Theos-Talk Archives (March 2007 Message tt00059)

Dear _______________,

You wrote:

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I quote Blavatsky in the Key to Theosophy - Sextion 2:
"ENQUIRER. Which system do you prefer or follow, in that case,
besides Buddhistic ethics?
THEOSOPHIST. None, and all. We hold to no religion, as to no
philosophy in particular: we cull the good we find in each.
But here, again, it must be stated that, like all other ancient
systems, Theosophy is divided into Exoteric and Esoteric Sections.

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http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/key/key-2.htm

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You then comment:

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BUT, this doesn't imply, that the same book written by
Blavatsky has more importance than other books. Since we all
"cull the good we find in each" system, books included!

So to say that The Secret Doctrine (or even Isis Unveiled)
as a book is more special than other books is in fact at
least just lie to a certain degree. To the Exoteric theosophist it
might however be true.

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Well, you may believe that but here also
is what HPB writes in the same KEY TO THEOSOPHY about
her 1888 book THE SECRET DOCTRINE:

"...she [HPB herself} says expressly in the PREFACE [to the S.D.]
that she gives out the DOCTRINES that she has LEARNT from the
Masters....." p. 300 Caps added to "doctrines" and "learnt".

And HPB again points to SPECIFIC teachings, doctrines, philosophy
when she writes also in the KEY:

"...Those who belong to the .... [the Esoteric Section] have, of 
course, a philosophy, or -- if you so prefer it -- a religious system 
of their own....It was outlined a few years ago in the Theosophist 
and 'Esoteric Buddhism,' and may be found still more elaborated in 
the 'Secret Doctrine.' It is based on the oldest philosophy of the 
world, called the Wisdom-Religion or the Archaic Doctrine." p. 60

And also consider the following relevant passage from HPB's pen:

"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 [the Masters],
supplemented, in a few details only, by the results
of her own study and observation. (SD, I, viii)

Another comment by HPB:

"When the present work was commenced, the writer [H.P. Blavatsky
herself] , feeling sure that the speculation about Mars and Mercury
was a mistake, applied to the Teachers [the Mahatmas] by letter for
explanation and an authoritative version. Both came in due time, and
verbatim extracts from these are now given."

Again Koot Hoomi writes:

"[In The Secret Doctrine] Every mistake or erroneous notion, 
corrected and explained by her [Blavatsky] from the works of other 
theosophists was corrected by me, or under my instruction."

So in light of these statements, what actually is HPB referring
to when she writes:

"....we cull the good we find in each...." ???

Daniel
http://blavatskyarchives.com