The Eclectic Theosophist
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The Eclectic Theosophist FOLLOWING THE BLAVATSKY AND POINT LOMA TRADITION Per Copy 75c ISSUED BI MONTHLY BY POINT LOMA PUBLICATIONS, INC. Subscription (6 issues) P.O. Box 6507, San Diego, California 92106 No. 105 $5.00; foreign $5.50 (by air $7.50)________________ Editor W. Emmett Small_______________________________ AprH/R^ay 1988 On close observation, you will find it was never tbe inten SECRET TEACHINGS tion of the Occultists really to conceal wbat they had been Ted G. Davy writing from earnest determined students, but rather to lock up their information for safety-sake, in a secure safe-box, ‘ ‘Since you asked that I send you a secret book which the key to which is—intuition.2 was revealed to me and Peter by the Lord, I could not It is the common mistake of people that we willingly wrap ourselves and our powers in mystery—that we wish to keep our turn you away or gainsay you. take care not to knowledge to ourselves, and of our own will refuse.. to com rehearse this text to many—this that the Savior did municate it. The truth is that till the neophyte attains to the con not wish to tell to all of us, his twelves disciples.. .”i dition necessary for that degree of Illumination to which, and for which, he is entitled andfitted, most if not all of the Secrets Thus, James the Just, the brother ofJesus. Those early are incommunicable.3 Christians who had importuned him to include them The Mahatma’s statement quoted above implies that in the distribution of secret teachings were characteristic esoteric teachings cannot be conveyed in any form of a host of aspirants before and after them, in many to anyone not ready to receive them. A corollary might cultures and traditions. be that it is not possible for the profane to recognize A delusion common to many seekers after truth when an esoteric teaching, even when it stares them in the face. they start on their quest is the conviction, or at least Ultimately, there are no really secret writings, even a strong hope, that somewhere there exists a book which those written cryptically. Any code can be broken. Once will reveal all they want to know. (No doubt many published, all writings are potentially exoteric, copies of The Secret Doctrine have been bought on regardless of the adjective used to describe them. In the strength of its title!) Some expect to be able to ad theory, that is. An article on any subject written in an vance swiftly along the path if only they can get their unknown foreign language is esoteric in one sense, hands on writings which contain ‘exclusive’ teachings and remains so until we either learn the language or of spiritual (so-called) matters, and especially the ones obtain a translation. which promise ‘powers’. Determined to find short cuts, The paradox is evident whatever and whosoever’s though looking for them takes longer than the regular “esoteric” teachings are studied. Take H.P.B.’s Instruc uphill climb, even the very intelligent are not immune. tions, and Inner Group Teachings for example. Cer The fact that this very attitude retards progress is blithely tainly there are passages therein that appear to be highly ignored. But sooner or later must surely come the realiza relevant keys to some of the teachings she had already tion that it is wishful thinking, a waste of precious time shared in her published works. But how many are in and energy. tuitive enough to recognize the keys; or are sufficiently The law of supply and demand operates. These days, knowledgeable of the teachings to be able to take ad there exists what is practically an industry to satisfy vantage of them? For the most part, however, the this want, because the same wishful thinkers also delude material in these books is obviously exoteric. On the themselves that spiritual knowledge can be purchased. other side of the coin, some of the voluminous published “Dollarsophia”—Blavatsky’s expressive term—is writings of Blavatsky and Judge may well include cer always with us. The delusion persists from generation tain restricted teachings. But in such instances, security to generation. would never be at risk: those who don’t know what Others expect it to be handed to them on a platter. they are looking for won’t find it without help. James’ followers were evidently in this category. So So much for philosophizing. The fact remains that were two early members of the Theosophical Socie books labelled esoteric are on the market, and some ty, A.P. Sinnett and A.O. Hume. How was it possible carry the imprint of Theosophical publishers. This is that these two intelligent men could be so naive as to not surprising. The Theosophical Movement has em believe that the Truth which all have to unveil by their braced a number of organizations that call themselves own efforts, would be revealed to them for the ask esoteric. From these have come teachings some ver ing? Judging from the replies they received from the bal, some written. Originally published for the sworn-to Mahatmas who corresponded with them, this is precisely secrecy faithful only, some of the writings have even what they expected. Yet— tually been made available to the general public. Page 2 THE ECLECTIC THEOSOPHIST April/May 1988 Interestingly, some such writings have remained these days would hardly be considered private, let alone classified for only a little while. For instance, within esoteric. seven years of her death, many of H.P Blavatsky’s In For the most part, these books can ohly be assessed structions for E.S.T. members were added to the on the same basis as any other of de Purucker’s writings. material gathered into the third volume of The Secret Personally, I have always found his methods and ex Doctrine. (Today these are more conveniently available planatory style helpful. And to me, he is reliable—I in forms faithful to the originals in/f.F. Blavatsky Col trust him. Rarely if ever does he deviate from the Blavat lected Writings Vol. XII, and The Inner Group sky teachings, and then mostly by elaboration. As with Teachings of H.P. Blavatsky.) any study, we have to decide for ourselves if the elabora Only a year or so ago, it would have been reasonable tions are compatible with the standards we have chosen. to ask, will there be others? A strong argument can The same holds true for de Purucker’s Esoteric be made for openness, and the above-mentioned Teachings. precedents are positive factors. But a year or so ago, For an important work as this, though, there should the answer would have been “probably not.” Happi be another way to assess its value that does not stem ly, events have shown that response to have been not directly from the teaching itself .Let us remember for only pessimistic but very wrong. whom it was written: what it meant to the original First, it was learned that the writings of William Q. pupils is unquestionably more important than the nature Judge to his E.S. will be included in the forthcoming of the impact it has on the reader fifty or sixty years third volume of his Collected Writings, Echoes of the later. Was there more to the teachings, the leadership, Orient. than is immediately apparent from the writings? Even while waiting for that publication, one of the One criterion that can be applied is summed up in major Theosophical publishing events in recent times the proverb, “the proof of the pudding is in the eating. ” has taken place: the release of G. de Purucker’s Esoteric In the case of Gottfried de Purucker, we can only look Teachings in twelve volumes. 4 at those whom he taught. Now the following has to Admittedly, much of this material has been published be very personal, which is regrettable, but unavoidable. previously in other books. However, to have it all Some of his pupils are still alive; others have been with available in such a series is obviously desirable. Those us until recently. Those I have known have who think highly of de Purucker’s several works will demonstrated exceptional qualities: as students of need no persuading to study his Esoteric Teachings. Theosophy they have been outstanding; by their ex This new publication again raises the question of amples they have demonstrated how the Theosophic just what is esoteric? Certainly, as far as technical life should be lived; and in their various ways they have Theosophy is concerned, there is little or nothing in served the Cause admirably. these twelve volumes that could not/would not also As far as I am concerned, that’s the proof, and is have been included in other writings by the same author. itself sufficient incentive to study the Esoteric Teachings However, as wisely remarked in a fine introductory of G. de Purucker. article by the compiler, W. Emmett Small, “Every truth • •••••• “I would therefore urge upon you all, my brothers has depths beyond what is openly stated, ”5—which on the Path... to enter into the adytum of these studies is a useful thought to keep always in mind when ap with a self-forgetful devotion to the common good proaching this sort of study. of all that lives,” wrote de Purucker.8 Regarding technical Theosophy, G. de Purucker ‘ ‘I pray that the beginning may come from you, ’ ’ James himself took it for granted ‘ ‘that every newly-entered exhorted his followers.9 student of the E.S.