewoman who claimed to have had childhood visions
of a tall Hindu who eventually materialized in Hyde
Park and became her guru and advisor. Many skeptics
scoff at her noble origins and subsequent employment
as a circus performer and séance assistant, plus we
take seriously the charges of deception for whatever
noble motive. For others, it may be the doctrines
which keep us away. Despite the stated moral goals,
and the desire for peace on earth and good will toward
men and women, there is the small problem of astral
bodies, evolution of spiritual races, Aryans,
paranormal powers, Atlantis, the so-called Ancient
Wisdom, etc. To some this may seem better than the
Incarnation, transubstantiation and the Trinity, but
to skeptics this is just more metaphysical codswallop.
Finally, others may be repelled by the self-discipline
required of theosophy.

...the foremost rule of all is the entire renunciation
of one's personality -- i. e., a pledged member has to
become a thorough altruist, never to think of himself,
and to forget his own vanity and pride in the thought
of the good of his fellow-creatures, besides that of
his fellow-brothers in the esoteric circle. He has to
live, if the esoteric instructions shall profit him, a
life of abstinence in everything, of self-denial and
strict morality, doing his duty by all men.

"...every member must be either a philanthropist, or a
scholar, a searcher into Aryan and other old
literature, or a psychic student." (The Key to
Theosophy)

It is not an easy life, pursuing the path of the
mahatmas and the Ancient Wisdom, striving to unite all
humankind into a Great Brotherhood of spiritually
evolved beings with secret knowledge of such great
vacation spots for astrals as Atlantis. Plus, perhaps
there were inconsistencies or inadequacies in the
secret doctrines, as the group seemed to splinter and
dissipate after the death of Madame. Her dream of a
Brotherhood of Man remains a dream, although there are
Theosophical societies all over the world


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