Theos-Talk Archives (July 2007 Message tt00199)

William Doss McDavid in his book "An Introduction to Esoteric 
Principles:  A Study Course" writes:

"Should we take H.P.B. as an infallible authority? . . . Absolutely 
not. . . . But there is another side to the question.  We have to 
remember that the modern Theosophical movement owes its very 
existence to H.P.B. and the Masters, whose faithful agent she claimed 
to be. It would be extremely unwise to reject the teachings given 
through her without understanding what those teachings really were in 
the first place. And how can we acquire this understanding if we do 
not study her writings? We don't have to blindly accept what she says 
or take her views as the last word, but at least we should become 
familiar with those views firsthand. Then we can reject or accept 
intelligently. When the works of other and later writers who claim to 
be continuing the work begun by H.P.B. present viewpoints 
and 'revelations' which are at direct variance with the original 
lines of teaching, we may feel justified in questioning the source of 
the newer pronouncements. A familiarity with the original writings, 
therefore, provides a criterion for intelligent judgment." p. 37

Daniel
http://hpb.cc