A Large Part of the Theosophists
Still Ignore the Original Teachings
Carlos Cardoso
Aveline
Some theosophical
leaders place political and institutional interests above the actual search for
truth. They thus prefer to ignore the central importance of the teachings
present in “The Mahatma
Letters” and “Letters
from the Masters of the Wisdom”.[1]
Such ill-informed
people lead thousands of students to various forms of pseudo-theosophy.
The study of the Letters plays a
decisive role in the approach to esoteric philosophy. It dissipates comfortable
illusions about outward contact with the Teachers. It makes it easier for the
student to understand the need to be profoundly honest to himself and to every
other being, if he wishes to tread the path to wisdom.
A calm observation of what the
Letters say about the actual process of
learning breaks the routine and shows the sad inadequacy of most views of
discipleship adopted in superficial schools of theosophical thought.
Attachment to the dead-letter
is no real loyalty to the original teachings. One must be loyal to their Spirit
or the Inner Meaning present in them. The Letters from the Masters make it clear
that the wisdom is not in the words, although the right words point to it. The Letters have therefore various layers of meaning.
In “The Secret Doctrine”, Helena Blavatsky discusses a number of Letters
at length and reproduces long passages from them. Indeed, no source is
comparable to the Letters regarding topics
like discipleship; occult Pedagogy, the actual work of the Masters, their
Ethics and the inner side of theosophy.
The Letters appeared in the form of books between 1919 and 1925. Before
that, they circulated as private documents among theosophists who were deeply committed
to the Cause of humanity. Robert Crosbie (1849-1919) knew them and he wrote:
“The kind of Theosophical
education that is needed is one that will not feel bewildered by any turnings
aside of individuals, no matter how high or advanced they may appear to have
been. All prate about the ‘original lines’; what are they? Well, W. Q. Judge
wrote after H. P. B. had gone, that we must go to Her and the Master’s letters for the ‘program’.” [2]
The teachings from the Masters
can only be properly understood when studied in-depth and while one is aware of
its various levels. While interacting with the Letters and other classical
writings, a theosophist becomes an active independent researcher.
The small Independent Lodge is
among the few sectors of the theosophical movement which have already renounced
to second-hand views regarding discipleship and other issues, and awakened to the central importance of the Letters. In due time, such pioneers should get more
numerous.
NOTES:
[1] The two
compilations can be found online by their titles. The “Letters from the Masters
of the Wisdom” were published in two volumes or “series” by the TPH and are
available in our associated websites in PDF, alongside with “The Mahatma
Letters”.
[2] “The Friendly
Philosopher”, Robert Crosbie, Theosophy Company, Los Angeles, USA, 1945, 416
pp., see p. 174. See also the article by John Garrigues entitled “On the
Mahatma Letters”, which is easy to find in our associated websites.
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An initial version of the above article was published at “The Aquarian Theosophist”, May 2017, pp. 2-3. It had no indication as to the name of the author. The text has been available in the websites of the Independent Lodge since October 2017.
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Read more:
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On 14 September 2016, after examining the state of the esoteric movement worldwide, a group of students decided to found the Independent Lodge of Theosophists. Two of the priorities adopted by the ILT are learning from the past and building a better future.
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