Theos-Talk Archives (January 2004 Message tt00112)

Jan 7 2004

Dear Friends:

Re: THEOSOPHY and HPB


Some recent posts have inquired into the nature of HPB and her work as
promulgator of THEOSOPHY .

Here are some views extracted from several sources of Theosophical
literature.

Best wishes,

Dallas

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


H P B and the MASTERS
=====================



"The theory is widely known among the members of the Society that at the
close of each century a spiritual movement is made in the world by the
Mahatmas, which begins with the last 25 years of the century and does
not in that form begin after the close of 25 years until the last
quarter of the following period...The Masters are governed by the law of
action and reaction and are wise enough always not to do that which
might result in undoing all their prior work. The law of reaction
applies as much to the mind of man as to physical things and forces. ...
In the West, following the historical cycles, a great and definite
effort is made among the people--for instance, as the Theosophical
Society--so as to aid the psychical and spiritual development in man..."


"At the end of the 25 years the Masters will not send out in such wide
and sweeping volume the force they send during the 25 years. But that
does not mean they will withdraw. They will leave the ideas to
germinate in the minds of people at large, but never will they take away
from those who deserve it the help that is due and given to all...
During all the centuries there have been many persons who have had
direct and valuable help from Masters, and to suppose that at the end of
our first 25 years all of that will be finished is an absurdity in
itself."	WQJ ART, II 76-7


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


Recently there have been some queries and controversy concerning H P B
-- 


The questions is asked: Is she alive or is she dead?  


Perhaps some of these quotations about her and her work given from the
perspective of the MASTERS OF WISDOM -- the ELDER BROTHERS -- will be
of help.

Theosophy has been called a history of the development of the spiritual
nature of mankind. On this, Patanjali, an ancient sage wrote:  

"The Universe, including the visible and the invisible, the essential
nature of which is compounded of purity, action, and rest, and which
consists of the elements and the organs of action, exists for the sake
of the soul's experience and emancipation..

The soul is the Perceiver; is assuredly vision itself pure and simple;
unmodified; and looks directly upon ideas.  

For the sake of the soul alone, the Universe exists.

Although the Universe in its objective state has ceased to be, in
respect to that man who has attained to the perfection of spiritual
cultivation, it has not ceased in respect to all others, because it is
common to others besides him.

The conjuncture of the soul with the organ of thought, and thus with
nature, is the cause of its apprehension of the actual condition of the
nature of the universe and of the soul itself.

The cause of this conjuncture is what is what is to be quitted, and that
cause is ignorance."
PATANJALI'S YOGA SUTRAS, pp. 25-27 rendition by W. Q. Judge


More importantly, the contention has been that Theosophy as a body of
information and historical facts is inaccurate, even deceptive.
Detractors have raised old calumnies and slanders that were put quashed,
and put to rest, decades back, but they, the modern detractors, depend
on the ignorance and apathy of the public in the matter of determining
the truth by reference to the documents that embody the history of
events concerning Theosophy, and its significant effect on Science, and
world thought.

Each reader or investigator has to make their own decisions. They have
to do the investigation themselves, or, they place unverified trust on
the dicta of others.  

The Masters have offered the necessary criteria for us to consider in
regard to Theosophical methods of work and personal duty:

"A band of students of the Esoteric Doctrines, who would reap any profit
spiritually must be in perfect harmony and unity of thought. Each one
individually and collectively has to be utterly unselfish, kind and full
of good-will towards each other at least--leaving humanity out of the
question; there must be no party spirit among the band, no backbiting,
no ill-will, or envy or jealousy, contempt or anger." 
LETTERS from the MASTERS OF WISDOM, (I) p. 16-7


Others believe that the SPIRIT which incarnated in that body, known to
all as Mme. H. P. Blavatsky, continues, alive and powerful -- depending
on her wisdom -- Deathless, they claim the immortal Spirit continues
its majestic progress, ever onward to higher and wider spheres of wisdom
and assistance to the Human Race. And as the THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT was
founded to provide this, it is continually supported by H P B.

Such Beings as the Masters of Wisdom, and, that bright Spirit known to
us as H P B, once like we, determined that they would know all that this
world and Universe offered. They decided to investigate the hidden laws
and powers of interactive Nature. Theosophy is the record of their
endeavour. The SECRET DOCTRINE give an outline of its breadth and
depth. [see SECRET DOCTRINE I 272-3]

The fundamental doctrines of Theosophy are:  

1.) the immortality of all Spiritual Souls; 

2.) the common bond of Karma which serves as a basis for interaction,
as it unites the causal motive for action with the exact results
returning to the individual that generated them;  

3.) a process of evolution that is continuous and extends from the
smallest part of the vast UNIVERSE to its utmost limits, the least has
the same potentials of the most advanced; and 

4.) a common goal: SPIRITUAL PERFECTION, which is open to all, and
embraces all that can be known of the Universe and its uncountable
components. That is Universal WISDOM.

It is hoped that some of the information given below will tend to make
clear an understanding of the respect given to H P B by some of her
contemporaries, and by Those whom she named her "Masters."

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



H P B -- Her Mission and "Position"


As we look back at the life and work of H. P. Blavatsky, we her
students, recall with gratitude the debt that we owe to her. Except for
her work and devotion we would possibly never have had the opportunity
that has been ours to know about Theosophy, and to be able to study it. 

A number of her students have left on record their appreciation.  


"...the [Theosophical] movement has grown most in consequence of the
effort of those who are devoted to an ideal, inspired by enthusiasm,
filled with a lasting gratitude to H.P.Blavatsky. Their ideal is the
service of Humanity, the ultimate potential perfectibility of man as
exemplified by the Masters and Adepts of all ages, including the
present...if it had not been for her the T.S. with its literature would
not have come into existence." (W Q Judge, Articles (U L T) Vol. II
20-1)


One may ask if there is a possibility of our contacting the Masters and
HPB, and the answer is that we have their philosophy and teachings as
they were originally recorded. Anyone who studies those puts themselves
into contact with HPB and the Masters. A student once wrote:  	


"...for those who have studied in the right way plenty of proof has been
offered; for others that proof exists within themselves The former
class has had tangible evidence in the way of letters and appearances of
the Adepts before their eyes; the latter concluded long ago that the
Masters are necessities of evolution...in the West the idea of the
existence of the Adepts and of Their connection with our movement was
first brought forward in this century [the 19th] and in our Society by
H.P.Blavatsky, who, consistently throughout her career, has declared
that the Adepts--whom she was pleased to call her Masters--directed her
to engage in this work and have always helped and directed her
throughout... 

They have adopted the TS as one of Their agents in this century for
disseminating the truth about man and nature...Their motive is to help
the moral--and hence external -- progress of humanity, and their methods
to work from behind the scenes by means of agents suited for the
work...the agency is not restricted to one person, but that all sincere
lovers of truth are used to that end, whether they know it or not...the
personal effort put forth by the members will not account for the
spreading of the movement...As the Masters exist, so They help us; and
as we deserve, so will They repay."
(WQJ ARTICLES (ULT) Vol. II pp. 79-80)  


"...while the THEOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT of today was distinctly under the
care of the Adepts, it was not the only one through which effect was
sought to be made on the race-thought and ethics, but that in many
different ways efforts were constantly put forward ...she insisted that
the T S wears the badge...of the Eastern and Ancient Schools...the old
and united Lodge of Adepts ...[It would be reasonable to say]...that
Brotherhood has the knowledge and power... to use every agency which is
in touch with humanity." WQJ ARTICLES (ULT) Vol. , Vol. I, pp. 244


Mr. W. Q. Judge, collaborated closely with HPB and Col. Olcott from the
beginning of the THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY and was one of the three Founders
of the THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY [BLAVATSKY: Collected Works, Vol. I, p.
121-5] who supported it until their death, wrote: 


"I think that the way for all western theosophists is through H.P.B. I
mean that as she is the T.S. incarnate--its mother and guardian, its
creator--the Karmic laws would naturally provide that all who drew this
life through her belonged to her, and if they denied her, they need not
hope to reach [Masters], for how can they deny her who gave this
doctrine to the western world? They share her Karma to little purpose
if they think they can get round this identification and benefit, and
[Masters] want no better proof that a man does not comprehend their
philosophy. This would, of course, bar him from [Masters] by natural
laws (of growth)...[those] who undervalue her gift and her creation,
have not imbibed the teaching and cannot assimilate its benefits. She
must be understood as being what she is to the T.S., or Karma...is not
understood, nor the first laws of occultism."  
LETTERS THAT HAVE HELPED ME , p. 110


After the physical death of Mme. Blavatsky on May 8th 1891, in answer to
a friend, he wrote:  


"...we believe that H.P.B. will be for some time occupied in training a
new instrument, and one not so young as to be useless at the present
cyclic crisis...she left everything in order. All things were planned
out, and evidence was abundantly had to the effect that she knew her
departure was near... looking upon her as an Adept, whose chief work was
done outside of the objective body, it was reasonable to suppose that
she is now enabled to use, upon higher (or inner) planes of being, the
power previously expended in the maintenance of that body." 
LETTERS THAT HAVE HELPED ME, p. 155 [U L T Edition]


HPB had written in this regard:  


"That for several years I will not be able to help it [the T S] on, and
steer its course, because I will have to act in a body which will have
to be assimilated to the Nirmanakaya, because even in occultism there
are such things as a failure and a retardment and a misfit..." HPB - 
LETTERS THAT HAVE HELPED ME , p. 281  


In another article, Mr. Judge wrote: 


"...but H.P.Blavatsky, who then as afterwards was really the central
figure, has for the present left this life. The first great change,
then, between seventeen years ago and now is the removal from the scene
of the personage who, for so long was the pivot of the whole
movement...[in 1879] upon the advent of the two pioneers in Asia [ HPB
and Col. Olcott, who went to India as a Committee for the THEOSOPHICAL
SOCIETY based in New York ] ...in order that the influence of the
mysterious and distant East might react upon the West and enable us to
bring to light again important religious and philosophical truths. This
reaction came, and manifesting in America with full force, a host of
Branches began to arise...all with one accord must draw their chief
inspiration from the life, the labors, and the words of that wonderful
and still faintly understood woman, Helena, P. Blavatsky." 
WQJ Art. II 148 "SEVENTEEN YEARS AGO," Path, Nov. 1892


Regarding HPB, the Adepts wrote: 


"...They say that the Ego of that body she uses was and is a great and
brave servant of the Lodge, sent to the West with a mission with full
knowledge of the insult and obloquy to be surely heaped upon that
devoted head; and they add: 'Those who cannot understand her had best
not try to explain her; those who do not find themselves strong enough
for the task she outlined from the very first had best not attempt it.'
"
WQJ ART II 18)  


And Mr. Judge added:  


"[As to H. P. B.]. those who cannot understand her had best not try to
explain her...she knew...that high and wise servants of the Lodge have
remained with the West since many centuries for the purpose of helping
it on its mission and destiny. That work it would be well for members
of the T. Mvt. to continue without deviating, without excitement,
without running to extremes...the truth of the soul's life is in no
special quarter of the compass..." (LETTERS THAT HAVE HELPED ME ,
p. 76)   


According to HPB: 


"...there are certain persons on this earth, living and working as
ordinary human beings and members of society, whose informing divine
part is so immeasurably high in development that they as such high
beings have a definite status and function in the "supersensuous
regions."


To this Mr Judge added:  


"...she herself was such a case, and that "H P B" whether hourly in the
day or at night when all around was still, had a "status and function"
in other spheres where she consciously carried on the work of that high
station, whatever it was...[She wrote in one place] " I am conscious
day and night, and have much to do and to endure in both these
existences from which you, being half-conscious, are happily saved."	
WQJ ART I 616


What then was the nature of HPB's Mission? The following is one
person's view: 


"...when the great leader is H.P.Blavatsky, a whole host of principles
and postulates as to certain laws of nature cluster around her name.
For not only was she one who brought to us from the wiser brothers of
the human family a consistent philosophy of the solar system, but in
herself she illustrated practically the existence of the supersensuous
world and of the powers of the inner and astral man...and theory or
assertion touching on her relations with the unseen and with the Masters
she spoke for inevitably opens up the discussion of some law or
principle. Many things were said about H.P.B. in her lifetime by those
who tried to understand her, some of them being silly and some
positively pernicious. The most pernicious was that made by [A.P.S.] in
London in the lifetime of H.P.B. and before the writing of the Secret
Doctrine, that she was deserted by the Masters and was the prey of
elementals and elemental forces...if true, then anything she might say
as from the Masters which did not agree with the opinion of the one
addressed could be disposed of as being only the vaporing of some
elementals."
WQJ ARTICLES (ULT) Vol. II 13


"H.P.Blavatsky was the head, front, bottom, top, outskirts, past and
future of the theosophical society...Not only was H.P.B. predominant
with us in 1875, but she is yet."  
WQJ Art II 161 "A Reminiscence," PATH, Feb. 1893 / Mar. 1895



HOW DO THE MASTERS LOOK AT H.P.B.?



Regarding HPB, the Adepts wrote: 


"...They say that the Ego of that body she uses was and is a great and
brave servant of the Lodge, sent to the West with a mission with full
knowledge of the insult and obloquy to be surely heaped upon that
devoted head; and they add: 'Those who cannot understand her had best
not try to explain her; those who do not find themselves strong enough
for the task she outlined from the very first had best not attempt it.'
"
WQJ ART II 18)  



"...imperfect as may be our visible agent...yet, she [HPB] is the best
available at present, and her phenomena have for about half a century
astounded and baffled some of the cleverest minds of the age."	MAHATMA
LETTERS , p. 9-10



"After nearly a century of fruitless search, our chiefs had to avail
themselves of the only opportunity to send out a European body upon
European soil to serve as a connecting link between that country and our
own...my brother M. made to you through her a certain offer...you had
but to accept it, and at any time you liked, you would have had for an
hour or more, the real baitchooly to converse with, instead of the
psychological cripple you generally have to deal with now."
M L 203-4


"On the 17th of November next [1882] the septenary term of trial given
the Society at its foundation in which to discreetly "preach us" will
expire. One or two of us hoped that the world had so far advanced
intellectually, if not intuitionally, that the Occult doctrine might
gain an intellectual acceptance, and the impulse given for a new cycle
of occult research...consent was given for the trial. It was
stipulated, however, that the experiment should be made independently of
our personal management; that there should be no abnormal interference
by ourselves.  

So casting about we found in America the man to stand as leader--a man
of great moral courage, unselfish, and having other good qualities. He
was far from being the best, but...he was the best available. With him
we associated a woman of most exceptional and wonderful endowments.
Combined with them she had strong personal defects, but just as she was,
there was no second to her living fit for this work. We sent her to
America, brought them together--and the trial began.  

>From the first both he and she were given to clearly understand that the
issue lay entirely with themselves. And both offered themselves for the
trial...For 6 1/2 years they have been struggling against such odds as
would have driven off any one who was not working with the desperation
of one who stakes life and all he prizes on some desperate supreme
effort. Their success has not equaled the hopes of their original
backers, phenomenal as it has been in certain directions. In a few more
months the term of probation will end. If by that time the status of
the Society as regards ourselves --the question of the "Brothers" be not
definitely settled (either dropped out of the Society's programme or
accepted on our own terms) that will be the last of the "Brothers" of
all shapes and colors, sizes or degrees. We will subside out of public
view like a vapour into the ocean. Only those who have proved faithful
to themselves and to Truth through everything, will be allowed further
intercourse with us..."	M L 263-4


"You can never know her [HPB] as we do, therefore--none of you will ever
be able to judge her impartially or correctly. You see the surface of
things; and what you would term "virtue," holding but to appearances,
we--judge but after having fathomed the object to its profoundest depth,
and generally leave the appearances to take care of themselves. In your
opinion H.P.B. is...a quaint, strange woman, a psychological riddle...We
on the other hand, under the garb of eccentricity and folly--we find a
profounder wisdom in her inner Self than you will ever find yourselves
able to perceive...we...light daily upon traits of her inner nature the
most delicate and refined, and which would cost an uninitiated
psychologist years of constant and keen observation, and many an hour of
close analysis and efforts to draw out of the depth of that most subtle
of mysteries--human mind--and one of the most complicated
machines,---H.P.B.'s mind--and thus learn to know her true inner Self."
M L 314


"The Lhas or adept alone possesses the real, his mind being en rapport
with the Universal Mind. The Lhas has made a perfect junction of his
soul with the Universal Mind in its fullness, which makes him for the
time a divine being existing in the region of absolute intelligence,
knowledge of natural laws or Dgyu..."	HPB to APS 376



H.P.B. ON HERSELF


"I never gave myself out for a full-blown occultist, but only for a
student of Occultism for the last thirty or forty years. Yet I am
enough of an occultist to know that before we find the Master within our
own hearts and seventh principle--we need an outside Master...I got my
drop from my Master (the living one)...He is a Saviour, he who leads you
to finding the Master within yourself. It is ten years already that I
preach the inner Master and God and never represented our Masters as
Saviours in the Christian sense."
[ HPB to Dr. Hartmann ] PATH, Vol. X, p. 367


"...as I venerate the Master, and worship MY MASTER--the sole creator of
my inner Self which but for His calling it out, awakening it from its
slumber, would never have come to conscious being--not in this life, at
all events..."
Letters of HPB to APS, p. 104



ON THE SECRET DOCTRINE


"The Secret Doctrine was the universally diffused religion of the
ancient and prehistoric world." [ SD I xxxiv ]  


"These truths are in no sense put forward as a revelation, nor does the
author claim the position of a revealer of mystic lore now made public
for the first time in the world's history." [ SD I vii ]


"We give facts and show land-marks: let the wayfarer follow them. What
is given here is amply sufficient for this century." [ SD II 742 ]  


"There are more secrets of Initiation given out in the Introductory
Chapter than in all Isis...Fancy Masters giving out the secret of the
"Divine Hermaphrodite" even ! and so on." [ HPB Letters to
A.P.Sinnett, p. 172-3 ] 



HOW OTHERS LOOK ON H.P.B.?



"H.P.B. was the Messenger from the Great Lodge to the western world.
W.Q.J. was a co-founder and co-worker with H.P.B. from the beginning.
It will be well to remember that HPB and WQJ were not accorded the
positions They held through any authority, but through recognition of
Their knowledge and power. They were sui generis; all others are but
students. Those who belittle Judge will also be found belittling HPB."
F P 5


"HPB was the Direct Agent of the Lodge--and this is explicitly stated to
be the fact by the Master K.H. ...then we must go to the records left by
Her and Her Colleague, W.Q.J., for direction in all matters pertaining
to the Theosophical Movement."	F P 34


"In the introduction to the SECRET DOCTRINE, H.P.Blavatsky boldly
affirms the existence of a great Fraternity of Men, Adepts, who preserve
the true philosophy through all changes, now revealing it, and again, at
certain eras, withdrawing it from a degraded age; and emphatically she
says that the doctrine is never a new one, but only a handing on again
of what was always the system... [Further she adds] in the twentieth
century of our era scholars will begin to recognize that the S.D. has
neither been invented nor exaggerated, but, on the contrary, simply
outlined; and finally, that its teachings antedate the Vedas."

"...the Messenger from the great Fraternity--she herself being the one
for this Century--she observes significantly: that "In Century the 20th
some disciple more informed, and far better fitted, may be sent by the
Masters of Wisdom to give final and irrefutable proof that there exists
a science called Gupta-Vidya; and that, [it] the source of all
religions and philosophies now known to the world...is at last found."
WQJ ART II 81-2


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End of Part I

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