Theos-Talk Archives (May 2005 Message tt00450)

There is evidence in the body of the writings of both HPB and her 
Teachers that the teaching being given therein was not the complete 
Occult Doctrine as known by them. There is also indication that 
whatever was given out by them took into consideration the 
evolutionary stage of human mind at that time (1880s).

Below are some possible relevant passages that may indicate that 
Theosophy, as a teaching given out by both HPB and her Teachers, may 
be seen as a work in progress. Personally, I view them as pre-emptive 
of any absolute interpretations of the theosophical teaching, while 
at the same time emphasizing inquiry, self-study and ongoing 
discovery.

I apologise for the length of this post.  


"These truths are in no sense put forward as a revelation; nor does 
the author claim the position of a revealer of mystic lore, now made 
public for the first time in the world's history. For what is 
contained in this work is to be found scattered throughout thousands 
of volumes embodying the scriptures of the great Asiatic and early 
European religions, hidden under glyph and symbol, and hitherto left 
unnoticed because of this veil. What is now attempted is to gather 
the oldest tenets together and to make of them one harmonious and 
unbroken whole. The sole advantage which the writer has over her 
predecessors, is that she need not resort to personal speculations 
and theories. For this work is a partial statement of what she 
herself has been taught by more advanced students, supplemented, in a 
few details only, by the results of her own study and observation. 
The publication of many of the facts herein stated has been rendered 
necessary by the wild and fanciful speculations in which many 
Theosophists and students of mysticism have indulged, during the last 
few years, in their endeavour to, as they imagined, work out a 
complete system of thought from the few facts previously communicated 
to them. 

It is needless to explain that this book is not the Secret Doctrine 
in its entirety, but a select number of fragments of its fundamental 
tenets, special attention being paid to some facts which have been 
seized upon by various writers, and distorted out of all resemblance 
to the truth." (THE SECRET DOCTRINE, Preface)


"The Occult Science is not one in which secrets can be communicated 
of a sudden, by a written or even verbal communication. If so, all 
the "Brothers" would have to do, would be to publish a Hand-book of 
the art which might be taught in schools as grammar is. It is the 
common mistake of people that we willingly wrap ourselves and our 
powers in mystery — that we wish to keep our knowledge to ourselves, 
and of our own will refuse — "wantonly and deliberately" to 
communicate it. The truth is that till the neophyte attains to the 
condition necessary for that degree of Illumination to which, and for 
which, he is entitled and fitted, most if not all of the Secrets are 
incommunicable. The receptivity must be equal to the desire to 
instruct. The illumination must come from within." (MAHATMA LETTERS 
TO A. P. SINNETT, 20, chronological)

"You share with all beginners the tendency to draw too absolutely 
strong inferences from partly caught hints, and to dogmatize 
thereupon as though the last word had been spoken. You will correct 
this in due time. You may misunderstand us, are more than likely to 
do so, for our language must always be more or less that of parable 
and suggestion, when treading upon forbidden ground; we have our own 
peculiar modes of expression and what lies behind the fence of words 
is even more important than what you read. But still — TRY." (ML 111, 
chronological) 


pedro