www.HelenaBlavatsky.Org: In 2011, a Crisis in the Egyptian Rite

One Day in the Life of the Movement:
From India, Radha Burnier Faces a Crisis in
the E.R.-Brazil and Appoints New Leaders

Carlos Cardoso Aveline

“Misleading secrecy has given

the death blow to numerous organizations.”

(A Mahatma, in the last letter

received from a Master of the Wisdom)

The Egyptian Rite (E.R.) is a ritualistic organization which tries to exist in secret and works above the Esoteric School of the Adyar Theosophical Society. It is active but in a few countries. Theosophists can only join it by invitation, and invitations are rare.

The E.R. is never mentioned in theosophical meetings, not even in the highest-level groups of pledged members of the Esoteric School. And yet secrecy does not mean legitimacy. In fact, a Master of the Wisdom warned Annie Besant, when she was already about to start following the path to falsehood and illusion:

“MISLEADING SECRECY HAS GIVEN THE DEATH BLOW TO NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS.” [1]

The Egyptian Rite is a practical example of such a mistake. The Mahatma further explained in the same letter:

“Credulity breeds credulity and ends in hypocrisy.” [2]

Unfortunately, the leaders of the Adyar Society did not pay attention to the words of the Master. Illusion was stronger than common sense, and thanks to Annie Besant baseless forms of ritualism were used to obtain political control of most of the theosophical movement.

What can we say regarding the 21st century? Has the necessary amount of time passed already? Is it possible for the feeling of respect for truth to start being born again? Perhaps. We will have to see.

Personal Power Struggles on the Top

In the almost distant year of 2011, there was a strong political crisis and an intense struggle for personal power at the top of the E.R., in Brazil. Ms. Radha Burnier, then the main authority of the E.R., was forced to intervene to calm down the situation, and appointed new leaders. However, Radha’s decision caused perplexity.

As a ritualistic organization, the E. R. has good intentions. Unfortunately, it is based only on fantasies and false clairvoyance. Its members are altruistic people, but there is among them an absence of common sense. A stronger feeling of respect for truth would be necessary for them to be able to say No to well-known forms of falsehood and illusion. Nobody in those circles seems to see the moral need to choose between the true masters of the wisdom - who humbly work for the One Law and for Truth - and the false masters fabricated in the beginning of 20th century by the unlimited imagination of some British “clairvoyants”.

The document reproduced here was first published by the Independent Lodge of Theosophists in February 2025 - almost fourteen years after the correspondence from Radha Burnier. Furthermore - to avoid undue repercussions -, the names of some persons were erased.

This is its transcription:

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The Esoteric School of Theosophy

Radha Burnier

Outer Head

19 September 2011

The Theosophical Society -

Adyar, Chennai 600 020. India

Mr Ma---- ------- ----- ----

SGAS Quadra 603 No. 20

Brasilia DF 70200-630

Dear Brother,

I hereby appoint you as Chairman of the Regional Council of the E.R. in Brazil. The other two members appointed as Council members are Mrs Ma--------- -------- ------- and Mr Re ------ -------- .

Yours fraternally,

Radha Burnier

Outer Head

Cc:

Mrs Olinda Ludovici Pugliesi

Mrs Ma ------- --------- ----------.

Mr Re --------------- ---------------.

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So far, the letter from Radha Burnier.

We thank the friends of Truth who decided to send us copies of this and other documents of the E.R., on the condition that they should not be released to the public immediately.

The texts are being treated by the ILT as historical documents. They portray some of the failures and obstacles that the modern esoteric movement must overcome. Such “pious frauds” and ritualistic illusions have no future: it is nigh time to turn the page and liberate the theosophical movement from the fruits of false clairvoyance. We say this with due respect for the idealism of the members of the E.R. Yet we must remember that Helena Blavatsky wrote these words, regarding illegitimate secrets:

“… All efforts of the greatest craft [to deceive] are doomed to failure on the day they are discovered.”[3]

At the right time, Truth prevails.

If Blavatsky is right, every falsehood in the theosophical movement will implode in due time, thus opening the door of Karma to new blessings and making it easier for sincere theosophists to help mankind.

So be it. Om, Shanti, Om.

(CCA)

NOTES:

[1] From The 1900 Letter From a Mahatma.

[2] From the same text: The 1900 Letter From a Mahatma.

[3] “Collected Writings”, H. P. Blavatsky, TPH, USA, Volume XIV, p. 267.

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The above article was published on the websites of the Independent Lodge of Theosophists on 26 February 2025. An initial version of it, signed by The Editors, is part of the February 2025 edition of The Aquarian Theosophist, pages 12-14.

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