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Mar 09, 2006 08:08 AM
by kpauljohnson
Dear Krsanna, Thanks for an opportunity to clarify some points in a rancor-free context. Bruce wrote: > > "What Paul may have stumbled on in his book "The Masters Revealed" >is the people involved in HPB's education. A world-wide network of >men trying to inspire good people to stand up against tyranny." > While "network" might fit in a very broad sense, that is *HPB's* network of inspirers, teachers, etc., it tends to obscure that there were multiple lineages, multiple secret societies and spiritual reform movements, with whom HPB was allied and from whom she learned at different times. Some were much more politically involved than others. And some *became* much more political *after* HPB got involved with them. What is especially important to me now, and to the Church of Light which I recently joined, is the transfer of HPB's allegiance from her Egyptian (and Egyptophile European and American) "brotherhoods" (which involved women too, most importantly Emma Hardinge Britten) to a completely different set of Indian sponsors. Godwin's The Theosophical Enlightenment gives a fuller explanation of this transfer than my books do. Two key figures involved in that transfer were Swami Dayananda, about whom I would urge anyone interested in the Masters question to think outside the box of Theosophical exegesis, and Mikhail Katkov, who published HPB's Indian writings in Russian. Both were obviously revered as spiritual Masters by their disciples-- formally so in the Swami's case and informally so in Katkov's. > HPB always said the adepts were living men who were part of a > worldwide network that reached far into antiquity. To identify > living men associated with HPB is not surprising. As far as I can > tell from recent posts, Paul Johnson excluded the "paranormal" from > his research to identify some of very real, very human men in HPB's > association. Real and human but at the same time in most cases recognized authorities in various spiritual traditions. Here's a quote from TMR that Desmond recently produced that goes to the heart of your post: In "The Masters Revealed" you set forth the thesis that "most of these characters were authorities in one or more spiritual traditions; others were accomplished writers. They helped prepare HPB for her mission as a spiritual teacher and/or sponsored the Theosophical Society from behind the scenes. Although their teachings and example affected HPB's development, the extent of their influence was usually secret. In a few cases the argument for their acquaintance with HPB is speculative, but usually the fact of a relationship is well established and the real question is its meaning. Because their 'spiritual status' and psychic powers are inaccessible to historical research, these alleged criteria of 'Mahatmaship' are treated with agnosticism." (p. 14-15) Personally, I see in these few words not only a lack of personal bias but also an abundance of integrity. Thanks to Desmond for the last line. I would just comment as an aside to Carlos that it makes no sense to say that because spiritual stature and psychic powers of figures from the past are not readily accessible to historical investigation, that we ought not pursue *any knowledge whatsoever* about individuals who have been identified as adepts, because adepts by definition transcend physicality. NO ONE's spiritual stature and psychic powers are accessible to standard scholarly investigation; the obvious implication would be that historians are committing a spiritual crime to write about *anyone who ever lived*. Otherwise we are left with special pleading that says it's OK to ask historical questions about Jesus or Buddha or Alice Bailey but don't dare ask them about HPB and her Masters because they are not only beyond reproach but exempt from normal historical scrutiny. That might play in the ULT or the Adyar ES but it's Theosophical dogma that no one outside the movement will take seriously. Why should they? It's like Muslims saying cartoons about everyone else are fine, but if they're about Muhammad let's have riots. That just makes the special pleaders look like enraged fanatics. Nobody, to my knowledge, ever claimed that Morya's > adept lineage terminated with Morya. > > I've read only an excerpt from Paul Johnson's book, so I don't know > how clear he was about the limitations of his research. A good > researcher defines the parameters of the work undertaken. > That was a very important objective of The Masters Revealed, whereas its self-published predecessor was considerably less clear about what was being hypothesized. On the back cover of TMR the first reader report excerpt quoted (from Hal French of the U. of South Carolina) says this: "The author has transferred the discussion of Blavatsky's sources from the realm of the mythical to the historical. He has given us a well-researched series of capsuled biographies of persons from whom Blavatsky learned, and the nature of her relationships with each of them. His work brings reasoned conclusions into an area characterized by vituperative and polarized scholarship. He sets his limits well. He has not overstretched his mark nor made excessive claims for his conclusions." The same could be said for Joscelyn Godwin whose Theosophical Enlightenment is intertwined with TMR in several ways. > Showing that ordinary people possess extraordinary potentials is a > worthy study. Albeit, this was not Paul Johnson's objective, and he > attempted only to identify ordinary people. > Not quite. How ordinary these people were varies from case to case. That several were highly regarded as adepts within specific traditions testifies that they were not seen as ordinary by their colleagues and associates. It's just that their extraordinariness is approached historically rather than religiously, as something to be established (or rather defined) via evidence and reason rather than ex cathedra pronouncements or reliance on scriptural authority. Back to politics for a moment, I will just say that my books don't portray HPB as someone who was motivated primarily by politics, but rather as someone who was caught up in politics through her associations with people in India, and lived to regret it. After leaving India, she appears to have renounced any involvement in politics and even offered to become an informant on anti-British activities she had learned about. So it's not a simple yes/no question as to whether she or her Masters were involved in politics. Just as it's not a simple yes/no question as to whether the Masters depicted in her writings were "real." Some were a lot more real than others, in terms of the amount of fictionalization involved. No one has ever doubted the reality of Dayananda; but Theosophists conveniently forget that HPB and Olcott definitely regarded him in the adept/Mahatma category when they went to India and only later changed their opinion. Cheers, Paul > > --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "robert_b_macd" > <robert.b.macdonald@> wrote: > > > > Dear Carlos, > > > > Given what you have written and other interesting clues, I would > like > > to offer a wildly speculative theory that nevertheless might have > some > > truth in it. > > > > It is clear that HPB was not interested in politics and was never a > > spy for anyone. It is also clear that the Masters were not > ignorant > > of the political machinations going on in the World at that time. > > Their discussion of Jesuit plots in India being directed at a > future > > Britain (I believe this was around the Ilbert Bill) being a case in > > point. Their attempts to set up a Phoenix newspaper with Sinnet as > > the editor is another example of their work to promote an organ of > > justice for the Indian masses. Indeed, your discussion of Mr. > Abdul > > Ghafur and Pope Sixtus V indicates that HPB was not unaware of the > > dark forces of the political world and how they fit together > through > > the centuries. There is also some indication that St. Germain was > > involved with some of the noble families of Europe in an unofficial > > advisory capacity. > > > > It seems pretty clear that HPB was destined to found a Society of > the > > nature of the TS. Such a Society would have many enemies coming > from > > many quarters. One way to educate a leader of such a Society > would be > > to have her travel around the world and introduced to lesser adepts > > working in the world giving guidance to various movements standing > up > > against the dark power of tyranny in its many guises. This aspect > of > > her education might leave a very sour taste in her mouth for the > art > > of politics and explain why she wanted nothing to do with it. She > > could see it for what it was, two sides of the same coin battling > > against each other and controlled by the same puppet master. > > > > What Paul may have stumbled on in his book "The Masters Revealed" > is > > the people involved in HPB's education. A world-wide network of > men > > trying to inspire good people to stand up against tyranny. > > > > The TS was created in order to seed the minds of humanity with the > > means to learn to think for themselves so that they too could > begin to > > lift the political veil and see the tyranny that lies behind it. > We > > are at a crisis point today. In the same way that a herd of cows > is > > comprised of cows, a true sovereign state would be comprised of > > sovereign citizens. As the citizens of Western Democracies are > > manipulated into giving away their rights and freedoms (individual > > sovereignty), the Western Democratic state is moving towards > tyranny. > > This whole theme is treated masterly in Plato's "Republic". > Perhaps > > it would be interesting to take Paul's research and explore this > theme. > > > > Bruce > > > > > > --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "carlosaveline cardoso aveline" > > <carlosaveline@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > Dear Bil, dear Paul, dear Friends, > > > > > > I understand Paul is back to Theos-talk, so this is addressed to > > him, too. > > > > > > I will answer now some of Bill's statements and questions below. > > > > > > Years ago, I had one of Paul Johnson's books at my disposal, > looked > > at it > > > and decided > > > I was not interested. > > > > > > Beside his recent correspondence, I have with me his text "Madame > > Blavatsky, > > > the 'Veiled Years' " > > > (T.H.C. London 1987). > > > > > > I also have the "Review Essay" by John Algeo on his book "The > Masters > > > Revealed", published in "Theosophical History", July 1995. And I > > have the > > > recent posting by Paul Johnson with the story of his relations > with > > the TPH > > > and John Algeo. > > > > > > In that story,you will see that he had fluid relations with the > USA > > TPH > > > for years. You will see that, according to Paul, and I quote --- > > > > > > > > > "" 'In Search of the Masters' was surprisingly well received in > the > > > Theosophical world, and didn't receive many attacks. John > > > Algeo never indicated any discomfort with the book or desire to > > > squelch it. When I decided to revise and condense it in the > > > form of a series of biographical chapters, I offered it to TPH > > > and the answer was that they would consider it if I was willing > > > to remove or downplay the identifications of M., K.H., etc. and > > > focus mostly on the historical people themselves. This was in > > > 1992; I sent the Ms. in to Brenda Rosen who replied in essence, > > > "No, you completely rewrite it *first* and then we'll consider > > > it." I agreed to do so but the research led in other > > > directions and ultimately I informed her that I would not be > > > able to revise in the way she had requested. Not long after, > > > SUNY Press came through with a contract. > > > > > > When "The Masters Revealed" came out in 1994, I had no hard > > > feelings toward TPH, TUP, PLP or THF although it had been > > > disappointing that things fell through and that in no case did > > > I get any substantive feedback on the research (in a cumulative > > > 3.5 years of consideration!) I went to Wheaton the week it > > > was published, was very cordial with John and everyone there, > > > and felt that the book would be no less politely received than > > > its far inferior predecessor. After all the SUNY imprimatur > > > should bring some increased respect, no? > > > Then the positive reviews started flowing, in and outside of the > > > movement, and by February 1995 things had reached a peak of > > > welcoming reception, with the simultaneous appearance of a rave > > > in the New York Times Book Review and a favorable review by Joy > > > Mills in The Quest. I was so pleased by the latter that I sent > > > an email to John Algeo thanking him for letting it appear. > > > Here's where the story begins to turn sour. > > > John had sent me warm, encouraging, supportive email just a few > > > weeks before, saying to pay no mind to the hostile attacks I > > > was getting on theos-l from outraged Theosophists. And this > > > time, when I wrote thanking him for the Quest piece, he replied > > > in a friendly way, saying that he was glad I liked it but that > > > he had more reservations about the book than Joy did-- and that > > > he'd like to discuss it with me. My reply was that > > > reservations were of course warranted; that the book proved > > > HPB's association with Masters in one sense (that of > > > recognized experts in various spiritual traditions, from whom > > > she learned) but not in the other sense of spiritually advanced > > > beings with paranormal abilities, since that was beyond the > > > reach of historical research."" > > > > > > So far, Paul's words. End of quote. > > > > > > From this point on, his narrative describes how John Algeo turned > > against > > > him. In the quotation above, you have what, in my opinion and > > assessment > > > (and I respect other opinions) corresponds to an opening of > > territory to > > > Paul Johnson's perspective about the Masters. > > > > > > Since 1875, the theme of the Mahatmas as individuals has always > been > > > considered reserved, or PRIVATE, for magnetic and other reasons. > > > > > > It is true that A. P. Sinnett started the vulgarization; > Leadbeater > > went on; > > > but since mid century some more care was taken. And sincere > people, > > even if > > > under serious illusions, have some respect if not devotion for > the > > Masters > > > and HPB. Devotion can be accompanied by an open mind, as you > may know. > > > > > > It is from the viewpoint of aspirants to discipleship, then, or > from > > the > > > viewpoint of earnest and lifelong students of HPB/Masters, that > Paul > > > Johnson's perspective tends to be a gross vulgarization of the > idea of > > > Adept-Teachers. > > > > > > By now, I have reasons to believe that Paul Johnson is an honest > > person, and > > > I respect that, since > > > I believe sincerity is of the essence and more important than > one's > > ideas at > > > the lower mental plane. > > > > > > But if Paul Johnson never belonged to the inner organizations of > the > > Adyar > > > Movement, and could not have a knowledge or a "sense", let's > say, > > of the > > > real approach to the Mystery of aspiration to lay discipleship, > that > > cannot > > > be said of John Algeo, who helped open room for Johnson's books > > within the > > > movement. > > > > > > The long examination and summary Algeo makes of "The Masters > > Revealed" in > > > "Theosophical History", July 1995, is itself an absurd, because > of the > > > totally naive approach of the book with regard to the Masters > and HPB. > > > > > > The "name-by-name-discussion" Algeo indulges in, with regard to > the > > > "Masters' revelation", > > > would be hilarious if it were not too disgusting. > > > > > > According to Algeo, Paul Johnson considers HPB a "Russian Spy", > etc. > > Well, > > > she has written vehemently about that, explaining why Solovyof > > invented that > > > lie. It is in her letters to Sinnett. > > > > > > To give credit to a man like V. Solovyof ( a man whose personal > > "ethics" > > > was similar to James Wedgwood's in many ways, if you know what I > > mean) -- > > > and to deny HPB's words and evidences > > > that SHE WAS NOT A SPY is more than a flagrant injustice to > Truth, > > first, > > > and to HPB and the movement, second. > > > > > > Talking about that, discussing it without mentioning HPB's > viewpoint > > and her > > > words, is tantamount > > > to making libels circulate, in my view. > > > > > > If Paul Johnson does not want to have respect for HPB and wants > to > > sell a > > > book saying she was a Spy, this is one thing. He may say and > write > > > whatever he wants. But when the president of the Adyar TS in the > USA > > (now > > > international vice-president) does the same, or helps this > perspective > > > circulate inside the movement, this is another, different thing. > > > > > > I guess this is enough. If you see Algeo's "review", you will > > examine all > > > purported "personal names" of the Mahatmas. John Algeo writes: > > > > > > ""... Johnson's aim in this thesis to "identify' the Masters is > > reasonable > > > and of considerable interest."" > > > (T.H., July 1995, p. 238). > > > > > > And then Algeo goes on to discuss all minute, useless and > fanciful > > details > > > of speculations about Adepts as if they were some historical > characters > > > completely immersed in present human Karma!!! > > > > > > You see what I mean? > > > > > > Algeo says, p. 245: > > > > > > > > > ""Johnson's thesis is a revisionist view of the Theosophical > > Masters, making > > > them neither what Blavatsky and others said them to be nor > sheer > > > inventions, but rather elaborations of historically attested > > prototypes. > > > That is a reasonable thesis to consider."" ( T.H., JUly 1995, > p. 245). > > > > > > Reasonable thesis ??? > > > > > > Such a thesis cannot be considered reasonable, in a Theosophical > > Society, > > > because it shows a > > > complete absence of knowledge about what is an Adept. > > > > > > That is why no Theosophical Publisher, as long as I know, > accepted > > Paul's > > > books. But their > > > ambiguity, their long examination of the originals, their long > > discussing > > > these books, this is meaningful, and in this sense I say that > Algeo > > (and > > > others) used Paul and his books as a way to discredit HPB and the > > Masters. > > > And, of course, this was not honest with Paul, either. > > > > > > As Gregory Tilletts biography of C. W. Leadbeater showed who CWL > was > > since > > > the early 1980s, > > > it was "extremely convenient" for some theosophical cardinals to > put > > HPB at > > > the same moral level as the "Bishop". > > > > > > As to Daniel Caldwell / David Green, his websites published > Paul's > > texts and > > > books for a number of years, if I remember it right from one of > Paul's > > > postings at the Theos-talk. And, if you ask Paul, he will > > certainly agree > > > that Daniel Caldwell and John Algeo are, or seem to be, most > close > > allies. > > > And I add: they share the same "editorial policy"... > > > > > > Believing as I believe that Paul Johnson is a basically honest > > person, I > > > hope he goes ahead and learns in the future something about the > > nature of > > > spiritual teachers, be them Adepts or not. > > > > > > Once he perceives the inner aspects and energies present in the > HPB's > > > writings, in the Mahatma Letters, and in other books and > authors, he > > will > > > understand what I and many theosophists > > > mean by the idea of "respect for H.P.B.". > > > > > > I have some confidence in that, since Paul has shown here at > > Theos-talk that > > > he is a man of good will. I sincerely hope dialogue will bring a > > better > > > perspective about the Mystery of Initiates, whose identities are > NOT in > > > their identity cards, so to say. > > > > > > As to the pamphlet "Madame Blavatsky and the 'Veiled Years' ", > by P. > > > Johnson, it is very much in the same line as "The Masters > Revelad". > > Paul > > > writes, page 7: > > > > > > "There are two questions (...).The first concerns the relative > > genuiness of > > > Gurdjieff and Blavatsky (...). Both may have been charlatans, > with > > Gurdjieff > > > merely exploiting the market created by H.P.B. (...)." > > > > > > And so he proceeds with several speculations of that same > level... > > > > > > > > > But, as I said earlier, the real problem is not with Paul. He > has my > > > sincere good wishes and my respect, as you have, Bill. > > > > > > Peace to all beings, > > > > > > Best regards, Carlos Cardoso Aveline > > > > > > > > > O o o O o o O o o O > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >From: Bill Meredith <meredith_bill@> > > > >Reply-To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com > > > >To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com > > > >Subject: Re: Theos-World Carlos and the "The Masters > Revealed"??? > > > >Date: Tue, 07 Mar 2006 17:16:57 -0500 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >carlosaveline cardoso aveline wrote: > > > > > > > > > > Dear Bill, > > > > > > > > > > I forgot to write that Paul Johson's books have a lot in > common > > with > > > >John > > > > > Algeos perspective. > > > > > > > > >Are you saying now that you have in fact read PJ's books and > are no > > > >longer passing judgement based on what others have told you to > think > > > >about them? Good for you then. No doubt you have also sat and > talked > > > >with John Algeo for at least long enough to understand his > perspective? > > > >Good for you again. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > There is a common lack of perception about the deeper > aspects of the > > > > > Esoteric Philosophy. > > > > > > > > >This is your perspective. Could you give us some specific > examples from > > > >your interaction with Johnson's books and Algeo's perspective > that we > > > >could then examine for ourselves and perhaps either arrive at a > similar > > > >conclusion as yours or a different conclusion altogether. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > P. Johnson (who was a Caldwell's and an Algeo's ally for > years) > > will > > > >not > > > > > discuss deep questions regarding the movement or the > spiritual path. > > > > > > > > >Have you attempted to discuss deep questions with either of > these > > > >individuals? Sorry, but to me it sounds like you really are > saying that > > > >these individuals will not agree with your personally accepted > answers > > > >to the deep questions regarding the movement or the spiritual > path. If > > > >that is the case, feel free to add me to the list. > > > > > > > >Could you be more specific about your statement that Johnson, > Caldwell, > > > >and Algeo were allies for years? I have not been privvy to any > > > >information that would lead me to this same conclusion unless > you mean > > > >that these three were allied in their desire to shed some > additional > > > >light on the deep questions regarding the movement or the > spiritual > > > >path. Also, could you provide some idea of what you mean > by "spiritual > > > >path"? Often such a phrase is used to divide our brothers into > that > > > >group that is with us on "our" path and those that are not with > us and > > > >are therefore against us because they dare to tread a different > > > >spiritual path. > > > > > The difference is that Paul does not have a personal project > > involving > > > > > political power in the movement. An important difference, by > the > > way. > > > > > > > > > > > > >Do you have a personal project involving political power in the > > movement? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Yet -- a book called "The Masters Revealed" -- that is a > > disaster. That > > > >was > > > > > most convenient > > > > > to Algeo and to Caldwell -- for a time. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Can you explain why a book called "The Masters Revealed" is a > disaster? > > > >Do you find it "disgusting" as well? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Best regards, Carlos. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > peace, > > > > > > > > > > > > >bill > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >> From: Bill Meredith <meredith_bill@> > > > > >> Reply-To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com > > > > >> To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com > > > > >> Subject: Re: Theos-World Aveline, Caldwell , Algeo & Dugpas > > > > >> Date: Sun, 05 Mar 2006 11:40:13 -0500 > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> carlosaveline cardoso aveline wrote: > > > > >> > > > > >>> oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooOO > > > > >>> > > > > >>> An Adept-Teacher Explains: > > > > >>> > > > > >>> Libels Against HPB Were Made By Dugpas in Vatican and > Bhutan. > > > > >>> > > > > >>> ARE DANIEL CALDWELL AND JOHN ALGEO NOW > > > > >>> > > > > >>> CONSCIOUSLY PUBLICIZING THE WORK OF DUGPAS? > > > > >>> > > > > >>> oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooOO > > > > >>> > > > > >>> > > > > >> Another perspective: > > > > >> > > > > >> Is Carlosaveline Cardoso Aveline now perpetuating the > > heightened public > > > > >> interest in the lies published about HPB through his > extensive and > > > > >> relentless letter writing campaign protesting against the > book > > LETTERS > > > > >> OF HPB and attacking Caldwell and Algeo as agents of > dugpas? Is > > > >Aveline > > > > >> consciously drawing the attention of the public > toward "the libels > > > > >> against HPB" and actually contributing to the increased > sales and > > > > >> publicity of said book? > > > > >> > > > > >> Methinks he doth protest too much. > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > > > > Copa 2006: Sabe como se diz `pênalti' em alemão? Clique aqui! > > > > > http://copa.br.msn.com/extra/dicionario/l-z/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > > Copa 2006: Já está na hora de saber o que é `Freundschaftsspiel' > Clique > > > aqui! http://copa.br.msn.com/extra/dicionario/ > > > > > >