Theos-Talk Archives (May 2006 Message tt00911)

THE THEOSOPHY OF THE ANDEAN MOUNTAIN RANGE 

Dear Friends, 
 
 
What is the significance of the Andean Mountain Range and its wisdom tradition, from the viewpoint of the esoteric philosophy? 
 
In  April 1884, H. P. Blavatsky wrote a letter to Mrs. Patience Sinnett mentioning some eastern Buddhist chelas (disciples)  to Masters. She explained that their Masters were not the ones who had directly inspired the foundation of the Theosophical Movement in 1875.   
 
The chelas of those specific Adept-Teachers were called by H.P.B. “pure blooded Mongolian Buddhists”.  Their Masters, once can infer,  were fourth race Adepts.  
 
“Fourth race” is a rather complex  theosophical concept. It refers to the abstract archetype of human beings during a previous moment in our evolution – and not only to their physical characteristics. Present-day remanents of the fourth race include the Far East peoples, Tibetans, Mongolians, as weell as  all native peoples in South, Central and North America. 
 
This broad unity in diversity explains why, after mentioning some cultural limitations she saw in those specific buddhists chelas,  H.P.B. said: 
 
“They are chelas [ disciples ] after all, and there is much of the mortal man in them yet. (...)  They are great friends with the native Peruvian, Mexican and Red Indian Adepts and chelas.” (1) 
 
 
Peru is one of the main Andean countries in South America, and we can be sure that H.P.B. knew  what she was writing about. In 1852 she had made a long personal visit to the Andean Region, seeing many places and having contact  with local sages there.    
 
H.P.B. wrote rather extensively on Peru and the Andes in her text “A Land of Mystery”  and in the book “Isis Unveiled” (2).   
 
In “The Secret Doctrine”, she also refers to the inner link connecting esoteric schools in South America (Andean region) and other parts of the world:
 
“The members of several esoteric schools – the seat of which is beyond the Himalayas, and whose ramifications may be found in China, Japan, Tibet, and even in Syria, besides South America  – claim to have in their possession the SUM TOTAL of sacred and philosophical works in MSS. and type: all the works, in fact, that have been ever written, in whatever language or characters (...). ” (3)
 
For a much more recent evidence of connection between H.P.B.’s work and the Andean tradition, see Sylvia Cranston’s book “H.P.B.” (4) 
 
 
Best regards,  Carlos Cardoso Aveline. 
 
  
NOTES:
 
(1) “The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett”, Theosophical University Press, Pasadena, California, 1973, 404 pp., see p. 85.
 
(2) “A Land of Mystery” can be seen in “Collected Writings”, H. P. Blavatsky, TPH,  India/USA, volume II, pp. 301-343 and pp. 431-435.  See also “Isis Unveiled”, H.P.B., 1988, Theosophical University Press,  vol. I, pp. 590-599. 
 
(3) “The Secret Doctrine”, H. P. Blavatsky,  The Theosophy Company, Los Angeles, 1982, volume I, Introductory, p. XXIII.
 
(4) “H.P.B.”, Sylvia Cranston, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, 648 pp., see pp. 510-511. 


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