Theos-Talk Archives (November 2004 Message tt00092)

In a message dated 11/09/04 8:13:17 PM, jjhe@c... writes:
>
>Hello Pablo,
>
>Yes, there was a member of the Adyar TS who is given the credit for the
>quip: "Theosophy is everything, but everything is not Theosophy." The 
>first time I heard this was when I visited the Quest book shop in Ojai,
>looked through the Theosophy section and noted that HPB's Secret 
>Doctrine was not to be found. I asked the store keeper if they had the
>book for sale. She replied, "Oh yes, the SD is over in the Kaballah 
>section." I asked why it was not in the Theosophy section. She explained
>that the SD was really a work on Kaballah. I countered that the SD also
>has a lot on Hinduism, Buddhism etc. and that considering who wrote the
>book, Theosophy might be a more appropriate section for the book. She 
>then explained that "Theosophy is everything, but everything is not 
>Theosophy." I often think of that exchange and wonder whether she was 
>trying to shut me up with a non-answer, or offering a koan for me to 
>solve, or....
>--j

Neither. She was just telling you the way it is. The Secret doctrine is far 
closer to the Kabbalah (both Egyptian and Hebrew) -- which encompasses all 
the ancient Thoth-Hermes esoteric teachings that long preceded Buddhism or any 
other exoteric religion. 

Besides, since the "theosophy" in the SD relates directly to explaining the 
Book of Dzyan -- which is pure metaphysics, and a synthesis of science, 
religion and philosophy in a strictly generalized sense, its connection with 
particular religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, are just incidental... And, other 
than as references from a practical religious point of view, such connections 
are of little interest to the true occultist, or prospective "Adept," that the 
SD was really written for. 

Therefore, "Hinduism" and "Buddhism" are not theosophy. And, while Blavatsky 
presented the SD as a teaching of theosophy or "divine wisdom," she was in 
fact an Occultist and Kabbalist long before she took Buddhist vows (actually 
Bodhisattva vows)... And also, had much disagreement with some of the dogmas of 
both Buddhism and Hinduism -- particularly their ideas of karma, reincarnation, 
nirvana, the self, after death states, etc. 

So, that's what is meant by "Theosophy is everything, but everything is not 
Theosophy."

LHM