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The history of religions, philosophies and spiritual movements is well
documented as far back as the Vedic teachings that originated at least
5000 years ago. Esoteric history traces the thread of spiritual thinking
much farther back than the Vedas, to a time when it is said that the gods
were present on Earth and impressed on the mind of early humanity the
art of spiritual living. The esoteric tradition has it that the nature
of the universe is hierarchical in structure - an infinite web of beings
acting in co-operation, helping each other along the way in a universal
brotherhood. Those who retain for humanity that initial impulse of spiritual
knowledge insure that mankind doesn't lose touch with its spiritual heritage.
This is evident in that the same themes arise in the stream of religions
and philosophies that have flourished in every corner of the globe as
far back as modern historians have recorded. These perennial spiritual
ideas are gaining more credence among students of religion, myth, philosophy,
and science, which is increasingly looking towards mysticism to describe
theories explaining the nature of man and the universe.
In the Proem of The Secret Doctrine, H. P. Blavatsky gives Three
Fundamental Propositions. Briefly stated:
(a) An Omnipresent, Eternal, Boundless, and Immutable PRINCIPLE on which
all speculation is impossible, since it transcends the power of human
conception and could only be dwarfed by any human expression or similitude.
(b) The Eternity of the Universe in toto as a boundless plane; periodically
"the playground of numberless Universes incessantly manifesting and
disappearing," called "the manifesting stars," and the
"sparks of Eternity."
(c) The fundamental identity of all Souls with the Universal Over-Soul,
the latter being itself an aspect of the Unknown Root; and the obligatory
pilgrimage for every Soul -- a spark of the former -- through the Cycle
of Incarnation (or "Necessity") in accordance with Cyclic and
Karmic law, during the whole term. - 1:14-17
To elaborate, Theosophy restores the belief that we are divine beings
and that our true home is the universe, not only this physical planet
on which we live. The universe is not only a "boundless plane"
physically it is also boundless inwardly, allowing infinite growth of
consciousness. All of nature is living and conscious: every atom
is at its heart a conscious divinity proceeding on its journey through
every kingdom of nature - its physical appearance a dim reflection of
its ever-bright inner divinity. Every being around us, including ourselves,
alternates between a physical and a spiritual life in a never-ending sequence
of action and rest. Each journeying ego must use its own "power source"
- its innate divinity - to guide it through the experiences of the physical
and spiritual bodies it will inhabit on its journey.
Universal Brotherhood underpins these perennial ideas, and this is the
over-riding message of The Theosophical Society (TS): all of nature shares
the same spiritual origin. One of the objectives of the TS is to form
a nucleus of men and women irrespective of sex, colour, caste or creed,
who will promote the ideal and rationale of brotherhood. Brotherhood may
seem like an airy-fairy, impossible ideal, nonetheless the theosophic
message of the ages, and is so with good reason: it is a fact in nature.
Its practical implications - altruism, ethics, peace and understanding
among all peoples - is the dynamic message of every religion and spiritual
philosophy, and according to Blavatsky and her teachers it is the antidote
to man's suffering.
Since the earliest times in human history, individuals have appeared
at cyclic intervals to disseminate this knowledge to help mankind during
times of suffering and spiritual destitution. This process has been recorded
in myths and religions worldwide. In the Greek Mystery Tradition it was
known as the Golden Chain of Hermes, and in Sanskrit it is called guruparampara
- an uninterrupted succession of spiritual teachers, alluded to by Krishna
when he said to Arjuna in the Bhagavad-Gita "I produce myself
among creatures, O son of Bharata, whenever there is a decline of virtue
and an insurrection of vice and injustice in the world; and thus I incarnate
from age to age for the preservation of the just, the destruction of the
wicked, and the establishment of righteousness," Recension by W.
Q. Judge, TUP, p.14.
Although the message of brotherhood is fundamentally the same, the way
the Wisdom-Religion is presented changes through the ages, along with
the names it goes by. The ancient
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| Helena Petrovna Blavatsky |
Hindus called it gupta-vidya (secret knowledge), the Neoplatonists
and Gnostics knew it as gnosis (knowledge), many Buddhists called
it aryajnana (exalted knowledge). The name used by H. P. Blavatsky
for the modern presentation of the perennial philosophy is Theosophy.
Originally used by the Neoplatonists in the early centuries AD, the word
translates as theo meaning god, and sophia meaning wisdom
- so roughly "divine wisdom".
In 1875 H. P. Blavatsky, Henry Steel Olcott, and William Quan Judge,
together with like-minded others formed The Theosophical Society whose
objectives were "to collect and diffuse a knowledge of the laws which
govern the universe." The objectives of the Society were later expanded
to: 1) To form the nucleus of a Universal Brotherhood of Humanity without
distinction of race, colour, or creed; 2) To
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| Henry Steele Olcott |
study ancient and modern religion, science, and philosophy; 3) To investigate
the powers innate in man. In 1877 H.P. Blavatsky published her first major
work Isis Unveiled which was, in her words "the fruit of a
somewhat intimate acquaintance with Eastern adepts and study of their
science" and it demonstrates that the Ancient Wisdom underpins modern
science and religion. The next year Blavatsky and Olcott travelled to
India where in 1882 they established an international headquarters at
Adyar. Judge meanwhile remained in America where he lectured on theosophy
and established Branches of the Society. Olcott lectured in many parts
of India and Asia, while Blavatsky as Corresponding Secretary spent much
of her time meeting people, writing letters, articles and books all, promoting
the ideals and ideas of Theosophy. HPB moved to London in 1887 where she
published her next major work, The Secret Doctrine, in 1888. This
was an expansion of Isis Unveiled, and outlined the whole scheme
of the ancient wisdom from the evolution of the universe to the evolution
of Man.
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| William Quan Judge |
In May of 1891 H. P. Blavatsky passed away. There followed a period of
many years of contention regarding her successor resulting in the Society
splitting into two main Societies, one with headquarters in Adyar with
Olcott as President, the other with headquarters in America with Judge
as Leader. Both Societies have continued up to the present day, and in
the mean time other groups have been formed, most notably perhaps the
United Lodge of Theosophists founded by Robert Crosbie.
The TS wasn't formed for the benefit of its members. It's aims are far
more reaching than helping a few individuals understand occult law. William
Quan Judge stated that the aim of the Society was "to change the
buddhi and manas of the Race" (mind and understanding). Partly to
address this point and also to state in general terms what was hoped the
Society would accomplish if it followed along its original lines, HP Blavatsky
wrote in The Key To Theosophy if the TS should…
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"live on into and
through the twentieth century. It will gradually leaven and permeate
the great mass of thinking and intelligent people with its large-minded
and noble ideas of Religion, Duty, and Philanthropy. Slowly but
surely it will burst asunder the iron fetters of creeds and dogmas,
of social and caste prejudices; it will break down racial and national
antipathies and barriers, and will open the way to the practical
realisation of the Brotherhood of all men. Through its teaching,
through the philosophy which it has rendered accessible and intelligible
to the modern mind, the West will learn to understand and appreciate
the East at its true value. Further, the development of the psychic
powers and faculties, the premonitory symptoms of which are already
visible in America, will proceed healthily and normally. Mankind
will be saved from the terrible dangers, both mentally and bodily,
which are inevitable when that unfolding takes place, as it threatens
to do, in a hotbed of selfishness and all evil passions. Man's mental
and psychic growth will proceed in harmony with his moral improvement,
while his material surroundings will reflect the peace and fraternal
goodwill which will reign in his mind, instead of the discord and
strife which is everywhere around us apparent today"
p.305-6
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Writing in 2002, Grace F. Knoche (the Society's eighth Leader) notes
that there is a...
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"global awakening now taking place,
where thousands of men and women of varying interests and backgrounds
knowingly or unknowingly, are on the same wavelength: they are fired
with the urgency to do all in their power to help turn humanity
from senseless self-destruction to thoughtful self-regeneration.
They labor for the safeguarding of human dignity and self-worth,
for the protection of our planet, and for the building of a new
type of civilisation founded on the brotherhood of all life and
the joyous collaboration of all peoples and races for the benefit
of the whole of humanity"
To Light A 1000 Lamps, Foreword
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and she continues...
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"Patently, we are in the midst of
a critical period where the light energies are in direct contest
with the dark forces - not only on the national and international
scene, but within our own natures. Unless we begin now, individually
and collectively, to rely on our own inner strength, we will have
little to draw upon in future crises. This isn't the time to lean
on great leaders; it isn't the time to wait for a messenger. If
we feel that the odds are overwhelmingly against our steadfast efforts
to hold aloft the torch of hope, let us recall Mother Teresa. When
asked how she could bear up under the enormity of suffering she
witnessed daily, without any possibility of her stemming the tide
appreciably, she replied: "One and one and one: I look only
at the child or the old man or woman I am tending; if I thought
of the millions and millions who need my help I could do nothing."
It seems to me that every human being has within him the power to
do what is required: privately and unnoticed to follow the lead
of his higher self....In this manner will we strengthen the light-impulses
that are gaining in number and momentum, and by so much fortify
the compassionate labors of those who work unceasingly for all nations
and for the unborn, and who are, even now, readying the way for
the dawn of a brighter age"
Ibid., p.169-70
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The Theosophical Society continues to make available the teachings of
Theosophy as presented by H. P. Blavatsky through literature published
at Theosophical University Press, Altadena, California, via its website
at www.theosociety.org, correspondence
courses, and public meetings and discussion groups around the world.
Further reading on the Theosophical Society and its history:
H.
P. B.: The Extraordinary Life and Influence of Helena Blavatsky
by Sylvia Cranston
H.P.
Blavatsky and the Theosophical Movement by Charles J. Ryan
The Original Programme of The Theosophical
Society by H. P. Blavatsky
Judge's Life: A Personal Viewpoint
by Pat Powell
Colonel
Arthur L. Conger by Alan E. Donant
California
Utopia Point Loma: 1897-1942 by Emmett A. Greenwalt
The
Esoteric Tradition by G de Purucker
Why Should I Join The Theosophical Society?
by H. T Edge
The Parent Doctrine by H. P. Blavatsky
The
Mystery Schools by Grace F. Knoche
To
Light A 1000 Lamps by Grace F. Knoche
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