Theos-Talk Archives (August 2004 Message tt00521)

Hello All,
It strikes me that the writing styles of C.W Leadbeater and H.P.B may 
be worth looking at more closely as a comparison..
C.W.L coming from a paternalistic and hierarchical Victorian English 
mindset sore those in the upper echelons as being more capable and 
competent of making decisions on behalf of the less enlightened 
masses.

Therefore CWL `clairvoyantly confirms' for us this order and 
hierarchy , with all we need to know of nature spirits in their 
little cute outfits with pointy hats, inner planes with the Logos on 
her (oh no sorry) HIS throne and the resultant effects of rituals and 
ceremonial and how priests really do have a special place in the 
order of things, 
Women of course cannot handle these energies so are not able to fill 
this role. ….. 

HPB spoke of hierarchy as well but seemed to express this in a way 
far more philosophically expansive and open to interpretation and 
philosophical exploration 
than CWL's . 
HPB encourages the reader to explore the philosophies of Kant and 
Spinoza or the subtleties of Kabbalah…..

The reader by default is exposed to many and various philosophers and 
philosophies in the reading of HPB's works, which to me
encourages 
exploration and further study.
While she speaks of the Esoteric doctrine coming from a long line of 
seers, the reader is constantly reminded that only though Selfless 
action , hard work and compassion will Nature ever give the true 
secrets of life, never though blind belief. 
The Mahatma's advise Sinnett "never think what would I
do" (KH) the 
Mahatma thus empowering Sinnett to think and act through his own 
volition rather than simply follow someone else's direction.
Also the Mahatma says to Sinnett somewhere else "follow the ideal 
rather than my poor self"…..

CWL's emphasis on devotional practice and psychic powers, 
following "authorities" or needing messiah's.
I think tended to promote a blind belief, leader / follower mindset 
rather than the philosophically critical ,open and compassionate 
mindset the Mahatmas where hoping the TS would start to promote.( 
Realization of Oneness and Universal Brotherhood)

CWL while saying on the one hand not to believe him but to discover 
for ourselves, s but the subtle under current is one of  
disempowerment and re-establishment of old norms. 

HPBs style and insistence is being ever on guard against 
pronouncements of any kind and I think promotes and displays a 
completely different kind of mindset.

Not being an academic I can't really claim any expert knowledge
on 
this subject of writing styles however I think there's something
to 
it.
Perhaps it has been discussed already on these groups but I think it 
is worth looking at in more depth.

What do others think?

Perry