Theos-Talk Archives (October 2004 Message tt00280)

What Theosophy Is . . . and Is Not:  
What inquirers and new readers should know
 
Anand writes in part:
 
". . . members don't know which 
books on Theosophy to read as there are 
thousands of books on spirituality and yoga
in market. Many of these are written by 
merely intellectual interpreters who
read some books, draw some conclusions 
which are many time wrong and make people 
believe in those. So out of hundred books 
only one is written by true disciple who 
has first-hand experience and who is evolved 
spiritually. And aspirant does not know 
which book among hundred books to read. So 
I would advise students to read only those 
books which are written by disciples.
Here are some of the authors who I believe 
had gone through initiations and their writing 
is extremely good for understanding Theosophy 
and can guide aspirant in life and on the path 
of occultism - Annie Besant, C.W. Leadbeater, C. 
Jinarajadasa, Geoffrey Hodson, I.K. Taimni, G.S. 
Arundale, N. Sri Ram. H.P. Blavatsky was also 
a disciple and has written much on Theosophy but 
many students find her language difficult to 
understand. Still those who can understand, 
may read it."
 
Readers, especially new readers and inquirers interested in
Theosophy, should be aware that Gregory Tillett, Leadbeater's 
biographer, has written:
 
"...there are CLEAR contradictions between H.P.B.'s teachings . . .
and . . . those given out by Leadbeater...." (The Elder Brother, p. 265
caps added.)
 
Tillett also observed:
 
". . . it is very much his [Leadbeater's] view of life after
death that pervades popular occultism, and stands in CLEAR
contradiction to that presented by Blavatsky." (p. 5 caps added.)
 
Helen V. Zahara, a Theosophist, has also confirmed Tillett's statement:
 
"The original statements in the Theosophical Society regarding the after death processes were given in Letters of the Mahatmas to A.P. Sinnett. . . . One must, however, note that a different description of the after death process appears in some works by theosophical writers. One such exponent was C.W. Leadbeater, a notable clairvoyant, who recorded what he saw of after death conditions. . . . This [Leadbeater's version] would seem to be at variance with the original teaching [as found in the writings of H.P. Blavatskyand the Masters]." Quoted from The Universal Flame: Commemorating the Centenary of the Theosophical Society, Adyar, Madras, India, Theosophical Publishing House, 1975.
 
See more details at: "Life After Death in Kamaloka (the Astral World): H.P. Blavatsky versus C.W. Leadbeater" http://blavatskyarchives.com/morganafterdeath.htm
 
The contradictions extend to many of the other Theosophical teachings as described in greater detail by Alvin Boyd Kuhn in his book Theosophy: A Modern Revival of Ancient Wisdom 
 
"Certain schools of his critics assert flatly that he [C. W. Leadbeater] has only succeeded in vitiating her [H.P. Blavatsky's] original presentation [of Theosophy]. . . . . . . [Starting in the March 15, 1928 issue] The Canadian Theosophist, a magazine published . . . at Toronto, published a seriesof articles [excerpted from Margaret Thomas' Theosophy or NeoTheosophy?] in which parallel passages from the writings of Madame Blavatsky and the Mahatma Letters on one side, and from the books of Mrs. Besant, Mr. Leadbeater, Mr. C. Jinarajadasa, on the other, give specific evidence bearing on the claims of perversion of the original theories by those whom they call Neo-Theosophists. The articles indicate wide deviations, in some cases complete reversal, made by the later interpreters [Besant, Leadbeater, Jinarajadasa]from the fundamental statements of the Russian Messenger [Blavatsky] and her Overlords [the Mahatmas]." 

"The differences concern such matters as the personality of God, the historicity of Jesus, his identity as an individual or a principle, the desirability of churches, priestcraft and religious ceremonial, the genuineness of an apostolic succession, and a vicarious atonement, the authority of Sacraments, the nature and nomenclature of the seven planes of man's constitution,the planetary chains, the monad, the course of evolution, and many other important phases of Theosophic doctrine. This exhaustive research has made it apparent that the later exponents have allowed themselves to depart in many important points from the teachings of H.P.B." Italics added (pp. 330-331) 
 
A contributor on Theos-Talk, Jerry Hejka-Ekins, who is a long-time student of Madame Blavatsky's teachings, has also commented:

"Around 1924, Margaret Thomas published a book called Theosophy Versus Neo-Theosophy: Part one compares Blavatsky's teachings to those of Besant and Leadbeater's by juxtaposing quotes from each party on various subjects, so that the thoughtful reader could easily discern the differences and contradictions. . . . " Italics added. 

These clear and distinct differences and contradictions between Blavatsky and Leadbeater's teachings raise many issues and and questions.

Students of Madame Blavatsky's writings know that even during her own lifetime she was concerned about "travestied versions of the esoteric philosophy, composed of one part of truths, & three parts misconceptions & conceit."

In 1888, Blavatsky wrote to a Theosophist of her day as follows:

"For the past 12 years I have been imparting, & transmitting esoteric teachings without enacting any pledge or imposing conditions to several — moreor less known individuals among others — a few Hindus. Since the explosion of the infamous Hodgson & Coulomb conspiracy against me some of my ex-pupils ill-grounded in the theosophical spirit, have, for various reasons deserted me, after posing for chelas. The latter attitude they would not abandon, however. Hence since that time, they have been giving out travestied versions of the esoteric philosophy, composed of one part of truths, & three parts misconceptions & conceit. Thus great confusion, & contradictory statements have been made in print, all of which have been pitched back upon my unfortunate head. Not only that, but with the idea of making themselves more important they have pretended that my occult knowledge had faded away during my illness; that even Masters have turned away from me to them, & that I was now the prey of
Elementals & half-fledged chelas! Many, however, wish me to continue my instructions. But I am not willing to do so, save under restrictions shown byexperience to be necessary. I am determined not to permit any longer the Master's names to be desecrated & dragged in the mire of idiotic criticism." 
http://blavatskyarchives.com/hpbjrb.htm

To her pledged esoteric students, she later wrote:

". . . A new and rapidly growing danger. . . is threatening . . . the spread of the pure Esoteric Philosophy and knowledge. . . . I allude to those charlatanesque imitations of Occultism and Theosophy. . . . By pandering tothe prejudices of people, and especially by adopting the false ideas of a personal God and a personal, carnalized Saviour, as the groundwork of theirteaching, the leaders of this 'swindle' (for such it is) are endeavoring to draw men to them and in particular to turn Theosophists from the true path." 

". . . A close examination will assuredly reveal. . . materials largely stolen . . . from Theosophical writings. . . [and] distorted and falsified soas to be palmed off on the unwary as revelations of new and undreamed of truths. But many will neither have the time nor the opportunity for such a thorough investigation; and before they become aware of the imposture they may be led far from the Truth. . . . Nothing is more dangerous to Esoteric Truth than the garbled and distorted versions disfigured to suit the prejudices and tastes of men in general." 
http://blavatskyarchives.com/ests1contents.htm

For those interested in learning more about these contradictions, see:

H.P.B.'s Occult Status & the Claims of Latter-Day Messengers of the Masters
http://blavatskyarchives.com/latermessengers.htm

and especially:

Criticisms of C.W. Leadbeater's Teachings
http://blavatskyarchives.com/leadbeaterbib.htm#Criticisms

And for good introductory material on Theosophy as presented
by H.P. Blavatsky, see the following sources:

A Brief Overview of Theosophy
http://blavatskyarchives.com/santuccitheosophy.htm

Basic Ideas of Theosophy
http://blavatskyarchives.com/2scope.htm

H.P. Blavatsky, the Mahatmas and Theosophy:
21 Highly Recommended Titles 
http://blavatskyarchives.com/introductory.htm
especially the titles by Knoche, McDavid, Farthing,
Goodrick-Clarke as well as Blavatsky's own book
The Key to Theosophy.

Daniel H. Caldwell
BLAVATSKY STUDY CENTER
http://blavatskystudycenter.org

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]