Theos-Talk Archives (March 2004 Message tt00650)

Thank you all for your replies. The question asked was
not a rhetorical one. It is clear that the Mahatmas
taught an esoteric form of Buddhism, but for me it is
difficult to reconcile some of its teaching
(particularly regarding the seven principles in the
human constitution) and the traditional Buddhist
teaching of anatma. None of the answers I have
received seem to have addressed this question.

Dallas, for example, seems to indicate that Atma, from
the Mahatmas' point of view, is not a philosophical
concept but a principle. But is not "Esoteric
Philosophy" one of the synonymns of the
Wisdom-Tradition? Incidentally, Dallas, I don't doubt
their existence at all. My own study of Theosophy, for
the past thirty years, is enough for me to consider
their reality as one of the most inspiring facts in
existence.

Chuck mentioned that they could have presented
themselves to Sinnett as Buddhists just to make it
easier for Sinnett to understand them. But the
overwhelming evidence in their letters and in HPB's
writings that they had a definite connection with
Tibetan Buddhism and the Gelugpa school does not
support this view (K.H. is said to have participated
in some activities of the Tashi-Llhunpo lamasery in
Tzi-gadze).

Koshek presented a compreheensive historical
perspective. One of the ironies about the relationship
between Hinduism and Buddhism in India is that
Buddha's teaching represented a very definite
challenge to the Brahmanical system, then dominated by
exoteric ritualism. That Buddhism did not flourish in
India and had to go to Tibet and South-East Asia,
China and Japan, where it became established as a
tradition with many tributaries, seems to speak for
itself. Then, later on, Buddha was made by the Hindus
into an avatar of Vishnu! Incidentally, Koshek, Adi
Sankara did refute the Buddhist doctrine of sunyavada.
You can find the refutation in Sankara's
"Dakshinamurti Stotra", chapter 6.

While discussing the doctrine of Root-Races, K.H. had
this to say to Sinnett:

"En passant, to show to you that not only were not the
“races” invented by us, but that they are a cardinal
dogma with the Lama Buddhists and with all who study
our esoteric doctrine, I send you an explanation on a
page or two in Rhys Davids’ Buddhism, — otherwise
incomprehensible, meaningless and absurd. It is
written with the special permission of the Chohan (my
Master) and — for your benefit. No Orientalist has
ever suspected the truths contained in it, and — you
are the first Western man (outside Tibet) to whom it
is now explained." (letter 93B, chronological)

Is it possible that the Mahatmas' Buddhism was some
sort of inner (esoteric) tradition which only became
known to the world at large through the writings of
HPB and the correspondence with Sinnett? Could it be
an oral tradition?

Pedro




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