Theos-Talk Archives (May 2003 Message tt00212)

Hello,

I became interested in Theosophy again shortly after my 
mother "passed away" last month and have been finding it very 
helpful. I have a few questions though which I am hoping members of 
this forum may be able to answer. 

I recently read a book by Charles W Leadbeater entitled: "How 
Theosophy Came to Me" and found it fascinating. In it, he writes 
about his meetings and travels with HPB. However, I have since read 
elsewhere that a lot of it might have been made up and that 
Blavatsky, during her lifetime, said she hardly knew him. I can 
understand perhaps Leadbeater inventing stories about his background 
in order to be more accepted into the kind of circles he moved in, 
but how much else did he fabricate and can we believe what he tells 
us about his encounters with the Masters?

Also, many of the boys whom Leadbeater instructed eventually became 
disillusioned with Theosophical teachings. One said he found his 
claims (re past lives, angels from Alpha Centauri etc.) becoming more 
and more ridiculous and hard to believe.

Lastly, I read that HPB claimed she was responsible for the famous 
Katie King materialisation and that she regretted it. How did that 
come about and was she really involved?

Christians are often attacking Theosophy and blaming it for the rise 
in the so called New Age movement. To what extent did it influence 
this?

I am currently reading "The Ocean of Theosophy" by Judge. I thought 
this would be a good place to start before I move on to "Isis 
Unveiled" and "The Secret Doctrine".

Simon