Theos-Talk Archives (January 2005 Message tt00463)

leonmaurer@aol.com wrote, in part:

<<In this light, I think any writing
of CWL, AB or AAB, that does not agree
with the fundamental metaphysical
teachings, as presented clearly by
HPB in the SD and her other writings,
as well as by WQJ, should be taken with
a double grain of salt.
Leonardo>>

Interesting post. While my thinking
about AB, AAB and CWL seems to have been
influenced by A.L. Cleather's books,
seems to me that one person's "clearly"
could be another person's whatever. In
my HSO there are certain somewhat
relevant "exoteric/esoteric" aspects in
Theosophical and related studies, in
particular, and I think such aspects
might have occasionally been interpreted
in ways that, in turn, might have
promoted two main camps, or poles,
throughout history, more or less, one
way or another: 1. literal/orthodox,
and, 2. gnostic/esoteric. Not that
there isn't overlap. Various
Theosophical groups tend to give me the
impression that they can somehow handle
the various possible snags,
misunderstandings or shortcomings
that might arise from such overlaps.
But ... Judging by what went on at the
local TS branch in my area not too long
ago re Besant and Leadbeater
I tend to question whether they were
promoting progress towards a more
gnostic/esoteric view of Theosophy. Not
that there might not be wise
compromises, possibly (and maybe that's 
what went on at the local TS ...) 
somewhere along the line, but I'm 
wondering if the mainstream, orthodox, 
literal religious views are infiltrating 
and influencing various TS groups around 
the world. Of course if most people tend 
to favor or "understand" what they see 
as Theosophy in a way that might appear 
all too literal to some other people, I 
suppose then that's where things might 
be at per whatever individual or 
collective perspective, for better or 
worse. But I seem to recall that HPB 
might've made a comment to the effect 
that the Secret Doctrine represented an 
"exoteric version." And didn't she 
comment something to the effect that 
"exoteric versions" can be misleading 
when literally interpreted?

Speculatively,
Mauri