Theos-Talk Archives (September 2003 Message tt00071)

Hi Tony

The confusion is set.
No need for misjudging...
In some countries of the world, like mine, the SD was published in 6 ( yes, six!) books, numbered from I ro IV !
I thought you were talking about the third volume of this collection of 6, which, by the way, I own.
What I can see is very grave, serious and sad too, and I agree that if Annie edited HPB writings as you have stated ( and from what I wish to examineby myself some day if I can) it is something too arrogant from her part.
Unfortunately I have no access to the original edition.
About the other compilations, such as Major Arthur Powellīs, Jinarajadasa, Leadbeater were released as "practical manuals" and though they may not be compared, by no means, in brightness and 
depth, they serve as a helping hand to the path.
Every theosophist agrees that SD is irreplaceable, but, just my own example, I got to know Theosophy through a book called "the occult side of things"from CW Leadbeater and I donīt feel deprived for this.
When I said SD could be elitist, donīt read the dead letter of it, I consider not an easy book for everybody to read, and it is not really!
Do not exagerate.
As a professor I am, sometimes I am compelled to explain a subject twice oras many diferent times and ways as it takes just in order for the studentsto catch some particular meanings and although I use diferent words at each time, I seem not to distort the sense of what must be taught.Even I prescribe a diferent book on thet subject in order to refresh the subjects.
In that way I think some extra books help the student.
Easy for me is like to re-tell the story, not distort, and additional booksof these authors, in spite of their former mess and behaviors, iare not a sin.
Working Karma off is not easy but we can make things to make good karma in everyday. Buddhism teach us.
Itīs just what i think.
Your quotations were very helpful for me to understand the mess on the bookIII   
Thanks for the kind explanations and your attention., they were of great help.

Eddy



----- Original Message ----- 
From: Tony 
To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2003 6:15 AM
Subject: RE: Theos-World Re:mangled SD III


Hi Eddy and James

<<<In my humble opinion, the S.D., due to its consistent, original and deep
information, could be exclusively fated to a thin elite, otherwise
Jinarajadasa, Leadbeater, Annie and others who made more synthetical
compilations and further investigations, becoming SD more acessible.>>>

THE SECRET DOCTRINE was published in 1888 in 2 volumes, a triple production
by H. P. Blavatsky and the Masters. This IS the original THE SECRET
DOCTRINE.

A 2nd edition appeared taken from the same plates.

HPB died in 1891

In 1893 (just 2 years after H.P.B's death) a "third and revised edition" by
Annie Besant (and Mead) was published in 2 volumes. Do you think she/they
had the occult knowledge to revise an occult work produced by HPB and the
Masters?

In 1897 a collection of papers/writings by H.P.B. was published by Annie
Besant and called the third volume. This can cause confusion as then
people think that "The Secret Doctrine" was published in 3 volumes. It
wasn't.

By comparing the original edition (or facsimile) by H.P.B. and the Masters,
with the third revised edition by Annie Besant, you can see for yourself the
kind of alterations made, and come to your own conclusions. If you see
that alterations have been made, you can then be pretty certain that the
volume Annie Besant produce in 1897, and called vol.III of "The Secret
Doctrine," is also going to have been altered.

THE SECRET DOCTRINE was published in 1888. The three eternals (8s) are ONE
(1).

Page 60 in the original edition is not numbered, although you may find it
added in some of the facsimiles. HPB died in her 60th year. In Theosophy
it is said there is no such thing as coincidence.

What is it that makes the SD more accessible?

In what way is it elitist?

"The Secret Doctrine" is dedicated "to all True Theosophists . . ." rather
than to PhDs, to those who have been to University, to Scientists, to those
with academic qualifications, to gardeners, to bakers, etc. IF it is
elitist it says something about the human race. In actual fact it is there
for anyone from any walk of life, if they can but lift their heads. The
student has to make the effort. Up until this time (1888), the information
in these volumes was virtually inaccessible to people in the west. Now
that it is available, should we be wanting others to make it easier for us?
It is something that is not easy and can't be easy. Was working off Karma
ever easy?

What is easy?

As HPB writes in "Practical Occultism":

"It is easy to become a Theosophist. Any person of average intellectual
capacities, and a leaning toward the meta-physical; of pure, unselfish life,
who finds more joy in helping his neighbour than in receiving help himself;
one who is ever ready to sacrifice his own pleasures for the sake of other
people; and who loves Truth, Goodness and Wisdom for their own sake, not for
the benefit they may confer--is a Theosophist.

"But it is quite another matter to put oneself upon the path which leads to
the knowledge of what is good to do, as to the right discrimination of good
from evil; a path which also leads a man to that power through which he can
do the good he desires, often without even apparently lifting a finger. "

Tony


   

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