Theos-Talk Archives (August 2005 Message tt00331)

I have been reading and reflecting on the above
subject discussed recently in the posts by Dallas 
T. and Jerry HE.

There are probably at least ten different
Theosophical traditions based on the claims
of the various individuals listed at:

http://blavatskyarchives.com/moderntheosophy.htm#Endnote

Speaking of claims, we have the initial CLAIM
of Madame Blavatsky to be in contact with
certain Adepts and to have transmitted in her
writings the teachings of these adepts. And
after her death in 1891 then we have the various
ADDITIONAL claims of the numerous persons listed
at the above link.

It seems to me that these additional claims are
all DEPENDENT on Mme. Blavatsky's initial claim. For example,
if she was a fraud and all her teachings were false
or simply made up or borrowed from genuine
religious and esoteric traditions, then all the later
claims based on hers would therefore seem to be
false also. But if her claims and teachings are
true and genuine, that is no guarantee that any of
the later claims are therefore true and genuine also.
Some of the later claims might be true but others might
also be false.

I have also quoted repeatedly the words of HPB and
her Masters about the existence of pseudo-Theosophy
and of false claims of being in contact with her
Masters. I would think that serious students of her
life and teachings might seriously consider the IMPLICATIONS
of what she and her Masters write about these false
claims and distorted teachings. 

In the 1890s both W.Q. Judge and Annie Besant claimed
to be in contact with HPB's Master Morya. They gave completely
opposite statements as coming from Master M. Obviously
something was wrong!

Some Theosophists sided with Judge; others with Besant and this
lead to the breakup of the Theosophical Society into 2 competing
organizations.

This apparently was the beginning of the lineage claims.

In the Adyar Society we have the following lineage:

Blavatsky - Besant & Leadbeater - ???

In the Point Loma Theosophical Society the following lineage:

Blavatsky - Judge - Tingley - de Purucker - ????

In the ULT:

Blavatsky - Judge - Crosbie

etc. etc.

On this Theos-Talk forum we see present day "representatives"
of these above three traditions. And all of them are convinced that
their own lineage is the true, genuine one.

Anand Gholap is a strong advocate of the Besant & Leadbeater 
lineage. But he seems hardly even aware of the other lineages, 
claims and societies.

Frank Reitemeyer on the other hand is an extremely strong and vocal 
advocate that promotes the Blavatsky-Judge-Tingley-dePurucker line 
of succession. He has no doubt whatsoever that this lineage is the 
true and genuine one. He is equally convinced that Leadbeater was 
nothing but a "swindler", etc. etc.

Dallas TenBroeck is an advocate of the ULT lineage which seemingly 
views Blavatsky and Judge almost as co-equals followed by Crosbie. 
My own research indicates that even Crosbie claimed some kind of 
contact with the dead Judge and even possibly with HPB and the 
Masters. But the ULT organization has kept this very much hidden in 
the background.

The important question I want to ask and bring to the discussion is:

What should inquirers and new students to Theosophy believe about 
all these claims? And remember there are OTHER claims (e.g. those 
of Alice Bailey, Helen Roerich, etc.).

And what theosophical literature should these new people to 
Theosophy read and study?

Furthermore, who has the time, energy and inclination to wade 
through all the various claims, all the historical material pro and 
con, as well as through the hundreds of books on Theosophical 
teachings written by all these claimants and to try to determine 
what is what, whose claim or teaching is true or false or whatever??

Of course, some claim that they don't need to do such a laborious 
task as outlined in the last paragraph. They say they have 
intuitions and those intuitions are all they need to find the truth 
in these matters. Others apparently don't even care what is true or 
false or may even question the labels "true" and "false". Such 
people may simply pick and choose what they "feel" is appropriate 
for them. A cafeteria type approach. I guess. And witness of late 
Jerry HE's statements about what he thinks is a "good teaching". I 
should note here that Jerry's view on this matter is not, as far as 
I can tell, that of HPB and the Masters as documented in HPB's 
writings and the letters of the Masters. Of course, Jerry as well as 
some readers may or may not care what HPB's and the Masters's views 
are on this particular point.

Moving on....

In light of the above, I have for a number of years recommended to 
inquirers and new students to concentrate on what was given in the 
ORIGINAL claim (that is, by Madame Blavatsky in her 10,000 + pages 
of writings as well as in the letters of the Masters also received 
during HPB's lifetime). This is a vast amount of material in itself 
especially if one also includes all the historical material relating 
to HPB's life, the Masters and the early Theosophical Movment 
covering the years 1874 through 1891. I seriously doubt that there 
are more than a handful of longtime students of Blavatsky & 
Theosophy who have read, studied and actually understood all of this 
above material concerning the initial claim as given from about 1874 
to 1891. I know that I have not.

Daniel
http://hpb.cc