The Most Important Gift The
Russian Thinker Left to
Mankind
Carlos Cardoso Aveline
Carlos Cardoso Aveline
“I
mean an intelligent word
graven
in the soul of the learner…”
(Socrates, in “Phaedrus”, by
Plato, folio 276)
The
works written by Helena P. Blavatsky are among the most significant in the
philosophical literature of all time. A
bird’s eye view is enough to see it.
However, she wrote in cooperation with a few raja-yogis of the Himalayas
who have reached far beyond the present stage of human evolution. It would not
be accurate to ascribe solely to herself the merit for the literature she wrote
down.
It is the first time, in the last two thousand and five hundred years,
that the eternal wisdom is taught in such a clear way. In quality and quantity,
the writings of HPB are unparalleled in the theosophical movement or in the
philosophical literature as a whole. Her teachings are more extensive and revealing
than those of Plato. They are more universal and comprehensive than the Talmud
or the Upanishads. While their influence
on the evolution and history of mankind has been subtle, it has also been
enormous as demonstrated in Part Seven of Sylvia Cranston’s book “HPB - The
Extraordinary Life and Influence of Helena Blavatsky, Founder of the Modern Esoteric Movement”.[1]
It is only natural, then, that one should ask:
“What is the single most important work she left to mankind, as she went
away in 1891?”
The true masterpiece of Helena Blavatsky is not “The Secret Doctrine”,
nor “Isis Unveiled”. Her magnum opus is
neither “The Voice of the Silence” nor “The Key to Theosophy”. It cannot be
found in any of the 15 volumes with short texts that comprise her “Collected
Writings”.[2]
The real masterpiece of HPB and her greatest gift to mankind is probably
the very theosophical movement, seen as a living process of connection with the
immortal soul, which can also be defined as a process of ongoing research,
teaching and learning; and as a special, subtle magnetic field.
This is tantamount to say that the written works of HPB, though
remarkable, were not the goal in themselves.
Her writings are an instrument for a certain evolutionary mission to be
accomplished. HPB’s books are part of the theosophical movement. They constitute
its tools in the collective effort to stimulate the awakening of a planetary
consciousness.
The texts left by HPB belong to mankind as a whole and silently help
countless persons who aren’t even aware of the theosophical movement’s
existence.
Generally speaking, the theosophical literature is far better understood
when seen from the point of view of the collective
effort created by HPB and whose main goal is to form a dynamic nucleus of
universal brotherhood. The authentic theosophical movement is in fact a school
of philosophy. It is “a Pedagogy in movement”. It gives an individual the right
method to study classical esoteric philosophy, and to use the interpretative keys which allow him to
make a correct synthesis of different cultural traditions, thus building a
healthy future.
Wisdom transcends words.
The writings are useful. Correct words are sacred. But they can only
point out the road to wisdom, and are often used in ways that cause confusion
or even with selfish goals.
The private esoteric writings of HPB were published with no due care or
criteria and with no updated approach to the theme. It is possible to repeat,
plagiarize and copy “The Secret Doctrine” and other writings of HPB, referring
or not to the source. None of the above eliminates the fact that the authentic
theosophical movement transforms words into action and thus constitutes in
itself a living nucleus of alchemical transmutations which occur generation after
generation, in different countries and continents. This non-bureaucratic nucleus has the
privilege of actively participating in the preparation of a better future for
our mankind.
The true masterpiece of
HPB does not belong solely to her. It was not written down. It cannot be seen
in printed paper. Each sincere student in any country is its co-author. He
creates it and makes it remain alive in his own daily existence. From this
perspective, her highest teaching is written in one’s soul, as Plato taught.
One must take into consideration
the spirit and substance of inner commitment which establishes the foundations
of a global effort for universal brotherhood. The Pledge of Kwan-Yin says:
“Never will I seek nor receive private individual salvation; never will
I enter into final peace alone; but forever, and everywhere, will I live and
strive for the redemption of every creature throughout the world.” [3]
Such a commitment expresses in part the spirit of the real theosophical movement.
It is directly related to the first object of this collective effort, the
building of a nucleus of universal friendship. The practice of unconditional solidarity emerges in
natural ways from a direct perception of the unity of all beings, and also from
a living knowledge of the fact that altruism is a source of happiness.
NOTES:
[1] A Jeremy P.
Tarcher / Putnam Book, published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, copyright 1993,
648 pp.
[2] Volume XV is the
cumulative index; and another volume translates her Russian language articles:
“From the Caves and Jungles of Hindustan”. All edited by Boris de Zirkoff and
published by the TPH, USA.
[3] See in our
associated websites the article “The Right Motive”, by John Garrigues.
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“The
Masterpiece of Helena Blavatsky” is a translation from the Portuguese language
article “A Obra-Prima de H.P. Blavatsky”.
Its initial version was anonymously published in the November 2009 edition of
the monthly journal “O Teosofista”.
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On the role of the esoteric movement in the
ethical awakening of mankind during the 21st century, see the book “The Fire
and Light of Theosophical Literature”, by Carlos Cardoso Aveline.
Published in 2013 by The Aquarian Theosophist, the volume has 255 pages and can be
obtained through Amazon Books.
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